Storiesonline.net ------- A Friend in Need by Heathen57 Copyright© 2005 by Heathen57 ------- Description: Greg helps an old friend who really needs it. But when he offers his help he has no idea just how much this will change his life. Codes: mf ff slow rom 1st teen cons caution inc bro sis les het group exhib voy mastrb pett lac preg ------- ------- Chapter 1 Greg was bored. He had finished his homework early as was usual for him and he really didn't feel like reading or playing on the computer. 'Maybe I'll take a walk over to the park. I might get lucky and see the cheerleaders practicing again.' At seventeen, he was a typical teen, and watching those girls jumping and twirling in their short skirts would give him some fantasy material for his nightly masturbation sessions. It was not like he would ever get a chance with any of them. It wasn't that he was bad looking. If he had known it there were more than a few girls that thought he was kind of cute. What really hurt him was his brain. He had the second highest GPA of his entire junior class of seven hundred students at John Adams High School. In being so smart, he found that he was not in the popular cliques, and with high school being the bastion of social class that it is, the few girls that he tried to ask out were afraid to go for being branded an outcast. He had a few friends, both male and female, but as far as a love life, that was dead in the water. This meant Greg was still a virgin. He had a little experience in kissing and feeling up a girl since he and Mary Beth Williams had played 'house' when they were still in middle school. But he had never even come close to his ultimate goal of being fitted in a girl's snug pussy. The closest he came was imagining his own hand was what he was looking at on his computer screen. He left a note for his mother that he was heading toward the park and would be back around dinnertime. He doubted it would ever be read, but he left it in a stab at normalcy. Then he grabbed a jacket and headed out the door. There was a slight breeze that made him remember that spring was still a ways off. The sun was still high enough that the shadows of the buildings he passed were not darkening the sidewalks and the warming rays felt good on his face. Nonetheless, he knew that his hopes of watching cheerleader booty bouncing in the park would not be happening. They would have stayed in the gym. Damn! He had hoped to see Melissa Smith dancing around. She had the biggest tits in the school and the sight of them bouncing as she did her cheers would have taken his mind off the boredom. With those thoughts, he almost turned around, but knowing that nothing to do at the house, he continued on his way. He had been right. There wasn't much activity in the park. A few young children were playing on the jungle gym and the slide under the watchful eye of their mothers. A couple of guys were playing catch near the baseball diamond, but otherwise, the grassy area was deserted. Since he was here he decided to walk around the perimeter of the cleared area and then head home. The cool breeze was starting to get to him. He had made it a little over half way around the park near the east side when he thought he heard a noise. It came from under the bleachers that provided a place for the spectators when the high school had a varsity game. He stopped and listened closer. It sounded like a girl quietly sobbing. Concerned that she was hurt, he moved around the little equipment shed and looked into the web of steel pipes. It was a girl all right. He could not see any blood or other indication that she was hurt. He did immediately notice her beautiful light brown hair. She was dressed in the uniform of the local Evangelical school, tartan skirt and white shirt. Her black shoes and knee-high socks completed the outfit. She raised her head when she heard his shoes scuffing the gravel and he realized that he knew her. It was Mandy, Amanda Marie Carson, who lived at the opposite end of the block from his family. It was definitely Mandy, but her normal good looks were marred by the red of her eyes and the slight amount of makeup that was now making black streaks down her cheeks. His heart went out to her. As children, they had played together since her family first moved in when they were both five years old. They had always been friends but never really as close as he would have wished. Yet he had always thought she was the prettiest and smartest girl he had ever laid eyes on. If he would have admitted it, he had carried a crush for her for years. While this was running through his mind, she recognized him through her blurry eyes. "Greg? W- what are you doing here?" "I was taking a walk and heard you crying. Are you alright?" "No. I'm not. But it ain't something you can do anything about so just go away. Just leave me alone." "Mandy, we have been friends for a long time. And I am not about to leave a friend in need even if all I can do is be there for her." She didn't answer him, but tears started down her lovely cheeks again as she pulled her arms around her legs, hugging herself tightly. Not knowing what else to do, Greg climbed through the support pipes and sat down next to her. At least she didn't pull away and that might mean she didn't mind if he came closer. He felt the wind again and noticed that she didn't have a jacket so he opened his and brought it around her back, shielding her as much as possible. In this position, he put his hand on her shoulder and nudged her to him. She immediately launched her upper body onto his and clung to him, her tears wetting his shirt as she broke into great heaving sobs. Not knowing what else to do, he brought his other arm around to encase her, stroking her hair and whispering to her that it was all right and he was there for her. They stayed in that position until Mandy's sobs had calmed to little sniffles and hiccups. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, "thank goodness it was clean" he thought. He handed it to her and she used it to wipe her eyes, cheeks and then blow her nose. She finally sat up a bit and tried to blot the tears that had soaked into his shirt. As she started to get herself together, Greg took a quick look to check her out. She was definitely shorter than he was but a very attractive package that was perfect proportion to her height. Her breasts were not really large, but they filled the blouse she had on nicely. Her legs were long and toned and her thighs (her skirt had rode up almost to her hips) looked smooth and very sexy. He then mentally kicked himself for checking her out when she was so obliviously upset. Neither one had spoken for several minutes. Mandy was still trying to get herself together and Greg didn't have a clue as to what to do to help her. So he just kept rubbing his hands up and down her upper arms. She finally brought her head up to look directly at his face. "Thank you for letting me cry on your shoulder. I can't believe that I got your shirt all wet." He felt doubly bad for thinking what he had. "Hey we have known each other a long time. Even though we don't see each other much any more, we are still friends. And friends are supposed to help each other." "Yeah, I guess. I just can't believe that Steve dumped me after we..." She stopped before she finished that sentence. "Hey, that is enough of a reason for you to be upset." Greg was trying to keep her from being embarrassed for almost saying something that she didn't want to reveal. He stood and offered her his hand. "Come on, I'll walk you home. We can talk on the way." Mandy took his hand and stood. She had an almost smile on her face, the first since he had first spotted her under the bleachers. Together, they cut across the open field and out onto the sidewalk. The breeze had kicked up even more and Greg noticed that Mandy was almost shivering. The shirt he had on under his jacket was pretty heavy but she had nothing but her light blouse. He slipped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. She gratefully accepted it and gave him another smile in thanks, the second one he had seen today. They did talk a little on the way home, keeping the conversation on very general terms by Mandy's preference. They got to the sidewalk to Mandy's house and he gave her a wave that she returned. He then jogged down the block to his own house. Greg was feeling good about himself for helping Mandy while at the same time wondering if it was just a breakup that upset her or if there was something else. Greg didn't see Mandy for the rest of the week. Since they went to different schools, that was understandable. But she was on his mind often. She had looked so vulnerable, so unhappy, that it preyed on his mind. He went through his normal routine plus some extra research for a paper that he had to write in history. Although he didn't need the grades to pass, he found the comparative cultures fascinating. Besides, his parents expected him to excel at everything he did. Both parents worked at high pressure, performance based jobs and they did very well and expected the same from their son. They were lucky in that Greg was the type of teen that was responsible and serious about his work as they expected him to be. He was often home alone in the evenings and more or less took care of himself. Saturday morning, Greg got up and fixed himself breakfast. His parents were gone as usual and he planned to spend some time in front of the TV just channel surfing and fooling around. Even he needed his 'down time' and since he was always home alone, nobody could complain. He had settled in a movie that promised to have some action as well as more than just a bit of skin showing when the front doorbell rang. He went to open it, expecting some of those religious folks that always seemed to be out giving away their little pamphlets or somebody selling candy or magazines. He was trying to think of an excuse to get rid of them when he opened the door. Instead of a couple of people dressed in suits or carrying a cardboard carrier of chocolate, it was Mandy dressed in a skirt and sweater. In her hand was his jacket that he had covered her with at the beginning of the week. She smiled at him. Holding the jacket out, she said, "I wanted to bring this back and to thank you again for being so nice to me." "Hey, it was my pleasure. I always look for fair maidens in distress to rescue. It is part of my quota to keep my knight in shining armor standing." He had hoped it would get a smile from this pretty girl in front of him. It worked because she let out a little giggle. She looked so much better when she was smiling. "You always were a bit of a goof. Even when we were young, you could always get me to laugh." "Want to come in for a few minutes? It still isn't all that warm out there." Mandy hesitated for a few seconds before she stepped over the threshold. Greg closed the door and led her to the living room. He asked if she wanted something to drink and when she answered in the affirmative, he was soon back with a couple of Cokes. She was sitting on one end of the couch watching the action on the television. The main characters were in bed and a bunch of the bad guys were getting ready to ambush them. The machine guns started blazing and the main characters dove out of bed completely naked. Her eyes were glued to the screen. Greg touched her arm with the can causing her to jump a bit. He apologized for startling her and reaching for the remote, turned down the volume. He was a little bit embarrassed that she had caught him watching something that had that much nudity. He was not the only one embarrassed. Mandy's face was tinged pink. "I'm sorry. I was just looking for something to watch and landed on this." "Oh no, its fine. I didn't mean to interrupt you. It's just that I never get to see anything like that. Mom and Dad are real strict about what I get to see. They even have almost every channel blocked except for the religious ones." "Dad has every channel even though he is never around to watch them. When they asked which ones he wanted, he told them 'all of them'. I don't think he knows that it included the Playboy channel and the adult film channels." "Have you watched those?" Mandy's eyes were big. "Well, not very often. I just happen to see them as I go through." Greg stammered in answer. In reality, he watched (and jerked off to) those channels every chance he got. Wanting to steer away from that subject, Greg asked her if she was doing better than she was the last time they had met. "Yeah, I think so. I was pretty devastated when Steve dumped me. We had been together for three months, and I thought I was really in love with him. He was the first guy I ever dated. He goes to our church and that was the only reason I could go out with him, and then it was only church sponsored functions." "Well, if you want my opinion, he is a complete moron to even consider dumping a beautiful girl like you." That made her head dip down, but he could see her smile. "That's very sweet." Then she glanced up at him hopefully. "You really think I'm pretty?" "Oh hell yeah! I mean... well, I do think you are very pretty. And that you are a really neat person." She looked at him more serious now. "That's nice to hear. Even though it isn't really true." "What makes you think it isn't true? You have always been nice and friendly to everyone I have ever seen you talk to. You aren't nasty to people, you always had something good to say. That makes you a nice person." She was starting to tear up again. "That's not what I have heard at school all week. The girls have been calling me a slut and a whore and the boys have all been trying to get me alone because Steve had been bragging about us." "Don't believe them. That Steve is an asshole for saying anything about what you two did. Someone who really loves you wouldn't be talking about something like that to anyone but you. If I ever did something with a girl, I wouldn't talk about it." Greg shut up quickly after he let it out that he was inexperienced. "You mean you haven't done it yet? I would have thought..." "Thought what? You know geeks don't get laid. Not if a girl wants to keep her standing in the social order." The had gradually moved closer as they talked and now Mandy put her hand on his arm sending chills up his spine. "No! That's not what I meant. I just thought that since you are so cute, you would have had a bunch of girls by now." Greg realized that she had not meant any offense. He gave her a half-hearted smile. "Thanks for the compliment, but when you have high grades and don't play any sports that the school offers, you are labeled a geek. And no matter how you look, you are not date material. Friends, yes when you need help with homework, but forget it when it comes to going out, much less making out." He tried not to let too much of his bitterness show. "Well then the girls at your school are stupid. If I could, I would go out with you. But Daddy thinks that anyone outside the church is heathen and should be avoided." She looked genuinely saddened by that. Greg had a fleeting moment of panic when she confessed that he would actually have had a chance with a girl this perfect in his estimation. He wasn't sure he could handle it. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke again. "I wish we could go out. I bet we would have fun. But we can still be friends." Mandy's eyes brightened. "Of course. You are the first person who hasn't been judgmental with me. I really need a friend that I can talk to." She was much happier now that she understood that Greg wasn't holding her sexual history against her, what little there was. They talked of other things like school and music until Mandy noticed the time. "I have to get home. Mom thought I was going to see a friend, she just didn't know which one." Greg walked her to the door. Just before he opened the door to let her out, she turned to him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. She slipped out the door with a quick 'Thanks again!' before moving quickly up the sidewalk toward her house. Greg went back to the television, but he couldn't keep his mind on what was on the screen. He kept thinking of that kiss. It wasn't romantic or anything like that but the feeling of her soft lips on his cheek had started a hormonal overload. That was the first kiss from a girl not a relative. He finally went up to his room to lie down and relax. He soon fell asleep and dreamed about Mandy in a manner that definitely not 'just friends'. ========= ****========= Mandy for her part was thinking about Greg. She felt relief at being able to talk to someone who didn't think badly of her. She hadn't really told Greg that she had finally given in to Steve's demands for sex, but she was sure he had figured it out. They had only done it twice. The first time he had gotten her hot and bothered, she had just lost control. They had snuck down into the church basement during a teen night. He had managed to get his hands in her panties after a period of making out. He had managed to give her an orgasm, and before she could recover, he had slid the crotch of her panties aside and shoved his prick into her. It had hurt terribly and he didn't do anything to make it better. He just immediately started pumping into her. She was fortunate in that he didn't last much more than a minute until he groaned and filled her pussy with his semen. Then he pulled out and zipped up leaving her lying on the floor with his seed dripping out of her. It had been nothing like she had thought her first time should have been. The second and last time happened just a few days before Greg had found her. He had talked her into going back to the basement again. But this time she was going to tell him that what they had done before was wrong and she didn't want to do it again. He started to paw at her tits while he tried to kiss her. She pushed him away and told him that she didn't want to. He had then called her a slut and since he had done her once, she should just put out for him again. She then tried to leave, but he had shoved her down on the gym mats, ripped her panties off and shoved his prick into her again. She was dry and it hurt terribly. She was on her knees with her chest pressed into the stack of mats and he kept slamming into her from behind. He finally tensed up and shot his stuff into her. Then he pulled out and slapped her ass, leaving a handprint. Then he walked out leaving her in pain and crying. Mandy shivered from those memories. But what had happened next was almost worse. When she told him at school that she was never going to do that again with him, he broke up with her and then started telling all his buddies that she was a slut who would drop her panties for anyone with a dick. The girls heard about it and had shunned her as well. The only bright spot had been Greg. He had comforted her that day under the bleachers and walked her home. He hadn't tried to do anything to her. And today he hadn't tried to grab her even after he found out she was a harlot. He had just told her she was pretty and nice. He had cheered her up and been sweet the whole time. She had surprised herself when she had kissed him on the cheek. It had just felt like the right thing to do at the time. The rest of the weekend she thought about Greg and tried to figure out a way to see him again. They didn't see much of each other for almost two weeks. Greg changed his route home so he would pass her house every afternoon. Most days, Mandy would be at the window and would smile and wave at him. This did his mood a world of good and he looked forward to it. He had little else to look forward to considering that his father was in Asia and his mom was spending so much time at work that he never saw her. He was starting to think that she had a lover somewhere since he would get up in the morning and peek into his parent's room and the bed was always made and nothing moved. He set a trap by making a fold in the spread and when he checked the next morning, he found it in the same place, confirming his suspicions. It wasn't that he really cared that much. His parents would often be gone from the time he could get himself up and ready for school. It did seem spooky to know he had the house all to himself though. He might as well be living on his own. He did make a call to his mother's office on Thursday and left a voice mail asking if she would at least bring some groceries home or make some kind of arrangements. On the way home from school Friday, he spotted Mandy standing on the street corner across from the entrance to the school. His heart swelled a little bit at the sight of her. She just seemed to be hanging around waiting for something or somebody. There was the fleeting thought in his mind that maybe it was him. His hope was confirmed when she saw him and waved to him to wait until she crossed the street. She came running over and gave him a hug and a kiss on the lips that startled him and gave him tingling clear into his toes. When he got his senses back, he noticed that some of the other kids looking strangely in his direction. Mandy then grabbed his arm and they started walking in the direction of their houses. As they got a little way from the crowd, Greg finally broke the silence. "That was quite a greeting! But I gotta ask why you did that?" Mandy looked up at him like she had done something wrong. "Didn't you like it? Did I do something wrong?" Greg stopped and turned toward her. "Gods, no! It was great. I've never been kissed like that before. But it was just so out of the blue." "Well, I was thinking about what you had said when I was at your house. You know, about friends helping friends out. I thought that maybe if some of the girls at your school thought that you had a girlfriend, they might realize that you were a good catch after all." Greg gave her a big smile. He knew that it probably wouldn't do much good, but that she thought to help him out at all made him feel really good. Besides, he would love to have a girlfriend like her. As they started walking again, he thanked her for the help, and then asked why she was able to be there in the first place. She replied that they always had a short day on Friday where they were supposed to go to Chapel for a special teen worship and then time was supposed to be spent 'socializing' which meant they had to talk about religious things while the adults watched them. That had been when she and Steve had snuck off together. Now that they had broken up, she couldn't stand being there especially with the other girls looking down on her. They were allowed to leave to go home after chapel, so she left but decided to wait for him instead. Greg was quite happy about this turn of events. Even if she wanted to just be friends and have someone to talk to, he would take that. Though he was sure that he wished it would become something more, at least from his side. They walked along talking about school and things in general. Mandy dropped the information that her mother was starting to volunteer in the Saturday Missions to the elderly, a program the church ran to go and pray with the shut ins and nursing home residents. She was glad because her father paid little attention to her since she was a girl and he always took her brothers to some sport or church function. She would have some time to herself without being supervised. When they parted, Mandy squeezed his hand and separated, heading up her sidewalk waving. He waved back and his feet almost didn't touch the ground for the remainder of the distance to his own door. He walked in and tossed his books and jacket on the chair in the living room. He walked into the kitchen and noticed that there were groceries on the counter. Checking, he saw that any cold items had been put in the refrigerator. His mom must have gotten the message. This was so typical of how she treated him. There was no note or anything else to let him know where she was or if she would be home. He had accepted that he was just an afterthought to both his parents; something that they thought about rarely, usually only when he needed to have papers or something else signed. Since the time he was old enough to have a checking account, his parents had set up automatic transfers to his account for his allowance. He had a motorcycle and they did pay the insurance for him but he preferred to walk to school since it was good exercise and they lived only a half-mile away. They didn't know how much he had in his account and they also didn't know about the savings that he had. For a teenager, he had a pretty tidy sum put away. But that money didn't give him what deep down he really wished for. He would have given it all away to have parents that loved and really wanted him. His birth had been a status symbol - something that all the up and coming couples had. Soon after he was born, that fad had fallen out of vogue so he didn't have any siblings. After that, he had been raised by a nanny and brought out for inspection by his parents' friends when they felt the need to make an impression of being the all American couple. He heaved a big sigh. At least he could take care of himself. He didn't make much of mess. He did all the cleaning and cooked for himself many nights. When his dad was in town, he would sometimes make the effort to be home for dinner if it didn't interfere with his schedule. He grilled a chicken breast on the indoor grill and made a salad to go with it. He learned early to cook and felt he did a pretty good job at it. And it was something that he enjoyed. He ate in the living room while watching some sitcom from the seventies. He put the plates in the kitchen and went upstairs to do his homework and then play on the computer. He finally went to bed and fell asleep with Mandy's kiss in his thoughts, as it had been all evening. Saturday morning found Greg once again answering the door to find Mandy standing there. She asked if he was busy. He told her that he wasn't any more than just some chores he had put off until today. She volunteered to give him a hand and between the two of them, they had the laundry done and the house cleaned in record time. Greg was surprised that the chores he normally despised were enjoyable with someone there to help him. They laughed and teased the entire time. When he asked about her coming over, she explained that she didn't want to stay at home by herself. She had been ordered not to bring any boys to the house, but they didn't say she couldn't go elsewhere. Greg told her that he was glad to have the company and she was welcome as often as she wanted to come. Then they fixed some sandwiches and moved into the living room and turned on the TV. Greg took a seat on the end of the couch and Mandy moved to sit close enough that their legs were touching. Greg wondered about this, but decided that he enjoyed the feel of her thigh against his so he just went with it. He picked up the remote and they went through the channels looking for something that would suit them. They settled on a comedy that was pretty silly, but also showed some skin. Greg settled back and without thinking about it, put his arm on the back of the couch and around Mandy. She took advantage and snuggled in closer to him, pulling his arm around her shoulder. Greg was ecstatic. He was enjoying the sensation of her body pushing against him, and he could feel the weight of her breast pushing against his side. He stored all these sensations into his memory to be replayed later. They laughed and commented on the movie as it played on, each comfortable with the company of the other. He didn't want to push her to go further, and she appreciated the fact that she could just sit close without having her tits mangled or the guy trying to slip his hand up her skirt. When the sex scenes came on, they both squirmed uncomfortably. She was embarrassed because of her upbringing, but also curious about what the people on the screen were doing. He was embarrassed by the fact his cock was making an uncomfortable lump in his shorts. He tried to rearrange it without causing suspicion and embarrassment for Mandy. Secretly, he was seeing her and him replacing the actors on the screen. Those thoughts were troubling for him because he could feel even more aroused with that running through his head. It was late afternoon when Mandy finally decided that she had to leave before her parents returned. He walked her to the door and thanked her for the help in the house and the company afterwards. He hesitated opening the door for her and finally got up the nerve to say what he wanted to. "Mandy, would it be alright if I kissed you goodbye?" She seemed startled with the question for a second, and then looked up at him with a smile. "I think I would like that. You don't have to ask me, just do it." With her obvious acceptance, he did just that. Leaning down, he pressed his lips against hers, and used everything he had ever read on the Internet about kissing. She eagerly returned the kiss, giving a little moan as she pressed back against him. They parted after just a few seconds, but that little connection left them both tingling. She was a little breathless as she promised to come and meet him next Friday. Then she slipped out the door. He watched as she walked up the sidewalk and closed the door once she was out of sight. The afternoon with her warm body snuggled up against his had left him excited and that kiss was more than he could stand. He headed to his room and in just a few strokes, took care of the pressure in his groin. Later in the evening, he started reliving the events of the day and had to masturbate again in order to calm down enough to sleep. He was sitting in the living room the next day when his mother came in. She came in and sat down in one of the chairs across from the couch where he was stretched out. "I think we need to talk." She stated this in a voice that almost sounded concerned. "When you left the message at the office, I realized that I hadn't been back here for several days. Work has just been very busy and I have been staying on the couch in my office. I am sorry that I haven't been back here." "Mom, there is no reason for you to get upset about not being here at this late date. You and dad have always paid more attention to your careers than you have me anyway." His mother started to protest, but he held up his hand to forestall her. "Don't bother trying to deny or rationalize it. I figured out a long time ago just where I stood in the list of priorities. And frankly, I am so used to it that anything else wouldn't even seem normal. If you think back, I haven't had a nanny since I was thirteen. I have been pretty well taking care of myself since then. You and dad were always gone before I got up to go to school and most of the time you came home after I had fed myself and in bed." Heather sat in the chair for a moment, thinking about what her son had said. Her first thought was to deny what he had said, but she knew that he was right. She and Ted had treated Greg as almost an afterthought. It was then that she knew that they had done a great disservice to this young man and he had grown up well in spite of their influence (or lack of influence) in his life. Suddenly, she was looking at him in a new light. He was not just a part of the house, but a grown individual. One that she really didn't know at all. "Son, I am very sorry. You are right; we haven't been good parents to you. Hell, we haven't been parents at all. I haven't ever really felt the maternal instinct even when you were small. Please realize that it has nothing to do with you. If there ever was a child who deserved love and attention, it was you. I just never knew quite what to do with you. It's funny in a way; I remember your accomplishments because I would use them as a talking point at work. I guess I was proud of what you were doing and tried to make out as if I had something to do with it." "Mom, I don't blame you or dad at all. Like I said, I just thought that was the way it was supposed to be. It was a long time before I knew it wasn't supposed to be like that. I admit that I felt really bad when I would be in school programs and everyone else's parents would be in the audience and I had no one there for me. For a long time, I was angry and hurt. I felt that you never really wanted me after you had me. But that is all in the past and we can't change that." Heather's face was sorrowful. "I know that and since you have shown me what I have missed, I truly regret it. I failed as a parent and now I don't know what to do from here. Do you want me to try to spend more time here at home? Is there anything your father and I can do to make up for the time we have neglected to be with you?" Greg had not been expecting to have such a talk with his mother. He had always thought he wanted to lash out over the hurt that he had harbored for years. He wanted to hurt them for the neglect and indifference that had caused him to feel so alone and lonely. But now that he had the chance, he just couldn't do it. Her admitting her ignorance about parenting had negated any anger he still had. "Honestly, I don't think that would change anything. I am so used to being alone that anything else would be foreign to me. You are still my mother and I love you. I just don't see any reason to change anything at this late date. I am always happy to have your company but if you tried to 'mother' me now it would be just too weird. If you just want to set me up with an account at the store so I can have food in the house and continue to pay the bills, that is all I really need. I'll always be glad to have you around, but it is not necessary." Heather was thoughtful for a moment. She knew he was right. They couldn't change anything that had already happened. She was deeply disturbed that he felt the way he did, but she also understood that it was her fault as well as her husband's. For all their success in the business world, this young man, her son, was more attuned to the world in what really mattered than either of his parents. "I'll talk to your father and we will get an account set up. Our accountant, Carl, will take care of it. Also, anything else you think you need just call or ask when we are home. You have proven yourself to be more of an adult than we have any reason to ask for and I am very proud of you." Greg then got up, went to his mother, and gave her a hug. He was surprised to feel a few tears hit his shirt while he held her. They would probably never be close as some families were, but at least he had a start on some kind of relationship. It was even better than some since his mother viewed him as an adult and equal now instead of him always being a child. She stayed the rest of the day and they cooked dinner together. Heather was surprised that her son was such a good cook and complimented him several times on the food. They sat together and watched a movie on the big screen then they both turned in. She finally slept in her own bed for the first time in more than three weeks. The next day, they both took off work and school and went to see Carl Collins, the accountant. Mr. Collins was not what you would expect when you thought of an accountant. Instead of being a small skinny guy with glasses, Carl was every bit six feet eight and probably close to three hundred pounds. He could have easily played on the defensive line of almost any pro team. If Greg had known football, he would have realized that Carl Collins had played for the Rams before he injured his back. Carl was introduced to Greg and was told that whatever Greg needed he was to get. Notes were made on the Tolkin's accounts to pay any household bills that came in. Greg was just to send them in or drop them off at the office. With a phone call, he was also set up with an account at the local grocery store. Greg then surprised his mother and Carl when he asked if Carl could help him make some investments of his own. Carl was more than happy to work with the young man and they made arrangements to meet to set up a portfolio for Greg. That taken care of, mother and son spent the afternoon together, getting to know one another a little better. By the time Greg left for school the next day, he felt a lot better about his home situation and even understood his parents better. ------- Chapter 2 The week was slow in school. Midterms were coming up next week and all his classes were reviewing material for those tests. He turned in his thesis in history and received an A for his efforts much to the derision of the rest of the class. Greg had been looking forward to Friday and Mandy waiting for him. He was afraid that she might not be there, but as he walked out the door after the last bell, there she was watching for him. She ran up to him and wrapped him in a hug. Since he had hoped she would be there, he wasn't surprised this time and returned her embrace. Remembering what she had said last Saturday, he didn't ask permission but just leaned down and kissed her. He got caught up in the moment and touched her lips with his tongue. He felt her hesitate for just a second before she opened her lips to allow her own tongue to duel with his. When they broke their embrace a few moments later, Greg didn't know if his legs would support him. Mandy didn't look much more steady. They finally started to walk through the remaining crowd, their arms around each other. They noticed the stares that they received from the remaining students. As soon as they got away from the eyes of the crowd, they were walking next to each other. "Did any of your classmates comment about you having a girlfriend after last week?" Greg chuckled. "There were several that couldn't believe that I had landed, and I quote: "A fox of the highest caliber." Talk about envy." Mandy looked up at him with a smile on her face. "That was some kiss you just gave me. I thought you said that you didn't know how to do that." "Sorry, I just kinda got caught up in the moment. You had said that I didn't need to ask, so I just went with it." "Greg, there is no need to be sorry! That was the best kiss I have ever had. Steve just tried to shove his tongue down my throat." She noticed Greg's face clouded for an instant when she mentioned her ex-boyfriend's name. "Oops. I shouldn't mention my ex-boyfriend's name when I am with my current one." Greg stopped where he was and looked intently at her. Had he heard her right? Current boyfriend? Did she really want to be more than friends? He got his tongue to work again and finally spoke. "Do you mean you want me as a boyfriend?" Mandy looked down at the ground as she twisted the toe of her shoe on the sidewalk. "Well, I was kind of hoping that you would want me." Greg's mind screamed YES!, but he kept himself from shouting out in joy. "Of course I would love to be your boyfriend. I was afraid that you just wanted to be friends, so I didn't say anything. But I have been in love with you since we were kids I think. I always thought of you even when we drifted apart. Now I am sure."Mandy got a smile on her that almost hid the rest of her face. She grabbed him and hugged him as tight as she could. Then she reached up and pulled his head down for another kiss that sent both of them into the clouds. "Well, knowing my parents like I do, we can't be like a real couple. They don't want me to be around any guy at all so we'll have to be careful where they can see. But as long as we are careful there won't be a problem." They walked the rest of the way hand in hand. They both knew her mother would be watching since she had grilled Mandy the week before on just who Greg was. Mandy had told her mother that it was just Greg and they were just walking home together. Mrs. Carson had told her that it was okay for them to walk together, but that was all. Since Greg wasn't part of their church, she couldn't date him. So just before they got within sight of Mandy's house, they moved a respectable distance apart. They did stop for a final kiss before they got in sight of her house. Greg really put a supreme effort into kissing his new girlfriend goodbye. After they both got things under control, they separated. Together, they walked up to in front of her house and he watched her wave as she went up to the door. He didn't remember walking the rest of the way to his house, instead thinking that he now had a girlfriend and in his eyes, the most perfect girlfriend in the world. The next day when Mandy showed up, they started their new relationship. She was just inside the door when they started kissing like there would never be another day for them. They sat and talked throughout the morning while Greg did what few chores he had left to do. He told her about the conversation he had had with his mother and that for all intents and purposes, the house was his. His mom had come in a couple of times during the week, but for the most part, he was still living on his own. He ordered a pizza for lunch and they ate in the living room feeding each other slices of pizza mixed in with kisses. Since he had mentioned his computer, she asked to see it. He took Mandy up to his room and motioned her to proceed through the door. She noticed it was typically a male domicile; the walls in a light tan with pictures of family and posters on the walls. There was a bookcase filled with volumes of science fiction, fantasy, and non-fiction works by famous authors. On the top of the bookcase were his awards and trophies for Martial Arts tournaments that he had been in. In the corner opposite the bookcase was his desk and his computer. The room was dominated by the queen-sized bed. Mandy felt herself getting wet thinking about lying on that bed with Greg, making out and maybe even making love with him. She was sure that it would be far better than what she had experienced with Steve. When Mandy sat down on the edge of the bed, Greg's thoughts were following hers very closely even though he didn't know it. He thought of her lying in the middle of that bed naked and wanting him to join her. These thoughts made his erection even harder. He turned his attention to what he was supposed to be showing her. She was fascinated with the sites that they could access. The equipment she used at school was filtered for content so much that the Internet was useless. She found out that she would have much more interest in computers now that she knew there was so much out there that she didn't know about. Of course, they made some time for personal wants as well. They stretched out on his bed, making out like crazy. Greg was rubbing along Mandy's back and sides as much as he could reach while his tongue explored hers in a highly erotic dance. Mandy realized that he was holding back so he wouldn't be forcing her, but she needed something more. She moved one of his hands up to her breast and he quickly got the idea. He started caressing all around her breast as if measuring its size and shape. He was amazed at how soft the flesh was even through the layers of fabric. As his fingertips brushed over her hard nipples, she moaned deep in her throat and tried to swallow his tongue completely. He stored that reaction away for further use. Mandy was surprised to learn that with the right person she was a very sexual person. She had only felt used when Steve had used her. With Greg however, she was very turned on and had to keep tight control of herself before she ripped off her clothes and offered her body to Greg. Their time was soon up and after several kisses and goodbyes, Mandy went home to change her panties and relieve the itch she was feeling. After Greg closed the door, he went upstairs to do the same. The next Friday, Mandy was there waiting for him as usual. They had their kiss and started home, but Greg felt something was wrong. Mandy stayed very close to him all the way but her mind seemed to be on something else. He asked her about it but she told him that it wasn't anything important and he settled for that but wasn't sure if she was telling him the whole truth... He did continue to think about it the rest of the evening though. Mandy showed up earlier than normal the next day. He had just finished his shower and was starting breakfast. He opened the door in an old pair of gym shorts and an old t-shirt. Mandy was standing there with a look of fear on her face. He immediately brought her in and they once again sat on the couch. Greg suddenly remembered that he had breakfast cooking so he asked her if she wanted any. Mandy turned pale and quickly asked where the bathroom was. He pointed down the hall and she bounded toward it. When she returned, she was very pale. He had shut off the stove and led her to a chair in the breakfast nook. He asked if he could get her anything, and she replied that just a cup of tea and some dry toast would be more than enough. He fixed what she asked for and then sat across from her as she nibbled on it. She looked entirely miserable and her eyes looked like she had been crying. He finally took the tea and toast and led her to the living room. He sat her down and then moved in close to her. He gently put a finger under her chin and lifted her head to look at him. "Mandy, please tell me what is going on. Maybe I can help." She ducked her head back down and started to cry. Through the sobs, she started to speak. "I... I can't tell you. You'll hate me." "Sweetheart, I would never do that. You are hurting, I can tell. Come on, talk to me. Is it something I have done?" She was twisting her skirt in her hands as she took in a breath to hold back her tears. "It's nothing you have done, believe me! It's that... I think... I'm afraid I'm pregnant!" The last part came out in a flurry as she started crying again. Greg was in shock, but he knew he had to reassure her. He gathered her up in his arms and rocked her back and forth as she continued to sob. When her sobs slowed, he leaned back so they were more comfortable on the couch. "Now sweetheart, tell me why you think you are pregnant?" Taking a tissue from the box on the side table, she wiped her nose and took a couple of breaths to gain control. "I am late on my period, almost 3 weeks late. I've been sick almost every morning lately, and I finally got up the nerve and went into the drugstore and bought a pregnancy test before I met you yesterday. You have to use it first thing in the morning, so I did this morning. It showed positive. As soon as I saw the result, I came running over to you. Now my life is over! You must hate me, my parents will disown me, and I don't know what I'm going to do!" She started to cry again. Greg then made her look at him. "Mandy! First of all I don't 'hate' you at all. I know it wasn't your fault. As far as I'm concerned, what that bastard did was rape. I still love you." "Yeah, but I'm used merchandise. How could you want to touch me after this, when I'm carrying another man's child?" "Just like this." Greg then pulled her close to him and started kissing her. She didn't respond at first, but when she realized he meant it she started to return his kisses. When they came up for air a few minutes later, she was convinced that he still loved her. That was her biggest fear, and she almost began to feel some hope. When Greg felt her calm a bit, he got her to finish her tea and toast. While she ate, he began to think of what they should do. Even if the baby wasn't his, he was in love with this girl and they would go through this together. "We need to think about this. Are you off for Spring break next week?" She nodded. "All right, the first thing we do is confirm that you really are pregnant. I'll take you to the women's clinic and they can do the test to make sure... Then we will go from there. And don't worry. We are together in this for as long as you want me to be." Mandy had stopped crying and when he finished talking, she pulled him closer and kissed him. "I love you Greg. You are so wonderful... I can't believe that I am so lucky to have you." They sat for a long time on the couch, just holding each other. He broke away and after finding out that she was not nauseous now but hungry as well, he made some lunch for them both. Then it was back into the living room to watch some comedy and then Greg found one of his favorite classic movies. Mandy commented that she wasn't allowed to watch movies unless the church approved them. Greg was sure she would like this one and by the time Bogart said, "We'll always have Paris." to Ingrid Bergman, Mandy had tears in her eyes, but they were for the actors on the screen this time. As the credits rolled, she looked up from her position against Greg's side. "That was the most romantic movie I have ever seen. I can see why you enjoy it so much." Greg tightened his grip on her arm. "It reminds me of us in a way. We were together when we were younger and then we drifted apart. Then we found each other again." She snuggled in even tighter. "Yeah, but we won't have to part again, like they did. I'm staying right here with you." He kissed the top of her head. "At least until you have to go home." "And I probably should be heading home. God, I don't want to go back to that." "Well you know that I'm always here for you. You have my number so if you need me, just call." "I know sweety and that means so much to me. That is the only thing that I am certain I can count on. I was so relieved when you said you still wanted me. I was so scared that it would scare you off." They talked a little more as Mandy was leaving, and after Greg closed the door, he sat in the living room brooding about what to do. He finally went to bed with at least one thing he should start with. Monday morning, Mandy showed up at the house a few minutes before eight. While Greg finished getting ready, he showed her what he had found on the Internet the day before. He had printed out pages and pages of information about pregnancy. By the time he was out of the shower and dressed, she had learned more than she had ever known. Her mother had barely given her any information beyond that after she got married, it would be her wifely duty to give in to her husband's sordid demands and that she would bleed each month and that was her curse for being a woman. She also told her that she should never touch herself except to keep herself clean. There was so much more she needed to know! Greg called her over and led her to the garage entrance. They walked in and he handed her a leather jacket and a helmet. He commented that they would have to get her some jeans if she was going to ride with him more. She wasn't sure what he meant by that but she soon found out. Greg's bike was a Yamaha V-Max, all dark red and chrome. Mandy had never been on a motorcycle before and was a little scared of the big machine. Greg helped her get her helmet on and her hair tucked in. Then he got on and told her to tuck her dress up around her and sit up tight against his back. She did as she was told, her grip around his waist tightening until he could hardly breathe. He warned her to lean just like he did, then he hit the starter and the big bike came to life. She was scared at first, but Greg was a good rider and she soon relaxed enough to enjoy the feeling of the air moving around her as they cruised toward the clinic. They pulled into the parking lot and she got herself off the bike. Her legs were still vibrating from the feel of the bike and more than a little rubbery from the thrill of the ride. She took the helmet off and Greg handed her a hairbrush so she could get the tangles out of the ends of her hair. Now she understood Greg's comment about the jeans. Her legs were almost icy to the touch. The walked into the clinic hand in hand and she signed her name. The lady behind the desk handed her a pile of papers that she had to fill out. Some of the questions were embarrassing, but she answered them truthfully. Greg paid the cost for her over her objections and she was soon taken back, first to a bathroom so she could pee in a cup and then into a small room. The nurse told her to take off all her clothes except for her socks and put on a paper gown that was on the exam table. She was sitting on the paper-covered table shivering from the cool air and nerves. The doctor finally came in and seeing her apprehension, asked if she had ever had a pelvic exam. She said she hadn't and the doctor tried to ease her mind by explaining everything that was going to be done and why. When the doctor started to examine her breasts, Mandy was glad that this doctor was a woman. It was bad enough for a woman to be seeing and touching her, she couldn't imagine if it was a man. She was told to lie down on the table, put her heels in the stirrups, and move her butt to the edge of the table. The next part was really embarrassing and more than just a little painful. The doctor touched and poked prodded then stuck a piece of equipment into her that was way too big to fit inside of her. Then she said she was taking a specimen for a pap smear. Mandy felt relief when she pulled the speculum out. Then she felt a cold lubricated finger slide into her butt. She tried hard to relax like the doctor told her to, but it was not easy. Finally, the exam was over. The doctor told her to clean herself up and to get dressed. The nurse would be back to get her and then they would go over the results. Mandy did as she was told and soon, the nurse knocked on the door and asked if she was ready. On the way to the doctor's office, Mandy asked if Greg could come back as well. The nurse said that was fine and left Mandy in the hall while she went to get Greg. The two young people sat down across the desk from the doctor. Mandy introduced Greg and then sat back to await the verdict. The doctor looked over the notations on the chart then cleared her throat. "Well, you are definitely pregnant. I would put you at about five weeks along. Are you the father?" She indicated Greg with this comment. He shook his head no and she looked at him in surprise. "Mandy and I have never been... uh" "Intimate?" The doctor helpfully inserted. "Right. That is a good word for it. I am helping her through this though. We got together after this happened." The doctor seemed surprised. "This is highly unusual. Most guys don't want anything to do with their own children much less someone else's." Mandy just looked gratefully at Greg and held his hand tighter. "Alright, the next decision is what to do. There is abortion-" Mandy shook her head violently at that one. "Then you can have the baby and either keep it or put it up for adoption. Any of these choices are viable and you have the final say. Since you intend on having the child, I would like for you to come back in a month to see how you are coming along. Make an appointment before you leave. Now do you have any questions that I could answer?" Mandy was still in too much of a state of shock to think of anything, but Greg indicated he did. "Doctor Simmons, Mandy has been having morning sickness lately. She is having trouble holding things down. Is that going to hurt her or the baby?" Doctor Simmons assured them that the morning sickness was only temporary and that neither she nor the baby was in any danger. "Just try to eat what you think will stay down. Keep some crackers with you. That should help until it subsides." With the consultation over, she shook their hands and they made their way out the door. The ride back to Greg's house was uneventful except that Mandy hung on even tighter, not from fear of the ride, but for the closeness of the young man that was in front of her. She also found that the vibration of the bike had a definite effect on her genitals. She was sure she would have been able to wring out her panties by the time they made it back into the garage. Back at Greg's house, the import of what she had been told began to sink in. She was beyond crying for now. Instead, there was a dread of how she would be able to handle the near future. Mainly from what her parents would say or do. And should she tell Steve. Greg comforted her, telling her that she could always count on him to help. They talked for most of the rest of the day and by then she had pretty well had made up her mind to settle on adoption. She knew that she could never care for a baby on her own and her family would be no help. Even though Greg said he would help raise the child if she wanted to keep it, she knew that would not be fair to either one of them. Even if Greg were able to accept the baby, she would always feel guilty. They checked on everything they could find on the Internet on adoption and armed with what she had found, she considered a private adoption the best bet. Mandy finally went home. She wasn't sure when she would tell them, but she knew she would have to sooner or later. She really dreaded it, but she retained the faint hope that they would understand. Greg kissed her and reminded her if she needed anything to give him a call. After she was gone, he went in to fix some dinner wishing he could be with her for moral support. He had offered, but she insisted she had to do it alone. Mandy was getting more worried the closer she got to her house. She had told her mother she had somewhere important to go when she left this morning. Her mother had called it being flip and disrespectful, but Mandy had made it out of the house without too much trouble. Now, she didn't know what to expect. She made it into the house and almost to her room before her mother's shrill voice pierced the air. "AMANDA MARIE! You come back down here! I want to know where you were today. Probably out with some of those heathens from the public schools." Mandy stopped in front of her mother. This day had been stressful and she was having trouble not just lashing out. "No mother, I was not out with any 'heathens' as you so wrongly put it. The kids in this neighborhood are friends that I grew up with and I like them all." "Well, if you weren't out with 'them' then it was probably some boy. You have the devil in you child. I've seen the way men look at you. Even the pastor has noticed how big your breasts are. And you do nothing to stop it. You probably have evil thoughts about boys and letting them touch you. You are never going to be a proper young lady." The words were out of Mandy's mouth before she could stop them. "Pastor Campol is a nasty old pervert! He pats all the girls on their asses and he even tried to get Camille Tennyson to go with him into the little storage room in the back of the church!" SLAP! Mandy was staggered by her mother's hand across her face. She knew better than to say what she did to her mother, but every word was true. Besides, she was getting very tired of the hypocrisy that she had been noticing. Her mother ordered her to go to her room and stay until she could apologize for the horrid accusations she had made toward the reverend. Mandy turned and walked up the stairs to her room. Her face was still burning and she rubbed the area gently. If her mother thought she was going to take back what she had said, she was very much mistaken. Hell would freeze over before she would lie to protect that old pervert. It was around eight o'clock when she heard her father knock on her door. When she answered, he told her that he and her mother wanted to talk to her. She straightened her dress, walked downstairs, and faced them both in their living room. She pretty well knew what was coming. The same old crap and she was tired of it. Greg had shown her that her parent's view of the world wasn't the only one. Still, she had to put up with this. Her father started. "We are both troubled by your actions lately, Amanda. You are being disrespectful to your mother, and now to the Reverend Campol. You will quit spreading those false accusations starting now. You are never to question authority, especially a man of God. You need to learn your place." Before Mandy could say anything her mother broke in. "It is even worse than you think Richard. She has been leaving teen chapel early every Friday. The Elder Pennybottom saw her walking down the street toward the public school. I'm sure she is down there with those immoral humanists listening to their lies. Even before that, she was not participating in the discussion groups like she should. Instead of listening and learning from the youth pastor, she was sitting off by herself. And then I was emptying the trash today, I found this." In her mother's hand was the home pregnancy test. She could see the plus sign plainly. She could see her father getting more angry, but so was she. She would soon be seventeen and she didn't need this garbage. When her father figured out what his wife was holding, he lost control. "Is what your mother saying true? Are you going against the teachings of God and the rules of this house? You are on a path to hell and you had better get back on the right track." Mandy remained silent feeling her anger build. Her father stood up now. "Answer me child! Is this thing yours? And does it mean what I think it does?" He was screaming at her now. Mandy snapped. All the years of resentment and feeling inadequate came boiling to the surface. Greg had made her feel worthwhile about herself by the way he treated her. They were not going to take that away and make her feel worthless again. "You want to know the truth? I'll tell you the truth. What I said about the Reverend is the truth; you just don't want to see it. He is a letch and likes to fondle the girls. Most of us stay away from him because we don't want his greasy paws on us. Yes, I have been leaving chapel as soon as I can. You want to know why? Because Steve Childers forced me to have sex with him in the basement. He took me down there and I went because you always told me not to question a male. Well, he raped me... I went to see a friend that goes to the public school because he sees me as a worthwhile person, not some piece of property! He cared enough about me to give me a ride to the clinic so I could find out for sure. I'm pregnant, and that the truth!" The last words came out as defiant as she had ever used in the presence of her parents. Her father was shocked and then livid that his child, and a woman would dare to talk to him that way. "Raped you?! What did you do to seduce him? Flip your skirt at him? Drive him insane with lust? You must have led him along and then you got what you were asking for! Now down on your knees and beg God for forgiveness for your sinful state as a fornicator!" He grabbed Mandy's shoulders and tried to force her to kneel down. He had done this before, but this time instead of complying, she resisted. She felt his fingers digging into the flesh on her shoulders and she twisted away from his grasp. "I don't think so! Some guy rapes your daughter and instead of being mad about that you try and blame me! That is just sick. Listen to me! It Was NOT My Fault! I know better. You want to blame your weaknesses on women, but it is only the men's lack of self control." He farther started to say something, but she stopped him. "Just shut up and listen to me for once! You and your 'Leader of the household' crap is what got me raped. And you can't even take the blame. You want to know what is worse about all this? I got pregnant from that rape and you won't even make the father acknowledge it. The reason I stayed out of the discussions is because they were making it out to be my fault! You don't even give a damn about me!" By this time, Mandy was almost hysterical and screaming out the words. All the put-downs from the past had suddenly come up to the surface and she couldn't handle it. Her mother was in a state of shock that her daughter had said those things, but worse yet she heard her admit she was pregnant. It was almost like she was proud of it instead of being ashamed like was proper. This was a disgrace to her entire family. They would have to send her away to a home for unwed mothers, or maybe some relative. Her father was gone far beyond that. His authority had been questioned. He would not allow a mere woman to stand there and deify his God-given mastery of this house. He stood above the crying form and came to a decision. Mandy felt a painful sting as he slapped her hard enough to knock her down. He reached down and pulled her to her feet. "I will not abide anyone usurping my authority in my own home. You are beyond redemption and I want you out of my sight. Leave and never come back!" He pulled her to the door and as soon as it was open, he shoved her out of it. Mandy stumbled and fell down the steps that led up to the porch. She heard the door slam and then the quiet of the evening surrounded her. She just curled up and started sobbing in anger but also in loss for all that she had known was now gone to her. Greg was still trying to decide what to have for dinner when the doorbell rang. He had been worried about Mandy ever since she had left this afternoon that he hadn't thought to eat until his stomach started to gnaw at his backbone. He glanced up at the clock and noticed that it was half past nine. A knot formed in the pit of his stomach when he realized that the only person who would be at his door would be Mandy or her father. He hurried to open the door to find his girlfriend there barely able to stand. She had dead grass in her hair and her arms and knees were bloody from scrapes. Her eyes were swollen from crying and a red handprint on her cheek. Even her dress was torn. He opened the screen and then caught her as she started to fall. He reached down, lifted her into his arms, and carried her into the living room. He finally got untangled from her death grip around his neck and had her sit on the couch while he knelt on the floor in front of her. Through her sobs, he got the story of what happened. He was angry, more than he had ever been. However, he knew he couldn't do anything now except to take care of Mandy. She was his first priority. He wanted to get her to calm down, and thinking about how his mother always wanted a hot bubble bath saying how it relaxed her, he thought it would work for Mandy as well. With many promises that he would be right back and that she was safe, Greg went up to his parent's bedroom. In their private bathroom was a garden tub that was big enough for two people. Only one would be in there tonight, but it would be perfect. He started the water, getting it as warm as he thought she could stand. His mother's bath beads were on the shelf by the sink and he poured a generous amount into the rushing water. Grabbing a couple of the big thick towels his family preferred, he lowered the lights a bit and then went to get Mandy. She had stopped crying by this time, but her body felt bruised all over. She got up when Greg offered his hand and he led her upstairs and to the bath. Once he had her in the room and showed her where everything was, he started to leave to give her some privacy. He turned back when she called his name. "My arms hurt... Could you help me get this dress off?" Greg definitely wanted to see her naked, but under different circumstances. However if she was asking, he would help. He unzipped the back of the dress and then helped her get it over her head leaving her standing in her panties and bra. The pale skin that was exposed was flawless and he fought with himself to keep from kissing her all over. With her request that he continue, he unhooked the bra in the back with trembling hands and let the sides go so that the straps slid off her shoulders. She twitched and it hit the floor revealing her high and firm breasts. She hooked her own fingers into her panties and pushed them down revealing to his sight, her shapely ass. It was even better than he had ever imagined. Then she steadied herself with his shoulder and lifted her feet to get clear of her remaining piece of clothing. He helped her to climb into the tub and she slowly sank down into the hot water, hissing as the scrapes on her legs and arms made contact. As soon as she was settled, he again started to leave so he could fix them both something to eat. He told her where he was headed. "Hurry back. I might fall asleep and drown in here. It feels so good I can't believe it." He promised he would be right back. In the kitchen, he heated up some soup and made sandwiches. He figured this would keep until she was ready to come down to eat. On the way back up, he stopped in the other bathroom to try and relieve himself. He had trouble because he still had the hard-on from when Mandy had asked him to help her undress. As Mandy soaked in the tub, she thought about her behavior since she had made it to his door. She had arrived scared and in pain. When he had held her, she had felt safe for the first time since she had left earlier. Perhaps that was why she had asked him to help her undress. Usually, she was so modest that she wouldn't let anyone see any part of her if she could help it. But with Greg, she felt comfortable. That wasn't all, she felt sexy. As beat up as she was, she felt sexy around him! She was sure he wouldn't attack her, and of course, he hadn't. She was sure he appreciated what he had seen though. She had seen the tent in his sweats and the look on his face as he tried not to stare. Now, all she had to do was relax in the silky hot water surrounding her body. When he walked in the master bath, Mandy was still soaking among the suds. She looked over and smiled at him as he entered. "This soaking really helped... Now, I guess I should get rid of the dirt that is left." In a fit of inspiration or maybe pure hormones, Greg volunteered to help her with that chore. She thought for a second then agreed. He first had her dunk her hair to get it wet. He reached up and grabbed his mother's shampoo. Squirting a blob into his hand, he rubbed it between his palms and then started massaging it into her hair. She groaned at the sensuous feeling of his fingers massaging her scalp. She didn't realize that a simple act like this could make her feel so loved - and so sexy! When he finished, he pulled the showerhead down and rinsed the suds from her hair. Then, he picked up the soap and a washrag. She whispered that his hands would be better than the rag. He had to agree and started at her neck and shoulders, rubbing his soapy hands all over her skin. He paid special attention to her breasts making the nipples stand proud. Then he did her back and after getting her to stand, he started at her feet and worked up both of her legs to her ass. After making sure he had every crevice done, he finally worked his fingers through her trimmed bush and across her pussy lips. The moisture he felt there was too much to be water, and he knew she was turned on. She was so slick and wet that he couldn't tell if he had everything cleaned, but he was going to make sure. Mandy couldn't believe that she had asked him to rub her body with just his hands. If she hadn't trusted him so much, she would never have thought to do that in a million years. It seemed to her that every place he touched was set on fire. Her skin was tingling from his soft touch. When he rubbed her boobs, they got so tight they almost hurt. Every place he cleaned set her on fire. When he sent his fingers through her pussy lips, she thought she was going to climax right then. When he stopped, she almost grabbed his hand to finish the job, she was so close! Then, he turned on the showerhead to rinse her. The pulsating water kept her on the verge of an orgasm and when he rinsed between her cheeks she was ready to explode. When the water hit her pussy and clit, she did go over. She slumped down onto the bottom of the drained tub, her body exploding. Greg wasn't trying to turn her on so much as making her relax. Even with his inexperience, he could see she was getting very excited. When she slid back down and started thrusting her pussy upward, he knew she was climaxing and he kept the stream of water aimed where it was doing the most good. She finally pushed the stream away when she felt it was too much. He handed her the towels and told her he would find her something to wear. He went into his room he quickly stripped off his shorts and underwear. He had climaxed in his shorts as he watched her orgasm. He wiped off his cock and slipped into an old pair of gym shorts and then went back into the bedroom and pulled out one of his mom's robes. He had also brought along one of his oversized t-shirts. By the time he got back, Mandy had dried off and was wrapped in a towel. It covered the important parts, but just barely. He handed her the t-shirt and then the robe. He wanted to give her just a bit of privacy, even after what they had just done. Down in the kitchen, he turned up the heat on the soup and assembled the sandwiches. Mandy came down and asked if she could wash her clothes. He nodded and she started the washer, then sat down next to him at the counter to dig into the meal. By the time her clothes were out of the dryer, it was close to midnight. They were both feeling the rigors of the day. They went upstairs hand in hand. Reaching the top, Greg was in a fix. He looked down at Mandy. "You can use the guest room across from mine if you want." Mandy had been thinking about this as well. She figured she could trust him. "If you don't mind, could I sleep in with you? I really don't feel like... you know, but I would really like to just be held." "Of course. I can understand and we won't do anything until you're ready. But I can't guarantee that I won't have a natural reaction." She couldn't help but giggle at that. "I would wonder about me if you didn't react. But I knew I could count on you to be able to control yourself." They entered his room and he stopped at one side of the bed. Mandy continued around to the other. She slipped off the robe revealing that she was wearing his shirt and nothing else. He could feel his cock stirring as he watched her crawl between the sheets. He turned his back to her and pulled his shirt over his head. She noticed for the first time, the muscular build that normally was hidden from view. While she was admiring the scenery, he looked over his shoulder at her. "I normally sleep with nothing on, but I can wear some briefs if you would be more comfortable about it." "No, sleep how you are used to. I trust you." What she didn't say was that she didn't know if she trusted herself. He shrugged and bent to shove the shorts off his hips. Mandy was studying his muscular ass with interest. She broke her gaze as he sat down and slid his legs into bed. Settling the covers midway up his torso he looked over at her. Mandy took that as an invitation and scooted over to where she was laying against his left side. He put his arm around her and she draped her across his chest. Even with the feeling of her warm body against him, he fell asleep within minutes. Mandy had already dropped off. ------- Chapter 3 Greg woke up the next morning trying to figure out what was going on. He was on his side and a very female body was snuggled back up against him. He knew it was female because his hand was filled with a soft breast. His mind remembered back to last night and he knew it was Mandy. She shifted in her sleep and he realized that his cock was rock hard and wedged between the bare cheeks of her ass. He tried to move back but she mumbled, "Leave it there, feels good." He liked the feeling as well, so he stayed there until he could no longer ignore the pressure in his bladder. Despite her protesting, he extricated himself from the bed and moved to the bathroom. By the time he returned, Mandy was wide-awake and laying on her back smiling at him. "Hey there! You wouldn't believe the dreams I was having." He grinned back at her. "If they were anything like mine they had to be out of this world." "You know, I haven't ever slept as peaceful as I did last night. You are a wonderful bed warmer." "Well I could say the same about you. I have never had anything in my bed so soft and cuddly." "If you could get your cuddly bed mate that robe, I'll go down and fix us some breakfast. And before you ask, I am a very good cook. Remember, that is what a woman is good for according to the school and I was the best in my class." Greg handed her the robe and while he took a shower, she got busy in the kitchen. By the time he came down, she had ham and cheese omelets, hashbrowns and toast ready on the counter. He sat down opposite Mandy and dug in. By the time he was working on his second cup of coffee, he had to admit she was as good a cook as he was if not better. He made sure to tell her so. She blushed at the compliment, but she also was filled with pride by the words. She had cooked at home, but all she heard was complaints from her mother because she wasn't doing it right. As they ate, they talked about what had happened last night. Greg couldn't believe that her parents had acted the way they did. Mandy told him that she wasn't that surprised considering the kind of religion that they practiced. Greg looked thoughtful for a moment. "I really don't think that is really what Christianity is all about. There are a lot of Christian kids in my school and their home lives are nothing like that. When they talk about it, they tell of love and devotion and things like that. What it seems to me is that your parents are using religion as an excuse to cover their own problems. What they are living isn't at all what religion is supposed to be about." "You may be right. I know they keep claiming that all the other churches in the area aren't really Christian and that they are too liberal. I never have felt the love that is supposed to be there. Who knows, one of these days I will go to one of those churches and see." She was feeling a lot better now that she realized that maybe she wasn't the horrible sinner that her parents made her out to be. Just maybe, God didn't hate her after all. Greg insisted on cleaning up while Mandy went to get changed. Her dress had a couple of tears but would suffice until they could get her some clothes at the mall. That was their first stop of the day. Greg normally hated to shop unless it was for something he really wanted. The crowds at the mall bothered him mainly because the 'cool' clique was always hanging out there. Most of the time, they didn't bother him much, but once in a while, one of the jocks would want to be macho. He tried to avoid violence as much as he could so he avoided the mall when he knew those people would be there. This time, he was almost looking forward to it. When he had suggested to Mandy that they needed some clothes, she about went crazy. It wasn't even the normal female reaction to the siren call of the mall, but she was honestly excited. Then she said she couldn't go because she didn't have any money. It took some convincing but she finally relented and said he could buy her a couple of outfits. As soon as they hit the entrance, Mandy was ready to explore every store that could contain clothing that she could wear. Greg was getting a big kick out of watching her as she looked at what seemed like every item of fashion that was in style at the moment. While Mandy had been to the mall with her mother, she had never had the chance to choose her own clothing. She had been embarrassed when Greg had seen her in those 'granny panties' that her mother made her wear. Now that Greg had told her they would be buying her some clothes that she would pick out, that was one thing on her list. But to start with, she pretty well knew what she wanted. The key word was sexy. The only thing she had ever been allowed to wear were frumpy dresses that did their best to hide her figure ever since she had one. The closest thing to sexy was her school uniform and that wasn't much better. Now she could at least have a couple of outfits that were like the rest of the world wore. And she really wanted to turn Greg on. She almost bypassed The Temp because she was afraid it was too expensive, but Greg steered her into the entrance anyway. She zeroed in on a rack of the low rise jeans that she had seen on the girls that walked around town. Having never owned a pair of jeans, she didn't have any idea of the size, but one of the salesgirls came over. When she asked Mandy if she needed help, she admitted she did. "My boyfriend wants me to have a couple of outfits and he's buying." The salesgirl, whose nametag read 'Nicole', looked over at Greg. "Better keep him around. Good lookin' and willing to spend money. Rare combination." She grinned at Mandy and winked. It was just a few minutes before she headed to the changing room for a fitting. A couple of whispered a conference between the girls and Greg was at the counter paying for three pairs of jeans and two knit tops. Mandy had been frugal with the amount even though he had told her to get what she wanted which told him that she wasn't taking advantage of him. The next stop was Victoria's Secret. This one was a stop that Greg was dreading. He knew she would want new under things, but he didn't figure on having to help with the selections. He was a little embarrassed being surrounded by all the revealing bras, panties, sleepwear and other things, but he followed her around anyway. She selected a couple of thongs; along with some bikini cut panties and, at the suggestion of the woman behind the counter, a selection of bras in various cuts and colors. Again, Greg paid the bill and asked the lady if Mandy could change into one of the new outfits. It was a slow in the store, so she told her to go ahead. When Mandy came out, the change was startling. Instead of the matronly dress with the white knee high socks, she was dressed in a tight red top that showed her figure and left a bit of her midriff showing above the low rise pants. As she turned, Greg saw the top of her thong just peeking out. She looked like a teen-age wet dream. They walked out with Mandy carrying her bags of purchases like they were a badge of honor. They made one more stop at Mervyns for the more practical items she would need. He offered to buy her another uniform for school, but she declined, saying that by next Monday they would have kicked her out for being a loose woman and being pregnant. They did look in the maternity shop but figured that there was still time for that, and then they headed to the food court to grab something to eat. As they started to sit down after getting their meals, Greg almost suggested they leave and go somewhere else. A group from the school was there and one in particular, Adam Sloan, was someone he would rather avoid. Then he looked over at Mandy and saw she was having such a good time that he decided to stay put. Maybe Adam and his buddies would overlook them and wander off. Apparently, Adam's testerone level was way too high and the sight of a sexy girl sitting with Greg was too much for him. He and a couple of his buddies came swaggering up to their table. Mandy could even tell that they were there to cause trouble. "Well if it isn't the geek-boy Greg. Who is this doll with you? Can't be a girlfriend; cause someone this hot wouldn't have anything to do with you. Why don't you split so I can show her what a real man is like." Mandy looked over at Greg with a real fear in her eyes. This guy reminded her of the guys at her school. She knew how they would react, and she was afraid that it would be the same now. But Greg had had enough. Adam was leaning over Greg with his hand on the table. Before any of the interlopers could react, Greg grabbed Adam's hand, twisted it as he stood and put the bully on the floor. His foot was on Adam's throat and there was fear in the bully's eyes now. "Now listen, you moron. I have put up with a lot from you and your goons for a long time. I don't like violence, but by messing with my girlfriend, you crossed the line. All I need to do is step down and you would be dead. Think about that, asshole. I am going to let you up and you and your goons are going to leave us alone. Next time, someone will get hurt and bad. Do you understand what I'm saying, Asshole?" Adam slowly nodded. He had been picking on Greg the Geek for the past three years and he had never reacted except to walk away. He certainly did not expect to find himself in this position. Greg released his grip and Adam rubbed his throat where Greg's shoe had been. He then signaled to his friends and they walked off, their bravado gone for the time being. Greg and Mandy finished eating but the joyous mood had been broken. Mandy was torn in her thoughts. She was very grateful to Greg for protecting her, but she had never seen him hurt a fly for as long as she knew him. The sudden outburst and the speed that he had used to take the other guy down had startled her. Even more was the intensity with which he did it. And what he had told that Adam guy. Somehow, she knew that he wasn't kidding when he said that he could have killed the guy. That was the scary part for her. They were continuing their walk through the mall when Greg noticed her quiet demeanor. "Mandy, are you upset about what happened?" She nodded. He moved her toward a bench and got her to sit down. He got in front of her and took her hands in his. "I'm sorry that it happened and that you had to see it. Those guys are goons, and I have put up with them for a long time. I hate violence, and I try to avoid it when possible, but this was one time that I had to do something. I wasn't going to let them hurt you. And I don't want you to worry, I would never, ever raise a hand to you." "Okay, that much I understand. I think it just startled me. It happened so fast." "I didn't want a scene, and I figured if I could take him by surprise, it would be over quickly. It was very simple to do that. When we get home, I'll teach you how to do that yourself." "Maybe I should know how to take care of myself. My father considered himself the protector of the family, but when it all is said and done, he didn't do anything but blame me when I really needed protection. If I had been able to protect myself, I wouldn't be in the condition I'm in now." Seeing that she was happier now, Greg took her hand and pulled her up and they continued with their shopping. His bank account had taken a hit, but he could afford it, so he decided that he needed a couple of things. Mandy picked out a couple of shirts for him and he bought a couple of CDs that needed replacing. The music store fascinated Mandy. There were so many different styles of music that she had never heard of before. This store had headphones where you could listen to different groups and CDs. They spent close to an hour in there as she sampled every style of music there was. Greg watched closely at what she really enjoyed and picked up a couple of discs from each one. The final stop was the shoe store. Mandy needed something besides the patent leather dress shoes she had to wear all the time. They walked out with a pair of Nike running shoes, sandals, and even a pair of fashionable high heels. They went back out to the bike and Greg compacted everything down to where he could strap most of it onto the backrest or fit it into the compartment under the seat. This left one bag that Mandy had to hold. They rode back to the house with Mandy holding that bag like it was her most prized possession in one arm and the other around Greg's waist. Once home, Mandy insisted on giving Greg a fashion show. She modeled every combination that she could come up with using the tops and jeans. He told her that every one of them was very sexy and that she had great taste. She didn't model the Victoria's Secret purchases, but he hoped that would come later. After dinner, they sat down to relax. When Greg asked if there was anything in particular she wanted to see, she blushed. "Could we maybe watch one of the dirty channels? I heard a couple of the girls whispering about how one of them got to see a 'sex movie' as she called it. Ever since, I have been curious to know what they are about." "Sure, anything you want to see. But if you get too uncomfortable just let me know and we will change the channel. The ones on the satellite are not hard core where they show everything up close, but you will get the idea." With that, he put in the channel number for one of the adult channels. They got lucky since a feature was just starting. Greg could tell from the first that the plot wasn't that great. Two flight attendants who were roommates were after the same guy. The basic plot was that they were competing to see which one was better in bed, and when the guy can't choose, all three end up together. Mandy was watching intently as the two girls on the screen were undressing and taking showers. Greg could see that she seemed to be comparing her own body to those on the screen. She looked up at him and asked if he liked figures like that, "They are interesting for a change of pace I guess. But they are mostly silicone. Personally, I think the real ones are better. As far as preferring them over you, there is no comparison. I don't think of you as just a body; it is the whole package that I'm in love with." Her smile told him he had answered the right way. When the mandatory girl-girl scene was on, Mandy was just a bit more interested. She watched, but her reaction told him it wasn't really her thing, but she seemed curious. However when the regular sex scenes were going, her attention was riveted to the screen. The way she was moving her body, he could tell that the action was having an effect on her. She was shifting her legs and would unconsciously let her hand wander down to the crotch of her new jeans. He could see her nipples pushing the front of her shirt out making their yearning to be touched known. He decided to help her along a bit and brought the hand that was on her side up to touch the underside of her left breast. She moaned a bit deep in her throat and he took this as a cue to continue. As his fingers grazed over her nipple, she shuddered in reaction. She was getting very turned on. His other hand was busy with the buttons on her jeans. He would undo one button at a time and then caress the exposed skin under it before moving to the next. When he got to the front of her panties he caressed first over them, and then under, where he encountered her soft pubic hair. He could feel the moistness of her arousal before he even came close to her cleft. The heat she was generating was tremendous. He worked her jeans down to where he could touch her entire vulva. The jeans kept his hand in close contact with her body but there was just enough room for him to stroke her. She was so wet that there was hardly any friction, but he found her clit and started applying pressure to each side so that the head was barely rubbing the silk of her panties. Her breathing became erratic and he felt her tense up. She reached up and pulled his head down for a kiss. As soon as he touched her tongue with his, she started shaking in orgasm, her pelvis jerking up against his hand and her mouth trying to swallow him completely. She started to calm down a bit and released the death grip that she had on his head. He eased his fingers out of her pants and thinking of what he had seen on the screen, brought his fingers up to his nose. There was a slightly musky odor on his digits but the scent seemed to go straight to his cock making it harder than ever. With her watching him in curiosity, he stuck both fingers in his mouth. There wasn't much of a taste, but what there was he liked. He hoped to get a taste from the source to see if there was a difference. By now, Mandy had recovered and looked down at the crotch of Greg's jeans. The bulge that she saw fascinated her. She looked up into his face for permission and when he nodded, she undid his belt and opened the front of them up. He raised his butt off the couch and she slid the pants and his briefs down to his thighs releasing his painfully erect cock. To her, it seemed every bit as big as the ones on the screen, definitely bigger than Steve was. The head was dark red with passion and Mandy found it very arousing. She wasn't ready to try to put it in her mouth like those actresses did, but she found that if she squeezed and stroked it, Greg responded by groaning and his cock throbbed even more. She was still examining his cock closely when he cried out that he was going to come. She moved her head back just as his body went rigid, then she felt the pulsating of the semen rising through his cock. The first shots fired up into the air landing on his chest and stomach. The slowed in intensity and the final spurts came out and coated her hand. It was hot, sticky, and when she rubbed it between her fingers slick. Feeling very daring and remembering what he did, she touched some of it to her tongue. She didn't like the texture very much, but the taste wasn't that bad, a little salty maybe. She looked at him, grinned, and got a relaxed grin in return. She reached over on the side table and pulled some tissues from the box to try to clean up the drying semen. It had soaked into his shirt, so she knew they would have to wash it before it stained. She tossed the used tissues toward the wastebasket. Looking down at Greg, she saw him smiling up at her. This time he reached up and pulled her head down for a long, loving kiss. "Thank you. That was the best I have ever felt." His voice was so low that she almost didn't hear him. She sighed in satisfaction and hugged her lover, content in the closeness and what they had just shared. They stayed like that for a while until Mandy started to move her arm and realized she was stuck in some of the semen that she missed cleaning up. She giggled at him and he sat up with a smile. "Lets go take a shower to make sure we are both cleaned up. I wouldn't want you to stick solid to me in the middle of the night. They showered together sharing long caresses and deep kisses. Since they were both sated for the moment, it was more loving than sexual, but it gave them both a feeling of closeness. They ended up standing face-to-face kissing while each explored the other's back and buttocks until the water started to turn cool. They got out and dried each other off, learning even more about the other person's body. Greg was already in bed when Mandy came in. She was wearing a nightshirt that came about a quarter of the way down her thighs. She started to crawl under the covers, and then hesitated. "I bought this nightshirt, but there isn't any reason for me to wear it to bed. You already have seen all there is to see." Greg was watching her as she lifted it off over her head. He was surprised to see that she wasn't wearing anything under it and that she had trimmed and shaved her pussy hair until there was just a small patch at the top of her cleft. She saw him looking and explained that some of her new panties would have shown her hair above them. "It looks great on you." he replied as she slid in next to him. They lay like that for a few minutes until Mandy's hand wandered down toward his cock. She pressed her hand against it softly and felt him respond. "Greg, would you make love to me? I know it can be better than what happened before, and I really want to give myself to you. I want to know what it is to really love someone and have them love me back." He touched her lightly on the cheek. "I would love to make love with you. I have wanted to for a very long time. Let's do this right. I want to make you feel as good as you possibly can." With that, he onto his side and started kissing her... Her eyelids, cheeks, along her chin and then to her ears, stopping each time he switched sides to kiss her lips. Then he started on her neck and down across her shoulders until he got to her breasts. By now, she was starting to moan and move around... He looked over and saw that her nipples were very erect and the flesh around them was crinkled. Still, he didn't just go for the nipples but worked his way all around her mounds gradually moving to where he could take the tips in between his lips and rub gently. This really made her start to squirm and her hands started to roam around on his back and chest. He let the hand that was not supporting him roam towards the treasure between her legs. He once again found her soaked with her own oils and the newly shaven lips were slick and swollen. He gently probed and found her entrance. He started pushing a finger inside and felt the hot velvety texture of her vagina. As he slid his finger further in, she was raising her pelvis to accelerate his probing. This felt so much different to her. Steve didn't do any foreplay at all and just slammed his little dick into her. The sensations she was feeling now made her body want even more. Greg had made it down to her bellybutton before she had decided that she needed his cock inside her NOW. He moved between her wide spread thighs and started to rub the head of his cock around to get it wet. Every time he would move over her clit, she would whimper in anticipation. He felt the head slip up against her entrance and he started to push. Being a virgin until now didn't mean he didn't know what to do. He had seen enough from the movies and the Internet to know the mechanics. His instinct was telling him to go slow and easy, partly to prolong the wonderful feelings he was having but mostly to make it better for her. After the head entered her, he let her get used to the feeling while he did the same. He could feel the heat and velvety softness as her pussy pushed against the head of his cock. He started a slow rocking motion moving out a bit to get coated with her juices before pressing in even further. It really wasn't that long before he was in as far as he could go and they both groaned in unison as their pubic bones made contact. He had never felt so long and hard before and he felt like he was touching the very depths of her sheath. He was now feeling the heat and the pulsations along the entire length of his cock and he didn't think that he would ever feel anything that could top this. He opened his eyes and saw that Mandy was enjoying it as much as he was. Her entire upper chest had a rosy tinge to the skin and her head was thrown back. He leaned down and touched his lips to her only to have her respond with a kiss that was almost savage in its passion. He felt her start to rock her pelvis and it reminded him that there was more to come. He pulled out about half way and then back in as far as he could. After repeating this a couple of times, he fell into a rhythm that seemed to satisfy them both. He was glad that he had already had one orgasm not that long ago; otherwise, he would have been shooting already. Mandy started to raise her hips in rhythm and was showing all the signs of another orgasm. The sensations were so intense that he was rapidly losing control. He remembered that she had asked him to kiss her as she climaxed before, so he leaned down and did it again. That seemed to set her off and she went over the edge. Her pussy started to pulsate around him and that was all he could take. He started thrusting into her with short strokes each one ending as deep as he could go and firing his semen against the mouth of her uterus. The thrusts were making contact with her clit and that prolonged and intensified her orgasm even more. By the time they both started coming down, it was all Greg could do to roll onto his side taking her with him. He felt like all his strength had been shot out the end of his cock. Mandy was lying there panting, and trying to get her senses back. They lay there in the afterglow still joined as they became conscious. Mandy looked into her lover's eyes. "My God, that was so incredible!" "No kidding. That was more than I could have ever dreamed of." Then Mandy gave a little giggle. "I thought you had never done this before. It sure didn't seem like it. You were fantastic." Greg stroked her face. "I was just trying to make it good for you. I knew your first experiences were bad so I wanted you to enjoy it this time. Of course, I was enjoying it right along with you." "Yeah, I could tell you were enjoying it. But I appreciate that you wanted me to enjoy it. Most other boys I have heard about don't care. That is what makes the difference, I think." "What is most important is that it is with someone you love. That makes you want to please your partner." Mandy reached over and hugged him tightly. "And I love you too, so much!" There were tears in her eyes. What she couldn't express was that this was the first time that she had ever really felt loved. It was a foreign emotion for her, but one that she wanted to feel from now on. It made her feel whole and she owed it to the man that was lying next to her. They held each other for a long while, each basking in the afterglow of their coupling. Greg moved a bit and his soft cock slid out of her to land with a wet plop on his leg. Mandy felt their combined juices starting to come out of her so she slipped her hand between her legs and tried to make it to the bathroom. When she stood, her legs felt so weak that she could hardly stand up. She held onto the wall for support and made it across the hall to the bathroom. Greg had finally rolled onto his back and was lying stretched out with his hands behind his head, replaying the scene in his mind when Mandy came back into the room with a warm washcloth in her hand. She insisted on cleaning him up and gently wiped up their secretions from his body. Her gentle touch started a reaction in him, but so soon after their lovemaking, his cock was trying to make promises it couldn't keep. The kiss she applied to the head made it a close call though. Mandy took her place against Greg's chest and idly caressed his chest while he rubbed her back and side. They fell asleep like that, exhausted but very satisfied. The next morning, Greg woke up on his side with a pair of very soft breasts in his back and soft mat of hair tickling his ass. Mandy's right arm was draped over his waist, her pinky finger just touching his erect cock. He stayed still until he could will his erection down. Then, he slipped out of bed bringing a sleepy groan from his lover. He made it into the bathroom and relieved himself. Since he was pretty well awake, he went ahead and brushed his teeth and washed his face. He slipped on some old gym shorts and a t-shirt and went down to start some coffee. He was pouring his first cup when Mandy came down the stairs in the sleep shirt that she had discarded last night. Her hair was all messed up and her eyes were mere slits as she walked through the doorway to the kitchen. He was amazed at how beautiful she looked to him even first thing in the morning. "Morning, Love. Sleep well last night?" She tried to give him a half-hearted smile, but it was clear that she was not completely awake. "Mmmmm. I slept like a baby and it was your fault." He picked up another cup. "Let me make it up to you. Sit down and get awake while I start breakfast." She gratefully did as he asked, sipping her coffee as he moved around getting out the ingredients for pancakes. He asked Mandy if she could stand eating, and she replied that the morning sickness wasn't too bad today. The batter was almost ready when they both heard the front door open. Greg heard his mom's voice from the entry hall call out to him. He replied he was in the kitchen. "Since you have the week off and I just finished a large deal, I thought..." Heather Tolkin's voice tapered off as she came around the corner and saw that her son had company. "Mom, this is Mandy, Amanda Carson. She and I have been friends for years. She's in a tight spot and needed a place to stay." Mandy smiled tentatively at the well-dressed woman. Heather returned the smile and reached over the counter to clasp hands with Mandy. "I think I remember you, you were the little girl that always wore dresses and had the crush on Greg. Am I right?" "Yes, ma'am. That was me." Mandy turned a light shade of pink when she realized that she had been obvious about her feelings, even back then. Greg offered breakfast to his mother as well, but she declined opting for coffee instead. She was watching the interplay between her son and this girl. The smiles and the loving looks that they exchanged. The way that they would touch hands whenever they were close enough. She thought about when her and Ted were first married. They had looked at each other that way. They had grown apart over the years, each one really more married to their careers than to each other. Now, they each had lovers that were really more for relief of their urges than any emotional attachment. Those early memories filled her with regret. She wanted more for her son. As the two young people were finishing up their breakfast, Heather cleared her throat. "Just watching you two, I would say that you are a lot more than just friends. Am I right?" She received two slightly embarrassed nods. "I can't say that I'm overly happy about you two being lovers. However, I know I haven't been around much so I can't say too much. I know that you are very mature for your age Greg, and if you two think you have considered all the possibilities, then I will take your word for it. Now did you say that Mandy was having some problems? Anything I can help with?" Greg had been considering some of the problems that might arise and he was sure that Mandy had been doing the same thing. His mother was a corporate bigwig who just might know someone who could help even if she couldn't. After receiving Mandy's permission to talk about it, he laid the whole thing out. "The short version is that Mandy was raped, or at least forced to have sex by a boy at her school. Since we were friends, I offered to help her. Her family is very religious, so she knew they wouldn't be any help. I took her to the women's clinic and they confirmed she is indeed pregnant. When she told her parents, they kicked her out of the house. She came to me and she has been here ever since. That was two days ago." Heather looked over at Mandy. "Is that what happened?" "He left out a lot of details about how much support and love he has given me, but that is the bare bones of what happened to me." "Well I must admit, that you are even more level-headed than I thought Greg. Most every man I have ever heard of would be horrified that the woman he loved was carrying another man's child. Yet you are taking it very well." "Well, I looked at it this way. It wasn't her fault that she was forced to do it. Just because someone took advantage of her doesn't make me love her any less. Besides, she isn't with him, she made the choice to be with me. That says a lot." Mandy reached over and hugged him tightly. "Thank you for saying that. I've been worried about if that would affect the way you feel about me, especially when I get fat and ugly from someone else's child." "You will never be fat and ugly in my eyes," he said, hugging her back. "I think I may know someone who just might be able to help you. I can see some problems that could crop up that might need some legal advice. Are you going to keep the baby or... ?" "I think adoption is the best idea. I... err, we are too young to try and raise a child," was Mandy's reply. "You are probably right. But the woman I am thinking about would be able to handle everything. She is a family lawyer, but she has done private adoptions as well. I'll call her tomorrow and see if she will take you as a client pro-bono as a favor to me." "That would really be great, mom." Mandy's response was more expressive. She hugged Heather tightly. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Tolkin. It is wonderful that you would do that for me." Heather was surprised by the sudden display of affection, but quickly responded by returning the hug. "That's quite alright Mandy. If my son loves you, you must be quite a girl. He has very good taste, you know." Then they pulled back to where Heather held both of Mandy's hands. "And you don't need to call me Mrs. Tolkin. Heather is just fine with me. Only my staff calls me by my formal name. Now when I showed up, I was going to see if Greg wanted to spend a day with his mother. How about if you both get dressed and we'll go out. I'll even treat you to lunch." They both agreed that it would be fun to just spend some time goofing off and they started to head up the stairs when Heather called up after them, "And no fooling around or we will never get out of here." Greg yelled out "Mommmmmm!" but Mandy just giggled. They didn't fool around, though Greg couldn't resist a few caresses of her boobs before she got her bra on. Mandy finished dressing and went into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face, leaving Greg to get dressed alone. He was done before she was and stopped at the bathroom door to tell her to come down when she was ready. He stepped into the kitchen as his mom was hanging up the phone. "I just got off the phone with Marina, the lawyer friend I told you about. She agreed to take Mandy's case for just the filing fees, and I said I would take care of that. We are to meet her after lunch." "Thanks mom. I really appreciate your help and I know Mandy does as well." He then gave his mother a hug. "After we talked last time, I realized that I had missed out on a lot with you. I know I can't make up for the time we lost, but maybe we can start and go on from here. That is if you want to." Greg saw a look of uncertainty in his mother's eyes. "Of course, I want to. I have always loved you. You are my mother. But I would love to get to know you better, and maybe we can become closer." "I would really like that, son. I really would." They gave each other another hug that lasted until they heard Mandy coming down the stairs. Greg looked at her standing in the doorway, again not believing how sexy she looked. When Mandy saw him staring, she gave him a big smile. They gathered what they needed and headed to Heather's car. They were debating where to go when Heather suggested that Mandy wouldn't be able to ride on the motorcycle later on, so they might want to think about a car. This made sense, so they spent the rest of the morning looking for a vehicle. They found an almost new Monte Carlo at the dealership. It had low mileage and had been well maintained. It was sporty enough that Greg wouldn't mind letting the bike sit for a while. A deal was reached and a call was made to Carl so he could get a check to the dealer. They would pick it up after the meeting with the lawyer. Lunch was at one of Heather's favorite places downtown. The maitre' de greeted her by name and was told that her favorite table was available. They were shown to a table that was out of the way so that the business that Heather usually conducted here could be kept private. Mandy felt a little out of place dressed in jeans and a knit top like she was. Heather told her not to worry, that all kinds of people came in here. The waiter came over and brought Heather's usual glass of white wine, and asked the other two their preferences. Mandy asked for a cola, and Greg ordered iced tea. The menu was varied and all of it sounded good. Heather settled on a salad that had a grilled chicken breast on top and Mandy followed suit. Greg was like his father enough that he ordered steak, potato, and the vegetable of the day. Greg could see why this would be a favorite of his mothers. The service was fast, but discrete and the food was excellent. While they ate, Heather and Mandy got to know each other better. Heather could hardly believe that she had such a strict home life. "Greg almost raised himself. He thankfully didn't need a lot of discipline or guidance. Looks like you both are coming from opposite sides of the spectrum. But being smart kids, I would imagine you will be able to overcome any problems that come from your upbringing." By the time the dessert tray was presented, they were all full enough to bypass it, even though the chocolate mousse was a real temptation to Mandy. She was determined to not let herself get too heavy with this child, and wanted to regain her figure as soon as possible afterwards. By the time Heather had given the waiter her corporate card for the meal, it was almost time to go to the lawyer's office. They walked the two blocks to the building where Marina Sultas' office was located. The secretary led them back into a small conference room and told them that Marina would be in shortly. The woman who entered the door was a tall woman, and very well proportioned in Greg's estimation. She had dark red hair that was put up in a French braid that left it hanging down her back. Her delicate features were in contrast with her blazing dark blue eyes. She had a ready smile that showed her teeth and her demeanor was sympathetic to Mandy's plight. She listened to the entire story without commenting except to have Mandy make some point more clear, or to get the timeline straight. After Mandy was finished, she glanced through her notes before she started to speak. "What I can see here is fairly typical of these cases. You are almost to the age of your majority, only a year and a month away. That would look good in front of a judge. If you are sure you don't want to go back to your parents, my suggestion would be to file for emancipation. That means you are declared an adult and you make your own decisions. But it also means you would have adult responsibilities as well. Are you going to finish school?" Mandy stated she wanted to, but it would be at a different school. "That is another thing that will be in your favor. I would suggest a charter school that caters to single teen-aged mothers. You will attend classes as long as possible before the delivery and then via a tutor and Internet until you recover from the birth. Since you have decided on adoption, you won't have to worry about the child care that they offer." "As far as the adoption is concerned, I can mediate between the prospective couple you choose and you, and handle the necessary legal paperwork. Now do you understand what all I have told you and do you wish to go through with the emancipation?" Mandy gave it a moment before answering to consider. "Yes, I believe I do want to do this. Otherwise, they would have me back and shipped off to some home where I would be treated like dirt, and then they would take my baby and give it to another couple that would raise it like I was. I couldn't do that. Worst of all, they would take me away from Greg and that I couldn't stand. I finally found someone who loves and cares for me, and I am not going to lose him." "Alright, I will get Sandy started on the paperwork. Now, the first thing is to get a TRO for your parents. Judge Henderson will grant it on an affidavit from you swearing to past violence and that you fear more physical abuse. This will keep them from taking you and sending you away so you can't be at the emancipation hearing. That trick is one that particular church likes to employ. You may also get some harassment from church members. I have dealt with them before and they are very fanatical. Thank goodness most of the Christian religions are reasonable people. But I guess there are zealots in all faiths." With handshakes all around, the meeting ended. Sandy, Marina's paralegal helped Mandy with her paperwork and we were lucky enough to catch Judge Henderson. He had no problem signing the TRO and we paid the fee to have it served on the Carson household. It would be a few days before they got the papers for the emancipation. Everything done that they could do, Heather, Greg and Mandy left and went back to the dealership where all the paperwork was ready for them. Greg signed the forms with his mom as cosigner and they drove back home in separate vehicles. They ordered out for dinner and Heather decided to spend the night. The two young lovers fell into bed, tired but very satisfied. Heather had been a great help with her logical thinking about what was needed, and Mandy felt much more secure. They did not make love, being tired, but also having Greg's mom just down the hall. The women had made plans to go shopping the next day and Greg was going to stay home and do some work in the yard. That was cause enough for them to drop off quickly, spooned together with Greg clutching his girlfriend tightly to him, his hand over her breast. ------- Chapter 4 The next morning, the ladies were off on their kamikaze run through the finer stores downtown while Greg got out the mower. He liked doing the lawn work; it was good exercise and also gave him time to think. Most of the time he spent thinking about homework or something he had to do, but today was filled with images of Mandy, scenes of her in various stages of undress, of her face as she would fall over the edge into orgasm, of how beautiful she looked sleeping alongside him with the first glint of sunshine peeking through the curtains. Before he realized it, he had the mowing and trimming done, the shrubs trimmed and the front flowerbed weeded. He decided it was time for a break. He went into the house, had a big glass of lemonade, and fixed himself a sandwich. Then he went upstairs and took a hot shower to wash the sweat and grass stains away. He was lying on the couch watching some 'how-to' show when the ladies returned. They each came in the door carrying five or six bags apiece and indicated to him that there were several more out in the trunk of his mom's Lexus. He good-naturedly grumbled about this is what happened when two women were turned loose on an unsuspecting commerce center, and went out to retrieve the remainder of their booty. Mandy was busy trying to put what she had got away while Heather told her son that she had figured she would soon be needing maternity wear so they had taken care of that early. And of course there were cosmetics, shoes, purses, and other essential items that a woman should not have to be without. Mandy called down to ask Greg where he wanted her to put all the things she had recently purchased. They decided on using the guest room for things that they didn't use much, keeping just what they needed in his (their) bedroom. Heather announced that she had some background work to catch up on for her next client and that she was heading back to her office. Greg took the announcement in stride but Mandy seemed a little upset that she was leaving. There were hugs all around and Heather was out the door without giving the teens any idea when she would be stopping back. Mandy fixed their evening meal with Greg giving her a hand when she would allow it. They moved out onto the deck after the dishes were done to enjoy what was left of the unusually warm evening. They moved a couple of chairs close enough together so they could touch each other as they relaxed. Mandy was watching a couple of birds chase each other in a nearby tree when she started talking. "Your mom and I had a good talk today while we were out. I think she feels bad about not being around while you were growing up. She explained to me how she had not understood how to be a parent, and even said that she and your dad probably were not 'parent material'. Did you know she has a lover, and that is where she is staying now?" Greg had turned his head toward her when she had started speaking. He waited until she returned his gaze before he answered. "I have suspected it for a long time. I figure Dad has one too. They really are married to their work and everything else is second for them. It's funny but it used to upset me, but now it is like they are just a couple of strangers. I love them because they are my parents, but I don't know them well enough to be involved with their lives." "This is very confusing to me. I just cannot imagine how lonely you have been living here in the house by yourself for so long. I would have gone stark raving mad without someone around." "Well, one or the other would get to feeling guilty and show up for a while. Up until a year or so ago, they had a housekeeper that stayed here. She was closer to a mother than my real one, I guess. Heidi was in her mid forties and when I showed an interest in anything, she would take the time to teach me what she knew. I learned German from her. It was a game for both of us to use it whenever we were together. She also taught me to do my own laundry, and how to cook and clean. I owe that woman a lot. She left to return to Germany to take care of her mother after her father was killed." "It sounds like she meant a lot to you. Do you still hear from her?" "We write back and forth every month or two. And you are right, I do miss her." They both settled back, lost in their own thoughts until the temperature dropped and they started to feel the evening chill. Then they went in to shower using the master bath and into their bed. Mandy was feeling excited from all the touching and groping that they had done in the shower. She started teasing Greg, running her fingernails over the sparse hair on his chest and lightly scratching his nipples. This sent shivers through Greg's body and he readily returned the favor, starting a friendly competition of which one could turn the other one on the most by just touching. Greg cheated when he leaned over and took one of her nipples into his mouth and ran his tongue over it. By then, the competition was far enough along that Mandy didn't complain about him breaking the rules. She thought her nipples were becoming more sensitive, but when she felt him taking her left one in his mouth, she was sure of it. She felt herself getting even wetter and was to the point where she ached to be filled up with his cock. She shoved him onto his back and straddled his hips, taking his hard cock in her hands. "Since you cheated, I get to claim my prize." She rose up and rubbed her 'prize' around her pussy lips to get it covered in her juices. Then she moved into position and slowly started to sink onto his shaft. She was still incredibly tight since this was only the second time that they had made love and she had to lift up a bit to allow him to become better coated with her essence before taking more of his length inside her. She finally felt his pubic hair tickle her shaved lips and she knew he was in as far as he could go. She gave him a satisfied smile and then started to rock her hips back and forth, her clit being stimulated from the friction of her inner lips against his pelvis. Greg was willing to lose such a contest all the time if this could be considered losing. He reveled in the heat and tightness surrounding his dick. He felt her tunnel ripple along his shaft as she started her movements. He was also glad that he wasn't getting any more stimulation than that because he had been about ready to climax by the time she bottomed out on him. For now, he was quite content to let her do as she wished. He did take both of her breasts in his palms and started to massage the flesh with his fingers while letting his palms move across her nipples causing them to become even more erect. Mandy felt herself starting on the road toward her release. She started to move up and down on Greg's shaft enjoying how it pulled against her inner lips as she pushed it back into herself. Greg felt the added stimulation and wanted her to come before he did. He took one of her hands and guided it down to her clit, then resumed the stimulation of her breasts, paying more attention to her hard little nipples. As she started to move her hand over and around her clit, he began to lightly pull and twist her nipples between his fingers. The combined sensations of what Greg was doing along with the feeling of his cock penetrating her so deep and her fingers on her own pussy finally became too much for her. Mandy let out a deep moan and then her body went into orgasmic spasms. She was slamming her pelvis down against his as her pussy went into rhythmic contractions as her legs and abdomen shuddered as the waves of her climax overtook her. Greg thought he could ride it out and then continue until the sensations of her vagina gripping and releasing him got to be too much. Just as she was starting to come down, his climax started. He pushed up into her as hard as he could as his seed erupted out of the end of his cock to spray her cervix with his seed. This sent her once again into spasms of pleasure that finally slowed down as his orgasm tapered off. She was so weak that she couldn't hold herself upright any longer. Greg lowered her down so that she was resting on his chest. They stayed joined together like that while they both recovered, each one reacting to the smaller tremors the other would have. When Mandy's legs started to cramp, she stretched them out and rolled them over until they were on their side facing each other, Greg's slowly shrinking cock still inside her. Mandy gave a little giggle. "I can't believe how horny I've been feeling lately. From thinking very little about sex to hating it, and now I can't seem to get enough! I feel like my panties are soaked all the time." Greg smiled back at her. "You won't hear me complain, that's for sure. I had heard that a woman's desire increases during the first few months sometimes. I'll just take all I can get for as long as it lasts." "That could be part of it, but I don't think my desire for you will be going anywhere for a long time. You make me feel good even when we aren't having sex and that just makes it better." "I love you," was Greg's reply. Then he gave her a kiss on the nose. She giggled at that and there was enough movement to push his flaccid cock out of her, releasing some of their juices in the process. Mandy rolled over and grabbed Greg's t-shirt off the floor and pushed it between her legs to catch any more that came out. She was just too exhausted to get up right now. They were both soon asleep dreaming the pleasant dreams of someone who was sexually sated. They were both in the living room reading the next day when there was a loud banging on the door. Mandy looked questioningly at Greg as he got up to answer it. He looked out to see Mandy's father on the front step. Mandy got a terrified look on her face when she seen him through the sidelight. "Go call the police," he told her. Then he opened the door until the chain blocked it. "What are you doing here? You are trespassing. Now leave." Mr. Carson was not going to be told what to do. "I have come to get my wayward daughter. She is staying in a pit of sin and I won't have that." "You tossed her out with just the clothes on her back. You didn't give a damn where she went. She has me to take care of her now. Leave before you get more trouble than you could think of." Greg could see the anger in the man's face. When he charged the door with his shoulder, Greg stepped to the side and just let the chain give way. Richard Carson stumbled into the entry hall before he regained his balance. Mandy gave a shriek of terror and then moved back behind Greg and into the living room. There was enough room for Greg to maneuver and he stood his ground. Mr. Carson tried to make a grab for Mandy but found Greg blocking his way. "You come with me girl. You need to be punished for disobeying God and not listening to my orders. You need to do penance for all your sluttish ways." When he tried to get past Greg, the young man dropped him to his knees with a roundhouse kick to the solar plexus. "She isn't going with you unless she wants to, and she doesn't want to. Now get out of my house before you get hurt." Mr. Carson tried to make one more lunge from his knees to grab at Mandy and got a kick in the side of the head for his trouble. He then staggered to his feet determined to get to his daughter when two police stepped in with their guns drawn. "POLICE! DON'T MOVE!" The order was loud enough to stop the big man in his tracks. Mr. Carson then turned and started yelling at the cops that they didn't have anything to do with this. He was just going to take his wayward daughter home where she belonged. One of the officers looked at Greg and Mandy. Mandy walked over to the side table and brought back her copy of the TRO and showed it to the officer. He took a look at it and then handed it to his partner. The second officer read the document while the first looked at the filing for emancipation that had come in the mail earlier that day. The second officer looked up from the TRO and asked, "Are you Richard Carson?" "Yes I am, and that is my daughter Amanda." "Well sir, This says you are not to be within 100 feet from the victim, nor are you to contact her through phone calls, letters, or any other personal contact." "That can't apply to me. She's my daughter and she has to do what she is told." "It does apply to you and you are under arrest for violation of a restraining order, breaking and entering and assault." While the second officer was talking, the first was putting Mr. Carson in handcuffs. When he realized that he was going to jail, he really started bellowing about how they couldn't interfere with the discipline of a parent, that they couldn't do this, and he wanted that 'boy' arrested for assaulting him. He was still yelling when they took him out to the car. The officer that remained in the house identified himself as Officer Brooks and asked for Greg and Mandy to give him a rundown on what had happened. Greg sort of took charge, explaining that he had answered the door to find Mr. Carson there stating that he was going to make Mandy go with him so she could be punished. He then broke the chain on the door, and had tried to go around him to get to Mandy. "Did you hit him?" "Yes sir, twice. The first was a kick to his stomach, and when he grabbed for her again I caught him in the head. You showed up right then." Mandy was listening closely, the fear showing plainly on her face. Officer Brooks looked over at her and asked if she was alright, did she get hurt? "No sir. I'm alright, but is Greg in trouble? He was trying to protect me." The officer grinned over to reassure her. "No he isn't in any trouble at all. He has every right to use all the force necessary to protect himself or someone else. Your dad broke in the house; the doorjamb being splintered shows that. You have the TRO against him and he is in violation of that. You both did very well handling what could have been a bad situation." When the report was finished, Greg stood to walk the officer to the door. His partner was taking pictures of the splintered door trim for evidence. Greg paused before they walked outside. "Officer Brooks, what will happen to Mr. Carson now?" "He will be booked into county jail and processed. When that is done, he will have an appearance before a judge, probably tomorrow. If the judge sets bail, which he probably will, he can post bail and be out. Then he will have to stand trial on the charges. I can tell you that most of the judges around here take a violation of a TRO very seriously. If he does it again, his bond will be revoked and he will sit in jail until trial." He then handed each of them one of his cards. "This has the case number on it. If there are any more problems, you call us immediately. You will probably have a detective come by to clear up any questions with your statement. Now are you two going to be all right? Is there anyone we need to contact?" "No sir. We'll be fine. I will call my mother on her cell and leave her a message about what happened. She will make arrangements to have the damage fixed." With that, the cruiser left with Mr. Carson in the back, headed for the county detention center. After Greg closed the door, Mandy launched herself into his arms crying. She had held up well while the cops had been there, but now she broke down. Greg led her into the living room and sat down, pulling her onto his lap. It took a long time for her to calm down, but eventually she was just sitting there idly playing with the buttons on his shirt. They talked then about what happened. Mandy was worried about being the cause of her father going to jail. Greg told her it wasn't her that broke open the door or tried to take someone out. When she expressed fear of him being hurt, he assured her that there hadn't been much of a chance of that. She finally calmed down enough to suggest that maybe they should think about something to eat. They settled on Chinese food being delivered and a couple of old comedies on cable. While they were eating Heather called back. She was understandably upset about what happened. Greg gave her a rundown on what had happened and assured her that both he and Mandy were not hurt, just shook up. She promised to have a carpenter come by within the next couple of days to replace the molding that had been damaged. Since the frame was intact, they could lock the door and they would be safe until then. By the time they were ready for bed Mandy was almost back to her old self. They didn't make love that night, opting instead to just be together reading and listening to music until they were ready to fall asleep. A detective did show up, took more photographs, and then asked a few questions in order to clear things up. He was curious how someone Greg's size stopped a guy that size in his tracks. When Greg explained that he held high degree black belts in a couple forms of martial arts, the detective chuckled. He told them that Richard Carson had pleaded not guilty, had retained a lawyer from the church and that he was out on bail. Mandy looked a little worried, but the lawman assured her. "The judge had set his bail high enough and told him the consequences of any attempt to contact you, that I don't think you will have any problem with him. You will be contacted by the DA's office if they will need you to be at the trial as witnesses." He left then telling Greg he should take his lovely girl out for dinner and a movie. That sounded like a good idea. Mandy agreed, saying that she had never been to a real movie theater before. They had plenty of time so they decided to get a little housework done before they got ready. When Greg went out to get the mail, he noticed that there was one letter for Mandy with her old address on it. Her parents must have told the postman where she was living now. He took it in and gave it to her. She opened it and got a funny smile on her face, then handed it to Greg to read. It was from her school. She was officially suspended for her conduct, specifically having sex and being pregnant. They told her she could come in on Monday and clean out her locker. After that, she was no longer welcome on the school grounds. "Well, I told you they would be doing that. I guess I had better talk to that charter school that Ms. Sultas was talking about. I knew this was coming, just not when. The things they made us do, I just as glad not to be going back." "Well, I'll call in Monday to school and then we can go over there. It won't hurt my grades in the least and I have good attendance so it won't be a problem." She gave him a big kiss for that, admitting she was worried about going in there by herself. They did go out to dinner that night. Mandy wore one of the nice dresses that Heather had insisted on buying her. It was a nice light blue, simple but tasteful enough to wear either on a casual or semi formal occasion. Greg was in a sport shirt and slacks. They went to a nice restaurant and then to one of the theaters downtown. Mandy was fascinated by the elegance of the old building. It was one of the few theaters that had been restored to its original trappings of the forties. They bought popcorn and a couple of cokes and took seats in the back. The seats began to fill up until the auditorium was about half full. The lights dimmed and the previews started. Mandy was watching everything, engrossed in the size of the screen and how great (but loud) the sound was. The feature started, and they settled back to watch the film. It was a romantic film with the usual plot for the type. Greg had put his arm around Mandy and they were watching one of the slower parts when Mandy looked around her. She leaned closer into Greg and whispered, "The couples across from us are making out like crazy! I think he even has his hand in her blouse." She seemed to be entranced by the idea that someone could see them, yet they were all over each other. As she kept a discrete eye on the amorous couple, Greg dropped his hand down and began to caress the side of her breast. She was soon squirming in her seat from the excitement of her voyeurism and the hand on her breast. Greg didn't say a word, but just enjoyed watching his girlfriend getting excited watching another couple. When the movie ended and the lights came up, he could see her face was flushed with excitement. He also thought he could smell her excitement. They stood and followed the crowd out, Greg with his jacket in front of him hiding the erection that was showing in his slacks. When they got in the car, Mandy almost attacked him, kissing and rubbing on the bulge in his pants. After a second of surprise, he got into the game and started to return her kisses with passion. He slipped his hand under her dress and found her panties absolutely soaked. He slipped his fingers through the leg opening and quickly found her clit. He started rubbing it while trying to tickle her tonsils and much faster than he thought possible, she went off like a rocket. As soon as she caught her breath, she reached over and unzipped his pants. Fishing out his hard cock, she spit on her hand and started to jerk him off. After her performance, he wasn't far off himself and was soon pumping her hand full of his seed. Taking a cue from something he had done before, Mandy brought her semen-covered hand to her face and sniffed, then looking into his eyes, she stuck her tongue out and slowly licked some of his spend from her hand. To Greg, it was one of the most erotic sights he had ever seen. To Mandy's surprise, she didn't find the sample distasteful. Even the texture was better than the last time, and she took a couple more swipes with her tongue before using a Kleenex to wipe the rest away. As soon as Greg caught his breath, he looked over at her sparkling eyes. "That is the most exciting thing we have ever done. I couldn't believe how fast you went off." "I got into watching the couple down the row from us and thinking how I would love to be doing the same thing with you. I don't know if it is the extra hormones or what, but I became so horny that I couldn't wait. So I thought we could recreate what the other couple did right here." "I really enjoyed it alright, but you better be ready for a second round when we get home." She gave him a seductive smile. "That was just the warm up. If you don't take me home right now, I am going to jump you right here." That was enough incentive for him to get home as fast as possible. They pulled into the garage and ran into the house laughing. As soon as they got into the bedroom, their clothes went flying and when they were both naked, Greg pushed his love down on the bed. While she was giggling, he pulled her legs until her ass was barely on the edge of the bed. "You tasted me in the car, now I get to taste you." He started at her knees kissing his way up to her lips. Then he stopped just short of his prize and repeated the same thing on her leg. Then he kissed her abdomen just above the small patch of hair she had left. When her giggles turned to moans and she started to squirm, he finally touched the outer lips of her pussy. He had read about eating pussy, but this was the first time he had a chance to really see one up close. He found the real thing more complicated than he would have thought, but also much more enjoyable. He could smell her scent and see the moisture leaking from between her lips. His inspection done, he got down to the reason he was there to begin with. He licked her dew from around her puffy outer lips, and then pushed his tongue into the crease between them. He licked from her entrance up and then around her clit, causing her to give a groan of passion. Now that he had found everything he was looking for he dove in with gusto. He pushed his tongue into her channel as far as he could, gathering up all her oils he could and savoring the tangy, slightly musky taste. Then he separated her outer lips with his fingers and the inner ones with the tip of his tongue, frequently dipping down into the source of her essence. With each move of his tongue, he brought his lover to even greater heights of arousal. When Mandy was crying out that she couldn't take the teasing any more, he took mercy on her and concentrated on her clit. It didn't take long before his tongue-lashing took her over the edge. She pulled his face tight into her pussy and cried out as her orgasm washed over her. As soon as she could talk, she pulled on his shoulders to get him to move up on her. Her pelvis was rocking back and forth trying to find the head of his cock. She started moaning out to him. "Oh Greg, you got to put it in me. Please fuck me!!" Her use of that word startled him, but turned him on at the same time. He reached down, lined himself up with her entrance, and pushed. She was so slick inside that he slid into her with no problem. She was still having small climaxes and begging him to fuck her hard, so he followed her instructions stroking into her with hard fast thrusts. He knew that he couldn't last too long. But she was going through one climax after another and he knew he didn't have to worry about her pleasure, so he just let himself go. His strokes were so powerful that they were sliding across the bed. Just before her head went over the edge he felt himself let loose into her. He froze as the semen jetted out of him and coat her channel, mixing with the copious juices she was producing. He slid out of her and rolled to her side. She was still breathing heavily, but didn't have the energy to move, laying there with her eyes closed and jerking every once in a while as another wave would overcome her. When Greg felt he could move again, he stumbled into the bathroom and washed himself off. Then he returned to the bed with a warm washcloth and a towel. She still had not moved so he checked to make sure she was all right. Then he started to clean her as gently as he could so he wouldn't cause any more orgasms for her. As he finished up, she lifted her head enough to thank him. He got her to move to the head of the bed and under the covers. He went downstairs to make sure everything was secure and by the time he returned, she was sound asleep. He snuggled up against her and fell into dreamless slumber himself. Greg awoke and looked over at the clock on his nightstand. It was almost eleven in the morning and as he rolled back over, he found that he was a little sore from the nights activities. However, he forced himself to get out of bed and go down to get coffee started. He was on his second cup and reading the Sunday paper when Mandy came slowly into the kitchen. He poured her a cup of coffee and she gratefully accepted it. After she had about half the cup down, he asked what she wanted for breakfast and she opted for toast. He fixed her some toast and had just a bowl of cereal himself. They were almost finished when Greg asked her what she wanted to do that day. She gave him a weak smile. "Honey, I am so sore and tired from last night that all I really want to do is to rest." He agreed with her and he cleared the breakfast dishes. The rest of the day was spent on the couch. They read, watched TV and just enjoyed each other's company. Nothing sexual was started by either one, but they shared many kisses and touches. Mandy felt that just being together like this was almost as good as sex, especially today. She was confident that she would be ready in a couple of days for lovemaking. Her body was getting used to the frequent stimulation and enjoying it. By mutual decision, they retired early. Mandy had taken a nap early in the afternoon but she still was tired. Greg had to agree. They had an early and easy dinner, showered, and after changing the bed, called it a night. The alarm brought Greg out of a sound sleep and into the early morning's reality. He remembered that they had things to do so he woke Mandy by kissing her until her eyes fluttered open. When he pulled back from the kisses, she grinned at him. "What a wonderful way to wake up. I could go for that every morning!" "So could I. How about we wake every morning with a kiss." Mandy stretched until her joints popped. "Mmmmmmm. Sounds like a plan to me." "Come on, sleepyhead. We have things to do today. I'll go get the coffee started and then call the school and tell them I won't be in. You can get yourself ready." She stretched again exposing her breasts as the covers slid down. She didn't attempt to cover up. Greg leered at her then grinned. "I would love to cover those with my cum, but we don't have the time." "Okay, Okay. Slave driver. You just hold that thought until we get back this afternoon." She then turned and set her feet on the carpeted floor. "At least you can give me a hand up." Greg took her hand and pulled her up into an embrace. He enjoyed the warmth of her naked body against his for a moment, and then with one final kiss and a pat on the butt, he headed off to the kitchen. He was eating a bowl of cereal when Mandy came down. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and a striped top. Her hair was hanging down and the sun reflected off it giving her a shimmering aura around her face. She made herself a cup of tea, saying the coffee didn't smell very good today, and put a bagel in the toaster. As she finished her breakfast, Greg asked if they would need to take anything. She said that a backpack would be enough to carry everything she had at the school. When he picked up the car keys, she suggested they take his bike. In answer to his question of why, she said that motorcycles were associated with a sinful lifestyle and that since she was now 'sinful' that it seemed appropriate. He agreed since he loved riding anyway. They grabbed their helmets and jackets and went out to the garage. One of the things that Greg had insisted on buying her was a black leather biker's jacket like his. She had balked at the large price tag, but he had insisted. Now it was her pride and joy. She always chose it when she could get away with wearing it. She slipped it on now, enjoying the scent and the feel of the fine leather. Shouldering a backpack, she took her place behind him and they headed off. By the time they got to the school, class had already begun. They went to the office to let them know why they were here. The secretary, a pinch faced blue haired cranky old biddy looked them up and down and said that the principal needed to see them before they would be allowed to collect Mandy's things. They walked into Principal Karrington's office and sat down. He also gave them a look of disgust for their choice of clothing. Then he spent a few moments looking for something on his desk before addressing them. This tactic was designed to make them nervous, but it didn't work. When he looked back up, he saw they were both wearing expressions of calm patience. "Well Miss Carson, I imagine you know why you are being expelled from this school. Your behavior was inexcuseable. Cavorting with the male students, behaving like a common whore, allowing yourself to become with child. All very unchristian behaviors and totally against the rules of this school. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Mandy had been nervous when she had first come in. But during the principal's speech, her fear had become anger. Not one word had been the truth, only the version that they wanted. And her anger loosened her tongue against this authority figure that she had previously been so frightened of. "I do have a couple of things to say, Mr. Karrington. First of all, I did less cavorting than many of your upstanding students that you like to brag about. Is Cheryl Dawson still giving blowjobs in the closet behind the stage? That is cavorting with the male students. The only mistake I made was thinking that a guy that I thought I was in love with felt the same. He was the one who forced the issue of sex. The first time was borderline rape and the second time definitely was. Want to talk about whorish behavior? Half the senior girls will show a guy their tits for a couple of bucks. Many of them will do it for free just for the thrill. You ignore this stuff because you don't want to admit what hypocrites you are. It wasn't my fault I got pregnant, but since I'm living proof of your hypocrisy, you have to get rid of me. Now just let me collect my personal belongings and get the hell out of this place." Both men stared at Mandy. Greg had never seen her stand up for herself like that. He wanted to jump up and yell and then hug her. But he kept still. The principal was stunned for a moment, and then he looked like he wanted to hit this insolent child. A hard stare from Greg made him rethink that action. Instead, he waved them out of the office and to an escort that would go with them to allow Mandy to get her belongings. They stopped at her hall locker first. Someone had written "Slut" across the front with magic marker. Mandy spun the combination on her lock and when opened, dropped it into her pack. Once the door was opened, she pulled out a hairbrush, a couple of notebooks and some pens and pencils. She left the books, the Bible that she had been required to have and several notes. She slammed the door shut and motioned them to follow her to the art room. The art teacher was the only one in there and Mandy went over and retrieved her sketchbook and pencils adding them to her bag. After a moment's thought, she pulled the sketchbook back out and ripped out the used pages, leaving them on the desk. Greg took a glance at what was laying there and realized that Mandy was a gifted artist. Everything that she had drawn was very lifelike and captured the feel of the subject. He looked back over at his girlfriend, but she gave no indication of what she had been thinking. She just turned without a word and headed to the girl's locker room, with the escort and Greg following behind. Greg stood at the edge of the gym by the locker room door while Mandy and her escort went down to collect her uniform. The girls were playing volleyball, and he noted that the uniforms were shirts and shorts that came down to the girls' knees. They were baggy enough that you couldn't tell if any of them had a figure unless they stretched a certain way to cause the shirt to tighten up. A couple of the girls noticed him and it wasn't long before the fronts of several of the shirts were being tugged to show off what lay underneath. When he would look up at the faces, they were grinning at him. The period ended just as Mandy came up the steps from the locker room. The three stood to the side to let the class pass by. Almost every girl gave him a look of interest as she walked past. He also noticed more of a sway in their hips as they filed past. The bell rang for class change just as they got into the hall. A group of boys were heading toward the gym and Mandy suddenly tried to push her way through the crowd in the opposite direction. Greg was wondering why she didn't just wait for the crowd to thin, until he heard one of the guys shout something. "Hey there's Amanda the slut. Finally got off your back?" "Nah. It's she finally got off her hands and knees. That's how she could suck and fuck at the same time." Greg started to turn back and find out which ones were flapping their jaws so he could close them, but Mandy grabbed his arm. In a very tight voice she said, "Please Greg, just get me out of here." He did as she asked and they were soon past the office and out the front door. Mandy still had that same blank, fixed expression on her face when she climbed on behind him. He turned the engine over and pulled out of the lot. He felt Mandy's body shaking and it was not from the bike, so he pulled into the first park he could find and led her over onto the grass. After they got settled, Greg pulled her to him and just held her while she cried. It took a little while for her to get herself back together so she could even talk about it. "The feelings of anger, sadness, and... just everything hit me all at once. There were people there that I thought were my friends. Then with all this, I realized that we were all living a lie to keep the others happy. We followed the rules, not because they made sense or we wanted to, but just to keep a face on for others to see. Now all I could see were the hypocrites. Those boys just before we left drove the point home. Steve was one of them. He won't even take responsibility for what he did. And they won't make him either. It is explained off as 'boys just have certain urges' and 'the girl must have enticed him somehow'. And worse yet, I used to believe it. I'm as bad as they are." "No. You are not like them because you have learned different. You were taught that way, but I never heard you condemn someone for being different than you. You got yourself out of that mindset, but they probably never will." She thought about it for a while and then tried to cheer up. "I saw all them girls pulling on their shirts and wiggling their asses for your benefit. And I bet you looked as well." He gave her a quick hug. "I would be either dead or gay not to notice. But you are the one who holds my interest, not them." "Ahhh, that's sweet. But you know that any one of them would have taken you for a tumble if you had shown any interest at all. If they could have gotten away with it, they would have pulled you down into the shower and taken turns having their way with you." Greg fell dramatically backwards onto the grass. "If they would have been as sexy as you, I would be dead for sure." Then he raised his head and winked at her. "But I would have died with a smile on my face." "Oooooohhhh, you are in so much troublllllee!" She threw herself onto him and started tickling him without mercy. She didn't quit until he started to do the same to her. When they were both panting for breath, they called a truce. She leaned up and gave him a nice long kiss. "I love you Greg." "And I love you too sweetheart. You about ready to go?" He gave Mandy his hand and she scrambled up off the ground, brushing the bits of dried grass off her jeans. They got home to find Heather and a man wearing a tool belt. He had just finished repairing the damage Mandy's father had done. Heather wrote a check and the carpenter was on his way. She agreed to join them and while Greg fixed some lunch, Mandy called Marina Sultas. Heather was impressed that they had handled the school situation as well as they had. They spoke about what else needed to be done while they waited for Mandy to join them. Marina was upset that her father had broken the TRO, but she said she almost expected it, and asked if we could get her a copy of the police report. She then gave Mandy the name and directions to the charter school for single mothers. They spoke for a few minutes before Mandy hung up the phone. She sat down and told Greg and Heather how the phone call had gone. They finished up and all left at the same time, Heather going back to her office and the couple to continue their day. It was early afternoon when they arrived at the school. It was in a nice neighborhood and the building was pretty new. They introduced themselves and asked where the admissions office was. The lady in charge of the admissions was a pleasant woman in her mid-fifties with more gray than her original dark brown color. Tall and very thin, she exuded an unlimited supply of nervous energy. She asked how she could help, Mandy handed her the expulsion letter. Ms. London glanced at the letter then turned to Mandy. "How far along are you?" "Around seven weeks, ma'am." "I see. We usually don't see young girls here until they are starting to show quite a bit." "Well, I made the mistake of telling my parents, so they informed the school I imagine." "Hmmmm. This is a little late for you to be joining classes, but I think we can set you up with the courses you will need. And don't worry; all the girls here are in the same situation. Even public schools are not equipped to handle girls who are pregnant." She pulled out the paperwork that Mandy would need to fill out. Since she didn't have a parent or guardian, it was cleared for Greg's mother to be able to fill in since she was technically living under her roof. She was to bring them back tomorrow and they would start her on tests to see where she was academically. We thanked her and headed out. On the way to where Greg's mom worked, they stopped by the police station and picked up the copy of the police report that Mandy's lawyer asked for. While they dropped that off, Greg used the phone to see if they could see his mom. When she answered, she assured them that she had the time, so they walked the few blocks to her office building. Heather's secretary greeted them and led them into her office. She had one of the large corner offices that befitted a partner of her stature. They crossed the room and received discrete hugs. When they explained what was needed, she was happy to sign what was needed. Mandy was fascinated with the view this far up as was Greg. They had an unobstructed view of the rest of the city's skyline and looking down they could barely make out the people on the sidewalks. Knowing that Heather would be busy, they beat a hasty retreat after Greg asked a quick question and received a positive response. They got down to street level and headed where they parked the bike. On the way, they passed a cell phone store and Greg guided her in. It didn't take long before they were each carrying a cell phone with the contract paid by Carl. When she asked why, Greg told her that since they were going to be in separate schools, and with her being alone, that it could be useful. Back home, they both learned to use them, and loaded up each other's numbers as well as the police, the home number, schools etc. ------- Chapter 5 The next day, Greg took Mandy to school before he headed to his own. She waved to him as he drove off on the bike. It was unusual for him to be riding to school so the receptionist was surprised when he brought not one but two helmets into the office. She didn't say anything but just set them back with the others. Then he was off to class. At the lunch break, he felt the phone vibrate in his pocket. Nobody else had the number yet and after a quick verification of the incoming number, he answered. "Hello Sweetheart." "Hey there! Just wanted to hear your voice." "Howzit going on your first day?" "I'm stressing. I have been doing assessment tests all morning. They will have my scores and will be able to place me late this afternoon they said. I'm scared, because I don't know a lot of the stuff they were asking. They didn't teach this stuff at my other school." "Hang in there. I'm sure you'll do just fine." "I hope so. The classes here are going to be a change as well. Hey, the bell for class just rang, I gotta go." "Okay. See ya when you get out. Love you." "Love you too. Bye." Greg broke the connection and slipped the phone in his pocket. Then he used the time left to look over his notes for the modern lit class he had next period. As Greg walked through the halls, he suddenly noticed that he had not been harassed all day. Adam and his pack of goons had looked in his direction, but didn't approach. He didn't know how long it would last, but he would take what he could. They may have decided that he was an unknown quantity now, not just a geek that could be picked on. He sure hoped so; it would make his time at school a lot easier. After his last class of the day, he was putting his books in his locker when he noticed that a young girl was having trouble with the armload of books that she was carrying. Instead of just watching like he would normally would, this time he went over to help her. Before he could get there, one of the books got away from her and when she went to grab for it, the entire armload fell. The poor thing looked horrified with embarrassment. She knelt down to start gathering things up and Greg bent down to help her. She seemed startled by the help, but smiled at him gratefully. With her books and papers arranged, she stood and thanked him. He took a few of the books from her and walked her to her locker. When they arrived and she got everything put away, she thanked him again and introduced herself as Olivia, and she was a sophomore. Greg told her she was welcome and told her his name. Then he moved off feeling good that he had helped her as well as his surprise with himself for the change. Before he had become involved with Mandy, he would not have had the nerve to do something like that. Mandy had taught him that women were not the strange creatures that he had been so shy around. For all that his lover said he had done for her, she had done much for him as well. Greg rode up in front of the Charter school and waited for Mandy to get out. When the bell rang, girls in all sizes and varying degrees of pregnancy came bounding out of the entrance. A few were looking at him with interest, but for the most part, the rest were just glad to be out for the day. Mandy was one of the last to come out and when she did, she looked exhausted. He gave her a quick kiss then handed her helmet over to her. They didn't talk on the way home, but he did enjoy the feel of her arms around his waist. She was used to riding now, but hung on to him more for the closeness of him and not for fear. The evenings were still cool but not as bad as before. They were having a good start to a warmer than normal spring and the temps during the day had been above the norm for May, with the forecast predicting more of the same. Greg promised his lover a relaxing surprise after dinner, but she was to just relax while he got dinner started. They settled on burgers and fries. Greg uncovered the deep fryer and started the oil to heat while he made the patties. Mandy was sitting on the other side of the island so she could tell him what had happened that day while he cooked. "I got my test scores back and they think that with tutoring I will be able to catch up with where I should be. My science and history are both behind so I have to work on getting up to speed on them. I did well in English and Math though. But boy those tests were a stress factor of ten plus!" "Well sweety, it is good news that you are living with a brain then. I can tutor you on at least science. History is not my best subject, but I might be able to help with that as well." "I really would appreciate it. They have tutors there that are college students that are paid by the school. They are used mainly for when the girls are too far along to continue coming in, and right after the baby is born. They actually give you like six weeks to get used to your baby after it's born if you are going to keep it. And I found out that I get to take Art! That was one thing I really enjoyed even though we had to draw something with a religious theme. Now I can draw what I want." "I'm really glad you are going to enjoy it. I have a feeling that this last part of the year is going to be rough for me. All but one of my classes are advanced courses, but it will clear my schedule for next year. I'm lucky that I don't have any homework today. I have a study hall sixth period and I get most of it done then, but I have three papers that are due before the end of the month so looks like we both are going to be spending time hitting the books." Greg dumped the frozen fries in the hot oil and dropped their patties onto the indoor grill. "Since my desk is so small, why don't we set up my computer on the dining room table and we can work there. Since it is just you and I, we won't be holding any dinner parties and that way we can study together." Mandy was all in favor of them being able to study together where she could ask questions if she needed to. Their conversation turned to less stressful aspects of their two schools. Mandy had met a couple of girls that would be in her class and thought they were very nice. Greg told her about the girl he helped in the hallway. Mandy couldn't help but tease him just a bit. "You better watch out. You know how we girls are about guys that come to our rescue." Greg picked up a French fry that was cooling on the paper towels and threw it at her playfully. "I don't think there is any danger in that. And it's your fault anyway. If you hadn't shown me I didn't have to be afraid of girls, I wouldn't have helped her." To that, she just pursed her lips at him, and then ate the fry he had tossed at her. Laughing at her, he served up the meal and sat with her at the counter. The stress must have made her hungry because she dove into the meal. It didn't take long before they had finished the meal and Mandy got up to rinse the dishes and put things away. Greg disappeared out on the deck for a few minutes then was back in. "I got your surprise started and it should be ready in a little while. Probably just enough time to get the computer carried down." It didn't take long to disconnect the components and bring them down stairs. The house had been wired for a network and the outlet was next to his mother's hutch. As Mandy brought out down the printer, Greg checked the surprise then hooked up all the connections. It took about an hour total to be up and running even with Mandy asking various questions and frequent stops for touching and kissing. Greg had Mandy go upstairs and get some towels and then they went out onto the deck. At the far end that had been previously covered with yard tools and other junk, sat a four-person Jacuzzi. The lights inside showed that the water was circulating slowly and as Mandy stuck her hand into the water she found it as warm as a bath. She turned to Greg with a look of wonderment in her face. "I had no idea that you had a hot tub here." "Dad had it put in when they were here more often. It has been sitting for quite a while, but when I saw how stressed you were, I happened to remember it was here. I wasn't sure if it would work, but the pump and heater came on just fine." "Lets get changed and get in." Greg shook his finger at her. "There is a rule that no suits are allowed in the tub. Just the one you were born with." Mandy looked around. "But couldn't the neighbors see in?" "Nope. That is why there is the high wall around the three sides. And the trees cover anywhere else around the deck. Mom doesn't know I know, but she used to sunbathe naked out on the deck. I came home a couple of times to see her out here." Assured that they had privacy, Mandy started pulling her clothes off. As soon as she was bare, she stepped up on the low deck and slowly let herself down into the water sighing with delight as the water enveloped her body. She stretched out on one of the seats as Greg joined her sitting across from her. They spent perhaps a half hour just letting the warm water swirl around them, soaking away the day's tension. Greg decided then that she was relaxed enough to learn something else about the tub. He had heard of this and thought she would want to try it. He told his lover to get on her knees in the deeper part of the tub. He then got behind her and guided her to where one of the jets was coming out. She felt the rush of water pulsing against her tummy, just below the junction of her thighs. He reached over and turned the pressure of the jets and then eased her down until she the stream was hitting her clit. She started at the sensation then groaned as she felt it massage her love button. She moved around until the stream was hitting just the top of her lips and her clit. Greg helped out by massaging her breasts and kissing and nibbling on the back of her neck and ears. That combined with the feeling of his cock rubbing across her pussy lips had her over the edge in just a couple of minutes. As she started to come down, Greg maneuvered her to the bench to let her rest. As soon as she recovered, she got him to sit on the edge of the tub. She spread his legs and got between them on her knees. She started to play with his balls and slowly jacking his cock. When he was once again fully hard, she dropped her lips over the head and started to slide her mouth down as far as she could. She touched the back of her throat with the head; she gagged and pulled him back out until she was comfortable. Taking her fingers, she measured how much of his cock was still showing. Now that she had her limit set, she started to suck him off. She had heard whispered comments from the other girls on how they would do the boys, so she knew some of the basics. But she was determined to get him off this way. Even with his non-existent experience with anything like this, he could tell that she had never done this before, but she was making up for her inexperience with ambition. He was worked up from watching her climax and it wasn't long before he felt himself reaching his peak. "I'm gonna shoot real soon," he told her. She just applied herself more to her task. He had been holding at still as he could but when she started to massage his balls his pelvis started to thrust up to meet her lips. Since she had her fingers around the base of his dick, he couldn't choke her and she went with it. She felt his balls pull up and his shaft get even stiffer. He held his pelvis high up for a second then let loose into her mouth. The first shot almost gagged her as it hit the back of her throat and she pulled up until her lips were sealed around the head. She then jacked his shaft as he filled her mouth with his seed. As he eased down onto the deck, she pulled her lips off the head, then looked up at him and swallowed. He saw her throat work and realized that she had taken everything he had. She then rose up and kissed him, running her tongue in and over his. It was then he tasted his own spend. He didn't care for the taste, but after what she had done for him, he didn't complain. As soon as he was able, he slid back down into the water to rinse what she had missed off his body. Then he took her hand and after grabbing a towel, led her into the house. They stopped in the kitchen long enough to grab some juice from the fridge and then up to their room. Neither one was horny after the tub, so they got dried off and then spent the rest of the evening learning even more of each other's sensitive spots. After that, they settled into a rhythm in their lives. They went to their respective schools, and then they took turn doing the cooking while the other did the dishes. Then it was homework and relaxation in the hot tub or if the temperature didn't cooperate, reading or watching TV. Since they were assured of each other's presence, they didn't have to make love every night, but they were sure to keep each other satisfied. Greg found that Mandy had been right about Olivia, the sophomore he had helped pick up her books in the hallway. She seemed to show up around him more and more. Not in any way that was really obvious, but if he was hanging in the hall between classes, she seemed not too far away. Anytime he spoke to her, she would get really red in the face and have some trouble talking. He recognized her shyness but he didn't see the signs that there was more to it. Still, he didn't mind her hanging around him. She would sit with her friends at a table close to his at lunch and if he looked up from what he was doing, she would hide her face or quickly look away. After a few weeks of this, she got just a little bolder. She started to leave the top buttons of her blouse undone and if he looked in her direction, she would find an excuse to lean forward so he could see down her blouse to the tops of her still budding breasts. She would also try and get close enough in a crowd to give him a look. She would wear a short skirt, and when this was the case, she would sit opposite him in the cafeteria. When he would glance in their direction, one of her girlfriends would whisper and she would make a move in order to show her trim legs and sometimes her panty covered ass. He casually mentioned this to Mandy who took it much more seriously than he had. "Greg, don't you know when a girl has a crush on you?" Greg looked shocked. "You mean she's in love with me or something?" "From what you have told me she thinks she is in love with you. I remember when I had a couple of crushes when I was younger. I would try to get their attention just about like you say she's been acting. You must have had a crush or two during school. Think how you felt around them." "You really think she is plotting on how to get me alone so she can screw my socks off? That's what I used to think..." There was a mischievous gleam in his eye when he said that. Mandy giggled at his comment. "No, you goof! Although that is part of it. Girls think more romantic things. She probably dreams of you coming along and sweeping her off her feet and then making glorious love to her in a field of flowers. That is more like it." Greg was silent for a moment and then he got serious. "I can't let her go on like this. It isn't fair to her and now that I realize what is going on, I would feel guilty as hell if I am leading her on." "Sweetheart, you have got to be careful if you are going to destroy her crush on you. The female ego at that age is as delicate as a boy's. Do it as gently as possible. She may reject it, but you could offer to be a friend to her. That might help some." Greg thought about it even after Mandy had fallen asleep beside him. Olivia was a cute girl. She was very shy, but that might be the effects of her feelings for him. He knew he didn't want to hurt her, but he also knew that she needed to look for another love interest. He fell asleep still trying to decide what to say to her. The next day at lunch, he found an empty table and sat down. Olivia and some of her friends took a table in his line of sight as usual. However when she looked over at him, he motioned her to come and sit with him. Olivia screwed up her courage and stood. Picking up her tray, she started toward him ignoring the whispers and the giggles of her peers. She nervously sat down opposite Greg. He finished swallowing and started to talk to her in a low voice. "Olivia, I have got to ask you something and I can't find any way to do it without coming right out and asking. Do you have feelings for me?" When she turned red and nodded her head, he continued. "I'm sorry, but I am already committed to another. If I wasn't I would be very interested in you." Olivia looked up at him and he could see the tears in her blue eyes. But he forged on. "I find you sweet and cute and very sexy. Please try and understand. There is nothing wrong with you or about you. It is just that I am committed to a woman who I am very much in love with. And you deserve to be loved by someone who will be as devoted to you as I am toward Mandy." Olivia finally spoke up. "You really mean it when you said I was sweet and... and sexy?" "I sure did. You don't think I noticed when you would give me flashes of skin, but believe me, I noticed." "You must think I am some silly little girl who has a crush on you." Olivia hung her head down and he thought she was going to break down in tears. "Not at all! Olivia, look at me. I don't think any such thing. I wish I could feel for you as you do me, but it just isn't possible. But I know what I would like." "What's that?" she sniffled just a bit. "I would really like to remain friends with you. I think we can get along well together, and I could use more friends, especially pretty ones, like you." He gave her a smile that he hoped she would take as sincere, since it was. Olivia dabbed her eyes with her napkin. "You mean it? You would want a friend that is a sophomore, and you a junior and all?" "Of course I mean it. I don't judge people on their age. Personality is much more important than how old you are. So how about it? Can we be friends and even lunch partners once in a while." This time, Olivia smiled at him. "Yeah, we can do that. And thanks for being so nice about this and explaining this to me. It helps to know that I didn't totally turn you off." "Far from it. You are quite a foxy young lady. Now I think your friends are about ready to explode from anticipation. You better let them know what WE decided. Olivia took a glance it the direction of her friends. "Oh, what do I tell them?" "Just tell them that we figured we would be better off as friends. That will save face if they think it was a mutual decision." As Olivia started to stand, Greg leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Her friends saw it and gave out some noises of approval. Olivia froze for a second touching the place where he had put his lips. Then she smiled and went back to her waiting friends. Greg told Mandy what had happened after dinner. She crawled up into his lap and gave him a warm kiss. "I think you did well with her. It could have been really hard on her, but you made her feel special in spite of the letdown." "She is a nice girl and I didn't want to hurt her any more than I had to. She seemed like she was happier than I expected." "Well, getting a kiss from your crush, even on the cheek would have been special for her. Now how about a kiss for your lover?" He leaned in and gave Mandy a kiss that left no doubt just who owned his heart. The John Adams High School held their prom a week before school let out. It was the first school function that Greg had ever considered going to and of course, he asked Mandy to accompany him. She was thrilled and insisted on going out to get the 'perfect' dress. Melinda, a friend she had made at school, offered to go with her and they took off on the Saturday before the dance to hit every dress shop in town. Mandy had Greg's ATM card so after finding the dress she wanted, she went to the nearest ATM and pulled out what was needed. Along the way, she got shoes and a purse to match. When the women got home, they told him all about their victories, but wouldn't let him see the result saying that it was a surprise and he could wait a week. He went ahead and made dinner while Melinda teased him about guys not being able to cook. He had made baked ziti since it could be reheated if they were late. It had about fifteen minutes left, so he tossed a salad and made garlic bread. Soon enough, they were eating in the breakfast nook. Melinda took her first bite and changed her mind. She decided that at least this guy could cook. She complimented him on the taste so much that he was almost embarrassed. When he served cheesecake for dessert, Melinda almost melted. "Oh! My absolute favorite! Mandy you better watch this guy. If it gets out that he can cook like this, every girl at school is going to try and wiggle an invite over, then try and steal him." Mandy laughed to cover her inner feelings. She was pretty sure she had no worries on that account even though it sometimes nagged at her. It had taken a lot of work to get over her insecurities, but this was one that deep down she was worried about. He kept telling her that he was totally devoted to her, but considering how she felt about herself, it was still hard to believe It was late before Melinda left. Greg enjoyed the Latino woman's company and the way she and Mandy had formed a good friendship. He made sure that she knew she was invited back anytime. They closed the door, but before they went to bed, Mandy wanted one last piece of cheesecake. Greg looked down at her tummy and realized that she was starting to show her condition a bit now. He had noticed the signs earlier like her breasts getting larger and her hips flaring out more, but the bulge in her tummy was unmistakable. Greg came up behind her and hugged her while she was rinsing the plate off in the sink. He rubbed her tummy, feeling the smooth taut skin around her middle. Then he kissed her on the side of the neck. She turned her head to look at him. "Mmmmmmm. That feels nice." Then she turned around and put her arms around his neck. "Does it bother you at all that I'm carrying someone else's baby?" Greg thought for a few seconds before answering. "I really don't think about it that way. If I think about how you got in this condition, I want to make him pay for it. I think it helps that you were not a willing participant though. But then I also think that the baby is part of you and since you are willing to have it, then I can dwell on that aspect of it all." Then he gave her a loving kiss. "Besides, He will never know just how much he is missing because he doesn't have your love. That's what makes it all worth it." This seemed to satisfy her for the moment. She had been thinking about some things that were going on with her pregnancy, and this was one that had been weighing heavily on her mind. Tuesday evening found them home once again. One of the volunteer tutors from the local college came over on Tuesdays and Thursdays to help Mandy get caught up on her history. It turned out that Mandy was pretty good at history, but that she had not been taught what was accepted facts for most students. She actually had to 'un-learn' the religious slant she had been taught and be able to accept an entirely new version. This was taking some time, but she was getting it. Greg didn't mind in the least to have this tutor come over. Traci was a woman whose face and figure would stop time. Dark copper hair that flowed down her back and the prettiest green eyes would cause anyone to take more than a second look. Her figure would make a playmate jealous. Add to that she was witty and intelligent, and you had a great combination, at least in Greg's estimation. For Mandy, she had grown to love Traci like a sister. Her fear of losing Greg did not extend to this woman for some reason. Part of it was the way that her lover treated the beautiful woman, being friendly but never trying to come on to her. Another reason, one she couldn't really explain, was that she was attracted to Traci. She enjoyed Greg's attentions too much to be a lesbian, but there was just something about her that gave Mandy a sexual tingle. It was six thirty when the doorbell rang. Greg was hard at work checking his paper on twentieth century writers in western literature, so Mandy went to answer it. He looked up at the two women as they entered the dining room. Traci had a big smile on her face as she greeted him. "You up for another round on what the real causes for the Second World War really were?" "Not yet," Greg answered returning her smile. "At least not until I can get Hemingway and Sinclair Lewis out of my mind." "This the paper you were talking about?" "Yeah, it is taking some time to bring out anything that isn't dry and boring about them all." "Why not include some comments on how they helped to change the public's attitude about what they were writing about? How Lewis' books showed the public how dreary and provincial their lives were. He made them think and then enact change." "You're right. That is what I needed for this paper. Thanks! I think I have been thinking too much on biography and bibliography and not about what the books really meant." As Greg dove into his paper again, Traci and Mandy settled down into the lessons that they were working on. They all took a break around nine, and after Mandy served them all hot tea and butter poundcake, they started talking. This time, it was about more personal things rather than the academic discussions they normally had. Mandy started it by telling Traci about trying to find a prom dress that would look good over her expanding figure. The other two had a good laugh when she told about going into one of the better shops to look a dresses and the saleswoman tried to tactfully ask if Mandy was pregnant, or just a 'large' woman. Another one of the stores said they didn't have any maternity prom dresses since most of the pregnant girls didn't go to prom anyway. And how she and Melinda had found a maternity store that had formal wear. Well, you are lucky to have Greg," Traci commented. "Seems that I end up with the wrong kind of guy." When Greg and Mandy asked what she meant, she continued. "Seems like I always end up picking the losers. I mean I always get asked out, but after a couple of dates, they are trying just to get into my panties. Now I love sex as much as the next person, but I need something else too. Intelligent conversation would be a great thing. But none of the guys that could actually talk about something besides sports and sex never seem to ask me out." Greg had been silent during this part of the conversation. Now he piped up. "You know it could be that the ones you say would give you what you want might be scared to death to even approach you, much less ask you out." Traci looked at him questioningly. "What do you mean scared of me? I'm not snobbish or stuck up, or anything like that. At least, I don't think so." "I know you are not stuck up. You are bright and friendly. And a very witty person as well. But what happens is that guys take one look at you and they assume that you are all the things you aren't. They are sure you are out of their league. And when they are sure they are going to be turned down, they won't take the chance. What you may have to do is to turn the tables and ask them out. If they know you are sincere, there isn't a guy alive who would turn you down." "I've never asked a guy out all my life. My dates have always come to me." "Well, give it a try. Find one you think might be fun, someone that you are attracted to. Get to know them a little bit so they are not frightened by your looks. Then ask them out." Traci thought on this for a while. "Well, there is a guy in my math class. He and I talk every now and then. He is cute and comes up with some of the worst puns. Maybe I will try what you said." They went back to their work and finally stopped at eleven. Traci packed up her things and headed out the door with the promise to let them know how it went if she did ask that guy out. When Traci showed up on Thursday, she was all smiles. She and Mandy walked into the room as Greg was coming back from the kitchen with a can of pop. Traci came up to him and grabbed him in a big hug. Greg was startled by this display of affection, but quickly returned the hug with the arm that didn't have the cold Pepsi in it. "Thanks for your advice! I asked Jimmy if he wanted to get something to eat after our last class yesterday. Like you said, he was flabbergasted that I asked him out, but he quickly accepted. We went to a local pub and had a blast. He was funny and charming once he got over being intimidated by me. That is what he called it: intimidation. We talked about all kinds of things. And we have a date, a real date tomorrow night. He promised me a good dinner and then a play! I haven't been to a real play in years. I'm really looking forward to it." Greg chuckled at her. "I can tell you are just a bit excited." That earned him a slightly embarrassed laugh. They then settled down to their studies. As they were finishing up for the evening, Mandy asked Traci if she wanted to come by Sunday morning and have brunch, so she could tell them all about the date. "I'd really like that. I have got to where I am really comfortable around you two. It's like we are all friends instead of being a tutor/student relationship. What time do you want me to be here? "Why don't you come over around ten-thirty? We can have brunch and then lay out in the sun. Don't forget to bring a suit with you." Mandy looked over at Greg and he nodded in favor of those arrangements. After Traci had gone, Greg turned to Mandy. "You know that is a mean thing to do." Mandy was puzzled at that remark. "What do you mean? I thought you liked Traci." "Oh I like her well enough. But if I have to look at her body in a bikini all day, it is going to make me hotter than a half-fucked fox in a forest fire. You better be ready to take the consequences when she leaves." Mandy caught his evil grin and knew he was teasing. "Well, I'll just have to suffer the consequences of my thoughtlessness then." Then she kissed him in such a way that he knew she was more than willing to have a preview right then. They stripped off their clothes on the way to the master bedroom. They had found that the extra large shower stall was a wonderful place to have some good clean fun while having fun getting clean. Greg started the shower and got the temperature set. Then once they were inside, he got Mandy to kneel on the floor and he washed her hair for her. She always found it very sensual to have Greg massage her scalp. It was a very loving gesture that never failed to turn her on. As soon as he rinsed her hair, she turned on her knees and pulled his cock into her mouth. She lovingly sucked on it while running her tongue around his glans. After her first real blow job that she gave Greg, she had spent some time on the net reading descriptions of oral sex. She had turned those ideas into practice and she had improved dramatically from when she had started. The proof of this was now in her mouth as his cock grew and got very hard. While she was sucking her lover, her fingers had been dancing around her clit. She was very wet and ready for him when she turned around and got on her hands and knees. Greg got the message and knelt behind her and slid into her tunnel in one slow stroke. She gave a groan as he reach the limit of her tunnel and his pubic hair was tickling her ass. While he was enjoying the feeling, she started to rock back against him, urging him to start thrusting into her. He obeyed and they were soon rutting against each other. Greg recognized that she didn't want this to be slow and easy. She was in the mood to be fucked, not made love to. It didn't happen very often so he was willing to take advantage of it. He slid into her harder now, making her ass ripple with every forward thrust. He reached around and started to rub around her clit, making her movements even more erratic. She suddenly clamped down hard around his shaft and started to shake with the tremors of her climax. He was close enough to follow her down that path and he shot his load deep inside her, mixing his semen with her juices. He pulled out of her and pulled her shoulders back to where she was sitting on her knees. As he sat there with her back against his chest, he could see their combined juices draining out of her to be washed down the drain by the running water. They both felt the water getting cooler, so they got to their feet and rinsed off. Once out of the shower, they dried each other, and then walked with their arms around each other to their bedroom. Saturday and the day of the prom finally arrived. All week the talk around the school had been about nothing except the prom. Who was taking whom, what dresses the girls had picked out, and in some cases who was planning to lose their virginity, and who was planning other activities to keep theirs. A couple of his classmates asked if he was going and when he answered yes, they were curious about whom. Melinda came by and picked up Mandy to take her to get her hair done and all the other things that seemed to be part of the prom ritual. Greg spent the day getting things done around the house. He was in the shower when the women returned. Mandy stuck her head into the bathroom to let him know they were back and she was getting ready. He shouted back that he heard her and finished his shower. He shaved and went to their room where the tuxedo he had rented was hung on the back of the door. He dressed, fighting with the tie, but when he looked at the mirror he was satisfied with the result. He went downstairs and was waiting for the 'arrival' of his date. He heard Melissa come down first telling him that Mandy would be right down. He turned to watch as she started down the stairs, and was frozen in place when he saw her. She had on a blue strapless gown made of a soft material that seemed to flow from the top of her breasts all the way to the floor. He could see just the slightest bulge in her stomach, proving that she was definitely pregnant. Her recently enlarged breasts made for some interesting cleavage that was highlighted by the top of the dress. Her hair was done up sweeping back with a few ringlets hanging down framing her lovely face. She saw the look of appreciation in Greg's eyes. Smiling, she turned around slowly so that he could see that it was open almost to her butt, the back held in place with a series of straps from side to side. She stood still as Greg walked up to her. He took her hands and whispered, "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." She blushed prettily smiling at the compliment. Suddenly, Greg walked toward the kitchen. Coming back out, he slipped a corsage onto her wrist. She was looking at it when he explained that earlier that afternoon he remembered that he was supposed to get flowers. The light blue orchid was a chance but it worked out well, accenting her dress. Melissa took her leave then and Greg escorted his date to the car. They arrived at the hotel where the prom was being held and the valet took control of the car. They walked into the entrance and toward the restaurant where they had reservations for dinner. As they were led to their table, Mandy noticed there were several other couples dressed for the prom. What Greg noticed was that most of his male classmates were staring at Mandy on the way in. He had to agree that she was the most beautiful one there. The food was excellent and the service was the same. They took their time and didn't leave until they heard the faint sounds of the band starting. Walking down the elegant corridor, they entered the room where the prom was being held. They moved around the edge of the crowd until they found a table. Mandy took a seat while Greg went to get them something to drink. There was a cash bar that was serving nothing but soft drinks in addition to a buffet table with punch and sweets to nibble on. He paid for a couple of Pepsis and made his way back to where Mandy was sitting. As he sat down, another couple approached them. Connie had been a school friend of Greg's since third grade. The young man on her side was Andy, someone he didn't know well, but seemed like a good enough guy. Getting a sign from Greg, Mandy offered to share the table. The couple accepted and they settled in. "Greg, this is the first time I think I have ever seen you at any school function. I'm glad you could make it." Connie's exuberance was startling, but her smile told them that she was sincere. "Well you know Connie, I never had any reason to come to any of the social functions, and no one to come with me until now." After introductions were made, Connie leaned close to Mandy and stage whispered, "You know that isn't true. I kept telling him that there were several girls who would have accepted an invitation, but he was just to shy to ask." "Well, I guess I'm lucky that he finally got up his courage then." Greg tried to give them both a dirty look, but the smile on his face negated the effect. Connie was as outgoing as ever, and soon she and Mandy were talking like old friends. Greg asked Mandy to dance, and when they stood, he heard Connie take a sharp breath. Mandy must have missed Connie's reaction, but she soon felt the stares they were getting on the dance floor. During a slow song, she whispered into Greg's ear that she felt like everybody was looking at her and could tell she was pregnant. Greg told her that it was their problem, and she should just ignore it and enjoy herself. Most of the stares were for her beauty rather than her condition anyway. After a few turns on the dance floor they headed back to the table. Andy and Connie came back just after them. After they were seated, Connie leaned over to Mandy. "I don't mean to intrude, but are you pregnant?" "I guess it is a little obvious," was Mandy's reply. "Don't worry about it. As long as you are happy and Greg is too, then that's fine. How far along are you?" "Just about twelve weeks. I can still wear some of my old clothes thank goodness." Then Connie looked over at Greg. "And how's the proud papa?" Mandy looked down but Greg answered her. "It's not mine, but that doesn't keep me from being proud of Mandy." Connie looked very contrite. "Damn, there I go stick my foot in my mouth again." Mandy touched her arm. "Don't worry about it. You had no way to know. I wish it was Greg's since I love him so much." Then she explained how her former boyfriend had ended up raping her, and how great a friend Greg had been throughout the whole thing. "We finally came to our senses and admitted we were in love." Connie had been listening closely, and after that she said, "You are really brave to have been able to handle all that. And I knew Greg was a good friend to have, but never just how great. Would you have taken me in like that Greg?" "Sure Connie. But the results would have been different. See, I have had a thing for Mandy since we were preschool age." Connie was beaming at them. "That is so sweet. I'm glad you two got together then. You make a great couple." "So do you two," was Mandy's reply. "Well, if Mandy doesn't mind, I would like to steal Greg for a dance. Since you got him here, I wouldn't want to miss my chance." Andy piped up saying, "Only if I can have the honor of Mandy's company." Mandy looked over at Greg who nodded to her. "It would be my Pleasure." They all moved out to the dance floor and enjoyed the change in partners. Connie was just a bit taller than Mandy, but she moved with Greg very well. They were just old friends that were having a great time together. Looking over at his girlfriend, he saw that for his added inches, Andy was very good on his feet. He had a good foot in height over Mandy, but they moved together very well. As the prom started to wind down, Connie asked if they were staying in one of the rooms at the hotel. Greg told her that they would be heading home and she admitted that she and Andy had rented a room. "We just thought that it would be better than trying to drive home since there will be after prom parties upstairs anyways. And well..." She left the sentence hanging. Greg gave a little chuckle. "Connie without words? I'll have to remember this." "Oh, you! We had kinda decided that tonight would be the night." Then Greg leaned over and kissed Connie on the cheek. "Well then I hope you enjoy yourselves. You are a sweet person, Connie and I hope it will be everything you want it to be." By now Connie was blushing a deep red. She whispered 'Thanks' and looked over at Andy with passion in her eyes. Greg and Mandy danced the last dance, and then bid the other couple goodbye. They soon had their car from the valet, and were heading back home. Mandy had her hand on Greg's thigh while he drove. "Thanks for tonight, Greg. I had dreamed of a prom but never thought I would get to go. I had such a great time. And now we get to go home together without the worries the other couples are having. 'Will she or won't she', and 'Do I really want to give it up tonight' kind of worries." "You're right sweetheart. And I get to go home with the prettiest, most sexy woman there." They were both tired when they made it home. Greg helped Mandy get the dress off and hung up. Then she took her hair down while he removed his tuxedo. They made soft, slow love before they snuggled down for some sleep. ------- Chapter 6 Mandy woke up the next morning trying to remember something. She was snuggling up against her lover's back when it hit her. They had invited Traci over for brunch at ten! She rolled over and saw that the clock read nine-fifteen. She roused Greg, and then hit the shower. She was getting dressed when Greg moved toward the bathroom. She heard the shower start and she headed down to start breakfast. She had been eating more since she was past the morning sickness phase and the doctor told her that she shouldn't gain too much. But she figured a good breakfast wouldn't hurt. By the time Greg made his appearance in the kitchen, she had the bacon almost finished. He had a few sips of coffee then made the pancake batter. The first ones hit the griddle when the doorbell rang. Mandy went to answer it followed by a tired but smiling Traci. He sat them both at the island and within a few minutes had served up plates of bacon, scrambled eggs and pancakes. Getting a plate of his own, he sat at the end while they all ate. When they had finished and their cups had been refilled, Mandy asked the young woman how her date had gone. "It was fantastic. Jim picked me up and we went to that new place that serves Middle Eastern food. I had never had it before so Jim helped me decide. It was really good, but spicy. Then we went to see "The dialogue of mankind", at the Orpheus Theater. I enjoyed the actors and the material was interesting. Then we went to a little coffee shop and discussed the play. He talked intelligently and backed up his points. Even when we disagreed, we could discuss it and even enlighten each other. I'll tell you, that don't happen to me on dates. "Then he took me home and when I was going to give him a simple goodnight kiss, it turned into one that curled my toes. Boy, that man knows how to kiss! I have never been turned on like that from just a kiss. After he left, I had to umm... take care of myself. Anyway, we are going out again on Friday." Greg just chuckled at her enthusiasm. Mandy was telling her how great she thought it was that she had found someone who she enjoyed going out with. "I really glad Greg suggested that I do the asking. Jim admitted that he was intimidated by my looks, but he settled down when he met the real me. It's just so great to finally get to enjoy a date and not have to fight off some goon's hands all night, or listen to them brag." The two women decided that lounging in the sun was just the thing they needed. Mandy led their friend to the master bedroom to change while she slipped on her own bikini. Greg already had on a pair of cut off shorts, but he wasn't going to come out yet. There was an old sci-fi movie he wanted to watch. When Greg's show was over, he decided to go and see if the ladies wanted anything. What he saw when he went out almost made him swallow his tongue. Traci's bikini was so tiny it was almost non-existent. The two triangles up top were barely big enough to cover her nipples and the one below clearly showed the sides of her nether lips. She was on her back and her breasts showed just enough side movement to prove that they were natural. Her stomach was firm with just a hint of the muscle beneath showing. Her long legs were shapely with no sign of any excess fat. Mandy looked good enough to eat, as always. She had decided to forego her top and left it on the arm of the lounge. Her firm breasts glistened with the oil she had applied to them and her nipples were standing erect in the light breeze. Neither one had noticed him, so when he felt like he could speak; he cleared his throat to get their attention. "Just wondering if you two would like something to drink?" Both women looked over at him. Traci's gaze wandered down to his sizeable erection in his shorts, then caught herself and looked back up into his face. Mandy had seen where her friend's gaze had gone and was smiling with merriment. They both decided tea would be nice about now, so he hastily made a retreat to the kitchen. By the time he brought their drinks out his cock was at half-mast. He studiously kept his eyes away from the tiny white bikini and his girlfriend's bare chest while he handed them their glasses. Then he sat in a chair opposite him. After Traci had downed about half her glass, she looked over at Greg. "Thank you for the compliment. It's nice to know I'm attractive to someone without having them try and paw me." Greg looked a bit sheepish. "Well, with two beautiful women very close to being naked, I'd have to be dead not to have a reaction like that. But you're right, you are too good a friend for me to have more than a passing thought or two about you." "I thought as much about you, but it's nice to hear you say it. I haven't relaxed this much since I left home for college. No studies, no worries, and nobody pushing for something. I could get used to this." Mandy spoke up at that. "You know you are welcome anytime you want to come over, Traci. At least as far as I am concerned." Greg seconded the notion. "It's fine with me as well. You can use it as a 'safe house' of sorts, to get away if you want. You are always welcome." Traci thanked them both and tried to tell them how much she appreciated the offer. What they didn't know is how much she really needed some escape. This year, her freshman at the college, had been very stressful for her. She had taken a full load of classes, and the sudden change from her sheltered high school life was drastic. She had made the change but it was hard. In addition, her roommate was bi and was constantly bringing home both men and women. She wasn't quiet about it either. It was becoming harder to be able to study specially with finals coming up. She had been using the library, but with the perverts running around, she never really felt safe. Besides, she didn't really have many friends. The guys just seemed to want to get in her pants, and the other women were fearful of her looks. All in all, she was a very lonely woman. She had come to hate college life, so much so that she had considered quitting several times. There were nights that she would lie in her bed and sob in her loneliness and frustration. That was why the simple offer from these two was so important to her. They genuinely liked her for the person she was. Mandy was not jealous of her or afraid that she would steal her boyfriend. Greg always treated her like a person and liked her for her personality and mind. He was aware of the way she looked, but he never made a move on her that way. Whenever she left from her tutoring sessions with Mandy, she always came away with the feeling of being relaxed and refreshed. It was like she was safe in being herself without the preconceived notions that always plagued those around her. Traci had been thinking about all of this during the silence that had followed her acceptance of their offer. Greg happened to look over as a tear rolled out from under her sunglasses and made a wet trail down her cheek. He immediately got Mandy's attention and pointed at Traci. She in turn got off her lounge and knelt down next to her friend. "What's wrong Traci? Did we do something to upset you?" Traci sat up and tried to wipe away the tears. "No you haven't done anything wrong at all. I'm sorry for getting emotional. It's just that you two offering to let me come over anytime just made me feel so good." When Greg said he didn't understand what she meant, she explained all the things she had been thinking and why it meant so much to her. By the time she was done talking, Greg had knelt down on the other side of her and was rubbing her arm to assure her they meant what they had said, and that they both considered her a special person and a good friend. Mandy went further and leaned up and wrapped Traci in a big hug. That seemed to help as much as anything. When they finally let go, Traci gave them both a small smile. "I really didn't mean to get all emotional. I usually don't do things like that." "There's nothing wrong with honest emotions," said Greg. Then he opened his arms in invitation and Traci leaned over willingly to accept a hug from him. When they separated, they moved into the house by unspoken agreement. Traci ended up staying for dinner as well. They talked most of the evening and the topics were more personal than they had been before. Greg explained how he seemed to be living on his own at fourteen and some of the loneliness he had from that upbringing. Mandy shocked the older woman with the atmosphere she had been raised in. As Mandy would describe something, they could see the emotions of sympathy, anger, and incredulity pass over Traci's beautiful face. For her part, she told of growing up with four brothers and being the middle child in a family that was just above poverty level. Her mother had seen that her daughter was a pretty child and had entered her in modeling contests. The money she made from the modeling went into the family budget and would often times pay for the clothes for her and her brothers for school. She had done well in school academically but felt outcast in the social scene. She had high hopes when she came to college that she would be able to fit in, but she had found more of the same attitudes. She had volunteered to tutor for the charter school because she got credit for it, but more for a chance to try and help others. The heartfelt talk lasted late into the night. It was approaching midnight when Greg finally looked at the clock. Mandy suggested that Traci spend the night and she could get a good night's sleep. She would have plenty of time to get back to the dorm and change before her first class and be better for the rest. Traci didn't want to intrude, but when Greg chimed in that it was no intrusion, she decided to accept. Mandy found one of her sleep shirts that would fit the taller girl. It did fit, but barely, just covering her ass cheeks. Greg appreciated the glimpse of panties he got but didn't say a word. They all headed for a quick shower, Greg and Mandy in the master bathroom and Traci using the one in hall bath. They called out goodnight and were soon snuggled down in their separate beds. Greg and Mandy didn't make love that night in deference to their guest. Since she heard it all the time in the dorm, they wanted her to rest. Instead, they snuggled and talked for a few minutes before dropping off to sleep wrapped in each other's arms. The next morning, Greg was the first one up and half staggered into the bathroom. He was brushing his teeth when he heard Traci's voice as she said good morning to Mandy. At the same time, he realized his dilemma. In his half awake state, he had walked into the bathroom naked. Now with both women in the hall waiting in for their turn, he had to do something. He grabbed the biggest towel in the shelf and wrapped it around his waist. That at least would allow him some dignity. He opened the door and as he went across the hall, shouted "Next!" before closing the door behind him. Mandy was almost dressed when he came in. She saw the towel and since his hair wasn't wet, she figured out what happened. She giggled at him as his face turned red, but he was soon sharing in the humor of the incident. She went on down to the kitchen to start her toast and juice for breakfast. Greg was close behind and was spreading peanut butter on a bagel when Traci appeared. Mandy explained that during school, that breakfast was what ever you wanted to fix, so Traci helped herself to a bagel but instead of peanut butter, she spread cream cheese on it. Traci commented that she hadn't slept that well in a long time, even though she usually didn't do well in strange places. Then she thanked them again and promised to see them on their scheduled Tuesday night. She headed out to her car and drove off to her first class of the day. Greg and Mandy were soon on their way as well, both feeling good about their older friend. Greg was in the middle of finals for his junior year. Although he could have passed easily without even taking the finals, he was determined to keep his grades as high as possible. He had settled into the habit of having lunch with Olivia a couple times a week. At first, it was just her, but later on one or two of her friends would shyly come over waiting an invitation to sit. There were four at the table that day and the three girls were complaining about the difficulty of the finals when they all felt the presence of another person at the table. The girls looked up to see a beautiful young woman standing next to the table. Greg who was reading his calculus notes had not been paying attention until the conversation suddenly stopped. He looked up to see Mandy standing there smiling down at him. He immediately stood up and gave her a quick hug and invited her to sit next to him. All the girls were staring, so he introduced them. "Mandy, this is my friend Olivia, and her friends Beth, Cyndi, and Amber. Olivia is my lunch partner and the others come over once in a while to keep us company." The younger girls were blushing as he named them but Mandy was very friendly to them, greeting each in turn. "What brings you by here? I'm glad to see you, but it was unexpected." "The school closed because of a water main break. One of the other girls brought me over here and when I asked if I could stay and get a ride home with you, they said I could wait in the library or the office." Lunchtime was coming to a close when Greg stood to walk Mandy to the library. Before they left, Mandy leaned over to Olivia and whispered loud enough for the other girls to hear, "You keep an eye on Greg. He's too good a man for us to share with just anyone, ya know." Then she winked at the sophomore, causing her to turn a lovely shade of red. Greg gave her a mock scowl then returned her grin. They walked hand in hand to the library and he promised to come and get her as soon as the final test was done. Finals days were short days at John Adams High. Each class was one hundred minutes instead of the usual sixty but they only had three finals each day. Tomorrow would be only one and then they were basically done for the year. Greg headed off to his calculus test, the last one of the day. The teacher told the class that they could leave as soon as they were done with the test, so it was seventy minutes later that Greg hand in his papers and after waving at the teacher, walked out the door. He headed straight to the library. He paused to look in through the glass in the door and saw that Mandy had her sketchpad out and was drawing something in the room. He entered quietly so he wouldn't disturb her and come up behind her to see her work. She had drawn the interior of the library, and where the desk was she had placed Miss Johnston, the librarian helping a student with a book. At a couple of the tables, she had students studying and looking through the shelves. In the time that he had been in the test, she had finished a wonderful sketch. She finished the last bits of shading and turned to see Greg standing there. "That is fantastic, sweetheart. You captured the spirit of what the library should be. I knew you were good, but this is something else." She blushed at his compliment. "I like to draw and my art instructor encouraged me to practice when I have the time. Since I knew you would be a while, I decided to try doing the room." She packed up her things and with the sketchbook under her arm, they started to leave. As they passed the desk, Miss Johnson stopped them. She was a kindly older woman who endeared herself to all the students, so Greg was glad to stop and introduce Mandy to her. She asked to see what Mandy had been sketching and when she showed her, Miss Johnson was enamored with it... She had the girl blushing with all the praise she was giving. Mandy asked if she would like to have it and Miss Johnson was delighted. Mandy carefully pulled out the page and signed and dated it. Then she handed it to the older woman who placed it on the back counter. She wished them a good afternoon and they headed out to his bike and then home. Once at the house, Greg asked to see more of her sketches. He was very impressed with what he saw and he encouraged her to draw at any time she felt the desire. She started to say something a couple of times, and Greg told her to just say what she wanted. "Well I need the practice of drawing human figures. Would you mind posing for me?" Greg was flattered, but really didn't think he would be that good of a subject. Mandy thought different, and convinced him that she really did need the practice. He finally consented to be her model, and she got him posed with his arms crossed and leaning against the doorframe. She looked at him a moment and then came over and unbuttoned the shirt he had on. She arranged the front until it showed his stomach and pecs, and then got him back in position. She sat on a stool and started sketching, looking frequently between her subject and the paper. When she started to work on his face, she asked for a smile. What he gave her was a look that showed his lust for her. She did a double take at his face and felt a surge of sexual energy go through her, but she put it on the back burner until she finished her sketch. When she called it finished, he came over to look. His face was burning but he admitted that she had captured him, and what's more she made the mood come alive. His gaze looked like he was practically smoking with desire of her. She laid her pad and pencils down and grabbed his face into a passionate kiss that lit his fuse. Without breaking the kiss, he leaned down and picked her up, carrying her to the bedroom. They broke apart long enough to tear their clothes off, then they came together on the bed. They were both more than ready and she rolled him up on his back and slid herself down on him in one long stroke. She paused only long enough to look into his eyes before she started to move firmly up and down on him. This was one of the times she was not interested in taking her time. She was so hot she needed to be fucked and fucked now! Greg was of the same mind. He thrust up in rhythm to her movements and they were soon pounding each other as their need for release heightened. Mandy went over first, slamming down on his cock and starting to shake in orgasm. Her climax triggered his and he pushed into her as far as he could, releasing his semen deep inside of her. It had not lasted long but they were both worn out from the intensity. They lay in each other's arms just enjoying the afterglow. Mandy was the first to move. She rose up on her arms and looked down at her lover. "Wow! That was really intense." "You're not kidding. I had been thinking about that all afternoon and when you kissed me like that, I just got lost in the passion." "When you gave me that look as you were posing, it just shot through me. I felt myself getting soaked the longer I worked. I just kept seeing the way you were looking at me." "It was a surprise to me, but I think we both enjoyed it." Receiving an affirmative reaction from his lover, he grinned. "But we had better get cleaned up before Traci shows up. You don't want to be looking like you just had your brains fucked out." Mandy stuck her tongue out at him, but got up to follow him into the master bath for a shower and a little mutual groping. By the time Traci arrived, they were fully dressed and presentable, but they both had a look of serenity that betrayed the sexual encounter of a few hours before. Traci saw the look on Mandy's face but wisely chose to ignore it. However, she did have some other news. "The school thinks that you are coming along well with the additional tutoring you have been getting. They are going to cut your sessions to one a week when school starts next fall. I'm trying to get it set up to be your tutor, but they haven't made the decisions yet. Anyway, tonight will be our last official session for the year. The college terms are over so they have brought the program to an end for the summer." Greg and Mandy both would miss the bi-weekly session with Traci and told her so. She gave them a look. "I said officially the program is ended. That doesn't mean that I won't still be around. I have to go back home for a visit, but I haven't found any summer job there so I will be back here to look." This revelation brightened the mood for the evening. Instead of studying that night, they sat around just having conversation among friends. Traci admitted that her grades were not quite what she wanted but she had made the Dean's List. There were congratulations on that achievement from the other two. Greg's grades would be out on Monday but he felt confident that he had done well. Mandy's marks came from a combination of her old school where she had been keeping a good standing plus the progress that she had shown at the charter school. She came out with a 3.0 average, which was very good considering the turmoil. She was very proud of making a perfect 4.0 in her art class. The talk then turned to Mandy's proficiency as an artist. Greg got her to pull out her sketchbook and as Traci leafed through the pages, she was impressed as well. When she got to the last one where Greg was leaning against the doorframe, she actually blushed a little bit. "The expression that you captured on Greg is really something. If he was looking at you like that then I can understand why you seemed so 'relaxed' when I showed up." Mandy gave a blush at that comment. "Yeah, it kinda affected me that way too. We were both pretty worked up by that time." Traci gave a chuckle at her discomfort. "It great that you two have each other. Being single is a disadvantage at times. Frustration is harder to relieve without a partner to help." After she realized that she let slip that she had to resort to masturbation for relief, it was Traci's turn to blush a deep red. The evening ended earlier than before. Traci had to finish packing for her trip home and Greg still had one more exam tomorrow morning. Monday would be the last day of school for him and Mandy had three days after that. With a promise to call them when she got back into town, Traci left. Mandy went in to watch some television while Greg studied for his last final. The final exam was in English Lit. and Greg was sure he aced it. With nothing else to do, he cleaned out his locker. Monday, he would be back in long enough to turn in his books and get his grades. He wandered into the library to return a book he had borrowed and saw that Miss Johnson had taken Mandy's drawing and had it framed. It was hanging on the wall at the end of the desk. He felt a measure of pride for his girlfriend and her suppressed talent. He bid the older woman to have a nice summer and left for the day. Collecting the helmets, he rode around the city a while before finding himself in the area of the Charter school. Hoping to visit Mandy, he went to the office to find when she would be having lunch and if he could stay for that. The assistant principal recognized him and said he could stay for lunch, which would be starting in about fifteen minutes. While he waited, he and the woman talked about Mandy's progress. She had been very happy with the progress she had made. Traci's reports talked highly of her ability to grasp things and her eye for detail. "I also spoke to Traci on several occasions and she gives you a lot of credit on helping with Mandy's progress. Would you be interested in maybe helping some others as well?" "I'm not sure what you mean. Like what Traci was doing?" "Something that you might want to think about over the summer. We have a program worked out with the Public school system that allows seniors to assist our teachers in the classrooms. It usually involves giving those in need extra attention to help them keep up with the class. Usually we have female volunteers for obvious reasons, but we have had a few males with no problems. I would encourage you to consider it for next year." Greg said that he would think it over. The idea appealed to him and his helpful nature. Plus, if he did it on the last class of the day, he would be here already to take Mandy home if she was still here. That could very well be just what he needed to finish out his schedule. He could ask his counselor on Monday. The bell signaling lunch sounded and Greg went to the cafeteria to wait on his girlfriend. As she got into the serving line, Greg stepped up to her side while she was talking to a few of her classmates. Melissa spotted him and started grinning. Mandy looked puzzled, then turned to see him standing there. She let out a startled squeak, and then gave him a hug. "What are you doing over here, trying to get even for me showing up at your lunch?" "Something like that. I finished the last exam early and decided that it would be nice to come by. The office was kind enough to let me have lunch with you." The other girls were happy to let him cut in line and they started through the line. Greg was pleasantly surprised to find that the food offered was much better quality than the pre-garbage that his school offered. This school, while still attached to the public school system, contracted with a catering company. The meals were a bit more expensive, but the quality was worth it. Mandy led him to a table that looked almost full, but as she approached, those seated moved closer and made room for them. He had met a few of the young women there, and the rest of the introductions didn't take long. They all seemed quite happy to have a male among them and kept watching him while they ate. Between bites, they were asking him questions about his favorite subjects, how he met Mandy, and even some of a more personal nature. He answered them all as best he could, causing a few red faces in the process. It wasn't long until lunch was over and they were heading back to class. The vice principal had told him that he could observe the classes if he wanted, so he followed along with Mandy as she headed into her next three subjects. What he found was that while the classes were on standard subject matter, but the instruction was a lot more individualized. If someone was having problems, the teacher would work with them until they got it. However, the thing that shocked him the most really shouldn't have. He knew the concept was that the entire school was female, but the reality of seeing nothing but girls in a classroom still startled him. They weren't segregated according to age, but more on ability and knowledge. Something else he noticed was that in addition to ages, there was a complete blurring of racial boundaries. He had to rapidly change his notion that girls of certain races became pregnant more often than others. There were an almost equal mix of Caucasian, Hispanic and African American, along with more than a few Asian and Native American. As he sat in the back of the room listening, he was thinking about why these girls were being separated from the rest of teen society. Part of it was economic; at least that is what he was told by his own counselor. The public school system could not afford to have daycare in all the schools for teen mothers. But that didn't really address the problem. It was society's 'moral' conclusion that somehow they couldn't allow a teen who had 'let herself get pregnant' be among the general population. They had to be secluded off by themselves as objects of shame. He gave a big sigh. There would have to be a big change in the attitudes of the general population to get past the status quo. Armed with the prejudices of their parents, the girls would be harassed in regular school mercilessly. There had been a couple of instances in his own high school where girls who had boyfriends that talked had been labeled as 'easy' as well as sluts and whores. Greg had always felt this was wrong, but he had always been shy about speaking up for them. That caused him to feel like he was as bad as the ones who were doing the harassing. Looking around at all the young women in this class, he vowed to himself that he wouldn't be quiet any longer. He came up with some ideas and once he got the details worked out, he would talk to Mandy about them. He was pulled out of his thoughts by the bell signaling the end of class and Mandy pulling his arm. He smiled at her and followed her lead to the next class. Since it was Friday, as soon as classes were over, they rode home and changed. They had decided to go out for a quick bite and then to the mall. Greg had learned that if there was a chance of shopping that the bike was impractical so they were in their car when the pulled into the parking lot of the local hamburger joint. There were some of the people from Greg's school there and he greeted them with a wave. He got Mandy seated and went up to order for them when Connie and Andy came in. Greg invited them to share their table as soon as they got their food. Connie was as bouncy as ever and immediately went over to talk to Mandy. Andy gave a grin and shrugged his shoulders to say 'What can you do?' By the time the boys had returned with their meals, Connie and Mandy had decided to make a trip to the mall together. Greg rolled his eyes at Andy, which earned him an elbow in the ribs. The ladies enjoyed their shopping safari. The guys followed for a while then headed for the music and electronic stores. While they were together, Greg and Andy got to know each other better. Andy was one of the few in school that could fit in with any group. He did well with the jocks since he was on the wrestling team, but carried a high GPA so he could fit in with the intellectual crowd. Greg found himself liking Andy. He was funny, bright and they had tastes in music and a love of computer gadgets in common. This was someone that he would never have thought to talk to before. Being out with Mandy brought about a change in him, and he decided it was for the better. The women finally found the guys sitting on a bench in the middle of the mall watching the other people, especially the girls, go by. Since there were no other shops to be explored, they decided to call it a night. The couples went their separate ways, Connie and Andy heading for a late movie and Greg taking Mandy home. Mandy's next appointment with the doctor went very well. The baby was growing right on schedule and so was the mother. Mandy was worrying about stretch marks, and Dr. Simmons recommended using vitamin E. She told Greg that he could help rub it in and he was more than happy to have an excuse to put his hands on Mandy's body. The Dr. also talked to Mandy about talking to the social services for prenatal help. They would supply the needs for her until the baby is born. They both added it to the list of things to do, and left the clinic feeling very good about the exam. The trial of Mandy's father was soon up on the docket. Since it was his mother's house that was broken into, Greg was to testify, as was Mandy. She was having some trouble dealing with facing him again and was very moody before the trial. It was the night before that they had to go in and testify when they discussed it one more time. Greg was holding her when he started the conversation. "Mandy, you will do fine tomorrow." "I don't know if I can face him again. I have always been so frightened of him." "The DA said that he wouldn't allow him to hurt you, or even touch you. He can't even say anything to you outside the courtroom because the TRO is still in effect. And I'm sure his lawyer will keep him quiet in the courtroom." "But just seeing him again... Just the thought of having to look at him scares me." "Look, when you have to go up there, just remember what he has done to you. How he treated you like you were less than a whole person." "I'll try. I just hope I can make it." The trial wasn't too long. He gave up the right to a jury trial and took his chances with the judge. When the charges were read, they included Breaking a restraining order, breaking and entering, assault, attempted kidnapping, resisting arrest and assault on a police officer. The DA tried to plea bargain but Mr. Carson would have none of it. He honestly felt he had done nothing wrong. When Greg was called to the stand, the DA asked him just a few questions. "Can you identify the man who broke in through your front door, tearing the chain lock off of the door?" "Yes sir. It was the defendant, Mr. Carson." "What did you do after he broke in?" "I told him to leave and that he was defying a court order to stay away from Mandy - Amanda Carson. I placed myself between him and Amanda. He tried to shove me and I defended her and myself. He tried again and I stopped him again. That is when the police came in and tried to arrest him." "Thank you Mr. Tolkin." I had a bit more trouble from the defense attorney. "Now you say that Amanda's father broke into you house. Why didn't you just let him in?" "Because there is a restraining order against him, and he wasn't invited in." "You were keeping a loving father away from his daughter then?" "The same loving father that had thrown her out of his house after her manhandled her?" His lawyer called for an objection, saying Greg was stating facts not in evidence. The DA countered that the TRO was in evidence and that the statements referred to the reason that it had been granted. The judge overruled the objection. "You assaulted Mr. Carson after he got into the house, is that correct?" "No sir. I was defending myself and Amanda." "How do you know for sure she needed defending? How do you know that he didn't want to talk to his daughter?" "You don't break someone's door in if you were just going to talk." Seeing he wasn't getting anywhere with this witness, he sat down and Greg was excused. The officer was next and testified that Richard Carson had been trying to get past Greg when they showed up; he fought arrest, and even kicked his partner. Then it was Mandy's turn. She described how he had slapped her and thrown her out of the house, how her mother had slapped her, how her father came crashing into the house demanding that she come with him. She held up very well under the questioning. The defense attorney was really rough on her. He tried to insinuate that she was just a spoiled, pig-headed brat that refused to obey any authority and that she had made up the whole thing when her parents tried to discipline her. Mandy started to break, but when she looked over at Greg, she thought of what he had said, and she got back on track. The defense had tried to portray Mr. Carson as a loving, God fearing father who was just trying to bring a disobedient child back to his family. Fortunately the judge didn't buy that at all. He was found guilty on all charges, and sentenced to six hundred hours community service and three years probation. The restraining order was made permanent since he had shown no remorse in ignoring it. The couple walked out of the courtroom satisfied and a little shook. The DA had told them they both did well, and wished them good luck in the future. Greg offered to buy an early dinner, but Mandy was still upset and they just went home. Once there they shared some time in the hot tub together and Greg had her lie down for a massage. He started on her bare shoulders, kneading the knots out of her muscles that controlled her neck and shoulders. Then he moved down between her shoulder blades before he continued down her back. He reversed course when he got to her buttocks working on every muscle he could feel tension in. By the time he got back down, he heard her give a soft snore. She was sound asleep. He gently moved her enough that he could get in beside her and pulling the covers up on them both, he followed her into slumber. The routine they had was comfortable for them both. They were enjoying the summer together, going on day trips into the local parks and taking in the sights. Mandy took along her sketch pad and would often practice her art, filling page after page with what she saw through her mind's eye. Among the pages were children playing in the park, a robin caring for her chicks, and even a fox that she had spotted in the underbrush. She would catch as much as she could then fill in the details from memory. Traci called one evening about half way through her vacation home. When Mandy answered the phone, she heard a weary voice on the other end. Seemed that Traci was going to cut her visit short. One of her little brothers had got in with a bad crowd and had been implicated in a drive-by shooting. Her parents were having a rough time handling it emotionally along with trying to come up with the money for his defense. The trial was over and he got off with a light sentence. He wasn't with the group that did the shooting, but was implicated by association. Still, it was enough that her parents were now fighting most of the time blaming each other for what had happened. The coed told them she was coming back and would try and find a place to stay until the dorms would be open for the fall semester. Mandy told her to hold on just a minute and called Greg over to tell him what was happening. His response was that she could use the spare bedroom for a while. He would clear it with his mother, but he was pretty sure she wouldn't mind. When Mandy told Traci what was offered, she tried to refuse, saying she couldn't put them out like that. Greg then asked for the phone. "Traci? You wouldn't be putting anyone out and you wouldn't be in the way. There is an extra room and it won't be any more cost if you are here." Traci tried to argue, but it was just a token resistance. She always was comfortable around the young couple. They didn't put any pressure on her, and were really some of the only friends she had in town. She relented, saying she would be there in a few days. ------- Chapter 7 Mandy was happy that her friend and tutor was going to stay, and went up to make sure the room was ready. She and Greg took the boxes that were in there to the garage, and put fresh linen on the bed. She even took the curtains down and washed them and freshened the drawers in the dresser. By the end of the next day, she judged the room ready. Traci arrived mid afternoon two days later. Greg let her in and found himself engulfed in a hug. Even as he returned the hug, he was aware of her breasts pressing against his chest and the feel of smooth skin where his arms surrounded her. When she pulled back, he could clearly see her nipples poking at the tube top she wore. Mandy came from upstairs and received the same treatment. When their embrace ended, they moved into the living room while Greg grabbed them all a drink before joining them. They sat there catching up on what had happened in each other's lives. Traci was relieved that the baby was doing fine and that the trial had went as expected. For her part, Traci gave an accounting of what had happened at home. "Mom and Dad didn't tell me anything was going on before I got home, but I could tell something wasn't right. When I would call, they would be preoccupied with something else. I wish that they had let me know, because I walked into a real mess. Ricky, that's my brother, had just been found guilty of conspiracy in gang related activities and was already at the detention center. Mom was refusing to believe her little boy would do what he did, and Dad was trying to convince her that Ricky did it himself. He always was one to try and find an easy out and Mom, I hate to say, allowed and even helped him whenever he got into trouble. "Anyway, Dad was blaming Mom for Ricky's problems, and Mom was saying Dad was too rough and uncaring. Meanwhile, my older brother was out doing his own thing and the younger ones were staying with my Grandparents for the summer. I just couldn't stand the tension and told them that I had to come back early. I don't even know if they realized that I was leaving." By now, she was showing some tears. Mandy, who had been sitting on the couch with her, wrapped her arms around her friend. She signaled for Greg to come over and he too a position on the other side of her, rubbing her back and saying soothing things to her. When she got her emotions in check, she put a hand on each of them and thanked them for listening and letting her get it out of her system. They both assured her that they were more than happy to help her. When she was able, Mandy took her up to show her the room, then they all helped in the unloading of Traci's car. By the time she had put her things away, it was getting dark and Mandy suggested that they grab something out rather than try and cook. They all got into the Monte Carlo and went to one of the chain restaurants. On the way back, Traci asked if they could stop so she could pick up some things that she had left at home. Greg pulled into the parking lot of the discount store and they all went inside. While Traci and Mandy found what was needed, Greg went into the electronics department and picked up a couple of DVDs that he wanted. They met back up at the checkout and then headed back home. Traci was tired from her long drive and was soon yawning. She told them goodnight and headed for her bed. Before long, Greg and Mandy followed suit and once in their bed talked a little about the day's events before they made slow, passionate love. The next morning, Greg woke to the smell of coffee drifting up from the kitchen. Slipping on an old pair of gym shorts, he followed the scent to the kitchen to find Traci looking around for the pots and pans to start breakfast. She was dressed in an oversized man's t-shirt and a pair of bikini panties. Her perfect backside that was revealed as she bent over gave Greg a wakeup call that far surpassed any stimulant in a cup. He discretely backed away from the doorway until he heard her move to the stove, then came into the kitchen. She gave him a smile and a cheery 'Morning', which he answered with a garbled greeting as he grabbed a cup of coffee. As soon as he got his tongue in synch with his brain, he asked what she was doing up so early. She reminded him that she was used to being an hour ahead of here. She topped off her cup and came over to stand opposite him at the island. "I want to thank you again for letting me stay here. Last night was the first good night's sleep that I've had since I left college." "We are both glad that we can do it. We had some 'pillow talk' last night and both agreed that you are a very important person to us. And we both love you as a friend." "You don't know how that make me feel. I love both of you guys too, and it's good to feel that way." They drank their coffee in a comfortable silence. When their cups were empty, Traci brought over the pot and gave them both a refill. "Do you think Mandy will be up soon? I thought I would make some breakfast." "I'm sure she will be. The smell of food usually gets her awake." Traci then started bustling around and soon had homemade biscuits in the oven and was frying sausage and cubed potatoes. The smell must have awakened Mandy because she made an appearance. She asked if Traci wanted any help and receiving a negative reply, she sat next to her lover while the other woman worked away. When she gave them their plates, they were loaded with sausage, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes and biscuits. They all dug in and soon the plates were empty and their stomachs full. Mandy insisted on cleaning up since Traci had cooked and then they took their coffee out to the back deck. They made small talk while they drank their coffee and then decided to get ready for the day. When he was dressed, Greg decided that he had better clean the hot tub. He and Mandy had been making up for its previous lack of use and the filter needed to be cleaned, and he wanted to check the plumbing connections and the heater. The women were busy cleaning the house and making up a grocery list. Traci came out to get Greg for lunch and found him buttoning up the access panel. "I didn't know you had a hot tub. I've never been in one before." "You are welcome to use it whenever you want. It's a great way to relax." Mandy came out of the patio door about then. "You going to tell her the rule about using the tub?" Greg turned red and Traci looked at her questioningly. "First time he brought me out here, he told me that no suits were allowed in the tub." Now it was Traci's turn to blush, and Mandy giggled. "I think we can make an exception for Traci", Greg stated. Mandy just gave a pout and laughed. Greg gave a fleeting thought of a naked Traci in the tub. He felt his cock stirring and fought those images. "By the way, lunch is ready when you are." With that announcement, Mandy turned to go back inside. Greg gave a lopsided grin and motioned Traci to lead the way inside. They all quickly settled down into a routine that pleased them all. Traci quickly found a part time job that would give her some spending money. The daycare center where she was working had a summer program for pre-teens and she found great enjoyment in helping their young minds to think while still making it fun. Since she was an education major, it even gave her some practical experience for the upcoming year. Mandy was showing enough by now that she had trouble finding a job, but an ice cream store hired her to work two days a week at their stand in the amusement park. It wasn't much but she felt like she was contributing, and making some money on her own. Having a job really made her feel good, since her early training was geared to women not working outside the home. She was an individual now, not dependent on a husband for everything she needed. With his investments, wisely managed by Carl, showing a good profit in addition to his monthly expense account from his parents, Greg did not need to work. It had been Mandy's suggestion that he put his martial arts training to good use. He contacted a women's shelter and soon was giving self-defense classes for the women there. One thing he had learned through his training and teaching Mandy was patience. Once word got around in the shelter that he was patient and really wanted to help, the class was overflowing. It was one of those rare days when they were all home when the doorbell rang. Greg had been stretched out on the couch reading so he was the first to the door. Outside was an elderly man with gray hair and dressed in a suit and tie. Greg opened the door and the man said he wanted to speak to Miss Amanda Carson. Not being too sure of who this man was, he asked, "And just who do I say is wanting to speak to her?" "I am the Reverend Campol. Now go fetch her out here." "I don't think so, not with that kind of attitude. Just what are you going to do, try and kidnap her?" Clearly this man was not used to someone who questioned his authority. It stumped him for just a moment. But he figured out that he had better try a different tactic. "No, son. I just wish to speak to her. I bring a message from her mother." "Just a moment, and I will see if she wants to speak to you." He shut the door and turned the deadbolt. Then he went to get Mandy. He found her in her bikini outside with Traci. He told her who was at the door and asked her if she wanted him to get rid of the Reverend. "No, I might as well see what he wants. I can't imagine why he would be coming here." She slipped on her short robe and came into the living room. Greg went back to the door and led the Reverend in. Mandy greeted him guardedly, being cordial but without any emotion. The Reverend however was having a reaction to the amount of bare flesh that Mandy was showing. His eyes zeroed in on her bare legs and the tops of her breasts that were showing where the robe didn't cover. He was almost drooling and quickly sat down to cover his growing erection. Mandy started the conversation. "You said you had a message from my mother?" "Yes. She wishes you to know that she misses you and wants you to come back to your home. She understands that you were upset and didn't mean to behave in such a disrespectful manner, but much like the prodigal son in Luke, you may return to the family and the church and renounce you sins." "I don't know of any sins I have committed. I was raped, impregnated by my rapist, and then tossed out of the house by my father with the consent of my mother. I didn't do anything." "Young woman, you disobeyed you father and mother. You ran off and are living with this young man", indicating Greg, "without the benefit of a Christian marriage. You are probably committing the sin of fornication. Just look at the way you are dressed! You are practically naked, showing your body off for the entire world to see. You have slipped into a sinful lifestyle filled with depravity and corruption. I am here to offer you the chance to return to the arms of God and become righteous once again." It was then that Traci walked into the living room. Having come from outside sunning herself she was wearing the same bikini that Greg had first seen her wearing the first day she had stayed over. If Greg's reaction had been being tongue-tied, the Reverend's was to almost have a heart attack. She looked like a goddess standing there, her breasts exposed except for just the nipples and the outline of her vulva clearly showing against the tiny bottom, the lips just peeking from around its sides. Greg asked for a Pepsi, but the reverend couldn't even speak. When he didn't answer, she shrugged and turned to go toward the kitchen, exposing her naked backside and the thin white band of her thong. Traci returned and after handing Greg the can of pop, stated that she was going up to shower and then she would start dinner. Both of the young people noticed that the Reverend's eyes never left Traci's body until she was completely out of sight. "And just who was that young woman? Does she live here as well?" "That is our housemate and friend, Traci." This was from Mandy. "Well I have never seen such a obscene display in all my life. Such things should be outlawed! Indeed this house is a den of depravity. How could you turn away from your upbringing to be part of such sinfulness?" Greg was gearing up to shut this guy down with a few not so well chosen words. Mandy saw him tense up and put her hand on his leg to let him know she would handle it. He looked over at her and held his peace. "Reverend Campol, Think what you like, but I will not have you disparaging my friends in my own house. Traci is a wonderful person and we both love her for who she is, not what she looks like. I seem to remember reading that God judges by what is in our hearts not how we appear. After I got away and looked at the world without your prejudices, I found that it isn't as horrible as you and the others make it out to be. There are good people out there. I have found more love and acceptance in the past months than I ever felt in my whole life. Greg loves me for who I am. So does Traci and all the friends I have made." She stood up from the couch. "Now I think it is time for you to leave. Tell my mother that if she had really cared for me, she would have given me comfort instead of turning her back on me. I am my own person now and I don't need you or them to run my life." The Reverend was so shocked; that he forgot about the obvious erection that he had sprouted since he had first seen Mandy and that had almost become painful when he had spotted Traci. Now when he stood, the evidence was plain to see. There was a wet spot on the front of his pants where the head of his dick probably was. Mandy couldn't help herself and got one final shot in. "Why Reverend, were you having sinful thoughts about me and my housemate?" He quickly turned very red in the face and used the bible he was carrying to try and cover himself. "I will pray that you come to your senses young woman and leave this sinful life." Greg opened the door and he almost ran out of the house and down the sidewalk. He barely had the door closed before Mandy was in his arms. "Damn, that felt so good. He is a lecherous old man, always trying to touch the girls. It was great to finally tell him off." Greg started laughing as he held his lover. "I though his eyes were going to pop out of his head when Traci came walking in. I bet he has some very sinful thoughts for quite a while." "I bet he has his hands in his pants before he can get his car started." They were still trying to get their laughter under control when Traci came back down. When they explained what happened, she tried to apologize for coming in dressed like she was. Greg put his hand on her shoulder. "There is no need for you to apologize. This is your house too and what you choose to wear or not to wear is your decision. If we are having company, you will know it and be attired, just like we will if you are expecting someone. This guy just showed up unannounced and comes in making judgments. It was his own fault." Traci smiled back at them, and then went to the kitchen to start dinner. Mandy did as the doctor suggested and contacted the county social services department... She met with them and after filling out all the forms, was given a caseworker. Greg went with her for the initial interview. She had to explain to the woman when she became pregnant, what her marital status was, her financial and living arrangements were, and all manner of other personal questions. After they were done with all the official work, the caseworker - Janet - became friendlier. Normally if you have a man living with you, you can't get help, however I think that with your circumstances, we can manipulate the paperwork and make it out that you are just receiving help from a friend. Especially since the child isn't Greg's." "However, there is a law in this state where you can collect child support from the father, or from the father's parents if you keep the child. This department handles it for you. We will probably go after him for your prenatal care anyway." Mandy didn't say too much on the way home, and was even more quiet than usual that evening. She was having mood swings every now and then from the changes that were taking place in her body, so Greg didn't say anything. The next day was another appointment with Dr. Simmons. This time they did an ultrasound to check the baby's development and both Greg and Mandy got to watch. It was fascinating to see how it moved around inside her tummy. The technician and the doctor both told them that everything was looking fine. She asked if they were going to go for natural childbirth and when Mandy said she was, she had them sign up for Lamaze classes. When Mandy was silent on the way home and went outside as soon as they got there, Greg knew something was really bothering her. He grabbed a couple of sodas from the refrigerator and went out the patio door to find his lover sitting on the steps down to the hot tub. He sat down by her and offered her the extra can he had. When she looked up at him she had tears in her eyes. "Mandy, sweetheart, tell me what's the matter." "I don't know if I can. It's just that... Oh God, this is so hard to say. I... I've been feeling the baby move and kick. I can feel that it is alive in me... part of me. And today when I saw... you know when we saw her moving and how perfect she was... It's just that... I don't think I can give her up!" With the last sentence she broke down into huge wracking sobs, holding onto Greg's shirt with all her might, almost hysterical. It was a long time before her crying even began to calm down. All Greg could do was to hold her while her body shook from the emotion that was overwhelming her. He kept stroking her hair and her back and feeling utterly lost as to what he could do for her. The stream of tears and the hard sobs eventually died down to where she was quiet, the only movement was a hiccup every so often. When those even subsided, he finally got her to talk. "Sweetheart, if you want to keep the baby, that's your decision. I can't see what the problem is." "What does that do to us? I can't expect you to want to have someone else's baby around. That wouldn't be fair. But I don't want to lose you either. I can't make a decision like that. I can't stand the thought of losing either one of you!" Greg thought she was going to start crying again. "Honey, look at me. You don't have to worry about losing either one of us. If you want to keep the baby, then that's what you do. I promise I won't love you or her any less. The baby is part of you and that makes the difference. She didn't choose her sperm donor and you certainly didn't." "You sure? I mean we had planned to give her up for adoption and everything. Now it all changes." "Do you think that I am so shallow that I can't love the child just because I didn't father it? I thought you understood me better than that." This last comment came out with more than a little bit of anger. He stood up and went back into the house, still fuming that she thought he was that shallow. Mandy stared after him for a moment. He was angry with her and as she thought about it, he had every right to be. He wasn't one to be that uncaring for her and for her baby. He had shown her nothing but friendship and love. She should have thought it over more before she blurted out something like that. She continued to sit on the steps thinking about what was happening to her. She knew that she needed to feel safe and secure after all that had happened to her. Greg had provided all that and more. He hadn't asked for anything in return. She knew he loved her: he had proved that in more ways than just sex. And now she had tossed that all aside in her insecurities. She had to fix this with Greg and right now. She found him in the living room with the television on, but he wasn't really watching it. She could see anger on his face, but more so his eyes showed her the hurt she had caused him. Coming around to face him, she kneeled down and took his hands in hers. "I thought about what you said out there. You were right. I know you are not shallow or that self-centered. I'm just so scared about this whole thing and I was going on emotion and not thinking. I want to make this right between us again. I'm so sorry I said what I did and I need to know everything is going to be okay between us." She looked so pleadingly at him that he couldn't stay mad at her. After he had come in the house, he had thought about it and figured out that it was just her fear that caused her to react the way she did. He reached down and pulled her up into his lap and rocked her gently as he would a small child who was upset. As he stroked her hair, he whispered to her, "I can't guarantee that everything will go smooth, but I can tell you that we can handle whatever comes if we stick together." He could feel her smile through her tears. He almost didn't hear her when she said, "You know I love you, don't ya?" He was relieved to know that she was finding her balance, at least partially. "I love you too. Now what should we have for dinner?" She got up from his lap and walked with him into the kitchen, the crisis over. Mandy promised herself that she would never again question his love and caring for her. A few days later, Mandy called Marina Sultas and told her of the decision to keep the baby. She hadn't started the search for a couple that wanted to adopt, so there was no time lost. She also let her know that for some perverse reason her parents had decided to fight the emancipation. It sounded like a control thing, but whatever reason, the trial was set a month away. She would be having both of them coming in and get prepped for testimony about a week before the day they had to go in. This bothered Mandy, but she had made it through the first one and it was a month away, too early to be worried about it now. She had something else she had been thinking about doing, and she decided to attempt it today. When Greg came home from the women's shelter, he found Mandy standing naked at the easel he had recently bought her. She had prints of the digital pictures he had taken earlier of her in the same state of dress clipped to the edges of her large sketchpad. She was busily sketching away, stopping every once in a while to look into a mirror she had propped up or the photos. Then she would add some more color to the paper. He dropped his gym bag next to the stairs, and then went over to where she was standing. On the easel was a self-portrait showing her standing and her arms across her expanded abdomen as if gently caressing the baby within. She had captured the look of serenity that she had lately as she was looking down. The only difference was the background, which had her leaning back against a stone column with a villa behind her. She added just a bit more shading and then stood back. "What do you think? I'm calling it 'First Bonding'" The portrait before him compelled him to experience just what she had been feeling when she drew it. He felt the compassion and love that was clearly on her face. It was almost enough to bring tears to his eyes. "I think that it is one of the best that you have ever done. You have captured the real essence of what it must be like to be an expectant mother. It makes me wish I could feel the emotions that you are feeling there." "Thank you, dearheart. I didn't know if I could really capture what I was feeling. It is very hard for me to draw myself. But it did me a world of good to put it down on paper. It's like I am releasing my pent up emotions. Taking them from me and putting them on the paper." "I would say you did a wonderful job. Did you know the Artists have a co-op here in town and every fall they hold an exhibition and judging? I really think you should consider entering some of your work." "You really think my stuff is good enough?" "I'm certain of it. Why don't you ask Traci's opinion when she gets home?" Traci walked into the room just then. "Ask my opinion of what?" She saw Mandy standing there wearing just a man's dress shirt unbuttoned. "Is that the style now? I'm a little overdressed." She grinned at Mandy and then came around to see the drawing. She froze in place staring for a long while. Then she looked back at Mandy and at the drawing again. "Mandy, I can't believe this. It is just so incredible!" The woman kept looking at the pastels and shaking her head. "I almost wish I was pregnant just so I could feel the way you look on the paper." "I was trying to convince her that she needs to enter the artist's show coming up in a couple months." Traci still hadn't taken her eyes off the picture. "Most definitely. I don't remember seeing a picture that has affected me quite this much." "Well, I will have to have more than just this one and the sketch of Greg. Umm... Traci? You are a perfect artist's model. Would you mind posing for me?" Traci looked over at her. "You mean like this, nude?" "Well you wouldn't have to be, I could fake the details." "No, nude would be alright. I have no problems with taking my clothes off for a good cause. And this is a good cause. Uh... Will it bother you Greg? We could arrange it so we are doing this when you aren't home." Greg looked over at the two women. "It wouldn't 'bother' me at all if you don't mind the natural reaction I'm sure I will get. If you feel nervous, I will just make myself scarce. Mandy will be the one having to pay for it after we go to bed though." This got a giggle from both of them. Greg volunteered to get them all something to drink while Traci removed her clothing. When he got back, Greg was trying hard not to stare but it was almost impossible. This woman was every bit as beautiful as he imagined if not more. His cock started to swell immediately. He backed off to the other side of the room and tried to disappear. Mandy got her into the position she wanted with one arm under her breasts, with her fingertips just touching the side. The other was placed just above and to the side of her mons, looking like that is where it is heading. "Now I want you to think about the most sensual moment you have ever had. Like you are dreaming of your lover's hands moving down across your body and touching you everywhere you long to be touched." Traci's face took on a look of passion along with a far away longing. Mandy started to sketch quickly, laying in the basic shapes and then working on the detailing of getting the way that the late afternoon light was making shadows and adding depth to Traci body. She then concentrated on the face, getting the expression that plainly showed what the woman was thinking. Traci must have been really lost in her daydream because Greg noticed her fingers were no longer posed, but were actually making small movements. The upper was kneading the firm flesh of her breast, and the other was caressing the top of her slit. She seemed almost disappointed when Mandy told her to relax. As Traci was taking a break and moving around, Mandy worked on parts where she didn't need her model. After a second posing, the most important parts were done well enough that Traci didn't need to stand still any longer. Rather than redressing, she just put on the robe that she usually wore to the shower. They both watched her work for a while, but Mandy seemed to go into her own little world. It was like they didn't exist any more while she was in her 'zone'. While Mandy was working away, Traci started dinner with Greg's help. An hour later, the smells of the food finally pulled Mandy away from her easel. She had the basics done and she was going to finish it tomorrow after work. They ate while talking about the events of the day, and after the dishes were in the washer, they all decided to watch a movie. Being outvoted, they ended up with a romantic comedy. Greg's lack of interest in the movie (he didn't like the actors) allowed him to spend his time thinking about the beauty of the two other occupants in the room. By the time the movie was over, he was so horny that he was almost in pain. As soon as they got to bed, he started caressing Mandy and to his surprise she was as turned on as he was. Their lovemaking was fantastic with them both trying to outdo the other in giving their partner pleasure. After two climaxes for Greg and at least four times that many for Mandy, they lay exhausted side by side. Greg turned toward his lover. "Wow. I know what my problem was, seeing both of you naked. But what caused you to be so excited?" In the dim light, he thought he saw her blush. She mumbled something, but he didn't hear what it was. She finally whispered, "The same thing that got you going, Traci." "Are you saying you think she is sexually exciting?" "Well... yeah. You don't know, but when some of us girls were younger, we started out trying to see what kissing felt like, you know, just so we could be sure of what to do if a boy ever did want to kiss us. And it felt pretty good. The whole group thought we were headed straight to hell for even thinking about those things much less doing it. And with it being between girls was even worse." She gave a sigh for the remembered feelings. "But one girl, Cynthia, and I went just a little farther with it. We were alone for the night after saying our prayers, and she wanted to try kissing again. I enjoyed it before, so I readily agreed. We were kissing with our lips closed, and that was really good. Then she said she wanted to try something her sister said she did with her boyfriend. When we kissed again, she touched my lips with her tongue. I imitated what she was doing, and we were soon frenching, and it blew regular kissing right out the window! We were so into it that it took a moment for me to realize that her hand was rubbing my newly emerged boobs. That added to the excitement, so I did the same to her. We got to feeling guilty and decided that we shouldn't be doing that and we never repeated it again. But I remember what her little breasts felt like and it still turns me on to think of it. Seeing Traci like that made all those memories come back." This was all quite a revelation for Greg, and it turned him on. The thought of this girl, who he had been in love with for so long, describing her first tentative explorations into sex, was arousing him again. He thought back to when he had seen her first starting to develop. He would ride his bike past her house in the hopes of collecting a glimpse of her with her budding breasts just starting to push against the front of her dress. He felt his cock swelling in response to those memories. Mandy felt it as well. She had her leg across his lower body and she felt the stirrings against her thigh. "Did me telling you that turn you on?" "Oh yeah, the thought of you and another girl exploring each other definitely is arousing to me." "To tell you the truth, it does me too. But it isn't just any girl, you know." She bowed her head. "It's Traci that turns me on. I wonder, do you think she would be interested in me - in us?" Instead of answering, he maneuvered her up and over him, giving attention to her breasts as she positioned his cock and lowered herself down on it. They made love slower this time, the fiery passion of their first encounter that night had taken care of any urgency they had felt, and this time it was more controlled, but also more intense. Mandy groaned as she settled herself down on his cock, enjoying the sensation of being filled once again. As she felt his pubic hair touch her shaven vulva, tickling her exposed clit, and she gave an involuntary shudder. She sat there for a moment savoring the feeling of fullness before she started moving on him. She was bent as much as she could to allow him to tug and gently roll her nipples between his fingers... Lately, she had noticed that while she enjoyed the feel of his hands all over her breasts, that her nipples seemed to be even more sensitive than normal. Tonight is was enough to take her over the edge and she slammed down on him as she gave in to the orgasm that filled her entire being. Since this was the second time for him, he could last longer. After she had recovered enough, he got her to disengage from him and get on her knees with her head and shoulders on the bed, leaving her lovely ass in the air. He come around behind and slid into her in one long stroke. She was whispering to him to give it to her and he gave in to her wishes. He would pull almost all the way out just to move into her again making his balls bounce against her clit every time he slid home. He got a good rhythm going and was soon sawing in and out of her. She raised her upper body just enough that her nipples were rubbing against the fabric of the sheets as her breasts would swing from his forceful thrusts into her pussy. Greg felt the fluttering of the walls of her tunnel that signaled the start of her climb to orgasm. By now, the heat and tightness of her passage had brought him to the edge of his release, so he reached around her belly and let his index finger strum her clit. Just as he stiffened and then rammed into her as his climax hit, she tightened up and tripped over the edge of her own. He was actually growling in the passion of his release and it mixed with the sounds that were coming from her. As soon as he could, he disengaged from her and grabbed the towel they had used earlier to catch their combined fluids as they drained out of her lips and onto her thighs. She collapsed on her side, still panting from the exertion. Greg dropped down behind her exhausted from their coupling. As they lay together in silence, they both faintly heard a cry of release from across the hall. Traci must have been bothered by the events of the day, or had heard them and was signaling her own release from her own hand. They both were smiling as they nodded off to sleep. Traci was a little quiet the next morning but when the other two didn't behave any differently, she relaxed and was back to her normal self. She did her laundry and then prepared for the evening. There were a couple of people that had been friendly to her during last year and she had met back up with them while they were taking summer courses at the college. Greg and Mandy had been trying to get her to go out and enjoy herself for a while now and she finally relented. The deciding factor had been that Jimmy, the guy she had started to date last spring, was supposed to be at the bar they were heading to. Mandy's first Lamaze class would be tonight so they would be busy as well. Mandy worked on the drawing of Traci and got a sudden inspiration for another one and changing paper she started to draw in sure strokes rapidly going into her own little world again. When Greg figured out what was happening, he just grabbed a glass of tea and a book and planted himself in one of the overstuffed chairs in the living room. When he marked his place and looked up at the clock, he found that it was time to start dinner. Mandy was still hard at work, so he went in to fix the grilled chicken and stir fry vegetables. Traci came down dressed for her night out. Greg looked over and almost dropped the knife in his hand. She was dressed in a sheath dress that clung to her curves like a second skin. The top started just above her nipples showing a large amount of cleavage and ended about a third of the way down her thighs. It was the classic "little black dress" taken to new levels, and she did that dress proud. "You look fantastic, Traci!" was Greg's remark - once he could get his mouth to work again. She gave a twirl to show him the entire effect. "You think it looks alright? Not too slutty?" "If that look is slutty, then all women would want to become sluts. You are going to knock out their lights with that." Traci gave him a big smile and a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you, kind sir. You have always appreciated my mind, nice to know you also appreciate my body." "Believe me, any male who doesn't appreciate a sight like you would either be dead or gay, and I wouldn't be passing any morgues or the first won't hold true." "You're a flirt, but I appreciate it. Mandy still drawing?" "Yep. Probably another masterpiece the way she has been going at it. I think she is considering trying to enter the art show. " The smell of dinner cooking finally drew Mandy away from her easel. She came into the kitchen from the dining room. "Boy, you look great Traci. I'm looking forward to being able to get something like that on again someday." After what Mandy had told him the night before, Greg took note of the way his girlfriend was looking over their housemate. She was discrete about it but her eyes were following every curve the older woman displayed in that tight dress. He smiled to himself. They had dinner together and then left for their separate destinations. Mandy was a little nervous about being the youngest in the class, but Greg assured her that nobody would be putting her down. The Lamaze class was enjoyable. The nurse that gave the classes was in her early thirties with short, curly blonde hair and dancing light blue eyes. She greeted all six couples with a cheerful voice and got the class started. First thing was for everyone to introduce themselves. The couples would give their first names, how far along they were, and any other pieces of information they chose to share. One couple Dana and Richard were having twins. Another couple, Loren and Chris were the oldest couple there, with Chris being almost forty and this child was going to be twelve years younger than its closest sibling. The others were ranging in age from their mid twenties to early thirties. Then came Greg and Mandy's turn. Mandy did their introduction. "Hello, I'm Mandy and this is my boyfriend, Greg. We are the youngest couple here, it looks like. I am in my second trimester and still expanding." This brought a chuckle from the others in the class. Elizabeth, the nurse and leader spoke up. "It is not often that we have the boyfriend of a girl that wants to be the coach. It's refreshing to see that." Mandy wasn't sure why, but she spoke out. She laid her hand on Greg's arm and told the nurse, "This isn't Greg's baby. I was forced, actually raped, by my former boyfriend. Greg helped me cope and even took me in when my family threw me out. That was before we even became involved." The rest of the group just looked at the couple. Elizabeth gave Greg an appreciative look. "This is a first for me. I wish more people would give a damn like you seem to Greg. Not everyone cares about their friends like that." Greg was embarrassed by the praise. "That's what friends are for, isn't it? Besides we have known each other since kindergarten." There were a couple more questions and some comments about Mandy's former boyfriend before the class continued. Elizabeth started the instructions by giving them all some information about what to expect in the class, what would be coming up in their various stages of their pregnancies, and what exercises they would be doing. "Now let's start by learning how to breathe through the first stage of labor. Coaches, get behind your mothers and watch me." By the time the class was over, they had exercises to do at home and Elizabeth extracted a promise from everybody to do them faithfully. Mandy was excited about all the new things that she had learned that evening. They discussed all the things that had went on until they were in the garage at home. Mandy had developed a craving for cucumbers and ranch dressing. She was fixing a plate of this while Greg went more conservative with some of the left over chicken on a hoagie bun. They sat down at the island and started in when Traci came in the front door. She was definitely buzzed from the alcohol that she had consumed, and greeted them cheerfully, but it seemed a forced cheerfulness. She pulled a beer out of the refrigerator and twisted the top off of it. She sat down next to Greg as Mandy asked how the night had gone. "It wasn't bad for the most part. We girls hit a couple of bars downtown before we went to the pub where everyone was supposed to meet. We were dancing with the guys, and Heather and I even got on the dance floor for a couple of songs." Greg looked closely at her. Her demeanor did not seem to match her description of how the night had gone. He could see by her facial expressions that she was trying very hard not to cry. "Did anything else go on that you wanted to talk about?" "We were having a good time and when I saw Jimmy come in I ran over to him. After I gave him a big hug, he said that we had to talk. We found a quiet place outside and he told me that he couldn't see me anymore; he had gotten engaged to his sweetheart while he was back home. I know that we weren't that close or anything, but I was hoping for at least a little more." Greg reached around and pulled her closer to him. "I'm sorry, Traci. I know you were looking forward to seeing him and all." "And to think I was getting close enough to him to actually think about having sex with him. If he would have asked, I would have went to bed with him tonight. That is how close we were - at least I thought so." She took a big swig of beer, leaving the bottle over half gone. "I'm just so damn horny that I can't believe it. I have always needed to be in love or at least felt something for the other person, but I almost grabbed someone off the dance floor." Mandy came around and embraced the woman from the other side. "Well, you know we love you. Anything we can do to help, we will." Traci returned the hug. "And I love you guys too. Oh well, I guess I can look forward to another night of frustration." Later that night, Mandy and Greg talked about what to do about their friend. Mandy was lying on her side, her head on his shoulder, playing with the sparse hair on his chest. "I wish there was something we could do for Traci. She has our love, but she really needs physical love too." "What she needs is to get laid. But there is nothing we can do about that." "I know, but it still makes me wish we could do something for her. Maybe we can come up with something that will help." None of them were working the next day, so they all decided to relax and do whatever came to mind. Mandy asked Greg if he would take her to the art supply house to pick up some new pastels, so they got dressed and headed out. While Mandy was busy picking up supplies she needed, Greg saw that they had the forms there for the art fair. Mandy admitted that she wanted to try it, so Greg filled out the form and paid the admission fee. He also made arrangements to have her drawings properly mounted in the hopes that it would help her display. Mandy was excited (and a little scared) about the prospect of having her drawings on public display, so as soon as she got home she went to work reworking the ones she had already, adding color and more highlights. ------- Chapter 8 Late afternoon found Greg sitting in the shade reading a book while Traci was soaking up some sun. Mandy asked them both to come in and help her with something. When they got inside they saw that she had set over a dozen pieces of her work out, propped on the couch and chairs as well as the hearth. "I can only enter six in the fair and I wanted to get your opinions on what to choose." Greg was having a hard time choosing. Traci looked over every one of the drawings carefully, then turned to Mandy. "One of the girls I had in my Psych class was an art major. Would you care if she came over and helped us out? I'm like Greg in that I think they are all good." Mandy was flattered but readily agreed to having another person look. Deep down she really wanted to win some recognition since her parents were so against her drawing anything except religious things. Traci hung up the phone from talking to her friend. "She will be over about eight tonight. I told her that a friend needed an opinion on her work, and she was happy to help. What's wrong?" Mandy was looking at her carefully, and then shifting her gaze to Greg and then back again. "I had an idea for one more drawing, but it would require both of you. Would you be willing to pose together and let me put it in the show? The pose I am thinking of will require that Greg have his hands on you in certain places that he normally wouldn't, would that be alright?" After her frustration last night the thought of Greg's hands on her body sounded very enjoyable to Traci. "It wouldn't bother me if Greg doesn't mind, or you for that matter." "It won't bother me, I'm the one who suggested it. And I don't think that Greg will mind..." For his part, Greg was of two minds on this. His male side was more than ready to get his hands on Traci's luscious body, even through her clothes. His logical side was worried that he wouldn't be able to control his reactions. "I don't mind, I'll just have to control myself. Such things I do for the advancement of my girlfriend's talent." The dramatic way he said the last sentence, along with the melodramatic way he acted about it, broke the tension. Both women laughed at his antics and Mandy got them into the pose she wanted. Then she started sketching. The two models stood in position she wanted, but both were feeling the sexual tension. The pose was very erotic and Traci was becoming excited by the feel of a man's hands on her. Greg found himself wanting to explore the areas where his hands were. Standing so close and the way Mandy had them posed, his head was next to her neck. He could smell the faint traces of her natural scent combined with the fragrance from her shampoo. They finally took a break. Greg was glad to move to relieve stiff muscles as well as getting away from Traci's sensual body. Mandy went over to her previous drawings and pulled the nude of Traci that she had previously done. They went over to see how the drawing was coming along as she came back. Mandy had sketched in basic forms, getting the basis of the pose down but without the detail that she usually had. Mandy came over to them with the previous sketch in her hand. "I am making you both nude in the piece. I need this to get the detail I need for you, Traci. Greg, I think I can do from memory." She grinned at the last remark. Traci stood looking at the painting. Then she looked over at Greg, and finally to Mandy. She was sure it was her frustration taking over, but she spoke up hesitantly. "If it would be easier for you, and if Greg wouldn't be too embarrassed, I don't mind getting naked to pose." Greg was stunned. It was hard enough to be in that pose with their clothes on, but touching her bare skin and being against her, body to body, he knew he couldn't stop his natural reaction. He knew that Traci had checked out his 'package' in his shorts, but this would be different. "I'll do it, but you know I can't help getting an erection. I promise not to try anything that isn't welcome though." Traci smiled over at him. "I would be worried if you didn't have that reaction to me. I would wonder if something was wrong with me. But I know that you won't do anything that I would be worried about." Mandy admitted that it would be a lot easier. "It would be better drawing from nudes, but I didn't want to ask you to do that. That was too much to ask." "Well, now you don't have to ask." With that remark, Traci started removing her clothing. As she stripped off her shirt, Greg swallowed hard. It had been one thing to see this gorgeous woman naked from across the room, but quite another to be this close to her. He could see the fine hairs that were on her tummy that gave another dimension to her form. He could see that her nipples were hard and almost feel their texture... He shook himself out of his thoughts and started undressing. He noticed that both Mandy and Traci were stealing glances in return. When he dropped his underwear, Traci gave a quiet gasp as his semi-erect cock came into view. He mumbled an embarrassed 'Sorry', but Traci just gave him a smile. She got them posed and started to work. Greg had his arms around Traci, one just below and between her firm breasts. The other was covered by Traci's hand and was just above and to the side of her pubic hair like she was directing his hand to her sexual center. Her other hand was pulling his head to the side of her neck. Greg was having trouble with his hands trembling; the feel of her smooth skin was causing him to grow very erect. To get the expression she wanted, Mandy gave Traci some hints. "Now think that Greg's hands are your dream lover's hands. Think about how they feel moving across your skin, going toward the places where you most want to feel them. How you would like them to travel up and play with your nipples and then move down and touch the skin on your pussy." Traci took her advice and closing her eyes, she let the thought and feelings take over. She found that she was having trouble not moving. What the other two didn't know was that the lover she was thinking about was touching her right now. She had been attracted to both of these people soon after she had met them, but had suppressed those thoughts. Unfortunately, those feelings had grown rather than diminished after she had agreed to live with them. Now having Greg's hands on her was making her desire go through the roof. Mandy had posed his hands close to where she ached to have him touch her and she wished he would move right to those places. He could just push a little further down and she would be in heaven! All too soon, Mandy told them they could take a break. Greg must have been having the same thoughts because he lightly caressed her before he moved back. The lack of his touch caused Traci to let a small groan of disappointment slip out. Greg's arousal was quite evident as well. As he moved around easing the muscles that had been frozen in position, his hardon stood out proud from his body. He tried to apologize, but Traci told him it was a compliment to her and Mandy just giggled and gave him a wicked look. As they got into position one last time, Greg unconsciously let his hand go lower, his pinky just grazing the top of her cleft. Traci squirmed from the touch, but held his hand in place when he started to move back to its former position. As Greg moved his head back to her neck, he noticed the faint aroma of a sexually excited woman. He decided to help her along a bit and started to kiss the side of her neck. Just small kisses so he didn't ruin the pose, but he could feel that they were having an effect. Her womanly scent that assailed his nose just confirmed it. Traci gave out a low moan, and Greg looked over at his girlfriend to see her reaction. She had stopped drawing and catching his eyes, signaled for him to continue. Traci was so lost in her thoughts she didn't hear Mandy tell him to help her finish. She did feel Greg start to be more aggressive with his mouth on her neck. He was licking and kissing her skin from her shoulder to her ear. As he did this, his hands moved as well. The one that was under her breasts moved to start caressing them, teasing the nipples to even greater hardness. When his other hand dipped down and touched her lower lips, she felt her orgasm building. She started bucking her hips, sliding his fingers over her aroused clit in one direction and causing his hard cock to brush against her hip as she moved back. "Oh God, please take me over," she groaned, her pelvis moving rapidly. He was happy to comply, and slid his hand over her sex, slipping two fingers into her opening and gently rubbing her clit with his thumb. That was all she needed and pressing her hand against his to keep pressure on her pussy, she came with a loud groan. Her body tensed then started to jerk in her orgasm. As she lost her ability to keep standing, Greg lowered her to the floor with him sitting behind her. She pulled his head around and kissed him hard. This caused her orgasm to increase and she almost screamed in the release she felt. She finally came down from her high and opened her eyes to see Mandy sitting next to her, rubbing her side and arm. Greg's arms were still around her still covering her pussy and one breast and supporting her at the same time. Traci started to move, embarrassed that she had let go of her feelings that much, but Greg held her firm. Mandy caught her attention. "There is no reason for you to be embarrassed. That was beautiful! I have never seen another woman have an orgasm and it was fascinating and so sexy. I have never seen anything like it." She started to sit up a little and she felt something on her left hip. Greg looked a little embarrassed and explained that when she had her orgasm, he had one as well. It was his semen that was on her hip. She brought up her fingers and saw the evidence that what he said was true. Without thinking, she brought her fingers to her mouth and tasted his seed. She looked up at Mandy, realizing that she might not appreciate what she had done, but the other woman was smiling down at her. "Yeah, I like it too. He does taste good doesn't he?" Traci gave an embarrassed nod, agreeing with her. The way they had ended up on the floor was uncomfortable for a long stay and they soon decided to get cleaned up then meet back in the living room to discuss how their relationship had changed. By the time they had all cleaned up, the time was getting close for Traci's friend to show up. By mutual consent, they decided to wait until after she left to talk about what happened but that didn't mean that it wasn't on their minds. Greg told Mandy to continue to work if she wanted and he would call in a pizza order. By the time they delivered, they would have just enough time to eat before Traci's friend would be here. The doorbell rang just as they were putting everything away. Traci went to open it and came back in with a tall very nice looking brunette. "Karen, this is Greg Tolkin and Mandy Carson. Guys, this is Karen Wilson, the friend that I told you about." They shook hands and Greg offered the woman something to drink. She opted for a glass of wine and then they took her in to see Mandy's artwork. Karen didn't say much as she studied each one of the pieces. She did look them over carefully, moving up close then stepping back to get the full 'feel' of each one. Finally she turned to Traci. "You didn't tell me how good Mandy is. I just wish I was this talented." Then she turned to Mandy. "My dear, you have a real talent for capturing the real emotion of your subject. My work is more free form, but you should stay with literal interpretations. Now as far as which ones to choose, I would make a suggestion that you go with a theme. Maybe call it 'Life's Emotions' and use the one of you pregnant, the one you are working on calling it "Passion", The one you did with the man bent by the headstone naming it "Sorrow", and so on. A themed display always gets attention." Mandy liked that Idea and started working from there. She was taking the rejected ones and putting them aside and was still deciding on a couple more. As she was doing this, Karen was standing out of the way talking to Traci and Greg. "She is very good. I could almost guarantee that my professor would recommend her for a scholarship if he saw her work. Has she done any work in any other media? Oils, watercolors? How about sculpture?" "Not that I know of." was Greg's reply. "She has only been free to work on art since she got away from her parents. But even being restricted, she did some nice work." Karen then gets a grin on her face. "I always wondered how you would look without clothes Traci. An artist's eye and all that. Now I know. Did she enhance Greg's equipment?" Both Traci and Greg turned very red, but Traci answered her friend. "Actually she is very accurate. She did draw Greg more flaccid, because they don't want anything really sexual." "So Greg, you were more uhh... aroused than what was on the picture?" Greg knew she was enjoying his embarrassment. "Well, when you are standing with your arms around a gorgeous, sexy woman, there are some reactions that are automatic. That her neck tastes so good doesn't help." He leered at Traci grinning. "Oh you're awful, you pervert!" Traci slapped him on the shoulder playfully. Mandy walked up then. "Is my boyfriend being a letch again?" "Yes he is," answered Traci "Well, if he gets too bad, just smack him again." She was grinning at Greg's expression, which was one of indignation. Karen handed her wineglass to Traci. "I need to go, since I have a date. Think about the scholarship for next year. You might even be able to get some kind of apprentice program through your school." Mandy thanked her for her time and expertise. Karen shrugged it off saying, "It was my pleasure to see your work. I look forward to seeing your display at the fair." Karen left after telling Traci to give her a call sometime before school started and they would go out for the evening. Greg closed the door and came back into the living room. "Nice lady," he said as he sat on the end of the couch. Traci was in the middle with Mandy on the other side. "Yeah, I was surprised when I first called her. She seemed to be really happy to hear from me. I guess I have a few friends at college after all." "You are an easy person to like," was Mandy's reply. "I guess you're right. After being envied and despised for so long by other girls, it seems different. They always thought I was going to steal their boyfriends and never got to know me. Maybe it will be different, at least a little bit now." Mandy moved closer and took her friend's hand. "You know you don't have to worry about that with me. I think I am close enough to Greg to know that he wouldn't leave me for you. Even if he did get off just being next to you." She gave a giggle for that thought. Traci looked serious. "About what happened. I want you to know that I REALLY enjoyed what happened. I never expected anything like that and it caught me by surprise. I just went with what you described, and when I felt Greg's hands and thought about what I would like to have him do, it just happened. I don't want that to become a problem between all of us." Mandy patted the hand she held. "You don't have to worry about it causing any problems at least on my part." Greg nodded in agreement when they both looked at him. "We still think of you as our friend. After what you said last night, I could tell that you needed some release. You didn't notice, but I told Greg to get you off. We both could tell you needed it. Besides I don't think it took much to get him to participate once he knew I didn't mind." Greg moved over and took Traci's other hand. "I was more than happy to help you out, and not for the obvious reasons. You are our best friend and you needed something I could help with. That I enjoyed it as much as you did was just icing on the cake. It just happened, but I have no bad feelings about it." Traci looked back at Mandy. "Is that the way you think too? It doesn't bother you that he not only saw me naked, but brought me to a wondrous climax?" "No it doesn't. If you need some help in the future, I have no problem with it happening again. Just as long as I know about it. Hell, maybe I could be in it as well." Now Traci was in shock. Had she heard Mandy say she wanted to be intimate with her? She was not adverse to such things, and she did find the pregnant woman attractive. This was hard for her to comprehend. She finally admitted that she did love both of these people and realized that they loved her... "Before I say anything else about this, I need to confess that I have always found you both very attractive in a sexual way. Does that make a difference to either one of you?" They both replied that it didn't make any difference at all. Mandy summed it up for both of them. "You didn't think I knew you were attracted to Greg? You would never have had the orgasm you did if it had been someone you didn't care for. You were probably thinking about how it would feel to have him making love to you when you came. Am I right?" Traci dropped her head. "You are right. He was making me feel so good, and when I felt his dick against me, I thought about how it would feel filling me up. That's when I came." "If you want, I am sure that he would love to make that come true for you." Traci looked between them. "You mean it. You would let him fuck me?" "No, but I would certainly make love to you. I care enough about you not to just want to get off with you but to enjoy something like that with you." Traci then looked at both of them with tears in her eyes but a smile on her face. "I think I would like that very much" Greg leaned over and gave Traci a kiss. It wasn't passionate, but one that gave her the feeling that she was loved. When their lips parted Mandy gave her the same treatment. As the two girls hugged, Mandy said, "It doesn't have to be planned you know. It happens when it happens. Whenever you feel the need, just let us know." "Thanks for everything guys. And not just for this, I mean everything. I love you guys." They all sat there talking and touching until they all were ready for bed. Traci decided that she was quite sated and retired to her own room. Mandy had not had any relief and practically attacked Greg when he climbed into bed. They made love then settled down for sleep; glad that the tension each had felt building for a long while was now in the open. It was a week before anything else happened. The mornings now started with kisses all around, each was happy with the way the others were taking the arrangement. Traci did conspire with Mandy to tease Greg to the point that he was in a constant state of arousal at home. It was Friday night when they all were able to relax since they all had the next day off work. They had a nice dinner together, and went in to watch a couple of movies that Traci had brought home with her. Mandy made some popcorn and they all snuggled on the couch with Greg in the middle. The movie was a romance (of course) but with enough action in the story to hold Greg's interest, at least at first. When the movie was about halfway through and the popcorn had been dispatched, Greg sat back and put his arms on the back of the couch and his feet on the coffee table. Mandy immediately snuggled into his side and pulled his arm around her. Traci saw what was going on and at Mandy's urging, did the same thing. Greg let his left arm wander down until it was holding his girlfriend's breast. Traci glanced over, and seeing what was happening, pulled Greg's other hand down until he had one of hers in his grasp. Greg lost all interest in the movie as he compared the feeling of the two different breasts in his hands. Mandy's were larger right now and full. Traci's were not as large, but just as firm. Mandy had the thicker nipples and the larger aureole, but Traci's were as hard as his cock. Traci was feeling bold and ran her hand up Greg's right thigh to his crotch, where she found Mandy's hand already there. The two women looked at each other and grinned, then started taking turns squeezing and rubbing his erection. They teased each other for the rest of the movie and then with silent signals they all got up and headed to Greg and Mandy's room. Mandy went in first pulling Greg after her. Traci hesitated for a moment. She had been in their room before but never for this reason. She suddenly was having doubts about whether they really wanted company this night. Her reservations were eliminated when Mandy and Greg both took a hand and led her in. Not quite sure on how to proceed, Greg pulled both women to him, kissing Mandy first then Traci. Both kisses revealed just how ready he was. They took turns undressing each other and when nude, the women decided to do a comparison. Greg was fascinated at the contrast between the two and kept silent as they stood face to face and compared breast size and shape, skin texture, nipple size, pubic hair (very little) and other attributes. The show ended when Greg wisely told them both that they were both perfect as far as he was concerned. Then Traci was led to the middle of the bed while the other two slid onto the bed putting her in the middle. Mandy told Greg that since she had been without for a while, that he should concentrate on Traci. He looked over at his love and she let him know that she meant it, so he turned his attention to the woman next to him. Greg somehow knew that he should try and be as gentle and loving as possible with her. He wanted her to remember this encounter fondly for the rest of her life. His hands started to caress her back and sides as they started to kiss. She was starting to imitate his movements bringing both of them to a higher level of excitement. When Greg started on her neck and shoulders, Mandy whispered in her ear. "Do you mind if I explore a little too?" Traci smiled at the other woman and nodded her head in agreement. There was no plan other than to make Traci feel as great as possible so they both just started to caress her body all over. They took turns kissing her while the other trailed their tongue over whatever flesh was within reach. When Traci started to really squirm from the treatment, Greg turned and started to work on her legs while Mandy continued to tease her breasts and kiss her with growing passion. As he got closer to her mound he could smell her arousal. The scent was stronger now and it caused his cock to become even harder than it was. He licked along the inside of her thigh and she gave a groan and spread her legs up and out so he could access her hot, moist center. After giving her thighs little kisses and nips on the way down, he zeroed in on his target. Her outer lips were swollen and prominent, and her clit was making its way out from between them. The entire area was shiny with her juices and it was intoxicating to him. He started with the outer lips, licking her essence from them before working his tongue between and into her entrance. He was taking long slow licks, probing her opening before making his way up and around her erect clit. Every passage of his tongue was taking her closer to her release. She was so excited that it didn't take long until she tripped over the edge and gave into her orgasm. Her body vibrated with her contractions and she let out a quiet, high-pitched sound. As she started to come down a little, Greg left her clit to feast on the oils she was producing. Traci reached down and was trying to pull him up on her. She was moaning out his name and asking him to fuck her. He had one moment of fear, and looked at Mandy mouthing the question, "Protection?" Mandy answered that she was on the pill and that was all he needed to hear. He shuffled up close to her body until the head of his cock was touching her labia. Traci reached down and moved him into position at her entrance. He slowly started to push into her tunnel, feeling the tightness and heat surrounding his cock as he pushed slowly into her body. By now, Traci was very worked up. She hadn't come down from her first orgasm and another was starting to build. He hips were starting to thrust up in time with Greg's movements and she was gasping for air. Mandy had moved so she could watch her lover's cock sliding into another woman. She found the sight very sexy, and she reached down and started to finger her own pussy in reaction. Greg had been using long strokes on her, pulling almost all the way out before sliding slowly back in until he was completely seated. Now he picked up the pace, only coming about halfway out. She was meeting his every thrust reaching for the release that was coming closer all the time. Mandy moved up until she could reach her friend's nipples standing out from her breasts in her excitement. She leaned over and took the closest one in her mouth and started to suck on it, using her lips to pinch and roll the nubbin. This was too much for the coed and her body froze for an instant before she started to shake in orgasm. Mandy released her hold on the nipple to move up and kiss Traci deeply as she rode the waves of pleasure that were consuming her. Greg had though she was as tight and hot as a virgin before, now she clamped down on him with such force that he couldn't move. He really didn't need to though as the walls of her tunnel gripped his shaft in a rhythm that followed her spasms. He couldn't take any more stimulation, and shoving all the way into her, released his semen in his own climax. Traci's orgasm seemed to last forever, but in reality, it was over fairly quick. Her body relaxed except for little ripples of pleasure whenever Greg tried to move or Mandy's hand would touch somewhere sensitive. Mandy herself had climaxed when she saw and felt Traci go over. Greg finally pulled out before he collapsed on the other side of Traci sandwiching her between the two younger people. They were all exhausted and fell asleep in Greg and Mandy's bed, their friend contentedly snuggled down between them. Greg was the first one up the next day. He woke up and at first, though he had dreamed the happenings of the night before. When he opened his eyes he saw that Mandy was spooned into Traci's back her hand over the other woman's breast, he knew it had been for real. He removed Traci's delicate hand from his hard cock and slid out of bed. As he stood in the bathroom, he started to worry about how last night's activities would affect them all. He was still mulling it all over when Mandy appeared followed a short time later by Traci. Mandy was in her usual mood for the morning, but their friend seemed to be more quiet than usual. She seemed nervous and finally asked Mandy if everything was still all right between them. Mandy assured her that she had no problem and proved it by giving the older girl a kiss. When she got the same treatment from Greg, she finally settled down. They were drinking coffee when Traci started to talk. "I must say - last night had to be the best I have ever felt. It wasn't just the sex, though that was mind blowing! It was just so much special because you two really showed you care for and about me. I want to thank you for that." She had tears in her eyes when she finished. Mandy and Greg both hugged her and told her that they did love her and were glad to be able to make her feel that good. "Was this a one time thing?" Traci asked this with a bit of trepidation. Mandy answered for both of them. "Only if you want it to be. I am more than willing to continue, and I will be willing to bet Greg is as well. Like I told you last night, I'm not worried that you want to steal him away from me." "I would like that. I was always taught that love and sex had to go together, but it wasn't always like that in the real world. Guys would act like they loved me and I believed them, then after they got what they wanted, they moved on, leaving me heartbroken. Eventually I learned that the two can be separate, and would have sex just to take care of the need. Last night, I found out that sex with someone you love and loves you back makes it so much better." Mandy agreed with her. "You have that right. There is a world of difference between what Greg does for me than what my ex-boyfriend did to me. You think caring about the other person makes that much difference?" Greg finally entered the conversation. "What you just said Mandy, is the whole difference. You said what I do FOR you and what your ex did TO you. I love and care enough for you that I want you to have pleasure as well as getting mine." Traci looked like she had just heard the secret to life. "I hadn't thought about it, but you are right! I think that you guys are the first ones to really care enough to make sure I enjoyed what we were doing. And I wanted to return the favor, but unfortunately you wore me out so much that I didn't get a chance to." She looked to Mandy now. "When you started to suck on my boobs, I couldn't believe how good that felt! It was different from when a man does it. A friend and I experimented a little when I was about fourteen, but we never got that far. We would just lie next to each other and get ourselves off while watching her brother's dirty movies. After my roommate from last year took women as well as men to bed in front of me, I have been just a little curious about it." Mandy got a glint in her eye. "Maybe we could satisfy our curiosity someday soon." She grinned over at Traci who returned the smile. "Yeah, I think we could arrange that. I am curious as well." They spent the day together, not doing anything in particular but just getting to know each other in the new phase of their relationship. There was nothing overtly sexual that went on that day; rather they spent time giving sensual caresses, and loving kisses. It was a fulfilling but emotionally exhausting day for them all. Each of them ended up telling about their lives to the others, alternately laughing and crying as the memories were told. That night they all went to their normal beds secure in the love and caring that had grown between them. A few days before Mandy's emancipation trial, Marina called them into the office to prepare her for the trial. They were led into her office and were surprised to see Greg's mother was there already. "You didn't seem to mind when Heather was here with you before, so I took the liberty of having her here again. She will be figuring into the trial since technically you would be living in her home and under her supervision." Neither objected at all and Mandy even went over and gave her a hug. Then they were seated and the prep began. "Mandy, I know you are nervous about this, but I don't see why you should worry. You are very close to the age where it wouldn't make any difference, and the facts are in your favor. We also drew the one judge that is known in the family courts to be very fair. He doesn't allow an attorney to stray from the relevant facts in the case. The attorney that is representation your parents is one of their church and in the past has tried to use 'biblical' law to make his position and this judge won't put up with that. Now let's go over what you all can expect to be asked in court." She went over every angle that she could think of that could be thrown at each of us. She had been up against the opposing counsel before and she gave them all different attacks that he could use. By the time they all had left, they were more confident that they would be all right. The trial went just about how they were expecting it to. The judge asked Mandy if she understood what the emancipation would mean as far as rights and responsibilities went and if she still wished to continue with the petition. She answered that she understood and that she did want to be emancipated. Then the lawyers started in. Marina led Mandy through the reasons that she wanted to be emancipated. She went over the pregnancy, the incidents of abuse, being thrown out of the house, and what she thought would happen if she were forced to stay with her parents. Mr. Nelson, the opposing council tried to rattle Mandy. "Aren't you just trying to get away from your parents because you got yourself pregnant and don't want to do what your parents know is best for you?" Mandy was prepared and remained calm. "No sir. After I was raped, they were the ones who blamed me, abused me, and then threw me out of the house and said they never wanted to see me again." "Well if you were raped, why didn't you report it to the police?" "I wasn't allowed to." "Wasn't the reason is because there wasn't a rape at all, but that you seduced the young man?" "No. He held me down and raped me. I was there, you or my parents weren't." He tried to rattle her by attacking her as an unrepentant child, but he couldn't get very far. He did bring up that she had went to stay with Greg and tried to insinuate that he was really the father. He couldn't get her to change her story at all though. Heather testified that she was willing to allow Mandy to continue to live in her house and that she would continue to take care of the living expenses. Mandy's school records were entered into evidence to show that she was continuing in school and doing well. Greg finally took the stand. He stated that he had known Mandy for years and that when she needed help, he had been happy to provide it. They had not become intimate until well after the time she had first come to him. Yes, he had offered to help her out, first out of friendship, but had come to love her. And he was willing to help her with the responsibility of her baby. Mr. Nelson tried to portray Greg as the real father of the child, that he only wanted her around for sex, and that he was the one leading her astray from the teachings of her parents. Greg wanted to punch this guy out, but somehow held his temper. Neither parent testified because that would have actually hurt their case. Marina was going to call Richard, Mandy's dad, if she thought it would be needed, but when she saw how the trial was heading, she left it alone. When all the evidence was in, the judge finally spoke up. "It is normal procedure to advise all parties of the court's decision by mail in a few weeks. The formal decision will be delivered in that manner. However after looking at the evidence presented and the facts that the court's investigation has revealed, I am inclined to render a verdict at this time." "Ms. Carson has proven that she has the maturity and the knowledge to know what emancipation entails. Since leaving her parent's influence, she has shown that she can in fact face the responsibilities of adulthood. She is in a stable relationship, as stable as they are in this day and age. It has been proven that she is taking the steps that are needed to care for herself and her child. So it is the decision of this court to grant her petition for emancipation and from this day forward, she is to be considered an adult with all the privileges and responsibilities that are contained therein. This court is adjourned!" With the rap of the judge's gavel, Mandy was now free of her parent's control. As Mandy hugged Greg, Heather, and to her surprise Marina, her parents left the courtroom. Richard Carson was livid, but Mandy's mother looked at her daughter with a sad expression. They all went out to a local Bistro for a celebration. Heather was surprised but happy that Mandy was going to keep the baby. She started to make plans for a nursery and what was needed to keep the baby healthy and happy. Picking up a piece of biscotti from the plate in front of her, she looked at them both. "I haven't spent the night at the house in months. Adrian and I are quite happy in the loft we have downtown. I heard from your father that he will not be coming back from where he is for any length of time. Before you ask, we are not getting divorced, but we talked about it and we both are happy with our arrangement. You don't need to know the details, that is our business, but just know that we both agree to keep things as they are." "We both know that we have been poor parents to you Greg. We have talked about it before. But to kind of make up for that, we have agreed to continue to pay for the house expenses until you get out of college and established in a career. After that, the house is yours, and your father and I go our separate ways. Anyway, what I am going to do is come over and move the personal stuff out of the master bedroom. I'll send your father what he wants, and donate the rest. There isn't any reason for that room to sit empty." Soon after, they went their separate ways, the older women to their respective offices, and the young couple back to the house. Greg had not said much since his mother had dropped her bombshell on him. Mandy realized that he was upset and didn't press for him to let it out. But she hoped that his mood wouldn't bring down the joys of the day as well. ------- Chapter 9 Traci was just getting home when they pulled up. She took one look at Mandy's face and knew what the verdict had been. The two women shouted out their joy as they hugged each other in the front yard. Greg smiled at them and then headed into the house to let them celebrate. Traci noticed his mood. Mandy explained what had transpired while they had been at the bistro. The older girl had met Greg's mother and found her a contradiction of her ideals of motherhood. Traci had the vision of being a mom that she had seen for most of her younger years from her friend's moms as well as her own. Heather Tolkin seemed to think that the way to be a mother is to give the child money. The two talked about it a little more before they went in to find Greg sitting on his bed staring at the floor. Mandy came in and hugged him followed by Traci on his other side. Traci took his hand and started talking. "Greg, you and Mandy have always listened to me and my problems. Maybe now it is my chance to return the favor." "I don't know if you can understand. It should be a sweet deal, but I can't seem to be able to get out what I'm feeling." "You know I am not a psychologist, but I have a good Foundation. It is part of the education major. Let me explain what you I think you are feeling and you can tell me if I am right. Okay?" When Greg, still looking at the floor, nodded, Traci continued. "You are shocked that your parents are splitting up and even worse, your mom just dumped it on you all at once. The deal with the house must feel like a payoff of some sort. They both haven't been around but they are giving you the house to make up for it. Am I close so far?" Greg looked up at her and she could see the tears in his eyes. "You must be looking in my mind. I mean, I keep trying to tell myself that they don't know any better and they think they are giving me what they can. But I just can't help thinking that I would give it all away just to have them be here for me. I just feel so betrayed that instead of talking to me as their son, they are brokering a deal that soothes their consciousness. I am just another client that they are figuring to give a fair deal. Somehow that the money makes up for all the lost childhood, the love I never had. Damnit, this is so wrong!" As he said the last sentence, he broke down and sobbed. He was letting out all the pent up feelings that he had been holding in for years. He had always tried not to let anyone know how lonely he had felt for so long. By now, both of the women were crying along with him. Both of them could feel how much this had been hurting him for so long. He had hinted about all this before, but they had never seen him so upset. Greg had always been so much a rock to them and anyone who had needed him, and nobody knew what he kept hidden. It was deeply disturbing to find out how badly he needed them. They sandwiched him between them and held and comforted him as he had done for them both before. They stayed in that position until Greg had finally let it all out. He raised his head up and apologized for bringing them all down with his problems. Traci gave him a stern look and told him that he had no reason to be sorry; that it brought them all closer together. Now he didn't have to keep up a front. Mandy hadn't said much during this whole time, but now she pulled him close to her and told him how much she loved him. Traci sat back a little to allow them to snuggle. Mandy noticed, and drew her back in. Greg looked at both at them and told them that he loved them both. After sitting there a little longer Mandy's stomach growled. Traci giggled at her reminder that they needed to eat. They all stood up to go down to the kitchen. Before they went out the door, Traci gave Greg one more long hug. "Thank you for confiding in me. I know you would never show that much emotion to someone unless you really loved and cared for them." Greg returned her embrace. "I... I mean we both love you and care about you. You are a part of us. I know Mandy will agree that we will feel lost when you go on with your life." Traci looked up to see Mandy nodding in agreement. She pulled away from Greg enough to motion Mandy to join them. Her stomach caused her to have to bend to get in the embrace, but it was enough to show that she felt what Greg had said. It had been an exhausting day for them all so they decided that instead of cooking, they would just order pizza. While Greg called the order in, Mandy went out in back and got the hot tub uncovered and the heater started up. As soon as their dinner was delivered, they set it on the Kitchen Island and dug in, washing it down with their beverage of choice. Greg had a beer and Traci had wine, while Mandy stuck with Pepsi, staying away from alcohol while she was pregnant. They did toast Mandy's new status and they discussed the case while they ate. When the box was empty, they refilled their drinks and moved out onto the deck. Greg was about to ask if they wanted to wear suits since this was Traci's first time in the tub. But before he could say anything, she started stripping her clothes off. Mandy followed suit and Greg was left to play catch up. Mandy went back in to get some towels while Traci and Greg settled in. When Mandy returned, she slipped into the warm water between the other two. They spent most of the evening enjoying the swirling waters. While nothing sexual happened between them other some mutual groping, they did teach Traci the other use of the jets than just to circulate the water. When she climaxed, Greg was supporting her upper body, taking the opportunity to caress her firm breasts while Mandy did the same to her stomach and ass. When Traci started to nod off, they adjourned from the tub and headed to bed. Traci gave them each a kiss before going into her room. The other two turned into the doorway opposite hers to do the same. Since they were already nude, they crawled into bed without any delay. They didn't make love, but Greg did snuggle up against his lover's back taking solace in her presence. Heather kept her promise and showed up a few days later to clean out the master bedroom. She didn't take any of the furniture, just the clothes and accessories. That afternoon, Greg and Mandy moved their belongings into the room. The bed was a king size and would provide plenty of room and the mattress really had not been used enough but what it was quite comfortable. There was also a balcony that overlooked the back yard and the deck. The first night Greg couldn't get to sleep in there. Even with Mandy's drawings on the walls and all of their personal possessions missing, it still felt like his parent's room. As a child he was never allowed in there and even now he had never been comfortable going through even to use their shower. He couldn't seem to forget that his parents had both slept in here as well as fought in this room. Like any other person his age, he didn't care to even think of them having sex in this room. When Mandy saw him the next morning, she asked why he was so tired. When he explained it to her she understood. "I don't think I could sleep in the same room as where my parents had been having sex. I always left the room when my mother would complain to her friends about having to do her 'wifely duty' twice a week. Is it the whole room or just sleeping in the bed that bothers you?" I think it is just the whole room. They liked the dark colors and stuff. It just feels like their room." "How about we turn it into our room then. We could paint or paper the walls, rearrange the furniture, whatever it would take to make you comfortable." "Sounds good to me. I think I will let you do the planning and I will do the grunt work. And please, let's get a new bed. The thought of my parents rolling around naked makes me shiver." Greg went up to shower and change for the class he was to teach that day. By the time he left, Mandy and Traci were busy talking colors and patterns. Trusting them to not go too far, he left them alone and got on his bike for the short trip to the gym where they held the classes. On the way, he tried to work out why he was so nervous about the bedroom. It wasn't just the idea that he had never been allowed in there, but more like he was having to accept that his parents were moving on with their lives, and in some ways, he was being left out again. By moving into 'their' room, he had to accept the fact that his parents would not be coming back to stay. That had always been a dream he could hold on to, and now it was gone. It was like he had been emancipated instead of Mandy, an emancipation that he had not really wanted. Well he would just have to get used to the disappointment. He had done it many times growing up. He worked the class harder than usual at first, but then he saw their frustration and chided himself for taking his anger out on them. He slowed the pace and started to work on helping each woman with her position and technique, and the class was back to normal by that time. He was glad to see everyone building confidence, even Cindy Lawder. She had been worked over by her husband so bad that she was in the hospital for two weeks. When she first started class, she would cower any time he would pick her out to demonstrate a technique. But the last couple classes she had started to show a confidence that had not been there before. She was putting everything she had into the kicks and punches. He had been glad he was wearing a cup as well as the groin pads this week. Maybe that confidence would help when she had to face her soon to be ex-husband. As he rode home, he was looking forward to a nice hot soak. Having 20 females beating up on you was almost as bad as competing in a tournament. When he first started, they were all afraid of hurting him. No problem in that now. Greg parked the bike in the garage and noticed that the Monte Carlo had been moved from its normal place to be replaced with an array of drop cloths and a bunch of paint cans and tools. He made his way upstairs toward the sounds of female laughter. When he stepped into the doorway, he saw Traci and Mandy attempting to cover the walls with paint. What they accomplished was getting more paint on themselves than on the walls. And from the position of the brush and roller marks, the splotches were more than accidental. Traci's shirt showed two roller marks across her breasts. Mandy had a handprint on her butt and a brushed on 'X' across her belly. "Maybe it would work better if I would just cover you both in paint and roll you along the walls." This was probably the wrong thing to say, because Greg soon found himself the target of two laughing, paint-covered females. They were soon all covered in paint and laying on the drop cloth laughing. Greg then decided that thinking about the past was not worth it: not with the love and companionship of the two women who were with him. They pulled themselves together and with Greg's help, they soon had the walls covered in a light cream color. With just that little change, the room took on a lighter, more airy feel. Mandy told him that she had a border to put up next to the ceiling and some new curtains that she would need his help to put up. He agreed to do that tomorrow. Then he suggested that they all share the shower in the master bath. Even with the paint being water-based, it still took some scrubbing to get it all off. They each volunteered to help the other two to get clean. Of course, there was some fondling going on and Greg was surprised to see how easy the women were about touching each other. In addition to being a turn on, he was also happy that they cared for each other enough to not be worried about the caresses coming from someone of the same sex. Feeling much better after their mutual shower, Mandy suggested that they grab some sub sandwiches and go out to the park for a picnic. They grabbed a blanket and headed to the deli that was in the little store a short hop from them. It was a family-owned place that didn't sell much in the way of regular groceries, but was famous for their sandwiches and salads. One of Greg's classmates was behind the counter and greeted him when he came in. Flower (her parents had been hippies) got their orders and started to slice the meats that each wanted. She chatted with them all as she worked, asking how their summer had been and telling them about her vacation to her uncle's place in Virginia. They also picked up some pasta salad as well as plates and plastic utensils. Flower gave them a cheerful farewell and they headed to the local park. This park was actually part of the state's park system, and was very well maintained. They took their supplies and found a spot that was under a huge tree and where they could see the water. They sat in a triangle, munching on their subs and just enjoying the warm weather. After they were full, they took the pieces of bread and tossed them out to the ducks that were making their way around the edge of the shore. The antics of the younger ducks as they fought over the bread sent the three into fits of laughter as the birds would chase each other over a piece of crust. When they were out of tidbits, the ducks continued on their way and Mandy scooted down and put her head in Greg's lap. Traci stretched out alongside the other two. There were no words spoken, each enjoying the lowering sun in their own way. That night Mandy and Greg slept in his old room since the smell of the paint was still strong. They made love slowly with Greg behind his lover as she was on her knees. She was getting far enough along that any position other than this one or on her side was uncomfortable. Then they settled down spooned together and fell asleep. The next day, Greg was putting up the wallpaper border that Mandy had selected. He was under the guidance of Traci whose mother had taught her how to do wallpaper. Then they rearranged the furniture and re-hung the pictures that Mandy had picked out. When they were done, it was no longer his parent's room but theirs. They helped Traci move all of her things into Greg's old room since it was larger than the room she was in. Mandy and Greg decided to take it easy that night. Traci had a date and they didn't feel like going out among the crowds, preferring each other's company. After dinner, they found an old black and white movie on, they snuggled together on the couch, moving only for snacks or bathroom breaks. After the movie, they retired to the hot tub to enjoy the relaxing jets pulsing against their skin. They were still in there when Traci returned from her date. When she found them, she wasted no time in stripping her clothes off and settling into the warm water. After enjoying the heat for a few minutes, she started to tell them about her date. "Josh was nice enough, I mean we always get along at work, but we just didn't really 'click'. He is handsome and funny and all that, but we just feel anything for each other than just friends. He actually was the one to bring it up, telling me that he didn't want to hurt me, but he really didn't want to be more than just friends. It was a relief to me because I felt the same way." She took a long drink from her Pepsi before she continued. "Being with you guys has made me realize that I don't have to go out looking for a companion. I am not going to rush into anything because I don't have to. I love you both and that takes care of all I need for now." Mandy moved over next to her and gave her a hug, letting her know that she was always welcome with them. Then they continued to relax a while longer talking about nothing important. Mandy noticed that she was getting very wrinkled from the water and by mutual agreement they all got out and dried off. As Greg checked the doors and windows, Mandy suggested that Traci join them to help 'break in' their new room. She looked over at Greg who nodded in agreement. She agreed and the trio made their way up stairs to the master suite. Greg followed them up watching two very sexy butts sway as they climbed the stairs. This was more than enough to cause his cock to awaken, and he was sporting an impressive erection by the time he got to the bedroom door. The women were already climbing in the king sized bed moving toward the center. Greg stayed back to just watch as Mandy rolled on her side and started to kiss her friend. Traci did not hesitate, returning the kiss as she started to caress Mandy. They were in their own world for a while each one enamored with the feel of her partner. Traci broke the kiss only to move lower and take one of Mandy's nipples between her lips. Mandy had noticed that her breasts were becoming more sensitive and she gave a long groan in reaction to Traci's actions. Greg saw Traci's hand move over Mandy's abdomen and down between her legs. Mandy gave a little jump when Traci found her clit, then moved to copy the other woman's movements. With their hands on each other's sexual center, they started to work each other toward climax. Traci went over first, lifting her head to cry out her release. Mandy was close as well and as soon as Traci came to her senses, she redoubled her efforts, and Mandy was soon voicing her orgasm as well. As Mandy started to come down, Greg sat on the side of the bed. Both women noticed the movement of the mattress and grinned up at him shyly. "That was the most erotic thing I could imagine. The two women most important to me making each other feel good." Mandy spoke up first. You didn't mind that you didn't get to join in?" He gave a chuckle. "Not at all. That was too sexy for me to interfere. Besides, I figured I would get my chance later." Traci sat up and pulled on Greg's arm until he was between them in the center of the bed. "Your chance is now." She looked over Greg to Mandy. "You think we should show him what it feels like to be attacked by two horny women at the same time?" Mandy's grin gave her the answer. Mandy moved up and started kissing Greg deeply while Traci moved down to his feet. She started to caress and lick his legs while Mandy worked her way over his neck and to his nipples. Greg was soon squirming from the sensations they were giving him as they kissed and gently bit every inch of flesh they could reach. As if by mutual agreement, they met just above the head of his cock. They kissed each other and then continued on their respective routes, only to reverse direction to meet once again. This time, Traci took hold of the base of his cock and pulled it up off his stomach so they could take turns licking it. One would spend a little time stimulating him then move his cock so the other could work on it. He was about ready to explode when Traci began to tickle his balls with her fingernails. That was too much and he started shooting streams of his seed. After the first, Traci put her lips over the head and took part of his load. She relinquished his cock to Mandy who sucked the remaining semen from him, swirling her tongue around the head to make sure he gave up everything he had. Meanwhile Traci moved up to his chest and licked his first shot from his skin. Both women moved to where they were laying half on Greg while he recovered. As soon as he could move again, he returned the favor first to Mandy and then Traci. As he went down on them, the other would help by kissing the recipient and fondling her breasts. It wasn't long before the both were recovering from their respective orgasms. Traci got up as soon as she was able and went down to the kitchen, returning with a tray of drinks and snacks. Mandy didn't realize how dry she was until she opened the Pepsi. She downed about half of it before she came up for air. Then she gave out a loud belch that seemed to rattle the pictures on the wall. This caused her to first be embarrassed, and then join her lovers in laughter. They all sat in a circle, laughing and kidding each other. Even after what they had just done together, they were relaxed enough with each other not to have any excess baggage to be brought into the bed. They were still interested in continuing the activities after their refreshments, but none of them was sure as to what to do next. Greg reached over to stroke the backs of his two lovers. "If you two don't mind, you could live out a fantasy of mine that I've had ever since we have met you Traci." The women were agreeable and his fantasy was soon fulfilled. Mandy was straddled his face, her wet pussy within easy reach of Greg's eager tongue. She was facing Traci who was impaled on his hard cock. Greg was lapping at Mandy's quim in the same rhythm that Traci was riding him. He was in heaven pleasing them both and being pleased at the same time. He couldn't see what the women were doing, but he could feel that they were busy touching each other. Traci's hands were busy on her friend's breasts while Mandy was zeroing in on Traci's clit. Between the stimulation they were getting from Greg and what they were doing to each other, their orgasms were approaching rapidly. Greg used his fingers to tickle Mandy's anus while he ran his tongue over her clit. That was enough to send her over the edge. Her body started vibrating as the pressure between her legs was released throughout her body. Her actions caused her fingers to put the right pressure on Traci's clit and she followed her friend into climax. Greg followed them closely slamming up into Traci as he emptied his second load of the night into her. As she started to collapse, Mandy had enough mind left to roll off her boyfriends face and to curl up on her side enjoying the aftershocks. Traci didn't make it that far as she fell limp onto Greg's chest, jerking with every movement of his deflating cock as it continued to stimulate her over-sensitive pussy. They all stayed in those positions for several minutes just drinking in the feeling that had just happened. Greg and Traci both reached out to caress Mandy who was curled up next to them. She returned the touches, smiling at her two lovers. She was surprised that she was not in any way jealous of the other woman. Maybe it was because she loved them both. Not the same way perhaps, but there was love there nonetheless. Traci was having thoughts along the same lines. She really did love these two people, and not for the way they could bring her off. It was a love based on friendship first and that had grown to where it was now. She still wasn't interested in other women, but she didn't look at Mandy as just another woman. She couldn't explain it and right then she didn't want to. It was enough that she was there with them and they returned her feelings. Mandy stretched out which brought the other two out of their thoughts. Traci felt Greg's cock slide out of her and she put he hand between her legs to stop their juices from dripping out on the bed. She got up and headed to the bathroom on shaky legs. A couple minutes later she returned with a couple of warm washrags. She cleaned Greg's face then his pubic area getting the sticky spend off. The second one she used on Mandy carefully cleaning her as well. She then took both back to the bathroom and returned to give the other two a kiss before turning toward the door. Mandy stopped her from leaving and let her know in no uncertain terms that she was expected to get in bed with them and stay the night. She agreed and slid in the bed putting Greg between the two women. They stayed that way giving each other caresses until they dropped off to sleep, comfortable with the presence of the others. The weekend of the Art Fair finally arrived. Mandy had been nervous for the week beforehand, worried that nobody would like her work, that she would be laughed at, and many other negative thoughts. Greg kept telling her that everything would be fine and he would be there to help her. Early Saturday morning found them in the park setting up the easels and rearranging her framed drawings for the best effect. They had a poster made giving a title of "Emotions in Life" along with her name. The six paintings included "First Bonding" and of course "Passion" along with "Wonder", a drawing of a child looking up at the moon and stars, "Commitment" featuring an old couple that Mandy had found that after fifty years together still looked at each other with a love that had never grown cold. "Sorrow" a sketch of a man who was kneeling beside the grave of his wife. The last was called "Friendship". Mandy had drawn this one from pictures that Greg had taken of her and Traci face to face with their hands on the other's shoulders. The love and trust they had for each other was evident in their eyes. Being nervous, Mandy kept fiddling with all the displays right up until the fair opened to the public. Throughout the day, the crowds filed through stopping at each booth and display. Many of the people were glad to meet Mandy, and to ask questions about all of the pieces she had chosen. She was surprised at the attention she was getting and went from shy to very outgoing as the day went along. There were a few that claimed that a couple of them were 'pornographic' but the rest were very complimentary. There were even requests for prints of the original artwork. The surprise of the day was when Mandy won the People's Choice award for "Passion". With the ribbon, there was also a check for Five Hundred Dollars, and an offer to join the artist co-op that sponsored the event. Many people recognized Greg as the model and when they did, they would give him strange looks. The women, especially the teen girls, seemed to be trying to decide if he was really as well endowed as the drawing showed. This was embarrassing for him and even more so when he recognized some of the people that he went to school with. Mandy found this rather amusing, teasing him by saying that those girls are just now finding out what they had been missing. Just before they started to break down the display, an elderly gentleman came by to talk with Mandy. He introduced himself as Eldon Harrington, owner of Harrington Galleries. Mandy was surprised that he was interested in her work and very flattered when he continued to compliment her on her style. It didn't take long for him to strike a deal with her to carry prints of her work and offer them to the public. She was flabbergasted, barely able to believe what he wanted to display her work. They made a deal and he said to come to the Gallery on Monday to sign the contract. Traci had been through earlier, but had come back to help them load up and then go with them for something to eat. Mandy mentioned that Mr. Harrington had offered her a deal. Traci was quiet for a moment then said, "You do realize that Harrington Galleries is the premier art house in this part of the state. If he is offering to carry your work, he must really be impressed." Greg thought Mandy was going to faint when she heard that. Traci continued, telling her that there was a good chance that she was going to get more recognition than she ever dreamed of and that a deal with him could be worth a lot of money. This put Mandy on a high that looked like it would last for quite a while. When it finally sunk in, she was almost in tears. Something she had done, that she loved doing, might be making her some money. She was going to prove her father wrong and more important, prove her own self worth to the one person that counted the most: herself. That evening, Mandy asked if they could call Greg's mother and ask if she would join them for dinner. She wanted to share the good news plus she considered Heather the one parental figure that would maybe be proud of her accomplishments. Heather was surprised when she heard Mandy's voice on the phone. She immediately thought something had happened to Greg, but the cheerfulness in the young girl's voice swept that fear away. She listened to Mandy's explanation for calling her and agreed to meet them downtown for dinner. During dinner, they discussed how Mandy had come to get into the show and her winning people's choice for one of her works. Heather was curious about just how good Mandy was and they decided to go back to the house after dinner so she could see the drawings. Once home, Mandy enlisted Traci to help her put up the easels in the living room while Greg stayed back to talk to his mother. Heather was uncertain why Mandy had called. Greg tried to explain as best he could. "Mandy has never really had any adult encouragement to do what she is good at. Now, when she has something to be proud of, she couldn't share it with her parents, so she thought of you. She admires you for your accomplishments and since you're my mom, she sees you as the parent she can show off to. She really needs someone to be proud of her accomplishments and your praise would mean a lot to her." This came as somewhat as a shock to Heather. She had never thought that she would be 'looked up to' by someone that wasn't in her business circles. The idea hit her that maybe her son also needed her approval. She had never given him more than cursory praise for his accomplishments and at this moment that thought hit her hard. And the idea that this girl that her son loved looked up to her and craved her approval was hard to understand. Mandy had finished by now and was inviting them into the living room. Heather was truly impressed and made sure that the girl knew it. She was a little embarrassed by the one where Greg and Traci had posed together but only because it caused her to see her son as a nearly grown man and that he was a handsome man now. It reminded her of his father when they had first got together in college. After they talked about the art for a while, Heather sat down and asked if they could talk about some other things. Traci sensed that this was going to be a family talk and quickly excused herself to take a shower and go on to bed. Heather was in one of the chairs with Greg and Mandy on the other side of the room together on the couch. "Greg, you said some things earlier that got me to thinking. I know that I was never liberal with my comments of your accomplishments when you were growing up, but you never seemed to mind. But when you said that Mandy wanted to share her award with me, I got to wondering if maybe you missed that as well?" Greg leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. "I never said anything about it, but if you really want to know, I really wanted your attention. When I won my weight class in the regional martial arts tournament for three straight years, your and dad's reaction was like it was an everyday thing. The reason that I have excelled in school was in some vain hope that you would notice and praise me for doing so well. When I was younger, I craved it and when it didn't come, I felt that whatever I did wasn't good enough. It took me a long time before I figured out that it was just the way it was, but by then I started to feel good for myself in my accomplishments. I went on that way because by then it was just normal." Heather was crushed by what her son had just told her. She realized that both she and her husband had done something that could have been very damaging. The only reason it hadn't turned out bad for Greg was his own strength of character. "I know that there isn't an excuse for how we treated you, but I just never realized. I had no idea of how to be a parent and I guess I went with what I knew best which was work. Now I see that I have missed out on a lot and I am worse as a parent for it." She then included Mandy in the conversation. "When you two got together and I spent some time with Mandy, I got a taste of what I missed, and I found I liked it. I was always the one that never had friends growing up and I decided that being a success didn't include relationships. Now I see that I missed out on a lot of things." Mandy spoke up then. "Heather, I enjoy your company and I do admire the way you have succeeded. I want to take part of that and apply it to what I do in the future. But I have learned how important love and friendship are and I never want to lose that part of me. If you think you would want to, I would like to get to know you even better and be friends. If Greg and I ever decide to get married, I would like to be friends with my mother-in-law." "You know, I would really like that." Heather's eyes were very wet by now. This young girl's sincerity really hit home. She stood up and met Mandy half way across the room and they gave each other a hug that was also a bonding between the two. Greg made it a three-way hug. "I may have missed out on the past, but I want to start being more involved. I would have come to the art fair if I had known." "I didn't know if we should call and interrupt you since you are so busy." was Mandy's reply. "From now on, I am never too busy for you two. Promise me from now on that you will let know about anything important that is going on. Or even if you just want to talk. I really do want to get closer to you all." Their talk continued until early in the morning. They convinced Heather to stay there for the night and they could all just spend the next day together. It was strange for Heather to go into the guest room at least for Greg, but she didn't mind in the least. They bid each other good night and then went to bed thinking about just how thing had changed. Heather was up just before the other two. She came down to the kitchen to find Traci already down there having a cup of coffee. She knew that the girl was living there and why, but she didn't know her personally. Traci looked up and smiled at the older woman, offering her a cup of coffee while she refilled her cup. Heather accepted the cup with a sleepy smile and a thank you. They sat in silence while Heather got the cobwebs out of her head. Then they started talking, getting to know a bit about each other. Heather had been unsure of Traci moving in when it happened, but as they talked, she learned that she was a sincere person who really loved her son and his girlfriend as friends and that she wasn't just looking for a free ride. By the time Greg and Mandy made their appearance, they were discussing all kinds of things including Traci's desire to become a teacher and even her posing with Greg. Traci explained it to Heather. "It was a little strange at first. But I knew Greg well enough that he wouldn't try and take advantage of the situation. We were both nervous, but as we stood there, we got a little more comfortable. The worst part was when Mandy said she wanted a look of passion and proceeded to describe things for me to think about to get that mood. I gotta tell you, by the time she was done, I was about to die!" Heather was about to collapse from laughter from Traci's description. "I bet you were! I bet you were a quivering mass by the time it was over." Mandy walked in then with Greg following close behind. They looked over at the other two curiously as they were still laughing. "We were just discussing how turned I got when Greg and I posed." was Traci's explanation. Greg gave them an embarrassed grin. "I think I was in worse shape than you. Having my hands on a beautiful woman and not being allowed to enjoy it was murder." Mandy had to tease Greg a bit. "Well we could certainly tell how much you were enjoying it." Her gaze went to his crotch as she said that. "I'm having trouble thinking about that part", said Heather. "Since he is my son. But I can imagine he was excited. Not thinking of him as my son and just as a man, I bet he was showing his interest." "MOM!" Greg was turning red. Then he gave them a grin. "I have to admit that I did enjoy it. It was worth the torture to help Mandy win that award." Traci insisted on making breakfast for them all, and while they were eating, they all decided to go back to the park for a picnic. This time, Traci volunteered to make fried chicken and Mandy decided that she would make some potato salad. Heather left for her apartment to change clothes with the promise that she would be back soon. It was a warm and sunny day at the park and Heather enjoyed the day more than she thought she would. The food was great and it had been forever since she had spent a day not thinking about work. By mid-afternoon, she was more relaxed than she had been in years. She looked around from where she was sitting in the shade. Greg was leaning against a tree reading a book between looking at Traci who was lying on a blanket and Mandy who was sitting cross-legged with her sketchpad. They were all three doing their own thing, but she noticed that there was closeness between them that showed her that they were still enjoying each other's closeness. She stood and walked over to where Mandy was sitting and looked at what she was working on. On the paper was a scene of the lake in the background with them all relaxing in the foreground. She could feel the tranquility of the day right there in the strokes of Mandy's pencils. She knelt down next to the young artist. "That is beautiful." Mandy looked over at her and grinned. "You like it? You can have it when I'm done if you want." "I'd love to have it. Every time I look at it I'll remember how much this day means to me." Mandy made a few more pencil strokes to finish up. Then she signed it and carefully pulled it out of the book. She rolled it up and used the band out of her hair to secure it. She handed it to Heather who put it next to her purse. Then the two of them took a stroll around the park. By the time the sun was sinking, they went their separate ways. Heather found that she was more relaxed and happier than she had been in years. She promised herself that there would be more days like this in her future. She also decided that her son had turned out better than she had any right to expect and that he chose his friends well. ------- Chapter 10 The meeting with Mr. Harrington went very well. He would take care of getting the prints and the sales for forty percent of the profit. He told them that he enjoyed helping out new artists and he felt that they would both profit from the deal. He also requested that he be allowed to display the originals, to which Mandy was more than agreeable. Greg left to get the works while Mandy finished up all the paperwork and talked to Mr. Harrington. Before they left, he told them he should have the prints back soon and she would need to come in then to sign and number them. "I wish my parents could see how good I'm doing. But then they would just complain about it, I'm sure." said Mandy as they came out of the Gallery. Even with the way she had been treated, she still wanted their approval, and this really confused her. Greg understood what she was feeling, but he also wondered if the negative reactions that her parents would have been worse than what he would have received before which would have been indifference. That is if they would have noticed at all. One of the couples was missing from their Lamaze class when the walked in that evening. Once everyone was seated on the floor, she announced that Dana and Richard were at the hospital. She had delivered twin boys the day before; Dean weighed in at three pounds, seven ounces and Donnie a healthy four pounds, five ounces. All four of them were doing fine. This brought a round of cheers from the rest of the group and When Elizabeth brought out a card, they all signed it. Since she had delivered six weeks before her due date, the talk that night was on premature births and the problems for the baby. In addition, they all broke early and had a celebration for completing the classes. They all promised to watch the papers for the birth announcements, shook hands all around again, and went their separate ways. The classes had been good for them all and especially for Mandy since she had no idea just what would be happening to her in the coming weeks. Now at least she had some idea of what was going to be involved. Things went well for the rest of the week until Friday. Greg had just walked in the door when the phone rang. Mandy picked it up and as soon as the person on the other end of the line started speaking, he watched her face turn pale then red as anger set in. He tried to figure out who it was, but he couldn't tell much from Mandy's side of the conversation. Her responses were mostly three words or less, except for the final one, which was "Well it's your own fuckin fault." Greg walked up to her and found himself supporting her. She was shaking in anger. "Sweetheart, who was that on the phone?" "It was my asshole ex-boyfriend Steve. The county served him with papers for financial responsibility for my baby. Seems they want him to pay for the pre-natal care and the delivery when the time comes. His parents will be the ones paying, but he is all bent out of shape that the county is making him live up to his responsibilities. He called to try and get me to say he wasn't the father, so he could get out of it." Greg understood her anger. He had never understood why all the blame is always on the girl anyway. He had seen it in his own school where any girl pregnant was not allowed to be in any activities, even ones like the National Honor Society. As if being pregnant somehow negated all the good grades she had earned. Yet the boy who helped in the pregnancy was winked at and sometimes given off-handed praise for being such a stud. It was totally unfair. At least this time, he was going to have to take responsibility and pay out. Mandy let him hold her as she calmed down. She was proud of herself that she hadn't broken down in tears like she would have before. This time she had stood up for herself and that made her feel really good. Greg gave her a smile. "Well, this is one he won't get out of. The county won't be intimidated and they will get their money one way or another." When Traci returned that evening, the phone call was the topic for discussion. She agreed with what the other two were saying, and even had some stories of her own. From that, the discussion was how unfair the pregnant girls were treated in general. Greg got some ideas together and sat down at the computer as they were talking. He noted the points that were brought up and even some of the stories that the women related. "I wonder what your friends and even your school would think of an advocacy group that could help dispel the images that people have about pregnant teens?" He paused for a moment before continuing. "If people saw how the system treats them maybe they would be more sympathetic." Mandy was warming up to the idea. "I don't know if it would help, but I think we should bring it up at school. Since we start in a month, maybe we could get something together." Since Mandy would be out of school for several weeks right after she had the baby, it would give her some time to work on this. Something else that Mandy noticed to her dislike was that when she made love with Greg she was very uncomfortable. It was getting to the point that she didn't want to have his cock in her. Greg noticed that she wasn't as willing as she usually was and when she admitted what the problem was, he agreed that they would suspend that part of their relationship. He was still more than willing to go down on her since she hadn't lost interest in sex, and that was the solution they used for about a week. Mandy wasn't satisfied with that solution. It was fine for her but she thought that Greg was missing out. She talked to Traci and they agreed on a plan. That night when they headed for bed, Traci followed them down the hall instead of heading to her own room. While this wasn't unique for the trio, it didn't happen often and usually when Traci was feeling the need for their company. Greg was more than happy to have the woman's company since he did miss being buried deep into a warm pussy. The other two gave enough attention to Mandy to leave her gasping and sensitive to their touch. Then Traci raised her butt in invitation to Greg. He moved in behind her and slid his cock into her very wet entrance. They started moving against each other both eager to drive themselves and their partner to climax. Greg went over first, bucking hard against his partner's buttocks while he held and caressed her back and sides. As his climax started to fade, Traci's hit her and he pumped hard into her as she rode the waves of pleasure. They broke apart with satisfied smiles on their faces. Mandy had recovered from her own orgasms to notice and she had a smile of her own for how well her plan worked. When Traci was joining them a couple times a week, Greg was starting to get suspicious. He questioned them both after they had revived from another bout of intense loving. "Did you two cook up Traci coming in just so I wouldn't be doing without?" Mandy ran her hand up and down his torso. "Even if we did, haven't you been enjoying it?" "You know I have been. I just want you to know that it really wasn't necessary. I was happy just doing what we were." Then he turned his head to look at Traci. "I don't want you to think that you are a substitute for Mandy or anything like that. I love making love with you because of who you are, not because of horniness." Traci leaned over and gave him a soft kiss. "I know that. When Mandy was feeling bad because she felt you were not getting what you should have, I volunteered to help out. I would have been with you two even more before, but I didn't want to interfere with your relationship. The past couple weeks have been great for me." "You are welcome anytime as far as I'm concerned," Mandy said to her friend. "I think I enjoy you being with us as much as Greg. Even though we haven't gone all the way in our relationship, I love to just snuggle with you and wake up with you in our bed. It may not be the same way that I love Greg, but I love you just the same." Traci gave them both a tender smile. "That means more than you can know. And I love you both as well. I always feel so at ease when I am with you two. I never thought I could be in this kind of relationship, but now it feels like the most natural thing in the world." Greg pulled them both close to him. "Why don't we just enjoy each other as much as we can for as long as it lasts? You may find your ideal man, Traci. If or when that happens, we would miss you terribly, but we would also be very happy for you. But as Mandy said, you are welcome in our bed as often as you want. Even if it is for snuggling and sleeping." Traci leaned up on her elbow and reached over to give them both a kiss. "Thanks. I think I'll take you up on that starting tonight." She snuggled down against Greg even as she reached across him to put her hand on Mandy's body. They all fell asleep in that position, each content with their bed partners. It was the next Wednesday when Mr. Harrington called and asked Mandy if she would be interested in attending a premiere for her work. She could sign the prints for anyone who bought one and be around to meet others in the art world. She couldn't believe what he was saying to her. It was beyond her imagination that there was that much interest in her work. Once he convinced her that he was serious, she immediately agreed. She explained to Greg that even though there had been several prints sold of every one of her drawings and she was making a good profit from them, this would be a chance to get noticed in the local art community. The exposure would really be good for her. Greg immediately agreed and asked if there was anything she needed for this showing. She was large enough now that she had no dress that would fit. So she asked if she and Traci could go shopping. Mr. Harrington had asked that she bring in a portrait of her choice so they could include it for some advertising posters. She would have to get one taken as well. She insisted that she would pay for the sitting and portrait. Greg agreed as long as he got to get the dress for her. Traci was always ready for the chance to go shopping so the women got ready. Before they left, Greg asked Traci if she had a dress for herself. She said she had one that probably would work. As he gave Mandy his ATM card, he told her to make sure Traci got a new dress as well. Traci tried to protest, but Greg convinced her that he wanted to make sure that both of his ladies were dressed for the occasion. This earned him a kiss from them both before they walked out the door. With school starting up in a week, they also had arrangements to make for that. Greg went in to tell the women's group that he had to end the classes, but when the woman in charge almost begged him to continue, he changed the schedule to Thursday afternoons and Saturdays. Mandy's job was due to end anyway when school began again so it wasn't a big surprise. She was surprised by her own reaction though. It had been her first job and she had worked hard at it. By making her own money, she felt that she was independent. When her boss, an elderly man who was from Italy gave her a bonus check and told her that if she wanted to come back next year he would hire her in a minute, she almost cried. He was such a sweet man that she promised to come back if she could. She also promised to come and see him when she had the chance. Mandy had been working on a drawing for a couple of days. The Saturday before school was to start, she talked Greg into going to the ice cream stand with her. As they walked up to the stand, Mr. Liberti greeted her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She introduced Greg to her former boss, and then handed the man the package she had brought with her. He tore the paper off to reveal the picture she had been working on. It showed Mr. Liberti in his younger days, standing in front of the ice cream stand and wearing a smile that showed his pride in his shop. She had drawn his late wife behind the counter holding out a cone, offering it to the person that was looking at the drawing. She had looked at the picture that her elderly friend had hanging in the back of him and his wife and drawn it from memory. The old man ran his fingers over the figures for many minutes, and then looked up to her. "Ahhh... Missy, you bring joy to this old man's heart. I will always remember the sunshine you bring to my place. You give me a very special gift. I will treasure it always." Then he gave Mandy a very long and loving hug. He wiped the tears from his eyes with his finger and gave a sigh. He looked around behind the counter and found a screw. "Young man, you help me put this up please? Right there so everyone sees it." Greg was happy to help him and they had the picture up on the wall in just a couple of minutes. Then Mr. Liberti insisted that they have a cone before they left. They left the old man still looking at the drawing, and walked toward the parking lot enjoying the ice cream he had given them. Greg looked over at his lover. "That was a wonderful thing you did for him." "Well when things were slow early in the day, he used to tell me about how he worked is tail off when he first immigrated and how proud he was when he bought the lease on the stand. It was the first thing that he and his wife had ever owned that was really theirs. They worked together there every day for over thirty years His wife died several years ago, but he held on to his place. Now it is all he really has. I just wanted him to remember all the times we had this summer." "Well sweetheart, I don't think he will ever forget those times, or you. I'm so proud of you and what you did. No wonder I love you." Then he gave her an ice cream flavored kiss to show her his feelings. School was hectic at first but it soon settled into a routine for all of them. Mandy was caught up to where she needed to be and with Traci's help was soon ahead in some of her classes. In her art class, the teacher spent quite a bit of time working with her on the use of oils and other mediums. She had seen Mandy's display at the art fair and she wanted to encourage her. When she heard about the showing at Harrington's, she assured Mandy that she would be there. The extra work that Greg had done the year before paid off this year. He had only three classes this year and was accepted to do two classes at Mandy's school as a helper/tutor. He was to assist in their computer science lab and mathematics, two subjects that he really enjoyed and that he was good at. Both of these periods were at the beginning of the school day so he would go in with Mandy then leave for John Adams High in order to catch the fourth period advanced calculus class. Then lunch and two more classes. The last period was free, so he would head back to the charter school to wait on Mandy to get out. It worked out so that he was spending almost as much time at the charter school as he was at his own. Traci went back to classes two weeks after Greg and Mandy started. She too was taking a full load of classes to keep her scholarship so she didn't have much time for anything else. She would go out with a few of her college friends once in a while, but she didn't want to be actively dating. This allowed her to spend more time on her studies and her already high grades improved. With her sexual needs satisfied, she was more relaxed and this showed in her relationships with her classmates. She soon became part of a group of serious students that were serious about their studies. With school filling her mind, the showing slipped up on her before she had time to worry about it. Mr. Harrington explained that she would be one of five new artists to be displayed so she wouldn't be the only one. This helped, but the day before she was a wreck. She couldn't sleep and woke up the next morning fearing that everything was going to be a bust. Greg and Traci kept up a running dialogue to assure her that it was going to be fine and she would be the star of the show. Mandy was too nervous to eat a decent meal, so they all had a light dinner and then headed over to the gallery. They all arrived early, but there were people already wandering around looking at all the sculptures, paintings, and to her surprise and dismay, Mandy's drawings. Mr. Harrington greeted them as they entered, and had them sign the guest book. He had thoughtfully supplied sparkling cider for those that didn't drink and made sure they all had something in their glasses. Then he encouraged them to mingle around. They were impressed with the work of the other new artists, especially with one man who did sculpture. His characters gave the viewer a glimpse of the subject's life, from the lined and worn face of the farmer holding a calf, to the look of exhaustion of a fireman as he stood in his gear. They stopped to talk to the artist whose name was Tom Farmer, and they exchanged praises of the other's work. By the time they finished the tour, the first of what was to become many customers sought out Mandy to ask her to sign the print that they had just purchased. It surprised as well as excited Mandy that she would be asked to sign. When they couldn't find a pen between them, Mr. Harrington came to their rescue. He handed Mandy four gold metallic markers, telling her that she would probably use them up before the night was over. His prediction wasn't quite true, but she did use up two of the pens. She signed many of the prints and answered questions from her 'fans' about how she chose her subjects, why she preferred pencils and pastels, and more that she had never even thought about. To their surprise, Greg and Traci were recognized, and were asked to autograph some of the prints that they had modeled for. They were happy to do so since it was a help to Mandy. The three of them were standing together when the arts reporter for the local paper had interviewed Mandy. The reporter asked a bunch of questions which Mandy answered as graciously as she could. The other two were quizzed about their relationship with each other and how they had felt posing for the drawings. The woman finally ran out of questions and went off to find the other artists in the show. They were all surprised and rather pleased when Heather greeted them. She had said that she would be there when Greg had called her, but he had figured that she would forget like she had so many times she had when he was growing up. She wondered around looking at all the other displays, but spent most of the time talking with her son and his girlfriend. She was recognized by more than a few of the patrons and greeted them in a relaxed, practiced manner. She proudly admitted that Mandy was very close to the family and that she had one of her originals hanging in her office. The first time she told someone this, Mandy was shocked and asked her about it when they had a few moments of privacy. "My dear, I took that drawing out the first thing the day after you gave it to me and had it framed. The gentleman in the shop recognized your work and praised it highly, saying that an original of your work will definitely be worth something soon. You may not realize it, but you have made an impression on the local art world. Perhaps I will have a famous artist for a daughter-in-law someday." The last sentence made Mandy blush. Not so much from embarrassment, but from the thoughts and hopes she had been having for some time. It was getting close to the time for the showing to be over when Mr. Harrington came over wearing a satisfied smile. He informed them that the event had been a huge success, even topping the last two years combined. They had sold fifty-eight of Mandy's prints with Passion having sold out. Twelve more were pre-sold as soon as he could get them in. More important, was that he had some bids on her originals if she would consider parting with them. When they asked which ones, he told them that an OB/GYN had made a very good offer on First Bonding, and Friendship was wanted for one of the local shelters for teens for use in their offices. Greg asked if the bids were fair for the quality of her work. Mr. Harrington assured them that the offers were very good. When he told Mandy how much she would receive even after the gallery kept their part, she felt weak in the knees. She agreed to sell them and Mr. Harrington said that he would complete the sales. Since the majority of the sales had been for Passion, Greg asked why nobody wanted the original. Mr. Harrington smiled when he explained that there had been plenty, but he told them all that it would be displayed for another few months before it would be opened for bidding. He explained that by waiting, those that were really interested would still be willing and he planned to put in the gallery's exclusive auction held at the end of the year. The night had been very eventful for them all and they were beat when they finally fell into bed. Mandy's body was exhausted, but her mind would not slow down enough to allow her to sleep. Her daughter must have felt the tensions of the day because she was very active, kicking and moving in her secure uterine home. It was a long while until the baby settled enough for Mandy to drift off. Greg was the first one up the next morning and he stepped out to retrieve the paper while the coffee was brewing. Remembering the interviews they had given last night, he set aside his usual preferences and went straight to the Arts and Entertainment section. On the front page was a picture of a very pregnant Mandy stand between him and Traci. Further down were pictures of a couple of her drawings along with representations of the other artists' works. He grabbed a cup of coffee and settled down to read the article. The annual event displaying new artists at the Harrington Gallery was raised to new heights this year with the showcasing of several new artists of tremendous talent. One that stood out in this reporter's opinion was a young woman named Amanda Carson. With her friends surrounding her, Ms. Carson was a very personable and vibrant person, perhaps made more so by her advancing pregnancy which Ms. Carson laughingly refers to as her potential model. The friends with her are also her models for a few of her more sensuous and emotional drawings. Her work shows a talent rarely found in that it broadcasts the emotion in the drawing to the person viewing it. You can feel for yourself just what the characters in her works are feeling. When a work can make even this jaded reporter feel emotions that is a glorious thing. The article went on to talk about the other artists that were there and gave glowing praise for them all. Greg made up two more cups and after refilling his own placed them on a tray with the paper and went upstairs to their bedroom. Traci had stayed with them last night just as she had since they had invited her in. When he walked in, the older woman was behind Mandy her breasts pressing against Mandy's back as she held her close. He called out their names gently arousing them from their slumber. As soon as they were awake enough to accept the cups, he sat between them facing the head of the bed and tossed the paper between the two women. Mandy looked at him curiously as she reached for it. "There is something that you might want to look at", he said, keeping his voice neutral. Mandy opened it up and then gave out a little squeal of delight when she saw the picture of the three of them. She placed it between her and Traci so they could both read the byline. Mandy read the words out loud, her voice rising in pitch, as she got further into the article. By the time they were done, the two of them were hugging each other in happiness. Greg soon joined them and they were soon expressing their joy with hugs, kisses and caresses. They had just broken apart when the phone by the bed started to ring. It was Heather calling to congratulate Mandy on her success. "You're on your way now, dear." She told her before she hung up. The rest of the day was a high for them all, and the next day at school was a replay when the article was put on the bulletin board at the Charter school. Mandy was embarrassed by the attention, but deep down the praise of her peers was more important than any of the attention from the adults. These teens didn't judge her for what she may or may not have done, but what her accomplishments were. It made for a wonderful and important change for her. Several weeks into the school year, the reason for not having too many male assistants at the charter school became apparent. Greg was careful to maintain a professional if friendly attitude when he was tutoring in class. He would spend as much time as needed with any student that was having problems, but he soon noticed that some of the students, especially a few of the younger ones were suddenly developing problems understanding the concepts of lessons that they were fine with just a couple weeks ago. Ms. Holworth, the teacher that Greg was tutoring for noticed the trend first. She took Greg aside to explain to him what was happening. Greg was surprised and a little worried about it since he had not noticed anything amiss other than the increased time he was spending with tutoring in general. When she explained it to him, the first thing he did was to say that he was doing nothing to contribute to this. "I know that. You have been very careful to be as professional as possible," was Ms. Holworth's reply. "It is just the nature of the beast, if you will. The students, by being all female will naturally flock to a lone male. I'm sure that if the situation were reversed, boys would be as bad if not even more direct. I just wanted you to be aware of what was going on. You are so anxious to provide help to anyone who asks, that you probably not watching for the signs of sexual attraction." "You're right about that. I never even thought about any of them in that way." Ms. Holworth chuckled at that reply. "I'm sure you didn't, but don't tell them that. They would be crushed that their ploys at being seductive were not having any affect." Then she continued more seriously. "Many of them are feeling very unattractive right now. Add to that being segregated from the rest of their peers and you have the pieces to ruin their self esteem." "Well ma'am, I am not immune to their charms, pregnant or not. They are all attractive in one way or another." "I realize that. You will have to walk a fine line, but you wouldn't be here if I didn't think you could handle it. You are doing great. Just don't let them get to you." "I won't. And thanks for opening my eyes to what is going on." Greg did take note of what was happening and found out that Ms. Holworth was right. One girl in particular, a redhead named Kristi, was always standing very close when he tried to explain some concept to her. She would make sure to push her breasts against his arm or brush her body against him. A few days later, Kristi became very bold in her intentions. The blouse she had on had the top buttons undone exposing the tops of her breasts almost to her nipples when she would lean over, which she did much more than was necessary. It was taking every bit of self-control that Greg had not to cover them with his mouth. When she sat back in her seat, she deliberately slid up her skirt to give him a clear view between her legs. Greg did glance over when she had moved and got a clear shot of her naked pussy. He immediately moved his gaze back up to her face to see her watching him with a look of lust in her eyes. "Please don't do that to me, Kristi. You are a very attractive woman, but that isn't why I am here." "Who says I am just teasing?" was Kristi's reply. To emphasize her remark, she let a finger trace along the top of her slit. "Thank you for the offer, but I couldn't. No matter how sexy you are, I just can't even think about that. I am here just to help you in math, but most of all I couldn't even think about hurting my girlfriend like that. She means more to me than I can tell you. Besides, you didn't need to show me what you have to make me notice you. You could do that dressed in a nun's habit." Kristi was disappointed, but she pushed her skirt down enough to cover her mons. "Okay, I understand." Then after a short pause, she looked back into his eyes. "Did you mean it when you said I was sexy? Even knocked up?" This was where Greg knew he had to be careful. "Yes I did. Being 'knocked up' as you put it doesn't make a difference that you are. You are a smart girl and pretty to boot. That you are pregnant doesn't change any of that. At least in my opinion, and probably lots of others if they would stop and think about it." Kristi was smiling at him now, but her eyes were not full of lust any more. She really liked Greg and his words had made her feel a bit better after he had turned her down. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and whispered, "thanks" in his ear. He returned her smile with one of his own as he stepped away from her desk. He held his copy of their textbook over his crotch, desperately willing his erection to subside. He looked around to see where Ms. Holworth was and saw her watching what had just happened. When he looked embarrassed, she gave him a smile of her own and a thumbs up for the way he had handled it. Mandy of course heard about what happened and asked him that night. After he explained the whole situation, his housemates were almost in tears with his description of the picture Kristi had presented him with. Mandy teased him by saying, "I'll bet you about swallowed your tongue when she showed her pussy to you." Greg laughed with her, shaking his head at the memory. "I was wondering if I was going to be able to talk in a normal voice that was for sure." "Well my darling, you left her feeling pretty good about herself. I overheard her and a couple others talking about it in the bathroom. Kristi was telling them that even though you turned her down flat, you had told her that she was pretty and even sexy. She thinks you are the absolute best tutor in the whole school." "At least she doesn't hate me for turning her down. I know that it probably took a lot of guts to do what she did. I tried to get her to understand that she is worth more than just what is between her legs." Then he gave Mandy a leering grin. "Not that there was anything at all wrong with what was there." Mandy gave him a mock scowl and then socked him with a cushion from the end of the couch. This led to a pillow fight, which in turn led to some very passionate making out. The evening ended with Greg removing the sweat pants that Mandy was wearing and diving into her pussy eating her to a powerful orgasm. When she had regained control of her legs, they headed for their bedroom with Greg following her naked ass up the stairs and down the hall. The Tolkin house became a spot for study groups. Often, there were three different sets of students using different rooms for their separate subjects. Break times found the different groups mingling, each finding that the prejudices they held about the other groups were unfounded. The public school students found that there was nothing at all different about the girls from the charter school. The idea that they were sluts that didn't really want to learn vanished, to be replaced with the reality that they were no different than the rest of the student population with the exception they were pregnant. The high achievers, or the 'geeks' that were taking the advanced courses with Greg were not the total losers that rumor made them out to be. Once they got comfortable with the charter school girls, they were quite personable and well able to hold a conversation and even started to flirt with the girls. The girls loved the attention, basking in the thought that the guys found them desirable. Traci's college friends found out that not all the high school students were immature. Likewise, the students from both schools realized that not all college students were arrogant and superior. The discussions that would crop up afterward would often give both sides a new outlook on the subject. All in all, each group benefited from the others and found that their grades reflected that. It was during one of the multiple study sessions that Mandy went into labor. She had been feeling tired that day and had stayed upstairs lying down. Greg had taken a break to go up and check on her. When he found the bed empty, he went into the bathroom where he found her sitting on the floor. She said that her water had broken and she was feeling what must have been labor pains. They were still ten minutes apart so Greg went down and told everybody that the study sessions had to be cut short. Then it was the call to Dr. Simmons who told him to go ahead and get her to the hospital. On the way, Mandy kept fretting about it being too soon. She wasn't due for another four weeks. Even though she had been told that pregnancies to teen girls often resulted in premature births, she had been sure that she would make it all the way. Now, she was worrying that there was going to be something very wrong with the baby. Greg kept trying to reassure her but in his own mind he was harboring the same thoughts. They were not too far away from the hospital and with Greg driving hard, they made it within ten minutes. Greg pulled up to the entrance and went inside for a wheelchair. An orderly went out with him and wheeled Mandy in while Greg got her suitcase and the goodie bag that they had organized with the things that would make Mandy's labor a bit more comfortable. She was taken down to one of the labor/birthing rooms while Greg completed what was left of the paperwork. One nurse was reluctant to let Greg into the room since he wasn't the father, but when Elizabeth showed up and explained that Greg was Mandy's coach, the woman relented. Even better news, Elizabeth was one of the nurses on duty that night and she talked the other nurse into letting her take care of Mandy. Since Mandy was beginning to feel very unsure and uncomfortable, having a familiar face would be a blessing. They got Mandy changed into the hospital gown between contractions and Elizabeth did her first examination. "Well, you are definitely in labor. You're dilated to three centimeters so that is a good start. Since you are thirty-six weeks along and already this far along, Dr. Simmons has decided to let the labor go on. Greg, don't forget your job now as coach is to make sure she is comfortable as possible. There is a machine down the hall that has ice chips and she can have the suckers you brought now. I'll be back in a while to see how you are doing." When Traci showed up, she was allowed to come into the room to relieve Greg so he could call his mom and then the schools to let them know they wouldn't be in the next day. Heather said she would be there as soon as she could. Greg told her that it would probably be a long while, but she told him that Mandy should have a mother there, even if it wasn't her own. He then made a call that he dreaded. He called Mandy's mother and father. There was no answer, but he left a message on their machine telling them that their daughter was in labor and where they were if they wished to show up. Then it was back in the room. Mandy was now equipped with a monitor around her stomach that was measuring the baby's heart rate. She was doing pretty well, handling the pain of the contractions since they were not too close together yet. Within an hour, Heather arrived and traded places with Traci so she could visit a while with Mandy. Greg's mother was as excited about the birth as if it were her own grandchild. She tried to think of anything that Mandy needed or wanted, and was very tender with her when she held her hand and stroked her face during the contractions. It was then that Greg was finally convinced that his mom really wanted to be included in their lives. He made a mental note to really work at healing their relationship. When Dr. Simmons came in and checked on Mandy she announced that everything was going, as it should. Mandy was now at 6 centimeters and the contractions were coming closer. The doctor also asked for a pediatrician to be on alert and an incubator be brought in. Mandy and Greg both were worried about this, but Dr. Simmons assured them both that it was just a normal precaution for any premature delivery. Jennifer Adelle Carson came kicking and screaming into the world at 5:15 in the morning. She weighed five pounds, six ounces which was pretty good for being four weeks early. While Dr. Simmons was finishing up, the pediatrician was checking her over before she was cleaned up and placed on her mother's chest. Mandy held and stroked the little girl for several minutes until she was placed in the incubator and taken to the neo-natal unit for a complete check up. Mandy was exhausted after nine hours of labor and she drifted off as soon as Elizabeth gave her something in her IV. Greg went out to tell his mom and Traci, then to make the second set of calls. Both women had tears in their eyes and hugged him soundly. He promised to take them back as soon as he could to see both mother and baby. Jennifer's doctor, a man in his mid-fifties with graying hair and a kind, gentle face, came out to talk to Greg and the group. "I tried to talk to the mother, but she was out of it enough that I am afraid that she will not remember what I have told her. But I imagine that you are concerned about the child." "She was borderline premature. The cutoff for a normal gestation is thirty-seven weeks, and the baby is thirty-six. Her weight is just a few ounces off of the norm as well. In all, I would say that she is very healthy considering. She is severely jaundiced, and we will keep her under lights to help with that. We also want to keep her in controlled temperature for a while to make sure she can regulate her temperature on her own. "The good news is that I can't find any of the problems associated with premies. She responds to external sounds, she is breathing well on her own. We will want to keep an eye on other things for quite a while, but as far as I am concerned, she seems to be a perfect newborn. Congratulations to you and the mother." Greg was the first to shake his hand and thank him for the update. Heather asked if they needed to do anything special at home. She was assured that it wouldn't probably be necessary. She added her thanks to Greg's before the doctor walked off. Then they all went up to the NICU to get their first good look at Jennifer. The nurse on duty brought Jennifer to the observation window. She was asleep, but to the three adults she looked to be perfect in every way. They had her eyes covered but otherwise she was naked. She had all the right amount of fingers and toes, and all the other parts needed. However in the bed they had her in, she did look very tiny. As he watched his mother fawning over this baby, he briefly wondered if she had been that excited about him. He forced that from his mind, reminding himself that she was really trying to make a turn around in her life and this child just might be part of it. After leaving the NICU, the women went on home to try and get a little sleep while Greg opted to stay in Mandy's room so he would be there when she woke up. He settled into the chair at the foot of her bed and soon fell asleep himself. Mandy stayed in the hospital for three days since she had lost more blood than normal during the delivery. Dr. Simmons stretched her stay just a bit in order for her to be strong enough to handle the days ahead. Actually, she was letting her stay near Jennifer as much as possible without having to drive back and forth. The couple was kept busy with visitors from different departments and agencies of the hospital as well as friends. Mandy's principal came by to give her a card and a bouquet from the school. A couple of the teachers came by as well, and to Mandy's surprise, the coeds that studied at their house paid a visit. By the time she was discharged, Mandy was looking forward to getting a little rest at home. ------- Chapter 11 Jennifer got to come home a week after she was born. The doctors agreed that she had gained enough that she could come home. That was when the weight of responsibility hit them all. Of course, Mandy had the brunt of the care but Greg and Traci helped out as much as they were able. Jennifer slept in a cradle that Heather insisted Mandy have next to Mandy's side of the bed. During the night, Mandy would breastfeed and then Greg or Traci would change and burp the child then hold her until she fell asleep. While the other two were at school, Mandy was more or less on her own. She handled it pretty well for her age, but there were still panic phone calls if things were not quite right. Everything seemed to be going fine until one afternoon, Greg came home to find Mandy sitting in the middle of the bed holding Jennifer and crying her eyes out. He went over and sat beside her pulling her as close as possible to him, consoling her even though he didn't have any idea what was wrong. He did get her to shake her head 'no' when he asked if there was anything wrong with the baby. Otherwise, he could get nothing but deep sobs. They were still sitting there when Traci came home an hour and a half later. When Jennifer started to fuss, the coed gently took her from her mother and changed her. When Jennifer stopped fussing, she brought the baby back and placed her in Mandy's lap. Traci then took a position opposite Greg, rubbing her friend's back and stroking her hair. When Mandy had cried herself out, Traci went to get her a drink. On the way back, she grabbed a washcloth as well... After accepting the items when they were offered, Mandy was ready to talk. "I really don't know what came over me. I have been really overwhelmed with the responsibility for Jenni. You guys do a whole lot to help out, but I still feel like I am the one who has to carry the load. And I'm scared that I will screw up somehow! What if she gets sick, or I don't have enough milk to feed her what she needs? What if she stops breathing and I'm not watching her and she dies? What if I'm not a good mother?" The last words came out in almost a wail as she broke down again. Greg didn't know what to do. He realized that the fears she had were probably groundless, but they were very real to her. He couldn't ignore the fact that he didn't know what to do. "Mandy. Sweetheart, look at me." Mandy did raise her head from his chest to look directly at him. "I can't tell you not to be worried. I worry about Jenni all the time and I am not with her 24/7. I didn't know you were having these feelings that you weren't good enough. But I can tell you this. You are the most caring, loving mother I have ever seen. You do everything you can for this little bundle of life." He reached down and tenderly stroked Jenni's sleeping face with his finger. She shifted a little at his touch, making little sucking motions with her tiny lips. "I love her as if she was my own. But I want you to let me help more with her. You don't have to keep all the burden on your own shoulders. If you are feeling like it is getting to you, come and tell me." Traci spoke up softly then. "That goes for me as well. I feel like she is almost mine. If you want a little time to just relax, let Aunt Traci take over for a while. The only thing I can't do is breast-feed her. I could never replace you as her mommy, but maybe I can give you a break once in a while." Mandy pulled her friend in close and hugged her tightly. She felt not so all alone with her responsibility of Jenni. If she really thought about it, she had known that these two people were there for her. She had just forgotten it. She was still scared that she might make a mistake or something could go wrong. But now, she could share those fears and feelings and they would understand. "You guys can't believe how much I love you." The stayed huddled together on the bed until Mandy's stomach growled, much to her embarrassment. When asked, she admitted that she had not eaten since breakfast. "You know that Jenni isn't the only one who needs to eat," Greg said in a gentle reminder. Traci volunteered to order pizza as her treat. The other two readily agreed with that choice so while Traci called in the order, Greg held the baby and Mandy went in and washed her face. They ate in the living room and after disposing of the boxes, they settled down to watch a movie. Jenni was sound asleep in her carrier next to the couch. Traci and Mandy sandwiched Greg between them, each one snuggling into his side while the action on the screen held their attention. Later on, Mandy fell into the first really restful sleep she had since Jenni had been born. One thing that was not affected was Mandy's sex drive. She was still a little tender but her libido was coming up to normal levels. She had been surprised at the feelings that she got from feeding Jenni. It almost felt like a mini orgasm when her baby would suckle her breasts. Her feelings for her two lovers were causing her to become more aroused by the day. She found that she enjoyed watching Greg and Traci together and encouraged them as much as possible. As soon as her muscles felt back to normal, she joined in with doing everything she could with the exception of having Greg's cock inside her. She was counting the days until Dr. Simmons released her for that activity. Greg had been surprised with this turn of events. Since he had always heard that women didn't want sex after a pregnancy, he asked her about it. "Maybe I am just weird," she replied, "but I feel more like a woman than even when I first found out that rubbing my pussy felt so good. And I guess I have gotten used to the great sex with you and Traci, and I miss that." Greg didn't complain about her horniness. He was getting great sex from a beautiful woman and his girlfriend was encouraging it. He just hoped he could keep up the pace once Mandy was allowed to make love again. When the day came for Mandy to receive her six-week checkup, she was very anxious to get to the appointment. She took the city bus, something that until recently she had been too scared to do. Maybe it was time for her to get her driver's license. She had never considered it when she had been at home because her parents would not allow her that much freedom. But it would really be handy since she now had Jenni to take care of. Since the bus route was a roundabout way to get to Dr. Simmons' office, she had plenty of time to study the other passengers and to play with Jenni. She had dressed Jenni in a cute little snowsuit that Heather had bought for her. Jenni's little face was peeking out of the fur-trimmed hood and she reminded Mandy of a little china doll. She had taken to carrying Jenni in a front pack when the weather permitted, but the weather had turned frigid, which was typical of mid December. She didn't have a coat that was large enough to cover both her and the front pack, so today the carrier sat in her lap. The office visit was a breeze. The nurses cooed at Jenni while the exam took place. Dr. Simmons gave her a clean bill of health and told her that she could go back to any activities that she felt comfortable with. Dr. Simmons then took a picture of Jenni to add to her bulletin board in the waiting room of all the babies she delivered. There were still a few hours before she needed to catch the bus home, so she did some shopping for Christmas. Then she stopped at a coffee shop to have a bagel before heading to the terminal for the ride home. She still had about forty-five minutes before Greg came home from school when she walked in the house, so she took the time to feed Jenni and get her down for a nap. Feeling a little grimy from her long bus ride, she went in and took a quick shower. After she dried off, Mandy decided that clothes would not be necessary. She climbed into the bed to await Greg's arrival. Greg walked into the house and called out for Mandy. He heard her voice drift down from the bedroom letting him know where she was. He walked into the bedroom to find her lying on her side completely nude with a big smile on her face. "Dr. Simmons cleared me for any activity today. So hurry up and get your clothes off. I need you to make love to me." As she was talking, her left hand had strayed down to rub the outer lips of her pussy. He was as anxious as she was so he stripped off his clothes in record time and joined her on the bed. He started to go down on her, but she pulled him up along her body. "No foreplay. I have been waiting for this for too long. Just slide your cock into me and fuck me." He followed her instructions and positioned his body between her spread thighs. He rubbed the head of his cock between her soaked pussy lips to lubricate it. Every time he touched her distended clit, she would moan and thrust herself at him. He moved his cock, spreading her inner lips until he reached her entrance and then thrust forward causing about half of his length to slide into her tight tunnel. Mandy caught her breath as he slid into her then she let out a loud, satisfied groan. "Oh God, that feels so good. I've waited too long for this." She humped up against him as he thrust forward burying the remainder of his shaft into her. He took just a moment to savor the feeling of the wet heat of her tunnel before he pulled about half way out to start the movements of the ancient dance. Even as worked up as he was, Mandy was worse... He had just started stroking in and out when she exploded. She almost screamed out her orgasm as her body vibrated with the clenching of her muscles. Greg got a surprise when her breasts started squirting milk. Without thinking about it, he latched on to her nipple and sucked the tip getting more of the liquid for his effort. His actions on her breasts caused Mandy to come even harder. He slowed just long enough to allow her to recover a little, and then he resumed the rhythm they established before. Mandy never did come down completely and started right back up toward another climax. Greg increased the speed of his thrusts as she went over again. He was getting close himself so he continued to pound into her through her orgasm and when the walls of her pussy start rippling at the onset of her third, he thrust into her hard and fired his seed deep into her womb. They rode out their climaxes together, each one heightening the other. Greg let himself down to where his body was covering hers being careful not to put any pressure on her abdomen. She threw her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a deep kiss. "You can' believe how great that felt to me. I feel so relaxed right now, I could fall asleep." "Well then why don't you take a nap then? I have some homework to do and then I'll start dinner. Traci's late class is today, so it'll just be us tonight." Greg gave her a loving kiss on the cheek and she was out before he made it down the stairs. By the time Mandy had awakened, Greg had a simple but tasty dinner ready. Jenni did her part by not waking up until after they had finished eating. Once Jenni was settled back down, they snuggled on the couch. Traci came in around nine and joined them after she reheated the plate that Greg had made for her earlier. Traci's eyes lit up when Mandy told her how the visit to the doctor went. The rest of the time the three were awake, Mandy found herself caressed by two sets of hands. Her t-shirt was pushed above her breasts and the sweats she was wearing were worked down past her knees to puddle on the floor. Her body felt like one huge erogenous zone and every touch caused her to feel even more excited. By the time they headed for bed, she had already had several small orgasms... These had served only to heighten the amorous sensations she was feeling. Once they got to the bedroom, Traci more or less took over the action. She had Mandy lie on her back in the middle of the bed. "Tonight is your night, Mandy-love. You have waited for a long while to really enjoy your man. You were loving and giving enough to let me and Greg enjoy each other even though you couldn't join in. Now we are going to make sure that you get to make up for that time. But I am going to show you how much I love you and appreciate you sharing Greg with me." With that, Traci crawled between Mandy's thighs and for the first time since they had been together began to lick the other woman. She was tentative in her movements at first, but soon began to really work at it. She worked her way from the bottom of her lips, wiggling her tongue to separating the inner lips on her way up and around her clit before moving back down to repeat the cycle. Mandy was so worked up from before that she went off like a rocket. Moaning out Traci's name, she worked her pelvis into her lover's face as the orgasm swept over her. Traci slowed down to allow her to recover then took her up and over again. As Mandy was recovering from the second orgasm, Traci had Greg take her place between Mandy's thighs. She took hold of Greg's hard cock and slid it around Mandy's sopping pussy, then lined him up with her entrance. He pushed in slowly as Mandy groaned with the feeling of being filled once again. He kept his pace slow as much to hold himself back as to maximize his lover's pleasure. Traci leaned down and gave the other woman a deep loving kiss before she started to nip and lick on her neck and ears. Then she moved down to lick and suck on Mandy's milk-filled breasts. When Mandy started to climax once again, Traci got a surprise when she tasted the milk that was pouring into her mouth. She was so into what she was doing that she swallowed, and then sucked a little harder. For Mandy, this was the biggest orgasm of all. The feeling of Greg's cock filling her up over and over, his hands touching and squeezing her thighs and ass was exquisite. This was combined with the feeling of Traci kissing and licking her upper body was taking her to new heights. When Greg's finger trailed across her anus, she tripped over into a climax that made her lose complete control. Her body was a mass of nerves all firing at once. She couldn't take it any longer and fell into unconsciousness. Greg had shot off in her in the middle of her orgasm. As soon as Mandy passed out, he pulled out and moved to her side. Traci went into the bathroom and returned with a washcloth. She was bathing Mandy's face and upper chest when the girl regained her senses. The first thing she focused on was Traci's smiling face. Mandy returned the smile and whispered a quiet 'thank you'. Greg rose up on his elbow to look down on her. "We were a little worried about you until we realized that you had just passed out. You feeling better now?" "I feel absolutely wonderful. That was more than I could ever imagine. It was almost worth having to wait that long for it." She giggled a little at that thought. Then she looked up at Traci. "Why did you decide to go down on me? I mean it was fantastic and I loved it, but neither one of us had gone that far with each other." Traci just shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know really. It wasn't like I really thought about it much except that I wanted to show you how much I love you and I wanted to help you to feel good. It just seemed like the thing to do. I hope I did alright." "Alright? It was fantastic! You know how good Greg is. It was different when you did it. I can't explain it, you weren't better or worse than Greg, and it was just different. Your touch is softer, and well... I can't explain it, but I really enjoyed it and I would like to return the favor sometime. I really don't think I'm bi, 'cause I don't really think of other girls that way. But you are special to me... I - I mean we- both love you and you are a part of us now." Greg had remained quiet through their conversation. He looked up to see a tear in Traci's eye as she listened to Mandy. Now he moved his hand from Mandy's tummy to place it around Traci's back. "What she said goes for me too. I love you as well and want you to know that you are very much a part of us. I can't imagine you not being here with us." Traci reached over and pulled Greg down close to Mandy then reached across to kiss Greg first then Mandy. "I know a couple is supposed to mean just two, but I feel like we all make a couple if that is possible. My family loves me but it isn't the same as the love I feel from you two. And I feel the same way about you two as well." They all stayed together rubbing and touching until Mandy gave a huge yawn. Greg told her to go to sleep and he and Traci would get up with Jenni. She could just doze when she fed the little girl and they would take care of the rest. Mandy mumbled thanks and closed her eyes, feeling very safe and loved between her two lovers. ------- Mandy had been doing her schoolwork at home prior to the doctor releasing her and the baby. Since there was only a week before winter break, the principal allowed her to wait until after the break to return to class. The semester was already over for Traci so she was home and between them, they decided to do the holiday up right. They made cookies and breads and fudges. Greg pulled out the few decorations that were at the house, but the women decided that there was nowhere near enough. This gave them a reason to go out shopping. When they were through, they had decorated the inside of the house and had even got the Christmas bug into Greg who trimmed the house with outside decorations. Mandy's excuse was that it was Jenni's first Christmas and that was enough to talk Greg into almost anything. They set up the tree in the corner of the living room. Traci told them about how her family always made decorations to go with the store-bought ones. So later that night, they spent the evening stringing popcorn and cranberries and making shapes from clay. When they were finished, they were very satisfied with the results. Jenni was fascinated with the colored lights and would stare and 'talk' to them for as long as someone would hold her there. For Greg, this was the first real Christmas he had ever had. There were always presents, but the feelings of family and closeness were alien to him. He jumped in with both feet total immersion-style, doing whatever he could to contribute to the season. He went out and found Christmas carols on CD to help with the mood. He helped with the baking and decorating. He went on the Internet and found what other cultures did for Christmas and Yule. Those things that fit in with the others were incorporated with their celebrations. Mandy made sure to offer a special invitation to Michelle to spend Christmas day with them. Traci invited a couple of classmates who couldn't go home for break. There were even a few of the women from the shelter where Greg taught self-defense... They broke down the study center in the dining room and expanded the table to serve all the food. Their days off were busy but fulfilling. The all decided that they would have their own celebration on Christmas Eve. They each had done their shopping alone for each other and then combined to find presents for the others on their lists. They had pizza for dinner and then sat down near the tree to open gifts. Of course, Jenni made the biggest haul. There were toys, clothes, blankets and just about anything else that a baby could ever need. She was too young to understand anything that was going on but she looked at all the colorful things that passed in front of her. That is when she wasn't staring at the sparkling lights on the trees. Mandy got a new sweater and jeans from Traci that she could wear when she got her figure back. Along with that was a music box that played "The Rose", one of Mandy's favorite songs. Greg had found a nice easel along with a whole range of oil paints and brushes. He had also given her a set of diamond earrings. Traci was given new clothes as well in addition to a set of novels that Mandy had found that were out of print but she loved. Greg had included a necklace with a blue sapphire in the center. Both women had made sure that Greg was supplied with new fashion. Mandy had given him a satellite radio setup that was for the house as well as a car. Traci had picked up a digital camera so he could take better pictures of Jenni. With the baby full and sleeping soundly in her carrier and the others situated around the fireplace, Greg brought out the last present for the two women. They both took the identical blue velvet boxes from his outstretched hands. They opened them at the same time to reveal a ring that was actually three separate rings that were entwined. In the center of Mandy's was a half-carat diamond. They both turned to look at him, their eyes full of questions. "We have all said many times how important the others are to us. Together, we all seem to make a whole. We cannot seem to be apart without feeling something is missing. The three bands are meant to symbolize that. I am asking Mandy to be my wife. Traci, you belong with us for as long as you want to be. This ring is to symbolize my - actually our - thoughts about you and how much you mean to us. You two love each other as much as I do. I have been thinking on this for a long time and this is the only thing I could come up with. I hope you both will want to continue to be together as a family." Both women sat in shock for a few moments. Greg was beginning to be afraid that he had completely messed up, but the two women seemed to finally come back to the here and now. Mandy was the first to speak. "I would love to be your wife. I have dreamed about that ever since we were little. I know that you couldn't ask me about a ring for Traci without giving up your surprise to me, but I agree with your thoughts." Then she turned to face Traci. "It just wouldn't be the same without you around." Traci finally spoke up. "You guys have no idea what this means to me. I may find a guy someday that sweeps me off my feet, but I gotta say that this is very important to me. I sometimes am afraid that you guys might be tired of me. But this shows me that isn't the case. You guys are my lovers, but more important you are my friends." This led to lots of friendly hugs and a few tears of happiness from the women. Greg admitted that he was very worried that maybe he was messing up their relationship and was relieved that both Mandy and Traci were happy. "So you two are satisfied with what I got?" "YES!" was the answer that came out both at the same time. Then they both laughed, breaking the tension. "You really need to ask?" was the reply from Mandy. He then explained that before now, he never really tried to find the perfect gift for someone. He didn't know his parents well enough to know just what to get them, so he had always picked up something and made sure to have the receipts so they could take it back. This had been the first time in years that he really had taken the time to try and find something special for them both. They cleaned up the paper and ribbons then headed up to bed. Traci started toward her room thinking to let them celebrate their engagement in private, but Mandy and Greg both insisted that she join them. The couple did enjoy a celebratory coupling with Traci just looking on, but she was soon pulled into the bed to be cuddled and assured that she was wanted. The alarm woke them all up the next morning after only a few hours sleep. Their engagement celebration went on longer than they had figured and it was into the early hours of loving talk before they got to sleep. Now Traci and Greg stumbled bleary-eyed into the bathroom. Jenni was due to be fed soon so Mandy decided to wait until after the little girl finished her breakfast. Traci hit the shower while Greg shaved and brushed his teeth then he entered the shower as Traci was finishing up. By the time Traci was finished and dressed, Jenni was done eating so Traci burped and changed her while Mandy started her routine. This was a drill that they had become used to doing and it went very smoothly. By the time they all had a quick breakfast, it was time to start cooking for the mid-afternoon feast. The women had all the different dishes divided up between them and they moved like a well-oiled machine, only occasionally bumping into each other. Greg found himself in charge of the drinkables and Jenni. He set up everything he thought they would need then contented himself with the latter job. Jenni was a wonderful child who didn't cry very much and loved to smile when she saw a friendly face or heard a familiar voice. Her dark blue eyes always sparkled and she would work her little mouth around the most outrageous contortions. He never got tired of just sitting with her on his lap. Around eleven, the doorbell signaled the arrival of the first of the guests. Greg, with Jenni on his shoulder opened the door to let his mother in. Her face was flushed from the cold that had gripped the area for the last few days and she hurried into the entryway to keep the temperature from affecting Jenni. She quickly shed her coat and handed it to her son taking Jenni and fawning over her. Since the baby was born, Heather had been true to her word and been taking a real interest in the family. She was often stopping by just to play with Jenni, or to see if they needed anything. Greg was happy to see this happening since it had brought him and his mother closer than they had ever been. Greg offered her a glass of her favorite wine and she took over with Jenni while the rest of the guests arrived. Within an hour, everyone had gathered. Some of the women from the shelter had prepared special dishes to add to the feast and even the coeds had managed to put together appetizers for everyone. The house was filled with people. Everyone was getting acquainted and chatting easily. Other than Greg, there were only a few other males in attendance. One of the ladies from the shelter brought her twelve-year-old son and another had a ten year-old. One of the coed's brothers who was sixteen was staying with her over the holiday while their parents were celebrating a second honeymoon. Greg showed the younger two where the video game system was and they were both engaged in one of the games. He and Charlie, the girl's brother settled down to watch some ESPN and talk. Charlie was enjoyable company for Greg. It was good to have someone near his age to just discuss subjects that the male half of the species found interesting. As they talked back and forth, Greg found that he really liked Charlie. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. Greg was almost falling off the couch when Charlie was explaining that he felt like he had been in heaven for the past week. He was sleeping in his sister's room, but there were three other girls staying over in the house and they were running around in various states of undress. "By the time I get home, I'm going to have such a case of blue balls that it will take a month for them to go down. Every time I feel a hard-on coming on I try to think of my Aunt Edith. Now even that isn't working, I just see Aunt Edith's face on that girls body and all I want to do is find a paper bag to cover her head." He did let slip that one of the girls had offered to help him get some relief later that night. "I'm afraid that I'm so horny that I won't even be able to get my pants off before I shoot." About that time, some of the women came in so they didn't get to talk any more. For the rest of the day, Greg watched as Charlie almost drooled every time one of the women passed. He was trying his best not to stare, but for a young man in his condition he just couldn't help himself. Some of the women there noticed, but since he was trying so hard not to be obvious that they just ignored it. The meal turned out to be great and the conversations were interesting. They served buffet style with everyone either finding a place to sit or standing at the kitchen island. Everyone ate all they could hold and enjoyed themselves. Heather was surprised to learn just how popular her son was with the classes he taught at the shelter. Many of these women had been abused both physically and mentally and Greg was an important part of building their self-esteem back up. After hearing their stories, she made a note to talk with the public relations director at the office about a sponsorship for the shelter. Mandy's latest artwork was brought out and praised. She had been making a good bit of money from the prints sold by the gallery. Her newest works included several with the theme of a newborn, of course. Jenni was not neglected at all. She wasn't allowed to be in her carrier all day. The women all wanted to hold her and she didn't complain except when she got hungry. Mandy would then disappear into the bedroom to feed her. Once finished, it was back to the party. She slept soundly being carried by someone and didn't even stir when she was handed off to the next person who wanted to cuddle her. However, the biggest announcement of the day was Greg and Mandy's engagement. Congratulations were given all around and all the women examined Mandy's unique ring closely. Heather had spotted Traci's matching ring earlier but kept her own counsel... When they were quizzed, Mandy explained that they were planning an engagement that would last until they were well past high school and into college. One of Traci's friends had also seen her ring and asked about it... Rather than to try to hide their relationship, the coed glanced to her friends for confirmation. "What it means is that while Mandy is to be Greg's wife, they both love and care for me to consider me part of their family as well. And I love them enough to want the same thing." Greg spoke up then. "Our arrangements are private and as long as it doesn't interfere with anyone else, it is none of their business. Traci has been part of our lives and we would be lost without her here with us." There were immediate objections from most of the people there, but the trio dismissed those. Even though most of the guests were doubtful, they had to admit that the arrangement was well thought out. The only objection with any merit was what others would say if they found out. Mandy answered for them on that point. "To start with, it ain't none of their business. We are doing nothing illegal. Greg isn't trying to marry both of us. As far as they are concerned, Traci is just living here. Any other arrangements are private and not open for discussion. Now will it work out? We think it will. And Jenni would do a lot worse than having someone as caring as Traci around to help raise her." Even Greg was surprised at the way she had formed her arguments. He whispered to her about it and she answered that she had been really trying to learn to be clear in her arguments since she wanted to be on the debate team at school. This had been the first time she had a chance to try it. By the time most of the guests had left, they agreed that even though they would not like the arrangement, the trio had shown that it might be right for them. Traci had summed it up the best when she said, "Look at it this way. Greg loves us both, and Mandy and I love each other and him. We are not jealous of each other. Why should we be miserable when there is really no reason for it?" The party continued until after dark. When the last of the guests had left, after giving their good wishes, Heather asked if they could discuss this a little more. They all gathered around the island so the women could clean up while they talked. "I must say that I'm still not sure about this arrangement." Heather started. "You three seem alright with it, but the pressure from outside will be rough." "Mom, we have thought of that. Society embraces serial monogamy through serial marriage and divorce. What is the difference between some guy having a wife and a lover and what we have? The biggest difference is that Mandy knows about Traci and she approves." "Okay, I can see that. And I can't say too much since I am still married to your father and we both have lovers. But another question, are you two girls bisexual?" Mandy gave Traci a loving look before answering. "For my part, only with Traci. I have no desire to sleep with any other woman. You have to understand, that when Traci and I are together, it is when Greg is there as well. And I don't think of her as another woman, but just someone who I love and enjoy being with." Traci nodded her head in agreement with what Mandy has said. Heather gave a sigh. "It may take me a while to get my head around this. I had figured that I would have a daughter-in-law someday. When I got to know Mandy, I had hoped she would be that daughter-in-law. Now I will have two, at least in a way. Traci, I don't know you as well as I do Mandy, but I would like to. If you three think you can do this, then I think you will. And I wish you all three the best." Jenni started to wake up, so Mandy took her upstairs to change and feed her. As soon as she was done, she handed her over to Heather so she could play with her a little while before she left. In bed that night, the three of them discussed all the objections that had been brought up during the day. When all was said and done, they decided that no matter what anyone else said, it was their lives and they would live how they wanted. Then they all enjoyed some 'quality time' together that left them all tired and very sated. ------- School started back up a few days after New Years with Mandy going back to class and Jenni ensconced in the nursery at the school. Each new mother was excused to go and feed their child, but otherwise they were to continue their classes. Any study hall periods were usually spent in the nursery. The charter school contained special classes designed for single mothers as well as the normal classes. The obvious ones like Childcare were supplemented with classes designed to help them to live on their own. Employment, dealing with prejudices in the outside world, and getting help when needed were all part of their studies. Greg commented that many of these courses would be a big help in the public school system as well. In one of the classes, the teacher held a discussion every week to allow the students to tell of difficulties that they were experiencing with either being pregnant or being a single mother. Then the students would work together and try to solve the problem the person was having. The teacher, Mrs. Tomkins, stayed out of the discussion unless asked or there were points that they didn't think of. It was during one of these discussions that Kenisha, a sophomore who was six months along brought up the prejudices that she had encountered during a political rally downtown. She was walking past the park downtown while a speaker was railing about the welfare system causing the rise in teen pregnancy. She suddenly found herself being stared at as an example of what he was talking about. She was scared and humiliated and literally ran from the area. "Why do people like that pick on us and make us the bad guy when they don't know anything about us?" she said through the tears that threatened to take over. This was one of the subjects that kept coming up more and more often. Janice, another student, kind of summed it up for them all. "The public has the view of all of us as either sluts that were careless or just want to be on the public dole. That is what they think because that is all they hear. They don't know us and the people who feel that way don't want to know the truth." There were calls of agreement from the group. "But what can we do to change their outlook?", one of the other girls ventured forth. Mandy had been quiet until now. She was thinking about what she and Greg had talked about months before. "Why can't we form a group of our own to counteract what they are saying? We should speak up. I learned the hard way about not standing up for yourself. What do you say about forming a... what do you call it... advocacy group to counteract the lies?" There were several of the group that felt it was a good idea. Mrs. Tomkins said she would sponsor a club through the school. That would give them access to the equipment and resources that would let them get their word out. They were all in agreement on this and Mrs. Tomkins said she would get the ball rolling for them. Mandy came home that afternoon still charged up about the idea. She explained it first to Greg and then Traci when she came in later. Both of them shared her enthusiasm and promised to help with whatever they could do. Mandy gave them a grin. "Glad to hear you say that since I invited the rest of the group over tomorrow to start planning." The three of them held a brainstorming session throughout the evening. When the ideas started to flow, Mandy grabbed a pad and paper and wrote them down. By the time the other women showed up the next morning, they had several ideas that seemed good to three of them. When the meeting started, there were ten girls there along with some of their family members and interested friends. Greg was glad to see some other males there since he was feeling vastly outnumbered. To the surprise of all, Mrs. Tomkins showed up along with her husband. Larry Tomkins was a distinguished looking gentleman in his early forties with salt and pepper hair and beard. Traci recognized him as one of her political science professors. He greeted her with a hearty laugh and a smile before meeting her housemates. Since Mandy was the official host, she took over the meeting and called it to order. She asked for ideas that would get the message out that they were just like everyone else. Some of the ideas were not possible but for the most part, they were very down to earth concepts. The ideas that were doable were discussed in greater detail and then they tried to poke holes in those. Mrs. Tomkins played the devil's advocate in trying to come up with reasons something would not work. The ones that survived were written down. After a break for a snack and a drink, Mr. Tomkins asked if he could speak. This surprised the group, but they appreciated him doing so. "Ladies, as Traci can tell you, I am a professor of Political Science at the college. As such, I may have some insight on the ramifications of any actions that you may wish to enact. I will volunteer my time and expertise to your cause." He saw the younger girls looking at him strangely and realized that he was in his 'lecture mode' as he called it. "What I mean is that I will help you get things together to get your cause off the ground. If you want to consider this, let me know. "The next thing would be to name your organization and choose a name for your campaign. You all may be young, but you have the drive. You are the next generation that will be running the country. If you learn about the processes now, you will be better able to get your views across." Mr. Tomkins returned to his seat leaving the girls with plenty to think about but also feeling very empowered. The idea that a bunch of single mothers, still in high school could do anything was farfetched, but in their minds, they were able. Talk continued until late in the afternoon. By the time they left there was an organization called Single Mothers For Equality. It was decided to stay small for a while, but as their numbers grew, the option to go big was there. The purpose of their group would be to provide emotional support for teen mothers and a voice for them when discriminated against. They talked about fundraising and about manning a booth at some of the local events that would be coming up. Traci agreed to talk to a friend who was a graphic design whiz about coming up with promotional materials. There were many details that needed to be worked out and explored and every person there, including the guys, were given a job. The group dispersed feeling much better than they had when they showed up. Greg had been given the job of writing the text for their materials. With the help from the others in the group, he designed a pamphlet called "Teen Pregnancy is not a disease" along with posters and testimonials that were put on poster boards. One of the girls had a boyfriend that offered to print things up for them. Their group also started growing. Mandy had placed a notice on the school bulletin board and the second meeting had twice as many people. They ended up having to use a room at the school from then on. The group decided to put up a booth at the town's Founder's Day Celebration. They all put in for the entry fee and then went to work on how to set it up and man it. They would have information leaflets about teen pregnancy along with their own literature. Balloons and candy to entice the public. Greg volunteered to donate the bag of condoms that the clinic had given them. It was meant as a joke, but soon they had decided that it just might be a good idea. Since they would be set up next to Planned Parenthood, it might even be a great idea. Mandy said she would donate a couple of prints from the gallery if Mr. Harrington was agreeable for a silent auction. They would have a sign up sheet for anyone who wanted to work the booth answering questions. That way, everyone could enjoy the fair as well as work the booth. They made up some posters to distribute for advertising. They wanted to try and get the word out who they were and what they wanted to accomplish. They would be distributed to doctors' offices, and other places where teen mothers would see them. Greg ran into some resistance at his school when he asked to post a notice on the community board. One of the counselors advised him that the subject of teen pregnancy was not one that was in the best interest of the student body. After hearing this, he made an appointment with the principal. The meeting was to be that afternoon after school. Greg called Mandy on her cell and she said she would be there. To his surprise, Mrs. Tomkins showed up as well. "I thought you might need some support from the 'official' school sponsor", she told him. They all three went into the principal's office where the principal, vice principal, and the counselor were already seated. Principal Martin opened the meeting. "Mr. Tolkin, since you requested this meeting, would you please state your purpose." "Thank you Mr. Martin. I asked to meet with you because when I asked to place a notice on the community bulletin board, I was refused. The notice was for a meeting of a club that was started in my fiancée's school to educate other students about the problems that come with teen pregnancy and being a single mother. I was told by Mr. Smith that it was not in the interest of the student body to see this notice and apparently to talk about teen pregnancy." Mr. Smith interrupted. "We have no pregnant teens in this school. And if we allow discussion on this, you can bet we will get sued by some of the conservative parents." Greg turned to the counselor. "The reason we don't have any students here that are pregnant, at least as far as you know, is because the school transfers them out as soon as their condition is found out." Principal Martin responded, "We have no facilities to allow single mothers to bring in their children. And the ones that are pregnant are transferred to keep them from being harassed by the other students." "Mr. Martin, we wouldn't have the problems with harassment if the other students were to learn about what these girls have to go through. What the real problem is, and it comes from the school board on down, is that they can't come to grips that the 'just say no' sex education we have doesn't work and the students don't know enough when they have sex. I'll bet if you did an honest poll of the senior class, you would find very few virgins. Even among those, most have had experience in some other kind of sex. What this club is trying to do is dispel the idea that these girls are not horrible people just because they got pregnant." "You have a strong position and I happen to agree with you", said Principal Martin, "but don't quote me on that. It is the position of the administration that anything that refers to the sexual side of the students is to be forbidden because it might make them think about having sex. If I allow you to place that on the board, there would be such an uproar that it wouldn't calm down for the rest of the year." Greg knew that they couldn't get past this rule. Principal Martin then continued. "That is not to say you can't advertise by word of mouth and hand out leaflets between classes. As long as the school isn't involved officially, you can do what you feel is needed." They decided this would be the best compromise they were likely to get. At least they were able to get the word out for their booth at the fair. Greg was still upset, but Mandy gave him a bit of advice. "Sometimes sweetheart, you just have to take what you can get and count that as a victory. When I lived at home, I considered any relaxing of the rules as a big victory. You learn to appreciate anything you can get and then to work around in those rules." He knew she was right. He swallowed his bruised pride and they ended the meeting. That night, Greg printed up some leaflets on the computer giving information on what the group was about and contact numbers if someone had more questions or needed help. He printed up enough to pass out at school the next day and then gave one to Mandy so she could get it to Don whose father owned the printing shop. The next day, Greg caught his friend Connie before they went into the building. She was more than happy to pass out the flyers to friends and others in their class. She did give him a hard time about not telling her about the group, and offered her help to them. "I may not be pregnant, but I can still care. And I really like Mandy." "Well if you and Andy are not doing anything Friday night, why don't you come over for dinner and we can discuss it." "I'll talk to Andy, but I don't think we had much planned other than doing a little snoogling in the back seat of his car." Greg gave her an evil grin. "So that is what you are calling it now?" Connie blushed and slapped him on the shoulder. Then she laughed as she went on in the direction of her locker. When lunchtime came around, he found Olivia sitting at their usual table. This year she had matured both physically and mentally. Her figure had filled out and she had become a very pretty girl. She now had a boyfriend, but she still preferred to eat with Greg most days. Her posse was there as usual. He sat down and after greeting them all, he dug into his lunch. The conversation picked up as they finished their food and Greg asked the younger girl if she would do him a favor. "Sure, Greg. What do you need?" "Well, Mandy is involved in this group that is trying to help teens that are sexually active or are pregnant. You know, give them information on how to get help if they need it, and also to get the word out that pregnant teens are not some kind of lepers. I have some sheets here that have the info about a booth that they are going to have at the Founder's Days fair. If you wouldn't mind passing them out to anyone who might be interested, it would be a big help." "That's no problem. We don't mind, do we girls?" She received nods from the others at the table. They took most of the flyers he had left and distributed them between the girls. Greg glanced over to see Lucy, a petite Asian girl reading the paper very carefully. He wondered if they might be getting a call from her. ------- Chapter 12 It was a few days before Principal Martin stopped Greg in the hallway. "I wanted to let you know I have gotten some calls from parents and church leaders about your group. I told them that students are allowed to pass out flyers and that the school has nothing to do with the group or the literature. I just thought I would warn you that since they can't stop you through the school, you might be hearing from them." "Thank you, Mr. Martin. I appreciate you giving me a heads-up on that." "No problem, Greg. I didn't say this, but I think what you and your friends are doing is great. Those girls need all the help that they can get, and you are providing real info, not a bunch of half-truths." Mr. Martin was correct that they did get some calls from irate people. They ended up putting in a second line for private use and then using caller ID and an answering machine for the first line. Traci had the best voice of the three so she recorded the message. "You have reached the Teen Pregnancy Information Hotline. Leave your name and number and we will be back to you as soon as we can. Please be patient since our volunteers may be busy with their families. Thanks." The calls for information came in slowly at first, but as word got out that they would answer all questions honestly, volume went from one call every few days to three or four every day. The trio took turns answering at first with whoever had their homework and other things done making the callbacks. As things got busier, other volunteers would take turns, getting the callback numbers from Mandy and then handling the calls. They followed a set of guidelines that were worked out from the personal experiences of the members and checked by a volunteer doctor for accuracy. Most calls were from girls who were afraid that they might be pregnant or ones that knew but were afraid to talk to their parents. Mixed in were calls from girls who were being put down because of their condition as well as offers to volunteer to help. One unintended benefit of the calls was that some of the girls felt the need to describe the situations that caused them to call in graphic detail. Many of the others who returned calls said they heard the same thing. A couple of the girls would admit to having to 'relieve the pressure' between the calls. It could make for a very exhausting evening in more ways than one. The trio would often end up discussing the details of the calls and end up very turned on by the telling. It made for some great sex for them all. One would relate the story while the others would act it out. They found that the forced encounters did nothing for them, but the tales of seduction were a big boost. Mandy found that the voyeur in her came out at these times and she encouraged Traci and Greg to act out the fantasy while she took care of herself. Then, she would join in as the other two made sure she didn't feel left out. Greg had been right about Lucy, the girl in their lunch group. Instead of calling, she stopped him a couple of weeks after they had handed out the flyers. As they were headed out from the lunchroom, she leaned over and whispered to him asking if he thought Mandy would mind talking to her in person. He assured her that it would be no problem and asked her to come to their house that afternoon or early evening. Traci was the one who answered the door when Lucy arrived just after dinner that night. The girl was standing on the porch moving nervously with her hands shoved into the back pockets of her tight low-rise jeans when the door was opened. Seeing the beautiful coed instead of Greg or Mandy startled Lucy. "Uhh... Is Greg or Mandy here?" "You must be Lucy. Come on in, Greg said you would be coming by." Traci took the girls short coat and hung it by the door. "I'm Traci by the way, Greg and Mandy's housemate." Traci led the frightened girl into the living room and got her something to drink. "Greg is finishing his homework and Mandy is feeding Jenni, her daughter. They should be done in a minute. In the meantime, let's just relax a few minutes." By the time the other two had come down, Traci had the younger girl talking like they were old friends. She had the knack of making anyone feel comfortable and she had proved it true in this case. Greg made sure everyone had something to drink, and then asked Lucy if she would be more comfortable with him out of the room. Lucy thought about it for a few seconds, and then decided that if he wouldn't think badly of her, he could stay. "You have been eating with Greg for most of the year. Have you ever seen him be judgmental toward anyone?" asked Mandy. "No... Matter of fact he is always sympathetic to everyone. The only time I see him get angry or make judgments is when someone hurts somebody." "There you go then. Now what's on your mind that you would want to see us about?" "Well, I am not pregnant. I found that out late this afternoon. But I was so scared that I was. My family is very traditional and if I had been, I would have shamed the whole family. I guess now I want to know what I can use to make sure that it doesn't happen. I mean that it's not like he is going to want to stop. And since my uncle found out..." Her head, which she had kept down ever since Mandy urged her to talk, now dipped even further. Mandy gave her what was their standard answer to this kind of question. "The best thing for you to do if you are sure you can't talk to your parents is to make an appointment at the women's clinic. The pill requires the parent to know, but there are other methods and they will be able to help you choose the one that works best for you." Greg spoke up gently. "Lucy, you know I really like you as a friend and you don't have to answer, but you said something about your uncle. Is he molesting you against your will? Lucy jerked her head up and looked at him in surprise. "Well, I guess in a way but... Well, it is hard to talk about so maybe it would be best if I just tell you what happened. My cousin, Tam, came with his family to live with us until they could get going here. That was in the spring of this year. He is a couple years older than me and I have always thought he was cute. I guess I have had a crush on him since I was old enough to know that there was a difference between girls and boys. Anyway, he knew that I hadn't been allowed to date yet and after watching a show that was kinda sexy one night, he offered to show me how to kiss. He said that way I wouldn't feel stupid when I did go out on a date. "I thought 'kissing wouldn't be really bad, even though he is my cousin' so I agreed. It felt really good to have his lips on mine and when he parted my lips with his tongue, I started to get excited. I had had orgasms before so I knew what was happening, but it was so much more intense than when I was just thinking about a boy." She blushed when she realized what she had just admitted. Mandy assured her that everybody did it whether they would admit to it or not and then encouraged her to continue. "Anyway I was so into him kissing me that I didn't notice until he had his hand on my left boob. They may not be real big but they are sensitive. I definitely noticed when he pinched my nipple through my shirt. I was dressed for bed so I didn't have a bra on and even through the material he was really turning me on. "I felt myself losing control and tried to get him to stop. Instead, he started kissing and tonguing my ears and neck. He slid his hand under my nightshirt and rubbed my boobies until I was moaning. He then raised my shirt up and sucked my nipple into his mouth. I was so gone by then that I couldn't do anything but hold his head there to keep him sucking. Before I realized it, he had his hand under my panties and was fingering me. I shot off right then with him ramming two fingers into my hole. "As I started to come back around, I suddenly felt him pushing his dick into me. He had gotten about half the way in before I really understood what he was doing. By then my mind was telling me that it was wrong, but my body was enjoying it too much to stop. At least he was gentle enough not to hurt me too much. He bottomed out and it felt so good that I started to climb back for another orgasm. I felt his dick pulsing as he shot his stuff into me and I shot off again. "Afterward, I felt ashamed and told him we couldn't do anything like that again, but when he tried to start feeling me up again a few days later, I couldn't seem to stop him. After that, we were having sex as often as we could. One night Tam's father, my uncle caught us as we were just getting done. He threatened to tell my parents unless he got to fuck me. At first, I didn't want to but after the first time I found that I enjoyed it. He is bigger than Tam and he lasts longer, but Tam can shoot two or three times. I know it is wrong, that it's incest, but damnit I love having sex. I know that makes me a slut. And here I am getting turned on again just telling you guys this. I am such a ho'!" Greg reached over and touched her on the arm. "Just because you enjoy sex, doesn't make you a slut. I don't even know what that means, other than just a word to make a girl feel bad about liking something natural. I would never make judgments about you. You are a wonderful person and a great lunch partner." She smiled through her tear-filled eyes at that remark. "Just because you are a sexual being doesn't make you any different. Maybe it is just that you are discovering that you really enjoy sex and have gone a little overboard. You will settle down later on probably, and it doesn't make you an awful person." "You mean it? You still like me even though you know my secret? You won't look at me any different?" Greg decided to see if she was ready for a gentle tease. "Well I might think about what you look like when you are all worked up." She gave him a shocked look and turned a shade of deep red. When she realized he was teasing her, she gave him a half-hearted slap on the shoulder. Traci stood up to get another glass of Pepsi. "I think that you should not worry about it and just be yourself. Stay with the positive and forget about the stuff that you think looks bad. And if anyone gives you a hard time, let me know." After she walked out, Lucy stared after her. "Wow. She is so pretty. I wish I had a figure like that. My tits will never get as big as hers." "Lucy, you look just fine the way you are. You don't need to try and be like someone you aren't.", said Mandy. "I just can't imagine having her live with you. I would be afraid I couldn't compete with her. Though you don't need to worry, you are as pretty as she is." "Thanks for the compliment, but I have learned that I don't have to compete with Traci. Since I have got to know her, I love her as much as I do Greg. And he feels the same way." "You mean Greg and her... And you and her? You're not a lesbian are you?" Mandy laughed at her shock. "No, not by a long shot. I'm not even bi except with Traci. Look, I recognize that you are a very pretty girl and very sexy to boot. But I'm not interested in the least in trying to bed you." Lucy sighed then looked over at Greg. "No wonder you barely look at the girls at school. I have seen them try and come on to you. A couple of the girls in our lunch group would love for you to get in their panties. But you keep them at a distance and just stay friends. Now I understand why." Greg smiled at her. "You can be sure that everything you told us will not leave this room. And we would appreciate it if what you just found out doesn't leave here either." "Oh no! I wouldn't dream of saying anything. Like you said it ain't nobody's business but yours. But it must be hard to have never said a word about it. Most guys would be shouting from the rooftop about being with two beautiful women." "That's why I never said anything. You think they would still be with me if I was the type to brag all the time?" "That's true. I guess I never thought of it that way. Maybe that is why I told you what I did. I knew that I could trust you and I really needed to tell someone. Mandy would you mind if I hugged your man?" Mandy told her to go ahead, and Greg found himself in a very tight embrace. As he wrapped his arms around her, he could feel her stiff nipples pressing into his chest. He willed his cock to stay still while he returned the hug and added a kiss to her cheek. When she released him, he thought she gave a little moan of pleasure. This girl really was horny. He told her to come by anytime she needed to talk and be sure to get to the clinic. She thanked them all and headed out the door feeling better about herself. As soon as Lucy closed the door, Mandy turned to face the other two. "Did what Lucy told us turn you on as much as it did me?" Greg chuckled as he reached for her. "Oh yeah. And when she hugged me I could feel her nipples digging into my chest. After she told us how sensitive they are on her, I almost got a hard-on thinking about it." As he pulled Mandy to his left side, Traci came up and brushed her breasts against his arm. "I think mine are almost that sensitive tonight. I just kept thinking about her talking about her cousin doing her." Mandy reached for her friend pulling her into a three-way hug. "Lets go up and find out about your nipples. Jenni will be awake soon so I will feed her while you two get started." It was almost two hours later when all three settled into bed exhausted. Traci seemed to be the focus of the sexual energy that night, but Mandy and Greg had their share of orgasms as well. It had been a few days since they had pleasured each other and when combined with the images that Lucy's descriptions had brought up, made for a very satisfying evening. It was fortunate that Jenni was starting to sleep through the night since they all needed the rest. When Greg ate lunch with Lucy the next day, he was careful not to treat her any different than before and he could see she was grateful for that. However, he could not help but imagine what she must look like naked and waiting for her man and that caused a stirring in his pants that was difficult to conceal. Things went smooth for the most part in the Tolkin/Carson/Broomfield household during the long space between winter break and Spring break. Jenni's father refused to see the baby and was fighting the child support, but could not deny paternity since the DNA tests proved that he was the father. The state Human Services Department was handling all of that so Mandy didn't have to enter the fight. She concentrated on her studies and being a good mother to Jenni. She also worked on her art when she had time, refining her use of oils and other mediums. Her art teacher helped and encouraged her, putting Mandy in for an art scholarship to the same campus that Greg was trying for. Greg had pretty well sewn up the scholarship he had hoped for. His grades were what put him in, but his skill in martial arts had clenched the deal. The school had a martial arts program that was still in its infancy and the coach thought he would be an asset. However, this meant he had to stay in shape, so he stepped up his training at the dojo he belonged to. Traci was really pushing this semester. She was carrying all the classes she could while still maintaining her high marks. There were many evenings that she would come home late and so exhausted that she barely wanted to eat. It was those nights that Greg would volunteer a good massage and with Mandy working on her legs and Greg on her back, they would have her relaxed and asleep before they could finish. Jenni was doing just what babies are supposed to do. She was eating and growing like crazy. During one of her checkups, Mandy told the doctor that she was afraid that she was no longer producing enough milk to fill her up. The doctor was rather old fashioned and suggested that they introduce cereal and then baby food as she tolerated it. She could still be breast fed, but this would make sure she got all the nutrition she needed. The first attempts were rather comical as mother and child tried to learn what they were supposed to be doing. There was more food on Jenni's face and clothes than went inside her and Greg was busy recording the episode with his digital camera. It wasn't too long before Jenni discovered that she liked the taste of the new food and the feeding was much cleaner. She was more alert now, and would smile and make noises when she saw or heard Greg or Traci as well as her mother. She was still a happy child and enjoyed being held and talked to. Mandy insisted her disposition was because she knew she had three people that loved and doted on her. The Founder's Day celebration was coming up a couple of weeks before spring break and Mandy's group was getting ready. They had everything planned as to how to set the booth up, and who was going to be there. This was something new for them all and they were excited. They were lucky to be inside the City Auditorium with the other booths and not out on the lawn of the neighboring park. They could bring their babies with them and not be out in the cool air. On the first day, Greg, the other boyfriends and parents who supported them showed up early to bring in supplies and help get things set up. Mandy and Kristi took the first shift. After Greg had gently rebuffed her advances, Kristi had become friends with Mandy. She had delivered her baby boy six weeks earlier and was just now coming back to class. The people who were at the Planned Parenthood booth introduced themselves and were happy to learn what the group was doing. The director even asked for some of their literature to put out on their booth as well as to give out at the clinics. They thought a support group of girls the same age as their clients might be able to reach some that the adults couldn't. The crowds started to increase the later it got. Most of the comments they received were positive. Questions were asked about what they did for other teens, and how they did it. They soon found that some inquiries were asked so often that they got to where they had answers down pat. Are you a Pro-Life organization? We take no position either way. Each girl was different and whatever they decided to do, the girl would get support. Are you advocating teens having sex? No. But if teens were going to have sex they should be prepared with the knowledge and birth control to ensure that they are safe. Don't you have a moral responsibility to encourage teens to remain abstinent? It should be up to the parents to teach morals to their children. We don't encourage teens to have sex, but we don't judge those who decide to either. They get enough of that from society. After her shift was done, Mandy and Greg went looking through the rest of the fair. Jenni was safely tucked in her front pack so they covered her up when they went out to the park to watch the historical re-enactments that were being staged. People dressed in old time costumes were giving speeches, they had gunfights every hour, and demonstrations of old time crafts were being done. Even though the temperature was in the mid-fifties, the college fraternities had a dunk tank going. At least the engineering department had made a circulating water heater so the dunkees didn't freeze. They wandered back in to find a large crowd had gathered near their booth. Greg pushed their way through to find a local chapter of Operation Rescue protesting the Planned Parenthood booth. Things would have been fine except their protest had spilled over into their group's space. They had shoved the table back and spilt the pamphlets all over the floor. The spokesman for the protestors, a real media hound named Nicholas Wilson, thought he could make the evening news when he saw the basket of condoms that the girls had put out. He was preaching at the girls who were trying their best to hold up under his ranting. He apparently thought they were part of the booth next door. When the couple made it up and in the booth, Melissa and Tanya were trying to tell the man that they were not Planned Parenthood and they were taking no sides, but were there to help teen girls who were shunned by society because they were pregnant. It would have come to nothing except that the man kept pushing forward and the girls kept backing up. Tanya saw that one of the displays that the man pushed aside was about to fall on Melissa's baby. She caught it and tried to stand it back up. The man thought she was confronting him and he shoved her hard enough that she fell down. The display fell on Uriah but the baby was not seriously injured. Tanya caught the edge of an easel, leaving a nasty gash in her arm. The local news crew that had been doing a piece on the protest caught the whole thing on tape. While Melissa and Mandy took care of Tanya, Greg stepped in front of Wilson and kept him where he was. The police showed up and after getting statements from all involved, arrested Wilson for assault. The EMTs showed up and checked Tanya's arm. They declared the wound was not as bad as it looked. They did recommend that she go into the hospital to get checked out because of the advanced stage of her pregnancy. Mandy and Melissa both got caught by the camera crew and the local paper as well to give their side of the altercation. They both did rather well keeping a calm demeanor and giving just the facts, as they knew them. Melissa's hand was still bloody from the cut on Tanya's arm and when she brought her hand up to make a point, it was caught on the tape. Of course, this made the event even more newsworthy. 'If it bleeds, it leads' seemed to be the motto of the station that aired the segment. After apologies by Planned Parenthood for them becoming innocent bystanders in the fray and promises to be back the next day to end the celebration, Greg and the others cleaned up the booth and then headed home. They got home in enough time to tape the news segment where Mandy and Melissa were interviewed. They showed the clip where Nicholas shoved Tanya and knocked the display over onto Melissa's baby and then the piece where the two girls were interviewed. Their calm telling of just what had happened and why they were there gave their group a boost. The segment ended with the news anchor stating that Tanya had been released from the hospital and both she and the baby were fine. The next morning Traci brought the paper in and read them the article that was on the front page of the local section. PROTEST AT FOUNDERS DAY TURNS VIOLENT The normally joyous celebration of Founder's Day turned violent when Nicholas Wilson, the leader of a group from Operation Rescue assaulted a teen that was in the booth next to their intended target. While protesting the informational booth of Planned Parenthood, the pro-life group spilled over into the booth next door that belonged to a teen advocacy group named Single and Teen Mothers for Equality. During the protest, Mr. Wilson took exception to some of the items on the teens' display and started to accost them verbally. During his argument with the women manning the booth, he knocked over a display that subsequently toppled onto the 2-month old child of Ms. Melissa Jones. When Tanya Logan reached to stop the display from falling, Mr. Wilson claims he mistook her actions as her attacking him and he pushed her away, causing the pregnant teen to fall into another display where she received a laceration to her left arm. Mr. Wilson was arrested and charged with assault on both the infant and to Ms. Logan. The rest of the protesters were ordered to disband. Ms. Logan was taken to Lakeside Memorial where she received treatment for the laceration and was released. Amanda Carson, the spokesperson for the group, stated that they are trying to change the perception of teen mothers and to help those young women who are pregnant. "We are not part of Planned Parenthood even though they have applauded out efforts to support teens who find themselves pregnant." Ms. Carson is quoted as saying. Mr. Wilson is free on $15,000 dollar bond pending trial. Traci gave a sigh. "Well, I hope that we don't have any trouble there today. Speaking of which, I need to get ready since I am signed up to take a turn in the booth." She headed upstairs to get dressed. Greg followed her up while Mandy put the dishes in the dishwasher and then went up herself to get Jenni ready. After the ruckus yesterday, some of the boyfriends had decided that they were going to keep a close eye on the booth. They had no trouble that Sunday from any protesters, but the visitors increased dramatically. The infants that were present with their mothers were fawned over as most of the people stopped by to see what all the fuss had been about. They ran out of pamphlets, and the volunteer sheet for donations for infant supplies was completely filled. Mandy's prints went for a very good sum and the money was put away for club expenses and to help out some of the girls who really needed it. When they broke down the booth everyone who had participated felt that it had been a complete success. That night the trio alternated backrubs before falling into a satisfied sleep. They had worked hard for this but the results had been better than they could have hoped for. ------- The weekend before Spring Break, Mandy suggested that they take a trip away from the town. She had found a place that rented cabins and when she had checked they still had one open. They would be next to a state park and the campground had a bunch of activities to choose from. Traci and Greg thought it sounded like a great idea and they confirmed reservations for the next week. They packed what they thought they would need and Sunday Morning found them on their way. The campground was as nice as the advertisements said it was. In addition to the cabins, they had places for RV parking and tents. There was a heated pool and a meeting hall along with volleyball and tennis courts. They even had a stable that offered horseback riding into the park. Their cabin was, as Traci described it, 'rustic luxury'. When they walked in from the small covered porch into the combination living room/kitchenette, there were two overstuffed chairs and a couch along with the coffee table and a couple of end tables with lamps. Going down the short hallway, the bathroom was on the left and the bedroom on the right. All the furniture and decor was simple but clean and in good shape. There were pots and pans provided for cooking, or you could eat at either the snack bar or the main dining area. There was nothing that could be called extravagant, but it was much better than just camping out in a tent. They became acquainted with their neighbors in the cabin next to them during the first afternoon. Ted and Carol were a couple in their late thirties with three children, Nancy who was their age, Lawrence, who was fifteen, and Gary who had just turned twelve. Nancy had been the first to introduce herself just after the trio had settled in. She came up to them while Traci and Greg were on the little porch. After the introductions, she told them that she was glad to see somebody her age since she was afraid that she would be bored all week. Nancy was surprised to see Mandy come out of the cabin as well. She had assumed that Traci and Greg were a couple. She readily accepted the explanation that Mandy and Greg were engaged and that Traci was their housemate and that they had all decided to take a vacation together. While the three girls were talking, Greg went inside to bring them all out something to drink. As soon as the cans were distributed, he took up a position straddling the wide porch rail with his back against the wall of the cabin. The three women were getting acquainted, telling a little about themselves with Greg contributing to the conversation only when they asked him a direct question. The rest of the time, he was studying Nancy between watching the activities around the campground. What he saw when he looked at Nancy was a fresh, typical American teen stereotype. Long, straight blonde hair with the long bangs that were tucked behind her ears, revealing a face with angular features. She was between Mandy's and Traci's height, putting her about five-six. She was thin with smallish breasts that were placed high on her chest and a slightly rounded butt. Her legs were smooth, with the muscles beneath barely revealing themselves as she moved around. He didn't make this assessment on purpose, but rather by the instinct that every male teen possessed. One thing that did make him different from other teen boys was that he wasn't consciously sizing her up as a bedmate. Rather, he saw her as a pretty, young woman that was enjoying the company of others her age. He shook himself out of his daydream when he heard Mandy ask him a question for the second time. "Sorry, my mind was wandering." "I bet it was", Mandy teased. Nancy blushed slightly when she realized that he had been looking at her. "What I was asking you was if you wanted to go to the bonfire tonight after dinner." "Sure if you two want to. I'm pretty much game for anything this week as long as it doesn't involve thinking too much. After all, we came up here to get away from schoolwork and things like that." He paid a little more attention to the conversation after that. Nancy was telling them that she hadn't really wanted to come up here and leave her friends, and especially her boyfriend. They were just getting to the stage in their relationship where they were starting to get more intimate and she was afraid that he would take up with another girl while she was here. "If he did that he would not be very smart", Greg said. "If he is really into you as a girlfriend, he will keep his hands to himself for a week." Nancy looked at him in surprise. "You mean if he really likes me that much, he will wait until I get back? You really think like that?" "Sure. These two keep telling me I'm not the typical male, but it seems to me that if he really cares for you, he will not take a chance with your relationship just for a bit of physical pleasure." "These two are right when they say you aren't typical. Most of the guys back home are just after what they can get from a girl." Greg smiled at her. "Then they haven't ever really been in love yet." Nancy looked thoughtful. "You know, you're probably right. If he does cheat on me then he isn't the right one anyway. And there is nothing I can do about it up here." "Right. So just enjoy your break." It was then that Nancy's youngest brother came over and told her that dinner was ready. Nancy said that she would be back after she ate so they could all walk down to the bonfire together. Traci said she would go up to the clubhouse and get them something from the snack bar as well. The new friends parted for a while, each one now thinking about the food that awaited them. The trio had just finished eating when Nancy showed up with her brother, Johnny. The family resemblance was there; the same blonde hair and facial shape. The exception was Johnny's face was more angular with a strong chin that showed a hint of shadow from his recently started beard. He was the opposite of his sister in personality though. Where she was outgoing, he was very quiet. Part of his lack of conversation was due to his intimidation at meeting two women of Mandy and Traci's caliber. If he would admit it to himself, his sister was just as good looking, but being siblings, he had never allowed himself to look at her as a girl. The girls for their part, had given him a look as well. They agreed that he had the Nordic looks of his heritage and was well muscled from the sports he played in school. His blonde hair, just a shade darker than his sister's, was just brushing his collar. Darkness was growing so the group headed toward the open area where the bonfire would be lit. Jenni was securely attached to Mandy in her front pack contently sucking on a bottle of juice and watching all the strange faces around her. Even though the night was not bitterly cold, Mandy dressed her in a heavy jacket and a knit hat that Heather had found for her. After her crisis of doubt about being a good mother, Mandy had calmed down enough to actually enjoy being a mom. She still was overly cautious at times, but Jenni was in perfect health and had a minimum of maladies that infants were prone to. Nancy had fallen in love with Jenni and was near Mandy much of the time so she could talk and play with the little girl. She would do the same when Traci would take over the carrying duties, but stayed a little further back when Greg took a turn. Greg was worried that she was fearful of him, but when he said something to Mandy, she told him that it was more like intimidation. "Look at it this way. You are older, if not that much. She has already figured out that we are lovers, so you know more than she does. Besides you turn her on, I think. I've seen her watching you. She may be afraid that you will pick up on it and try something." Then she gave him a quick smile. "Just be your normal sweet self. She will be eating out of your hand before the week's out." Greg gave his fiancée' a snort to let her know what he thought of that idea. He did try to be extra nice and friendly to her so she would see that he wanted nothing more than to be friends. Johnny helped the situation by warming up enough to talk more freely now. The campground provided a dance area and music to go along with the bonfire and he had got the courage up to ask one of the other girls his age to dance. After that, Traci had taken him out on the floor and he realized that she was a fun person. When he took a break and Greg started to ask about his school, he was soon chatting away like he had known them for a while. By the time the group had decided to leave, Greg and John (he told Greg that he preferred John) had agreed to meet the next morning to check out the gym that was in the clubhouse. Nancy was going to join the girls at the indoor pool at the same time. They separated at the porch of the cabin and hurried inside. Jenni had fallen asleep before they had started back, so Mandy took her in to change her into sleepers and then tuck her into the portable crib they had for her. She came back in and took the remaining chair. Greg occupied the other one and Traci was stretched out on the couch chatting about the day and the campground. Greg took a sip of the hot cocoa that Traci had made and then continued the conversation that Mandy had walked in on. "John sure was hinting about finding out more about you two. After you took him out on the dance floor, Traci, he was asking if you were available. He was disappointed when he found out you were 'involved'. But I didn't tell him that who you were involved with. That probably would have blown his mind." Traci and Mandy both laughed at that thought. Then Greg continued. "He was honest enough to say that he hadn't gone all the way with a girl yet, but he is more than ready, at least from the way he was describing the girls at his school." "Well Nancy hasn't had a boy. She asked me if it hurt really bad when I did it the first time. I told her that I'm not the best one to ask," Mandy said. "Poor girl has never had an orgasm from fooling around with her boyfriend. But she is as primed for sex as anyone I have ever seen. If you would even hint that you would take an interest, Greg, she would jump in bed with you in a heartbeat." "I have all I could possibly want with you two. So no matter how cute and sexy she is, I'm not interested." This got him a very loving look from both of the ladies. Looks that also promised they would show him later just how much they appreciated him. They cleaned up and headed to bed shortly afterwards. Mandy and Traci decided that Greg had not been the center of attention for quite a while so they placed him in the center of the bed and took positions on each side of him. They followed each other's lead, moving from the side of his face downward, kissing and licking every spot that could possibly arouse him. Before they made it past his nipples, he was starting to moan. When they reached his stomach, his muscles were twitching in reaction to their touches. He could hardly lay still when Traci trailed her tongue in a lazy pattern along the left side of his abdomen and to the edge of his crotch. Mandy repeated the action on the other side, coming close enough to his engorged cock that he could feel her warm breath along its length. His pelvis thrust up involuntarily despite his will to stay still. The women stopped just above his balls to share a loving kiss before they rested their cheeks against his thighs and started to lick his scrotum, rolling his balls around with their tongues. Greg was moaning louder now and started to stroke their hair with his hands, encouraging them to continue. They were soon licking the sides of his shaft causing it to jump and ooze more precum onto his stomach. When Mandy's tongue tickled his glans, he let out a loud groan as his seed shot out covering his abdomen. When the first shot flew out, Mandy stuck her tongue in front of the head to allow his sperm to pool on her tongue. She raised up to let him see her swallow and Traci moved in to get her share. Then, she grabbed Mandy's head and kissed her hard, her tongue sharing the load she had with her friend. As Greg started to come down, the women took turns licking his seed from their side of his body. The sight and sensation of both beautiful women cleaning him up made sure that his cock didn't go soft. "I want his cock in me," growled Traci as she swung her leg over so she was facing his feet. The angle was a little off, but she worked around and got him lodged against her wet entrance and slowly slid down his length, savoring the feel as he filled her up. Mandy took a position above Greg's face and lowered her pussy down until he could reach her with is lips and tongue. Traci leaned back toward Mandy who reached around and started playing with her lover's breasts. Traci raised up enough so that Greg could start thrusting into her using short fast strokes. In this position, Traci could feel the head of his cock rubbing over her G-spot. Combined with Mandy's manipulations, she soon was off in her orgasm, bouncing and gasping as the sensations took over. The rippling of the walls of her pussy sent Greg over, shooting his second load of the night deep into her womb. Greg's tongue and lips had been working their magic on Mandy's clit and she followed Traci into climax, shivering with the feelings her body was experiencing... She was able to move up enough for Greg to be able to breathe and leaned forward into Traci's back. The lovers stayed in this triangle as they caught their breath. Then Mandy rose off of Greg and moved to his side while Traci struggled to lift herself off his softening cock. Greg put his hands on her lovely butt cheeks to help guide her off and to his other side. The lovers lay together exhausted, lightly caressing each other in the afterglow of their mutual love. Greg turned his head to kiss each one in appreciation of their efforts. His kisses were returned with sated satisfaction before they drifted off. Next door, Nancy had been tossing and turning in her bed. She had come back to the cabin very horny and even after she had got herself off with her fingers, she was still aroused. Deciding that she needed a drink, she got up to head to the kitchen. When she sat up, she felt the wetness that had soaked her panties leaking around the edge. Since the oversized t-shirt she was wearing covered her ass, she slipped them off before she slipped out her door. As she passed the boys room, the door opened up and Johnny's face appeared in the crack. He called to her in a whisper, "What are you doing up?" "I couldn't sleep. I'm going to get a can of pop." "Hold on a sec. I'll go with you." He looked back in to make sure his little brother was asleep on the cot at the foot of his bed. Assured by the sound of Kevin's snores, he slipped past the door and into the hall. He had been having the same problem sleeping that his sister was having, and the faint light in the hallway showed her naked figure under her nightshirt. He suddenly realized that she was a very sexy girl. As sexy as the women next door that he had been thinking about. He almost went back in to find some clothes to hide his rising cock, but Nancy was already moving into the kitchen area so he followed hoping she wouldn't notice. He was halfway across the living room when she met him coming back from the small refrigerator, a can of Coke for her and his preferred Mountain Dew. They started to sit down in the living room, but decided they might wake their parents, so they quietly opened the door. There was a Chinook wind blowing easily through the camp, raising the temperature until they were almost warm even dressed as they were. They sat down in the swing, moving close enough that their legs were touching. John was acutely aware of the soft skin of his sister's thigh as they sat talking. "I couldn't believe how sexy Traci and Mandy are," John said in a low tone. "When I was dancing with Traci, I kept thinking about the way she was moving. Man, I wish Gretchen Thomas was here." Nancy shoved playfully against his shoulder. "Gretchen, huh? Keep wishing brother dear. Talk around the school among the girls is that Gretchen will allow you to feel her up, but she won't go any further. Now if you want to get it on with someone, try Regina Michaels." "Her? I don't think so. I mean I have some standards ya know." "Oh really! And just what standards would you have when it comes to girls, Johnny?" John looked down at the floor. "I can't tell you. But they are pretty high." "Oh come on, Johnny! Tell me who is the standard you set your sights by." "Promise you won't laugh at me?" Nancy could see he was really being serious. She shifted a little to where she could look at him in the face. "John, I promise you I will not laugh or make fun of you." Her dropping his nickname made him realize she was serious. He turned to face her, his eyes filled with just a little bit of fear. "The ideal girl that I compare the others to is you." He heard her take a sharp intake of breath, but he had started and continued on. "I think it was subconsciously, but tonight I realized that I measure all the girls I think about asking out to you. I mean you're pretty, smart, fun to be with, and if I let myself admit it, very sexy. Compared to you, the girls in school are lacking." Now he hung his head again, very much the younger brother. "I hope you don't hate me now." Nancy was shocked at what her little (not so little she realized when her gaze moved down to his half hard cock) brother had just said. He had pulled the stunts of trying to peek in on her when she changed clothes or was getting out of the shower. But she never guessed that he thought of her as the woman he set his sights by. The idea scared her a bit, but also turned her on if she allowed herself to think about it. She put her hand over his where it sat on his leg. "John, I... I never knew. I'm not mad and I don't hate you. I'm just surprised. I never thought that you thought of me as your ideal girl. I'm really flattered that you think of me that highly. We have always got along, I know." John looked up to see his sister was serious. He was relieved that she wasn't mad at him for saying what he did. "I know I can't have you, sis. But I hope I can find somebody as great as you." "I understand, bro. And it makes me feel really special that you think I'm that good of a person." She leaned closer to him and gave him a kiss on the lips. The kiss surprised John. It wasn't really passionate, but more of a loving kiss. He returned it, pressing against her soft, full lips. To his even greater surprise, she moaned just a little and pressed harder. He took a chance and relaxed his lips and sent his tongue out to touch her lips. She responded to his advances and soon they were locked in a tongue duel that had no losers. Nancy was surprised by her actions as well. She had thought just to reassure him, but her state of excitement caused her to go along with him when he touched her lips with his tongue. She couldn't believe how wet she was getting just from her brother kissing her. They finally broke the kiss both fighting to catch their breath. While they sat looking at each other and wondering what had just happened, they both heard a noise from next door. John grabbed his sister's hand and pulled her up. "Come on, let's go see what that noise is." She agreed and the two of them snuck around the side of the cabin. The noise was not too loud now, but they could hear voices. The window was open a bit in their new friend's bedroom and that was where the sounds were coming from. Nancy was ready to go back when she understood what was going on, but curiosity overcame her embarrassment and she joined her brother as he peeked in. She was shocked by what she saw. Greg was laying on his back naked, his hard cock being held upright by Traci. Nancy gasped as she watched Traci straddle Greg and press his cock against her hole, then slowly settle down until her ass was against his stomach. Mandy moved over Greg's face and she could see him raise his head into her pussy. John was as turned on as his sister as they watched the display before them. His own cock was now rock hard and had snuck out the fly in his boxers. He moved behind his sister in order to get a better view. As he leaned over her back to look over her shoulder, he discovered she didn't have any panties on when his cock settled into the crack of her ass. He started to pull away until he felt her push back into him. It felt so good to feel the smooth skin of her buttocks against him that he made sure to keep the pressure on. As the action in the bedroom heated up and Traci leaned back so Greg could thrust into her, John brought his hands up to his sister's full breasts and started caressing her nipples through her shirt. He thought he had screwed up when she stopped him, but she just pushed his hands down to the hem of her shirt so he could get underneath. She inhaled sharply when his hands made contact with her bare tit-flesh but she didn't take her eyes off of the action that was before them. What happened next surprised both siblings when they thought about it later. John was rubbing his cock between Nancy's butt cheeks when he moved too much and the shaft moved down and across his sisters wet pussy lips. He heard her breath catch and was about to pull back when he felt her small hand reach down and press his shaft hard between her nether lips. The heat and moisture was the best thing he had ever felt in his young life. He started to pinch her nipples as he made short thrusts making the head of his cock rub against his sister's clit. As he pulled back for another thrust, he felt Nancy move forward just a bit, positioning him right into her virginal entrance. Then she pushed back as he thrust forward. He felt the head parting her lips and slipping into her entrance. The heat and tightness almost made him climax, but he somehow held off. Then they were pushing against each other forcing his thickness farther into her hot depths. He felt his sister's butt press against his stomach and he knew he was buried all the way in her. His first fuck and it was with his wonderful, sexy sister! He couldn't believe the feelings he was experiencing. Then he felt Nancy moving her fingers over and around on her pussy. When her tunnel started to ripple with her impending orgasm, he lost it and tripped into the strongest orgasm in his life. It felt like his balls were shooting out the end of his cock as he bathed his sister's tunnel with his juice. Nancy had been running on instinct since she had felt his cock first touch her naked ass. Part of her mind knew they shouldn't be there at all, much less doing this, but her excitement washed away any thoughts of stopping. John had been rubbing her tits outside her shirt and she just had to feel his hands on her naked flesh. When he had pulled back too far and his dick had rubbed against her pussy lips, she had felt a tingling in her cunt that she had never felt before. With the head teasing her clit, she got to the point that she no longer cared that it was her brother; she had to feel it inside her. When he started in, she had a hazy thought that it should hurt, but didn't feel any pain at all. She was so wet that he slid inside her with ease. When he bottomed out, she felt so full, like she could never get enough. Her hand had not left her pussy from when she had first guided him in and she now started to finger her clit, tracing a well-known path that always got her off. It took only a few strokes combined with the feeling of being stuffed with a hot cock for the first time that she felt the tremors of her orgasm starting. When she felt the base of John's cock throbbing as he shot his stuff in her, she went over the edge herself. She had to lean against the window frame to support herself as her legs began to tremble from the pleasure shooting through her entire body. She was sure that she had made some noise but fortunately, the occupants of the room were climaxing at the same time and didn't hear the sounds outside. After a few moments rest, John pulled out of his sister, but he still held her tightly so she wouldn't collapse. A moment more in that position and then they headed back to the front of their cabin, both on shaky legs and Nancy with her brother's semen leaking out and clinging to her thighs. They sat down on the porch each lost in their own thoughts. They finished their drinks, and quietly went back inside. When they reached John's bedroom door, Nancy stopped him long enough to give him a loving kiss and a whispered "Thanks". He returned both and slipped inside and back to bed while Nancy detoured into the shower to wash away their combined fluids with a quick shower. She then crawled back into her own bed. She fell asleep with the thoughts and feelings of what had just happened swirling in her head. ------- Chapter 13 The next day, Nancy got up later than normal for her. As she snuggled under her comforter, she thought back to what had happened last night. She knew she and Johnny had got caught up in the moment of passion and had just gone with their feelings. What was really strange for her though, was that she really didn't feel the shame that she supposed she should. Neither one had forced the other, they both enjoyed it, and nobody was hurt. The only thing that bothered her at all was that they had been spying on their new friends in what should have been a very private intimate moment. A light tap at her door caused her to come back from the moment of contentment she had been feeling. She told whomever it was to come in and Johnny (no, he is grown up and should be called John) peeked around the door. John entered his sister's room with more than just a little amount of dread. He had enjoyed their time last night more than he could ever express, but he was fearful of what Nancy's reaction would be after she had the night to reconsider. When he saw the smile on her face when she saw him did much to calm his concerns. "We are supposed to meet Greg, Mandy, and Traci this morning, remember?" "Oh yeah! Guess I had better get up." She sat up in bed and stretched, making her hard nipples press against the fabric of her nightshirt. "Where's everybody else?" John answered from where he still was, beside the door. "Mom and Dad took Kevin and went into Millersburg to pick up some groceries and to let Dad get ahold of his boss. I told them that we were going to meet our friends at the gym and the pool so they left us alone." He then reached up and scratched his neck nervously. "Ahhh Nancy, about last night. You ain't too pissed off at me for doing what I did, are you?" To his intense relief, Nancy laughed. She must not have been too mad if she could laugh about it. She pulled her feet up to her and patted the bed for him to come over and sit down. As soon as he was seated, she pulled him into a hug and a kiss that left him dizzy. She left her hands around his neck as she started talking. "You know I was just thinking about that when you knocked. I was thinking that I should feel mad at you, ashamed, and really bad about myself, but I don't feel any of that. I was only thinking of how much I enjoyed the feelings I had and how much it meant for my first time to be with someone who loves and cares about me. I was a little worried about how you felt after fucking your sister though." "Oh God, sis. That is such a load off my mind. I was afraid you would hate me or something. As for me, I loved every minute of what we did. I know that I could never say anything, but I want to shout out that I had sex with the most wonderful, perfect woman in the world. I don't care if it is my sister. And I feel extra proud that you let me be your first. I really do love you, sis. You know that right?" "I know, John. And I love you too. You know we will have to be careful, but I have been thinking about how good it felt and... Maybe you would like to try it again sometime?" She saw his face light up. "I'm sorry, but not this morning. Even though I enjoyed it an awful lot, I am just a bit sore down there. But maybe we could shower together and we could scrub each other's backs?" John was more than happy to agree and they spent longer than they meant washing and exploring each other. This was the first time they had really seen each other naked and they took advantage of it. Even though she was too sore for any penetration, Nancy taught John how to give her an orgasm. She in turn, stroked him to climax and got to see what his semen looked (and tasted) like. They were almost late getting over to meet their three friends. They all walked to the clubhouse together. The boys headed to the gym while the girls went on past and to the heated pool. The guys would join them when they finished their workout. John was into track season so he hit the weights and then the stair climber. Greg did some warm ups and then a few katas to get his mind focused. He worked on the heavy bag for a while before taking a turn at the weight machine. John was fascinated with the intricate movements that Greg did during the kata, and they discussed the Martial Arts while they rinsed off and changed into their trunks and headed for the pool. The girls were having a good time for their part. Mandy had found a tiny suit and swimmies for Jenni and they had her in the pool with them for a little while. She really enjoyed herself but soon tired and was ready for a nap in her carrier. As soon as Jenni was asleep, Mandy jumped back into the pool to relax with the other two. Nancy had been quiet around them all morning, and Traci asked if anything was wrong. "Not really," was her reply. "I'm just tired. John and I ended up talking until late this morning." Just from the way she was acting, Traci knew there was more to it than she was letting on, but she held her counsel. The guys soon joined them at the pool and they spent the next hour playing around in the pool. Mandy and Traci both noticed that John was being more attentive to his sister, rubbing against her and touching her more than he had before. Nancy was doing the same; even hanging onto her brother after he had dunked her and then raised her up out of the water. The girls didn't get to find out what was going on before they had to head back to the cabin. However, it was a topic that Mandy and Traci discussed off and on for the next few days. Their vacation was speeding by. The days were spent using the facilities offered by the campground. Mandy and Traci went horseback riding while Greg watched Jenni. When they returned, he took an archery class that they were not really interested in. There were boat rides on the lake and beautiful trails to walk. But mostly, they all just relaxed, laying in the sunshine or reading on the little covered porch. They were away from the pressures of school and the happenings at home and they were enjoying the serenity. Friday night, the main hall had activities for the older adults where liquor was served. Nancy and John had talked to their parents and were going to spend the night at Greg, Mandy and Traci's cabin. Their mother had even given them a couple bottles of wine. She trusted them all together and told them she figured they were old enough to handle it. What she didn't say was that since Kevin was staying with a friend he had made, their parents were planning on spending some quality time without the children around. The evening started out with Jenni being the center of attention among the ladies while Greg and John talked and joked. Once Mandy had Jenni put down in her crib and sound asleep, the group opened the bottle of wine and sat back to decide what to do. Mandy found a deck of cards and they decided to play poker. They found that everyone's luck was pretty evenly matched as they continued to consume the wine and play their game. Traci had bought a couple more bottles of wine at the store in Millersburg so it wasn't long before none of them were feeling any pain. The wine loosened their tongues as conversation gradually replaced the card game. They laughed at Greg's tales of sexual conquests that he had heard from the locker room when compared to what really had happened. John added in a few of his own misadventures and Mandy told about the sexual antics that went on in her old school. When Nancy told about the guys that she had dated and how they would try and get in her pants, Mandy noticed that John's face would take on a look that was a mixture of anger and jealously. She thought that it was an unconscious reaction, but she was also curious as to what it really meant. When the talk turned a bit more serious, Mandy saw her chance. "Nancy, John, I want to ask you something. You don't have to answer, but I have noticed some things. Are you two involved? I mean more than just brother and sister." Nancy turned pale and John looked like he was ready to drop through the floor. Mandy tried to reassure them. "I doesn't make any difference to me and I'm sure that Greg and Traci don't care either. But I have seen you two look at each other like I do to Greg, and you touch each other more tenderly than a brother and sister usually do. I figured that you didn't even know you were doing it, and I wanted to warn you before someone, like your parents, notice." Nancy relaxed a bit after Mandy said this. She thought she knew the other women pretty well now. Enough to know that Mandy wasn't saying this to be mean or to put them down. She looked over at her brother who still looked frightened. She cleared her throat before she answered. "Well, since you already figured it out, there is no reason to denying it. We did become lovers this week. We thought we were being really careful, but I guess we weren't." Traci put her arm around Nancy. "Probably nobody else would have noticed yet. It is just because we have been around you so much the past week. And I think the only reason we really noticed was that you were so distant the first time we went to the pool. Did you guys start the night before?" Nancy and John both nodded. John found his voice and asked how she figured it out. "Well, I wasn't sure, but it just fit. Nancy, you were walking a little funny, kinda like Mandy does when her and Greg have been going at it," Mandy made a face at her for that comment. "And then you were really quiet that morning, like something was bothering you. When John and Greg joined us, John was being very tender to you. That tipped me off and the rest of it fit. I probably wouldn't have noticed at all except that my mind was geared toward sex that morning anyway." John looked over at his sister. "I guess we had better be more careful, sis. We don't want anyone else to know." She nodded her head in agreement. Then she turned toward the other three. "You guys sure that you don't think we are freaks, or perverts or something?" Greg spoke up for them all. "I figure that if you aren't forcing each other and it is mutual love or lust or whatever, it ain't for us to judge. I judge people on how they treat others, not who they have a relationship with. Am I right?" The girls both agreed. "We won't say a word to anyone, I promise," said Mandy. "But would you mind telling us how it started between you two? I am a sucker for stories like that." "Well, it was you guys' fault in a round about way," said Nancy. "I had been checking Greg out, sorry about that Greg, all evening. And John had been thinking about his dances with you, Traci. We both couldn't sleep and met in the hall as we went to get a drink. We sat outside so we wouldn't wake up our parents and talked. We were talking about boys and girls and John said the sweetest thing to me. He told me that he didn't date much because he was using me as his ideal woman and the other girls couldn't measure up. Well that was so sweet that I wanted to give him a kiss. I guess we were both pretty worked up because the kiss turned into us playing tonsil tag. "Now the next part is kinda embarrassing. We heard a noise from between the cabins and thought we had been caught. We snuck around the side and found out that the noise was coming from your open window. I'm sorry, but my curiosity and horniness got the better of me and we peeked in. You three were in bed together. It was so hot to watch that we couldn't tear our eyes away. I was wearing just my nightshirt and John was in his boxers, and when he leaned over to look over my shoulder, his dick had come out through his fly and was rubbing my bare ass. It just went from there until I got him in position and pushed back. John must have been as excited as I was, 'cause he just went with it and we were soon plugged in. Just as Traci and Mandy started to come, Johnny went off and I followed. "We snuck back into the house. When I woke up the next morning, the only guilt I had was because we had spied on you guys. I'm really sorry about that. Anyway, we talked about it and decided that we both had enjoyed it and wanted to do it again. So we have, almost every night this week." As Nancy finished her narrative, it was evident that what she had said affected the rest of the group. Mandy and Traci both were revealing very stiff nipples through their thin shirts and the outline of Greg's erection was pronounced. "Thanks for trusting us enough to tell us all that," said Traci. "I imagine it was kinda hard to admit to anyone especially with all the taboos that are associated with it. I learned a little about incest from last semester, and the professor was liberal about the subject. He told us that for the most part, the only time that it does any damage is when the people involved are coerced. Fathers and young daughters for instance is really bad because the girl isn't old enough to really make an informed decision. "But you two are old enough to know the score and close enough in age that you aren't taking of each other. The laws may not agree, but if you use birth control and are careful, I don't see a problem." John finally spoke up for the first time since Mandy asked that loaded question. "Sis and I have talked some on this. She told me that we can't go on forever, and I can see what she means. We won't be lovers maybe, but we will always be brother and sister, and probably closer than most are. So we both plan on dating when we get home, but if we both hit a cold streak we will still have each other. Besides I don't think either one of us is as terrified about messing up with a date now." Greg got an evil grin on his face. "I wish I had known you guys were watching. We should have charged admission." The siblings both turned red from being reminded about peeping through the window, and Mandy smacked him on the shoulder. "Give him one for me too," said Traci. So of course she did. Greg pretended to be terribly injured, falling over on the couch and saying his arm would be useless for weeks. This lightened the mood as the rest of them laughed and teased him about being beat up by his girlfriend. By the time they finished off the wine, they decided to head for bed. Nancy and John started to roll out their sleeping bags, placing them close together but still separate. Mandy stopped them. "Why don't you put them together? We aren't going to say anything and you might not get another chance to actually sleep together for a long time. And I'll tell you right now, there is nothing like waking up in the arms of your lover." The siblings looked at each other and grinned. John got busy and zipped them together. Nancy looked embarrassed but managed to say 'thank you' for giving them a chance. Mandy looked over her shoulder as she went toward the bedroom. "Just don't make too much noise. We don't want the rest of the camp responding to someone being murdered or something." The siblings looked at each other sheepishly. This was the first time that they could actually take their time. John decided to try and make it very special for his sister, so he was very gentle helping her undress. Then he kissed her and started working down her body, giving little nips and licks as he continued to her abdomen. He took the time to play with her navel, which made her squirm even more than she already was. While he had enjoyed the scent of her arousal before, this time his face was close enough so his nostrils were filled. He slowed his descent when he got to her thick patch of pubic hair. He was fascinated with his first real look at her womanhood. He touched and explored the outer lips and after parting them, the engorged inner lips. He was amazed by the tightness of her entrance. He knew that she had taken his cock right there before, but she was now tight around his slick fingers. He could also feel her sheath rippling and squeezing his fingers. He had heard about going down on a woman since his friends had joked about it in the locker room. They had called it "licking the slit" and "carpet munching" and decided that it wasn't something that a 'real' man would ever do. All of that went out the window when he was confronted with the real thing. The scent was intoxicating to him and he took a tentative swipe of his tongue from where his fingers were in her hole and up between her inner lips and finally over the sheath of her clit. In the blink of an eye, the taste and the reaction of his lover convinced him that everything he had heard was wrong. The taste was light and just slightly musky and he savored it as he ran his tongue around all over her mound. And the way she jerked and groaned his name was more than enough reason to continue. Nancy was going crazy with the tongue-lashing her brother was giving her. She was concerned that he would be grossed out by her smell when he first put his face between her legs, but the sensations that she was getting from his loving caresses drove everything else from her mind. She managed to guide him to her clit just as she felt that familiar feeling in her body that signaled her rise to an orgasm. She suddenly felt herself tense and then her climax started. John continued to nuzzle her nether lips as she rode the waves of pleasure that were coursing through her body. As she started coming down she opened her eyes to see John looking into her face from between her legs and grinning at her. "My God, Johnny. That had to be the best I have ever had. Now come up here and finish the job." She pulled at his shoulders until he was covering her torso with his. John gently kissed and caressed her face and hair as she recovered. Nancy then rolled her and her brother over until she was on top. She took the time she knew she had now to explore his body. She played with his cock first holding it up with two fingers as she explored its length. She then moved onto to his scrotum where she gently felt his balls for their size and texture. Then in a fit of inspiration, she decided to return the favor and reached up and licked the head of her brother's cock. John pushed her head away and she had thought she had done something wrong until she saw the gobs of semen that were spurting from the swollen head of his dick. She was fascinated with the pressure that she felt in her hand as it pulsed. When she looked at her brother's face, she saw that he was embarrassed. "Damn, sis. I'm sorry but I couldn't stop it. Between watching you come and then you playing with me, it was just too much." "Is that why you pushed me when I kissed your dick?" "Well, I didn't want to gross you out by coming in your mouth." "That was sweet, Johnny. But I missed my chance to find out how you taste." She then moved until her face was directly over his wilting dick. To his surprise, she stuck her tongue out and licked the spend from around the head and down to where her fingers still encircled his shaft. "You clean up what is around it and I will take care of this." She cleaned his shaft as well as her hand and then she slipped her lips around it and started to suck, running her tongue over every inch of his cock that she could reach. John couldn't believe how good that felt to him and even more so because she was doing it to make him feel good. It didn't take very long before he was fully erect again. With a look of lust in her eye, she shuffled up to his waist on her knees. She held him still while she rocked her hips back and forth lubricating the head with her juices. She then positioned him at the mouth of her tunnel and slowly lowered down until their pubic bones touched. She had held her breath while she impaled herself only to let it out in one low groan of satisfaction once she was completely filled. John cupped her aching breasts in his palms and started to massage the flesh. Being stimulated from two different places, Nancy started to move toward another orgasm. She rocked her pelvis causing her clit to be stimulated by the coarse hair of her brother's groin. She soon achieved a plateau in her rise, so she started an up and down motion using John's cock to stimulate her deep inside her tunnel. John pulled her down on her elbows so he could suckle her nipples. This moved her pelvis up enough that he could start thrusting in rhythm with her. He reached down and kneaded her ass, running his finger over her anus at the same time. She had been close before and this new sensation where she didn't expect it was enough to take her over the edge. She savagely attacked her brother's mouth with her own as her pussy slammed down onto him. When he felt her going over, he went with her, shooting deep into her tunnel and covering her cervix with his semen. He held her tightly keeping her on top of him while she came down. She brought her face up far enough that he could see tears in her eyes. He took on a look of panic and asked her if he had hurt her somehow. "No, silly. You didn't hurt me at all. That was just so... perfect that I'm crying because I'm happy. I'm also a little sad because this may be the last time we will have this much time together alone." "Nance, honey, I'm sure we will be able to find enough time to get together, even if it isn't all night. And I know I will always remember just how special this was and how much I love you right now." "Johnny, that's so sweet. I love you too and I will remember this from now on, just like you. No matter what happens, we will remember our first times as being really good, not like the girls at school talk about. Too bad I can't tell them what a great lover you are." The last was said with a twinkle in her eyes. "You would be swarmed with virgins wanting you to break them in." "I probably couldn't stand the pressure. Good thing I had such a willing and perfect partner to learn with." They threw a light blanket over their bodies as they snuggled up together, talking nonsense until they both drifted off, locked in each other's arms. Greg was the first one up the next morning. He remembered that they had guests in the other room so he slipped on some boxers before he ventured out. He came down the hall to see the two siblings sound asleep, still locked in an embrace. Nancy had kicked the covers off for the most part and Greg received an eye opening view. Her top half was covered as she lay on her left side, her face toward her brother's. The sight of her still puffy lips framed by the pale globes of her ass at the top and the golden tan of her legs below was more stimulating than any dose of caffeine could ever be. He stood quietly for a moment taking in the view before moving into the kitchen area to start some coffee to wake the rest of his body up. He stayed in the kitchen until he could convince the one part of him that was VERY awake to settle down until he was more presentable. By the time the brew was ready, Karen was starting to stir. She must have forgotten where she was... As she woke up, she rolled away from John and stretched, which uncovered her top as well as exposing her full pubic bush to Greg's eyes. He took one last quick glimpse before he got up from his chair and went to get her a cup. She opened her eyes at the sound of his movement and after shaking the sleep from her mind, she realized just what her position was and that he must have had an unobstructed view of her body. Greg continued to fix her something to drink and then turned to offer it to her. She sheepishly reached over to get her shirt where John had tossed it last night while trying to keep the blanket covering her top. She couldn't quite reach it so Greg stepped over and handed it to her. She took it with an embarrassed "Thanks". When she looked up to take the shirt, her eyes were almost level with his crotch and she could see that she must have had an effect on him by the thickening of the lump in his boxers. She quickly pulled her eyes away from the sight as he turned to move back to the kitchen. As he had handed Nancy her shirt, he had caught a look at her bare back and the top of her buttocks. The muscles were just barely defined under the soft skin, giving her a very sexy look. He could feel his cock swelling once again so he beat a hasty retreat into the kitchen to hide it from her. By the time Nancy had slipped on her shirt and found her panties, Greg had willed his cock down to about half-mast. The glimpses he had seen of this beautiful girl along with the cries of passion that they had heard from her last night were keeping him from relaxing completely. Flashes of what she looked like naked and crying out passionately in orgasm kept creeping into his brain and keeping his cock from going back to its normal state. She then came in and sat down opposite him at the little table. She accepted the mug of coffee and poured cream and sugar to her liking. She took a couple of sips before she looked over at him. "I'm sorry that I was so exposed this morning," she said in a whispered tone. "It wasn't your fault. It just surprised me when I walked in. I promise that after I saw the way you were laying I tried not to look." "Well, I can't blame you if you have stared. I must have made quite a spectacle, stretched out all over the floor." She looked down at the table. "I gotta admit that I didn't mind if you looked, at least a little. I mean it does a girl's ego good to know that you sleep with two such beautiful and sexy women and you would want to look at me too." "Nancy, you are a very pretty woman. I do find you very sexy, especially the way I saw you this morning. Certain parts of me were trying real hard to stand up and salute your beauty." She really blushed now. "I know. I saw it growing before you turned away from me. It is really exciting to know I would have that effect on you." Greg was pretty sure she was flirting with him. She was trying out her newfound sexual freedom on him since she considered him a safe target. He really didn't mind either. He knew he wouldn't do anything with her and if she wanted to tease him a bit to boost her own self-confidence he would just lean back and enjoy it. "Oh, you had a definite effect on me. Even talking about it and seeing your nipples poking at the fabric has got me hard." Nancy looked down at her shirt and was startled to notice that her nipples were quite hard and were clearly showing through the thin material of her shirt. Then she surprised herself and Greg when she bent over and took a peek under the table. Greg had been telling the truth. She could see the outline of his cock standing straight up and she thought she caught a glimpse of the swollen head peeking out above the waistband. She blushed at the sight but had a smile on her face when she raised her head. "Since it is my fault you are in that condition, I'll get up and get us both a refill." As she stood, she pulled at her panties to make them into a thong. The silky material was pulled tight against her swollen lips, showing their outline in great detail. As she turned and walked away, she made sure that the bared cheeks of her ass were rocking as sensuously as she could. When she returned to set his cup down, she bent over far enough to let her shirt fall open and expose her breasts. He noticed that she was still blushing, but she had a look of accomplishment as she sat down. She knew she had affected him and she was enjoying that power. Traci came walking in then wearing a well-worn crop top and panties. Her hair was still messed up from sleep and her eyes were barely open. She made herself a cup of tea from the water that Greg had started earlier for her. Then she leaned against the counter as she sipped on it to wake up. Nancy was more confident in her sensuality now and looked at the other woman without jealousy. She saw that Traci was a tall, willowy woman who could pose for a men's magazine any time she wanted. She had felt inadequate around her before, but with the positive feedback she had received, first from her brother and this morning from Greg, she was beginning to understand that she didn't need to compare herself to anyone. When she returned to school, she planned on carrying that newfound confidence in herself with her. While she was thinking on this, Mandy came out to the kitchen. She detoured from the coffeepot long enough to give Greg a kiss, then another one to Traci on her way. She poured the last cup out and started a new pot. Then she sat down on Greg's lap to enjoy waking up. The quiet voices woke John. He started to get up and threw the covers off only to realize that he was very naked under them. He jerked the covers back over his waist and grabbed the pants he had on the night before and slipped them on under the covers before coming in and joining them. Instead of coffee or tea, he got a Coke out of the refrigerator. Mandy decided to fix sausage and eggs for breakfast and soon, Traci and Nancy were helping as much as they could in the small kitchen. After they all ate, Greg and John cleaned up while the girls all took turns in the bathroom and getting dressed. Then the guys got their turn. John and Nancy had their sleeping bags rolled up and were waiting for their parents to let them know they were awake. They had resumed the same places in the living room that they had been the night before. The only difference was that Jenni was wide-awake and crawling from person to person to get attention. "Me and John want to thank you guys for letting us stay together last night. You were right Mandy. I woke up just before the sun came up and it was the greatest feeling in the world to wake up with your lover lying next to you. I just enjoyed it until I drifted off again." They all could see in her eyes that she meant what she said. John spoke up then. "Yeah, I want to thank you too. And not for just last night. You didn't look down on us like a lot of people would. We may never get another chance to spend all night together, but even if we don't, that was very special for both of us." Mandy reached over and gave John a hug. "We are glad to do it. Your situation is not as rare as most people think. In the group we are involved in, many of the girls admit to at least experimenting with their siblings, either brother or sister. You will probably find someone else but as long as you keep your head about things, you will always be closer than most brothers and sisters." They heard their parents on the porch, so they gathered their things and headed back to their family's cabin. Before they left, they all exchanged phone numbers and e-mail addresses and promised to stay in touch. After they had left, the trio packed and cleaned the cabin. By early afternoon, they were on their way home, feeling relaxed and ready for the rest of the school year. It was late when they reached the house. Mandy dressed Jenni for bed and put her in her crib. She was in Traci's old room, which had been converted into a nursery. Mandy had insisted on a baby monitor when they moved Jenni into the room by herself, but she took to it with hardly any problem. Greg unloaded the car while Traci ran to the store for milk and any other perishables they would need the next morning. Finally, they crawled into bed for a good night's sleep in a familiar bed. Heather came over the next day about mid morning. She played with Jenni while she heard about their vacation. As she listened, she started to get a faraway look in her eyes. "You know, I have never taken a vacation in over twenty years unless it was for work. Maybe it is about time to do just that. I hear that the Virgin Islands are nice this time of year." She didn't say much else about it, but they all could see that she was considering the options. Greg was getting to know his mother better by now and privately thought that within a few weeks, she would be heading out of the country for a while. While the women continued to talk about things that he wasn't really part of or interested in, Greg wandered into the other room and started to catch up on things like mail and messages that had come in during the previous week. Listening to the answering machine, he was writing down the numbers that needed to be called back when he came across one message that stopped him in his tracks. He backed up the machine and listened a second time. Since it was for Mandy, he went in to get her. "Sorry to interrupt you, ladies. Mandy, could you come in here for a minute?" The tone in Greg's voice as he made the request effectively stopped the conversation. As Heather and Traci wondered what was wrong, Mandy followed Greg back into the living room. Greg played the message for her and she was as confused as he was when it ended. The person calling identified himself as Detective Rollins of the city's police force. He asked her to contact him as soon as she got back into town and added that it was very important. Fearful of what she might find out, Mandy dialed the number. Detective Rollins answered on the second ring. After she identified herself, he thanked her for calling back and asked her if she knew a young man named Steve Childers. She haltingly admitted that she did and then asked why... He told her that he didn't want to say, but that he would like to speak to her as soon as possible. Could she come down to the station? After speaking to Greg, she agreed to come down in about half an hour. She hung up and went to get ready to go. Greg told the other two ladies what he knew. Traci said she would watch Jenni until they got back and Heather said she would stay in case they needed her or possibly a lawyer. She had the contacts to make things happen if needed. Greg and Mandy arrived at the station and asked for the detective. He came down and introduced himself. He reassured Mandy that she was in no trouble at all and even agreed to let Greg come with them as he led them into a room. He offered them something to drink and then got down to the matter at hand. "Mr. Childers came under suspicion of a felony and during our investigation, your name came up. I want to ask you some questions that are personal in nature and may be hard for you to answer. Normally at your age, we would have a parent or guardian here with you, but we know that you are emancipated. That's why I'm glad that you brought Mr. Tolkin with you. I can tell that you are close to each other just from your body language." "Actually Detective Rollins, we are engaged." This was from Greg. "Congratulations to both of you. When your name came up, we did some checking and found out that you have been helping and protecting Ms. Carson for over a year. I saw the assault report that dealt with the TRO." Detective Rollins gave them a smile. "I have teens of my own, but I would never even think of doing what your father did." Mandy gave him a small smile. She was grateful that she wasn't in trouble, but she was still worried about why she was there. "I have to tell you that this interview is being taped for evidence in a felony case. While you are not under oath, it would be best that you answer any questions truthfully and completely. Do you understand what I just told you?" "Yes, sir," said Mandy. "Okay. For the record, this interview is for case number 05-177432. Felony sexual assault. Interview is being conducted by Detective Charles Rollins; subject of interview is Ms. Amanda Marie Carson. Also in attendance is Mr. Gregory Tolkin, no middle name." The interview consisted of Detective Rollins asking how she knew Steven Childers and what had been her involvement with him. Mandy told about how he had talked her into a relationship with him and how he had coerced her into sex. She then described how he had raped her the second time they were together. Detective Rollins asked why she had not reported the rape when it happened. "Well, my parents blamed it on me for being a woman and somehow seducing him. They forbade me from telling anyone. The counselors at school wouldn't have been any help, and even if I did tell someone, Steve would have told them I asked for it. I didn't know there was anything else I could do!" By now, Mandy was almost in tears from the frustration of having to relive the events that were still raw in her mind. She usually managed to keep those memories buried, but when they were brought again to the surface, she discovered that they were still as raw and hurtful as if it had happened yesterday. Detective Rollins reached across the table to grasp one of Mandy's hands. "We have all we need. Mandy, I'm sorry to have to put you through this. I can now tell you that Mr. Childers was charged with aggravated sexual assault last week. He raped another girl, but this time it wasn't one that was in the 'church' setting. He is out on bail but the case is strong. We got a rape kit that proves him to be the perp. However, the DA wants to charge him as a serial rapist. That will put him behind bars for life. If it makes you feel any better, you aren't the only other victim. We have found at least three others from your former school that agreed to come forward in spite of their parent's objections." Mandy barely heard the last sentence. The word 'victim' hit her like a ton of bricks. She started to shake from the emotion. Something about this detective, someone in a position of authority, telling her that it wasn't her fault! She hadn't done anything to cause that bastard to rape her, it was all him. She felt like it was a huge weight lifted from her. She started to sob uncontrollably, holding onto Greg with every ounce of strength she had. Detective Rollins looked over at Greg, confused. He couldn't think of anything he had said that would cause her to break down so bad. Greg got her to calm down enough to talk to the detective. "Do you realize what you said, Detective? You said I was a victim! I have been feeling like it was my fault, even though Greg and everybody else told me it wasn't. It... Well, when you told me that I was a victim, I finally understood that it was him, not me. You would know since you deal with things like this. I just... I really can't explain what I feel right now." Greg looked over at the policeman and shrugged. He had no idea how to handle this. Fortunately, Detective Rollins knew someone who could. "Amanda... Mandy? I really think you should talk to the rape crisis counselors that are here. They will understand all the guilt that you are holding in right now. That's why we have victim services. You are eligible and I really think it will do you a lot of good." The detective left the room to get the transcript of the interview prepared so Mandy could sign it. While he was waiting for that, he contacted the assistant district attorney to let him know that they had another charge against Childers. At the same time, he got the authorization to place Mandy in the victim's assistance program. He thought of his own daughter and told himself to be sure to hug her tight when he got home and let her know that he would always be there for her. By the time he got back to the room, Mandy had calmed down considerably. He explained that the DA would be amending the indictment against Steve to include her rape. She didn't have to do anything, but if she were needed, the DA's office would contact her. He also gave her the number for the rape crisis center and the victim's assistance program. Greg promised he would get her to call and they got ready to leave. While he was escorting them to the entrance, Detective Rollins turned to Mandy. "I'm very sorry that you had to go through all that again. But it will help stop him from hurting any other women." Mandy managed to give him a little smile. "If it will stop him, then it will be worth it." They arrived home to find Traci and Heather had something ready for them to eat and drink. Greg had called them as soon as they got out of the building to assure those at home that everything was all right, but Mandy was still upset. As Mandy drank the cocoa and tried to relax, Greg related the interview and what Steve had done. While they were very sympathetic to Mandy, Heather was especially tender which surprised Greg. She took Mandy and guided her upstairs where they stayed for a couple of hours. When Heather came back down, her face was splotchy and her eyes were red from tears. "Mandy is asleep now. She is really exhausted today." She gave a long sigh and then looked over at her son. "She is going to need extra assurances for some time to come. She doesn't know it yet, but no matter how much she is told that it wasn't her fault, deep down she will harbor the thought that somehow she is responsible. I just hope that it won't be years before those feelings fade, if never." Heather made a hurried exit after that, refusing the offer to eat with them. Greg was worried about her sudden departure. Did he say something wrong, or maybe something with Mandy? She had not given any indication that she was upset at them, but she definitely didn't want to stay. He turned this over in his mind as he fixed something for dinner. He considered ordering out, but the simple tasks of chopping and stirring sauces was therapeutic to him. By the time he had a meal ready, he still wasn't sure what he thought of his mother leaving that quickly. Traci came in and sat down with him. Jenni was in her highchair making a mess of the strained vegetables and applesauce that Traci was trying to get into her mouth. Greg ate some, but spent most of the time moving the food around on his plate. When they were finally done, Traci cleaned up, saving a plate for Mandy for when she came down. Greg took Jenni upstairs and ran a bath for her. She played in the tub, squealing with delight every time she splashed. Greg had to really work to get the little girl cleaned up that night. Jenni loved the water, so as soon as he made sure her body was cleaned, he sat back and let her play. After her bath, Greg dried and applied lotion to the little girl just like Mandy had shown him to do. Then she was dressed in her PJs and being rocked to sleep in Greg's arms. He had the radio playing low on a soft rock station and she was soon in dreamland. He got her snuggled in her crib and closed the door to her room without waking her. He got downstairs to find that Mandy had awakened and was finishing her meal. She poured herself a glass of wine and they all adjourned to the living room. "Sorry I slept so long like that. I guess I was exhausted, physically as well as emotionally." Greg put his arm around her and pulled her close to him. "Don't worry about it, you must have really needed it if you slept that long." "Must have. Your mom and I had a good talk. She told me things that made sense, but it will take a while to sink in. Mostly that it wasn't my fault and that you guys know that. And that you love me even with what had happened." "Is that all she said?" Mandy looked at Greg. "No. There was a bunch more, like what I had felt before when it first happened, and how those thoughts come to me even now. How I would still dream about it even now. She knew just what I was going through." The wheels in Greg's head were turning. "The only way she would know is that it must have happened to her sometime in the past. That would also explain why she took off out of here tonight. She must have brought it back up after what we told her about you." Mandy then caught Greg's gaze and held it. "I wasn't going to say anything since it should be Heather's decision to reveal it or not. But I will tell you this; she did go through something similar in the past. You will have to ask her for the details though." Greg wasn't happy about that, but after he saw that Mandy wouldn't tell him anymore, he dropped that part of the discussion. Instead, they switched to talking about if she was called to testify, and what would come of all the charges it looked like Steve would have against him. It did Greg a lot of good to think of what Steve's life would be like in prison. Even though he was top dog in his school, that wouldn't mean anything to the cons. He would be getting a taste of his own medicine. When he relayed those thoughts to the two women, they both agreed that it would be fitting punishment. "I hope he gets held down and gang-raped by either the black or Latino gangs. He is very bigoted about minorities," stated Mandy. "Yeah, that will be his downfall, if he goes in with that attitude," quipped Traci. "Those guys will pass him around for favors or cigarettes." They talked a little more about the situation, and then tried to move on to other happier subjects. However, it was still on their minds for many weeks to come and something would cause one of them to remark on it and the whole situation would come back to the surface. Mandy did start going to the counselor that was provided through the victim's assistance program. He did more for her than she ever thought he could. She didn't worry about hurting his feelings, so she got to where she was honest with him and ended up telling him not only about being raped by Steve, but also her life with her parents and how it changed when she met Greg. He would guide her, but mostly he just pointed out things to her about why she did something or felt some way. He let her figure out much of her problems and solutions with him simply pointing out things to her. There came the day when he asked Greg and Traci to come in with Mandy and to talk with him afterwards. He knew about their relationship and thought it would be best if he talked to both of them. Mandy came out from her regular session and motioned the other two to enter. Greg and Traci came in and took the two comfortable chairs in front of the desk. Traci could tell that Mandy had just vacated her chair since she could feel the warmth still in the leather from her friend's body. Greg was looking at the furnishings and decor, noticing that it was rich but not gaudy. It gave off the subtle feeling of relaxation. Dr. Milson entered and took the chair behind the desk. He was just a little taller than Greg and was just a little portly. His hair was silvery gray and still full despite his age. He had a friendly smile and his voice was melodious and comforting. He introduced himself and then got started on what he wanted to see them about. "I am certainly glad that you two agreed to come in to see me. Amanda has been through a lot, and she depends on both of you for support. I think it would be beneficial for us to talk and for you to understand what she is working through. So, with her permission, I am going to reveal just what we have been discussing in our sessions together. "She has had feelings of self-doubt combined with guilt about her part of the rape. On the surface, she understands that it wasn't her fault and that there was nothing she could have done to change the circumstances. However, in her subconscious, she blames herself. In addition, I believe she still fears that isn't "worthy" of her mate and that she could end up losing everything she holds dear." Greg spoke up immediately. "Doctor, there is no way she is going to lose me, Jenni, or even Traci for that matter. We all love her dearly." Dr. Milson smiled over at the two people across his desk. "I believe you are sincere about that. Mandy has spoken about both of you extensively. You two, and of course her child, are always at the forefront of her thoughts. No, the source of her fear is more distant. For many years, she has lived in fear of her father. He was always the dominant force in her life. He set the way everything in her house was done. "Now that she is away from him, she is having trouble understanding deep down that the only influence he has now is what she allows him to have. She still fears that somehow he is going to turn up, take control of her, and punish her for what she has done. Worse yet, in some ways she is confusing God and her father, and that God is going to get her." The last two words he emphasized by drawing quotes in the air with his fingers. Once again, it was Greg that asked the oblivious question. "What can we do to help?" "You both have been doing a wonderful job of supporting her and quelling those fears - when she will tell you about them. One reason I asked to speak to you is so I can tell Mandy that you understand and want to help her and she is to tell you when she has those feelings. She was afraid that you might not understand, but I can now assure her that you know what is going on, and that you understand completely. Most of all, you must make sure that she knows that you don't think any less of her as a mother and a lover because of this." "Doctor, do you think it would reinforce the concept if you were to tell her - actually all of us- just what you said? Maybe it would assure her to see us both agreeing in your presence." This was the first that Traci had spoken. "It might at that. She would then see you making the commitment with an authority figure present," Dr. Milson said, pointing at himself. "By the way Greg, she sees you as the authority figure in her life. The leader and source of guidance for her. I am sure you wouldn't take advantage of that, but it is best that you are aware of that and be careful of forcing her to do things just because you think it is best. Always make her take a part in any major decisions. She will just defer to you and let you run her life for her if you let her." As Greg pondered what the good doctor had just told him, the counselor got up and went to the door to ask Mandy to join them. She came in looking a little apprehensive. Greg stood up and motioned for her to take his seat. He then stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders for support while she listened to the doctor explain what they had discussed and what Greg and Traci had promised to do. By the time that the session was finished, Mandy was feeling better. She was more comfortable talking with her lovers about her fears and feelings, knowing that they understood and wanted to help her. They were getting ready to leave to pick up Jenni from Heather's office when Dr. Milson made one last request. "I must confess that I was not sure of the positive aspects of the living arrangement you three have to begin with. But after talking to Mandy first and then meeting you other two, it seems to work well for you. Now I am very interested in the dynamics of your relationship. Would you three be adverse to meeting with me to discuss your relationship?" Greg and Mandy indicated that they had no problem with it. Traci thought for a moment then agreed as well. Her hesitation was only for Mandy, and what her old church would do if they found out. Dr. Milson said that he would make sure that if he ever wrote up his findings that their names would be held in strictest confidence. After all, it would be doctor - patient privilege. Heather had been asking if Mandy could bring Jenni to see her at the office for quite a while, so since they all had to be at the appointment, Greg had asked his mother if she would be willing to watch the little girl. Heather had been excited to sit for them and assured them that Jenni would be no trouble. In fact, Heather warned them that she needed the quality time to spoil her granddaughter-to-be so they should just take their time before coming back. When they showed up at Heather's office just after quitting time, they found that she had been correct. Jenni was sitting in Heather's office chair being attended to by a couple of the secretaries that worked in the office. Jenni was showing her talents by giggling and laughing at the faces they made at her, throwing her arms around in her joy. Her movements became even more boisterous when she spotted her mother. Giving out a squeal, she tried to launch herself out of the chair, only to be caught by the woman who was kneeling by her. Mandy's face radiated the same joy when she walked across the room and picked Jenni up and hugged her. Heather told them that she had been no trouble at all, matter of fact she made the office much brighter. As Mandy cuddled her baby, Greg noticed not for the first time just how similar mother and daughter were. Jenni had the same light brown hair and blue eyes that danced when they were happy. He wondered if this little child would grow into the same beauty her mother was. There was one thing he was going to try and change between them. Jenni would never have to know the fear and self-loathing that had been so much of her mother's childhood. They left the office with Heather who offered to treat them to dinner. The restaurant that they decided on was casual so they did not feel out of place, but the food was excellent. Heather seemed to be known here as well, so the service was as good as the fare. After they had finished their meal and were enjoying their coffee, Heather gave Greg some news. "Your father called into the office today. He will be coming back for a short time for business. Now Ted knows all about your living arrangements and agrees with what is set up, but he no longer has a place to stay, per se. Will it mess you guys up if he stays in the spare room?" Greg was startled by her question. He still had not come to terms that the house that the four of them were living in was, for all intents and purposes, his. "Of course he can stay with us. I wouldn't have thought otherwise." "I'm glad to hear that. Since he has been gone so much, and with how we have set things up now, he wasn't sure he would be that welcome." "Mom, I still love him. He's my father after all. But it will be strange. I mean it has been almost two years since I've seen him and even then it wasn't that often." Mandy broke in saying, "Well, I would like to meet my future father-in-law. I don't know anything about him. Maybe it's a chance to get to know him." "One thing," interrupted Traci. "You know about our relationship, Heather, but does he? Should I move my things in with Jenni while he is here?" Greg answered that himself. "No. You are part of us and you will stay right where you always are. Where you belong. One thing Dad always told me was that I had to make my own decisions in life. And it is my decision, with Mandy's agreement, that you are very much a part of our lives for as long as you want to be and I don't give a damn who knows it! Dad will just have to get used to it." Heather stared at her son for a moment. He had never been this forceful about his thoughts and decisions. Even from a small child, he had the sometimes annoying habit of silently listening to what she or Ted had told him he should do, then he would simply do what he felt was right for him. Now he was vocalizing his decision and giving his reasoning. It really hit home with her then that the young man in front of her, her son, was a formidable personality that was very much secure within himself. It must have been genetic for both she and Ted were that way, but they really couldn't take credit for teaching him. "Son, I have to say that with the strength of conviction you show, you are going to be unstoppable in whatever you choose to do." His mother's words filled Greg with pride and left him feeling very good that his mother felt so highly of him. Mandy, who had seen this side of her mate a few times before, just gave a knowing smile. Traci's reaction was different. She had tears in her eyes as she thought of the love that he had just proclaimed for her. They had said words to that effect before privately, but this was the first time any of them had said anything outside of the three of them. Now, he was willing to tell the world and damn the flack that comes with it. It made her love them both even more. Sitting next to her, Greg noticed a tear that had started down her cheek. He gently caught it on the back of his finger. When she looked to him, he just gave her a tender simile and said, "I love you, and I know Mandy does to." She glanced over to see Mandy smiling and nodding. Heather had seen the dynamics among the three lovers before and while she really couldn't see it herself, was convinced that they could do well. "I hate to break this up, but I should get moving. I need to get some rest. Jenni was actually helpful today when a client showed up and saw my 'granddaughter'. She said it meant we were the kind of people she wanted to work with. But now, I have to make up for the work that didn't get done yesterday. We have the Wilson acquisition coming up next week and I have to be ready. Finish your drinks and I'll pay the bill on my way out." Jenni was showing signs of getting tired, so they finished up and headed home. Mandy put Jenni to bed and came back down to join the other two to study. They all were looking at finals coming up in the next few weeks, and graduation for Greg and Mandy. Greg's school had their senior prom and Mandy went as his date once again. Traci was insistent that she would watch Jenni and they were to enjoy themselves. "There is only one senior prom in your life and you shouldn't miss it." This time Greg got together with Andy, who was still dating Connie, and arranged a limo for the evening. They would be going in style. Connie and Andy had been frequent guests at the Tolkin house over the past year. Even though it was never mentioned out loud, they knew about the three-way relationship and were pretty comfortable with it. Andy was a little jealous because Greg was living every man's fantasy, but he really was more than happy with the outgoing woman he was dating. After they had taken each other's virginity at last year's prom, Andy discovered that a sexual tiger lived inside Connie. She was often the aggressor in their trysts, wanting to try different things that she had heard rumored or had seen on the Internet. And he had never been disappointed... They had been accepted at the same college out of state, and were planning to move in together when they got there. The girls had got together and decided to really make an impression on the prom crowd. When they stepped out of the limo at the dance, their wish was fulfilled. Mandy's dress was a deep blue that matched her eyes and was cut on the top to reveal the generous cleavage she still retained from her nursing of Jenni. She had lost almost all of the weight from her pregnancy and what remained filled out her body into a delightful shape. The curve of her thigh could be seen in the slit that came up the side of her dress far enough that there was no guessing if she was wearing undergarments. Connie's dress also emphasized her best attributes. Her bust line was not as large as Mandy's, but she showed off what she had with a neckline that barely covered her nipples that always seemed to be erect. The thin straps came down the sides of her body once again coming together so low on her back that you could just catch a hint of where the cheeks of her ass began. The only way it stayed in place was the stiff bodice in the front. Again, there was no question about underwear. Not a panty line in sight. The other girls had a fit about the 'slutty' look of their dresses, but every male in the ballroom was drooling. To add to the effect, when Mandy was dancing, the split in her gown would open enough to reveal a goodly portion of her left hip and cheek. While they were resting between dances, Olivia came by to talk. Now a junior, she had filled out over the year and turned from a thin little girl into a very shapely young woman. She had been dating one of the senior guys that Greg had seen in class but didn't know very well. She had walked up shyly at first, but had brightened when Mandy had remembered her name and greeted her with a smile. "I just wanted to thank you for letting me share Greg during lunches this past year. We got to talk about everything! I always knew he was safe and he helped me over some real rough spots. I'm really going to miss him next year." Greg stood up and bowed to the younger girl. "If your date has no objections, how about a last dance between friends?" Olivia looked over where she thought her date was only to find him talking to a bunch of his friends. "I don't think Jerry really cares. He is probably trying to score some pot for after prom. And I would love a dance with you." She looked to Mandy who gave her a nod, and then accompanied Greg to the dance floor. A slow song started and Olivia melted into Greg's arms as they started to sway to the beat of the music. She laid her head on his chest. "This is so nice. Jerry danced one dance with me and then has spent most of the rest of the time with his friends. Now I'm getting to spend some time with my best male friend." "Liv, you know I'm going to miss you too. You always could brighten up even a bad day. You are kind and sweet and very pretty." She grinned up at him at that remark. "You can always come to our house to see us. Mandy and I both would be happy to have you come by." "You're sure?" When Greg nodded and grinned down at her, she sighed and replaced her head on his chest, hugging him tightly. "I really think I'd like that," she whispered. They returned to the table and Olivia went on in search of her date. The foursome traded partners for a couple of dances, but it was soon time for the last dance they would have as high school students. They paired with their original dates for the final slow song, savoring the sights and sounds of the evening. The limo took them to Greg and Mandy's house first and then continued on to Andy's. His parents were gone for the weekend, and Connie was staying the night there. Traci was sitting in the living room reading a book when they came in. She followed them upstairs and they told her all about the evening while they changed out of their formal wear. She found it incredibly cute that Greg had danced with Olivia. "If a girl gets asked to dance with her crush, she wouldn't ever turn it down. I bet her panties were wet by the end of it. You did a good thing, Greg Tolkin. She was one happy girl, I'll bet." Mandy agreed with her. "You should have seen her, Traci. She was practically walking on air after she left." Greg was a little embarrassed by those remarks, but when he thought about it, he did feel good for thinking about asking her. And he did enjoy the feel of her small compact body against his while they danced. The three enjoyed some easy love play ending with Mandy riding his cock and Traci straddling his face. After they were satisfied, they all cuddled together and fell into a deep sleep. Mandy's graduation was first and her new family was there for the ceremony. Heather was sitting with Greg and Traci who was holding a squirming Jenni so she could see her mother graduate. This school read each student's name and then announced any awards or scholarships. When Mandy's turn came up, the principal stepped up to the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, this next student has much to be proud of today. In addition to having given birth late last year, she overcame some deficient schooling in several subjects, and is graduating with top honors. With the help of other students, she organized a non-profit group to help other teens. Finally, she won a full scholarship to the University to study art. Miss Amanda Marie Carson, please step forward." Mandy stepped up to the podium. She had prepared her remarks since she had known about being the top of her class. They hadn't told her about the scholarship however, and she was really shocked by that. The applause quieted down by the time she stepped in front of the microphone. She suddenly got a case of stage fright when she looked out over the now silent crowd. She started to panic until she heard a high-pitched squeal. She looked down at the front row to see Jenni grinning at her mommy and giving a shriek of recognition while holding her arms out to her. That broke the tension for her and she found she could continue then. She had kept her remarks short, praising the school that had given her a chance and how the teachers had been so much help. Then she talked about looking to the future with their heads held high for she and her classmates had accomplished much more than just any student. They had overcome the stigma of pregnancy and being single parents as well as the normal obstacles. She finished with these words. "So everyone who stands on this stage today deserves all the applause and praise that can be given. For we are all special. We are teens and mothers, as well as graduates. Be proud of who you are and look to your future knowing that you can handle whatever life throws at you." She received an ovation from her classmates and from the crowd as well. The ceremony progressed quickly after that. There were only 60 girls who were receiving their diplomas that day. Afterwards, the school held a reception in their lunchroom. The girls all said their goodbyes to the teachers and each other. Greg and Traci both found themselves being thanked by many of the students. Since Greg would be graduating next week, there was a party planned at the Tolkin house the day after his ceremony. Greg's graduation was longer and more traditional. He did have a scholarship to the local university, but it was announced during the first part of the ceremony. He was also recognized as a member of the National Honor Society. The presentation of the diplomas took much longer since there were over four hundred in his graduating class. His 'family' including Heather, Mandy, Traci and the close friends he had made at Mandy's school was sitting in the audience and was just as proud of his diploma as he had been of Mandy's. As soon as the graduates had tossed their mortarboards in the air and were released, they all headed home for a late lunch and then to start preparing for the party scheduled for the next day. The celebration consisted of many of Mandy's friends who had graduated as well as several of Greg's. In addition, there were some of Traci's friends from her classes that showed up just for the fun of it. They had the back yard as well as the lower part of the house to roam in. Plenty of food was available to go with wine and beer supplied by the older guests... Almost everyone had been to their house before and knew better than to get too drunk and rowdy or Greg would escort them out the door. And after he had won the Gold Medal in the regional Martial Arts tournament the previous April, they also knew he could do just that. The music was loud, but the neighbors that were close enough to hear had been told ahead of time and invited over so they weren't going to complain. Plenty of food was eaten and generally everyone had a great time talking and laughing. Someone produced some extra large pantyhose from who knew where. One of the guys cut the legs off until they would come down about halfway a person's legs. A contest soon formed that involved a couple standing with the female half in front of the male. They would then both slip on the tops of the hose, making them have to walk (or in this case, run) in sync with each other. Some of the teams were so different in height, the guys would have to hold the girl up to where her ass and his crotch were the same height. The object was supposed to be to make it across the back yard in the shortest amount of time. What it amounted to in reality was a chance to make a fool of yourself as you tumbled on the ground with maybe a bit of mutual groping thrown in on the side. The party finally wound down well after dark. A couple of people had drunk too much and Mandy had taken their car keys. They sacked out on the floor. The residents managed to get things closed up and shut down. They then headed to bed, vowing to clean up in the morning. Since Jenni was staying with 'Grandma Heather' for the night, Mandy had indulged in the wine more than ever before. She found out that in addition to the nice warm feeling it gave her, she found herself to be extremely aroused. She practically attacked Traci as she walked into the bedroom, grabbing her face and kissing her soundly before reaching down and trying to get her tight jeans off. Traci was feeling much the same way and immediately reacted by doing the same to Mandy. By the time Greg had made sure the house was secure and made it to the door, he found his two lovers locked into a furious embrace. They were on their knees, naked in the middle of the bed. They were kissing madly while caressing and stroking each other anywhere they could reach. Greg closed the door and stepped back to watch as he removed his own clothes. By now, Traci had been pushed down on her back by Mandy, who was working her way down to the other woman's pussy. She quickly had Traci on the verge of orgasm when she stopped her movements. She looked over at Greg with her eyes smoky with passion. "She's so wet. Come over here and fuck her!" Greg crawled up on the bed ready to do as Mandy had commanded. As he positioned himself between Traci's spread thighs, he looked up to see the redhead staring at him through slitted eyelids. "Oh God, yes. Please, Greg... Please fuck me!" She continued to say things like that as he slid his cock into her. When he began to slide in and out of her, the words became mere sounds. He hadn't been in her for more than a dozen strokes when Traci's body became taut, raising her pelvis off the bed and into him. She stayed frozen like that for a couple seconds then started jerking in her climax. Greg continued to stimulate her with short strokes, her walls grasping against him. She started to come down and he prepared to pull out. This was something he often did so he could then pleasure whichever woman had been waiting. However, Mandy told him to stay in her and then take her over again. She wanted him to come in Traci. He wasn't against the idea as this woman under him was a fantastic sex partner. He started to thrust into her again using long slow strokes that she always enjoyed. It didn't take long for her to start climbing for another climax. Mandy was sitting next to the couple and Traci moved her hand between her lover's legs and began to stimulate her clit. Greg was getting close, but he was trying to hold off for Traci's sake. He wanted her to go over with him. He felt her pelvis starting to rise again and he lost it. His cock was spurting deep into her body as he made short frantic thrusts against her mons. The movement was transferred to her clit and that was all it took to send her soaring into the clouds once again. Her fingers on Mandy's clit started to tremble and combined with hearing the others in orgasm, triggered Mandy's own. Mandy frantically slammed her pelvis against her friend's hand, pushing three fingers deep into her pussy. Greg had enough strength to move to Traci's side while Mandy crawled up to her other side. They all made a little small talk as lovers often do, but they were all exhausted and were soon out. The next morning, they all hit the medicine cabinet before they ventured to the shower. There was a little groping but nobody felt much like going any further. Then Greg took the bottle of Tylenol downstairs and went to wake the guys that were asleep on the living room floor. By the time they were awake and complaining about their hangovers, Traci had coffee ready to go. Nobody was in the mood for breakfast. One of the guys turned rather green at the mere mention of food so the three had a cup of coffee, retrieved their car keys from Mandy, and after thanking them for a great party, headed back to their dorms. Heather was going to bring Jenni back to the house mid-afternoon after they left the zoo. Greg was still amazed at how his mother had taken to the little girl. It was like she had missed her chance with him, but now wanted to make it up with Jenni. He had gotten rid of his feeling of resentment about it and now was just happy that she was trying so hard with Jenni. By the time Heather showed up, they were all feeling a bit better. She stayed for a while telling how much she had enjoyed having Jenni and hinting that she would certainly be willing to do it more often. Then she left reminding them that Greg's father would be in town in a few days. Greg still wasn't sure how he felt about that. He had agreed to have his dad stay, but would it be like having a stranger with them? Greg gave a sigh as he decided just to wait and see. ------- Chapter 14 Greg was waiting at the house for his father to arrive. He wondered if his dad was as nervous as he was right then. Deep down, he respected and even loved his father, but in his everyday life, his father was more of a stranger than even his mother had been before she came back into their lives. Ted Tolkin arrived in front of his former house shortly before noon. He left his bags in the back of the rental car, not sure if he would be staying even though Heather had assured him that he would be more than welcome. He made it about halfway to the front door when it opened... A young man that was about his height but more muscled stood in the opening. He hadn't been home for almost two years, and even though this had to be his son, he had certainly changed. Greg stood just inside the threshold, waiting for some reaction. After his father walked up the sidewalk to the front door, he offered his hand, which Ted took and shook warmly, smiling at him. "It's great to see you, Dad." Ted relaxed at that moment. His son didn't seem to be resentful, at least not openly. He went willingly when Greg brought him into the living room. The house was familiar, but there were personal touches that could only have been the work of Greg or his girlfriend. He felt that he was more of a guest now, and it was then that he realized that his son had become an adult and this was now his son's place, not his. This thought startled him. It was one thing to propose giving Greg the house and quite another to see it in person. He had to admit that Greg was doing a great job from what he could see. They fell into a comfortable companionship even though Greg still felt some tension between him and his father. This tension dropped considerably after Mandy brought Jenni down from her nap. Ted Tolkin accepted the fact that Mandy and Jenni were a major part of his son's life and treated them as such. He knew that Jenni wasn't Greg's biological child of course, but after observing how his son interacted with the infant, he couldn't help commenting. "Even though I know better Greg, watching you with Jenni, she might as well be yours." "Dad, Jenni is a joy to have around. I didn't think I wanted a child around for several years, but I could never imagine being without her." As Greg was telling his father this, Jenni was cooing and grinning as she was suspended above him. Then she extended both arms toward him and spoke the word "Da". Mandy had come back into the room just in time to hear her daughter and she turned to stare open-mouthed at Greg. "Did she just say what I think she said?" The stunned and proud expression on Greg's face told her that she was right in what she heard. They all referred to Greg, as 'Daddy' when talking to Jenni, just like Mandy was 'Mommy' and Traci was 'Auntie T'. But this was the first time the little girl had formed the word. "Sounds like she has figured out who to wrap around her little finger and just how to do it." Ted gave his son a grin. Greg gave a chuckle. "Guess so, but I sure don't mind. She is a sweetheart." "I hate to ask this but are there any problems with the father? I mean does he have any interest in seeing her?" Mandy answered. "I don't think we will hear much out of him. He raped another girl and she reported it. After that, there were several of us that came forward and told our stories. The DA says he is going to charge him as a serial rapist, which carries a much tougher penalty." "He's agreed to sign over any custody rights," added Greg. "As soon as it's possible after we get married, I'll be adopting Jenni. That is just a formality since it seems she is mine in all but blood anyway." Ted nodded his understanding without saying anything else about his son's living arrangements. Secretly, he knew he should be against Greg living with any woman at his age, much less two. But he had to admit that Heather was right in saying that Greg was definitely not a normal teenage boy. He had a better head on his shoulders than many of the young men the company sent to him and they were older by several years. When he talked to his wife about their son, the change that she insisted had taken place seemed impossible... Yet, the proof was right in front of him, playing with a child that he knew was not his by blood. Greg loved Jenni in a way he had never learned. Ted's musings were interrupted when the front door opened and an absolutely gorgeous redhead came in. She was dressed in a very professional manner, but the clothes couldn't hide the near perfect figure. She waved to her housemates and went to the edge of the couch to drop her coordinated blazer on the arm. Traci shook hands as she was introduced to Ted who was completely speechless. She gave an embarrassed chuckle and turned to leave. She wanted to get out of her work clothes and into something that was more comfortable. As soon as she was out of the room, Greg looked over at his dad with a grin. "You can stop drooling, Dad. You're going to embarrass her." Ted did shut his mouth and gave himself a little shake. "I'm sorry about that. She just caught me off guard. I knew you guys had a housemate of course, but I had no idea she looked like that. Frankly, I think I should be jealous of my own son. Living under the same roof with two beautiful women. You are living every man's fantasy." "You are more right than you know, Dad. Traci not only shares our house, but our bed. We all decided, together, that she was welcome for as long as she wants. We both love her dearly, and she feels the same." Ted was really confused now. He had heard of such things, of course. But he had never heard of them working out; at least not as well as this one seemed to be doing. And of course, the thought of either one of the beauties naked and aroused was cause for him to feel his erection building. Both of them together were almost more than his libido could take. Traci reappeared several minutes later, her hair still damp from a quick shower and her face clear of the makeup artist's efforts. In addition to the social work this summer, she also had succumbed to everyone's prodding and started modeling once in a while. The extra money was great since her brother was still draining her parents with appeals. However, the sessions always left her exhausted. She eased herself into the recliner and propped her feet up. Traci's friendly personality soon had overcome Ted's nervousness and he was telling them about working out in the jungles of the world. As a structural engineer, he was responsible for the projects that he had designed. He had worked well with the local governments and his company had more or less given him the Asian subsidiary. He had turned it into a very profitable part of the company with a reputation for honesty and being able to pull off what they stated they could do. What he didn't say at the time was that while he had earned much in his profession, being around Greg and his 'family' this afternoon showed him just how much he had missed out on in his personal life. Ted suggested that he take them all out to a nice dinner, but Greg asked if they could go the next night. Mandy had been anxious to make an impression and had a slow-cooked roast and all the fixings almost ready to come out of the oven. Ted said that would be great since he had been enjoying the wonderful smells coming from the kitchen. The meal was superb even by Mandy's high standards. The roast would almost fall apart, the vegetables were still crisp and the potatoes had just a light crust to them. Ted didn't cook very much for himself and this was the first real home cooked meal he had eaten in a couple of years. He had taken seconds on everything, and complimented Mandy several times on her prowess in the kitchen. She even blushed when he offered to have her move back with him as his personal chef. After dinner, the women sent the two men out to the back deck for some private time while they cleaned up. Greg and Ted took up positions in a couple of lounge chairs, the rest of the wine from dinner between them. Ted lit up an imported cigar as well. "This is one of the few vices I take time for, and then only after a particularly satisfying meal." Now that they were alone, father and son got down to some serious conversation. Ted started out by trying to apologize for not being around like he should have been. Greg pretty well told him the same thing he had told his mother. They couldn't change what was in the past, but if he wanted to go from this point on, he would like to have at least some kind of relationship. "Greg, just watching you today with Mandy and Jenni, I could see something that I missed out on all these years. I don't know how you manage to have it. Lord knows it doesn't come from your mother and me, but you have a devotion to your family that goes beyond what I would have any right to expect." "Well, I just consider myself lucky to have someone like Mandy and Traci as well love me. When I was growing up, I knew you guys loved me somehow. But I really missed not having the affection. With Mandy in kind of the same situation growing up, we found that we could shower that affection on each other and it would be returned. Since we both know what it is like without that, we work hard at making sure we don't neglect each other." "And Traci fits in how?" asked Ted. Greg smiled. "Traci was lonely and tired of trying to have friends only to have them only want her for her beauty or her body. The guys were trying to get in her pants, and the girls would mostly stab her in the back, or try and get her in bed as well. We became friends because we didn't do that to her. She felt safe and could relax with us. Eventually, we all realized that we loved each other and there was no jealousy. Both women are straight except with each other. Most important, it goes far beyond just sex for us. We each care deeply for the others as people. For who they are on the inside." Ted thought on this while he finished his cigar. He had to admit that Greg was on the right track for happiness. He knew he had personally missed out and was glad his son wouldn't. No matter what else he did, Greg would always have that companionship. Traci came out with a cup of tea, saying Mandy would be out in a minute so Jenni could collect goodnight kisses. Changed and in her sleepers, the little girl was passed between the adults, collecting kisses, hugs and tickles. In return, she gave them all smiles and giggles and to Greg's delight, calling him 'Da' again. She had said Ma for a while now but this was a new word for her and they could see she was enjoying its use. Ted took his turn, still not really sure of what he was doing, but Jenni had him acting like a fool for her before Mandy retrieved her and took her to bed. With the little one asleep, Mandy joined the rest on the deck. It was then that Ted explained his sudden trip back to the states. He had almost finished supervising the construction of a bridge when there was a local uprising. He and his crew had experienced things like this before and they just moved back until things quieted down. However instead of that, the uprising grew into a revolution against the current government. And that meant anything the government was involved with. They were all relaxing in the company base compound one evening when there was a huge explosion. It wasn't long before the compound was attacked and overrun by insurgents. The men on his crew had scrambled for their weapons and those that were close enough fled into the jungle. Ted had sent out a distress call when the attack started and within moments, there were a couple of helicopters firing on the attackers causing them to scatter. One of the choppers set down and dropped off a half dozen soldiers. He and a few of his supervisors that were still alive were lifted to safety. At the embassy, he was told that the uprising had not been considered dangerous until they had got his call. They were told that they should evacuate until things settled down. The company's home office agreed and recalled everyone that was left. "I was offered the Middle East office, but I told them that I wouldn't decide until I had taken some time off. They owe me over six months in accrued down time, so I am taking some of it. I am having some trouble dealing with the deaths of my men who I worked so closely with. I still see their faces as they lay where they fell. I did time in the Army, but I never saw death up close until a couple weeks ago. I'm not sure the money is worth it anymore." Hearing how upset his voice sounded, Mandy went over and gave Ted a big hug. "That had to be more horrible than I could ever imagine. Did they have families?" "Most of them did. The company, along with the military since we worked closely with them, did the notifications, but I have spent the last two weeks visiting with each family and offering my condolences. It was the least I could do. They didn't just work for me, we were kind of a family out there." Ted's voice was close to cracking with emotion so Mandy continued to hold onto him while Traci disappeared for a moment only to reappear with a glass of Scotch, which she handed to him. Ted thanked her and took a big swallow. He grimaced as the liquor went down his throat. He waited just a moment before he finished the glass. He kept his hand on her back as Mandy sat back. He looked at them all for a moment. "I really didn't understand what having a family was other than something you were supposed to have. After being around you all just for the day, I think I know just what makes a family. It's not who they are, but how the people involved interact that's important. You guys are not in any way what is considered a "normal" family, but you have more love and understanding than any ten families that are the norm. And I would give anything to be a part of what you have. Greg looked over at his father. "Dad, you have always had that kind of family if you had taken the time to look around and see it. You and Mom both were so busy trying to get ahead - to provide for your family - that you forgot what you were working for. Maybe it is time for you to step back and really examine your true priorities." Ted looked at his son in amazement. His tone had not been vengeful or accusing, but the word bit deep, going to the heart of the matter. And what really hurt was that Ted knew his son's statements were true. He hung his head down as he thought about it. When he looked up at his son, there was a definite sadness in his eyes. "How did you get so much wiser than your parents? Heather said that you've grown up, but I had no idea just how much." Greg's voice now carried a hint of sadness and resignation as he answered his father. "Honestly, I've had a long time to figure things out. For a long time, I resented you and Mom both for all but abandoning me. I always seemed to be a far second on your list of priorities. And, there was a time when I hated you both for that. But after talking to Mom, I realized that it really wasn't intentional and I rethought my anger. "Like I told Mom before, we can't change what has already happened. But I would like to go onward from here. We can start to get to know one another and see what comes from that. If you want to, that is." "Greg, I think I would really like that." Mandy reached over then and gave Ted a kiss on the cheek. He gave a chuckle and got a giggle from her in return. Father and son shook hands, which turned into a hug and a thump on the back. Both women were misty-eyed to see them reunited. There was a round of hugs and a few tears, and then the group moved inside. They talked a little more and after a while, they all headed for their respective rooms. The women told Greg that they were happy to have his father here and they really liked him as a person. Greg had to agree. He and his dad had talked more that day than they had in the previous five years. Ted had always been so focused on work that he hadn't taken time for anything else. This was a different man from the one Greg thought he knew. He was sure he liked this one much better. The next morning Mandy was the first one out of their bed, tending to Jenni. She went into Jenni's room and changed her. Afterwords, she headed down to the kitchen to start coffee and some breakfast. She entered the kitchen to see Ted sitting at the counter. He already had the coffee done and was enjoying a cup while reading the paper. He explained that he still wasn't on local time and this was late for him. Mandy got him to keep Jenni occupied while she got the little girl's cereal and fruit ready. She was eating strained food now and was growing like crazy. There were times when more food ended up on the outside than in, but it was a good time all the same. Mandy and Ted talked between bites for Jenni and sips of tea for her. She told him in more detail about what her home life had been like and the events that caused her to be where she was now. He could tell by the way she would brighten when she talked about Greg that she was madly in love with him. He had to admit that his son was a very kind and giving person and these two deserved to be with each other and to be happy. They both had been mostly alone for much of their lives. They now had each other and were able to give support to each other. He was very interested when she mentioned her artwork. By the time the others had come into the kitchen, Ted had made plans to go with Mandy to the gallery and see the originals. Lately, she had expanded into first watercolors and then to oils. She didn't say much about it, but her checks from the gallery were more than three times as much as she could possibly make at a summer job. Traci volunteered to make breakfast and soon had ham steaks, pan-fried potatoes, eggs and biscuits with red-eye gravy. Ted was very complimentary about the quality, which made Traci blush. "Traci is the all around perfect woman," commented Mandy. "Exceptional beauty, brains, and cooking skills." "That is what her Playmate profile should read." This comment earned Greg a smack on the shoulder. Ted looked at the coed seriously. "Really, you should submit your photo to Playboy. They are classy in their photos and the money is good. Plus they treat you like royalty during the shoot." "You can't be serious!" Traci's jaw was almost to the floor. "There is no way in hell I could compete with those women." Mandy and Greg both voiced their objections. Their voices competed to tell the young woman that she was more than enough competition for anyone. To get them to shut up about it, she agreed to sign up when Playboy showed up for the "College Girls" shoot in a few weeks. She figured that would be the end of it when she was passed over. Mandy and Greg had been doing dishes while they were talking, and by the time Traci had agreed, they were done. Then, it was a round of showers and they were ready to head out. The first stop was at the gallery where Mr. Harrington greeted them with great enthusiasm. A gentleman was here from a gallery in New York and was interested in getting some of her work for a show there. Did Mandy have the time to meet with him? Of course she said yes and left with Mr. Harrington to his office. The rest of the group wandered around looking at all of the work displayed, pointing out their likes and dislikes. Amy, Mr. Harrington's assistant, offered them something to drink and then led them to a comfortable conference room. Jenni was starting to get hungry when Mandy came out of the office followed by Mr. Harrington and a tall gentleman with graying hair and a thin face. His custom tailored suit spoke of wealth and power. He came over and introduced himself as John Arborough of Arborough, Martin, and Schmidt, one of the premier art galleries in New York City. "I must say this young woman is as shrewd a businesswoman as she talented in her art. We struck a deal that is beneficial to all concerned and I am looking forward to having her as well as her work in New York." Mr. Arborough spoke with a touch of a British accent that made his speech seem even more formal. Mandy turned to her two lovers. "I accepted the offer before I had a chance to ask your opinion. I hope you don't mind. It means you will have to come with me in late July." They both assured her that it was fine with them. Mr. Arborough smiled at the group. "That is part of what I was referring to when I spoke of her business sense. She convinced me that it would be to the gallery's advantage to bring you both with her. Well done, I must say." They bid the two gentlemen goodbye and continued on with their way. On the way downtown, Mandy told them about the deal she had just struck. Mr. Arborough was looking for artists who were relatively unknown except in their local areas. Mr. Harrington had sent her portfolio to him and Mr. Arborough showed up that morning. It was just luck they had come by, since Mr. Harrington had been trying to call the house. He had left messages for them at the house; they must have been on the way over. "Mr. Harrington was more excited than I have ever seen him. Maybe this is a bigger deal than I thought." "I'm pretty sure it is," stated Ted. "I've been to their place in New York. If a star wants a new piece of art for their apartment, that is where they go. You almost have to have an invitation to get in the front door." "But Mr. Arborough didn't seem snobbish or anything." "He probably isn't, but his clientele is the most elite among the rich and famous. Your work will be hanging in some of the fanciest places in the world." Mandy suddenly looked a little pale. The thought of people that she admired looking and maybe buying her work was daunting. Ted caught her look and tried to reassure her. "I have been all over the world and your paintings are some of the best I have ever seen. They talk to your soul. You have every right to be in Arborough's gallery, more than some that I have seen." Her father-in-law's talk made Mandy feel a little bit better, but the thought still gave her the chills. Then she remembered the envelope that Mr. Harrington had given her just before she left. "Greg, can you pull in at the bank? I have a check that I want to put in my savings. Then I want to treat us all to lunch to celebrate!" Once they were in the bank lobby, Mandy had a quiet word with Greg. "I want to invite Heather to lunch too. How do you think your dad would take to that? I don't want to cause any problems or hurt feelings." "I don't think he would mind," said Greg. "They are on good terms. Really... They are just more married to their careers than they are to each other. Just ask him." Back out at the car, Mandy tried to find the words to ask what she wanted. She finally gave up and asked Ted. "Would you be upset if I asked Heather to join us if she can? I don't want to cause you any hurt or anything, but we have become close." Ted's smile took her fears away. "I wouldn't mind at all. I was going to ask her to dinner tonight with us anyway. I'm glad that you all get along so well that you want to include her - and me - in your celebrations." Mandy made the call and Heather assured her that she would be able to meet them in about half an hour. When Heather asked what the occasion was, Mandy would only tell her that it was a secret and something great. "Ted is coming along too. I wanted to tell you so it wouldn't be a shock to you," Mandy told her as well. "Thanks for telling me. I'm anxious to see him again. See you at Sardinos at one." Putting her cell phone in her pocket, Mandy turned to tell the rest of them what the plan was. They parked in one of the attended lots downtown and window-shopped as they moved closer to the restaurant. Traci walked beside Ted to keep him company instead of taking her usual place abreast of her lovers. Mandy noticed her hanging back and smiled at Traci's wanting to make Ted feel included. The lunch was excellent and the talk lively. Heather was overjoyed with Mandy's news. She said the owners of her firm bought pieces of art from that gallery for a couple of their houses, including the villa in Italy. "You can expect to sell your work for ten times what you are getting here just because of where it is being shown. I am very proud of you for this." Even though Heather had been opening up more around them all, Mandy was still surprised when she found herself enveloped in a hug. Ted ordered a bottle of champagne so they could toast the deal. "Here's to your continued good fortune and may you go as far as you and your talent can go. You deserve it." They touched glasses in salute then settled into eating. Jenni was chewing on a breadstick while the rest of them devoured their entrees. She was breaking a tooth through and seemed to enjoy the crusty bread. As the meal progressed, the three younger people noticed that Heather and Ted seemed to move more into their own conversation. Mandy gave Greg a nudge and then rolled her eyes at the older couple and smiled. For his part, Greg was very happy to see his parents getting along as well as they were. Before Heather returned to work, she promised to go to dinner with them as well. Ted said he would pick her up at the office so the rest of them wouldn't have to hurry to get ready. Mandy thought that he probably wanted to get a chance to talk with Heather alone. Back home, the rest of the group were getting ready when Ted left for Heather's office. After graduation, many of the girls from the charter school kept in touch, exchanging babysitting services with each other. Tanya, the girl from the Founder's Day booth was going to come over to watch Jenni. Mandy would rarely leave her daughter, but this was a special occasion. Tanya still lived at home with her parents and four siblings, so she was more than happy to come over for some peace and quiet. Greg couldn't figure how two children under the age of two could be considered peace and quiet, but Tanya assured him that they were no problem. They were on their way to the club where Ted had made reservations for them all. He had joined the country club when he had been a rising star eager to make contacts. That had been many years ago and even though the family never used the membership anymore, he kept the dues up to date. It came in handy for times like this. Greg pulled up in front and the valet opened the door for Mandy. He was practically drooling by the time he had helped her, then Traci out of the back seat. Both women had really dressed for the occasion, accenting their assets to the best advantage. Greg watched, as all eyes seemed to turn towards them as they entered the club and he felt proud to be escorting the two ladies. They were escorted to a table where Ted and Heather were waiting for them. Greetings were exchanged as they trio were seated and given menus. Mandy was a little nervous about the fancy trappings, afraid that she would somehow do something wrong. Ted put his hand on hers and gave it a little squeeze. "Don't worry Mandy," he whispered, "Most of these people are just a bunch of old farts who think that their money somehow puts them above the common folk. Hell! Most of them didn't even earn it; they just inherited their fortunes. You have more talent and natural grace than anyone here. And you are much better looking than any of them." The last comment made Mandy giggle, shaking her from her fears. She was then able to settle down and enjoy the meal. The food was good, but nothing very special that she could tell. When she asked Ted why he had chosen here, he told her that he could always get a reservation here where the best places in town could be booked a month in advance. They enjoyed the meal and even went for dessert when the waiter suggested a specialty that the pastry chef made up that morning. They lingered over coffee until it was clear that the dining room would be closing soon. Greg and his mates voted to go on back home and relax, but Heather and Ted said they were not ready to call it a night yet. After thanking Ted for the wonderful evening, the trio took off for home. Tanya was watching a romance on the satellite when they came in, so they all changed into something more comfortable and joined her. She assured them that Jenni had been just fine all evening. When the movie ended, she bundled her son up and set him into his car seat without ever waking him up. With a wave of her hand, she was on her way home. Mandy checked on Jenni one last time while Greg checked the house and they met in the bedroom for a bit of playful groping before falling asleep. Next morning, Traci was the first one up since she had to work that day. She was eating a muffin with her coffee when the front door opened and Ted walked in. He looked tired but had a smile on his face. Traci gave him a grin and poured him a cup of coffee, which he eagerly accepted. "Looks like you had a good finish to your evening," she said in a low voice. He looked up at her sheepishly. "Well we did get reacquainted last night. I'm afraid that too much has passed for us to get back together, but I hope we can remain on a friendly basis. Now if I could convince my son to share the bounty I could be a happy man." Traci had the distinct feeling that Ted was not only mentally undressing her but also imagining her on her back with her legs in the air. It was not a comfortable feeling for her. She busied herself, answering him in a friendly voice but did her best to stay away from him. Ted ate a quick breakfast, then refilled his coffee cup and headed for the shower. Greg came down before his father returned. He put Jenni into her high chair and greeted Traci with their usual hug and kiss. While Greg sipped his coffee, Traci told him about what his father had said about his mother. She kept quiet about the pass that Ted had made at her, knowing that it would upset her lover. It was somewhat a disappointment when Greg heard what had been said. When he found that his dad had not come back last night, he had been hoping for reconciliation. Traci gave Jenni a peck on top of the head, which was the only spot that didn't have her breakfast smeared on it. Mandy was much more fussy about being neat, but Greg knew he could give her a quick bath and she always had so much fun making a mess. Greg got a much more loving kiss from her as she went to grab her purse and keys. The door was closing behind Traci when Ted came back down the stairs. He was wearing a robe and rubbing his close-cropped hair with a towel. Draping the towel around the back of his neck, he poured himself another cup. Topping off Greg's cup as well, he sat down opposite his son. "Greg, I am going to have to cut this vacation short. I called in to the main office and they need me in Senegal on a pipeline job." Greg didn't say much for a few minutes. He had been hoping that his dreams of his family coming together after so long were going to happen. 'I shoulda known better' he thought. Finally he looked up at his dad. "Alright. How soon?" "I should leave tonight if I can get a flight out." "You gonna stick around long enough to say goodbye to Mandy and Mom?" Greg's tone was caustic as he spoke. Ted blinked in surprise. He had never heard Greg talk like that before. "Of course. Why do you think I wouldn't?" Greg finally let loose on the emotions that he had been holding in check. "Probably because you never bothered before. I wasn't sure how I felt when you came back at first. I started to hope that you had changed at least some after what you told us that happened. But now, you are taking off again just after we started to get to know each other. I sure see where I stand in the scheme of things. Somewhere near the bottom of the list with your work at the top!" Ted was speechless. He had no idea that his son had resented him and his career this much. Greg had turned his back to him after his outburst and started cleaning Jenni's face and arms. He stood a few minutes looking at his son, then turned and went up to the guest room to get his things together. Mandy had come down a while later to find Greg sitting on the back deck holding Jenni as she napped. She could see that he was really upset. His eyes betrayed his feelings too well for him to fool her. "Something happen between you and your dad?" She rubbed his arm as she asked. He continued to stare out at the back yard, but he did relax a little at her touch. "He is leaving. He called his office this morning and they want him overseas again. I really was stupid to think that we could really connect after all this time. You know that I would only see him a couple weeks a year? Yeah. He would be home for a few days at a time then off again. "I used to think it was because of me somehow. I talked to Mom about it when I caught her home one time. She did assure me it wasn't anything I did or me. She tried to explain that he was in love with his work but I didn't get it. Deep down, I guess I still don't. I just feel so stupid that I let myself think I could possibly have a family life." Mandy came around and lifted Jenni off his lap only to take her place. She held her daughter with one arm and used the other to pull Greg's body close to hers. She bent her head down until their foreheads were touching. "You DO have a family, Greg. There are me and Jenni and Traci and we all love you very much. You are very different from your parents and you show us every day just how much we mean to you. My parents were around but I didn't get any more love from them than you did from yours. But we can be different." "You're damn right we can be different. I promise you right now that you and Jenni will always be the most important things in my life. Of course, Traci and then any children we decide to have are part of it too. I really love you, You know that don't you?" Greg's voice told her that he really needed her to understand this. "I know. And I love you too." She looked deep into his eyes for several seconds and then touched his lip with a kiss that conveyed her love and devotion for this man of hers. They stayed out on the deck until Jenni started to wake. Mandy took her in for a change and a bottle of juice. Greg stayed out on the deck, soaking up the sun as it fell on his face. Jenni was sitting in the dining area playing with some cloth blocks and Mandy was slicing vegetables for a lunch salad when Ted came down the stairs, his bags in his hand. She stopped him and asked if he was going to say goodbye to his son. "I don't think he wants to talk to me right now. Besides, I have never been good at these things. He has grown up to be a great guy and you two are lucky to have each other. I'll give a call to Heather when things get settled. She always knows how to reach me." With that, he was gone out the door before she could say anything else to him. She was dreading to tell Greg that his dad was gone already as she went out to tell him that lunch was ready. To her surprise, he showed very little emotion on the news. He told her that he expected as much because that was how he always left. Greg was trying to be his normal self, but Mandy could tell he was suppressing his feelings. As she cleaned up, she suggested that he head to the dojo today rather than his usual day, which was tomorrow. He looked over at her with a wry grin. "Guess I can't fool you into thinking that I'm not pissed off. A workout probably would be good for me at that." He was soon on his way out the door with his gym bag in his hand. She had went with him a few time before and judging by the amount of anger he had bottled up, she could almost feel sorry for the heavy bag as well as the light ones. And she really hoped nobody wanted to spar. She continued with her day, feeding and then putting Jenni down for her nap. She was working on an oil painting when the phone rang. When she answered it, Heather was on the other end looking for Ted. Mandy explained that he had already left. Then she told Heather how upset Greg had been, but wouldn't admit to it. Heather was silent for a moment before she answered Mandy again. "Maybe I should come over tonight after work. There are some things that I may need to explain to Greg." "Why don't you come for dinner? I wasn't fixing anything too fancy, just meatloaf and all the fixings. I thought Ted would like another home cooked meal, but you can see where that went." Heather accepted immediately. She was not much of a cook, and really admired her future daughter-in-law's skills in the kitchen. And she would never turn down a chance to taste her meals. It was late in the afternoon before Greg returned to the house. He had showered at the dojo and his hair was still damp under his helmet. He looked tired but the anger had been replaced with an attitude of resignation that he can't change what was happening. Mandy came over and gave him a kiss and asked how his workout went. "Better than I expected. I did my warm-ups then a couple of katas to focus. I started on the bag when I saw someone watching me. We talked for a few minutes when I took a break. He was a collegiate scout and remembered me from the regional tournaments. He asked me to spar with a couple of the guys that are on the national team. I was still full of anger so after I was told not to hold back, I beat them both in the standard 3-point rounds. He was rather impressed. He is going to talk to my coach at the college about next year. I guess some good came from this after all." He released his hold on Mandy that he had maintained as he told her the news. He turned to take his bag up to empty it when Mandy told him that his mother was coming for dinner. Greg looked over his shoulder at his lover and grinned knowing his mom's love of Mandy's cooking. As she watched him go up the stairs, he was hoping that he would come out of the after-dinner conversation feeling as good as he did now. ------- Chapter 15 After they had all eaten their fill, Mandy and Traci cleaned up while Heather played with Jenni. The little girl recognized her 'grandma' instantly and was giggling and talking which delighted Heather. When Mandy came in to put her daughter to bed, she was sitting on Heather's lap nodding off as she listened to her Grandma's voice reading a story to her. She may have not have understood the words but the tone of voice was soothing to her. As soon as Mandy returned, Heather asked for a snifter of brandy. She then suggested that Greg might want one for himself. Surprised, this set Greg's nerves on edge, but he went ahead and poured a glass for Heather and himself. Heather took a sip of the brandy, letting the amber liquid numb her throat as she swallowed. With what she knew she needed to tell her son, she hoped the effects would start soon. She cleared her throat and started the conversation. "Greg, I know you are upset with the way your father just took off and I still remember you asking if it was something you did. You are old enough to now to hear the whole story. You may end up thinking badly of me, but it will help you understand a lot of things in the long run." She paused for a moment trying to decide where to start. "First off, did Mandy tell you anything about what we talked about when she was upset about the rape?" Greg shook his head and Mandy told her that she hadn't told anyone about what they had talked about. "That was between us and I wouldn't betray that trust. I had that done to me too much in the past." Heather thanked her for her loyalty, and then continued her narrative. "You know that Ted and I met and dated during our senior year in college. What you don't know, and I hate to admit this, was we HAD to get married if you know what I mean. Back then, society wasn't advanced enough to where a young woman could be pregnant without being married. Especially if you had any social status at all. "What is worse, and this is what Mandy knows about, was that I was gang-raped the night you were conceived." Heather saw her son's face go pale then turn red with anger. "What had happened was that we went to a party at Ted's frat house. We had been dating for a few months and that wasn't the first time we had been there. As was usual with Ted, he got me a drink and then went off with his buddies to talk. "I was sitting on the sofa and enjoying the music when one of the brothers brought me a new drink to replace my empty glass. He had been around a lot and I was acquainted with him and trusted him. I started to feel sleepy after a little while and started to get up to go and find Ted so he could take me home. I found out that I was very dizzy, so I asked one of the guys that was walking by to go get Ted for me. Last thing I remember is falling asleep waiting for Ted to come to get me. Heather drained her glass. Traci was closest to the liquor cabinet so she refilled the woman's glass. As the fiery liquid warmed her, she started on the part of her narrative that was the most difficult for her to admit to. "I woke up the next morning in my own bed with a horrible headache and my muscles hurting. I was especially sore in my legs. 'Down there' hurt terribly. I pushed the covers off my body and found that my breasts were bruised and my crotch was soaked with semen. I struggled out of bed and looked in the mirror. There was dried spunk in my hair, and flaking off my face. I was horrified. I seemed to remember vague images of having several different men use me, but I couldn't do anything about it." Heather stopped for several minutes as the horror of that time came rushing back to her. Greg had been sitting next to her and he now put his arm around his mother while she tried to get her emotions under control. Another few minutes and another belt of her liquor and she was ready to continue. "First thing I did was to confront Ted. He told me that he came looking for me and one of the guy told him that I had already left since I wasn't feeling good. He didn't know anything had happened to me. Next, I went to the campus police, but a couple of the guys were on the football team so they tried to sweep it under the rug. I then went to the local police and they made it out like I had asked for it. I couldn't get help anywhere. That's why I took such an interest at first when Mandy came to you. Even if I didn't get help, I wanted to do what I could for someone else. "When I found out I was pregnant, Ted stepped up to do the right thing. He figured that since we had made love before going to the party, he was probably the father. We got married just before graduation and Ted went to work for Schoenherr and Associates a couple weeks after that. He soon got a reputation for solving the tough jobs and being good at what he does." Greg interrupted his mother. It had just hit him just what his mother had said. "Wait a minute. You mean the man who I have thought was my dad all this time might not be my father?!" It was Heather's turn to calm her son. "Honey, he has been your father for all intents and purposes. That was part of my life that I have always been ashamed of. Even though I know that I was drugged, I have carried the feeling of being a slut for somehow allowing it to happen. Ted took responsibility for the pregnancy even though I wouldn't have sex without a condom when we were together. I found out early on that I couldn't take the pill and there was a scare of Toxic Shock Syndrome with IUDs. So I was always so careful." She looked directly into Greg's eyes. "For all of his other faults, I think that he was as much of a father as he knew how. Who was biologically your father doesn't matter." Greg really didn't agree with her, but she held his gaze until he relaxed his tense shoulders. When she felt he was enough in control of his emotions to listen, she continued. "You can't blame the Corporation for Ted's assignments. He volunteered for them. At first, he did it to get a good reputation and for the extra money. Later on, it was to get away and have a good time. I'm sure they didn't call him this morning. He called them and begged for a new job. He often does that when he is trying to avoid something he doesn't want to deal with." "Then all that stuff he told us was nothing but lies to get us to feel sorry for him." Greg was angry once again at that thought. Heather put her hand on her son's knee. "That's not completely true. I know that most of his crew was killed by rebels. One of them had been his current lover. He was upset, but whether it was for them dying, or how close he came himself, I don't know." Traci was speaking to herself, but her voice was just loud enough for the others to hear her. "Damnit, how could he be hitting on me so soon after losing someone he loved?" Greg was immediately up and ready to go looking for his father. Traci finally got him to calm down and assured him that it wasn't much to it. He sat back down next to his mom when she asked him to do so. She wanted to finish what she had to say before she backed out. "Traci, to answer your question, he could do that because he probably didn't really love her. Not love like you three have anyway. Ted likes to consider himself a lady's man. He would have his flings, but they always came in a distant second to the job. By the time I had found out, he was lucky that I really didn't care any more. He was always careful around me since I had his future in the palm of my hand." She had a smile that Greg thought was almost vindictive. Greg looked to his mother for an explanation. He had no idea what she meant by that remark. "What did you mean by that?" "Because with just a word from me, my father would not only terminate his career but his life as well. When his indiscretions were found out, I was the one that stopped him from doing something by appealing to his business sense. Ted is the best at what he does." She saw that the two women were as confused as her son seemed to be. "You don't know the family history and I'm not sure if Greg has even heard it for the most part. One of the founders of Schoenherr and Associates was Nicholas Scheffield, my father. Enrich Schoenherr and my dad started the consultation business with a couple of other like-minded men. They were lucky enough to catch a couple of military contracts during the Vietnam conflict, which led to them gaining a reputation for getting the job done. "The company kept growing over the years. They now own several divisions all over the world. Your grandfather gradually bought out the other partners and now the family owns seventy percent of the stock. Dad holds fifty percent and with my proxy controlling interest. Your uncle Bill and I each hold ten. Let's just say that your grandfather is a very powerful man." Greg had been distracted by all of these revelations from his mother, just like she had figured he would be. She was dreading the next question from her son if he followed the path of thought she figured on. He did not disappoint her. "I remember going to see him when I was very young. Is there a reason that we haven't since then?" Heather gave a big sigh and finished off her brandy. This was going to be hard for her since it involved facing her own emotions. She felt that Greg had the right to know, especially since she had just figured it out for herself recently. "This is even harder to explain than your father and me getting married. My father is more of a workaholic than Ted and I put together. One thing that I always craved growing up was his attention and approval. And that was something I never got. I always felt like he was disappointed with me, even more so after our mother died when I was fifteen. "I harbored that resentment until I was a grown woman. Before I went to college, I swore that I would prove that I could be as successful in business as my father. When Ted and I graduated, we both would have had jobs in the corporation. But I needed to prove I could make it without his influence." Heather was starting to get tears in her eyes. Greg rubbed her back as she caught her breath. He stopped when she looked back over at him, but he left his hand on her back. "Well, I did what I set out to do. We have started talking again and he had to admit that I am at the top of what is a very competitive field." She gave her son a small smile. "What I didn't realize until you and Mandy got together and everything happened was that I had become what I had rebelled against. It has taken me a long time to admit that I am my father. Now that I know it, I have to have your understanding and forgiveness." Greg looked at his mother for a moment. She was rather intoxicated from the brandy, but he could also see just how hard it had been for her to admit all of this to him. He own emotions were in turmoil with everything he had learned, but the overwhelming emotion now was sympathy and love for this woman who had gone through so much. "Mom, I understand a lot more now than I ever have before. Things make more sense, or at least will after I have time to sort them out. But there is nothing to forgive. I know now that your ignoring me all those years wasn't on purpose because of me. And that makes a lot of difference." He sat on the sofa holding his mother for a long time. Neither one said much more but both of them had thoughts racing through their heads. Heather finally succumbed to the effects of the alcohol and the stress of the evening. Greg felt his mother's body relax against him. He moved away gently and placed her legs on the sofa and covered her with a blanket. Mandy and Traci had left for bed some time ago giving mother and son some privacy for what had been some very painful confessions. Greg shut down the lights and checked the doors on his way to bed. He just hoped that he would be able to calm down enough to sleep. Greg was the last person to get moving the next day. As he had predicted, he had not been able to sleep until after sunrise when his exhausted body just shut down. He came into the kitchen looking like he had not slept in a week. Mandy made him a cup of coffee, adding the amount of sugar she knew he liked and sat next to him while he sipped the hot liquid. In answer to his questions, she told him that Traci was already at work and his mother had awakened and headed home shortly after she called her office and told them she would be in later that day. Jenni was in her playpen happily beating her foam blocks with her stuffed tiger. Mandy refilled his mug and then asked him how he was doing. "I really don't know. I kinda had my world messed up yesterday. The guy that I thought was my dad all these years probably isn't. I find out that my mother had been gang raped. My maybe father is for the most part a type A personality and part asshole that is incapable of really loving anything but his job and who hits on our friend that is young enough to be his daughter. "My grandfather, who I have only seen a couple of times, scarred my mother enough that her priorities were only on work. She is as confused right now as I am, I think." Mandy gave him a hug to let him know that she was there for him. "Why don't you take Jenni for a walk to the park? She loves the sunshine and you seem to think better when you get out in the air and moving around." Greg agreed that it would be a good idea and after a couple pieces of toast and a change of clothes, he was ready to go. Jenni talked and made all kinds of sounds as they went down the sidewalk toward the park. The infant loved to get out in her stroller and look at everything in the park. There were lots of bright colors and people moving around to keep her attention. And it did give Greg a change of scenery and a bit of quiet time to sort out his feelings. Greg sat on a gentle slope letting the sun fall on his face. The temperature was very comfortable for that time of year and it was very peaceful for him. Jenni crawled around on the grass and explored every pebble and leaf that came within her reach. Greg watched her and wished he could go back to a time when things were so simple that the smallest thing could take on total importance for you. Things seemed so complicated for him now. The things that he had held on to while growing up, even though they were not much, had slipped away. How did he reconcile the idea that his father might not be his father? He didn't consciously blame his mother for what had happened to her, but it didn't seem fair that he would never know the truth. It seemed like he had based his whole life on lies and misunderstandings. The only things that were real right now were Mandy, Traci, and Jenni. Greg walked over and scooped the little girl up before she got too far away causing Jenni to squeal with delight. He held her out and above his head while she giggled at him. When he brought her down, she held out her chubby arms and was clasping her fists and calling out 'Dada' to him. He pulled her in for a hug, which she accepted in her usual happy way. Greg knew that he wouldn't be able to solve his problems that day, but he was more at ease within himself and decided that he would take on each thing as it presented itself. In the meantime, he was going to hang on to what was really important to him. Once again, the smallest thing was taking on total importance in his life. Jenni had helped him see just what was really important was the present. He couldn't change the past but he could make sure the present and the future were good for this little girl. It was a few days later that Heather called to see how Greg was getting along. Mandy was at the doctor's. She had been using the patch for birth control ever since Jennifer had been born, but it was now causing a skin irritation that was driving her crazy. Dr. Simmons had her come in for a routine check and to talk about the alternatives. Traci had taken the day and went to the campus library to research something one of the children at the center had been diagnosed with. This left Greg alone for the afternoon and he was reading when the phone rang. They ended up talking for almost an hour. Greg had come to terms with most of the past that he knew he couldn't change. They talked about his father and the relationship that was there. Finally, they discussed his grandfather. Heather said that she had started to talk to him more often lately and had called after their conversation a few days ago. Greg was somewhat surprised when she told him that his grandfather was very interested in him and had kept up on his accomplishments. His uncle was gay so he was the only grandchild. Nicholas had come to the realization that he had been the problem with his children and was trying to mend the relationship between them all. Heather then asked Greg to call his grandfather. Nicholas had wanted to contact is grandson for some time, but was not sure if the contact would be welcome. Greg grabbed a pen and wrote the number down. The amount of digits showed that it was an international call and he asked just where his grandfather lived. He was surprised to learn that his grandfather owned a villa in Southern Italy. He had moved there just before Greg had been born. They talked a few more minutes before disconnecting. The last thing Heather told her son was, "Please call him, Greg. When you opened my eyes, I finally contacted him after more years than I want to admit. What I found was a very lonely man who was in desperate need of personal contact with family. I guess we both had learned something in the years between. I've slighted you again by not letting you get to know him just because of my career. Now you have a chance to mend that gap, so please at least make the effort." Greg promised her he would call, but when Mandy came home from the doctor, he was still sitting in the chair looking at the number. He explained what his mother had told him and what she had asked him to do. "I don't mind making the call since it is important to her, but I just don't know what to say. What do you say to a person that you don't know and haven't seen in over ten years?" "You might start with 'Hello'," was Mandy's reply. That was so oblivious, it caught Greg as really funny. Mandy joined him in his laughter and he felt more comfortable about making the call afterwards. After remembering to check the time difference, he found that the best time to call would be later on that night. Greg had plenty of time to fret about the upcoming call, which he put to use. Several times that night, one or the other of the women would catch him staring off into space and they knew he was thinking about it. Finally, it was late enough for him to place the call. He could hear clicks as the signal was routed through countless relay stations and lines. The other end was answered by a young female voice speaking in Italian. Greg had taken the language for a required credit in school and remembered enough to give an answer that the young woman could understand. As soon as she heard his name, she switched to accented English. "Yes, you are expected. I will get the boss." There was silence for a moment then an extension was picked up and a bass voice came on the line. "Gregory? Your mother talked to you?" "Yes sir. She explained some things to me and suggested that I call you." "I'm very glad you did, son. Heather called a few days ago and told me what had happened. I am sorry that you had to find out all the family secrets this way. Some things cause more harm than good when they are brought out into the open." "Well sir, since I have heard it all, I have had a chance to figure out what it means to me. I now understand just why things happened. It is in the past though and I didn't have anything to do with it. I just want to go forward from here." Nicholas Scheffield gave a deep chuckle. "Young man, you have a better grasp on what is really important than most people twice your age. Hell, probably most people MY age. Your mother said that you were mature well past your years, and I can see she is right as she so often is." From there, the two started to talk more freely, soon sounding like there had not been years since they had spoken to each other. Greg was surprised how easy his grandfather could guide the conversation and how much information he could get out of the other party. He understood then how the man had been so successful in business. Before he realized it, an hour had passed. The two had been in constant discussion, but had barely scratched the surface on what Nicholas was interested in. He knew all about Greg's academic and martial arts achievements as well as his personal interests. In fact, he had kept closer tabs on his grandson than his own mother had. Now, he was interested in Greg's outlook on life; how he felt about certain things and generally what made him tick. They ended the conversation with the promise to continue, along with an invitation for all of them, including Heather, to spend some time with him at his villa. Greg hung up the phone and turned to face the two women in his life. They both had heard his side of the conversation and were intensely interested to get all the details. By the time he had relayed all the conversation he could remember, it was very late in the evening. He decided that he would tell his mother about it in the morning. However, they didn't get to sleep right away. Nor were they making love. As soon as the girls heard about the invitation to an Italian villa, they were chattering away like mad about going. They did decide that they couldn't get everything arranged for the summer, but if it would work with Nicholas' schedule, they would spend the winter break there. That gave them plenty of time to get their clothing sorted out, and plan all the things that women needed to plan. Greg figured he could easily throw some clothes in a suitcase and be ready in an hour. "Just one of the wonderful mysteries of women," he mumbled to himself. Over the next couple of weeks, Greg got more of the past sorted out and came to grips with it. He would find himself suddenly getting angry or sad when some thought strayed in on him, but he was getting much more control over it all. He was on the back deck enjoying the sun when he heard the phone ring. Mandy was taking a break from her artwork and fixing them both a snack so she answered it. He could hear her speaking then she came out on the deck. "Sweety, do you know a Mrs. Miller?" Greg sat up and extended his hand to take the handset. "Not that I remember." He brought the receiver up to his ear. "This is Greg Tolkin, how can I help you?" The woman on the other end sounded like she had been crying. Her voice was shaky. "I'm Olivia Miller's mother. Do you remember her from school?" "Of course I do. Liv was a great lunch partner and she is still a friend. Has something happened to her?" Greg was starting to get worried. "Well, I don't know for sure. She hasn't come out and said anything for sure, but I think her boyfriend is hurting her." "What makes you think that? I mean what is she doing that leads you to think that?" "She has always been so happy and carefree. Especially when she first started to date Jerry. Now, she is very withdrawn and won't hardly talk to anyone. She doesn't wear her short sleeveless shirts no matter how hot it is. I think that maybe he is hitting her. I know that she doesn't talk to any of her friends any more. I asked those friends if they knew what was wrong and they had no idea. I know that she used to talk about you all the time and how you would help her with anything. I wouldn't have bothered you at all but I was hoping you might be able to talk to her. You know, find out if there is anything we can do to help." Greg was thinking back as Mrs. Miller was explaining the situation to him. Olivia had come over several times right after the prom, but had suddenly stopped. He had no idea why and at the time, he had not thought too much about it. Now, he thought about some of the discussions from the group that Mandy had helped form. He realized that Mrs. Miller had stopped speaking and was waiting for him to answer. "Of course, I will do anything I can. When would be a good time?" "I'm going to be gone for a while this afternoon. Olivia's sleeping patterns have changed as well and she doesn't get out of bed until late. If you want to come over around noon, I will be here to let you in. And thanks Greg. I'm at my wit's end with worry." "No problem Mrs. Miller. I'll be there at noon." He ended the call and explained what was going on to Mandy. She was all for him talking to her when she heard what was happening. "She may be just going through a bad time, but I doubt it. And if she is in an abusive relationship, she is going to need help getting out of it. Just be careful if you get involved. The guy might be violent." Greg got a determined look on his face. "If he is abusing her, I hope he does." Mandy got a shiver down her back when she heard her lover. She very seldom heard than tone of determination in his voice and it always meant that it would be wise to stay out of his way and his reach too. Greg showed up at the address Mrs. Miller had given him right at the appointed time. The door opened to reveal an older version of Olivia. Mrs. Miller looked to be in her late thirties, and still very trim. Her face would have been beautiful if it had not been so puffy and red from her crying. She greeted Greg and thanked him again for coming over. She told him that this morning had been the worst. Jerry had called last night and from what she had overheard, Olivia had not wanted to go out. She crumpled and agreed to go and it was very late when she came in. Her mother had gone in to check on her this morning and found her completely covered on her stomach. She had been sobbing into her pillow, but wouldn't tell what was wrong. That was when Mrs. Miller had contacted Greg. Greg assured the woman that he would try his best to see if he could find out what was going on. Mrs. Miller gave him a slight smile of hope and directed him to Olivia's room... She then left to go to her job. She wasn't worried about Greg messing with her daughter since she had heard about the work he had done with his girlfriend, and how he had treated her daughter before. She just hoped some good would come of it all. Greg went up the steps and along the hall to where Olivia's room was supposed to be. The door had a poster of a rock star and hair ribbons hanging from the handle. He knocked on the door and a muffled voice called out, "Go AWAY!" "Liv, it's me, Greg. Can I come in and talk to you?" He heard the bed covers rustle and heard her try to stifle a cry. He tried the handle and found it unlocked so he pushed the door open. What he saw stopped him in his tracks. She was scrambling to get the covers back up but he caught sight of the bruises on her bare back and side. She looked up at him with the covers now up to her chin. He could see her lip was swollen as well. "How come you're here?" she asked in a voice that was far from the girl he knew from school. "Your mom called and told me that you hadn't been yourself lately. I came over because I was worried about my lunch partner." She looked almost ready to cry. "Thanks Greg. I really appreciate it. But there isn't anything you need to worry about. Jerry and I are just not getting along right now." "From what I saw I would say that it is a lot more than 'just not getting along'". Her eyes got larger. "Wh... What did you think you saw?" "I saw some bruises. Some were older than the others; so don't tell me it was an accident or that it only happened once. You forget that I know about this kind of thing." She tried to deny anything was wrong, but Greg held up his hand to stop her. When he did, she flinched and drew away. "That reaction tells me more than you realize, Liv. We have always been honest with each other. Let's not start lying now." She seemed to shrink into herself. She was trembling and her voice was quivering as she started to speak. "I can't fool you, can I? Yeah, he has smacked me a couple of times when I have made him mad. I just have to quit doing things that upset him. Besides I got myself into this and I just have to accept it." Greg sat down beside her on the edge of the bed. Covering her exposed hands with his own, he gave them a friendly squeeze. "Liv... Sweetie, you don't have to put up with any of this. You are much too nice a person to deserve that kind of treatment. Nobody should be hit in a relationship. And you don't have to accept it." "You don't understand. Jerry told me that if I didn't do things I know he don't like, he wouldn't have to hurt me. Just as long as I do what he wants, he is very sweet." "Oh, but I do understand what's going on. Matter of fact you don't have to say anything, I'll tell you just what has been going on. When you first got together, he was a great boyfriend. He was attentive, wanting you with him all the time. Things were going really good when he started to turn you against your friends, asking you not to go out with them, begging you to stay with him instead. Then came the accusations of you looking at other guys. You argued and he slapped you. You tried to break it off then but he came crawling back swearing that it would never happen again, that he really loved you that he couldn't live without you. "The slaps became more often and were soon replaced with punches. He also probably had you feeling like you had no friends left, that you deserved what you got, and that nobody else would want someone like you. Am I pretty close so far?" Instead of answering, Olivia threw her arms around his neck and started sobbing. She had forgotten to hold the blanket over her front and Greg could see her breasts. They showed signs of abuse as well. There were purple bruises where they had been mauled and the nipples appeared to be very tender. He held his anger in check and just tried to comfort his friend. Olivia finally calmed down and released her grip on his neck. She moved back enough that she could look at her friend. "You... you're more right than you know. It happened almost exactly like that. The only thing you left out was the sexual abuse. He took my virginity from me, saying that if I loved him, I would put out. Later on, he would call me names, saying things like I was a skanky whore and the only thing I was good for was a quick blow or a fuck. Last week, he had me down in his friend's basement apartment and tried to get me to fuck his friend so he could take pictures. I refused and ran out. I made it home and when he called, I told him in no uncertain terms that I was through with him. "He kept calling me on my cell until I turned it off. Then he started calling the home number. Finally, he started filling my voicemail with the most horrible threats. That if I didn't meet with him, he would kill my mother. That scared me enough that I told him that I would meet him. That was last night. We were to meet at the ice cream place so it would be public. As I walked past the parking lot, he came out from between two cars and grabbed me, dragging me back to his car. He choked me until I almost passed out. "He got me in his car and we ended up at his house. There wasn't anybody else home. He pulled me upstairs and threw me on his bed face down. He sat on me facing my feet and holding my arms down with his ankles. He shoved my skirt and panties down as far as he could then proceeded to tell me he was going to teach me how bad sluts get treated. Then he started beating me with something that hurt like I couldn't even imagine. I started screaming and kept going until I was hoarse and my throat burned. I'm surprised that the neighbors didn't call the cops. "When his arms got tired and I was almost out from the pain, he finished undressing me and deflowered my butt. That hurt so bad that I did pass out. I think he must have thought he had gone too far because I woke up out on the front lawn. My clothes were there as well as my purse. I pulled myself together enough to make it in. I was bleeding from my butt and when I sat on the toilet I almost screamed again when I felt the welts on my legs start burning all over again." She started crying again, part from the remembered pain as well as the embarrassment of being treated like that. Grabbing the last of the tissues from the box, she wiped her eyes and blew her nose. "Greg, I don't know what to do, but I know that I can't take any more of this. I hope the next time he does kill me, cause then I won't have to feel this any more." Greg had learned enough about the effects of abuse to have a good guess that the next step for his friend would be suicide. He looked once again at this young girl that just a few months ago had been so happy and smiling across the lunch table from him. Now she had been reduced to a mass of welts and bruises with no feeling of self worth left in her. It made his heart break to see her like this. He kind of felt responsible for her since she had once carried a crush on him and he had been forced to disappoint her. "Livvy dear, we need to stop this right now. You are too good a person for this to be happening to. Do you want to get out of this situation?" "I... I really want to Greg, but I'm afraid. I know he isn't going to let me go. He will probably kill me before he would do that." "I'll help you if you want. We can get a restraining order to begin with. I know it probably won't stop him, but it gives you legal clout to get the police involved. And you need to tell your mom. She is worried about you and she will make sure you are taken care of physically and mentally. If you want, I will help you with that or I'm sure that Mandy would come over if you want. She really likes you or didn't you know that?" That brought a ghost of a smile from Olivia's lips, the first Greg had seen since he got there. "Yeah, I really like her too. She has always been nice to me, like she isn't jealous or anything like that." "Now that's better. Come on, I'll step out and you can get dressed then we will go from there." Greg stood and started for the door when Olivia called to him. "Greg? This is really embarrassing, but I don't know if I can get dressed by myself." "Well, we can wait until your mom gets back, or I can call Mandy and she can be here in about twenty minutes." "I'm afraid that if I wait, I'm going to chicken out. W... Would you be too embarrassed to help me?" Her eyes told him that she was indeed scared, not of him, but of the future. He also saw that she really didn't think she could do it on her own. "Yeah, I guess I could. I promise I won't look any more than I have to." "I appreciate that. I know that I can trust you not to do anything to me either, but these were not the circumstances that I used to dream about you looking at me naked." This brought a little blush from both of them and a bit of a giggle from her. Greg was grateful to see that since it meant that she wasn't too far gone. He followed her directions and soon had the softest clothes she had. When she moved the covers and exposed her back to him, he made a change in plans. He was sickened and angered at the same time at the sight of the deep red welts. Some had split open from her movements and were seeping blood. Olivia saw the expression on his face and realized what it meant. "Does it look that bad?" There was a tinge of fear in her voice now. Greg's voice was level but showed the tight control he was struggling to keep. "Yeah it is. Does you mom have a number that she can be reached at?" Olivia nodded. "We need to get you to the hospital. Those cuts could get infected real quick. Maybe she could meet us there" Olivia gave him her mother's cell number, but asked if he would call for her. He identified himself again and rapidly told her that Olivia was safe, but needed to be examined by a doctor as soon as possible. Cindy Miller said that she would meet them at the hospital as soon as she could get away. She also thanked Greg for getting to what happened and helping her daughter. Greg also called Mandy and asked her to meet them at the Emergency room as well. She didn't ask questions; she just agreed. Finally Greg helped her to get dressed forsaking her bra and panties under her sweatpants and shirt. She put those items into a small bag to carry with her. Finally, they were on their way out the door. Fortunately, the emergency room was not busy and they didn't have to wait long. Mandy arrived without Jenni, saying that Traci was going to watch her. They were just finishing up with the paperwork when Olivia's mother came in. Mother and daughter talked quietly with Olivia promising her mom that they would talk more as soon as they got home. Cindy then turned to Greg and Mandy. "I really hate this, but can you stay with Olivia until I get off work? My boss threw a fit about me coming over here but I did it anyway... He threatened my job if I took any time off. As it is, I had to give up my lunch and break time to even get to come down here. I really feel bad about this, but I just can't afford to lose this job. We would be homeless without the paycheck." Mandy answered for them both. "No problem, Mrs. Miller. I can sure understand that and it won't be any problem for us to stay with Olivia. You just go on back and we will do what is needed." Cindy left right after kissing her daughter and promising to be back as soon as she could. While they waited for the staff to call her name, Olivia told the other two a little about her home life. Her father had been killed in an industrial accident three years ago. The company and the insurance money had been just enough to cover the funeral and related expenses. They had her dad's social security for her but it didn't cover enough and her mom had taken this job to make ends meet. Olivia said she knew her mother loved her but that she really had to keep this job. Just then, the nurse called her back into the exam room... Mandy went with her to help her get undressed. Mandy was almost in tears for the pain her friend was going through. She could sympathize to a point because of the beatings her father would administer, but the severity was much less. The welts crisscrossing Olivia's thighs and lower back looked so painful that Mandy just wanted to hold the other girl. Their boyfriends had physically abused some of the girls from school or families and she knew the psychological damage could be as bad as the physical. Olivia would need a lot of help to get her self worth back to where it should be. Mandy's thoughts were sidetracked when the doctor came into the room. She took one look at Olivia and called for a nurse. She ordered some blood work and something for the pain that the girl was in. She then went out the door, returning in a few minutes with a police officer and a woman dressed in a nice suit. The doctor explained that she was bound by law to report any kind of domestic violence to the authorities. Olivia was afraid to report the incident because Jerry would take it out on her for saying anything. However, the officer assured her that she would be safe... He was going to start the paperwork while the doctor did a thorough exam and then they would get a statement from her. As soon as that was done, they would arrest Jerry. Olivia asked if the officer could talk to Greg and get most of the story since she had already told him. If she didn't have to repeat it, it would help. The officer stated that they had to get the story from her, but that Greg's statement would give them the basics and she could just agree with what he told them. Mandy led the officer out to find Greg while the lady stayed to comfort Olivia as well as take photos of the wounds for evidence. The doctor was as careful as she could be, but it was a good thing that she had given the girl some painkillers. Olivia cried out a few times in spite of trying not to. They gave her a gown and a soft blanket and let her relax until the officer came back. They all kept their promise and kept the intrusion to as small an amount as possible. Even so, Olivia was emotionally as well as physically exhausted by the time they were through. Finally she was allowed to get dressed and with the emergency restraining order in hand, Greg led her out into the parking lot. They made it to Olivia's home a few minutes later. Mandy was going to come in for a while and cook something to eat. Then, she would head home while Greg stayed until Olivia's mom came home. Greg was helping Olivia out of the car when a figure came from around the side of the house. "Hey asshole, what are you doing with my girl?" It was Jerry and he looked to be high on something. He headed toward Olivia with his hand out to grab her. Greg moved to block him while telling Olivia to stay behind him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mandy dialing 911. "Livia, you gotta come with me. You got it all wrong, I won't hurt you any more!" Jerry's voice was pleading. "Jerry, you better get out of here now. The police are looking for you after Olivia was treated at the hospital," said Greg as he moved to keep the girl out of her abuser's reach. "Come on, baby, you know you're mine. You have to tell the cops that it wasn't my fault. You gotta give me another chance!" He again reached out intending to grab Olivia who was scrambling to stay away from him. Greg blocked the outstretched arm of his friend's attacker. This contact seemed to alert Jerry to the presence of the other two people. His anger was focused onto Greg now. "You son-of-a-bitch! You're trying to take her away from me. Filling her head with lies about me so you can have her for yourself. Well that just ain't gonna happen!" Jerry reached around and produced a hunting knife from the back of his pants. Greg's concentration was sharpened on his adversary now, but he faintly heard Olivia's screams and Mandy yelling into the phone for the cops to hurry. He stepped back into a defensive stance and waited for Jerry to make the next move. Jerry was confused when this guy didn't seem scared of his knife. Since Greg didn't have a weapon, he should have backed away. He was used to being able to intimidate others to get his way using just the threat of violence. When the object of his attentions resisted, he would escalate the intimidation using his fists and the threat of knifing them to get what he wanted. Now here was somebody that was defiant enough to be standing in his way and didn't seem that afraid of his knife. Well, he would show him not to interfere and try to steal his woman. With his inexperience evident, Jerry tried to slice Greg across the chest in an arcing motion from his side. Greg easily stepped back well out of range, which enraged Jerry even further. Now holding the knife overhead, he charged Greg planning to stab him. The first officer on the scene saw a young man with a knife attacking another young male. The intended victim slipped to the side and twisted the attacker's arm behind him, making him drop the knife. Then the victim slammed the assailant face down in the driveway. The officer, who was not much older than the two men involved, jumped out of his cruiser with his gun drawn. "DROP THE KNIFE! DOWN ON THE GROUND!" He was waving his gun around from one face to the other. "Not until you make sure he doesn't stab me again!" was Greg's response. But he did move off the other man and lay on his stomach. That was when both the young policeman and Mandy saw the gash in Greg's side. Mandy was close to losing her composure complete as she started screaming Greg's name and came running up to his prone figure shoving past the officer. Things could have gone badly, but a second and more experienced officer appeared on the scene. He had the first officer pull Mandy away while he cuffed both men for the time being. Only then did anyone notice Olivia. She had completely lost her composure when Jerry first appeared around the corner of the house, crying and shaking in fear. Now the older officer knelt down where she was laying on the concrete curled up in a fetal position, moaning and sobbing. When he called to her she didn't answer. He finally placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, which caused her to cry out and flatten herself against the side of the car. "Please, don't hurt me no more. Please, Please!" She melted the heart of the old veteran. He spoke softly to her and promised that nobody was going to hurt her. By the time the rookie got the story from Mandy, Olivia was coherent enough to tell the same to the older officer. There were several other cops moving about getting names and applying first aid to Greg. Jerry regained consciousness by then and was alternating between trying to convince the police that he had been attacked, and screaming threats at everyone there. The paramedics arrived and checked Greg, finding that the slice in his side was not serious but would require stitches. Mandy was really concerned when Greg started to tremble, until the paramedic told her that it was just a reaction to all the adrenaline that was still in his system. Jerry was in worse shape. Greg had dislocated his right shoulder and broken his collarbone on that side as well. In addition, his nose was broken from being thrown face first onto the concrete driveway. He was placed on a gurney, handcuffed to the rail and an officer was assigned to follow the ambulance to the emergency room. When Greg was about to be transported, Olivia came dashing over to the ambulance and refused to leave him. Mandy finally convinced her that they would follow the ambulance in, just as soon as the police had all the information they needed. It wasn't long before they were on their way. The sergeant had the bare bones of the incident and he assured them that they could get more details at the hospital. The nurse who had taken care of Olivia earlier recognized them as they walked in and took charge of the two women. She guided them in to where Greg was sitting up after the intern had stitched his side up. Mandy was hugging on one side, relieved that he was all right and Olivia on the other sobbing that it was all her fault. The staff left them alone for a few minutes until things calmed down. Still another officer came in and got Greg's statement as to just what happened. He wrote everything down as Greg told him, going back to ask a question or to clear up a point. He finally closed his notebook and looked at them all. "Everyone's accounts are very close, except for a few details that would be from their point of view. All except the suspect's of course. One thing that is in your favor is that there was another witness that was watching from across the street. It will be up to the DA you understand, but I imagine you all should have nothing to worry about." Then he turned serious. "We always discourage citizens from taking action like you did, especially when weapons are involved. But between you and me, with what we found in the suspect's car along with some of the things he has stated, he was planning on killing Olivia." "Is he gonna get out?" This was from a very scared Olivia. During the last part of what Officer Stegman had said, she had collapsed into a chair. "I'm not a judge, ma'am. I can't see them letting him out with this many violent charges against him." Olivia looked a bit more hopeful. "One other piece of information for you. The suspect was trying to convince us that he wanted to press charges against you for breaking his nose and his shoulder. That is until Brooks, the cop that looks like a mountain, told him he got off easy. That he probably would have pounded him so hard that he would already would've been six feet under. That made him shut his mouth in a hurry." He had a look in his eye that told them he wasn't kidding. The officer called Brooks would probably have done just what he said. Greg was finally released from the hospital and they all got back to Olivia's house as her mother was coming in from the other way. She was horrified about what had happened, and worried about what the other two had got themselves into. They assured her that Olivia was their friend and friends help each other out. She had tears in her eyes as she let them out the door and said a final thank you. Mandy made sure that she still had their number in case there were any more problems. Even though Mandy had been calling Traci with information as soon as they would get it, she was still very upset when they came home. She was better when she saw that Greg wasn't hurt that bad under the bandage. She liked Olivia and had enjoyed the younger girl when she came over, so she was outraged when she got the full story. The painkillers that Greg had been given were in full force now and he suggested they head for bed. Mandy took a quick look in on Jenni making sure she was still sleeping comfortably while Traci got Greg in their room and undressed. Even with the painkillers he had to move carefully, so she lended a hand until she had him naked and stretched out on the bed. Mandy joined them being careful not to hit his side. They both were trying to get him to relax but he said he was too keyed up to sleep. Traci said that she knew just the cure for that and slid down his body until she came to his flaccid cock. She moved around until she had his entire cock in her mouth. He started to harden almost immediately so she didn't hold that position long. She slowly let more of his cock out as its length increased until she had just the head between her lips. She then started to bob her head up and down using her tongue to touch all she could as the shaft slipped between her lips. When Greg was fully hard, she mounted him and while Mandy forced him to not move, Traci rode him using every trick she knew worked on him. The excitement of the day had strangely made him horny and it didn't take long for him to coat her inner walls. She slipped from astride him and kissed and caressed him while he recovered. Mandy had her hand on his cock by that time and when she felt some movement in it, she repeated Traci's actions, riding him to a slow glorious orgasm while Traci kissed and caressed his face and chest. Greg was awakened by the phone early in morning three days later. He reached over the spot where Mandy normally was, but she was absent now, probably taking care of Jenni. He groaned as he reached across the wide bed for the phone, pulling his stitches and reminding him of the day they had just a couple of days ago. He mumbled something that was a greeting. The panicked voice on the other end brought him awake in an instant. "Greg? This is Cindy Miller. It's Olivia..." ------- Chapter 16 Greg listened to the voice on the other line for a few moments, tears filling his eyes and running down his face. He put the handset back on the table and moved until he was sitting on the edge of the bed, shaking from the news he had just heard. Traci had awakened when the phone rang and was leaning on one elbow when Mandy walked in. She too was curious as to who had called so early in the morning. One look at Greg's face and she sat next to him, dreading to find out what he had heard. "Olivia's gone," he said in a quiet voice. He took in a large breath and let it out slowly, trying to get control of his voice. "Her mother found her this morning. The prescription painkillers that the doctor had prescribed was on the table empty and she wasn't breathing. The paramedics said she had died early this morning, a couple of hours before her mom found her." He was so choked up that he couldn't speak anymore. He didn't break out in sobs; rather he sat there in shock with tears streaming down his face. Mandy and Traci on the other hand had no problem showing their emotions. The room was filled with sobs interrupted only with bits of sentences such as 'I can't believe it.' and the big question on all their minds, 'Why?'. They were all running on automatic doing the necessary chores to get moving. While Mandy arranged for a babysitter, Greg got a shower followed by Traci. By the time Mandy was finished, Traci had called into her work to explain what had happened and volunteered to take Jenni to the sitter. She didn't need the confusion that was bound to be around Olivia's house and she wouldn't understand. As it was, she was picking up on the feelings of grief and was unusually quiet. By the time Traci returned, the other two were ready. It was about an hour after the call when they arrived at the Miller residence. The police and coroner were gone by the time they arrived leaving Cindy with her sister who had come over to be with her. When Cindy saw her daughter's friends, she lost what little composure she had gained and grabbed all of them in turn, thanking them for coming over between her sobs. Cindy's sister, Megan, was one of those people who had to keep busy during a crisis. She made coffee and tea for the newcomers and splashed a healthy bit of alcohol in to her sister's cup. They all sat silent for quite some time each dealing with their grief in their own ways, and not quite sure how to express it to the others. Cindy finally calmed enough to be able to start to tell them what had happened. She would say a few sentences then have to stop to pull herself together before she could continue. When she went to the bathroom, Traci whispered to the others that she was sure that Cindy was in shock. She was holding up much better than she would have expected, but figured that she would really fall apart when it hit her just what had happened. Megan agreed and said that she was trying to make sure that she had the support that she would certainly need. Cindy came back into the room carrying a piece of paper. She handed it to Greg who looked at it in disbelief. It was a sheet of pink notebook paper, the same that he had seen in Olivia's notebook at the school lunch table. The writing on it was shaky but still in the girl's distinctive style. To Mom, I am so sorry for how my life turned out and all the pain and problems that I caused everybody. I messed up so bad and I can't see any way to fix it. I just hurt so bad that I can't take it anymore. I'm sorry mom for turning out to be as worthless as I have. You tried to tell me that Jerry was trouble, but I didn't listen. I paid for it, but I also know that I hurt you and I wish I could take that back. You tried to help, but I was so ashamed to admit what happened to me that I just couldn't tell you. I remember how my real dad did the same thing to you and I didn't want you to think I had made the same mistakes after all you went through. I am such a failure that Jerry must be right. Anybody who tried to help me, I got them hurt. When my best guy friend gets stabbed because he helped me that just shows that I am dangerous to be around. I know he will get out soon and I just can't face that. I'm sorry. For what its worth, I love you all. Liv Greg read the note in silence. He paused and then read the words a second time. He could feel a rage boiling up inside him, mixing with all the other feelings that were swirling around in his mind. Keeping his emotions under very tight control, he handed the note to Mandy and excused himself, saying he was going outside for some air. Mandy read it as well, and then setting it on the coffee table, she moved next to Cindy. They sat together for some time before Mandy started to speak in a whispered voice. "I feel so bad that none of us saw the signs especially after yesterday. I know she was horrified that Greg got hurt, but we both kept telling her it wasn't her fault. That it was Jerry who was the aggressor. I guess I was too worried about if Greg was gonna be all right that I didn't see it." Cindy looked over at the girl. "You couldn't have known. If anyone should have seen it, it should have been me. I am the one who knows... knew her best. Olivia has been quiet the past couple of days and we had talked about the whole situation. The police offered her victim's counseling and she had decided to take it. I knew she was upset last night after she had answered a phone call, but she kept saying she was all right. I should have known better." With Mandy on one side and her sister on the other, they did their best to comfort Cindy. They kept repeating that it wasn't her fault and that there really was no way she could have known. Mandy felt the words had a hollow ring. Speaking them was difficult because inside she was feeling the same thing. She had been with the girl the day before yesterday and she hadn't see anything other than the natural reactions of a young girl that had just witnessed extreme violence. Hell, she had experienced the same reactions. She kept thinking if she hadn't been so scared for Greg, maybe she would have noticed something was wrong. She felt like a hypocrite telling Cindy that she shouldn't think those things when she was doing the same thing. Outside, Greg was leaning against the side of the house, his own thoughts running through his mind. First was the disbelief that his friend was gone. He saw her in his mind still as the laughing bubbly teen sitting at the lunchroom table. Then again as she was just a couple of days ago, her body abused and looking to him for help. And he had failed her. Damnit, it was all his fault. He should have come over to talk instead of just calling. She had sounded down on the phone, but he didn't think it was all that serious. Maybe if he hadn't insisted that she get treatment and involved the authorities. He had always been able to fix things and help his friends, but this time he couldn't fix it. No matter how hard he tried, no matter how much he wanted to, there was nothing he could do to fix this. He continued to sit there with these thoughts going over and over in his head. An hour later, Mandy found him in the same position. Other people, friends and family had arrived at the Miller house, but Greg had not noticed. Some had commented about the young man slumped against the wall, his head down and hands buried deep in his pockets. Some had tried to speak to him but he hadn't responded. Mandy was worried about him when she realized that he had disappeared a long time ago. She called to him and received no reply, so she gently touched his arm. He finally looked up at her and she was shocked at the despair that was written all over his face. She felt all of his grief and guilt and wanted to get him to unburden himself of it. At the same time, she was feeling the same things. When he finally came to his senses, he wrapped his arms around his fiancée' and together they stood for several minutes. Traci came out to find them. Her eyes were red from crying and she seemed to be in a dream state. "Listen you two, ahhh, the house is getting full and maybe we should leave. Let her family be together for a while." The other two looked at her, but they barely recognized what she had said. "I really need to get away for a while, and I think you guys need to as well." Traci drove home since Greg was in a complete daze. She knew - had known- Olivia but not as well as her two lovers. It was natural that she would feel the loss, but not as deeply as they did. Still, she had shed many tears today for the loss of a young woman whose life was just beginning. She also grieved for the loss of innocence experienced by Greg and Mandy. When her grandmother had died, she had gone through what they were feeling now. She felt for Mandy who had never experienced the death of someone close to her, but mostly for Greg who had come up against something that he couldn't fix. He said as much to her on the way home and she could tell that it hit him very hard. The next few days were just a blur for them all. They would recall bits and pieces much later, but most of it was lost in a fog of grief and guilt. One thing that Mandy and Traci both noticed was that Greg would not go back to see Cindy Miller after that first day. Mandy had to force him to go to the funeral. The funeral was beautiful, befitting the girl it was to remember. The church where it was held was packed with people who knew Olivia and her mother. There were so many flowers around the white casket that it was almost obscured from view. Many of the students who went to school with Olivia had come to pay their respects. So many came that they spilled out the church doors and onto the lawn outside. The pastor who gave the eulogy knew the family well and talked about Olivia's life in a very positive way. Then people who knew her were asked to share their thoughts about her. Mandy and Traci both thought it was important for Greg speak since he had known her for quite a while and he would probably regret it later if he remained silent. It would help Cindy in her grief to hear from him too. Greg agonized over the proper words, but after talking to his lovers as well as a priest who was a friend of his mother, he had settled on what would be best. He was just hoping he could get through it. He stood, and in a tight voice, began speaking. "I became aware of Olivia when she started hanging around me at school, a sophomore who wasn't sure of just who she was. I was struck not only by her appearance, but also by the wonderful person who was just underneath the surface. We spent our lunch hours together and I learned so much about her. How much she cared for those close to her. How much she loved her mother, and how important her mother's influence was to her. "I think I will remember her always as the bubbly girl who could charm anyone she chose to and who evolved into the wonderful young woman that is gone to soon." He stopped there because his voice was starting to quiver and he refused to show those emotions to the crowd. As soon as he pulled himself together, he continued. "Olivia touched more people than she could ever have known. I know I will miss her a lot and will never forget what she meant to me." He quickly sat down and stared at his hands in his lap. Mandy and Traci both tried to comfort him, but while he accepted their efforts, he remained silent. Many of the other mourners gave their thoughts as well. They talked about the way she seemed to the world; a normal teen that was generally happy. Nothing was said about the demons that lived within her and she hid so well. Not spoken, but they were on the mind of many of the people there, Greg was sure of it. At long last, the service ended. Those attending filed past the open casket where Olivia lay, wearing the prom dress she had worn just a few months earlier. Separately, Greg and Mandy both remembered how happy she had been that night, dancing like nothing else mattered but then. She did look at peace. The pain, both mental and physical was gone from her face. It had been passed on to those who were left behind. The trio did not attend the graveside service. They went home, each one lost in their own thoughts and memories. Nobody was in the mood to cook, so they ordered some Thai from the shop in the mini-mall. When it was time to go to bed, Greg found himself holding both Mandy and Traci as they all drifted off. The girls had told him that they needed to be held and to be close and he was happy to oblige. Over the next week, things were starting to return to normal, at least for Mandy and Traci. Greg seemed to be lost in a world of guilt. Both women tried to talk to him but he would swear that nothing was wrong and put on a front that everything was normal. However, they would see him often staring off in space when his favorite programs were on television. He even stopped going to the dojo for his workouts and cancelled his classes at the women's shelter. Where it showed the most was in his lovemaking, or rather the lack of that activity. He made excuses and when questioned about it, he would go through the motions, but his heart just wasn't in it. After another few weeks of this, Mandy knew she had to do something. When he tried to back out of going on the trip to New York, she finally sat him down. "Sweetheart, I think I probably know just what is bothering you." "There's nothing wrong, I just do feel like going." "There is something wrong and you just won't face it." Greg started to get angry. He tried to deny again that anything was wrong. When Mandy refused to accept that answer, he tried to tell her that she couldn't understand what he was feeling. That tactic didn't work either. He was about to say something else when Mandy held up her hand to stop his answer. "Now just shut up and let me talk. You have been walking around here beating yourself up about Olivia and keeping the rest of your life on hold. You keep thinking that you could have stopped her if you had known. Well, you couldn't! You ain't Superman, you know. And nobody expects you to be. The only person who is blaming you is yourself. You have locked yourself in this cycle of guilt and it is tearing you up! You don't even notice we are around at all, and you haven't even played with Jenni like you normally do. I think she noticed, even if you haven't. If you won't talk to me or Traci, you need to talk to somebody. Why don't you go and talk to Olivia?" Greg looked at her like she was crazy. "I can't do that. What do you want me to do, go out to the graveyard and talk to a headstone? It wouldn't do any good and I would feel like a fool." He knew deep down that she was right about what she had said, but that last suggestion didn't make sense to his rational mind. But Mandy could be just as stubborn as Greg when she felt someone she loved was threatened. And Greg was threatened by his own mind. "Foolish or not, I think you should at least try it. I'm not as religious as I used to be, but I still believe that good people go to heaven and they can look down on us. Maybe if you get your feelings out, it will start the healing that you need. Who knows? Maybe Olivia will hear you." Greg tried to argue but in the end he found himself on his bike headed to the cemetery where Olivia was buried. He asked at the office for directions and was soon standing at her gravesite. There was a headstone that looked like it had been placed there just a couple of days before. Between the doves that were carved on each side was Olivia's name and the dates of her birth and death. Below that were the words 'Beloved Daughter and Friend'. At first, he just stood and stared at the words, letting the information there burn into his brain. He again said that this was a bad idea. What was he supposed to do, just talk out loud and expect her to say something back. Then he thought of what would he say to her if he could talk to her again. He began to speak in almost a whisper for fear that someone would see him out there talking to a piece of granite. "Liv, I know you can't hear what I'm saying. Or at least I don't think you can. But I'm here and Mandy is right. There are some things I need to get off my chest. First of all, I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you when you really needed it. I was so blind that I didn't even see the emotional pain you were in. I just didn't see that you were feeling so helpless and lonely. "Maybe if I had been a better friend to you, I don't know. But I want to tell you that I loved you and I miss you terribly. You were a wonderful friend who always could bring me out of a bad mood no matter how bad things were in school. Maybe because you were always so happy on the outside, that I didn't see the hurt on the inside. And I should have, damnit! I should have. "You know I feel like it is my fault you are gone. Maybe if I hadn't pushed you to go into the hospital, or I hadn't decided to stop Jerry like I did, and he hadn't got arrested, you would be here. There are so many 'ifs'." He knelt down next to the disturbed earth and pressed his palm against the ground, like he could somehow hold her hand while he talked. He so much wanted to hug her but this was as close as he could get. He was no longer self-conscious; rather he almost felt Olivia was really listening to him. "I always have been the one who could make things right. Always the one who could come up with options. But how do I fix this? What can I do to make things right between us?" He was openly crying now - for the first time since the call had come from Olivia's mom, he was letting the pent up grief come to the surface. His tears fell onto the ground above her casket soaking the soil and cleansing the dust from the newly replaced grass. He was still deep in thought and almost didn't hear the quiet voice behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see Cindy Miller, Olivia's mother bending down next to him. "I didn't mean to disturb you," she said in a quiet voice. "Am I intruding?" Greg quickly wiped away the tears from his face. "I'm sorry. I should probably leave and give you time here alone." Cindy reached over and put her small, soft hand on his arm. "Please don't go. I think this is the first visit for you isn't it?" Greg nodded. "I heard most of what you said. I wasn't trying to pry, but you looked so sad that I had to know why. Just so you know, I think she can hear us from wherever she is." "While I was talking to her it almost felt like she could somehow understand." "We have to believe that she can. And I know just what she would tell you. 'Don't blame yourself', she'd say. You probably don't realize just how important you were to her and how much she admired you and Mandy." Greg looked at her surprised, but she just gave a little smile. "It's true. She used to talk about you two and how perfect a couple you were. When I went through her things to straighten up her room, I found her diary. I carry it around with me now so I will feel like she is still with me. Most of it is just teenage girl stuff not important to anyone but her, but there are some entries that struck me. One was about the day you turned her down. She said she felt sad that you had someone else, but you did it in such a way that she felt like she was on top of the world. You made her feel so special even while letting her down, and she never forgot that. "The night of the prom she felt like her date was a flop, but when you took her out on the dance floor, she was the prom queen without the crown. You had paid attention to her for who she was and that was very important to her. Her last entries were very dark. She was so depressed and felt so worthless and that she had nothing to live for. One of the very last stated that she wished she had the courage to call you because you would surely come and save her. "But you can't take the blame for her dying. Nobody knew how far along that road she was because she hid it so well. I have been to a grief counselor and she assured me that teens like her are very good at hiding the signs. Most of the time they will make an attempt as a way to call out for help. But he helped me see that Liv meant to do it. There was nothing that either one of us could have done to prevented it. If we had sat with her all night, she would have found another way." Cindy put her arm around Greg who returned the gesture. She continued to talk to him. "There are just some things in this world that you can't fix. They are out of our control. If you believe in a higher power, it is in their hands and we shouldn't be so bold as to think we can second-guess them. So instead of beating yourself up for what happened, do something positive to help someone who is the same position." Greg knew deep down she was right. He wasn't sure just what he believed as far as spirituality went, but he recognized that there were things that were just beyond his control. It would be hard to do, but he would work on not blaming himself for what had happened to his friend. The two sat there in the grass for a while longer, each one thinking their own thoughts. Out of the corner of his eye he saw another family coming up the lawn, heading to a marker close by. He stood up slowly and then offered his hand to Cindy. She set the fresh flowers on the headstone and then said goodbye to her daughter for the day. She turned and walked with Greg to where they were parked. Before she left, Cindy mentioned that she was volunteering at the domestic violence center and suggested that Greg might try for a few hours a week. He told her about teaching at the women's shelter, but said he would at least think about it. He rode home more at peace with himself that when he had left. He came in and found Mandy sitting on the deck watching Jenni playing on the deck while dinner was in the oven. He gave her a loving kiss and then sat down next to her. He explained what had happened with Liv's mom showing up and what they had talked about. He also told her that he was going to try and quit blaming himself for what had happened. Mandy gave him a self-satisfied smile and told him to watch his daughter while she checked dinner. For the first time in a while, he scooped up the little girl glad to hear her laughter. When they went to bed that night, Greg tried to make up for neglecting the two women. Using his tongue and hands as well as his cock, he brought them both to several orgasms each. He fell asleep with his exhausted dick resting between the globes of Mandy's ass thinking how important that they celebrate being alive and having each other. That was a lesson that he had taken from the death of his friend; you really don't know how long you have, so you should savor the time with those you love. A few days later, Mandy answered the phone after noticing the name on the caller ID. She spoke to the person a few minutes, then called Greg over to take the receiver. Greg heard his mother's voice on the other end. After a few pleasantries, she got to the reason for her call. "I know how much Olivia meant to you and how her death affected you. I wanted to do something to help. So I spoke to our public relations people and put in a call to the CEO. They agreed to set up a fund, in Olivia's name, that would go to assist and more importantly, educate young women who are in abusive situations. I know it won't bring your friend back, but maybe it will help her memory live on. Other girls might be saved from what happened to her. I'm not great at things like this, but it was the only thing I could think of to do." Greg was speechless for a moment. "Mom, I think this would be a wonderful tribute to Liv. At school, she was always wanting to help when she could. I couldn't help her before, but maybe this will keep someone else from getting in the same shape. If you don't have someone to oversee this I think that Cindy Miller, Liv's mom, would be a great one for it. She has the head for it, and it might just help her as well." Heather thought that would be a great idea, especially since she was responsible for the fund. Greg ended the call with more enthusiasm than he had felt since before Olivia had passed. He immediately called Cindy and explained the concept of the fund and what it was supposed to do. When he told her that it would be named "The Olivia Miller Foundation" in honor of her daughter, there was a long silence. Greg was afraid that he had messed up springing this on her and started to apologize. "Don't be sorry, Greg. This would be the most wonderful thing to come out of this whole thing. I'm just a little overwhelmed right now." "Well, I have one other thing to ask you. They are going to need someone to handle the foundation. Mom's corporation is putting in the seed money, but someone else will have to step in and get things going. I hope you don't mind, but I brought your name up. You had told me of your volunteer service to other places and you seem a natural. I really think you should consider it." Cindy said she would love to work with them. She had plenty of experience in organizing charities and this would be a chance to keep her daughter's memory alive. Greg gave her the number for his mom's office and ended the call. He wasn't that good at the things they would be discussing, so they would be better off working out details between themselves. He did have a feeling of accomplishment though. He had not been able to save Olivia. This foundation made him feel that he was a part of something to keep his friend's memory going. Even if he couldn't fix her problems he could be a part of something that would help others like her. And that was something he needed. ------- The departure date for the trip to New York City was coming up fast. Mr. Arborough had sent them all the information on the times and dates. He told them that their plane tickets would be waiting for them. Olivia had been gone for almost two months and things were getting closer to being normal. They all had times where they would think of her, but the hurt was lessening and this trip would be a help to bring all three out of their depression. Mandy was worried about having something nice enough to wear, but Traci reminded her that they would have a chance to shop there, which made Mandy much more excited about going. They looked at all the shops they could find on the Internet and made plans to visit them all. Greg was trying to figure out just what he could do while they were going on their grand shopping spree and transferring money to pay for it all. The day finally came and the women did a final repack of their luggage changing one more time what they were sure they could not get along without. Greg made sure that everything was off and locked up and they waited for Heather to come take them to the airport. Heather saw this as an opportunity to bond with her granddaughter and insisted that she keep Jenni while they were away. She even took the time off so they could spend the time together, just the two of them. Jenni adored Heather and tried to say 'Grandma' but it came out as something the adults couldn't repeat. Heather thought it was just perfect anyway. When she arrived to collect them, Greg had Jenni's car seat to put in the back of her car. He opened the door and found that his mother had just bought a brand new seat for her granddaughter. She explained that she thought she should have one in case she gets to do something like this again. Besides this seat was color-coordinated with her car's interior. Mandy made sure Heather knew how to buckle Jenni in safely while Greg loaded their luggage including the case with Jenni's needs in the trunk and they were off to the airport. On the way there, Heather told them all about what to see and do while they were there. New York City was one of the places where she had to make frequent business trips and she knew many of the best spots. With security being what it was, Heather pulled up to the curb in front of the terminal and said their goodbyes there. Mandy was still teary-eyed as she told Jenni she would see her in a few days but Heather assured her that they would be fine together and to enjoy their trip. The young man at the ticket counter was very polite and once he had checked their identification, handed them their tickets and boarding passes. Their luggage had been taken care of so they had nothing to do but wait for the flight to be called. When Traci looked at her boarding pass, she realized that they were in the front of the plane which meant they were seated in first class which they were sure would make for a special flight. Mandy and Traci had never flown before and the last time for Greg had been when he was very young, so this was to be an adventure for them all. They passed through security without any problems. One of the guards was eying Traci like he wanted to do a strip search on her, but his supervisor happened to be standing there and she looked like she wouldn't stand for any nonsense. They did check Greg's laptop and the cameras carefully. While they were not taking notice of their surroundings, the girls were making a stir among their fellow passengers, especially the males. The late July sun had the temperature up in the high eighties and they were dressed for the weather. Traci had on a denim mini and a Hawaiian top that was tied to show her midriff and accent her long legs. Mandy had opted for light blue shorts that barely covered her luscious ass cheeks and a snug sleeveless top that was cut low enough to show her cleavage. Greg didn't say a word to either of them; instead he enjoyed the antics of the other men as the tried for a better look. Instead of being jealous about it, he felt very proud to have two such sexy women with him. Traci was too excited to just sit, so she took a walk over to one of the vendors for a bottle of water. One guy wearing a shirt from one of the college frat houses followed her over and started trying to talk to her. Mandy and Greg could both see her trying to be nice and make conversation but her expression told them she was about to burst trying not to laugh. He seemed to take her rejection in good humor, waving and then heading for the men's room. Traci returned to the seat with her bottle of water. She took a long drink then turned to her companions. "You won't believe the pickup line that guy just tried on me. He asked me for my autograph because he was sure I was a famous model. When I told him I wasn't, he asked for my phone number because he could make me famous. That has to be the worst line I have ever heard!" The other two joined her in laughter. What the guy didn't realize was that as soon as he had told her his name, she recognized it as one of her old roommate's fucks buddies. He hadn't recognized her because every time he was in their room she had her head covered to block the noise. They were still chuckling when the boarding call came for first class. They picked up their carry-on bags and headed to the door. The attendant at the door checked their tickets and showed them to their seats. Mandy was in the window seat next to Greg and Traci was across the aisle from them. By the time the other passengers were boarded and the pilot was starting to taxi to the runway, the trio was looking forward to starting the adventure. ------- Chapter 17 Traci was much more nervous than she let on. She tried to keep her outward appearance calm but inside, she was very close to panic. She could see out the window and across the empty seat when the causeway rolled back as well as she could hear the attendant close the cabin door. She had no idea she was claustrophobic but it was rearing its head at this moment. Fortunately, one of the first class attendants noticed how tightly she was holding onto the arm rests and came back to her. Greg started to go over to his lover when the attendant signaled to him that she would handle Traci's anxiety. The attendant, Sherri, started talking to the Traci. She coaxed Traci to move to the window seat so she could sit down next to her. Sherri took her hand and kept talking to her about how the worst part of the flight would soon be past... . She told her about the vibrations she would feel as the plane rolled down the runway and what the sound of the engines meant as the pilot increased power for takeoff. She had even brought a miniature bottle of brandy and gave it to Traci who gratefully took a few sips. As soon as the plane was at its cruising altitude and the pilot had given his speech, Sherri gave Traci's hand one more squeeze and told her that she had to get back to her duties, but she would come back and check on how she was doing as soon as she could. Traci covered the other woman's hand with hers and thanked her for helping her cope with her first flight. Sherri gave her a warm smile and then went forward to continue her duties. The first class cabin was almost empty on this flight with only two other couples seated in the first seats on each side of the plane. This left the trio in the very rear of the First Class cabin with a lot of room between them and the other passengers. With three attendants, the serving of a mid-morning brunch was accomplished with minimal effort. In addition to Sherri who was a leggy brunette, the crew contained a handsome young man named Josh and Hillary, who was an example of classic Mediterranean beauty. The older couples were barely polite to the attendants and were generally quiet so the crew gave Greg, Mandy, and Traci more attention than would have been normal. After the champagne brunch had been cleared and the people up front had been given a couple more drinks, Sherri came back to sit with Traci again. This time, Greg and Mandy joined into the conversation. They found out that Sherri was from a small town in Ohio and had started working for the airline for the chance to see the world. She was just a couple years older than Traci and figured that she would work a few more years with the airlines before she started using her teaching degree. Josh and Hillary joined them with Josh flirting with Traci as well as the two women he worked with. When Mandy made a comment that she was feeling left out of his teasing, he apologized and when he found out that Greg wasn't upset about it, started including her in his outrageous and over the top compliments. Greg went forward to the lavatory and Hillary leaned over to Mandy. "Your 'amour' is quite the gentleman. Would that all our passengers would be so handsome and polite. I find him very..." She seemed to be searching for the right word. "Sexy?" Mandy finished for her. Hillary ducked her head and smiled. Sherri gave a giggle at her friend's embarrassment. "Hillary is not always correct in her choice of words, but she is right in this case. You are lucky to have him." Mandy looked over at her lover and catching Traci's gaze, gave her a secret smile. "Yes, we are both very lucky to have him." She watched the faces of the two attendants as it dawned on them just what she said. "You mean that... you and her, both..." Sherri's eyes were huge. "Yep. We all three share our love for each other." Mandy reached across the aisle to touch her lover's hand. As the other two women were digesting this, Josh piped up. "I would say that Greg was the lucky one, having not one but two beautiful women." Trying to keep things on a light note, Mandy quipped back. "Why thank you kind sir." Hillary gave a tentative grin as she looked between them both. "Would you think that maybe Greg would like to have one more female in his bed, just on a temporary basis?" She was closer to Mandy so she reached out and touched the other woman on her forearm. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that even if we were in favor, Greg would probably not be. And it isn't that he doesn't find you attractive, I know him well enough to tell that he really thinks you are sexy. It's just that he needs to really know a woman in order to even consider making love to her. My father had slapped me around and then threw me out of his house. In a total panic, I ran to Greg. He took care of me and even gave me a bath. I crawled into bed with him almost naked and he didn't make a move on me until he was sure that I was ready and really wanted it." When Mandy had finished, Traci took over the tale. "I had known these two for months before we made love. I had posed for Mandy in the nude and even with Greg but he didn't try anything even when he brought me to a glorious orgasm. It was Mandy that brought me into their bed." Greg, returning from the restroom, cut anything else that would have been said short. Before he got back to his seat, Hillary stopped him and stretching up, gave him a very passionate kiss before she headed back toward the front of the cabin. Greg stared after her in a state of shock. He didn't understand why, but he sure enjoyed it. They were getting close to La Guardia, so the captain turned on the seat belt sign and the trio prepared for the landing. Traci had moved back to her original seat and Greg reached across the aisle to give her hand a squeeze. As the plane descended in altitude, she held on tight, her breathing quickened and she pushed hard against the seat. She didn't relax until the plane was stopped in the terminal. They disembarked and found someone to give them directions to the baggage area. They turned to head that way and Mandy spotted a gentleman in a uniform holding a large piece of material with "CARSON' printed in bold letters. They approached the man with Mandy in the lead. The man smiled and asked, "Amanda Carson and Party?" "I am from the hotel. If you will give me your baggage claims, I will retrieve your luggage and we will be off." Mandy handed over her claim stubs as did the other two. The big man turned and started out of the terminal with them following. He led them through the crowd of people, some wearing very expensive clothing, to a line of limos. He opened the door on one of them and motioned them to enter. "Make yourselves comfortable while I retrieve your luggage. We will be to the hotel shortly." Traci entered first followed by Mandy. Greg took a position next to the right side window. They were marveling at the luxury of the interior while the skycap and the driver got their bags into the trunk of the huge vehicle. Then the driver settled in his seat and pulled the long car out from the curb and into the traffic. They opened the champagne that was waiting on ice and all three had a glass. Traci found that the bubbly liquid helped to calm her nerves and she was soon joining the other two staring out the windows as well as the sunroof at the buildings. None of them had seen the mass of people and buildings that they saw on the streets. Carl, the driver, moved the limo through the congestion with the skill that came from long experience. The ride was smooth and comfortable and it seemed like just a few minutes before they stopped in front of a hotel. After Carl opened the door for them, they stepped out and crossed the sidewalk into the entrance of a building that almost looked out of place in among the tall steel and glass structures that they had seen. Greg stepped back out the doors for a moment to slip Carl a tip and a hearty thank you. Then, he joined the women as they walked to the registration desk. A pretty and well-dressed young woman met them at the desk. "Welcome to the St. Regis in midtown Manhattan. Do you have a reservation?" Mandy cleared her throat. "I think we do. Mr. Arborough said that he had taken care of everything. Maybe it is under Amanda Carson?" The woman checked her computer terminal and glanced back up with a frown. "Yes, Ms. Carson and party. I am afraid that the suite that we have reserved for you has just one king size bed. I can see if we have another that has two doubles if that would suit you better." Mandy turned a little red in her cheeks. "No that room is just fine. We will be quite comfortable with the king." The woman at the counter glanced at them one at a time, and then decided that it wasn't her business just what their sleeping arrangements were. She rang for someone to handle their luggage and to lead them up to their suite. As they followed the young man to the elevators, Greg glanced back to see that the woman was still watching them. He chuckled to himself as the doors on the elevator closed. The man opened the doors to their suite and they were in for another shock. The whole room looked like it belonged in a French palace. There was rose-colored silk on the walls and gold leaf everywhere. Traci, who had taken some design history, told them it was Louis XVI style. The sofa and chairs were covered in brocade that matched the rest of the decor. They looked through the door into the bedroom and found that it was of the same decor as was the marble bath. The bellman then showed them how to operate the plasma screen and the DVD as well as where the outlet was for their laptop to connect to the Internet. Greg handed him a tip and he made a hasty exit, expressing his appreciation until the door was closed. Traci and Mandy were muttering between themselves as they wandered between the rooms, admiring all the furnishings. Neither of the women had been around this much grandeur before, and decided they were going to enjoy it for as long as they could. Traci called dibs on the garden tub and started removing her clothes as she wandered toward the bathroom. When she got to the door, she struck a very provocative pose against the doorframe and gave a sultry glance at the other two. "This tub is big enough for three. You guys up for a mutual back washing?" Mandy and Greg glanced at each other and began removing their clothing while they were heading toward their lover. They shared a three-way kiss and grope while the tub filled. There was a lot of 'washing' of backs as well as other, more sensual, spots as they laughed and enjoyed the hot water. The girls took turns riding on Greg's cock, bringing themselves to an orgasm then allowing the other one her turn. Traci was the one enjoying her coupling with Greg when he finally could take no more. He took hold of her hips and bucked up, shoving as deep as possible as he shook from his orgasm. Mandy saw that Traci was almost over when Greg erupted, so she massaged her lover's clit, pushing it harder against the base of Greg's cock. Before Greg finished, Traci gave out a low moan as she pounded her pussy hard against the base of his cock. The lovers separated as they started to come down, each moving to the opposite side of the tub, letting their heads rest against the marble surround. Mandy had almost recovered before the other two went off, so while they rested, she caressed them both lovingly. The ringing of the phone shattered the moment. Mandy jumped up and ran naked into the living area to answer it while Greg and Traci dried off then joined her. They walked in with Greg holding a towel for her as she replaced the receiver. Greg started to pat her body dry while she told them who had called. Mr. Arborough wanted to make sure they had made it in and that the room was to their liking. He asked that we come to the gallery in about an hour to finalize the details of the show scheduled to start the next night. The call caused them to scramble to get dressed and the women to reapply their makeup before they had to leave. They went downstairs to get directions to the gallery and found that it was just a few blocks north on Fifth. They stepped out the door and joined the mob of people that crowded the sidewalks of Manhattan. Mr. Arborough was waiting for them when they came through the door. He greeted them and then took them to where Mandy's artwork was displayed for the show. When the deal for the show had been struck, Mr. Arborough requested that she send every available original. They had made a master print of each and had what they considered a reasonable amount of copies made. The original works, including the oils that she had done over the last year, were displayed on walls of different geometric shapes that were designed to display each in its best light. Mandy was amazed that her work looked so much better in the way it was shown. Mr. Arborough explained what was supposed to happen the next night. Mandy would be expected to mingle around the crowd to answer questions and to sign any prints that were purchased during the show. The extra prints they had would just have her signature. He also asked that she check the collection to make sure that any originals that were not for sale were marked as such. He went over the terms of the contract once again, making sure that she understood the percentages she would receive for any sales. He did ask if she wanted to participate in an art auction for new artists that was scheduled for the day after the show. If there were any, a couple of her originals that had not sold outright the night before would be auctioned off with half the profits going to the local art school. Since they had gone over everything beforehand, there were no differences and the meeting was short. Mr. Arborough told them that a limo would pick them up at the hotel at eight to have them make an entrance to the show. He then told them that they would be his guests at one of his favorite restaurants after the show, so to eat light during the day. They shook hands and the trio headed out to see what they could before they headed back to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering around mid-town, looking at all the sights and stores that were within walking distance. Greg took pictures of the women in front of some of the more famous establishments, landmarks and even the skyline from the top of one of the skyscrapers. On the way back, they went past a small deli tucked in among the tall buildings. Greg was starved and when he asked, the girls agreed with him. Inside the door, they were hit with the sights and smells that were associated with a place such as this. There were several workers from around the area taking a late lunch crowded in the small store, standing in line as the crew behind the counter made their sandwiches. The food proved to be as good as it had smelled and the portions were more than enough. Greg promised himself that he would be back here before they left the city. This was just what he imagined a New York Deli should be with the staff shouting orders to each other and managing to get the food out in spite of what looked like total chaos. By this time, they were all feeling the stress of the day and headed back to the hotel. Being full and tired, it was agreed that a nap should be the first thing on their list. They all stretched out on the king size bed with Mandy taking the edge closest to the phone. She had promised herself that she would not worry about Jenni, but the separation was getting to her and she called Heather. Her fears dissipated when Heather assured her that Jenni was doing just fine. Adrian, her current lover, was currently cuddling Jenni. They had all met this man and had found him very loving and attentive to both Heather and Jenni. Mandy knew she could trust them both to give her daughter all the love and attention she could stand. After making no promises not to spoil Jenni shamelessly, Heather told them to call any time to check in. Now that her mind was soothed about her baby, Mandy joined the other two in a dreamless slumber. The ringing phone awakened Greg. He crawled over the still sleeping Mandy and answered. It was the Concierge at the main desk, telling him that three tickets to the off-Broadway production of My Fair Lady were delivered to him for that evening in Ms. Carson's name. Greg thanked the gentleman and asked who had sent them. "Mr. Schmidt of Arborough, Martin and Schmidt is an investor in the production and thought that you and your companions would enjoy the show. He was the one who had them delivered," was the answer. Greg again thanked the man and after getting the show time, hung up the phone. They had just a couple hours before they would have to leave so he aroused his companions with a few well-placed kisses and caresses. The girls were excited about the play, but Greg was not so sure. He hated musicals in general and refused to watch them. Mandy was the one who insisted that he get dressed and join them. No amount of excuses could get him out of it so he put on the suit he had in his luggage and, still grumbling, got ready. Mandy and Traci both took the time to get their makeup on just right and dressed in the nicest dresses they had. Greg had to admit that if he was going to be dragged to a play, at least he was going with the two sexiest women he knew. That would make it tolerable, almost. By the time the trio had settled in a cab and headed to a nightspot for a late dinner, Greg had to admit to his lovers that he had enjoyed the show. The actors, while not major stars, were very good in their roles. When Mandy asked, he told her that seeing it live was very different seeing it from on television or at the movies. Their discussion of the play continued through their meal and then in the hotel room. "Alright, I will concede to going to see..." Greg stopped while he peeled off his shirt over his head. "We can try one of the plays that comes to our local theater. But that doesn't mean I am going to watch musicals on the television." "Well, at least that's a start," Mandy commented to Traci. "Next thing will be to get him interested in 'chick flicks'." "Hey you two, I already watch some of them with you," Greg said as he slipped under the covers on the left side of the bed. Mandy had called the center for that night. "You just want to see the sex scenes you pervert," was Mandy's reply, as she grabbed one of the pillows and whacked her fiancé' with it. His response was to sit up and try to grab the pillow from her grasp. This left the other pillow free so Traci grabbed that one and joined in the fray. Outnumbered, Greg finally admitted defeat and called for mercy. Weak from their laughter, the girls collapsed on the bed with their lover. He pulled them both close and kissed them as they calmed down. The laughter was soon replaced with feeling of arousal and hands started wandering to more intimate places. As they were moving around into more comfortable positions, Mandy stopped them. "This trip is so much like a fantasy that I wonder if we could try something. Maybe Greg could do me from the back?" Greg looked up at her in surprise. Ever since her first boyfriend had taken her thrown down against the gym mats in that position, she had not been able to make love that way. Every time she tried it, the memories would come flooding back and she would start to relive that terrible scene in her head. After the first time she fell apart and asked him to stop, Greg had never tried that position again. That it was one of Traci's favorite ways to make love meant that he didn't miss out, but Mandy asking for it that way threw him for a curve. "Are you sure, sweetheart? You know I will stop if it bothers you at all." He was stroking her back as he spoke to her. "Maybe I can help make it better for you too," said Traci. "Let's just start and see how it goes. We only need to go as far as you want and if we can keep your mind on other things, then maybe those old memories won't show themselves." There was no need for any more words as first Greg and then Traci gave their lover a smoldering kiss filled with all the passion and love they could put in it. The tension that had built up when she was talking about her rape started to dissipate only to be replaced with her body's reaction to the kisses and caresses she was receiving from her lovers. She moved around until she was over Traci, facing each other so they could continue their kiss. This was the position that she had avoided for so very long, but this time it felt different. Instead of her face being forced against the vinyl of the mats, she was being kissed and held. So very different. Greg watched his two women pleasuring each other for a few minutes. Then, he moved around behind Mandy. She had been rubbing herself as she and Traci made out and he could see her swollen vulva were already shiny with moisture. He started to caress her back and sides, letting her know that he was there and also to help her relax. She had tensed when he had first touched her but rapidly lost herself in the sensations that she was feeling. Instead of trying to slide his cock into her right then, he trailed his tongue over her ass cheeks leaving a trail of kisses and licks down to his target. Mandy was really getting into it now. She was starting to moan and her kisses to Traci were becoming more intense. Greg could now see her outer lips were very swollen and the inner ones were dark red with her rising passions. He used his tongue to separate them to expose her erect clit. He worked over her entire vulva including the crease of her legs where he knew she was so sensitive. By now, her pelvis was rocking back and forth simulating the fucking motion that she was now craving. Greg slid down until the bottom of his tongue was in contact with her clit. He started swirling his tongue around and over her button until he felt her start to contract in orgasm. As she tripped over the edge, he poked his tongue into her opening and tasted her juices. The sensation of his tongue penetrating her as his chin caressed her clit sent her over the edge. She pulled her mouth away from Traci's and gave out a long groan. Her body started to shake and Greg's mouth was flooded with her essence. Mandy then reached back and pulled on Greg's thigh, moving him into position behind her. "Oh God, shove it in me! I need it so bad right now." Greg obeyed her commands. She didn't often talk that way due to the way she had been brought up, but it always turned him on when she would let loose. He held back just long enough to coat his cock with her juices then he started pushing slowly into her. She was still riding the last of her orgasm, so when she felt his cock sliding into her and filling her tunnel, she started toward another peak. For just a moment, she felt the panic of the memories, but this time she felt safe instead of scared. It was all so different now. Then, her body took over and she began to thrust hard back into Greg trying to get even more of his cock into her pussy. She realized that in this position, he was able to touch places inside her that he hadn't been able to reach before and this added to her excitement. She felt his pubic hair tickle her rosebud and knew he was in as far as he could go. As he withdrew to start thrusting into her, she angled her pelvis to give them both even more new sensations. Then she started to lose all thought as her orgasm started to build. Traci had not been idle either. She had scooted down enough that she could reach Mandy's breasts as they hung down toward her. She took one in each hand and started to caress and squeeze them just like she knew her lover enjoyed it the most. When she saw that Mandy was getting very close again, she took a nipple in her mouth and gently bit on it. That was all Mandy needed to take her over the edge again. This time, she vocalized her orgasm with a yell that went up in pitch as she reached the edge. Then her body went crazy with spasms, shaking and twitching in the release of her pleasure. At the same time, her pussy started to contract in rhythm with her orgasm. This proved too much for Greg and he shot his load deep inside her, fighting to keep up with her movements. As she started to come down, Mandy started to see stars. She collapsed on top of Traci and then rolled to her side. She missed the feeling of Greg big cock inside her, but her body just couldn't support itself any longer. When Greg moved up to kiss her face, he could see the tears trickling down her cheeks. He looked at her questioningly, but she assured him she was all right with a smile. "I'm just not sure what I'm feeling right now. I know that the old feelings about doing it that way are not there anymore. The incredible sensations I felt just overwhelmed me for a while. Ya know, instead of feeling like I was being violated like before, all at once I felt very safe and very loved. And it is you guys that made it that way for me. I love you both." Greg pulled her into an embrace and Traci came in behind enfolding her in a cocoon of affection. They stayed that way until Mandy pulled back enough to be able to look at her lovers. "Traci, you didn't get off, did you?" "Don't worry about it. It was you that needed it the most tonight. Besides, I'm due for my period in a couple of days if you remember. I'm just not needing it right now." Mandy gave her best friend a loving kiss. She had needed it and the way she felt now, she was almost sorry she hadn't tried to tackle that phobia earlier. She decided that she didn't even mind being in the wet spot of the bed. She was just too sated to want to move. They all fell asleep with the other two holding Mandy in the middle. The next morning saw the two women up much earlier than Greg. One of the secretaries at the gallery was about their age and when she heard they needed to go shopping, she asked her boss if she could guide them to the best places. She was going to meet them at nine o'clock so Mandy and Traci shared a quick shower to remove the remaining evidence of the night before and ordered a quick breakfast. Just before the appointed time, Carlita called their room to see if they were ready. They woke Greg long enough to let him know that they were leaving, and then they were out the door. The ladies had a marvelous time going through all of the shops that could possibly have anything of interest to their goal. After countless trials of different looks, they finally found just what they considered to be perfect for the opening of the show that evening. They were careful with the amount spent even though Greg had already told them to spend whatever it took. After arranging to have their purchases delivered to the hotel, they then could indulge in their real passion of just trying everything on that hit their fancy. Throughout the day, the women had both grown to like their guide very much. Carlita was from Central America coming to the US with her parents as an infant. Her delicate skin was the tone that Traci could only wish she could obtain, given her Irish heritage and her features were those of what you knew a Mayan priestess would have had. However, her carefree personality really drew them to her. She was a person who was very happy with her life right then and she knew just what she wanted. The pair of women found out just how assertive she could be when some clerk tried to swindle them. She set the clerk straight with no mincing of words when she tried to charge a higher price for Mandy's skirt. Carlita demanded to see the owner of the boutique and told her in no uncertain terms that she would be losing a chunk of business if she ever heard of the store pulling that again. The manager assured her that it was only a simple mistake and that he would have an additional ten percent taken off the price as an apology. She was still incensed as they left the store. "That clerk has tried that before with a couple of my friends, but they wouldn't complain about it like I do. She thought that she had a couple of tourists that she could scam. Well she sure found out, didn't she?" Carlita then broke out in a big grin. Traci and Mandy mirrored her smile. The incident was soon overshadowed by the next store, but Mandy's respect for this woman had really gone up. A single girl in a city this size that can have her self-confidence was someone who she looked up to. The three attracted attention even in Manhattan. Men were watching them as they would pass and they heard a couple of whistles after the man was far enough away not to be recognized. All three loved the attention, but acted like it was an every day occurrence. They would look at each other and grin every time some guy would make a fool of himself looking at them. By the time they made it back to the hotel, they were all fast friends. Carlita assured them that she would be at the opening that night with her current boyfriend. Mandy and Traci took the elevator up to their room. While the women were out shopping, Greg did something that he had been looking forward to. He slept in until mid-morning and then slipped on some sweats and went down to the weight room for a workout. Then it was back to the room for a leisurely shower and then some TV and relaxing. He finished his workout and was in the shower when guest services arrived to take care of the room. He didn't hear the older woman call out her presence. Just as she started into the bathroom, she came upon a very nude and very surprised Greg. It was hard to tell just who was more surprised or embarrassed... . The woman quickly apologized and started to back out. Greg grabbed the sweats that were on the bed and quickly slipped them on. He convinced her that he was not upset and that she could go ahead and finish what she needed to do. She changed the bed and did the rest of her routine, but every time she would look in his direction, she would turn red in the face and duck her head down. For his part, Greg tried to stay out of her way as much as possible and not give her cause to be even more embarrassed. He did stop her on the way out and give her a tip with another apology and his promise to be more careful in the future. Then he dressed and headed around the corner back to the small deli that they had been at the day before. He had another great sandwich for lunch and then wandered back to the hotel for some real 'down time'. The girls came in to find him flopped on the sofa watching the plasma television. They regaled him with tales of their adventures in shopping until it was time to get ready. The women went into the bathroom to work on their make up. Since all Greg had left to do was to put on his tuxedo, he was soon ready and sitting in the other room waiting for the appearance of his two dates. When they came out, he could see that the time and money they had used were well spent. Traci had the look of a businesswoman wearing a cream colored dress with a matching short jacket. With her height and figure, she made a powerful statement. Mandy had gone for the more 'artistic' look with a simple blouse and a silk skirt in a 'sari' style done in a myriad of muted shades of wine and purples. They both had strap sandals on and the jewelry they were wearing just finished the look. Greg showed them his appreciation by carefully giving each a hug and a kiss. Then, it was out the door and down to the restaurant. The women enjoyed the looks from the men as they passed the other tables, and Greg was feeling very smug to be the escort of two such beautiful ladies. They enjoyed the dinner, although Mandy had butterflies in her stomach the size of airliners and she could only pick at her meal. The opening of the show was more fantastic than Mandy could have imagined. There were people from all walks of life from other artists and students to wealthy and well-bred matrons who dabbled in art. The gallery had done a wonderful job of setting things up to make her work shine. She was even impressed and could hardly believe that it was her work that was being shown. She also seemed to spend a lot of her time that night either signing prints or talking to those who wanted to purchase her original paintings. They would ask about what her mood was while she was painting, what she was trying to convey, and many more just had kind words for her efforts. She even ran into a few celebrities that she had seen in movies. These encounters had rendered her almost speechless when they happened but they made her feel she was as famous as they were and talked to her as an equal. One of her originals, a self-portrait of her suckling Jenni sitting in a garden, was bought and was to be shipped to the actress' ranch in Aspen, Colorado. Mandy wrote out a short description of the painting and after signing it, attached the paper to the back of the framed piece. The actress gave Mandy a hug and even gave Greg a kiss on the cheek, which caused him to be the one speechless. Greg became the center of attention for a few of the older and wealthier ladies. He had been standing off to the side of the action, watching to see when Mandy might need him when he heard a trio of women in their late fifties or so discussing a well-dressed and rather sexy young man. He glanced around like he was just taking in the crowd and realized that he was the only 'young' man in the area. They were discussing him! "I say Martha, that young man would make a nice boy-toy, wouldn't he? Wonder if he is interested in being my escort for the premiere?" "I'm afraid that he already belongs to the young woman who is the guest of honor for this little party." "Pity, that. Just what we could have done with that young, virile man." The third woman then joined the conversation. "Hedda, I believe you might be wrong about him being attached to Ms. Carson, at least exclusively. That tall busty redhead in the cream dress and jacket was being rather intimate while talking to him earlier." Martha tried to correct her friend. "Well, I am sure he was at the young woman's side just a few minutes ago. You don't imagine that..." "Well, if he is with them both," remarked Hedda, "I want to know if there are any more like him where he lives. I simply must have one for myself." Greg was becoming very embarrassed by what he was overhearing. 'This must be what Traci was putting up with', he thought. Sometimes women were just as bad as men were when it came to sex talk. Before anymore could be said, he moved to where Mandy was talking to another client of the gallery. He waited until after the man wandered off and then told Mandy about what he had overheard. She gave him a quiet laugh over his ire. "Well, they're right about one thing, you are a sexy hunk of meat. But you're OUR hunk and we won't share. You can ask Traci about that. I wouldn't share at all but she is a special case." Then she gave him a quick kiss to let him know she was teasing. Traci had tried to move around the guests as much as she was able, but she was getting hit on so much that she finally sought out Mandy and Greg. One man had given her his card from a modeling agency, urging her to call him. A few more offered to buy her dinner after the show. Some who had purchased prints with her in them had asked for her autograph. Another, who took the 'starving artist' look too far, offered to sculpt her in the nude. He even offered her a thousand dollars. She pointed to one of Mandy's paintings and told the man she only posed for one person and that was Mandy. The artist looked at the painting for a moment then raised his offer to five thousand. She politely, but firmly, refused the offer. After he walked away, Carlita came over to her and explained that he was a famous man whose work would bring millions. Traci was shocked, but explained to the other woman that she had promised to only pose for Mandy. She would be too embarrassed to do that for anyone else. As the evening was coming to a close, Mr. Arborough pulled Mandy off to the side for a moment. He was very pleased with the evening. With just a glance at the books for the night, he was certain that the gallery had more than covered all the expenses and made a very tidy sum above that. Mandy could expect a rather large check in the mail after the run of the show. He told them to go back to the hotel and enjoy the next two days sightseeing. He would send a car and driver to be at their disposal tomorrow at mid morning. She had done what she had promised and he couldn't have asked for a better show. The limo was waiting out front and returned them to the hotel in style. They stayed up until early morning discussing all the people and things they had each seen. Traci found Greg's 'admirers' comical. By the same token, Mandy and Greg both laughed about the men that tried to hit on her. They fell asleep, exhausted, right after they left a wake-up request in time to get ready before the car would be there for them. They were excited about seeing all the sights. They were dressed and ready to go when the call came to the room that the car was there for them. Going out the main doors, they saw Carlita smiling and waving at them. "I volunteered to take you around today," she told them as they got seated and hooked up. "Besides getting to drive Mr. Arborough's Town Car around, it gives me a chance to spend a little more time with you guys." This was very agreeable with all three of her passengers, so while Carlita maneuvered through the Saturday morning traffic, they discussed the show the night before. She told them that her bosses were very happy with the take and were considering an extension to the show for at least another week. "Even grumpy old Mr. Schmidt had a smile on his face, and that is a first as far as I know," she told them with a giggle. Their tour took in all the famous sites with stops at the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, the Museum of Modern Art, and of course, the site where the twin towers once stood. Mandy insisted on buying souvenirs for all the people back home and by the time she had finished with her list, Greg complained that they would need another suitcase to get them all home. That comment earned him a punch in the shoulder from Mandy and laughs of derision from the other two women. It was early evening when they got back to the hotel. They offered to buy Carlita dinner, but she had to decline since she had a date that night. There were hugs all around and promises to keep in touch, and then she drove off into the evening traffic. Both girls were sorry to have to leave Carlita. They would miss having her bouncy personality around, but all three were starting to long for the peace and quiet of home. The evening was spent getting most of their possessions packed and laying out just what they would wear on the plane home. Since their flight out was scheduled at eleven, they called it an early night. Mandy made her nightly call to Heather to check on Jenni, and once again assured that her baby was doing just fine and getting spoiled, she joined the other two in bed. Greg made love to Mandy that night with Traci joining in. It was slow and sweet, ending with orgasms for all three before they turned out the lights. Traci did extract a promise from the other two that it would be her turn just as soon as her period ended. They were eager to fulfill that promise. The trip home was the reverse of the flight out. Since Traci was still nervous about flying, she sat next to Greg and Mandy took the seat across the aisle. The flight crew was different of course, and while they were nice enough, they were not as friendly as Hillary, Sherri and Josh had been. As soon as the plane was in the air, they started reliving the things they had seen and done over the past four days. That helped Traci's nerves and made the flight go faster for them. Heather and Jenni were waiting when they came out of the terminal with their luggage. Jenni started yelling "Mamamamamama" and holding out her chubby little arms just as soon as she spotted Mandy coming out of the crowd. While the three took turns cuddling the little girl, they gave Heather a brief rundown on the trip. This continued at home and well into the evening. Heather gave them details of her and Jenni's adventures together while they were gone. She had held to her promise that the little girl would be spoiled. She had gone to work with Heather and the other women in the office had doted on her. They had also spent time at the spa, playing in the heated pool. There had been trips to the zoo and they had even gone to a production of Sesame Street that Jenni had enjoyed. She was really too young to understand what was going on but the bright colors and bouncy music had held her interest for most of the play. When Heather had finally left for her own home, Mandy was able to let go of Jenni long enough to put her to bed. She had called home every night, but in spite of all the excitement, she had missed her daughter very much. They were all glad to be back to familiar surroundings and the routine that made up their lives. They also had other things that were coming up that they had to deal with. The trial of Jenni's father was one of them. ------- Chapter 18 It was in early August when the subpoena for the trial of Steve Childers came for Mandy. He had been out on bail for a couple of months since his parents had put up their house to make the bond. Even though she had been expecting it, she still was shaken about being called to testify. She called the number that was on the form and set up an appointment with the Assistant District Attorney. They settled on the next morning, so it didn't give her much time to worry. Mandy showed up at the meeting right on time and she came by herself. Greg had wanted to go with her but the ADA wanted to talk to her by herself. So Greg was keeping Jenni for her and waiting on pins and needles. Ms. Stone, the Assistant DA, was very supportive and set her mind at ease. Since the time Steve had been arrested, the number of victims had grown to nine. Mandy's part would be only to establish a pattern of abuse by Steve. That didn't mean that the defense attorney wouldn't grill her. But it wouldn't be as bad as the main victims. Ms. Stone laid a hand on Mandy's arm. "I'll try and make it as painless as possible for you. For my part, I will ask you if you had been sexually assaulted. Then, I'll ask you to briefly explain what happened. You can answer simply, 'I was held down and raped'. Then I will ask you to identify the person who assaulted you. You will then point at Mr. Childers. "Now the defense attorney will probably ask why you didn't report it. That is something you will have to consider the answer to. Tell the truth, but don't volunteer any more details than what is needed. If he tries to skew your answer, I will ask to redirect. Then I will give you a chance to explain more fully." They spoke about the details of the trial. Ms. Stone told her that they were going for multiple counts of first and second-degree rape, being a sexual predator, plus various counts of assault and kidnapping. If guilty on all counts, he was looking at life without parole. But there was still a chance that a plea bargain could avoid a trial for all the victims. Mandy drove home in the Monte Carlo, going over the discussion that she had just finished. Could she really get up on the stand and relive all that again? Every time she thought she had put it back in her deepest memories, something came along and brought it back up. Damnit! It just wasn't fair. This will be the last time as far as she was concerned. She wasn't going through this ever again. Her mind was still going around in circles with these thoughts when she arrived home. She poured her heart out to Greg, who as usual tried to help calm her. He reminded her that it was the last time she would have to deal with Steve. Steve had already signed over all rights to Jenni in an attempt to get out of support. She would finally be able to see him get his due for what he had done to her and the other women he had raped. All of this helped to a degree but she still was dreading the hassle of the trial and just what the defense attorney would bring up about her. As much as Mandy hated Steve for what he had done to her, Traci reminded her of a positive she was not considering. Mandy would have never had Jenni or her relationship with Greg if Steve had not attacked her. It gave Mandy something good to think about when she started feeling scared. It was a week later and Mandy had put the whole thing in the back of her mind when something happened to cause the whole thing to come crashing back to the front of all their thoughts. The phone rang at ten thirty and when Mandy answered it, the person on the other end started yelling obscenities at her. Greg saw her face and had the sense to hit the 'record' button on the machine. "You stupid slut! If you think you can lie about me at the trial, you'd better think again! You bitch, you know you wanted it. You will find out just what happens to you if you think you can go against me. Fuckin' Bitch!" Mandy slammed the receiver down, turned to Greg, and grabbed him tightly. She was shaking and on the verge of tears. He held her while he replayed the part of the conversation that they had recorded. As soon as he heard it, he sat Mandy down with Traci and used his cell to call the machine to put a time stamp for the other conversation. Then, he called the police and asked for an officer to come by and take a report for harassment. Mandy was still shaken and was being comforted by both her lovers when an officer showed up at the door. He took the basic information and then listened to the tape. He stood there for a moment frowning, and then called in to his dispatcher. "This is One-Delta-fourteen, requesting a case number for witness intimidation, harassment, and verbal assault." He waited for the information, and then repeated the number back to the dispatcher. Then he turned to the trio as they sat on the sofa. " I need to have the tape from your machine for evidence in this case. This is something that the DA is very serious about. Are you willing to sign a complaint against this man?" Mandy was more than willing to sign the complaint. That meant that a warrant would be issued for his arrest. She felt a little bit more at ease knowing that the police were taking this seriously and that he would have to pay for the harassment. The cop also informed her that in cases like this where threats had been made, it was automatic to have a temporary restraining order sworn out on the offender. "Can we prove that it was Steve on the phone making the threats?" Greg was trying to think of how he could weasel out of it. "It won't take much to match the voice prints with interviews we have done with him. We'll get the comparison done by tomorrow. Don't worry, you shouldn't have any more problems from him." The patrolman left after promising to make a patrol through the area as often as he could for the next few days. Mandy was still shook up, but said that they could turn in anyway. She did fall asleep but her slumber was broken by any little noise that she could possibly hear. The next day, Ms. Stone from the DA's office called and assured Mandy that they were charging Childers with witness tampering and intimidation. She would have to testify to getting the phone call and that the tape was what she had heard. But that part of the case would be almost open and shut. Fortunately, the trial would start in two weeks. Steve was picked up and the judge revoked his bail because of the threats he had made against Mandy and the one other witness he could get the phone number for. So he would sit in jail until the trial. The trial went just about how Ms. Stone had predicted. Mandy made it through her testimony but it was close. The defense attorney badgered her as to why she didn't report the crime when it happened, hinting that she had been a willing partner, and that she had a reputation for being rather free with her sexual favors. Though the attorney tried to brush off her explanations, the jury seemed to believe her... Her story was supported when two other girls testified to being in the same church and that the policy of the church was that it was always the girl's fault and the shame of admitting to such a thing would be cause for being thrown out of the church and their homes. The actual trial took just over a week. Steve did not testify himself, but a couple of the church elders took the stand to vouch to his character. Ms. Stone got them to admit that what Mandy and the others had testified to was true. One of them exploded on the stand stating that all women were sinful and that it was in the Bible that they were to blame for any shortcomings of men. The day before the case was to go to the jury, Steve's attorney asked to make a deal. His client was looking at life without parole. He was hoping for a deal to help get the time reduced and he was pretty sure that the jury would not go his way. Ms. Stone offered to reduce the time to twenty-five to forty years and violent sex offender status if he was to get parole. He said he would give the offer to his client. That meeting didn't go very well. Steve's arrogance would not allow him to believe that he could ever be convicted. His lawyer kept trying to explain it to him that since the last rape had happened when he was seventeen and that he was being tried as an adult, the penalties were much more severe. In addition, if he didn't plead, he would be in the general population and in danger because of his age and his attitude. He still refused the offer so the lawyer reluctantly called Ms. Stone with the answer. The jury was out for only five hours before they returned with a verdict. Steve and his attorney stood for the reading and his arrogant smirk dropped off his face when the word "guilty" was read for all counts. He then gave an outburst swearing at the witnesses and threatening them along with the jury and the judge. His lawyer was trying to get him to quiet down even as they were leading him out the door. It was a couple months later when Mandy got the news that Steve would never be able to carry out any of his threats. It seems that Steve's attitude got him in trouble as soon as he got into prison. He ended up in solitary for disobeying the rules. While he was in solitary, the brother of one of his victims talked to a friend who was in the same prison. The next time Steve was in a group situation, several of the cons gang-raped him and beat him almost to death. He would spend the rest of his life in solitary, bound in a wheelchair and wearing a bag to collect his waste. Mandy really tried to feel some remorse for her assailant, but the best she could do was to think that he really got what he deserved. Jerry's trial came up shortly after Steve's. In fact, there never was a trial. Jerry pleaded guilty to assault in exchange for dropping the charge of murder of Olivia. The DA wasn't sure if he could make the murder charge stick, but it was a good bargaining tool to get a plea from him. He was sentenced to five years in prison and another five of probation. He was also ordered to get counseling for his problems with stalking and abuse. The deal made Greg feel like Olivia didn't get the justice she deserved but there wasn't anything he could do about it. He had to settle for the idea that the foundation that was set up in her memory would give her the rememberance she deserved. He set it up so any restitution from Jerry would be sent to the foundation. It wasn't enough in his eyes but it was the best he could do. College orientation came rushing up, signaling the end of their last summer as high-schoolers. Mandy and Greg both arrived at the student union where they would be getting their schedules along with the rest of the incoming freshmen. Among the people milling about, they both saw people who had been in their graduating classes. They spent the time in the long lines catching up on how the summer had gone for many of them. "Greg, what are you doing here? I would have figured you to be at Harvard or one of those other fancy schools." Greg turned around and to his surprise, the person addressing him was Melissa Smith, the girl he had lusted for since eighth grade. She had always been cordial to him, but had been in a different clique. He figured that she didn't even know who he was. Before he had become involved with Mandy, he had been tongue-tied around this girl. But with Mandy's help, he had matured past his fear of pretty women. He gave her a warm smile and even gave her a friendly hug. "It's good to see you Melissa. I wanted to stay close to home so I wouldn't be trying to keep two houses going. Besides, my girlfriend and our house mate are both going here." "The girl that you took to the prom? Wow, you sure did get over your shyness. She is very pretty. Before, you wouldn't have come to the prom at all, much less have a looker like that on your arm." Mandy walked up then, having just finished getting her schedule changed. Greg introduced the two women, and while Melissa felt a little awkward, Mandy soon had her talking as if they had known each other for years instead of minutes. It was Greg's turn in line to pick up his schedule so he left the two women talking. The teaching assistant gave him a long-suffering look as Greg told him his name. He shuffled through a stack of papers until he found the correct one and then gave the same speech that he had performed at least a hundred times that day. When the spiel was over, Greg knew where he would find the important buildings, what to do if his schedule wasn't correct and how to find his dorm. Greg thanked the man, not bothering to tell him that he already knew his way around and that he didn't have a dorm. He did find that they had put him in remedial English when he should have been in a more advanced class. After pulling a transcript from his pack, he found the English department and was placed in a class better suited to his needs. As he turned to leave, Traci waved to him and he went over to her. She said that she was already settled on her classes but wanted to take him and Mandy out for lunch before showing them around the campus to their various classes. Since Traci had taken care of Jenni while they were getting through registration, Greg took the child and started toward where he had left Mandy and Melissa talking. They were still there when he and Traci walked up. Jenni squealed out "Mama!" and held her chubby little arms out toward her mother. Greg wasn't sure if Melissa was more surprised about Jenni or Traci. She stared at the older coed for a moment before she remembered to speak. Greg did the introductions, telling Melissa that Traci was their housemate and that Jenni was obliviously Mandy's daughter. Melissa shook Traci's hand and was polite but somewhat taken aback that Greg would be involved in any way with such a beautiful woman. She had always been the best looking girl in high school and while she didn't flaunt it, she felt almost homely around this woman. But Traci gave her a warm smile and talked with her like the other two, even inviting her to come along to the student cafeteria. Though she begged off saying she still had some things to do, Melissa was glad to have met these other two women and accepted an invitation to their house later on. After a lunch that made them glad they had the option of eating at home, Traci gave them a tour of where they would be going next week. A couple of the professors were in their offices so they introduced themselves and Greg got to meet with the martial arts coach. Finally, they went to the campus day care center and met with the women who would be watching Jenni. Jenni had no problem with staying there, tottering off to the toys that were sitting on the floor while her mom found out the schedule and what the rates were. When they were ready to leave, Jenni started to cry because she was having fun with a big fuzzy ball. Mandy knew she would be happier about staying there during classes than Mandy would be leaving her. The first days of college were challenging for the two freshmen, but they both looked them as a start to something new and exciting. Mandy had never thought she would ever get into college at all. Her father considered advanced education for a girl to be 'worldly' and something that would just take her away from her duties as a homemaker and mother. The classes were more difficult but the challenge caused her to blossom. She took to her assignments with gusto, working hard to do her very best. For Greg, the classes were closer to his expectations. He had taken advanced classes in school but even with that experience, he found that he really had to apply himself. With Calculus, English Lit. and two history classes, he was carrying a pretty full load. When he added his daily workouts for the martial arts team, he was constantly reminded that he was no longer in high school. He was surprised when his Martial Arts Coach asked to talk to him after his second workout. Greg had used the kata from another form before he went with the forms of Tae Kwon Do for the actual practice. He walked into the Coach's office still drying his hair from the shower. "Tolkin, I noticed that you were using Shoto-Kan as a warm up. When did you learn that form?" "Well Coach, it was the first style that I had ever practiced. It is also my first black belt. I still try and keep in practice and for me, the movements are more fluid so it allows me to warm up easier." "That I can understand. The why I am asking is that Shoto-Kan is also my first discipline. What I am asking is if you would care to have a sparring partner to keep your skills up? I don't wish to damage your integration with the team and I do not wish to do the playing of favorites. However, I do not have a partner here at school with the skills that are up to my standards. You would provide those skills." Greg gave a bow to the Asian gentleman. "It would be a great honor, sensei. I too miss the thrill of practice, but I understand that Tae Kwon Do is the form that is recognized as a sport at the college and Olympic level." So with that meeting, Greg added an extra hour of training to the days scheduled for team practice. After the rest of the team understood that Greg and Coach Li were both experts at a style they had little to no experience with, they would come in early to watch. It would soon become a training class in the new form as more and more of the team wanted to learn. And Coach Li was very satisfied. Traci was more degree-driven this year and was taking classes she would need for her bachelor's in education. Like Mandy and Greg, she too was carrying a full workload. If not for the antics of Jenni and their own sense of adventure, they would have quickly been overwhelmed. Jenni was learning new skills at an unbelievable pace. She was trying to walk and her attempts at staying upright were quite comical. She figured out that by pressing on the remote she would eventually hit the power button for the television. The first time she did it, Mandy was in the kitchen and Greg was at the table studying when they both heard Jenni giggling in the living room. When they walked in, she had crawled up on the couch and was laughing at the antics of some characters on a cartoon show. She was really proud of herself for figuring it out all on her own. The adults made a big deal out of it, telling what a smart little girl she was and decided that if she wanted to see cartoons that bad, it wouldn't hurt to let her watch for a while. They decided to make a conscious effort to leave the television on child-friendly channels when they turned it off. It might not be a good idea for Jenni to turn it on and find a porn movie playing. They revived the study groups at their house a few times during the week. It had worked well last year and many of the same people returned for this term as well. They had a few new additions including, to Greg's surprise, Melissa Smith. She was in his Modern History class as well as Introduction to Political Science. He was surprised by the change in her from high school. She had been a member of the popular crowd and seemed to just skate by. Now, she had become a serious student and intent on getting good grades. She still enjoyed a good party though and was still popular on the dating scene. It was midway through the quarter when Mandy came home in a bad mood. Traci and Greg both avoided her while she went into the kitchen and banged around on the pots and pans for a while. When the noise died down a bit, Greg ventured into the battle zone to find out what was wrong. "I just can't believe that fool that I have for the Comparative Religions course. You know that he assigned us to write about our own religious experiences and then find the differences within another one. Well I wrote just exactly what my father and his church is like and Professor Kincaid marked me down for embellishing what it was like for me. He told me that there is nobody that believes like that anymore." Greg sympathized with her, but there was not much he could do about it. It was true that her parents' church was far from being in the modern mainstream. She could try and convince the professor that she was telling the truth but he doubted it would help. Professor Kincaid was known for being set in his opinions. "I can tell you Honey, that from what I have heard that guy is immoveable as far as what he thinks. The best you can do is to try and tone it down to please the old fart. You know the truth and that's what counts." "I know," she sighed as she wrapped her arms around him. "It just makes me mad that he won't believe me. It's attitudes like his that allows religions to get away with what many of them do." "Come on sweetheart, you go on out and start your other homework. It's my turn to cook tonight, so I will call you when it is ready." He gently pushed her out the door handing her a can of Pepsi on her way out. By the time he had dinner on the counter, she was much better. She was even able to laugh about it, commenting that her father would have a hissy fit if he knew she was learning about all the religions that he had labeled as "false" and 'evil'. Melissa Smith had become a regular at the study group at the Tolkin/Carson/Broomfield household even though she was only in one class with Mandy. The two of them had become pretty good friends over the first couple of months of the semester. Mandy found out just how shy her fiancée' was in high school as well as how important his morals were to him. Melissa told her friend how impressed she had been when Greg had stood up to the principal and the rest of the office staff when another guy had been accused of stealing from a teacher's desk. The boy had come under suspicion because he was from an immigrant family and was very poor. Greg had taken on the whole system just because he knew the boy was innocent. The school finally dropped the charges for lack of evidence but still tried to punish the boy. It had been Greg's offer to help the guy sue the school that got the charges dropped. The rest of the time Greg had been there, the staff had him labeled as a troublemaker. He may have been a nerd due to his grades, but he was the most respected nerd the school had ever had. Greg had gotten over his crush for Melissa as well. He was no longer nervous around her like he had been in school. They could now tease each other without Greg blushing clear to his chest. Melissa turned out to be a big cut-up and entertained the group with her stories and jokes. In general, the whole group helped each other make it through what would be a tough year otherwise. One evening, Melissa hung around until after the rest of the group had gone. She had been quiet over the past few meetings and it seemed to Mandy and Greg she was ready to talk about whatever was bothering her. They all went into the kitchen where Mandy put on a pot of coffee for the rest of them and water for her tea. They all talked of school and classes until Melissa came to the point. "Greg, since you are a guy; do I look and act like I am a slut or something?" The other three stared at her for a moment before she continued. "I mean, in High School, I was the perpetual virgin. I didn't go all the way with a guy until prom and then it has only been once, but every guy that I meet seems to think they can get in my panties as soon as we get out the door of the dorm. Now one of the TAs offered me the "A for some ass" deal." Greg looked down at his cup still half full of coffee... The women could see that even his ears were turning red. "Errr... I might not be the best one to ask. But I saw you as untouchable in school and even now, I try very hard not to look at you with any thoughts like that at all." Melissa looked to her friend in confusion. His answer didn't cover what she had asked at all. Greg looked up long enough to see the confusion in her classic features and figured out that it probably time for some confession. "Melissa, you probably didn't know it but you were my major crush all through high school, at least until I fell in love with Mandy. We were in opposite cliques so I did nothing but admire you from across the room. You were kinda on a pedestal for me. Though I am not that bad any more, I still don't think I can give you an honest opinion." Melissa got up from the counter and after getting a nod from Mandy, gave Greg a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I had no idea at all, Greg. It must have taken a lot to admit that and I'm sorry I didn't know. But thank you for your honesty." "I don't know if this is your case or not, but it sounds like somebody has been bragging," said Traci. "You are pretty enough to have guys hitting on you all the time, but even the frat boys usually have a little more class. Unless they're drunk, of course. Then all bets are off." "I don't know who would have said anything like that," was Melissa's response. I mean that I like to make out. I mean I REALLY like it. But I don't even get that anymore. It is like they think I'm gonna jump in the back seat as soon as we pull away from the curb. And it's been like that ever since I started college. I'm just not that kind of girl." Melissa was still standing next to Greg and when her eyes started to fill with tears, he put his arm around her and pulled her head against his shoulder. She sniffed a few times, but managed to keep the hurt she felt from taking over. "Listen Melissa, now that I know about it, I will put the word out as best I can that whatever they have heard is a bunch of crap. I don't know what else we can do, but if I ever find out who started these rumors, they will have to write an apology since he couldn't talk with a broken jaw." Greg had really come to like this girl for a friend and he wanted to right the wrong done to her. He knew he really couldn't do much, but he wanted her to feel better. "Thanks Greg. I know you would stand up for me and I love you for it. I just don't know what to do. I almost don't want to go on dates any more." Mandy moved over and put her hand on Melissa's shoulder. "You are always welcome to come over here with us any time you want to. And maybe you could double date with me and Greg or Traci and a friend of hers. Hell, you could just come along with the three of us if you don't have a date. That may be one way to get your reputation built back up." Melissa felt a little better. It didn't help her reputation, but she at least had some friends who understood. She gave them all a hug, lingering just a little longer with Greg, which gave him a definite stirring in his jeans. Then she headed back to her dorm room. The trio decided to listen and see if they could find out just who or what had started the rumors. They didn't get much accomplished about Melissa's problem before Jenni's first birthday which was a couple of weeks later. The day fell on Saturday so Mandy made cupcakes to take to the day care for that Friday. Jenni really didn't understand what was going on except that she was the center of attention and that suited her just fine. The next day, the adults had planned a party at their house to include the girls from Mandy's school as well as some of the people from their study group who had become enamored with the little girl. The party was not supposed to start until about two in the afternoon, but the guests started showing up at noon to help. There was to be a cookout for the adults and the people who came early were bringing dishes to contribute. By the appointed time, the grill was full of meat and everything was displayed on the picnic table. Grandma Heather and her beau, Adrian, had shown up before the parents were hardly out of bed. They all had met Heather's lover and found him to be a very caring person under his 'Latin lover' facade. He made a very good match to Heather's willowy good looks. He was just over six feet and carried around one hundred-eighty pounds. His olive skin contrasted well with her Nordic complexion. What impressed the trio the most was his devotion to Jenni. He doted on her and she was always glad to see him and tried to say "Grandpa" whenever she wanted his attention. He may have been eight years younger than Heather, but it didn't seem to matter. Mandy had asked him one time why he enjoyed a baby so much that wasn't his blood. His reply was that family had always been important to him and that he had taken care of his three younger brothers and sisters when he was still in Italy. It took two trips for Adrian and Greg to get all the presents in from Heather's car. She always spoiled Jenni, but this was more than her usual level of extravagance. Jenni didn't understand just what was happening, but she sure about what to do with all the packages that had all the ribbons and bows on them. 'Grandma' and 'Grandpa' spent the morning playing with Jenni while she played with all her new toys. This gave Greg, Mandy, and Traci time to finish their preparations without having to keep tabs on the birthday girl. The party went very well. The children all played together without any major squabbles and the adults enjoyed the cookout and talking with people that they didn't get to see very often. Even though, by the time everyone had left, Mandy was feeling weary. She had been so anxious for Jenni's first birthday to be perfect that she was exhausted by the time the party ended. Jenni had gone without a nap so she was tired as well. Mother and daughter stretched out on the adult's bed and took a nap together while Greg and Traci finished cleaning the place up. Greg brought in the last bag of used paper plates and plastic forks and spotted Traci bent over, putting away a baking dish that she had taken out of the dishwasher. Watching her perfectly shaped ass move as she shifted the pots and pans, he was feeling a definite rise in his jeans. He slipped up behind her as she stood up and put his arms around her just below her breasts while he nuzzled her neck. She responded by tilting her head to the side and moving her hair out of the way to expose more of her neck to his kisses. "Mmmmmm... That feels great. But what brought that on all of the sudden?" "I just found... (Kissing her neck) you so damn attractive... (nibbling on her earlobe) that I just had to show you how much I wanted you... (pushing his hard cock into her ass)" "Slide your hand under my skirt and you will find out just how much I want you too. Ahhhh." The last was caused by Greg taking her suggestion and slipping his hand under her skirt to run his fingers lightly over her wet panties. "Please take me quick, Greg. Do me bent over the counter. I've always wanted to have a hard passionate fuck just like this." Greg took her advice. He slid her skirt up over her hips and hooked his fingers into the waist of her bikini panties. He slid them down until her ass was fully exposed and then slowly revealed her very wet pussy. Once they were down past her thighs, he let go so they would fall to puddle at her bare feet. He then maneuvered her backwards until only her shoulders and head were supported on the counter. She spread her legs fully exposing her swollen vulva. Greg knew she was anxious but he couldn't resist tasting her. As he unbuckled and dropped his pants, he ran his tongue along her entire slit, eliciting a loud moan from her. Traci started moving her ass in circular motions showing her need to him. Without any further foreplay, Greg moved forward and slid his cock into her with one smooth motion. He took it slowly enough to allow her natural lubrication to coat him as he pushed deep into her. Traci held her breath as he slid into her, only letting it out in a groan when she felt his pubic hair touch her bare vulva. "Now grab my tits and fuck me hard!" Greg always wanted to please his partner and since this is just what he wanted to do as well, he pulled back out about half way before thrusting into her with more force. This set up the rhythm and soon she was pushing back into his every thrust. He grabbed her breasts as they hung down from her chest and mauled them through her silky blouse. When Traci got in this mood, she loved to have her breasts roughly handled and he didn't disappoint. As she started toward her orgasm, he found her hard nipples and started to pinch and twist them between his fingers. Her left hand moved down over her damp patch of fur to find and then strum her clit. She cried out as her orgasm built higher and higher before she went over the edge. With the excitement and the feel of her tight pussy, Greg couldn't hold out any more. He shortened his strokes prolonging his pleasure until he couldn't hold back any longer. With a low growl, he slammed into her dumping his load of semen as deep into her as he could, her ass cheeks bouncing with the force of his thrusts. He continued to thrust into her when he felt her internal muscles start to massage his cock. Traci's legs started to shake with her explosion of bliss and Greg barely had enough sense to grab her and hold on tight as she shook from her orgasm. As she started to come down from her peak, her legs gave out and Greg was weak enough from his own exertions to be able to do nothing more than to follow her down onto the tiled floor, both of them still panting from their exertions. They both heard a noise and turned to see Mandy standing in the doorway grinning at them as they lay in a heap. Greg's cock had slipped out of Traci's pussy and his spend was trickling out, coating her lips before it dripped off her hip and onto the floor. Their lover couldn't help but giggle at the sight in front of her. "You two really put on quite a show, you know that? We could get rich selling tickets." Greg rolled away from Traci and started to get up on his knees... Unfortunately, his pants were still around his ankles and he only succeeded in ending up back on his butt. Traci moved at the same time to her hands and knees, which caused more of their combined juices to drop from her still-open vagina onto the floor. All of this caused Mandy to dissolve into laughter and she was soon on the floor with them, pointing and giggling at their embarrassed faces. The two lovers saw the humor in the whole situation and joined her in her laughter. As soon as they got themselves together, Mandy stood up and went to the counter where she grabbed a couple of paper towels. She handed one to Traci so she could wipe herself off and with the other, she cleaned off the remains of their lovemaking from the floor. Traci stood on trembling legs and made her way to the bathroom so she could clean herself off. Greg stood as well and started to pull up his shorts and pants. Mandy stopped him when he had them about half way up his thighs. "I think I should clean this off for you," she said as she touched his limp member. Putting her words to actions, she pulled his shaft into her mouth and ran her tongue around his cock until she had cleaned all of the fluids from it. He was almost hard again by the time she finished with his shaft and continued to his balls. Looking at him with mischief in her eyes, she slid the tip of his cock back in her mouth and started to suck on him. He leaned his bare ass against the counter while his fiancée' vacuumed his member until he could feel his balls rise up in anticipation of another climax. He warned her that he was about to come and she started to work harder on his cock. She felt the spasms in his cock as his semen came rushing up and out of the tip. This load was much smaller than the one he had recently placed in Traci, but it was enough to satisfy him and Mandy both. She pulled her lips off the head of his cock, making sure she didn't lose any of his come. Then, she stood and looked right at him. Mandy swallowed, showing him that she had taken it all down her throat. Then she gave him a smile and walked to the doorway. One more quick glance over her shoulder and she headed to the living room, her ass swaying seductively. Greg shook his head in disbelief at just how lucky he was to have not one but two beautiful, loving women who enjoyed sex with him and were not jealous of each other. Grinning to himself, he buttoned up his jeans and finished the cleaning that had been interrupted. Over the next couple of weeks, the trio kept an ear out for any clue about Melissa's problem. The girl seemed to be holding up just fine, though there were a couple of times when her eyes would be swollen and red when she would get to class, and Mandy knew someone had said something to her. Traci finally found out just what had been going on. She had talked to a friend who was in the Sorority that Melissa belonged to. Traci found out that one girl, who was also Melissa's roommate, had not made it into the sorority and held Melissa responsible. The truth was that the girl was such a total bitch that the Sisters had voted against her. This girl had been spreading the rumors about Melissa being easy and that she would do anything for a guy. Traci also helped by setting up Melissa with a sophomore that she knew was a complete gentleman. She explained just what Melissa had gone through to him and asked that he treat her well. The guy took Melissa out to dinner and a performance of a play put on by the college. He didn't do anything more than get a goodnight kiss for several more dates. Melissa was ecstatic. Just before Thanksgiving Break, she stopped over at Greg and Mandy's to let them know how well things were going and to thank them all and especially Traci for all the help. She also promised to get her new beau to show up for the study groups after the break. Thanksgiving was a small affair for the trio that year. Heather and Adrian came over and they all had a very nice meal thanks to Mandy and Traci. They had decided that they would do it all themselves and other than to get Greg to help carve the turkey and mash the potatoes, it was all their efforts. Greg did take on the job of cleaning up and Heather gave him a hand. When Heather and Adrian left late that night, they had enough leftovers to last them well past the weekend. The rest of the holiday was spent relaxing and studying. Jenni was sick Friday night and Mandy stayed up with her until Traci relieved her around dawn. It was just a stomach virus that she had picked up from the day care but it caused her mother some anguish. After that short break, it was time to really crack down and study for the upcoming finals. The evenings were spent doing assignments and studying what they were sure would be on the tests. Jenni, being the good child she was, would either sit next to one of the adults quietly playing or she would pull her trick and turn on the Television. Mandy felt like she was neglecting the child but Jenni seemed to be very happy playing by herself... She would only come in for reassurance that the adults were there and to get a hug and kiss. That was one trait where she was like her mother; she loved to get all the affection she could con them out of. Of course, the adults were more than happy to supply all the love she could ever need. The week of finals was very hectic and all three were on edge. The grades were finally posted just before they were to leave for the trip to Italy to see Greg's grandfather. All three were very pleasantly surprised with the marks they had earned. Traci was the only one to make the Dean's list, but the other two were not far behind. And considering that they had both taken heavy class loads, it was quite an accomplishment. They had two days to pack before they were to be on the plane to visit Mr. Nicholas Scheffield, Greg's grandfather. Greg was not sure how he felt about that visit. ------- Chapter 19 Heather called the evening before the scheduled departure to let them know that she and Adrian would be going along. "I think it is about time that I actually see my father after almost fifteen years. That way we can all have a holiday together." Greg was overjoyed to hear that she was going to come and Mandy and Traci both felt that it would be a great time as well. They didn't have too much time to dwell on it however, Heather also told them that a car would be by to pick up their luggage and presents early the next day so they could get them through the baggage checks. She and Adrian would be by in the early evening to pick them up. True to her word, there was a van out in front of the house before they were hardly awake. The attendant collected their luggage and the boxes of presents and assured Greg that all would be loaded on the plane and waiting for them. Greg had never heard of this happening before, so it made him a little nervous. However when he walked out with the man to the van, he recognized his mother's luggage already tucked in the side so he calmed down a bit. Everybody was nervous about the flight. Traci had a couple more of glasses of wine than usual with her dinner. Mandy's fears had calmed down since her first flight during the summer but she was still a bit wired to be going. Jenni picked up on the emotions and was more rambunctious during the late afternoon. Mandy thought that was just fine since it would tire her out and she would sleep on the plane that way. It was almost dusk and there was the threat of snow in the air when another van from the airport pulled up in front of the house. Heather had called from her cell to let them know they would be there shortly, so Jenni had her snowsuit on and they were all standing in the doorway. Mandy and Traci headed out while Greg checked the door and picked up the diaper bag. The van was warm but the ride to the airport was not long enough for any of them to want to peel of their coats. When they came on to the terminal access road, the van headed off in another direction from where the airline gates were. Greg started to ask what was going on but his mother put a hand on his arm to let him know that it was all right. The van pulled out onto the tarmac next to a sleek-looking private jet. The plane's door opened and a man in a uniform stepped out onto the moveable stairway and waved to them. It was just a short dash from the side door of the van and up the stairs, but the cold wind hit them enough to make their cheeks sting. As soon as they made it in, the pilot closed and sealed the door. He watched to make sure that the crew on the ground had pulled the stairway safely away from the plane and then proceeded to make his passengers comfortable. "Welcome aboard. My name is Captain Stan Wilson. My co-pilot for this flight is Dan Richards. Go ahead and remove your jackets before taking a seat. We will be delayed just long enough for the plane to be de-iced and then we should be ready for take-off." Greg was full of wonder at the small jet that would be taking them across the Atlantic. When Captain Wilson asked if there were any questions, he spoke up. "When we left the house, I was expecting a commercial flight. This is fantastic. Are we able to fly straight across?" "The 60XR is a sweet plane, but that is one thing she is short on, distance. We are only good for about twenty-five hundred miles. That means we will be stopping in New York, Saint John's, Greenland, and then London before we land in Rome." Mandy, who took it upon herself to be the worrywart on the trip, asked the next question. "With the weather coming in, is that going to make the flight rough?" "Oh, you don't have to worry about that. The storm is fairly low with the tops of the clouds at around fifteen thousand. Our cruising altitude will be up around forty thousand." When nobody else had any questions, the Captain finished his speech. "The bar is stocked with drinks and there are snack foods in the small galley. The lavatory is in the rear of the cabin. The entire flight should be around twelve hours, so take a seat and enjoy the ride." With that, he went to the cockpit. It was only a moment until they heard the twin jet engines winding up and when they were up to speed, the plane started to taxi toward the runway. As promised, as soon as they got to cruising altitude, the ride was smooth. Mandy and Traci sat just across from each other in the front facing seats and held hands until after the plane was in the air. Greg took one of the rear facing seats at the small table with a squirmy Jenni on his lap. The noise and vibration of the plane spooked the little angel at first, but once she figured out that Greg wasn't scared and that Grandma was smiling at her across the table, she calmed right down. On the first leg, all of the passengers were enjoying the view of the stars. They seemed so much more brilliant at that altitude. It seemed like just a few minutes before they were able to spot the lights of New York City. They stayed awake during the refueling and the pre-flight checks to the plane and then it was off to Saint John's. Shortly after take off from New York, Traci fell asleep in the comfortable seat she had picked out. Mandy got Jenni asleep as well and put her in the seat across from Traci. Then she joined Heather at one of the tables for some conversation while Greg and Adrian played chess at the other. By the time they landed in Newfoundland, both of the women were asleep as well. The men had another glass of wine and then leaned their seats back to try to sleep. Halfway to Greenland, everyone in the passenger department was asleep, lulled by the sounds of the turbines. Greg stirred when they landed at Heathrow in London; He looked out the window to see fog surrounding the terminals of the airport. Captain Wilson assured him everything was all right as he headed back to the lavatory. They were taking on fuel and would soon be back in the air. In his sleepy state, Greg was trying to figure out why it was so light out when his watch was telling him that it should be just approaching daylight. He asked about it when the Captain came back by. The Captain reminded him that they had crossed over a total of six time zones. "Welcome to the world of jet-lag," he said chuckling. Greg roused Mandy so at least she could see what the London airport looked like. The other adults heard them talking and roused themselves enough to figure out where they were. By the time they were ready to take off again, they all had a cup of instant coffee or tea, and were getting anxious to get to their final destination. When they landed in Rome, they were greeted by another van. This one was to take them to Nicholas Scheffield's villa on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The driver was from the small town near the villa and he regaled them with tales in broken English between swearing at the other drivers in his native tongue. He showed them the famous sights as he sped past them and gave a running commentary about all the wonderful things that they would soon be seeing. He seemed to have the opinion that the people who lived in the city were crazy and that you could get everything you could ever need right inside his village. They enjoyed the ride once they got past the city and into the countryside. The lush fields and the old buildings were just like out of the paintings that came from the old masters. Whenever Mandy wasn't staring out of the window in wonder, she was furiously sketching on her ever-present pad. The driver was telling them they were getting close when Adrian pointed to a village off in the distance. "That is the village I grew up in," he said. "My mother, a couple of my brothers and a sister still live there. Perhaps it will be possible to visit them while we are here." Heather looked over at her lover. "If you want to see them, then we will make time. I would like to meet them myself." Adrian gave her a grin. "My mother is very much the old-fashioned Catholic mother. She is well respected around the village and nobody gives her or her family trouble. She is a powerful woman in her own way, just as you are, my love." When they finally arrived at their destination, all the young people were taken aback by the size and the grandeur of the villa. Heather remembered the place since she had visited before even though that visit had been fifteen years earlier. Smiling at them the driver announced in broken English, "Welcome to the La Fortezza di Amore' Vielato. They are expecting you. I will bring in your luggage." The trio who had been staring at the rock walls and the large house inside of the courtyard were brought back to the real world by his words. Adrian thanked the man in Italian, as did Traci, which surprised them all. "I had to take a second language in high school and I chose Italian. I really enjoyed it and took three years of it. I never thought that I would be able to use it though. I think I said 'thank you for the trip through your beautiful country, but I might have asked for his family's first born." Laughing with everyone else, Adrian assured her that she had got the words right. It was then that they noticed an older man standing just beyond the open gates. He was about Greg's height but outweighed him by at least forty pounds. His hair, now nearly gray, still showed some of the black that had been the natural color of his youth. He was dressed in a button-up shirt that was open midway down his front showing the hair on his chest. He was smiling big enough to almost hide his eyes in anticipation of welcoming his guests. "Heather, my beautiful daughter! It is so good to be able to see you again in person. You haven't aged, just become more lovely. I can guess that the young man standing between the two beauties is Greg. It is good to see you again. I remember you when you were just as tall as your mother's hip. You have grown into a fine young man." Greg reached out to shake his grandfather's hand, finding his grip was still firm and steady in spite of his age. Greg then introduced Mandy and Traci and of course Jenni. It was the infant who broke the formality of the first meeting by leaning out of her mother's arms toward the older man, her arms reaching for him. They could tell that Nicholas was shocked at Jenni's trusting nature, but he took her in his big arms and held her close. Heather also introduced Adrian to her father. As the two men shook hands, Adrian told Nicholas that he had been raised about thirty miles away and had often admired the villa from the outside. "Well, just follow me and you can see the inside as well. Other than the furnishings and the modern conveniences, the place is as it was since it was last rebuilt over one hundred fifty years ago." He had not misled them. The stonewalls were covered in plaster and the beams in the ceiling were still exposed, showing the age and workmanship of the builders. Once inside, they met a middle-aged Italian woman who Nicholas (who asked that they call him Nick) introduced as his housekeeper and cook, Teresa. They all took an instant liking to the round little woman with the perpetual smile on her face. Teresa told them that she would have something for them to eat in a few minutes and they had enough time to wash up if they wished. Heather and Adrian had the first room at the top of the stairs while the younger ones had a pair of rooms next door. As Greg stepped in, he found that the room was spacious according to the villa's age. There was a queen-sized bed with a dresser. The open door that led to the next room showed that someone had thought ahead since there was a crib for Jenni installed next to the bed that was normally there. Both rooms looked out onto the back of the villa where they could see the cliffs that dropped several hundred feet to the sea below. The afternoon sun was shining through the old glass giving the rooms a warm feel. They all washed the day's travel off and changed into something more comfortable before heading back down stairs. They joined the rest of the group in the dining room and immediately set to eating the hot thick soup and the fresh baked bread that Teresa had set on the table. The girls started to help in the cleanup, but were firmly told by Teresa that she would take care of it. "It is no trouble and it is nice to cook for more than just me and the boss." She did seem to be enjoying the others there and beamed when they all complimented her on her efforts. They adjourned to what was now the den to finish the wine they started at dinner. Greg asked what the name of the villa meant but he was interested in the history of it. He asked his grandfather about the villa's origins. "Well, roughly translated the name means Fortress of Forbidden Love. Legend has it that in the fifteenth century, a rich merchant fell madly in love with the most beautiful woman in the area. She was in love with him as well, but the local bishop had eyes for her as well. The bishop held almost supreme power in the area and after the woman had spurned his advances in favor of the merchant the bishop stated that she would not be allowed to wed at all. "Since the bishop conducted all marriages as well as controlling the military in the area, he had the power to make his edict stick. But love has a way of not being denied, according to the legend. The merchant spent much of his fortune to build this villa. It was designed and built as a fortress since he planned to ignore the bishop's power and bring his beloved to the fortress where they would be safe. "Eventually the bishop heard of the plot and had the woman killed on the way to this villa. The merchant was enraged, and ended up killing the bishop and escaping to the fortress. He withstood a siege lasting several months until the new bishop called off the troops. The merchant never left the fortress after that and he died in the room that I now occupy. At least that is the legend. I can't verify any of it, but it does make a good story." The rest of the evening was spent with Nick catching up on all of their lives. He found Mandy's talent in the arts fascinating especially when she told him about the New York show. "If I had known, you could have used the corporate penthouse that we keep in the city. You sound like you enjoyed it just the same." Of course, he was mostly interested in his daughter and grandson. He was very proud at how far Heather had come in her career and more so that she had done it on her own. They had words years ago about Heather's going to work without his help, but he found that he was very impressed with what she had accomplished. With Greg he was overwhelmed with the young man's maturity and sense of self. His 'rescue' of Mandy and how he took on the responsibility really impressed him. His accomplishments in the academic area just added to his amazement. "Greg, if you ever need help with something, you can just give me a call. You are mature enough that I wouldn't ever worry about you being careless with what you are working on. I don't know if I could have handled your living arrangements when I was your age, not with the way that you treat them both without jealousy. It shows on their beautiful faces." Both Mandy and Traci blushed at the compliment. They did agree with him though. Greg took great pains to make sure that while Mandy was the love of his life, he didn't ever let Traci feel left out. Part of that was Mandy's influence, but he still made her feel very welcome. Nick did have one question. "What happens if Traci does find someone that she falls for?" Greg had an answer ready since they had all talked about it many times. "Well, if she did, we all agree that we would be very happy for her. There is a place in our hearts that would be reserved just for her if she would ever need it. And she would always be welcome in our home. The main thing would be her happiness." "Well said, young man! That is why your arrangement works so well for you. You put their happiness before your own. That was something that it took me a very long time to realize. After your grandmother died, and I was really alone, I took a long look at my life and just what I had accomplished. Financially, I had done well, but in my personal life, I was worthless. I had driven your mother away with my obsession to my work as well as her brother. The rift between me and your uncle may never be bridged, but I am forever grateful that your mom could forgive me and let me back in her life." Before he had finished speaking, Heather had got up from the sofa and came over and gave her father a hug and a kiss on the cheek. It was the first time they had touched like that in many years. The jet lag was telling on all of the visitors and they turned in for the evening. Mandy and Traci gave Nick a hug telling him thank you for having them. He mumbled something about he was glad to have them here, but you could see that it meant a lot to him. In bed, they fell asleep rather quickly, exhausted from the trip and all the excitement of the day. The next morning, Mandy woke up first and after visiting the bathroom, went to check on Jenni. The baby was not in her crib, so she threw on a robe and headed down to find her. She found her in the kitchen sitting on Nick's lap and being fed warm polenta with a fruit sauce. She walked in and sat opposite of them. Nick asked if she wanted breakfast and she declined, asking for a cup of tea instead. Nick called out to Teresa and Mandy's tea was soon in front of her. "I hope you didn't mind," said Nick. "I was walking past Jenni's room and heard her blabbing. I opened the door to see if she was all right and she spotted me. She held her arms out to me so I just brought her down. She is delightful, you know." Jenni looked over at her mom grinning through the fruit jelly that was smeared on her face. Mandy reached over and put a hand on Nick's forearm. "I don't mind at all. You are the closest thing that she has to a great-grandfather and she is quite taken by you. I think it is sweet that you two get along so well." Nick smiled at the young woman. It did make him feel good that this little bundle of energy was happy to be with him. It made him feel that maybe he did have a chance at reconnecting with his family. He had been so successful in business but it had cost him something much more valuable. And he was learning just how valuable that was. Adrian and Heather came down soon after Jenni had finished eating. Mandy met them on the stairs on her way up to clean and change Jenni. After her daughter was dressed for the day, Mandy looked in to see if Greg and Traci were up. They were awake and at least Greg was up. They were engaged in a very satisfying bout of oral sex. Mandy slipped back out and vowed to get that same treatment that night. It was about half an hour later before first Greg then Traci came into the kitchen. They both wore the look of being sexually sated, but the rest of the group didn't comment. While they were finishing their coffee, a woman in her thirties came in. She was stylishly dressed and carried herself with an air of confidence. Nick introduced her as his business assistant, Holly. "I still have to get some business done, so if you want to enjoy the pool or the gardens go ahead. Greg, if you want, I would be happy to show you just what I do as CEO of several companies." Greg grabbed his cup and said he would be in the office as soon as he was dressed. The rest of the group sat around planning what they wanted to do the rest of the day. Adrian and Heather asked to borrow Nick's car to visit his mother. Mandy and Traci volunteered to go down to the little village to pick up some of the fresh vegetables that Teresa would need for the evening meal. Heather said they would drop them off and then they would walk back. With plans set, they went upstairs to change and start the day's adventures. When Greg joined his grandfather in his office, Holly was already on the computer screen researching something while Nick was typing out a memo. Greg sat back out of the way and observed all the activity. He was fascinated at the change in his grandfather from the man who had been so sweet to Jenni just a couple hours before, who now was a bull in his business dealings. The bottom line was the main goal, Greg realized as he watched the other two go through earning records of a company that Schoenherr and Associates was looking to buy. Nick decided that he would tell the board of directors that he thought it would be a good asset to have. Next on the line was a bridge in India to replace one that had collapsed during recent flooding. Nick put together a list of requirements that, at first glance, he considered important, then had Holly gather a listing of engineers that were nearing completion of projects. He chose three men and a woman to fly to the area and make a report on the conditions, labor forces, whose palms would have to be greased, and the feasibility of the project as a whole. Nick explained that when they returned with their reports, he could then give the government of the province the bid to rebuild. His grandfather had a mind like a steel trap. He didn't miss any detail that Greg could see. 'He is just like I am when I am working on a project, ' thought Greg as he watched the proceedings. Greg was snapped out of his thoughts when Nick asked him to look over a listing for another job that they were bidding on. Taking what he had learned so far as to the detail that Nick checked, he looked over the plans. The job was for an office tower that was to be built in an up and coming trade center. Greg remembered something from one of his classes; he asked Holly if she could provide him with the weather data for that area for the past several years. She smiled as she reached under a big pile of papers and handed him printouts of what he had requested. After looking over the data and the proposal, he made his comments. "Granddad, I'm no architect, but I don't see anything here that takes into account the possibility of monsoons on the island. The data shows that while they are not all that common, when one hits this place, it hits them hard. Last one was 10 years ago, but it killed forty-seven people and destroyed much of the town. I think I would ask about if the building was designed with this in mind." Nick leaned back in his chair and laughed. "My boy, that was the exact same thing I wanted to know! Seems that the architect was hedging his bets to get the building in under budget. Those plans are being redrawn with specs with the monsoons factored in this time." He then got up and came around to clout Greg on the shoulder. " You would be an excellent addition to our team. You should think about it." For the rest of the workday, Greg pondered what his grandfather had said. Would he want to work in this field? Could he handle the pressure of one missed item could be the death of hundreds of people? This would be something for him to consider, but not while they were on vacation. --=====+++++=====-- Heather was nervous as they bumped along the dirt path that would lead them to the village where her lover had grown up, and eventually to his family home. She had started out just being infatuated with Adrian as an excellent lover and someone to fill the void in her life left by a continually absent husband. But that infatuation had turned into real love, for the first time in her life. He understood her passion for her career, but had also taught her that she could balance that with a life away from work. Adrian worked as a financial consultant and was as impassioned about his career as she was; yet he had always taken time out to give her the support she needed. It didn't hurt that he was two inches over six feet, with black hair and deep brown eyes. His looks got him a lot of offers from women in their hometown but he only had eyes for her and that made her feel even more special. Adrian loved children and just adored Jenni. When she asked him about children, he told her that he was content with spoiling any grandchildren that Greg would have. He didn't care that she was approaching the age where she could no longer have any of their own. The car passed on through the village without stopping. Adrian said that they would come back to greet old friends, but his mother would never forgive him if he didn't come to see her first. They turned off the main path onto one that was even rougher. Adrian downshifted and crept toward the little collection of buildings in front of them. He pulled up at the first one on the left and shut off the car. As they got out, Heather saw a rather elderly woman standing in the doorway on the side of the house. When she saw Adrian, she walked quickly toward them. When she reached them she started talking rapidly in Italian and hugging her son. Adrian greeted her in the same language, and then switched to English to introduce Heather. The woman came around and greeted Heather with a hug and then said in surprisingly good English, "Welcome, welcome. My boy has told me so much about you. You do him well, even if you're not Italian. Come in for some food and wine." During their conversation, Heather found out many things about her lover as well as his mother. Adrian had been the terror of the area until he was sent to the Catholic boarding school. He used to chase the chickens, tease the old bull of the neighbors, and just generally cause mischief in the village. But he got away with all his exploits because the whole village loved him. He was always ready to do favors for anyone who needed it, whether he was asked to or not. He would bring fresh food to those who couldn't get out or were ill. When he was required to work, he worked very hard until the job was done. Mrs. Randali on the other hand was a devoutly religious woman whose son had been a sore trial for her in his younger days. She had tried to steer him toward the priesthood, but he enjoyed the favors of the young ladies in the village too much for that. She still went to the village church on Friday for confession and then the Latin Mass on Sunday morning. Otherwise, she was quite content to stay on the small farm that had been in their family for two hundred years. Two of Adrian's brothers came in during the visit and were very glad to see their sibling. Their English was much more accented. They spoke politely to her then one turned to Adrian and rattled something off in Italian. Adrian laughed and then told the confused Heather that his brother had stated that she was the greatest piece of American ass he had ever seen. The brother was worried when Adrian told her this, but broke into laughter when Heather thanked him and then made a comment about his tight buns. Mama Randali peered toward the heavens and said that her entire brood was heathens. Adrian countered that she loved them all anyway, which she agreed with. It was getting toward late afternoon when Adrian and Heather took their leave of Mama Randali, promising that they would attend Christmas Eve Midnight Mass with her. She sent them away with a jar of her famous sun dried tomatoes packed in olive oil and peppers. The pair arrived home in enough time to hear about what the other visitors had done that day and to wash up for the evening meal. While they all waited on dinner, the two young women told them about their adventure in the village. They had purchased the items that Teresa had asked for along with some extras that appeared tantalizing. They got plenty of stares from the men, which gave a big boost to their ego. Since Mandy was pushing Jenni in the stroller, she was considered more 'off limits' than Traci who actually got her butt pinched by one old guy who had been sitting at the sidewalk cafe. It had startled her and she turned around to slap him when she saw he had such a look of delight and mischievousness when he grinned at her, that she just smiled and hurried away. Nick said that she had probably made the old man's day and he would be talking about it for the next year. Greg commented that he thought she had a very pinchable ass which earned him a playful slap on the shoulder when he tried to put his words into action. They were stopped by Teresa's disapproving stare when she came in to tell them that dinner was going to be done in about an hour. She left the room shaking her head and mumbling in Italian which Traci translated to mean something about things never change and that men's hands can't seem to stay where they belong. This set the young ones to laughing, which triggered Nick's roaring guffaw. After dinner that evening, Nick suggested that they all get in his van and go down the road to the village to see the decorations that were out. Since the village was about a half-mile away, so the younger ones decided the night was warm enough to walk. They would catch a ride back with the parents. All three were surprised to find that there were hardly any decorations like what they were used to in the United States. None of the houses were lined with lights but almost everyone had a Nativity Scene in their courtyard. "The village is very conservative," explained Nick. "The Catholic Church is very much a part of everyday life." As they approached the medieval stone Church at the end of the square, they spotted a live scene where the younger people of the village were playing all the parts, using live animals that were brought in from the neighborhood farms. Mandy was curious about the differences between the religion she had been brought up in and the one that that was dominant in the village. Her pastor had been adamant that the Catholics were not Christian for a variety of reasons. But from what she was seeing was as Biblical as anything that came from her faith. While the others wandered off, Mandy spotted the parish priest and told the others that she wished to speak to him for a while. She stepped up to the older priest and asked if she could spend a few minutes of his time. He was very friendly and after she explained the situation, he was more than happy to explain differences between their faiths. Over an hour later, Greg found Mandy still in deep conversation with Father Pappas. He waited quietly for them to get done, and when Mandy finally said her goodbyes, she spotted him sitting on the low wall of the sanctuary. The other family members had already gone back to the villa, so the couple started up the dark road hand in hand. For the first part of the walk, Mandy was lost deep in thought and Greg respected her silence. About halfway home, she started to voice what she had been thinking. "I really can't believe how ignorant I was about Catholics. They really don't believe that much more different than what I was taught, at least for the parts I believed in. Reverend Campol told everyone that they were devil-worshippers and that even talking to one would send us to hell. I'm seeing a lot of things differently from what I was taught." Greg didn't say anything; he just pulled her closer to him. He figured that she would have to work this out for herself, and she would talk more when she needed to. They came into the house to find a hub of activity. There were boxes sitting around the living area, and the rest of the family was digging into them with glee. To their questions, Nick told them that he figured they should have some decorations for the season. Greg and Mandy started in on the box closest to them pulling out ropes of tinsel and hand-painted glass Christmas balls. Everyone working together with Nick overseeing the entire plan, they soon had the entire first floor covered in festive decoration. While admiring their efforts, Nick was standing next to his daughter. He spoke to her in a quiet voice. "You know, after your mother died, I just didn't see the use in putting all of this up. I had always felt that it was just for her anyway. I was always too involved in my work to bother with such things. Now I can see that I was missing something all along. I never seemed to appreciate how much she kept me in the real world. "I never told you just how proud you have made me. I was upset when you went off on your own and didn't join the organization. It was like you joined the enemy. At the time, your mother told me the reason was you needed to prove something to yourself and to me as well. I didn't listen then, but I realize that she was so right. You have done well in your work and from the looks of Greg, in your personal life as well." Heather took her father's hand and pulled him to the kitchen table where they were alone. With her hands covering his, she answered him. "Dad, I am more like you than you know. It took Greg and Mandy as well to finally make me see that. I had very little to do with Greg's becoming the person he is. I was just too busy working to do what was needed for him. We are just very lucky that he turned out to be such a caring person. He has taught me just how important family can be. I'm just glad to see that you have come to the same conclusions on your own." They spent a little while getting to really know each other better now that the past barriers had been broken down. They eventually joined the others in admiring the decorations and laughing at Jenni's facial expressions as she watched the blinking lights. On Christmas Eve, Heather and Adrian left early for his mother's. She was serving a special meal including all of Adrian's favorite dishes from when he was a child. Heather was still nervous about his mother, but he assured her that she was well liked and that it would be an enjoyable evening. The others took the evening easy with music and the main form of entertainment being Jenni. She was walking now but was still not as steady on her feet as she would become. She would run between the adults that were occupying the furniture in the living room, squealing and laughing, as she would reach her intended target. Pretty soon, though she started to tire and Mandy got her ready for bed. The rest of the evening was spent talking and watching a soccer game that Nick had taped. Traci was reading a novel that she had started on the plane and Mandy had her ever-present sketchpad. Nick was very interested in Mandy's art and she was doing a sketch for him to put on the wall in the entry. When they had related the trip to New York, he had recognized many of the names they mentioned as being either acquaintances or people he had done work for. He also told her that there were a couple of galleries in Europe he knew that would be very interested in her work. She had promised to send him pictures of her work so he could take them around when he was in the cities he mentioned. Now though, she was putting the finishing touches on his requested drawing. It was of the Villa, but in the spring when the trees would be in full blossom. The day after Christmas the frame would be ready in the village and she wanted to make sure her part was done. It was close to eleven when Mandy stretched and then stood up. "Greg, would you mind taking me to the village church for the Mass tonight? The priest said that I would get to see the church in full splendor then." Greg was curious as well, so after asking Traci if she wanted to come along, they went up and got dressed. They drove down to the village and found a place to sit in the back of the church so they could see everything that was going on. The Mass was fascinating to the couple. Done in Latin, they didn't understand it, but a friendly man next to them gave them pointers about what was going on. The elegance of the service and just how the proceedings were conducted was wonderful. Mandy whispered to Greg that it was much more structured than her church services had been. Most notable was the lack of Reverend Campol's shouting about hellfire and brimstone. At the end of the service, they both hung back to thank Father Pappas for inviting them. They told him how much they had enjoyed the whole thing even though they didn't understood a word that was spoken. He explained that it didn't matter since the Mass was always the same, just the homily was different. Saying their goodbyes, they headed back to the villa only to be followed by Heather and Adrian a short time later. Adrian and Heather had celebrated the holiday with Adrian's family that evening, opening presents and sharing the traditional meal. Adrian had brought over shirts from different sports teams and television shows from America for his brothers and their families. A diamond and ruby locket was the present for his mother, which made her cry. In exchange, they received things that only could be found in Italy. "Mama" had wanted them to stay over, but they said that they wanted to be with their other family. She settled for a promise that they would come back again before they flew home and they were to bring the bambinos as well. Knowing that Jenni would be up at her usual time in the morning, they all held off telling each other how their evenings had gone until the next day. Christmas morning started with coffee and the opening of the presents, which was Jenni's favorite part. She loved tearing the paper and went around helping everyone instead of playing with the new toys she had received. Teresa, who was more a member of the family than just the cook and housekeeper joined in and was very moved when she was included in the gift giving. She had lost most of her family years before and was touched to be as included as she was. She brought out fresh pastries that she had baked that morning and served breakfast while they were finishing up. Then Nick told them that they would soon be having guests. There was a tradition that the villa would be open to all the local villagers on Christmas day to come and meet with the man who 'ruled' the area. The position of Master of the Villa had no power any more, but the tradition was still in place. The all volunteered to help with the open house and were soon given jobs by Teresa who ran the festivities. They made up gifts of cookies and sweets that were wrapped in colorful paper and tied with ribbon. Heather was put in charge of making up a hot drink with wine and spices to serve the guests. By early afternoon, everything was to the satisfaction of Teresa and they opened the gates to the first well-wishers. Greg couldn't believe how exhausting it could be to greet that many people. It seemed that the entire village had come to the villa. He shook an uncountable number of hands and more than once gave a hug to one of the village women. A few of the young ones had taken the time to rub their nubile breasts against him during those embraces. He could feel himself start to harden and more than a few of them would glance down and then smile at their feminine power. Poor Jenni had been coo'ed over and her cheeks pinched until she was exhausted and had to be put down for a nap. She had withstood the attention better than they would have expected, but it eventually got to her and she was getting cranky when Mandy put her to bed. Traci had been a hit when they found out she could speak some Italian. They would laugh at her mistakes and then graciously correct her when she would get a word wrong. Many of the village's young men were fascinated with her auburn hair and spent their time watching her without being obvious. As mother to Jenni, Mandy was often asked questions about how motherhood was different in America. Several of the older women remarked that she should get Greg to marry her before they ended up with another one out of wedlock. They didn't seem to understand the concept of the pill. Each family brought a gift from their farm or their trade. Those who didn't bring that kind of gift brought fresh baked goods and items that they had made. By the time the doors were closed, there were many bottles of good wine on the table along with local cheeses and breads. Instead of making a full meal, Teresa had a pot of hearty soup on the stove and they ate that with the breads and cheeses. It had been an exhausting day, but Nick said that he had never enjoyed the tradition as much as he had this year. Having his family with him made it all the more special. They all settled back for a little while and then headed to bed. They spent the rest of their vacation just enjoying the ambience of the villa and being together without any of the outside pressures that they would find at home. Greg would go into the office to help his grandfather and generally learn what he actually did. The women would either be helping Teresa or just lounging around on the back patio. Mandy and Traci were soon well known in the village and the villagers would greet them, as they would go through the markets. They did go into Rome for a couple of days to see the sights. They all took the tours and used all the media cards they had taking pictures. That night, Greg would download them all to his computer and then they would refill them the next day. By the time they were scheduled to go home, they were missing their own homes. The vacation had been good for all of them for more than just the normal reasons. Heather had been able to reconnect to her father, something that had not happened for many years. Greg got to know his grandfather and they had become close. Mandy found that she really enjoyed the older man's company and had learned to enjoy Teresa's gruff ways. On the jet flying back, they all were pretty quiet. When not sleeping, they were reliving the memories that they had made while they had been there. And those were the most important things that they brought back with them. ------- Chapter 20 The travelers returned home tired but feeling good about their vacation. They rested on the weekend, trying to overcome the jet lag that had their schedules all messed up. Even with that rest, they just barely got through their classes. By the end of the week, they were more in line with their schedules and beginning to enjoy college life once again. Greg had the worst time of it since he had to make up for the training time he missed in addition to taking extra time in the gym preparing for a tournament the first part of February. Traci started to not be as active in their shared bed around this time. But with everything that was happening, neither Mandy nor Greg had noticed. It came to their notice one evening after Greg had made love first to Traci then to Mandy. When Mandy came back to the living from the afterglow of her orgasm, she looked over at Traci who was quietly crying. Mandy reached over and wiped a tear away from her best friend's cheek. "What's the matter?" Traci just shook her head. Mandy sat upright and turned to face the other woman. "Come on girl, you can talk to me. You know we both love you." Traci sniffled and wiped her nose on the back of her hand. "It's just... I really don't know how to explain it. You guys know how much I love both of you. I think what we have is marvelous and I don't want to see it end, but I also sometimes get so frustrated that I don't have the same love that you two so obliviously feel for each other. You have such a bond and I just sometimes wish I could find the same thing; you know someone just for me." Her words had come tumbling out, like once she started, she couldn't stop. She buried her face into her hands, crying harder now. Greg had heard what was happening and he went around the bed. He sat on Traci's other side, putting his arm around her. He couldn't say much, but he felt a lump in his chest that meant he thought he was losing someone he cared very much for. While Greg continued to comfort Traci, Mandy got up and slipped into the bathroom. She soon came back with a warm washcloth and a towel, which she handed to Greg. Then she disappeared again. When she returned this time it was with a tray laden with their favorite hot teas. By that time, Traci had calmed down enough to where she could accept the cup that Mandy offered her. They all sipped the hot liquid in silence, each in their own thoughts. Finally Mandy opened up the conversation. "I am just speaking for myself here, but I can understand what you are thinking; at least a little bit. I don't want you to think I am jealous, 'cause I'm not. But sometimes when you are making love to Greg, I think how I would feel if you were the one he found first. "But I know that I don't want to lose you as a friend or lover. I had never even thought about sharing my boyfriend until we became so close. And I want to know that I won't be losing you." Traci looked up at her with reddened eyes. "I don't want that either. What we have is something that I know I will never regret. I just look at Jenni sometimes and wish I could have a child of my own. A little family that was just mine. You know, the whole wedding with the man who will love me and then we would settle in our own little house and have kids. But in those dreams, I still would have you two as very important parts of my life. You have taken me in and loved me just for me and I don't ever want to lose that. That's why I didn't want to say anything. It just hit me hard tonight for some reason." Greg was really trying to understand. He logically understood Traci's needs, but the emotional lump in his stomach was causing his thinking to be fuzzy. Was he lacking in some way in being her lover? Was he neglecting her somehow? He wasn't sure about anything right then. His mind was going in ever-tightening circles and he knew he needed some time to sort his thoughts out. "You girls stay here for the night. I really need a little time alone to deal with this." He got up and headed to the room that had been Traci's when she first moved in with them. Both women watched him leave, wondering just what he was worried about. But then, they settled into talking about the subject at hand. Mandy understood much better than Greg did about what Traci was going through. Traci still had to reassure her friends and lovers that it was nothing that either one had done wrong. "I never felt like either one of you neglected me in any way," she told the younger woman. "It is just that I started to really feel the need of a lover of my own, one who just wants me." They talked long into the night and Mandy found herself agreeing with her. The biggest problem with both of them was going to be the sense of loss they were sure to feel. Greg, on the other hand, was still as confused as ever. He was sure it was something he had done (or not done) that was causing the breakup of their home. He tried to think of what the cause could be, blaming himself for whatever it was. That he was not the cause never entered his mind. He spent the rest of the evening sitting in the darkened room feeling a great sense of loss and hurt. The sun was starting to lighten the sky by the time he fell into a very troubled sleep. It was late in the morning when Traci decided that it was time to talk with Greg. She quietly entered the room where he lay sleeping. She moved quietly to the other side of the bed and laid next to him, holding him close. He stirred a little before opening his eyes. At first, he felt at ease with Traci snuggled against his side. But then, a look of fear came to his eyes as he remembered the events of the night before. Greg turned to where he could look into Traci's eyes. "Whatever I did or didn't do that hurt you so bad that you want to leave, I'm sorry!" Traci's eyes were wide as she realized that this was where his thoughts had taken him during the night. Sitting up, she pulled Greg into the same position facing her. Her voice was stern enough to make him take notice. "Greg, listen to me! You have done nothing at all wrong. Don't you even think like that. It has to do with the feminine part of me that always has dreamed of having a husband and kids and a house with my own little yard. Ever since I was a little girl, I've dreamed about just those things. "You and Mandy have given me everything I could possibly need. I am loved and accepted by you both for me, not just my body or looks. But I really need to start looking for something more. Something that I want for my future." Greg was trying very hard to understand what she was saying, but he was also trying to figure out just what was going to happen in the immediate future. "I think I understand what you are telling me. I still feel like I am at fault somehow. Anyway, what is going to happen? Are you going to move back into this room, or clear out of the house, or what?" Traci looked stricken. "Not unless you want me to. I'm not wanting to write you guys out of my life or anything like that. Can't we still be friends and lovers? I'm just wanting to start looking. Maybe date a few guys and see how things go." Now she got very serious. "You were the first man who ever really loved me, just for me. Not for Traci the redheaded bombshell, but for Traci the human being, the person that is inside. And that means more to me than you will ever possibly know." She lifted her hand. "This ring is very special to me and I will never take it off. We three have shared so much that it can never be erased. We have shared more than our bodies. We have shared our hearts and minds, and that is even more important. "Mandy and I talked a lot of the night. She came up with an idea, and we both hope you will agree with us. Nothing much needs to change right now. I will just start dating when I am interested. I don't want to lose the physical intimacy we have. We will just take things one step at a time. And believe me, I will have a very hard time finding any man who could come close to you as a friend and lover." Greg suddenly realized how quiet it was in the house right then. "Where's Mandy and Jenni?" Traci got a teasing grin on her face. "Mandy and Jenni are at the playground in the park. She thought that we needed the time to talk... and maybe some other things." She slipped her shirt over her head showing that she wasn't wearing a bra. As she moved up onto her knees to remove the jeans and panties she was wearing, Greg snapped out of his funk. He slipped off his sweats and they were soon holding each other tightly, their naked skin rubbing together giving a physical element to the spiritual that they felt for each other. They spent a long time just touching and kissing each other. Because of their earlier talk, they felt the need to show each other just how much they loved the other. By the time Greg slid his aching cock into her willing body, she was on the edge of orgasm. She started to spasm as he started to slide in and out, her vaginal muscles milking him. He gave out a long groan as he shot his semen deep into her channel, triggering one last climax for her. They stayed coupled for several minutes, each reliving the intensity that their love for each other had added to their lovemaking. When Mandy and Jenni came home, the other two had showered and dressed and were working on dinner. Mandy looked questioningly at Traci and received a look that said everything was going to be all right. Mandy gave a sigh of relief that they all had pretty well worked out this crisis. She loved both of these people and was glad that everything was almost back to normal. For all the talk, Traci didn't have more than a couple of dates. The men who had asked her out were nice and she ended up keeping them as friends, but there just wasn't the spark she was expecting. But with the way the trio had worked it out, she didn't need to feel in a hurry and was content to take her time. This was just fine with Greg since he was still unsure of his feelings of jealously that he found he was having. ------- Greg did very well in the tournament, as did the rest of his team. Greg won his weight class with almost no trouble, and defeated the final opponent by three points to one. The team took all but two weight classes, which their coach thought was very acceptable. That win brought them into the national championship tournament as the second seed. They had just over a month until the championships. The trio went out to dinner to celebrate. Greg was still sore from where the one point his opponent in the final round scored had connected. Otherwise, they all had a great time. Heather and Adrian had made reservations at the local country club and after dinner, they laughed and danced until it was time to pick Jenni up from the sitter. Heather and Adrian had news for the trio during the dinner. Greg's father, Ted, had recently decided that he would divorce Heather, leaving her free to marry Adrian if they wished. It was a little upsetting to Greg that his father had not even said anything about it in his very infrequent emails, but Heather reminded him that it was just his father's way to not think about any one but himself. She figured that the only reason he was going through with the divorce was that he wanted to be free to marry some woman he had met. "You know, I was the same way in my thinking until you shocked me out of it," she told her son. Congratulations were given all around and the conversation turned to plans for the upcoming ceremony. Adrian asked Greg, Mandy and Traci to all be witnesses at a simple ceremony at City Hall. Adrian was prepared to go through with a big wedding, but Heather felt that it really wasn't necessary. They were going to honeymoon in the village in Italy where they had spent Christmas Break. At one point, Heather looked over at the trio sitting across from her. "A couple of years ago, I would never have considered being in love with someone, much less getting engaged again. My work was all I thought about. But being around you three, as well as the way you brought me into your lives, has really made a turn-around in my own life. It is all for the better and I have you guys to thank." Mandy and Traci both had tears in their eyes as they held Heather's hand across the table. Then Heather mentioned that it was their fault that she had taken more time off in the last year than she had taken in her entire career. This lightened the mood and let the evening end on a happy note. A few days after the happy news, Greg was coming home from practice on his bike when he spotted a 'For Sale' sign in front of the house where Mandy's parents lived. He mentioned it to Mandy when she came in with Jenni later. She didn't let what her parents did interfere with her life any longer, but it upset her that the house where she had grown up was on the market. She asked Greg to find out what he could as to why they were selling. He promised to call the realtor the next day during his break between classes. The realtor was not a whole lot of help as to why the Carsons were selling. He did say that the house was priced for a quick sale, and that he was instructed to take any reasonable offer. That weekend Mandy got a strange phone call from her mother. She asked if Mandy would meet her at a local park the next afternoon. Mandy was confused when she hung up the phone, as well as fearful of what might happen. Greg told her that he would hang out just out of sight in case of any trouble. That helped her fears, but the foreboding that she felt stayed with her the rest of the evening. That same feeling was with her as she sat in the park watching Jenni play on the grass. Greg had recently found a puppy on the street and had brought him home. The pup had taken to Jenni immediately and they were now inseparable. So Harry the dog was keeping Jenni entertained while Mandy watched and brooded on just why her mother had requested to see them both. Sarah Carson looked more worn and weary as she walked up to where her daughter sat on a picnic bench. Mandy and her mother had a quick embrace then Sarah sat down at the opposite side of the table. "You seem to be doing well Amanda, even living the lifestyle you have chosen." "Yes, Mother. I'm very happy with my life. I have my daughter and Greg and I are engaged. I'm also doing very well in college and even have sold some of my artwork, enough to put away a good amount of money." "Yes... well. Your father showed me an article in the paper where you won the local art show. I, of course, do not approve of your subject matter, but I will admit that you do capture your subjects well." "Why did you want to see us? Last time we spoke you watched Father beat me up and throw me out of the house." "Amanda, I didn't come here to go over the past. We are moving soon and I wanted to see you and your child before we go." Mandy called to Jenni and the toddler came running over to her with Harry in hot pursuit. Mandy picked her daughter up and sat her on her lap. "Honey, this is your grandmother Sarah." "Gamma?" was the confused child's reply. "Not Grandma Heather sweety, she is your other Grandma." The child took this in stride, her belief in everything her mama and daddy told her being enough. Sarah looked at her grandchild, and remembered when the woman holding her was the same age. The resemblance was incredible. Jennifer looked like her mother's double when she had been that age. "She seems to be a happy child. Is she a good baby? You were always easy to take care of when you were that age." "Jenni has always been a joy to have. She only gets cranky when something is wrong and the women at the daycare spoil her constantly." Mandy decided to get to the point. "Mother, why did you decide to come here today?" "The truth is Amanda, I wanted to see for myself just how you and the child were doing. Your father is of the mind that you are not caring for the child. Also, we are soon moving with the rest of the church to Idaho. Reverend Campol has convinced the congregation that the end times are coming and we need to get away from all the devilry that surrounds us here. The profits from the sale of our home will go toward paying for the land that the Reverend has found for us." "Mother, you don't seem very enthused about this move." "It is not for me to say. Your father is the head of the household and I must obey him like the church must obey Christ. I do worry about all of this, but your father has spoken on the matter, so I have no choice." Mandy tried to convince her mother that she didn't have to make the move, but soon gave it up as a lost cause. Sarah stood up after a few more minutes. "I must be going before your father wants to know where I am. I shouldn't say anything at all, but I want you to know that your father is determined to show you as a poor parent. I know otherwise now, but I can't go against him." With that, Sarah turned and started walking back toward her house. Mandy was very upset by what her mother had said at the end of their conversation. Her father would have no reason to try and cause problems other than just to try and prove she was wrong to leave. Greg had been close enough to hear most of the conversation, and had come over to comfort Mandy. "I'm sure you don't have anything to worry about at all. Everyone who knows you knows that you are the best mother in the world. Don't worry, even if he does try something, we will prove him wrong. Come on; let's take the munchkin and the furball over to the Creamery for a cone. I hope you brought enough wipes for the mess she is going to make." They went and got a cone for Jenni and a small dish for Harry. They had to buy a separate dish for the dog to keep Jenni from sneaking him bites of her cone. Then they cleaned her up the best they could and headed home. Mandy kept the thought of her father causing her problems in the back of her mind. During her schoolwork, it would pop up and cloud her thinking. She could see it was affecting her schoolwork and even her art class was suffering. Her art professor noticed the change and encouraged her to get her feelings out through her art. It was during this time that she did some sculptures that were stark in their despair, and, while they were far from her normal work, were very emotional. The day finally came when a process server brought over papers stating that Richard and Sarah Carson were suing for the custody of Jenni. Even though they had been expecting this to happen for a couple of weeks, it brought Mandy to tears. Traci comforted her friend while Greg got on the phone with Marina Sultas, the lawyer who had helped Mandy in the past. They had forewarned her that this might happen, so she was ready with all the paperwork to file the objections. They didn't even have to go to the first hearing. All that had happened was that the judge appointed a Guardian ad Lidem for Jenni to look out for her best interests. This lawyer made arrangements to come over and survey the conditions that Jenni was living in. Mr. Agustus took a look around the house and saw that Jenni had her own room as well as plenty of play space. He then talked to each of the other three residents of the house separately, then all together. At the same time he was observing how Jenni was attended to by whoever happened to be around her at the time. He noticed the way that Jenni interacted with each of the adults. He spent less than an hour in the house and before he left, he gave them a heads-up. "I am not supposed to let anyone in on what I have found until the report is released to the judge, but from what I have observed, Jennifer seems to be in an ideal environment. I know the daycare that she is in since my wife teaches at the college. They are very loving to all of their charges. Off the record, I can't see anything that would go wrong in this case." He shook hands all around and left them to finish making dinner. He was headed next to the Carson's. Greg felt that everything would be fine, but Mandy was still worried. The date with the mediator was coming up quickly. It was apparent that Richard Carson was pushing for custody before they moved. There had been an emergency custody motion to remove Jenni immediately from Mandy's care until the trial, but that had been quashed since it was clear she was in no danger. Ms. Sultas reassured them all that there would be no problem and they were to just stick to the facts as she had presented them. They all arrived at the courthouse early and were waiting when Richard and Sarah came in. Richard had a look of confidence that shook Mandy, but Greg leaned over and let her know that she need not worry. The mediator came in and introduced himself as David C. Haskins. They were seated at a large table with him in the middle opposite both parties. The only other person in the room was a court reporter. Mr. Haskins called the mediation to order and read off the names of all present. Then he began. "I have reviewed the complaint and response as well as the report of the Guardian ad Litem, a Mr. Felix Agustus. Before I make a recommendation in this matter, you each will be allowed to enter into the record any information that you feel is pertiant to the matter at hand. Mr. Carson, as the claimant, you may go first." Richard Carson stood up. "I believe that I should get custody of this child because her mother is obliviously not fit to raise her. She had the child out of wedlock, is cohabitating with another woman and a man. This is not a proper environment in which to raise a child. A child needs a strong influence and the power of Christ in their lives, not raised in a den of depravity where two harlots perform all kinds of sinful acts in her presence. Also, the mother does not have a permanent job or any other income. How does she expect to raise a child with no husband to support and lead her? Give us this child and we will raise her in a proper Christian home." Next was Mandy's turn. Her father's words had upset her enough that she was unable to speak without breaking down. Greg stood up and asked if he could speak on her behalf. Mr. Haskins nodded his assent. Greg was angry. Actually he was beyond angry. The way he was painting Mandy, as an unfit mother was not only vicious, but also completely untrue. "Putting aside the facts that Amanda was raped and that the Carson's refused to do anything other than blame her for it, as well as the fact they tossed her out of the house, literally when they found out she was pregnant, she has become a mother that would be the model for anyone. Jennifer is doted on and lacks nothing. According to her pediatrician, she is in the upper percentile for her age in weight and height, and progressing well in all the ways a baby should. "As for income, Mandy makes a very good income from the sale of her artwork. You have the figures, but I imagine she is making as much if not more than Mr. Carson does on a yearly basis. As for his other charges, they are a load of garbage in addition to having no bearing in this case. Mandy and I are engaged and we will be married within the next few years. Besides, the Carson's have never made any attempt to see Jenni and probably are only using this whole thing as a way to hurt their daughter because she went and got raped." Mr. Haskins cleared his throat. "I will render my decision in writing in a few days. However, I will say that in spite of what the GAL and social services say about Miss Carson, I believe it is wrong to allow a child to be brought up in a sinful environment. And you are living in sin, young woman. You are not going to church, and you are not exposing the child to the Lord. The bible says you are wrong in the way you are raising the child as well as not honoring your father. And my decision will reflect those things." The Carsons looked very smug, but Mandy and Greg were in a state of shock. They could not believe that this man would place his religious convictions ahead of what the laws and common sense dictated. As they left Mandy was so shocked that she couldn't even cry. Greg was on the phone to Marina Sultas before they had left the building. They were going to fight this. He felt like Jenni was his and he wasn't going to allow anyone to separate them. ------- Chapter 21 Greg was put through to Marina immediately. He quickly explained the situation to her and there was a moment of silence on the other end of the line. "And what did you say the name was of this mediator?" "Haskins." "Don't worry. He has done this type of thing before; and he has been overturned every time. Come straight to the office and we will get the injunction request ready before he even gets his decision written out. This time I am going to bury that pious son-of-a-bitch so deep that he can't ever do this kind of thing again." During the ride home, Mandy was silent. Only the tears trailing down her face gave any indication that she was awake. Greg tried to tell her what Marina had said, but she gave no sign that she even heard him. As soon as they came in the house, she swept up Jenni into her arms and went into the little girl's bedroom with her. Traci waited for Greg to explain what had happened. She knew from Mandy's reaction that it wasn't good but when Greg told her just what went on, she dropped into a chair and broke into tears of her own. In many ways, Jenni was very much her own little girl as much as she was Mandy's. Greg comforted Traci until she pulled herself together and then went in to check on Mandy. He found her curled up on the twin bed in Jenni's room, holding the sleeping girl in her arms. He called out softly to Mandy, but she didn't answer. He walked over to the bed and touched his lover on the shoulder. "Just go away and leave me alone. I just need to hold her a while." Greg did as she asked, but he was worried. He didn't know what to do. And he really hated to be so helpless in a situation like this. Damnit! As the man of the house, he was supposed to be able to figure out the answers! And in this situation, he couldn't do anything. He finally figured he could make himself useful by fixing them all something light to eat. He heated up some soup and made some sandwiches. Before he could get the soup done, the phone rang. Marina was on the other end saying that they obtained an emergency injunction until a court could hear the case. That meant that Jenni stayed right where she belonged until a judge reviewed the case. She also said that she was confident that they would come out on top when it happened. Greg ladled up a cup of the soup and headed to Jenni's room. He found the little girl asleep in her crib but Mandy was not to be seen. He finally found her in the room that had been turned into her studio. She was drawing furiously on a canvas, adding the lines to be filled with color. Next to her were a couple more that she had already sketched in. The images were disturbing to Greg, nothing at all like he had seen her draw before. The sadness showed clearly in the face of the woman portrayed. Another depicted a pregnant girl whose womb was being ripped out by a giant pair of hands. The hands were definitely male. "Sweetheart, Marina was just on the phone and said she had an injunction. Plus she is sure that we will beat this thing." She wouldn't turn from the canvas to face him. She just kept drawing in frantic strokes of her pencil. When he told her he had brought something to eat, she finally told him to just leave it on the table. Knowing that he couldn't do anything more, he quietly backed away and out the door. Back in the kitchen, he served up two more bowls and then took them and the sandwiches into the living room where Traci still sat. The two ate quietly, each lost in their own thoughts. Greg picked up a book and tried to study, but the words refused to make sense. All he could think of was what if he and Mandy (and Traci) lost the light of their lives. It was quite late for them before they started to go to bed. Greg went to the studio to find Mandy asleep, passed out on the floor. He roused her enough to get her to go with him to their bedroom, where he stripped off her clothes and settled her under the covers. He passed Traci in the hall where she had changed Jenni and put her back to bed. With their arms around each other, they turned around and joined their lover. Mandy missed the next few days of classes. Most of her professors understood and made allowances for her absence. Her art professor was as shocked as Greg had been at the intensity of the new paintings. He had to agree that there was a lot of passion in them and he urged her to paint more. He understood that for an artist, this was the best way for her to work out her anger and fear. However, Greg was very concerned about Mandy's state of mind. She was coping now because she was holding on to the hope that the decision would be reversed. If it was upheld, he wasn't sure if she would be able to handle losing her daughter. For that matter, he wasn't sure how he would be able to handle it. The decision arrived by registered mail. It contained all the reasons that Mr. Haskins had given for giving custody to Mandy's parents. Greg called Marina and found out that she had a copy and was already preparing the appeal. They had just set a hearing date in two months and the judge was a stickler for the law. Marina once again assured them that this was a good thing. In order to help offset the cost of the appeal, Marina also asked them if they would mind getting help from the ACLU, Americans United, and anyone else she could contact. "Haskins and other mediators like him need to be taught a lesson. Getting national exposure to the problem would not only help put some weight behind your case but just might help other young women in the same situation." Mandy didn't like the idea of being the center of attention like that. However, when Marina appealed to her sense of helping others, she agreed. After they got off phone, Mandy told Traci what was going on. "Since we may be watched and picked apart by people on both sides on this, I want to let you know that if you don't think you can handle it, you can do whatever you need to and we'll understand." Traci looked shocked for a moment. Her first reaction was to be hurt that Mandy didn't want her around. But when she thought of Mandy's nature to protect those she loves, Traci changed her reply. "Mandy my love, I appreciate you thinking about me, but we are family. Families stick together through anything. Besides, we are not doing anything wrong. I would be a really sorry person if I thought of taking off and leaving you with all this alone." The two women came together in a tearful hug filled with relief and love for each other. Greg came in with Jenni to find them still in each other's arms. Jenni squirmed in Greg's arms until he set her down. She toddled over to her mother with her arms out. "Me hug too?" Mandy gave a relieved laugh and reached down to pick her daughter up and set her on the couch between her and Traci. Jenni first hugged her mother, and then gave her 'Aunt' Traci the same treatment. They held off talking about the trial, choosing to play with Jenni until it was dinner and then bedtime. By the end of the week, the phone calls for interviews started. Once the national organizations offered their support, the reporter for the local paper who had covered the Founder's day celebration came to them for a statement. None of the three would talk about the specifics of the case; they let the reporter know that there was plenty of information in public record, including the previous cases and the decision of this one. When they could meet with their attorney, they would hold a press conference. That Sunday afternoon, Mandy, Traci and Greg sat down with Marina and a lawyer from the ACLU to answer questions. The trio was surprised to see at least 20 reporters there, some from nationally known papers and a couple of news crews. Ben Sutters leaned over to whisper to Mandy that they were becoming national celebrities and that one of the crews was from the local news affiliate. All three were very nervous about such a crowd. Marina and Ben said they would handle most of the questions about any legal issues so they didn't have to worry about there. However there might be personal questions that they could answer or not as they felt. The conference started with Ben reading a statement that told about the history between Mandy and her parents, and that the appeal was not only about getting justice for Mandy but also to prevent Religious prejudice as in this case from overshadowing the law. There were a few questions directed to the lawyers before the first one directed to Greg. "Do you agree with having this child around, even though she is not yours?" "Sir, I think of Jenni as my own child. I was there for her birth and I am the only father she knows. She calls me daddy. To me it isn't what her blood line is, it is who she loves and who loves her that counts." One of the local reporters asked the next question aimed at Mandy. "How is your daughter taking all of this? Does she understand what is going on - that she might have to live with her grandparents?" "Jenni doesn't really understand any of the details. She is just over one year old. She has never seen her grandfather. He had no desire to see either one of us until now. My mother has seen her once in the public park for about twenty minutes. I can't find any reason for this action to be going forward except that they want to still control me; to punish me for not believing as they do." A man in the back of the room stood to be recognized. He was from one of the Conservative Christian papers. "If all three of you live in the same house and are having unmarried sex, and maybe even lesbian sex, why should your child be exposed to such blatant sin and depravity? Wouldn't she be better off in a good Christian home like the mediator's ruling states?" The other reporters gave this man some strange looks, but Greg decided to take care of this right away. "First off sir, what goes on in our house is none of your or the court's business. My fiancée' was kicked out of this fine Christian home you are speaking of because she was raped and became pregnant. Traci here is our housemate and best friend. Our daughter is not 'exposed' to any sin. She sleeps in her own room and it isn't any different than any other family. It is just your depraved mind that dwells on the sex lives of others." When Greg finished, he was given a round of applause. The other reporters felt that this man's attitude was out of line. They did not want to be associated with him or anyone that worked for the gossip rags like he did. There were a few more questions, but they were respectful and stayed with the facts of the case. Ben called a halt, thanking them all for their time, and the trio was shuffled out a nearby exit. They were all exhausted by the time they arrived home. Traci had been asked a few questions, but nowhere near the extent that Mandy and Greg had. She decided to make tacos for dinner. Heather and Adrian had taken care of Jenni during the conference and stayed for the meal. Greg browsed the channels on the television until he caught part of the press conference. Heather felt that they had handled themselves very well. The reporter put them in a favorable light, selling the story as a young mother trying to keep her child in spite of going to school and making something of herself. Shortly after the news had run, the phone started ringing. Mandy picked it up the first time and dropped it with a look of horror on her face. Greg came over and picked up the receiver to hear the man on the other end still yelling his threats of hell for the 'harlot who dared to disobey her father and God'... As soon as he hung up the receiver, another call came through. Again it was more threats of hell but this time the caller wished to send her there as soon as possible. He was willing to help them all along. Greg brought out an old answering machine that took cassette tapes and replaced the new one they were using. Then he turned down the ring tone and let the machine take the calls. He would check the caller I.D. on the remote handset and only answered the calls that they wanted. When they went through the calls, there were more than just the threats of hell. Mandy was condemned for being a single mother, living off welfare, being selfish for not sharing Jenni, and on and on. One thing they all had in common was that they really didn't know just what the details were, and worse, they didn't care. Going to college the next few days was rough as well. Mandy caught the worst of it, being accosted by some members of a radical religious group that was on campus. She was afraid to continue classes until Greg talked to several of his fellow martial arts team who agreed to be escorts for Mandy and Traci between classes. The local talk radio shows did segments on the case. The community became divided on the issue and it wasn't only the religious versus the non-religious. People of all persuasions came down on both sides of the issue. Since the town was less than five hundred thousand in population, it still had a small town feel when it came to these types of issues. It did get bad enough that Mandy became so depressed that she sought help from a therapist and her doctor. They were both convinced that her depression was from what was going on in her life and that as soon as things were back to normal, she would no longer be depressed. "These events are outside of your control and there is nothing you can do to remedy them right now. I am confident that when this all blows over and you can go back to being just you with your family, you will go right back to where you were mentally. Although, you will probably be more aware of your daughter and how much you love her." These were the words of wisdom from her therapist, and her family echoed them. The day of the hearing finally arrived. Since this was family court, cameras and video were banned. Mandy was at the defendant's table flanked by Marina on her left and Ben on her right. Directly behind her were Greg, Traci, Heather and Adrian. They were close enough to whisper words of encouragement. On the other side were Richard Carson and his attorney. For some reason, his wife was not there with him. Greg started to ask what was going on, but was interrupted by the entrance of the judge. Judge James S. Saunders was a large man who was known to run his courtroom with an iron hand. He would not put up with the antics that were common among some attorneys. In his late fifties, he had the weary look of one who had heard the worst that could come from humanity. He had transferred from criminal court because he felt he had done all he could there. Family court might not be as high profile, but as he often told his clerk, he could now save some families instead of tearing them apart. The names of all involved were entered into the record and the proceedings began. Each lawyer pleaded their case and entered into evidence any papers, reports or briefs that they thought would help their side. Among those documents were the reports from Social Services, transcripts of the previous mediation, as well as amicus briefs from several interested parties. Judge Saunders listened to both sides and went over all the documents. He almost threw Richard Carson out of the courtroom on three occasions. His interruptions were not welcome. Since it was close to eleven, he adjourned the court until Three PM at which time he said he would render his decision. The entire family went to lunch with their two lawyers. While they ate, they discussed the case and speculated what the verdict would be. Ben was confident that by saying he would render a decision that quick, the judge had probably already made up his mind. At Three o'clock, they all stood as the judge entered the courtroom. He told all to be seated and began his ruling. "Having listened to the arguments and reading the related materials, especially the transcripts, I will now make a verbal ruling. A detailed, written decision will be forthcoming. "The decision of the mediator in this case is hereby overturned. It is apparent that the mediator did not follow the recommendations of the expert parties in this case, much less the laws of this state. Instead, he decided to apply ancient religious laws. These have no place in our secular legal system. By doing so, he tried to remove a child from her loving mother and hand her over to grandparents who until now had absolutely no interest in the child and to allow the grandparents to move that child to another state where the mother could have no contact. Such a ruling goes against both the spirit as well as the letter of the law regarding such cases. Religion or the lack of the same cannot be used as a deciding factor in a custody case. "It is hereby ordered that custody of the child in question remain with her mother, Amanda Carson. Visitation by the grandparents will be granted but only as supervised visitation. If such visitation is requested, it can be arranged through the local Department of Social Services... On a personal note, I want to express my sorrow to Ms. Carson. This entire proceeding as well as the publicity involved was unnecessary and only served to hurt you and your family. Rest assured that there will be an investigation into the work of the mediator in your case. If the facts warrant it, he will be removed from his office. We stand Adjourned." As soon as his gavel hit the bench, the gallery erupted. Mandy got hugs from all of her family as well as many of her friends who had taken off from school to lend their moral support. Ben and Marina were congratulated on the victory and Richard Carson stomped out of the courtroom. He threatened to appeal, but his lawyer advised that there really was no way to win. When the family left the courthouse, several reporters stopped them. Greg gave a short statement saying they were glad that the judge had seen what the mediator had done and that they all felt justice had prevailed. Heather took them all out for a victory dinner that included Jenni. She didn't really understand all the fuss, but she enjoyed the mashed potatoes and green beans that she mixed together on her tray before getting them all over her face. They left shortly after dessert telling Heather and Adrian that they were exhausted. The trio arrived home a short time later. Mandy took Jenni up to give her a bath and get her ready for bed. It wasn't long after she was asleep that the rest followed her into dreams. Things quieted down for the most part over the next week. A woman was found murdered and her head missing across town and that gave everyone something else to speculate about. Two weeks after the trial, everyone was staying in for the night. Traci was studying at the dining room table, which had once again been turned into a study area. Mandy was putting away the dinner dishes. Greg sat back to watch television. He happened to look out the window and saw something burning on their front lawn. He yelled at Mandy to call 911 and he ran outside to grab the water hose that was laying in the yard. Someone had piled some bundles of dry brush on the front lawn and set it ablaze. The fire department was only five blocks away, so they were there in minutes. While Greg had kept it from spreading, the fireman had it out quickly. Since it had been a definite case of arson, the police and the arson squad were called out. They determined that kerosene had been used to start the blaze. However, they would not say for sure if it was because of the recent trial, but Greg felt that it probably was. The police took the tapes of the threats from the answering machine and promised to do more patrols in the area. Over the next few weeks, the attacks increased rather than decreased. One of their cars was painted with obscene words, a window in the front of the house was broken and there was one more fire. Everyone in the house was worried about what would happen next. The police were keeping track of what was going on, but there was little they could do unless they caught whoever it was red-handed. Mandy happened to look out of the kitchen window during the evening about a week after the last attack and spotted some movement just past the deck. She called for Greg and then called the police. Greg slipped out the front door and went over the back fence. He was afraid that the police would once again be too late to catch this person. He saw some movement at the base of the deck. Keeping to the shadows, Greg crept in closer. The figure was very intent on what he was doing and didn't notice him as Greg got closer. Just as the figure moved away from the deck support, Greg swept the figure's legs out from under him and was on top of the person before he hit the ground. The person quit trying to get away when Greg pulled him into a chokehold and put pressure on his carotid artery. The sound of a police car pulling up caused Greg to pull the other man into a standing position with his spine bent back as he kept hold of the intruder. The cops came into the back yard with their guns drawn and ordered Greg to let the man go. As soon as he did, the intruder tried to take off. Greg swept his legs again and one of the officers was on his back before he could get away. They pulled off his stocking mask and Greg recognized him from the college campus. Later, the police called the house and after Greg got off the phone, he turned to the girls. "Do either one of you know a Darrell Connell?" Mandy couldn't place the name, but Traci said she thought he was in one of her classes. "Well, he just confessed to all that has been going on. It seems he felt that one of you had snubbed him, and he was getting his revenge." Traci thought for a few minutes the spoke up. "I think I remember him coming up and asking if I wanted to go for a snack after class. It was my day to pick up Jenni, so I told him that I couldn't. Would that have been enough to set him off?" "From what the cops just said, it could have been. Darrell is mentally unbalanced. They seem to think he would take any rejection as an affront to his honor. All the graffiti that was painted on the car and the front of the house were not from the trial. They came from him because you rejected him." Traci was feeling really guilty about what was happening, but the other two assured her that it was in no way her fault. If it hadn't been her, it would have been some other girl on campus. Greg was just relieved that he had been stopped. What he didn't tell Traci was that if the fire hadn't been stopped, he was planning to grab her in all the confusion. He had tried before, but she had always been with someone else. In his car, the police found rope and tape as well as a large hunting knife. If he could have got her away, he would have raped and murdered her. Since he had a record of stalking and was implicated in other crimes, he would be held in the mental hospital until the doctors thought he was not a danger. Then he would be expedited to his home state where he was facing other charges. This meant that they did not have to go through a trial. After all that had happened to them so far, this was a stroke of good luck. Things did finally die down over the next month. All of their grades slipped a little, but were still high enough to make them all proud of each other. Mandy won top honors in the spring art show for the work she had done during her crisis. Greg took the gold medal in the National tournament, and earned a chance for a spot on the Olympic team. A teammate took the silver in his weight class, so they both were looking forward to competition. The Carsons didn't seek an appeal of the court decision. Instead, they sold their house and packed up to move. The real estate professionals were having a hey-day with the sudden glut of thirty-five houses to move. The sellers were anxious to be gone and they were all willing to deal. The housing market had been tight for the past year so this was a real boon. With that many families all following the Reverend Campol, the exodus even made the local paper. The write-up was bland, but anyone with a logical mind could read between the lines that they were part of a cult. Mandy followed anything she could find about them, going so far as to find an online paper that was near where they were settling. She tried to act like it really didn't matter, but finally confessed to Traci that even after all they had done, they were still her parents. Besides, they had taken Mandy's little brothers with them and she was worried about their safety. For the most part, Campol's group was pretty quiet. They refused to have anything to do with the people of the town except to send a couple of the men in each week for supplies. Otherwise, they kept to themselves, teaching the children in a small schoolhouse that was built on the compound. They grew as much food as they could and produced their own beef and chickens. And they listened to the Reverend as he became more and more sure of the end times. Traci had pretty well quit trying to find a man of her own. She would go out on dates, but something always seemed wrong with the guy. She and Mandy talked about it and Mandy suggested that maybe she was setting her standards too high. "I may be," was Traci's reply. "But why should I settle for anything less than what I am used to? Greg sets the bar pretty high, but I shouldn't settle for anything less if I don't have to. You aren't getting tired of sharing him, are you?" "No way! The few times you have stayed out late and Greg and I were alone in the bed, it was like something was missing. I know Greg felt it as well." "Well, I will keep my eye out, but unless I fall head over heels, I am not going to actively pursue anyone." The next weekend was just after finals and Heather asked if they could take Jenni for the weekend. Adrian had plans to take her to the zoo and then to the children's park to spoil her completely. Mandy took her over to Heather's apartment mid afternoon where Adrian was waiting. They would be going to Heather's office and then to dinner. Greg came in from practice to find both of the women stark naked and waiting for him. They brought him to the bedroom and stripped his clothes from his body, telling him that for the rest of the weekend they would all remain naked unless there was a real need for clothing. Greg was more than happy with this arrangement. The thought of both of these ladies parading around in the buff all weekend was causing his cock to rise already. Traci came over and sat on his lap to explain the rules for the weekend to him. "Mandy and I devised this weekend for some uninhibited fun. Like I said, we cannot put on any clothing unless we have to leave the house or if we are doing something where we need to be covered. Any time any one of us is feeling like some action, we can grab either one of the other two for fun and games as long as the other one isn't too tired. We may have to take it kind of easy on Mandy since she is still feeling the effects of her sinus infection. I offered to postpone this weekend, but she has been looking forward to it too much to hold off. So what do you say about it?" "I think it is a wonderful idea and I know I'm going to enjoy myself. And I am going to start right now." He got Traci to move until she was facing him. She knew what he had in mind, and she rose up enough to allow his hard cock to find her entrance. Then she slid down on him in one long motion, moaning as she reached his pubic hair. She gave a satisfied wiggle of her hips lodging him completely within her channel. Greg could feel her throbbing all around his shaft as she pushed her left breast into his mouth. He feasted on her nipple while he brought up his hand to caress his other one. She started rocking her hips against him, stimulating her clit against his pubic bone while he continued to work on her boobs. Greg tried to keep his lower body still, just making short jabs into her depths. With each thrust, he could feel the tip of his dick just touching her cervix, which seemed to turn her on even more. She started moving faster starting the climb towards her release. Greg knew from experience that she enjoyed having her nipples played with hard as she was climbing toward her orgasm so he started nipping the one he had in his mouth while rolling and pulling on the other one. It wasn't long before she lost her rhythm as she collapsed into orgasm. Greg laid back on the bed pulling her down with him as she shook from the spasms coursing through her body. He caressed her back and ass as she came down from her climax using long loving strokes that covered the entire area. Traci started to recover and lifted herself off of his hard cock. "You didn't come yet, did you?" "Not yet. You seemed to need it worse than me and I don't want to run out of steam this early in the weekend." Her sated smile gave him another pulse into his still hard cock. He reached over and caressed her cheek in a very tender moment. "I love you," was her quiet reply. "I love you too, Traci. I want you to always remember that." She rolled over until she was laying half on his chest, her breasts pushing into his own nipples. "I'll remember." Then she gave him a very loving kiss. The couple went downstairs to find Mandy putting out glasses and opening a bottle of red wine. "Dinner is going to be pizza and since you two were busy, I ordered my favorite toppings. It should be here in a few minutes." Traci volunteered to be the one to answer the door when the delivery arrived. In keeping with the rules of the weekend, she put on just enough clothing to be legal. She came back downstairs in a blouse that was opened enough to show her breasts to the nipple and a skirt that showed the bottom of her ass cheeks when she was standing upright. If she bent over she would show that she wasn't wearing any panties. "I thought I would give the guy an extra tip", was her comment. The pizza place they ordered from used high school kids for their delivery service and sure enough, a guy that looked like he had just got his license rang the doorbell. Traci opened the door and the guy forgot what he was doing. "Ahhh, hhere's your pizza," he stuttered as he handed the boxes over to Traci. She took them from his lifeless hands and set them on the hall table behind her. She turned back to see his eyes even wider than they were before. She handed him the money, including some change to make it exact. He was so nervous that he dropped a couple of quarters, which rolled past Traci. She turned around and bent at the waist to retrieve them. As she was bent over, she heard a groan from the young boy. As she straightened up and turned around, she glanced at the crotch of his pants and saw a wet area growing at the end of the bulge in his pants. He quickly took the change and scrambled out to his car. She closed the door before she started laughing. Mandy and Greg came out from the dining room where they had been watching, laughing along with her. She told them about the boy coming in his pants when she had bent over and they were all laughing even harder. Greg figured the guy had headed home to change and probably to masturbate so he could finish his shift. Traci stripped off her clothing and followed them into the kitchen where they sat at the bar to enjoy their dinner. One of the others licked off any sauce that landed on their bodies. When Mandy had some that dropped on her pubic hair, Greg volunteered to take care of it. When he had finished, Mandy was gripping the chair and moaning out as an orgasm ripped through her body. Traci put the rest of the pizza into the refrigerator then picked up her glass of wine and followed the other two into the living room. Greg put one of his father's adult videos into the DVD player and they settled down on the blanket that Mandy had spread on the floor. When the action started, Mandy suggested that they try and follow the action on the screen. The first scene involved the male lead getting a blowjob from a blonde with silicone tits. Mandy decided that she would perform the first scene and had Greg stand so she could suck his cock in her mouth. She didn't bring him off yet, but she did leave him with a huge hardon that was glistening with her saliva. For the next scene, the girls positioned themselves where they could see the screen and Traci went down on Mandy following the action that was on the screen. She started by kissing Mandy on the lips then moving down to her breasts. She worked her way down to her belly button and then toward her mound. Mandy was still warmed up from the licking that Greg had given her and she came to the sounds of the canned moans and groans issuing from the speakers. Traci looked up from between Mandy's legs and smiled at her lovers, her face covered with Mandy's juices. Greg leaned over and licked the liquid from her face before kissing her first and then giving Mandy a passionate kiss. By the time they had recovered, the final scene was coming on. This one involved the man fucking the blonde from behind while her friend rubbed and caressed them both... Mandy got on her knees while Greg got behind her. He slid into her soaked pussy and started rocking back and forth while Traci caressed Mandy's boobs and clit while she tickled Greg's balls and ran her fingernails over his ass. Mandy went into orgasm which triggered Greg's. Like in the movie, he pulled out and Traci stroked him while he shot his seed all over Mandy's back and ass. Then Traci leaned over and licked up his semen saving enough in her mouth to share in a kiss with Mandy. The last was not a part of the movie, but both women enjoyed it. They finished the bottle of wine while they recovered. Greg promised Traci a couple of orgasms as soon as he got the energy to move. Since he hadn't had any relief all evening after the sex with Traci in the bedroom and with all the oral sex, when he did come it had drained him. Mandy decided that she would bring her lover off and moved between Traci's open thighs. Traci was soon squirming and crying out as Mandy's talented tongue brought her to a series of orgasms. The scene had brought Greg's cock back to life and since Traci was too sensitive from the series of orgasms she had just received, Mandy rested her upper torso on the couch seat, pushing her boobs into the material. "Shove that hard cock into me and fuck me until you come." Her use of words that she normally didn't use along with the sight of her beautiful ass and legs framing her wet pussy were an offer Greg could pass up. He got on his knees behind her and after lubricating the head of his cock, slid into her. As soon as he hit bottom, he started to pound into her making her body rock back and forth. She started moaning from the penetration as well as the stimulation her nipples were getting from the rough fabric of the couch. She started to come and her vagina clamped down on the intruder within it, causing Greg to go over the edge into his final orgasm of the night. There wasn't very much semen, but the feeling were very satisfying to both of them. Greg pulled out and collapsed on the floor behind her. When he looked up, he could see her lips still spread and his seed starting to drip out. If he had not been so fucked out, it would have caused him to want another round. His cock did twitch a bit, but was too worn out to rise to the occasion. It was quite a while before the trio had enough strength to make it up the stairs and into their bed. Once there, they did nothing more than just give each other gentle and loving strokes and caresses as they fell asleep in a jumble of arms and legs. The next day was spent sharing love and orgasms. Greg and Traci tried out the kitchen counter, her sitting at the edge, her legs over his shoulders as he pounded into her. Mandy took her pleasure with Greg on the floor in the living room and her sliding up and down on his cock. The two women had a sixty-nine on the couch while Greg watched and helped out where he could. They went to bed exhausted again that night. Sunday had much more tender caresses and loving kisses than any actual sex. All three were a little tender from all the antics they had been up to the previous couple of days and preferred to just show their love for each other in more non-sexual ways. When Heather brought Jenni home late that afternoon, she took one look at them and suggested they get dinner ordered in and make it an early night. They all looked a bit embarrassed, but Heather just laughed and told them that any time they needed another weekend like this, she would be happy to baby-sit. ------- Chapter 22 With their classes over for the summer, the trio was trying to decide just what to do with the free time they would have. There were summer jobs to consider and an offer to return to Italy to visit Greg's Grandfather. Two weeks were blocked out when Traci's little brother, who was now sixteen, asked if he could come visit and check out the college. Traci asked her housemates and receiving a very positive response, called him to finalize plans. Charlie Broomfield arrived on the bus at noon and Mandy had gone with Traci to pick him up. As the bus unloaded, Traci ran up to a tall, well-muscled young man with dark hair and the same eyes as his sister. The two embraced for a moment and then Traci pulled him over to meet Mandy. "Mandy, this is my 'little' brother, Charlie." Charlie stretched out his hand to shake Mandy's. Mandy shifted Jenni from one arm to the other and then took the proffered hand. She felt that he was being careful not to hurt her with his grip as he smiled down at her. He was just a little shy about meeting new people since he was being very formal and not saying much while he collected his bag and followed the two women to the Monte Carlo. On the way home, Charlie loosened up a little around Mandy as he told Traci all about what had been going on around their hometown since she had left. He brought his sister up on the happenings of her schoolmates, telling all the secrets that a small town had to offer. Once at the house, they quickly settled Charlie into the spare room. He was impressed with the house, which was larger than the one they had grown up in. During the tour of the rest of the house, he noticed that there wasn't a room for his sister. He wisely kept his mouth shut about that, thinking that she would explain later. Mandy suggested they have something delivered for dinner so they wouldn't have to interrupt the siblings getting reacquainted. They decided on Asian and waited for Greg to get home so he could say what he wanted. In the meantime, the conversations continued. Charlie's mood darkened a bit when he started talking about what was happening in their family. "Mom still can't accept that Ricky did what he did. She has kept up blaming Dad and anyone else for Ricky's problem. I don't know, but I think that Dad is getting really fed up. If she keeps it up, he may split for good this time." Traci took the news in stride. "I was afraid of this. They had been talking about splitting up last time I was there. Mom just can't accept the fact that Ricky got in with the wrong crowd and he wouldn't listen even when we all tried to tell him. I think it was his own fault, and while I still love him, I can't say he didn't deserve it." "I think you were already gone, but Ricky and I had one heck of a fight about this. He couldn't accept that his younger brother would be right about anything. We ended up out in the yard beating on each other. Dad had to break us up. And we still haven't talked much since then." "I can't imagine that," was Traci's reply. "You were always so laid back. In some ways, you remind me of Greg." As she was talking, Greg had come in from practice and his normal workout. He had heard the last sentence and announced his arrival. "Like me huh? You have my condolences." Mandy laughed as she got up and went to give her lover a kiss. "You know that is a good thing, sweetheart. Now come and meet Traci's brother." Charlie had got up from his chair when Greg had entered and now he strode halfway across the room to shake hands with his host. "Nice to meet you. And thanks for letting me stay with you all for a couple of weeks. Traci is always saying how great you guys are in her letters and emails. I hope that I won't cramp you guys' style while I am here." Returning the handshake, Greg looked over at Traci and raised his eyebrows. She shook her head to let him know that she hadn't explained the nature of their relationship. Greg quickly returned the smile and welcomed him to the household. Traci thought she should explain how things were before they all went any farther. She motioned Charlie to sit down next to her on the couch. "There are some things that we probably need to discuss. You noticed, I'm sure, that I don't have my own bedroom. That's because I sleep with Greg and Mandy. I know it is not the normal relationship like you would find back home, but it really does work for us. I love both of them deeply and they feel the same way about me. I just wanted you to know." Charlie sat a moment digesting what he had just heard. "You mean you... With just Greg or with Mandy too?" "Yes, I have sex, really it is making love, with both of them." "Wow. I don't know what to say. I did notice you didn't show me your room, but I didn't think too much about it. Don't get me wrong. If you are happy, then that is all that counts. It is just hard for me to get my head around my sister, who I idolized, is having sex. I always have had you on a pedestal. And wow, my sister is bisexual as well and is enjoying it!" "Charlie, I'm really not bi except with Mandy. I have never found another woman who turns me on." "Okay. I mean... Well, it is just kinda hard for me to picture... I mean I can picture it really easy, but it is going to take me a bit to get used to it." Then he turned toward where Greg was sitting. "You are one lucky son of a gun. Not just one babe in your bed, but two. It must be like living a fantasy." Greg smiled at the young man's frustration. "If you look at it that way, I guess I do. But I just know that I love them both and they love me and each other the same way." Traci gave her brother a friendly swat. "So you think your old sister is a babe, huh?" "God, yes. Sis, you are the standard for sexy, as far as I am concerned. I couldn't admit it when I was younger, but I will now." "Thanks, bro. I'm flattered," said Traci as she wrapped him in a hug. Jenni got down from Greg's lap and toddled over to her Aunt Traci who picked her up and gave her a tickle. The little girl let out a squeal and a giggle, happy to have her aunt play their favorite game. Remembering dinner, Mandy got what Greg wanted and went to call in the order. Then she went into the kitchen to fix something for Jenni who didn't tolerate Asian food very well. Charlie went upstairs for a quick shower before dinner. He had spent fifteen hours on a bus and felt a little dirty. While in the shower, he relieved the pressure in his balls from the thoughts of his sister having sex. He hadn't said it, but he had fantasized about Traci on a bed spread-eagle and gloriously naked. He had seen her changing clothes one time before she had her full figure and that had left him with images that if recalled, would cause an immediate erection. Now, he imagined his sister with Mandy and he shot off into the spray of the shower. He hurried up to finish, all the while thinking that he would have to take a lot of showers while he was here. The evening went well, with Charlie reliving some of the more fun times from their childhood. He also learned how Mandy and Greg had come together and some of the things they had done since. That night, Charlie stroked himself off once again thinking about what might be happening in the room up the hall. There weren't any noises to spark his thinking but his imagination was taking over. After he cleaned up, he lay there thinking about how his perceptions had changed over the course of one night. He saw how much his sister loved the other two and how in turn, they loved her. He and Greg had hit it off really well. They had several interests in common and planned to do some things together during his visit. He even liked little Jenni. She had come up to him before bedtime carrying a book. He gladly took the book as she had pulled herself up on his lap. She sat there very quietly while he read the story and then surprised him with a hug and a thank you. It had made him feel really good to make her that happy with just a little time. As he drifted off to sleep, he though about how much different this was from the constant fighting that was happening at home. He planned on enjoying this vacation to its utmost. Charlie got up and came into the kitchen the next morning to find Mandy cooking breakfast for Greg and Jenni. That meant that the water running must have been his sister in the shower. He sat at the breakfast table and Greg handed him a cup and the coffee pot. He gratefully took both and added the amount of sugar and cream he preferred to the cup. After a few sips, Mandy brought over a plate of scrambled eggs, sausage and toast. Following Greg's lead, he took a good-sized plateful and dug in. Traci came down a few minutes later and helped herself to the offerings. When they had finished, Greg cleared the table and started the dishwasher. Traci explained that they had all come to the agreement that when one person cooked, another would clean up. They all took turns so no one person was stuck doing the work. "Well, while I am here, I sure don't mind helping out. I am not going to guarantee my cooking though." Mandy smiled over at Charlie. "I can help you with that. Your sister is a great cook too, so I'm sure you could get some tips from her." "That would be great! I hate to say it but Mom's cooking leaves something to be desired and after next year, I really need to know how to cook if I am going to be out on my own." Traci was going to spend the morning showing Charlie around the city and the campus. Then they all were going to meet in the park for a picnic lunch. Mandy had promised to do an art class for the Boys and Girls club and Greg had weight training. Charlie was impressed with the college. The course catalogue contained all the classes he wanted and he liked the way the place looked. Besides, he had someone here that could show him the ropes. They stopped at the gym and said hello to Greg just as he was finishing his training for the day. They hung around while Greg grabbed a shower and then all three headed for the park. Mandy and Jenni were waiting for them at their favorite spot by the playground. Mandy had stopped at the Deli where Greg knew the owners. She came away with a picnic lunch of pre-made sandwiches and potato salad. It was all spread out on a blanket along with plates and utensils. Jenni was playing in the rings that formed a tunnel. She would crawl as fast as she could through and then play peek-a-boo at the other end. She reluctantly came over to eat, eager to get back to more important things, like the slide and swings. They were finishing up and Mandy had just pulled out her ever-present sketchpad when Melissa Smith came walking through the park with her little sister. They stopped for a few minutes to chat about making it through the year. The trio knew Kathi from when Melissa would come over to their house, but Charlie was shocked. Kathi looked like a younger version of her sister, which meant that she was a knockout. She was also very bubbly and outgoing, happy about just about everything. After the introductions, the four older ones were discussing college and summer plans while the two younger ones were starting their own tentative conversation. At least it was tentative from Charlie's side. Kathi, as soon as she learned that he was from out of town, was busy telling him all about the things that were available in town to keep people their age entertained. By the time Melissa and Kathi went on to where they had been headed, Kathi had talked Charlie into going out that night to one of the teen nights at a local nightclub. Charlie was nervous about the evening. He had never had a girl ask him out before and he had only dated a few girls in his hometown. But he was excited. Kathi was the type of girl that he would have loved to take out back at home but was always too afraid to ask. Now he had a date in a strange town, asked out by a very sexy and beautiful girl. As soon as they made it home, he went up to shower and shave. He was waiting when Kathi showed up to the house. He told his sister he would be back sometime late and headed out the door. As soon as he got in the passenger's seat, he handed Kathi a single red rose that he had picked up at the florist. She was excited about getting a flower and pulled him over for a kiss that sent tingles to his toes, as well as other places. She buckled up and put the car in gear, heading for one of the teen hangouts. On the way to the nightclub, Kathi gave him a running commentary about all the people that were bound to be there as she whipped through the traffic. He did ask how she got such a great car at only sixteen. Giggling, she admitted that her sister had let her use her car. There was no way she would have been able to afford an RX-7 much less getting her parents to allow her to have one. By then, they had made it to the nightclub. Charlie had noticed how she was dressed, but he got the full effect when she got out and stood up for the first time. She was wearing a red mini that barely covered her ass and a contrasting tank top that emphasized her ample bust while leaving her flat, firm belly exposed. He had to concentrate in order to keep from getting a hardon from the reaction she had on him. Over her objections, Charlie paid the cover for both of them and they wandered into the crowd. Kathi wanted to dance immediately, and pulled him into the middle of the floor. From then on, the rest of the time there was a blur. Dancing, meeting other teens that Kathi knew (and she seemed to know everyone), as well as several trips to the bar for soda just merged together. It was well after ten when Kathi asked if he was ready to leave. He was kind of surprised that she suddenly wanted to leave her friends, but he told her that he was cool with whatever she wanted. As they walked back to the car, he noticed how flushed her face was and how carefully she was walking. When they got back to the car, he asked if she was all right. Kathi thought for a moment before answering. "I'm not sure how to say this, but dancing like that causes me to get 'excited', if you catch my drift." Charlie grinned at her. "I understand just what you mean. Just watching you move out there did the same thing to me." "Yeah, I kinda noticed. I felt something when I backed into you a few times." "I'm sorry about that. I was trying to hide it so I wouldn't make you think I was a perv or something." "Don't worry about it. It is flattering actually." He reached over and took her hand in his, feeling a shock as they came in contact. "If you want to make it an early night, I can understand." Kathi gave him a smoky smile, her eyes filled with lust. "I normally would, but I'm enjoying being with you so much that I don't want it to end." Charlie said something then that he never would have normally if he had been thinking straight. "If you know a place where we could be alone, I would be happy to help you out with your problem. I mean, I'm not asking you to have sex with me, but I would love to be able to help you get off." She thought for a couple of seconds. "No sex?" "No, I'm not trying to get you to do it." "'Cause I don't want you to think I'm the kind of girl that will do it with just anyone, especially on the first date." "I wouldn't think that. You are a fantastic girl and I wouldn't try and mess up that way." "Okay." Kathi started the little sports car and headed it toward the north end of town. It didn't take long until they were past the city lights and into a wooded area that surrounded a small lake. She slipped the car through a faint break in the bushes and came to a stop in a small clearing. As soon as she had the car shut off, she unlatched her seatbelt and attacked Charlie. She latched onto his mouth with hers running her tongue into his mouth. As soon as he recovered from the surprise, he was a willing participant, exploring her lips and mouth while his tongue wrestled with hers. His hands went to her ass first caressing over the skirt and then under it where he felt the string of her thong. When they finally came up for air, she asked in a breathless voice just what he had in mind. In reply, he slipped open the passenger door and slid himself out leaving her sitting in the seat with her legs hanging out the door. Sitting on the ground, he reached out and started caressing her thighs from her knees up to where they connected to her torso. He avoided her pussy at first rubbing as far up as the skirt would allow. Kathi was moaning by then and every time he would get near her pelvis, she would involuntary raise it up looking for more direct attention. In a flash of sanity, he opened his pants and shorts to allow his cock to spring free into the night air. He was so excited that he was afraid that he would come and didn't want to have the evidence all over the front of his pants. He was as hard as he could ever remember being and the scent coming from under Kathi's skirt made it even harder. He had planned to get her off with just his hands like he had done for a couple of girls back home, but the scent and the sight of her red thong soaked with her juices made him change his mind. He started making trails across her thighs with his tongue. He loved the feel of her soft skin against his tongue as he made his way up. When he got to the juncture of her thighs, he used one of his fingers to slip the thin material to one side exposing her bare pussy lips. They were glistening with her moisture and the smell that had been driving him on was much stronger. He had never had a chance to eat a girl before, but he had fingered a few so he knew where things were. Anxious to taste what he had smelled, he ran his tongue from her entrance to the tip of her clit. Kathi gave out a loud groan as she tried to thrust her pussy into his face. After that, he got down to the business of getting her off. He was going on her reaction to his movements, doing what made her react the most. He finally zeroed in on her clit while moving first one and then two fingers deep into her channel. He felt a rougher patch inside her vagina and concentrated on stroking that area while he put her clit into his mouth and sucked, rubbing lightly along her clit with his tongue. Kathi's movements lost all their rhythm as she paused and then almost yelled out her orgasm as it roared through her body tingling every nerve ending she had. Charlie was afraid that she was having convulsions the way her body was flopping and he was having trouble keeping his mouth in contact with her. She finally gave a feeble push against his head to let him know she was now too sensitive to continue. He pulled back and eased his fingers out of her passage, which caused her to shudder in an aftershock. Charlie leaned back from his labors to relieve the muscles in his back. It was then that he realized that he had come during Kathi's orgasm. He was buttoning up when Kathi raised her head looking at him. "Sorry, but I went off as you were having your orgasm." He was very embarassed about it. "That is so cool that you were so into me that it got you off too." She told him. That she wasn't put off by what had happened did a lot to restore his ego. "My God, where did you learn to do that? I have gotten off before, but that was the best ever." "I was just going on what you seemed to like. I know I promised no penetration, but I didn't figure fingers would count." "Well, whatever you did was more than enough. I still feel all shaky inside." Then she gave a giggle. "Now do you want me to do you?" "I've already got off and I didn't do what I did just to get something in return. I just saw a very sexy and beautiful girl who was very horny and I wanted to help. Besides, I enjoyed it as much as you did." Kathi then pulled herself out of the car seat and stood, letting her skirt fall back over her pussy. She then reached up under her skirt and removed her thong, handing it to Charlie "For a souvenir." They made themselves presentable and then Kathi backed out of the clearing and headed back to town. She dropped him off at Greg and Mandy's and after a couple of quick kisses, he headed in. Kathi drove home very satisfied and looking forward to another night with this new guy. Later in her own bed, she relived what she had felt earlier. Her hands went to her crotch and under the panties she had on. She used her fingers to achieve another orgasm, but it was nowhere near the intensity of the one she experienced with Charlie's help. She finally drifted off into an exhausted slumber. Charlie had walked into his sister's house to find the three of them sitting up watching a movie. Traci came over to give him a hug and pulled back looking at him strangely. Even though she didn't say anything, he realized that she must have smelled Kathi's essence on his face. Traci just gave him a knowing smile and whispered in his ear, "I hope she enjoyed it." Charlie just nodded as he turned beet red. Then, he excused himself to go on to bed. When Traci joined her lovers in bed a little later, she told them what she had smelled and Charlie's reaction to what she said. Greg imitated what they figured had happened first on Mandy and then on Traci. Both women enjoyed what their lover was doing, and forgetting that they had a guest, they both were vocal about their enjoyment. Charlie had not been able to get to sleep. The sight of Kathi's legs spread and her soaked pussy lips shining in the moonlight kept him too excited to sleep. He slipped out of bed and went to the kitchen for a soda. Coming back from downstairs, he heard his sister's voice in a long groan. He knew he shouldn't be spying on his hosts, but in his state of excitement, his longing to see his sister naked won out. He peeked through the partially opened door and got his wish. The object of his fantasies growing up was walking on her knees toward her goal, Greg's cock. He had a clear view as she positioned herself over his crotch and holding her outer lips open with her fingers, sliding down onto his shaft. As his sister reached the base of Greg's penis, she gave out a moan and leaned over to give him a kiss. She sat upright then and started rocking back and forth, rubbing her clit against her lover. He was also enjoying the sight of his sister's large breasts until Mandy moved closer and grasped one with her hand while sucking the nipple of the other one. He took a moment to enjoy the sight of a gloriously naked Mandy as well. Though not as full in the breast as his sister, he found her to be very sexy indeed. Both women had their pubic hair trimmed and he could enjoy looking at both sets of very wet lips. He was growing more excited as he watched his sister approaching her orgasm. When Mandy reached down and started to stroke his sister's clit, Traci lost her rhythm in the throes of orgasm. Charlie was fascinated as he watched her tense up and then start to shake and groan out Greg's name among some words that he never thought his sister would ever use. Greg shoved up into his sister and froze for an instant just before he started pumping hard into her pussy. That was just too much for Charlie. His mind was seeing him pumping his seed into his sister, and he came in his shorts without even touching himself. As soon as he came back to reality, he moved quickly back to his room to clean up the mess he had made and to change his underwear. He then crawled into bed, tired but with the events of the night causing a fantasy overload. He finally went to sleep with all the visions still dancing in his mind. The next morning, he had a little trouble acting normal around the two women, but he played it off to being a bit tired. Inside his head, he was trying to come to grips with what he saw the night before with the two sexy women who were fully dressed in front of him. He got it together enough to be his normal self after a couple cups of coffee, even taking the gentle teasing from his sister about his date last night. They all decided to take it easy that day, nothing more than laying out in the sun and enjoying the day. Much to Charlie's dismay, Mandy called Melissa and invited them over to do the same thing. He wasn't sure he could handle the two women that lived her in swimwear, much less the thought of another two very sexy ones. Greg had added onto the deck and had a small pool put in the year before. They were always having friends over and as his mother said, it would increase the value of the house. Greg often used it to swim laps on the days he wasn't training. So there was plenty of room for them all. Charlie had brought a suit, one that he used while on the swim team, though it felt a little small to be walking around here. Mandy gave him an appreciative whistle when he appeared downstairs and Traci looked him up and down. "My little brother has certainly grown up," she said with a smile while pointedly looking at his crotch. "Come on sis! This is the only one I have with me. Of course seeing you both in your bikinis, I wish I had a baggy pair." Mandy walked up to him, her breasts barely covered by the top of her suit. "Thanks for that compliment." Then she gave him a kiss on the cheek. He tried to hide the growing bulge in his small suit. Mandy did feel for his embarrassment and suggested he put a pair of shorts over the suit. "Not that I mind, but it might give Kathi some ideas." she said as she went out of the room. "Does she think Kathi and I were... ?" Traci smiled at him. "Did you? From what I smelled you must have come damn close." "Honest sis. Kathi was horny from all the dancing, and I was just offered to help her out. You know, with my hand. But we went a little farther than I figured, and I ended up eating her out. That's all we did, honest. She didn't even do anything to me." "My little brother, the stud. I know that Kathi can be impulsive, but she must really like you to allow you to get that close. She isn't one to do something like that with just anybody. I know Melissa thinks you are all right, so whatever goes on between you two is fine. Just don't promise anything you don't mean." Charlie gave his sister a quick hug. "Thanks, sis for being understanding. You know how it is back home. Every girl is looking to trap a guy for marriage. Here, if Kathi still wants to, we can go out together without either one of us expecting more than just having some fun together." Mandy came back in with a pair of shorts that Greg had when he would go running. They were big enough on Charlie to hide any changes in his crotch area. Then they asked Charlie to carry a cooler of pop and ice out to the pool. Jenni was ready to go out as well and he took her playpen out and set it up in the shade of one of the trees. Mandy came out of the house carrying Jenni. Following her was his sister with Melissa and Kathi behind her. Charlie was once again grateful for the use of the shorts. Both of the new arrivals were dressed in bikinis that were as revealing as his sister's and Mandy's. He could feel his cock straining against the tightness of his suit. He greeted the newcomers and noticed that Kathi was just a little embarassed around him. He felt safer sitting down and took a chaise lounger near the end of the pool. The women were working on getting lotion and sun block on and he watched them carefully from behind his glasses. Kathi walked over and asked if he would put some lotion on her back. He eagerly agreed and had her sit in front of him on the end of the lounge. From this position, he could appreciate her smooth skin across her back as well as the globes of her ass that were showing from around the bikini bottom. As he applied the lotion, he whispered to her, "I hope you aren't upset about what happened. I honestly didn't mean to be so bold." He could see her smiling. "I'm not upset about what happened, but I was afraid you might think I was some kind of a slut or something." "No way! I just thought you were very horny, and I wanted to help you out. I would never think bad of a girl that is honest with her feelings. The girls at home act like they never have a sexual thought. It they show anything at all it is to tease a boy into marriage. They will let you touch them through their clothes but that is it until they think you are caught. If they do go all the way, it is in hopes of getting pregnant so you will have to marry them. I think it is great that you would be open enough to me to admit you had a problem and that you would let me help you out." Kathi turned around so she could face him. He forced himself to look into her face and not the tiny bits of cloth covering her tits and pussy. She smiled at the way his eyes shot up from her legs to her face. "I'm glad you feel that way. I really like you. And I am NOT interested in marriage and a bunch of kids, not yet anyway. I'm not the kind of girl just to give it out to anyone, but... Let's just see how things go with us. Now, do you mind if I just laid back and used your chest for a pillow?" Charlie immediately put his legs on each side of the lounge and made room for Kathi to lay back. She positioned herself until the top of her ass was brushing against his swollen cock. Then she leaned back until her body was in contact with his and her head was against his chest. The warmth of her body as well as the view he had down her front caused Charlie to get very uncomfortable. The swimsuit he had on was holding his dick at an angle that was almost painful. He reached between them and relieved the pressure of the suit enough for his cock to spring up to full hardness. Kathi looked up at him and he whispered "Sorry." She just smiled and wiggled a little to stimulate him more. He was careful to keep his hands on the arms of the lounge or in the middle of her torso so he wasn't close to any parts that he really wanted to touch. Mandy saw them and pointed the couple out to the other two women. They thought it was just too cute. Melissa then told them about what Kathi had said when she got home from their date. Kathi usually told her sister everything and this time was no exception. All three thought that it was very sexy, and giggled about how Kathi had been gushing about how good it felt and how great he was at it. They all agreed that they made a cute couple and since he was going to be here for just a couple weeks, a fling wouldn't hurt either one of them. Greg came home from practice and joined them all. By then, the young couple had moved to a blanket where they were laying on their stomachs. Kathi, so she could get some sun on her back, and Charlie, so he could hide his raging hardon until it went down. Greg had a bottle of water, and then decided to swim a couple of laps to take the kinks out of his muscles. As soon as he was done, he took Jenni into the pool for a little splashing and squealing. Before long, she was showing signs of being hungry and tired, so Mandy took her little girl in to feed her and put her down for a nap in the living room. Traci followed her in to make sandwiches for the adults and they all went up to the deck to eat. After eating, Kathi talked Charlie into getting into the pool with her for a while. He followed her down while the older folks stayed on the deck to give them some semblance of privacy. They watched as first Kathi and then Charlie started playing grab-ass games. After giving them some time alone, the others went down and joined them in the pool. The games continued except there were more bodies to grab at. Melissa was surprised when Mandy told her that she wasn't jealous if she wanted to grab at Greg since it was all in fun. Melissa took advantage of the offer and Greg, once he got over the surprise, paid her back in kind. Mandy was the first to lose her top and when she didn't pay attention, the other women just went with it. Kathi was the last one with her top on. "I don't want to be left out.", she said and untied her own and tossed it over on the side of the pool. Charlie got his first look at her breasts. They were smaller than her sister's but stood proudly out from her chest. Kathi caught him looking and blushed a little, but smiled when he showed his approval. The games continued until everyone was exhausted. Then it was out of the pool to soak up some of the afternoon sun. Melissa and Kathi returned home as the sun was starting to set, but Kathi had promised to come back to watch TV with Charlie that evening. Jenni was awake from her nap and was full of energy so Greg put her in her stroller and took her for a walk around the neighborhood. Traci was going to cook dinner and it was Mandy's turn to clean up. Charlie went with Greg mostly so he could get some of the thoughts in his head cleared. They headed toward the park so Jenni could play a little while. Charlie finally got up the nerve to ask Greg what he thought of what happened today. "Well, I sure enjoyed seeing four beautiful women without their tops on, if that's what you mean. Before I got together with Mandy, I had a crush on Melissa, so it was exciting even now to see the boobs that I thought about for so long. I would never go after her since it would hurt Mandy and your sister. But it doesn't hurt to fantasize." He gave Charlie a grin. "Something else I should tell you. If you and Kathi want some 'alone time', just head to your room and we won't think anything about it. Although your sister will probably tease you a bit about it." "Thanks. I don't know if we will get too far in a relationship, but I appreciate you all doing that." "No problem. And from the way Kathi was grabbing your dick today, I wouldn't count it out." Charlie turned bright red and Greg laughed as he put a friendly arm around the younger man. "C'mon, dinner will be ready about the time we get back." A pattern was set then, Charlie and Kathi were together at either Greg's or at her parents. That is if they were not out necking in the woods. Kathi gave Charlie some great blowjobs and he ate her out several more times. Toward the end of his stay, Kathi came over in the afternoon to find the house deserted except for Charlie. He told her that they had all gone to meet with Greg's mother and then they were going to hit the mall. He had begged off knowing that she was coming by. Kathi thought that it was a little bit of a set up, but she was more than willing to go with it. She gave Charlie a grin and then attacked him right in the hallway. She was devouring his tongue and he was trying to do the same. As soon as they came up for air, she grabbed his hand and headed toward the room he was using. As soon as they walked in she pulled her shirt over her head and motioned him to do the same. Charlie couldn't take his eyes off her as he undressed. She was soon standing in front of him wearing just a pair of bikini panties. She was anxiously watching him as he dropped his underwear revealing his hard cock standing proud. She then slipped off her panties and they both saw each other completely naked for the first time. They both had seen parts of each other, but being completely nude with what they both had in mind was completely different. Kathi made the first move grabbing his hands and pulling him toward the bed. When she felt the edge of the bed, she lay back, pulling Charlie on top of her. He kissed her face and neck enjoying the feel of her bare skin against his. He worked his way down to her breasts and continued to devour them until she was moaning and pushing his head lower. Before he got to move lower, Kathi changed her mind and pushed him onto his back and moved over him until her pussy was just above his face and she was staring at his cock. She lowered her head and ran her tongue up the side of his shaft and then around the head, giving him chills. "I want you to cum in my mouth. That way you can last longer when we fuck." Charlie wasn't really thinking much but the last part of that caught his attention. Any more thought was driven from his mind as she lowered her mouth over his cock. He looked up and seeing how wet she already was, dove into her wetness. This caused her do double her efforts on his member and it didn't take long until they were both shuddering in orgasm. Kathi slid to the side of Charlie and turned to where they were looking at each other. Both were wearing sated smiles as they looked in each other's eyes. "Something I need to ask you," Charlie said as he caressed her face. "If you are ready to have sex, I want to make sure you are protected. Are you on anything, or should I get the condoms I bought?" "That's sweet of you to think about it, but I'm on the pill. And yes I am ready to make love with you." With that, she reached down and gripped his softened cock. As she started to kiss him, he tasted a little bit of his own seed, but didn't think more of it as their kisses became more passionate. Taking the initiative, Charlie moved over her as she pulled her knees up and spread her thighs. He started to rub the head of his cock up and down her slit gathering her natural lubricant before aiming at her channel. He felt the tip slip into her slightly and he started thrusting, moving in just a bit before pulling back out, making progress with each thrust until he felt her pubic bone smash against his. Kathi had been moaning quietly until he bottomed out. Then she let out the breath she had been holding, and wrapped her ankles around his back. "Just hold still for a minute. It feels great to be filled up by you." He obeyed, enjoying the feeling of her velvety passage along the length of his cock. He leaned in and started to suckle her breasts and it wasn't long before she started rocking her pelvis as a sign for him to start moving. He started with short strokes and then rose up on his arms. That gave him enough room to start taking longer strokes between the shorter ones. As they both started to rise toward their release, Charlie put her ankles on his shoulders and in a move that had just occurred to him, leaned back so his cock would rub against her G-spot. This sent her over the edge in a massive orgasm, taking him along with her. They lay together as they came down, Charlie holding his lover as she shook from the aftereffects. They lay like that for a long time, each enjoying the afterglow and the touch of the other. "That was wonderful," murmured Kathi. "I know what you mean. That was the greatest ever.", replied Charlie. They talked for a while longer, just silly things about what they had felt and how much they enjoyed being with the other one. By then, Kathi felt Charlie's cock stirring. "You wanna go for one more?", she asked. He was more than willing, but he asked if she would want to be on top this time. She agreed, saying that it was her favorite position, but the two guys she had done it with before wouldn't let her do it that way enough. "Of course, neither one of them was half as good a lover as you are.", she said with a grin. As Kathi settled herself down on his hard cock, Charlie had a flashback to when he had seen his sister fucking Greg the same way. That caused him to become even more excited and he started to thrust up into his lover, matching her rhythm. He first rubbed her breasts then as she started to get closer to her release, he switched to rubbing the cheeks of her ass. Kathi came faster than Charlie had thought she would. He was getting close when she collapsed forward onto his chest. He lifted her ass with his hands and continued to thrust into her causing tremors as she continued to ride her orgasm. It didn't take more than a few more plunges into her softness before he let go once again. His sight was flashing between Kathi and Traci as he shot everything he had into her. He was too exhausted to even move and it seemed Kathi felt the same way. She finally started to move when she felt her legs trying to cramp. Even then she moved just enough to roll off of Charlie and to snuggle up together. Exhausted, they fell asleep in each other's arms. Charlie woke up first and lay there for a few moments, watching his lover as she lay sleeping and reliving what they had done earlier. She finally stirred and opened her eyes. She was confused for a couple of seconds until she remembered where she was and what had made her so tired. Then she gave Charlie a sultry smile and pulled him over for a kiss. It was getting late and they figured they had better clean up before Greg, Mandy, and Traci got back. They decided to shower together, each soaping the other. Their strokes were more loving than passionate, but it was erotic for both of them just the same. Neither one had ever showered with a lover, and they both found they enjoyed it. Before they could get out of the bathroom, the family came home. Traci saw Kathi's jacket and went upstairs to where she heard the shower. Grinning, she knocked on the door and told them to hurry up. Dinner would be ready as soon as it arrived, and that Kathi was supposed to eat with them - if either had the energy to eat something besides each other. Charlie was red in the face and Kathi was horrified. But they did as asked and got dressed and came down. The pizza was arriving and they took stools at the bar to await the meal. Mandy and Traci had grins on their faces but they didn't say anything, nor did Greg when he came in. They all acted like there was nothing out of the ordinary was happening. After dinner, Kathi stayed to watch a movie and then headed home. Charlie brought the subject up with Traci before they retired and she assured him that it was nobody's business what the two of them were up to. She wouldn't mention it to their parents who probably have a fit. He gave his sister a hug of thanks and didn't mention it again. Charlie and Kathi got a chance to make love a couple more times before he left to go back home. These were every bit as satisfying as the first time, and in a way better since they knew that Greg, Mandy, or Traci really didn't care. Kathi even volunteered to take Charlie to the bus station when it came time for him to leave. He had said his goodbyes to his sister and her housemates at their house, so it was just he and Kathi at the terminal. They both confessed that they had grown to love each other and while not promising to be monogamous, they would email and call each other often. Charlie had decided to come to the college so they could pick up where they had left off if they both wanted to. Charlie spent the whole trip home catching up on his sleep and reliving the vacation he had enjoyed. He never expected to find a lover as well as seeing his fantasies in the flesh. He sat back in the seat with a sigh and closed his eyes. ------- Chapter 23 The trip to Italy was coming up soon. Mandy and Traci were getting their lists of what to take together. For Greg, it was just a matter of throwing some clothes into a suitcase. Mandy didn't agree with his methods and eventually took over his packing as well as for her and Jenni. The women finally decided that a trip to the mall was in order since their bikinis were out of date and they really needed to replace some tops and shorts. That was an all-day excursion that Greg managed to avoid. They did bring back some new clothes for him though, and they insisted that he try them on to make sure they all fit. That was a small price to pay for getting out of being the pack mule. Even though Greg's grandfather offered the use of the corporate jet again, they decided to take a commercial flight. Traci had volunteered to make the arrangements for tickets since she had a friend from the college who was working for a travel agent for the summer. Her friend was interested in the travel industry and wanted all the experience she could get. This would give the girl a nice bonus and she would be grateful. Heather and Adrian stopped by during the week before they were to leave. After they had shed their jackets, Heather asked them all to come into the living room for an announcement. She waited for them to settle on the couch while she stood next to her lover in front of the coffee table. She had all eyes on her while they waited for her to speak. "Adrian and I want to know if you all can extend your vacation for another week. You will also need to take a late afternoon flight on Friday." "I'm sure we can," replied Greg, looking at the other two. They nodded their assent, and then he turned back to his mother. "But why?" "Well, I received the finalized divorce papers from your dad and we want to get married on Friday morning at the courthouse. And we want you all to be there. Then in two weeks, which is as soon as we both can get away, we want to celebrate it with my father and Adrian's family." The two young women shrieked out their happiness for the couple. They both jumped up and hugged first Heather and then Adrian, bouncing in their joy of the upcoming nuptials. Greg was just a little more sedate, shaking Adrian's hand vigorously and hugging his mother when he could find a place between Mandy and Traci. "We considered doing the whole ceremony in Italy," said Adrian. "But the rules were such that we will do it here first and then even if the ceremony there isn't recognized as strictly legal, we are still in the clear." "The Bishop won't allow a church ceremony there," added Heather. "But Mama Randali insisted that we not just honeymoon there, but that we have a full marriage celebration. She was so happy to hear her son was getting married at last that she has even convinced the mayor of the village to repeat the vows for us." They all sat down and discussed the upcoming event. Mandy and Traci started to decide just what dresses they would need, if they could get flowers, and all the other things that Greg figured had to be at a wedding ceremony to make it legal. He and Adrian left the women to their planning and adjourned to the back deck to have a glass of wine. Adrian told Greg that it had really been his idea to get married, even though they were happy enough as things stood. He really loved Heather and she him. Besides, it would make his mother so happy to have her last single son married that it was worth all the hassle. The happy couple left later that night, filled with wine and many congratulations. The women in Greg's household now had something else to plan for, but they didn't seem to mind. Even after they went to bed, they continued to discuss the plans until Greg got out from between them and moved to the outside. Then he read a book while waiting for them to wind down from the news. One thing that did go through his mind was the thought that perhaps he and Mandy should think about getting married before the end of the year. However, he kept that thought to himself. This was the time for his mother and Adrian. The following morning, Mandy awoke feeling sick to her stomach. She had been feeling bad off and on for a couple of weeks, sick to her stomach and some vomiting. Greg and Traci were both concerned and wanted her to see what was wrong before taking a trip that long. She called the doctor and found out that they had an appointment open that afternoon. She left the other two to take care of the final plans, and she took off. She came in the front door and saw Greg sitting in the living room working on the laptop. She gave him a hug, but wouldn't tell him what was wrong until she had called Traci down from their bedroom. When both of her lovers were sitting on the couch, she took a seat between them. She took a deep breath and began. "I've got a problem. The doctor says I am about 6 weeks pregnant." Greg looked shocked. "You sure? I mean, I know you must be, but I thought you were still on the pill?" Mandy was almost in tears. "I think it happened when I was on the antibiotic from that sinus infection. I figured back and it was probably when we had our naked weekend. You aren't mad are you?" Greg pulled her up into a hug. "I'm not mad at all sweetheart, I'm just shocked. We have talked about children of our own before, you know." "Yeah, but I didn't figure this soon. What am I going to do about college? Are you ready to be a dad?" "Well, I think I've proven myself ready. I have been Jenni's dad ever since she was born. She is just like my own and this one won't make me feel any different." Mandy faced her other lover. "What do you think, Traci? Would it upset you that I am pregnant? I know how you have wanted children of your own." Traci moved over and hugged her as well. "I think it is great! I'll have another niece or nephew to spoil until I can have one of my own. Then we can trade spoiling privileges." Greg broke in. "Hey, what about the vacation? Is it alright for you to be flying?" "I asked about that and the doctor said that there would be no problem at all this early in my pregnancy. He says that I am healthy as a horse and that all the nausea is just morning sickness. Going by how I carried Jenni, he doesn't expect any problems at all." The other two then gave her hugs and let her know just how excited they felt about having another child in the house. Mandy wanted to call Heather and tell her, but Greg talked her into waiting until they met up in Italy. Now in addition to the wedding, they would have the news of another grandchild. Friday finally came, though it seemed like it took forever. Jenni even had caught the excitement and was asking about 'Papa'... She didn't understand weddings of course, but she did like the new dress that her momma had bought for her. She was toddling around the house getting everyone's attention and then pointing to her dress and saying 'pretty Jenni'. They met at the courthouse that morning and proceeded to the judge's chambers. Judge O'Donnell looked the part with graying hair and craggy features. Jenni was taken aback by the black robes and hung onto Greg's neck during the ceremony. The saying of their vows and signing of the license didn't take very long. With kisses and hugs all around, they exited the courthouse and headed their separate ways. Adrian and Heather had taken a personal day to make a long weekend and were headed to a Bed and Breakfast upstate for the weekend. The trio headed back to their house to make their final preparations for their flight that afternoon. The airport was crowded when the taxi dropped them off at the terminal. Carrying their tickets and passports, they found their way to the ticket counter to drop off their luggage and then through security. They all made it through without a problem although the male guard looked like he wanted to search Traci much more closely. They still had an hour to wait so they browsed the shops and had a coffee before First Class was called to board. They were all seated in the back of the First Class compartment. When Greg had told his grandfather that they would fly commercial, he had insisted that they at least go First Class - at his expense. Traci took the seat next to the window with Greg sitting next to her. Mandy was in the aisle seat across from them with Jenni in the window seat next to her mother. They had a three hour flight to New York and then nine hours across to Rome. They would be picked up once again by the village taxi and then to Nick's villa. They settled back and prepared to enjoy the flight. Traci was doing better on this flight than she had on the previous ones. Soon after take off, she had a glass of wine and was actually quite mellow and could even enjoy the dinner they were served. Jenni was behaving very well; talking quietly to her mother about the books they had packed for her between short naps and being fascinated by the clouds out the window. They had a two-hour layover at JFK International and used the time to look around. Since they were there, Mandy made a call to Mr. Arborough at the gallery to see how her paintings were selling. He was very happy to hear from her and asked when he could set up another showing. She was flattered and promised to talk to him about that when they returned. He suggested that she might look around Italy and draw some inspiration from that country for another series. Laughing, she assured him that she had her sketchbook with her. Just about the time that Jenni started to get tired, their flight was called. They settled in the same positions as before and after the presentation of the flight information in both English and Italian, their flight received permission for takeoff. They were in the air and on their way across the Atlantic for three weeks of relaxation. The plane was about five hours into the trip and Mandy was asleep leaning over Jenni. Traci was listening to the in-flight music and nodding off when Greg felt the call of nature and got up to go to the lavatory. As he started to unlock the door, he heard a commotion in the first class cabin. He opened the door to see a man standing with his back to Greg, pointing a gun at the flight attendant and saying they were going to Syria. He heard Greg come up and spun around to point the gun at him. Greg reacted without thinking, grabbing the man's arm and snapped his elbow, causing him to drop the pistol, screaming in pain. An instant later, Greg's elbow was smashing the gunman in the face, putting him out for the count. They heard two shots from the business class and the plane's cabin lost pressure. There was a lot of noise and the plane went into a steep dive. The emergency oxygen masks dropped from the overhead compartments. Greg struggled to keep his balance and finally fell on top of the unconscious hijacker. The attendant helped him up as soon as the plane leveled off and then got on the intercom to tell the pilot what happened. Peeking through the curtains before he sat down, Greg saw two men in military haircuts and large builds holding down another man in the aisle. Mandy was very white and shaking and Jenni was crying and fighting the mask that her mother was holding over her face. Greg forced another mask over Mandy's face. He was worried about the sudden loss of oxygen on the baby she was carrying. She nodded to him that everything was under control. Traci had tears coming down her cheeks and grabbed Greg in a huge hug as soon as he sat down. The pilot came on and assured the passengers that things were under control but they had declared an emergency and were going to land in Paris instead of Rome, since it was the closest that could take the jet. As procedure required, he put on the seatbelt signs, and dropped to below ten thousand feet in altitude. They were still an hour out of Paris when the man in first class woke up. He found himself bound tightly with ties borrowed from a couple of the male passengers. His right arm was broken at the elbow and the way they had his arms bound, he was in a lot of pain. He tried to start yelling; so another man gagged him with a cocktail napkin. There was no sympathy for him at all. When Greg looked through the curtain he saw that the other man had been trussed up as well and was occupying a seat surrounded by some of the largest men on the plane. Greg had just acted on instinct and his training. After he thought about what had happened, he began to shake in reaction. He could have lost his life. But he reasoned, there hadn't been any time to think about what was going on. He had seen the gun and reacted. The real 'heroes', if there were any in this situation, were the two in the back who had made the conscious decision to take action. They all heard the change in the sound of the jet engines, and Greg leaned over Traci to see that they were on the final approach to the runway. As they got closer, he could see the emergency vehicles waiting along the runway and near the taxi area. The attendants had told them about emergency landing procedures earlier, and they all tucked their heads down in the prescribed position. The plane touched down with no problems and rolled to a stop close to the end of the runway. Fire and emergency vehicles along with police cars immediately surrounded them. Everyone was instructed to stay in his or her seats and await further instructions. Police and airport security boarded and, after a quick rundown from the attendants, took the two gunmen into custody. Then all the other passengers were taken to a holding area to be debriefed. The passengers all made the same statements. Many were dozing off to sleep when a man came back from the lavatory. He stopped to talk to the man in the seat next to his and then they both stood up. One walked into First Class and the other one started to the back of Business Class. They had heard the man up front yell something then scream in pain. The one in Business Class turned to go see what happened, and two men wrestled him to the ground. He got off two shots that when through the skin of the plane before they got the gun away from him. The plane lost pressure and the pilot dropped the plane to a safe altitude. Greg and the other two men were taken to a different room and debriefed in more detail. They all told their stories first to the local police then to Interpol, and finally to the US State department liaison who was at the Consulate. Then they had to meet the international press. The other two men, Sgt. Michael Corlis and Sgt. James O'Malley of the Marine Corps were just as shocked as Greg had been at what they had done. All three didn't consider what they had done really that heroic, even though the press was painting them as such. While Greg was being interviewed, Mandy had placed a call to Nick Scheffield, Greg's grandfather to let him know what had happened and to assure him that they were all right. He insisted on sending the corporate jet to pick them up and it would be waiting when they were allowed to leave. They were finally allowed to leave after written statements were signed and every agency was satisfied. The airline had transferred their luggage to the private jet and they boarded with a sense of relief. Captain Wilson was once again the pilot and he greeted them all as they came through the hatch. As soon as they had clearance, Captain Wilson opened the throttle and they were in the air. Greg looked out to see the plane they had just been on still surrounded by vehicles. He was glad to be away from all the confusion and on his way to peace and quiet. The women were still upset but he hoped they would calm down after they were under way... The bar was stocked and Greg made drinks for them all. They calmed down by degrees and were able to discuss the incident without tears by the time they made it to Rome. The taxi was waiting for them on the private tarmac so they avoided the crowds that might have recognized him. The way the reporters had mobbed them in Paris, it was a sure thing that Greg's face would be plastered all over the news channels. The cab was soon through the traffic and they were on their way to the villa. Nick and his housekeeper, Teresa, greeted them at the Villa. Nick was very glad to once again see his grandson and his family. He was still puzzled about just how their relationship worked but couldn't really hold it against them. His generation had been raised in a different time and with different rules imposed on them. Very privately, he envied Greg just a bit for being able to have two such beautiful and sexy women be that devoted to him. Of course, he recognized that Greg returned the devotion to both of them and then some. He had never been that much in love in his life and only wished that it could have been. Both women gave the old man a series of hugs and kisses on the cheek, enough to leave him more excited than he would ever admit to. Then Jenni was holding out her chubby little arms, her fists clenching, trying to have her turn. Her shouts of "Papa! Papa!" gave Nick a very warm feeling. He had, by his own violation, missed having the affection from his own children and to an extent his only grandson. To have this little angel so anxious to be held by him made him feel redeemed. The group was soon unpacked, taking up residence in the rooms that they had occupied before. When they came down, Teresa had a tray of local cheeses and ham along with a bottle of fine wine. They all sat down and started to snack while telling Nick about the trip. When they finished, he was proud of his grandson, but he also felt a fear for their lives. "While I know that you are able to take care of yourselves, I must ask that you no longer fly commercial. You know Greg that my company has vast holdings. We have several corporate jets at our disposal, and their use is at my whim. By tomorrow, you will be on the list to use whichever plane is in your area. Just give your name and they will be there to take you wherever you need to go." Greg tried to tell him that wasn't necessary but Nick was adamant about it. It meant a lot to be able to do this for his grandson and his family, and Greg finally relented. He promised not to abuse the privilege and Nick brushed that off saying that he knew they were all mature enough not to do so. The television was on and when the attempted hijacking came on, they all turned to watch. The reporter stated that it had been the result of just a couple of fanatics who were on drugs of some kind when they tried it. The guns had been traced to an accomplice in New York's airport service section. The third man had planted them in the lavatory after the plane had been checked. It had also been determined that they were not part of any group from the Middle East, but just a few crazed individuals looking to make a name for themselves. Greg's picture was splashed on the screen along with the other two men who had foiled the hijacker's plans. The publicity wasn't something that Greg was looking forward to, but he realized that he couldn't get away from it. At least he could hide out in the Villa since they had managed to slip out without anyone knowing where they were going after they arrived in Rome. The girls, along with Nick, then had to tease him about being a hero. Greg tried to blow it off, but he did feel proud that he had helped in stopping the hijacker's plans. He just wanted to forget it all, especially the afterthoughts of what his actions could have caused. That part scared him more than anything. The topics changed then to catching up on each other's lives. Of course the next thing was to tell Nick that he was going to be a Great-Grandfather. This news made him very happy and he had tears in the corner of his eyes as Mandy gave him a hug. Mandy's eyes were damp when Nick told them all that he was already a Great-Grandfather with Jenni because he felt that she was already a part of the family. Teresa was very happy as well. She found Jenni to be a joy to have around and treated her just like she did her own grandchildren, so she was looking forward to having another one to enjoy. In her broken English, she made Greg and Mandy promise to bring the baby there as soon as he or she could fly safely. She wanted to show him or her off to the village women when they gathered at the market like she did with Jenni. There was a frantic phone call from Heather, checking to see if they were really all right. She had seen the incident on the news and had heard Greg's name mentioned as one of the men who foiled the hijacking. She was proud but at the same time furious with him for risking his life. It took a while to calm her down, and Nick told her that a corporate jet would be waiting for them so they wouldn't have any problems. They called an early night that night since all the excitement had tired them out. Morning would be several hours earlier than they were used to and they planned to enjoy their vacation as much as they could. The next morning started a pattern that held for the rest of their stay. They would get up and have a light breakfast and the women would either lounge around or go with Teresa to the village, while Greg spent time helping his grandfather with business before he went out to the courtyard to relax. Greg was surprised at how often his grandfather would ask his opinion on a job or an investment, and then follow it up with asking his reasoning. He would explain why he thought one way or another and then Nick would follow his advice or explain just why he didn't. In this way, Greg was getting a crash course in what it took to run a multinational corporation. Nick was getting something in return. He found a new perspective in the way that Greg thought and had someone who would argue a point instead of just saying what they thought he wanted to hear. Many of Greg's ideas were sound and he ended up by the end of their vacation making quite a bit of money for the company. Nick did take some time off several afternoons to spend time with his family. They would go for rides through the countryside, meeting the residents and enjoying their hospitality. One day was spent going to a vineyard where they all tasted different wines (with Mandy just taking a sip of Greg's glass) and Nick placing an order for several cases for him and making arrangements to have a couple more shipped to Greg's house in the US. They attended a festival in the local village, dancing and eating with all the villagers. Nick usually did not leave the villa except for special occasions, so it was good for him to get out as well as giving the trio a taste of the local lifestyle. But most of the time was spent just enjoying each other's company. Nick had a special place in his heart for all of them and really enjoyed hearing about what they had been doing since they had last seen each other. Greg was surprised at the change in his grandfather from his early memories of a man who was so obsessed with his work that he ignored anything that didn't make money. Whether it was his Grandmother passing away that did it, or getting to know him and his family, it really was a change for the good. And it seemed to be a permanent change of heart. When Nick himself likened the change to Scrooge in the Dickens tale, they all had a laugh about it. But the similarities were hauntingly true. They had been at the Villa for about a week when the first reporter tracked them down. Teresa answered the door and as soon as she saw the microphones and cameras, slammed the door shut and went for her boss. Nick came out and when he found out what they wanted, he told them that he would talk to Greg and see if he wanted to meet with them. He called Greg and the girls in from the back and explained what was happening. Greg was reluctant to talk to them but Nick gave him some advice based on experience. "When the press gets on to a story, they will never let up. Even though you haven't been paying attention, I've caught the news on this and the US government is playing this whole thing up and portraying you and the others as heroes. The military is protecting the other two so you are the only one they can get at. "Your best bet will be to meet them head-on, answer what they ask and stay honest with them. Eventually something else will come along and they will leave you alone. But if you continue to avoid them, they will continue to hound you. If you come off as friendly and cooperative, they will treat you much better. I've had to do this a few times and trust me, it works, at least most of the time." While Nick went to the door and checked to see who they were with, Greg changed from his swimwear and went into the living room to get ready. The reporter came in and introduced himself. He said he was with CNN and what he really wanted was to get Greg's version of the story and just who he was. The man was polite and only requested that Mandy and Traci be included. "Two beautiful women are always a plus on a news story." The crew got the lights and cameras set with Greg between the two girls on the couch and the reporter in a chair across from them. With the tape rolling, Greg explained that he really didn't think about anything that was happening at the time. He just saw a gun and reacted. He didn't think until later about what could have happened. He also explained he was more worried about his fiancée' than anything else because she is pregnant. This brought a grateful smile and some embarrassment from Mandy. The reporter then asked Mandy about her reactions during that time. She told the man that she had been asleep next to her daughter when she heard the hijacker yelling. She looked up in time to see Greg disarm the man and then she heard the shots behind her, and then the whole cabin went into chaos. The plane went into a dive and the masks came down. She was so busy taking care of her daughter that she didn't have time to think about anything else. Traci made a couple of comments but didn't have much more to add. The reporter then shut down the tape and took some notes on their background, their reasons for being on the flight, and a few other tidbits of information. Greg did ask that the press let him enjoy their vacation and that when they returned to the States, he would be happy to answer any other questions. The reporter promised to keep their location secret, though he couldn't guarantee that the other news outlets wouldn't find them. He would put the word out that they all would cooperate when they returned home. He was very glad to get an exclusive interview and promised to treat them well. As soon as the crew had gone, the whole family gave a sigh of relief. Nick hinted that Greg had better get used to being in the spotlight if he became a top executive someday. Mandy was relieved that Teresa had kept Jenni in the kitchen with her and that they hadn't asked to have her on camera. That was one request that she would have denied. Jenni wouldn't have understood what was happening, and she really didn't need to have her face spread all over the news. When the piece played the next night, the whole family was pleasantly surprised that the reporter had mostly kept his word. First, he gave some background on Greg, that he was engaged and attended the college in his hometown. He told that he had an extensive background in martial arts and that was what 'kicked' in when he was confronted. Then they ran the taped interview. The final comments by the reporter gave the impression that Greg didn't want to be considered some hero even though he was. The family was just a normal family that happened to be in an extraordinary situation. All in all, the piece treated them all fairly and they decided that they could not ask for more than that. About fifteen minutes after the story completed, the phone at the villa rang. Teresa answered the phone and called Mandy over. "You little brat!!" yelled Heather over the line. "Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant? Congratulations!!!" Mandy started laughing. 'We were going to tell you when you got over here, but the damn reporter blew our surprise for you guys." Then she turned serious. "You aren't upset that we are having a baby, are you? It wasn't like we were planning this or anything. My birth control failed and..." Heather cut her off. "Don't worry about that! You are both adults now and sometimes things like that happen. Adrian and I are both delirious that you are pregnant. You know how much we love Jenni. And now you are going to have another one that we can spoil and love. Tell that son of mine congratulations from us as well. And we will be seeing you all very soon." The phone call ended soon after that and Mandy came back into the living room. Picking up Greg's hand in hers, she looked him in the eyes. "Your mother was calling to complain that we didn't tell her yet that we were pregnant. I think she was a little upset to find it out on the news, but I explained that we wanted to surprise them when they got over here. She said to tell you congratulations, but I'm extending it to all three of us." Tracey grinned over at the other two. "Why do I get the feeling that when we get home that there will be another shopping marathon devised by Heather for her new grandbaby?" "If she doesn't buy out the stores here in Italy before we can get home.", was Mandy's reply. The rest of the time until the wedding passed smoothly with the exception of some photographers trying to snap pictures of any of the family. The idea that Mandy was pregnant and the wondering about just how Traci fit in the picture became fodder for the tabloids. The fact that both women looked great in pictures didn't help matters. The local village, which had adopted the family, did what they could to help them out. Any reporter that asked for directions was met with silent stares. More creative townspeople sent them on a wild goose chase in the opposite direction. Mandy and Traci would be moved into a shop or home when a photographer was in the village. In return, the trio would help the villagers with whatever needed to be done. Mandy also did sketches and portraits for anyone who asked. Their cooperation brought them closer to the people and before their vacation was over, they were considered members of the village. Heather and Adrian arrived for the wedding celebration in his home village at the end of the second week of the trio's stay. Mama Randali was preparing a feast to end all feasts, and the people in her community were gearing up for the party. According to custom, Adrian stayed at his mother's farm while Heather was at the Villa. Heather's dress was being made by one of the village women, as well as those of Mandy and Traci. Nick had to have his tuxedo let out a bit, and Greg had to go to Rome to buy one. Even Jenni had a dress made by another of the women who thought she should be in the bridal party. The excitement reached a fever pitch the day of the celebration. There was a mad scramble to get everyone into the limo that Nick had hired and to get to Village Square where the celebration was set. The ceremony was beautiful. Jenni was the flower girl and she did well making her way up the aisle, pausing every once in a while to drop a handful of petals on the walkway. She was very careful about her duties until she spotted Mandy at the arbor, then she broke into a run to get a hug for doing what she had practiced so hard to do. Heather looked ravishing in the gown that she had selected. It did not have the long train that many brides preferred, but it was a cream colored creation that left no question who was the person of the hour. Nick insisted that he get to walk her down the aisle this time since he had missed the chance at her first wedding. He was beaming with pride when he placed her hand into Adrian's and turned back to his place. Since the Church wouldn't sanction the wedding, the Mayor of the village did the ceremony for the couple's second time. There were many damp eyes in the crowd for Adrian had been a popular and very likeable man in the village before he had left for the United States. Mama Randali wept copiously because her last unattached son was safely married. Her days of trying to get him married off were finally over and she could finally stop her matchmaking. The tables were laden with all the delights that anyone could expect at an Italian wedding feast. The women in the village had all contributed, each one trying to outdo the other in the making of sauces, meats, and treats. There was much dancing and wine and laughter. Greg had a dance with his mother as did Nick. Adrian took both Traci and Mandy for a turn during the faster numbers. Traci was also mobbed with young men of the village eager to get a dance with the tall and sexy woman. Mandy was asked a few times, but since she was known to be engaged to Greg, the men were more cautious about asking. Greg told her to enjoy herself, and he took a few of the young girls of the village for a dance, which thrilled them to no end. The only problem happened when a couple of photographers who had caught wind of the lifestyle of the 'hero of flight 742' decided they wanted some pictures for the tabloids. Adrian's brothers, acting very much the role of Mafia hit men, escorted the lensmen out of the square and stood guard at the entrance to the village. They made quite an intimidating pair dressed in black suits with sunglasses. The photographers thought better of trying to cause problems and left to lie in wait elsewhere. It was very late in the evening when Nick and his family left to go back to the Villa. Adrian and Heather were staying their first night in the Randali house before a few days in Rome and Venice... Then they would head back home and back to their respective jobs. Jenni had been a star at the party and was so exhausted she fell asleep on her mother's lap as soon as the limo started down the road. All the other occupants of the car were tired and the conversation was low key, talking about how much of a success the whole celebration had been. Greg did state that he thought his mother was really happy with Adrian. She had always been more involved in her career than her first marriage, and now she really seemed to have her priorities in a different order. Their vacation ended much quicker than they would have liked. But they did have to return home and get things ready for the next semester of college. At the behest of his Grandfather, Greg was looking to take more courses toward the goal of business administration. Nick was also trying to get him set up to work on more projects for the company, just so he could get some experience in weighing the facts to make the proper decision. The trip to the private tarmac and the jet was a quiet affair. Jenni was the only one that was really active and she was playing with a doll that 'Papa Nick' had given her. The adults were mostly silent, reliving the high points of their time in Italy and privately wishing that it didn't have to end. They were on board a different jet with a new captain, but the flight was as smooth as before. They spent the time sleeping, reading and talking about different things that had happened during their vacation. It was late in the evening when they finally landed in their hometown's airport. There was a light rain falling giving the air a fresh smell. They had a short wait for a cab at the terminal after passing through customs. The monitors around the airport showed that the hijacking and subsequent scramble about them was now old news. There was a new scandal in the Justice Department that had taken over and that was just fine for the trio. Now they had other things to think about. Their home was just as they had left it. The neighbors who had taken care of the house in their absence would probably bring their mail over the next day. While Mandy got Jenni ready for bed, Greg and Traci made a trip to the store for milk and a couple other items that they would want for the morning. By the time they were back, Mandy had things locked up and they all headed for bed. The flight had tired them enough that they were not in the mood for sex, but they all did snuggle up against each other with Mandy in the middle. After a few kisses and gropes, they settled down to sleep, relishing the warmth and feel of each other and just glad to be in their own bed. ------- Chapter 24 The summer turned unusually hot during the next couple weeks. Traci and Mandy spent most of the day out by the pool or sitting in the cool of the shade that overlapped the deck. More often than not, they were clothed only in the smallest bikinis they could find and sometimes, nothing at all. Greg had stepped up his training since being chosen for the National Karate team. He would get up before the sun had risen and go for a four to five mile run. Then it was to the gym at the college to train with the coach for a few hours before he came home to join the two ladies. The afternoons when Greg would get home and find his lovers lounging naked would often turn into outdoor lovemaking sessions. One afternoon, he came home and found Traci on the deck enjoying a book while Mandy was enjoying the coolness of the pool. He dropped his clothes on the deck and after a kiss and playful fondle of Traci's luscious body, he joined Mandy in the cool water. Since her morning sickness had passed, Mandy had been feeling very horny. When Greg came up and kissed her, she returned the kiss with enough passion to let him know that she wanted more than just a little tenderness. Greg reacted immediately and as soon as he was fully hard he started to probe her cleft with the head of his cock. He soon found a wetness that wasn't caused by the surrounding water. "Ohhh. I have been thinking about this all morning.", Mandy moaned out as Greg started to slide into her. She had her arms resting on the side of the pool and the buoyancy of the water allowed her lower half to line up with Greg's cock. Slowed by the resistance of the water, Greg's thrusting caused her to start to climb toward her release quickly. He reached under her body to support her as she started to climax and lose her grip on the side of the pool. The contrast of the cool water on his balls and the heat that Mandy was generating on his cock was building the pressure in Greg as well. He stared down at the sight of Mandy's body floating in the water, her breasts breaking the surface as she started to thrash around in her climax became too much for him. He gave one final thrust into her as his own orgasm washed over him. The feel of his cock pulsating in her tunnel caused Mandy to go over a second time as well. As Greg pulled out of his lover, there were blobs of semen that floated to the surface to gather in the sparse pubic hair around Mandy's pussy. He had just enough strength left to move them both into the shallow end of the pool so he could let go of her and collapse onto his knees. Mandy joined him there and gave him a passionate kiss to thank him for the wonderful sex they had just shared. Traci had been watching from the deck and when they were done called down to them. "I just might want to try that one tomorrow!" Then she gave a laugh at the two lovers as she got up to answer the noise of Jenni getting up from her nap. That set a trend where Greg knew if he came home and found them naked, he would find either one or both of them were 'in the mood' and he would soon be enjoying some of the best sex he could wish for. Mandy's constant state of excitement rubbed off on Traci so they both wanted sex frequently. When Greg wasn't home, they would often bring each other off while Jenni was sleeping. The whole fracas with what had happened on their flight to Italy had hopefully died down. Greg had been interviewed by the local paper a couple of times and then a follow-up on national television. They had even been asked to return to New York for a spot on one of the daytime talk shows. Greg had been of the mind to turn that down but Mandy said that she would be able to get some business done with Mr. Arborough while they were there. After talking it over, they called the person in charge of booking and said they would do the show. Plans were made to be in New York the next week for the taping. All three of them were to be on the show together and arrangements were made to take Jenni with them. She could be a handful since she was now walking and talking, but Mandy just couldn't leave her and be so far away. Especially not so soon after the abortive attempt by her father to take the child away from her. True to his word, Nick insisted that they fly on one of the corporate jets. It was waiting on the tarmac when they arrived in the cab. It was a different pilot than prior trips but the flight was smooth and without any incident. Even Traci was relaxed enough to enjoy the flight, especially when she had some of the excellent wine that was chilled and waiting. There was one of the corporation's executives already on board when they came into the cabin. He explained that he had to go to New York anyway so he just grabbed the opportunity. He introduced himself as William Hanson and soon after takeoff, they were all chatting like old friends. When Greg asked what Mr. Hanson was flying to New York for, he said that he had a proposal to finalize with the government of a small European country. "Is that the Holland project?" Greg asked. "Well, uh... Yes it is. How did you know about that one?" was Hanson's startled reply. "My Grandfather asked for my input on that one." answered Greg. "He said the government was hesitant about the cost, but when I pointed out that if the Corporation opted for ten percent of the residual profit for the next twenty-five years, the net profit coming in would be half again as much as what he needed to drop the cost by." Mr. Hanson's mouth hung slack for a moment as he listened to Greg. "You mean you were the one who convinced the old man to try that? Then you should know that their government agreed. We all thought that this was one we would have lost, without that idea coming through. And the projected figures are showing that we will make over twice what the project would have brought in. I for one am glad that you came up with that idea. The Old Man didn't say where it came from. Nice to meet the brains behind it." Greg felt proud that one of the things he and his grandfather had talked about had worked out for the corporation. His grandfather had said he liked the idea, but he had heard nothing more about it. Imagine, one of his ideas really put into play and was going to be worth millions, if not billions by the time it was done! That made him feel really good. When they landed, Mr. Hanson shook everyone's hand before he departed. "If you have any more good ideas like that, be sure to let Nicholas or even me know." He handed Greg his business card. Greg promised to do just that but inside, he knew that he wasn't in the inner circle of the business unless he happened to be at the villa. The show had a limo waiting for them on the tarmac. The driver jokingly told them that this was the first time he had been instructed to await a guest at the private jet area. It sure saved him time standing in the main terminal holding up a sign and waiting for the people to come out. He took them to the Regency where the show had a room reserved for them. Actually, there were two rooms that were adjoining. Whoever had made the arrangements must not have known that Traci was part of Mandy and Greg's bed. They didn't say anything to anyone but set it up to have Jenni sleep in the bed that was supposed to be Traci's. She was used to having her own room and this made it work out well. After showering and changing, they all went down for a late dinner in the dining room at the hotel. None of them were interested in going out for the evening. The trip had tired them out with the exception of Jenni who had slept through most of the flight. Back up in the rooms, they watched a little television while Jenni ran between 'her' room and the room her parents were in. It took a little while but she finally tired out and they got her and then themselves to bed. They were too tired to break in the new bed but instead fell asleep with Traci in the middle. They were awakened by a bright-eyed Jenni who had come bounding in and pulling on her mother's arm, wanting to watch the morning cartoons. She had a favorite character on a PBS show that she watched every chance she got. At home, she knew how to turn the set on and Mandy always made sure to leave it on the right channel for her. This morning however, she didn't know where the remote was. Mandy slid out of bed and took her back to her room and got the television all set up just like it was at home. Then, she came back in and snuggled back up against Traci planning to sleep until the alarm went off and they would have to start getting ready for the taping. When she awoke the second time, it was to turn off the alarm. She could hear the television through the open door to the next room, so she rolled over and gently shook Traci awake. As soon as she was sure that Traci was coming around and working on waking Greg, she went to the phone and ordered some coffee and Danish from Room Service. Then, she headed to the shower. Traci wasn't having much luck getting Greg awake, so she decided a morning blowjob might do the trick. She could tell from how hard he was already that he must have been having some good dreams. After listening to know how much longer Jenni would be engrossed in watching the television, she slid under the covers. Greg was now on his back and his legs slightly spread. Traci started by letting her long red hair tickle the fine hairs on his scrotum. When that brought a moan from her lover, she advanced her attack by running her tongue up along the underside and caressing the glans. As he started to come around, she lifted his cock with her fingers and covered the head with her mouth. She started bobbing her head and sucking, while she ran her tongue all along the flesh. "Wha..." mumbled Greg as he raised the covers to see the top of his lover's head as she took his cock into her mouth until it was at the edge of her throat. He whispered to her that he was about to come, so she slid him out until just the head of his cock was encased in her warm, wet mouth. When she ran her tongue around the head, he couldn't hold back any longer and shot into her waiting mouth. He could feel her swallow as he continued to pump his semen. When he was finally done, she pulled off of his softening member making a loud 'pop' as he finally came loose. "Good Morning!" She smiled at him showing the remains of his seed on her lips. "And what a way to get woke up", he replied as he returned the smile. She stretched up and gave him a kiss. He could taste the remains of himself on her lips, but since that always turned her on for him to kiss her after, he didn't really mind. There was a knock on the door and Traci slipped on a short robe to go answer it. The young man pushed a cart into the room and almost dropped his teeth when he saw Traci. When she went to get a tip from her purse, she bent over and the poor guy almost passed out when the robe rose up to show the bottom of her buttocks. When she turned to hand the money to him he was totally red in the face and when she stole a glance down she saw a large bulge in the front of his dress pants. She just smiled, and told him to have a nice day. "It already is." was the young man's reply. Greg had been watching the show from the bed, started laughing as soon as the door was shut. "You did that on purpose, didn't you? You are quite the exhibitionist." "It wasn't intentional to begin with. I just didn't think about it. But after what we had just done, I guess I had been feeling a little frisky, and when I heard him gasp at my legs, I decided to give him something to think about for the rest of the day." Mandy was just coming out of the shower when she heard them both laughing. After they told her what it was all about, she joined in. "If it is the same guy tomorrow, I'll give him a show too. Then by the last morning, those guys will be fighting to get to be the one delivering here." Traci was next for the shower while Greg had a cup of coffee. He told Mandy about the way Traci had woke him up and she promised to make sure she had the chance the next morning. "Better yet, why don't you wake her up that way tomorrow? I'll make sure you are the second one awake and you can return the favor." Then it was Greg's turn to get ready. Mandy fed Jenni and gave her a quick bath before she put her in a nice dress that they had bought for this occasion. They were waiting when the front desk call up that their limo was waiting. At the studio, they were taken in and given a quick tour of the set, taken to makeup and then to the Green Room. The stars of the show came in and met with them to see how they were doing under the pressure. An assistant came in with the releases for them all to sign. Jenni would be in the care of one of the assistants just off the set but Mandy went ahead and signed a release for her as well in case she happened to be wanted on the set. Then, it was time to wait. The show's format was four women who were just supposed to be talking around a table or in a couch setting. They would all discuss the events of the day or something that interested them for the first segment. Greg and his family were to be on the next segment. As the director cut for a commercial, Greg and the others were brought out and set on the large couch. He was put in the middle with Mandy on his right and Traci on the left. The hosts, Jane, Martha, Max, and Stacy came over and took their seats, two on each side of them. When the cue came, the camera was on Jane, who would open the segment. "A few weeks back, there was an attempted hijacking of an airliner that was foiled by the courage of three men. All three have stated in the press that they felt they didn't do anything especially heroic, but the rest of the country disagreed with them. Here is a little clip of one of the men." On the monitors, the trio saw Greg telling the press that he didn't think about what he was doing, it was just instinct that caused him to take the man down. The clip finished and Jane continued. "We have that man here with us today as well as his family. Please make welcome Mr. Greg Tolkin and his fiancé' Mandy Carson, along with their housemate who was with them on the trip, Traci Broomfield." The second camera focused on the trio while the applause died down. Jane started the interview. "So you really didn't think you did something terribly dangerous or courageous at the time?" "No I didn't, not at the time. I have been training in martial arts for years and when that guy pointed a gun at me, I just reacted. My training and instinct took over before my mind even thought of what I was doing." "But now, do you feel like you did something special?" "Not really, Jane. I think the other two did more, because they made the conscious decision to react to the threat. They had time to think about it and still took the chance to save the others." Maxine asked the next question. "What has it been like with all the publicity surrounding this? Has it interfered with your life?" "It has been a little rough at times but the press on the whole has been pretty good about leaving us alone. I probably wouldn't have got the press I have except for the two beautiful women who were with me." This caused some laughter and applause from the audience. "This is directed to the two beautiful women you are talking about," said Martha. "How do you feel about what Greg did? What did you think at the time?" Mandy answered first. "I really didn't have a chance to know what was going on. I knew Greg was up at the front of the cabin, but then I heard some guy start to yell at the flight attendant. I looked around in time to see he had a gun and Greg come up behind him. The guy pointed the gun at Greg and he took it away before I knew what had happened. Then we heard the gunshots from the other cabin and all hell broke loose. All I could think about was getting the oxygen mask over my daughter's head. Greg pushed one over my face so our baby I'm carrying wouldn't be without. We shared that mask until the attendant shoved him into the seat across the aisle." Traci chimed in then. "I had been asleep when it started. By the time I was aware, things were already happening. I can just remember somebody yelling, then screaming, a couple of loud 'booms' and then the plane dropping down. But after it was all over, I was a little upset that Greg had been in danger, but very proud of him protecting his family." It was Stacy's turn then. "Did I just hear you say that you and Greg are going to have a baby?" Mandy grinned very wide. "Yes we are. I am just a few months along, but everything is going just like it should." "Well Congratulations. Any plans on pushing up your marriage?" "We haven't talked about it yet. We will if Mandy wants to do it sooner than we had planned." was Greg's answer. Then Stacy asked, "We met your daughter, Mandy, before the show. Is she Greg's as well?" "Not officially, at least not yet. Jenni was conceived when I was raped. My family threw me out and Greg took me in. He has been with me every step of the way. He is the only father that Jenni has ever known. Her biological father gave up all rights when he tried to get out of paying support. When we are married, Greg is going to adopt her legally." Maxine gave the next question and it was for Traci. "Traci, how was it you were on the flight? Were you going along on the trip with them?" Traci wasn't sure how to answer, but Greg spoke up for her. "Traci is not just a housemate. She is part of our family. She feels like Jenni is part hers and she loves us as much as we do her." Traci found her voice. "When I met these two, they accepted me for me. I was very lonely at college. Guys were always either afraid me because of my looks or they were just after one thing. When I met Greg, he treated me like a whole person. He never made an off-color remark or anything like that. He still treats me the same way. He sees me for me." "Are you 'committed' to the relationship, then?" Sensing what Maxine was getting at, Mandy spoke up. "Traci dates when she wants, we told her a long time ago that we want her to stay with us as long as she wants to." "But I haven't found anyone who treats me as well as these two do." was Traci's addition. Jane was a little uncomfortable with the way the interview was going. "Mandy, what are your plans for the rest of your stay?" "I really need to do a little business while I am here. I have to meet with the gallery owner that handles my work here this afternoon." Jane turned to the audience. "What many of you may not know is that Mandy here is an acclaimed, up and coming artist. I have one of your sketches and I was wandering if you would sign it for me?" "I would be happy to." Mandy said to the applause of the audience. Jane ended the segment by talking to all three. "We want to thank all three of you for coming out to talk with us." The assistant who was holding Jenni set her down so she could run over to Mandy. This brought comments from the audience on how sweet she looked. Maxine waved to Jenni who gave her biggest grin and waved back. The segment went to commercial with a close-up on Jenni's beaming face as Mandy held her on her lap. After the show was over, the stars came back into the green room to congratulate them all on how well their part of the show had gone. Jane also brought the sketch from her office for Mandy to sign. Once that was taken care of, everyone just chatted. Maxine was still curious about their relationship though. "Since this is off the record, I am really curious to know: Are you three lovers?" Mandy was the one who answered. "Yes we are. It isn't something that we are ashamed of, but we just feel like that part of our life is private, so we wouldn't say anything about it on the air. But we all three are in love with each other. Traci does date once in a while, but she just seems never to find the right match. And like we said, she is welcome to stay with us as long as she wants." "And that is getting to where I am thinking more and more it will be a permanent thing." Traci put in. Max was gracious about it. "It would probably never work for me, but you three seem to be very much in love. If it is what you want, more power to you." With that, they left the studio and the limo returned them to the hotel where they would enjoy another two days at the expense of the show. Mandy's meeting with Mr. Arborough went well. She signed many of the prints they had in stock and set up a contract for a new series that she was doing. Mr. Harrington back home would handle the final details and of course, get a cut of the profits. The next morning, Greg fulfilled his promise to wake Traci up in the same manner she had used on him the day before. He gently slid the covers off of her and slowly positioned her legs without waking her. Since Jenni was still asleep, Mandy decided to help him along so while he started to lick her upper thighs, she started to lick and nibble on the other woman's breasts. Traci started stirring and was coming awake about the time that Greg started to run his tongue up her slit and then around her clit. Traci gave out a low groan and put a hand on both her lovers' heads. She was starting to become very moist from Greg's talented tongue, so he slipped two fingers deep inside and curled them to find her G-spot. He started pushing up firmly against it while pushing down against the base of her clit with his tongue. Between the work Greg was doing on her lower body and the caresses and licks from Mandy on her upper torso, there was no way that Traci could hold off her orgasm. When Greg gently sucked her clit into his mouth, she felt the rush starting. She grabbed Mandy's face with both hands and pulled her down for a very passionate kiss just as she went over. Mandy continued to kiss her best friend while not neglecting her breasts. Greg felt the tightening of her tunnel around his fingers, and continued to work furiously on her as her orgasm progressed. When she finally came down from the experience, Traci was like a limp rag. Mandy straddled her body, giving Greg a good look at her own sexual center. Taking her cue, he lined up his cock and slid into her in one long stroke. Both were very excited from what they had accomplished with Traci, so they were not into being gentle this time. Greg was thrusting rapidly into his lover while she was matching his strokes by pushing back against him in rhythm. They didn't last long. Greg came first with Mandy close behind. As she collapsed from her orgasm, Mandy moved forward until Greg's cock slid out and then turned to fall beside Traci who was starting to recover. "That had to be the best wake up ever," Traci said in a low voice. "I don't think I could stand it every day though. I'd never be able to get out of bed." The other two laughingly agreed with her. Greg was closest to the phone so he called down to room service for the same order as yesterday. This time, Mandy planned ahead and quickly put her purse up on a shelf. The same young man brought the tray in and from the bulge in his pants, he was hoping for a display from Traci once again. However, he certainly wasn't disappointed when Mandy walked out in the same short robe to greet him. It hung a little lower on Mandy but not enough to make a difference. The guy's eyes were glued to her backside where the robe was just past the curve of her buttocks as she turned around and stretched up to reach her strategically placed purse to get him a tip. As she stretched, the lower half of her ass came into view and the muscles in her abdomen tightened. That forced her vagina to contract and some of Greg's seed came out to land on her upper thigh. The poor waiter gave a groan, and when Mandy turned to hand him the money she noticed that there was a wet spot growing on the front of his pants. She smiled at him and gave a very sweet 'thank you'... He took the tip and still very red in the face, he practically ran out the door. All three were laughing by the time that Mandy finished telling the tale. They had started eating, when Jenni came out from 'her' room looking all sleepy. She crawled up on the first available lap and shared sips of orange juice and toast from Traci. Then, they took turns in the shower and started to get ready to leave. Even though they had another night's lodging paid for, there was going to be a company jet at the airport that afternoon and they didn't want to waste the ride. After getting packed, they strolled down the street and window-shopped. Traci bought several of the gossip rags from one of the newsvendors. When Greg asked about it, she said that she thought it would be fun to laugh at all the ridiculous articles that were in them. Mandy went into a shop where she bought a very cute rabbit for Jenni who latched onto it so quickly that they almost couldn't scan the price tag. She named it "Abbit" and then tried to show it to anyone who happened to look her way on the street. Mid-afternoon, the doorman hailed them a cab and they headed to the airport. It took some convincing to get the driver to take them to the private terminal but they were there before the plane was ready. The pilot was going over the checklist and the fuel truck was still connected when they boarded with their luggage. That gave them time to sit back and get comfortable before the flight began. The cabin had just been cleaned and the bar restocked so Greg poured them all a glass of wine. The pilot asked them to hold on to their glasses as he started down the runway for takeoff. They were soon in the air and once again able to move around. Mandy had a book on the famous Masters in the art world that she was looking through. Greg was watching a video with Jenni who would laugh and clap at the antics of the cartoon characters and Traci had her gossip magazines. Suddenly, the others heard Traci gasp and then mumble, "Oh my God!" Mandy was first to come over to her and after a second or two put her hand over her mouth with her eyes very wide. Greg set Jenni into the seat next to him and came over to Traci to see what the problem was. Inside the Weekly Tattler was a spread of pictures that someone had taken of Mandy and Traci sunbathing at their house naked. The headline read: "The NAKED truth about the Hero of Flight 742". Below that the article went on to say that Greg lived in a house with two women and was reported to be intimate with both, that they held orgies in the house and that Greg had a whole troop of coeds that catered to his every sexual need. But the pictures were the worst part. They had caught Mandy and Traci relaxing naked on the deck holding hands, Greg kissing them both and still others of them in the pool. He was furious! He had never wanted this damned 'hero' crap. Now the people he loved the most were the unwilling victims of some perverted reporter just getting his kicks. "How could they print such things about us!?" Mandy was almost in tears about it. Greg reached over to pull her closer to him as he reached out to Traci to complete the hug. "I am so sorry you two got caught up in this," Greg told them both. "It's my fault because I stopped that guy." Traci shot him an angry look. "You have no reason to be sorry. You did what you had to do. It isn't your fault that these perverts are taking pictures of us. Besides, my body as well as yours is hanging in some very swanky homes. If I was that worried about it, I wouldn't have posed in the buff for Mandy to paint me. What pisses me off about this is that they didn't even ask for permission. That was invading our privacy. Hell, we could have posed for them and they could have got better shots than they did. And we don't even get a cut of the profits." Her irritation over them taking pictures without asking brought the other two around. They started then to talk about it more than just being shocked. One thing that Greg noticed was that they were all shots from a road about a quarter mile away, so none of their neighbors were involved. That made them feel better. The supposed 'unnamed source' was something else that Greg planned to find out about as soon as they got home. "Look, guys. What's done is done. What we are going to have to do is decide how we are going to handle any repercussions that come from this." Traci was once again being the one who understood things. "Do we want to just hope it all blows over or do we even want to acknowledge these damned pictures and the article at all? I mean that it is already known that we are lovers, but I can't see that this will be anybody's business but our own" She gave a digusted snort. "As far as I am concerned, they can all speculate until they are blue in the face. We know how we feel about one another and if they can't handle that, then it's their problem, not ours." Greg was surprised at her, not so much the vehemence that she stated her opinion, but the certainty that she showed to becoming completely committed to their three-way lifestyle. Mandy preferred they hunt the photographer down and perform a slow and painful castration. That comment further broke the tension. Greg had been thinking about what Traci had said and after he had started a new video for Jenni, he came back to his lovers. "In my experience, trying to lie your way out of a situation usually doesn't work." The other two nodded their heads in agreement. "What I think is that we try and ignore it as much as we can, and then if the situation gets worse, then break their lies with the truth. The only problem with that is that you two may end up getting some crap and it puts Traci here in the situation of not having too many dates." Traci grinned at him. "If you haven't noticed, I haven't dated much anyway. I have pretty well decided that I am always the happiest when I am with you two. So I guess as long as you want me, I'm not going anywhere." Mandy had been worried that her friend had been torn about their arrangements gave Traci a big smile. "You will always have a place with us. You know that I don't mind sharing Greg with you as well as my own body and heart." Traci gave her a kiss. Then she turned to Greg. "I still want to know about the harem of Coeds that the paper talked about." Greg answered by putting his arms around the shoulders of both women. "I believe that I have all I could ever want with you two." The women accepted his answer by giving him a kiss that showed that they felt the same. They had a couple of days of rest before any more was said. Some of their college friends called to tell them that the paper was being passed around the campus. Since it was still the summer sessions, the population of the college wasn't what it normally was, but it was enough to cause some interest. The girls were spared most of the comments since they had taken the summer off. Greg, however, caught a ribbing from the martial arts team, and looks, as he would go across campus going home. It wasn't until the next week's edition came out that things started to come to a head. There were a few more pictures taken at the same time as the others, and another article that accused both girls of running a club where coeds were paired with rich men so they could have a sugar daddy while still going to school. There were other things that were said, but those were also fabricated. Greg's grandfather called a couple of days later to talk about another idea that Greg had worked on in Italy... When Mandy answered the phone, she told him what had been happening. "That is really horrible, sweety. Those rags are just picking on you guys because you ladies are so sexy. I know someone who is in that business, a rival to that bunch of bottom feeders. Let me see what I can do." Greg then took the receiver and talked to his grandfather. Nick told him just what he had told Mandy, and to expect a call from his publisher friend. They concluded their business, and Greg hung up the phone before he turned to his lovers. "Nick says he will get these fools off of our back. When his friend's paper calls we should tell them what all we feel we can. They are going to want to bring down the Tattler by publishing an exclusive interview with us. We need to hurry and figure out just what we want to say." Between the time that Nick let them know what he was going to do, and the time the reporter called for an interview, they had decided to settle on telling the truth and not to hide anything. They felt that their relationship was, while not the norm, was nothing to be ashamed about. They were adults and their decisions were not up for public vote. Even so, they were not going to bring up their personal lives unless needed. Zach Thomas from Time/Warner called and set up the appointment for Monday. The weekend was spent cleaning up the house and planning what needed to be said. Mandy was still the most nervous, but Traci had taken on a much more militant attitude. She didn't give a damn what people said about her, but she was still pretty upset about the way her lovers were being portrayed. Mr. Thomas, (call me Zach) arrived with a photographer and a tape recorder. Highly professional, he started by giving his credentials as a war correspondent, and features reporter for the last ten years. "If there is anything, any subject, that you feel you don't want to talk about, we will try and stay away from it. If I press on a subject, I want you to know that I feel that it will really be important to the story, and we can negotiate. Now you all ready to get started?" What followed was about four hours of constant questioning with answers from all of them. Then the photographer got pictures of them together on the couch, a few of the interior of the house, and still more of them individually. He laughed when Mandy said that with all those pictures, he would have enough to fill a book. "We will probably only use three or four, but this gives us plenty to choose from." A week later they received an advance copy from Zach. What surprised them was that they were featured on the cover of a major news magazine. A picture of all three of them sitting together looking serious with a caption below saying "How Low is Too Low for the Media?" Zach had expanded the report to include stories about the runaway bride, the coverage of celebrities and the problems of paparazzi. Greg read to the others the excerpts of their part of the article: When is enough is enough? This family, who, while not the typical couple with 2.1 children and 2.3 pets, are normal enough not to warrant undue and unwanted attention. But that is what they are getting. Greg Tolkin was thrust into the public eye when he helped to foil a hijacking of a TWS airliner. He has said in the past that he just reacted to danger and he doesn't consider himself a hero of any sort. But because of that incident that saved the lives of his two hundred fellow passengers, he and his family have been harassed by the dregs of the publishing industry who when they don't have any facts, they make them up. "They claimed that we were having orgies at our house and that I had coeds doing my sexual bidding. All of that is patently false and hurtful." Mr. Tolkin told us during the interview. "The pictures that they printed were an invasion of privacy and hurt all of us terribly." In fact, this reporter found that the three of them all were very normal in their activities. They all attend the university in their town; they are involved in community activities, and spend what little free time they have taking care of Amanda's daughter. Even the child is very typical, watching cartoons and playing with the toys any two-year old would be doing. There are no sex rings, no naked romps in the pool, and no signs of orgies. The only coeds that came over were there to ask for help on schoolwork or to just hang out as friends. It is a terrible tribute to the state of journalism when a nice, quiet family such as this one is harassed and persecuted by the gossip rags for no other reason than the titillation of their readers. Common sense is missing from all forms of our media today and this is just a shinning example of the depths of depravity that we have allowed to happen. There were 6 pages worth and much more about them. In all it was a condemnation of the gossip media at large. Greg called his grandfather to thank him for the influence that he had used to get the ball rolling on this. "Just remember Greg that it is to you and your company's advantage to maintain a relationship with people in high places. I didn't pressure the publisher to do that article, rather I told him about the problems you were having and suggested that it might possibly be a good subject for one of his magazines to explore. It was really his idea; all I did was to plant the seed. "Develop contacts in all industries and use them sparingly and wisely. I have given these guys breaks on stories about my business workings in other countries and have helped them to get information that they wouldn't have on their own. We sort of work together for each other's advantage." This made a lot of sense to Greg. Lately he had been wondering just what he was going to do as a career. After he had been helping his grandfather for a while, he had about decided that working for his corporation might just be the way to go. When the time came to finalize his classes for the next few semesters, he was going to declare a major in international business relations with a minor in world politics. He would also take classes to work for an MBA. He discussed this change with his lovers and found that they weren't really surprised. "You have been headed that way since we went to Italy for the Holidays." was Mandy's response. "Nick asked if you might be interested, but I told him you would make up your own mind." "Well, I can't think of another career where I would be better suited. And with today's communications we can live wherever we want. Traci can still teach if she wishes, and your art can be done from anywhere you can find inspiration. And I really don't have to go full time for them. I can be a consultant and still be involved in what I want." Nick understood Greg's desire for maintaining independence, even though he would rather have him as an employee rather than just under contract as a consultant. But all that was in the future. For now they all had to worry about surviving the next year of college and Mandy's pregnancy. With her libido in high gear, Greg was worried about keeping up with her desires. Then came the first ever Gay Pride Day and the return of Nicholas Wilson. This time he was expanding beyond Operation Rescue and was about to involve the trio. ------- Chapter 25 "Hey guys, remember the girl that I know that came over and looked at your drawings for the art show?" Traci came into the living room carrying the cordless phone. "You mean Karen?" said Greg as he looked up from the book he was reading. "That's her. She is showing some of her work at the Gay Pride Celebration that is going on down at the park this weekend. She is asking if we would want to come down and support her?" "Sure!" was Mandy's reply. "She was so nice to help me out when I was just starting. I would love to go give her some support now." Traci gave them both a grin and went back to the receiver, assuring the girl on the other end that they would all be there. As soon as she had ended the conversation, she came in to sit with the others. "Karen is really nervous. She hasn't ever felt that her work was good enough to show until some of her friends finally convinced her. She is really looking for moral support more than anything." Mandy could understand her completely. Even with all the positive feedback she received for her works, she still felt insecure about it. "I'm more than happy to help out someone else like others have for me. I'm curious though, isn't the Gay Pride thing an odd place to display your work for the first time?" Traci looked at her lover for a moment. "Didn't you know that Karen is a lesbian?" Mandy shook her head. "Well she is. She doesn't advertise it, but she has had a female lover for as long as I have known her." "Wasn't she checking out Greg when she was here?" "I think she appreciates the human form, whether male or female. I imagine that she was looking at Greg for the hunk he is, kinda like if you notice another woman who is sexy. It doesn't mean you want to run out and sleep with her." Greg piped up then. "Well if you don't want to sleep with this sexy woman you are talking about, then can I?" Mandy didn't hesitate to throw a pillow at him for that remark. Mandy continued to voice her thoughts. "In Karen's case, it doesn't matter in the least to me. I'm just glad to know about it before I said something that would've made me look stupid." "And that explains why she would be showing at the festival then," added Greg. Heather and Adrian had asked to take Jenni for the weekend so Friday night, Mandy dropped her off at their apartment. Then, she came home and had a nice dinner with her lovers before spending some time relaxing and playing grab-ass in the hot tub. Of course this led to some wild and very satisfying sex, ending with Greg wilting cock still stuffed firmly into Traci's well-used pussy. Mandy, who was almost recovered from the orgasms she had experienced, slowly got up and grabbed washrags and towels to help clean up the other two. Deciding that they were too tired to really clean up, they just pulled the sheet over themselves and drifted into a very satisfied sleep. They all pulled themselves out of bed the next morning and slipped into the shower as soon as everyone had taken the time to do their personal abolitions. By the time they ate and dressed, it was closer to mid-morning than when the Celebration opened. They succeeded to get past the protesters that came to let their opinions be known and wandered into the area. They were just wandering through, looking at the displays, when some guy came up to them. The girls were looking at some literature on a table while Greg was standing to the side. The man came up to Greg and asked if he was interested in a date later. Greg told him that he appreciated the compliment, but that he didn't go that way. "What are you doing here then?" the guy asked somewhat aggressively. "We," and Greg pointed to his two lovers, Mandy showing her pregnancy now, "... are here to check out a friend's artwork and lend her some moral support." The guy then wandered off saying something about "breeders", continuing to look for a date for the evening. Greg shook it off. This was an event that he probably wouldn't have come to except for Karen. And that really wasn't right to his thinking. They all three enjoyed wandering through fairs, flea markets and special occasions. Why should they have avoided this one? Was it because of who put it on and who the crowd was? He silently chided himself for thinking like that and vowed to be sure to make it to the next one as well. When he told the other two what he had been thinking, they agreed with him. It was not a conscious decision to avoid them, but rather a thought that they probably wouldn't be interested. And they had to admit that they were wrong. There was not much difference between this and say the Founder's Day celebration. Some of the displays were geared for the Gay community, naturally, but many of the other ones were just the same as they would be anywhere. After wandering around for a while, they finally found Karen and her booth. She worked mainly in sculpture, but her pieces were elegant in their form. As soon as she saw the trio, she came over and gave them all a hug. "You can't imagine how nervous I am today," she told them. "I think I can understand," was Mandy's reply. "But your work is fantastic. I think you should enter the next Artist's competition. Mr. Harrington would probably love what you do." "You really think so?" "I sure do. I know I like your work more than some that I have seen in his gallery. Matter of fact, I would like to buy that one over there." It was a smaller piece, a set of five different sized 'stems' that twisted around each other, giving the sculpture a flowing effect. Karen looked at the one that Mandy pointed to. "Tell you what. I will trade it to you for a portrait of me and my partner, Dani. Would you be interested in a trade like that?" "That doesn't seem fair. You spent a lot of time and effort on that." "Yeah, but I love your work and want one of your originals. And I am the one who made the offer you know." Mandy smiled at the other woman. "You have got yourself a deal. Let me know when you two can come over and we will do it." Karen looked a little apprehensive. "You want us to come over, where your neighbors will see?" Greg stepped up then. "First of all, we don't give a damn what the neighbors or anyone else thinks. You and Dani are more than welcome any time you want to come by. You are our friend and friends are always welcome." "Thanks Greg. We don't usually go anyone's house together unless it is another gay or lesbian couple. Some folks don't understand." Traci put her hand on her friend's arm. "We are all in agreement. After what has been printed about us, why should we worry if a lesbian couple comes over?" Yeah, I guess. I saw all that crap. I knew you guys didn't do all the things they said, but I couldn't believe what they put you all through." Then a young woman approached them. She was shorter than Mandy and had beautiful dark, wavy hair that fell down just past her shoulders. She had piercing dark eyes set in a round face. She was a little overweight, but she carried herself well. She walked up to Karen and took her hand. "Are you the friends that Karen has told me so much about?" she asked, looking at the trio. "You must be Dani," Mandy said holding out her hand in greeting. "I'm very glad to meet you." Karen made the introductions. Dani shook hands with them all while she looked intently at each. "You don't seem bothered at all by our orientation." Greg looked at her. "Ahhh... Should we be?" "We meet so many people who are shocked or disgusted by who we are or what they think we do. It is just surprising to see straight people that aren't bothered by it all." Karen interrupted. "Sweety, these people are different. I have never seen any of them judge someone for what or who they are. It is what people do and how they act that counts." Dani looked abashed. "I'm sorry. You folks have been very nice to Karen. I guess when I had to run the gauntlet to get back in here, it just put me in a bad mood." She went on to tell them all that Nicholas Wilson had gathered a bunch of his gay-hating disciples out on the edges of the gathering and was looking for his bullhorn when she managed to get through. They were all carrying signs that accused gays and lesbians of all sorts of horrible and false things. Looking at Mandy's expanding belly, she said that one of the things said was that gays hate all pregnant women because the gays can't have children and any woman pregnant should be scared that they would be dragged to an abortion clinic and their babies taken. "Do I look scared to be here?" was Mandy's only comment. Then the trio told about the fiasco with Wilson they had experienced at the Founder's Day festival. Karen and Dani both remembered reading about it and Dani was surprised to learn that they all had been there in the middle of it. They all heard a ruckus start at the edge of the park. Wilson and his gang of protesters had crossed the line and come into the marked areas of the park to 'preach'. Greg and the rest moved over to where the confrontation was happening. A group of gay men had formed a line and were refusing to allow the protesters to get any closer. The protesters in return were trying to push their way into the park. It was starting to get ugly and Greg turned to get them out of the way when one of the protesters shoved him and knocked him off balance. He fell into a couple of the gay defenders, who kept him upright. Wilson saw what happened, and figured that since they were outnumbered, the best plan was to stop any violence other than verbal. Walking up he recognized the trio from before and then proceeded to try and make examples of them as being the models of sinful lifestyles. "These three are fornicators that support the killing of babies and allowing our young people to have unnatural and lustful carnal relations! Now they are among the Sodomites giving their support to their abdominal lifestyle! They go against God and his commandments and must be saved from the fires of hell!" He started to put his hands on Mandy and Greg stepped in front of her. "You touch her and you won't have a hand left to pray with," he growled at the older man. Wilson stepped back, but then spotted Mandy's pregnancy. "Are you going to kill this one too, you vile harlot?!?" Mandy looked horrified and Greg was about to pound this man into a pile of pious dung, but the arrival of the police saved the older man from a painful experience and Greg from time in a jail cell. Confusion reigned as both sides tried to tell their version of what had happened. Wilson was yelling that he had the right to preach to the sinners. The participants in the festival yelled back that they had rented the park and he had no right to come in and harass them. It took over a dozen officers using nightsticks and pepper spray to get the combatants apart. As things calmed, with the arrest of the protestors, Greg was interviewed by the police. The officer remembered him from when Olivia's abusive boyfriend, Jerry had stabbed him. "You always seem to be defending somebody, especially this girl," the officer said. Greg just blushed and admitted that he couldn't let bullies hurt others. "Well, you can stay out of this one. There are more than enough people willing to press charges. Wilson has a tendency to work him and his followers into frenzy and do very stupid things. I'm just glad no one was seriously hurt. Just some bruises and bloodied noses." Greg was glad not to have to be in any more publicity. He thanked the officer and helped the three women to get back to Karen's booth. They were all shaken from the events, but getting things arranged gave them something to calm their nerves. Mandy was soon back giving Greg hell for getting her out of the way. "Honey, I know that you can handle yourself pretty well. I just didn't want that slimebag touching you, especially after the way your father was. I was seeing all the terrible things that have happened to you coming back and I wasn't going to allow that to happen," Greg told her as he held her. Mandy accepted his reasoning, but still wasn't too happy about it. Karen, who was a very sensitive soul, was more upset about the day than she let on and decided to take down her work and head home. Dani was definitely the more militant of the two. She was still steaming about Wilson and his antics. Mandy suggested that they come over for dinner that night. She thought she would get some sketches so she could fulfill her part of the trade. Dani wasn't too sure, but Karen talked her into it. They parted then, so Greg and Traci could get dinner started and Karen and Dani could get cleaned up before they came over. The evening meal was simple but tasty; grilled chicken served over pasta with Alfredo sauce. A quick salad and a bottle of wine finished the meal. Karen and Dani enjoyed it and commented several times on the flavors. After they ate, they all went to the living room so they could visit and Mandy could put some sketches down on paper. She was watching the two lovers, drawing different poses and facial expressions while still keeping up with the conversation. The topic was naturally about what happened that day and about lifestyles in general. Dani explained that she had known she was gay from the time she was in middle school and her hormones started her thinking about sex. She had dated guys in high school just to keep up appearances and to try and hide her orientation from her parents. She had been very surprised when she had come out to her family. After the initial shock, her parents had supported her and let her know that no matter what, she was still their daughter and they loved her. Karen admitted that she was bi, but she was just more comfortable with women. She had boyfriends in high school and had even had sex with a couple of guys during her freshman year. But she had met Dani and fell in love. They had been together for about two years and were very happy together. Both women were interested in the dynamics of a three-way relationship. The trio took turns explaining how they had come together and how things worked for them. Traci assured them that she never felt like a third wheel. "Greg and Mandy both take great pains to make sure that I know that I am a part of their relationship, and I do the same with them." Karen finally spoke about something that she was curious about. "Does that mean both of you girls are bi?" Traci answered for Mandy as well as herself. "We both agree that we are only bi with each other. You and Dani are both very beautiful and sexy, but I'm just not attracted to you that way. It is different with Mandy, though. I guess with her I don't see her gender. She is just someone who I love very much." "For me, it is a little different," added Greg. "I find you both attractive though I would never think to try and put the make on you. I am devoted to both Traci and Mandy to the exclusion of all others. It was originally Mandy's idea that I be with Traci sexually. I would never have done so without her being all for it. Once Traci was in our lives, I found that I could love both women equally." Dani had some trouble on how this could happen; loving two equally. But she had to admit that it seemed to work for them. Karen had no problem accepting the arrangement, though she admitted that she didn't think she could do it. Dani did tell them that she and Karen were planning to have a marriage ceremony performed by a minister at the local Universal Unitarian church. "Even though the state won't recognize it, yet, we both decided we wanted to do it for us. It is going to be a small ceremony but I would like all three of you to be present. You seem to understand just what we are and it doesn't bother you at all. You can't imagine how rare it is for us to find that." All three instantly agreed to be there. They considered it an honor for the couple to trust them enough to let them into their lives like that. After Dani and Karen left, Greg was more quiet than usual. When Traci asked him what was wrong, he just said he had something that he wanted to work out before he said anything. Things were pretty quiet the next week. The Gay Pride Celebration made the papers with Wilson and his group pictured yelling at the crowd and carrying signs. The reporter kept to the facts that the protesters had been trespassing when they were arrested. Public opinion ran toward the thought that while he could protest, he had no right to intrude into an event that had done all they were supposed to in permits, etc. and were quiet in their celebration. Wilson had to slink back under his rock when the public opinion went against him, and he as well as his followers quietly paid their fines without any fuss. He was still a loud and obnoxious voice for the anti-gay crowd however. He made the news more than once by leading protests and bible readings in front of gay-owned businesses and 'outing' people who were gay. What finally hurt him beyond all hope of recovery was when he started to expose some very influential people who were not gay. His reasoning was that he had pictures of the community's Gay Pride Festival and any recognizable face that showed up in those photographs were considered gay. When Greg was accused, he laughed it off. The local television station asked for his reaction and he just pointed to Mandy's bulge in her tummy as well as having both Mandy and Traci with him. But some of the others he accused were not so willing to laugh it off. He was personally sued for defamation and slander by three wealthy businessmen who claimed that he had cost them business with his lies. Wilson was defended at trial by a religious law firm but lost on every count. When the judge handed down sentence, he was quoted in the paper. "Along with the financial judgments that the jury has awarded, I wish to add into the record that this court finds that it is beyond defensible that accusing someone of being homosexual should cause a person to lose their livelihood. A business should be judged on the merits of their product or services, not by the sexual orientation of the owner or the person who is employed there. But such is the political and social climate of the day. May the day come when accusing someone of being homosexual will cause them no harm, whether the accusation is true or not." The gallery cheered when the trial was over. Wilson's personal wealth as well as the assets of his chapter of Operation Rescue were seized. The man was financially ruined and declared bankruptcy. That was just before he left the state. One very unexpected and unwanted side effect of the publicity for Greg was that he started to get calls from various organizations about his views on whatever subject their group was promoting. At first it was just for his new notoriety, but word got around that he was very articulate on whatever he was talking about. He had started by writing letters to the local papers. The free weekly paper then contacted him to write a column on the local happenings in government and the push for "liberal" causes. He agreed but promised that he would only do so when he had the time. They were happy to have what he could do since they were short on news sections to go with the entertainment and food reviews. Things didn't slow down at home either. The girls had full schedules of their own. Mandy was still drawing as well as giving art lessons to the children at the Special Needs Charter School where Traci was volunteering for the remainder of the summer. Jenni would go with them and was a delight to the staff and many of the older students. She didn't notice that they were any different than anyone else. As long as someone was paying attention to her was all that mattered. Greg called Mandy one afternoon and told her that he would be a little later than normal coming home from the gym, he had an errand to run. Mandy was curious but Greg wouldn't tell her what it was, but that it was to be a surprise if it all worked out. He did come home a couple hours later, and he had a smile on his face. He still wouldn't tell either of his lovers what he had in the works, but did ask that they be able to talk that evening. Mandy told him that it might have to wait a bit since she had already asked Karen and Dani to come by and get the portrait that she had finished a few days earlier. Greg had no problem with that and cheerfully went to set up an easel in the living room so Mandy could display the painting. Before she put a cover over it, Traci and Greg both got a first look at the finished product. It depicted the two women in profile gazing into each other's eyes. They were close enough together to have their hands together, palms touching. Mandy had captured the look of deep devotion and love the two had for each other. After admiring his lover's handiwork, he had to admit that it was one of her best. "I agree. Except this is one that will never be copied and sold. I hate to think of the money I am losing by only allowing this one never to be printed." Mandy gave a sigh. "But it is worth it." Karen and Dani both were in agreement with Greg. When they had arrived at the house, he had invited them in and served them both a glass of wine. They all chatted a bit about different things until the suspense started to weigh on them. Mandy finally relented and pulled the shroud off of the easel. Both of the women were speechless. Then Karen, who was more emotional of the two started to cry. Between the tears, she continued to tell Mandy just how wonderful she thought the painting was. Dani just stared for a long time at the canvas. Then she shifted her gaze over to Mandy and asked in an awed voice, "Do we really look that much in love when we are looking at each other?" Mandy assured her that they did. "There is something special about you two when you are together. I not only paint what I see, but what I feel. And that is what I feel is between you two." There was some leaking around the eyes of all four of the women. Karen and Dani were very appreciative of the effort that Mandy had put into the work and in turn, Mandy was very pleased by the feedback that the other two gave her. They all continued to talk even after Mandy took Jenni up for her bath and to bed. A second bottle of wine was opened and the conversation again centered on the problems that couples (and trios) experienced in the world. Dani talked about having to hide their sexuality from most people and that kept the total of real friends to a very small number. Karen joined in that there were very few people that they were comfortable around that knew about them being together. She felt that others were judging them all the time. "With the exception of you three. We talked before and Dani and I agree that you all don't seem like you care what we are or what we do." "That's very true," answered Greg. "Being gay is part of who you are, but it isn't all. I find you both very warm and personable. Loving another woman doesn't cause that, it is just who you are. Look at our situation. The majority of the "moral" crowd calls us immoral and sinful. But we just happen to love each other. On our own we are all separate forces, but when we are together we are much more than just three individuals. We become almost a combined entity. It isn't our fault that others can't understand or accept that." Karen agreed with him. "Dani and I seem to be able to take on things together that neither one of us would be able to alone." "That's a sign of true love and devotion. You two just seem to fit together." This was from Traci. Karen blushed. Dani answered for them. "Thank you. We feel that way and just wish others would as well." Then she leaned over to give her lover a kiss. The evening finally broke up. Mandy wrapped paper around the painting and Dani took possession of it, holding it against her chest. The trio all received kisses from the two, chaste, but lovingly done. Then they were out the door and on their way home to decide what frame and where they would put the painting. It was late enough when they left that Mandy and Traci headed on up to the bedroom while Greg checked the doors and windows before he joined them. Once in the bedroom, he quickly stripped down and joined the women in bed, taking the center position. Before he could get comfortable and settle down to sleep, Mandy remembered that he was supposed to talk to them about something. He tried to get her to put it off until tomorrow, but Mandy's curiosity was aroused and he knew she wouldn't let it go until he told them. Propping himself up to a sitting position, he began. "I had been thinking about what that idiot Wilson had said to Mandy at the festival, about being a single mother again. While I still think he is full of shit, I also thought that perhaps that Mandy might want to get married before this baby is born." Mandy gave him a resounding "YES!" before wrapping him in a hug. "Now that isn't all," he told her as he got her to sit back for a moment. He looked over at Traci who looked just a little sad. "You know that I love you as much as I do Mandy and I had been looking for a way to marry you too, if you were willing. I know that you have kinda given up on finding anyone else and I feel like that maybe my fault. Anyway, I think I have found a way for all of us to marry each other. That is if you are wanting to do that." Traci had tears of joy in her eyes as she hugged him first then included Mandy into the embrace. "If we could do that, I would be the happiest woman in the world." Greg waited for them both to calm down before he continued. "Something that Dani said about the UU church being willing to perform the ceremony for them that got me to thinking. I talked to the pastor there and while she is willing to do a ceremony for the three of us, she does want to meet us all to make sure in her mind that it is what we want." Mandy spoke up then. "Will it be legal and all that?" "What would happen is that one of you would be registered with the state as my legal wife. The other would be married to me in the spiritual sense only because of the stupid laws. In addition, you two would be married to each other at the same time. I have already made sure that the other one will have all the rights to make decisions for us and the kids. The lawyers have drawn up the papers giving you visitation rights in the event either one of us are in the hospital, inheritance rights, etc. All that is needed are signatures." "The only thing that we have to decide is which one of you will become my 'legal' wife. I've grown to love you both so much that I can't stand choosing one of you over the other. I don't want either one to be left out. I know that when I gave you both the rings and just a little while ago I referred to Mandy at the legal wife. But when it comes down to it, I just can't do that to Traci." Traci looked them both in the eye. "I can make the decision easy enough. Mandy was your first love and you two were a couple before I ever came into the picture. I know that you both love me as much as I love you, so I won't be the 'other' wife." Mandy gave her lover another hug with tears in her eyes. "You are right about us both loving you as much. I would have said that you should be the one, but I promise that you will never be the second one. We all share equally." He couldn't continue to tell them any more of what he thought, because both women were now crying and hugging each other and him. He finally told them they could work out the rest of the details in the morning. That was the last word on the subject for the night since there were two very happy and very aroused women that wanted his attention. By the time they were exhausted from pleasing each other, it was early in the morning. When they all woke up the next morning, the conversation was the continuance of the night before. Greg told them that he hadn't gone any farther than to just check if it was possible; so all the preparations were going to be their doing. The women decided that the best time for the ceremony would be just before the start of the semester at college. That gave them a little more than six weeks to get everything done. It would be close, but they figured that they could make it. Greg was assigned to make the call to the pastor at the church to arrange the interviews that she wanted with them and to make sure the date they selected would be open. He got off the phone and assured the two ladies that the last Saturday in August would be fine and that she wanted to meet with them on three consecutive evenings the following week. Mandy would be first and Traci would get the second one. The third evening was for Greg and then the other two would come in and meet with her all together. They decided that even if she didn't want to do the ceremony, they would find someone, so the plans were once more going on. Heather and Adrian said that they would be glad to come over that evening when Greg called and told them they had something they wanted to talk to them about. The girls were looking on the internet for ideas for dresses, what kind of invitations they wanted and the flowers they thought would be right for the ceremony. Jenni and Greg went out on the back lawn to get out of the whirlwind that was happening in the house. He always enjoyed the time he got to spend with the little girl alone, so this was more than all right with him. She toddled around in the grass chasing grasshoppers and butterflies while he watched her and thinking about how much he loved her. When the light of the day was fading into twilight, he picked Jenni up and gave her a tickle before heading back into the house. The two women were deep into making lists of things that needed to be taken care of, so Greg went ahead and started dinner. It was a simple meal of fried potatoes with onions and green pepper, green beans (Jenni's favorite food for the time being) and chicken breasts made on the stovetop grill. Already a fair cook in his own right, the lessons that he was taught by the women improved his skills tremendously. They had finished dinner and Traci had cleaned up the dishes and started the dishwasher when the doorbell rang. She came out of the kitchen as Greg led his mother and her husband into the living room. They took the loveseat while she took her place next to Greg. Greg started the news off. "Remember the last time you had asked us all to meet you here? Your announcement that you two were getting married shocked us. Now we get to return the favor." Heather looked at the three of them for a moment. Mandy couldn't stand to keep them guessing any longer. "The three of us are getting married the last of August!" Heather suddenly got a huge smile on her face as what Mandy had said sank in. Adrian came over and shook Greg's hand and gave both girls a hug in congratulations. Heather joined in, with hugs for each of them. Greg went to the kitchen and returned with a bottle of champagne and five glasses. He popped the cork and filled each glass. Adrian raised his glass. "A toast. To the happy trio and may they continue to find the love and happiness together that they have so far." They all made the toast and took a sip. "Just how will that work, Greg? You can't marry them both. That's Bigamy," said Heather. "We have it all figured out, Mom," was Greg's reply. "Traci decided that Mandy will be my 'legal' wife and the Universalist pastor agreed to perform a ceremony that makes Traci our 'spiritual' wife. The pastor knows that I am a skeptic about religion and she told me that her church welcomes everyone. Who knows, we may like her and the people so much that we may start going once in a while." "But Honey, what about all the legal things that come along with a marriage?" "That's taken care of too. I have already talked to Mr. O'Malley, your attorney. He has drawn up all the paperwork for us to sign that gives Traci all the rights of a legal wife. It wasn't cheap, but it is worth it. Granddad suggested it when we were there last. The marriage thing came about just a few weeks ago." Heather started to ask something else, but was stopped by a look from Adrian. "You sound like you have thought this through pretty well. If anything else comes up, I am sure you will handle it," Adrian told them. "Well there is one thing you could help with," Greg told the other man. "I would really appreciate it if you would stand in as my best man." Adrian gave him a big smile as he clapped him on the back. "I would be honored, Greg." Mandy was looking thoughtful before she finally asked Heather if Nick would consider coming here for the wedding. "I no longer have anyone to walk me down the aisle and I would love for him to do it. I know that he will not leave the villa except on business, but we all would love for him to be there." Heather checked the time and after a quick calculation, decided that her father would still be in bed even though his habit was to get up early. "Call him tomorrow right after you get up in the morning. It will be early afternoon and you are sure to get hold of him." Mandy made a big note to put on the refrigerator so she wouldn't forget in the continuing confusion. They all talked for another couple hours before Heather and Adrian left with Heather promising to come back tomorrow to help them go pick out dresses. Greg wanted to watch the baseball game and said he would watch Jenni for them. Adrian decided that the game sounded like a good idea, so he would be back with his wife. It was later still when they all finally headed to bed. It had been a long and exciting day with another one due tomorrow, so they didn't do more than a few kisses and gropes before they turned out the lights and snuggled up together. Mandy called Nick just like the note reminded her to. His secretary answered and when she found out who it was put her straight through to him. "Amanda, what do I owe this pleasure?" he asked. "Nick, I have some important news to share. Greg, Traci, and I are going to get married to each other at the end of August. I don't have a father anymore who wants anything to do with me and I wanted to know if you think you could come and walk me down the aisle. I am closer to you than I am any of my own family and it would mean an awful lot to me, and all of us if you could do it." Mandy waited for Nick to say something, getting more nervous when he didn't answer right away. It was a good two minutes before he said anything. "Mandy, I would be more than honored to do that for you. I got to walk with Heather just this last time. I would be very proud to be able to do the same for my Granddaughter." Mandy thought she could hear a quiver of emotion in the older man's voice. She was almost in tears herself. "Thank you, Nick. I don't think I can tell you just how much it will mean to me... to all of us." She gave him the date and then let him go. Heather and Adrian showed up then and she hurried to get ready for the shopping bonanza that was planned. Greg took Jenni outside to let her enjoy the sun while he and Adrian sat on the back deck. The neighbor's six month-old puppy popped through the hole he had dug under the fence and ran up to lick on Jenni who was squealing in excitement. Ever since the pup had first come in their yard and Jenni had discovered someone her size, the two had been best friends. Greg and the neighbor had talked about trying to keep the pup in his own yard, but Greg had told him that he had no problem with the dog coming over and since he never tried to go anywhere else, that it was fine. Dilbert was a mixed breed that nobody could really tell just what the parents had been. He was kind of a golden color with big floppy ears and a tail that was constantly wagging. His mission in life was to give licks to Jenni at every opportunity and to play with an old tennis ball that Greg kept in the back yard for him. Jenni couldn't throw it very far, but she didn't mind doing it often and 'Bert (as she called him) was just as happy with that. After a couple of hours, Greg brought Jenni in over her objections to feed her some lunch. Then, Grandpa Adrian would read her a story before her nap. By the time the story was finished, she was nodding off and Greg took her to her room for some well-deserved rest. Jenni was still asleep when the three women returned from shopping. They took their bounty upstairs and stashed their wedding dresses in the spare bedroom. Greg complained that he should get to see what they had spent the money on, but Traci reminded him that to see the brides in their dresses before the wedding was bad luck. He tried to act hurt, but the grin on his face gave him away and he conceded the point. They all had dinner together and Heather spent some time with her granddaughter. She brought up Greg adopting Jenni and was told that he was going to start proceedings as soon as the ink was dry on the marriage license. "With us being married makes the whole process go faster," added Greg. Mandy was nervous about the meeting with the Pastor. She still held the fear and loathing from her past experiences with Reverend Campol, something that she had trouble shaking. But when she first met Reverend Rebecca Smith, she felt very at ease with her. They proceeded into her office where instead of sitting across the desk from one another, they each took an end of the couch. "I have to say that this is the first triple wedding that I have ever presided over," Rebecca started off with. "I talked to Greg earlier and know a little bit about the background, but I would like to hear what you think and feel. Start by telling me how you all got together." Mandy cleared her throat. "Greg and I have known each other for years. My parents were very strict and we didn't get to play much after we were half way through grammar school. I was put into the church school and we were not supposed to hang around any 'non-believers'. We got back together when he found me crying under some bleachers after my boyfriend from school had raped me. When I found out I was pregnant from that rape, my parents blamed me for it and tossed me out. Greg took me in and took care of me, first as a friend. I guess I was the one who started our relationship. We did fall in love during that time. "Traci is a year older than both Greg and me. She started out being my tutor when I went into the school for pregnant teens. She became a very trusted friend. I started finding my talent for drawing then and she agreed to pose for me. Anyway, she came to stay with us after she had gone home and found her parents had no time for her during her break from college. She became involved with us when I initiated it. Greg was too much of a gentleman to say anything even though I could tell he loved her. I did too and wanted her to feel like part of the family. She is the only woman I have ever thought of that way, and we found she loved us just as much." With the background established, Rebecca went on with other questions, all designed to see if they were all truly devoted to each other. They talked for more than two hours and by the end, Rebecca was convinced that Mandy very much wanted the wedding and for the right reasons. Traci was the next one to go in. She told more or less the same story about how they had all come together, telling her feelings and thoughts along the way. She told about trying to date others, but was never satisfied with what she had discovered. "I know that I probably would never be as fulfilled in a normal relationship as I am with those two. They give me more love and understanding than I have ever felt before. I love them both so much that I can't imagine being without them in my life." By the time that Greg talked to her, Rebecca was already sure that the wedding should take place and for the right reasons. She got Greg's feelings about the two women and she was impressed with how much they all loved and cared for each other. Then she called Mandy and Traci into the office to join Greg. "I want you three to know that while this arrangement is most unusual, I have yet to find a regular couple who are more in love than you three. The religious sector of society, for the most part, would frown on this arrangement, but they don't know you all. I will be honored to preside over your nuptials. Furthermore, the main hall in the church is free for that day and we would love to host your reception." Mandy and Traci hugged each other while Greg just sat there and smiled. This was what they wanted and now it would be as official as they could make it. He shook hands with the Reverend and gathered the women up to get home. Heather had taken Jenni, but needed to get a report ready so they had to drop by her apartment and collect their daughter. Once they were home and Jenni was sound asleep, they celebrated in their bed until they were exhausted and very sated. Early the next morning, Traci had a call from her brother Charlie. "Sis, things are really bad here. You think I could come and stay until the semester starts at the college?" ------- Chapter 26 "Yeah, Charlie, I'm sure it's all right with Greg and Mandy. I'll ask them. But what's happened that you want to come up that quick?" Traci was concerned about why her brother Charlie had called. "Dad's leaving Mom for sure this time. She took almost all their life's savings and hired some shyster lawyer to try and get Ricky an appeal. She still can't accept that he's done what he did. Dad's locked their accounts up, including the credit cards, and she's been screaming at him for days. 'If we just give this lawyer another twenty thousand, he says he can get him off'- that kind of crap. Dad's paid the college for my tuition and dorm, but I really need to get out of here." Traci held her hand over the receiver as she asked her lovers if they had a problem with him coming so close to the wedding. They didn't have any problem with it. Greg even said that he could watch the house while they were on their honeymoon. She brought the phone back up to her face and told him it was all right. She heard a huge sigh of relief on the other end. He said that he would be packed and ready to leave in the morning. That was fine with all of them, and he and Traci said their goodbyes. It would take Charlie at least two days driving to get there, and the others put his arrival out of their minds, concentrating on the things that had to be done. With less than a week to go, they still had too much to do and not enough time to do it. Greg really thought that all the fuss was for nothing, but the women still were worrying about details. They'd decided that the wedding would be just a few guests, and then the reception would be for all of their friends. Mandy still was in contact with the girls that she'd gone to school with during her first pregnancy, and almost all were coming. They also had college friends and people who they'd met all along. It looked to be a pretty good-sized party. Charlie did arrive a couple days later and was immediately caught up in the frenzy. Traci had him taking things to the room at the church that they'd be using as a dressing room, checking to make sure the flowers were going to be there, and taking the final list to the caterers. It wasn't until late that evening that they slowed down enough to be able to talk. "I think Mom has completely lost it," Charlie said as he sat at the table with a glass of wine. "She's taken almost all of their savings and even tried to get at my college fund. If Dad hadn't frozen everything that was left, I wouldn't get to be here in college. She gave Ricky more money for his prison account than she should ever have. He ended up buying smokes to trade for coke. He's even in a prison gang of skinheads, but she won't listen to anyone that he's just no good. "And this latest lawyer is taking her for a ride. He knows that there's no way to get Ricky out of his sentence. Hell, he's gotten several years tacked on already for things he's done inside. But she's convinced that this guy will get her little boy out. I'm really starting to hate both Mom and Ricky for what they've done to our family." Traci came around the table and hugged her brother. "You know Mom has always been partial to Ricky. He's always been in trouble ever since we were all kids, and she's always bailed him out. You and me, we're going to have to prove that we're the good ones of the bunch. I know that Daddy believes in us, even if Mom can't see it. And you ARE a great guy. Always remember that." While she'd been talking, Mandy had got up from her chair and came around the table to the other side of the young man. "I agree with Traci. You are a great guy and will go far in whatever you decide to do." With that she leaned down and gave him a kiss on the cheek at the same time his sister did on the other side. Charlie turned a very deep shade of red, but he was also wearing a wide smile. Finally, everything was ready, or as ready as it could get. The women were still fretting about a few details, but all was in order. With two days to spare, Nick would be in that day for his walk down the aisle and was taking them all to dinner at the local country club. Greg told him that there were to be a couple of extra people, but it didn't faze his grandfather in the least. Charlie had asked Kathi to go with him to the dinner, and they were going to meet the rest of the crowd there. Greg drove his two brides and Jenni there and saw Heather and Adrian behind them in the valet line. While they waited for Adrian to give the keys to the valet, Greg noticed that his mother looked especially lovely this evening. On the way in he caught Adrian's appreciative looks at Mandy and Traci, letting him know that his dates looked the same way his mother did: stunning. Nick had reserved a private room using Heather's membership. He was already there dressed in a suit, the first time they had seen him in one. At the villa, he never wore anything but shorts or slacks and polo shirts. During the Christmas open-house, he had put on a tie and slacks, but that had been the extent of it. He looked rather daunting all dressed up, and Mandy whispered to Greg that she would hate to face him across the bargaining table or oppose him in a business meeting. "That's part of what makes him so successful," Greg whispered back. They had all just been seated when Charlie and Kathi arrived. Kathi had a cream-colored mini on, and the receding bulge in Charlie's pants and lip gloss on his neck let the rest know why they were almost late. Nick was in a very festive mood, laughing and joking with them all. Even Charlie and Kathi were feeling comfortable by the time dessert and coffee were served. Traci called for Nick's attention. "When Charlie showed up the other day, I learned that my father would not be able to come and walk me down the aisle. I'm sure Charlie would do the honors, but I would like for you to take the place of my father. I've gotten to know you, and I'd be proud if you could do for me what you're going to do for Mandy." There was a hint of moisture in the old man's eyes as he answered her. "As I told Mandy, it would be my greatest pleasure to walk you down the aisle for your wedding. You do me a great honor by asking, and I could do nothing less than accept that honor." Then he broke the somber mood by adding, "I'll even get to see what Greg enjoys, walking between two such beautiful women." This got a laugh from them all and a kiss from Traci. They then talked a little about how their various business ventures or college courses were going. Charlie told Nick that he was going to study for an MBA and minor in International Relations with the hope of landing an embassy appointment. Nick surprised him by telling him that if he got his degree and the embassy thing didn't work out to let Greg know. Nick was sure he would have an opening for Charlie in one of his companies. They were all getting ready to leave when Nick announced that he had one more surprise for them. "Greg, your mother told me the honeymoon you planned is just a quick trip upstate. Well, as soon as you leave the reception, instead, you'll be going to the airport where the company jet will take you to the beachfront hotel suite Schoenherr and Associates has in Monaco. It will be yours for a week, all expenses paid." This brought a round of screams from Mandy and Traci who ran up and hugged the old man. Greg shook his hand and thanked him profusely. They had decided that they really couldn't afford to take a real honeymoon right then with college tuition so close to being due, and this was a dream come true. On that note, they all said their goodnights and headed home. Charlie told them that he would probably be out until late, so Traci gave him her key and the code for the alarm so he could come in anytime. Kathi blushed when Mandy told them they could both stay at the house as long as they kept the noise down, but Kathi let them know that she had to be home that night. The day of the wedding dawned without a cloud in the sky, and it promised to be a warm one. The ceremony was to start at eleven, and the girls were hurrying to get their makeup and hair finished so they could get to the church and get dressed. Greg and Charlie went ahead to get into their tuxedos and then stand around and wait. Before long they were joined by Adrian who had the matching rings for all of them. With Adrian's arrival, Charlie realized that he needed to get out to the chapel to do his duty as an usher. After what seemed to be an eternity, they were called out to take their places at the front of the altar. Greg had been sure that he wouldn't be nervous, but he felt himself trembling inside, and his hands were almost dripping with sweat. He was having trouble standing still and Adrian teased him about it. "No need to be nervous, Greg. You've been living with these two women for a long time now. The ceremony won't change a thing" Greg gave him 'the eye' and shot back with, "How come you were this way when you and Mom tied the knot - both times?" "Touché," replied Adrian, still grinning at Greg's nervousness. He noticed that while they had only invited a few people to the wedding, many more of their friends had shown up. The little chapel was filled almost to capacity. He even saw a couple of people who he remembered were reporters and knew that this would probably be in the next week's tabloids. Finally, the music changed to the "Wedding March," and everyone stood to see the brides come down the aisle. And what a sight they made. Jenni toddled along at the front of the procession, dropping a small handful of rose petals every few feet from a small basket, until she spied her Grandmother Heather and ran to her as fast as her chunky little legs would carry her -- rose-petal carpet forgotten. Then came the procession. Nick, wearing an old-fashioned tuxedo, complete with long tails, stood in the middle with Mandy on his left side and Traci on the right. The women were wearing matching gowns in an off-white, each with a train that fell to the floor. The top of the dresses showed that each one had plenty of cleavage, and the bodice on Mandy gave way to her expanding tummy. When they reached the altar, Nick first placed two of the women's hands together and then gave the others to Greg. He then stepped back and took his seat in the front pew. Rebecca, the pastor, came forward and started the ceremony. "Today we celebrate the joining of not just two people, but three. They have come forward to be united in marriage, both spiritual as well as legal. All three give their promises to love and cherish each other until the end of their time on Earth. "Now we shall begin. Gregory, do you take both Amanda and Traci to be your brides? To love and cherish them both without prejudice throughout the days of your lives?" Greg cleared his throat and answered, "I do." "Amanda, do you take both Greg as your husband and Traci as your spouse, to love and cherish them both without prejudice throughout the days of your lives?" Mandy managed a whispered, "I do." "And, Traci, do you also take the same vows, to have Greg as your husband and Amanda as your spouse, to love and cherish them both without prejudice throughout the days of your lives?" "Yes, I do." "With the exchange of rings, one to the other, I do now pronounce you all united in matrimony. You may share kisses as you wish." After kisses, Traci and Mandy exchanged sides on Greg's arms, and they moved down the aisle on the way out of the church to much applause. The reception lasted for a couple of hours. Greg started dancing with Mandy first then switched and danced with Traci. The ladies then shared a dance together. Nick proved he was still an excellent dancer when he took the girls in opposite order for the father-bride dance. That opened it up for the rest of the guests to enjoy themselves. They had a buffet for everyone and then the cutting of the cake. The bakery had placed two brides and a groom on the top. After the usual milling with the guests, it was time to open the gifts. Those who were in attendance knew that the brides and groom really didn't need any of the practical items traditionally given to newlyweds, so the gifts were more from the heart. One of the most thoughtful was from Karen and Dani, who both had been in the wedding party as bridesmaids. It was a sculpture with three figures that seemed to be swirling around until they formed into one. It was a bronze casting with the name "Trio" on the nameplate. For the umpteenth time that day, Mandy and Traci both had tears in their eyes. The three finally disappeared to change into traveling clothes, and after final goodbyes, they climbed into the limo that would take them to the airport and the plane to Monaco. Heather and Adrian took possession of a very tired little Jennifer and left to meet Nick for another dinner before he flew out the next day to go back to Italy. Greg had given Charlie the keys to the two cars they had driven to the church and also handed him a couple hundred dollars to keep him in food until they got back. Before Charlie left with Kathi, she gave him a hug and whispered in his ear that she'd told her parents she was going to be staying with a friend for a week before she started college, and that unknown to her parents, he was the friend. If the closeness of her body had not been enough, the idea that they were going to spend a week together, alone, caused his cock to harden in an instant. They got their things and left in separate cars, meeting up at Greg's house. As soon as they were in the door, clothes started flying, and they were naked before they got to the top of the stairs. Kathi pulled him down on top of her and without any foreplay, grabbed his cock and put it at her entrance. She had been thinking about this all day, and she was so wet and ready that she started to orgasm as soon as he buried himself completely in her. This time it was not making love, this was animalistic fucking. As soon as he could, Charlie started to pound into her, his balls slapping her anus as he pulled her legs over his shoulders. In just a few minutes, while Kathi was having multiple orgasms, Charlie felt his balls tighten up, and with one last shove, he started shooting his semen deep into her. After the spasms tapered off, he pulled her legs off his shoulders and shuffled around until he was sitting above her, his softening cock still lodged within the folds of her naked pussy. "Wow, that was some welcome-back gift," Charlie said after he regained his breath. "You have to be the most talented and sexy woman in the world." "So you aren't jealous of Greg right now since he's probably busy doing to Mandy and your sister what we just finished." Kathi felt his cock stir a bit at the mention of Traci's name. She knew then that he had some incestuous feelings for his older sister. She looked up into his face and saw that he knew she'd felt that bit of arousal. He was red in the face, and it wasn't just from what they'd done. "Why don't you tell me about it?" She twisted them around so they were lying on their sides facing each other. "It'll probably turn me on to hear how you lust after your sister. If you do, I'll tell you something about me that nobody else knows." Charlie was embarrassed to talk about it, but Kathi's eyes were filled with understanding and not a small amount of residual lust, so he let her in on his darkest secret. "I've always admired Traci. She was a role model in school, keeping her grades way up and always good to everyone. When she started to develop boobs, I was at the age where I'd just figured out what the differences between boys and girls really meant, and I looked at my sister as the ideal girl, what a girl should look like. "I developed into quite a voyeur during that time. I'd always try and catch her naked or just in a bra and panties. That would give me enough material to jerk off to for a week or so. Then one night after one of her dates, I really hit the jackpot. "I'd been studying late and heard her come in. Before I called it a night, I decided to go down to the kitchen and grab a bottle of water. As I passed her room, I saw that she hadn't shut her door tight, and it had swung open a bit. She had a light on in her room that gave off just enough illumination that I could see that she was on her bed in a tee shirt and her panties. I was planning on looking just long enough to give me some fantasy material, but then she started to move. "Her date must have left her very horny because she started to move her hands all around on her boobs, which by that time were pretty good sized. My dick was getting harder as I stood there watching, and when she pulled the shirt over her head, I thought I was going to come right there. After getting rid of the shirt, she started rubbing all over her breasts until she worked her way up to her nipples. She then licked her fingers and rubbed her nipples until they stood out from her breasts. Then her left hand moved down her stomach and disappeared into her panties. "I could see her hand moving around under the satin, exploring what I was sure was a very wet pussy. I had never really seen her 'down there, ' but I was sure that she had soft, puffy lips just like the girls in the Penthouse mags that I kept hidden under my mattress. It wasn't long before I could see her hand moving, probably around her clit, but I wasn't sure what that was then. "Her breathing was becoming more labored, and the bedside lamp was showing a fine sheen of sweat all along her body as her stomach started to tighten up. She seemed to be having trouble with her panties getting in the way, so she pulled them down to her ankles and off and then spread her legs wide. I came in my underwear at the sight of her pussy lips. I was panting, but trying my best to be quiet. I had to see her orgasm. She slowed her stroking for a few heartbeats and then went at it furiously. Her lower body shot up from the bed, and she let out a loud groan. Her hips bucked at least a dozen times as she rode the waves of her orgasm. "She finally let her body fall onto the bed, exhausted but looking very satisfied. I crept away from her door and went back to my room, but I just opened and shut the door so she would think that I was just getting up. I headed into the bathroom and cleaned myself of all the semen I'd shot, and then went back to bed. "I tried catching her in the nude many times after that, but she never again gave me a thrill like that first one." Kathi had been holding onto his cock while he was talking, and she could tell that just thinking about that episode still excited him. He was as hard as he had been before they'd fucked. In a strange way she was jealous that Traci would turn him on that much, but she consoled herself in the fact that while he might fantasize about his sister, it was her, Kathi, that he was making love to. She gave his dick a squeeze, and in turn, he reached over and started to caress her breasts once again. "Now it's your turn. What's the secret that you promised to tell me." Kathi was still a bit hesitant to reveal what her own real turn-on was. She had never admitted it to anyone before, not even her big sister. She was afraid that everyone would think she was weird, or that they would want to take her fantasy too far. But she trusted Charlie enough to reveal that much of herself. "I... I like to be tied up and fucked. At least I think I do. I've never told anyone about that part of me because I've never trusted anyone enough." Charlie gave her a kiss for the compliment and then asked her to continue. "Well, ever since I was a little girl I always liked to be restrained. I would get into wrestling matches so I could get pinned down. When we would play war or cops and robbers, I would make sure that I was captured so they would tie me up. It was just something that made me all 'gooey' inside. "As I got older, and I figured out how to make myself feel good, I'd think about being tied up and then having sex. It wasn't really a rape fantasy, 'cause I wanted it, but I wouldn't be able to move, and I couldn't do anything to help or hinder the act. Sometimes my fantasy lover would tease me by bringing me almost to orgasm, then stop, making me scream in frustration. Then he would fuck me and I'd have orgasm after orgasm. I know it's kinda kinky, but that is my deepest secret." Charlie gave her a long hug. "I don't think you're kinky at all. From what I've heard, there are a lot of people who like that kind of thing, and some like it much more than you ever would. Tell you what - if you want to explore those feelings, I'll do what I can to help. But I don't know much about it, and you may have to tell me how to do what you want." "I think I'd like that, Charlie. I'm not into the whips-and-chains thing, but maybe if you could tie my hands above my head on the bed and then tie my legs spread open, that would probably do it. I'm so dominant in my normal life, that I think I'd like to try someone else in control at least once, and I trust you enough not to take things too far." Kathi's stomach gave out a loud growl just then. She laughingly told Charlie that even though she had eaten at the reception, she had burned a lot of calories in the past hour or so. They decided to order in that night and then spend the evening watching the television just cuddled up together. This was the start of their weeklong retreat and getting to know each other. It took Charlie a few days to get all the things together to fulfill Kathi's bondage fantasy. They made love at least once every day and often more than that. On the night that he was going to do her fantasy, he went up to his bedroom to set up the restraints he was going to use. Then he joined Kathi for a quiet, romantic dinner. They opened a bottle of Greg's wine, and by the time dinner was finished, both were feeling its effects. When they got to Charlie's bedroom, Kathi was wide-eyed with excitement with what she saw. He had covered the bed with a waterproof cover and then put satin sheets over it. Silky ropes were tied to each corner at the foot and then another at the center of the headboard. On the nightstand were some oils, some feathers, and a vibrator. Charlie had never done anything like this, but he had gone on instinct as to what would drive her crazy with lust. She figured he'd done well in the selections, now it was time to see if he could put his actions into words. Charlie told her to stand next to the bed while he undressed her. He started by removing her shirt, lightly touching her skin as he pulled it off her shoulders. Then he went along her arms, up along her sides, and finally trailed his fingers back down the muscles in her back. The effect was like an electric current touching her wherever his fingers made contact. Her looking forward to this seemed to heighten her senses. Next he slid her pants down her legs using the same technique to inflame the skin along her thighs. She was now standing in her panties and bra and wanting to touch herself more and more. Her hand started to move toward the front of her panties, but Charlie gently pulled it away. "You just let me do it all," he told her in a whisper as he tongued her ear. That caused a shiver to go through her entire body. Taking his time, he removed the rest of her clothing, revealing very hard nipples and a very wet pussy. He positioned her on the bed and tied her arms above her head and then spread her legs, opening her to his gaze. The bare lips of her pussy were already shiny with her secretions and her inner lips swollen with anticipation. He really started teasing her now. He covered her entire body with the flavored oils until she glistened in the lamplight. Next, he picked up a feather and, starting at her feet, touched every place he knew she was sensitive. The backs of her knees, the hollow of her throat and the insides of her elbows were stimulated as well as the more common places, like over her breasts and the inside of her thighs. Kathi's whole body was on fire! She couldn't control what was happening to her body. She had no idea where he was going to touch her next, and the light touches were driving her crazy. She heard the vibrator start to hum, and as soon as he touched it to the side of her neck, her body tensed, and she had an orgasm. It was the first time she had ever experienced one without her clit being touched. Just like the feather, Charlie moved the vibrator in a pattern that involved her whole body. He had taken his clothes off while teasing Kathi earlier, and his cock was as hard as he could ever remember it. The sight of a naked, restrained Kathi writhing around on the bed trying to get more stimulation was having an effect on him that he hadn't expected. He was beginning to wonder how he would feel in her place. And those thoughts were making him even more excited. By the time he placed the vibrator just above her clit she went off once again. Her arms and legs strained against the ropes as she twisted in orgasmic pleasure. He shut the vibrator off and let her come down from her high. "Oh, God, Charlie! I haven't ever come so much and so hard before. But now I really, REALLY need you to climb on me and just fuck me as hard as you can. I want to feel you pound into me like you want to shove your cock out my mouth. Please hurry, I can't wait any longer!" Always one to please, Charlie slid into her waiting tunnel just as she was finishing the last sentence. Her next sound was one of satisfaction as his cock slid all the way into her on the first stroke. In opposition to his usual method of making love, he just started pounding into her as hard as he could. It didn't take long until she was coming once again, her moans and cries of passion in sync with the undulations of her pelvis and the straining of her arms. It was too much for Charlie and he started shooting deep inside her. He normally prided himself in his control, but this whole scene had been too much. He emptied himself against her womb, driven on by the contractions of her vagina around his shaft. He collapsed against her body, taking most of his weight on his elbows. He looked into her face to see an expression of sheer bliss. She slowly opened her eyes and stared deep into his while regaining her senses. She then gave him a contented smile. "Untie me now, please," she whispered to him. He did as she asked, releasing her feet and then untying the knot holding her arms. As soon as she was free, she wrapped her arms around him in a huge hug and kissed his face wherever her lips could reach. As soon as she was done, Charlie leaned over to the edge of the bed and pulled out a couple bottles of water that he had stashed there earlier. He'd kept them in the freezer until they had a skin of ice on top, so they still were icy cold when they uncapped them. After drinking about half of hers, Kathi turned to her lover. "Charlie, that was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. I knew I could trust you to do it right for me. And I can't imagine it turning out any better. I want to thank you for taking the time and doing everything just right for me. I love you." The last statement shocked Charlie. He knew he was in love with this ball of dynamite, but he had no idea that she felt the same way. When they'd parted the last time, they'd both agreed to date others and just remain friends with benefits. Now she'd come out with the 'L' word, and he was overjoyed. "I love you too, Babe. And since I really didn't know what I was doing, I'm just glad that you enjoyed it so much." And could I get you to do this again every once in a while... ?" "It would be my pleasure. We can tone down some of the rough spots, and you can give me more ideas. But would you mind sometime changing places so I could see what it's like?" The thought of Charlie restrained, her teasing him, and him finally shooting all over the bed brought a big smile to Kathi's face. "I'm sure we could make that happen. And here I thought I was the only one who liked this sort of thing." He grinned back at her. "I don't think I would until I saw you laying there with the oil all over you and getting so much pleasure from it all. I just want to know what it's like." By then, Kathi was starting to feel a little sticky from the juices between her legs and the residue of the oil that had soaked into her skin. They got up and headed for the shower together, and each made sure the other was clean -- really clean. Charlie's last orgasm from Kathi's oral work was just the icing on the cake. They removed the plastic sheet from the bed and replaced the messy linens, then crawled in together under the blanket. Kathi pulled Charlie's arm around her as she snuggled down for a well-deserved sleep. ------- The trio landed in Nice, France, shortly after the sun had risen over the airport. As Nick had said, there was a limo waiting for them, and they were whisked off to the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort. During the fifteen-minute drive, they enjoyed the sights and sounds of the people milling about the cities. They quickly checked into the hotel after showing their passports and were shown to a very large suite of rooms on the top floor. The hotel rooms on their trip to New York had been fabulous, but these in Monaco beat anything any of them had ever seen. The sitting room was dominated by a grand piano. Luxurious couches and chairs were situated so that they could entertain if they wanted company. A huge plasma screen TV hung on one wall. The bellman showing them the suite explained that the suite was equipped with all the newest electronic innovations, including satellite, and video conferencing. A set of patio doors opened to a balcony that overlooked the sea and the sandy beach. There were three bedrooms off the sitting room. The master had a king-sized bed and a private bath with a sauna and Jacuzzi. The entire room was done in fabric and rich woods, offering a much more cozy feel than the main room. The bellman also showed them the small, but well-equipped kitchen saying that the resort provided a private chef for the suite, if they wanted to take advantage of it. Greg handed him a nice tip and the man bowed his way out the oversized double doors. As soon as they heard the lock catch, both Mandy and Traci tackled Greg forcing him onto the sofa. "I can't believe this place!" gushed Mandy. "I have never seen such luxury. And to think your granddad could come here just about whenever he wants." "Granddad doesn't go much for this kind of thing, at least that's what I gather from him. This is primarily for his other executives, to hold conferences, entertain clients and guests, things like that," Greg said. "Oh, don't get me wrong," Mandy replied, "I love getting pampered once in a while, but I don't think I'd like the idea of not doing things for you both like I do at home. I wasn't born into quite this much of a lifestyle, and I think I would miss our home." Traci agreed with her, but asked Greg if they could maybe do this once in a great while, and he laughingly agreed. The girls decided that they didn't want to waste any of the rest of the day and headed to the shower and change out of their travel clothes. Greg playfully groaned that he needed to save his strength for that night, but he was quickly stripped by the girls, and a lot of groping happened between them as they headed into the master bath. The days of their honeymoon were filled with shopping and visiting Monaco's attractions. A part of each day was reserved for just relaxing on the beach or sunning on the patio that overlooked the bay. They had fun watching the tourists come off the cruise ships, and more than once one of the girls would spot a celebrity and their current fling at their hotel or enjoying the beach. Their nights though were filled with lovemaking in all the combinations that they could think of. More than once the girls wore Greg out to the point where he could only just lie there and watch or at most give one or the other of his lovers some loving caresses and kisses. Traci was like a tigress during the trip, initiating much of the sex that happened. They had discussed earlier her wanting to have children by Greg, and he and Mandy were more than agreeable to it. She had stopped her birth control on the morning of their wedding with the idea of not caring if she became pregnant or not. But, during this trip, it seemed that she was trying to get in that condition as soon as possible. Greg jokingly asked if she was trying to hurry the process up. She thought for a moment before she replied. "I think that it's just liberating to me not to have to worry about it anymore. If it happens, it happens. I'm really not rushing it, but I think the idea that it COULD happen is exciting to me. To have a baby with you two would be a dream come true for me." This caused Mandy to get a little teary-eyed. At this stage of her own pregnancy, she was more emotional than usual. The girls gave each other a loving hug and then pulled Greg in to share it with them. Traci finished off the hug by rubbing Greg's cock to its full hardness and then climbing on top of him, assisted by Mandy. There were only two incidents that disturbed their vacation at all. The first occurred when they were coming down the private elevator. When the doors opened, a small, dark-haired figure rushed into the car along with another woman, barely ahead of a crowd of people with cameras. The doors closed, and the younger of the two started speaking in French, which the other woman translated. She thanked them for letting them on the car and asked if they could stop the elevator on the floor just below their penthouse. They were happy to oblige, especially Greg, since the young woman was very pretty, and the short shorts and cropped top she was wearing enhanced an excellent figure. The older woman introduced the girl and herself before thanking them once again as the doors opened on their floor. The trio talked about the strange events on their way to the beach. They walked out to find a few of the photographers still waiting on the main floor, but they weren't bothered, though a couple did shoot off a few pictures of Mandy and Traci in their bikinis. Later that afternoon, Traci was surfing the net trying to find out who the mystery girl was. It turned out that they had given a ride to one of the biggest pop stars in France. She was the French equivalent of Jennifer Lopez and Brittany Spears in the US. They were still laughing about their brush with the rich and famous when there was a call from the desk asking if a gift could be brought up to them. Greg told them to go ahead and deliver it. When the man arrived, the gift turned out to be a large bouquet of flowers along with a handwritten note from the girl, thanking them again for saving her from embarrassment. It seems that her bodyguards had taken the wrong corridor, and they had gotten caught at the wrong elevator. The paparazzi had found her trying to rest from her concert schedule. Greg called her room and, through her aide, thanked her for the flowers. He explained that they had been harassed some themselves by the paparazzi, and they would help anyone else in that position, anytime they could. They were invited to her next concert, but he had to regretfully decline as they would be back home and in school by then. They kept the card and enjoyed the flowers. Every time any one of them looked at them, they smiled at the thoughts of being able to foil the paparazzi. The last incident was more serious and took place just a couple days before they were to leave. The desk called, saying that they had a video conference call from Nicholas Scheffield. Wondering what was wrong, Greg told them to put it through. The big plasma screen came alive with his grandfather's face. He assured them all that there was nothing wrong with Jenni or any of the rest of the family. But he had two requests for Greg. The first was if he could act as a courier for some very important papers that had to be ferried to Paris. He could pick them up at the desk on their way out of the hotel, and the plane would deliver everyone to the airport near Paris the day they had planned to leave. A limo would take them all to the headquarters in the middle of Paris where they could drop the contracts off. Then they would be on their way back home. The second request was more complicated. His housekeeper, Theresa, had a niece who was in need of some help. Heather was going to sponsor her to come to the United States on a student visa, but she would need to have a place to stay until she got enrolled for college, in the same school the trio attended. Could she stay with them at least for a while? Some quick conversation revealed that she would not arrive until Charlie had already moved into the dorms, so a spare room would be available at the house. Greg called the girls in, and when they heard what was happening, they immediately agreed to let her move in as long as she understood the living arrangements ahead of time. Nick assured them that there was no problem, so it was settled. Maria would be arriving in the United States a couple weeks after they returned. Nick would give them the flight number and make arrangements for her share of the room and board. With that the screen went blank as he terminated the call. During their daily call to Heather to check on Jenni, they found out that Nick's wife had started a scholarship for all the employees of Schoenherr and Associates. Nick just included Maria into the mix of recipients, but had been startled when she requested to go to school in the US. Heather had no problem sponsoring her, and with the trio giving her a place to call home, she would be the first in her family to get to go to college. The day finally came when they had to leave. They arranged to have their purchases shipped home, and they packed up to leave. Greg took possession of the case of papers that included the bank papers representing twelve billion dollars, the fee for a project that was to be done in Monaco. The limo whisked them to Nice, and they were hardly in the air before they were approaching the private airport in France. Since they had passed customs in Nice, Greg had no trouble getting another limo to convey them to the company headquarters in downtown Paris. He regretted that they didn't have the time to explore Paris, but even though they'd enjoyed their honeymoon, they were all tired and looking forward to being home. Soon enough they were in the air again, and even though Traci was still nervous on planes, everyone slept soundly on the flight home. They arrived at the airport late in the evening and took a cab to their house. They stepped through the doorway, and while the house was as clean as they had left it, the smell of sexual antics was heavy in the air. Traci went looking for her brother and found him and Kathi passed out on his bed, both of them naked and exhausted. Laughing quietly about who had had more sex during the week, them or Charlie and Kathi, they left the suitcases in the living room and headed for bed themselves. They were very glad to be home and ready to pick up Jenni the next morning and continue with their lives. ------- Chapter 27 The embarrassment of the younger couple was apparent the next morning when Traci calmly asked Charlie to make sure to air the house out the next time Kathi stayed over. With the others laughing at their discomfort, they all had breakfast before Mandy left to pick up Jenni from Grandma and Grandpa's. While she was gone, the trio told Charlie and Kathi about the honeymoon, leaving out all the sex they had, though the couple was strangely silent about what they had done. Mandy was walking in the door as Greg was coming to the part where they had invited Marie to stay. Charlie took the news that he would be losing the spare room to another person pretty well. The fact was, he was looking forward to living in the dorm as long as Kathi stayed at home. They had talked about moving in together, but had decided to wait until the next year to do that. That way they would be able to be sure that they really wanted to stay together. However the previous week made that wait more unnecessary. Kathi was interested in Maria's coming to the States, and was asking questions about the girl and her history. Kathi was outgoing and friendly and looking forward to showing her all the sights and attractions the country had to offer. "From what we know just from meeting her in the village, she will probably be just a little naive of all the differences that we have here," Mandy was saying. "Coming from a very small town, it may be a case of culture shock for her until she gets used to it." "I can understand that," Charlie commented. "My first trip here was a shock from the little town we came from, even though we had cable and knew some things about the big city." "Well, for a country bumpkin, you sure adapted fast," was Kathi's remark. "I had a good teacher," he countered, putting his hand on her thigh. Greg gave a laugh. "I don't think she would be wanting to learn the same things you taught Charlie," he said, giving Kathi a leering look. Kathi turned bright red, but answered that she didn't have to teach Charlie anything; he already knew enough, and what he didn't, he improvised well. This brought another round of questions and good-natured teasing. Kathi admitted that she needed to get back to her own house and gathered up her clothing. She was gone by the time the rest had decided what they were going to do that day. Charlie said all he really wanted to do was relax in his room. The girls decided to unpack and get the laundry done so they would all be ready for the next week. Greg went to work on the bills that had come in since they left, and to contact his Martial Arts coach and Sensei to arrange for times he could work out. They all went their separate ways, with Jenni 'helping' everyone by getting underfoot. Since they hadn't seen her in a week, all three of the adults made sure to spend a lot of time with her. Maria arrived the day before freshman orientation. Greg and Mandy went to the airport to pick her up while Charlie and Traci moved Charlie's things out and cleaned the room for its new occupant. There had been a problem in Charlie's dorm, so he would be sleeping on the couch for a few days. When Maria stepped off the plane, she had changed from when Greg and Mandy had first met her a couple of years before. The girl who had been at his Grandfather's villa over Christmas had been just blossoming into womanhood even at sixteen. She still had her baby fat then. Now she had matured into a striking young woman. She recognized the couple immediately though. She ran up to Greg giving him a hug that could have broken some ribs. Then Mandy got the same welcome. "Thank you both so much for allowing me to stay with you," the young girl gushed. "My Aunt Teresa was so worried about me coming into a strange country. She was much relieved when you offered your home." Charlie was pleasantly surprised when Maria came in with Mandy and Greg. From the description he had received from the others he was expecting a girl who was somewhat overweight and even a little plain. What he saw was a girl about five feet four inches, with beautiful black hair surrounding a warm face. Her dark eyes complimented her olive complexion, and as his eyes made their way down from her face, he decided that if she was overweight at all, it was all in the right places. Traci went over and gave her a hug then introduced her to Charlie. He was still stunned, but quickly remembered his manners and welcomed her to America and told her he was happy to meet her. When she replied, it was in heavily accented English, but he had no trouble understanding her. They all sat down and talked for a while. Maria told them about her trip, it being the first time she had been on a plane. She shared Traci's nervousness about flying, but had no problems with the connecting flights or the layover she had in New York. The women took Maria to her bedroom so she could unpack and take a nap in preparation for their planned "Back to the Grind" party for that evening. It was a chance for their old friends from last year to get together, while letting some of the freshmen they knew get acquainted with the upperclassmen. It wouldn't be too much, just some meat on the grill, salads and chips along with cold beer, soda, and wine. None of their friends were in the drinking crowd, so there would be no problems in that area. While Maria had been excited to be in America, she was also a bit shy with all the new people around her. She tried to sit on the edges of the group and just watch what was going on, but between her new housemates and Charlie, she wasn't allowed to hang back much. She soon realized that these people were not much different from the friends she had left in Italy. Everyone seemed to be interested in where she came from and in knowing all about her. When she said she was going to be studying communications, she found a couple of Greg's friends were on the same track, and they were soon giving her advice on which professors were the best, and what the classes were like. Even though she was used to drinking wine, she found herself downing more than usual, and along with the friendliness of the people, she was soon relaxed with the gathering. She almost panicked when the others started going in to change to horse around in the pool. She quietly admitted that she didn't have a swimsuit to Mandy who immediately told her she could use one of hers. They went upstairs where Mandy put a few different bikinis on the bed and told her to choose. Maria picked the most modest of the bunch but admitted to Mandy that she still felt like she was naked. Touching her arm, Mandy told her she didn't have to go swimming if she felt very uncomfortable, but Maria said that was willing to at least try. When she reappeared at the back deck, Greg gave her an appreciative glance and told her she looked very sexy. This caused her to blush even more, but it also made her smile. While Maria had been changing, Kathi had shown up with her sister, Melissa. Charlie introduced the two young women and they hit it off immediately. Kathi was not going to let Maria sit out anything and grabbed her hand and headed to the pool with Charlie following, admiring the view of two very sexy butts barely concealed in lycra suits. By the end of the evening, Maria was very comfortable with everyone she had met, and especially with Kathi and Charlie. The three of them sat talking until well after almost everyone else had left. When Kathi finally decided she needed to get home, she left with a promise to pick both Maria and Charlie up the next morning for the orientation. Maria insisted on helping clean up and put away the food, and the entire time she was helping Traci and Mandy, she talked about how great Kathi had been and how Kathi and Charlie made such a great couple. When they were in bed that night, Greg wondered if they were beginning to see the start of another threesome between Maria, Kathi, and Charlie. The two women weren't sure, but admitted it might be a possibility. In deference to Maria, they were trying to be quiet during their lovemaking. Traci was a little loud as she had a massive orgasm with Greg behind her, pounding into her pussy enough to make her hips jiggle every time he shoved himself deep inside her. Adding to this, Mandy was lying beneath her and licking her clit. It really wasn't fair to expect Traci to keep quiet since they were double-teaming her. In the other room, Maria was awake and hearing every moan and groan. Her Aunt Theresa had explained just what kind of relationship her housemates had. She understood the basics, and agreed that it wouldn't bother her. However, deep down it was confusing to a village girl raised in the shadow of the rules from the Roman Catholic Church which are much more strict in her Italian village. They said that everything Greg and the girls did were sinful, but she couldn't understand why the church felt that way. From the times she had seen them in Italy and what little time she had been with them in the US, she could tell they all really loved each other. Wasn't that the most important part? But tonight, all thoughts of logic were out the door as she listened to Traci moan once again. The aching between her own legs was driving her crazy. She could feel the lips down there getting very wet and slick from her own secretions. Just like when she had kissed Armando behind the haystack. She became painfully aware that she knew hardly anything about what men and women did as far as sex was concerned. The only time her mother mentioned sex was to tell her that she had to wait until she was married and that she wouldn't like it, but she would have to do it for her husband. Any other questions she had for her mother were always cut off with the comment that she would have to confess to Father Canaldi if she kept thinking those thoughts. She finally fell asleep frustrated and confused. The next morning Maria was embarrassed to even look at the others when they came in for breakfast. She felt guilty about overhearing them and even more about fantasizing about what was happening when she had heard those sounds. The trio noticed of course, and after they had cleaned up the kitchen, invited Maria into the living room to find out what was bothering her. They all sat down with Greg in one of the chairs and Maria between the other two women. "Maria, we are sorry you heard us last night, we just kinda got carried away," Traci started the conversation. "Oh, no! Don't feel bad. This is your house, and you should be able to do what you want to do. It's... God, this is embarrassing... it's just that I got excited hearing all of the things you were saying. I was just so frustrated, and I'm embarrassed that I was imagining what you all were doing, even though I really don't understand what people do in bed." Then Maria smiled. "But it sure didn't sound like you were hurting or not enjoying it like my momma said would happen." She suddenly realized what she had said and bowed her head. They all could see the red on her skin creep clear up to her ears. Mandy put her arm around the girl. "Don't be embarrassed. If you want to know something, just ask. None of us would ever make fun of you or think you are stupid, or anything like that. I know what it is like to not get any real education, since I didn't get any either growing up." Maria looked over at Greg and got a scared look on her face. "Oh, I couldn't ever ask Greg anything. He's a man!" Greg laughed. "Don't worry, Maria. You can ask me just about anything. Just be sure you want a real answer, because I'll tell you what I think." Maria gave Greg a little grin, and then dropped her head. "I really don't know anything. The Church ran the school until I got into high school where I lived in the dorm. It was an all-girl school, and while there was talk about boys, none of us knew what things were really like. Maybe you can tell me what really happens and why it sounded like you were enjoying yourself so much." This started a talk among them that lasted most of the afternoon and evening. Both Mandy and Traci were appalled at what little Maria knew. Especially when she revealed that she had never even masturbated. "When I was just ten or eleven, I started to get an itch in my 'woman place, ' and when I rubbed it, it felt good. Then Momma caught me at it, whipped me with an olive branch switch, and made me confess to Father Canaldi. He told me I was sinning greatly against God and that I was allowing the Devil to invade my body. That if I did it again, I would probably go insane, and that my parents would have to put me away." Traci couldn't believe that she had been told this. Not that she didn't believe Maria, but that someone would scare a child so badly, and be so wrong at the same time. Mandy told her lover that she had been told the same things, more or less and that the only way she found out they were wrong was when she saw some of the other girls who she knew were still doing it were not growing beards, or going blind. Traci took the lead on this revelation of Maria's. "Playing with yourself is the safest form of sex you can have. You don't have to wait on your partner, you don't have to put up with a miserable date, and most of all, you can't get pregnant. The best advice I can give you is to ignore those old tales and just do what feels good to you." By now, Maria was getting more excited with the talk they were having. "I feel all itchy there now. But I have no idea how to get started." Traci put her hand on Maria's leg. "Every woman is different. I like to rub all over down there until I really start to feel hot, then I'll rub between my lips, gathering up my own lubrication. Then I circle around my clit until I'm almost ready to come, then I rub back and forth over the shaft. The head of my clit is too sensitive for direct contact with a finger, but it sure likes a tongue!" "You mean you let someone touch you there with their tongue? Isn't that yucky? And what is your 'clit?'" "No it's not 'yucky, ' as you put it. When you and your partner are worked up, your partner will probably find the smell and the taste of you down there very exciting." Maria looked over to where Greg was sitting and saw that he had a big smile on his face. Looking lower, to his crotch, she saw that he had a big bulge in his pants. Traci continued, "Your clit, or clitoris, which is the proper name for it, is the little spot at the top of your pussy that feels really intense and good when you touch it. It is what triggers your orgasms almost all of the time." They continued on to other subjects then, but Maria had decided for herself that she was going to try and figure out just what they meant about having sex yourself. Later on that night, Greg was once again going at it with Mandy this time. Maria heard them going at it, and taking Traci's advice, she started to rub the inside of her thighs, enjoying the tingling she was feeling. Her small breasts were feeling funny as well, so she ran her left hand under her nightshirt and found out that her feelings were intensified every time her hand brushed against her nipples. Her breath stopped for a moment when her fingers trailed up between her lips outside of her panties. She slid the fingers of her right hand under the waist band of her panties, enjoying the feeling of her own fingers across her tummy as she explored farther into her own sexual depths. She was surprised at just how wet her inner lips had become. She had always tried to keep them dry, often going into the bathroom at night and wiping after she had been dreaming about some boy. Now she marveled at the natural nectar that came from inside her. She got some on her finger and brought it up to her nose. She had to agree with Traci that it really didn't smell bad, just sort of musky. She stuck her tongue out and licked that finger, noting that it really didn't have too much of a taste that she could tell. She was soon too worked up to just be smelling and tasting, and she sent her hand deep into her panties once again. As she moved around, finding her opening like Traci had described, one finger touched her clit, which sent her into orbit. Now that she knew where it was and what it could do to her, she started working on it with a vengeance. She quickly found a rhythm that took her fingers down into her inner lips, gathering her essence, and then rubbing one finger on each side of her clit, she could enjoy the feelings that were still new to her. Suddenly she felt something deep in her pelvis that she had never felt before. It felt like her whole being was being drawn just to that area. Suddenly, her first orgasm hit her like an express train, her body stiffening and then almost vibrating in response to the waves of sexual release that were washing over her. She thought she saw stars behind her closed eyelids and then suddenly she relaxed. A feeling of contentment and well being covered her and she lay there panting. What she didn't realize is that when her orgasm took her, she let out a sound that was a mixture between a deep groan and a scream. Mandy heard it and pointed it out to her two lovers. They were just lying there in their own afterglow of orgasm, and they all smiled at each other when they heard those sounds coming from Maria's room. Greg commented that she seemed to take the lessons that Traci and Mandy had given her to heart. Freshman orientation was always a mess, but Kathi, Charlie, and now Maria all at least had help navigating the maze. Charlie got his dorm assignment and moved his things from the Tolkin's household. Kathi was staying at home like her sister, but made sure she knew what room Charlie was in. Maria of course was going to stay with Greg and the women. She had taken a liking to Jenni and offered to baby-sit any time they wanted to do something, just the three of them. Maria's sexual education started to expand as well. The first time that she saw Greg, Mandy and Traci in their bedroom while they were making love was an accident. She had drank way too much water that evening, and she'd had to relieve her bladder about an hour after they had all gone to bed. Coming back through the hall from the bathroom, she'd heard a noise and turned to see what it was. The noise had come from Mandy who was riding on Greg's cock while Traci was straddling his face. Maria stopped and stared for a long moment. She felt her own nipples get hard when Traci reached over and gently twisted Mandy's. Then she got a look at Greg's member as Mandy paused with just the head between her wet lips. 'My God, that thing is huge, ' she thought to herself. But the idea of it sliding between her own lips caused her to be both excited and scared. She backed away and quickly made her way to her bed where she brought herself off thinking of what she had just seen. The next day she was full of guilt and apologized to all three of her housemates. Mandy took pity on her and told her that they didn't mind, and if she found herself in that situation again and was curious, to just knock on the door. She could come in and see for herself up close what was going on. She never did go in, but she watched more often, getting more comfortable with the idea of having sex and actually enjoying it. She even got over her Church-fueled revulsion about lesbian sex after seeing how much Mandy and Traci loved each other and how tender they were with each other. She also made attempts into the college dating scene. After one of the guys asked her out, Greg took him aside and calmly told him that she probably wouldn't be as quick to want to have sex as some of the other girls the guy had dated. Then in a low voice he told him that if he hurt her in any way, he would find that he would never use his dick again, that was once he made it out of the hospital. He should allow her to set the pace. Mandy and Traci thought it was funny he would be taking such a 'big-brother' attitude with Maria. For her part, she was very grateful and gave him a huge hug. She was nervous when she went out that first night, but when she came back she was on top of the world. It was after her third date with this guy, whose name was Brandon, that she approached Mandy about birth control. "I know my Church doesn't allow it, but I really think I should check into getting some. I want your advice on what to use," she said in a tiny voice, her face very red. Mandy told her that she thought it was an excellent idea and had her make an appointment with Dr. Simmons at the same time as Mandy's next pregnancy check. The exam was the first that Maria had ever undergone, and it was uncomfortable for her to have someone else see her 'there.' But she made it through the ordeal and came away with a prescription for the pill. She had decided that this was the best form since it didn't allow her to ovulate, and that way it couldn't really be harming a fertilized egg. She didn't lose her virginity to Brandon though. She had been spending time with Kathi and Charlie. One night they all got pretty wasted at Kathi's parent's house while the parents were gone. Maria let it slip that she found Charlie very sexy and that she had seen Greg and the girls making love. Kathi admitted that she was curious about that as well. When Charlie jokingly offered to let them fulfill their fantasies, the women took him up on it. Fortunately Kathi and Charlie knew about her lack of experience and took it very slowly and gave her plenty of chances to back out. But Maria was horny and determined to find out if sex was as good as she thought. Kathi had her ride Charlie for her first time so she could control just how fast she wanted to go. By the time she had him all the way inside her she decided that she really liked sex. When she hit her third orgasm while Charlie was erupting in her womb, she decided that 'like' wasn't a strong enough word. She adored sex. Both she and Kathi decided that lesbian sex was something they could take or leave, but the male-female stuff was fantastic. They all fell asleep in Kathi's bed exhausted. The next morning started out with a bit of awkwardness on Maria's part but Kathi nipped that in the bud. She told her that she was fine with her having Charlie for her first time, and that if she wanted a repeat, it was all right with her. This cleared her conscience, and when Charlie treated her no different than before, she became comfortable with the situation. However, on their next date, she surprised Brandon with a blowjob before she shoved him down in the back seat of his car and proceeded to ride him to a few glorious climaxes. The girl knew that her mother had been wrong. Sex wasn't something that was to be endured, but something glorious that fulfilled a need that she never knew she had. Things had settled down into a routine by the time Jenni's birthday came around. Traci and Mandy had a party planned for her that included cupcakes at the daycare along with a party at home with the family and friends who had grown close to the girl. She got more toys and stuffed animals than she could ever need and a bunch of clothes from her mothers. These she insisted on trying on, which caused Greg to comment that she had to be female to want to do that. That got him attacked with pillows from all three of the adult females and Jenni jumping on him to join in the fun. ------- "Mandy, come down here, there is someone who wants to see you." The tone in Traci's voice made Mandy move down the stairs and through the living room faster than normal. When she got to the door, she saw her mother standing on the front step, looking much older; "used up" was the best way she could describe her. Her hair was not in its usual neat bun; her clothes were wrinkled and soiled. Mandy invited her in and immediately made her a cup of coffee, sweetened and with cream, just as she remembered her mother making it. The two lovers let Sarah Carson drink a little of the brew before starting the explanation of her sudden appearance. "I didn't know what else to do," she explained. "Things have gone so terribly wrong in the past year. Now your brothers are out there somewhere and your dad's in jail waiting trial for murder." "Back up a little, Mom," said Mandy who was clearly confused by what she had just heard. "Start at the beginning and give us the whole thing." Sarah took a deep breath and kept staring at the cup in her hands as she started to speak. "Things were pretty good when we left for the place where Reverend Campol had staked out for us. We grew most of what we needed and would only go into the nearby town for the things that we couldn't make or grow ourselves. "Then last year, the Reverend started to make some strange proclamations. He said that after he had studied the Bible and prayed on it, that God had revealed to him that the outside world would soon be plunging into Armageddon, and that we had to get us all ready for survival in that world. He and the other men started stockpiling rifles and guns and the ammunition for them. When we women were allowed to go to town, we had an escort of armed men with us so the evil folk wouldn't take us away. Then the Reverend's sermons started to get more away from what I thought the Bible was, which was supposed to be about Jesus. Instead he was talking about all the things in the Old Testament, about following the ancient laws there. "He told us all that the young girls were to be the basis for the new population that would be needed for the upcoming battle. As soon as they started their periods, he would marry them to one of his elders. There were a few that really struck his fancy and he took them for himself. If the girl objected, she was beaten to show her her place in the world, then was deflowered by a few of the elders. Any boys not following the rules were kicked out of the compound. That's what happened to your brothers." "You said that Dad was in jail. How did that happen?" "Well, you know how big your Dad is. He was put on an enforcement squad that made sure all of the Reverend's proclamations were followed. If some girl tried to escape her rightful place, he'd go and bring her back for punishment. Well, one girl got away and made it to the town we were near. Your dad went after her and had her by the arm when a sheriff's deputy stopped him. They got into a yelling match then a fight when your dad told the deputy that he was doing the Reverend's wishes. The deputy was going to arrest your dad, and that was when your dad pulled a gun and shot the deputy. The deputy had called for backup and they arrived just as your dad pulled the trigger. They took him down and put him in jail. I went to the Reverend when I heard what happened, and he told me that it was God's will that Richard should be in jail, and that he would be a martyr for the church. Sarah's face was contorted and she had tears coming down her face. "The Reverend won't help him, and I was told to leave because I defied the will of God for asking the Church to help him. I was taken to the edge of the compound and left there. I didn't know what else to do, so I pawned my mother's wedding rings that I had on me at the time, and got a ticket here. Can you help me and your dad?" "I'll have to see what we can do. Right now you need to get a hot shower, and we need to wash your clothes. You can get cleaned up and take a nap in Jenni's room. We'll figure out what to do tonight." Traci looked at her lover. Mandy had a harder tone in her voice than she would have thought she would in this situation. It was normal for Mandy to be very sympathetic with others. Mandy just gave her a look and went to find her mother a robe. That afternoon, Greg came home from his workout and time at the library. Mandy told him what had happened and that her mother was asleep upstairs. They held a quick conference between them while things were quiet during Jenni's nap. Greg was as surprised at the way Mandy described her mother's plight as Traci had been. When she had finished the story, Greg asked her what she wanted to do, telling her he would be happy to help with whatever she decided to do. Traci was arguing for them to do whatever needed to be done to help Mandy's mother out and to find her brothers. She asked her lover why she seemed so distant about all this. Mandy had a hard expression on her normally happy face as she started to explain. "I feel bad for my mother, but she wanted this life. She stood by my father when he threw me out of the house and when he tried to take Jenni from me. That is something that I can never forgive or forget. I know she is my mother and all, and I will help her get on her feet, but I don't want her living here. We can get her set up in an apartment or something and maybe help get her a job. But I will NEVER help my father. He scarred me beyond my ability to forgive. When he tried to take Jenni from me, he ceased to be anything but an enemy to me and my family. I would like to find my brothers and let them move in with Mom. Maybe they'll have a chance away from my father and his influence." Neither Greg nor Traci had ever seen their wife so angry before. They both realized then just how deep the scars from her upbringing were for Mandy. They agreed to let her make the decisions about this problem, and they would both support her however she wanted to play this. When her mother woke up, they all had dinner and then met in the living room with Sarah after Mandy had put Jenni to bed. They all took seats, with the exception of Mandy, who started to pace the room. "Mother, here is what we have decided to do. We will help you out in getting started in a new life here, if you want. We will set you up in your own apartment, and when we find the boys, they will have a place with you. I know some places where you can get a job interview and have a good chance at getting a position. "But as far as my father, he is on his own as far as I am concerned. He stopped being a father to me when he threw me out of the house. And when he tried to take Jenni from me just to cause me pain, he became an enemy that I will never forgive. After you get a job, you can help him if you want, but I won't lift a finger for that man." Sarah was shocked to hear her daughter talk like that. "Amanda, he is your father. You should help him because of that alone." "Let me tell you something, Mother. I was torn about helping you at all, and I still am, since you never protected me from the things he put me through. Then I thought back to how you believed that you didn't have a choice in the matter. But he has no excuse for his behavior. He is a brutal man who had no love for me and would have gladly given me to your Reverend if I had been along. Worse yet, he would have done the same to Jenni as soon as she was old enough. "Now, I've told you what I'm willing to do. You can take the offer or refuse it. Your choice. You can tell us your choice in the morning. For now, I am going to bed." With that, Mandy turned and walked out of the room. Sarah sat on the couch stunned. She had come here expecting Mandy to take her in and get her father out of jail. Then she was hit with her daughter giving her a definitely stated NO for helping Richard, and was very cold about doing anything for her. Now she had a choice to make. She stood and moved to Jenni's room to sleep on the foldout bed. Greg checked the house, and when he got to their bedroom, he found Mandy in a fetal position crying with Traci rubbing her back and talking softly to her. "I never thought I could talk to my mother that way. When she showed up, all I could think of is how bad she had hurt me by letting my father do what he did. All the times she degraded me and caused my father to hurt me with her telling dad things I did. I know she's my mother and I'm supposed to love her. But I just can't! I can't get past what she has done to me!" Mandy once again dissolved into tears. Greg was helpless to do anything other than just hold his wife and try his best to comfort her. He could understand her feelings, at least a little bit. He had held the same animosity toward his parents for the way he had grown up, but he had been able to understand that his mother had never known any better. He still had some of the feelings of resentment if he allowed them to come through like the matter of his father, the times he was ignored and left as just a trivial object, and those had hurt a lot. But he'd made amends with his mother for the most part. He thought the verdict was still out on his father, or the person he had thought was his father. He'd never been hurt both physically and psychologically like Mandy had. She had a right to her feelings, and perhaps she would mellow about her mother, but that would have to be her decision. After Mandy finally cried herself out, they all crawled under the covers, placing her between him and Traci. They all fell asleep holding and comforting Mandy. The next day, Mandy was feeling better and helped her mother get started toward building a life of her own. Sarah had been under Richard's influence since they had married right out of high school. She had never worked outside of the home and still felt inferior to men. Maria was a big help getting her to overcome her feelings, since she was from a society that still frowned on women having careers. Dressed in new clothes that were not at all like her normal attire, Sarah applied for a job at the University Day Care Center. She was surprised when she was accepted. It wasn't a whole lot of money, but enough to allow her to have her own place and just a few extras. Mandy also helped her to find a two-bedroom apartment in case the boys were found. It was in the subsidized-rent housing, but the units were new and well kept. It was a rough time for Mandy, but she came through it. She even became friendly (to a point) with her mother and was genuinely happy when her two brothers were found in a home for teens about a hundred miles from the Church compound. The older one, Josh, was sixteen and decided to stay where he was, but Ethan, two years younger, came back to his mother. She had some problems with him for a while, but Greg helped out by working with the boy and getting him into a more modern frame of mind. When Mandy went to the hospital to have their baby, Sarah was there along with Heather and Maria in the waiting area. Traci and Greg were both in the delivery room, holding Mandy's hands and encouraging her. After a hard but mercifully short labor, they had a new son. Nicholas Gregory Tolkin was born a week into November. He was a good-sized child, and as long as he was full and comfortable, he was a very happy boy. Both Grandmothers doted over the new addition to the family, and even Jenni was excited to have a brother. Since Greg had formally adopted Jennifer, she had no idea that they were only half-siblings. The parents were determined that it would never make a bit of difference. For now they were happy to have Jenni to appreciate her 'bro' as she called him and she insisted that she would share her room with him when he came home. Greg's grandfather was overjoyed with his namesake and sent over a new crib for Baby Nick as well as a hand carved 'big girl' bed for his favorite granddaughter. He would have done more, but Greg assured him that they had all they needed. Mandy developed a mild infection from the delivery, so she and little Nick stayed in the hospital for a few days. Traci and Maria traveled together to see them between classes, and Greg popped in every chance he got. He had taken a week off from classes to help, so his only obligation was his training for the Olympic Taekwondo team. He was on his way home from the hospital on his bike three days after Nick's arrival and crossing a bridge. A blue sedan suddenly veered into his lane and then into his bike, pinning him against the concrete railing. Greg felt a massive pain in his legs and his chest just before everything went black. ------- Chapter 28 Greg woke briefly, and in searing pain, as the doctors and nurses worked frantically on his broken body. Once they noticed that he was awake, they started asking a bunch of questions that he did his best to answer, but the pain was making him confused. He saw the lights on the ceiling pass over him as they took him to surgery, and once through the doors, he felt the falling sensation as the anesthetic poured into his body. Then once again it was into oblivion. The nurse on duty came into Mandy's room where Traci and Maria were both visiting her and Nick. Mandy had just finished breast-feeding her son, and she thought that the nurse had come to take him to the nursery. Instead, the nurse quickly explained that Greg was in surgery after an accident. Mandy and Traci both started to panic, but the nurse told them that he was going to be all right, just very banged up for a while. They put Mandy in a wheelchair, and the three women moved down to the surgery waiting area. As soon as they got there, Traci put in a call to Heather at her office and told her what little she knew. Heather said that she would be there in a half hour, hoping by then they might know something. While they were waiting, a police officer approached them. He needed to get some information about Greg, and asked which one of them was his wife. Traci and Mandy both spoke up, confusing the officer, so they had to explain their arrangement to him. "I'm on the official certificate, but Traci here has all the rights I do, and I insist that she be in on anything to do with our husband," Mandy said in a tone that brooked no argument. The officer just shook his head and then started with the questioning. Mandy told the officer that there wouldn't be any drugs found in Greg's system, that he was on track to compete in the upcoming Olympics. He had left the hospital after visiting with her and was on his way to their home to change and then was going to pick up their daughter from Mandy's mother's house. With all the officer's questions taken care of, Traci then demanded to know what had happened. "He was on his bike when run off the road and into a bridge abutment by another vehicle. I was behind him having just come on duty. I saw the accident and radioed for backup who stopped the SUV a short distance away. The guy had been on his cell and was looking for something in the other seat when he veered into Greg. Then he took off. We got him on reckless, leaving the scene of an accident, and about half a dozen other charges. I have to tell you that there was nothing that Greg could have done to prevent it happening. He is lucky to be alive. He was wearing his helmet and leathers, which saved him from bad road rash and possibly death. "The paramedics said they thought he had a couple of breaks in his right leg, maybe a fractured pelvis and possibly some internal bleeding from a few broken ribs. But the folks at this hospital are who I would want taking care of me. They did when I was shot a year or so back, so I know they will do their best to get him patched up." The women were less worried than before, but not by much. Heather showed up then, and they told her what they had found out from the officer. Maria excused herself, telling them that she was going to the hospital Chapel and light a candle for Greg's recovery. The rest of them settled in to wait for the surgeon to let them know how bad he might still be. Mandy was just getting ready to go back to her room to feed Nick again when the doctor came out looking for them. He introduced himself, and the first thing he said was that he expected Greg to make a full recovery. "The worst were the breaks in his right tibia, fibula, and femur. And of those, the break in the femur is the most worrisome. The bone was fractured, shattered really, just above the knee joint, and we had to use plates and screws to hold it all in place. He won't be able to walk for at least eight weeks, and then he will require therapy. "Fortunately there were few internal injuries, and we were able to repair those. He also broke his pelvis, but that was just a crack, not a complete break. Like I said, he will heal completely, but it is going to take a long time and a lot of hard work." Mandy was the first to speak. "Thanks, Doctor. We'll make sure he recovers. Now, how soon before we can see him?" "Just as soon as he comes out of recovery. He will be in ICU for a day or so just to make sure that there are no complications, so only family will be allowed and then just one at a time." "We are all family, Doctor," said Traci. "Heather is his mother, and Mandy and me are his wives." The doctor looked confused. "Both of you are his wives? Y'all are Mormon or something like that?" "No, nothing like that," stated Traci. "We were all married to each other at the UU Church. Mandy is the wife on record, but we share in everything." The doctor rubbed his chin for a moment. "Well, it is highly unusual, but I will leave orders for you all to be allowed in." Just then his pager went off. "Excuse me ladies, but I need to get to the ER. Don't worry, Greg will be fine." He moved off down the hall in a brisk walk toward the elevators. All three women hugged each other and cried a little bit in relief. Mandy's breasts were starting to leak milk, so she went back to her room to feed Nick. Heather and Traci sat back down to wait for the word that Greg was set up in ICU. Maria came back and was overjoyed to hear the news. She had come to think of Greg as a big brother, with just a little lust thrown in the mix. Since she couldn't see him until after he got out of ICU, she volunteered to call Charlie and Kathi and see if they would take her to go and get Jenni. She would take Jenni home and try to keep her on schedule. That was something she could do to help. It seemed like forever before a CNA came to get them. Heather decided to go in first and then let Traci have a turn. She stepped to the door to see her son hooked up to monitors, and IV tubes. From the doorway she could see that the bruises all over his body were starting to turn purple, and on his right leg was a heavy cast that went from his toes to where it disappeared under the hospital gown. The incisions where they had gone into his abdomen to check for and repair more damage were hidden for the moment, but Heather knew they were there. All in all, he looked like a real mess. Heather was beginning to think the doctor had lied to them about his condition until a nurse came up beside her and quietly told her that it looked a lot worse than it really was. She steeled herself and walked into the room. "Greg, honey? It's Mom," she said in a low voice. In response, Greg opened his eyes and gave her a slight smile. She came over and took hold of his left hand, the only one not covered with tubes and monitoring devices. She felt his reassuring squeeze and began to feel like he really would make it. He tried to say something, but his mouth and throat were so dry that he couldn't talk. He was still very groggy from the meds that they were giving him and he was slipping in and out of consciousness. "You just relax, honey. Traci is here outside and waiting to come in. Mandy is upstairs taking care of little Nicky. We've been really worried about you, but the doctor says you'll be fine." Again she felt the pressure of his hand squeezing hers. She could see him trying to stay awake, but the drugs he was getting were making that a losing battle. She told him to rest, and she just sat for a little while until his nurse came in to add something to his IV. Heather told him she was going to let Traci in for a while, but that someone would be here with him all the time. He gave a sleepy nod of his head, and she slipped out to allow Traci her turn. Heather told Traci about how he looked and what the nurse said, but that didn't prepare Traci for the sight when she came into his room. She walked over to his bed with tears in her eyes and leaned down to place a light kiss on his lips. When he tried to return the kiss, she broke down and cried, holding tightly to his hand. He gave her a squeeze and then pulled his hand from hers so he could pat her arm, telling her that it would be all right. All she could say for a while was, "I love you." She tenderly pressed her hands over all of the bruises and cuts she could see, as if she could somehow make them go away, then sat in silence with him while he rested. She only left when Heather peeked in to tell her that Mandy was back and waiting to come in. Mandy's reactions were the same as Traci's. Throughout the next two days, they took turns sitting next to Greg, talking sometimes, but mostly sitting in silence and touching him to let him know that they were there for him. Seventy-two hours passed before the hospital moved him to a private room. They had reduced the drugs enough that he was now more awake. The room was equipped with an overstuffed, extra-wide chair that folded out into a bed. The hospital had discharged Mandy and Nicky by then, so the women decided that they would all take turns staying with Greg throughout the night. They went in shifts. Mandy would be in during the day as she was not taking courses since she had the baby. Heather would be there in the evenings, and then Traci who had late classes this semester would be there overnight. Many evenings, Maria would show up with Jenni who was anxious to see where her daddy was. The little girl didn't understand what or why all those things were that were hooked to her daddy, but she instinctively knew not to touch the tubes and not to roughhouse too much. Greg made a game of the cast with Jenni. She would knock on the cast, and he would wiggle his toes and call out, "Who's there?" When she became bored with that, there was always her new little brother who she'd claimed as her own property. She would sit deathly still in the big chair next to her mommy with Nicky in her tiny arms and just stare at him for the longest time. Any facial movement of Nicky's and Jenni would swear up and down that he was smiling at her, to her great delight. Greg was very glad when three weeks later they removed his hip-to-toe cast and replaced it with one that they assured him that he could learn to walk with eventually. For now though, he was confined to a wheelchair. With help from the CNAs, he could finally make it to the bathroom so he was rid of the catheter and the bedpan. The new freedom meant that he could get out of the room and down into halls and the main floor of the hospital. One warm day, Mandy managed to sneak him down into the open-air plaza that was located in the center of the hospital. He sat in the sun for over an hour, and that was the highlight of his week. But with the new freedom to move even a little bit came the realization of just how far he had to go. And then depression followed. They would wheel him down to therapy and stimulate the muscles under the cast just enough to keep them moving and then allow a mild upper-body workout. He couldn't believe how much tone he had lost in just a few weeks of inactivity. Everything he tried to do, things that before were done without thinking, were now a major chore, if not totally impossible. He began to feel useless. The biggest blow to his mental health was when his Sensei and trainer came to tell him that he wouldn't be able to make it to the Olympics. The trials were just a month away, and there was no way he would be able to make them. When he talked to the orthopedist the next morning, Greg was told that the severity of the fractures and plates required to hold his knee together would make it very doubtful that he would ever compete at upper-level martial arts again. Greg seemed then to lose interest in ever even just getting back up and walking. He complained about the therapy and quit pushing to get better. While he wasn't openly hostile to anyone, he became more surly, refusing to eat and using the excuse of being too tired to talk to his family when they tried to discuss recovery and rehab and training options after he got out of the hospital. One evening, when Traci was there with him, she told him that she was looking forward to when they could have sex again. Greg lashed out that he was so crippled now that she and Mandy probably would never want to have sex with him again. This really hurt her, and she quickly left the room. In the waiting room, she called Mandy and explained what he had said. They talked for quite a while about what was going on and trying to decide just what to do. Finally, Mandy said that she was going to get Maria to watch Jenni and Nick and she was coming up to the hospital to see just what they could do. Mandy arrived after just a few minutes. She didn't even go into Greg's room, but met Traci at the elevators, and the two went to the sitting area across from the nurse's station. After talking between themselves for a while, they asked their favorite nurse, Natalie, for her opinion. Natalie had become close to the women as well as Greg. She had noticed his lack of cooperation and his moods lately as well. She made time to sit down with Mandy and Traci for a talk. She felt the situation was becoming serious. "I can tell you both that this change in Greg is disturbing. I'm not a doctor, and you should talk to a therapist, but in my opinion, he is suffering from severe depression. That would explain his lack of appetite, the refusal to get well, even the lack of desire. And if he continues to become more depressed, he could end up suicidal." At those words, Mandy burst into tears. Olivia's death flashed into her mind, and she knew she would never be able to survive something like that. Natalie looked over to Traci who was comforting her wife, her confusion clear in her eyes. "We had a friend who was very close to Greg and Mandy who took her own life. It tore Greg up something awful, and you can see Mandy's reaction to the memory." Now Natalie looked stricken. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to bring up something so painful. But that is a possibility if you don't find a way to snap him out of it. The antidepressants that he is on aren't doing the job." Natalie slipped away then to leave the two women to themselves. Mandy looked into Greg's room to check on him only to find him sound asleep. She and Traci had decided that they were going to confront the doctor in the morning, so Mandy headed home to feed Nicky and to set the alarm to be sure to be there in the morning. She was back, with Nicky in tow, before breakfast. Greg asked why she was there so early and she decided that they might as well confront the issue. Greg tried to deny anything was wrong, but both of his wives came down on him about the way he had been acting and how his moods had been so dark. They were still talking, now more calmly, when the doctor finally came in. He pronounced that Greg was healing well as far as the breaks were concerned and deemed that the cast could be changed to a walking cast if the x-rays showed that much improvement. He did recommend having a mental health therapist come in and talk to Greg and even having the women come in. With that, he went on with his rounds to let them talk. Greg did see the therapist, and while he improved a little over the next two weeks, he still felt that he would never be the way he was before. He didn't even believe he would be able to walk and run eventually, and he was sure he couldn't perform sexually well enough to satisfy Mandy and Traci. He was doing the physical therapy but not to the level that the physical therapist and the girls knew he could and should do. Things came to a head when he said something along the line of not being able to satisfy her when he and Traci were talking. Traci stood up and went to the door saying she would be right back. She went to the nurse's station and talked to Natalie. "I've had enough of Greg thinking that he won't be able to satisfy me or Mandy. I'm going to give him some 'special therapy' so don't mind any noises coming from down there, and ignore the monitors if his pulse goes up." Natalie gave her a sly look. "I can't condone such a thing going on - hospital rules ya know. But if I'm not down that way, then I won't know anything is going on. And just between you and me, a wild fuck is probably just what he needs to improve his attitude." Traci gave her a little giggle and then turned back up the hall. She walked into Greg's room and pushed the door completely shut. He watched intently as she started pulling her shirt and bra off while approaching the bed. By the time she was standing next to him, she was down to just her panties. "You keep saying you don't think you can satisfy me or Mandy any more. Well, by damn, we are going to find out. I am going to suck you hard, then I'm gonna climb on that wonderful cock of yours and fuck your brains out. You promised me a baby, and we are gonna start now." With that said, she put her plan into action. She shoved the sheets and blankets down to the foot of the bed, and then her panties hit the floor. She wasted no time on just licking; she took his half hard cock into her mouth and started showing him just how well she could suck cock. It was only a minute until he was as hard as she ever remembered feeling him. She then placed one knee on the bed and swung her other leg over his body. She grabbed his dick and placed it in her entrance. Since she had first started her 'therapy' session, she'd been so horny that she was almost dripping herself. He slid in easily as she lowered herself until their pubic bones met. She started moaning as she jerked her hips, rubbing her clit against the base of his cock. Then she started to pump up and down. Greg was feeling a lot of things at that moment. First of all, when she took her clothes off, he remembered how hot she was. Then when she started to suck on him, he felt himself coming to full erection. When she straddled his body, he saw how wet she was, and it finally sunk in that she did find him desirable and really wanted him. The first stroke told him just how much he had missed both her and Mandy. They were both on a short fuse, and Greg went over first. He reached down and pulled her hips down onto him as he shot his load deep into her. Feeling him come pushed her into her own orgasm. She let out a loud growl as her body shook. If she didn't become pregnant, it wasn't from lack of trying! As her orgasm passed, she lowered herself carefully onto her lover and kissed him. He put his arms around her and just held her until she had to move to take care of the cramps in her legs. She walked naked into the bathroom and used a washcloth to clean what semen that dripped from her vagina and then between her labia. She rinsed the cloth out and took it back to clean Greg up. She took her time dressing, giving him plenty to look at. After opening the door a bit, she then sat down on a chair next to the bed. "I think you have your answer about being able to satisfy us. We may have to be careful for a while longer yet, but together we just proved you still have it. And the sooner you get that cast off and can get around, the sooner you can start being on top again." Greg looked over at her with tears in his eyes. "Thanks, sweetheart. That really means a lot to me to know that I am still desirable even all busted up." She leaned over and gave him a kiss. "You aren't all busted up, and you'll be back to your old self again soon. Besides, that isn't what Mandy and I see in you. We love your heart, your giving, and your whole being. It ain't your body only; it is who you are that turns us on. And we want the old you back." "I see that now, and I'm going to try my best to get back that way. I can't guarantee there won't be dark days for me for a while, but I will be fighting them instead of letting them control me." Traci met those remarks with a big hug and a kiss that reminded him just how much she loved him. A few minutes later, Natalie came into the room. "How did the 'therapy' go?" They both turned a little red and just nodded. "I thought so. The heart rate and the blood pressure both went through the roof for a sick person. Good thing that I had to shut the monitor recorder down to change the paper just then isn't it?" They both let out a good laugh, one of the first from Greg. Natalie continued when they had calmed down. "This has to be our little secret. I could get fired for allowing it to happen, so nothing did happen, okay?" Greg and Traci both agreed, but only after they convinced Natalie that Mandy would want to give Greg her own treatment the next night. Natalie opened the disinfectant from the bathroom and put some on a rag, which she then used to wipe around on the floor. "Gotta hide the scent of sex in here. Smells like a whorehouse, or at least like my bedroom when my boyfriend stays over." That earned her a big laugh. The next night, Mandy showed up later than usual for her shift with Greg. The results of the 'therapy' were the same as Traci's, and Greg was feeling much better after having spent time with both his lovers. By the time Greg moved from the hospital to a rehab center, he was in a much better frame of mind. He still had some bad days, but they were fewer and fewer. In rehab, he really put his all into the exercises that would get him walking and then home. Every evening he was exhausted and his muscles hurt. Mandy and Traci both learned what to do from the massage therapist, and they took turns in the evening working the soreness from his body. Every few days, they would add a little something extra to the massage, and he would have the tension relieved in his cock by their expert hands or mouths. He was worried that they were doing without, so he made them both promise to take care of each other until he could get home to help with the job himself. Thus, the five weeks of rehab went by quickly. On the day he was discharged, Greg walked out of the rehab center with just the help of a cane. It was a big accomplishment for him, and he felt that he had earned every step. He was still wearing a knee brace, but he could remove it at night or when he was just sitting around. The nursing staff and the therapists hated to see him leave. The women because he was so nice to them and didn't ask for much, and the men because Mandy and Traci were not going to be showing up anymore. According to one male therapist, they and their attitudes made the place worth coming to. His orthopedic surgeon told him that his right leg would probably cause him to limp for the rest of his life, but he had no qualms about Greg living normally, though he'd have to realize he would never compete again. He cleared him for any activities that he felt that he could do, but told him not to force anything. So, for the next few months Greg worked hard at regaining the strength and muscle mass that he had lost during his hospital stay. He lost his scholarship at the college, but elected to stay enrolled. His Sensei applied for and received permission for him to become a trainer and coaching assistant at the college. In reality, he was teaching at the same level if not higher in Shoto Kan than anyone on the paid staff. The athletic director realized this and even fought to have him come in as a paid member of the coaching staff. Greg had lost much time from most of the semester, so he dropped from from all classes and rescheduled them for the winter semester. It gave him a chance to continue his studies, and when he did go back he would be ahead of the other students in his classes. He did take care of little Nick as often as he could, dropping him off at the day care center on campus when he went to outpatient therapy or to help the coaches. He tried to keep Jenni with him too, but after a couple of weeks it was obvious that she was missing her friends at the day care, so he took her there at least a few times a week. Mandy and Traci both were doing well in college this semester. Greg took the time to help them both study, and they were able to easily maintain their grades. Maria was the one who needed the most help. She was a very bright girl, but the changes in language and the differences in her living arrangements made it more difficult for her to get in sync with her courses. Many subjects were taught differently than they had been in her little village, and she needed to discard her past ideals for the new ones. Some of those changes she agreed with, and there were some that she felt that her traditional outlook was better. Mandy sat down with her one time when these differences were causing her a lot of confusion. "What I would do, if I were you," offered Mandy, "is not to rely on the professors completely. They have opinions that they will push in class. That doesn't mean that you have to take every word they say as gospel. Just learn the subject matter, and if they start giving their opinion, you don't have to agree. Decide in your own mind if his thoughts go with what you think or not. If not, forget what he is saying. Although some professors are hidebound and can't take any criticism, some of them will actually accept a differing opinion as long as you can back up what you are saying. You can get a better grade in their classes if you speak up." That completely threw her into a spin. The nuns that had taught in the school she came from would not allow any dissent in their classes. One had actually slapped her for her trying to correct what the nun had stated as fact. The next day the nun had admitted that she was indeed in the wrong, but that had taught Maria never to offer an opinion in class unless called upon, and even then she had better agree with the nun. The next week she disagreed with something that the instructor in one of her classes said. She spoke up questioning him, and to her surprise, he urged her to explain why she thought that way. He responded with his reasons for his view and that led to a discussion that lasted the rest of the class, with the other students chiming in on both sides. At the end of the class, the instructor asked Maria to stay a bit, and then thanked her for the discussion. "I still think I am correct, but you made me think about it, and that is what we should be doing here." She went away feeling like she was on top of the world. ------- The trio and their extended "family" came through the college year doing well. Charlie and Kathi had tried seeing others, but decided that they didn't want to be apart, and Charlie proposed. Kathi made a tearful acceptance, and they planned for a wedding when they finished college in three years. Maria found a nice man of Irish descent, and their romance lasted until the end of the year. They made an interesting couple, her with her short stature and Italian looks walking with a tall man with pale skin and very red hair. After they broke up, Maria found that she enjoyed playing the field with plenty of time to be with Charlie and Kathi. Jenni was a normal three year old, into everything and curious about her world. She still helped with Nick as much as she was allowed. She started learning her alphabet and numbers, and her day care teachers felt that she was very smart. She definitely had a knack for learning and a curiosity about everything. One thing came up that would change their lives. Greg's grandfather announced that he had come down with lung problems, probably from when he had been in the Army or when he was on one of his jobs. He named Greg as his successor and planned his retirement for five years later. That would give Greg time after he graduated to learn the nuts and bolts of the business. The company was still mostly in the hands of family members who had no interest in taking over, so Greg would see very little opposition. As long as the money flowed in, they wouldn't care who was making it for them. The trio talked about their futures. They decided that the villa, which was to be deeded to Greg, would become a vacation getaway for any of the family who needed it. The operation would be run from the US. Traci said she wanted to continue to get her teaching degree, but she would now have a chance to teach in one of the smaller schools, the sort she preferred, since she didn't need to worry about the money. Mandy would continue with her art and perhaps teach in one of the high schools. Mostly she wanted to raise her and Greg's children - along with Traci's - in a loving home where they would be treated much differently than their parents had been. Mandy's father was convicted of all the charges against him, and that raised the Federal authorities' interest in the Reverend Campol's compound. Though he talked a good fight, when it came down to it, he meekly turned himself in to the police. With him gone, the compound fell apart and its people scattered looking for another preacher. All in all they felt that their lives were going well. The final item to make their lives complete came when Traci bounded into the kitchen showing the other two a home-pregnancy test that showed positive. She was treated with rounds of hugs and kisses. "I have always wanted children, and now I get to have them with the greatest father in the world." Greg grinned at her. "You are my best friend as well as my wife. You were a friend in need and it was definitely my pleasure to help you out." ------- Epilogue Greg stood in front of the big gas grill that had been part of the house they had bought a few years before. Jenni, now a mature thirteen and coming into puberty, came out of the house carefully carrying a tray of brats and burgers. Greg took possession of the tray with a kiss to his daughter's cheek. He looked past the deck to see Nick and Heidi (the first of Traci's three children) watching their siblings as they played on the play set. Having six children could be a handful, but he loved each and every one of them. They had come through a lot during the past ten years, but it was worth every minute of it. There had been some rough spots to be sure. Mandy's car accident had left her and their youngest in the Intensive Care Unit for weeks. Traci's battle with the local school district about her 'unusual' marriage had taken its toll. They had also watched their friends go through divorces, breakups, and deaths. Charlie and Kathi had broken up and got back together several times. Kathi's sister, Melissa, had barely gotten out of an abusive relationship and probably would have been dead if it wasn't for the trio. Greg's grandfather's death had been hard as well, but the old man had passed with family around him, so he wasn't alone like he feared would happen. Maria was one of the first to arrive for the celebration. She had put on a few pounds in the past few years after having two children before her divorce. She was between assignments for one of the large news magazines. Being a journalist had been good for her. Before long the rest of their friends arrived. There were a few who they had known from college as well as a couple of Greg's top men in the company, all with their families. Heather and Adrian were still together, with Greg's mother now owning the company she had once worked for. Traci and Mandy brought out the rest of the food. Traci was still teaching with a private secular school for the gifted. It was rough for her at times, but she loved it and probably would do that work for the rest of her career. Mandy was still selling her artwork, but stayed home most of the time. It was a pleasant afternoon and evening. Charlie told them about his work in the Diplomatic Corps, making them all laugh with the antics he had seen. Since they were together again, Kathi shared some of the problems she'd had trying to set up housekeeping in a new country every few years. The others caught everyone else up on their lives. As they closed the door, Greg mentioned that he thought they should all get together more often. Mandy reminded him that the group had been flung so far across the globe that they couldn't make it more often. Traci got the idea in her head to make it a Christmas date for everyone to fly to the villa. Arm in arm the three walked up to their bedroom, the girls working out the details. Greg once again wondered how his life would have turned out if he hadn't helped a friend in need, Mandy, so many years ago. At the doorway, he looked in to see his two beautiful wives removing their clothing and making a place for him between them. Grinning, he shut the door. ------- The End ------- Posted: 2005-09-23 Last Modified: 2007-11-18 / 11:22:27 pm ------- http://storiesonline.net/ -------