Money Can Buy You Love. And Glitter. Chapter 49
Summary: AU set approximately three years after Adam Lambert won Season 8 of American Idol. He has a successful career but after a string of failed relationships, has more or less given up on romance and is focusing on his career to the point of being a workaholic. He still has trouble with inappropriate appearances of the glambulge during performance and still loves glitter. Kris Allen is a singer/guitarist from Arkansas who moved to LA nearly two years ago to try and break into the business and get away from a small town and family life that became uncomfortable after he came out of the closet. He's just about ready to give up hope of making it into the business. He's still wearing plaid.
Rating: This chapter is PG-13.
Ship:: Adam/Kris
Story chapters:
Chapter 1: Meet cute in coffee shop Chapter 2: Car trouble Chapter 3: Geocaching? Chapter 4: Dinner and a picture
Chapter 5: Bring your boyfriend to work day Chapter 6: Date at the museum
Chapter 7: Opening the door Chapter 8: Showing the cracks Chapter 9: Cracked eggs, cracked plaster, cracked plans Chapter 10: Hunger games Chapter 11: Inspired, tested, and almost-dazzled Chapter 12: Define slutty for me
Chapter 13: Decisions, decisions Chapter 14: Of moms and meat Chapter 15: Holding on Chapter 16: Coming clean
Chapter 17: Dusty disguises and dodging the issue Chapter 18: Punked and paint
Chapter 19: This glitter is not meant for internal use Chapter 20: Home improvement
Chapter 21.1: Sharp edges and sweet tongues Chapter 21.2: Sharp edges and sweet tongues SECOND HALF
Chapter 22.1: Holding close and laying out Chapter 22.2: Holding close and laying out SECOND HALF
Chapter 23.1: Messes and make up Chapter 23.2: Messes and make up SECOND HALF
Chapter 24: Taken Chapter 25: Stuffing Chapter 25.2: Stuffing CONTINUED
Chapter 26.1: Feeling full Chapter 26.2: Second entry Chapter 27: Winning Chapter 28: Thirty-eight cents
Chapter 29: When you walked in the joint Chapter 30.1: I could tell you were a man of distinction Chapter 30.2: A real big spender Chapter 30.3: Good looking, so refined Chapter 31: Spend a little time with me
Chapter 32.1: Spend a lotta time with me Chapter 32.2: Chapter 32.3 Chapter 32.4 Chapter 32.5
Chapter 33: Well, I can do the mashed potato. Well, I can do the twist Chapter 34: Leashes, collars and cuffs! Oh my! Chapter 35: On the carpet, off the script, on the table Chapter 36.1: Consequences, unintended and otherwise
Chapter 36.2: Consequences cont'd Chapter 37: Turkey baster bukkake Chapter 38: Ball juggling Chapter 39: The minor fall, the major lift Chapter 40.1: Walking the Shar-Peis of life Chapter 40.2: Walking the Shar-Peis of life part 2 Chapter 41: Is this the real life? Chapter 42: Baggage handling Chapter 43: Tying ends up Chapter 44: Whack a Mole Chapter 45.1: The Sweetest Chance Is... Chapter 45.2: The Second Chance. Chapter 46: Diving In. and is here: Chapter 47.1: Pyro Chapter 47.2: Pyro Chapter 47.3: Pyro Chapter 48.1: If mama ain't happy Chapter 48.2 Chapter 48.3:
Chapter 49: "In my experience, going home is the deepest wish of most refugees." -- Angelina Jolie
"I'll bring you and Cale to LAX. Don't be ridiculous." Adam said without looking up from painting Emmaline's tiny toe nails. He blew on them to dry the polish and smiled when Emmaline giggled and wiggled her toes, then blew again.
"I can just get a taxi." Kris took the nail polish away just as Emmaline started to grab for it. Letting a not-quite-three year old near a bottle of dark purple glitter nail polish while sitting on a hardwood floor was not a good idea. He shoved it in his pocket.
"I already said I'd do it."
"But..." Kris leaned his head against the back of the couch, waiting for Adam to argue him out of a bad idea.
"What's the problem?" Adam put Emmaline's foot down, trailing a finger down the arch of it to hear her giggle again, then stared at Kris. "The real problem. Be honest."
"I... think I'm gonna start freaking out and I don't want you to see that. Which -- " Kris held up his hand. "I know it's ridiculous. I know you wouldn't think less of me for having a freak out. But I ... guess I need..."
"You need to show you're a man according to someone else's definition of masculinity? A definition imposed by someone who rejected you? At a place -- the airport in Los Angeles -- where he'll never even see you?"
Kris gaped. Adam knew how to see and tell the truth. Most of the time, thankfully. "Well, when you put it like that...."
"You sound irrational? Or that you value the opinion of someone who treated you like crap over your own opinion?"
"Shut ---" Kris swallowed his words as he caught sight of Emmaline's interested gaze. "Shut the door."
"That means I'm right."
"That means I want you to shut the door." Kris winced. His gramma would smack him hard. "I meant that in the nicest way..."
"There's no door." Emmaline pointed to the doorway of the living room. "Don't get it, Dadum."
"Neither do I!" Adam agreed.
"Uncakiss bein' silly 'gain?" Emmaline asked.
"You bet." Adam laughed as Kris flushed with annoyance. "Okay, hedgehog. Explain to me again why you want to visit Conway?"
"Hedgehog!" Emmaline giggled and got up to throw herself on Kris' lap. Reaching up, she rubbed her hands across his hair, trying to push it up into spikes. "Like 'San's. But bigger."
"Not by much..." Adam corrected. Emmaline loved Alisan's little hedgehog pet, no doubt because it reminded her of Kris.
"Why don't you go play with his hair?" Kris suggested, pointing at Adam. "He's got so much more hair than I do. With a pretty purple spot. Isn't his hair more fun? You can play hair stylist!"
"Pretty!" Emmaline nodded, crawled off of Kris' lap and raced over to Adam. Pressing against his back, she dug her hands into his hair.
Adam glared at Kris. He was so going to pay for that. "While Emmaline is playing hair stylist, how about you explain to me again why you're going back? How many times have you told me he's toxic? Toxic!"
"Toxic?" Emmaline paused, then asked, "Wike Britney's song?"
"Something like that," Adam agreed. Emmaline was at an age when she was trying to make comparisons and find connections or distinctions between everything.
"Sing!" Emmaline nudged Adam and pointed at Kris. "Sing!"
"We don't sing on command, baby girl," Adam reminded her. "What's the magic word?"
"Pwease." Emmaline sidled around Adam's back to smile up at Adam, then turned to Kris and smiled at him. One of them usually gave her what she wanted.
Adam stood up. "You know, Emmaline, I do believe I will sing Toxic. I think UncaKiss needs to listen to this song."
"And I guess I should sing, Papa, Don't Preach! Honestly, for the love of hush puppies..." Kris muttered, hoping that would redirect the moment away from Adam singing Toxic to prove one of his damn points.
"Puppy?" Emmaline shrieked and began jumping up and down, tugging on Adam's jeans. "Puppy! I wants a puppy!"
"No kidding." Adam glared at Kris. Every time Emmaline saw a puppy, she told them -- at great length -- about her desire for a puppy.
"Here we go..." Kris sighed with satisfaction, looking carefully at Emmaline and avoiding Adam's eyes. He was going to be in so much trouble later. So much.
"Oh low blow, hedgehog." Adam shook his head and picked Emmaline up, tucking her under her arm in what his mom called the 'football' hold. For some reason, Emmaline thought that position was hysterically funny and she immediately forgot about the puppy they weren't getting and began giggling happily. He began swinging her around while willing Kris to look at him.
Hell. Kris peeked up at Adam who, damn him, was capable of multitasking because he had successfully distracted Emmaline from begging for a puppy by swinging her while pinning Kris in place with a world-class stare. "What?"
"What what?" Adam pointed with his chin at Kris. "I'm still waiting to hear why you want to go back there. You even said it's not home any more."
"Aside from the fact that I want reconciliation with my father? Well, I doubt you remember but I think I told you that the Bible says we should not be quick to anger."
"Of course, I remember."
"You do?"
"I remember everything you've ever said." Adam nodded at Kris to continue, even as he wondered why Kris was talking about being slow to anger when his parents had thrown him out, what was it? Seven years ago? Define slow, damn it.
"That's a little... scary."
"Whatever. So, tell me. Slow to anger and...." Adam raised an eyebrow.
"Well, you're the one with the quick temper, so--"
"I'll take the warning under advisement. But this isn't about me, it's about this crazy idea you've had ever since your mother suggested that if your father saw you in person, he might get over himself."
"Generally, I think that's a good idea. Getting over yourself." Kris tried a smile, but Adam wasn't buying. Uh-oh. "Well. But the Bible also says that we need to confront those who have sinned against us. And... I do feel that he sinned against me." He sighed. "He probably felt the same way, but I have to say my piece, you know? I feel like I've still got, well, work to to do there."
"I get that. I just want.."
"I don't think it's going to be the Prodigal Son story. I don't. I'm prepared."
"That's a good plan. I just..." Adam paused as Emmaline squirmed impatiently, wanting attention. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulder than wound her up and around his body while she giggled some more. "What a monkey girl!"
"You're my twee!" Emmaline laughed as she dug her toes into the waistband of Adam's jeans and crawled up his chest, throwing herself over his shoulder, relying upon him to catch her.
Closing his eyes as Adam caught Emmaline just as she flew backwards, Kris shook bit his lip. One day, he was gonna have a heart attack with the way she did that. He was supposed to be the easy-going parent, but even still. "You don't want me to get my hopes up."
"I want you to be realistic. I think that's key, I really do," Adam warned. "You can't control how your father or anyone else behaves."
"I know. We're dads, I think we've learned all about how little control you have over other people's personalities!" Kris pointed as Emmaline once again tossed herself off of Adam's shoulder. Girl was a damn stuntwoman in a tiny body. And she was gonna kill him.
"Right. So you can only control how you present yourself, what you say. So focus on what you can control."
Kris nodded slowly. That was good advice. And it was probably his turn to listen to Adam. He needed to accrue the listening points given how he was planning on making Adam listen to him soon about his crazy workload.
When Kris said nothing more, Adam suggested quietly, "You don't have to go, you know. You belong here, not there. Isn't that what you said?"
Smiling, Kris got up and walked toward Adam, gently pulling Emmaline from his grasp and holding her up in the air and pretending she was an airplane. Much safer than the damn monkey-tree game. "Yeah. I know. But I need to do this. I need... Last time, I let them push me around, push me out. This time, it's my turn to say my piece. If they accept me, that will be awesome. If they don't, at least I'm not left with the 'What if' regrets, right?"
Giving in because he wasn't stupid enough to keep banging his head against the brick wall of Kris' stubborn streak, Adam offered, "If you want me to go with you, I'll cancel everything."
"I know you will. You have said so a gazillion times before." Kris shook his head. "But I'm a big boy--"
"That's debatable." Adam smiled. "Emmaline, is UncaKris a big boy?"
"Bigger than Riff, but he's wittle next to you." Emmaline laughed at the funny look UncaKiss gave Dadum, like Dadum was in trouble. "Is Dadum gonna have to sit on noddy stool?"
"You...." Kris glared at Adam, who was grinning, knowing Kris wouldn't fling the words he wanted to fling in front of Emmaline. And remembering the other naughty uses of that stool before Emmaline had reached the terrible twos and it became a naughty stool for time outs. The other naughty stool was now in their bedroom. "I'm a grown up and I can handle seeing my father."
"Toxic?" Emmaline repeated. "Uncakiss's father is toxic?"
"Grrrrreat." Kris grimaced and set Emmaline down on the floor. Rubbing the back of his neck, he muttered,"Adammmm...."
"Adammmmm...." Emmaline imitated with a giggle in a lower voice, rubbing the back of her neck. Changing her voice again, she tapped her fingers on her hips, then said, "Hedgehog..."
"Dear god..." Adam stared at his daughter. What a mimic. They were going to have to be more careful of what they said around her. "Kris.... I know you have to do what you have to do. But if you want to leave early, don't hesitate to use your credit card to book a flight, okay?"
"You don't want me to go, do you?" Kris asked.
"I... Well, I'll miss you."
"That's not what I mean and you know it."
"Okay, fine. I'm worried about this trip. I know you have to do it, but I'm afraid you're going to get hurt and I'd do anything to keep you from being hurt," Adam said softly.
"Overprotective..." Kris smiled as he wrapped his arms around Adam and stood on tiptoe to kiss him.
"No!" Emmaline shrieked as she jumped up and tried to insert herself in between the two men. "Hugs and kisses for me!"
"Now, Emmaline. There are enough kisses to go around," Kris warned, giving her a stern look. "Take your turn."
"Humph." Emmaline pouted when the two men ignored her. They talked too much.
"Just as an FYI, I cleared my calendar for the day you get back and the day after."
"Why?" Kris looked down as Emmaline stood up hugged his leg. Those big blue eyes were almost irresistible.
"Uncakiss!"
Tapping Emmaline on the nose, Kris reminded her, "Do we interrupt adults when they are talking or do we wait our turn?"
"I wait." Emmaline sighed loudly and sat down on Kris' foot. "For a looooooong time. Loooooong."
Adam hid his smile and continued, "Why did I make time? Because you're going to come back in full-on hedgehog mode and I'll need some time to smooth your uh quills back down."
Kris smiled and automatically redid Emmaline's dark blonde ponytail, before patting her on her butt and directing her back to her pile of books. "So. You're going to bring me to the airport? That'll work out with your schedule?"
"Absolutely. I said we'd bring Alisan's hedgehog over here and start pet-sitting that day, remember?"
Kris nodded. "That's right. She's going on tour. I guess I forgot with all of this..." He gestured with his hands. "Stuff."
"Yeah. Stuff." Adam counted to ten to keep from continuing to argue about why this visit to Conway was a bad idea. Be supportive, Adam. Even if it's stupid. So fucking stupid. He forced a smile. "I can bring you to LAX and then go get Harold all in one trip. It'll save time in traffic."
Giving up because he knew when he'd met an irresistible force and glad Adam hadn't insisted upon coming with him to Conway, Kris changed the subject, "I can't believe she named her new hedgehog, Harold. What kind of name is that?"
"She was going to name him Kris."
"Very funny."
"You're making me nervous..." Lane warned Adam as he paced back and forth, while looking at the clock. She knew he was anticipating when Cale and Kris would get into Conway. She and Dani shared a glance. "Or more nervous than I already was."
"Good. Then we can share our worries." Adam looked over at Lane. She had gone to Conway a couple of times with Cale for holidays and even though she liked Cale's family, she always acted as though she'd been released from the seventh circle of hell when she returned. Familiarity had only bred more contempt in her case and Lane was the most clear-eyed person he knew.
Dani knew it even before she said, "You're worried about his father."
"Totally. And about any casual interactions in that town." Adam shuddered, reminding himself that even in Arkansas, gay guys weren't tarred and feathered. Or lynched.
"You used to have more faith in people," Dani observed softly. "Before... everything."
Freezing, Adam looked out the window, seeing not the sight of his mother playing with Emmaline in the pool, but darker vignettes. "Life has taught me to be more realistic," he said finally. "I give people basic faith until they prove otherwise or... I guess I have real faith in people who have proven they deserve it. I don't give it away any more."
Dani opened her mouth to argue, then snapped it closed when Adam looked at her. She knew what that look meant. "I can't really argue with you. Between what's happened to you and me -- life, I guess. Life happened. Everyone has shit happen to them. We've both gotten more careful, less automatically trusting."
"And of course, I was born that way," Lane noted. "But Kris... he's the hopeful one amongst us, even after what his parents did to him. Are you afraid he'll lose that?"
"I...I think he's more hopeful than I am, but sometimes there's this melancholy underneath, this shadow and I worry..." Adam resumed pacing. "I think that's why I didn't want him to go back. I think he's going to end up hurt and that might ruin some of his hope, you know?"
"Maybe if he does this, he can release that shadow?" Dani suggested. "Maybe if he gets closure..."
"That's a good point, Dani," Lane agreed. "In the end, Kris can take care of himself and if not, we'll be here to help him."
"That's right!" Dani nodded.
Lane pointed out, "Besides, Cale will be with him."
"Why did I think this was a good idea?" Kris asked, feeling his stomach roil. He patted his abdomen. Maybe that double order of Chik-Fil-A hadn't been the best idea. "It's not a good idea. Damn it, Adam was right."
"And Lane. Don't forget about Lane," Cale reminded him as he drove down the two-lane road to Conway. "She was dead set against you coming here."
"If this doesn't go well, they're both gonna ride my ass forever."
"Like Adam doesn't already ride your ass?"
Kris laughed. "True. But I like the normal way Adam rides my ass."
"I'll take your word for it." Cale rolled his eyes. "Listen, you wanted to say your piece, get it over with, get closure, right?"
"Right."
"Well, then." Cale nodded, lowered his voice to a gravelly baritone and began to sing. "If you want to cross a bridge, my sweet, you've got to pay the toll..."
"What the hell was that?"
"Ursula sang that."
"Who's Ursula?"
"Little Mermaid! Honestly, you're the one with the kid. How can you not know Ursula from Little Mermaid?"
"I know Ursula, but not all of her songs. Apparently. But the question is -- how come you do?"
"Ariel was hot. What a babe. And wet too."
"You've gotta be kidding." Kris stared at Cale, who shrugged. "You're not kidding. And... wait! That's right. I remember now. In middle school you guys were talking about hot chicks in the movies and y'all thought Ariel was hot."
"Let me guess. You were confused."
"So confused!" Kris laughed. "I was generally confused by the boob thing, so I could not figure out what was so hot about a seashell bra."
"I tried to get Lane to buy one at that souvenir shop when we were in Hawaii for the last tour."
"Let me guess. She said no."
"She said yes to the grass skirt." Cale winked. "And the lei. If you know what I mean."
"TMI. Speaking of which -- what were you guys thinking about Ariel, anyway? She was a mermaid, so how do you get around that tail? It's not like you could've gotten to the good parts."
"We were like twelve, thirteen. We wouldn't have known what to do with the good parts if we'd gotten to them anyway."
Kris shrugged, then smiled. "Given what I hear women say, it seems like most adult men don't know what to do with the good parts either."
"Whaaaaaaaat?" Cale shrieked. "What do you know? What do they say?"
Laughing, Kris rubbed his stomach. "It's the eternal question. What do women want?"
Emmaline sat down and looked into the cage. Suddenly, she began to cry.
"What is it?" Adam plucked her up from the floor. "Baby, what is it? Are you scared of the hedgehog? You know Alisan's hedgehog. I know he's never been here, but you've played with him at Aunt Alisan's before--"
"Uncakiss!" Emmaline shrieked. "You made Uncakiss little! Want big Uncakiss back!"
"Uncle Kris? Uncle Kris is in Arkansas with his mommy and daddy right now. He'll be back in three days, baby."
"No, no no!!" Emmaline pointed at the cage. "Now. Want Uncakiss back now. Not hedgehogkiss, Uncakiss kiss."
"What's the ruckus?" Dani asked as she walked into the room with a curious look.
Adam bit his lip to keep from laughing as he picked a shrieking Emmaline up. "She thinks I turned Kris into a hedgehog.""
"What -- Oh!" Dani patted Emmaline's back as she thrashed around in Adam's arms. "You went away with Kris and came back with the hedgehog this afternoon. She probably thinks you did some sort of magic. Remember your last music video?"
"Sweetie, that's not Uncle Kris," Adam tried to explain. "It's a real hedgehog. I call Uncle Kris hedgehog, but it's just a joke. Uncle Kris is somewhere else."
"No, no. Uncakiss belongs here! You said that!" Emmaline cried again, wailing for her Uncakiss.
"Hey." Kris smiled and leaned against the wall as he heard Adam's voice. "God, it's good to hear your voice."
"Can you Skype?" Adam asked hurriedly. Good god, Emmaline had quite the set of lungs on her.
"Yeah. Why? Wanna make sure I haven't been beaten up?"
"It hasn't been that bad, has it?" Adam asked immediately. "Because I can come out there and --"
"I'm joking. It hasn't been bad," Kris said quickly, crossing his fingers, glad he hadn't turned on the Skype app on his phone yet. "Don't be so paranoid. God, what an old lady worry wart."
"You're in Arkansas, after coming out as the boyfriend of the biggest gay in the country, Kris. Pardon me for being concerned."
Kris grinned. "God, I love it when you get all snotty. It means everything's all right with the world."
"Well, that is perverse." Adam winced as Emmaline sniffled. "Turn on your Skype already. Emmaline is dying to talk to you."
"Oh, sure. Sorry." Kris smiled as he held his phone back so the camera could capture him. "Hi, Emmaline! What's going on?"
"You're big again!" Emmaline shrieked. "I don' get it."
"What don't you get?"
"The hedgehog in the cage. How did you get from the cage to the phone?"
"Emmaline..." Kris took a breath and looked around the room. It wasn't a cage, he could go out. He could even go to his parents' house. He could. He just... wasn't. Not right now, not again, anyway. The first time had been bad enough. And he wasn't gonna tell Adam that. Not until he got home. He could fool Adam on this matter. He was a good enough actor. He was.
"Your face is so funny." Kim laughed and took a picture with her phone.
"Adam's here?" Kris gaped, then frowned at his mother when she reached out and tapped his jaw shut.
"Close your mouth before you catch a fly in it." Kim rolled her eyes and slid her phone into her purse. "You cannot be surprised Adam flew out here to protect his little chick."
"I'm not a little chick." Kris lowered his voice. The entire cafe was already staring at the two of them, so he wasn't going to give them actual words for the gossip mill. "I'm a grown man and I don't need protection. I resent this!" When his mother frowned, Kris repeated, "I'm not a little chick."
"Well, he's a mother hen. You gotta know protecting is how Adam shows love. It's his love language. You really should read that book again, son." Kim shrugged. "Because I was totally expecting him. In fact..." She laughed. "Leila and I had a bet going on how long it would take him to get out here. Leila lost -- she'd thought he'd be here sooner."
"You... you...." Kris spluttered.
Cale stopped in the process of sauntering up to them. Seeing the frantic look on Kris' face, Cale hurried forward and leaned down, to ask, "I...uh... guess your mom got my text? You heard that Adam's in town?"
"Yeah, how did you---" Kris froze as Cale sat down next to him. "Oh no, oh no. You did not call him. You did not."
"I didn't call him. Nope." Cale shook his head, then swiped an onion ring off of Kris' plate. "So tonight? You gonna make some greens for dinner, Miz Allen?"
"Let me guess. He called you." Kris pushed Cale away from his plate. "Get your own food, you mooch."
"Nope, he didn't call me." Cale looked over at Kim. "I hope you're gonna put bacon in the greens--"
"I get it. You talked to Lane who--" Kris paused. "Is Lane here too?"
"Why I do believe....." Cale drawled, then laughed when Kris elbowed him hard. "I do believe it's gonna be an interesting dinner at the Allens tonight."
"Your mama's welcome too," Kim reminded Cale. "I have more than enough and maybe it's a good idea to have more rather than less."
"Yeah, 'cause mebbe my father won't be such an ass?" Kris snapped. He shook his head at his mother. "Don't even look at me like that, Mama. You were the one who suggested I come out here and so far it's not been a trip to Six Flags, ya know?" When his mother pressed her lips together, Kris did too, then turned to Cale. "So where is Lane?"
"Lane's visiting with my mom right now." Cale laughed again. "I'll never understand how a small town mom from Conway, Arkansas and a sophisticated woman from England get along like a house on fire."
"They're united in making fun of you," Kim answered quickly, remembering earlier visits with Lane at the Mills' house. "Wait. Is Adam at your mama's house?"
"No." Cale shrugged as nonchalantly as he could. He'd given Adam the time he'd promised. "I dropped him off at your house."
"At my house?" Kim gasped. "Oh no, Neil's home."
"Ohfucknononono...." Kris groaned. "Mama, we gotta get out of here and get home and...." He paused. "You know what? Nope. We're not gonna rush. Adam walked into it. He can get himself out."
"Oooh, tough guy." Cale grinned. "I'm thinking Adam knows what he's doing."
"Sir, I'd like to talk to you." Adam stared at Neil Allen who was standing in the doorway to the house like a sentinel. "What should I call you?"
"Mr. Allen."
"Fine. You can call me Mr. Lambert."
"You're--" Neil gaped at the attitude and the man standing before him. Damn, he was tall. And... The little girl in his arms was...
"I"m Adam Lambert. And this little girl -- the most adorable little girl ever -- is your granddaughter Emmaline. Would you like to meet her?"
TBC -----> Chapter 50.1: "You can't go home again." -- Tom Wolfe