The Shell Must Break 5/6(epilogue) Adam/Kris
The week had flown by in a blur for Kris. For the first time in longer than he cared to remember he was letting himself relax and be happy. A small part of his mind still held on to the fear that Katy's parents would try to take custody of David again, but he was slowly letting go of that fear. He was finally taking control of his life and letting people he cared about back in and making room for someone new.
After Adam left on Sunday, Kris helped David work on his science project and then they'd gone out to lunch together and he'd talked to David about possibly having his grandparents visit and about Adam. It had all gone much better than Kris could've hoped for. David had been, not surprisingly, thrilled at the prospect of seeing his grandparents again. They had talked about Adam maybe being more than a friend and about Kris dating him. David had been happy with Adam being around more. David had also told Kris he already knew Adam was his boyfriend because he'd seen Kris kiss Adam at breakfast. Which had led to a whole new discussion about not rushing things because it was a kiss on the cheek and they hadn't even been on a date yet, although Kris was pretty sure David was already planning a wedding in his head.
Kris' phone call to his parents had also gone well. It had hit him then just how much he missed his family. They'd talked for a long time, about everything, including the reasons for his lack of contact with them since he'd left town which-had resulted in a lecture about the stupidity of thinking they couldn't take care of themselves and never again trying to protect them by keeping them from him or their grandchild. His parents had agreed to fly out to visit over the holidays. They'd bring Daniel as well so they could spend Christmas together as a family again. Kris had then given David the phone to talk to his grandparents while he went to start dinner. Twenty minutes later he found himself on the wrong side of another lecture about neglecting to tell them he had a new boyfriend, and his explaining to his parents, as he had David earlier, that he and Adam hadn't even gone on a date yet.
Adam had continued to meet him in the library for coffee in the morning and lunch in the afternoon. Kris was relieved to finally be able to talk about his past, and by the end of the week he'd shared almost as much about his life as Adam had shared since they'd met. Adam had even joined Kris and David for dinner a couple times. So Kris had no reason to be nearly as nervous as he was for his upcoming date. He and David both liked Adam, and Adam knew all about his life and David and he still wanted to be with him so there was really nothing to worry about. Yet, he was still spending way too much time fidgeting in front of the mirror when David shouted from the living room that Allison was there and he was going to let her in.
"You look perfect, Kris," Allison said a few minutes later, from where she was leaning against the wall next to the door. "Relax."
"It's a first date," he pointed out, still trying to tame his hair into something resembling a style. "I'm supposed to be nervous."
"You've spent more time with him in the last month than I have with my boyfriend," Allison pointed out, pushing off the wall and moved closer, examining his hair as she did. "Sit."
Kris complied, not that he had a choice when she'd moved in front of him and pushed him onto the bed. "Doesn't mean something can't go wrong," he sighed.
Allison sorted frowned at the few hair products he owned finally choosing the gel and a comb. She started working on his hair herself. "You worry too much. I get to meet him right?"
"Depends are you going to give him the third degree?" Kris asked. "I'd really like to not scare him away so quickly." Kris loved Allison but she could be overwhelming at times.
"Of course not," she said smiling. "Just want to talk to him. What would I possibly do to scare him away?"
"Yeah," Kris said trying to give her a stern look but failing as he broke into a smile. "You will meet him eventually I'm sure. But we're cutting it really close on time…so later, okay?" He heard a knock on the door and David asking who was there, and then the door was being opened so he assumed it meant Adam was at the door.
Allison stepped back a few steps and eyed her handiwork critically. "Well, since your boyfriend is here, I guess I'm done. Next time I'm coming early."
"Thanks," Kris said, giving her a hug before going to greet Adam and get him out of the apartment before Allison had a chance to question him and scare him off.
** ** **
"I am so sorry," Adam said as they walked to the restaurant next to the theater, "I swear my friends told me it was a great movie."
"It wasn't that bad," Kris assured him. Adam looked at him, eyebrow raised in question. Kris laughed as they walked into the restaurant, "Okay, it was horrible. But do you have any idea how long it's been since I've been to a movie that wasn't animated?"
They followed the hostess to a table. Once she'd left to get their drink orders Adam lamented, "This was supposed to be a perfect night and the movie was awful."
"It has been a perfect night," Kris said. "I'm having fun. The movie wasn't good, but we did get to spend two hours mocking it, that's something, right? And it was time together that didn't involve worrying about a kid interrupting."
They continued to mock the movie after they gave their orders to the waitress, then Kris' phone buzzed. Kris looked down and sighed. "It's Allison, I have to…"
"It's fine."
Kris picked up his phone and clicked on the text message from Allison. He was sure it was nothing but he couldn't assume that either. He looked at the screen and smiled.
"What is it?" Adam asked. "Obviously nothing's wrong."
"She says if I don't promise to bring you in so she can meet you she's going to give David every drop of sugar and caffeine she can find," Kris said. "Would you mind meeting her?"
"Not at all," Adam agreed. "I'd love to meet her. I've heard so much about her from David this week."
Kris quickly sent back a text letting her know that Adam would be there and that they'd only be another hour or two. "Where were we?" He asked putting the phone back on the table.
"I'm fine sticking to where I was getting an invitation in tonight," Adam said, smiling.
Kris blushed, "You know you-we can't-David-"
"Relax," Adam said, reaching across the table to stop Kris' flailing hands. "I'm kidding. Not that I'd turn you down if you offered, but David's home and it's way too soon."
Kris felt himself relax again. He really needed to stop worrying. He and Adam had discussed all of this days ago. David was his first priority and that would mean taking things slow. Likely a lot slower than Adam was used to. Adam has been fine with it and understood all of his reasons. Kris should've realized he was joking, and panicking wasn't necessary.
** ** **
Kris tried to pull Adam's head back down for another kiss. They were standing outside his door and he really wasn't ready to go in and end what had been a wonderful night. Adam let himself be pulled back for one more quick kiss before pulling back out of Kris' reach.
"Not that I’m not enjoying this," Adam said a small smile on his lips, "But shouldn't we go inside?"
Kris sighed and reached for Adam again. "It's more fun out here."
Before Adam could respond the door swung open and Allison's leaned out into the hallway. "Really, are you two fifteen? You don't have to hide outside to make out. Get in here," she said before closing the door and disappearing back inside.
Kris dropped his head on Adam's shoulder. "Now's your chance to run."
Adam grinned and took Kris' hand. "I’m not running away. I want to meet your friend."
"Let's go," Kris muttered, pushing away from the wall. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
When they walked into the apartment, Allison was sitting on the couch watching a cartoon with David. She turned to look at them when the door closed. "Home so soon?" She asked, grinning. "I had no idea you were back."
"So that was just someone that looked like you in the hall a few minutes ago?" Kris asked.
Allison and David looked at each other started giggling. Kris sighed; it was never good if the two of them were conspiring about something.
"Hi, Adam," David said waving. "Want to watch cartoons with us?"
"I'd love to," Adam said, "but I can't stay. I just came in to say hi and to meet Allison."
"We could have another sleepover," David pleaded. "Please?"
"You had a sleepover?" Allison said, looking back and forth between Kris and Adam, and biting her lip to keep from laughing.
"Last weekend after Chuck E. Cheese, David talked him into coming back for his sleepover," Kris answered, hoping he wasn't blushing nearly as much as he thought he was, and then to Adam he added, "I told you to run while you had the chance. This is Allison, by the way."
"Hi, Allison," Adam said, smiling. "The sleepover was totally innocent. I slept on the couch."
"With Daddy on top of him," David supplied.
Kris was sure his face couldn't get any redder, and Adam just laughed when Allison's eyebrows went up. "We fell asleep watching a movie after we put the boys to bed."
"Sure," Allison agreed. "Makes sense, really."
"So Adam, can you stay?" David asked again.
"I don't have pajamas or anything with me," Adam answered. "I really do need to go home. I have a rehearsal tomorrow morning."
"You could just get up early and go home before rehearsals," Allison suggested cheerfully. "It's a rock band. Rehearsals can't be that early."
"You aren't helping," Kris muttered to her. "David, I don't think it's a good idea for Adam to spend the night."
"You said he could last week."
"He's right," Allison pointed out.
Kris looked at Adam who just shrugged. Of course it wasn't like he could reasonably expect Adam to know what to say to a kid. "That was different," Kris finally said.
"Is it because he's your boyfriend now?" David asked.
Kris took a deep breath and tried to quickly come up with an explanation that his son would accept. Finally, deciding there wasn’t one, he went with the parental standby, "He can't stay because I said he can't," Kris said. "Now, go get your shoes so we can take Allison home, please."
"I can drive her home," Adam offered. "There's no reason for you to have to back out. I'm leaving anyway."
"Are you sure?" Kris asked. When Adam nodded, Kris looked at Allison. "Is that okay with you?"
"Sure!" She agreed smiling. "It'll give me more time to talk to Adam."
"Oh God," Kris muttered, and then asked Adam again, "You sure you want to take her home?"
"I can handle it."
"I'll go grab my stuff," Allison said, getting up from the couch and tugging David's arm so he stood too. "Come help me."
"Why?"
"Because I want you to," she answered, still tugging him along behind her. "And so your dad can say good night to Adam."
"Why can't I-"
Whatever David had been about to say was cut off when Allison closed the bedroom door after pulling him inside. Kris turned and buried his face in Adam's chest as he hugged him. His son and Allison were obviously trying to make him die of embarrassment.
"I am so sorry," Kris said, picking his head back up to look Adam in the eye again. "I want to say I can't believe they did that, but David got really attached to you fast, and Allison is, well, Allison."
Adam wrapped his arms around Kris and hugged him close. "It's fine. She's cute, and has obviously noticed you're kinda fun to embarrass. But we really should get on that good night thing before they come back."
"Definitely yeah," Kris said as Adam leaned in to kiss him again.
They pulled apart when Allison yelled from the bedroom, "Is it okay to come back out now?"
Kris dropped his head back against Adam's chest muttering, "Can you die of embarrassment?"
Kris frowned when Adam chuckled. "Yes you can," he yelled.
"Bye, Adam!" David said following Allison back into the room. "Can we have a sleepover another night?"
Adam glanced at Kris before answering. "I’m sure we will. We'll just have to work together to talk your dad into it."
David hugged Adam tightly, and everyone finished saying their goodbyes. Once Adam and Allison left Kris told David he could watch the rest of the cartoon while Kris checked his email and then they'd go to bed. There was one from his mother. Apparently she had called while he was out and talked to David. Now, of course, she wanted to know about his date and more about Adam. He glanced back at David who had already fallen asleep on the couch. He debated waiting until morning to answer, but decided he'd do it now or she'd just call him in the morning. He hit reply and began telling his mother about Adam and their date.
Epilogue