The Shell Must Break 4/6 Adam/Kris
"Hey, Danielle," Adam said as he sorted through the clothes in his closet trying to decide what to bring with him, "I can't make movie night this week."
"Better offer?" She asked, "Brad want to go clubbing or something?"
He tossed a t-shirt and jeans on his bed and headed into the bathroom to grab a few things from there. "I’m going to a sleepover," he said smiling as he pictured the look the on her face.
"Sleepover?" Danielle asked. "Umm, yesterday he was hesitant to give you his number, now you're spending the night?"
"Unfortunately, it's not like that," Adam sighed as he threw what he needed into a duffle bag as he ran through his mental list of necessities. "Pajamas, I need pajamas. Do I even own any?"
"Relax. Just grab some sweats," Danielle suggested.
"Anyway, it's not like that," Adam repeated taking her suggestion, and throwing sweat pants into a bag. "His son is having a sleepover with a friend and he asked if I wanted to come."
"That's so sweet," Danielle said laughing. "At least the kid likes you."
"Whatever, he's a cute kid," Adam said as he went into his living room and started examining his DVD collection. "I'm supposed to bring a movie."
"Good luck finding anything child appropriate at your house," she said still sounding too amused for Adam's taste.
Adam sighed, there was nothing even close to appropriate in his collection. "I've gotta run, I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"
They quickly said their goodbyes and Adam sent a text to Kris asking how important it was that he bring a movie. He continued his search for family movies while he waited for a response. His phone finally buzzed, he tapped the screen and waited for Kris' response to appear.
don't worry about it. the boys wanted all 3 star wars movies.
Adam sighed in relief and grabbed his bag, at least now he didn't need to make a stop at a store for a movie.
** ** **
"We can stay up as late as we want, right?" David asked as he put the first movie into the DVD player. "It's a sleepover so there isn't a bedtime, we can stay up to watch all three movies?"
"Of course," Kris agreed.
Adam did his best to contain his groan of misery at the thought of watching the entire Star Wars trilogy in one night. He had never gotten into the Star Wars movies as a kid, and he didn't like them any more as an adult. This was going to be a long night.
"Don't worry. They won't even make it through the first one," Kris whispered, as he leaned closer to Adam.
"Will too," both boys said, from where they had sprawled out on the floor with a variety of snacks.
"Whatever," Kris answered shrugging, and then turned back to Adam, "You really didn't have to agree to this, you must have had more interesting things to do on a Saturday night than watch old movies."
"I wouldn't be watching Star Wars," Adam admitted, he really wasn't a fan. "But I've been having fun, and it's probably the only way I'm going to get to see you outside of work."
"Not necessarily," Kris said quietly.
Adam's eyes widened, he had been sure that it was too soon to ask Kris out. Was Kris saying that it wasn't? The last thing Adam wanted to do was rush Kris into something he wasn't ready for by pushing him for a date. "Are you saying you wouldn't have run for the hills if I asked you out? I'm not a complication anymore?"
"Oh, you're still a complication," Kris said, blushing slightly. "I'm just not sure you're a complication I don't want."
"Really?" Adam asked, not even hiding his surprise. "I don't want to force you or David into you dating too soon."
"Are you guys going to talk through the whole movie?" David said, annoyed, turning to face them.
"Sorry," both Kris and Adam said.
Kris stood up and gestured for Adam to follow him into the kitchen. "Do you want a beer?" Kris asked as the door swung shut behind Adam. "If we're going to talk about this, I need a beer."
Adam took the beer from Kris' hand and waited while Kris peeked in on the boys to make sure they were still watching the movie. "You aren't pushing me into anything. Or David. Katy's been gone a long time."
"I thought you weren't ready to-"
"I never said I wasn't ready," Kris pointed out, sitting opposite Adam at the table. "I said I didn't need more complications. I was ready to date a couple years ago. I did go on a few dates then. That's how we ended up moving here."
"You said you moved because the memories were too strong," Adam said. He really wasn't following where Kris was trying to go with this story.
"We did move because of the memories of Katy," Kris agreed. "It just wasn't David or me that weren't ready to let go of her. David was only three, he only really has vague memories of his mother."
"So what changed?" Adam asked.
"I met a guy at work. When he asked me out," Kris said as he started pacing, "I wasn't sure if I was ready for that, more importantly if David was. He was five then, and while he didn't remember Katy, he also was used to it just being us. We sat down and talked about it one night, about how he'd feel if I were to go on a date. We talked about all of it, about me dating, about it being a man, he was fine with everything."
Adam stayed quiet when Kris paused in his story. Whatever Kris was trying to tell him was difficult for him and Adam didn't want to do anything to interrupt him.
"Anyway, we went out a few times, it never went anywhere," Kris continued. "He wasn't really interested in a ready-made family. I thought it was over. It was over. Then David spent a weekend with Katy's parents. A week later I got a letter that Katy's parents were suing for custody of David."
"Because you were dating a man?" Adam asked cautiously, still hesitant to interrupt.
"No," Kris sighed. "David only told them that I'd gone on a date, he hadn't told them it was a man. And even if he had, they knew I was bi. It wasn't about it being a man. They were angry that I was dating at all."
"It had been two years though, right?" Adam asked softly. "They couldn't have expected you to wait forever."
"That's exactly what they expected, I learned," Kris said, once again sitting down across from Adam. "They felt that if I were to get involved with someone new that I'd let that person, woman or man, replace Katy in David's life."
"You wouldn't try to replace his mother," Adam said quietly. He couldn’t believe that anyone would actually believe Kris could do that. "They obviously weren't able to get custody."
"No," Kris agreed, "They didn't get custody. But that didn't stop them from appealing it over and over and dragging us into court over and over for two years. After the last time I just packed us up and moved out here. My mother knows how to contact me but not where we are, I don't want her pulled into this anymore than she has to be."
"Of course not," Adam agreed, reaching across the table and taking his hand. "You did what you had to do to give David a normal life."
"But at the same time I'm keeping him from the rest of his family."
"Maybe your family could fly out and visit?" Adam suggested. Kris hadn't said his mother didn't want to be involved, just that he was trying to protect her from it. "Did you ask your mother what she wants?"
"I didn't. I just did what I thought was best," Kris explained. "I didn't want to put them in a position to have Katy's parents going after them to find me."
"I think you need to take a chance and let other people decide what's best for themselves," Adam said.
"I'll call her tomorrow," Kris said, "Maybe we can work something out for Christmas. And now I really should check on the kids."
Adam followed Kris into the living room, Star Wars still on the television and both boys sound asleep on the floor. "You were right," Adam said as Kris lifted David to carry him to the bedroom. "Want me to get Robert?"
"If you don't mind," Kris answered. "They never make it through the movies. It's easier to agree to let them stay up all night because I know they won't make it."
After putting both boys in bed and pulling the door closed, they went back to clean up the remnants of their movie night. Dumping the last of the dirty bowls in the sink Kris turned his attention back to Adam. "Do you want to watch a movie? I don't have a lot of movies that aren't for David but I'm sure we can find something," he suggested, then added nervously, "Unless you were ready to go to bed? I can get the sheets and blankets out if you wanted to sleep?"
"A movie sounds great," Adam agreed. Kris began rummaging through the DVDs stacked under the television while Adam settled back on the couch, grabbing a blanket from the floor. "So, back to what we were talking about before…"
Kris groaned. "I really don't want to discuss Katy or her parents anymore tonight. I'd like to finish this night in a good mood."
"Not about that," Adam said carefully. Now that he knew what Kris was facing he wanted to be even more careful not to push too hard. "About the chances of seeing you outside of work."
Kris was quiet while he chose a movie.
"Kris?"
Kris started the movie and sat next to Adam. "You did hear everything I said in the kitchen, right? David's the most important thing in my life, crazy in laws, obsessively careful about no one finding me here?"
"Yeah, I heard it all," Adam said quietly.
"And you're still asking about a date?"
"I am," Adam agreed, a slight smile on his face. "So is that a yes?"
"Yeah," Kris agreed, shaking his head slightly. "We'd have to plan it for a day I can get a sitter and-"
"And not a school night," Adam agreed. "I get that David's first in your life, he should be. And I can handle the other stuff. I'll even help you get a sitter if you need it. I have plenty of friends who like kids."
"I'm sure Alison will do it with enough notice," Kris said, relaxing back into the couch as Adam pulled him closer. "I do need to talk to David first though."
"Of course."
** ** **
"They're still sleeping," David whispered to Robert.
Adam opened his eyes slowly, and felt the weight of Kris still lying against his side. He can't believe they fell asleep sitting on the couch like this. As much as he'd like to stay here and enjoy this moment he was pretty sure the kids were not going to go away any time soon. "Not sleeping," he said quietly. "Your dad is though."
"We're hungry," Robert offered, from where he was standing slightly behind David.
"We tried to wait for Dad to get up," David explained, "But we've been up a long time and he gets angry if I eat junk food before breakfast."
Adam moved slowly, easing his way out from under Kris. He could certainly manage to feed to eight year olds breakfast. "Why don't we go see what we can find?"
The boys followed Adam into the kitchen and watched from their seats at the table as Adam searched the refrigerator and cabinets.
"Do you know how to make pancakes?" David asked.
"And bacon?" Robert added.
"Yes, to both, and I think I saw what we needed for that," Adam agreed, smiling. He rarely made a breakfast like this because it was a waste for just himself. He pulled the box of pancake mix from the cupboard and grabbed the bag of chocolate chips as well, holding them up for the boys to see, "chocolate chip pancakes?"He set the chocolate chips on the counter when the boys nodded their agreement. He then went back to the refrigerator and located the bacon and pulled that out as well. As Adam worked on making breakfast, David and Robert began setting the table.
"This is all very domestic," Kris said from the doorway, causing Adam to nearly drop the pancake he was transferring to the stack next to him on the counter, startled by his sudden appearance. "Am I being replaced?" He asked his attention turned to David now.
David smiled. "Maybe, Adam put chocolate chips in the pancakes. You never do that."
"Because you don't need sugar for breakfast," Kris pointed out as he walked up behind Adam and peered at the plates stacked with pancakes and bacon. "They do look really good though," he offered, kissing Adam's cheek quickly then blushing when Adam turned to look at him and raised an eyebrow. Adam sighed when Kris pulled away, he hadn't been objecting to the kiss, just surprised that it had happened considering Kris' concern about talking to David first.
"I'm sorry," Adam said, glancing between the finished pancakes and Kris. "Was I not supposed to put the chocolate in them?"
"It's not a big deal," Kris assured him. "It's Sunday, and really the maple syrup is full of sugar anyway. You just can't leave until they've come down from their sugar high."
Adam quickly kissed Kris' cheek and whispered, "I should totally run out and get some more candy or something."
"Bacon's burning," Kris said, pointing to the pan on the stove.
"Shit," Adam muttered and turned his attention back to finishing breakfast.
Once breakfast was on the table, everyone chatted and joked while they ate. Afterwards the kids went back to the bedroom to get dressed and play video games until Robert's mother came for him. Kris began clearing the table and rinsing the dishes for the dishwasher, after insisting he didn't need Adam's help since Adam had cooked, and Adam had excused himself to shower and dress.
When the last of the dishes were stacked in the dishwasher Kris turned his attention back to Adam who had come back in and was leaning against the counter watching him finish up. "What you said last night? Do you still think it's a good idea?"
"Yes," Adam said nodding his agreement. "I still want to go out to dinner or something. Preferably one that doesn't involve jumping around in a ball pit. Why, did you change your mind?"
"No," Kris assured him quickly. "I want that too. I just-It's not like you'd be dating just me, David is really part of the package and I thought that maybe after this morning you'd realized you aren't ready for what that means."
Adam sighed, he wasn't sure he was ready for a family yet, it had never been an issue before. He had enjoyed yesterday and breakfast though, so he was willing to see where it led. "I realized the first time you told me you were a single father that pursuing you meant being involved with both you and David. And it's a date. I'm not asking to move in or something. I just want to see where it goes."
"I'd like that too," Kris agreed, and pressed a quick kiss against his lips. "I just haven't done this in so long…"
"And the one time you tried, the problem was David," Adam finished. "I get that, but I'm not that guy. I braved Chuck E. Cheese for you."
"I umm, before I came in here to see what you were doing earlier, I emailed my mom," Kris said hesitantly. "To let her know I needed to talk to her. I’m supposed to call her tonight, after dinner."
"Great," Adam assured him. "I'm sure it'll all work out. Just remember, Katy's parents obviously have no legal argument or they'd have custody already, so maybe they gave up."
"I hope so." Kris sighed. "I miss my family."
"Robert's mom is here!" David said, pushing the door open slightly.
"Be right there," Kris said, pulling away from Adam. "And I'll talk to David tonight too."
"If he's okay with it, I don't have a show on Friday, we could…"
"I'll let you know tomorrow," Kris agreed. "But he'll probably be fine."
Adam followed Kris into the living room and helped Robert put the last of his toys in his backpack. Adam grabbed his own bag as well and told David and Kris that he also needed to go.
"Do you have to?" David asked. "You could stay for lunch. We're having left-over pizza!"
Adam groaned. He didn't need left over pizza. "I'd love to, but I do have some things to do today."
"And you need to work on your project for science," Kris pointed out.
"Adam could help."
"Really, not," Adam cut in. "Science is not my thing. If you ever get a music project though, I'm there."
"Okay," David said, still frowning, then he turned back to Kris, "If I finish it early, can we go to a movie?"
"Maybe," Kris agreed.
"Adam can come too?"
"Okay," Adam said, laughing. "I'm out of here before I end up not getting my lessons worked out for the week."
Part 5