Morningstar Manor

Guy took a break between pickups and bought a coffee and took it to the angel statue. He liked sitting in the shadow of the big green wings while he drank. It made him feel safe.

###

Ben also had a drink - tea he had made himself. It was getting cold on the counter while he unpacked and shelved books. The door was wide open and the workmen were in and out whistling. Ben was very pleased with the way the work was going. The soft pale turquoise paint on the walls made him feel happy and relaxed. he hoped it would have the same effect on his customers.

###

Charlie should have been answering emails but a thought had struck him and he'd gone and found a sheet of paper and had got out some pastels and was making a glorious smudgy mess that was slowly beginning to look like the City on a windswept and rainy evening. He was particularly enjoying doing the neon reflections in puddles.

There was a big smudge of pink across his cheek.

###

Allan pumped the bellows watching the iron go from red to a glowing yellow-pink, then he took it from the fire to the anvil and picked up his hammer. White sparks showered as he struck, and again. He wasn't making anything in particular, but it really helped him to think.

Monday morning. Kids were back in school, people back to work, and at this time the major morning rush had already come and gone leaving the Mocha relatively quiet.

Deacon had dropped Nia off at the daycare and was enjoying a coffee and muffin. He'd texted Charlie as he walked across the lobby. Bfast in Mocha?

***

Seth was in the Mocha too and he'd waved to Deacon when he spotted him but didn't go to join him. He was sketching away in his book, sipping coffee, and bopping about in his seat as he listened to this music coming through his headphones.

***

Gabe was stretched out on one of the couches, coffee in one hand and phone pressed to his ear in the other. "Darling I know I wasn't there but honestly - what where you thinking? It was the Emmy's! You could have at least gone to Angels. I mean I might not be there but my people are good. Cuz honey - your hair..."

***

Demitri was up early. He didn't have a class until later this afternoon. And though he no longer ran the Mocha he liked to see that it was doing well. He sat by the window, looking out at the street and the people going by and thinking on the things that had happened in the past few months. And smiled softly.

***

Max and Micah sat at another table, both drinking coffee and looking through the paper.

Kris had been passing the florists and had been drawn in by the wonderful heady scent. Now he was crossing the Square with his purchases - a bunch of brilliant orange tiger lilies and a cactus of hilariously suggestive shape - and was debating what to drop of where. Celeste seemed like a good sport but would she appreciate a wang shaped cactus? Demitri on the other hand would probably find it as funny as he did.

Sometimes being sophisticated was such hard work that Kris gave it a miss.

###

Ylva was in Riverwalk Park with her lunch and a book. She was possibly a little too close to the Manor for comfort but the park was full of blondes today, she'd blend in.

She crossed long tanned legs, settled her sunglasses more firmly on her nose and turned a page.

###

The roof garden was open again, if a little sparse of plants, and Nick was on his knees unpacking the crate that had been left for the Manor by the Sexton family. At least this time there had been family. So often, he'd heard, they had carefully packed the lost life away into boxes and crates, had sent the furniture to auction for charity and had packed everything away. Rooms and rooms full of memories and nobody to appreciate them.

But this was another matter, he thought, as he uncovered the piece of relief sculpture and the discreet little plaque he was supposed to mount near it.

###

Allan lay flat on his back in the garden, with his eyes closed and his arms spread out. The un shone down and he was warm and drowsy and full of lunch and thinking hard about his latest bronze. It was back and he was halfway through finishing it and he was worried that Deacon and Charlie wouldn't like it. It hadn't turned out the way he'd intended at all.

But he'd worry about that later. For now he was warm - and might go to sleep.

A lot of people seemed to have had odd dreams the past week. Demitri had had some as well. He'd been back in Australia - never having lost his parents or having come to the Manor. He wasn't sure how he felt about it either. He liked his life at the Manor. His life with his parents was hard to even remember.

Still, when he felt off, there was really only one thing he could do to feel better and that was dance. He had no real classes today - just a two private lessons - and those had been finished a few hours ago so now he opened the big french doors that looked out onto the Square and let the summer breeze blow in, turned up the music, and danced for no one but himself.

Vincenzo was having a break in the conservatory, which was just as well as he was trying to deal with a call from his mother. "I know," he said. "Well, we have been telling her to look for a better job. It's not her fault it's in Chicago. No ... no, I won't tell her she can't go. Good luck to her. And it's not as though she'll be leaving before the wedding. She has insisted on being free for that. Yes, if necessary I'll take her there myself. AND check out her accommodation. Sure Mom, yes I will. Yes, bye, Mom."

He put down the phone and gave a deep sigh. Between his sister exulting because she had landed a good job in Chicago and his mother complaining because ditto life was getting overly complicated.

###

Guy had been summoned to pick up one of the tenants - Mrs Phillips, a real looker who tipped well, so he could put up with her leading comments about the length of his shifts and what he did in his spare time - but today he was a little early so he leaned against the hood of his cab and texted Sean, grinning as he got a reply.

###

Kris had laundry. Rosa had offered to do it for him but today he was in the mood for some tedious drudgery - while Gabe accepted and stowed a load of Spa supplies. Naughty, yes, but oh so satisfying.

He grinned as he ambled across the lobby on his way to wash his Egyptian cotton sheets, as yet unshared, but surely only a matter of time.

###

Nick yawned as the elevator opened into the lobby. Mrs Eddings chuckled and waved him out.

"I hope that means you've been having a good time," she said in her cracked and wheezy old lady voice.

"Oh you betcha," he lied and she went on her way happy.

Nick yawned again and headed for the basement to fetch another lock and set of keys. Second time this month Mr Paris had got locked out but why did he always have to break the door down?

Show off.

###

Charlie had dropped Nia off at day care and was now drawing in the Mocha. Vincenzo looked troubled, Guy looked cheerful, Kris looked like he was planning something and Nick - Nick looked exhausted.

Angling his pencil Charlie sketched them all into the drawing he was constructing, but tilted the page coyly whenever someone walked behind him. Gay vampire pirate cartoons weren't to everyone's taste.

They couldn't have asked for better weather. Here - away from the City and the Manor - Spring was stirring and even though the wind coming off the lake was still cool the day was warm. Warm enough for light jackets anyway and breakfast on the back deck.

This time Deacon had gotten up early to start breakfast, letting Charlie sleep in a bit - or at least as long as he could before Nia woke up and pounced on him. Nick arrived shortly after Deacon had gotten the coffee going and Deacon had sent him out to hide the eggs. When he came back in Deacon handed him a big cup of coffee.

"None hidden to high for little girls right?" he asked the big man.

"Nope," Nick said with a grin. "But I hid a few little things at about Seth's eyeline. Don't see why the kiddies should have all the fun." ( Read more... )

They had lucked out over the suite. Every year they booked a nice one with two bedrooms and plenty of space but this year Kris's last minute determination to take Demitri with him could have caused problems. It was sheer dumb luck that the hotel had a cancellation and so they were able to get a three bedroomed suite for almost the same price as their more modest accommodation.

Suites at the Rennaissance were expensive but so worth it.

Rising early, as was his habit even after a crazy night like last night, Kris showered and got himself a glass of chilled fruit juice and took it out onto the balcony to wait for either of his suite-mates to wake up, or breakfast or both.

Dancing was one hell of a work out, true, but Demitri liked to go to the gym from time to time to work on other things. Like upper body. Lord knew he didn't want to be hugely muscled but the right kind of work out kept his shoulders and back, chest and arms looking nicely toned and sculpted while the dancing kept abs, legs and butt looking good.

With his headphones on he didn't hear anyone come in and the last time he'd glanced in the mirror he hadn't seen anyone. But that didn't stop the tingle going up his neck as he worked on the rowing machine. He froze for a moment, frowning, then shook it off and kept going.

Ten minutes later though he couldn't ignore it anymore and stopped, taking out his earphones and looking around. Of course he didn't see anything but he knew Kevin was there. Taking a deep breath he spoke.

"I know you're there," he said, gaze stopping in the general area he thought Kevin was. "You can't keep doing this. If you're wanting to talk to me then talk to me. But don't stalk me."

There was no answer, just the nagging feeling that he was being watched. He tried to go back to his work out but couldn't stand being watched with nothing be said for any longer.

"Fine," Demitri growled, standing up and grabbing his towel, quickly wiping down the machine. "Fine you want to stand there and watch me? Then watch me walk away."

Grabbing his bottle of water he stormed from the gym and headed straight for the spa.

Charlie's phone call had been cryptic to say the least but Kris had gathered that Demitri was upset about something his ex had done and might be in need of someone to talk to.

"You in fact," Charlie had said and had filled him in on the best time to find Demitri at home.

Kris could take a hint so turned up there, just after Charlie had said Demitri would be home, and tapped on the door.

Demitri had had some morning classes and had a few hours off before his next group so decided to go back to the Manor for lunch. Maybe see if Kris wanted to get something. He'd run into Charlie as he'd stepped out into the Square so it was only natural that they walk together.

"Wonder how much longer the winter will last," Demitri said as they walked, hands tucked into the pockets of his coat. "Think I'm about done with cold weather."

Kris wasn't sure whether it was just general tiredness - and boy, was he whacked! - or the news about poor Lee Macqueen, but Kris found that he was just TOO tired to sleep.

He lay curled on the couch, idly flicking from channel to channel on the tv with the volume down as low as it would go, with his mind racing.

It was a good hour before he remembered Demitri's offer - and that he had said 'Any time - three am - I don't mind'. Demitri had smiled and added, "I don't sleep that well myself".

Kris checked his watch, tussled with his conscience, then got dressed in tee-shirt and sweat pants, slipped his feet into his crocs and headed down to Demitri's apartment.

He hesitated before knocking, but knock he did.

Into the Mocha they went and Kris looked around, seeing a few of the gorgeous faces and bodies he had hoped to see, and he cleared his throat and tapped on a table to attract their attention.

"Um - ladies, gentlemen," he said, "we are in - frankly - awful trouble and are hoping some of you might be kind enough to help us out. The fact is - we have a designer and a complete collection of clothing but the photographer and all the models are stuck in Switzerland. So - would you be prepared to wear Lewis's clothes and have photos taken? What do you say?"

He looked round hopefully. "Anyone?"

Please!

Please please please, come and take me away from all this!!

Please - just a couple of hours doing something where it doesn't matter a damn what anyone looks like.

Help me, Drop Dead Gorgeous, you are my only hope!

The Angel's Spa signature at the bottom was probably enough of a clue who sent it.

"Please extend my apologies to Mr Abrams," Kris was saying to Frank at the desk as most of the Spa staff, Phil and Nick from manitenance, Vincenzo Orsini, a couple of maids and Charlie Shaw processed through the lobby taking boxes of beauty products from the pile that had been deposited just outside the front door and carried them across to the stairs and down to the store rooms.

"It won't happen again," Kris promised.

Since he had made the highest bid in the auction Kris decided that it was a good idea to collect as soon as possible. So he rang to check when Demitri had free time, swore the receptionist to secrecy and turned up at the arranged time wearing suitable clothing and carrying a potted amaryllis.

"For you," he said to the receptionist who peered at him round the two foot stems with a giggle.

Going out to lunch was all well and good but sometimes having a nice lunch at home was pleasant as well. Demitri had called Kris earlier and asked if he'd like to join him for lunch at Dem's apartment. He had and so on his way home from the dance studio Demitri had picked up some Chinese.

Now he was setting the cartons out on the coffee table - because eating from the cartons was always more fun - and waiting for Kris.

Christmas was, as usual, a time for conspicuous consumption so Kris felt the need for some exercise. And who better to exercise with than the young man with whom he had spent one of his nicest Christmasses ever?

Obviously he had fallen a little behind on their walk, but that gave him a good view, and also afforded another opportunity.

Kris grinned as he stooped and scooped up a good handful of snow. He patted it loosely into shape then lobbed it overarm to burst against Demitri's shoulder in a glittering puff of powdery snow.

Christmas shopping was a chore but it had to be done and so Kris had gone out and - well, done it.

Not for him the trailing around the place, going from shop to shop. He made up his mind what he would get, where he would get it from and the quality and made his purchases with little fuss. Places that offered gift wrapping scored extra points.

So he was on his way back to the Manor with a couple of bags - places that delivered scored high too - when he spotted a familiar head of blond hair ahead of him and realised that he was outside the dance studio and that Demitri must have just left for the evening.

He grinned and put his lips together to wolf whistle.

Spray was drifting in on the wind so it looked like the beach was being swept by clouds of patchy fog. It was light but the sun wasn't up yet. Kris shivered as he rolled his wet suit up his legs and looked apprehensively at the waves. They were big. But Demitri assured him that it was time for him to try.

He looked down at the gooseflesh on his chest and arms and winced as he tried to get the crotch of the suit in the right place.

"Remind me why we're doing this agai ...?" he said turning his head and yet again forgot to finish his sentence. Demitri in Speedos was a spectacular sight.

It had been a normal evening so far. Dinner, playing with Nia until time for her bath and bedtime. It was after she'd gone to sleep for the night that their normal little evening turned into something else.

Deacon got the packet of information Nine had sent him out and laid things out on the coffee table along with his laptop. Charlie made coffee. And a few minutes later there was a soft knock on the door and Demitri arrived.

"So," Deacon said once they were all sitting around the coffee table. "Looks like the Powers That Be didn't forget about our little cell after all. Got a call from Nine and it appears we've got a job."

Demitri sighed.

"I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this again," he admitted. "I mean... with the divorce..."

Deacon nodded. "I know and I told Nine that. She said if we can get away without usin' you so be it but - I think we're gonna need ya, Dem."