Sterrin, Max, Jack, and Declan, Sterrin's birthday party in Chicago, Tuesday.
Declan sat in the back of a very large limousine, lightly holding Jack's hand. It was an unconscious act, meant to comfort himself against the wave of nerves threatening to overtake him. Across from him Sterrin sat curled against Max as though she didn't have a care in the world. It could be a very awkward night, but he had to get it over with. Jack was important, and he wanted him to meet his mother.
"Dec, you're going to give yourself an aneurysm before we even get there," Sterrin said. "It's not a big deal. I promise. Dad's all bark and he's not going to make a scene."
Easy for her to say.
He sighed and smiled at Jack. Out of all of this, he didn't want Jack feeling awkward. "Mom's going to love you," he said honestly. What woman wouldn't love Jack?
Jack smiled at him and squeezed his hand. "I hope so," he said. And he honestly meant it. He wanted this to go okay for Declan more than himself. Jack had no family to worry about. He didn't want Declan to lose his.
Across from him Max watched them both with apparent boredom. Arm around Sterrin he seemed to not be concerned that he was going to meet the family. Of course he wanted things to go well for Sterrin and would do everything in his power to make that happen.
He took a deep breath when the limo turned and paused at the security gate, then continued on through and up the winding drive to the Boyd mansion. There were expensive cars parked everywhere all along the drive, and the limo came to a stop right in front of the Mansion's doors.
"Oh Jesus," Sterrin muttered as the doors opened to reveal her father, tall and blonde and handsome, waiting at the door with his arms crossed. Behind him stood their mother, slender and blonde and an older version of Sterrin with a smile on her face. "Game face, boys," she said, teasing Jack and Declan.
Declan sighed and nodded at Jack. "Nothing like getting the awkwardness out of the way first, huh?" he said as he smiled at the driver when he came around to open the door for them.
"Ladies first," Max said and climbed out, then turned and held his hand out for Sterrin, helping her out of the car and tucking her hand in his arm. He smiled at her, all devoted boyfriend, and they headed towards her parents.
In the car Jack took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Right. We can do this. Just remember I love you."
Declan leaned in and kissed Jack briefly. "I love you too. C'mon."
He helped Jack out of the car, and they followed Max and Sterrin toward his mother and step-father, who were both fixated on Max at the moment.
"Princess," Garrett Boyd said with a smile that was all white teeth. Sterrin smiled back, just as fake, and leaned against Max. "Daddy, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Max Sandberg. Max, this is my father Garrett and that's my mother Elaine."
Elaine stepped forward and kissed Sterrin's cheek. "So lovely to see you, honey. And so lovely to meet you, Max," she said with a smile before she was pushed out of the way for Garrett. "Sandberg, eh? Come inside and tell me how I've heard that name before."
He held the door open for them and finally looked just past them to where Declan stood with Jack and his lips thinned, while Elaine's eyes lit up. "Honey!" she said with a warm smile, her eyes moving to Jack.
"Hey mom. Garrett," he said with a nod, then gestured to Jack. "This is Jack. My boyfriend."
Jack gave Garrett a polite nod and a warm, charming smile to Elaine. "Mrs. Boyd," he said and held his hand out to her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, finally."
Max, surpressed a smile and glanced at Garrett. The man didn't look happy and, well Max was partically there to make sure there was no scene.
"You might have heard of Sandberg Associates, Mr. Boyd," he said, easily drawing the man's attention again. "My family's business."
Elaine smiled softly at Jack, looking between Jack and Declan and Garrett's spine straightened but he cast a glance at Max. "Ah yes, Sandberg Associates. Come on in, my boy. Do you like cigars?" Sterrin frowned at the way he purposefully ignored Jack and Declan when making that offer, but Dec was probably grateful.
Declan moved to his mother for a hug, and she offered one to Jack too. "So wonderful to meet you, Jack," Elaine said as she wrapped him up in a warm hug. "So handsome!"
Jack laughed softly and hugged her back. "Well I can certainly see where Declan got his looks," he said.
Elaine flushed, but looked proud. "Ah yes, my beautiful babies. I'm so sorry for Garrett's behavior," she said with a wrinkle between her brows.
Sterrin plucked a glass of champagne off of a tray as it went by her and shrugged. "We warned Jack in advance that dad was a dick."
"Sterrin," Elaine said sternly.
"I just wanted Jack to meet you, mom. Garrett can take a flying fuck for all I care," Declan said and kissed his mother's cheek, then smiled at Jack.
"Well come on then," Elaine said as she led them further into the house. "There's lots of food, lots of people eager to meet you all, I'm sure."
Jack followed giving Declan's hand a quick squeeze. Truth was he was nervous as hell but he was trying to hide it. Not only was Declan's family not so hot on the whole gay thing but if they started asking Jack about <i>his</i> family - well to say he came from the wrong side of the tracks was an understatement.
Of course Max - who was chatting easily with Sterrin's father - seemed the perfect edition and Jack couldn't help but envy him a bit.
Declan gave Jack a tight smile, purposefully not looking at his step-father who glanced away from Max only long enough to shoot a glare in his direction. He watched as Sterrin moved easily into her place as social butterfly, accepting hugs and kisses on the cheek from people he knew she despised with no outward sign of disdain. It was all so terribly pretentious, and Declan was glad he'd left it all behind.
"Do you want something to drink?" he asked Jack. "I mean something harder than champagne." He was already turning to head toward the bar when he was stopped by Harry Clifton, an old buddy from college.
"Harry," he said with a nod, smiling.
"Dec," he said, then glanced beyond Declan to Jack. "Huh. Is here with Sterrin?"
"No," Declan said and put his arm around Jack's waist. "He's here with me. Harry, this is my boyfriend Jack Doyle. Jack, this is my old friend Harry Clifton."
Harry blinked, looking uncomfortable. "Nice, ah, to meet you."
"Nice to meet you," Jack said, giving Harry a polite enough smile. "Why don't you two catch up, I'll get us those drinks. Harry? Want something?"
"Ah, no. Actually, I've got... Is that Sterrin? I should go say hi to her. You know, her birthday and all." He nodded to Jack, then headed off to join the crowd of people that was slowly gathering around Sterrin.
"Dick," Declan muttered, then looked to Jack. "I'm sorry, baby."
Jack shrugged. "It's okay," he replied, moving on to the bar and pouring them both a drink. "I'm just sorry they're being dicks to you."
He moved to the bar and sighed. "I knew it was going to be like this, I just hoped..."
That he had a real friend amongst all this bullshit? That was too much to hope for.
"Well," Garrett said as he moved in behind him to grab scotch for himself and Max. "Thank God for your sister," he said in a low voice so Jack couldn't hear. "I want you to know that I'm allowing this right now because I don't want a scene in front of company, but when the party is over you can leave and take him with you."
"I'll leave when Declan does," Sterrin said, having followed her father over, expecting him to try something on Declan. "And Max will leave with me."
"He can't approve of -"
"He's here with me, with us," Sterrin replied.
"I won't stay where I'm not wanted," Declan replied, cutting in. "I'm not here for you, I'm here for my sister and my mother. When the party is over, I'd planned on leaving anyway. But for now, me and my queer boyfriend are going to drink all your booze," he said with a tight smile, then raised his glass as he started downing whiskey.
Jack had to bite his lip from saying something nasty but he put his arm around Declan's waist and stood close to him, head held up proudly. Max arrived then, not needing to hear what had been said to get the gist of everyone's body language.
"Jack, pour me one would you?" he asked and Jack nodded and did so, handing it over. "Cheers," Max said, clinking glasses in an obviously friendly way with the other man before taking a sip of his drink and slipping his arm around Sterrin's waist.
Sterrin leaned in to Max and smirked at her father as he fluttered for a moment, then smiled at Max. "Ridiculous. You won't be taking off, will you, Max? I'd hoped you and Sterrin might stay around for a while..."
"We have plans," Sterrin said, cutting her father off and seething over the way he'd treated Declan.
Max just smiled. "I'm afraid it is her birthday," he said. "So whatever the lady wants - she gets."
Sterrin smirked at her father and pressed a kiss to Max's jaw. "Thank you, darling," she murmured.
Declan also smirked at Garrett, looking alarmingly like his sister as he hooked his arm around Jack's shoulders. To add to it, Elaine moved in beside her husband and looked at her kids, then to her husband. Her spine stiffened as she read the body language, then looked to her husband. "Go talk to your friends, Garrett," she said in a stiff voice. Garrett moved away, face bright red, and Elaine smiled apologetically.
"I'm sorry," she said to Jack. "He's... Well, it's unforgivable. I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Jack said, smiling softly at her. "Honestly - I don't think he'd like me even if I wasn't gay." His arm went around Declan's waist and he smiled at him, face full of love. "Besides I don't need his approval to love your son."
Elaine beamed and leaned in to hug Jack again. "That's wonderful, honey. Anyone that loves my son like that is a good man indeed," she said and pressed a kiss to his cheek. She turned to Max and Sterrin and leaned in to hug Max as well. "I hope Garrett hasn't been pushing himself on you too actively, sweetie," she said with a sigh. "He gets rather uh - excited - about prospects for Sterrin's future."
Sterrin rolled her eyes and patted Max's back. "We're fine, aren't we?"
Max gave Sterrin's mother a warm, charming smile. Butter wouldn't melt. "Oh no it's fine, Mrs. Boyd," he said. "I'm sure he's just wants the best for his daughter." Oh yeah he could be sugary sweet when needed.
Sterrin kept her face pleasantly blank, but smiled when her mother blossomed under Max's charm. "Well, you would certainly seem like the best from where I'm standing, Mr. Sandberg," Elaine said with a flush on her cheeks.
"Mother," Sterrin said with a laugh and Elaine took a long drink of champagne. "Right. Well. You kids enjoy the party, eh? And come say goodbye to me before you leave." She turned back to Jack and leaned in to hug him again. "You take care of my boy," she whispered in his ear. "He's tough, but he's going to need you too after all of this. Okay?"
"I will, ma'am, I promise," Jack whispered back, returning the hug.
"Thank you," she said and patted his back before moving to hug Declan and Sterrin, then make a determined path toward her husband who would be getting an earful. Declan sighed and squeezed Jack. "See? Told ya she'd love you," he said and pressed a kiss to Jack's neck. "Because she's the parent with common sense."
"I like her," Jack said, suddenly finding himself missing his own mother and pushing those feelings aside. "So what now?" he asked, looking at Declan then Sterrin and Max.
"I say we drink the most expensive shit in here, give Garrett's friends something to look at, and leave," Declan said with a shrug. "We can get out of here and go anywhere in the world you want to."
Sterrin stretched, her nose crinkled. "It's way too fucking boring around here. It's all old people and choads. Well, except for you," she said and kissed Max softly.
Max chuckled. "Well thank you," he said, kissing her back.
Jack refilled all their drinks, downed his, then - knowing eyes were on them - smiled at Declan and wrapped his hand around the back of his neck and kissed him for all he was worth. Max laughed and sipped his drink.
Sterrin's nose crinkled at the sight of her brother making out with someone and she turned to Max. "Let's go somewhere else," she murmured and shot her father a look when he attempted to make a move in Jack and Declan's direction. "Need I remind you," she said to Garrett when he drew close enough, not caring this time if Max heard and assumed things. "The things I know about you? The things I can find out?" She put a finger square in the middle of his chest. "Father or not, you make one more move toward my brother and I'll see you ruined. Leave him alone."
"Like anyone would believe anything you say," Garrett said, laughing uncomfortably and shaking his head at Max. It was obvious he saw Sterrin as a threat, though.
"All the people that matter to you already know what I can do, remember?" she smiled sweetly. "Now, it's my birthday and if you have issue with what happens at my parties, maybe you should leave and think about not having another, hmm?"
"I think that would be a good idea," Garrett said, jaw firming.
Sterrin smirked and took Max's hand, leading him away from her father and her brother.
Declan leaned into Jack's kiss, kissing him back just as deeply. He'd gotten over this a long time ago, and as far as he was concerned he knew who his real friends and family was. Screw everybody else. He heard hushed murmurs and some nervous giggles, but he didn't stop.
"Pity there's a bunch of people around," he murmured, nipping lightly at Jack's bottom lip. "You know what it does to me when you kiss me like that."
"I know," Jack said with a wicked smile. "But I don't think they're really ready for that show just now." He shot Garrett a look then poured them both another drink.
He smoothed back Jack's hair and gave him a soft look. "You okay?" He knew all of Jack's family had passed, and he hadn't ever really been with Jack in a family sort of environment.
"Sure," Jack said, smiling. He hoped it reached his eyes. The last thing Declan needed was to worry about him right now.
But Declan did worry, so he took Jack's hand and led him out of the living room and the party and down the hall to his mother's sun room. "Okay. Now, tell me the truth."
Jack ran a hand through his hair. "Just not used to the whole family thing," he said. "Hard to relate I guess."
Declan's eyes softened. "Well it's a piss poor excuse for one, but..." He supposed having some family was better than none at all. "I'll be your family. You can claim Sterrin too if you want, but we might be better to hunt down some foster brothers and sisters for you."
Jack hugged him tightly. "You as my family is more than enough."
He cupped Jack's Face in his hands. "I love you," he said and kissed him softly. "And I'm not going anywhere until you order me away."
"Well I'm not doing that so you're stuck with me," Jack replied and kissed him back. "How long is Sterrin going to insist on staying."
"Not very much longer, I'm sure," he said. "She gets bored at these things pretty quick, so..." He kissed Jack again. "Do we want to go see if she's ready to go? I'm kinda sick of this shit myself."
"I'm ready if you are," Jack said and they headed back into the party.
Sterrin was beyond bored, and at the sight of her brother emerging from wherever he'd gone with Jack, she turned to Max.
"Baby, are you ready to go?" she asked as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "I'm sooooooo over all of this."
"I'm only here because you are," Max said. "If you're ready to go - let's go."
Sterrin nodded to her brother and they both started heading toward the door. "Thanks for coming out and being a distraction for a little while," she said and kissed his cheek. "I promise I'll make it up to you later. However you want."
"I'll hold you to that," Max replied.
"Hey we better find your mom," Jack said, looking around. "She'll kill us if we leave without saying goodbye."
"Ah shit, you're right," Declan said and motioned for Sterrin. They went poking around and finally found Elaine sitting by herself out at the pool. "Awww, Mom," Declan said as he moved over to hug her. She wasn't crying right then, but she looked like she had been recently.
"I'll handle him," Elaine promised Declan, then hugged him back.
Declan shook his head and stepped back, feeling sad for his mom but not really sure what to do about it. Sterrin moved in next and Elaine told her happy birthday, then held her arms out to Jack and Max. "Well one thing can be said, my kids have good taste in men. C'mere."
Max went to her first, hugging her back. But when it was Jack's turn the hug was far warmer, more real.
"It was great to meet you," Jack said. "Maybe you can come visit us at the Manor sometime."
Elaine wasn't too sure about Sterrin's boyfriend, but Jack was an absolute keeper. "I'd love that, Jack," she said and squeezed him. "You're good for my boy and it's been wonderful meeting you."
Declan grinned, insanely proud of Jack in that moment, and Sterrin rolled her eyes, though maybe deep down she was just the teeny tiniest bit jealous.
"We'll be seeing you, Mom," he said and kissed his mother's cheek one more time before wrapping his arm around Jack's waist and walking out, entirely proud and content.