Finn just managed to get his anger under control. It took every last ounce of his self control not to storm after Cameron and tear him away from Jesse. But then, he reminded himself that his stepbrother was old enough to make his own decisions. Even if they were shitty ones. "Yeah, absolutely," Finn agreed, relieved that Everett was still interested in his offer. "Do you want to stop and pick up something to eat?" Knowing Ev, he had probably neglected himself and Finn eagerly assumed the role of caretaker.

"Yeah, that'd be good," Ev agreed. They fell into a silence that was slightly less strained as they headed for Finn's car. Everett slipped into the passenger's seat without a word and finally ventured, "Pick wherever you want. I'll eat anything. Just... someplace we can talk." Most places open at the crack of dawn weren't clubs with pounding music, but the part Ev cared about a lot more than getting something to eat was making sure that he and Finn really had an opportunity to talk things through. After a long pause, Ev offered, "I'm not mad. I... I'm still hurt, but I'm not mad. I get it. Maybe more than you'd think."

Finn nodded after giving Everett's words a moment to linger in the air. "You have every right to be both," he said, his hands gripping the steering wheel. He didn't understand what Ev meant by 'getting it', but that wasn't important right now. "None of this is Kurt's fault. I just want you to know that." Finn exhaled as he chose an IHOP and pulled into the parking lot. "When we were in high school, he had a big crush on me and..." He paused, finding the memories painful. "...well, I thought I was straight, and I treated him like crap." Pouring out his guts now, Finn hoped he wasn't about to hurt Ev further. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen, but when Kurt found out about me... it's hard to explain... but it's like all those unresolved feelings came pouring out, and..." He shook his head, fearing he was making things worse. "I'm sorry, Ev..."

Everett swallowed hard. "I know." As mad as he'd been, it was impossible to really frame Finn as a villain. He could be stupid and oblivious and annoying as hell, but the truth was that he meant well. He never set out to do anything to hurt anyone. //The road to hell is paved with good intentions,// Everett reminded himself with a rueful smile. They walked inside almost silently and Everett asked for a table in the back despite the fact that the place was empty at such an ungodly early hour. "I wanna tell you some stuff too, but first I wanna know... is it done? You and Kurt, is that over? I need to know, not just for me, but for Blaine. He may not like me a whole lot right now, but I don't want him getting his heart ripped out."

"Yes, god... yes, Ev... it's over," Finn was quick to assure the other man. He reached across the table and grasped Everett's hand, a public display of affection he would have never shown before. "Kurt's in love with your brother, and I... I never stopped loving you." More than anything in the world he wanted Everett to believe his heartfelt words. He had fucked things up so royally that it was something of a miracle that Ev was even talking to him again. "No matter what happens between us after tonight, I want you to remember that."

Though he knew that half the problem was the fact that he was overtired and overwrought, Ev found himself brushing away tears as he nodded. "Thanks. Sorry, I'm a mess." He got himself together long enough to order some coffee and pancakes. Once the caffeine arrived and the waitress made her exit, Everett forced himself to continue. "You should know that... that when I say I get what happened with Kurt... I do. You guys share a lot. Nobody else will ever know the things about each other that you do. It..." He sipped the coffee to buy a few seconds and cast his gaze down at the table. "It was the same way with Coop."

Finn had just picked up his fork to dive into the mountain of pancakes before him when he dropped the utensil in surprise. Of all the things Everett might have told him, this was the last thing he ever expected. His mind whirled, trying to wrap itself around the concept. Strangely, Finn wasn't repulsed by the idea. After what had happened between him and Kurt, he kind of understood where Ev was coming from. "You and Coop?" he whispered, leaning forward and gazing into Ev's eyes. "Seriously?"

Everett nodded nervously. He had no idea how Finn would react to the idea, but at least he hadn't recoiled in horror. "It was the first time he came home for Christmas after he moved out to California. Blaine was still pissed at him - okay, yeah, I guess he still is - and I felt weird with Blaine since he was off at Dalton and it didn't feel like we had anything to talk about anymore and... I went into his room, just to talk, y'know? It just sort of happened." The second part was a little harder to explain, and Everett hesitated before he added, "The other night, after I saw the tape, Coop had asked me and Blaine to dinner. I was kind of messed up... angry and just... anyway, I left the table and Coop came after me just to make sure I was okay. I kinda, um, jumped him." There really wasn't a more delicate way to describe it, and in retrospect he could hardly believe he'd been so stupid as to all but dry hump his brother in a public restroom. "Blaine came in and... he said... I guess he'd seen us... before. Y'know, back in high school. That's why things were weird today with us. And that's... that's what I think... you should know."

Finn retrieved his utensil and dove into the stack of pancakes waiting before him. He listened intently while he ate, chewing and swallowing as he eyes widened while Everett divulged what had happened between him and Cooper. About halfway through the stack of flapjacks, Finn reached for an enormous glass of orange juice and downed it in one huge gulp. "Thank you for telling me," he replied, wiping his mouth with a napkin. Even Ev's revelation couldn't tamp down Finn's appetite. "I guess it kind of explains why Blaine's never talked much about your big brother." Flashing a grin at Ev, the former jock hastened to add, "But that doesn't mean I'm gonna be put off by it."

Everett looked shell-shocked at Finn's easy acceptance. The truth was he'd guarded the secret so closely for so long because he'd known that absolutely no one would understand. At best they'd dismiss him as a pervert and at worse they'd think Cooper was some sort of predator. Instead Finn was acting like his usual self and talking as if it didn't affect anything at all. He blinked, stumped, and finally found himself smiling faintly. "Sorry, I was prepared for freaking out. I wasn't prepared for you being sane and reasonable. I don't... I just figured that... you'd think I was some kind of sicko or something."

"Well, maybe I'm a little more open-minded after what happened between me and Kurt?" Finn opined. He started eating again, slicing into the remainder of his pancakes with his fork. "Maybe I would've been freaked out before. I don't know." Chewing almost thoughtfully, Finn swallowed and flashed Everett a reassuring smile. "So, yeah, we're good. It's not gonna scare me off." He set down his fork again, then reached for the other man's hand without hesitation. "If you're willing to give me another chance?"

Everett couldn't help relishing the feeling of Finn's hand wrapped around his own. "Yeah." Maybe it was stupid, and maybe it made him a doormat going back to somebody who'd cheated on him, but Ev didn't really care. It wasn't worth letting pride get in the way. He watched Blaine do that to himself constantly, and he'd seen the pain it caused his twin. Blaine could lie to the rest of the world as often as he wanted, but Ev knew him well enough to see the difference. "But if we do... it has to be different. No more hiding. If somebody asks about my boyfriend, I tell them. If we go get dinner, I get to do this," he nodded toward their joined hands. "I need it. I tried to pretend I didn't, but I do. I want to be with somebody who's proud to be with me."

Finn glanced down at their intertwined fingers, and then he beamed up at Everett. "I was ready for that the night I told you I love you," he replied with meaning. Then, without a trace of hesitation, Finn leaned forward over the table and pressed a soft kiss to Ev's lips. He lingered there, simply taking a beat to gaze into the other's man's beautiful dark eyes. "You're calling all the shots here, Ev," he stressed, easing back into his seat. "I've never been the smartest guy in the world. And I'll probably fuck something up again. But, if you can put up with all my faults, and you still want me, I'm yours."

"Okay." Everett let out a long, slow breath and finally smiled. "Okay. Good." He squeezed Finn's fingers and refused to let them go until the lure of the food left on his plate drew him away. For a few minutes he dove eagerly into the act of eating, only realizing in that moment just how starving he'd been. With the plate cleared and his coffee cup empty, Ev finally asked, "So are you coming home with me tonight? Uh, today? This morning? Y'know, now."

Finn lit up and nodded eagerly, "Hell, yeah!" Then, a little more somberly, "I mean, yes... I'd like that... please?" Reaching for his wallet, Finn paid the bill and pulled Everett out of his seat. "Let's go." Outside, he dragged the other man into another kiss. This time it was far more passionate, hungry and scorching. It left Finn gasping as he broke contact. And he gazed deeply into Ev's eyes as he brushed his fingers through his lover's wild, curly hair. "Listen, I don't expect anything to happen when we get back to your place. You've been through a lot, and I'll just be happy getting to hold you again."

Ev gave a firm shake of his head. "Uh uh. No. I mean, yes. Holding, definitely, but first... more than that." He dragged Finn into another breathless kiss, not caring that they were more or less making out in the middle of a restaurant. That was a thrill. It was all a thrill. Everett took a shaky breath and drew away long enough to pay the check before they sprinted out to the car. "Drive quickly. Not, like, dangerously quickly, but, uh... speed. Watch for cops while speeding. Possibly a lot."

Finn's heart thundered with excitement, and he beamed brightly at Everett. "Buckle up and hang on tight, then." Pulling out of the parking lot, he drove as hurriedly and as safely as possible to Ev's apartment building. Finn found it difficult to keep his hands on the steering wheel. Especially knowing that Ev wanted him again, and was just as eager to reconcile in every way possible. The moment he shut off the car, Finn dove forward and kissed Ev with a fiery passion that stole his own breath away. There were no words--none were needed--as Finn gave himself over to desire.

Ev found himself awkwardly leaning over the center console to grab Finn and kiss him like he couldn't get enough. Indeed only the restrictive position and the realization that the belt was digging into his neck finally drew Everett back. "Apartment. Now." It was in fits and starts broken by lingering kisses that they finally got themselves up to Ev's apartment. He fiddled with the lock while pressed back against the door and panting for breath as their bodies ground together. The second the door opened, he took a step inside and waited for Finn to do the same before slamming the door. "In the bedroom," he managed between kisses. "I just want... I want to fall asleep after and wake up with you still here." Beneath the haze of desire, there was still pain in Everett's voice that he couldn't quite hide.

Panting, his eyes smoky and dazed, Finn caressed Everett's flushed cheek as he promised softly, "I'll stay as long as you want me." He leaned in closer, brushing swelling lips against his lover's, more tenderly this time but no less passionate. "I love you, Ev. And you'll never have to doubt that again." Backing the other man through the living room, down the hall and into the bedroom, Finn had already shed half of his clothing and was working on divesting Ev of his own. He lunged in, fastening his mouth on Ev's throat and sucking greedily. "I've missed this... missed you... so much," he gasped between heated licks and nibbles.

Everett shivered and wrapped his arms tightly around the taller man's neck. "Missed you too." The truth was he thought he'd never so much as speak to Finn again. The relief of having him there and holding him was enough to make Ev feel giddy and weak. He held on tighter and shifted to find Finn's lips once more. They're still tangled together when somehow they manage to make it to the bed, and the moment they're wrapped up in one another on top of the sheets, Ev slows the pace. His kisses become lingering instead of frantic, and he slowly loosed his grip so that he can explore his lover's now-exposed skin.

Fever gripped Finn as Everett's hands roamed over his body while their tongues danced together. He moaned and writhed uncontrollably, drowning in the incredible sensation of being reunited with Ev. He breathed in deeply, savoring his lover's intoxicating scent, which intensified with each passing moment. One large hand disappeared into the mass of dark curls topping the musician's head, while the other closed around a denim-clad hip. Finn began to grind, his pelvis deliberately pressing their trapped erections together. Groaning between kisses, he quickly realized that a few calculated thrusts would have him boiling over in no time.

Ev took a shaky breath as they moved together. "Love you. God, I love you." No matter how hard he'd tried to be pissed off at Finn, in the end he'd only ever really managed to be sad. He hadn't hated Finn, he'd just missed him. It wasn't the time to make plans or change anything, but Ev knew now that they could. They had a chance now that they'd never had before. "Slow tonight," he whispered between kisses as he reached between them to divest Finn of his jeans.

Finn reassured Ev with another languid kiss that he had absolutely no intention of rushing anything. He kicked himself free of his jeans, and fairly sighed with relief as his enormous arousal jerked within his boxers. Wet pools of precum highlighted the outline of his girth, a clear sign of how worked up Finn was. Deciding to leave his underwear on for the time being, the former jock then went to work on peeling Ev's jeans away from his gorgeous body. Finn bit back a groan at the sight which greeted him. The bloated tip of Ev's thick cock peeked out from the waistband of his boxer briefs, pulsing and glistening. He palmed his lover's erection, stroking a playful thumb over the flaring head. "I love you, too," Finn said breathlessly. "And tonight... I'm going to show you... just how much..."

A low whine escaped Everett's throat at the touch and the whispered words. He nodded eagerly and stared with passion dark eyes at the tall, muscular man above him. He couldn't stop looking. Part of Ev couldn't believe that Finn was really there, that it wasn't some dream brought on by exhaustion. Slowly he blinked and smiled almost sheepishly. "I don't care what we do, I just need you." Frankly if Finn had put the brakes on entirely and wanted nothing but to sleep, he wouldn't have cared so long as they woke up together.

"I need you too, baby," Finn rasped, nipping playfully at Everett's grinning mouth. He felt the other man's feverish length twitch in his grasp, and his own swelled and dripped with excitement. "We'll do anything and everything you want tonight..." Finn sealed his breathless promise with a passionate kiss. His tongue lashed over every inch of Ev's delicious mouth, while he mindlessly ground himself against his lover's thigh. Finn's heart thudded against his ribs, his blood pounding and roaring in his ears. He and Ev were back together, and in his lust-fogged brain, Finn had no intention of screwing things up this time.

"I want you. I want you inside me," Everett panted as he rutted helplessly against his lover. "God, soon." Later he would want a proper reconciliation, something sweet and romantic, but his hormones demanded otherwise for now. He wanted nothing more than to feel Finn pushing inside of him and know the pleasure of their shared release once more. Everett sealed the request with a hungry kiss. "Get your clothes off. Fuck, stop being dressed. Lemme feel you, Finn, please..."

Finn called on every last ounce of his self control in order to not spill over right then and there. Having thought he might never hear Everett's sweet pleading again, his lover's breathless words nearly finished Finn. "Fuck, yes," he readily agreed. "Anything... for you..." Large, trembling hands tore at the rest of his clothing, while Finn regretted the loss of bodily contact to do so. He fairly sighed with relief when his achingly swollen cock lurched free. It jutted out before him, blushing with lust and dripping wet. Finn quickly glanced around and seized a bottle of lube from the nightstand. A moment later he was slicking his fingers and pressing his digits into the dark crevice between Ev's gorgeous ass.

At the touch of Finn's fingers, his breath caught. Ev, eager for more, spread his legs wider. It didn't matter that he looked like a wanton whore. He wanted Finn to fuck him, and he didn't care if he looked just as needy as he felt. It would come as no surprise to Finn anyway. If he'd ever had any shame in that department, they never would have made the video that started the whole mess. "Just enough to get me ready. Please, Finn? Don't wanna wait..."

Finn knew exactly how Everett felt because he couldn't stand to wait either. Still, he managed to tamp down his enthusiasm enough to properly stretch his lover open. Incredibly tight and scorching hot, Ev's tender passage clenched hungrily around his digits. And Finn's aching erection pulsed and drooled in anticipation. He leaned down and gave the other man's similarly weeping length a teasing lick. He groaned as Ev's embrace tightened, and as he brushed his nose through the dense curls surrounded that beautiful cock, Finn breathed, "Tell me when you're ready..."

Everett managed to keep himself from shouting, "NOW!" immediately. He held out for almost a full minute before moaning Finn's name and beginning to pump his hips almost desperately. "Can't wait anymore. Can't.... Finn... please, now." Trembling fingers reached out for Finn, and Ev stroked the tips gently over his lover's cheek. It shouldn't have felt so right to be with Finn again after everything that had passed between them, but it did. He couldn't imagine himself in any other place with any other person.

Finn shared Everett's desperation, and as he gazed into those warm, brown eyes, he cursed himself for ever having brought this incredible man pain. "I love you, Ev," he whispered between ragged breaths. Slowly, Finn eased his digits free and wasted no time in greasing his aching arousal. He shivered and gasped at the stimulation, which was almost too much to bear considering how worked up he already felt. Lost in a haze of desire, Finn was drawing Ev's legs back and lifting that luscious ass off the bed before he even realized what was happening. He draped himself over his lover, pressing forward and groaning with pleasure as Ev's body began to swallow him whole.

Ev let out a long, low groan of pleasure. His ass stretched out wide to accommodate Finn's thick cock as it pressed deeper into his body. "God, I missed the way you feel." Even their relatively short separation had been nothing but torture. He'd missed every minute of having Finn's arms around him and the man's body pressed against his own. Gently he shifted his hips, lifting them to ease the way and bring their hips flush together.

Finn echoed Everett's sentiments as he fully sheathed himself within his lover's silken embrace. Ev felt just as deliciously tight as ever, warm and slick. The sensations were so intense that it literally took Finn's breath away. He filled his hands with that big round, beautiful ass and began to plunge in and out, thrusting with all the ravenous lust he felt for Ev. His panting mouth covered Ev's in an all-consuming kiss. Finn groaned as their tongues tangled and caressed. To be with Ev again, and taking him completely, brought him a happiness he thought he'd never experience again.

Everett clung desperately to his lover as Finn began to move. It was perfect, all the more perfect for the time they'd spent apart. The hole created by nights spent thinking he'd never see Finn again were slowly being filled with new hope. His body sang with a feeling of completion. In the quiet, panting beats between kisses Ev found himself staring up into Finn's eyes and cupping his face or clawing his back, their hips moving without any instruction from them. As always their bodies found the perfect rhythm instinctively. They were made to be together, and Everett knew that he wouldn't let anything separate them. Whatever game at them, they were strong enough to fight through it.

Finn had no idea how much longer he could last. Being with Everett again was beyond perfection, and Finn's rapidly beating heart ached over the fact that he had ever hurt the beautiful man writhing beneath him. No words needed to be exchanged; his love for Ev poured out in every heated thrust. He filled his hands with the other man's incredible ass, lifting Ev off the bed and driving harder, faster into his luscious body. Finn's tightening balls slammed against the musician's backside, adding to the delicious symphony of skin slapping against skin. His mouth swooped down, recapturing Ev's and plunging his tongue between those gloriously swollen lips.

In no time at all, it was over. The tightening of his stomach and the delicious ache that meant he was close came and went, exploding into complete satisfaction in the blink of an eye. Everett's sweaty skin was plastered against Finn's as he tried to hold on and keep moving all at once. "Oh, god, fuck..." That wasn't exactly what he'd intended to say, and Everett followed the words with an equally blissed-out-sounding, "I love you so fucking much."

"I love you too, baby," Finn breathed as soon as he had the power of speech again. He could still feel the slow pulsing and throbbing in his cock as he slid out and offered Ev another lingering kiss. He continued to embrace Ev's sagging body--damp with exertion--pinning him back against the thoroughly mussed bed. "I am never, ever letting you go again," the former jock promised. Finn gazed adoringly into his lover's dark eyes. "I'll love you till the ends of the Earth."

From any other person at any other time, Everett might have laughed a the declaration. From Finn in such a vulnerable moment, Ev just smiled. "Can't complain about that," he drawled in response before lifting his head to kiss the other man soundly on the lips. "Let's get some sleep." For the first time in a long time, he wouldn't have to dream about what he wanted. Finn would be right there with him instead. "If Blaine's not too much of a dick and gives you a little time off with all this shit, maybe you can come with me to the hospital tomorrow?"

"I'll go anywhere you want me to," Finn enthused, incredibly relaxed and content. "And I don't think you'll have to worry about Blaine. He's out with Kurt, and if they're having half as good a time as we are, then he should be in a great mood tomorrow." Strangely, Finn didn't feel jealous over knowing that his stepbrother and Blaine were probably crawling all over each other at this very moment. He and Ev were back together, and that's all that mattered to him. "I wonder how long Cooper will have to stay in the hospital?"
>>>>>

"The nurse I talked to last night said he'll be out soon, just... he's going to have to do physical therapy, and he'll have to use a cane for awhile. His leg'll be in the cast, so they think it should be immobile enough without a wheelchair." That had been Cooper's favorite news of the day and even that hadn't made him really happy. His brother was sad, depressed, and Ev wasn't sure what would pull him out. "I hope maybe he'll feel better once he can at least go see the play and things like that, get out." Ev swallowed hard. Cooper had always been a constant in his life, always his rock whenever he really needed someone. "I hate him being in the hospital."

"I hate any of this had to happen," Finn agreed, embracing Ev tighter. He brushed his lips through his lover's warm, damp hair. "If the cops don't track the bastards down who did this, then I'm gonna have to find them myself." Finn meant it. Not only had those gay bashers hurt Ev's brother, but they'd also tried to harm Cam. No one was going to get away with that shit. Thoughts of his stepbrother made Finn frown with concern. Cam going off with Jesse St. James filled him with dread. All Finn could foresee was trouble and heartbreak ahead.

"Only if I can come with you," Ev answered as he burrowed into Finn's embrace. He sighed and felt his eyelids growing heavy. "Just be here in the morning," he whispered softly.