Today's the day Charlie is going to meet my family and I'm going to come out to them and surprisingly, I'm not nervous at all. I know that they will love Charlie and they accept Ryder for who he is, so why wouldn't they accept me?

I get more and more excited as the day goes on while Charlie gets more and more nervous. When it's time to go, I'm practically jumping up and down at the door. "You ready yet, babe?" I call.

"No! I look like shit. Hold on!"

"I've seen your shit! You look nothing of the sort!" I call back amusingly.

"I don't know if I should look 'straight' or 'gay'!"

"You should look like you, babe! They're not gonna care. Have you seen Ryder?" I chuckle.

"Exactly! Your mom has three beautiful children!"

"I don't understand what that has to do with anything." I start walking towards his bedroom.

"Don't come in!"

"Babyyyyyyy!" I whine.

"I'm not wearing a shirrrrrrt!"

"Charlie, you know I love your body. All of your body." I remind him but I won't push. He still hasn't shown me his scar and I want to give him time, but I miss seeing his naked chest.

"I mean, I have a coverup for my arm, but it's the principle of it..." He goes quiet. "Okay, I think I'm ready."

"You don't have to hide it from me." I say softly, hoping he'll hear me.

"Yes I do. I have to hide it from everyone. I have those workout arm bands for covering tattoos, so you can see me naked again, so there's that." He walks out wearing black dress shoes, black dress pants, a black dress shirt, and a purple tie that he's still tying. He left his hair curly and he's wearing perfume and eye makeup.

I grasp his arm. "I want to see it."

"Why? I don't even want to see it."

"I don't want you to hide things from me."

"Ethan, I hate it. I wasn't planning on living, so I didn't think there was going to be a big ugly scar on my arm. I hate it. I hate the way it makes me feel. I hate showering. I hate the inbetween times when I'm putting on a new sleeve. It's terrible. It's intolerable."

I release him and help finish tying his tie for him. "I'm sorry..."

"Don't be sad. I'm sorry." He hugs my arm. "Let's go see your family. I'll be happy."

"I'm not sad, Charlie. I just want you to be... I just wish it didn't hurt you so much." I wrap an arm around him. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you. So do you, Superstar." He kisses me. "Let's go."

"Let's." I lead him out the door and to my car, hopping in the driver's seat. I don't know why he thinks I look good, I literally look the same as I always do while he's over here lookin' like a sexy CEO.

Charlie sits in his seat and fiddles with the stereo, humming along to a song he finds before grabbing my hand as we drive off.

I smile at him every time we stop and soon we're at my house. It's small, two floors. We can barely afford it, but mom refuses to make us live anywhere less. It's a little broken down, but livable.

I squeeze Charlie's hand. "You ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

I get out of the car and lead him up to the door, which Ryder throws open, sporting a big grin. "Hey, guys!"

"Sup, squirt." I ruffle his hair and he pouts.

"Hi, Ryder. It's nice to see you when I'm not in the hospital." Charlie giggles and hugs my arm.

Ry nods and opens the door further. "Come on in, Kaz and I just started cooking. Mom will be home soon." He explains and I hear a crash from the kitchen along with a string of curse words.

Remembering where we are, Charlie drops my arm and steps away. "Is she okay?"

I shrug. "She's fine."

"MOTHERFUCKER! I hAte cooking! RYDER!"

"Mostly fine."

"Ooooh. Cooking?!" Charlie bounces.

"Come on." I smile and lead him inside, the floorboards creaking under our feet.

"You look really pretty, by the way." Ryder compliments Charlie as we walk to the kitchen.

Charlie blushes. "Thank you. Hospital gowns aren't the most flattering on anyone. You look cute too, as I'm sure always." He grins.

Ryder blushes and twirls his hair. "Thanks!"

We enter the kitchen just as Kaz throws a spoon into the sink. "Screw this. Oh, hey loser. This your roommate?" She looks him up and down and clicks her tongue. "Fancy. Where'd he get that? Armani?"

"Don't be a dick, Kaz."

"I'm sorry." Charlie shrinks.

"It's her defense mechanism." I inform Charlie, not liking how she's making him feel. I flick her ear. "Fuck off."

"It's fine. I... got most of this online. I don't shop at Armani...."

"Okay." She shrugs and starts heading out, clearly not understanding how much she's affecting Charlie.

"You just gonna leave the guests to cook?" I raise an eyebrow.

"You've got Ryder." She rolls her eyes and leaves. "Nice to meet you... dude."

"Nice to meet you too." He forces a smile. "My name is Charlie."

She nods and does a finger gun. "Gotcha."

She leaves and I pull Charlie against my side. "We caught her in a bad mood. Don't take it to heart, she'll soften up."

"She hates me!" He whisper shouts, looking through our fridge and cabinets for what we have to eat. Most of them are empty, we only have what we need to meal prep for the week along with one bag of chips to share.

"She doesn't hate you." I promise him, wrapping my arms around his waist. "She's fourteen and has an attitude bigger than Mt. Olympus."

He scowls and wiggles out of my grasp. "Someone might see." Charlie bites his lip. "Fuck."

"So what if I have to come out a little early." I shrug lazily. "The ingredients are already out, baby." I gesture to the mess Kaz left on the counter.

"Looks like chicken and rice it is." Charlie claps and gets right to work after washing his hands, probably using one of the recipes he has stored in his head.

"Baby, you don't need to do this." I chuckle.

"I want to help." Ry says from right behind us. Little shit must've snuck in.

"Okay!" Charlie puts him to work. "Xander loves food, so you might as well learn. He can cook himself though."

Ryder blushes. "We aren't even together or anything."

"You went on a date. Did it not go well?" Charlie's eyes widen.

"N-No, it went well!" Ryder's eyes get dreamy. "Really well. But you're so forward like you think we're gonna get married or something. He might not even want me."

The kid looks down and I shove a finger in his chest, knowing exactly what this is about. "He will want you."

"There's nothing to be scared about." Charlie smiles. "I promise."

Ryder smiles, but I can tell he doesn't exactly believe Charlie. In his mind, Charlie doesn't understand. I let it go though, he'll learn in his own time.

"Anything I can do?" I ask.

"Yes." Charlie gives me the knife and shows me how he wants everything cut before working on seasonings to use.

"Where's Kaz?" I ask Ryder. "Has she simmered?"

"She's throwing a ball at the wall."

"Why?"

"We had to shut the internet off again." Ryder shrugs.

"I could pay for the internet."

"No," I shake my head. "You don't have to do that, Charlie. We can't take your money."

He scowls. "Please? I willed my money to you and if I don't do it, Xander will."

"I doubt he cares that much." Ryder puffs out his cheeks.

I just stare at my boyfriend. "You left your money to me?"

"I left a lot to you, Scout, your family, and Carmen."

"But... even after I hurt you so much?" I feel my eyes tearing up.

"I loved you and I love you now. I willed it to you because I love you and because I didn't want you to struggle and have to..." He bites his lip.

"I love you too." I caress his cheek. "Thank you... I... god, you're such a good person." I wipe my eyes with my arm and get back to cooking.

Charlie captains the ship and gets the food cooking and kitchen cleaned in record time. "Think you can handle the rest, boys?"

"Yeah!" Ryder grins and I hug Charlie.

"You're incredible."

"You always say that when I cook for you." He pats my stomach.

"Mmm, because you're such a good cook!" I pick him up and twirl him around. "The best I've ever had."

Charlie winks.

I chuckle and set him down. "Let's set the table, Ry." I shove him and grab the plates from the cabinet. Ryder grabs some glasses and we head into the kitchen and set one on each place.

Charlie watches us and grins. "You two are so cute."

"Cute?!" Ryder gawks. "He's a dick!"

"I love youuuu." I coo and he glares.

"One time you changed my shampoo and gave me split ends!"

"What type of shampoo and conditioner do you use?" Charlie asks. "I buy out of the girls' section because I like soft hair." He giggles.

Ryder smiles at that. "I..." He stops short and I know he wants to tell a story but feels like he can't.

"Charlie knows, Ry."

Ryder shifts his feet. "Knows what?"

"He knows."

"That you're trans, Ryder," Charlie says.

Ryder blushes and smacks me. "You shouldn't have told him without asking me!"

"I know, I'm sorry, but I really trust him."

"So hair." Charlie claps.

"Does Xander know?" Ryder asks, worried.

"I'm not going to out someone." Charlie hums.

Ryder nods. "Thanks, I want to tell him in my own time. I really like him."

I slap his back. "I like him too."

"Yeah, you like his spankings." Ryder giggles and I grab his shirt.

"The fuck you just say to me?"

"Ethan, bad boy." Charlie waves his finger.

My cheeks turn red and Ryder smirks. "Oooo~"

"Fuck off." I release him.

"What a good cowboy." Charlie grins.

"Mm, someone really wants to get themselves into some trouble, don't they?" I say to Charlie and tickle his stomach.

"N-No. I'm a good Charlie." He giggles more.

"My good boy." I lean in to whisper, "my little slut," before stopping the torture.

Charlie's cheeks turn crimson and he bites his lip. "Ethan Liam Dechart—"

I chuckle and peck his lips before running away to get silverware.

"I've genuinely never seen him that happy." Ryder remarks.

"Really? He's always like this." Charlie plays with his hair.

"Around you."

"What? He's an angel."

Ryder scoffs. "You know he was drunk when he crashed?" He whispers, thinking I can't hear him. "His blood alcohol level was through the roof. He's never been an angel."

"He did that because of me," Charlie whispers back, "and you're telling that to an ex-alcoholic."

"He smokes too, not just cigarettes either. He was living in a spiral of self destruction until he met you." He looks up into Charlie's eyes. "You've really helped him."

"Thank you..." Charlie looks at me sadly. "He told me he'll stop smoking."

"Yeah. He says that a lot." Ryder huffs and I toss a spoon at him.

"I mean it this time!"

"He has to." Charlie chuckles awkwardly. "It was kinda his boyfriend's request while in the hospital."

I yank my sleeves up to reveal nicotine patches. "I committed and he'll hold me to that."

"Indeed I will." Charlie looks at them. "So not hot, but hotter than your cigarette at your lips when it could've been my lips at your lips."

I plant my lips on his lips just as the front door opens.

Charlie falls out of his chair. "Ouch."

"You're too jumpy." I help him up while Ryder puts the food on the table. Mom comes around the corner looking exhausted, but she smiles when she sees us.

"Ethan," she runs over and pulls me into a hug. "I'm so glad you came." She lets go and faces Charlie. "This must be your roommate. It's a pleasure to meet you, Charlie."

"The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Dechart." Charlie smiles.

"What a charmer." Mom smiles. "You can call me Amie, dear." She looks him over. "You have such nice eyes."

"Thank you. You're very pretty." He grins.

"Thank you." She nudges me. "You should be more like Charlie, here, Ethan."

I roll my eyes. "He's just trying to impress you, Ma."

"And you shouldn't be?" She chuckles and looks over the table. "This looks amazing, boys."

"I helped!" Kaz calls, coming into the kitchen.

I flick her ear as she passes me. "You did not! Charlie made this."

"It's nothing." Charlie blushes.

"It looks amazing, Charlie. Thank you." Mom leads us all over to the table and takes a seat.

Charlie sits by me and doesn't start eating until everyone else does, probably checking to see if we pray or something before he takes a sip of his water.

I moan, like I always do when I taste Charlie's cooking. "This is fucking delicious!"

"Language, Ethan." Mom scolds but there's humor in her eyes.

"Thanks, Su—Ethan." Charlie laughs awkwardly before eating.

I smile knowingly and take his hand under the table.

"It is really good." Kaz admits.

"Thank you." Charlie beams.

"Everyone, I have an announcement." I say suddenly and everyone pauses in their eating.

Charlie looks around awkwardly, acting like he has no idea what's going on. It's kinda cute.

I look at my mother first, knowing this'll affect her more than Kaz. "I've recently discovered that I like girls and guys and anyone else really." I smile nervously. "I'm bisexual and Charlie," I look at him lovingly and pull our clasped hands above the table. "Charlie is my boyfriend."

My mom grins widely. "Aw, Ethan, I'm so happy for you!" She stands up and pulls both Charlie and me into a hug.

Charlie hugs back the best he can. "Thank you. I'll try my best to be good for your son. I love him a lot."

Mom beams and touches his cheek. She's very touchy. "You seem like such a nice young man. I was worried Ethan might never want to date again after what happened between him and his ex—"

"Mooooom!"

"But I'm so happy he finally found someone."

Charlie giggles. "Yeah. The whole O'Malley Ordeal sounded like a lot. Maybe that's part of the reason he went for me." Charlie nudges me with his shoulder and laughs.

I roll my eyes, amused. "I went for you because you didn't take my shit." I chuckle and mom cuffs me.

He rolls his eyes. "Sure it is. Whatever you say, Ethan."

I kiss him and Ryder 'awws'.

Mom returns to her seat and continues eating. "Thank you for telling us, Ethan. You know I'd never judge you." She eyes is all. "Any of you."

Kaz smirks at me and mouths: "I knew it."

Charlie looks at Kaz. "I see."

"How long have you been together?" Mom asks and I look to Charlie since I'm not sure how he wants to define our time together.

"I... Hmm..." Charlie nudges me. "Always giving me the hard questions. We met on the first day of school and we became friends within the first week. I'd say we've been together since the first Tony ordeal because it really made me realize that I never wanted to lose you."

I smile and squeeze his hand. "Yeah, I'd say that's accurate. I was already willing to die for you."

"What Tony ordeal?" My mom questions. "As in Tony Meyers?"

I nod. "He tried to hurt Charlie for being gay and we fought."

She gasps. "You know, I always hated that kid."

I chuckle. "I know, Ma."

"The second ordeal was when he kidnapped me and was going to kill me," Charlie says, sipping his water nonchalantly.

"My god, honey, that's awful." Mom reaches out sympathetically.

I nod. "He's in jail now."

"Yeah. A lot has happened..." Charlie forces a smile.

"It's all worth it," I tell him, "knowing that I get to have you in the end."

"Mush." Charlie rolls his eyes.

"Softie." Kaz grunts and I throw a piece of lettuce at her. "Hey!"

"Ethan, don't throw food."

"Moooom!"

"He's been throwing food since he was three." Mom informs Charlie.

"Three? BABY PICTURES!" Charlie squeals.

I groan. "Oh, right, I did promise that."

"I can bring them out after dinner." Mom smiles.

Charlie smiles. "Please. He grabs my hand. "Sounds like paradise."

"A promise is a promise." I smirk.

"Ethan baby buns." Charlie leans over and bites my shoulder.

"Kinky." Kaz mutters and Ryder bursts out laughing.

"You think that's? Wow."

"She's adorable. I want her—" Charlie's eyes shine.

"Unfortunately for you, she's mine." Mom chuckles.

"Ethan, I want a giiiiiiiirl."

I look over and smile. "A girl sounds nice."

My mom throws her head back. "I'm too young for grandkids!"

"I'm still a kid." Charlie giggles. "I'm still a teenager. Your son likes them young~"

"Don't be like that." I roll my eyes. "He's nineteen." I assure my mother.

"So old." Charlie giggles.

"You are an infant." I tease him and mom stands.

"I'm going to get the albums, if you kids could please clean up the table, that'd be much appreciated."

Charlie waits until my mom is far enough away. "I should call the police because you've definitely fucked this infant on multiple occasions."

Kaz makes puking noises and starts clearing the table just to get away. I grin and kiss Charlie. "Fuck the police, I'm a bad boy, remember?"

"Very bad boy." He smirks into the kiss and deepens it, grabbing my ass teasingly.