Parker sat in class, glancing every so often towards Kell's empty seat as Professor Young demoed a digital painting on the classroom's projector screen. Kell's friend, Jessie was there, and occasionally he caught her giving him a death glare.

What the hell had happened?

Kell hadn't responded to any of his messages or his phone calls. He'd gone back to his apartment several times over the night, but his car was still gone from the parking lot. He'd considered calling the police, but he had no idea what he'd say. In the end, he'd only gotten an hour or so of sleep that night. When he'd left to take Nate to the day care center, Kell's car was still absent from the lot. He was in a furiously bad mood because of how worried and frightened he was. He had no idea if Kell was hurt, or if something had happened to him. And now that he was also absent for class, Parker was really falling off the edge with worry. He tapped his foot, and his palms were sticky with sweat. He just wanted class to be over so that he could talk to Kell's friend and find out what the hell was going on.

Turned out, she'd had the same idea.

As soon as Professor Young concluded the lesson, Jessie stormed over to him and demanded he see her outside the building. He followed her as she marched ahead of him.

"What the hell is going on? Is Kell okay? I've been trying to reach him all night and all day."

"Don't you ask about him," she snapped, jabbing a finger in his face. "You have no right to demand anything. How could you do that to him and to your family?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Parker said. He was getting close to shouting.

"Kell saw," she said. "He knows. He knows what you're hiding."

"Hiding? I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about. What happened to Kell? That's all you need to tell me."

"He doesn't want to talk to you. You need to stay out of his life."

"What did I do wrong? When I last saw him yesterday, we were talking about meeting after I got off work. And then he just disappears, and you're telling me he doesn't want to talk to me now? Tell me what the fuck is going on!"

"You and your mate. And your son. Sound familiar?"

Parker stared at her, stunned. He began to put the pieces together. "Jesus."

"Yeah. That's right."

"Oh my god. Kell. I don't know exactly what he saw, but god, I wish he'd just talked to me. That idiot. That was my brother and my nephew. They live with me."

Jessie blinked rapidly, like someone had just thrown dust in her eyes. "Huh?"

"My parents cut my brother off when he got pregnant. He's been living with me ever since he and his boyfriend split. His son, too. He's four. Kell must've seen me bringing Nate home from daycare. God, I can't believe he just didn't talk to me."

"He saw him hugging you. Calling you sweetheart."

"He calls his son sweetheart," Parker said. "Look, I don't need to convince you of this. I just need to talk to Kell so I can set all this straight. Can you tell him to let me call him?"

Jessie eyed him. "Okay," she said. "You better not be fucking around. I'll end you."

Parker snorted. "I'm not fucking around. Literally or figuratively."

Jessie took out her phone and dialed Kell. "I'll put you on with him. Just hold on a second." She turned away and spoke quietly into the phone. "Kell? Hey, it's me. Hey... Look, I've just learned something, and I think you'd better talk to Parker. No, really. You need to. I have him here, I'm going to put him on the phone. Okay? Trust me. Okay?"

She held the phone out to him. "Make this right."

Parker took the phone. "I'm not going to explain things to you over this phone," Parker said. "I'm going to call out from work and come home right now. Meet me at my apartment in an hour. It's number three oh six. Please."

There was a moment of silence on the line. "Alright," Kell said.

Parker hung up and handed the phone back to Jessie. "Jeez," she said. "You could've been a little more apologetic or sensitive."

"Why? I've got nothing to apologize for."

He turned and walked away. He was annoyed, and didn't want to hear her speak another word. It frustrated him that Kell had reacted this way, but he could understand how seeing him with William and Nate could've been misinterpreted. He wished he had spoken up instead of hiding.

As he walked to his car, Parker's temper cooled down. He couldn't blame Kell. If he'd been open about his situation when Kell had asked about coming over to the apartment, then none of this would've happened. It was just a stupid misunderstanding and no one was to blame. He as just glad that Kell was safe, and that nothing had happened to him.

William was at his new job, so the apartment was quiet and empty. He went into the bedroom and dug around in the closet until he found a large leather bound book, which he brought out and put on the couch. He sat down and waited. After some time passed, Parker began to wonder if Kell wasn't going to show up. Then, finally, there was a knock on the door. Parker exploded off the couch and sprang for the door, flinging it open. Kell stood there, his fist still raised in the air to knock again. He stared up Parker, his eyes wide. He glanced past him, looking into the apartment, no doubt for a sign of William.

Parker stepped back. "Come inside," he said.

Kell entered, looking around, and Parker gestured for him to have a seat on the couch.

"I was worried about you," Parker said. "I was afraid you'd gotten into an accident when I didn't hear back from you. I saw your car was gone."

"I didn't want to talk to you," Kell said. "So, are you going to explain?"

Parker sat on the couch and handed Kell the book. "Here."

Kell stared at it, and then opened it. It was a photo album. The first was an old photo of two little boys grinning at the camera.

Kell was tense and ready to snap at Parker. He was waiting for lies to come, for him to come up with some convenient excuse for what he'd seen. As he stared at the photo, Parker said, "That's me and my brother, William." Below that was another photo of the two boys. One, unmistakably Parker, was perched up on a horse. William was off to the side, looking up with awe. He turned the page. There were a few more photos of them, this time a family photo of when they were older, maybe twelve or thirteen. Kell frowned. William...

"About four years ago, William got pregnant. My parents saw it as the most unforgivable thing a son could do, and they cut him off. Disowned him, just for having their grandchild. He'd always been a black sheep, though. My parents always had a weird attitude towards him. Anyway, he and his son, Nate lived with Nate's father for a few years. The guy was a real asshole. Could put me to shame."

Kell turned the page again. There was a photo of William holding a little baby boy. Kell's heart just about stopped. William. It was him. The man he'd seen.

"So I took them in. My parents refused to support them, and I wasn't going to let anything happen to my little brother and my nephew. We lived together in the family condo in Hollywood, but my parents took that away too. So we came here."

Kell felt all the anger and sadness crumbling away. He looked at Parker with tears in his eyes. "I'm such an idiot," he said.

Parker smiled. "Yeah, you really are." He reached over and drew his arm around Kell and pulled him in close. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that."

"No, I'm sorry I acted like such a baby," Kell said, hugging Parker. "I was so angry. I thought you had a family. I thought you cheated on them for me. I was so mad at myself. And mad at you."

Parker kissed his forehead, and then wiped the tears from Kell's cheeks with his thumb. "Jesus," he said, smiling. "Why are you crying? You like me that much?"

"Shut up, asshole." Kell slid his hand around the back of Parker's head and pulled him into a kiss. When their lips met, it felt like a gale force wind had blown over them, carrying away all the anguish and misunderstanding from the last twenty-four hours. They melted into each other, holding each other tight.

Parker felt that ember of heat flaring up inside of him, bursting into a flame of joy and relief. He was fine. They were fine.

"I missed you," Parker whispered, and Kell grinned.

"God. I missed you too. As furious as I was, I fucking missed you just as much. You know what's fucking crazy? William works at my old job."

"What?"

"Yeah, I saw him there yesterday. I almost freaked out."

"That was his first day on the job. That's insane. You and I are just surrounded by amazing coincidences, aren't we?" Parker frowned. "Wait... Old job?"

Kell laughed. "I kind of walked out yesterday."

Parker chuckled. "That's what I'm talking about. But will you be okay?"

"I've got some money saved," he said. "I'll be fine. Besides, I feel a lot better about my portfolio, now. I'll find a design job soon."

Parker smiled and kissed him. "That's what I like to hear. So, William and Nate aren't going to be back until tonight. I'd love for you to meet them. But we have a few hours to kill..."

Kell didn't need to be told twice. He grinned and went for Parker's shirt, practically tearing it from his body. Parker did the same, tugging Kell's over his head and tossing it aside. He pushed Kell into the couch, pressing his lips to his nipples, kissing and licking the swell of his muscles. Kell moaned and wrapped his legs around Parker's waist, his cock hard and ready for him. Parker reached down and squeezed Kell's ass, and then pushed his hands down the front of his pants. Kell gasped as his hand reached his cock.

Parker had Kell's pants off in seconds, tugging them down to his ankles. This wasn't a slow, tender reunion. Kell flipped onto all fours, bending over the arm of the couch and pressing his ass up to Parker. He looked over his shoulder at him, begging him with his eyes. Parker yanked open his belt and popped open his pants and pulled his cock free, stroking it a few times before getting up off the couch.

"Don't move a fucking muscle," he growled. He went into a storage box he kept in the corner of the living room and pulled out a condom. He opened it and unrolled down his length. Then he was back behind Kell again, grabbing him by the waist and pulling him closer. He pushed his cock up to his waiting entrance. He was already so wet.

"Parker," Kell murmured, and then cried out in pleasure as Parker thrust forward. He felt his cock burying deep into him, all the way to the hilt in one motion. Then Parker started to pound into him, fucking him hard and rough. His face pressed up against the warm of the couch, and he bit into the cushion as the pain and pleasure of his alpha's cock filled him up.

Parker rocked in and out of Kell, biting his lip as the waves of pleasure coursed through his body. Nothing could ever feel as good as this. Kell was perfect. He leaned over and took Kell's chin in his free hand, tilting his head back so that he could kiss him. Their tongues met and danced as he slammed him deep.

"I love you," Parker growled. "I fucking love you, Kell."

"I love you, too," Kell managed, his words low and guttural. He threw his head back and moaned. Parker felt him tighten up around him--Kell was already about to come.

Parker fucked him faster, feeling his climax approaching. He slammed forward one more time all the way to hilt and let out a strained bellow as the orgasm crashed over him. His cock throbbed as Kell pulsed around him, and the two of them collapsed into each other’s arms, panting hard.

"I love you," Parker whispered again, amazed at the words.

Kell kissed him again and again, smiling the entire time.

They went and took a shower together, and afterwards, Kell ran back to his apartment to grab the painting of Parker. "I was going to get rid of it," he said. "I'd started it as a gift, but then everything happened and I kind of went crazy with it. It was therapeutic, finishing it, even though it's pretty fucked up looking."

He handed the canvas to Parker. The portrait was complete but streaked and dotted with an explosion of angry impressionistic color. Parker was amazed by it.

"This is a masterpiece," he said. "The vigor and energy in it, it almost feels like the painting is vibrating. I look like an evil demon, but this is really something amazing."

"Really?"

Parker nodded. "No fear here. I can feel your emotion in the work. This is easily one of your best."

"Well, it's yours," Kell said. "I'd like you to have it."

"Gladly," Parker replied.

When William came home with Nate, Kell introduced himself for a second time, and he and Parker filled him in on what had happened the day before. They were laughing and joking about it, and it already felt like it'd happened in the distant past. All upset had vanished and completely melted away.

They were in love. They both could feel the strength of their connection, one that was born out of rivalry and dislike and had flowered from incredible circumstances. It was very clear that Parker and Kell were two people who were born for one another, with personalities that by all rights should've repelled each other, but instead fit together like puzzle pieces, or the perfect harmony found in the mixture of elements that formed a beautiful piece of artwork.