Kurt picked up the phone and stared at it for a long moment. Putting it off wouldn’t exactly help anything, and he didn’t want her to find out from the tabloids. That would be Elisa’s next move, he was sure of it.

Mum picked up the phone. “Kurt! What a lovely surprise! How are you today?”

“I’m doing okay, mum. I’m not doing too badly at all. I, ah, I have some news for you. And I’m sorry, but it’s not news you’re going to want to hear.”

Mum gasped. “Oh no. Kurt, you’re not sick?”

Kurt chuckled. “No, Mum. Nothing like that. I’m pregnant. I didn’t want you to hear about it from someone else.”

Mum made a disapproving sound in the back of her throat. “Kurt, you’re my son. Why would you being pregnant be bad news to me?”

Kurt beamed, even though she couldn’t see him through the phone. “I honestly have the most amazing mum in the world. I do. I was worried you might not be enthusiastic because the father and I aren’t married. Or together. Or friendly. We’re trying to be friendlier, for the baby’s sake, but you know how it is.”

“Don’t I ever.” Her voice took on a dark turn. “If I had it all to do over again, I’d kidnap you and take you to Brazil. That’s what I’d have done.”

“Well, hindsight and all that. None of us knew what he’d do.” Kurt could hardly blame Mum for his father’s behavior. “But listen, Mum. I wanted to warn you about some other things. Related things. My ‘assistant,’ Elisa.”

“Oh, that wretched woman. I tried to call the other day, but she picked up the phone. She wouldn’t put me through. Said you were ‘too busy to talk to an old hag.’”

Kurt punched a pillow. It didn’t fix anything, but it made him feel better. “Had she said that to you often?”

“Often enough.” She sniffed. “I wouldn’t worry too much about it, Kurt. I knew she didn’t mean it.”

“I’m sure she did. She just wasn’t speaking for me when she said it. She decided to take my charming father for a role model and start stealing from me. We’re still working out how much, but I’ve fired her. She may try to retaliate through the media, so you may hear some things about me.”

Mum scoffed. “Oh, Kurt, love, I hear all kinds of things about you in the media.”

“Most of them will be lies, but Mum, some of them may be true. She has a lot of dirt on a lot of people, Mum. It’s best to be prepared.” Kurt took a deep breath.

Mum went silent for a moment. “Have you tried to hurt anyone because of the color of their skin?”

“What? No!”

“Have you hurt any children?”

“Not that I know of. I don’t go around hurting people, and I don’t drink or anything so I don’t black out and not remember it.”

“All right. Did you go off and do a fundraiser for those White Dawn bastards?”

Kurt scratched his head. “No. I did spot some members of a group linked to ‘em at a bar the SEALs are using, but I told the SEALs and they got shut down.”

“Well done. If you haven’t done any of those things, there’s nothing you could do that would make me love you any less. You’re my son, and you’re a good man. Sure you get around a bit, but it’s Hollywood. Who doesn’t, really.”

Tears burned their way down Kurt’s cheeks, but they were tears of joy this time. “Well, there are some things a mum shouldn’t have to know about her son, but thank you, Mum. I am so beyond lucky to have you in my life.”

“I wish I could have been there for more of it, Kurt.” She let out a little sigh. “Ah, well. If wishes were horses and all that. We can’t change the past, only the future.”

“Speaking of the future, I’m going to need help when the baby is born.” Kurt pulled at his collar. “I’m going to want the baby with me, of course. I want to be an active parent, not like some Hollywood parents. But I’m still going to need help. I need a favor from you.”

“Oh, Kurt, I’m not well enough to go chasing around the globe and caring for a wee one. I can’t even leave my flat some days.”

Kurt laughed a little. “Mum, I know that. I wouldn’t ask it of you. You’ve done your time. I know children are exhausting. I’m going to need a nanny to help me with the baby. They’ll have to be willing to travel, to be discreet, and to be able to put up with a certain amount of paparazzi. What I’d like for you to help out with is screening candidates. Can you help out with that from home? I’ll fly home after I’m done with SEAL Magnet to do a round of interviews.”

Mum paused. “You want an English nanny?”

“Any kind of British, and of any origin,” he confirmed. “I don’t care what their background is, as long as they’re British.”

“All right then.” Mum’s voice swelled with pride. “Nothing but the best for my grandchild.”

“I knew you were the right one to ask. You’ve got such a great background in early childhood education, you were the first one I thought of.” Kurt grinned.

They exchanged a few more pleasantries, and they both hung up. Mum’s aide showed up to help with meals for her, and Kurt needed to start reviewing schedules and manuscripts. Mike’s manuscript, the one to be set in Iceland, wouldn’t start filming until next year anyway. He could probably get away with saying yes to that one, with full disclosure about the baby just in case.

The director for SEAL Magnet sent him a filming schedule, and he had to admire the guy’s prowess. Every minute of Kurt’s time would be packed, but they were going to be able to fit his shots in before he hit his fifth month. The first scenes he filmed would have to be his shirtless scenes, of course, and everyone would have to work their hardest to not screw things up, but he would be clear to head back to England before he was really showing.

His agent sent him a few manuscripts too. Every last one of them required him to spend more time in a bathing suit than any other costume item. Kurt sighed and picked up the phone. “Hi, Josse,” he said.

“Kurt, buddy. Did you have a chance to take a look at those scripts I sent? I think Sand and Sea has a lot of potential.”

“Er, listen, Josse. I’m not going to be doing Sand and Sea.”

“Kurt, I already gave them my verbal agreement for you. I mean it’s a perfect film for a star of your caliber. There’s beach, there’s sun, there’s sand. It starts filming as soon as SEAL Magnet lets out, which means you wouldn’t miss a day of work really.”

“That’s going to be awfully difficult given that I’ll be five months pregnant then. Or is the hero of the film a pregnant omega? I missed that in the script, but maybe it was just a draft.”

“So get rid of it!” Josse yelled. “I gave them my word!”

Kurt stared at the handset for a moment. “Josse, you don’t get to give your word for what I’ll do without consulting me first. You never did. And to be honest, even SEAL Magnet is kind of a low-quality film. They’re treating me well, so I’m not complaining, but I’ve been here for how long now and trust me, their screenwriter did no research at all. He didn’t even look at Wikipedia.”

“Okay, but you’re committed. And you’re part of my stable. You don’t have the stones to walk away. Where would you go? What would you do? You need me if you want to get jobs, kid. That ass of yours doesn’t get contracts.”

The hotel maid walked into the room. Kurt put Josse on speaker. “You’re now on speaker, since there’s a witness in the room. This is me firing you, Josse. You’re no longer my agent.”

“I’ll tell the world you’re having a psychotic break. That you’re not competent to make your own decisions.”

The maid gasped as Kurt broke out in a cold sweat. His father had tried the same tactic on Mum, which had been how he’d gotten sole custody of Kurt. Kurt wasn’t going to make the same mistake his mother had. He wasn’t going to be cowed. He couldn’t be.

“You realize, Josse, you said that in front of a witness, right?” He glanced over at the maid. “Anyway, she heard you threaten me, she heard me telling you that you’re fired, and now she’s seeing me hang up on you.” He put the phone down.

The housekeeper turned to him. “That guy was supposed to be your agent?”

Kurt passed her fifty bucks. “I apologize for dragging you into that without your prior consent. If it’s any consolation, it wasn’t premeditated.”

She pocketed the money, but shook her head. “No problem. I guess I just can’t believe he’s supposed to be on your side!”

“Me neither.” Kurt made a face. “Anyway, thanks for your help.”

She grabbed the little notepad hotels always left by their landline telephones. “Here. If you wind up having to take this to court, that’s my name and number. I’ll testify happily.”

“Thank you.” Kurt smiled at her.

“Also, there’s a guy here for you. Do you want me to let him in?”

Kurt froze. “Who is he?”

“I don’t know. He looks military. He said he knows you, though.”

Kurt sighed. It had to be Dom. Why was Dom showing up here now, when there wasn’t a chance for anything between them? “Okay. Thanks again.”

The woman from housekeeping let Dom in. “Hey. I figured it was better to ask than to just let myself in.” Dom shoved his hands into his pockets.

Kurt cringed. “I almost forgot they teach you guys that. What’s going on?”

“I just figured I’d stop by and see how you were doing.” He held up a little shopping bag. “I might have picked up a few things for the baby.”

Kurt blinked. “A few things for the baby.” Why was Dom buying things for the baby? The baby didn’t need anything. Kurt didn’t have any place to put baby things, at this point. Maybe it was supposed to be a peace gesture. “Great. Thanks?” Was that even the right thing to say under the circumstances? Surely there must be an etiquette book around somewhere that explained the proper behavior in circumstances like this.

“Do you want to go out and get some fresh air? The beach is nice right now. Not too many tourists, but warm and all that.”

Kurt nodded and waved to the maid. He and Dom headed out to the beach, which wasn’t very far from the Hilton. “I fired my agent today,” he told Dom.

Dom grinned. “Good for you. I know you were planning on it.” Then he frowned. “Won’t it be harder for you to get roles without an agent, though?”

“I’ve already got one lined up, for after the baby’s born, and once I’ve got my body back and everything. It films in Iceland.” He smirked. “It’s a hell of a change in pace from Arizona.”

“I’ve never been to Iceland.” Dom looked out over the water, a speculative gleam in his eye.

Kurt almost invited him to come along. The words danced on the tip of his tongue. Instead, he shoved his hands into his pockets. “I was there to film Viking Son. I liked it well enough. Of course, I was there in the summer.” He made a face. “I’m not sure what I’ll think of it in the winter, but we’ll find out I guess.”

“I suppose you will.” Dom grimaced. “Will you look for another agent?”

“Yeah. It’s not impossible to work without one, but it’s better to have one. They know the law and all that. They can get you better rates and such. I’m getting a good contract on this one because I know Mike pretty well.”

“Is Mike…” Dom trailed off.

“He is.” Kurt stiffened his back. “Why?”

Dom sighed. “I was just curious. Okay, I’m lying. There’s a part of me that’s being jealous, but honestly it’s not my business. Is that why he gave you the role?”

“I thought you said it wasn’t your business?” Kurt glared, but then he relented. He didn’t want to be angry. And Dom had admitted to his issue. “Probably not. He’s gone on to marry—a woman, for the record—and have three kids. He was doing it to get his name in the papers, a long time ago. I think he’s giving me the role because I’m actually pretty good at what I do.”

“Huh.” Dom stopped in the middle of the sand and looked down at Kurt. “I know I’ve been an ass. And I am trying.”

“I know you are. I’m not entirely sure why, but I can see that you’re trying. I do appreciate it. I don’t have to understand it to appreciate it. I don’t think you’re the devil incarnate, you know.”

“You just don’t think we’re ‘suited.’” Dom grinned. “You don’t think anyone’s suited to you.”

Now it was Kurt’s turn to look out over the ocean. “I don’t think I’m suited to anyone. I’ve known that for a long time. There’s a difference, you know. I’m okay with it. I have to be. But it isn’t like you’re the first one to have issues with the number of people I’ve been with before. It’s a tradeoff.”

“It doesn’t have to be.”

“It kind of does.” Kurt shrugged. He needed to change the subject, desperately. “Hey, did I tell you I heard from John today? He’s doing a lot better.”

“That’s good.” Dom pressed his lips together. “Is he going to be able to travel with you to Arizona?”

“I’m not sure. I’d need to talk to his doctors about that. I’ll give them a call on Monday.”

“Are you sure you have to go?” Dom bit his lip. “If we had more time…”

“If we had more time, I’m not convinced it would help.” Kurt looked away. “And they’ve already rearranged the production schedule once just for me. I know you don’t think acting’s a real job, but when you think about all the work that goes into getting ready for filming, and then the actual filming, and then post-production—getting a movie out is a pretty labor-intensive project. My job is just one of many. I’d hate to put people out more than I already have.”

Dom managed a sad grin. “I guess that makes sense. You’re a good man, Kurt.”

Something inside of Kurt warmed at Dom’s words. They didn’t change anything, but at the same time, they changed everything.

* * *

Dom was a busy guy. He didn’t have time to sit around and watch coverage of corruption trials, or terrorism trials, or treason trials, or whatever they were calling it today. That was some banana republic level stuff right there. He remembered what a friend of his back in high school had told him, an immigrant from one of those places where government officials got purged on the regular.

You know what your problem is here, man? You don’t get nearly enough coup days. You need time off from school once in a while.

In Texas, they had snow days built into the school schedule, just for the rare occasions that the weather gods played tricks on them and sent them a surprise. In wherever his buddy had been from, they had coup days.

This time, though, he and his buddies were part of it. It wasn’t a coup, but it might as well be. According to Aliprandi and Baldinotti, who showed up to explain what was happening to the SEALs they’d been working with since the Orlando bombing or before, Smolak’s campaign contributions went a lot further than just eleven congressmen. Dom wanted to be sick every time he thought about it.

He understood that money was a powerful motivator. Some of the guys in the platoon had grown up poor. Hopper and Adami came to mind, for example. Tinker was another one. None of those guys had betrayed their country, or come close to betraying their country. Of course, none of those guys had a predisposition to join up with terrorist organizations either, so maybe it wasn’t as black and white as just Smolak buying their votes.

Questions were spreading, and now anyone who’d taken a campaign contribution from Smolak was suspect. One college newspaper in Providence uncovered a campaign contribution from Smolak to a candidate for Student Government, and enraged students showed up to pelt that student’s dorm with eggs. That same student joined in the protest until he realized he was the one being protested, which just turned out to be awkward and messy for everyone.

Dom didn’t get it. He guessed he didn’t have to, but he was having a hard time watching all of it unfold. He’d spent his whole life preparing for this role, to fight for his country, only to see it devolve before his very eyes. This wasn’t the land of the free. It was the land of the bought. He didn’t mind putting his life on the line for Truth, Justice, and the American Way. He didn’t mind standing up in the name of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness either. He still knew he would fight and die for the American people.

Who was giving the orders, though? Were they thinking of the American people, or were they thinking of themselves? Had their decision been influenced by someone else? By corporate interests? By a special interest group? By a hate group, or a specific religion? He hadn’t signed up for any of that.

He found himself driving around in circles after hours, and more often than not his car led him to the Hilton. He wound up there on Friday night, and he decided to go up to Kurt’s room. He didn’t always visit, but tonight he figured he might as well. He couldn’t get his discomfort out of his head, and he might as well talk things over with Kurt.

He didn’t get far. He found Kurt at a table in the hotel restaurant, sitting across from a handsome man with perfectly styled hair and teeth so straight and white they defied the laws of physics. Kurt waved him over when he saw him.

If Kurt was on a date, Dom knew he shouldn’t interfere.

If Kurt was on a date, he wouldn’t have waved Dom over.

Dom shuffled over to the table, hands in his pockets. “Hey, I was just driving around and I figured I’d stop by. I can see you’re busy though. I can come back another time.”

Kurt waved a hand. “Grab a seat, please. We just sat down, and there’s plenty of room for more.”

Mr. Teeth smiled, revealing even more exquisite dentition. “Please, have a seat. I’m Mike Hensley. I’m a friend of Kurt’s from work.” He held out a hand for Dom to shake.

“I’m Dom. I’m in the Navy.” Dom shook.

“Dom, Mike is the producer on that project in Iceland. Mike, Dom is one of the SEALs I’ve been working with to prep for SEAL Magnet.” Kurt sat back and gave a little smile, content to watch the pair interact.

Mike’s smile got a little bit broader. “I see. Excellent. It’s an interesting project. I’m not sure I remember the SEALs working quite that way from my time in the Navy, but hey. I guess we have to make allowances for artistic license. At least they let Kurt here do some research into real SEALs, right?”

Dom had to nod at that one. He searched Mike’s face for signs that he might be a monster, the kind to exploit a victim of theft for sex, but all he saw was a genuinely nice guy out for dinner with a friend. “Hopefully he can find a way to work some of it in there. Otherwise the guys are going to give him no end of shit for it.”

“Right?” Mike chuckled. “Honestly, I think Kurt here is probably going to be the saving grace of the whole film. But hey, they could have some stellar FX guys. They’re keeping that very hush-hush for now.”

Dom nodded. “In my line of work that usually means they don’t have a plan.”

Mike grinned openly. God, those teeth were going to blind someone. “Ours too. So, Dom, have you heard Kurt’s good news yet?”

Kurt blushed. Dom knew he must be blushing too, since his cheeks burned.

“I see!” Mike lifted his eyebrows. “So you’re the dad, huh? Well, good for you. For what it’s worth, I think Kurt’s going to be a great dad. My kids love him. Every time he’s in California they demand to go see Uncle Kurt, even if he’s up in Wine Country or out in the desert.” He shook his head with a rueful grin. “What about you, Dom? Is this your first?”

Dom almost flinched. What kind of question was that? Right, this was Hollywood. Family was probably a four-letter word out there. “Yeah, this is my first. I’m a little nervous.”

“Meh.” Mike waved a hand. “If you can get through BUDS, fatherhood will be a snap for you. The whole sleep deprivation thing? You’ve already done it. You’ve fought off America’s enemies, so teething will be a piece of cake.” He laughed. “Me, I never even tried BUDS, so I didn’t fare quite as well. But we all survived.”

Dom managed to smile politely and nod, and then he changed the subject to sports. He didn’t want to let anything slip about his real relationship with Kurt.

They talked about baseball long enough to irritate Kurt into talking about cricket, and then they ordered their dinners. Once the dinners were delivered, Mike changed the topic yet again. “The reason I’m here is simple. I wanted to talk to Kurt about possibly buying into a partnership role in my production company, Purple Cow Films. It wouldn’t mean that Kurt would have to stop acting, or that he’d be limited to PCF roles. I’ve been looking for a partner to join the firm for some time, someone who knows the business, and who wants to learn about this side of it.

“Kurt here has a good eye for roles, he knows what’s going to sell in what demographics. He hasn’t always had the opportunity to let that side of himself shine, but I think now is as good a time as any. He’ll have some necessary down time anyway, and believe me when I tell you that diversifying your income is a good plan when you start a family. If one source of income starts to dry up a little, the other one stays steady, and you’ve got a steady stream in front of you.”

Dom had to wonder why Mike was telling him any of this. He was obviously mistaking their relationship, but still, shouldn’t he be addressing Kurt directly?

Kurt’s eyes widened, and he stayed quiet for a very long moment. “I really appreciate you making that offer. I hope you won’t be offended when I tell you I want my lawyer to take a look at any partnership agreements.”

Mike laughed. “Oh, my Lord, why would I be offended? Kurt, I’d probably have to re-think the whole thing if you didn’t. You’re a smart guy, and you’ve been burned before. Give me your attorney’s name and email address, and I’ll send the documents over first thing tomorrow. Sound good?”

Kurt grinned. “Sounds good, Mike.”

Dom ate in silence. Had the whole scene been staged just to prove to him how superfluous he was? He didn’t want to think that way, but he couldn’t pretend he wasn’t suspicious. This whole thing where Mike, who’d screwed Kurt once before, wanted to mentor Kurt in a whole new aspect of show business just seemed too far fetched for words.

Then again, Kurt was bright. And if it wasn’t too good to be true, it would be a good way to stabilize Kurt’s income stream. Maybe it would even be a good way to help Kurt achieve his financial goal that much sooner.

After dinner, Mike asked Dom to escort him to his car. Dom agreed, although he couldn’t help but be surprised by the request. “This offer you made Kurt. Is it legit?”

“That was blunt,” Mike laughed. Mike laughed a lot. “I’m sure you’ll look into it and check me out, but yes. It’s a hundred percent legitimate. I genuinely respect Kurt’s intelligence. I think he’ll be a good addition to the team. And, of course, he can help find opportunities in the foreign and indie film market.”

Dom frowned at that. He didn’t want to think about Kurt being overseas again. He knew it was coming, though, so he didn’t say anything. He just went with it. “So. You flew all the way out here to meet with him about it.”

“No. I came out here hoping to find out more about you.” Mike wasn’t laughing now. “I’d probably have wanted to talk with Kurt about the partnership in person, but I could have waited. Kurt’s a special kind of guy.”

“How special?” Dom tried to keep his voice loose and calm, but he knew his voice was tight.

“Don’t be jealous.” Mike sighed. “It was one time, it was a long time ago, by mutual agreement. I wouldn’t have minded more, but his handlers at that zoo of a studio he was with - we were both with——wanted him out with more. But he got what he needed out of it, and I got what I needed, so I guess we both benefitted. Still.” He sighed. “A word of advice?”

“Why is it that all advice is unsolicited?”

“Because that’s when it’s needed most. Don’t let him become a regret.” When Dom turned to him in shock, Mike laughed. “I know you’re not together anymore. He doesn’t know how to be together to start with. He’s a good guy, just not very hopeful. Try to give that to him, would you? Let him be hopeful. Let him believe in you.”

Dom kept walking. “He’s leaving next week.”

“I know. Just remember what I said, okay?” Mike got into a rental car and started it up. Dom stepped back and watched him drive away.

He headed back up to Kurt’s room, where Kurt waited for him to get back. “What had you out and about tonight?” Kurt asked him with nonchalance Dom suspected was entirely fake.

Dom sat down on the couch beside him. “I don’t know. Fate maybe.” He rubbed his temples. “I was just feeling anxious about the whole Smolak thing and then there you were.”

“The Smolak thing.” Kurt closed his eyes. “Yes. I can see why that would provoke you. It’s kind of ghastly.” He looked up at Dom, and all Dom could see was sincerity in those dark eyes of his. “I’m very sorry you have to see it. I know it must be breaking your heart.”

Dom licked his lips. “It is,” he confessed in a whisper. “It is, but it could always be worse, you know? It’s shaking my confidence on a level I can’t even really explain to you, but at least we don’t have rioting or assassinations in the street I guess.”

Kurt huffed out a little laugh. “I’ve always liked that about you.”

Dom grinned. “You like something about me?”

“I like quite a few things about you, thank you very much. I’ve always liked the way you could put things in perspective like that.”

Kurt turned the TV on. They watched some crap on the home channel about flipping derelict houses. It was mindless and unrealistically easy-looking, but Dom got into it after a little while. He even dozed off on Kurt’s couch. When he woke up a few hours later, the TV was still on, but Kurt had gone to bed. He’d covered Dom with a blanket, though.

Dom smiled. Kurt was willing to trust him in the hotel room again. He’d bet money that the door to the bedroom was locked, but at least Dom was allowed in the suite. It was progress.

What had Mike meant by his words? Dom had no intention of regretting anything. Of course, from a certain perspective, he could already be said to be regretting Kurt. He didn’t regret lying down with Kurt, and he didn’t regret waking up with Kurt, but he absolutely regretted the way things had turned out.

Chief had a plan. All Dom had to do was to work the plan and trust the plan, and there was maybe a fifty percent chance it would work out. Fifty percent was better than zero percent, but they looked about the same from here.

Maybe not. Maybe the blanket and the couch meant more than Dom could see in the dark. Either way, he would enjoy them while he had them.