"Hey, Sanders!" Matt Hardy called out from pool side, "Need a hand?"
Mike shook his head.
"I'm fine," he replied as he finally made it to the table.
"Doesn't look like you are," Brian Kendrik told him as he slipped his arms around his boyfriend's waist and kissed his bare back, "Sure you don't want me to help you?"
"I said that I was fine," Mike said, "I'll take care of it."
Brian pouted and pulled away from his taller lover. He turned to face the guys at the pool and couldn't help but shake his head. He and his boyfriend had to have the strangest group of friends out of any one he knew. Jeff and Matt Hardy were in the deep end of the pool, taking turns doing crazy dives and flips off the diving board.
Steph and Ivory were sitting on the edge of the pool, catching some sun, topless as usual. Chuck, Randy, and Jay were losing a game of water volleyball to Mark, Sean, and Trish. Shannon and Shane were sitting on the opposite edge of the pool as Steph and Ivory, doing their best to announce the play-by-play of the game. JP was sleeping on a lounge chair. Adam and his three-year-old adopted daughter were playing on a swing put up just for her by the deck. They were an odd group, thrown together by chance for the most part, but they had become best friends in the past three years. Brian wouldn't have it any other way, and he knew Mike felt the same way.
"Amanda!" Adam called out as he chased his daughter around Brian and Mike's backyard. He sighed as she ran, scooted under the picnic table and under a plastic lawn chair.
The three-year-old giggled and ran to the pool. Shane grabbed her by the waist as she ran past him. She squirmed in his arms, but he didn't loosen his grip.
"Let me go, Unkie Shane!" Amanda ordered.
"No way, little lady," Shane laughed. He handed the child over to her very exhausted, panting father.
"Amanda Maria Copeland," Adam chastised as he hugged his daughter against his chest, "Didn't I tell you before not to run near the pool?"
"Yes, Daddy," Amanda replied, "I'm sowry." She slipped out of his arms and walked over to the diving board where Matt was getting ready to jump. "Hey, Dada," she said hesitantly.
Matt smiled down at his daughter. "What, sugarplum?"
"Can I go swimming?" Amanda asked, tugging at his green and blue swim trunks.
"What did Daddy say?" Matt asked as he scooped her up in his arms.
Amanda wrinkled her nose. "He said I can't."
"Then I'm afraid the answer is no," Matt told her.
"Why?"
"Do you remember what you did last time you went swimming in Uncle Mike's pool?" Adam asked, slipping an arm around Matt's waist and peering closely at their daughter.
"No..."
Mike walked by just then. "You peed in my pool, you little mutchkin," he reminded her, ruffling her hair fondly.
"Oh, yeah," Amanda smiled at him, "Sowry Unkie Mikey." She placed a kiss on Mike's cheek.
"I know, mutchkin," Mike rolled his eyes, kissing her back, "You always are."
"Banzai!" Jeff screamed as he belly-flopped into the pool.
"Jeffrey!" Adam exclaimed, looking down at his now-soaking-wet gray polo, "This is a new shirt!"
Jeff pulled himself out of the pool and grinned at his brother-in-law. His purple and black hair hung in wet strands around his face, but he didn't push them away.
"Sorry, man," he apologized, shrugging, "It's not like I meant for it to happen."
"Will you ever grow up?" Adam asked him, rolling his eyes.
"Not if I can help it," Jeff replied. He closed his eyes and leaned back as he felt a strong pair of arms slip around his waist.
"We don't want Jeffie to grow up," Sean announced as he nuzzled Jeff's neck.
"Yeah, he's too adorable the way he is now," Shane agreed, splashing water onto Jeff's chest with his foot.
Jay swam over to where Jeff and Sean were and slipped between them. He smiled slyly up at Sean as he leaned in to give Jeff a kiss.
"Little devil," Sean muttered good-naturedly.
"Jeffie is just too good to change, Adam," Jay told his best friend, "Why don't you just lighten up once
in a while." He snorted as Adam just looked at him and then at his shirt. "It's just a damn shirt, dude. Don't get so bent out of shape over it."
"Yeah," Jeff agreed, giggling, "Don't get your panties in a twist. I'll buy you a new one if it means that much."
"Come on, sweetie," Matt whispered as he slid his hands under his husband's shirt and over his chest, "It's not that big of a deal. Just take the shirt off." He nibbled at Adam's ear as he pulled the shirt up. He smiled as Adam pulled the shirt off and flung it to the ground. "There, that's better," he said as he caught his lips in a passionate kiss.
Mike cleared his throat. "Hey, there are young children here, you know," he reminded the
couple as their hands started to explore each other's bodies.
Shannon snorted. "Yeah, Jeff shouldn't be allowed to see this stuff," he said loudly.
Jeff splashed water at his friend, drenching Shannon's zebra-striped hair. Shannon retaliated by jumping into the pool and pulling Jeff under. As Jeff came back up, sputtering, he glared at the smaller man.
"What are you talking about, Shannon?" he asked, "You're younger than all of us here."
"But, I'm more mature than some of you," Shannon exclaimed triumphantly.
"Right, baby," Chuck laughed as he swatted his lover's small but firm ass, "You just keep telling yourself that."
Shannon grinned up at Chuck and flung his arms around the bigger man's neck. Before Chuck knew what was happening, he was under water as Shannon pushed his head down.
"Men are just so immature," Ivory announced as Chuck came back up and started swimming after Shannon, yelling that he was going to make him pay.
"I know," Steph agreed. She stretched her arms over her head and yawned. "I think I've had enough sun for today." She slipped back into her bikini top and turned to the grill. "Is it almost time to eat yet?"
Brian looked up from where he was flipping burgers and shook his head. "Just a few more minutes, Steph," he called out.
"Well, make it quick," Steph said, semi-seriously, "I'm starving over here!"
"Need food!" Jay exclaimed as he climbed out of the pool, Jeff hot on his heels.
"God, making out makes me hungry," Matt announced a few minutes later as everyone stood in line at the grill. Adam slipped one arm around his shoulders and kissed his cheek. "Stop, sweetie. Don't get me started again."
"Anything makes you hungry, Dada," Amanda told him from her position in Jeff's arms. She twisted to look up at her only biological uncle, "Right, Unkie Jeffie?"
Jeff laughed. "Right, mutchkin," he agreed.
Mark looked over from where he was kissing Sean. He eyed the others suspiciously.
"Doesn't making out make everyone hungry?" he asked, "I mean, it is a very strenuous activity." He squeezed Sean closer to him. "Not that I'm complaining or anything..."
"You would know, wouldn't you, Jindrak?" Ivory asked, rolling her eyes, "You've probably made out with everyone here at least once."
"Hey, I resent that remark," Steph told her, putting her arm around
the older woman's shoulders.
"Sorry, Steph," Ivory apologized, "I didn't mean the girls." She turned to Trish. "I apologize to you to, Trish."
Trish just shook out her long blond hair and shrugged. "No prob, bob," she said.
"Is the food ready yet?" Randy asked, rolling his eyes.
"In a minute," Brian replied, concentrating on the grill.
"Damn, Brian," Shane groaned, "Just serve the damn food already! We're starving over here!"
"Yeah, I'm hungry!" the three-year-old daughter of Matt and Adam piped in, "Come on, Bri-Bri!"
"Young lady," Adam reproached, "Where are your manners?"
"Sorry, Daddy," she pouted and leaned against Jeff's shoulder.
Brian flipped the burgers once more then began to fill up his friends' plates. When they were all served, he turned to his lover and smiled weakly at him. Mike wrapped his arms around Brian's waist and kissed the top of his head. The smaller man leaned back, not realizing that the spatula was still in his hand. He didn't remember, actually, until he heard Mike scream in pain. Brian looked down at his lover's arm and saw a bright red mark, just like the outline of the metal spatula he was holding in his hand.
"Oh, god, Mike!" Brian exclaimed, throwing the spatula onto an empty plate, "Are you okay, babe?"
Mike grimaced as he rubbed his arm. It was red, but it luckily didn't hurt too bad. He probably wasn't too badly burnt. It was just a little sensitive. He reached into the cooler next to him and pulled out a handful of ice.
"Oh, shit!" Sean tried to hold back a laugh as he watched Brian dote over his best friend.
"What's up, Sean?" Jeff asked, sitting next to him.
"Those two are just too damn funny!" Sean answered as he picked up his hamburger, "Mike hates being taken care of like that and Brian knows it, but he still does it." He shook his head and took a bite. "Mike won't admit it to anyone, not even me, but he loves feeling loved."
"Doesn't everybody?" Shannon asked from the other side of the picnic table, glancing up at Chuck shyly.
"I love you, Shanny," Chuck whispered, hugging his small lover.
"Mmmm," Shannon mumbled, leaning his head on his lover's shoulder, "Love you too, Chuck."
"You guys should just get married," Matt announced as he took a seat on the other side of Chuck,
"You've only been together for how long now?"
Chuck rolled his eyes. "Only three years," he answered, "And Shanny still doesn't wanna get married. He says it's for stuffy, old, conservative people."
"I resemble that remark," Matt joked.
"My point exactly," Shannon smiled, staring at Adam as he sat down at the table as well.
"I don't know why you think that, Moore," Adam shook his head as Amanda climbed into his lap, "It's a show of just how much you love somebody."
"They're too young to settle down," Jeff told his brother-in-law, "Besides, Adam, not everyone is made to get married and be boring like you and my brother are."
"Daddy isn't boring," Amanda said as she ate. She ended up spitting potato salad on Adam's arm.
Adam frowned and wiped his arm with a napkin. Matt laughed at his husband and his neat-freak tendencies. "Amanda, sugarplum," he reprimanded, "You know better than to talk with food in your mouth. You got food all over Daddy's arm."
"Sowry," she apologized.
"Don't tell me," Matt said, "Tell Daddy."
Amanda turned to one of her two fathers. She smiled sweetly at Adam, showing off her beautiful smile. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly on the cheek. Adam kissed her back, now grinning broadly.
"It's okay, baby," he told her, "Just don't do it again."
"Okie!" Amanda agreed and went back to eating.
Sean started laughing uncontrollably as he glanced over at the pool. Jeff tried to ask him what was wrong, but he could only laugh harder and point at the pool. Jeff followed his gaze and started laughing himself. The others looked over and Matt shook his head.
"Someone go wake JP up," he suggested.
"I'll go, Dada!" Amanda offered, jumping off Adam's lap and running over to the pool before either parent could stop her.
Amanda jumped on JP's stomach and began to pound none too softly on his muscular chest. JP groaned and opened one eye. He sat up, holding the little girl up in one arm.
"Wake up, Johnny Paul!" Amanda exclaimed, "Time to eat!"
"Okay, kid," JP groaned, "Just stop bouncing up and down on me. I'm not a trampoline, ya know!"
"Okie, Johnny Paul!" Amanda agreed and jumped back down on the ground, "Let's go eat!"
JP stood up and followed the three-year-old to the grill where Brian was still doting over Mike. He grabbed a hot dog and walked back over to the picnic table.
"Have a nice nap, JP?" Sean asked, eyes amused.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," JP muttered, biting into the hot dog.
"I am SO not!" Jay yelled as he stomped over to the table, golden-blond hair flying out behind him.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Jeff asked, staring up at Jay.
"That stupid slut, Orton, thinks he can just say whatever he wants about me, but it's not true!" Jay fumed, glaring around the table, "He is SO totally wrong!"
"What'd he say, Jason?" Adam asked, exasperated.
Jay flopped down next to his best friend and stuck his lower lip out.
"He said that I was a slut," he pouted.
"You ain't no slut," Mark told him.
"He would know," Jeff laughed, "Mark's the biggest slut of them all."
"You're a close second, Hardy," Mark countered.
Amanda tugged on Adam's sleeve.
"Daddy, what's a slut?" she asked, innocently.
"I'll tell you later, sweetie," Adam answered, frowning.
"Okie."
Adam turned to Jeff and Mark. "You guys need to stop talking like that in front of Amanda like this," he suggested firmly.
"Adam is right," Matt agreed, "Grow up, you guys!"
"But Randy called me-"
"It's okay, Jay," Jeff comforted his friend, blowing a kiss across the table at him, "You aren't one, never have been, and never will be."
"Thanks, Jeffie!" Jay brightened up, "I owe you for such a nice comment!"
Jeff winked. "We'll talk about that later."
"Jay, I was just joking," Randy said, coming up from behind, "You know I don't think of you like that!"
"You still hurt my feelings, Orton!" Jay pouted.
Randy rolled his eyes and walked over to the pool. He sat in a lounge chair and fell asleep.
"You could have accepted his apology, Jason," Adam said.
"I could have," Jay agreed, "But, I like seeing the kid suffer. It's good for him."
"You are so cruel," Jeff laughed.
"I know," Jay grinned, "But you all love me for it!"
"That's just wrong," Shannon shook his head.
"Uh, guys," Chuck said, looking embarrassed, "I think I better go now."
He stood up quickly and rushed into the house. Everyone turned to look questionably at Shannon who was trying to hide a smirk.
"Shanny, what were you doing?" Jeff asked.
"Nothing," Shannon smirked, holding his hands up.
"You gave him a hand job again, didn't you?" Matt asked suspiciously, "I was wondering why he kept squirming over here."
"I admit nothing."
"Right," Jeff drawled, rolling his eyes.
"You guys are sick," Jay shook his head.
"And that's why your foot is rubbing Jeff's crotch now, right?"
Shannon asked, looking under the table.
Jay blushed. "Shut up," he mumbled.
"Mmmhmm," Shannon smirked, "Just as I thought."
Jay slapped his arm and scowled. Shannon rubbed his arm, frowning.
"Ow," Shannon complained, "That hurt!"
"Awww, poor Shanny!" Jeff smiled, patting his friend's arm.
Shannon nodded his head. "Yeah, poor me," he agreed. He stood up and began walking to the house. "I'm gonna go check on Chuck now."
"Those two are always at it, aren't they?" Matt asked, smiling slightly.
"At what, Dada?" Amanda asked.
"Nothing you need to know, sugarplum," Matt told her, pulling on one of her pigtails, "Why don't you go play on
the swing for awhile."
"Okie," Amanda said, jumping down and running to the swing.
On the way, she grabbed Trish's arm and dragged her along. Adam sighed and played with his napkin. Matt leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"What's wrong, Adam?"
"Nothing–I just wish–well, watching Amanda with Trish makes me think that maybe it's not good for a little girl to have two fathers and no mother–"
"Baby, we talked about this already," Matt whispered into his ear, "That's why Trish, Steph, and Ivory are here.
They're like mothers and we're gonna be like fathers to their kids one day. If Steph and Ivory ever go through with adopting or whatever." He tucked a strand of golden-blond hair behind Adam's ear and leaned his head on his shoulder. "We're family, remember? We're all here for each other."
Jeff slapped his brother-in-law on the back–hard. Adam turned and glared at him. "Don't worry, Copeland," Jeff said, "Amanda will grow up fine! She's got people who love her and two awesome dads! Plus three surrogate moms. What more does she need?"
"Jeff's right," Mark agreed, "She's growing up just fine."
"You just agreed with Jeff?" Brian asked, coming up from behind, "That's a first, Jindrak!"
"Stuff it, Brian," Mark said, good-naturedly.
"He will later tonight if Sanders has his way with him," Sean laughed, glancing over at his best friend who was eyeing his lover lustfully.
"That was just wrong on so many levels," Jay shook his head.
"You guys are just plain sick," Adam said, frowning.
"Like you and Matt never do anything," Mark retorted, raising one eyebrow.
"That's none of your business."
"It is when you guys live in the apartment," Mark told him, "You guys should seriously think about getting insulated walls or something if you ever move into a house."
"Matt always has been loud," Jeff laughed.
"It's not me!" Matt exclaimed, hands raised.
"Yeah, all I ever hear is `Oh, Matty! Fuck me harder! Oh God, Matty!' It's crazy," Mark agreed.
Adam glared at him and stood up. He grabbed his plate and threw it in the garbage bag, on the way to the wooden swing where Trish was still spending time with his daughter. As much as he loved Trish like a sister and was glad that she was there for her, he still liked to spend as much time with his daughter as possible. Even though he had adopted Amanda, he saw her as his real daughter. She was his husband's real daughter, so he did have a right.
"You guys just love getting under Adam's skin, don't you?" Matt asked his friends as he watched his husband play with their daughter.
"Of course," Mark laughed.
"He's my best friend," Jay announced, "I'm allowed to."
Matt shook his head. "It's still wrong," he said. He got up and walked over to his family.
***
Later that night, Trish gathered everyone around the picnic table for dessert and coffee. After everyone was settled and talking, Trish cleared her throat. The group looked at her expectantly.
"Guys," she started, "I have an announcement. I wanna just let you guys know how much I absolutely love all of you and that you mean the world to me."
"We love you too, Trish," Ivory interrupted.
"Yeah, you're our girl," Chuck smiled.
Trish smiled back. She pushed her hair out of her face and took a deep breath. "Anyway, your friendship these past few years has been the one thing that's held me up through all the bad stuff," she continued, "I know I've had problems and you guys always helped me when I needed it." She stopped to look at Chuck and Shannon.
"Especially you two. You're my best friends."
"Ours too, sweetie," Shannon gave her a quick hug, "But, what is this all about?"
"Well," Trish answered, "You know I've been having problems with trying to have a baby-"
"Don't worry, Trish," Matt told her, "It'll happen sooner or later. You just gotta believe, like I did."
Trish nodded her head in agreement. "I know," she said, "That's why I have to say what I'm about to. I found out yesterday that–well, that I'm pregnant!"
"That's great, sweetheart!" Chuck exclaimed, jumping up to hug his friend.
"Congratulations, Trishie!" Mike smiled.
"Trishie is gonna have a baby!" Amanda cheered, jumping in Adam's lap.
"Who's the father?" Mark joked after everyone had settled down.
Trish smiled. "Well," she said slowly, glancing slyly at everyone, "Remember how I asked some of you guys to donate sperm last month?"
"Yeah," Randy nodded, taking a sip of coffee.
"Oh God," JP shook his head, eyes wide, "You mean one of us is the father?"
"I guess I could tell you..."
"Come on! Tell us!" Steph begged, "Who's the lucky guy?"
"It's–are you sure you want to know?" Trish asked.
Jeff slapped her arm. "Tell us, girl!"
"I'm dying of suspense," Shane said, biting his lip.
"I know it ain't me or Adam," Matt smiled. He squeezed Adam's hand. "Tell us, Trish!"
"It's JP!" Trish announced after a moment.
JP stared at her. "What?" he asked, finally finding his voice.
Trish hugged him, glancing up into his eyes. "You're the father," she whispered, "Thank you so much for donating, JP. It means so much to me!"
JP hugged her back, eyes still wide. "No problem," he muttered, "I'm so happy for you, Trishie!"
"You can have rights to the baby and everything if you want to," she told him hesitantly, "I mean, I'm not gonna deny you that even if you did just donate sperm and everything."
"No way. I was just helping out a friend," JP shook his head, "It's your baby and yours only."
"Awww," Mark smiled, "That's so sweet!"
Sean wiped a fake tear out of his eye and sniffed.
"It is, isn't it?" he asked.
Trish pulled away from JP and shoved Sean. He fell back and stumbled onto Jeff's lap. Jeff happened to be sitting on Jay's lap at the time, making out with him. So the extra weight of Sean's body surprised the two and sent them tumbling backward and onto the ground.
"Threesome!" Mike exclaimed as the three friends just laid on the ground, a tangled mess of limbs.
"You are sick!" Brian told his lover.
"Ow, Trish!" Sean exclaimed as he stood up, slowly, "Why'd you have to be so violent?"
"Because I hate you, O'Haire," Trish replied.
"You love me and you know it," he told her, brushing off his jean shorts, "If I wasn't into guys and you into girls, you know you'd be ALL over me!"
"Right," Trish drawled.
"Sean is pretty sexy," Jeff announced as he sat up on the ground and pulled Jay into his lap, "Anybody who saw
him would want him."
"What about me?" Jay pouted, running a hand across Jeff's bare stomach and playing with his belly-button ring.
Jeff kissed him on the lips, taking Jay's breath away. Jay wrapped his arms around his neck and kissed him back, parting his lips to let Jeff's tongue in. Jeff ran his tongue across the surfaces of Jay's mouth, making the blond moan in pleasure and tighten his hold around Jeff's neck.
"You are incredibly sexy as well, Jay," he responded a moment later as they came up for air.
"Before those two get too involved and we can't separate them," Matt grinned, raising his cup of coffee, "I'd like to propose a toast to Trish."
Everyone else raised their cups, saluting their friend. Trish blushed and tried to hold back the tears that were stinging in her eyes.
"To Trish!" Brian exclaimed.
"And her baby!" Adam added.
They all clinked their cups together and downed the rest of their drinks.
"Thanks, guys," Trish smiled.
"No problem, honey," Ivory smiled, kissing Trish's cheek, "You deserve this."
"We love you, sweetheart," Chuck squeezed his friend's body against his, "We'll be here to help you. Remember that."
"Yeah," Matt agreed, "And if you need any parenting tips, just ask me or Adam. We owe you for all the times you've helped out with our baby." He smiled at his daughter who had fallen asleep in his husband's arms.
"Speaking of Amanda," Adam added, also looking down and grinning, "I think it's time to get home and put her to sleep, baby."
Matt stood up and grabbed his and Adam's things. "You're right," he agreed, "Trish, congratulations again. Thanks for having us over, Mike and Brian."
"Hey, anytime, man," Brian shrugged.
"That goes for all of you," Mike added, glancing around, his arm around his lover's shoulders.
One by one, the group made their way to the front of the house and to their cars.
"Hey, next week, party at our house," Steph announced as she and Ivory climbed into their car.
"Can't wait!" Jay grinned as he walked across the street to Jeff's house.
"See you guys later!" Randy waved.
"Night, bro!" Matt called out as he tucked his daughter into her car seat, "Don't stay up too late."
"That might be a problem," Jeff retorted as he pinched Jay's ass.
"I don't wanna know," Mark shook his head as he started his car.
"Sure you don't," JP shook his head as he and Trish climbed into Mark's car.
"Bye, Trish, sweetie," Shannon said, "I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay, Shan," Trish nodded her head, "I'll be home."
"Night everybody!" Shane called out as he crossed the street to the house next to Jeff's.
"I feel like I'm in the Waltons," Mike joked as he watched his friends drive off.
"Night, John Bob!" Sean joked as he climbed onto his motorcycle and sped off.
Brian sighed and wrapped his arms around his lover's waist. "Wanna go to bed now?" he asked, tickling Mike's ribs with his fingers.
"You know it," Mike grinned, kissing his head.
