The Inheritance Clause

This story contains descriptions of graphic sex between males. If that kind of thing does not appeal to you, stop reading now.

This story is pure fiction. If this resembles something that happened to you, it must have been an incredible experience. But it's simply a coincidence.

All comments are welcome: djwarner1984@hotmail.com Please donate to Nifty: https://donate.nifty.org/

-DJ

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The Inheritance Clause - Conclusion

Dawson caressed Adam's fleshy butt cheek as he placed his soft lips against Adam's. He kissed him and then pulled his head back a bit so they could look at each other. Their eyes had adjusted now, so the soft glow of the light from the baseboards was just enough for them to see each other clearly. Along with the lust Adam had for him, Dawson could see the trepidation in his eyes. He tried to put him at ease.

"Do you remember the one thing I told you to remember during your swimming lessons?" Dawson asked very quietly.

Adam thought for a moment.

"Slow?" Adam said.

"Slow," Dawson said with mostly breath, "We're going to go slow. And if at any point you want to stop, just say so. Ok?"

"Ok," Adam said, still nervous, but less so.

Dawson moved in to give Adam another gentle kiss. When he pulled back, Adam slid his hand under the pillow.

"You might want this..." Adam said as he pulled out one of the containers of lubricant they used at the cabin.

He held it up for Dawson to see. Dawson scrunched his eyebrows as he removed his hand from Adam's butt and took the lube from Adam.

"Krantz..." Adam said, "It was in the nightstand..."

Dawson started to giggle. Then Adam started. The boys started to laugh. The picture of stodgy Krantz personally handling the lube Dawson and Adam used to make love was too much. The boys couldn't help but laugh.

Adam reached out to touch Dawson's forearm. Dawson put the lube on the bed behind him and put his hand on Adam's hip. The boys were still chuckling as they looked at each other.

"I'm gonna get a towel," Dawson said as he caressed Adam's hip, "Get on your hands and knees. Get as comfortable as you can."

Adam nodded as he swallowed with nervousness. Dawson leaned in and kissed Adam's cheek. He rolled off the bed and moved quickly to the bathroom. His hard cock bounded up and down and back and forth as he did. When he came out holding the towel, he could see Adam still lying on his side, watching him. When he saw Dawson return, Adam moved to get on his knees and leaned forward onto his elbows. He turned his head to watch Dawson. Dawson crawled onto the bed, leaving the towel next to the lube. He brought his head up next to Adam's. Adam was smiling at him.

"I can see you're pretty horny," Adam said softly.

"Mmm," Dawson hummed, "I've been imagining this for a while. I love my fiance's ass."

Adam chuckled and then smiled at Dawson. He felt Dawson's hand brush over his back. Then he saw Dawson sit up on his knees and move behind him. Adam felt Dawson's fingers lightly touch his ass cheeks. Adam made fists with his hands and brought his head between them as he dug his elbows into the mattress.

"Babe..." Dawson softly called to Adam, "You're all tense..."

Dawson looked over toward Adam's head.

"Take a deep breath," Dawson said, "and tense all your muscles... your whole body... then hold it..."

Adam did. Dawson caressed the small of Adam's back lightly with both hands.

"Now exhale and release all of your muscles," Dawson said.

Adam exhaled. He felt his body relax. He uncurled his fists.

"Much better..." Dawson whispered loud enough so Adam could hear him.

Adam could still feel Dawson's hands on the small of his back, but he could also feel Dawson moving. Dawson's hands swept down slowly until they were pressing against Adam's ass cheeks. He felt Dawson squeeze his buns gently and separate them. He felt the open air hit his ass crack.

Dawson could see Adam's rosebud in the soft light, with a light ring of hair surrounding his hole. Dawson pursed his lips and blew gently over Adam's hole.

"Oh..." Adam sighed as he felt the cool air hit his asshole.

Dawson saw Adam's hole pucker up and then release. He gently swept his wet tongue from below Adam's hole, over it, then above it, before he pulled his tongue back into his mouth.

"Oh..." Adam sighed again.

Adam adjusted his knees slightly and tilted his hips up to expose his hole even more. Dawson grinned. He moved in again. He flicked his tongue across Adam's hole again, pointed his tongue and poked it inside Adam's asshole with a quick thrust, then he gently scraped his goatee across his exposed ass crack.

"Ah!" Adam yelped with surprise.

Dawson repeated the same actions, lingering longer as he swiped Adam's asshole with his tongue, poking deeper when he thrust his tongue inside, and pressing harder when he whisked his goatee across Adam's sensitive ass crack.

"Oh... god..." Adam gushed as he turned his face and pressed his cheek against his hands, "Don't stop... keep doing that..." Adam said breathily.

Dawson regripped Adam's butt cheeks and dove back in. He continued to work Adam's hole while Adam writhed on the bed, grinding his hips to get more from Dawson's mouth and tongue. Adam's moans and groans filled the room while Dawson continued to munch at Adam's asshole, loosening it up for his eventual entry.

Dawson was most definitely an ass man. He loved to look at Adam's ass, whether it was naked or clothed. He thought the plump cheeks of Adam's ass were simple perfection. And he was a big fan of rimming. He loved to get his mouth right in there and eat at a juicy hole. But this... with Adam... It brought Dawson to a whole new level. His dick remained hard as he munched away on Adam's tasty pucker. Adam's moans and groans and the way he kept pushing back into Dawson, wanting more, spurred him on. Dawson continued poking and licking with his tongue creating a sensual feeling for Adam. He kept intermixing it with harsh scraping of his whiskers against Adam's tender skin, teasing Adam. Dawson also added intermittently wrapping his lips around Adam's hole and sucking on the tight muscle, coaxing it to loosen up for him.

For his part, Adam loved it when Dawson rimmed him at the cabin. When he told Dawson he was ready to bottom for him, this is what he was looking forward to the most... Dawson's blend of gentle and rough stimulation, his adept application of sensual and harsh treatment. It awakened a desperate lust in Adam he didn't realize he had. Adam's cock was mostly hard when he first got on his elbows and knees. Now, his cock was rigid. A little bit of pre-cum had formed at the tip of Adam's penis, although he was completely unaware. His attention was on the sensations Dawson's tongue and goatee were driving out of him. Adam kept taking deep breaths, but he didn't feel like he could get enough air into his lungs. There was a bit of drool coming out of the side of Adam's mouth, but again, he didn't even notice. He couldn't help moaning and groaning as Dawson did his magic. Adam's torso was now mostly on the bed as he found he had gyrated his ass as high up as he could so he could present it to Dawson.

After what seemed like hours to Adam, but was really about twenty minutes - still an impressive amount of time - Dawson lifted his face. He was breathing heavily as he massaged Adam's butt cheeks, keeping his asshole exposed. He looked at Adam's slick hole as he heard faint mews from Adam.

"Spread your knees, babe," Dawson whispered.

Adam managed to lift one knee and move it to the side. His ass lowered as he moved the other knee, spreading his cheeks even wider. Dawson picked up the lube container and opened it. He held it above Adam's ass crack and squeezed. A sizable glob of lube hit Adam's asshole, with most of it landing slightly to the left. Dawson squeezed again and a smaller dab hit above Adam's hole. Both dollops of lube dripped slowly down. Dawson closed the lube container and tossed it toward the edge of the bed. Then Dawson held Adam's butt cheek in his left hand and moved his right hand to lay on the small of Adam's back. Using his thumb, Dawson reached down and swished the lube around.

"Mmmm," Adam hummed with pleasure.

Adam moved his arms so his elbows were out to the side. He flattened his hands against the bed linens and placed his cheek against them. He noticed he was drooling, so he took a quick intake of breath to suck the spit back in. Dawson continued to massage the area around and over Adam's asshole while Adam sighed with pleasure. After a few minutes, Dawson suddenly flicked his wet thumb gently against Adam's asshole and dipped it inside a bit as it swiped over his hole.

"Oh!" Adam mewed with surprise.

"You like that?" Dawson playfully said.

"Mmmm," Adam responded, "Oh!" Adam suddenly said as Dawson unexpectedly flicked his thumb into his hole again as it passed by.

Dawson kept dipping his thumb, which was now completely slicked up with lube, just a bit into Adam's asshole at random points, teasing Adam so he would react to each movement. Dawson was working Adam's ass ring, to loosen it up. The fact that he could tease Adam, getting him to moan at each flick of his thumb, was what really turned on Dawson.

Dawson removed his right hand, while still squeezing Adam's butt cheek in his left. He reached down and cupped Adam's balls with his fingers. He jostled them lightly as he pressed his palm against Adam's taint.

"Oh... yeah..." Adam sighed.

Dawson took his thumb and flicked at Adam's asshole.

"Oh!" Adam moaned in surprise.

This time, though, Dawson kept the tip of his thumb inside, maintaining pressure on Adam's ass ring. He jiggled his hand so his fingers quivered against Adam's balls, his palm trembled against Adam's taint, and his thumb twitched against Adam's asshole.

"Ohhhhhh," Adam exhaled loudly as the new sensations hit him.

Dawson continued to lightly jostle Adam's balls and press on his taint as he worked his thumb against the muscle of Adam's asshole.

"Ohhh... ohhh... ohhh..." Adam kept breathily sighing as Dawson worked his thumb a little bit deeper... a little bit deeper...

Dawson slid his thumb out and pulled his hand away. Adam took a deep breath and exhaled with satisfaction. As soon as Dawson heard Adam exhaling, he pressed his thumb against Adam's hole and slid it in. Dawson pressed, slowly, gently, until his thumb was fully inside.

"Ahhhh!" Adam mewed with a sustained high-pitched voice as his head lifted off the bed.

Adam's cock immediately flexed its hardness and his cock head swelled, Dawson twisted his thumb around one way, then the other, as Adam's hips involuntarily ground into Dawson's thumb.

"Oh... god..." Adam grunted as he quickly swallowed and tried to take a breath.

Dawson again twisted his thumb one way, then the other. Keeping his thumb inside, he drummed his fingers on Adam's balls and started wiggling his thumb.

"Oh... god..." Adam grunted again as he lifted himself up on his elbows and pushed his hips back against Dawson's thumb.

While keeping his thumb firmly embedded in Adam's ass, Dawson lifted his left hand and sucked on his other thumb. Once it was slicked up, he slowly slid his thumb out of Adam.

"Hhhh," Adam sighed as he felt the thumb leave his ass.

Adam began taking deep breaths as he felt the burn in his ass. Dawson gave him little time to recover. Using both hands, Dawson gripped Adam's balls with his fingers, leaving his thumbs hovering just above Adam's asshole. Dawson kept his hands there, not moving them.

"Take a deep breath, babe," Dawson instructed, "and exhale."

Adam did.

"Again..."

Adam did again.

"How are you doing?" Dawson said.

"I am... so good right now," Adam said as he took another deep breath.

"Good," Dawson said.

Without warning, Dawson began flicking one thumb, then the other over Adam's asshole. Flick... flick... flick...

"Ah!" Adam yelped because it was unexpected and it felt amazing.

Dawson kept up his flicking, alternating his thumbs, not giving Adam's asshole a moment to rest before one thumb then the other was flicking at it.

"Ohhhhh," Adam kept sighing on each exhale as he felt Dawson's thumbs loosening him up.

Dawson began pushing his thumbs in deeper. First one, then the other. Back and forth, going deeper and deeper. Eventually, Dawson was slowly sliding each thumb a couple inches in and out, alternating them, like pistons, working Adam's muscles to relax. First one thumb would thrust in and slide out. Just as that thumb slipped out of Adam's asshole, the other would penetrate and slide in. Back and forth, slowly driving Adam into a frenzy.

Adam was lost in a different world. His asshole had never experienced such a sustained assault. It was glorious. Adam was moaning and groaning, trying to push his ass into Dawson's thumbs each time they entered him. He was desperate to get more... to feel it deeper... to feel completely filled.

Gradually, Dawson started pushing the second thumb into Adam's asshole before the other had slipped out. More and more, Dawson began overlapping his thumbs, eventually stretching Adam's hole so both thumbs were penetrating him at the same time. Finally, Dawson slowed as he gently slid both thumbs inside Adam at the same time.

"Oh... god..." Adam moaned as he felt the thickness of Dawson's manipulations stretch him, "Yes!"

Dawson slid both thumbs out. Then he pushed them right back in.

"Yes!... more..." Adam groaned.

Dawson wiggled both thumbs while they were buried deep inside Adam. Adam's head lifted. His ass pushed back. His cock flexed its hardness underneath him. A thin strand of pre-cum was now dangling from the head of Adam's cock.

"Ah!" Adam suddenly yelped from the intense feeling.

Dawson slipped his thumbs out of Adam's ass and pulled his hands back. He began to crawl to the edge of the bed.

"No... don't stop..." Adam begged with breathy gasps.

Adam's asshole was throbbing. Adam was trying to catch his breath while his brain tried to process the intense feelings.

"C'mere, babe..." Dawson calmly said.

Adam slowly opened his eyes and looked over. Dawson was standing on the floor, facing him, at the edge of the bed. Dawson was looking at his own hand as he held it out in front of him. He had the lube container above it and was squeezing some lube into his hand. Dawson's cock was rock hard, pointing diagonally upward toward Adam. Dawson tossed the lube container to the side. He began stroking his cock, lathering it up with the lube. Adam could hear the slick sound of Dawson's hand moving up and down Dawson's shaft as he tried to roll and lift himself.

"Lay right here..." Dawson said, "On your back..."

Dawson patted the edge of the bed with his free hand as he continued to stroke his now completely lubed up cock. Adam moved slowly. First one hand, then the other as he crawled closer to Dawson. He could feel the heat from where Dawson had worked him over, his ass ring throbbing from the stimulation. He watched Dawson smiling at him. Adam rolled onto his back and pulled his legs in. Dawson stepped back.

"Come right to the edge," Dawson said quietly as he continued to stroke himself.

Adam eagerly scooted closer to the edge and lifted his legs, pulling his knees into his chest. Dawson looked down and saw Adam's enflamed rosebud. The edges were all red and puffy. The center was puckering open for him.

"So beautiful..." Dawson whispered under his breath.

Dawson stepped forward and gently swiped his slick hand up Adam's crack, to make sure Adam was lubed up enough.

"Hhhh," Adam exhaled a sigh as he closed his eyes.

Dawson swiped his hand again, this time he paused and gently pushed two of his fingers easily into Adam. Adam's eyes opened wide with the suddenness of the penetration.

"Ohhh... god..." Adam hissed as he looked at Dawson's face with desperate lust.

Dawson kept his fingers inside him. He moved in closer. Adam could feel Dawson's hard slippery cock pressing against his butt cheek. Dawson could smell Adam's raw scent. He looked into Adam's glassy-looking eyes.

"How does that feel?" Dawson said as he gently wiggled his fingers deep inside Adam.

"Ohhhh..." Adam sighed as his eyes squinted, his mouth opened wide, and his jaw jutted forward, "So... good..." Adam sighed breathily, "so... good... don't stop," he begged desperately.

"No pain?" Dawson said with concern.

Adam grinned slightly as he shook his head.

"No..." Adam whispered, "Please... more... don't stop..."

Adam couldn't control himself. He'd never felt this way. His prostate was begging for more stimulation. Dawson smiled at Adam.

"I won't stop," Dawson said, "until you tell me to."

Adam bit his lower lip and nodded. Dawson slipped his fingers out of Adam's asshole. Adam sighed. Dawson wiped his slippery hand off using the towel. He took Adam's legs by the ankles, first one, then the other. He leaned them against his upper body. Adam let go of his knees and brought his hands to rest on his pecs. He could still feel his ass throbbing.

"Keep taking deep breaths," Dawson said softly as he realigned his hips to line up his cock with Adam's asshole.

Dawson locked eyes with Adam. Adam took a deep breath and exhaled. Dawson looked down. He could see Adam's dick was hard with a sticky line of pre-cum connecting his cock slit with his abs. He looked at his own cock. It was pointing upward so hard that he had to push his cock down a bit as he zeroed in on his target. Once his cock head made contact with Adam's asshole, Dawson looked at Adam again.

"Hhhhho," Adam sighed, forming an O with his mouth when he felt Dawson's cock head press gently against his engorged rosebud.

Adam kept looking into Dawson's eyes as he took deep breaths and exhaled. Dawson let go of his cock. Its head pressed expectantly against Adam's hole. He waited for the next exhale and then Dawson pushed his cock slowly forward.

Adam's eyes widened. His mouth opened. He reflexively grabbed Dawson's biceps. His lower jaw jutted forward as his eyebrows furrowed.

"Ohhhhhhh!" Adam grunted a deep, long moan as he looked lovingly into Dawson's eyes.

Dawson's cock met little resistance as about half of his prick penetrated into Adam's tight hole. Dawson stopped pushing when he realized what was happening, but it had already happened. Dawson's cock was halfway inside Adam.

"Hhhhhhhhh," Adam followed his long grunt with a soft sigh of satisfaction.

A drunken-like grin spread across Adam's face.

Dawson was initially concerned that he had pushed too far inside, that he might have hurt Adam. But in a split second he realized Adam liked it. Once his concern was allayed a wave of pleasure swept over him as he registered the tight, wet, heat enveloping his cock.

"Uuuggghhh," Dawson couldn't help but utter as his face came closer to Adam's.

Dawson paused. They could feel the other's breath on their own face. Adam looked at Dawson desperately as he took a deep breath.

"Don't stop..." Adam breathily exhaled as he reached his hands up to lightly grip Dawson's pecs.

Dawson didn't think. His body just reacted. He hunched his hips to withdraw an inch or so. Then he thrust forward, gently. More of his cock sank into Adam's tight hole.

"Ohhhh... god..." Adam grunted in a deep voice.

Adam's face contorted again. But his eyes never looked away from Dawson's. His hands slid up and grabbed Dawson's shoulders. He tried to pull Dawson toward him, to get more of his cock. Dawson was amazed at the incredibly tight feeling enveloping his cock.

Again, without thinking, Dawson hunched his hips, withdrawing a bit as Adam took a breath. Dawson pressed forward, sliding his cock deep into Adam, until his pubic hair was tickling Adam's balls.

"Ohhhhhh!" Adam moaned, deep down in his throat.

"Uugghh!" Dawson grunted.

Adam's hands immediately reached for Dawson's ass, trying to get more of Dawson's cock inside him. Dawson tried to speak to Adam, but he was overwhelmed with the pleasure of having his cock buried deep in his fiance's ass.

"Don't... stop..." Adam managed to grunt at Dawson in a desperate voice as his hands clawed at Dawson's butt.

With the green light from Adam, Dawson let his sexual adrenaline drive him. He began withdrawing and thrusting into Adam with a long, slow pace. Dawson loved the feeling of Adam's insides squeezing every inch of his cock as it slid into him. Adam added to Dawson's satisfaction each time by desperately grunting into his face when Dawson hit bottom and stimulated Adam's prostate.

Adam was groaning, reveling in Dawson's cock on every thrust, knowing it would hit his prostate, sending ripples of pleasure throughout his body. Adam was still clawing at Dawson's ass, trying to get more, even though Dawson was going as deep as he could.

They locked eyes and never looked away. They both held their mouths open just inches apart from each other while Dawson took Adam's cherry. Dawson's methodical thrusting caused them to grunt and sigh and moan, wafting their breath in the other's face. They were connected like they hadn't been before. Dawson continued making passionate love to Adam for several minutes. Neither of them wanted it to end.

Eventually, Dawson could feel the tingling sensation he knew would lead to his orgasm. While still maintaining his slow, sensual thrusting rhythm, Dawson lifted his head. He reached for the lube. He flipped the cap open with one hand and squeezed some out onto Adam's cock shaft, which was bobbing up and down with each thrust. Dawson threw the tube to the side. He looked at Adam who had a desperate look of anticipation on his face.

"Babe..." Adam managed to say just as Dawson slathered his hand onto the glob of lube on Adam's cock.

Dawson was single-minded in his purpose and didn't hear Adam. To Dawson it sounded like Adam's other grunts. Dawson wrapped his hand around Adam's cock, trapping most of the lube under his palm. Dawson stroked Adam's cock down and then up. Dawson barely stroked Adam's shaft once more.

"I..." Adam gasped.

Suddenly, Adam's cock began to erupt. Dawson realized Adam was cumming and thrust as far into Adam as he could. He gripped Adam's cock tightly and pulled down on the shaft, because he knew that's how Adam liked to cum. Dawson watched Adam's eyes roll back into his head. He saw him throw his head back. Adam's mouth opened and his chin dimple stuck up into the air. His fingers squeezed Dawson's ass cheeks pulling him that much closer.

"Ohhh!... Ohhh!... Ohhh!... Ohhh!... Ohhh!... Ohhh!... Ohhh!... Ohhh!..." Adam grunted as spurts of cum shot out of his cock and landed on his chest and abs.

When Adam finished cumming, Dawson released Adam's cock. It was still rock hard. Dawson watched as Adam's chest heaved up and down. Adam's head finally came forward and his eyes opened. Adam grinned at Dawson. He reached up with both hands and gently ran the backs of his fingers over Dawson's nipples.

"Oh fuck," Dawson sighed as his head came forward.

"I told you... Don't stop..." Adam playfully whispered as he ran his fingertips over Dawson's nipples again.

"Ohhhh..." Dawson sighed.

Dawson slowly began to withdraw from Adam as he looked at Adam's face. Before he pulled out entirely, Dawson began to thrust back in. He started withdrawing and thrusting at a slow pace and then began to go faster. Adam now had a determined look as he took each thrust from Dawson with a short escape of his breath. He pinched Dawson's nipples.

"Ahhhh..." Dawson groaned as he kept eye contact with Adam.

Dawson knew he was close. The feeling of Adam's insides squeezing his shaft and buffing his cock head was bringing him closer. But now, with Adam tweaking his nipples, he couldn't control himself. He felt his orgasm approaching and he couldn't stop it. He started thrusting harder and faster. Adam could tell Dawson was about to cum. He clamped down hard on Dawson's nipples. Dawson thrust himself forward and buried his cock as deep as he could. He came up on his toes and threw his head forward.

"Uugghh! Uugghh! Uugghh! Uugghh! Uugghh! Uugghh! Uugghh! Uugghh!" Dawson grunted as he deposited his seed inside Adam.

Adam let go of Dawson's nipples and began to gently caress them. Dawson hung his head as he tried to catch his breath, breathing into Adam's face. After a few moments Dawson raised his head. The boys looked at each other. Dawson was going to ask if Adam was alright. Before he could, Adam grinned.

"That was so good!" Adam exclaimed, his chest still heaving, "I've never felt anything like that..."

Dawson grinned as he tried to catch his breath.

"I'm definitely going to want to do that again," Adam said breathily.

Dawson stifled a laugh as he smirked. Adam started to chuckle. Dawson slowly withdrew his cock as Adam put his hands on the back of Dawson's neck and pulled him down. Adam gave Dawson a few soft, gentle kisses, with just their lips. Dawson paused and looked into Adam's eyes. Then he moved in and they kissed passionately, letting their tongues mingle softly in each other's mouths. Dawson slowly slipped his lips off of Adam's when he broke the kiss. He stood and reached for the towel. He cleaned Adam before swiping the towel over his own cock. He tossed the towel onto the floor and leaned into Adam.

"Shower with me?" Dawson asked before he planted a small kiss on Adam's lips.

"On two conditions..." Adam said.

He paused as Dawson tilted his head, waiting to hear the conditions.

"Be my big spoon tonight..." Adam said.

"No brainer..." Dawson said, "Done. What's the other thing?"

"In the morning..." Adam said as his voice got softer and more seductive, "I want to wake up feeling you inside me again..."

Dawson smiled. Adam grinned.

"I think I can do that..." Dawson said with satisfaction.

He stepped back and reached his hand out to Adam. Adam took it and stood up. They went into the bathroom and started the shower. The boys soaped up and cleaned themselves off. Then they clung to each other under the spray. They kept touching and caressing each other, occasionally stopping to kiss. Eventually, they shut off the shower and dried off.

Just as Dawson finished drying himself, he moved in and hugged Adam, their naked bodies embracing.

"I keep thinking back to the day we met..." Dawson said, "behind the funeral home... when I was upset about your granddad dying."

"Mmmm," Adam said.

Dawson smiled.

"Remember you asked me 'Are you Ok?'" Dawson said.

"Of course," Adam said.

"And I said, 'Um... I was Ok...'" Dawson recalled.

"Yeah..." Adam said as Dawson pulled back to look at him.

"Well, I want to change my answer..." Dawson said, "I am Ok. I'm better than Ok. I have you now."

Adam began to tear up.

"We both have each other now," Adam said.

"Even better," Dawson said.

The boys smiled at each other. Dawson leaned in and they kissed each other on the lips. They tossed the towels into the laundry bin and moved to the bedroom. They got into bed. Dawson wrapped his arms around Adam, keeping his promise to be Adam's big spoon. They both contentedly drifted off to sleep.

Chelsea Bergich was in the ballroom. Since the remodel, the room was much brighter. The newly stained hardwood floor and the new chair rail, with a brightly patterned wallpaper below it and freshly painted wall treatments above it, had a lot to do with the light, airy feeling in the ballroom now. The chandeliers were refurbished and the window treatments were updated. The portraits of Clayton and Sarah Jameson were still in the same place. The rest of the artwork was replaced with pieces that made you feel like you were in the middle of exciting action.

Chelsea, the wedding coordinator, was talking with her employee, Sheila Garcia. Shiela was in charge of coordinating the ballroom and terrace. The dance floor was in place. The DJ was configuring his equipment with the ballroom's system. The head table and the ten round dining tables were already in place and place settings were set for the guests. The head tables had two beautiful sprays of fresh blue orchids. And each table for the guests had blue orchid centerpieces. The caterer was getting their equipment set up. Shiela was going over her last-minute items as Chelsea checked them off on her electronic tablet.

"The jazz band is here," Larkin said over Chelsea's earpiece.

Chelsea pressed the button on her earpiece.

"I'm just finishing up in the ballroom with Sheila," Chelsea said, "If you can have them wait in the lobby, in front of the staircase, I'll meet them there."

"Got it," Larkin said.

Chelsea pressed the mute button on her earpiece. She finished up with Sheila and left her. She met the jazz band in the area between the vestibule and the staircase. She guided the jazz band to the terrace where they would be playing. They began getting themselves situated on the left side of the terrace. Chelsea then became engrossed with looking at her tablet. She didn't see Judge Lynch come onto the terrace.

Judge Lynch looked around as she approached Chelsea. The terrace was configured with several standing cocktail tables, some wicker settees and benches along the perimeter, several appetizer stations, and two cocktail bars on either end of the terrace. The bartenders were already in position, confirming their stations were stocked. Everything was subtly decorated with blue orchids.

The judge was wearing a formal-looking light lavender dress as she wended her way toward Chelsea. Her hair was normally in a tight bun, but today it was down. It was beautifully styled to enhance her facial features. She was carrying a lightweight garment bag. She came up to Chelsea, who didn't notice her because her nose was in the tablet.

"Good afternoon, Miss Bergich," the judge said, "Everything looks amazing!"

"Oh! Hi... Judge Lynch..." Chealsea said as she looked up, "You shouldn't be out here. Ms. Larkin should have sent you to the garden."

Chelsea looked frustrated.

"I know... I know..." the judge said as she dabbed her hand toward Chelsea to calm her, "She told me... I wanted to talk to you."

Chelsea immediately wiped the frustration off her face and conveyed a caring, concerned look.

"I like to have a private moment with the people I marry before the ceremony. Would it be all right for me to see each groom, separately, before we start?" the judge said.

"Of course," Chelsea said and then she paused, "Um..." Chelsea hesitated as she looked at her watch, "The guests are being seated now. We have about thirty minutes. I need to go sort something out with Mr. Krantz. So, if you can go to Mr. Santos' tent first, until I talk to Mr. Krantz..."

The judge smiled when she heard Chelsea refer to Dawson as Mr. Santos. The day after the boys returned from their time at Rosemary's Point, Dawson had a conversation with Helena. He told her about Krantz's terminal illness. And he told her he had decided to change his last name to Santos, his grandmother's maiden name and also Jorge's surname. He told her it made him feel closer to Jorge, which touched her deeply. With Judge Lynch's help, he was able to expedite the process and get it changed very quickly. And Larkin, newly installed as personal secretary, was able to get Adam's bracelet changed, so it said 'Dawson Andrew Santos loves me' on the inside.

When Chelsea mentioned Krantz, the judge started thinking about him.

"How is Mr. Krantz?" the judge asked Chelsea.

Chelsea sighed.

"He's doing ok," Chelsea said, "although he's agitated today."

Chelsea seemed irritated.

"I shouldn't wonder," the judge said, "I'm sure he's anxious for the boys."

Chelsea didn't say anything in response, but the judge could tell that Chelsea was not happy about whatever was going on with Krantz. She didn't need to get in the middle of it, so the judge brushed by it.

"I should go around this way?" Judge Lynch said as she pointed.

"Yes," Chelsea said, pointing to the right, toward the far end of the terrace, "If you go that way, you can bypass the guests. It will take you out to Mr. Santos' tent. Just make sure to meet me under the awning behind the hedge at the edge of the garden at ten minutes before 3:00."

"I'll see you then," the judge said.

Judge Lynch walked toward the far end of the terrace and went down the stairs. Chelsea took a deep breath and sighed. She scanned the terrace. Shelia and the caterer came out onto the terrace with his team. They were carrying boxes of supplies to set up the appetizer stations.

"I'll be down in the garden," Chelsea said to Sheila, "Krantz wants to talk to me... again."

"Good luck with that...," Shiela said as she gave Chelsea a knowing look, "Everything is under control here, I should be all set," Shiela said.

Chelsea nodded to Shelia and then lowered the tablet so she was holding it against her hip. She started down the stairs near where the jazz band was setting up. When she reached the patio, there were a few guests waiting there for ushers to seat them. Chelsea acknowledged them as she approached the garden.

The garden had been transformed. The large open grass-filled area where Clayton would sometimes host garden parties was filled with rows of comfortable white chairs. They were facing the lake, with a wooden runner down the center aisle. There was a high, light blue colored canopy over the entire seating area. At the end of the garden was a white trellis decorated with blue orchids. The backdrop behind the trellis was the panoramic view of the lake. The weather was perfect. There were some light puffy clouds which blocked the sun a bit, so it was a comfortable temperature with a slight breeze off the lake.

Chelsea made her way past the guests waiting to be seated. She looked over to the right side, behind the last row of seats. There was a string quartet playing classical music, which wafted through the air, creating an elegant atmosphere. Chelsea found Sam Gagliardi, the head usher.

"Everything ok?" Chelsea asked him.

"Yes," replied Sam, "We've had a few guests surprised that we're not separating the guests by Jameson vs. Santos. But once we explain that the grooms want their guests to come together as one family, they are embracing the sentiment."

"Good... good..." Chelsea said, "I'll be checking on the grooms before I take my position out front. Let me know if you need anything."

"You got it, boss," Sam said.

Sam stepped back to the area where guests were waiting to be seated. Chelsea made her way up the aisle. An usher was in the process of seating Mateo and his family. They were a few rows behind Rosa and Margherita. There were other members of the Santos family near them and on the other side of the aisle. Some of Adam's college friends were next to Mateo. The judge's mother, who helped redecorate the master bedroom and the ballroom, was there. Members of the Cotton, Putnam, and Shaw legal firm, including Mr. Cotton, Mr. Shaw, and Mrs. Putnam were there. Carmen Castillo, the executor of Clayton's will, and Jacob Dugan, Joan's divorce lawyer, were seated across the aisle from them. A few of Adam's colleagues from his former marketing firm were seated near the middle. The family of Dawson's friend who initially took him in when his parents kicked him out was near them.

Chelsea went toward the trellis and turned around. She looked back from where she had just come. The seats were half filled with more people coming in for the ushers to seat. Two of the panel members appointed to oversee Clayton's will, Lillian Warren and Gail Ingall, were being escorted to seats near one of the other panel members, Kevin Hernandes. Chelsea surveyed the area. There were almost a hundred seats for the eighty people expected to attend the wedding.

Chelsea then scanned the water dispensers that were strategically placed around the perimeter. The glass dispensers had lemon slices floating in them. The tops were subtly decorated with blue orchids. A few folks were standing around one of them, talking and drinking water. Everything in the garden seemed to be going smoothly from what Chelsea could see.

Chelsea looked to her left, off beyond the hedges, out of view from the guests. She could see Evan Krause, Dawson's attendant for the event. He also worked for Chelsea. He was standing outside of Dawson's tent. Chelsea watched as the judge hung her garment bag under the canopy and then approached Dawson's tent and greeted Evan. Chelsea turned to her right where Adam's tent was. She took a deep breath and exhaled. She started walking with a determined gait toward it.

The boys planned it so they would spend their last night apart as single men. They would get ready in separate tents before the ceremony and then see each other for the first time when they came out at the start of the service.

Adam spent the prior night at the lake house. He had trouble drifting off because Dawson wasn't there to be his big spoon and hold him, but he managed to get enough sleep. He was eager to be reunited with Dawson.

Dawson slept at the Santos farm. He stayed up later than he should have with Margherita, Rosa, and Helena looking at family photo albums. He was chomping at the bit to see Adam.

Chelsea made her way out of the view of the guests as she went toward Adam's tent. She smiled at another one of her employees, Matt Pinneta, Adam's attendant, as she approached. Matt took a step forward and looked at his watch.

"Are we running on time?" Matt asked.

"Yup," Chelsea said.

Chelsea stopped and looked behind Matt to see if she could peer into the tent.

"Do you know what Mr. Krantz wants?" Chelsea asked.

"No..." Matt replied, "He will only talk to you... But I bet it's about the wheelchair again..."

"Mmm..." Chelsea hummed as she was thinking the same thing, "How is he?" Chelsea asked, keeping her voice low.

"He's very relaxed," Matt responded, "I don't think I've seen a groom so calm on his wedding day."

"No..." Chelsea said with disappointment, "No... Mr. Krantz..."

"Oh..." Matt said, "He's... uh... feisty."

Matt looked satisfied that he found a diplomatic way to describe Krantz's mood.

"Great..." Chelsea said sarcastically.

She held out the tablet for Matt to take.

"If I don't come out alive," Chelsea joked as Matt took the tablet, "It's all on you to get them married."

Chelsea straightened her sleeves as she readied herself to go in. Matt smiled and shook his head as he opened the tent flap. Chelsea stepped inside. Joan was sitting on a settee. Adam was standing next to where Joan was sitting, with his hands in his pockets. Krantz was sitting across from them.

Adam turned when he heard someone come in. He looked dashing, dressed in a well-tailored black tuxedo, reminiscent of the tuxedo his grandfather was wearing in his portrait. Pinned to Adam's lapel was a single white orchid.

Joan looked gorgeous. Her hair was all done up and her dress was a beautiful jade color. She was wearing a blue orchid corsage.

"Miss Bergich..." Krantz said as he gently rapped twice on the arm of his wheelchair.

Shortly after the night the boys announced their engagement to the family, Krantz had a few episodes where he became too tired and had to stop what he was doing to sit down. Luckily, Larkin was already on board and they had just hired Chelsea Bergich to be the wedding coordinator. So, the boys and Larkin subtly began pulling back on Krantz's duties, having him work with Chelsea and focus exclusively on the wedding. When they suggested they hire a nurse to tend to him and move him to the first floor, he didn't protest. That's when the boys knew Krantz was feeling the effects of the cancer. Soon after that, he could still stand and walk, but not for very long. So, after some initial resistance, his nurse got him to use a wheelchair.

When Chelsea came into the tent, Colby, who was sitting next to Krantz, stood up taller.

"Miss Bergich..." Krantz said again.

Krantz was dressed in a handsome three-piece suit with a blue orchid pinned to his lapel. Everyone was used to him dressed in his butler's uniform. Which was subtly different. When Chelsea looked at him, it took her a moment to figure out what was different about him. It was the suit.

"Mr. Krantz, I'm sorry," Chelsea replied with sympathy, "but I'm sticking to the advice of your nurse."

She glanced at the hospice nurse who was standing behind Krantz.

"We can't have you stand next to Adam for the length of the ceremony," Chelsea said.

She took a deep breath to continue her arguments when Krantz interrupted her.

"I agree," Krantz said.

Chelsea looked surprised.

"You agree?" Chelsea said with relief, "Well then... thank you Mr. Krantz. I know you don't want to be wheeled out in a wheelchair, but..."

"Miss Bergich..." Krantz quietly interrupted her.

Chelsea stopped talking and looked at Krantz.

"I have an alternative idea..." Krantz said, "We place one of the chairs on the platform where I am supposed to stand," Krantz said, "I can walk the short distance to the platform and sit when I don't need to stand."

Chelsea looked at the nurse. The nurse shrugged her shoulders because she didn't have an argument against it. Chelsea looked at Adam for help. Adam came over to Krantz. He reached down and put his hand over Krantz's hand, which was resting on the arm of the wheelchair.

"I think that's a great idea," Adam said.

He and Krantz made eye contact. Krantz smiled at Adam. Krantz moved his hand and gently squeezed Adam's hand.

"Well..." Chelsea said as she realized she needed to concede, "I'll need to put out a chair for Miss Stewart, too, so it won't look out of place..."

"Thank you, Miss Bergich," Krantz said as he looked at her with a grin.

Chelsea took a deep breath and sighed. She looked at Colby who was sitting there watching her.

"Ok..." Chelsea said, "But Colby..."

"That's not negotiable," Adam interrupted her, "Colby stays by Krantz's side. Period."

Chelsea looked at Adam. Then she looked at her watch. She pretended she never mentioned Colby.

"I'll need to take care of your chair right away..." Chelsea said.

She scanned the tent, looking at everyone.

"Matt will tell you when we're ready to start," Chelsea said.

Chelsea gave a single nod to Adam and then she left the tent. She put her hand out to get the tablet from Matt. He handed it to her.

"He's going to walk out with the dog," Chelsea said, "We'll put a chair on the platform for him."

Matt nodded. Chelsea looked at her watch. She put her hand on her ear and pressed the talk button on her earpiece.

"Sam," Chelsea said to the head usher, "Can you get one of the other ushers to help you? We need two chairs from the back row up at the trellis."

"I'm on it," Sam replied.

Chelsea pressed the button to mute her earpiece and began walking out to where the guests could see her. While she waited near the trellis, she saw one of the ushers escorting Niven to her seat in the front row. They made eye contact. Chelsea smiled at her. Niven pursed her lips and gave Chelsea a single head nod.

Sam and another usher arrived with the chairs. In addition to the wooden runner in the center aisle, Chelsea also had wooden runners installed from the trellis to each of the tents. There was a wooden platform centered under the trellis which connected to all three of the wooden runners. There was just enough room to place the chairs on the platform where Krantz and Cassie would be positioned.

With that settled, Chelsea took a deep breath and sighed. She headed for Dawson's tent. She saw Judge Lynch and Dawson, alone, over to the side of the tent. Dawson was crying as the judge embraced him and rubbed his back. They parted and Dawson went into the tent, sniffling and wiping his eyes and nose with a tissue. The judge came toward Chelsea's direction.

"I'm going to pop in on Adam," Judge Lynch said to Chelsea, "I'll meet you at the canopy."

"Ok," Chelsea said as she looked at her watch.

Chelsea greeted Evan as he opened the tent flap. She looked toward Dawson as she entered. He had just sat down next to Helena after coming in from speaking in private with the judge. Then she looked at Cassie who was drinking some water. She was standing behind the settee where Dawson and his grandmother were sitting.

Dawson was wearing the same style tuxedo as Adam, with the same single white orchid boutonniere as Adam's. He looked very handsome. His goatee was fuller now and his hair was styled perfectly. Larkin had arranged for the twin barbers, Jeremy and Jason, to groom the boys' hair earlier that morning.

Helena's dress was a light maroon floral pattern, which complimented her skin tone. Her hair was all done up and her face was beaming because she couldn't stop smiling. She was wearing a blue orchid corsage, just like the one Joan was wearing.

Cassie looked stunning in her beautiful golden colored gown. She was wearing high heels, which she wasn't used to, so her footing was a bit uncertain.

"Miss Stewart," Chelsea said, "We will be putting chairs in your spot and Mr. Krantz's spot so you won't need to stand for the whole ceremony."

Chelsea was trying to avoid saying the real reason why there would be a chair.

"Ah," Dawson said, recognizing immediately why chairs were being added, "You've solved the wheelchair problem."

Cassie was happy to have a place to sit during the ceremony. She was dreading having to stand in high heels the whole time. So, she nodded in agreement.

"Cass," Dawson said, "You can sit when Krantz sits and stand when he stands, so it looks like we planned it that way."

"Ah," Cassie said, "Good idea."

"We'll be starting shortly," Chelsea said, "Evan will direct you when it's time."

Everyone nodded. Chelsea exited the tent as she looked at her watch.

"Fifteen minutes," Chelsea said to Evan.

Evan nodded. He clasped his hands together in front of himself as he stood up taller. Chelsea left and made her way to the edge of the garden. She looked out over the crowd. Most of the chairs were filled. There were still some people being escorted to their seats.

Jeremy and Jason, the twin barbers, were sitting toward the back with their wives. Somehow, they looked even sexier, all decked out in their suits. Guests kept finding excuses to turn around or glance over, just to catch a glimpse of the handsome studs. Chelsea was no exception. She fixed her gaze on them as she took a moment to listen to the music and the low hum of the voices of the attendees in their seats. After a couple minutes, she turned and looked out toward the lake. It was a picture-perfect view. Chelsea took a deep breath and sighed. She moved to stand under the canopy which was hidden from the view of the guests by the hedges at the edge of the garden. She put the tablet down onto the table under the canopy. She poured some water from the small dispenser that was there. She sat on one of the two chairs and took a drink.

Chelsea saw Adam and Judge Lynch exit the tent. They went near one of the hedges out of earshot from Matt. She saw the judge speak to Adam. It looked like Adam was listening intently. She saw Adam begin to sob. She could see his shoulders shaking as he cried. The judge took out a tissue from somewhere and handed it to Adam. Adam wiped his eyes and then leaned in and embraced the judge. She rubbed his back, like she had done to Dawson. They separated and Adam went into the tent. The judge started walking toward where Chelsea was sitting.

Chelsea looked at her watch. Chelsea pressed the talk button on her earpiece.

"Ten minutes everyone," Chelsea said, "Sheila are you still good?"

There was a pause. The judge joined Chelsea under the canopy.

"All good here," Sheila said over the earpiece, "The terrace and the ballroom are all set."

"Thanks," Chelsea said, "Ms. Larkin, how are you doing?"

"The last of the guests are arriving," Larkin said over the earpiece, "I'm moving to get in position in the garden now."

"Excellent," Chelsea said and then she pressed the mute button on the earpiece.

The judge unzipped the garment bag she had hung on the bar that made up the frame of the canopy. She took out her judge's robe and began to put it on.

"Well done, Miss Bergich," Judge Lynch said, "I've officiated at my share of weddings. This is the most well-organized wedding I've ever been a part of."

Chelsea smiled tentatively.

"Thank you," Chelsea said, "But I won't relax until everyone is dancing in the ballroom."

"I understand," the judge said as she zipped up her robe.

"Just out of curiosity," Chelsea said, "What did you say to Mr. Santos... and Mr. Jameson?"

"Oh..." the judge replied and then smiled, "I'm sorry, Miss Bergich, but those were private moments that I wish to keep private."

Chelsea didn't comment. She raised her eyebrows and took a sip of her water.

A few minutes later, Chelsea pressed her earpiece.

"Five minutes," Chelsea said, "Final check before I send out the judge. Ms. Larkin, are we good to go?"

"All guests have arrived and are seated," Larkin said, "The quartet is ready. We are a go."

"Thanks," Chelsea said, "Evan?"

Evan was holding the tent flap open for Cassie to come out of the tent.

"Cousin of honor is ready," Evan said, "We are a go."

Cassie stood next to Evan outside of the tent. She smiled with satisfaction as she heard herself referred to as 'cousin of honor'. She touched her hair to confirm it was in place. Then she stepped onto the beginning of the wooden runner and stood up tall to check her footing as she held the small bouquet of blue orchids in her hands.

"Thanks," Chelsea said, "Matt?"

Krantz's nurse had wheeled Krantz's wheelchair out of the tent, right up to the beginning of the wooden runner. Matt was standing on one side of the wheelchair. Colby was at attention on the other side.

"Best man is ready," Matt said, "We are a go."

"Thanks," Chelsea said, "I'm sending the judge out."

Chelsea stood up and gestured her arm toward the trellis.

"Whenever you're ready," Chelsea said.

The judge nodded her head once toward Chelsea. She turned and stood up taller. She slowly walked across until she was standing, centered under the trellis. The string quartet was still playing soft music. When the judge came into view, the crowd, which was murmuring in quiet tones slowly stopped chatting until all you could hear was the string quartet and an occasional whisper.

At three o'clock, Chelsea took a deep breath and exhaled.

"Let's begin," Chelsea said, "Ms. Larkin?"

"Cuing the quartet now..." Larkin replied.

Larkin signaled to the violinist. She nodded exaggeratedly to the rest of the quartet as she continued to play. The music slowly trailed off. There was quiet for about twenty seconds. Then the quartet began playing Bach's 'Air on the G String'. Judge lynch took a step forward and lifted her arms toward the crowd. Everyone stood.

"Send out the best man and the cousin of honor," Chelsea said.

Evan signaled to Cassie. She looked across and waited for Krantz to stand.

"It's time," Matt said to Krantz.

Krantz clenched his jaw and stood. He buttoned his jacket and reached his hand down to touch the top of Colby's head. He held his head high in his typical dignified manner and began to carefully walk forward. Colby stayed right by his side. Cassie began slowly walking when she saw Krantz start.

Evan parted the tent flap and Dawson emerged from his tent with his grandmother clutching his arm. They watched Cassie and Krantz as they waited for Adam to appear.

Adam came out of his tent with his mother by his side. The boys could finally see each other. Adam and Dawson's eyes began to water at the sight of their partner.

Krantz and Cassie eventually came into view of the guests as they emerged from the sides of the garden.

"Send out the grooms," Chelsea directed.

Both Matt and Evan, at the same time, gestured for Adam and Dawson to begin walking.

Adam began walking slowly with his mother's arm hooked on his. Dawson began escorting his grandmother.

When Krantz, Colby, and Cassie reached the judge, they took their spots on either side of her. Krantz subtly reached out and gripped the back of the chair next to him. Cassie copied him and put her hand on the back of her chair.

When the grooms came into view of the crowd, there was a soft wave of murmurs as everyone reacted to seeing them. The grooms and their escorts continued walking toward each other until they were a few feet apart, facing each other, with Judge Lynch centered between them.

Adam and Dawson looked at each other. Deep affection showed on their faces. Dawson kept looking at Adam's adorable dimple in his chin and the lines on his face from smiling so much. Dawson was fixated on how adorable Adam was. Adam examined Dawson's goatee and the front of his hair where it stood up. He kept thinking how handsome Dawson was. They were smiling at each other, trying to keep their emotions in check.

Joan was looking at Dawson. She had come to adore her son's lover. His thoughtful manner had endeared him to her. She thought about how stressful everything must have been for Adam to reach this moment. She stood up a little bit taller and gently squeezed Adam's hand as she swelled with pride for her son.

Helena looked at Adam. She saw the little boy she called 'mi pollito' standing before her as a man. But Adam also reminded her of Clayton Jameson. And it felt like she was on the arm of her brother. For a moment, she was transported to an alternate reality where she imagined she was witnessing Clayton and Jorge's marriage.

The string quartet slowly softened until the music faded away. Judge Lynch let the quiet settle for a moment before starting. You could hear the soft click of the photographers taking pictures.

"Welcome..." Judge Lynch said in a booming voice so everyone could hear, "Welcome, family and loved ones. We are gathered here today, surrounded by the beauty of God's creation, with the sights and sounds of nature, to celebrate the joining of Adam Jameson and Dawson Santos in marriage."

The judge paused as she made eye contact first with Dawson, then with Adam. She smiled.

"Adam..." Judge Lynch said, "Who presents you to your partner as you begin the next phase of your life?"

Adam squeezed his mother's hand.

"My mother," Adam said proudly, "Joan Jameson."

Joan clenched her jaw in an attempt to prevent herself from crying. The judge turned toward Dawson.

"Dawson..." the judge continued, "Who presents you to your partner as you begin the next phase of your life?"

"My Abuelita" Dawson said loudly as he turned to look at her, "Helena Navarro."

Helena leaned into Dawson with affection. The judge gestured toward the boys. Dawson turned and embraced his grandmother. Adam turned and hugged his mother. They escorted them to their spots in the front row, next to Niven. Both boys spontaneously reached out their hand to Niven. Niven took Adam's hand in one of hers and Dawson's in the other. She squeezed their hands as she pursed her lips and looked at them. When Adam and Dawson returned to their places, they faced Judge Lynch. She very subtly turned them so they were facing each other again.

"Please be seated," Judge Lynch said as she gestured downward with her arms.

The attendees took their seats. Cassie glanced at Krantz and took her seat as she watched him sit down. Chelsea exhaled a sigh of relief when Krantz finally sat down. She picked up the tablet and moved over to where Evan was watching from the side, hidden from the view of the guests.

"You have the front," Chelsea said very quietly, "I'm moving to the terrace."

Evan nodded. Then Chelsea headed toward the house using the path beyond the hedge.

The judge let the silence linger while Dawson and Adam remained standing and the guests all sat down. The boys locked eyes. They both started to recall the same memory. It was when they embraced each other while they slept on the couch in the ballroom during the lightning storm. Dawson recalled Adam's intoxicating scent as Adam lay on his chest, sleeping. Adam recalled the thrill of being held as he pressed his body against Dawson. It was during that night that Adam realized he was in love with Dawson. And it was during that same night that Dawson finally stopped trying to deny to himself that he had fallen for Adam. The boys came out of their thoughts when the judge spoke.

"Today we celebrate..." Judge Lynch said, "We celebrate love... we celebrate family... we celebrate friendship... and we celebrate the joining of two people who are committed to each other." The guests were all attentively listening to Judge Lynch.

"And we are all here as witnesses to this communion," Judge Lynch said.

She paused as she smiled at the boys.

"I, myself, come to this moment in a most unusual way," the judge said.

There was a smattering of chuckles and quiet laughs. The boys smiled.

"When I first met Dawson...," Judge Lynch said as she nodded toward Dawson, "and Adam..." as she nodded toward Adam, "they found themselves in the most trying of circumstances..." she continued, "But it was obvious to me... and to anyone who bothered to notice... that they have a unique connection... and they are undaunted in what they know to be true..."

The judge paused as she looked over the crowd.

"That they can trust each other..." she continued, pausing between each phrase to let the words sink in, "that they can be honest with each other... that they can be free to be their true selves with each other... and that they can overcome any problem... together."

Adam and Dawson began to feel their emotions swell up inside themselves as they flashed through all the emotions they had been through to get to that moment... the drama... the trepidation... the uncertainty... the tears... the hope... the joy... the love.

"I am thrilled to be here today to witness..." she continued, "and to make official, the love that Adam and Dawson share. A love so big... so generous... that we all feel it when we are around them."

The judge paused again to let her words resonate with everyone present. She looked at the boys as she spoke about them.

"You fell in love by chance, but you're here today because you're making a choice," Judge Lynch continued, keeping her voice loud enough for everyone to hear, "You both are choosing each other. You have each chosen someone who enhances you... makes you think... makes you smile... and makes every day brighter."

Dawson saw a tear roll down Adam's cheek as they looked at each other and listened to the judge's words.

"You two are about to make promises to each other that you intend to keep," Judge Lynch continued, "You will vow to take care of each other, to stand up for one another, and find happiness in each other."

The judge paused. Dawson's eyes had watered. He sniffled and swiped at his nose with the tissue the judge had given him earlier. The sound of the photographers' cameras and some sniffling amongst the guests could be heard.

"Adam and Dawson," Judge Lynch said, "Please join hands, look at each other, and remember this moment."

The boys reached out and grasped each other's hands. Adam tilted his head as he smiled at Dawson. Dawson smiled back.

"Do you, Adam Jameson, cherish Dawson Santos..." Judge Lynch began, "by promising to laugh with him... cry with him... support him through life's tough moments... be proud of him... grow old with him... and show him you love him every day?" Adam squeezed Dawson's hands gently.

"I do," Adam said proudly.

"Do you, Dawson Santos, cherish Adam Jameson..." Judge Lynch said, "by promising to laugh with him... cry with him... support him through life's tough moments... be proud of him... grow old with him... and show him you love him every day?"

Dawson grinned.

"I do," Dawson said in a loud voice.

"Will you both, Adam and Dawson," Judge Lynch continued, "be each other's partners from this day forward... bring out the best in one another... work through the difficult times together... share your happiest moments together... and love each other absolutely... for the rest of your lifetimes?"

"We will," the boys solemnly said as they looked at each other through tear-filled eyes.

The judge paused for a moment.

"You've both chosen to wear rings as a reminder of the promises you make here today," she continued, "It is said that wedding bands are the perfect symbol for love. They have no beginning and no end much like true love, which has no limit to its capacity."

Judge Lynch turned to Krantz.

"Mr. Krantz... the ring..." Judge Lynch said quietly to Krantz.

Krantz stood up. Cassie immediately stood up, too. Krantz took the ring he was carrying out of his jacket pocket. He handed it to the Judge. Krantz remained standing as he watched the judge and the boys.

"Adam..." Judge Lynch said as she held out Dawson's ring on the flat of her hand, "place this ring on Dawson's finger and repeat after me..."

The boys shifted their hands so they were holding their left hands between them. Adam used his right hand to pick up the ring.

"I give you this ring as a symbol..." Judge Lynch said.

"I give you this ring as a symbol..." Adam repeated as he began to slide the ring on Dawson's finger.

"Of the commitments we make today," the judge concluded.

"Of the commitments we make today," Adam said.

Adam finished sliding the ring onto Dawson's finger. The click of the cameras was the only sound they could hear. Dawson looked up from their hands and smiled at Adam. Judge Lynch turned toward Cassie. Cassie had clipped Adam's ring to the bouquet with a small carabiner so she wouldn't lose it. She removed the ring and handed it to the judge.

"Dawson..." Judge Lynch said as she held out the ring toward him, "place this ring on Adam's finger and repeat after me..."

Dawson picked up the ring and grasped Adam's left hand.

"I give you this ring as a symbol..." Judge Lynch said.

"I give you this ring as a symbol..." Dawson repeated, putting the ring on Adam's finger.

"Of the commitments we make today," the judge concluded.

"Of the commitments we make today," Dawson said.

Dawson slid the ring onto Adam's finger and then grasped Adam's hand with both of his. He looked at Adam adoringly.

"Adam and Dawson," Judge Lynch continued, "you have come here today of your own free will and in the presence of family and loved ones. You have declared your love and commitment to each other. You have given and received rings as a symbol of your promises."

Judge Lynch began to smile.

"By the strength of your love and commitment," the judge said, barely able to contain her excitement, "and by the power vested in me by the State of Texas, I now pronounce you partners for life. You may seal your vows with a kiss."

Adam and Dawson looked at each other for a moment. They broke out big smiles for each other. They came together and shared a loving kiss.

People started clapping as they watched the boys seal their union. When they separated, the judge put a hand on each of their shoulders.

"Face your guests," the judge said to them as she turned them to face the crowd.

Dawson and Adam both reached for the other's hand between them.

"I present to you," the judge said with enthusiasm, "the newly married couple!"

The string quartet began playing 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' by Queen. Everyone stood and clapped. The boys couldn't contain their happiness as they looked at the guests. They held hands and proudly walked down the aisle together toward the back of the garden. Cassie and Krantz moved closer together as Krantz put his arm out and Cassie took it. Colby trailed close by as the three of them followed the boys down the aisle at a slower pace. The judge followed behind them. Matt and Evan escorted Joan and Helena up the aisle. They all made their way to the terrace.

Krantz's nurse was waiting with the wheelchair when they got to the terrace. Krantz waved her off.

The ushers paused the guests, so the seven of them could have a few minutes before they greeted the guests.

"Oh, honey," Joan wailed the first time she hugged Adam as a married man.

She held onto him for a few extra moments before moving to Dawson. She embraced him and spoke into his ear.

"Take care of him," Joan said, "He loves you so much."

Dawson broke the embrace and held her hands.

"I will," Dawson said to her.

"Mi pollito," Helena said softly as she embraced Adam.

"I love you, Abuelita," Adam said as he held her close.

Dawson and Helena embraced. She spoke in Spanish as she held him tightly. When they finished hugging, she pulled both boys in so she could talk to them.

"I know Jorge and Clay would be as happy for you as I am," Helena said with tears in her eyes.

The boys smiled and thanked her.

Matt and Evan organized them into a receiving line. The jazz band began playing as the ushers led the guests to the terrace. Adam and Dawson greeted everyone as they made their way through the line. The photographers did a good job of catching some candid shots of the wedding party and the guests greeting and congratulating the boys. Everyone was complimenting the judge on how well she officiated the ceremony.

Food and drink began to flow as more guests came onto the terrace. Adam and Dawson had some special moments when Niven came through and when Margherita and Rosa congratulated them.

Once everyone had been through the line and were enjoying the jazz music and food and drink, Evan and Matt came up to the wedding party.

"We're ready for pictures now," Evan said.

Krantz was actually grateful that he could sit in the wheelchair. While the excitement of the ceremony buoyed him, he was feeling tired. Adam had told Mateo when he went through the receiving line to bring his family to the waterfront so they could be in the wedding pictures. Evan led the way toward the waterfront down the ramp the boys had installed for Krantz. The boys, Krantz, Cassie, Helena, Margherita, Rosa, Niven, Joan, Mateo and his family, and the judge followed. Matt made sure everyone who was supposed to take part in the pictures was with them as he took up the rear.

One of the photographers and her assistant were waiting at the lake. The caterer had servers waiting to provide appetizers and drinks for them. The photographer took some amazing pictures of the boys and their loved ones. At one point, while the boys were posing with Dawson's family, Joan came up to the judge.

"Judge Lynch," Joan said, "That was a lovely ceremony. I'm sure you've conducted many weddings, but it was still impressive that you could recite all those lines from memory."

The judge chuckled lightly. She smiled at Joan.

"Oh, Mrs. Jameson," the judge said in a somewhat muted tone, "I didn't memorize anything. In fact, I didn't use my typical set of remarks at all. I had the chance to really get to know your son and his new husband the weekend I spent with them during the inquiry. Everything I said today was from my heart and inspired by them."

"Really?" Jan said with surprise.

"Really," Judge Lynch said.

"Well," Joan said with a comforting smile, "That's even more impressive."

"I would feel like a fraud if I took all the credit," the judge said to Joan with a smile, "The credit goes to Adam and Dawson. They truly are remarkable together."

"Hmmm," Joan said as she turned and watched Adam and Dawson pose for pictures with Mateo and his wife and kids, "I know what you mean..."

Chelsea appeared at the lakeside just as the photographer was finishing with pictures. The guests had been enjoying themselves, having cocktails and appetizers on the terrace. Larkin was overseeing the process of moving the guests to the ballroom while Sheila was confirming the caterer was ready with dinner service. Chelsea escorted the group, minus the boys, from the waterfront to the ballroom. The boys wanted to spend a few minutes alone at the water before they joined their guests.

Dawson and Adam had some private time together as they leaned on each other and looked off into the distance beyond the lake. They lamented the fact that Clayton and Jorge didn't have the chance to have what they now had. They spent a few minutes in silence as they reflected on how lucky they were. They vowed to each other not to squander the opportunity before them.

The photographer, who was standing up near the house with her assistant and Matt and Evan, snapped some telephoto candids of the pair as they reflected at the lakeside. They waited for them as the boys, holding hands, slowly made their way up toward the lake house.

"Are they ready for us?" Dawson asked as they approached.

Evan smiled.

"Sir," Evan said, "They'll be ready for you, whenever you are ready."

Adam chuckled. Dawson smiled and shook his head.

"Well then," Dawson said, "I guess we're ready."

Evan pressed the button on his earpiece.

"Mr. Jameson and Mr. Santos are ready to make their entrance," Evan said.

"We are ready here. Send them in," Chelsea responded.

Evan muted his earpiece.

"This way," Evan said as he gestured toward the terrace.

The boys could hear music and boisterous conversations coming from the ballroom.

Evan and Matt had the boys wait over to the side, out of view of the French doors that separated the ballroom from the terrace. Adam looked at Dawson. Dawson suddenly had a concerned look on his face.

"Is my hair alright?" Dawson asked.

Adam smiled. He surveyed Dawson's hair. He leaned in and kissed Dawson gently on the cheek. He moved in closer.

"You're gorgeous," Adam whispered.

Dawson smiled.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Adam and Dawson could hear the DJ announce, "Please welcome the happy couple, Adam and Dawson!"

Music blared as they heard a roar come up from within the ballroom. Matt and Evan opened the French doors. The boys stepped into view. They held hands and walked into the ballroom for the first time as a married couple.

Margherita held two glasses of water as she crossed the living room. She sat down on the sectional and handed Joan one of the glasses.

"Thank you," Joan said.

Joan took a sip and put the glass down on the coffee table. Margherita took a sip from her water and held the glass in her lap.

"All those years and I never really knew him..." Joan said.

Margherita looked at her sympathetically.

"I mean..." Joan continued, "Artie didn't come here unless he had to, so I didn't really know him until after Clay died."

"Mmmm," Margherita acknowledged.

"It was then that I realized..." Joan said, "After seeing how committed he was to taking care of Adam and Dawson..."

She paused.

"What a good soul..." Joan concluded.

Margherita put her hand on Joan's shoulder as Joan lowered her head. The two sat quietly. Rebecca Lowry, the newly hired maid, came into the room.

"Can I get you anything?" Lowry asked in a quiet tone.

"No..." Margherita said, "We're fine."

"Mr. Santos was asking when his grandmother would be coming. Do you know?" Lowry asked.

"She should be coming over shortly with my partner, Rosa," Margherita replied.

"Ok," Lowry said softly.

Lowry left the living room and went down the hallway. She arrived at the door to the room the boys had converted to a bedroom for Krantz. She knocked very softly and then opened the door.

The room was very bright. The drapes were pulled back letting sunlight into the room. Krantz's bed was positioned so he had an unrestricted view of the lake. Adam was sitting in a chair on one side of Krantz's bed, resting his hand on Krantz's arm as it lay at his side. Dawson was asleep in the chair on the other side of the bed. Colby was lying on the bed. His body was up against Krantz's blanket-covered leg. His head was next to Krantz's hip. Krantz had been petting Colby when he lost consciousness, so his hand lay limply next to Colby's head. The hospice nurse was checking Krantz's vitals on the monitor.

Lowry came up to Adam, who looked like he needed some sleep.

"Can I get you anything, sir?" she asked in a whisper.

"No, thank you, Lowry," Adam replied softly and then cleared his throat.

The sound woke Dawson. He took a deep breath and sat up as he squinted his eyes open. He looked around.

"How is he?" was the first thing he said.

The nurse turned toward Dawson.

"Not much longer..." she said quietly.

The boys looked at each other with pained looks.

"Can I get you anything, sir?" Lowry asked Dawson.

"No..." Dawson replied, "Has my grandmother arrived yet?"

"No," she said, "Ms. Santos is here, in the living room with Mrs. Jameson. She said she should be here shortly... with Ms. Torres."

"Ok," Dawson said somberly, "Thank you, Lowry."

Lowry turned and left the room.

Dawson looked down at Colby. He was asleep. Dawson softly ran his hand through Colby's fur and pulled his hand away.

"Did we hear from Niven yet?" Dawson asked in almost a whisper as he looked over at Adam.

"Yes," Adam said as he stood up and stretched, "Her flight lands around 11:00. Larkin will have a car waiting for her."

Dawson looked at the clock on the wall. He didn't think Niven would get there in time. Adam sat down in his chair and put his hand on Krantz's shoulder. Dawson hung his head and stared at the floor. After a little while, Larkin came in.

"Dawson," Larkin said, "Your grandmother is here. She's in the living room with Ms. Santos, Ms. Torres and Mrs. Jameson."

"Ok, thanks," Dawson said without looking up.

"How is he?" Larkin said in a very quiet voice.

Adam looked at the nurse who was at the bed, checking on Krantz. Dawson kept looking at the floor.

"His heart rate is very slow," the nurse said, "His hands and feet are cold. We'll probably lose him within the half hour..."

Larkin took a seat in a chair facing the foot of the bed as she pulled a tissue from the nearby tissue box.

Dawson began to sob softly. Adam reached his hand out and touched Krantz's hand. It was eerily cold. He hung his head. He slowly removed his hand as his eyes watered. The nurse checked the morphine drip, then went back over near the monitor.

"He's comfortable, though," the nurse reassured them, "He's not in any pain."

Adam looked over at Dawson, sitting in his chair, with his head down, sobbing. Adam got up and went around the bed. Dawson stood up. The boys embraced for about ten minutes as they cried softly in each other's arms. They both whispered words of comfort to each other as they each rubbed the other's back. They separated and stood next to each other with their arms around their waists, looking at Krantz. They kept sniffling and drying their eyes with tissues.

After another five minutes or so, the nurse made a short 'tsk' sound and then sighed as she looked at the monitor. Suddenly Colby's head lifted. He made a soft mewing sound. He nuzzled his head into Krantz's side. Dawson reached down and began to pet Colby.

"I'm not registering a pulse anymore," the nurse said.

Larkin dabbed her eyes with a tissue. The nurse came around the bed and put her hands on Krantz to check him. He had stopped breathing. She looked at the monitor to confirm what she already knew. The monitor wasn't registering a heartbeat anymore.

"He's gone," the nurse whispered.

Adam was overcome with grief at the finality of it all and started to cry. He leaned into Dawson who held him up and comforted him. Larkin came over and put a hand on Adam's shoulder.

"I'll call Gary at the funeral home and let him know," Larkin said.

She quietly left the room. The boys stayed with Krantz for a few minutes, until they had collected themselves. They went hand in hand to the living room and broke the news. They all comforted each other as they processed their sorrow. Rosa and Dawson went to Krantz's room to comfort Colby who was distraught with grief.

Prior to the graveside service, Niven had asked the boys if she could make a blessing as part of the ceremony. They agreed without hesitation. When it came time for Niven to give her blessing, she began to sing an Irish folk song. The boys were shocked at how beautiful Niven's voice was as the melodic tones of the ballad echoed across the cemetery. When she was finished, she bowed her head.

"Goodbye, Norman," she whispered softly under her breath.

For the next couple weeks, Colby wasn't himself. He grieved the loss of Krantz terribly. Rosa made a suggestion which the boys took her up on. She found them a recently born puppy that needed a home. When Rosa delivered the puppy, the transformation of Colby back to his old self didn't take long. The puppy's exuberance and unending zeal forced Colby to get out of the doldrums. The boys named him Jack, short for Jack Rabbit, because he was such a bundle of energy. Colby took it upon himself to keep the puppy in line and he trained him how to behave. It was quite a turnaround for the dog who no one wanted because he was too unruly.

----------- PRESENT DAY -----------

Adam and Dawson were on the patio. They were each holding their iPads, looking over a proposal for adding a new charity to the CAJ Foundation's oversight.

"This is great," Adam said as Dawson nodded.

"Who do you think we need to win over?" Dawson asked as he looked up and turned to Steve Picconi, the foundation's Executive Office.

Even though he was now in his late thirties, Dawson still had the toned physique he had when he was in his mid-twenties. He was proud of his swimmer's body, although he often complained to Adam that it seemed like he had to work out twice as much to keep fit. Dawson's goatee was just starting to show some grey, the only indication that he was older than he looked.

"Lyndon Babbish is opposed... And Carla Shore is on the fence," Steve explained, "If we get Lyndon, Carla will come around. But you don't need them. We should have enough votes to..."

Adam cut him off.

"Steve..." Adam said sympathetically, "Steve... We should get everyone on board. Let's get more details on why they are not supportive so we can address their issues."

Steve paused and looked at Adam. Adam, only five weeks younger than Dawson, still looked young and fit, too. However, he had been showing grey around the temples for some time now.

"Ok, Adam," Steve said, "I'll reach out to them."

"Thank you, Steve..." Dawson said as he closed out the plans on his iPad.

After Adam and Dawson got married, they put all of their focus into the foundation and their charitable works. They managed to get their plans off the ground. The foundation very quickly became self-funding. And since its creation, between Alejandro's Wish and Helena's House, they helped thousands of LGBT+ children and jump started the careers of hundreds of artists. Their success allowed the boys to expand into supporting several more charities and organizations since the CAJ Foundation was established, even extending their reach into other countries.

Very early on, Adam and Dawson gained a tremendous amount of respect as a result of the work the CAJ Foundation, Alejandro's Wish, and Helena's House were doing. They leveraged that influence when they decided they did not want to keep things formal with their employees and partners. So, they started asking everyone to call them by their first names. The folks Krantz feared would dismiss them as amateurs if they didn't follow the 'old way' of doing things actually valued their relationship with the boys even more when they did that. There was a certain cachet to being close enough to Adam and Dawson to be on a first name basis with them.

"Daddy?!" they heard a young girl's voice yell from the lake house.

"Poppa?!" they heard the same voice yell.

"We're down here!" Adam yelled, "On the patio!"

Steve started to look frustrated.

"We haven't discussed the need for a second Helena's House in San Diego..." Steve implored them.

"Sorry, Steve," Dawson said as he flipped the cover closed on his iPad, "You know the deal..."

"Once the kids are home," Adam said, "They are our number one priority."

"Of course... of course..." Steve said, "I understand."

Adam swiped on his iPad until they could hear the phone ringing.

"Hi Adam," Mario Conzaga, the boys' scheduler, answered.

"Hi Mario..." Adam said, "What do we have tomorrow after the kids leave for school?"

"Ummm... Yoga at 7:00..." Mario said, "8:00 with Jason and Jeremy... Then you need to be in the office for a 9:30 with the Japanese delegation... At 11:30, you're meeting with the Colorado governor, which will run through lunch..."

Adam looked at Steve expectantly.

"Can you do 8:00?" Adam asked.

"I can do 8:00," Steve replied.

"Mario, can we reschedule the haircuts and put Steve Picconi down for 8:00?" Adam said into the iPad, "And make it so Dawson and I are in the office for 8:00 instead of 9:30."

"I'll take care of it," Mario replied.

Dawson leaned over the iPad.

"Mario," Dawson said, "Don't put our haircuts off too far into the future... birds will start nesting in Adam's hair."

"Stop it," Adam said as he chuckled.

"Ok, Dawson," Mario said as he laughed, "I'll see what the twins can do."

"Thank you, Mario," Dawson said, still chuckling.

"You're welcome," Mario said.

Adam ended the call.

"Thanks, Steve," Adam said, "We'll pick it up tomorrow where we left off."

"No problem... See you tomorrow," Steve said as he picked up his leather satchel and headed up to the house.

Suddenly a burst of energy came around the corner.

"Daddy!" Adam and Dawson's seven-year-old daughter came running toward them.

Jack was right next to her, casually wagging his tail. She had her backpack still on and she had her arms opened as she ran toward Adam.

"Hi poppa... Hi daddy..." Adam and Dawson's nine-year-old son said, as he appeared and came toward them.

He was carrying his backpack in his hand. He purposely stayed at pace with Colby, who was walking slowly. Their son had grown up with Colby constantly by his side, so they were very close. Colby had recently begun to show his age, moving slower and resting more. Their son was lightly petting Colby as he plopped his backpack down on the patio.

"Hey kiddo..." Dawson said as he came toward his son.

Adam crouched down and his daughter leapt into his arms. Jack sat down patiently next to them and watched the two of them hug.

Dawson crouched down and hugged his son as he reached over and pet Colby's head. Adam let go of his daughter and she ran over excitedly to Dawson. Jack trailed right next to her. Adam came over toward his son. He bent down and they hugged.

"Poppa," his daughter said as Dawson picked her up and hugged her, "Mrs. Cameron brought a lizard to class today and I got to touch it."

"Really?" Dawson said, "What did it feel like?"

"It was all hard and bumpy and like... scratchy," their daughter said excitedly to Dawson.

"Cool," Dawson said, "That's another animal you can add to your 'See and Touch' list."

"Yup!" she said as Dawson lowered her to the ground.

She pet Jack as she moved toward one of the tables.

After getting the foundation off the ground and having success with Helena's House and Alejandro's Wish in several cities around the country, the boys decided they were ready to have kids. They contracted with an agency that provided an anonymous surrogate mother. They took sperm from both boys and randomized it so they were blind as to who had provided the sperm that ultimately impregnated the surrogate. The boys could do a DNA test to find out, but they chose not to. As it turned out, they didn't really need to. As the children grew, it became clear who the biological father was of each of the children.

Jorge was their firstborn. He was nine now. He looked like a mini-Dawson. And recently, Jorge started obsessing over his hair. This caused Adam to chuckle softly to himself whenever episodes of 'hair drama', as Adam called it, occurred.

After Jorge, they decided to have a second child. Two years later, Sarah was born. She was seven now. She had Adam's chin, complete with an adorable dimple in the center.

Adam and Dawson had chosen to name their children after the two people who Clayton had fallen in love with. In both cases, Clayton's time with Sarah and Jorge was cut short. The boys wanted their names to live on in their children.

"How was school?" Adam asked Jorge.

"Fine," Jorge said.

"Fine?" Dawson said as he came close to Jorge and playfully tickled him, "Fine? That's all we get?"

Jorge started laughing as he tried to tickle Dawson back. Jack came over and tried to nuzzle into the action.

"Can we go out on the boat?" Sarah asked.

"Not 'til your homework is done," Adam replied.

"I know..." Sarah said, "But mine's easy. I'll be done in like five minutes."

Sarah slipped her backpack off and plopped it onto the table. She began opening it to find her homework.

"How about you?" Dawson asked Jorge, "Do you have homework?"

Dawson and Jorge had stopped wrestling. Dawson was looking over Sarah's shoulder at her homework assignment.

"I have a thing I have to fill out," Jorge said.

"A thing?" Adam said as he sat down and gestured toward Jorge, "What kind of thing?"

"I'll show you," Jorge said.

Jorge started toward his backpack. Christine Larkin appeared on the patio. She was with Rebecca Lowry, who started as a maid shortly before Krantz died. She was now the kitchen porter. She was carrying a tray. On the tray were glasses of lemonade, iced tea, and milk, with a plate holding some assorted cookies and brownies. On the edge of the tray were two dog treats.

"Yes!" Sarah said excitedly, "Snack time!"

Sarah waited for Rebecca to put the tray down onto the table. Jack was sniffing at the tray.

"Thank you, Rebecca," Sarah said.

"You're welcome, sweetie," Rebecca said.

Sarah took one of the dog treats. She held it up.

"Sit, Jack," Sarah commanded.

Jack sat and licked his lips.

"Good boy," Sarah said as she handed him the treat.

Jack began eating the treat while Sarah pet his head.

"Adam," Christine said, "As you anticipated, your mother called. She will be coming for dinner tonight."

"Thanks, Christine," Adam said as he looked at Dawson.

With the change away from formal names, no one was spared. Even Larkin was called Christine now.

"I've already informed the chef," Christine said.

Adam and Dawson looked at each other. The three of them knew why Joan wanted to come for dinner. Years ago, Artie had been convicted of his crimes and was serving two consecutive twenty-year sentences. Artie exercised every opportunity he could through the appeal process. At each turn, he failed to overturn his conviction. His final appeal was denied that morning.

At the time of his conviction, what assets he had left after the divorce were frozen pending appeal. With the appeal denied and no other avenues for Artie to overturn his conviction, his assets would be released to Joan. She had been talking about expanding the pottery business she started with her friend, Melanie Barton. The boys assumed she wanted some advice about using the money for that.

"Yay!" Sarah said, "Grandma's coming!"

Christine smiled at Sarah. Sarah and Jorge were oblivious to what was going on with Artie.

"Dawson," Christine said, quickly getting off of that topic, "Abuelita's birthday is in two weeks and you still haven't decided on a present."

"I know, Christine... I know..." Dawson said as he sighed.

"I thought we were going to give her that pashmina that Cassie recommended?" Adam said.

"Yeah..." Dawson said, "I don't know... I want to give her something more personal."

"Hmm," Adam replied as he thought about it.

Christine smiled.

"Oh, speaking of Cassie," Adam said, "She and David are still good with taking the kids while we are in Spain?"

"Yup," Christine replied, "I confirmed everything with them this morning."

"Excellent," Dawson chimed in.

About a year after the boys got married, Cassie met David Carlisle, a reporter at one of the CAJ Foundation press conferences. They had a whirlwind courtship and were soon married. They will sometimes take Jorge and Sarah when the boys go out of town.

"Do you think they'll take us to the zoo again?" Sarah asked.

"I don't know," Adam said, "But you can ask them..."

"And..." Christine said, "You got an email from President Bush..."

"President Bush?" Dawson said, "You mean, George W. Bush? As in former governor of Texas?"

"Yes," Christine said as she smiled, "That's the one."

The boys looked at each other.

"What does he want?" Adam said as the boys looked at her with anticipation.

"He wants to meet with you. You know he's an amateur painter now... He's interested in donating some of his paintings to Alejandro's Wish so they can be auctioned off... all of the proceeds to go to charity," Christine informed them.

"Well, isn't that something..." Adam said to Dawson.

Dawson smiled as he and Adam looked at each other.

"I'll work with Mario to get some time on the calendar for you to meet with him," Christine said.

"Thanks, Christine," Dawson said, "Would you mind putting these on our desks? We'll need them before we leave for the office tomorrow."

Christine nodded as she took the iPads. She and Rebecca made their way back to the house.

Sarah finished her homework. She handed the paper to Dawson. She knew he would want to see it before she turned it in.

"Colby..." Sarah said as realized she forgot to give Colby his dog treat.

She picked up the dog treat from the tray. She went over to where Colby was lying down next to Jorge's backpack. Sarah gave him the treat and then pet him as he ate it.

"You're such a good boy, Colby," Sarah said.

Sarah then went back to the table and reached for a brownie and a glass of milk.

"Great job, Sarah," Dawson said as he put Sarah's homework paper next to her backpack.

Jorge came over to Adam with some papers he pulled out of his backpack. Sarah had settled herself with her brownie and a glass of milk at one of the tables. Dawson came over to look at Jorge's assignment.

"It's a family tree," Jorge said with disappointment in his voice, "I need to fill it out."

"Why do you sound so dejected about it?" Dawson asked.

"Family trees are boring," Jorge said.

Adam, still sitting, gently swept Jorge up from where he was standing next to him and wrapped his arms around him.

"Yeah, some family trees can be... but actually, our family tree isn't boring," Adam said softly to Jorge as he held him.

Adam and Dawson had purposely kept almost all of their family's past from the children. The secret affair between Jorge and Clay... Luis and Teresa's treatment of Jorge... Teresa and Raymond's treatment of Dawson... Cassie taking Dawson in... Clay's will and how the boys fell in love... Adam's engagement to Vickie... the inquiry... Sarah's death during childbirth... Artie's descent into madness... They had shielded the kids from all of it.

But they knew at some point they would have to tell them. Adam and Dawson had discussed how they would explain their family history to the children. They had agreed on a strategy that was age appropriate for Jorge and Sarah, but they weren't sure how to bring it up. It seemed like they had their opportunity now.

Adam and Dawson looked at each other. They hadn't lost their ability to know what the other was thinking. Adam raised his eyebrows as he looked at Dawson. Dawson clenched his jaw and nodded.

"Here," Dawson said as he picked up a brownie from the plate on the tray.

He walked over to Jorge and handed him the brownie as he took the homework papers from Jorge. Jorge took the brownie and bit into it.

"You know," Dawson said as he lowered the papers and looked at Adam, "Our family tree is actually a pretty interesting story... there are heroes... and bad guys... there are secrets and mysteries... and romance... and thunderstorms... and horses... and a court trial..."

"Horses?" Sarah said excitedly.

"A trial?" Jorge said skeptically.

"Yup," Adam said, "The story about how I met and fell in love with your poppa was all started when my grandfather died. He wanted poppa and I to have the lake house. But my father wanted the house. So, there was a trial to decide if poppa and I would get to keep the lake house or if he would get it."

"How come you don't ever talk about your father?" Jorge asked innocently.

"Well, he wasn't a very nice man," Adam explained.

"I wanna hear the story," Sarah said as she turned toward Adam.

She had chocolate from the brownie around her lips.

"And Colby is part of the story, too..." Dawson added, trying to avoid getting into details about Artie just yet, "Colby is a hero. He helped protect someone who was very close to daddy and I."

The kids' eyes began to widen as they looked at Colby who was innocently lying next to Jorge's backpack.

"Really?!?" Jorge asked as he turned from Colby to look at Dawson.

"Mmm hmm," Dawson said as he nodded.

Dawson put down the family tree papers and picked up a napkin.

"And guess what... someone in daddy's family and someone in my family were best friends a long, long time ago. Before daddy and I were even born," Dawson said as he went over to hand Sarah a napkin.

"They were?" Jorge said skeptically.

"They were," Adam said as he watched Jorge take a bite of his brownie.

"In fact," Dawson said, "you know the paintings hanging in the dining room?"

"The girls on the hill?" Sarah said after she wiped her mouth.

"Yes, the girls on the hill," Dawson confirmed, "That was painted by my great grandfather. And the two girls are my great aunt and daddy's grandmother."

"Wow," Jorge said, "Why did he paint them? Did they stay friends?"

"I thought family trees were boring..." Adam said with a chuckle as he looked at Jorge.

"Tell you what..." Dawson said as he looked at Adam for confirmation, "How about if we take the boat out now... and after dinner we'll help you fill in your family tree and we'll tell you the whole story."

"Yay!" Sarah said excitedly, "I wanna hear about the horses!"

"Ok," Jorge said, "Can I drive the boat?"

Adam chuckled.

"Yes, you can pilot the boat," Adam replied.

"Yes!" Jorge plopped the rest of his brownie into his mouth, "Can I wear the captain's hat?" Jorge mumbled while he chewed.

"Of course!" Adam responded while chuckling.

Jorge wriggled out of Adam's embrace. Sarah jumped down from her chair. They started toward the lake. Jack ran after them. Colby got up and sauntered through the garden as he followed them.

"C'mon, poppa! C'mon daddy!" Sarah yelled as they raced toward the water.

Adam smiled at Dawson as he stood up. Dawson slipped Sarah's homework into her backpack. Adam picked up a cookie. He broke off a piece.

"Your kids are crazy," Adam joked with Dawson.

Adam put the piece of cookie in his mouth. Dawson put his arm around Adam's waist.

"My kids?" Dawson said with a laugh, "I thought they were your kids?"

"We never read the fine print, do we?" Adam joked, making a reference back to when they each thought the other owned the lake house.

Dawson laughed. The boys turned and kissed. They could hear the kids reaching the dock. Adam pulled away suddenly and turned his head toward the lake.

"Don't get on the boat until we get there!" Adam yelled down toward the kids.

"We know!" the kids yelled back in unison.

Adam and Dawson smiled and chuckled. They turned and held hands between them as they made their way toward the dock.

==========

The Inheritance Clause - Conclusion

If you like this story, tell me: djwarner1984@hotmail.com And then donate to Nifty: https://donate.nifty.org/

-DJ