Disclaimer:I don't own them and I don't make any money off of them.
Warnings: Male/Male sex, graphic, violence, language
"Tell him!"
"Nani?" Ryo glanced up in confusion and saw Dee standing beside him, one hand on his hip and the other pointed at Bicky. Bicky stuck his tongue out and made a rude noise as he continued to play a video game on the floor in front of a blaring t.v.
"Tell him to shut up!" Dee clarified with a snarl and a jabbing finger. "He's singing to that 'music' of his and he can't sing worth crap! He's doing it just to annoy the Hell out of me!"
Blinking at his partner, Ryo grimaced in irritation. Tall and lean, Dee was as volatile as a firecracker, green eyes snapping under unruly black bangs and every muscle tensed with anger. Dressed in black jogging pants and wearing a tight, white tank top that showed off his rounded shoulders and his defined abs, he had an unconscious masculinity that was marred only by his almost childish attitude towards Bicky.
"Bicky," Ryo began in a chiding tone. When Bicky ignored him, Ryo realized that he had turned up his music to tune Dee out.
"I need to finish my paperwork!" Dee exploded a he crossed angry arms over his chest and glared at the oblivious boy. "It's bad enough that I have to ruin my day off with it, but-"
Ryo gave him an unsympathetic look. "If you had done it when you were supposed to you would have made your Monday deadline easily. As it is, you'll be lucky to finish if you stay up all night."
"Hey, I was doing something important!"' Dee replied defensively.
"I don't think watching a hockey game ranks higher in importance than filing two reports on a drug gang," Ryo retorted critically.
Dee had sense enough to look embarrassed. "Well, I guess I'm paying the fine in losing out on my day off, so you don't have to compound the sentence, okay?"
Ryo scowled. "Don't start blaming me, baka!" He returned to what he had been doing before Dee interrupted him, which was sitting on the couch and flipping through a school year book.
"Ryo! Do something about the brat!" Dee whined.
"He's not bothering me and he's stopped singing," Ryo replied angrily. "Do you want me to punish him for being a child or punish you for acting like one? You're an adult, Dee. You don't need to come screaming to me when ever Bicky gives you some trouble. Handle it yourself."
"You're in a mood today!" Dee exclaimed. Running a hand through his hair, perplexed, he plopping down on the couch beside Ryo. "Usually, you just call me a 'baka', not cut me down to size on top of it."
Ryo looked up, contrite. "Sorry," he replied and then started to close the year book. Dee stopped him by sticking a hand between the pages. He gently took the book from Ryo and opened up the page. The smiling, smirking, or unfortunately distorted faces of high school students lined the pages.
"That you?" Dee asked, pointing to a big eyes blonde with a smattering of small pimples.
"Yes," Ryo replied shyly and tried to take the book back.
Dee looked at his handsome lover and smiled warmly. "You were beautiful even then."
Ryo took the book back and closed it firmly. He smiled, leaned forward, and kissed Dee lovingly. "When you're sweet, you're very sweet," he said and then stood up and stretched. Dee stood with him and caught him around the waist from behind, pressing against him and kissing the nape of his neck.
"It's true," Dee assured him.
"There is a CHILD present!" Bicky growled in disgust and turned his back on them.
"Child? Where?" Dee wondered sarcastically. Ryo slapped Dee's hand as it slid over his belly and tried to slip south underneath his belt.
Dee motioned with his chin towards the bedroom. Ryo's dark eyes narrowed and he shook his head firmly as he left the circle of Dee's arms and went into the kitchen to pour himself more tea. Dee followed in frustration. He slumped into a chair at the kitchen table and growled, "You shouldn't let Bicky make you nervous. He KNOWS what we're doing in there Ryo."
Ryo blushed and he concentrated very hard on pouring tea into his cup. "He does make me nervous, but I just wasn't in the mood, all right?"
Dee frowned. Ryo's voice sounded on edge. "You were being nice to me a moment ago, "Dee said, puzzled. "Did I do something wrong between the couch and the kitchen?"
Ryo sighed as he dumped sugar into his cup and stirred. "I wish that you would learn to get along with Bicky. You two are like oil and water. If you would just try harder-"
Dee lifted his hands and made a face. "If you're going to blame this all on me...!"
"I gave up a lot to be with you!" Ryo suddenly shouted and slammed his hands down hard on the kitchen counter, making the spoon in his tea cup rattle. "The least you could do-"
"Hey ! Hey! time out!" Dee shouted back, making a T with his hands and jumping out of his chair. Ryo was flushed. His jaw was clenched and his back was stiffly turned towards Dee. Dee could see that he was sorry already for his outburst, but Dee wasn't going to let it slide. For Ryo to shout like that, something had to be very wrong.
"You're the one who likes to talk about his 'emotions', " Dee pointed out when Ryo remained stubbornly silent. "So talk. You know I need to be hit by a truck before I realize I screwed up."
Ryo sighed and began to move again, taking the spoon out of his tea and washing it off in the sink before replying guiltily, "I'm sorry, Koibitto. I'm just out of sorts today. Sometimes, you and Bicky can be too much... too noisy... too angry with each other." Dee thought that he was through, but, after a protracted silence, Ryo said softly, "You two are all the family that I have. Please, get along for my sake."
"That's not true," Dee replied and put a hand on Ryo's shoulder to comfort his lover. "Your Aunt Elena is finally coming around and that cousin of yours, Edward, called you not two weeks ago."
Ryo shook his head and pulled away from Dee. "Until we get dinner invitations or are asked to visit on holidays, we aren't accepted, Dee."
"The yearbook," Dee realized. "It made you think of home, didn't it? You're depressed."
"It's not just that," Ryo replied and looked as if he were growing angry again. He took his tea and headed out of the kitchen with a stiff stride that let Dee know that he wasn't supposed to follow. Dee took advantage of his reputation for being dense and purposefully followed anyway.
As Dee passed by Bicky, he dug into his pocket and found a few crumpled bills. Flipping them at the surprised boy, he said, "Go get a pizza, or something. Give me an hour, okay?"
"Idiot! Why do you always mess up with him?" Bicky demanded hotly as he flung on his coat and stomped towards the door.
"I didn't do anything!" Dee shouted back petulantly, but he was talking to a slamming door. Bicky was already gone. Taking a deep breath, Dee continued on to the bedroom.
Ryo was lying on his back among the large cushions, one arm flung over his eyes. Lamplight pooled over him and made him look like an artist's study of beautiful angst.
Dee sat on the bed cautiously, not sure whether he was going to get snapped at again, but Ryo didn't say anything. Reassured, Dee inched up on the bed until he was stretched out beside Ryo. When he still didn't receive any negative reaction, Dee slipped arms around Ryo and pulled him close. Ryo lowered his arm and pillowed his head on Dee's breast, sighing despondently.
"Having a rough day, hm?" Dee asked softly and gently played with Ryo's honey colored hair.
"Yes," Ryo replied and then, "Sorry."
"Is it really about me and Bicky, or just me?" Dee asked.
"I wish...," Ryo trailed off and one of his hands picked at the material of Dee's tank top.
"Yeah?" Dee prompted. He was sure that it was something simple. They lived and worked together. Nothing happened to Ryo without Dee knowing about it.
"I wish you and Bicky didn't dislike each other so much," Ryo finally replied. "You're my family. I just... I just want it to be perfect. I want us to love one another."
"Ryo," Dee began patiently. "You were an only child, so was Bicky. The both of you aren't used to sharing. Bicky wants you all to himself so he can play his little games and have lots of attention. I'm standing in the way of that. Naturally, he's going to resent me. You," Dee went on nervously, not sure how Ryo was going to take his next words. "Well, you are just like Bicky. You want everything to be fine and perfect so that you can get as much attention and love from us as possible. When we're fighting, that isn't happening."
Ryo frowned. "Are you saying I'm selfish?" His voice had a clear warning tone. He was about to explode again.
Dee replied quickly, fumbling for words. "No, not selfish, just.... I'm not good with words, Ryo, so I'll say it plain. People who love each other fight. Families fight. There's no such thing as perfect. It's not destructive fighting though. It's hard to explain, but I'll start by telling you that me and Bicky don't hate each other. We just communicate in a loud manner. That happens when you get two big personalities like ours in the same room. We both want to be heard. We both want our way. We both want to be in control. We both love you and it's hard sharing, so we push and shove and try to be the one to be with you as much as possible. We're always going to be that way, I think, at least where you're concerned."
"You don't hate Bicky?" Ryo repeated.
Dee was uncomfortable as he confessed, "No! I don't. I just get tired, sometimes, of the way he likes to get his kicks by annoying the Hell out of me."
"He shouldn't have been so loud while you were trying to work," Ryo agreed softly.
"Yeah, and you have to help me out instead of going off the deep end at me when I try and get you to help me make him stop," Dee pointed out. "He's a strong, pig headed kid. We need to stick together when we have to tell him what's right and what's wrong!"
"I did have a bad day today," Ryo admitted. "I didn't want to bother you with it, but all that shouting.... I guess it just made my nerves raw." Ryo broke away and stood up, stretching. "I'm going to take a shower, Dee." He looked back and gave Dee a loving, dark eyed look. "If you stick around, you might be able to help me make my day better."
Dee smiled back wolfishly, "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere, Baby!"
Ryo chuckled and made his way into the bathroom. Dee stretched out on the bed, whistling happily in the anticipation of having 'make up' sex. He knew from experience that Ryo could be extremely passionate when he was sorry about something.
A thought came to Dee. He wanted to be prepared. Leaning from the bed, he opened a drawer in the side table on Ryo's side of the bed. He wanted to make sure that there was a tube of lube there. Shuffling a hand around inside the drawer in his search, he encountered a book, a reading light, and a few papers. A gold crest on one of those papers caught his eye as his hand closed triumphantly on the lube. Pulling lube and paper from the drawer, Dee couldn't help his curiosity as he read the paper.
"High School class reunion," Dee murmured aloud. There was an R.S.V.P. note already filled out by Ryo. It said that he wouldn't be attending. Dee suddenly understood.
When Ryo returned, drying his hair with a towel and dressed in red silk pajamas, Dee had already decided to confront him. As Ryo tossed the towel aside and approached the bed, Dee held up the letter. Ryo's jaw tightened. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he tried to be nonchalant.
"It's scheduled at a bad time," Ryo said with a shrug. "I don't remember most of those people anyway."
Dee caught Ryo by one wrist and pulled him close. He looked deep into Ryo's eyes. "Say that again, but this time, don't look away from me when you lie."
Ryo went pale. "I-I... Sorry, Dee," he stammered. "I just couldn't deal with seeing-"
"I understand," Dee said. "You don't have to explain."
Ryo smiled in relief. "I'm glad! It's hard to talk about it." His smile faltered. "I hope... I don't want you to think that I can't handle the situation or that-that I'm afraid, but why put myself through it if I don't have to?"
Dee frowned. "Ryo, I thought you were past this kind of thing? You know you can't keep avoiding situations-"
"Just this one," Ryo said, cutting him off. "How often does it happen, after all? It's not that big of a deal."
"Isn't it?" Dee persisted. He lifted a hand to Ryo's forehead and brushed back the damp hair there. "If you can't face a school reunion then what else won't you be able to face?"
Ryo's expression tightened. "I guess... I guess I really DO want to go. I just don't want a confrontation. I have this nightmare that something will happen and I'll ruin the event for everyone else."
Dee quirked an eyebrow. "Are you planning on making a scene? Will you be going in the nude, having sex on a receiving table, or showing up with an all male dance group?"
Ryo's eyes widened and then he laughed. "No, no, I'm not. I was just planning on taking you."
Dee smiled back mischievously. "Well, I promise to keep my clothes on if you do."
"Not now though?" Ryo said hopefully as he slid a hand up under Dee's tank top.
"No," Dee replied as he leaned forward to seize a kiss, "Not now." He had a thought. "You could just go alone, if it will make you feel better."
Ryo looked puzzled as he paused in the act of pulling up Dee's shirt. "That would not make me feel better, Dee. If I decide to go-"
Dee caught Ryo's hands and held them, turning serious. "Decide to go, Ryo. Don't let anyone intimidate you. If they are really your friends, they won't make trouble. If they do, well, you know what to do with future invitations." He paused and then shrugged. "The nun who raised me, used to say, 'Give people a chance to be good, God does.' Sounds sappy coming from a cynic like me, but, isn't being trusting usually your style?"
Ryo nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, it is, but this is a tense situation. You're right that I'm afraid some of my old friends might not understand and take sides against me." He sighed. "I haven't seen some of them in a long while, Dee. I used to think that I knew them, that they were good friends, but, well, when I moved to the city I had a friend from school offer to give me this apartment. Things hadn't worked out for him here, so he had decided to move back home. I jumped at the offer, of course. There weren't many apartments at such reasonable rents. Well, I trusted him and paid the deposit without even looking at the place. He sent me the key in the mail. When I showed up with the movers, I discovered that he had pulled up the tiles in the kitchen and the bathroom and taken all the appliances that belonged to the owner of the apartment building. I was forced to pay for the repairs and the new appliances. My 'friend' never apologized or acknowledged in any way that he had hurt me. I suppose it made me wary. I don't presume on old friendships any longer. People change, Dee."
Dee was scowling. "What a jerk! I hope we don't run into him."
"We will run into him," Ryo replied pointedly, "Just as I'll run into other people I don't like."
Dee grinned suddenly. "That happens at most reunions. Me and the orphans get together once in awhile. I can tell you there are people who show up that I'd rather never see again, but there's others I wouldn't miss for the world. You just have to concentrate on those people and ignore the rest."
Ryo considered Dee's words, but he still looked troubled.
"Let's go," Dee insisted. "You risk your life every day at the station, Ryo, what's a high school reunion compared to that?"
Ryo's face relaxed all in an instant. "You're right. I guess I'm being stupid and blowing it all out of proportion. There are people I do want to see again."
"Good," Dee replied smugly. "Now that we've settled that, get your clothes off mister and let me have my way with you! I'll guarantee that you'll forget all your worries as soon as I..." he leaned close and whispered in Ryo's ear.
Ryo took the papers from Dee's hand and let them drop to the floor as he pressed his body against Dee's and said with a deep blush. "I've forgotten them already."
"I think they know already," Dee grumbled.
"What makes you say that?" Ryo retorted with good natured sarcasm.
"Well Ms. Wiggles wasn't exactly beating around the bush when she avoided shaking my hand and said that she guessed there were a lot of people like me in New York," Dee replied.
"Wriggles, not Wiggles," Ryo corrected. "That could have meant anything. It's Mr. Rice's comment that only 'regular' couples were allowed at the reunion that tipped me off."
"That WAS pretty blatant." Dee stuck hands into the pockets of his black dress pants uncomfortably and surveyed the crowd of milling people in the auditorium. There were some 'looks' directed their way. "Good thing your old principal stepped in and straightened them both out."
Dee looked Ryo over. The man was dressed in a white shirt, a dark blue coat, and dark blue pants. He looked very professional and very handsome, almost like a model posing for a fashion magazine. Dee looked a little less suave, but he had on a dark red shirt and a black tie and he looked handsome in his own right. They stood like partners, masculine and assured, both of them automatically taking note of everything like the trained detectives they were. Since they weren't holding hands or even standing close together, they didn't appear to be anything more than friends. Dee suspected that someone had found out, perhaps through Aunt Elena or some other source, and hadn't had any qualm about telling everyone else.
"It'll be all right, you'll see," Dee reassured Ryo.
Ryo glanced at him and he looked tense. "I hope you're right."
"We can always leave," Dee reminded him. "We don't have to stay and take crap from anybody, remember that!"
Ryo smiled. "Suki da," he said. Love you. Dee smiled warmly in return and motioned Ryo to proceed him into the room.
Dee was suddenly inundated by Japanese and English. He had forgotten that Ryo had come from a community of Japanese Americans. He floundered for a moment, suddenly feeling awkward and wondering if the smattering of Japanese that he had picked up over the course of his relationship with Ryo was going to be enough.
"Relax," Ryo told him, seeing his sudden trepidation. "They speak English, too."
"Yeah, I knew that," Dee mumbled in reply, embarrassed.
"Ryo?" A black haired young man walked up and shook Ryo's hand, clapping him on the shoulder at the same time.
Ryo blinked and then recognized the tall, slim man hovering over him. "Koji? Little Koji?" They exchanged excited Japanese while Dee tried to look interested. Finally, Ryo remembered him and reached out a hand to take hold of Dee's arm, pulling him closer. "This is Dee Latener, my partner. Dee, this Is Koji Nakamura. We used to be on the soccer team together, only he was a great deal shorter at the time."
"Konnichiwa," Dee said politely.
"I suspect, from your accent, that you don't know much more than that?" Koji grinned. He turned back to Ryo. "So, is it true that you're a buru sekkasu, Ryo?"
Ryo went red and he didn't say anything for a long moment. "Who told you that?" he finally asked.
"Who do you think?" the man replied with a shrug of irritation and then regained his smile. "Don't let it worry you. Some people are going to give you the cold shoulder over it, but other people beside myself are going to be glad you came."
"Thanks, Koji," Ryo replied warmly. "That makes me feel better."
"So, this the guy?" Koji asked with a sly look At Dee.
Ryo blushed even redder, "Yes."
"Yes, I'm the guy," Dee retorted and Koji raised eyebrows, startled, but he was still smiling.
"Nice shoulders," Koji said as his dark eyes slid over them, "Did you ever play football... no, you're too thin... basketball maybe?"
"Basketball," Dee replied and fell into a conversation he was much more comfortable with. When he discovered that Koji was well versed in his favorite team, he didn't notice when Ryo slipped away to mingle with other people as he argued stats with Koji. When Koji finally excused himself, Dee was feeling more relaxed, until he looked around for Ryo and didn't see him.
He was in a room full of people, Dee reasoned to himself, trying to stay calm. No one was going to make trouble past some verbal insults if they made trouble at all. Ryo was safe. There wasn't any reason to panic. When Dee saw Ryo in the corner of the room looking tense and two men confronting him, he was shoving through the crowd towards his lover at once, glad that they had decided not to bring Bicky along in case there was trouble.
They were speaking rapid Japanese, Dee noticed as he approached, and Ryo was pale, dark eyes narrowed as he replied more softly and more slowly, emphasizing some point. One of the men clenched a fist.
"There you are, Ryo!" Dee said in a good nature tone of voice. "They have a great snack bar. Come and check it out with me!" He pushed between the two men with an apologetic shove, put an arm around Ryo's shoulders, and led Ryo away while the two men glared.
Ryo let out a gusting breath. "Thanks, but they were just being rude," Ryo said with prickly pride. "I could have handled them."
Dee smiled. "I know you could have, but we're partners right? We work together." When Ryo nodded, he asked, "So, what crap were they giving you?"
"They wanted us to leave," Ryo told him.
"No surprise there, I guess," Dee said sourly, but then gave Ryo a searching look. Ryo didn't seem too upset. "I guess some people were being nice to you? You didn't spend the whole time arguing with those idiots?"
Ryo smiled and his mood lightened visibly. "I saw Rena and Sam Millsone. We were really close. We used to work on the school newspaper together."
Dee chuckled. "You were investigating things even then!"
"And Jehna Ruija, she used to be in my math class. She has five kids now!" Ryo's eyes began to shine excitedly a he continued to talk.
Dee smiled back, not really listening, just soaking in the sight of a happy Ryo. At last he broke in, "So, aren't you glad that I insisted that you come? It would have been a shame to miss seeing your old friends just because you were afraid of what a few idiots might think or do." He put an arm around Ryo's waist and ignored Ryo's blush as he pulled him close, saying, "I'm glad that you weren't ashamed of being seen with me and that you brought me along. It means a lot to me, Ryo."
Ryo blinked, confused, as he searched Dee's eyes. "What are you talking about, Dee? Of course I'm not ashamed of being seen with you. Why did you think I was afraid of bringing you, of people knowing about us?"
It was Dee's turn to looked startled. "Huh? I thought..." Dee scowled. "Well, if that wasn't why you wanted to refuse the invitation, then what was?"
Ryo ignored the question as he reached out and took Dee's hand in his. "Dee, things have not been easy for me, especially where my family is concerned, but you're the best thing that ever happened to me. I do still get embarrassed. It's my nature and I can't help being shy, but please, don't mistake being shy for being ashamed. You're my life now, my future. These people, they are my past. I know what's more important."
"Ryo..." Dee hardly knew what to say. He fumbled and then said simply, "Love you."
Ryo's eyes misted and Dee was slowly pulled into the man's embrace. Ryo whispered, "I want everyone to know how much I love you, Dee," and his soft lips found Dee's in a tender kiss.
Dee was only barely aware of the sudden shouts, laughter, angry comments, and spattering of claps. When Ryo broke the kiss, he kept his eyes on Dee. He was flushed, uncertain of his daring, yet determined to see it through.
"Damn fags!" a man shouted, but someone else shouted him down. There were arguments.
"Maybe we should go?" Dee suggested nervously.
"No, don't do that," Koji said at Dee's shoulder. He winked as he put a beer in Dee's hand, popped the top of his own, and took a swig. "We still have to decide who's right about that score during the game in Philadelphia." He nodded towards the milling crowd. "They'll sort themselves out. Just ignore them for a bit and they'll calm down."
Ryo smiled. "Domo arigato, Koji."
Koji grinned, "Itashimashite, you're welcome. That was really something, Ryo. Dee must be really special for you to show him off like that. You used to die of embarrassment if your shoe was untied!" When Ryo blushed, he laughed. "See, Dee? I used to think that red was his natural color!"
Dee was still nervous. There was a definite space between them and the rest of the assembled. He felt exposed. Koji's good nature was infectious though and he soon found himself smiling and laughing along with the man while Ryo tried to retort with a few stories about Koji.
Just as Koji predicted, once the crowd saw that the show between Dee and Ryo was over, they went back to the business of enjoying themselves. There were still whispered comments and looks both amused and hostile, but Dee felt the tension in the room lessen considerably. Ryo, on the other hand, was still casting long looks over the crowd, a slight frown on his face.
Dee began to reassure Ryo, but Koji spoke first, looking serious for once and speaking in a sympathetic tone, "You're looking for Sharon Wu, aren't you?" He sighed. "I hate to be the one to give bad news, but she died in a car accident two months ago. She helped put this reunion together and she was really looking forward to seeing everyone." He took a drink of his beer as both Dee and Ryo looked at him with wide, astonished eyes. "She told everyone that you were gay, I'm afraid," he said apologetically. "I guess things didn't work out when she went to see you in New York," he glanced at Dee, "for obvious reasons."
"Koji," Dee said pleasantly enough. "Do you mind getting me another beer?" Dee asked in a way that let Koji know that he wanted some time alone with Ryo. Koji was quick on the uptake. He winked at Dee and nodded as he walked into the crowd.
Ryo was looking relieved, shocked, and guilty. Dee took him by the elbow and led him to a quiet corner of the auditorium. "Sharon was the reason that you didn't want to come, right?" Dee asked at last.
Ryo nodded and looked ill. One of his hands rubbed at the skin of one arm as if something unpleasant had crept over it. His dark eyes looked haunted. "She drugged and raped me when I was in high school. She tried to do it again at our apartment when she came to New York. Of course, I didn't want to see her!"
Dee sighed in exasperation. "Ryo, why didn't you just tell me?" He saw the reason why in Ryo's ashamed expression and the way he looked down at his feet and clenched his jaw. Dee moved very close and whispered into Ryo's ear. "Did you think that I would criticize you for being afraid, that I wouldn't understand how you wouldn't want to see a rapist again? Baby! Here I was thinking that you were just afraid to come out of the closet and instead you're terrified of being hurt in a whole different way! I could have been helping you all of this time, Ryo, not joking with you and trying to get you to face an entire room full of people as a couple." He smiled wonderingly. "You are so brave, Ryo, a lot more than I imagined. I don't know if I could have gone through this half as well as you."
Ryo looked up then, searching Dee's eyes anxiously. When he saw Dee's real respect, his face melted and the anxiety faded. "I-I didn't want you to think that I was a wimp, I guess, being afraid of someone like Sharon, but I knew, as long as you were with me, that I could face anything Dee, even someone like her." He took Dee's hand and held it tight as he said fiercely, "So, everyone knows now, who Ryo McLaine really is, and Sharon can't hurt me any longer. I feel like a tremendous weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I couldn't have done it without you by my side, Dee. You're my love and my strength, never forget that. I know that I said, back at the apartment, that I had given up a lot to be with you." His soft, loving eyes drank Dee in as he said intensely, "I was angry and I was being stupid. I want you to know, Dee, that the truth is, that I would give up EVERYTHING to be with you and never regret it."
Dee reached out and touched Ryo's cheek in a gentle caress, moved beyond words. He nodded towards the exit and raised eyebrows, a clear invitation to go back to their hotel room so that he could show Ryo exactly how he felt.
Ryo smiled sensually. "The reunion is for three days. They'll still be here tomorrow." He slipped an arm around Dee's waist and they turned and left the reunion behind.