Disclaimer: I do not own these characters nor do I make a
claim on them.  These characters are the property of Pet Fly
Productions and UPN.  Original characters are the sole
property of the author, YS McCool.

Title  : Welcome Home
Series : Dancing #18
Pairing: Steele/Michelle, Hotrod/Maxine
Rating : NC-17
Date   : 15 October 1997
Summary: Jim needs to get back in Michelle and Maxine's good
graces after they return home from Africa.



                          Dancing #18:
                          Welcome Home
                         By  YS McCool


"This is all your fault, Chief," Jim said as he dropped his
keys in the basket.

"How is this my fault?" Blair asked as he closed the door to
the loft.

"You should have hit me over the head and locked me in a
closet before I went to the airport and made a total fool of
myself."  Jim dropped down on the couch in a dejected lump.

Blair sat down beside his lover.  "I did tell you *several*
times you were overreacting."  

"You should have shot me in the leg," Jim insisted.

"Jim!"

"Okay, you should have handcuffed me to something, anything
but let me go to that airport and humiliate myself like
that."  Ellison sighed dramatically, ready to hit himself
with something thick and heavy.  Something like his own
head.

"Jim, they'll forgive you.  You'll see," Blair promised.

"They kicked us out, Blair," Jim reminded him.

"They didn't kick us out, Jim.  They said they were tired
after all the flying.  I believe them."

"We were kicked to the curb," Jim pouted.

Blair pulled the larger man into his arms.  "There, there."

"Tossed away," Jim lamented.

"Jim?" 

"Sent to the slaughter," Jim whined.


Blair pulled back.  He twisted his face to keep from smiling
at the comically forlorn look on Jim's face.  "You just
wanted to get laid."

"Damn straight.  It's been over two weeks.  I wanted some
loving from our ladies."

Blair scowled.  "So what part of your approach did you feel
would secure this loving--the yelling, paper waving, or the
cheek puffing?"

Jim stared.  "This is why it's all your fault.  You could
see where I was going wrong on my loving quest."

"Jim, a blind man could see where you were going wrong,"
Blair countered.  "Kesha told you to chill.  The skycap told
you to let it go.  The parking lot attendant told you he
believed every word in the story and that the cameraman was
Elvis."

"Do you have a point?" Jim asked.

Blair thwacked Jim on the arm.  "Earth to Jim.  This is
Earth calling.  Jim, you lost it.  Okay?  You embarrassed us
both, and now you need to crawl."

"*We* need to crawl."

"You're on the floor alone, buddy," Blair insisted.

"No way, Blair.  We are a *team*," Jim reminded him.  He
leaned forward.  "Now what's *our* plan to get back into
their good graces?"

"Our plan?  I'm in charge of our plan?" Blair had to ask.

Jim nodded.  "Guns and knives--I plan.  Jim puts his foot in
his mouth and makes the ladies throw us out--you plan."

Blair shook his head.  He leaned back, breaking physical
contact so he could concentrate.  "Well, I do have an idea,"
he admitted.

"Enlighten me."  Jim leaned closer to hear every detail.

****************************************

Maxine wanted to linger over breakfast, read the newspaper,
listen to all her voicemail, anything but unpack all the
stuff from their trip.  The shipping company had delivered
their packages bright and early.  Now Michelle was eager to
unpack everything. 'Yuck.'  Max just wanted to lie down. 
The city had been jarring after the wonderful quiet of
Africa.  

"Come on, lazy bones.  We have boxes to open," Michelle said
as she bounced from the table.

"I thought pregnant women were supposed to be tired."

"Not *this* pregnant woman.  Come on, Max, I want to open
our stuff.  We have all these presents to distribute, and
our 'welcome home' party is tomorrow."  Michelle tore into
the boxes with the enthusiasm of a child on Christmas
morning.  

Max was relegated to clean up and gift tag writing.  The
Masai knife was for Jim.  Big men needed big knives.  The
prayer rug would thrill Cedric.  Her fireman brother had
been fascinated with religious items since he was a
teenager.  The ebony statue of 'Sexual Power' could only go
to Blair.  He'd love it, but he would love the fact that
Michelle had donated books and school materials, in his
name, to his friend's school even more.

The polished stone necklace had been chosen for Naomi. 
Blair's mother was a little hard to buy for, but the
necklace would look wonderful on her long neck.  

The warrior's shield was perfect for Joel.  It depicted the
defeat of the god of fire, and it made Maxine think of
Taggart.  The drums were for Daryl. 'Hey, he doesn't live
with Simon, and Joan Banks doesn't know me from a hole in
the wall.'

A hammered gold necklace, suitable for a tribal chief, had
been commissioned specifically for Simon.  Banks was her
chief and the necklace was very appropriate.  The matched
silver bracelets had immediately made them think of Grant
and Tony.  A couple's present for a new couple.  They had
found three wrapped-style dresses for Kesha.  Hopefully,
they would fit her fast growing fourteen year old niece.

A tanzanite bracelet had been purchased for Gwen, her
sister-in-law.  Gwen was in definite *need* of some jewelry. 
An ebony walking stick had been chosen for the very tall
Chad.  He could use it to beat off some of the women who
were chasing him.

"Maxine, how long before you finish developing the film from
our trip?" Michelle asked.

Maxine looked up from marking off their gift list.  "About
four days if I do it all myself, but I have a lab whose work
I trust.  Is there something you want finished before the
party?"

"The hot air balloon pictures," Michelle said
enthusiastically.  "Can we take the rolls to the lab?"

Maxine had been looking forward to doing all the work
herself, but the Michelle begging face could not be
resisted.  "Sure, Babe."

Four hours and hundreds of dollars later, all sixty-seven
rolls of their vacation film and they were home.

"I'll spread all this out on the dining room table while you
make us some lunch," Maxine said as she sat the boxes on the
table.  "We'll make a stack of shots you want to have blown
up for the party."  The two women ate their lunch and sorted
through the photographs.


They had been at it for over three hours when the doorbell
rang.  "I'll get it," Maxine said.  She leaned over and
snatched the photo of her standing naked under a small
waterfall from Michelle.  "Oh, no you don't."

Michelle grabbed it back.  "Says you.  I want a huge blow up
of this one."

"No," Maxine said as she went to the foyer.

"Yes," Michelle called back.

Maxine looked outside and saw Jim and Blair, or rather
Steele and Hotrod, standing on their doorstep. 'Oh, my.'  

Steele was stretching the hell out of a pair of blood-red
jeans and giving major nipple action to a dark red muscle
shirt.  The famous knuckle baring black leather gloves were
in evidence, along with the equally famous dark shades.  He
needed a shave. 'Drool.'

Hotrod was, and should be, proud of his ripped stomach which
was displayed for all the world to see as he was wearing a
light blue cropped shirt that ended just below his ribs.  He
had a triple leather belt through the loops of his extremely
tight black jeans.  Hotrod was also sporting a long dangle-
style earring that spelled out "love god", black leather
bare finger gloves, dark shades, and studded wrist bands.

Both men had tattoos of black panthers on their right arms.

"Michelle!"

"What?"

"Hotrod and Steele are on our doorstep," Maxine announced.

"You're kidding."

"No," Maxine responded.  "What do you think?"

"Are they looking good?" Michelle asked.

"These are the guys our mothers warned us about."

Michelle walked into the foyer and had a peek.  

Steele banged on the door.  "Open up!  I *know* there are
some babes in there."

Michelle frowned.  "I think Hotrod's about to pick the
lock."

Maxine smiled.  "Oh, man, they're really into the roles. 
Let them in, cautiously."

Michelle opened the door.  "May I help you... gentlemen?"

"Hey, Babe," Hotrod said as strode into the house.  He
handed Michelle a rose, freshly stolen from their garden
complete with thorns and dirt, then pinned the unresisting
Maxine to the wall for some neck and earlobe torture.

Michelle was still regarding the flower in her hand when
Steele grabbed her and kissed her hard enough to raise her
blood pressure to dangerous levels.  She was barely able to
catch her breath before he scooped her up into his arms.

"The name is Harrison Steele, baby.  What do I call you,
besides 'Mine'?"  Michelle burbled something unintelligible. 
"Hmmm," he said before he started another round of kissing.

"I like them tall, baby.  I like them big and tall," Hotrod
purred.  "Nothing like a challenge in bed."  He kissed
Maxine hard.  He buried his fingers in her long loose hair
and pulled them even closer together.  "Do you know what you
do to me?"  Maxine shook her head.  Hotrod took her hand,
nibbled the palm, then wrapped it, firmly, around the bulge
in his crotch.  "That's what you do to me, sweetness."

"Oh, my God," Maxine moaned. 

"You'll be saying that a lot," Hotrod said as he wrapped his
arms around the taller Maxine.

"When did you and Steele start running together?" Maxine
asked.

"Steele and I have come to an understanding, sweet thing. 
Both sides of the law working together toward a common
goal."

"What goal?" Maxine asked.

"Getting laid.  There is *no* higher goal."  Hotrod toyed
with the belt on Maxine's jeans like a cat toying with some
string.  "Now, *why* are you wearing all those clothes?"  He
opened the belt.  "I want to see your body.  I want to revel
in it."  He started on her buttons.  "I want to worship it."

Maxine was in trouble, and she knew it.  She had come up
with the Hotrod character for Blair to use.  Now Hotrod had
developed well beyond the man who had posed somewhat shyly
for her camera.  Even now, she could clearly remember
coaxing the "bad boy" out of hiding.  Now, Hotrod was a
fully developed character wearing her lover's face, stalking
her like a predator, and pushing every button she had.  'Oh,
my!'

Hotrod had her naked in record time.  She didn't even
remember how they got up the stairs to the master bedroom. 
He crawled onto the bed, wearing only his wristbands and
gloves, and lay down on top of her.  "I missed you, Maxine. 
I missed you both so much.  It seemed like you were gone a
lot longer than two weeks.  I think Jim was feeling it about
twice as much as I was, and I know how much I was aching."

Maxine stroked Blair's curls.  "Why couldn't he just say
that instead of ranting about throwing ourselves in the path
of danger?"

"Because he's Jim."

Maxine laughed.  That did explain a lot.  Any time she felt
like complaining about the knucklehead, she only had to
start listing her own numerous faults.  She could make Jim
seem like a saint at times.  "I understand."  And she did. 
Jim was protective of the people he loved.  With her and
Michelle thousands of miles away, he must have been
anxious... very anxious.


Hotrod stroked her sides with his leather-covered palms.  It
sent delicious chills up her spine.   "Ooohhh, Hotrod," she
purred.

"I need to make sure you don't want to leave me again," he
said as he slipped a single finger into Maxine's mouth. 
"Suck it, pretty one."  Maxine sucked the offered finger. 
"That's right," he encouraged.

Hotrod slipped his wet fingertip from Maxine's mouth and
circled her right nipple with it.  Her nipple hardened
immediately, begging for further attention.  He gave it what
*he* wanted.  Hotrod replaced his fingertip with his tongue,
circling the nub in wider and wider paths.

He turned the taller woman onto her stomach.  "Any final
words before I fuck you to death?" Hotrod asked.

"Yes."

"What are they?" he asked.

"Yes," Maxine said as she pushed back against Hotrod.



Michelle hadn't recovered from the first kiss, before the
second was sending her into a tailspin.  There was just
something so desperate and primal about a Steele kiss.  It
was strange, but the Steele persona seemed three inches
taller and forty pounds heavier than Jim.  He knew what he
wanted, and he took it.  Fading flowers need not apply to be
in this man's arms.  She hadn't realized she was being
carried until she was gently placed on the bed.  

"Nice top," Steele growled, just before he grabbed the
shoulders and ripped it right off of her.  "Better."

"My blouse!"

"My toy," Steele said before latching onto her throat.  

She wriggled ineffectually against the large man.  "Any
chance of mercy?" she asked huskily.

"I am unfamiliar with that word."  Steele nipped his way
down her shoulder.  He stood up and undressed, leaving on
the gloves.

Michelle sighed as Steele settled between her thighs and
licked her.  His gloved hands left trails of pleasure on her
chest and stomach.  She trembled.

He took his time, building her slowly up to the first
orgasm, then sending her over to a quick and intense
aftershock.  "Liked that, didn't ya?" Steele asked.

"Yes," Michelle said softly.

"Good, 'cause we're just getting started."  He pushed her
legs wide apart and moved up her body.  Steele teased her
clit with his cock, then moved it down to her vagina.  Up,
down, tease, in, out, tease, up, down.  He pushed the head
of his cock inside her.

"Jiiimmm."

"Sorry, baby.  We left Jim at home.  He wasn't man enough
for this mission."  Steele gently pumped just the head of
his cock inside Michelle.  "Damn, you feel *so* good."  He
varied the rhythm of his stroke as he increased the length
of his stroke.

"Don't stop, oh STEELE, don't stop!"  Michelle raked the
motorcycle cop's back.  She rocked her pelvis up to meet his
every move.  She came.

Steele plunged full length into the quivering vagina as he
came.  "Ahhh! Oh, sweetheart," Steele licked Michelle's ear. 
"Sweet, tender, and perfect," he whispered.  He rolled onto
his side, careful to not put his weight on her.

"Jim?"

"Yes?"

"I forgive you over the airport rant, but you're paying for
that blouse."

"It was the hormones, Michelle," Jim said seriously. 
"There's no telling what no-brainer thing they will make me
do next."

Michelle giggled.  "I understand."

"Will you still love me when I start to put on weight?" Jim
asked softly.

"Sure, Jim," she promised.

"Will you make me special meals for my cravings?" he asked
softly.

"You're having cravings?" Michelle asked.

"Yes.  I want some chocolate, chocolate chip ice cream so
bad," Jim whined.

"Oohhh, let's go."

"We'll have to slip past Blair," Jim said.

"Says you.  When the kids say 'send down some food', they
cannot be ignored."

"You've been having cravings?" Jim asked.

"No.  But that ice cream sounds good."

********************************

The four lovers sat down with their ice cream.  Mothers
moved their small children away from the dangerous looking
Hotrod and Steele.  

"Grant got his promotion, and Tony's throwing him a party. 
We're all invited.  It's a barbeque," Jim said.

"Good for Grant, he deserves it," Maxine said as she spooned
up her frozen treat.

"Grant told his family about Tony," Blair announced.

"How did it go?" Michelle asked.

"Muted explosion.  Poor Grant.  His parents aren't talking
to him.  His sister took it well though," Jim said, as he
tasted Blair's Rocky Road ice cream.

"Then they told Tony's family," Blair said as he moved his
ice cream away from Jim.

"What happened?" Michelle asked as she stole some of Blair's
ice cream from the other side.

Blair smiled at Michelle, but didn't move his ice cream out
of her reach.  "Katrina was happy for them.  His brother,
Marco, seems to be on their side, but his mother had a fit. 
A big fit.  She left the house.  Actually, Tony threw her
out."

"Those poor men."  Maxine watched Michelle and Jim take some
of her ice cream.  "Blair, I have it figured out.  We were
only invited for ice cream so Jim and Michelle wouldn't look
like gluttons."

"It's often disheartening to see people lose their family's
support right when they need it most," Blair said.  "I'm
lucky, Naomi has *always* been supportive of me.  Even when
I fell in love with *two* cops."

"I know it must be hurting Grant to be without his parents'
support.  They are a close family," Maxine said.

"Maybe they'll come around," Jim suggested.  "For some
people, same-sex relationships are just beyond what they can
tolerate."

"Well, that's three people we can scratch off the guest
list," Blair said.  "If Tony and Grant set them off, there's
no telling what the four of us would do for them."

"The guest list for what?" Maxine asked.

Blair smiled.  "The Bris."

"Who should we invite?" Michelle asked.  "I'm thinking a
very small gathering."

Maxine put down her spoon.   "A Bris?  You're kidding me,
right?"

"No, I'm *not* kidding.  If I said that we should name them
One and Two, then I would be kidding," Blair said.  "Our
sons have to have a Bris."  

Jim stopped smiling.  "Blair, you are not serious about
this, are you?" Jim asked.

Blair stared hard at Jim.  'How could he not know how much
this meant?'

"Yes, we are," Michelle said.

"When did you and Blair decide this?" Maxine asked.  "I
thought we had decided to raise them with both religions."

"Why would that make a difference when it comes to them
having a Bris?" Michelle asked.

"Maybe I misunderstood," Maxine said.  "When I brought up
the subject of religious upbringing, everyone seemed to
agree on both."

"Having a Bris doesn't mean they can't go to your church,
Maxine," Michelle said.

Blair took a deep breath.  This was not a conversation he
wanted to be having in the Miss Sally's Ice Cream Parlor.  
"Jim, is it the circumcision part that bothers you?"

"Yes."

"But you're circumcised," Blair said.

"Because it was a common practice when I was born, not by
choice or by religious ritual.  If I had a choice, I
*wouldn't* be circumcised."

Maxine looked at Michelle.  "It's not as common among
African-Americans to be circumcised.  When they ask on the
hospital forms do you want your son snipped, the answer in
our family, is 'no'."

"Jim, you were raised as a Methodist.  When was the last
time you were in church?  Not for a wedding or funeral, but
for observance of your religious rituals and communication
with your God?" Blair asked.

"Ahh.  It's been a while," Jim said.

"How long?" Blair asked.

"Over twenty years," Jim admitted.

"What if I told you I didn't want the boys christened
because you're not religious?"  Blair waited.

Maxine and Jim flinched.  "I hadn't thought about it that
way."

"Jim, circumcision is not a fashion statement.  It's not
like piercing their ears.  It is part of who we are. 
Practicing or not, I am still a Jew.  My sons are Jews,"
Michelle said as she touched her belly.  

"Maxine, being a Jew is as much a part of me as the color of
my skin.  It is part of who I am.  This is our culture, even
if you don't understand that, I'm asking you to respect it,"
Blair said.

"Jim, how could I explain to them that I let that part of
their heritage be taken from them because you and Maxine
were uncomfortable with the procedure that accompanied a
*sacred* ritual?" Michelle asked.

"Maxine, no matter how we raise them, and no matter what
church they attend or don't attend, our sons will still be
Jews, and part of that heritage means observing our
rituals," Blair said.

"Michelle, Blair, I'm sorry," Maxine said softly.  "I just
hadn't thought about this before."

"Our sons will have a Bris properly performed by a Mohle,"
Michelle said.

"What's a Mohle?" Jim asked.

"A Rabbi who performs the ceremony and removes the
foreskin," Blair answered.

"Blair, Michelle, I can't lie to you, I will be very
uncomfortable watching that, but I will be there for our
sons' ceremony," Jim said.

"We'll both be there," Maxine assured them.

**************************

Jim rejoined Blair and Maxine on the bread aisle in the
grocery store.  "Here's the flour and sugar."  He looked
around.  "Where is Michelle?"

"I thought she was with you," Blair said.  "Time for an
experiment.  I know you could find me, now, try to find
Michelle."

"Chief, there must be 100 people in this place.  All the
food smells.  There's the deli and the bakery adding to the
mix."

"Jim, it's important that you be able to track all three of
us.  Now, filter out the bakery, deli, and the fresh
produce.  Find Michelle."

Jim frowned.  Find Michelle.  He needed to find Michelle.
'You know her, Jim.  You know the sound of her voice.  You
know her touch.  You know her look.  You know her smell.' 
Michelle.  "She's about three aisles over, to our right." 
The group headed that way and found Michelle on the baby
food aisle.

"I don't know about you, Blair, but that still impresses the
hell out of me," Maxine said.

"It's a bit early to be looking at baby food, Michelle," Jim
said.

"I was just looking at all the formula choices." She held up
a can.  "This one's made with goat's milk."

"Blah," Jim said with disgust.  

"Why are you looking at these?" Blair asked.  "We'll be
breast feeding."

"We?" Maxine inquired.  She peeked down his shirt.  "This
I've got to see."

Michelle held her hands in front of her small breasts. 
"Blair, look at me.  They would starve."

"In this case, size doesn't count."  Blair assured Michelle.

"It's got to," Michelle said.  "Too bad Maxine can't take
over that part.  They'd be set until their first day of
school."

"This is not a tit contest," Maxine say dryly.

"I have some literature," Blair said.

Michelle gaped at her lover.  "Blair, you must have
literature on everything."

"It's important that they be breast fed for as long as you
can.  But at least the first three months."

Michelle rolled her eyes.  "They're going to look like two
popped balloons."

"No they won't," Jim said.  "They'll have that lived in look
we will always equate with our beloved and *healthy* boys."

"God, Jim.  Now Blair's got you doing it," Michelle
complained.  "Are you sure you're not Jewish?  That was the
height of Jewish guilt."

**************************

Maxine frowned at the bathing suit Jim handed to her.  "Jim,
where's the rest of it?"

"Try it on, Cookie.  You'll look *hot*.  I'll have the two
most beautiful women in the known universe on my arm at Tony
and Grant's party, and you need a suit worthy of your
figure."

"I'll have goosebumps."  She took the suit into the dressing
room.

Michelle and Blair joined Jim.  "Jim, take these big shirts
home, wear them, and then drop them at our house," Michelle
instructed as she handed Jim a shopping bag.

"Why?" Jim asked.

"I like to sleep in this kind of shirt, but I need you to
wear them first."

Jim smiled.  "You only like the shirts after I've worn
them?"

"Yes.  They need to be stretched into a Jim-shape to make
them more comfortable."

Jim kissed Michelle tenderly.  "That's so sweet."

"Now, when it turns cold, Blair has to wear my sweaters
first so that they'll have a comforting Blair-shape to
them."

Blair kissed Michelle's cheek.  "Sure," he said.  "No matter
how girly they are."

"I don't wear girly sweaters," Michelle said.

Maxine stepped out of the dressing room wearing a silver
bikini.  Jim dropped his packages.  Blair whooped.  Michelle
let out a wolf whistle.

"Man!" Jim said.  "That's the swimsuit of my dreams."

"I can't see you wearing that, Jim," Blair said.

"I would be gorgeous," Jim said firmly.

Maxine and Michelle had a laughing fit.

"Clerk!" Jim called.  "We'll take it."

"We'll take two," Blair said.  "Jim, what size do you think
you would wear?"  

Jim whapped Blair with Michelle's package of large shirts.

********************************

Michelle frowned when she realized there was more than an
inch between the hook and the catch at the top of her
leather skirt.  The days of hiding her pregnancy were over. 
It was almost an overnight thing.  One day slender, the next
she was showing.  She took the skirt off and grabbed the
black pleated velour skirt with a stretchable waistband that
was always too big.  It fit... barely.  

She checked her reflection in the three-way mirror.  Her
hair had a strong tendency to curl, and she had teased and
sprayed it until it was high and full.  She was wearing a
wonder bra that gave her some cleavage.  The bra was a deep
green that matched her eyes and peeked out from behind her
fishnet blouse, which matched her fishnet hose.  She stepped
into her black and silver 4" spike heels.

When she stepped out of the dressing room, Maxine, now known
as Kenya, was already dressed and waiting.  Kenya was
wearing a leopard print unitard, black leather ankle boots,
and a black leather micro mini skirt.

"You look, tough, sexy, and dangerous," Michelle said.

"The word is bimbo.  How did I let myself be talked into
letting Hotrod and Steele pick out my clothes?"

"Because all three of us ganged up on you.  Besides, you
look great."

"Michelle, I have more leather in my purse than I have in
this skirt."

"That's Titania, my dear.  The name is Titania." Michelle
put on a pair of silver dangle earrings.  "Let's stay in the
roles.  The guys want to go out and scare the citizens."

Maxine switched to a little boy's voice.  "Mommy, did you
ever dress as a tart and go to leather bars?"

"Of course I did, son," Michelle answered.  "Now, when you
get to be Mommy's age, you can go too."

Maxine laughed.  "Already got your answer for that question,
I see."

"Can't wait to the last minute.  Any child of mine will be
testing us from the moment they arrive."

They went downstairs and were immediately pounced for
kissing by Hotrod and Steele.

***************************************

Michelle's former police interceptor purred into a parking
space in front of Del Roy's.  Now painted a menacing deep
blue with silver accents, the car's former occupation was
not apparent to any but the most discriminating car buff.

Del Roy's was thumping, but it was Friday night, and it was
always thumping on a Friday night.  Steele grabbed a table
while Kenya got drinks, and Hotrod danced Titania onto the
floor.

Steele almost laughed when he recognized Jake coming to his
table.  

The big man sat right down beside Steele.  "Hey, gorgeous. 
Wanna dance?"

"Sorry.  I'm with someone, and they might not like me
dancing with strangers."

Jake frowned.  "That's too bad."  He leaned closer.  "Maybe
they'll share you?"

Kenya arrived and placed the drinks on the table.  She
leaned down and kissed Steele on the mouth.  "Let's dance,
baby."

Steele grinned at Jake and followed Kenya onto the dance
floor.  When New Edition's "Hit Me Off" started, Steele
danced with Hotrod, and Kenya danced with Titania. 
Titania/Steele and Hotrod/Kenya paired off for the Ohio
Player's "Brick House".

When they came back to the table, Jake was still sitting
there.  "Hotrod," he whispered.

"None other," Hotrod said.  "Jake, I hope you'll be on your
best behavior tonight.  My ladies are here, and I'm even
more protective of them."

"Oooohhhh, Hotrod," Kenya and Titania said in unison as they
cuddled against the buff biker.

"Yeah," Jake said as he got up from the table.  He nearly
overturned his chair in his efforts to flee.

Kenya watched Jake scurry away.  "He's even bigger than you
described."

Titania took the cherry from her Coke and tied a knot in the
stem before passing it over to Kenya via a kiss.  Kenya
untied the knot with her tongue before passing it to Steele
with another deep kiss.  Steele ate the cherry.


***************************************

Jim kissed Naomi's cheek and took the basket from her hands. 
"Hello, Granny," he teased as he let her into Michelle and
Maxine's house.

"Jim, you can't get my goat.  I'm excited about the babies. 
I'm looking forward to being Granny Naomi or whatever they
want to call me."

"Almost everyone's here."  He sniffed the basket.  "Hmmmm. 
These must be those cuttings Blair was begging for."

"Yes.  I had to unload all my charm to get them."

"That's a lot of charm," Jim said.  He led Naomi through the
foyer to the backyard where their friends and family were
gathered.

"I see they fenced the water garden," Naomi said as she and
Jim made their way through the partiers.

"It's safer this way."

"How's your house coming?"

"Our cabinets arrived a couple of days ago, and our
refurbished windows arrived this morning.  We're letting the
experts install those."

"Everyone, everyone," Maxine called.  She waited for the
crowd to stop talking.  "I want to thank all of you for
coming to our little party."  She waved at her lovers.  When
they were all standing beside her, she continued.  "We have
an announcement."

Members of the Cascade Police Gossip Society clustered
together.  Some reached for their wallets, some clutched
their cell phones, and others made do with their trusty cop
notepads.

Maxine wrapped her arm around Michelle's waist.  "Friends,
we have wonderful news.  Michelle is pregnant."  The silence
was staggering.  "We're having twins."  Everyone started
talking at once.  "One at a time, one at a time," Maxine
demanded.

"Ah, I don't want to be indelicate," Joel began as he idly
fingered his shield.  "But who's the father?"

"Blair and Jim," Michelle said.

"What?" Chad asked.

"Blair AND Jim," Michelle repeated firmly.

"Do you know the sex?" Tony asked.

"Both are boys," Blair said.

"Have you thought about names?  Simon is a great name,"
Simon said.

Jim chuckled.  "Sorry, Simon.  The first born will be named
Michael Sandburg Covington-Cross after Michelle's uncle. 
The second one will be named Daniel Ellison Covington-Cross
after Maxine's father."

"Hear, hear," Daniel Tate said.  "Grandpa Daniel is ready to
do some spoiling."

"How did you settle on the Ellison and Sandburg parts?"
Grant asked.

"We cut the cards," Blair said.  "And before you try to
figure out a way to ask, Jim will be listed as Michael's
father, and I will be listed as Daniel's father."

"Have you got a godfather yet?  I make a wonderful
godfather," Tony said.  "I've got credentials.  Look how
well Katrina turned out."  He pointed toward his beautiful
daughter.

Michelle hugged Tony.  "You sweetie."

"Careful, Michelle, pregnant women turn me on," Tony said
wickedly.  He tilted her chin up.  "Now remember, those kids
will call me Uncle Tony."

"And I'm Uncle Simon," Banks assured them.

"Uncle Grant," Mitchell added.

"Uncle Joel," Taggart chipped in.

"Uncle Chad," Dorsey declared.

"Uncle Henry," Brown said with confidence.

"Uncle Brian," Rafe proclaimed.

"Uncle Donald," Grant's father threw in.

Maxine leaned toward Blair and stage whispered, "But just
let us need a babysitter."


The End