by Ursula
"I won't," Walter promised, "Thanks for the house call. Alex doesn't do well
with doctor's offices."
"You really should look into some counseling for him, but I know, he doesn't
do well with psychotherapy either," James said. His handsome face creased
into a wide grin and he said, "See you later, Walter. I'm taking Scully and
William out later for a family portrait."
Nodding, Walter walked Scully's fiancee to the door. He felt somehow
disloyal to Mulder for liking the doctor so much, but it was Mulder who had
said he needed time to think. He had left a year ago. He couldn't expect
Scully to wait forever after waiting for him eight years. It wasn't fair.
Frankly, Walter thought Mulder was fooling himself about how he felt anyway.
If they had been capable of the whole mixed spectrum of physical passion,
romantic love, and commitment that would have made a marriage work, they
wouldn't have waited eight years to think about marriage. You can't make
yourself love someone...or make yourself stop loving him or her no matter
what you do to each other.
Witness Alex and Walter...
Anyway, time to try to get some food into Alex. Cautiously, Walter poked his
head into the bedroom and asked, "Hey, you ready to eat?"
"I lost the remote," Alex answered, glowering.
The only way he could have lost it where Walter found it was to throw it.
Walter picked it up and placed it on the right hand side of the bed. Alex
glanced at it and then fixed a glare at Walter, daring him to say anything.
Walter merely shrugged his shoulders and began pulling off his clothes.
"If you think that I feel like screwing..." Alex remarked.
"No, I don't," Walter said. He continued to undress, neatly folding his
clothes onto a chair. Alex curled away from him, his right hand clutching
the gel-packed bud of his nascent left arm. Walter slid into the bed and
carefully put his arm around his lover. For a moment, the back held rigid
against him and then slowly relaxed. Alex allowed himself to be snuggled to
Walter's warmth, relenting, easing one cell at a time.
Rubbing Alex's back in slow circles, Walter's voice rumbled,
" Pyat ustaliye igrushki, Knizhki spyat, Odeyala i podushki Zhdut rebyat,
Dazhe skazka spat' lozhytsya Chotby notchyu nam prisnitsya Glazki zakryvai
Bahyu-bai (1)
"Where'd you learn that," Alex asked, snuggling closer.
"You're not the only one who can keep a secret," Walter said, "I know my
accent is all wrong..."
"ss perfect," Alex replied, "Sing it to me again."
After the third rumbling repetition, Alex fell asleep in his arms. The
furrows of pain on his forehead lingered, but finally smoothed out, as the
slumber grew deep. Walter patiently held him through the night despite an
aching back and numbing arms.
A feverish Alex trembled in his arms when the first light of dawn threaded
through the blinds. Walter felt the heated forehead and then reached for the
thermometer. It was one hundred and three, enough to upset Walter. He speed
dialed James and said, "He's not good this morning. Can you get over here?"
Walter was sure it was Scully's voice that he heard asking who was calling.
Good for her. Let her have some happiness. Maybe in time, Mulder also would
start to recover from the horrors of the war. They had all suffered so much
and perhaps, Mulder more so than others because of his uncompromising
stance.
James yawned into the phone and said, "Sure, what's happening?"
"Last night he was in a lot of pain and this morning the fever is high. Is
that normal?" Walter asked.
"Is anything normal about regrowing a severed limb with alien based
technology?" Doctor Kildare asked.
"Now that you put it that way," Walter said, "No."
Alex needed a shave and his skin had that waxen quality seen in sick rooms,
but nothing could diminish his beauty to Walter. He struggled to get up,
keeping the bandaged arm held stiffly away from his body. Walter knew it
hurt and it devastated him to be unable to help. Alex swayed and might have
fallen if Walter hadn't caught him.
"Bathroom, now," Alex gasped.
They barely made it in time for Alex to vomit bile into the toilet bowl. He
was shaking as Walter helped him close the lid. He sat down while Walter
gave him a quick sponge bath before taking him to back to bed.
"Fucking arm. Why did I want to do this? I want to stop the treatment,
Walter," Alex said.
"I don't know if they can reverse it now, Alex, but if they can, I'll
support that," Walter said, as he folded part of the sheet over Alex's naked
body.
"You want a crippled lover? You kinky like that?" Alex groused, "I remember
Mulder saying one time he wanted to be like Captain Hook or Long John
Silver. I laughed. I never wanted it, but I got it."
"I want you anyway you are," Walter said.
Scornfully, Alex said, "Isn't this where you declare your eternal love?"
Knowing what Alex was trying to do, Walter refused the bait and said, "We
have been through life and death with each other and I'm still willing to do
it again. Good enough?"
Eyelashes shading the windows of his soul, face turned slightly aside in
quintessence of Alex, Walter's lover agreed, "Yeah. Same here."
The doorbell rang; Walter kissed Alex quickly on the forehead and said,
"Stay put, I called James."
"Doctors..." Alex said sourly.
James seemed to know exactly how to ask Alex questions. He was kind and no-
nonsense in turns. He frowned and said, "Okay, Alex, we are going to have to
give you something for the pain. No, shush, Walter will keep the pills and
will not allow you to exceed the dose. The acute period will pass in less
than a week. After that, you'll find that the growing bud may seem to cause
more of a low- level irritation rather than full-fledged pain. I'll drop the
prescriptions off myself and have them delivered. I'm going to give you a
prescription for Demerol and a low dose of Zoloft. I don't think that will
be a problem."
After the medication was delivered, Alex dozed off for a while. Walter was
pleased to see the lines of pain fade from Alex's face. He kissed him,
watching the adorable nose scrunch in sleepy protest. He hoped that Alex
would feel better by his birthday. Walter had just found out the date, June
twenty-second, and he meant to celebrate in style.
The gift for which he had researchers scouring Russia would hopefully be
located. He'd ordered Cherries Jubilee and a special romantic dinner from
the Russian House, Alex's favorite restaurant. He was sure that Alex
wouldn't care for a party. He remained reclusive and shy of the looks people
gave him, sure that they all knew the part he'd played in the resistance.
Alex had played his hand the way he felt he must, but he didn't like the man
he had to become to do it. Walter understood, but he was among the few who
did.
Still, he wanted Alex to have a small party. Possibly, he would have Kim
drop by and Mulder... if he had returned by then. Man-hon Lau from the
bookshop and Lana Arneson from the nursing home would complete the circle of
people that Alex trusted.
Walter heard the TV playing some syrupy sweet background music. He
shrugged. It was about time Alex woke up. He had to get some food into that
body before the growing tissues of his arm started to devour his muscles.
Walter entered to be greeted by a blissful smile. "Hey, Wal...ter. I feel
good. Arm doesn't hurt."
"That's great," Walter said, walked over with the soup.
Alex waved his right hand as if his lover was no more than a fly to brush
off. He said, "Hey, babe, I got to spot Tinky Winky...get out my way."
Hurriedly, Walter jerked to the side, expecting to see some alien invader.
Instead, Alex said, "There he is, hiding behind the pink triangle. Probably
thinks I can't see him because the one on his head is the same color. Can't
fool me. I'm a desperado...one-armed Russian rat with an attitude... there
he is! Hey, Walt, if you moved my laptop in here and hooked it to the net, I
can play along with the show."
"What? What is this?" Walter asked, setting the lunch tray on the bed table.
Bright figures cavorted on the screen, singing one-word songs, bumping
bellies, and rears, falling down, and watching pictures that appeared on
screens in their tummies. Apparently, Alex was watching a preschool show
with medicated fascination.
"Sit with me, Walter. You can be my snuggly Tinky Winky and I'll be your
Po," Alex declared, patting the bed and managing to look stoned and
flirtatious at the same time.
"What?" Walter repeated, wondering at what point he had totally lost control
of the situation.
A gale of laughter greeted the fat purple ...whatever it was.. as it fell
down. Alex said, "He's so cute, and kind and cuddly, just like my Walter.
C'mere, hold me. Want to snuggle."
"You need to eat," Walter chided, but he did slide in and hug his lover.
"I'll eat everything on my plate if I can have some tubby custard for
dessert," Alex said.
"What's tubby custard?" Walter said, wondering if he had left the medicine
out where Alex could find it and overdose.
"I don't know. It's yellow and it...if you spill it, it gets all over and I
want some. Get me some tubby custard, Walter."
All right, tubby custard it was, but how was he going to order that from a
delivery service if he didn't know what it was?
As Walter reached for the phone, it rang. "Walter, I'm back. Have a spare
couch for me?"
It was Mulder, of course. Walter sighed and said. "You know you're welcome
to the guest room for as long as you need it. Mulder. I can't come to pick
you up. Alex is ill. The regenerative therapy has started."
"He opted for it? I was wondering if he would. He seemed...intimidated,"
Mulder remarked. "Don't worry about a ride. I have a rental reserved. I'll
have a lot to do, finding an apartment."
Scully had told Mulder then. That was good and he had come back to DC
anyway. Walter would be glad to have him back. Alex would as well in his
way. Walter didn't understand what had happened between the two men and he
really didn't want to know whether it had been a sexual relationship. He was
just happy that his best friend and his lover had signed a truce.
"Oh, by the way, could you find something yellow like custard? Alex wants
some...some tubby custard," Walter felt his cheeks reddening.
"As in Teletubbies custard?" Mulder asked, amused.
"Yes, don't ask. Why do you know about it?" Walter said.
"William and I watched Teletubbies. Dipsy is hot," Mulder remarked.
"Dipsy?" Walter asked.
"The one in the top hat. Don't you know anything? Sure, I'll find something
that looks like tubby custard," Mulder said blithely.
It must be a conspiracy, Walter decided. It was too bad that Mulder seemed
to be part of it because he might have been the best one to investigate it.
He said, "Thank you, Mulder."
Even a year later, it was hard to stop 'agent' from preceding Mulder's name.
A few moments of watching the Teletubbies special had instantly caused
stupor. Walter dreamed of a tropical island, a beach, and Alex rubbing
coconut milk all over his body. He was just about to unfasten the flower
belt that was all his beloved wore when his own snoring flutter of nostrils
woke him. Snorting a bit, Walter looked up into Mulder's quizzical eyes.
Mulder held a carton of ice cream, which did say that it was custard flavor.
"That's tubby custard?" Alex asked.
"Sure, I just came back from England. I'm an expert on Teletubbies," Mulder
said, "And how are you doing, Alex?"
Astoundingly, Mulder looked younger than he had for years. His voice was the
gentle, humorous tone that Walter came near to loving. He said, "Brought you
a bowl and a spoon. Walter, want some?"
Mulder plopped down on the bed, causing Alex to scoot his legs up to make
room. "I'm high," Alex announced, "Pretty good shit that Dr. Kildare laid on
me."
"Mmm, you do look stoned, Alex, my boy," Mulder declared. He scooped the
yellow ice cream into a bowl and handed it to Alex.
The purple Teletubby on the TV screen was following a trail of sticky
footprints, almost the exact color of the custard ice cream. "Ruining
evidence," Alex declared as the creature slipped, helicoptering his fat arms
and sliding on a custard footprint.
"Well, I doubt he was FBI material anyway, Alex. Even J. Edgar Hoover didn't
wear a tutu and carry a red purse," Mulder said, lying back on the bed. "I
have serious jet lag," he added.
Fuzzy eyed and genial, Alex patted the mound of pillows and said, "You can
watch Teletubbies with me."
A mischievous look shot across the room at a horrified Walter and Mulder
laughed. He said, "I like him this way. I should have drugged him instead of
hitting him."
"Shh, Po is singing," Alex said, chirping along with the small Teletubby.
Mulder said, "Didn't know you spoke Cantonese, Alex."
"Never asked me. They were never the right questions, Mulder," Alex said,
frowning.
Yawning, Mulder stretched and said, "I'm going to go and get some sleep.
Thanks for having me, Walter."
"You're welcome. What's your schedule? Are you in a hurry to find your own
place?" Walter asked.
"Not really. I'm writing a book. Signed a contract and even have an advance.
Why, what's up?" Mulder asked.
"I have to go back to work for half days at least. You know what a shambles
the department is in," Walter replied. "I have a nurse coming in, but I'd
really appreciated if you stayed around until Alex is back on his feet. I'm
frankly not sure if the nurse can handle him."
"What meds is he on?" Mulder asked, "Because he seems very mellow."
"Zoloft and Demerol," Walter said.
"That makes sense. Okay, we have a deal. Good night, Walter," Mulder said.
Taking one last look at the screen, now occupied by what appeared to be a
wooden bear and a wooden lion, Walter turned the TV off. He kissed Alex on
the forehead and went to catch up on the never-ending paperwork that was as
intrinsic to his job as an ulcer.
The morning was important to Alex. Most of his sexual relationships were not
of the wake up in the same bed and have breakfast together variety. He
valued the first kiss given when even his beauty was a little tarnished by
bed hair, morning breath, and sleep wrinkles on his cheek. He loved the
routine of using the bathroom together, peeing at the same time, and
brushing his teeth as Walter shaved. These were things Alex had abandoned
the hope of enjoying on his ruthless mission. To have them now was the
sweetest thing in his life. It was worth getting up early to make Alex happy
with the shared moments that began each day.
The medication would wait until after breakfast despite the pain, showing in
the bunched lines that radiated from Alex's eyes. Alex ate his toast and
fruit, poked at his oatmeal, and shoved it away.
"You have to leave soon?" Alex asked.
"Yes," Walter admitted, "the nurse will be here shortly and I think I hear
Mulder stirring in the other room. Four bites of your oatmeal and I'll give
you your pills."
"I don't have an appetite," Alex grumbled.
Walter sat down; tie loosely hung around his neck, and picked up the spoon.
"Close your eyes and open your mouth. Baby will get a big surprise."
"Say that to me again and I get my Glock," Alex replied, but a smirk said
that he wasn't serious.
"One," Walter said.
Alex grimaced, but swallowed the mouthful. Three more followed and then
Walter relented. Just because Alex didn't expect anyone to keep a promise to
him was all the more reason Walter tried hard not to break one.
Tousled, Mulder appeared in the doorway and said, "The nurse is here now.
Brunhild...in the 'Valkyrie' not 'cartoon' sense."
"Good, I'm going to go have a talk with her before I leave for work," Walter
said. He kissed Alex again and patted his cheek.
The nurse was a statuesque blonde as Mulder had implied. Her name was
Kristen Svalbard and her credentials were impeccable. Walter felt her
experience, as a nurse in Boy's Town USA was a plus for dealing with Alex in
a difficult mood. "I think you've met our house guest, Fox Mulder? He can
fill you in on Alex if you need to know something or help you. Alex...can be
difficult."
A smile radiated from her lovely face and she said, "I can do difficult.
It's my specialty."
"Good, here are his pills. He can have another dose after lunch, but make
him eat first. He's not very interested in food after he's medicated. I
haven't changed his bandages yet if you want to start there. I have enough
time left to be there for the first time," Walter said, glancing at his
wristwatch.
Teletubbies again. Mulder had stretched out on Walter's side of the bed and
appeared comfortable. Walter shrugged. He had no fears of losing Alex. Not
anymore. The last year, they had healed together, rebuilt a relationship of
painful longing to something very real; as real as waking up together each
morning. He knew how Alex felt and how he felt. They were good for each
other.
Mulder had that avid expression on his face. He asked, "Alex, do you mind if
I stay? I've read about limb regeneration, but I've never seen it in
progress."
"No problem, Mulder, feel free," Alex said.
A baleful look at Ms. Svalbard and Alex cautioned, "Watching Po. Don't get
in the way." A moment later, Alex's mellow tenor sang, "Fi dit, fi dit, Mar
Mar, Man," (2)
Chuckling, Alex remarked, "You know I've said both of those things before
but I wasn't riding a scooter at the time."
The sputtering laugh from Mulder did not bode well for the possibility of
him serving as a model of decorum for Alex. The nurse didn't seem to mind.
She pulled a chair close and snapped on her surgical gloves. Walter swatted
Mulder's leg and said. "Move off. I want to sit with Alex."
Mulder casually rose and moved around the bed. He stared with great interest
as the nurse clipped away the bandages. Walter stroked Alex's hair
soothingly, but for once, Alex didn't seem to mind having the limb handled.
The stump ended in pink, soft looking flesh. Alex held it up; looking at it
with a strange repulsed yet fascinated expression. He glanced at Mulder's
entranced face and said, "You want to see before she puts the new gel pack
on it."
"You don't mind?" Mulder asked, stepping closer.
"No, you've seen it before," Alex said.
"I think I can see the fingers or what's going to be the fingers!" Mulder
exclaimed. "Walter, look, you can see the lines in the bud at the end! Damn
wonderful! At least something has come out of all that suffering."
A smile that Walter could only characterize as shy shone from Mulder's face
for a moment as he met Alex's eyes. To his surprise, Alex smiled back.
The nurse said, "I'll help you bathe now."
There was no protest from Alex. For the most part, he regarded his body as a
tool. Unless he meant to entice, any exposure was unconscious. He really
seemed unaware of his own beauty or the effect that it had on people,
neither modest nor vain of his physical assets.
One last kiss and then Walter really had to leave. He nodded at Mulder and
said, "Be good to him."
"Don't worry about it," Mulder said, "I'll keep an eye out between
chapters."
The scent of food drifted through the air as Walter entered. It was a spicy,
rich odor. Ah, Greek food. The dresser top held the goodies. Zorba, the
Greek danced across the screen of the TV. "We're having Greek," Alex
announced, "But Mulder wouldn't wear a chiton."
"Shame on you, Mulder," Walter scolded.
"Scully's dropping by with William so I think I'll waive the chiton. I want
visitation after all," Mulder said.
"There ain't no sanity clause," Alex muttered darkly.
"I asked her to bring the Teletubbies Special video for Alex to see. You
want to move him and the TV to the living room for the occasion?" Mulder
asked.
"I'm sure Alex will appreciate the change of venue," Walter said. "Are you
sure you want us out there for your first visit with your...uh"
"My son and my former partner?" Mulder said softly. "Yes, I do. It's a
little uncomfortable talking with her. I screwed up again. It just seemed as
if I was supposed to get married. Instant family with the baby that Scully
wanted so much, but I hadn't changed. I fooled myself. I'm a great profiler
except of the people closest to me. I can't say I was ever a model of
insight into my own feelings and motivations...but I'm better. I've spent
most of the last year in therapy. I can't say that part of me doesn't resent
James Kildare, but I respect Scully's choice. I just would rather not be
alone with her the first time I see her."
Walter had felt the same way about Sharon for a long time after the divorce.
He nodded and went to change.
The TV was set up by the time Walter had changed to comfortable jeans and a
tee shirt. He helped Alex out of bed and moved him to the love seat, setting
a hassock at his feet.
"Sit with me!" Alex demanded.
"As you will," Walter responded. Alex felt solid in his arms. After so many
years of longing for and dreading the reappearance of the will o' the wisp
and gadfly that was Alex, it was amazing to literally have him and hold him.
Mulder grinned and said; "I can see who holds the reins around here."
It was a case of not being able to take his eyes off Alex's face. Walter
knew he had it bad, but he replied to Mulder, "It's not that way at all.
I've never been so happy in my life."
"I can see that," Mulder softly replied. "Here, let me fix you a plate."
Scully arrived as Walter was washing dishes. She looked happy, a little
heavier after the pregnancy, but still one of the most beautiful women he'd
ever seen. William's hair already had a reddish tint. His eyes though were
Mulder's...wry questioning eyes. Scully was going to have her trials when
that child grew old enough to talk back. Maybe, Walter should give her tips
on handling a Mulder... Sometimes kindness didn't cut it with a subordinate
as willful as that man could be. There was already a stubborn set to that
tiny perfect face.
"How are you, Alex?" Scully asked, with that strained air of politeness.
"I'm resting comfortably or will be as soon as my pillow gets his ass back
in here," Alex said. "Did you bring the Teletubbies?"
A twitch of the carefully lipstick painted lips betrayed a smidgen of
amusement. Scully said, "Yes, I did. I thought Mulder just wanted to keep
William amused."
"Nope, for me..." Alex said proudly.
Started to drift off again, Walter woke up promptly as William tugged on his
arm. The baby crawled up in his lap and pushed at Alex, who merely laughed.
Alex breathed in Walter's ear and said, "Walter, you really going to give me
a party for my birthday?"
"It was supposed to be a surprise!" Walter complained, glaring at Mulder,
who shrugged and shook his head in denial of wrongdoing.
"The Russian House called and had a question about the menu," Alex said.
"Told them I was you so don't get pissed. Old habits die hard."
"It's all right. Never had a birthday party. Hey, Walter? Do you love me?"
Alex demanded.
Now, Alex would not normally ask that question. Walter said, "No, I'm used
to you just as I'm used to my heart beating."
"Hmm, think so. Think you love me. Do you love me enough to be my Tinky
Winky?" Alex asked.
"Oh, God, Alex, can't I just amputate my ear or conquer the world for you or
something simple like that?" Walter replied aware of the fascinated stares
from the two other adults in the room.
Dana had a sadistic streak. She said, "As a matter of fact, I still have the
card from the place where I rented the Dipsy suit for William's birthday
party. Here let me look..."
Never trust a woman with a neat purse. That should be a proverb. Scully
produced the card and handed it to Mulder who glanced at it. He grinned and
said, "Safely on file...in case Walter loses the card."
Shit. Walter had never felt so sorry for himself in his life. He was doomed.
He shuddered as he watched the huge purple monster cavort on the screen. Po
was cute though. No wonder Alex had picked her as his incarnation...
"Hey, Walter!" Mulder said, "Something came today. I hid it in my rental
from prying eyes. Alex is his old self today. I suggested he take a nap and
he ripped me a new ass hole. He also threatened the Evangelists who came to
the door."
"Do I need a lawyer?" Walter asked.
"No, no harm done. Alex didn't MAKE the guy wet his pants. It was sort of a
voluntary, involuntary reflex," Mulder said, with the air of someone
mentally enjoying a scene from his or her favorite movie."
"I thought you were going to look out for him?" Walter said.
"He's off the meds now, Walter. Are you going to tell me that's not
reasonably normal behavior for him?" Mulder asked.
"When he's in a good mood, he tries to convert them to worship of the Kama
Sutra and offers to enact 'the good parts'" Walter admitted.
"Hmm, that sounds as if it might be fun too," Mulder replied. "Let me go get
the package."
"She was beautiful." Mulder said, "a lovely woman."
Liliya Krycek must have been about Alex's age now when this picture had been
taken. It had been found at a former Consortium office in Moscow. She wore a
smile, but her eyes were sad. They were the same many-shaded green as Alex's
eyes. Her hair had been black. A wealth of it spilled over her shoulders
like a royal robe. Her son had inherited the same wild beauty...perhaps the
legacy of all the conquerors that had swept across Russia. You could imagine
those distinctive but delicate features catching the eye of a king or Tsar.
Walter only knew that Alex never spoke of his father only of his lost angel
of a mother. It had taken money that Walter might miss one day to track this
down, but it would be worth it to see Alex's face when he finally had a real
picture of Liliya.
Carefully, Walter slid the picture into the heavy silver frame and then
wrapped his gift. Alex wouldn't unwrap it before his birthday...unless he
could devise a way not to be caught. It should be safe.
"I picked up the costume today," Mulder said.
"You know he hasn't said a word about Tinky Winky or Teletubbies since James
weaned him from the medication," Walter said.
"You promised him," Mulder pointed out.
"I did," Walter mumbled. He shook his head. The things you did for love...
As Walter checked in the mirror, he thought he looked adorable. He adjusted
the triangle shaped decoration on his pointed purple head. He fluffed the
stuffing in his tubby stomach, and straightened the tutu. He grabbed the red
purse and he was ready to go. As he sprang out of Mulder's bedroom, the
caterer prepared to light the Cherries Jubilee.
Alex reacted to the assault of the purple monster by diving for his Glock.
Walter shouted, "Alex, it's me" as Mulder tackled Alex and wrestled the gun
from his hand. The two men crashed into Walter just as the caterer lit the
cake; at which point, the net of the tutu caught on fire. Walter roared in
confusion until both Mulder and Krycek tackled him and put the flames out
with a thick wool blanket.
Gasping, Walter lay helpless on the floor, his lover pinning him down. Alex
gazed down at him and asked, "What in hell are you trying to be, Walter?"
"You asked for this. You wanted me to dress as Tinky Winky for your
birthday," Walter explained as he took off the heavy head of the costume.
"No way," Alex retorted. "Why in hell would I do that?"
Mulder had been biting on his sleeve to keep from laughing. He said in a
slightly shaky voice, "Alex, you were on a Teletubbies kick for a week. I
heard you ask Walter. Don't feel bad. Hey, there are all these furry fans
out there who would die for a picture of you sprawled all over Walter like
that!"
"What's a Furry? No, wait; don't tell me, Mulder. I don't want to know,"
Alex remarked. He wiggled around on top of his purple upholstered lover and
a spark of interest showed in his eyes. "Hey, you do look adorable, Walter!
And you're so comfortable...just like a big old Walter pillow."
"Alex? Get off. Please?" Walter said.
Oh God, he had just bought a slightly scorched Tinky Winky costume! Between
spilled Cherries Jubilee and the fire, there was no way the rental would
take the costume back.
"I'm going to change," Walter said. "Somebody get the cake. We'll see if we
can light the candles without setting fire to the house."
Nothing more went wrong. After the handful of guests went home, Walter found
his lover sitting cross-legged on the bed. "Hey, was that too much for you?"
Alex said, "No, it was the best birthday party I ever had. Tinky Winky
flambé is something I won't forget soon."
The laughter bubbled up helplessly and into a howl. After a moment, Walter
joined his lover. He carefully took the picture from Alex's hands and placed
it on the bed table, face away from him.
"Don't want her to see me ravish her son," Walter said.
"Going to ravish me?" Alex said with interest.
"Repeatedly," Walter growled, pouncing.
When he kissed Alex's temples, there was a pulse like butterflies' wings
beneath the rice paper delicate skin. Alex's eyes opened wide as Walter's
lips drifted to his throat, to the hollows of his shoulders. He moaned aloud
as Walter ran a rippling trail of kisses down his side. His hand found
Walter's head and he tried to guide him downward.
"Are you impatient?" Walter asked.
"Fuck, yes! We haven't made love since I had that first treatment on my
arm," Alex said.
"That should make you want to draw it out. Savor it," Walter directed. "Have
I said how much I love your stomach? Just a silken layer of flesh over
muscle,"
His large hands stroked Alex's sides, following the taut flesh as his lover
shuddered beneath his touch. Abruptly, he pinned Alex's hips down and took
his cock in his mouth. His tongue ravaged the slit in the sturdy head before
laving the tender underside.
"Oh, yes, like that," Alex moaned.
Walter took him deep, his eyes closed as he memorized the taste of him, the
feel of the hot, tensely quivering flesh in his mouth. He freed one hand to
caress Alex's balls, teasing another long moan out of his lover.
"Please," Alex said as Walter wickedly paused.
"Oh, I think you have another way to ask, my little Po. You must have some
memories kicking around from your dazed days," Walter said. He let go for a
minute, letting Alex's cock spring back toward his stomach.
God, the look of him when he was teased beyond his endurance. When his hips
thrust questing up toward Walter's attentions. When his cheeks held fiery
red spots and his teeth clenched against the almost painful pressure in his
cock.
"Fuck," Alex exclaimed.
"Still not it," Walter said, capturing Alex's hand before it could relieve
his need. He recaptured the head and slid his mouth slowly down the iron
heat of the shaft.
"Fi dit, fi idt!" Alex groaned.
Walter quickened the pace, stealing glances at his lover, who bit his lips
and tossed his head, arching and then, releasing, crying out, falling back
to Earth like a plummeting eagle.
Capturing Alex's mouth again, Walter moved against him, joined his hand to
Alex's and both of them stroked him. Bodies wet with the sweat of their
passion moved against each other. He wasn't going to last long like this.
His eyes devoured Alex's as he kissed him, bruised his lips, drank him in,
and claimed him. His completion was roared out against Alex's mouth.
Still, they lay together contentedly, Walter's hand lazily combed through
Alex's hair. Alex stroked his back, nuzzled his neck.
Unexpectedly, Alex asked, "Where do I live, Walter?"
What did he mean? Of course, he lived with Walter. Alex needed a different
answer.
"Right here," Walter answered, kissing Alex's hand and guiding it to his
chest. "Right here in my heart."
"Forever?" Alex asked.
"And a day," Walter replied.
1) A footnote:
Thank you to Victoria for the Russian lullaby that Walter sings
Spyat ustaliye igrushki, [tired toys are asleep] Knizhki spyat, [books are
asleep] Odeyala i podushki [duvets and pillows] Zhdut rebyat, [are waiting
for the kids] Dazhe skazka spat' lozhytsya, [even the fairy-tale is going to
sleep] Chotby notchyu nam prisnitsya [so that we see it in our dreams at
night] Glazki zakryvai [so close your little eyes] Bahyu-bai [lullaby]
2 According to the Teletubbie Web site, Fi dit, fi dit, Mar Mar, Man," is
Cantonese for "Faster, faster, slower, slower" Ahem, I think I better just
not say any more about that.
ou can expect some moodiness," the doctor advised, "Between pain and nerve
regeneration, he is not going to be comfortable and the drug history he
admitted to disinclines me to use pain killers more than necessary. Baby
him; distract him. Hell, spank him if that's what it takes. Just don't take
it personally if he snaps at you."
A few moments later, Alex had drifted off. Mulder caught the empty bowl
before it could hit the floor. He rose from the bed with his customary
feline grace. Mulder and Alex both had that quality of being comfortable in
their own skins. They wore their beauty unconsciously, which made them all
the more attractive.
