Chapter Text
Karl stood at the sink, straightening his collar and checking his hair. He was nervous. He felt, rather than saw, Chris standing in the bathroom doorway as he checked himself out from different angles.
“You can’t improve on perfection.” Chris smiled as he came to stand behind his lover.
“You think I look alright?” Karl asked the question seriously. He was wearing a Christmas red knit sweater over his expensive button-down shirt. The color made his dark hair seem even darker, and brought out ruddy undertones in his skin.
“You look and smell awesome.” Chris declared. “I might have to skip dinner and eat you instead.” He flashed a mischievous grin and bit down gently on Karl’s earlobe.
“We can save that for later,” Karl winked as Chris wrapped his arms around the other man’s waist from behind and looked at his reflection.
“I was thinking we could just clear the table and do it right there in my parent’s dining room. That room never gets any action.”
“That’s disgusting.” Karl told him, raising a disapproving eyebrow, and breaking free of the embrace as he went in search of his shoes.
“Well, when you look this gorgeous I can’t help myself. I never thought sweaters were sexy but, damn…”
“Maybe I should change it. Does it look cheesy?” Karl moved to take off the garment, and Chris grabbed his hand. “What...no! You look great. I feel way underdressed now.” Chris glanced down at his own blue polo as Karl sighed.
“I’m...I just want to make a good impression, that’s all.”
Chris felt a swell of love at the idea that Karl was this nervous about having dinner with his parents.
“You’ve met my parents before, babe, What’s the big deal about…”
“That was at a premier Chris. There were loads of people there, and it was for all of ten minutes. And I was married then.” Karl pulled away and set down on the edge of the bed.
“Now I’m going to their home, and I’m sleeping with their son. This is different.”
“You love their son. That’s what matters.”
Chris sat down next to the dark-haired man and took his hand, threading their fingers together.
“Do they know that?” Karl turned to look at him with a serious expression. “Have you told them…”
“You’re making it sound like I’m some young naive thing that you’re taking advantage of. They know how I feel about you Karl. They know you make me happy.”
Karl watched him, and then without a word, leaned over to kiss Chris’s lips. “You make me happy, too. Every day.”
The younger man felt his eyes prick with tears, hearing the almost desperate tone in Karl’s voice.
“I just want.. I want them to like me. I don’t want them to think that I’m some self-absorbed prick who’s going through a midlife crisis or…”
“Wow.” Chris interrupted Karl in surprise. “You don’t cut yourself any breaks, huh? That’s pretty harsh.”
“I was married for a long time Chris. Now all of a sudden I’m…”
“But it’s not all of a sudden. I know that.” Chris reached up to caress Karl’s cheek and the other man leaned into the touch. “My parents are going to love you. Just turn on the charm and those manners. My mother will be eating out of your hand.”
“You’re the charming one. I’m just good at telling stories.” Karl was staring down at his hands, but allowed Chris to turn his face until the two were looking at each other.
“You are amazing, and hot, and probably the funniest guy I know. I can’t wait for them to get to know the person who made me fall in love. Really fall in love...for the first time.”
Chris pulled him into a tight embrace, and Karl wondered how he’d been able to live without this man for so many years. Moving to LA to live with Chris was one of the best decisions he’d ever made.
“You ready to go, handsome?” Chris asked. The feeling of those full lips moving against the shell of his ear made Karl shiver. He nodded and allowed Chris to lead him out of bedroom.
As they drove up the long driveway of Chris’s parents’ home, Karl took another deep breath.
“You know, I think my mom has a little crush on you.” Chris commented.
“What?” Karl gave him a horrified glance. “That’s not funny, Chris.”
“Either that or she’s been doing research. My sister said she was watching Dredd last week.”
Karl went a little pale as Chris parked his car behind his sister’s. Katie was coming out of the side door by the driveway just as they got out of the car.
“Changing of the guard.” She smiled and went to hug her younger brother. Chris stuck out his lower lip in a pout.
“You’re leaving. That’s not cool.”
“Everybody at home is sick. I just stopped by for a minute anyway.” The woman smiled at Karl and gave him a quick squeeze around the shoulders. “Aunt Patti can’t wait to meet you.” she winked.
“Who?”
What?”
Both men spoke at the same time, Karl in confusion, and Chris in horror.
“Aunt Patti is here?” Chris asked with a terrified whisper.
“Have fun!” Katie kissed her brother on the cheek, “But move your car first.”
With a groan, Chris turned and walked back to his vehicle.
“Who’s Aunt Patti?” Karl asked, thinking he probably didn’t want to know.
“She’s my mom’s sister. Chris is her favorite.” Karl listened to the tone of Katie’s voice and chuckled.
“I get the feeling you’re ok with that.” he said, watching Chris as he walked toward them.
“Thanks Chrissy.” she smiled.
“Shut up.” Chris barked through gritted teeth as his sister opened her car door.
“Call me later!” She gave a final wave and Chris sighed, turning to look at Karl.
“I hear you’re her favorite.” Karl teased, laughing as Chris dropped his head in seeming resignation. “You’re my favorite too you know.” The older man leaned forward until their foreheads were touching.
“What are the holidays without family, right?” Chris asked the question, with a weak smile.
“Exactly.” Karl brushed his lips against Chris’s in a soft kiss, and then took hold of his hand.
“Chrissy! Oh my god look at you! I swear you get more handsome every time I see you!”
Karl moved out of the way as a tall woman of about sixty-five rushed toward Chris to envelope him in a too-tight hug.
“Hi Aunt Patti.” Chris’s greeting was muffled against the woman’s shoulder. Karl was surprised he could breathe, let alone speak at that moment.
“What is all this long hair? It was much shorter this summer.” The woman ran her hands through it, treating Chris as though he were a wayward five year old. Karl ducked his head so Chris wouldn’t see him smirking.
“I’ve been growing it out.” Chris explained. Aunt Patti nodded, and then her eyes lit on Karl.
“You must be Chrissy’s friend.” she exclaimed, a little bit too loudly.
“I...yes ma’am…”
Karl glanced at his younger lover, who stood by helplessly, as his fantasy of this first real meeting between his parents and the love of his life slipped through his fingers.
“You were in his movie, weren’t you?”
Aunt Patti beamed at Chris, who turned red with embarrassment.
“His movie?” Karl was beginning to feel like he’d stepped into the twilight zone.
“Yes. Star Trek. I recognize you.”
“It wasn’t my movie Aunt Patti. The cast was…”
“Oh nonsense. You can’t have Star Trek without Captain Kirk can you?” The woman looked to Karl for confirmation and the tall man smiled.
“No, you certainly can’t. I’m Karl by the way.” he held out his hand and the older woman smiled.
“Your mother was right Chrissy. He is very handsome.”
Chris closed his eyes, praying for the ground to open up beneath him, and then when he opened them, caught sight of his mom coming out of the side door. He started to speak, but his aunt beat him to the punch.
“Look who I found out here Gwynne.” She put her arm around Chris and gave him another hug, as Karl looked on and bit his lip to keep from laughing.
“Hi hun, I didn’t know you were here already.”
“Hey Mom.” Chris looked pleadingly at his mother as she approached. She gave her son a kiss on the cheek and then turned to Karl.
“So nice to see you again Karl.” Chris’s mother took hold of his hand and the dark haired man actually blushed, nodding his head.
“Thank you Mrs. Pine. It’s lovely to see you as well ”
“Please call me Gwynne.” She smiled at him, and then took pity on her son. “Well, I came out to tell my sister good-bye, but you boys are welcome to go on in if you like.”
“I’m so sorry I can’t stay longer. I wish I’d known sooner that you were going to be here Chrissy...I did bring over some of that casserole that you like though.”
“You did?” The blonde gave a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “That’s great.”
Glancing at Karl, Chris tried to will him to start moving toward the house, but the man seemed rooted to the spot, smiling politely at the two women. After a moment however, it seemed he caught sight of Chris’s non-verbal queues.
“Very nice to meet you.” Karl nodded to Chris’s aunt. “I’m going to have to make sure Chris leaves me some of your casserole to try.”
Aunt Patti practically glowed in the face of Karl’s charm.
Once they were a safe distance away, Karl squeezed Chris’s hand just as he was about to say something. “Quiet until we get into the house sweetheart. She’s probably got bionic hearing.”
Chris shut the door behind them and leaned against it. “I can’t believe Katie didn’t warn me that she was going to be here.” he huffed.
“She’s your aunt Chris. She’s obviously very fond of you.”
“She still treats me like I’m five for Christ’s sake. The hugging and the…”
“The nickname?” Karl winked at him and Chris groaned. “Please don’t…” Chris begged.
“Come on, Chrissy.” Karl whispered in his ear. “Introduce me to your dad.” Chris shivered at the sound of his childhood nickname coupled with Karl’s Kiwi accent. There was something very wrong about that combination, but he’d have to sort that out later.
“Gwynne is the…” Chris’s dad stopped short when he saw his son standing in the kitchen. “Well look who’s here. Hey there kid.” Robert stepped forward and gave his son a hug. Chris returned it with a smile.
“Hey Dad. We just got here.”
“Did you see your sister?”
“I did.” Chris nodded, then wrinkled his nose. “Saw Aunt Patti too.”
The older man smiled and then looked over at Karl, who stood by watching the interaction between father and son.
“Hello Karl. I don’t know if you remember the last time we met…”
“Of course I do sir. It’s very nice to see you again.” Karl shook the man’s hand and ignored the nervousness he was feeling.
“I’d ask you if you were all settled in LA, but you’ve already been here for three months, so if you aren’t in good shape by now…”
“I am sir...settled.” Karl cleared his throat, and tried not to feel awkward about the conversation he was having.
“Your house is pretty close to where Chris lives, right?” The older man opened the refrigerator and surveyed the contents, taking out a beer and holding it out for Karl.
“Um...yes, it’s close by.” He glanced at Chris, not wanting to tell a lie about the fact that he really wasn’t living there, but, that fact notwithstanding, it was close in proximity to Chris’s residence.
“Thank you.” he smiled politely and took the beer that he was offered.
“Get out of the refrigerator Bob.” Chris’s mother’s voice surprised the three men, who all turned to look at her.
“I was just grabbing a beer.”
“Get out of the kitchen too so I can start dinner.” Gwynne waved her hand as though the action would truly make them disappear. “Take the boys out on the deck or something.”
Karl smiled inwardly at being referred to as a “boy” twice in the last twenty minutes. At forty-two, he was just coming to terms with the fact that he wasn’t young anymore, but it was nice that Chris’s mom thought of him that way. It made him miss his own parents.
The three men retired to the deck, with Chris asking his dad for details on the trip to Palm Springs that his parents had planned over Christmas.“
“Are Katie and Jeff going with you guys?” he asked.
“Not this time. They’re going to Lake Tahoe with Jeff’s family.” Robert glanced up at his son, “You could come if you wanted to...or we could stay here if…”
“Oh no Dad, don’t do that.” Chris glanced quickly at Karl but then continued. “You guys made these plans a long time ago. We’ll be fine.”
“I know you’ll be fine Chris.” Robert winked at his son. “Still gonna miss you on Christmas though.” When Chris ducked his head, Bob smiled. “You’ll get it if you have kids of your own someday.”
Catching the wistful look in Karl’s eyes at that statement, the elder Pine apologized. “I’m sorry. I guess I put my foot in it, didn’t I? I’m sure it’s a big adjustment being so far from your kids Karl. How many do you have?”
“Two boys.” Karl answered quietly. Chris shifted on the couch to move closer to Karl, but didn’t touch him. “I’m hoping they’ll be able to come visit next month before school starts up again.”
“Must be quite a change living in the desert too.” The man nodded to the view from his deck toward the barren landscape of a canyon and mountains in the distance. “New Zealand is such a gorgeous place.”
“California has a lot of beautiful things as well.” Chris blushed at Karl’s obvious compliment, and his dad smiled.
“Can’t argue with that. It’s what’s kept me here all these years.”
Bob settled in his deck chair and took a swig of his beverage. “New Zealand is amazing though. Chris took me on a fishing trip there this past April. Most beautiful country I’ve ever seen! Poor guy didn’t catch one damn fish.”
Bob shook his head as he and Chris shared a laugh at the memory. Karl watched with a grin, remembering the younger man’s frustration about this very thing when they had seen each other at the end of that trip. The guide had promised, Chris ranted at the time. He guaranteed it in fact.
“Then wouldn’t you know it, on the last day, when Chris had to go to that stupid meeting, I got lucky and caught a big one. Still sorry you missed it Chrissy.”
Bob’s looked at the two men with smiling blue eyes, so like his son’s. His smile faltered when he saw the look of panic pass over Chris’s face.
“Meeting?” Karl looked confused.
“It was some post-production thing for Zachariah...wasn’t it?” Chris’s father questioned his own memory as his son’s face turned beet red.
“Um...actually Dad…”
“I’m sorry Mr. Pine.” Karl interrupted suddenly, and Chris went from flushed to pale. “Chris was with me on the last day of your trip.” The tall man cleared his throat nervously, not quite looking Robert in the eye. “I was...I was going through some personal things at the time, and I asked him if we could spend a couple of days together.”
Bob sat silently, taking this in, as Karl continued his apology. “I’m so sorry to have cut your time with Chris short. I thought…”
“It’s alright,” The older man waved his hand in dismissal. “It was one day. If you needed support I’m glad Chris was there.” The older man smiled, hoping to relieve some of the tension that was now thick between the two younger men.
“Thank you.” Karl gave a tense smile and then moved to get up. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to…”
“It’s uh, down the hall that’s off to your right when you go inside.” Bob explained.
Karl gave a nod and walked through the sliding glass doors without another word.