Chapter 52

Fred got home about four a.m., stone drunk; Louise figured he must have slept it off some in the parking lot at the bar, because if the cops would have seen him driving at closing time, she would have had to pick him up from the jail. He was in no shape to notice her getting up for work two hours later...

Lon didn't see how on Earth he was going to get through Saturday's little party -- but with any luck, Beth and Louise would be less horny, too, given the fact that they'd seen recent service. He was up reasonably early, though, helping his mother with the preparations. Rick came by about eleven o'clock and pitched in; when Candace asked where his mother was, he replied, "She said she wasn't feeling all that well, but would try to get here around one." Candace wasn't thrilled, but in reality there wasn't THAT much to do...

When Jean did put in an appearance, Candace asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Jean waved it off. "My stomach has been acting funny. It comes and it goes."

Toby showed up about two, and showed Candace and Jean the video, suitably edited for flow and content, but complete. Then he showed her a much shorter and more embarrassing version that would certainly have Fred Carter up in arms if he saw it. Candace laughed a lot, but left it at that -- except for a comment to Lon: "My, you're getting to be well-rounded! BDSM, interracial sex, bisexual..." Lon grimaced.

Jean said nothing, but Toby could tell that she had similar thoughts.

Beth and Louise and the Carter boys came separately, all arriving at about four o'clock. "How is your father?" Louise asked Damian.

"Hung over," Damian grunted. "I think he came out of the bedroom about twice, bitching about how awful he felt. Is somebody gonna have to chase him around?"

"No, we're done with that," Louise replied. "I didn't mention it, but that was taken care of yesterday. We have everything we need to keep him from hurting anybody."

Damian nodded. "How hard was it?"

"Pretty easy, actually," Lon interjected, gazing at his manicure. "One sniff and he followed Sally right home..." Damian nodded. Terence grimaced, but Pa had dug his own hole, apparently.

"Why don't you see if Beth needs anything, Boy," Louise said to Terence, who grunted and walked off. Then she turned to Damian and waved him into a corner for some privacy. "The boys actually went a lot farther than anybody planned; they actually, um, persuaded your Pa to do bisexual things..." She grimaced. "We needn't worry about anything, now -- there's NO WAY he would EVER want that video seen -- but I don't think your brother would be pleased at all..."

Damian grimaced. "Probably not. How bad is it?"

"Well, they more or less held a gun to his head to start, but by the end he was getting off on the whole thing. They managed to make a short version that makes it look like your Pa prefers men..."

"Shit! I don't think I want to see it, either!" Damian swore.

"Probably just as well," Louise nodded. "You're all done with that kind of thing, aren't you?"

Damian snorted. "Yeah. Unless I end up in prison or something. Right now there's more pussy around here than I can keep punched."

Louise rolled her eyes, "Jeezus, Boy! I'm your mother! Have a little respect!"

"Sorry, Mama," Damian replied perfunctorily. "But there's Candace and there's Beth, and Jean occasionally, maybe. Lon and Rick are tied up with young stuff. You're gonna have a harder time than I will; basically, you've got Toby."

Louise shrugged. "We'll see. The girls are only half in -- but Sally, in particular, has pretty much paid her dues."

Damian nodded. "She's the one Pa poked, right?"

Louise nodded. "I think Teela handled the dry run, but Sally ended up being the bait. Lon ... wasn't pleased. We owe him."

"I can see that," Damian nodded. There was no way he'd have wanted to put HIS girl in front of somebody else's dick...

"I'll handle it," Louise murmured, "but you remember it if an opportunity pops up."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Louise cocked her head and they went off to join the others.

This was a different gathering than the previous ones, as it was not pool-centric. The barbeque was set up, but not running as everyone arrived; instead, Candace and Jean had set up a lot of finger foods -- chips, a vegetable plate, cheese and crackers -- that sort of thing. And it was in the kitchen, rather than outdoors. Candace summed up the reasons why with, "It's a hundred degrees outside -- if you want to play out there, you're welcome to, but I'm not going to unless I have to." That last was accompanied by a quick flick of her eyes at Damian, the person most likely to attempt to change her mind.

"I'm going to collect Sally," Lon announced, heading for the door.

"Hey, can I ride along?" Rick asked. "I need to get Teela..."

"Yeah, okay." The pair went out and got into Lon's car.

"Are you pissed at me, Man?" Rick asked when they were out on the road.

"Aaaah," Lon waved it off.

"About the whole Fred Carter thing?" Rick amplified.

"It was Teela's idea, more or less," Lon grumbled.

"Yeah," Rick agreed. "She went in to see if the thing would work, and she supported Sally..."

"I know," Lon groused. "But she didn't have to spread herself for that guy..."

"No, I guess not." Rick sighed. "I guess I was -- I don't know -- jealous? Worried that if she got a comparison, I'd come up short?"

"You know, Man, it's not how long your dick is," Lon grunted, "It's whether you two have a relationship. I figure you do. Besides, you've got NOTHING to be ashamed of..."

"I know," Rick sighed. "Everybody says so. But you guys and your donkey dicks..."

"It's all about the girl, Man," Lon argued. "I figured that it kinda wasn't fair to let some strange fucker do my girl and leave out my friends, so I let Toby do Sally. She hasn't dumped me -- and you KNOW what HE'S carrying!"

"Yeah..." Rick sighed. "Teela says that her mom was kind of, well, wild -- put horns on her dad all the time. He put up with it -- I talked to him about it -- but I don't know if I can ... I just don't know if I want to open the box, you know?"

"Might be better to learn now, rather than after you two get married and have a couple of kids," Lon mused, then added, chuckling. "You'd look cute staying at home in an apron feeding a half-dozen kids while Teela chases down daddies for new ones..."

"Jeezus, Lon!" Rick howled.

"Hey, do what you want, Man," Lon papered over the image, "but if she isn't made for monogamy, you aren't going to control it from your end. She's pretty dependent on you, emotionally -- you need to step up and take control, Man -- be her anchor. If she can't rely on you to support her, then she's gonna come unglued at some point..."

"Guess I've been acting like a baby," Rick grinned ruefully.

"I don't know about that," Lon replied, "but you took her on and you made commitments. If you can't follow through, she's going to get scared and hide. You two don't have what Sally and I have, because Sally's got this submissive thing going that Teela would never buy into -- but you're supposed to be her rock. You need to get anchored."

"You're right," Rick agreed. He'd been vacillating -- and that was bad for Teela, who wanted to do all of her exploration using him as a safety net. She couldn't do that if he couldn't keep his shit together...

"Today's the day, Man," Lon continued. "You guys really have to come out with a plan for how you're going to do the group. And that's REALLY up to you..."

Sally wasn't ready. "What should I wear, Sweetheart?" she asked Lon, when she met him at the door. "I just don't know..."

"What you're wearing is probably fine, Hon," Lon murmured, eyeing her tank top and shorts. "Bring your bikini, but I don't know if we're gonna swim -- it's too damned hot."

Eleanor hovered in the background, and there was a man present -- one who had come out of the den, surprised at the sound of male voices. "Who are you?" George Harkness asked, adjusting his glasses.

Lon flicked a glance at Sally's mother and made assumptions. "Lon Carpenter, Sir." He stepped forward and tentatively stuck out his hand. "This is my friend Rick Flanders."

George took the hand after a glance at Eleanor, who returned his gaze enigmatically. "Sally is going somewhere with you?" he asked, again glancing at his wife for confirmation.

"Yes, Sir. We're having a little party at my house. There is plenty of adult supervision -- it's a family thing. My mother and Rick's are there..." Lon explained. Thank God Mr. Harkness had no idea what went on at 'family' get-togethers...

Eleanor stepped into the breach, "It's not their first date, George. I ... didn't know quite how to tell you..." Sally stood by, her glance shifting anxiously between her parents and her man.

"Family thing, huh?" George had no idea how late he was getting into THIS game.

"Yessir," Lon nodded. Turning to Eleanor, he said, "Do you still have my Mama's number? I can provide it again..."

Eleanor nodded. "I have it." She stepped around a bit so she could get a better look at the other boy. "So this is Rick..."

"Yes, Ma'am," Rick replied. "Pleased to meet you. We're picking up Teela, next."

George's eyes popped. "You're dating Teela?"

"Yessir," Rick nodded.

"Forgive my surprise."

Rick grinned. "You wouldn't be the first, Sir. I think maybe Teela was -- but it could have been me..."

George chuckled and stepped back, glancing at his daughter; interference in her social life would NOT make him popular... "Have fun, then..." He retreated uncertainly toward the den.

"Come on!" Sally grabbed Lon's hand, dragging him upstairs, "Let's get my suit..."

Eleanor glanced at the den doorway to ensure that her husband had cleared it, then back at Rick, "So, are you sleeping with little Teela?"

Rick went distinctly grey and shocky. "Uuuhhh..."

"Does her father know?" Eleanor had her answer to the first question.

"Yes."

"You boys..." Eleanor didn't know how to finish the admonishment, exactly.

"It'll be all right," Rick assured her. "Nobody wants Sally or Teela hurt. Nobody." Eleanor pursed her lips and nodded; the horses were gone -- closing the barn door was a waste of time.

Sally and Lon thundered down the stairs; Sally waved and yelled, "Bye, Mom!" as they hit the door. Rick backed out behind them. Eleanor sighed and headed for the den.

"When?" George asked.

"When what?" Eleanor countered.

"When did it start? And when were you going to tell me?"

"It's been about two weeks, I think," Eleanor replied. "There was something or other before that, but it wasn't serious. Or maybe it was, because it led to the current situation..."

"What IS the current situation?" George prompted.

Eleanor shrugged. "They're an item."

"Serious?"

"Apparently."

"He seems like a nice boy..." George opined cautiously.

"Is that all you can say?" Eleanor opened up. "Did you get a good look at him? He's a young god -- that's what he is! I was scared to death!"

"Now, now, Dear, Sally..."

"Sally is Grade B for his bunch -- and maybe worse!" Eleanor ranted. "I really, REALLY can't see this going on for any time at all. I tried to stop it, but..."

"But?"

"The boy is incredibly sincere! He's a silver-tongued devil, or totally, inexplicably, on the up and up! Besides," she sighed, "it's too late, anyway."

"Meaning what?" George asked, frowning.

"They're sleeping together already."

"WHAT?" George's eyebrows headed for his bald spot.

"You heard me. There was no stopping her. I made myself the enemy, anyway, pushing her to be cautious until she screeched at me that I was trying to destroy the best thing that ever happened to her. Teela apparently gave her similar advice -- but Teela and that Rick are an item, too, now..."

George rubbed his face. "What happened? Is there something in the water?"

Eleanor shook her head. "I don't know. One day she came home looking shocky, and said she might one day have a boyfriend. Three or four days later, she was looking for her briefest bikini. After that..." She shook her head. "I went three rounds with the boy -- and he won! Made me look like a total ass! If you call his house, his mother WILL answer the phone, and there WILL be a party there and it WILL include several adults!"

"But they're sleeping together..."

"George, they did it here. In this house. Last night, while you were home." Eleanor rubbed her face. "And I let them, because it was better than getting in the way and making them go somewhere where they might get caught. Besides, Sally had done some silly thing..." She shook her head. "The damage is done; now, all we can do is support her -- support THEM -- so she can keep him as long as she can..."

"You don't sound like you're holding out much hope for the long term..." George hazarded.

"I'm not," Eleanor gusted. "He's perfect -- TOO perfect. There has to be something we're missing -- although I embarrassed myself trying to find it. Nobody is that good." She shook her head. "Maybe they'll start the school year together, but I don't see it lasting until the second quarter." She sighed again. "I guess the good news is that she will have had a relationship. Nobody wins the first time, anyway."

"I did," George grunted.

Eleanor grinned. "Wasn't there some red-haired girl in elementary school?"

George grinned back. "I just told you that so you would think I was vulnerable."

"Uh ... huh..." Eleanor eyed her husband sidelong, smiling. "Depending upon how much of a gentleman Lon is, Sally's stock should move upward at school, at least."

George nodded. 'Maybe either way, ' he thought -- but he kept THAT to himself.

Teela turned out wearing a body stocking under a corset and skirt -- and her long heavy boots that laced almost to her knees. Rick took one look and vetoed the outfit, "No. Go back upstairs and put on something else."

Teela's eyes popped. "What?"

Rick looked around for her father, but didn't see anyone. "You know what kind of party this is -- you were dressed for it yesterday. That rig will take HOURS to get in and out of. Get a swimsuit and something you can change into if we need to go somewhere to eat or something without everybody waiting thirty minutes."

"B-but..."

"NOW, Babe!" Rick was firm.

"Come on, I'll help!" Sally leaped into the breach.

"Okay." Teela was nonplussed; Rick was going to control her wardrobe? As the girls got to her room, she said, "What was THAT all about?"

"That was about being sensible," Sally replied. "You don't wear an outfit that takes forty minutes to get out of to an orgy -- even if you're not participating."

"Well, it would make it more difficult," Teela replied diffidently.

"Maybe," Sally agreed. "You know, I'd be pleased that Rick is taking charge, if I were you..." she added, squatting to unlace a boot.

"I don't know about THAT..." Teela retorted.

"I do," Sally replied. "You may not want things the way I want them, but you DO want somebody you can argue with and disobey periodically. And for you to be the loyal opposition, Rick HAS to be the central government." She eyed her friend. "Do you REALLY think you want him letting you get away with any old thing you want to do?"

Teela thought about it. "No," she sighed. "Then he wouldn't care, would he? I'd rather he spanked me -- regularly." She looked up, grinning.

"That's what I figured," Sally grinned back.

Ten minutes later, Teela flounced down the stairs, wearing an outfit fairly similar to the one she'd worn the day before. The tank top wasn't cropped under her breasts, but there was no bra under it -- and the skirt was different, but still short. Actually, this one was spandex and clung to her tiny ass and thighs like a second skin over the small amount of coverage it granted. A bikini was tossed carelessly on top of the contents of her shoulder bag, and the boots had been replaced by purple flip-flops. Rick cocked his head, "Are you wearing panties?"

"Of COURSE not, Silly!" Teela replied scornfully. "Do you think I want a panty line in THIS skirt?"

Lon snorted laughter and Rick rolled his eyes, but grinned. "Let's go, then."

At the house, Toby and the Carter boys had the older generation all to themselves -- and while Toby and Terence were inclined to wait, Damian was soon bored and restive.

Candace was killing time wandering around with snack trays; the boys were downstairs in the Rec Room, and Jean and Beth were in the kitchen. Candace arrived downstairs to find Damian's eyes on her for the third time -- and she remembered clearly the task she was to perform today, if she didn't want Damian to escalate things in some unforeseen manner ... Looking around, she realized that the limited audience she had would probably be plenty to fulfill Damian's requirement to bolster his image while minimizing her embarrassment. Putting down the tray, she wandered over to the younger of the Carter boys and announced, fairly loudly, "Well, THIS is dull, isn't it? Damian, Honey, would you PLEASE fuck my ass?"