Aerin Thomas: Okay. *Nods* He would have headed out that night when he saw Ethan on X, without comment...not driving. Ethan would have seen him walk out the back door, shift into Lupus (which, of course, he NEVER does so openly) and head into the treeline behind their property.

Ethan Anderson: He would have come home in the morning to find Ethan curled around Aerin's pillow, huddled in a little ball and still in leather pants and black poet blouse, the little bit of eyeliner he'd dared try smudged all down his pale, stubbled cheek.

Aerin Thomas: Fingers brush over Ethan's cheek. He's kneeled next to the man, still mostly naked...his latest clothes are not dedicated to him yet. He's apparently put on boxers, though. "Ethan," he says softly. Watching the kin with a worried smile.

Ethan Anderson: He makes a soft sound and sniffles, hand rising to catch Aerin's fingers, drawing them to his mouth. "Juspleasedon'leaveme..."

Aerin Thomas: "I'm not leaving you," he says with a frown. "Why would you think I would?"

Ethan Anderson: He rolls onto his back to regard Aerin with those pained, adoring eyes. "Because I know."

Aerin Thomas: His brow rises. "About?"

Ethan Anderson: He licks his lips. "You've been lying to me Aerin. Please don't play dense," he says very softly.

Aerin Thomas: He gives a smile that's rather weak and sad. "I lie to a lot of people about a lot of things, Ethan. I've lost track. Please clarify for me."

Ethan Anderson: "I'm the one person you shouldn't be lying to. Your Mate, remember? Capital M," he whispers. He reaches up and touches Aerin's face, his fingers shaking. "Who is she?"

Aerin Thomas: He actually shrinks away, eyes closing and moving to the bed to sit back against. His look is weak and scared...and almost relieved, in some ways. "Ahhh. Do you really want to know?"

Ethan Anderson: "Yeah./ And I'm going to want to meet her too," he says shakily, curling up again on his side as Aerin pulls away.

Aerin Thomas: "You have, Ethan. Once or twice, at least." He sighs, grabbing the pack of cigarettes he snagged on the way in and shaking one out. "Kaeleigh."

Ethan Anderson: He sucks in a sharp breath and lets it out in an almost keen, hand finding its way into his mouth to stop the sound.

Aerin Thomas: He drops his head to his knees upon hearing that. No response that he can give will make this right.

Ethan Anderson: The kin finally stops and lets out a ragged breath. "Why didn't you tell me? Why not just tell me. From the get go? What hurts isn't that you're seeing her. What hurts is that you lied. That you told me I was it and then went around behind my back as if...I'm not even sure what."

Aerin Thomas: "Because I didn't want it to happen," he says into his lap. "I tried not to let it happen...but it did." He looks up to Ethan, eyes already glistening. His desolation is obvious. "I fought like hell not to. And by the time I realized it had happened, I..." His hands rise and fall. Cigarette still in his mouth, unlit. "I was trapped. And scared. And hating myself, and...." He shrugs.

Ethan Anderson: "And loving her," he says softly.

Aerin Thomas: "And you."

Ethan Anderson: He nods and licks his lips slowly. "Its not a contest. I'm not going to insult either one of us by asking who you love more," he says, sittingup slowly.

Aerin Thomas: He nods a little bit. "Thank you for that." He slumps back against the bed frame. "I know I'm sorry probably means nothing...but I am."

Ethan Anderson: "I almost didn't come home last night," he says, voice shaky as he stands, pulling off his shirt slowly and wadding it into a ball between his hands. "Part of me wants very much to hate you because this is so much worse then the porn star."

Aerin Thomas: He nods a little bit. "I know."

Ethan Anderson: "If you'd just trusted me," he says softly. "or was it because of how we started? With Ita...Its...I don't like women. I barely like them as friends and I'm sorry for that."

Aerin Thomas: "Yes. No." He shrugs. "I don't know. I wish I had an answer, but...I can't tell you why." He looks up. "I do have a conscience about this. I hate myself much more then you probably can. And I'm not some complete slut who will sleep with anything that offers to me. Trust me, I've turned people down." It's weak, and he damn well knows it.

Ethan Anderson: "That's not the point. I don't care who you sleep with so long as you tell me BEFORE it happens," he whispers, a sob breaking his voice. "You're my life, Aerin. You and Tori. You're it...All I ever wanted out of what Gaia'd given me."

Aerin Thomas: "I know." He reaches out at that sob, making a soft sound of distress...wanting to crawl over to Ethan and comfort him. But he doesn't. He's the reason for this. He looks down and sighs, finally lighting the cigarette. "In all, complete seriousness, Ethan...if I'd had an opportunity, I would have told you about Andrea beforehand."

Ethan Anderson: "Her I kinda get," he mumbles. "you were on the verge of rage and she turned it to something else. Its rare for a kin to be able to even face one of you when you're like that. Its Kae...Under my nose this whole time," he whispers. He collapses back onto the bed and fumbles at his pants, hands shaking. "If she gets pregnant...I...You'll have to take her as Mate."

Aerin Thomas: "She's human, Ethan." He shakes his head. "No mating there. And there's little to no chance she'll get pregnant anyway."

Ethan Anderson: "But if she does? What are you going to do," he asks softly, his hand sliding back, palm up.

Aerin Thomas: "I don't know." He shrugs. "I just...don't know."

Ethan Anderson: He wriggles his fingers slightly and sighs. "What's been with you lately? Its like you're pulling away from me," he murmurs.

Aerin Thomas: "I..." He shrugs. "I don't know. It's...I don't want to pull away from you, Ethan. I didn't...know that I was."

Ethan Anderson: "Well, seeing that I'm sitting here with my hand held out towards you and crying and you haven't even tried to touch me," he whispers... "Seems like maybe you want out."

Aerin Thomas: ((Ohh! Is THAT what "hand sliding back, palm up" meant? I had a different image. *Thuds*))

Ethan Anderson: ((*LOFL* hand back, behind him, towards Aerin, palm up. *nuzzle*))

Ethan Anderson: ((i didn't describe that well. *G*))

Aerin Thomas: ((Well, also, considering Ethan moved onto the bed, that means Aerin's still facing away from him, so... *S* He probably didn't notice...and Ethan, reaching behind himself, probablyh diudn't notice that Aerin didn't notice. So it works. *G*))

Ethan Anderson: His fingers wriggle again.

Aerin Thomas: He looks over his shoulder, suddenly, blinking. "Oh, shit..." He actually chuckles and rises, taking Ethan's hand. "We were both looking away from each other."

Ethan Anderson: Ethan turns to blink up at Aerin, tears sliding down his cheeks. "If I could change...If I could make this easier for you..."

Aerin Thomas: "It's..." He sighs, taking a seat on the bed. His free hand runs gently over Ethan's side, his eyes sadly locked on the others. "You don't need to change. I'm just...I'm broken. I know. I wish I wasn't...I wish I could be good for you, I'm sorry."

Ethan Anderson: "I love you. Don't you get that," he asks, lifting Aerin's hand to press it against his cheek. "I didn't know what love was until I met you. And you're NOT broken. Jeremy, however, is an ass," he adds, licking his dry lips. "I loveyou no matter what. I'm pissed and I'm hurting but I love you."

Aerin Thomas: "I love you--" He pauses, and blinks. "...Jeremy?"

Ethan Anderson: "Told me to shut up. That's why you slept on the couch the other night. Presumably."

Aerin Thomas: He frowns. "Ethan...there is no Jeremy. Not anymore." He looks around, then back to Ethan. Tension is growing in the man's spine. "When did I tell you to shut up?"

Ethan Anderson: "Baby, it really wasn't you I don't think. YOU wouldn't tell me to shut up. You'd kiss me or something sweet," he says softly. He sighs. "At the pool hall."

Aerin Thomas: He frowns, thinking. "I remember getting really pissed off...I think I lost control, nearly did...my mind's a bit foggy there..." He opens his mouth, then shakes his head. "No....no, I was just...I'm tired. That's all. The Reapers...I've been on constant edge..." He looks up to Ethan. "I'm sorry if I snapped at you."

Ethan Anderson: "Aerin. " he swallows and licks his lips before cupping his lovers face. "He's not gone. I'm sorry but he's not. Accept it, absorb it and deal with it." He shrugs. "Besides, I can accept him as the reason you fucked the porn star."

Aerin Thomas: He shakes his head, a hand coming to his brow. "No." It's said quietly, almost but not quite whispered.

Ethan Anderson: "He didn't do anything bad. Other then p iss me off," the kin murmurs, reaching up to catch Aerin's hand. "I think this thing with the Reapers has him on edge. Maybe cause of MIcah?"

Aerin Thomas: "NO." Louder now, with more conviction. He looks at Ethan for a moment, and at that instant, it's a flash of Jeremy. Angry...accusing of Ethan. But it's only a second, and then it's gone. "I'm not...stop it. Please, I'm sorry." Aerin's voice sounds...pleading. Ready to crack. "I'm sorry I did this. But don't...anything but that. Don't...push this off on him. He's gone...he's part of me, but..." He shifts back on the bed, ,shaking a little.

Ethan Anderson: Ethan winces and moves quickly to straddle Aerin, leaning in to kiss him very, very softly. "I"m sorry, baby," he whispers, tears sliding down his cheeks.

Aerin Thomas: He leans into Ethan, shoulders shaking a little bit. "I'm sorry, Ethan...I'm so sorry..." He wraps his arms around the kin, sobs starting to come. "I know...I'm fucked up, I'm a monster...please, I'm sorry..."

Ethan Anderson: "You're not a monster," he whispers brokenly, curling his arms around Aerin's shoulders, tucking the man's head beneath his chin. "You're not. You're my Mate. My partner. My friend. I love you...You're not a monster!"

Aerin Thomas: "I l..love you too...I wish I didn't do this..." He just sort of curls into Ethan, whimpering sounds coming through the tears. "Wish I wasn't so bad to you...you deserve more then that..;."

Ethan Anderson: "Stop it," he says softly but firmly, fingers curling in Aerin's hair and pulling his head up. "Do you love me, Aerin," he asks. "Do you want to spend the rest of your life with me?"

Aerin Thomas: He blinks at the other man through tears, staring at Ethan. Slowly, he nods.

Ethan Anderson: "That's all I want to. We'll muddle through the rest as we g-go," he whispers.

Aerin Thomas: "O...okay." He nods a little bit, and lowers his head, resting it against Ethan's chest. Eyes shutting a little bit. "I'm sorry."

Ethan Anderson: "Me too. Just...No more secrets. No more lies," he whispers, kissing Aerin's head.

Aerin Thomas: "Okay." He nods a little bit. "I sh...should tell you, then. For your own information. Keith Newcomb...is Adrian Bratovich."

Ethan Anderson: He swallows hard at that and a shudder runs down his spine. "That's...That's why he seemed familiar."

Aerin Thomas: "Yeah." He nods a little bit. "Didn't...think you guys would run into each other. And I was trying to keep as..." He clears his throat, to get the hoarseness from the crying out. "Was trying to keep it as low-key as I could."

Ethan Anderson: "He was my friend, y'know. Until he made threats. I kinda figured you'd killed him," he whispers.

Aerin Thomas: "Nope." He shakes his head a little. "Could have. Didn't." A long pause. "He's a ghoul."

Ethan Anderson: "Oh," he squeeks.

Aerin Thomas: "A born ghoul. Not...bound to any leech. But he's...a sociopath." He wipes at his eyes. "He was a serial killer in the 60's. Did stuff that makes the Reapers look like our Tribe."

Ethan Anderson: "I don't wanna know about that," he says, shaking his head slightly. "I don't need to know anymore then who he is. And, well, I assume you helped get him that way. Like you did Ita."

Aerin Thomas: "Yeah." He nods. "I'm...he's got a purpose still. I...need him. To make sure we're all safe. Fucker's not doing his job, though," he grouses a little.

Ethan Anderson: He kisses Aerin softly. "You used the perfect word there. 'Fucker'." he sighs. "I'm sorry I was flying when you came home last night. I was so scared and so hurt and so angry. I just wanted it all to go away. But you weren't here to help me ride it and it felt like I was dying."

Aerin Thomas: "I..." He nods. "I'm sorry. I should have been here."

Ethan Anderson: "No. I shouldn't have left. Its just that everyone knew but me."

Aerin Thomas: "Didn't...I tried to keep it as low-key as I could." He sniffles a little. "But Tony found out...forget how. And of course, that meant Alex knew."

Ethan Anderson: "It doesn't matter," he says with a sigh. There's a pause. "She isn't sleeping in this bed... Please don't think that this means I want us to all be one big family. I don't."

Aerin Thomas: "No." He shakes his head. "I didn't ever...think that. She's human, and I...she can't. be part of our world. Not now, especially."

Ethan Anderson: He snorts. "That's beside the point. You're my Mate. This is MY house," he says softly, sniffing. "As in, I'm the only bitch here,' he adds with a tiny grin.

Aerin Thomas: He smiles a little at that, and nods. "That, too."

Ethan Anderson: "I love you," he says softly, pressing his forehead to Aerin's. "Can we please not fight anymore. I'm sooooo tired of it. Granted, making up is fun. "

Aerin Thomas: "That...would be good." He nods a little bit, taking a deep breath. "The not fighting."

Ethan Anderson: "Kinda figured that's what you meant," he says with a sigh. "lets take a shower and then curl up for a few hours," he murmurs. "Maybe do something fun in between the showre and curling up."

Aerin Thomas: He smiles a bit and nods. "I'd...really like that."

Ethan Anderson: He reluctantly slips off of Aerin's lap and strips, tossing is clothing to the corner before sliding nekkid to the bathroom.