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orever by my side, supporting, cheering

lways there despite me never seeing it

y family is my rock. It's what keeps me from the edge.

t is made of my mom, Dad, Xander, Ethan, Amie, Scout, Kaz, Carmen, Momo, and Ry

oving them, I don't even need to try

ou are my reasons for living

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I adjust my tie in the hallway mirror as I wait for Ethan to hurry his perky ass up so we won't be late to my old house. Being late would not be good at all and I'm never late unless something is terribly wrong, so they'd know it was Ethan's fault. I really want my family to love Ethan just as much as I do and although they've all met him before, that was when I was hospitalized so I highly doubt my parents would count that as a proper meeting. On top of that, I haven't had a proper relationship in a while, so my parents are just itching to smother their little pirate and try to embarrass me. They will not win. Charlie soon to be Dechart will come out victorious.

"Ethan, baby, hurry up! We need to pick up Ryder on the way and he's probably going to take forever too because his hair is so long."

"I haven't worn a suit since I was thirteen!" He calls back and hops out of his room, tying his shoe.

"What about graduation? Prom? Formal? Homecoming?" I ask, grabbing his foot and tying his shoe.

Ethan falls over and gives me a pointed look. "Duuude, you threw off my groove. And I wore jeans and a button up to prom and we skipped all formals and homecoming to smoke in the woods."

I scoff. "What a wild child."

"The wildest." Ethan winks and gets back up once his shoe is tied.

I pull out a tie clip and put it on him before putting a handkerchief in his breast pocket. "Cute."

"I feel so stiff." Ethan smooths down the fabric. "Should've stuck a stick up my ass to complete the look."

"You're wearing my suit, asshole."

"It's a good suit, I'm just a bad host." Ethan kisses my hand. "Shall we?"

I nod and pull him to my car and let him mess around with the stereo as I head to his house to get his little brother. The scenery is pretty, as I'm driving just as the sun is setting. The sky is fire and the clouds are an attractive pink, reminding me of cotton candy. The drive to the Dechart household is serene and calming, one of my hands securely attached to my boyfriend's the whole time until I park in the driveway.

"Think he's ready?"

"No." Ethan admits and reaches over to honk the horn.

"What a gentleman." I roll my eyes.

"I thought you loved me cause I'm not a gentlemen." He wiggles his eyebrows.

"I thought you were a gentleman to those you loved." I flutter my eyelashes and lean over the console so I'm just centimeters away from his face.

"I can be." He presses forward and kisses me.

Closing my eyes, I hum into the kiss and tilt my head slightly to deepen it.

Ethan moves closer just as the door opens, revealing Ryder wearing his own black suit with a vest instead of a jacket and his hair braided. "Are you guys ever not attached at the lips?" He laughs as he gets into the car.

I close my eyes and continue kissing Ethan until I'm satisfied before pulling away. "Sometimes. You're just jealous, love."

Ryder huffs and Ethan looks back at him. "Lookin' good, little bro."

"Thanks. You look nice too, for once."

Ethan flicks Ryder's nose. "It's Charlie's."

"Your brother always looks nice." I ruffle Ethan's hair before grabbing the steering wheel again. "Do you have everything?"

Ryder checks his pockets. "Yeah. I'm nervous."

"Is it because... I don't know, you're boyfriends?" I ask, laughing evilly, pulling into reverse. I learned before Ethan because I am superior.

"WHAT?!" Ethan shouts and Ryder pales.

"I-I was going to tell you!"

"Xander told me he was going to ask you before I left our little counseling session. He called me, really excited, afterwards, telling me he had a boyfriend and that he was excited."

"That's so cute." Ryder blushes.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me the minute it happened." Ethan complains and Ryder blushes even more.

"I was a little busy, uh, celebrating."

"Yeah, I'm guessing it arrived." I hold back a laugh.

"He told you!" Ryder gasp. "I need to leave."

"He didn't tell me. Xander just didn't know where to buy one, so I sent him websites!" I frown. "Ry, you can't leave. The car is in motion."

"Buy what?" Ethan asks and Ryder curls up in an embarrassed ball.

"Ethan, you aren't apart of this conversation." I giggle.

"Why nooooooooooot?" He whines. "I wanna hear about the presents my baby brother is getting from his new boyfriend!"

"A dildo."

Ethan stares at me, then Ryder. "A what?"

"It's not a big deal, Ethan." Ryder peeks out at him and his jaw drops.

"Wait, he's serious?"

"Yeah. I got my first dildo at thirteen. It's normal." I roll my eyes. "It's not like they fucked."

"So his first gift is a sex toy?" Ethan looks at his brother. "He's not pressuring you into anything, right?"

Ryder nods. "I'm more of a slut than he is."

"You're not a slut." Ethan pats Ryder's head. "Just be safe, Ry."

"We will." He promises.

"Also, I'll have you know that dildo isn't the first gift. He has Xander's jacket and a box set of manga. Kings give good gifts. I've given you lots of things." I defend.

"Yeah." Ryder agrees.

"I know, baby." Ethan soothes me.

"Xander thinks you don't want him dating Ryder." I say sadly.

"Why would he think that?" Ethan asks.

I change lanes. "When you go papa bear mode for Ryder, you make Xander out to be a heathen like you and Ryder out to be the Virgin Mary." I stick my tongue out and giggle.

"A heathen like me?" He gasps dramatically. "Charlie, how could you?"

"Heathen. You tried to 'put me in my place' when we first met."

"That as a jooooooke."

"Put him in his place?" Ryder stares.

"He threatened me." I feign distress.

"Ethan!"

"He's bullshitting you, Ry." Ethan chuckles.

"He told me to meet him out back to beat my ass. He just wanted to use me for my brains." A tear rolls down my face because I'm that good of an actor.

Ryder eyes widen. "Ethan, what the hell?"

"It wasn't like that, Ry, I promise!" Ethan cries.

"Was it kinky?"

Ethan blinks. "What?"

"He still thought he was straight. I remember when he got mad at me because I didn't like how homophobic and dicky some of his friends were acting." I 'tsk' at Ethan.

"It's more complicated than that." Ethan sighs.

"Did he really mistreat you?" Ryder asks, his eyes watery.

"I was a little put off. I didn't think he liked me much at all, but I called him on his bullshit, so nothing more happening. Ethan just talks out of his ass sometimes." I explain.

Ethan huffs. "I'm much better now."

"I know. I love you." I smile.

He kisses me and Ryder relaxes.

"I'll talk to Xander." Ethan promises.

"I'll give you his number later. Ryder, are you still nervous?" I ask.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Your family is so fancy and professional and they're big deals in this city." Ryder pulls a strand of his hair loose and plays with it.

"Xander and I aren't big deals. We're no different that your family except for our class."

"Yeah, but we're meeting your parents tonight. I want them to like me."

"If they're gonna end up hating someone, it's gonna be me." Ethan reassures him.

"Yeah. You're the good egg. Ethan is rotten." I smirk before pinching Ethan's cheek. "They won't hate you."

Ethan shrugs.

"You're going to be a good boy." I hum and look around the familiar neighborhood as I approach our house. We live on the big hill in town. Our house is huge and it sticks out like a sore thumb. There are no other properties on the hill. We own the whole thing.

Ryder starts fidgeting more. "Are there any topics we should avoid?"

"The hospital. Ethan doing drugs..." I think. "Anything illegal that Ethan's done. How much you want to fuck my brother. Normal stuff."

Ryder blushes. "Yeah... that's a given."

"If I ever got in trouble, would your dad get me out of jail or make sure I went to jail?" Ethan chuckles.

"No more trouble, Ethan. I promised to keep you out of it." I wave my finger at him and park the car in the garage.

"Just sayin' in case. Entertain me."

"So Ryder, did you know that your brother—"

"Whoa, whoa, whatever you're about to say stop now!" Ethan calls.

"Stay out of trouble." I flick his forehead and turn the car off before climbing out to have Xander open the door, his eyes widening.

"Hello, Princess." Xander smiles. "Come to see your boyfriend?"

"Hey! Of course I did." Ryder greets Xander.

Ethan smiles at me and my brother. "Hey, Xander."

Xander waves at Ethan, one of his arms around Ryder. "Hey. Are you all ready to eat and everything?"

"Absolutely." Ethan smiles and Ryder's stomach growls.

Xander plays with Ryder's braid. "I see that someone is hungry." He grins and picks Ryder up before running inside with him.

I giggle and pull Ethan in to the smell of beef stroganoff. "Oooh. Yum."

"That smells heavenly." Ethan licks his lips.

"If you like it, I might make it one time." I sniff. "It smells like my recipe. Xan! You cook?!"

"Yeah!"

I join the two in the living room and sit down on the loveseat.

"Charlie!" My mother comes bounding downstairs and nearly trips. "I missed you, honey!"

"Calm down, Ave, he won't disappear." Dad chuckles as he makes his way downstairs. He watches as my mom strangles me, shaking his head. "Nice to see you again, Ethan. Who is this?" He looks at Ryder.

Ethan reaches out his hand for a handshake. "Nice to see you too, Jay, this is my little brother Ryder."

Ryder steps forward and extends his hand as well. "It's nice to meet you, sir, I'm Xander's boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?" Dad looks Ryder and Xan over. Xander hugs Ryder and kisses his neck. "Damn, we really do miss all of the big moments."

"Xander has a boyfriend? He's so pretty," Mom coos. "I love him.

"Thank you." Ryder blushes.

Dad holds his hand out for Ethan's coat. "How long have you two known each other?"

Ethan smiles and hands it to him. "Thanks, sir, uh, Jay."

Ryder looks at Xander. "Since school started."

"That long?"

"He's new," Xander clarifies.

"Y-Yeah." Ryder chuckles nervously.

"That's nice. Where are you from?" My father questions.

"Colorado." Ethan answers.

"Ry and his family moved down here and it landed them closer to Eetan." I hug Ethan and bite his cheek lightly.

He chuckles and bites me back.

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't fuck here." Xander scoffs.

"As if I'd do that in front of your family." Ethan chuckles.

"You probably would." I laugh.

"I wouldn't!" Ethan defends. "He's the one out here spanking people in public!"

"Is spanking sexual to you, Ethan?" I ask.

"I put the 'King' in spanking," Xander laughs maniacally.

Ryder giggles too, blushing.

Ethan just rolls his eyes. "You're lucky your parents are here." He whispers to Xander.

"I spanked your brother and he loved it," Xander whispers back.

Ethan turns red and glares. "Fuckin' liar."

"Come on, guys." Ryder tugs on Xander.

Dad just chuckles. "You four really are something."

"Thanks, sir." Ryder giggles.

"You can call me Jay as well. Your practically part of the family now." Dad smiles as he shakes Ryder's hand. "I hope Xander's been a good boyfriend to you."

Mom kisses my forehead before kissing Ethan's and then hopping up to meet Ryder.

"He has." Ryder smiles.

"It's lovely to see you again too, Mrs. King." Ethan smiles charmingly.

Mom grins and hugs Ryder. "You two are just too cute. I hope you keep visiting us all. We're not around too often, but it'd be nice to have dinners like one big family."

"Maybe Kaisley and your mom can come one day!" I bounce in my seat.

Ethan sits down in my lap. "That would be fun, if you'll have us."

"Of course!" My mom beams. "Maybe we'll officially become family." She winks.

"He better be a good husband then and I want a grandkid." Dad smirks.

"I'll take good care of Charlie and we already know we both want kids." Ethan smiles brightly.

"Grand babies?!" My mom lets go of Ryder and grabs Ethan's face. "I can hold a baby again?"

"I hope so." Ethan looks at me as if he doesn't know that we're definitely getting married.

"Xander~"

"Mom, no, he's still in high school," I say, shaking my head.

She pouts and Dad rests his hand on her shoulder. As always, she instantly brightens and grabs his hand.

"Shall we eat?" I ask.

"Be my guest." Dad nods.

"Of course." Mom smiles.

"Fuck yes, I'm fucking starved."

"Language, Xander." Mom shoots him a look.

"Charlie is a writer. He'll tell you how important diction is. Now, to the table!" He picks Ryder up again and whisks him away.

Ethan chuckles. "Ry's like his new favorite teddy bear."

"Definitely. They're adorable." I grin and we all head to the dining room to eat. Xander has already dished Ryder and Mom up by the time he's getting the rest of us his food. He gets himself food last and then sits down.

"Thankfully it's still hot." Xander laughs.

"This looks amazing, dude." Ethan compliments him and Ryder salivates.

"It's Charlie's recipe, so it should be fantastic." Xander smiles proudly. "He's the one who taught me how to cook."

Ethan kisses my cheek.

I grin contently and kiss him back.

"Aaaaaaaaawwwwwwwww." Mom smiles.

Xander pretends to choke and pass out.

Dad just grins.

"Can we eat?" Ryder asks softly.

I blush, remembering how I was on edge at his house and how I wouldn't eat until someone else from the family started. "Yes, of course. The food is right in front of you. We're a pack of wild animals here. We see food, we devour it. There's no time for any prayer."

Ryder smiles and Ethan starts eating immediately. "Fuuuu-dge. This is really good."

"At least he didn't moan." I chuckle.

"Probably because you didn't make it." Xander rolls his eyes. "And Ethan Dechart, did you just almost say the fuck word in front of my parents? How could you?"

Ethan narrows his eyes, grinning, but clearly biting back a snarky response. "I'm sure they've heard worse."

"Xander and Charlie have dirty mouths, especially Xander." Mom shakes her head. "I don't care if Charlie does anymore, but Xander is still in high school and he feels more like a kid. I refuse to believe he's a legal adult."

"I feel the same way about my kid brother." Ethan chuckles and Ryder pouts.

"Ryder is a pure soul." Xander agrees and continues eating.

Ryder blushes and starts eating his food.

"I'm glad you agreed to have me over tonight." Ethan says. "It's nice to properly meet you two. Charlie sure loves you a lot."

I smile. "I love you all a lot."

"We know, Charlie. You're our little pirate."

I blush. "Ma."

"Ha! We should show pictures of you!"

"You and Xander were so precious. You used to be obsessed with dressing like each other," she gushes.

"I would love to see." Ethan smirks.

"What about you, Ryder?" My dad asks.

"Honey, he might just be shy." Mom scolds.

"I, uh, I'm fine. Sorry. I wouldn't mind seeing too." Ryder stutters.

"He's so precious." Mom beams. "Just look at his hair and his blush."

Ryder twirls the strand he'd pulled out self-consciously. "I braided it myself."

"It's very well done." Mom hums and finishes her plate.

"Thank you."

"Living with you is gonna make me so fat, babe." Ethan mumbles while he finishes his own plate.

"Workout buddies." I bump him and start clearing everything to put into the dishwasher.

"Want any help?" Ethan asks, standing.

"Sure, Superstar." I hum, already loading the dishwasher.

Ethan brings more plates over after whispering something to Ryder. "It seems to be going well." He nudges me.

"Is Ryder okay?" I ask quietly. "I don't want him to be overwhelmed. He was nervous during the car ride."

"He's okay. He just feels out of place."

"Why? He's dating Xander and they're official now. They're lovebirds." I ask, concerned.

"It's his anxiety." Ethan shrugs. "He's over analyzing every interaction. He really wants your parents to like him."

"They like you and you don't even have a filter." I giggle. "I hope he gets more comfortable."

"Heh, I have somewhat of a filter. I'm not beating Xander's ass in the middle of the table, am I?" He smirks.

"You really seem to have a thing for Xan."

"It's not a thing, it's sibling rivalry."

"Mhmmmmmmmm," I hum.

He wraps his arms around me and sways us. "The only King I want is you."

"And my dad." I laugh.