Let me just say thank you to everyone who has read this story. It was a joy to write and I'm not so sad anymore to see it go. This is the first story I've ever managed to complete and I don't think I would've done it if I hadn't known there was someone out there who really wanted to read it, so thank you again.

Three years later

Clay was headed to his car when one of his friends caught up with him. Of the handful of friends he'd made since he'd started college, Brianne was the first and the best. When he'd told her that he lived with his boyfriend who was twenty years his cenior, she hadn't batted an eyelash. All she'd asked was, "Is he hot? How's the sex?"

He smiled at her. "Hey, Bree. What's up?"

"Um, actually I wanted to talk to you." She bit her lower lip, and it was then he noticed that she seemed nervous. He'd never actually seen her nervous before.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, well, um, a little." She picked at the hem of her sleeve. "I'm pregnant."

Wha-wha? "You're... Holy shit."

"Yeah."

He leaned against the side of his car. "When did you find out?"

"A while ago, actually. Like, a month. I've been thinking about what to do."

He frowned. "You've known for a month? You should've told me sooner. I know I'm not all girly, but I could've been of some help. Support and all."

"I know," she rushed to say. "I didn't tell you because I already had an idea, but I wasn't sure about it. Now I am. So, listen, Clay. I know you're probably too young and Trick's probably too old, but would you maybe like to adopt it?"

He was pretty sure his jaw dropped onto the pavement. "Excuse me?"

"Well, I just got to thinking that if you and Trick ever wanted to have kids, it's pretty hard for gay couples to do. Plus there's that big age difference between the two of you that would probably impact your chances. And surrogacy is really expensive."

"But what about you?"

She smiled a little and shook her head. "What could I do with a baby? Drop out of school? I can't afford day care and I've got no family to lean on."

A baby. He'd never given much thought to having a kid. Back when he and Trick had been discussing their relationship, Trick had said he was too old to have another family. Real quick, he did the math and Trick would only be in his late fifties by the time this kid was grown. That wasn't so old. Maybe they could... Before he could get his hopes up, he staunched the thought. He had to get home and talk to Trick.

"Let me talk with Trick, okay? We haven't ever discussed kids."

She nodded. "Yeah, I thought you'd want to talk to him. Big decision and all."

"Yeah, I'll call you later." She started to walk away, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him. "Thank you. Even if we decide not to, thank you."

She gave him a squeeze. "I love you, babe. What can I say?"

Before he'd let her go, he asked, "Out of curiousity, who's the father?"

She winced. "Billy Henderson. I told him and he asked me if I needed a lift."

"Asshole." But a very attractive one. He couldn't help but think that with two parents as attractive as Brianne and Billy, the kid would be cute. Sue him.

"Very." She stepped back from him. "Now go. Talk to Trick."

"Yes, ma'am."

He got home earlier than Trick. It was Tuesday, so he was done with class by one. He puttered around their small house, doing some dishes, dusting a few things. His mind was on one thing: a baby. Now that the thought was there, it wasn't going away. A family with Trick. A kid to build snowmen with and teach to ride a bicycle. A kid to build a swingset for and hug after a nightmare. He could see it. Too clearly. And he wanted it. Wanted one of those "little squishy things" as Trick had once put it.

When Trick got home, he went all housewifey and met him at the door. With a kiss. Could he be more chicked out today?
Trick kissed him and tugged his tie loose as he walked into the house. "How was your day?"

"Brianne's pregnant," he blurted. Wow, smooth there, tiger. So much for easing him into it.

Trick stopped, his tie askew. "Is she alright?"

"Yeah. She's not going to keep it."

"I'm not all that surprised. A single college girl like herself."

"She wants to give it to us."

Trick's eyes popped like something straight out of a cartoon. "She wants to what?"

"Let us adopt the baby. She mentioned how hard it would be for us to adopt one through an agency and how expensive surrogacy is. She's planning to put it up for adoption anyway, so I guess she just thought she'd give us first go."

Trick swallowed and rubbed a hand through his hair. He searched Clay's face. "You want it, don't you?"

Clay took a shaky breath. Trick always said he was easy to read. "Yeah. I do. I've been thinking about it since she told me."

His man sighed and opened his arms. Clay walked right into them and laid his head on his shoulder. "Clay, I'd be sixty when that kid was finally out of the house."

"Nearly sixty." He squeezed Trick. "You don't think you might like having another kid? I hear they're pretty cute."

Trick huffed into his hair. "They're very cute and don't I know it. I've raised two of them." His arms squeezed around Clay. They held each other for a while, each taking comfort in the others embrace. Finally, Trick said, "We'll have to turn the guest room into a nursery. Aaron will just have to sleep on the couch when he's here."

Huh what?

Clay jerked his eyes up to Trick's. "You're saying yes? To the baby?"

"When can I deny you anything, Clay?"

Five months later

Brianne cried out as she pushed hard with the next contraction. Clay stood right next to her, holding her hand. Not that he could feel his hand anymore. She was squeezing so hard, he'd lost feeling. But he didn't care. She could break his hand if she wanted, she was giving him her baby. And don't think she hadn't milked that for all it was worth in the last five months.

"That's good, Brianne," Dr. Sherman said from behind her mask. "The baby's crowning."

Brianne panted with exhertion. "God, Clay, you and Trick better be really fucking happy."

Clay hid his grin. "We are. Aren't we, Trick?"

"Very much so." Like the smart one of the two of them, Trick was standing a little away from Brianne. Having gone through labor with Marise twice, he'd known the kind of hand-trauma a father could endure for the sake of children.

The mother gritted her teeth. "You. Owe. Me," she ground out as she pushed again.

"The baby's head is out. One more good push for me."

This time, Brianne yelled and gave a push, squeezing Clay's hand so hard he thought she might've bruised the bone. Her yell was followed by the cry of a baby with a full set of lungs. Clay pried his hand out of Brianne's to take a closer look at his baby.

The doctor was grinning behind her surgical mask. "You've got a boy." She passed the baby to Brianne, who smiled tiredly.

"I guess I make pretty babies."

"You certainly do." He couldn't look away from the little squished-looking baby. He was beautiful. He and Trick hadn't known what they were having until now. They'd both told Brianne not to tell them as they'd wanted to be surprised.

"Which of you dad's would like to cut the cord?"

Clay glanced at Trick, who nodded his head, and Clay accepted the scissors. After he cut the cord, the nurse took the baby away to be cleaned and swaddled. Clay almost growled. He wasn't ready to stop looking at his son.

"Alright, the next one should be along in a moment."

"The what?" He and Trick said with alarm at the same time.

Dr. Sherman blinked at them from above her mask. "The second baby. You knew, didn't you?"

"Oh yeah, these are faces of two people in the know," Clay said sarcastically. He looked at Brianne. The woman was grinning impishly.

"Whaaat? You said not to tell you what you were having."

"We meant the sex of the baby not the number of babies." She just blinked innocently. He groaned and looked at a shell-shocked Trick. "Well, it looks like two for the price of one."

Trick wrapped his arms around Clay's waist. "Looks like it." He pressed his smile against Clay's neck. "Look at the sort of things you get me into."

"I don't hear you complaining."

"Of course I'm not. I know a good thing when I've got it."

The second baby, a daughter, was born a few minutes later, with a cry even louder than her brother's. Trick took the honor of cutting the cord this time and a couple of minutes after that, they both had an armful of warm, soft baby.

Brianne smiled wanly over at them. "What are you going to name them?"

Trick looked down at the baby girl in his arms. "We're naming her Angel Brianne Jennings."

Clay nodded and pressed his nose to his son's soft, wispy hair. "And we're naming him Ethan Lucas Jennings."

She looked like she was blinking back tears. "Thank you."

Clay stroked one of Ethan's fists as the baby blinked blue eyes up at him. He'd heard somewhere that all babies were born with blue eyes. "No, seriously, thank you."

Seven years later

His ten year high school reunion. Clay really hadn't thought that he'd go, but Trick had convinced him. Now that they lived only about forty-five mintues away, there was no reason not to go. Of course, the only reason Clay even wanted to go was to see if his old friends Casey and Austin were there. To his regret, they'd lost touch once high school ended.

Clay arrived a little after seven. Trick was supposed to come with him, but he'd gotten hung up at Jennifer's house. Things had improved with Jennifer in the last ten years, but they still weren't great. She pretty much pretended that Clay didn't exist. Her relationship with Trick was awkward at best. At least she let him around her daughter, Elise. He was rather pleased to say that Elise adored her "uncle" Clay, as well as Angel and Ethan. Even better, Clay and Aaron were pretty much best friends and Aaron and Trick were tighter than ever. Clay and his own mother got on pretty well, even better in the last three years whens he finally got up the courage to leave his father. She completely doted on her grandkids. Aaron and Elise included.

It was good to have it all. He was reminded of that when he walked into the East Bridgedale High cafeteria and realized that nothing in that school had changed. He kinda wanted to sneak Trick into his old classroom and have another go over the desk for old times sake. Ah, memories.

He milled around a little, mostly not recognizing people, until he heard a female voice gasp, "Clay Patterson?"

Well, that used to be his last name. He'd legally changed it to Jennings while Brianne was pregnant. He smiled as he instantly recognized Casey. "Hey, Casey."

She squealed and hugged him. "I'm so glad you're here. I've been wanting to find you for ages, but couldn't find a Clay Patterson anywhere."

"Yeah, sorry, I'm not a Patterson anymore. I'm Clay Jennings now."

"Since when do guys change their names? Are you in witness protection or something?"

He laughed. "No, nothing like that. Tell me about you first." He poked her belly. "Have you gotten fat or is there a small person in there?"

She grinned and rubbed her stomach. "Baby number two. I got married about five years ago. My husband didn't want to come tonight." She rolled her eyes. "The man said that he didn't want to go to his own reunion, so why would he go to mine. Anyway. Oh, I just saw Austin." She whistled. "Austin!"

"You never were shy, were you?"

"Yuh-no."

Austin walked over to them, smiling, and looking good. He'd put on some weight, all of it muscle. He hugged Casey. "How's it hanging?"

"I dunno, you tell me." She smiled up at Clay. "We wound up going to college together, so we managed to stay in touch."

"That's great." Clay and Austin shook hands. "What's been up with you?"

"Not much. I came out."

Clay's brows arched up to his hairline. "You're gay?"

Austin puffed up a little, like he was preparing for a fight. "Yeah, I am."

"Huh." Clay looked him over. "I never got that vibe back in school." Go fig.

Casey prodded his arm. "Uh huh, uh huh. Enough about him. Tell me why you went and changed your last name."

"Well, I'm not much for hyphenated names, and I wanted us all to have the same last name. Simpler for the kids you know."

"You have kids?" She pinched him lightly. "Stop holding out and give me the dish."

"Alright, alright," he laughed. He happened to glance at the door just as Trick walked inside. Damn. For nearly fifty, his man looked fine. He had a little more silver to his hair and the lines around his eyes and mouth were a little deeper, but, in Clay's opinion, that just made him sexier. "There's my man."

"Your man?" Casey said as she whipped around. "Where? All I see is one of our old teachers. What was his name?"

"Patrick Jennings."

"Yeah, him. Where's - " She turned and blinked at him.

Austin gaped at him. "You're with Mr. Jennings?"

Clay grinned broadly. "Yeah. Ten years now." And many more years to come.

Surprise! Babies! As if I could resist?

Now, I hope nobody's too sad to see Illicit end. It had to end so I could start Aaron's story, Love In Unexpected Places. The prologue and first chapter will be up soon after I publish this chapter.

Please review and tell me what you thought of my very first (complete) story.