"Ready?" Matt asked.

"Not quite."

"Our son is getting antsy."

"I wonder where he gets that from."

"You."

"No." Billy laughed. "You."

"Me?" Matt asked feigning shock. "Me?"

"Yes, you." Billy smiled. "More Billy, please Billy..." He mocked.

"I do not say those things...all the time."

"Sure, you don't." Billy replied as he packed the last sandwich in the picnic basket. "I think that's everything."

"Not everything." Matt whispered.

"What? What did I forget?"

"This." Matt breathed and leaned down to kiss his lover.

Billy sighed softly into Matt's mouth as he returned the kiss.

"Pops, c'mon!"

"Mmm, we have to go." Billy murmured.

"I know." Matt replied softly when he pulled back. "We'll pick this up later."

"Promise?"

"Oh hell yeah." Matt chuckled as picked up the basket with one hand then grabbed Billy's hand with the other. "Let's go."

--

"Hey, sorry we're a little late." Billy smiled.

"Don't worry about it." Scott smiled. "We just got here ourselves. Hey Matt. Hi Moore."

"Hi Uncle Scotty." Moore grinned. "Where's Nero?"

"Over there on the monkey bars." Scott smiled. "Why don't you go say hi?"

"Okay!" Moore grinned and scampered off.

"Be careful!" Billy called after him.

"You're overprotective." Jeff said.

"That's rich coming from you." Billy snorted.

"Hey." Scott laughed. "We've told Nero he's not allowed to jump off of anything until he's at least 10."

"Ten, huh?" Matt smiled.

"At least." Jeff grinned.

They all laughed and looked over at where the kids were playing.

--

"Can ya sleep over tonight?" Moore asked.

"I dunno." Nero replied. "I gots to ask my daddies."

"Okay." Moore smiled. "I like your hair. It's pretty."

"Thanks!" Nero grinned. "My daddy did it this mornin'."

"Nero?"

"Huh?"

"Do you like having two daddies?"

Nero nodded. "I love my daddies and they take good care of me. 'Sides, some of them other kids only got a mommy or a daddy. I gots me two pawents."

"Parents." Moore smiled.

"Uh huh, that."

Moore giggled softly.

"Ya laughin' at me?"

"No, I just think you're cute."

"Really?" Nero beamed.

Moore nodded.

"My dad calls my daddy that."

"My pops calls my dad beautiful."

"I think I wanna be like my daddies..."

"Whatcha mean?" Moore asked as he sat on ground next to his cousin.

"I dunno...I'm kinda confused."

"I know...me too..." Moore replied softly.

-- "I wonder what they're talking about." Jeff murmured as Scott stroked his hair.

"Only time will tell." Billy smiled.

*~*End*~*

Read story #3 Unexpected Surprises in the Bedtime Series