***Elik'sPOV***

I hold Deklyn's frame tightly against my side as we make our way back to the waiting room. Instantly, I am faced with six shocked friends. I have to, once again, break such earth shattering news.

"What's going on?" Chance asks. His eyes follow my path through the awaiting crowd.

"We need to get him home. Mr. & Mrs. Jackson have passed." I state with gloom.

"Oh, God." The girl, who I learned was Zaya, shrieks as she covers her swollen eyes with her cupped hands.

"I will take Dek home, you guys can follow. Are any of you able to drive?" I asks wearily.

"We took a cab here." Someone answers for the group.

"No, no, no. Please don't take a cab." Dek begs. Its difficult not to hear the fear in his voice.

"Shhhhhh, it's okay. I will send for a driver." I rub his arms soothingly.

"Okay." He nods, content with my alternate choice.

"God, this fucking sucks." Cali breathes out.

"We will get thru this." I comfort. It's all we can do.

I call my driver to bring a vehicle big enough for the six of them. Getting the address from Broady, I guide a broken Deklyn to my car. We head to his house.

Once we all arrive, I sit down beside Deklyn asking the maid, who answered the door, to bring us some water.

"I need a drink." Broady complains.

"Me too." Dek agrees. I guess we all do.

"86 the water. Where's the liquor?" I ask in acceptance.

I won't deny my new friend a single thing. Not today. Not ever.

The maid shows me to the bar, Dek is in no headspace to give me the royal tour. The house is really nice, not that I am shocked. I have a nice one of my own.

I explain tonight's events to the lovely maid. She whispers her apologies, leaving with a start.

I pour eight glasses of bourbon, we sit, drinking. I pour more and more as we drown the events with alcohol.

Silence is our comfort. That is until Deklyn jumps from my arms, pulling at his chestnut locks.

"I can't." He breathes out. Ragged breaths heave from his chest as he paces with his hands knotted in his hair.

"I'm so fucking lost. This isn't happening. This isn't real. Please tell me this isn't real." He screams out in turmoil.

I run to stand beside him. I can't keep my hands off of him. My body begs me to comfort him.

"I know. I know. I'm sorry. We will be here." I promise.

I can't give him the usual bullshit. He deserves better. No sympathies will possibly be of use in this moment.

"I'm so god damned angry. They didn't deserve this. My mom, my dad. How can I live without them? It's not fucking fair." He bellows as tears well up in his eyes.

"We love you." Cherry whispers softly, as she wraps her hands around his frame.

Dek buries his head in her shoulder as his sobbing shakes his sullen form.

"I can't do this. I don't want to do this. I want my dad." He cries even more.

My guts twist in agony as he confesses his dismay.

"You won't be alone." I swear. That's a solid promise.

"I'm sorry." He whimpers repeatedly.

"What the fuck are you sorry for?" Broady stares angrily. His eyes glint with false suspicion.

"I ruined everything. The party. My birthday. Elik is stuck in my shit storm. You don't even know me, Elik. I'm sorry." Dek groans.

Is it okay to slap a grieving angel? Asking for a friend.

"Deklyn. Shut the fuck up!" Chance rolls his eyes while groaning.

"Deklyn we are your best friends. You didn't ruin anything." Yani coos gently.

"I love you guys." Dek murmurs. He's all over the place, as expected.

"Elik?" Dek calls out to me.

"Yeah, I'm here." I confirm. I make my way closer to the sweet man.

"You don't have to be." He whimpers, yet again.

"Would you like me to go?" I question worriedly.

Please don't.

"Please stay." He wraps his arms around my neck.

"Anything you want." I promise. My arms wrap tightly around him, hoping to hold his breaking pieces together.

"A drink." Dek requests.

So, we sit and drink. Eventually we end up on the pool deck. Cherry and Cali are sitting in one chair wrapped up in a blanket. Broady has Zaya sleeping in his arms. Chance is glued to his chair with Yani straddling him, her head is cradled into his chest.

"Elik, how did you get mixed up in this?" Cali asks questioningly.

Dek is cradled in my lap, his fingers playing with my hair.

"I was leaving the party, I passed this gorgeous man on my way out. I just had to introduce myself. Next thing I know his phone rang and his world began unraveling. I couldn't leave him. I wouldn't." I explain.

Dek purrs in my ear, as he tugs tightly at my hair, his head burrows into my neck.

"He's the guy." Cali expresses.

That catches my attention.

"What guy?" I ask unknowingly.

"The one I was trying to set you up with, the reason I begged you to come to the party." Cali confirms with a nod of her head.

"Is he even into guys? I ask hopefully.

Please say yes.

"I'm in to you." Dek states softly.

A shiver rips thru my spine.

"How much has he drank?" I laugh nervously.

"Nah, he's brutally honest. He always says what he wants. Hell, he always gets what he wants." Broady chuckles robustly.

I look down at the beautiful man who is indecently wrapped around my frame. I hum as I think about how tragedy has spawned such an incredible gift into my arms.

"You guys ready to sleep? Tomorrow or today, is gonna be another long day." I offer.

Broady and Chance pick up the girls that are in their laps, carrying them to the guest rooms.

Cherry and Cali head to another room.

I pick Deklyn up, heading to his room, the one Cali points to.

"I want to go to my parent's room." Dek demands.

He points out his parent's room. I hesitantly head there. I open their door and gently deposit him in their bed, pulling the covers around his frame.

I turn to go towards the door, I will sleep in Dek's room since it was the only room left empty.

"Please stay." He pleads.

"I will be here when you wake up. I will sleep in your room." I promise.

"Sleep here. With me." He qualifies.

I close the door, stripping to my boxers and climb into the other side of the bed.

Dek sits up, stripping to his black Calvin Kleins. He crawls into my arms.

I swaddle him into my frame. Soft whimpers escape his lips as I rub his back comfortingly.

"Happy Birthday, sweetheart." I whisper. Tears fall silently from my eyes.

What a shitty fucking birthday.

<<<<<<

***Deklyn's POV***

I wake with a groan. My body aches, my head pounds and my eyes are a burning sun.

However, I am extremely comfortable.

I stir as I realize warm, strong arms are embracing me. I recognize Elik.

He stayed.

I look over his sleeping features as I recall the turmoil that occurred only hours ago. Tears prick at my eyes while I remember that I am without parents.

My parents. My lifeline. My beautiful life. Gone in an instant. Nothing will ever be the same.

I rub away the furious tears that are spilling from my orbs.

This is so fucked up.

Yesterday, I was happy. Yesterday, I had a family. Yesterday, I turned 18.

Today, I don't know what I have.

All I know, is I have a funeral to plan. Lawyers to contact. My parents jobs to inform. My job. My school. My grandparents. Ugh. Too much.

I groan as I realize I will face today as an adult, alone.

"Hey, hey. Don't worry." Elik whispers.

His sleepy gruff voice is incredibly alluring.

"I really can't promise that." I sigh.

"We will get thru this." He promises.

"We?" I quirk incredulously.

"Well, um, if you want me to be here I will be." Elik offers as his hands rakes thru his bed hair.

"Is it wrong that I do?" I asked. My head falls down to look at my lap.

Elik lifts himself to his side, propping up on his elbow as he reaches for my chin. He slowly turns me to face him.

He looks so damn yummy.

"I don't think it's wrong at all, I want to be with you." Elik smiles.

A smile forms as I think about his words.

"I want to be with you." I confess.

I blush as I notice how needy I sound.

"Um, I mean." I start to correct myself.

"Shhhhhh, I won't hold you to that." Elik promises.

Please do.

<<<<<<<<

We go down stairs, meeting with the rest of my friends. Ana, the maid, served us breakfast. We eat. Everyone leaves after Elik calls for a ride to take them to their cars.

I ride with Elik back to the house where my car is still sitting. When we arrive I sigh as I start to exit his Porshe.

"I'm gonna head to my house and clean up. I will meet you at your house in an hour." Elik informs me.

"You sure, I know you're probably busy." I offer.

"Nonsense. It's Saturday for one. For two, I would never be too busy for you." He smiles.

"Bet you say that to all the boys." I grin.

"Nah, only you." Elik smiles genuinely.

I don't know how long he will be around, but I figure I will enjoy him while I have him.

I kiss his hand as I got out of the passenger side. I walk to my car, gloomily starting my drive towards my house.

Immediately after arriving home I call my parent's lawyer. I know he will be working. He was my dad's best friend, after all.

"Slater and Andrews." The receptionist answers.

"Can I please speak with Ian Slater. Tell him it's his nephew Deklyn." I request.

"Hold please." She responds.

A minute later Uncle Ian greets me on the phone.

"Hey champ, what's up?" Uncle Ian speaks.

"Uncle Ian, I need to speak with you, in person. As soon as possible." I instruct.

"How soon can you get here?" He asks.

"20 minutes." I promise.

"See you soon, Buddy." He ends the call.

"Ana?" I call out.

"Yes, Deklyn." She answers immediately.

"I'm going to meet with Uncle Ian. Can you let Elik and my friends in? Let them know I will be right back." I announce.

"Yes, sweetie." She replies.

"Ana, don't worry about your job. I have no intention of losing you." I assuage.

"Honey, I'm so sorry for all of this. Your parents were my friends. I will always be here for you." She coddles.

I kiss Ana's cheek before leaving, heading to Uncle Ian's office.

Once there, I check in and make my way thru the halls to the elevator. As I arrive at his door, I take a large gulp of air before entering his office.

"Uncle Ian, I need to talk to you." I announce.

"Sit. What's on your mind?" He asks. He stands for me.

"Mom and Dad got in an accident last night." I blurt out. There is no good way to tell this story.

"Are they okay? What hospital are they at? Why didn't you call?" He asks in a panic.

"It was late. They were supposed to take me to dinner for my birthday. Mom died on the table and dad passed as I was visiting him. I didn't call because I couldn't function." I cry.

Uncle Ian jumped from his seat and I was engulfed in a sobbing hug.

"Fuck, Dek. God, I'm so sorry. I'm so fucking sorry." He bellows out.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I don't have access to anything. I don't know how I'm gonna pay for the funerals. I don't know anything." I whine.

"Dek, your parents already set everything up in case of a situation like this. Let me get their file. I will be right back." Uncle Ian speaks as he pulls their file from his cabinet.

He sets the file down in front of him before beginning to explain.

"Their funerals are set up at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Everything is paid for. Everything prearranged. The house is paid for. The cars are paid for. Your education is paid for. You are the sole heir to their fortune and their life insurance."

"What fortune?" I question.

I know we have money, but we were a two income household.

"Your parents are or were both financially motivated people. You have stock in several major, successful corporations throughout the west coast. I'm not sure if you are aware, but both your parents come from old money as well. Not to mention the ludicrous amount of life insurance each of them had. You have investments in too many places to count. You never have to worry about money." He continues.

"What's the catch?" I asks suspiciously.

"There isn't one. They requested you graduate college but, they left that to your discretion." He clarifies.

"How much?" I ask while my mouth parches.

"A lot." He states definitively.

"Uncle Ian?" I grit out.

"$5 million each in insurance, a double indemnity for accidental death or dismemberment clause was in place. Their savings are worth $3.6 and $4.3 million. Your trust fund is another $4 million. Your investments are over $20 million. Bank accounts carry a hefty balance of over a million a piece. There's four of those. In total you just inherited $56.6 million in cash and equity, two homes, three cars, a boat and a restaurant." He breathes out.

"Fuck." I scream in aggravation.

"How am I supposed to deal with that?" I yell.

"I will always help you." Uncle Ian states.

"Thank you. I gotta get home. I have to think about all this." I declare. My head can't absorb this information right now.

"Dek?" Uncle Ian addresses me.

"Yeah." I answer absent-mindedly.

"The keys to the safety deposit box. It's at their bank. It will have all legal documents. Bring your license and the death certificates. It's cut and dry. Call me if you need me." Uncle Ian bids me goodbye as he hands me the keys.

Fuck, I'm a millionaire and I don't have the one thing I can't buy, my parents.