"I'm not sure about this," Gabe said, biting the skin of his thumb.

"Stop," Owen admonished, but with no real heat.

Gabe stopped anyway, thrusting his hands under his thighs, against the soft fabric of the couch, where he sat, waiting for people from his old school to arrive.

Owen had told Gray what they'd managed to discover about being a musician. Gray had smiled at Gabe nicely, and seemed pleased, but he'd narrowed his eyes at Owen when he thought Gabe wasn't watching. It had made Gabe think about whether Owen would get into trouble – get punished maybe – for telling him things they'd apparently agreed they wouldn't talk about with him. Mainly, though, he wondered what other things they had decided he shouldn't know, and he also wondered why he didn't mind that they were making decisions like this for him. He really didn't. It was easier not to know.

Gray had agreed with only a little reluctance that it might be good for him to meet people from the Conservatory – though he insisted no more than two, and the ones that Owen trusted the most to stay calm for Gabe's sake. He'd wanted to be here, but he had patients today, and that was the one thing Gabe had been able to be adamant on. He didn't want to wait for this.

Though now it was about to happen, he was starting to regret that being the thing he stood up for himself over, the way his stomach was churning.

He thought maybe he would change his mind. He'd stuck up for himself to make it happen, surely he could stick up for himself enough to stop it. Owen wouldn't force it. He opened his mouth to speak when there was a knock on the front door and he jumped.

"Here are the boys," Mrs. Miggins announced moments later as she bustled in, followed by a tall, tanned, handsome boy, whose blue eyes were huge in his head as he stared at Gabriel, the other, shorter, new arrival staying behind him, only his messy brown hair visible.

"Thanks, Mrs. M." The boy kissed her cheek before turning again, facing Gabe as if the others weren't even in the room.

Gabriel stood, feeling the tension that emanated from the taller boy.

"Gabe," he whispered, after a long moment, "they said...I mean, do you know me?"

Gabe tried. He stared back, trying to make a memory form, but tears sprang into his eyes as he shook his head.

"I'm sorry," the boy said, with matching tears brimming. "Is it too much Owen? Should I not be here?"

Owen didn't answer, deferring to Gabe with a gentle hand on his elbow and a warm smile, clearly saying it was up to him, but that he thought he could do it.

"It's okay," Gabe said, finally, his voice croaky with nerves.

"Don't be upset he doesn't remember you, Ellis," Owen said, "the memories are patchy right now. He can make new friends, anyway. You can, Gabe," he turned, smiling again, "you might not know Ellis and River, but you liked them, so you can like them again."

It made sense, and Gabe let out a sigh, relieved that the pressure was lifted.

"Gabe," the boy – Ellis – began tentatively, "I'm sorry I didn't know. That I didn't do anything. I feel like I let you down so bad. I should have seen he wasn't‑ "

"Let things come naturally," Owen suggested, and Ellis nervously murmured 'of course' under his breath.

They ended up in the den, and Owen set up some computer games, which Gabe was surprised to find himself good at, even beating River a few times. He didn't beat Ellis though, but they agreed, with practice, he would. It made Gabe feel good – kind of secure – the way they spoke so casually about seeing each other again.

There was a camaraderie between Ellis and River and Owen but Gabe didn't feel left out. It was clear Owen and Ellis were far more outgoing than him, but they never made him feel weird – or River, who seemed almost as shy as him. He'd said hello quietly, but hadn't said much else, certainly not the raucous cheering while they'd been playing games like the other two.

They put a movie on. Owen had suggested some adventure thing with monsters that had come out recently, claiming it was for the cute main guy. Gabe doubted it – he was cute, sure, but a lot more like them than the men they were attracted to. No, Gabe suspected Owen was hoping a recent movie might spark a new memory. He didn't have the heart to say he doubted he was getting out to the movie theater on a regular basis, not if the scars on his skin were any indication of the life he had lived – and he knew they were.

Owen asked if anyone wanted a beer, and Gabe noted with interest that Ellis sent off a message and waited for a response before he agreed, and Owen himself did too, even though he'd been the one to suggest it.

"You didn't ask?" he asked River when they'd gone to the kitchen, wary about asking something that wasn't his business, but too interested to leave it alone.

"I don't have to."

Before Gabe could get embarrassed because he'd realized he was assuming River was in the lifestyle too, even though no one had said any such thing, River grinned, leaning into Gabe in a more outgoing way than he'd shown yet.

"My Dom isn't as restrictive as theirs," he admitted with a blush, "we keep a lot of it to the bedroom. He takes charge in some ways, but he doesn't make decisions about things like food and drink."

When they returned, something seemed to have relaxed in the room. Gabe sipped his beer, only half watching the movie. He was interested, he found, wanting to know more about how it worked. Being the kind of people they were. Maybe there'd been a time he knew, but not anymore, it would seem. Plus, there was the obvious thought that whatever he had known it hadn't been true, or healthy. Not like theirs. But he mentally shrank back every time he built himself up to asking something. He wasn't sure he was ready.

When the movie had finished, River and Ellis made noises about wanting to get home, but promising they'd visit again soon.

"Ellis," River said quietly, though not secretively, when they stood by the door, "do you have a cello in that music room of yours?"

"I do. Do you think...?"

"It's worth a try, isn't it?"

"Can I bring a cello round, Gabe? Tomorrow? If you don't have plans."

Gabe glanced between his three new friends. It felt big. As though his answer was significant to them, even though there was nothing big building in his chest at the thought. It felt natural. Right to suppose that, of course, if he had a cello in front of him, Gabe would play it. He didn't know where the feeling was coming from but he let it settle into his bones.

"Yeah. I think I'd like that."

* * * * *

"What's the matter, Suzu?" Ellis asked his Dom. He'd found him in his study on his return to the house, head in hands and his handsome face that harsh shade of red he only went when he was really angry.

There was a time that Suzu angry would have terrified Ellis, but they were far past that, thank God. It had taken a lot of support from their friends, and, frankly, a lot of therapy, but they were in a good place and Ellis knew nothing he would do would make his Dom react that way.

"Nothing you need to worry about, baby," Suzu began, but he grinned sheepishly when Ellis just crossed his arms and leaned against the doorway expectantly, waiting for him to remember they had an agreement about honesty.

Ellis could see Suzu was revisiting his words, trying to work out what to say, so he helped him along. "Something to do with the club?"

Suzu's BDSM club was a vital part of their, and their friends', lives, and he spent a lot of time making sure it ran smoothly, as did Ellis as the head sub. Despite their efforts, the level of emotion than ran through the members' only club on any given day meant there were regularly a lot of fires to put out, but Suzu shook his head.

"No. Not yet, anyway, but it might come. It's my brother."

"What's wrong with Etienne?"

Etienne was utterly unproblematic, a good little soldier in the family business, keeping everyone happy with his excellent work ethic and fiancée from a good family. The idea that he'd made Suzu go that red was preposterous.

"Not Etienne," Suzu signed, running his hand over his short hair until it stuck out every which way. "Laurent. He's on his way to New York."

"Oh."

It explained it more. Ellis had never met Suzu's fraternal twin, but he knew they hadn't always had a perfect relationship, butting heads continuously in their youth. They'd joined the marines together, or at the same time, anyway, and had spent the entire time competing to be the better officer, even though their specialisms were different. Laurent had eventually left to join Medecins san frontieres and Suzu had left soon afterwards and opened the club. That was about all Ellis knew about the man. He'd never even seen a photograph.

"And you're mad about it?"

"He's left his job. Just said he'd had enough. Nothing else."

"Might be true?" Ellis didn't see why it couldn't be as simple as that, though the look on Suzu's face clearly said he didn't think so.

When Suzu patted his thigh, Ellis took the invitation gladly, settling himself on the wide chair, straddling his boyfriend and leaning in to nuzzle his throat.

"Thanks, baby," Suzu said after a few minutes.

"What for?" Ellis murmured, dropping gentle kisses against the warm skin.

"You always make me feel calmer. Anyway, how's your friend?"

"I'm not sure," he admitted, sitting up. "He doesn't remember me or Riv, but he seems well otherwise. After what he must have gone through – I mean, I don't know details – but he seems almost like he was. He's always been quiet. Sweet."

"I'm glad you're there for him. He might not be the same if he gets his memories back. You know that?"

"I do. I'll still be there though."

"My good boy," Suzu purred, his finger twining through Ellis' hair, pulling his head back carefully, to reveal the long line of his neck.

Ellis couldn't help grinding down when he felt the first nip and grinned at the immediate groan it got. He was surprised when Suzu pressed his nose against his neck and breathed heavily, moving his hands down to Ellis' hips, helping him with the grind.

"Fuck, baby, too good," he panted, his hot breath making goosebump rise on Ellis' skin. "Need this, need you."

Ellis was surprised by the whine in Suzu's voice. He was always so in control – entirely demanding, just the way Ellis liked it – but this was new and it made him feel powerful, having this huge, strong man falling to pieces with a few practiced shifts and arches. He took his chance, bending his head to claim Suzu's mouth, moaning when he was granted access. Without letting up on the kiss, he moved back along thick thighs enough to release them both from suddenly uncomfortable denim and he accepted the bottle of lube Suzu had blindly fished out of his desk drawer.

He rubbed his lube-sticky palms together to warm it, trusting Suzu's hands still gripping his hips to prevent him sliding off the chair, and he used both hands wrapped around them, pressing them together for perfect, relieving pressure that had both of them, now, making needy, desperate sounds as they chased a rough, eager finish. Ellis came first, and Suzu followed with a light press of teeth against Ellis' lower lip and a satisfied groan.

They stayed for a moment, ignoring the tacky mess, Ellis panting and resting his head against Suzu's heaving chest.

"Damn, how did I get so lucky?" Suzu asked and Ellis responded with a laugh.

"Me too," he admitted tiredly.

"Come on, baby, let's get you upstairs so I can clean you up before I tie you to the bed and take you apart."

"Ha, there you are," Ellis laughed, sliding gracefully off Suzu's lap, holding his sticky hands to one side.

"I never went away, I promise. Just making the most of Allie and Alanna being out. Plus, we aren't going to be able to fool around in the study when Laurent's living here."

"What?"

A/N: sorry for the delay, I was desperately churning out weirdness for my ONC stage 3 submission and I managed to burn myself out for a week after that, so have a longer than usual chapter as a result, and a teeny bit of smut - it's been a while since I wrote it, so I felt I needed the practice and you guys deserve it for being patient

(and a reminder that Suzu = Frankie for anyone who didn't know/remember that's what Ellis calls him)