Until the world change, there must always be a time in a gay man's life where he had to come out to family. Vlad just never knew it was that time in his life until he saw his grandma standing on his front porch and smiling up at him. Her small petite figure looked elegant as ever, as if she hadn't just come out of a comma a month ago.

     But other than the fact that he had to come out to her since there was no way of escaping it, he still couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that she was right there in front of him.

"Vladimir." She said his name so calmly, it made him feel like his old Russian self again.

"Ma." He exhaled and immediately pulled her in for a hug. May hugged him back and they stayed like that until Vlad pulled away.

     Taking a deep breath, he managed a smile for her before letting her into the house that had four kids running around. However, Vlad said nothing until he led her to the sitting room where Gala was arguing with Mariam on which channel to leave on.

     He watched his Ma's expression with a fake smile plastered on his face because deep down, very deep down, he was panicking and slowly losing his mind. How was he going to tell her? Should he be straightforward or beat around the bush hoping she would catch on?

     Grandma May always hated when he wasn't straightforward with her. She complained that she never understood him when he dropped small hints before finally telling her what he had to tell her. It made her frustrated and that was why he was a very straightforward person.

     The kids in the sitting room finally noticed the elderly woman in the hallway and they both stared. May chuckled lightly then smiled at them, quickly calming the awkwardness that was slowly growing.

"Vnuk, can you please introduce me to these lovely kids?" Her smile only brightened and they smiled back at her.

Vlad took another deep breath before replying, "Zis is Mariam and zat is Gala." He exhaled then continuing, "Mariam has brother, Faun but he is out now. Zey are friend's kids. Gala is my... Gala has little brother, Fyodor, but he is asleep upstairs. Zey are my kids."

When his grandma didn't yell, he turned to the kids and said, "Mariam, Gala, zis is my grandma."

     The house fell quiet and everyone stayed silent, waiting for Vlad's grandmother to speak. What she said next, Vladimir did not expect it.

"Oh lord, I am a great grandmother." Her frail hands reached for her face and she cupped her cheeks as she stared wide eyed at them. She must have realized Vlad having kids didn't make them her grandchild but her great grandchild. Vlad had stopped reminding her since he turned 20.

"Milord, Vladimir, this is amazing." She reached her arms out to Gala and she slowly walked up to them. She kept Gala in an awkward hug before glancing at Mariam and motioning for her to join the hug. "Oh this is truly amazing. Come on, tell me about yourself. Vnuk hasn't told me anything about kids. In fact, he vanished after I woke up from my coma. Ah Gala, you're so tall..."

     As May got to know the kids, Vladimir didn't know whether to be relieved or not. He was, slightly, since the kids were open with her and his grandma didn't waste time in criticizing his English but then it all didn't make sense.

     Vlad had only disappeared for a month so there was no way he could get a kid except he adopted and in a month, a sudden change of resolution? Vlad had hated the idea of a family because of his family. Now he's got someone and with two kids?

     The Russian knew he'd have to admit everything that was going on and that meant, he would have to introduce Andres. The man he was seeing.

     Suddenly feeling suffocated from his thoughts and grandma's presence, he left the house to the lawn to think of what to do. The cold air seemed to help him think but all that came up was admitting everything was a lie. The kids were a lie, the man he was seeing was a lie and he was just doing it so he could go home.

But that was a lie too. He was seeing the man and he did care for the kids a lot.

     After contemplating for another ten minutes, he decided to take a smoke. He had stopped for a while since he wanted to be a good role model to the kids. The last thing he wanted to see was Gala smoking because her dad did. Andres was going to kill him and in all the senses possible.

He went around back to where he normally hid to take a smoke then picked up the cigarette he had hidden in a pot vase and the lighter on the window sill. Vlad lit one then took a long drag from it. Warmth filled him and he exhaled after a while.

     Sliding to the floor, he leaned against the wall and took another drag before glancing at his phone in his hands. He didn't know who to call. The Gay Project Admin had ignored everyone's messages ever since Leon's accident and that was two days ago. It was now two days to the end of the month.

Vlad had this weird feeling they were going to stay longer than a month.

     Opening his phone, he sent a quick text to Stuart asking about Leon and a short text to Andres telling him his grandma was in their home. Then he lazily scrolled down his contact until he saw Michael, the other Canadian he had met. Vlad wondered if he would have any idea on what he should do in the situation he was in.

Having a huge hope, he dialed the number. The man picked up on the second ring. "So early."

Vlad quirked a brow. "How? It is already 2pm."

"Oh. Damn, I have a day off today so I must have overslept." There was then silence on the line that Vlad had almost thought he hung up but then his deep voice came back. "So, what's up?"

"My grandma appeared on my door step and I do not know how to come out to her. She has already seen kids."

"And Gala and Fyodor are how old?"

"Eighteen and four." He sighed.

Michael cursed. "Well, that's real fucked up. Bringing the family? What was the admin thinking?"

Vlad shook his cancer stick, waited for the burnt end to fall before dropping the other problem. "You know Leon and Stuart, other couple made?"

"The ones who know Bonnie?"

"Da. Leon got into accident. Broke his legs and lost his recent memories."

"Damn.... Now this is really fucked up. Have you contacted The Gay Project?"

"Zey've been ignoring everyone. I don't know what to do about my grandmother."

Michael remained quiet for a while then sighed. "I'll talk with Bonnie but introduce her to the fake you. The gay one, with the kids and all that. Create a realistic story and since she was in a coma like you told me, maybe you can use that one year to your advantage. Let me see what I can get out of Bonnie."

"Spasibo."

"I'm proud that I know what that means. You're welcome."

Vlad hung up and glanced up at the sky, recalling what the man had said. Introduce her to the fake you.

Fake me? he asked himself.

If that was the fake him, what was the real him? Who was the real him? The fake him was supposed to be in love with Andres with two kids they had adopted in the span of two years. Funny how the real him, wasn't so different.

     When he was done with his cigarettes, he stood up and stepped on what was left. He hid the packet and the lighter where he had gotten it and slowly strolled back in the house. He found Mariam watching her program but Gala and his grandma were nowhere to be found.

He started to call for Mariam when his grandma appeared at the top of the stairs. She was no longer smiling and Vlad's heart thumped every time she took a step towards him. When she got to the bottom, her furrowed brows became visible and she quietly walked into the dinning.

No one needed to tell him now was the time he had to confess what was going on. With his hands in his pocket, he followed her into the kitchen.

     "What is going on?"

"I am married to man and Gala and Fyo are our adopted kids."

May dropped on the stool and stared up at him with creased forehead. "H-How? When? Why?"

"A few years ago. Marriage was not big one and we got kids when you were in coma. I did not mean to leave you but Andres was having issues so I had to come back for him." His lie was absolutely stupid but he was winging it right now since there was no way he could construct a better one.

His grandma's hand slowly reached up to cover her mouth and as the first drop of tears left her eyes, it made him feel suddenly dead inside. "Why?" Her word shook. "Why would you do this to me? How can you love man? How are you sure it isn't something...?" She shook her head at him and Vlad felt himself grow weak.

He came closer to her but she stopped him saying, "Don't. Don't come any closer. I need to take this in."

"Ma?" Vlad didn't want to believe his voice was what shook like that and he didn't want to believe his Ma didn't accept him.

"You love him?" she asked between sniffs.

Vlad could only nod.

"Speak up, Vnuk. Say it. Do you?"

"I love him. I love Andres."

Vlad could only watch his grandma break into another fit of tears then she got off the chair and walked past him to the door and opened it to find Andres there. May cursed in Russian before brushing past him and went out the door. Vlad wanted to run after her but Andres caught him and pulled him into a tight bear hug.

He needed it. He needed it because at that moment, he didn't know what to do. He had once thought telling his Ma wouldn't be so bad because she loved him, but now he knew he was wrong. There was only so much she could love about him.

"You didn't have to tell her." Andres whispered to him, nuzzling his hair.

His hands gripped his shirt from the back. "But I wanted to."

"Why? The end of the month's coming and all of this would be all over. We will be back to our old lives."

His words were supposed to be comforting. They were supposed to give him hope so he could hang on, but he was completely missing the point and that drove Vlad mad.

     Abruptly, he pulled away from him and glared at the Colombian. "Our old lives?" His voice grew deep and it only made his accent come out sharper. "Ze end of ze month isn't going to change what I feel for you."

Then he stormed out angrily, taking the car keys with him and jumping into the car. He needed some alone time.

_______________________
Oh Damn!!
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