"You two decent?" I shouted through the closed door after knocking on it.

"Yes, Val, we are decent," my brother's voice assured me and so I pushed the door and walked inside his room.

True to his word, both Nat and Hunt were dressed - not that Hunter would've texted me to go over there if they weren't. The boys were sitting on my brother's bed - Hunter more like lounging with his back against the headrest, while my brother was perched at the end - and looking at me. That was another difference between them: Hunter's cool grey eyes were calm and Nat's brown ones betrayed a hint of nervousness. If I thought about it, his posture at the very edge of the bed gave the same impression.

"So, what's up?" I asked as I dug into the packet of biscuits I'd brought with me and headed for the empty chair in front of my twin's desk. Nat moved to the other side of the bed so he could face me instead of the doorway, adopting in the exact same pose as before. Hunter simply turned his head the other way and was once again looking at me.

"Biscuit?" I offered and tilted the packet towards the boys, careful not to sprinkle Nat's floor with crumbs. He was not going to appreciate that, the clean freak that he was.

"Nah," came Hunt's reply along with a "No, thank you" from my brother.

"My question still stands," I said, my butt claiming the chair and my mouth occupying itself with another chocolate chip goodness. "The what's up one, not the biscuit offer," I clarified with my mouth still half-full of dough and chocolate, something that my brother suspiciously ignored scolding me about. I swallowed and narrowed my eyes at him; were we about to engage in one of those serious conversations in which he admonished me in a parental tone for something I'd done, then begged me not to do it again?

Had I actually done something?

I couldn't recall anything that would require a serious speech. Sure, I had plans with Alex that he probably wouldn't approve of, but he didn't know about them.

He turned his head towards Hunter.

"I can tell her if you want," the older boy suggested.

So it's not about me? I relaxed and treated myself to another biscuit. What's on his mind then?

"No, I want to." His attention and eyes returning to me, Nat went on:

"I'm not sure how to gradually get into it, so I'm just going to say it, Val." He took a deep breath and then:

"When Hunt finds an apartment, I want to move in with him."

"Holly fuck!" I squeezed the packet in my hand and a few biscuits fell to the floor; we all ignored them. "You serious?"

"Yes, Val, very serious," my twin confirmed.

"Holly..." I jumped from my seat and laughed. "Have you picked an area for the apartment? When do you plan to move? When can I visit?" I shot one question after the other.

It was Hunter's turn to bark a laughter.

"Natty said you'd ask about a visit right away," he told me, then ruffled his boyfriend's hair. My brother's hand darted to smooth his locks as soon as Hunt let go of them.

"So... You are okay with that?" My twin asked. "I thought you would be happy for us, but I was still a bit anxious; we've never lived apart before."

"Well," I slid down the chair, placed the packet on Nat's desk and leaned down to collect the fallen food. "We'll have to separate one day. I don't like it, but we will. I'll miss you, obviously, but you are still in town so I can visit."

Nat stood up, opened a drawer and then handed me a paper tissue in which I put the biscuits that had been on the floor.

"I'm not looking forward to living with dad on my own," I continued, but was cut off:

"I didn't even think of that," he admitted and I silently stared at him for a few seconds before:

"Seriously?" I blinked at him. "You actually took this important decision without thinking about me? That's a first!"
"I did think about you, Val," he hurried to profess. "I just thought that you'd be happy for us..."

"And I am," I reassured him. "I'm still surprised you didn't muse over the Val-alone-with-dad factor; it's not like you to overlook something like that." I grinned at him before I delivered another line, this time in a teasing tone:

"Then again, love makes people stupid."

I watched in delight as his face reddened.

"I think I like that, being the smart one in the family for once." I leaned back in the chair and placed the tissue with the dirtied biscuits on the desk. "And speaking of family..."

I didn't finish my sentence, but by the way Nat's face grew heavy and he worriedly chewed on his bottom lip, I could tell he'd gotten what I meant.

"I could break the news to dad, if you want," I offered, but he shook his head.

"No, I'll tell him." He took in a very, very deep breath and then, quietly: "Mom too."

And there was the magic word which brought comfort to some and worry to my twin and I: mom.

She was the real challenge. Not only was she still in denial about Nat being gay, not only was there no way on Earth, in Hell, Heaven or wherever else that she'd agree to her son moving in with Hunter Harris, but just bringing up in front of her the possibility of that happening could... No, it no doubt would send her therapy back to the starting point.

"We'll talk to your dad this weekend." Hunter moved so he was sitting at the bed's edge where Nat had returned after handing me the tissue. My friend wrapped an arm around my brother's shoulders and Nat leaned his head on his boyfriend's chest.

"Your brother wants to do the talking, but I'll be with him," Hunter went on. "We think it would be best to win your father over before going to your mom."

I nodded; it was a good move.

"Do you want me there with you?" I asked and Nat bit his lip again before replying:

"I do want you there, Val, but you tend to lose your temper when dad's involved and that won't help us," he said. "So only if you promise not to antagonize him. Do you think you can do that?"
"I'll try."

"Well, try hard or you'll find yourself with my foot up that toned ass of yours," Hunt said and I grinned and cracked my knuckles.

"Bring it on, Harris! I always have time to wipe the floor with you."

Nat shook his head, but there was a tiny smile on his face and he seemed to relax a tad.

"We'll tell you when I'm ready to talk to dad," he said and I gave him another nod.

"Alright. Don't forget the couch."

Both boys looked confused at my words.

"When getting an apartment." I said in a tone that implied that my words didn't actually need a clarification. "I don't expect you to get me a spare bed, but you can at least get an apartment with a comfy couch for when I sleep over."

I took the packet from the desk and pushed the last chocolate chip biscuit in my mouth.

Will have to cancel for this weekend, I sent to Alex.

She texted back almost immediately:

Something happened?

Family stuff.

"Val?" His voice came from the other side of the door.

Gotta go. Tty later

"Come in," I left the phone on my desk just as it buzzed, announcing that another message had arrived.

I'll read it later, I thought. What I was about to tell my childhood bestie was more important.

Raiden entered my room and closed the door behind him, staying just a foot away from it. He looked nervous, ruffling the back of his red hair and for a brief moment I considered asking him what was wrong. But I was so anxious and giddy to share Nat and Hunt's news - something they allowed me to do, if it was only with Ray-Ray - and he didn't seem that nervous so I decided that whatever was on his mind, it could wait.

"I've got something awesome..." I started just as he went "Val, I have something to..."

We both paused.

We stared at each other.

I tilted my head to the side; he remained still.

"It's just that..."

"I wanted to..."

Again, at the same time.

I gave a quiet sigh; his was louder.

"Maybe you should go first, Val..."

"How about you..."

That's it!

I marched towards him and put my hand over his mouth.

"I let you go and you tell me whatever you came here to tell me, okay?"

He nodded.

"And then I'll share with you something awesome," I squealed the last word and let my hand drop.

He cleared his throat and looked me in the eyes.

"We haven't done many things together lately," he began, then cleared his throat again before adopting a serious expression. "Vallery Reed, I want to dress up in a gorilla suit and dance into a drunken guy's yard with you," he announced.

I gaped at him. He blinked... Then I threw myself at him and squeezed him in a tight embrace.

"That's one of the sweetest things anyone has ever said to me," I whispered in his ear.

What do you think of this chapter?

How do you think Nat's talk with his dad will go?

Do you think having Hunt and Val there will help?

How will Raiden react to Val telling him about the boys planning to move out together?

Do you remember what the deal with the gorilla suit was?

Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please give it a VOTE if you did and have a great time wattpadding! ❤

Next time: Raiden's POV!