Fake Fan Fiction ❯ Photographs ❯ Chapter 4

Photographs - CHAPTER 4

PG-13 for Profanity and mild sexual description.

 

Ryo continues to reminisce on his life with Dee.

 

 

 

 

 

Ryo - Age 75

 

 

 

 

 

“I wasn't sure I wanted to look at this, Dee,” Ryo lifted the overly large album. “I thought I'd get too emotional. That was the happiest day of my life.”

 

Ryo opened the cover, “Just one more and I'm going to turn in. We can pick this up tomorrow - or should I say later on in the day?”

 

He chuckled at his own joke.

 

***

 

Ryo - Age 32

 

 

 

 

Ryo stretched languidly as he descended the stairs to the foyer of the bed and breakfast. Located on the sandy shores of a Caribbean island, it had been the perfect place for them to go on vacation. Ryo had scoured the internet and gotten them a good deal enhanced by their traveling off-season.

 

It wasn't the only purchase he'd made that week.

 

The owner of the hotel smiled at him from where she stood behind the reception desk. It was a family-run business, several generations, she'd told them. Ms. Annie was a plump older woman who had taken to Dee and Ryo and reminded them both of mother.

 

“Good morning, Ms. Annie.”

 

“Morning, Ryo - I see you decided to sleep in?”

 

“Yes, ma'am,” Ryo gave her an ingratiating grin as he leaned over the counter, “Have you seen Dee?”

 

“He's out on the patio with Dex,” Ms. Annie wrinkled her nose, “smoking those awful cigars. I've told that husband of mine he needs to stop.”

 

“Same here,” Ryo blushed, “that is, I've told Dee to stop.”

 

Ms. Annie smiled knowingly, “I wanted to let you know they'll be a fireworks display tonight. It will make for a very romantic walk on the beach.”

 

One of the reasons why Ryo liked Ms. Annie and Mr. Dex was that neither judged him and Dee or their relationship and had basically taken the two men under their care.

 

“When will it be?”

 

“Around nine p.m.,” she said. “Just take the third path down to the beach. Most people don't go that way at night so be careful.”

 

“Perfect,” Ryo smiled more to himself but Ms. Annie commented, “I take it tonight is going to be special?”

 

His blush deepened. “I hope so.”

 

“I'm certain things will go as you want them,” she winked, “And perhaps you'll recall later what a perfect honeymoon spot this would make.”

 

His expression softened, “Actually, I was thinking about that.”

 

The sound of laughter caused both to turn. Dee and the burly Mr. Dex sauntered into the room. Dee's eyes lit up when he saw Ryo, “Morning babe. Did you have a nice sleep?”

 

“I did,” Ryo pulled Dee into his embrace. “And what's this I hear about you smoking cigars?”

 

Mr. Dex's booming laugh filled them room as he hugged his wife's ample midsection and planted a kiss on her cheek, “Now, why did you go getting that boy into trouble, woman?”

 

“He's not the only one in trouble and don't you try to butter me up, old man.”

 

Ryo and Dee made a quiet exit.

 

***

 

“You okay babe? Just hang onto me.”

 

“Always,” Ryo said with a quiet smile.

 

The two detectives made their way down the sandy trail. The breeze moved the leafy brush, causing it to whisper gently and willingly share their secrets with the young lovers. The sun had just recently set and the horizon was fast losing its rosy blush.

 

Mr. Dex had told Dee about the alcove off the main path. It seemed to Ryo that he and his wife had some type of psychic connection as though they knew of Ryo's plans that night.

 

“Here it is,” they stepped out into an open semi-circle of the beach surrounded by the tall brush. They'd brought flashlights with them, a lantern, blankets and Ryo had asked Ms. Annie to supply a picnic dinner and oh - she just happened to have an extra bottle of wine. Ryo had thanked the woman profusely and had told her he and Dee would definitely be returning.

 

They spread out the blanket and got themselves settled by the light of the lantern. Dee opened the wine and poured Ryo a glass before helping himself.

 

“So what are we drinking to tonight?” Dee grinned in that roguish way of his.

 

“How about to a long and prosperous life?” Ryo said.

 

“Filled with magnificent - memories?”

 

Ryo laughed, knowing full well what Dee had planned to say. “That'll do.”

 

They sipped their wine in companionable silence. Ryo gathering his courage, “Dee - there's something important I need to say to you so just listen and let me get it all out, okay?”

 

“Okay,” Dee said, wariness creeping into his voice.

 

“I just wanted to say--,” What? That he loved him more than life itself? That waking up to him everyday made life worth living? He didn't want to come off as lame or overly dramatic but he couldn't seem to get his thoughts in order. How many nights had he practiced this moment? And now… “Dee - I love that we're together - I've been so happy these past few years. You've shown me so much - how much one person can love me. No one knows me better than you and I've loved sharing this life with you.”

 

Ryo took a fortifying sip of the wine, “But our relationship at this point for me- it's not enough anymore.”

 

Dee's eyes widened and his knuckles went white around the wine glass. “Ryo, what are you saying?”

 

Ryo drew in a deep breath and set his wine glass aside. He flipped open the top of the picnic basket, rummaged for a moment until his hand closed around the velvet box. “I'm saying--,”

 

“You're leaving me,” Dee's voice was an agonized whisper.

 

“What?” Ryo's brow creased in confusion. What on earth had made him think that? “Of course not!”

 

“What else is it?” Dee demanded, “you say you're not satisfied with me anymore--,”

 

“I didn't say I wasn't satisfied with you!” Ryo said. “You big doofus! I'm trying to ask you to marry me!”

 

Dee froze, his eyes growing very wide. After a moment of immobility, the wine glass slipped from his fingers. “W-what?”

 

Better get him while he's stunned. Ryo opened the box, revealing the engraved wedding band, “Dee Laytner, will you marry me?”

 

“Oh hell--,” Dee's voice came out a croak, “I thought - so who's the doofus?” Dee's abrupt change of tone caught Ryo off guard, “The way you worded it, I thought you wanted to break up with me!”

 

Ryo frowned in thought, going over his words in his head, “Yes, well I suppose you could have taken it the other way.”

 

Dee groaned in frustration, “Moron!”

 

“Yeah, well,” Ryo shot back, “you're marrying this moron, aren't you?”

 

“Damn straight I am!”

 

Both men looked at each other, stunned, and for a moment everything else ceased to exist. The spell was broken as the first spray of fireworks lit the air in a colorful burst of red and gold.

 

“Dee,” Ryo said. “Let's get married. I want everyone to know we truly belong to each other. Not just as lovers but as life partners.”

 

Dee swallowed thickly, his eyes brimming with tears, “Aw Ryo - baby - hell yes, I'll marry you.”

 

It was a simple thing to turn the lantern down, to reach for the love of his life and pull him close. Ryo undressed Dee with gentle care, taking control, caressing and whispering of his love. It wasn't long before they were both stretched across the blanket. Dee on his stomach; Ryo lying gently against his back. Their hands clasped and Dee kissed Ryo's fingers as the fair-haired man pushed carefully into Dee's opening.

 

“This is all for you, baby,” Ryo whispered, “Tonight is all yours.”

 

“Ryo--,” his name was followed by a passionate moan.

 

There were no words after that. Ryo showed Dee everything that was in his heart and mind and above them the sky was alive with fire.

 

***

Ms. Annie was in the back office when Ryo and Dee sauntered in, their arms around each other, Dee's hand in the back pocket of Ryo's jeans.

 

“Ms. Annie?”

 

“Ah - good evening you two,” she smiled knowingly at Ryo. “Well?”

 

Ryo grinned broadly, “He said yes.”

 

“Wonderful!” Ms. Annie cried, “Dex! Get your lazy bum out here! Get the champagne out of the fridge! Congratulations, boys! You two want to use the phone? Got family to call?”

 

“Yes ma'am and thank you,” Ryo said.

 

“Dex! Dex! Didn't you hear me!” Ms. Annie said as she bustled into the back office. “The boy said yes! Get up!”

 

“You told Ms. Annie?” Dee raised an eyebrow.

 

“No,” Ryo said as he dialed the number. “She sort of figured it out.” He put on the speaker phone.

 

After four rings the phone picked up. “Hello?”

 

“Carol?”

 

“Ryo! Hey, Bikky get your ass over here! It's Ryo!”

 

“Hey, dad,” Bikky's voice came on. “So did the perv say yes?”

 

“Bikky!” Carol said.

 

Just as Dee said, “Bite me, monkey brat!”

 

“He said yes.”

 

Carol squealed in delight, “But of course he did! I knew he would! Congrats, you two!”

 

“Just who didn't you tell?” Dee grumbled in mock indignation.

 

“Well, nobody at the 27th if you want to know.” Ryo said, “But it was only logical to tell our children.”

 

“Don't make me barf - ow!”

 

“Dumb ass,” Carol grumbled.

 

“You didn't have to hit me!” Bikky whined.

 

“Why don't you two lovebirds go and celebrate,” Carol said. “We'll see you when you get home.”

 

“Okay, we love you,” Ryo said.

 

“Love you too, Ryo, Dee,” Carol said.

 

“Yeah, whatever,” Bikky and Dee said at the same time, sending Ryo and Carol into an uncontrollable fit of giggles.

 

They called Mother Lane next and much to Dee's annoyance Mother was one step ahead of her arrogantly charming foster son, “I knew you would say yes!” They could practically see the light shining from her face. “I was going to crack your fingers if you didn't!”

 

“You always knew he was the love of my life,” Dee said.

 

“Of course,” Mother replied, “And I think I have the perfect place for the ceremony - that is if Ryo doesn't mind. How about Father Anderson's church?”

 

“Perfect!”

 

“Father Anderson?” Ryo said.

 

“He's an old friend of Mother's,” Dee said. “He has this place upstate in this little town where Mother grew up. It's a small campground with cabins. Mother used to take us up there to get us out of the city. Why don't we run up there when we get back?”

 

“If you love it, I'm sure I will.”

 

“Aww Ryo, baby--,”

 

“Ahem,” Mother cleared her throat, “I'll say goodnight now, boys.”

 

“Here we are!” Ms. Annie reappeared with the champagne and a wink. “And I'll say good night as well.”

 

***

 

When Ryo emerged from the shower he found Dee laying across the bed, his arms behind his head. It was reminiscent of the time at the hotel in England. And like that time Dee spoke what he was thinking without preamble, “I have only one regret. That Jess - my dad --,”

 

Ryo sat next to his lover and took his hand, laying it against his cheek. “He'll be at the ceremony just like my parents will be.”

 

“He would have loved you, you know,” Dee lifted himself up on his elbows, his expression earnest.

 

“And I'm certain my parents would have loved you too,” Ryo smiled, “My dad would have been your best friend because of the Knicks alone.”

 

Dee chuckled. He reached up and brushed his fingers across Ryo's face, “Come `mere baby and let daddy make you feel good.”

 

“Oh no,” Ryo, much to Dee's astonishment, pushed Dee down and straddled him. “I'm going to make you feel good. This night is all for you, sweetheart.”

 

***

 

A few days after returning to New York, Ryo and Dee picked up Mother and the three of them drove upstate.

 

Ryo smiled at his lover as he went on about spending summers at the camp.

 

“I would complain every time Mother took us all up,” Dee said. “But we always ended up having the time of our lives.”

 

“And getting into trouble every chance you had,” Mother commented.

 

Ryo chuckled.

 

“Hey!” Dee said.

 

“Father Anderson founded the camp for children of the orphanage. He knew how easy it was for them to get into trouble in the city and he wanted to show them there were other roads to travel.” Mother smiled, remembering her old friend. The look on her face brought a smile to Ryo and Dee's faces as well.

 

Ryo had one worry however. Even though Mother had spoken to Father Anderson and had explained the situation, he still wondered how the old priest would feel about officiating a homosexual union. It was more a ceremony for their friends than anything else; since it wouldn't be a legal joining. Ryo and Dee had talked at length about what they wanted to do. They could go to New Hampshire or Connecticut and have a civil union or go one step further to Massachusetts and have an official marriage by law. It hadn't been a difficult decision. They both wanted to be married.

 

“Ryo?”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“What are you thinking about?”

 

“Us,” Ryo said, “Mother - are you sure the Father won't mind--?”

 

“Ryo,” Mother leaned forward and squeezed his shoulder. “It's fine.”

 

Ryo sighed, relieved.

 

When they arrived Mother directed them to park in front of a large building which served as a reception area. Father Anderson came out to meet them. He was a corpulent man, sort of reminding Ryo of Santa Claus without the beard. Dee hugged him tightly and Father Anderson mussed his hair as though he were still fifteen.

 

“Father, this is Ryo.”

 

Ryo stepped shyly forward and, for some reason he couldn't fathom, felt himself blushing. “Hello Father Anderson, I'm pleased to meet you at last.”

 

“So this is the handsome man who won Dee's heart?” Father Anderson had a deep, friendly voice that put Ryo at ease almost immediately. Father Anderson embraced him. “It takes a special man to set this little hellion on the right path.” He winked at Ryo while motioning his thumb to Dee.

 

“Father, don't say things like that, you'll scare him off!” Dee protested in mock indignation.

 

“Nonsense,” Father Anderson said. “I can see it in his eyes. He loves you, Dee.”

 

“Now, I've got some sandwiches in the fridge but why don't I show you around first?”

 

They walked with Mother and Father Anderson leading the way. The camp had several small cabins, a dining area, several places for various sports and a lake with canoes for the children to enjoy.

 

Dee jogged ahead like a kid finding a secret cave and bounded up the steps of the nearest cabin. “Hey Ryo, this is mine. This is where I stayed.”

 

Ryo followed him up to the cabin's entrance. Inside it was clean and orderly.

 

“I'm willing to bet it wasn't this neat when you stayed here,” Ryo mused.

 

“What? Are you insinuating I was a slob when I was a kid?”

 

“I'm not insinuating anything. I'm saying this place probably looked like a tornado hit it whenever you were here.”

 

“Hey, I resent that remark!”

 

Ryo laughed and sat next to his fiancée on the bed. Dee draped an arm around his shoulders.

 

“So what do you think, babe? I mean, we haven't seen the chapel yet, but--,”

 

“It's perfect, Dee,” Ryo said. “This is a place where you made childhood memories. A part of that boy is still here. I'd love to be a part of that.”

 

“Ryo,” Dee gathered him into his arms and drew him in for a kiss. One kiss turned to two, then many, and before Ryo realized it, Dee had gently pushed him down on the bed and they were making out hot and heavy. They would have stayed there except Father Anderson suddenly called from outside.

 

Ryo blushed as they separated, “I can't believe we were making out like that.”

 

“Isn't that what you do at camp?” Dee smirked. “You know we don't have to leave this cabin or we can sneak back later--,”

 

Ryo laughed and pulled Dee to his feet. “Get up, you naughty boy. We have a priest and a nun outside. Do you want to get both your hands cracked with a ruler?”

 

Dee muttered something ungentlemanly as they walked outside.

 

 

***

 

 

 

 

 

Ryo - Age 75

 

 

 

Ryo closed the album and laid it aside. He brushed away the tears from his weathered cheek as he stood. He stretched and his muscles protested and his bones ached but somehow it didn't bother him as much as it usually did.

 

“See you in the morning, Dee.”

 

***

 

The scent of coffee awoke him and for a moment, Ryo pictured Dee in the kitchen, fussing with the coffee maker and a cigarette hanging from his sexy mouth. He tried not to smoke in the house and only did it when he knew Ryo wouldn't catch him.

 

With a sigh borne of missing the love of his life, Ryo rose from the bed just as a knock sounded. “Come in.”

 

“Morning Ryo,” Carol brought him in a mug of coffee, “Did you sleep well? We heard you come to bed awfully late.”

 

“Well enough,” Ryo accepted the cup and took a revitalizing sip.

 

“Will you be all right here by yourself today?”

 

“Carol, I've been by myself for six months now,” Ryo grumbled.

 

“I know. It's too bad we couldn't find someone after Miranda.”

 

Miranda was a nurse Bikky and Carol had employed for him who had recently retired to Florida, “I'll be fine, sweetie. I'm going to finish the last book today and then work in the garden for awhile. Then I think I'll look at the albums some more.”

 

“All right. We'll be back before dinner and Jessica will try to stop by today.” Carol took his arm in hers and they walked down the hall to the kitchen. Ryo was glad he could still eat some of the things he liked. Again as he sat there he saw Dee, face hidden behind the paper, grumbling to him about the news, weather or sports. It made him eager to get his work done and get back to the albums.

 

Despite how much he loved his children, Ryo was glad for the time alone. He spent the morning in his study finishing off his last novel. He felt it was time - past time actually, but his readers had begged for more. He couldn't work at it as diligently as he used to. Typing itself was almost impossible so Bikky had gotten him one of those voice-response software programs. It was convenient, more or less, except when it misinterpreted something he'd said but his editor was pretty good at figuring out the words. Now she was retiring and Ryo really didn't feel like working with anyone else.

 

For a moment he glanced at the shelves and couldn't help but smile. It was of course about his and Dee's time on the police force. There was a movie and a TV series. The movie itself was based on their time in England. There was some trouble with the casting. The two young actors chosen to play them, although exceptional performers, were both straight. The studio showing a phenomenal lack of decorum had made it seem as though their concerns weren't a big deal. Ryo and Dee had fought and argued and had finally won their case. Two newcomers were chosen and had done an outstanding job.

 

Ryo liked the movie version well enough, although it didn't stay entirely true to the story and it was difficult to watch the scene where he'd had to fight for his life against Reynard (for some reason he was called Leonard in the movie) Henry. Ryo thought the scene where Dee crashed a motorcycle through the window was a tad ridiculous - mainly because Henry had come out of having a motorcycle land on him without so much as a bruise. But Dee loved it and Carol giggled at how sexy Dee - or at least the actor - looked doing it.

 

Now, Ryo typed the last word of his last book. “Well Dee, this is it. I think ending the series here is appropriate.” A click later and it was off. He felt some regret but mostly he was satisfied that he'd done his work well.

 

Ryo then showered and dressed. It was a warm day but a fog was rolling in, so he poured himself another cup of coffee and carried it out onto the deck. For a moment he stood and stared across the expanse of their property. They'd taken many walks in the wooded area behind their hedge.

 

“Hey, Ryo,” Dee said quietly. “Look over there.”

 

“Oh wow, a deer! How cool is that?”

 

Something in the garden caught Ryo's eye. Something that he'd not noticed before. Frowning in puzzlement, the former police commissioner stepped down onto the grassy lawn.

 

He didn't remember planting a rose of that color. In fact he was certain he hadn't. It was a deep red, the symbol of fiery passion. It grew alone on a trellis heavy with ivy. For a moment he stared at it and a brief memory - Dee bringing him a dozen roses like this one nestled in his arms. Damn, he'd looked handsome in a suit; his hair slicked back, his smile full of mischief.

 

“Oh Dee,” Ryo reached out and slid a gentle finger along one of the petals. He decided he didn't want to garden after all.

 

He was back in the house and in the study. The albums were where he'd left them. Ryo sat in his chair again.

 

“We had such a good life,” Ryo said. “Not perfect - we had our bad times - awful times, but we always managed to get through it.”

 

Ryo reached for another leather bound album. He felt a swelling of pride at how Dee had made certain everything would be all right. It had been a trying time for all - but no one as much as Diana.