Amnesty Challenge Five reasons etc by Aingeal (Five Challenge)
Title: Five Reasons (and maybe a few more) Ray was glad he and Fraser asked Elaine out
Author: Aingeal
Characters: Fraser/Vecchio/Elaine
Rating: PG
Length: 3577 words
Notes: This started as a five things fic but I'm not sure of those five things are clear, hence the title ;-) Also it covers more than I had intended but that just means more F/V/E goodness. Many thanks to leda_speaks for beta.
Five Reasons (and maybe a few more) Ray was glad he and Fraser asked Elaine out
Ray had never thought himself unconventional in his relationships. He'd been married to a woman, a lovely woman, but things hadn't worked out. After that he dated a few other women but nothing had been long term. Then,of course, Benton Fraser, RCMP had come along and Ray had discovered that he also liked men. That was maybe a little unconventional, being with another guy, but not as unconventional as what the two of then had ended up doing.
He was happy with Benny, he was very happy with Benny. However, one night they had been working late and had asked Elaine out for a cup of coffee. She had accepted. It was meant to be a simple coffee between friends and it had started that way. They had had a good time; even Fraser had been smiling. It had been so good that they had invited Elaine back to Fraser's apartment.
It had been a purely impulsive act but it had led to something more. There was an energy between the three of them that Ray really couldn't deny. It had been there since the first time, when they had awkwardly sat in Fraser's apartment and realised they had been staring at each other. It still had been there when Fraser had clumsily kissed Elaine who in reply had kissed Ray.
It had been there when they had ended up naked and stumbling onto the bed, only to find it was a bit of a tight squeeze. Their energy meant they were determined not to be defeated and with some improvisation they had had sex. Really good sex. They had touched and tasted and pleasured each other. Ray knew how to do that with Fraser and he knew how to do it with a woman but together it was new, exciting and something they had to do again.
They had, several times. They would invite Elaine round to Fraser's apartment or take her out for dinner but it inevitably ended up with sex. Some of the best sex that Ray had had in his adult life. It wasn't easy having two lovers but finding the balance was part of the fun. And it was arousing to see Fraser kissing and touching Elaine. To see him be tender with her and then be tender with them both. It was...fulfilling.
Then Benny had brought home a book on sex. A special book on threesome sex, no less. Where he had bought it Ray had no idea. The last thing he could picture Benton Fraser purchasing was a book on sex, let alone one about sex between threesomes. The man would sometimes blush at the sight of a condom.
“Are you sure about this, Benny?” Ray asked.
“About what, Ray?”
“About having sex with Elaine,” Ray said.
Fraser fingered the book, rubbing a thumb against the thankfully non-explicit cover. “Yes, Ray. It's not that our own sexual activities are unsatisfying but...”
“When we're with Elaine it's better? Like having a bigger dessert?” Ray asked, trying to put into words his own thoughts about it.
Fraser nodded. “That's a good analogy, Ray.”
“Can I have a look at that book?” Ray asked.
Fraser handed it to him. It had clearly already been opened. “Page thirty has some interesting...”
Ray looked at Fraser. “Benny!” He couldn't believe he'd read it already, but apparently he had.
Fraser was blushing. “Do you think Elaine will appreciate it?”
Ray flipped to page thirty. He read it carefully, and the diagrams helped. “Yeah, I think she will.”
Later that evening they showed her page thirty and she did appreciate it. Along with page fifty four and twenty six.
Quickly, though, they had to realise that they were about more than sex. Ray had always had an affection for Elaine, something that, given the right circumstances, would move beyond just friendship and once they had started it had. He started to love her, as much as he loved Benny. Differently, but certainly with as much intensity.
The weird thing was that it had been true of Fraser too. Elaine had been one of the few women whom he had actually felt more comfortable around. The way to woo Fraser wasn't to go all out like Frannie, but be courteous and helpful. Elaine was and that made her an ideal woman for Fraser. He confessed to Ray that he did have feelings for Elaine, feelings Ray had admitted he shared.
After that, it had been simple. Well, it hadn't been simple to admit to Elaine they had both fallen in love with her while still being in love with each other. In fact, it had all been rather strange. They had invited her round to Fraser's apartment. Fraser had insisted on candles and Ray had allowed him six relatively nice looking coloured ones.
Fraser started their admission. “Elaine, we have something to tell you. Don't we, Ray?
“Yes, we do,” Ray agreed.
“Okay, what is it?” Elaine asked, looking around at the candles.
“Well, you see, Ray and I have been discussing...” Fraser paused.
Ray picked up the thread. “We've been discussing our relationship with you.”
“Not that we have a relationship, well, we do have a relationship but we would like to change that relationship but we can't do that unless we admit our emotional motivation,” Fraser said.
“Yeah, so, what we're trying to say is...we have feelings, for you.”
“Ray, it's okay, I get it,” Elaine said, putting her arms around them both. “You think I'd sleep with any two gay guys?”
“We're not gay, we're...” Ray searched for the word.
“Ray and I believe ourselves to be bisexual,” Fraser said.
“Okay, so you think I'd sleep with any two guys? I don't sleep with just any guy.”
“Are you bisexual, Elaine?” Fraser asked, totally innocently.
“No. I'm straight. I like guys. Two guys in particular,” she said smiling at them.
“We like a certain woman,” Ray said, feeling more confident at the sight of her smile. “We love you Elaine.”
“I was hoping you'd say that,” she said leaning forward for a kiss Ray was happy to oblige her with.
“If you don't think it's too forward,” Fraser said, clearing his throat. “Ray has been asking me to move to a new apartment for some time...”
“Since he moved in here,” Ray said.
“Yes. I've not had a reason to find a new one but if you and Ray are happy to...”
“We're moving in together,” Elaine said, firmly, not letting Fraser finish.
“I try to get you to move out of this place for two years and all I had to do was get Elaine to kiss you?”
“She's kissed you too, Ray. This apartment isn't big enough for three.”
“That bed isn't big enough for three,” Ray noted. It was rather cramped whenever they tried to make love. Make love. That was the point Ray realised that it really was more than sex. Moving in together was logical, well, it would be as it was Fraser's idea.
And it was his idea to get them to use said cramped bed as he encouraged Ray and Elaine toward it, sharing kisses as they went.
It hadn't taken much searching to find their ideal place. Fraser's sole requirement was that it allowed pets. Elaine and Ray had had to think about other aspects such as the neighbourhood, bedrooms, furnishings and the finer points of carpeting. Elaine wasn't hard to please, it was Ray who found himself questioning every little detail.
“Ray, there's nothing wrong with this one ,” Elaine said when they finished viewing their seventh apartment. “I like it.”
It was a nice place, two bedrooms, pet friendly, came with a few furnishings but not too many, and with a very reasonable price they could easily afford on their combined salaries. Ray had to be sure, though.
“I know that,” he replied, checking the window. “Is there a draft?”
Fraser held a finger up. “No, Ray, it would appear the windows are airtight.”
“Maybe the heating doesn't work.”
“It feels as if it's working to me, Ray,” Fraser said placing a hand on a radiator.
“What about this carpet, you think this is clean?” Ray asked, eyeing a strange looking stain.
Elaine put a restraining hand on Ray's arm. “Ray, you do want to do this, right?”
Ray looked at Elaine's expectant face and then turned to Fraser who was giving him the big eyed Mountie look. Moving in with two people he loved, why was he nervous? Because he didn't want to screw this up.
“Yeah, I want to do this, it's just...” It was just everything.
“A big thing?” Elaine suggested.
Ray gave a weak smile. “Yeah.”
“I'm nervous as well, Ray,” Fraser said, joining them.
“Me too,” Elaine added.
“Thanks,” Ray said. “You think we can fit a king size bed in the bedroom?” he asked, peering toward it.
“Yes, Ray. In fact the dimensions are very generous.”
“Okay, then, let's put a deposit down.”
Elaine and Fraser hugged him. Okay, so he still wasn't sure about the stain on the carpet but they could do this, they could live here, together. Fraser kissed Elaine first.
“You guys should get a room,” Ray joked.
“Only if you're moving in with us,” Fraser replied.
“I can do that,” Ray said. This time he got to kiss Fraser and Elaine wolf whistled.
They didn't wait to get a room.
There being three of them meant running the place was a lot easier than with one or two. They took turns to do the various chores. Although, in what Ray could only describe as a fit of newly wed enthusiasm, they tended to do what chores they could together, grocery shopping, changing the bed, even (although often they got distracted), and Fraser had talked Ray and Elaine into spending one Sunday afternoon dusting with him.
“You know, Benny, we could have gone out,” Ray grumbled as he picked up one of Elaine's statuette things to dust it.
“The apartment needed cleaning,” Fraser replied. “And with three of us we can be done more quickly which leaves us more time for other things.”
“He has a point, Ray.” Elaine said. “We can do something later. We don't have to go out.”
Elaine's answers always got Ray. She was agreeing with both of them. It was a skill Ray admired.
“Where did these come from anyway?” Ray asked, changing the subject. He held up another of the four statuettes Elaine had brought with her that currently lived on one of the bookcases.
“My grandmother,” Elaine replied. “I used to play with them when I was little.”
“She let you play with them?” Fraser asked, sounding surprised.
“Yes,” Elaine said.
“My grandmother wouldn't let me touch anything,” Ray said. “She had this box that Frannie really liked. She never let me see what was in it. I used to think maybe she kept a dead body in it.”
“Was it a big box?” Fraser asked.
“It wouldn't have been big enough for a body,” Ray said. “But when you're a kid you don't think about stuff like that.”
The next half hour passed far too slowly for Ray's liking. There was something...arousing about the sight of Fraser dusting, his sleeves rolled up, the movement of his muscles. Ray glanced at Elaine, her hair pinned back in a ponytail. She looked good when she was dusting, too. Ray sighed. He really had to stop having these thoughts. He tried going back to dusting but failed.
He glanced over at Elaine again who winked at him. Ray gave her a smile and gestured toward Fraser. He was so absorbed in his housework he hadn't noticed his two lovers looking at him. Elaine nodded at Ray, clearly she agreed that the sight of Fraser dusting was one to behold. Ray looked at Elaine, at Fraser and then the bedroom. She nodded again.
“I think we're done in here,” Elaine said, setting down her cloth and stretching.
Fraser looked about. “Are you sure?”
“Benny, we only moved three weeks ago, we haven't had time to get the place dirty yet,” Ray said. “You can see your face in this table,” Ray said, distracting Fraser while Elaine moved closer to him.
“Still, I think we should...” Fraser was interrupted by Elaine tugging him toward her and giving him a kiss. “Oh, I see.”
“We need to make sure the bedroom's clean,” Ray added, taking one of Fraser's arms. Elaine took the other.
“That's a good point,” Fraser replied as he allowed himself to be led into the bedroom. “Perhaps we should change the sheets.”
They did change the bed, eventually. After that Ray was fine with Sunday chores.
In the next few months Ray learned that Elaine preferred low fat yoghurt, that Fraser was allergic to most shampoos, that Dief seemed to like having his own room and that his mother was bemused by his living arrangements but didn't want to disown him. He also appreciated having someone around who also loved Benny but also knew how annoying he was. Elaine became his ally where Fraser was concerned.
It had not been long after they had moved in that Ray had really appreciated having an ally like Elaine. Fraser had stood guard duty in the rain and had, for the first time in his life, caught a chill that had rapidly developed into flu. Of course, as far as Fraser was concerned he was perfectly fine.
“Benny, you cannot go to work,” Ray said, looking at Fraser who looked tired and flushed. Ray had got up and ready for work while Fraser had overslept, a rare occurrence.
“I'm perfectly fine, Ray.”
“You're sick, Fraser,” Ray said. You've got a temperature.” He felt Fraser's forehead. It was hot.
“It's just because the three of us generate a lot of body heat so the bed is warm,” Fraser said, shifting awkwardly in the bed.
Ray sighed. Elaine came back into the bedroom, robe wrapped around her, rubbing her hair with a towel.
“Elaine, tell Benny he can't go work today.”
“You're sick, Ben,” Elaine said.
“As I told, Ray, I'm not sick.”
Fraser struggled to get out of bed. He stood up for a whole three seconds before he lost his balance. Both Elaine and Ray were there to stop him falling.
“Yeah, you're not sick, you just can't stand up,” Ray said.
“The floor is uneven. It's moving,” Fraser said. “We should call somebody about that.”
“The floor is fine, Ben,” Elaine pointed out. “You're not.”
Fraser grudgingly agreed that yes, perhaps he was better staying home from work. Fortunately, Elaine had the day off so she could make sure that Fraser wasn't going to get up and try to go to work after Ray had left. He had to go work but that didn't stop him leaving detailed instructions.
“Now, we've got chicken soup and if you phone Ma she'll bring some over fresh. There's painkillers in the bathroom and extra blankets in the closet. We've got orange juice in the fridge...” Ray said as he moved around the kitchen..
Elaine gently placed a finger on Ray's lips to quieten him. “Ray, I do live here.”
Ray put his arms around her. “I know that. It's just Benny being sick...he never gets sick.”
Elaine hugged him. “I know he doesn't get sick. He'll be fine, Ray. I'll take care of him.”
Ray kissed her. “I know you will. What did we do without you?”
“Got into trouble,” Elaine replied.
“Yeah. We did.”
Ray gave her another hug before he went to say his goodbyes to Fraser.
“Benny?”
Fraser was falling asleep again. He blinked his eyes as Ray stood next to the bed. “Ray? Shouldn't you be at work?”
“I'm going to work,” Ray explained. “I just wanted to say goodbye.”
Fraser was leaning back agaisnt the pillows. “That's nice, Ray.”
“Now, Elaine is staying home so she's going to take care of you.”
“I love Elaine, Ray,” Fraser said, with a goofy smile.
Ray smiled back. “I know. I love her too.”
“And I love you, Ray.”
“I know.”
Fraser looked at him. “Do you love me?”
“Yes, Benny.”
“Does Elaine love you?”
“Yes and she loves you,” Ray added. “I'm going now, Benny.”
“Don't kiss me, Ray, you might get sick.”
“Okay.” Ray leaned down and gave Fraser a brief hug. He squeezed his hand as an extra. It felt warm and sweaty.
Elaine came in, dressed and ready to deal with sick Fraser. “Okay, Elaine is here,” Ray said, “I'm going.”
“I'll miss you,” Fraser said, his big eyes gazing at Ray. He had to admit that sick and confused Fraser was cute in a weird way.
Ray gave Elaine a kiss. “I'll be back at lunchtime. If you need anything...”
“I'll call,” Elaine replied.
“Thanks Elaine.”
“Go on, you'll be late,” she said, giving him a shove.
Ray looked at his watch and reluctantly left the bedroom. He paused at the doorway. “Okay, and if he gets worse...”
“Ray! I'll call a doctor. Go before Welsh asks why you were late.”
“Okay. Bye Benny, bye Elaine.”
Very reluctantly Ray left the apartment knowing Fraser was, at least, in good hands.
He couldn't have been in better. Ray was actually able to relax and get on with some work. He didn't have the urge to ring home every few minutes. He called home at lunchtime to find Fraser had had some soup. He was impressed at the way Elaine handled it all. It reminded him again why he and Fraser had fallen in love with her.
With the nursing care of both Elaine and Ray, Fraser recovered pretty quickly. Fortunately, neither Ray or Elaine fell ill. Dief tried to convince them he wasn't well but only because he had developed a taste for chicken soup.
After Fraser's illness things settled down into a routine. Everything had been going great. Then Elaine had made an announcement. She had gotten them to sit down first, which was never a good sign. They sat expectantly on the edge of the bed, each holding the others hand.
Elaine looked at them seriously. “Guys, I think I might be pregnant.”
Ray was first to react. “Pregnant? You can't be pregnant, we use protection,” Ray protested.
“No form of contraception is a hundred percent effective,” Fraser pointed out.
“Whose side are you on?” Ray had asked in reply.
“Ours, Ray,” Fraser turned to their lover. “Are you sure Elaine?” Fraser asked.
“I took a test,” she admitted. “It came back positive.”
Fraser looked concerned. “You've not seen a doctor?
“Not yet. I thought I should tell you first.”
“We appreciate it Elaine,” Fraser said.
“Ray?” Elaine clearly wanted some response. It would take some time to think of one.
Kids had never been something that he had factored in to any relationship, let alone this slightly unconventional one. He and Fraser couldn't have actually kids, of course, but Elaine could. They hadn't discussed it but then they had only been together for a year. They had moved into together pretty quickly but it had felt right. This felt right. It did.
Both Elaine and Fraser were looking at him expectantly. He could tell they were happy about this surprise. They deserved an answer.
“You know, Dief's not going to like giving up his room,” he said.
Elaine flung her arms around him, almost knocking him backward. “Thanks, Ray,” she said.
Fraser joined in the hug. “We're going to be parents,” he said.
“Yeah, we are,” Ray agreed.
Several months later they were indeed parents to one Emily Fraser-Vecchio. Her biological father wasRay Vecchio but none of them saw it that way. Benton Fraser was as much her father as Ray Vecchio. Although Ray joked that Fraser was eighty percent father and twenty percent mother. One thing about there being three of them meant that it was a lot easier when it came to diaper changing and late night feeds.
Right now, Elaine had just finished feeding their daughter and the four of them were on the bed. Ray reached out and stroked Emily's cheek. He couldn't believe the three of them had managed to create something as amazing as this.
“She's beautiful,” he said, for possibly the hundredth time in the last three weeks.
“She takes after her mother,” Fraser replied. “And her father,” he added.
“Good save, Ben,” Elaine said.
Yeah. Ray was one lucky guy.
“Ray?” Elaine's voice broke into his thoughts.
“Is there something you want to say, Ray?” Fraser asked.
“No,” Ray said, perhaps a little too quickly.
“Why not?”
“It's mushy,” he said. “Guys don't say stuff like this.”
“You can say it to us, Ray,” Fraser said.
“Yeah, we won't tell anyone,” Elaine added.
“I'm lucky,” Ray started. “And...I'm really glad me and Benny asked you out.”
“So am I,” Elaine said.
“So am I,” Fraser added, looking at their daughter. “And I'm sure Emily will be. When she's old enough.”
Dief whined.
“And Diefenbaker is too.”
Ray put his arm around Elaine and Fraser put his around her too. The four of them, well, five if you included Dief, were a family. Ray had never really gone for unconventional relationships but from the moment he and Fraser had asked Elaine out he was glad that, this time, he'd decided to change.
Author: Aingeal
Characters: Fraser/Vecchio/Elaine
Rating: PG
Length: 3577 words
Notes: This started as a five things fic but I'm not sure of those five things are clear, hence the title ;-) Also it covers more than I had intended but that just means more F/V/E goodness. Many thanks to leda_speaks for beta.
Five Reasons (and maybe a few more) Ray was glad he and Fraser asked Elaine out
Ray had never thought himself unconventional in his relationships. He'd been married to a woman, a lovely woman, but things hadn't worked out. After that he dated a few other women but nothing had been long term. Then,of course, Benton Fraser, RCMP had come along and Ray had discovered that he also liked men. That was maybe a little unconventional, being with another guy, but not as unconventional as what the two of then had ended up doing.
He was happy with Benny, he was very happy with Benny. However, one night they had been working late and had asked Elaine out for a cup of coffee. She had accepted. It was meant to be a simple coffee between friends and it had started that way. They had had a good time; even Fraser had been smiling. It had been so good that they had invited Elaine back to Fraser's apartment.
It had been a purely impulsive act but it had led to something more. There was an energy between the three of them that Ray really couldn't deny. It had been there since the first time, when they had awkwardly sat in Fraser's apartment and realised they had been staring at each other. It still had been there when Fraser had clumsily kissed Elaine who in reply had kissed Ray.
It had been there when they had ended up naked and stumbling onto the bed, only to find it was a bit of a tight squeeze. Their energy meant they were determined not to be defeated and with some improvisation they had had sex. Really good sex. They had touched and tasted and pleasured each other. Ray knew how to do that with Fraser and he knew how to do it with a woman but together it was new, exciting and something they had to do again.
They had, several times. They would invite Elaine round to Fraser's apartment or take her out for dinner but it inevitably ended up with sex. Some of the best sex that Ray had had in his adult life. It wasn't easy having two lovers but finding the balance was part of the fun. And it was arousing to see Fraser kissing and touching Elaine. To see him be tender with her and then be tender with them both. It was...fulfilling.
Then Benny had brought home a book on sex. A special book on threesome sex, no less. Where he had bought it Ray had no idea. The last thing he could picture Benton Fraser purchasing was a book on sex, let alone one about sex between threesomes. The man would sometimes blush at the sight of a condom.
“Are you sure about this, Benny?” Ray asked.
“About what, Ray?”
“About having sex with Elaine,” Ray said.
Fraser fingered the book, rubbing a thumb against the thankfully non-explicit cover. “Yes, Ray. It's not that our own sexual activities are unsatisfying but...”
“When we're with Elaine it's better? Like having a bigger dessert?” Ray asked, trying to put into words his own thoughts about it.
Fraser nodded. “That's a good analogy, Ray.”
“Can I have a look at that book?” Ray asked.
Fraser handed it to him. It had clearly already been opened. “Page thirty has some interesting...”
Ray looked at Fraser. “Benny!” He couldn't believe he'd read it already, but apparently he had.
Fraser was blushing. “Do you think Elaine will appreciate it?”
Ray flipped to page thirty. He read it carefully, and the diagrams helped. “Yeah, I think she will.”
Later that evening they showed her page thirty and she did appreciate it. Along with page fifty four and twenty six.
Quickly, though, they had to realise that they were about more than sex. Ray had always had an affection for Elaine, something that, given the right circumstances, would move beyond just friendship and once they had started it had. He started to love her, as much as he loved Benny. Differently, but certainly with as much intensity.
The weird thing was that it had been true of Fraser too. Elaine had been one of the few women whom he had actually felt more comfortable around. The way to woo Fraser wasn't to go all out like Frannie, but be courteous and helpful. Elaine was and that made her an ideal woman for Fraser. He confessed to Ray that he did have feelings for Elaine, feelings Ray had admitted he shared.
After that, it had been simple. Well, it hadn't been simple to admit to Elaine they had both fallen in love with her while still being in love with each other. In fact, it had all been rather strange. They had invited her round to Fraser's apartment. Fraser had insisted on candles and Ray had allowed him six relatively nice looking coloured ones.
Fraser started their admission. “Elaine, we have something to tell you. Don't we, Ray?
“Yes, we do,” Ray agreed.
“Okay, what is it?” Elaine asked, looking around at the candles.
“Well, you see, Ray and I have been discussing...” Fraser paused.
Ray picked up the thread. “We've been discussing our relationship with you.”
“Not that we have a relationship, well, we do have a relationship but we would like to change that relationship but we can't do that unless we admit our emotional motivation,” Fraser said.
“Yeah, so, what we're trying to say is...we have feelings, for you.”
“Ray, it's okay, I get it,” Elaine said, putting her arms around them both. “You think I'd sleep with any two gay guys?”
“We're not gay, we're...” Ray searched for the word.
“Ray and I believe ourselves to be bisexual,” Fraser said.
“Okay, so you think I'd sleep with any two guys? I don't sleep with just any guy.”
“Are you bisexual, Elaine?” Fraser asked, totally innocently.
“No. I'm straight. I like guys. Two guys in particular,” she said smiling at them.
“We like a certain woman,” Ray said, feeling more confident at the sight of her smile. “We love you Elaine.”
“I was hoping you'd say that,” she said leaning forward for a kiss Ray was happy to oblige her with.
“If you don't think it's too forward,” Fraser said, clearing his throat. “Ray has been asking me to move to a new apartment for some time...”
“Since he moved in here,” Ray said.
“Yes. I've not had a reason to find a new one but if you and Ray are happy to...”
“We're moving in together,” Elaine said, firmly, not letting Fraser finish.
“I try to get you to move out of this place for two years and all I had to do was get Elaine to kiss you?”
“She's kissed you too, Ray. This apartment isn't big enough for three.”
“That bed isn't big enough for three,” Ray noted. It was rather cramped whenever they tried to make love. Make love. That was the point Ray realised that it really was more than sex. Moving in together was logical, well, it would be as it was Fraser's idea.
And it was his idea to get them to use said cramped bed as he encouraged Ray and Elaine toward it, sharing kisses as they went.
It hadn't taken much searching to find their ideal place. Fraser's sole requirement was that it allowed pets. Elaine and Ray had had to think about other aspects such as the neighbourhood, bedrooms, furnishings and the finer points of carpeting. Elaine wasn't hard to please, it was Ray who found himself questioning every little detail.
“Ray, there's nothing wrong with this one ,” Elaine said when they finished viewing their seventh apartment. “I like it.”
It was a nice place, two bedrooms, pet friendly, came with a few furnishings but not too many, and with a very reasonable price they could easily afford on their combined salaries. Ray had to be sure, though.
“I know that,” he replied, checking the window. “Is there a draft?”
Fraser held a finger up. “No, Ray, it would appear the windows are airtight.”
“Maybe the heating doesn't work.”
“It feels as if it's working to me, Ray,” Fraser said placing a hand on a radiator.
“What about this carpet, you think this is clean?” Ray asked, eyeing a strange looking stain.
Elaine put a restraining hand on Ray's arm. “Ray, you do want to do this, right?”
Ray looked at Elaine's expectant face and then turned to Fraser who was giving him the big eyed Mountie look. Moving in with two people he loved, why was he nervous? Because he didn't want to screw this up.
“Yeah, I want to do this, it's just...” It was just everything.
“A big thing?” Elaine suggested.
Ray gave a weak smile. “Yeah.”
“I'm nervous as well, Ray,” Fraser said, joining them.
“Me too,” Elaine added.
“Thanks,” Ray said. “You think we can fit a king size bed in the bedroom?” he asked, peering toward it.
“Yes, Ray. In fact the dimensions are very generous.”
“Okay, then, let's put a deposit down.”
Elaine and Fraser hugged him. Okay, so he still wasn't sure about the stain on the carpet but they could do this, they could live here, together. Fraser kissed Elaine first.
“You guys should get a room,” Ray joked.
“Only if you're moving in with us,” Fraser replied.
“I can do that,” Ray said. This time he got to kiss Fraser and Elaine wolf whistled.
They didn't wait to get a room.
There being three of them meant running the place was a lot easier than with one or two. They took turns to do the various chores. Although, in what Ray could only describe as a fit of newly wed enthusiasm, they tended to do what chores they could together, grocery shopping, changing the bed, even (although often they got distracted), and Fraser had talked Ray and Elaine into spending one Sunday afternoon dusting with him.
“You know, Benny, we could have gone out,” Ray grumbled as he picked up one of Elaine's statuette things to dust it.
“The apartment needed cleaning,” Fraser replied. “And with three of us we can be done more quickly which leaves us more time for other things.”
“He has a point, Ray.” Elaine said. “We can do something later. We don't have to go out.”
Elaine's answers always got Ray. She was agreeing with both of them. It was a skill Ray admired.
“Where did these come from anyway?” Ray asked, changing the subject. He held up another of the four statuettes Elaine had brought with her that currently lived on one of the bookcases.
“My grandmother,” Elaine replied. “I used to play with them when I was little.”
“She let you play with them?” Fraser asked, sounding surprised.
“Yes,” Elaine said.
“My grandmother wouldn't let me touch anything,” Ray said. “She had this box that Frannie really liked. She never let me see what was in it. I used to think maybe she kept a dead body in it.”
“Was it a big box?” Fraser asked.
“It wouldn't have been big enough for a body,” Ray said. “But when you're a kid you don't think about stuff like that.”
The next half hour passed far too slowly for Ray's liking. There was something...arousing about the sight of Fraser dusting, his sleeves rolled up, the movement of his muscles. Ray glanced at Elaine, her hair pinned back in a ponytail. She looked good when she was dusting, too. Ray sighed. He really had to stop having these thoughts. He tried going back to dusting but failed.
He glanced over at Elaine again who winked at him. Ray gave her a smile and gestured toward Fraser. He was so absorbed in his housework he hadn't noticed his two lovers looking at him. Elaine nodded at Ray, clearly she agreed that the sight of Fraser dusting was one to behold. Ray looked at Elaine, at Fraser and then the bedroom. She nodded again.
“I think we're done in here,” Elaine said, setting down her cloth and stretching.
Fraser looked about. “Are you sure?”
“Benny, we only moved three weeks ago, we haven't had time to get the place dirty yet,” Ray said. “You can see your face in this table,” Ray said, distracting Fraser while Elaine moved closer to him.
“Still, I think we should...” Fraser was interrupted by Elaine tugging him toward her and giving him a kiss. “Oh, I see.”
“We need to make sure the bedroom's clean,” Ray added, taking one of Fraser's arms. Elaine took the other.
“That's a good point,” Fraser replied as he allowed himself to be led into the bedroom. “Perhaps we should change the sheets.”
They did change the bed, eventually. After that Ray was fine with Sunday chores.
In the next few months Ray learned that Elaine preferred low fat yoghurt, that Fraser was allergic to most shampoos, that Dief seemed to like having his own room and that his mother was bemused by his living arrangements but didn't want to disown him. He also appreciated having someone around who also loved Benny but also knew how annoying he was. Elaine became his ally where Fraser was concerned.
It had not been long after they had moved in that Ray had really appreciated having an ally like Elaine. Fraser had stood guard duty in the rain and had, for the first time in his life, caught a chill that had rapidly developed into flu. Of course, as far as Fraser was concerned he was perfectly fine.
“Benny, you cannot go to work,” Ray said, looking at Fraser who looked tired and flushed. Ray had got up and ready for work while Fraser had overslept, a rare occurrence.
“I'm perfectly fine, Ray.”
“You're sick, Fraser,” Ray said. You've got a temperature.” He felt Fraser's forehead. It was hot.
“It's just because the three of us generate a lot of body heat so the bed is warm,” Fraser said, shifting awkwardly in the bed.
Ray sighed. Elaine came back into the bedroom, robe wrapped around her, rubbing her hair with a towel.
“Elaine, tell Benny he can't go work today.”
“You're sick, Ben,” Elaine said.
“As I told, Ray, I'm not sick.”
Fraser struggled to get out of bed. He stood up for a whole three seconds before he lost his balance. Both Elaine and Ray were there to stop him falling.
“Yeah, you're not sick, you just can't stand up,” Ray said.
“The floor is uneven. It's moving,” Fraser said. “We should call somebody about that.”
“The floor is fine, Ben,” Elaine pointed out. “You're not.”
Fraser grudgingly agreed that yes, perhaps he was better staying home from work. Fortunately, Elaine had the day off so she could make sure that Fraser wasn't going to get up and try to go to work after Ray had left. He had to go work but that didn't stop him leaving detailed instructions.
“Now, we've got chicken soup and if you phone Ma she'll bring some over fresh. There's painkillers in the bathroom and extra blankets in the closet. We've got orange juice in the fridge...” Ray said as he moved around the kitchen..
Elaine gently placed a finger on Ray's lips to quieten him. “Ray, I do live here.”
Ray put his arms around her. “I know that. It's just Benny being sick...he never gets sick.”
Elaine hugged him. “I know he doesn't get sick. He'll be fine, Ray. I'll take care of him.”
Ray kissed her. “I know you will. What did we do without you?”
“Got into trouble,” Elaine replied.
“Yeah. We did.”
Ray gave her another hug before he went to say his goodbyes to Fraser.
“Benny?”
Fraser was falling asleep again. He blinked his eyes as Ray stood next to the bed. “Ray? Shouldn't you be at work?”
“I'm going to work,” Ray explained. “I just wanted to say goodbye.”
Fraser was leaning back agaisnt the pillows. “That's nice, Ray.”
“Now, Elaine is staying home so she's going to take care of you.”
“I love Elaine, Ray,” Fraser said, with a goofy smile.
Ray smiled back. “I know. I love her too.”
“And I love you, Ray.”
“I know.”
Fraser looked at him. “Do you love me?”
“Yes, Benny.”
“Does Elaine love you?”
“Yes and she loves you,” Ray added. “I'm going now, Benny.”
“Don't kiss me, Ray, you might get sick.”
“Okay.” Ray leaned down and gave Fraser a brief hug. He squeezed his hand as an extra. It felt warm and sweaty.
Elaine came in, dressed and ready to deal with sick Fraser. “Okay, Elaine is here,” Ray said, “I'm going.”
“I'll miss you,” Fraser said, his big eyes gazing at Ray. He had to admit that sick and confused Fraser was cute in a weird way.
Ray gave Elaine a kiss. “I'll be back at lunchtime. If you need anything...”
“I'll call,” Elaine replied.
“Thanks Elaine.”
“Go on, you'll be late,” she said, giving him a shove.
Ray looked at his watch and reluctantly left the bedroom. He paused at the doorway. “Okay, and if he gets worse...”
“Ray! I'll call a doctor. Go before Welsh asks why you were late.”
“Okay. Bye Benny, bye Elaine.”
Very reluctantly Ray left the apartment knowing Fraser was, at least, in good hands.
He couldn't have been in better. Ray was actually able to relax and get on with some work. He didn't have the urge to ring home every few minutes. He called home at lunchtime to find Fraser had had some soup. He was impressed at the way Elaine handled it all. It reminded him again why he and Fraser had fallen in love with her.
With the nursing care of both Elaine and Ray, Fraser recovered pretty quickly. Fortunately, neither Ray or Elaine fell ill. Dief tried to convince them he wasn't well but only because he had developed a taste for chicken soup.
After Fraser's illness things settled down into a routine. Everything had been going great. Then Elaine had made an announcement. She had gotten them to sit down first, which was never a good sign. They sat expectantly on the edge of the bed, each holding the others hand.
Elaine looked at them seriously. “Guys, I think I might be pregnant.”
Ray was first to react. “Pregnant? You can't be pregnant, we use protection,” Ray protested.
“No form of contraception is a hundred percent effective,” Fraser pointed out.
“Whose side are you on?” Ray had asked in reply.
“Ours, Ray,” Fraser turned to their lover. “Are you sure Elaine?” Fraser asked.
“I took a test,” she admitted. “It came back positive.”
Fraser looked concerned. “You've not seen a doctor?
“Not yet. I thought I should tell you first.”
“We appreciate it Elaine,” Fraser said.
“Ray?” Elaine clearly wanted some response. It would take some time to think of one.
Kids had never been something that he had factored in to any relationship, let alone this slightly unconventional one. He and Fraser couldn't have actually kids, of course, but Elaine could. They hadn't discussed it but then they had only been together for a year. They had moved into together pretty quickly but it had felt right. This felt right. It did.
Both Elaine and Fraser were looking at him expectantly. He could tell they were happy about this surprise. They deserved an answer.
“You know, Dief's not going to like giving up his room,” he said.
Elaine flung her arms around him, almost knocking him backward. “Thanks, Ray,” she said.
Fraser joined in the hug. “We're going to be parents,” he said.
“Yeah, we are,” Ray agreed.
Several months later they were indeed parents to one Emily Fraser-Vecchio. Her biological father wasRay Vecchio but none of them saw it that way. Benton Fraser was as much her father as Ray Vecchio. Although Ray joked that Fraser was eighty percent father and twenty percent mother. One thing about there being three of them meant that it was a lot easier when it came to diaper changing and late night feeds.
Right now, Elaine had just finished feeding their daughter and the four of them were on the bed. Ray reached out and stroked Emily's cheek. He couldn't believe the three of them had managed to create something as amazing as this.
“She's beautiful,” he said, for possibly the hundredth time in the last three weeks.
“She takes after her mother,” Fraser replied. “And her father,” he added.
“Good save, Ben,” Elaine said.
Yeah. Ray was one lucky guy.
“Ray?” Elaine's voice broke into his thoughts.
“Is there something you want to say, Ray?” Fraser asked.
“No,” Ray said, perhaps a little too quickly.
“Why not?”
“It's mushy,” he said. “Guys don't say stuff like this.”
“You can say it to us, Ray,” Fraser said.
“Yeah, we won't tell anyone,” Elaine added.
“I'm lucky,” Ray started. “And...I'm really glad me and Benny asked you out.”
“So am I,” Elaine said.
“So am I,” Fraser added, looking at their daughter. “And I'm sure Emily will be. When she's old enough.”
Dief whined.
“And Diefenbaker is too.”
Ray put his arm around Elaine and Fraser put his around her too. The four of them, well, five if you included Dief, were a family. Ray had never really gone for unconventional relationships but from the moment he and Fraser had asked Elaine out he was glad that, this time, he'd decided to change.