After the Curtains Close: Home is Where the Heart is
After the Curtain Closes: Home is Where the Heart is
Rating: T
Words: 984
Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me and I make no profit from it.
Summary: What happens after the press conference and Holden's return
Holden laughed and oohed and ahhed at all the right places as LeighAnn Jackson flipped through page after page of photo albums. He saw before him Sean as a baby and watched as the pages turned and he grew into a boy and finally a young man. Sean was sprawled on a lazy boy chair in the corner of the room bemoaning the whole ordeal and pleading uselessly for his mom to put the albums away. His cheeks were tinged pink with embarrassment and every now and then he would hide his face with a pained groan. Holden looked up as LeighAnn described a particular trip they had gone on the summer before Sean started high school. He caught Sean’s eyes and smiled and was relieved to see Sean grin back in return, warmth and love emanating from his eyes reassuring Holden that this was all partly an act and he didn’t truly mind Holden seeing the photos.
“Sean slept the whole way out even though we were driving through beautiful scenery. We tried waking him up once and he just growled.” LeighAnn said with a laugh.
“He’s much better in the morning now.” Holden returned.
“Me? You’re the one that’s nearly homicidal in the morning.” Sean inputted with the slightest hint of a whine.
“Don’t try to make Holden look bad to me, honey.” LeighAnn scolded.
Holden laughed and when LeighAnn wasn’t looking stuck his tongue out in a childish gesture that had Sean’s mouth dropping open. He made a gasping protesting noise but LeighAnn just assumed it was in protest to her scolding and shushed him before flipping the album page.
“Here’s Sean’s graduation. He had a full football scholarship to multiple schools.” LeighAnn claimed proudly.
“Ma, he knows this. We do talk you know.” Sean teased with a roll of his eyes.
“What was your graduation like, Holden? I bet a smart boy like you graduated with honours. Your parents must be proud.”
Holden knew she was referring to his high school graduation but an image of himself standing up to collect his college diploma and looking out to the empty seats reserved for his parents crossed his mind. He vaguely registered Sean’s deep voice telling him mom it would be ok and to leave it alone. He felt a comforting hand on his leg and fought his way back to the present leaving the betrayal of his parents behind him. He blinked and offered a rueful grin that was meant to be reassuring.
“I’m sorry, love. I didn’t mean to bring up painful memories.” LeighAnn said softly.
“It’s alright, you didn’t know. My parents were proud I guess, in their own way but they expected me to graduate with honours so it wasn’t an achievement in their eyes. When I was in college I came out to them and well that was the last I spoke to them. A gay son did not fit their lifestyle so they decided no son would be better.”
Holden could see the compassion in LeighAnn’s eyes and was grateful that it was only compassion and love he saw their and not pity. He didn’t want or need pity and he knew that seeing that emotion would hurt him.
“I’m not one to speak ill of people but your so-called parents are complete idiots if they threw away the chance to be in your life over something as trivial as which gender you like. You are an amazing man, Holden Wilson. All the more so for having risen above this and strived on your own. As far as I’m concerned those people were fools and I’d be honoured if you would consider me your surrogate mom.”
“Thanks, LeighAnn. I’d like that.” Holden managed to say softly, his throat clogged with emotion.
LeighAnn just smiled and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug that made it slightly difficult for Holden to breathe. He held on tight even as he needed oxygen because he felt safe in her embrace and that safety was worth a bit of discomfort.
“Ease up, ma. You’re going to strangle my boyfriend.”
LeighAnn laughed and released Holden, stopping to pet his cheek softly before turning back to the photo album. Holden looked up to see Sean looking at them with a peculiar expression and his insecurities rushed back. He recalled Sean’s comment from the night before about LeighAnn perhaps liking Holden more than Sean and he wondered if Sean felt threatened. He didn’t want to make Sean upset and he didn’t want him thinking he was stealing his mom away. His thoughts were jumbled and angst-ridden as he continued to look at the photos, glancing up at Sean every few minutes.
It wasn’t until later in the afternoon that the two of them had a chance to be alone and Holden found himself uncharacteristically nervous when Sean settled onto the couch beside him. He fidgeted with his collar since he had left the tie off that morning and wasn’t surprised to find Sean’s large hands enclose around his own and forcing him to release the shirt.
“You ok, Holden?” Sean asked, his thumb rubbing circles into Holden’s hand.
“Yes, just... Sean? Your mom has been really great but I don’t want you to think I’m stealing her.”
“Holden, relax. I’m secure in my relationship with my mom. I’m just glad that you two have taken so well to each other.”
“Are you sure? You were looking at me weird before and I thought maybe...”
“I was just surprised that you opened up to my mom that’s all. Like her, I’m proud of you. You’re an amazing man, Holden Wilson and I love you.”
Holden let a deep breath out as relief surged through him washing away his insecurities. He wrapped his arms around Holden’s neck and pressed their lips together in a long kiss.
“I love you too, Sean Jackson.”
Rating: T
Words: 984
Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me and I make no profit from it.
Summary: What happens after the press conference and Holden's return
Holden laughed and oohed and ahhed at all the right places as LeighAnn Jackson flipped through page after page of photo albums. He saw before him Sean as a baby and watched as the pages turned and he grew into a boy and finally a young man. Sean was sprawled on a lazy boy chair in the corner of the room bemoaning the whole ordeal and pleading uselessly for his mom to put the albums away. His cheeks were tinged pink with embarrassment and every now and then he would hide his face with a pained groan. Holden looked up as LeighAnn described a particular trip they had gone on the summer before Sean started high school. He caught Sean’s eyes and smiled and was relieved to see Sean grin back in return, warmth and love emanating from his eyes reassuring Holden that this was all partly an act and he didn’t truly mind Holden seeing the photos.
“Sean slept the whole way out even though we were driving through beautiful scenery. We tried waking him up once and he just growled.” LeighAnn said with a laugh.
“He’s much better in the morning now.” Holden returned.
“Me? You’re the one that’s nearly homicidal in the morning.” Sean inputted with the slightest hint of a whine.
“Don’t try to make Holden look bad to me, honey.” LeighAnn scolded.
Holden laughed and when LeighAnn wasn’t looking stuck his tongue out in a childish gesture that had Sean’s mouth dropping open. He made a gasping protesting noise but LeighAnn just assumed it was in protest to her scolding and shushed him before flipping the album page.
“Here’s Sean’s graduation. He had a full football scholarship to multiple schools.” LeighAnn claimed proudly.
“Ma, he knows this. We do talk you know.” Sean teased with a roll of his eyes.
“What was your graduation like, Holden? I bet a smart boy like you graduated with honours. Your parents must be proud.”
Holden knew she was referring to his high school graduation but an image of himself standing up to collect his college diploma and looking out to the empty seats reserved for his parents crossed his mind. He vaguely registered Sean’s deep voice telling him mom it would be ok and to leave it alone. He felt a comforting hand on his leg and fought his way back to the present leaving the betrayal of his parents behind him. He blinked and offered a rueful grin that was meant to be reassuring.
“I’m sorry, love. I didn’t mean to bring up painful memories.” LeighAnn said softly.
“It’s alright, you didn’t know. My parents were proud I guess, in their own way but they expected me to graduate with honours so it wasn’t an achievement in their eyes. When I was in college I came out to them and well that was the last I spoke to them. A gay son did not fit their lifestyle so they decided no son would be better.”
Holden could see the compassion in LeighAnn’s eyes and was grateful that it was only compassion and love he saw their and not pity. He didn’t want or need pity and he knew that seeing that emotion would hurt him.
“I’m not one to speak ill of people but your so-called parents are complete idiots if they threw away the chance to be in your life over something as trivial as which gender you like. You are an amazing man, Holden Wilson. All the more so for having risen above this and strived on your own. As far as I’m concerned those people were fools and I’d be honoured if you would consider me your surrogate mom.”
“Thanks, LeighAnn. I’d like that.” Holden managed to say softly, his throat clogged with emotion.
LeighAnn just smiled and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug that made it slightly difficult for Holden to breathe. He held on tight even as he needed oxygen because he felt safe in her embrace and that safety was worth a bit of discomfort.
“Ease up, ma. You’re going to strangle my boyfriend.”
LeighAnn laughed and released Holden, stopping to pet his cheek softly before turning back to the photo album. Holden looked up to see Sean looking at them with a peculiar expression and his insecurities rushed back. He recalled Sean’s comment from the night before about LeighAnn perhaps liking Holden more than Sean and he wondered if Sean felt threatened. He didn’t want to make Sean upset and he didn’t want him thinking he was stealing his mom away. His thoughts were jumbled and angst-ridden as he continued to look at the photos, glancing up at Sean every few minutes.
It wasn’t until later in the afternoon that the two of them had a chance to be alone and Holden found himself uncharacteristically nervous when Sean settled onto the couch beside him. He fidgeted with his collar since he had left the tie off that morning and wasn’t surprised to find Sean’s large hands enclose around his own and forcing him to release the shirt.
“You ok, Holden?” Sean asked, his thumb rubbing circles into Holden’s hand.
“Yes, just... Sean? Your mom has been really great but I don’t want you to think I’m stealing her.”
“Holden, relax. I’m secure in my relationship with my mom. I’m just glad that you two have taken so well to each other.”
“Are you sure? You were looking at me weird before and I thought maybe...”
“I was just surprised that you opened up to my mom that’s all. Like her, I’m proud of you. You’re an amazing man, Holden Wilson and I love you.”
Holden let a deep breath out as relief surged through him washing away his insecurities. He wrapped his arms around Holden’s neck and pressed their lips together in a long kiss.
“I love you too, Sean Jackson.”