Title: Green Eyed Monster
By: glo-starz
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: NC17
Summary: Nick had never really considered himself posessive until she came along. A new lab tech joins the Vegas crew and Nick doesn't like her, or the way she fawns over Greg, one little bit. It's not really too angsty - and you know me, I couldn't write a sad ending if I tried . . .

“You have your book bag?” Greg asked their adopted son, Mark, as they headed towards the Denali, his little hand clasped in his.

“Indeed he does, and he read to me last night. And he did it really well, too.” Nick closed the door, a piece of toast in one hand and a swimming kit in the other.

“Oh, did he now . . . and why not read to me, huh?” Greg asked as he attacked his son’s ribs with his fingers then picked up the giggling six-year-old and strapped him into the car.

“Because you’re always really silly.” He laughed. “You make the people do weird stuff and it makes me laugh too much.”

Nick laughed at his son’s comments, thinking again how much it felt like having three kids in the house, not two and two adults.

“Sounds like Daddy all right.”

Greg playfully swiped Nick on the shoulder then got into the car, passing the swimming kit he had just taken from Nick to a ten-year-old girl who was already in the back seat.

“Hiding your kit under your bed won’t work. I know you hate swimming, honey, but how can I take you surfing if you don’t at least try? I don’t wanna drop you in a wave and watch you drown.” Greg ruffled his daughter’s hair and turned back around to face the front. “Belts on?” Both children nodded. “Ok, let’s get you to school.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Half an hour later, they were in the break room having the usual morning coffee and chatting to the other techs and CSIs. Greg sat on the couch, holding his mug and looking puzzled. Suddenly he cleared his throat and spoke.

”Did you have any trouble getting Linds to swim, Cath?”

“No, Greg. She took to it like a duck to water.” Catherine smiled and crossed her arms. “In fact, it was hard to get her out of the pool once she was put in it.”

Greg sighed at her reply. “Oh well. Maybe she just doesn’t like the water.”

“Oh, poor baby!” Greg felt Nick wrap his arms around him from behind. “Our little girl will never be a surfer. How are you going to cope?”

Greg grabbed Nick’s collar and pulled him down to face him. “Same way I cope with you not being a surfer. You can sit on the beach with Amy, and me and Mark will go carve up some waves.”

Nick laughed and pecked his husband on the cheek before sitting beside him and waiting for Grissom.

Grissom walked in five minutes later, yellow slips in his hands.

“Ok, we’re running on reserves today as it seems most of the shift before were slacking or sick and there’s no tech in the DNA lab. So Greg . . .”

Greg moaned and let his head drop into his hands.

“I’m in DNA. Great.”

“It’s only for today, Greg and if you’re lucky only for a few hours. Apparently the replacement should be here soon.”

“But you just said that they were slacking . . .”

“Which means there is a backlog in DNA as well. So Greg, DNA.”

“Ok, ok . . . I’m going.”

Greg stomped off, muttering under his breath as the rest of the team were given their assignments for the day.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It didn’t take long for Greg to fall back into his old routine of loud music and odd behaviour. In a way, as much as he hated not being in the field, he liked to be here, working with his chemicals and machines. He was soon playing drums on the desk to a Marilyn Manson compilation when a voice shouted out his name.

“Greg!”

Greg’s pencil drumsticks flew into the air and clattered onto the floor behind him. A voice belonging to someone he couldn’t see giggled. He turned around but all he saw was Grissom with his arms folded leaning against the door frame.

“Jesus, Griss. How’s about a warning next time?”

Grissom laughed and beckoned someone to join him in the glass walled room.

“Greg, I’d like you to meet Holly. She’s our new DNA tech. Show her the ropes, let her have some of your coffee and hopefully we can have you out of the lab soon and back in the field.”

A petite girl with dyed red and black hair walked into the room. She was wearing tartan pants, knee high rock boots and a Manson t-shirt. Greg’s face broke in to a huge grin.

“Greg Stokes-Sanders at your service.” The girl giggled then walked over to Greg, shaking his hand. “Let me show you around.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nick finished his last case of the evening an hour after his shift was supposed to finish and headed into the break room. He was about to walk in when a familiar laugh met his ears. He smiled, his mood lightening despite the shitty day he’d had. Greg was just beyond the door, joking with one of the gang. Then another laugh met his ears. And it wasn’t one he recognised. It was female. And it was laughing at whatever Greg was saying. He frowned and walked into the room.

“Hey.”

“Hey, Nicky.” Greg jumped out of his chair and walked over to his husband, flinging his arms around him. “This is Holly, she’s the new DNA tech.”

Nick looked at her and his mouth dropped open. It was like looking at Greg’s best friend Abby. She was pretty, gothic and into Manson. He got an unsettled feeling in the pit of his stomach. All the time he’d been watching her, she hadn’t taken her eyes off Greg. He hadn’t realised that Greg was still talking.

“ . . . also went to Stanford but worked with the Miami guys before she came here.” He turned and beamed at his husband. “Nicky?”

Nick turned round to face him and put a fake smile on his face.

“Oh, sorry. Nice to meet you Holly.” He reached out and shook her hand. “I see you’ve already met my husband, Greg.” She nodded. “Anyway, if you’ll excuse us, we have to go pick our kids up from school.”

“That’s Amy and Mark, right?” Greg nodded. “Ok. See you tomorrow, Greg.”

“Need me in the lab with you?”

“If you don’t mind, yes, I think I do,” Holly said.

Greg beamed and Nick scowled. Why did Greg look so excited at the prospect of working in the lab with her?

“Ok. I’ll clear it with Grissom. Bye, Holly.”

Nick walked out of the break room, Greg hot on his heels. When he got home he was going to mark his territory . . .

Laughter rang out around the break room as the two loudest shift members stopped work to have their coffee break. Greg and Holly had been working together for three days and already it was like they had known each other for life, and it felt to some of the quieter techs like a life sentence. She was from California, she surfed, they had been to see the same bands, they had the same attitude . . . hell, Greg had even caught her making her own monkey mask.

After this event, Greg had deemed Holly worthy and as a result had shown Holly his secret stash of Blue Hawaiian and had spent most of their coffee break teaching her how to make it, just like him, with the dash of cinnamon. They were now sitting opposite each other, spilling the details of their childhood misdemeanours. It seemed that Holly had been quite the handful.

“I know, right? But that’s why I’ll never have kids.”

“Don’t say never.” Greg shook his head and pointed to himself. “I thought I‘d never have kids. Partly ‘cause of the way I was as a kid, partly ‘cause I’m gay and partly ‘cause I wasn’t sure I’d be a good dad. But Mark and Amy? Man, I’d be lost without ‘em.” Greg smiled, thinking about his two children who were currently at school.

“Speaking of the being gay and all . . . how did you have ‘em? I mean with no lady to provide the lady parts, you can’t make an infant.”

“Surrogacy. Same mum for both of them. Amy is the fruit of my loins . . .” Holly made a face that said that was way too much information, “and Mark is the best thing Nicky has ever made. Although you’d never guess who had fathered who if you met them.”

“What do you mean? You said they both had brown hair and brown eyes like you and Nick, so there has to be some kind of family resemblance.”

Greg took a photo of the four of them from his wallet and, with a massive smile of pride, handed it to Holly.

“They do look like their dads. But Mark is as bizarre and weird as a kid as I was and Amy? She’s a little Nick down to how she speaks, mannerisms, what she eats . . . the works. And she hates water.”

Holly laughed. “Man, that has to be a real kick in the ass for a surfer like you! How’s about giving her a skateboard? Ease her in that way?”

“Tried that. The skateboard lives in Mark’s room. Mind you, Nicky gave her a football and she won’t touch that either. She’s very much a . . . well . . . a girl. We’re gonna have to get Cath on board when puberty hits.”

“Well, anytime you need help or a sitter . . . I’m from a large family.”

“How large?”

“Well, from what I’ve heard around here, it could make Nick’s look small.”

“Jeez, that is big.”

Holly got up from the table and washed up her mug before Greg followed, handing her his. She shook her head and washed it anyway, a small chuckle passing her lips.

”What?”

“Well, I was just thinking . . .”

“What?”

“Do you wanna buy Mark a straitjacket now or later? You’re gonna have to watch him, you know. If he’s anything like you . . .”

She ducked as Greg stuck his tongue out at her then tossed a cloth over her head.

“Why you little . . .”

“Griss!” Greg said, putting his hands behind his back to hide the wet sponge he was about to add to the cloth.

“Your pay slips, children. Greg.” He handed Greg his. “Holly.”

He was about to turn and leave when Greg noticed Holly’s pay slip.

“Hey, Griss? You gave Holly the wrong one.”

He took it from her and handed it to Grissom.

“No. It’s correct.”

He gave Greg a strange look and then wandered out in search of others who wanted to be paid.

“Caroline?” Greg said with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes, Gregory, my real name is Caroline. My middle name is Holly. I just thought it suited me better.”

Greg scrutinized Holly carefully, tapping his foot against the floor and his finger against his lips.

“Yeah, actually, it does.”

Holly laughed and casually pushed him against the wall, pushing herself up against him in the process.

“Whatever, DNA boy.” She grabbed the collar of his lab coat and pulled him down the corridor towards their lab. “Work.”

Nick, who had been watching the exchange through the glass walls, took off down the corridor, a weird feeling in the pit of his stomach.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Grissom caught up with a stressed looking Nick at the entrance to the forensics building.

“Ah, Nicky. Pay slip.”

Nick took the envelope and pocketed it, clearing his throat as he did.

“Er, Griss?”

“Yes, Nick?”

“I wondered . . . Holly . . . and Greg . . . I mean . . . DNA lab . . . how long before Greg’s back in the field?”

“Well, there’s still a huge backlog, plus all the new stuff you guys are bringing in, so I’d say . . . three days, a week tops.” Nick groaned and rubbed the back of his neck. “Is there a problem?”

“No, cheers Griss.”

Muttering under his breath about useless DNA techs who could never live up to Greg, Nick made his way to the parking lot where Sara was waiting in a Denali. He slammed the door and yanked at the seatbelt. An obscenity escaped from his lips.

“My, my Nicky boy. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

”Sorry, Sara. Just . . . Holly.” Nick raised his arms in frustration.

“What about her?”

He sighed.

“She just . . . with Greg . . . it’s not . . . he’s too . . .” He stuttered, at a loss for words to find what he couldn’t explain.

A huge grin split Sara’s face in half and her eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Aha! You’re jealous!” She snickered. “I can see why. I mean, she is Greg. Or at least she would be if Greg was a girl.” Nick snorted. “They like the same music, They both surf, they’re both from California . . .”

“Can it, Sara.”

“You know you’re being a dumbass, right?”

Nick sighed and rubbed his face with his hands.

“I know. But I can’t help it. I mean, we’re so different that . . .”

“Nicholas Stokes!” Sara thumped the steering wheel. “You and Greg are two halves of one whole. You’re the calm side to his insanity; he’s the spontaneous side to your stuffiness. You have two adorable kids and you’ve been married longer than more or less everyone I know. Do you really think you have anything to be jealous about?”

Nick let his head drop back against the seat.

“No. I guess not. Anyway, it’s not Greg I don’t trust. It’s her.”

“Exactly. And if she tries anything we’ll set Cath on her. Ok?”

Nick laughed and finally let himself smile.

”Ok. Deal. Now, wasn’t there something about a crime scene?”

Sara shook her head and started the Denali.

Great, she thought. This could get very difficult.

“No. He’s safe . . . but I . . . no . . . I don’t want you . . . It’s none of your business . . . no, he can’t . . . why should I . . . you know what, Adam? Screw you.”

Greg watched from the doorway as Holly carried out her rather heated conversation before throwing her cell to the table. He didn’t know whether to go in and let her know he’d seen her or hang back and wait for her to compose herself. He decided that right now she needed an ear.

“Hey,” he said, wandering into the room and putting his coffee mug in the sink. “Sounded like one hell of a heavy conversation.”

Holly sighed and picked up her phone, switching it off as it began to ring again.

“Just a bit.”

“Wanna talk about it?”

Holly sighed once more and picked up her phone again, playing with the buttons.

“I can’t. Not here, Greg.” She let her head drop into her hands. “Seriously . . . I’m hanging on by a thread right now.”

Greg noticed that her eyes glistened with tears and decided not to push it. He stood up and walked to Holly’s side of the table, wrapping his arms around her.

“Drink after work?”

She nodded then stood up, grabbing Greg’s hand and dragging him back to the DNA lab. Nick turned out of the garage and in to the main corridor just in time to see Greg walking away from him, hand in hand with Holly.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Just as Nick was starting to calm down from his earlier discovery, his cell vibrated in his pocket. He picked it up, noting a small envelope icon that meant he had a message. He pressed the ‘read’ button when he saw it was from Greg.

Hey hot stuff. Gonna be late home tonight. Taking Holly out for a drink. Order in take-out for about eight. See you guys then! Love ya!

Nick growled and slammed his cell onto the counter in front of him.

“Jesus, Nicky what’s up? You’ve been acting like a bear with a sore butt all day.”

“Sorry, Cath. I can’t help it.”

“I gathered that, but taking it out on your cell won’t make it any better. So what’s the foul mood about?”

Catherine stopped what she was doing and walked over to Nick, her heels clicking on the floor. She stopped beside him and leant on the counter, putting one leg in front of the other and folding her arms over her chest.

“This whole thing with Holly.”

“What thing with Holly?”

“You know. They way she is with Greg.”

Catherine cocked her head to the side and looked confused.

”What thing? They seem to get on really well to me.”

“That’s my point. They get on too damn well. Every time I see ‘em, they’re laughing or listening to some of that stuff that they call music. They just left the break room holding hands, for Christ’s sake. It’s just . . . too familiar.”

Catherine smiled and shook her head.

“In other words, you’re jealous.”

“That’s not it, Cath. We’re married. I get to take him home every night, so why would I be jealous?”

“Ok, so if it’s not jealousy what is it?”

“I just don’t trust her.”

“Why not?”

“Because she’s all over my husband. And because tonight we actually had the chance of a night together. Alone. The kids are over at friends, staying the night, so the house is empty apart from us. I was hoping for a little . . . you know.” Catherine giggled. “But instead, he’s asked me to get a take-out in for eight tonight as he’s taking Holly out drinking.” He sighed and shook his head. “She’s trying to split up my family, I just know it.”

“Christ Nicky, paranoid much?” Catherine reached out and ruffled his hair. “Ok, so what if she is? You really think Greg’s gonna take her up on her offer?”

Nick finally smiled and shook his head.

“No. You’re right. It’s stupid, isn’t it?”

“Yes, Nicky, it is.”

“Besides,” he grinned, “Sara has already promised that if she does anything out of order we can set you on her.”

“Oh, well it’s nice to know Sara has your back, just like. . . . wait a minute, what did you just say?”

Nick took one look at Catherine’s surprised and slightly pissed off face and started laughing. Man, was Sara ever in trouble now.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By five o’clock, Greg was sitting at an orange formica-topped table in a coffee shop, his drink in his hands. Opposite was Holly, looking at the table.

“So . . . this phone call . . .”

Holly took a deep breath and began.

“I lied the other day. When I said I would never have kids. Truth is I have a six-year-old called Kevin. Me and his father lived together in California. His father, in case you wondered, was the Adam guy I was yelling at on the phone. Anyway. I thought I loved him. We’d been together since we were teenagers, you know? So when I got pregnant we got married, bought a little place and set up home.”

She stopped and took a sip of her coffee. “It didn’t take long for him to change. About three months after Kevin arrived, he started to get angry. I was tired all the time, nursing him, and I was sore all over so I didn’t like to be touched. But he kept pushing and pushing and I just wouldn’t let him and eventually . . .”

She stopped again and a small sob escaped her lips. “Eventually he just snapped. The beatings started then. I didn’t fight him. I wanted to stay with him because of Kevin. But the second he laid a finger on him . . . well, I had to get away. I took Kevin to my mom’s and I came here to start a new job. When I was settled, I was going to fly back and get him. God, I miss him so much.”

With that final comment she began to cry, proper sobs that wracked her body. Greg felt his mouth drop open and was quickly by her side, holding her. He didn’t have a clue what to say. He’d processed crime scenes of beaten spouses, but this was so close, so real. It wasn’t like he could go home at the end of the day and forget all about it. This involved his friend. He’d be carrying it with him now for life. Just the thought of her or her kid being hit filled him with rage. He would love to get hold of that good for nothing son of a bitch of a husband now.

“You got a picture of Kevin?”

Holly wiped her eyes and nodded, pulling on the chain that attached her wallet to her trousers. Digging into it she took out a small piece of photo paper and smiled, gazing intently at the features of the small child on it before handing it to Greg. Greg looked at the picture and felt his face break into a grin.

“Wow. He’s gonna break a few hearts when he grows up.” Holly giggled. “He looks a lot like you. Apart from his hair.” Holly lifted a dark strand to reveal a touch of blond roots. “Ah. Maybe the hair too.” He handed the photo back. “So he’s at home with your mom?”

“Yeah. And I never thought it was possible to miss anyone so much.”

Greg thought back to the time Nick had been abducted, the time he was in hospital after the stalker, the times he had been away at conferences and even visiting his parents before they knew that he and Greg were an item. Even now, just thinking about it, he could feel the pain of missing Nick.

“Yeah,” he whispered. “It’s scary when you know you can’t live without someone.”

He took another sip of his coffee and grinned. Luckily, I don’t have to miss him. He’s right at home waiting for me, he thought.

Greg opened the door and before he had even had time to say hello or drop his bag, he was pushed against the wall and Nick’s lips were firmly attached to his. He opened his mouth and an eager tongue was pushed in, rapidly exploring his mouth. His bag was thrown to the floor as the kiss began to deepen.

As they kissed furiously, Nick’s hand reached down and began to unbuckle Greg’s belt as his other hand grabbed his wrists and pinned them above his head. Soon, Nick had Greg’s pants and boxers around his ankles and was stroking Greg to hardness.

Once Greg was fully aroused, Nick pushed three fingers into his mouth,

“Make ‘em nice and wet, Greg. No lube for bad boys like you.”

Greg sucked the fingers, licking in between them and coating them with his saliva. When Nick thought they were wet enough, he pulled them from Greg’s mouth and turned him around so his chest was pressed to the wall. Nick pulled his waist so Greg’s ass was sticking out then plunged two fingers into his hole. Greg cried out then sucked in a deep breath.

“Nicky!” he cried out as the fingers began to travel quickly in and out of his ass.

Barely giving him time to adjust to the intrusion, Nick pushed another finger into Greg. Greg pushed back against him, moaning softly as Nick hit his prostate. When Nick decided Greg was stretched enough, he released his own straining cock from its confines and lined it up with Greg’s hole, before slipping in to the hilt on one thrust.

“Oh, God!” Greg cried out. “Yes, Nicky . . . fuck!”

Nick began to thrust into Greg, loving the hot, tight feeling of being inside his husband. But it wasn’t about that tonight. It was about taking Greg, showing the world – and more specifically, Holly – that Greg was his. When they did it like this, Greg always found it hard to sit down the next morning and it was as good as a badge saying ‘mine’.

To emphasise his message, he bit into Greg’s shoulder hard enough to leave bruises in the shape of teeth marks. He sucked on the spot for a few seconds before releasing the tortured flesh. Greg let out a small whimper as those teeth moved away. A perfect bruise was left there, and he knew Greg never made any attempts to hide them.

Nick continued to thrust into Greg as hard and fast as he could, acting for all the world like he had been denied this pleasure for months.

“Harder . . . faster . . . more, Nicky, please!”

Greg was mumbling in Norwegian and now those stuttering words had become interspersed with begging in English. Greg felt he should have been wearing his collar as this was definitely how Nick tended to fuck him when he was being submissive. And God, did he love it.

Soon Nick felt the familiar stirring in his stomach and the sparking at the base of his spine that told him he was on the verge of orgasm. He let Greg’s hands drop to his sides and placed his own hands on Greg’s hips, pulling him backwards slightly to change the angle, just increasing the pleasure for both of them.

Greg, his hands now released, used one to take a tight grip on his cock and the other to steady himself on the wall. He began to stroke himself frantically; his ministrations releasing endorphins into his brain which kick started a chain reaction. With a cry he began to cum, feeling his channel spasm around Nick’s cock and his release coating his hand.

The extra stimulation triggered Nick’s orgasm and with a harsh cry, he emptied himself into Greg.

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Greg walked awkwardly into their bedroom wearing nothing but a pair of sweats and towel, drying his hair. He gingerly sat down on the bed, throwing the towel into the corner where it hopefully landed on the laundry pile.

“So, you gonna tell me about it?”

Nick sighed and pulled himself upright from his current position sprawled on the bed.

“Tell you about what?”

“Don’t play dumb with me, Nicky. Fucking me like that when I’m not wearing my collar? Something’s up.” Greg shuffled back until he was sitting beside Nick. “Have I pissed you off?”

“No,” Nick said, taking Greg’s hand in his. “You’ve done nothing wrong. It’s just . . . look, it’s not your problem, ok?”

He stroked the back of Greg’s hand with his thumb, feeling his husband leaning into him with that tender touch,

“So, if it’s not me then what is it?”

Nick closed his eyes and let his head drop back as he snuggled into Greg. He was struggling to think of a way to explain what was going on in his head.

”It’s just . . . I’m just . . . Holly . . . I just don’t like her.”

Greg jumped out of bed and pulled on his pyjama pants.

“What do you mean, you don’t like her? You haven’t even spoken to her. Which, by the way, is so rude it’s not even funny.”

He began to walk through to the kitchen, being very careful of his movements.

“I just don’t. She’s . . . it’s . . . I don’t know, Greg.”

Once he reached the kitchen, he began filling a filter with coffee, adding the usual cinnamon to the grounds. He got out two mugs and put out sugar and cream for Nick. He filled the jug with water, put it into the pot and then leant against the counter, waiting for the conversation to continue.

“You’ve never spoken to her, you avoid her completely. So how can you be so sure you don’t like her?”

The coffee pot began to hiss in the background as Nick looked at the floor. Greg turned round and picked up a mug. He was about to pour in his coffee when Nick spoke again.

“She’s just so like you.”

“Like me?”

Greg’s whole demeanour changed in an instant and Nick immediately knew he had said the wrong thing and he was in serious trouble. Talk about opening your mouth and inserting your foot. He’d swallowed the damn thing so far down he could kick himself in the ass. Nick opened and closed his mouth a few times but couldn’t find the words to undo the damage he had just done.

“Like me?”

Greg’s ears went bright red and a scowl crossed his usually smiling face. He folded his arms across his chest, the mug still in his hand, and his eyes began to shimmer with tears.

“And what the fuck is wrong with being like me?”

Greg slammed the mug down, breathing heavily.

“Nothing, Greg. It’s just . . .”

“Just what?”

Nick had no answer.

Greg stormed out of the kitchen, ignoring his body’s protests at the movement, and into the bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

“Greg . . .”

Nick followed but Greg completely ignored him. Nick opened the door to see Greg sitting on the bed in his joggers and pulling on a t-shirt.

“Greg, please . . .”

Greg continued to ignore him, turning away from an increasingly scared Nick. His mouth flew open as he saw Greg pulling on his running shoes, a tear slowly trailing down his face.

“Sunshine, please.”

Greg looked up, his eyes full of anger and pain. He pulled himself up, staring at Nick.

“If she’s so much like me and you hate her so much then why the fuck did you marry me?”

Another tear began to escape and Greg roughly brought the back of his hand to his face to wipe it away.

“Please, Greg, I didn’t mean . . .”

“Didn’t mean what? To hurt me like that? Fuck off, Nicky.”

Greg wrestled on a jumper on his way to the bedroom door. As he walked past Nick, he felt a hand grab his wrist, trying to get Greg to listen to him. Greg stopped dead and looked down at the hand that was gripping him tightly. Nick looked up, making eye contact, his heart breaking into tiny pieces at the look on Greg’s face and the pain in his eyes. As he watched, he began to see pure anger and pulled his hand away like he’d been burnt.

Greg walked past Nick, slamming the bedroom door behind him, and the next noise Nick heard was the slamming of the front door.

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Before Greg had really registered where he was, he found himself outside Holly’s apartment, his body aching from the earlier activities and sweaty from the run. He raised his hand to knock on the door but paused. He was rapidly passing the anger stage and plummeting into pure, unadulterated pain. That thought just strengthened his resolve. Fuck him. Holly was his friend. How dare he say those things he’d said?

He knocked on the door and began to do some stretches to cool down. Last thing he needed was an injury to go with the dull pain in his hips and ass. His body was making its anger at two kinds of abuse in one night known. He shifted about to ease the discomfort but it didn’t help.

He knocked and eventually the door to the small apartment opened to reveal Holly in a pair of battered pyjamas, holding a rather large bar of chocolate.

“Greg!”

She sounded very surprised to see him and as he watched, her face went red and she hid the chocolate behind her back.

“Hey, Hol. Spare a bit of that?”

Holly laughed and beckoned him into her apartment.

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“I just couldn’t believe he said it.”

Holly watched as Greg wiped tears from his eyes and popped another square of chocolate into his mouth. For a minute she looked puzzled, but a huge smile broke out on her face as Greg continued to rant about what a dick his husband was. Something in her head had clicked.

“I mean, what the hell is wrong with being like me? The bastard! If he dislikes people like me . . . it just makes no sense . . .if it’s such a bad thing why did he get into a relationship with me in the first place . . . I love him and he . . . God, why? What did he mean? Does it mean . . . maybe he doesn’t love me any more . . . oh, shit, Hol, what am I going to do?”

Greg suddenly went completely silent. Holly was laughing . . . actually laughing at him.

“What the hell is so funny?”

Holly climbed off the comfy sofa she was sprawled upon and went to sit beside Greg in the beanbag fort he had buried himself in.

“Oh, Greg.” She wrapped her arm around him and he leant into her shoulder, tears beginning to stream down his face. “My poor, sweet, innocent Gregory.” He snuggled further into her. “Can’t you see it?”

Greg shook his head and wiped his face with the palms of his hands.

“See what? That I love him and he doesn’t love me any more?”

“That you’re a fool and Nick loves you. A hell of a lot.”

“Then why . . .”

“Because, my dear Gregory, he’s jealous.”

“Jealous?”

“Yes, jealous.”

“What the hell is Nicky jealous of?”

“That’s easy, my naive little friend. Me and you.”

“Me and you?”

“Yes, Gregory. Me and you.”

“That makes no sense. Why would he be jealous of me and you?”

Holly sighed, trying to think of an easy way to explain what she had just figured out. Suddenly an idea struck her.

“Got it!” Greg jumped at her sudden exclamation. He was now completely confused. “Stay here. I have an idea. I’ll be right back.”

Holly struggled to get out of the bean bag fort, resulting in crawling in a desperate measure to free herself. If Greg wasn’t so distraught he would have found it funny. She wandered through to the kitchen and came back about ten minutes later with a notepad, two pens and two cups of hot chocolate. She passed a chocolate and a pen to Greg, who just looked even more puzzled. She sat and curled up on the sofa this time and finally passed Greg a sheet of paper.

“Ok, here’s what’s gonna happen. I’ll say something and we both write a response. Kind of like questions and answers. That alright?”

Greg took a sip of his drink and nodded.

“But Hol, how’s playing this gonna help?”

She smiled at him.

“Because, my friend, for a genius you are remarkably dense. And this game will explain everything.”

Greg didn’t look convinced.

“Ok, here comes number one. Write down your three favourite bands.”

Greg chewed the pen for a second and then began to write, nodding as he did.

“Done.”

Holly wrote down one more thing and then gave the next instruction.

“Next question. Three cars you’ve owned.”

Once again they both scribbled furiously.

“Hol, what exactly is the point of this little exercise? Nothing is becoming clearer here.”

“When we’ve finished, all will be revealed.”

Holly thought about the next category while Greg muttered about ‘cryptic bullshit’ and ‘games that were pointless’. The game carried on for five more minutes. Holly continued to give topics, each requiring three answers. Favourite films, favourite foods, places you’ve lived and best live bands among the categories. In total there were fifteen sets of answers.

“Ok.” Holly put the lid back on her pen and set it on the table. “Now come sit with me.”

Greg extricated himself from his fort and climbed up onto the sofa, his paper clutched in his hand. He snuggled into Holly, who threw an arm around him.

“Hol, what was the point of that?”

Holly sighed and took Greg’s list from him. She laid them both on the table, side by side.

“Read ‘em.”

Greg’s eyes scanned the two sheets of paper. He made surprised noises and pointed at lines every few seconds but slowly the noises stopped and Greg’s eyes grew wide. A small glimmer of understanding passed over his eyes.

“My God, Holly. They’re nearly identical. We really are so alike.”

“Yep,” Holly said, nodding. “And?”

“Well, it’s no wonder that we get on so well.” He smiled at her.

Greg blinked a few times, looking from one piece of paper to the other, the cogs in his mind turning slowly. He was almost there . . .

“Oh my God! I think I get it!”

Holly’s face broke into a huge grin as Greg’s eyes flew wide and a smile nearly cracked his face in half.

“And there it is. I knew you’d get it in the end.”

“Nicky thinks that . . . possibly we could . . . that’s just . . . oh my God, he can be such a spaz!” Greg shook his head. “So that’s what this evening was all about. He’s got his panties in a bunch over nothing.”

“This evening?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Well, the argument. And the rather . . .” he realised how sore his ass still was and gave a small giggle, “rough session.”

Holly laughed and shook her head again.

“Ah, possessive sex. I remember it well. In fact, I remember sex well. I have no idea where to find it though.”

They both laughed before Greg suddenly jumped up and downed his drink.

“Thanks so much, Holly. I have to go. I need to talk to Nicky.”

“You’re welcome,” she shouted at his retreating back.

Greg burst through the front door of the house he shared with his family, his eyes frantically scanning the lounge. His breathing was ragged as he had run all the way from Holly’s, desperate to sort it all out. Sitting in an armchair with his head in his hands was Nick.

“Nicky . . .” Greg said, walking over to him, still struggling to breathe evenly, “Nicky, I . . . you know . . . I . . .”

Greg dropped to his knees in front of his devastated husband, taking his hands in his and gently kissing the knuckles. He stroked the back of those large hands with his thumbs, holding them tightly.

“My poor Nicky.” He climbed into Nick’s lap and wrapped his arms around him. “I’m sorry I ran out earlier.”

Nick shook his head.

“I’m sorry, Greg. I didn’t mean what I said. It’s just . . .”

Greg pulled Nick onto his shoulder and closed his eyes as he felt a few tears fall onto him, dampening the t-shirt he was wearing.

“I just didn’t understand before. But I do now. I can’t believe you didn’t say anything.” Greg opened his eyes in time to see Nick blush. He stared into his red rimmed eyes and smiled. “I know what’s going on, Nicky.”

Nick began to cry in earnest, Greg’s shoulder becoming damp with his tears.

“I’m sorry. So sorry. Really sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“Maybe not that, but you should have said something sooner.”

“I’m sorry, Greg, I really am. I just felt so stupid for feeling like that. And it was never you I didn’t trust. You’re just so alike that I panicked. She’s on her own and she just attached herself to you. I just felt so left out. And then tonight when you went out with her instead of coming back home . . . I just flipped.”

Greg nuzzled into his husband’s neck as the tears slowly began to stop.

“Oh, Nicky, I know. But the thing is, it’s not her I’m with right now, it’s you. Who do I come home to every night? You. Who did I marry? You. Who did I choose to buy a house with, start a family with, share my heart with? You. And there’s something else you need to remember. Another reason, besides all the mushy stuff, that should make you realise I’m never gonna leave you.”

Nick sniffed, his tears now completely dried up.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. I happen to like your cock up my ass way too much to ever turn straight.”

Nick laughed for the first time that evening and Greg gently wiped away the remains of his tears with his thumbs. He kissed each cheek gently. He turned himself around in Nick’s lap so he was straddling him and pulled him close, letting him nuzzle his neck.

“She’s my friend, Nicky. And you should be able to trust me and her. I’m not gonna stop being friends with her, you know.”

“I know, G, and I wouldn’t want you to.”

Greg moved his head and placed a small kiss to Nick’s lips. Nick smiled and kissed him back, letting his hands stray to Greg’s hips. Suddenly Nick was blushing.

“What?” Greg asked, giggling slightly.

“I’m . . . um . . . sorry about the sex, too. I know how I took you musta hurt. Want me to kiss it better?”

Greg giggled and squirmed in his husband’s lap.

“Yes. But not yet. We gotta talk this through first.”

Nick nodded and squeezed Greg’s hips before letting his hands stray to his ass, cupping the cheeks gently. Greg purred softly.

“You need to actually talk to her, Nicky. Make a proper effort to get to know her. What is it about her that you dislike so much?”

“She’s so much like you that I was scared she’d find a way to take you from me.”

Greg leant into Nick, holding him tightly, and Nick’s hands travelled to Greg’s back where he started to rub soothing circles.

“Did you ever think Abby would take me away from you?”

Nick laughed, finding the idea ludicrous.

“No, Sunshine. I was never worried about Abby. Or Spence for that matter. You grew up with ‘em.”

“So if I’d known Holly since I was a kid, then being friends with her would be ok.”

“Sure.” Nick blinked, suddenly realising what he’d just said. “Wow. That does sound kinda stupid now I think about it.”

Greg smiled. Nick finally understood where Greg was coming from and why he was upset about the whole Holly fiasco.

“Do you remember what it was like, your first few months in Vegas?”

“Yeah,” Nick nodded, “it was hell.”

“Why?” Greg cupped Nick’s face and looked into his eyes.

“New town, didn’t know anyone, didn’t know my way around. And it was so different to Texas. It was starting all over again. It was pretty scary.”

Greg nodded and kissed the tip of Nick’s nose.

“Exactly. Now imagine all that but also you’d just left an abusive husband because he’d started using his fists on your six-year-old son and then you’d had to leave that child at your mom’s because you had no where for him to live yet.”

Nick’s eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open.

“You go through all that and suddenly you meet someone you have something in common with? You’re gonna cling to that person.”

Nick nodded, finally relaxing. His recent behaviour and attitude towards Holly suddenly hit home, making him feel like a four-year-old arguing over toys rather than an adult worried about his relationship.

“I am such an ass.”

“Yeah.” Greg once again kissed the tip of Nick’s nose. “But it’s such a fine ass.”

Nick laughed and swatted Greg on the shoulder.

“Just give her a chance. And remember, I’m yours.” Greg leant in and placed his lips against Nick’s, letting the kiss deepen briefly before pulling away. “And I’m also gay.”

Nick laughed and stood up, nearly launching Greg to the floor before he swung him into his arms and began carrying him bridal style to the bedroom.

“How’s about you prove that last statement?” he growled.

Greg wriggled in Nick’s arms, forgiving him at last.

“Any time, stud. Now take me to bed.”

Two Years Later

Things initially had not been easy going between Nick and Holly. When he realised how he had behaved towards her, he found it hard to face her but eventually Greg had managed to talk some sense into him. Holly wasn’t the type to hold grudges and Nick just needed to give her a chance.

After the initial fiasco that her coming into contact with Greg had been, Nick found finding common ground hard. But Greg was right, Nick had been an ass, and slowly they had started the hard process of trying to bond. They built a working relationship first and from there came a social one, Greg guiding each step of the way of course.

It had started with tiny steps, like any new friendship does. Saying ‘hi’ in the morning, then moving on to asking if she wanted coffee when Nick made one for himself. Soon she was having lunch with him and Greg. From there, things started to move faster.

As she and Greg were so alike, Nick found her temperament, her behaviour, her sense of humour were completely natural to him and he started to enjoy having her around. It was also fascinating to him to see the way Greg behaved around her. Sometimes he wondered if they weren’t twins separated at birth.

Before Nick really noticed it, she was hanging out with everyone after shift and from there coming back to theirs to watch the game or to meet the kids – who had taken to their new ‘Auntie’ with great enthusiasm.

She proved to be a great help with Amy as well. Ok, so they knew they were damn good fathers, but some things you just needed a woman for. And as much as they loved Cath, Holly was nearer their age, and Amy was fascinated by a ‘girlie version’ of her blond dad. Much to Greg’s annoyance at the title of blond dad.

There were things about Holly that broke Nick’s heart. Although she was at home in the lab, the odd time she had to come out in to the field and was faced with angry or drunk men she looked like a rabbit caught in headlights. Which wasn’t all that surprising, considering her past.

Besides that it also didn’t take long for them to notice the initial pain that crossed Holly’s face whenever she looked at Mark. It must have hurt, having a six-year-old boy right in front of her when hers was so far away. That seemed to just make things easier between her and Nick. Nick hated to see people suffer and this was a pain he didn’t even want to imagine.

After nearly seven months living in Vegas, suddenly things took a turn for the better for her. And of course, Nick and Greg were with her every step of the way.

After what seemed like an eternity, Holly’s divorce came through and a restraining order against her now-ex-husband followed quickly. Once she knew that she and her son were both safe, she set about house hunting, and after finding the perfect one, the Stokes-Sanders family offered their help to decorate. So, three weeks after the day she moved in, Holly was standing at the airport, waiting for Kevin to arrive with a steward to hand over the unaccompanied minor.

Nick and Greg had both been in tears at the emotional reunion between mother and son. Kevin had run into her arms, tears sheeting down his face, and thrown his hands around her neck as if he was terrified if he let go she would vanish. And Holly had never held onto anything as tightly in her life. Neither Nick nor Greg could imagine having to leave either of their precious children behind if they ever moved. Realising what Holly had gone though cemented the relationship between the three of them and from then on in it was plain sailing.

Holly became the auntie that all children wished they had. She was laid back, playful and as mad as Greg. If Holly and Greg had the day off together it wasn’t unusual for Nick to come home to the kitchen a mess from making cookies, the back yard covered in water pistols and toys and Holly, Amy, Mark, Kevin and Greg in a pile on the sofa, fast asleep, while a DVD played in the background. She had involved herself in their lives as much as they had involved themselves in hers.

But it was the little things that really made the difference. Holly helped plan Amy’s eleventh birthday party and took her shopping for a dress to wear to it and as Kevin and Mark were only a week away from each other in age, they combined their seventh birthday parties into one massive one. And when it came time for Holly to have her birthday party, of course Greg and Nick set it all up for her. After that, birthday parties always followed that routine.

Which brought them to the current point in time, sitting on a bench in the park while their children played. Well, most of them.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was the middle of summer and Holly, Greg and Nick all had a day off together so they decided to spend it having a picnic with their kids. It was warm and they were wearing as little as possible, although they had made a point of covering the kids with sunscreen and making them wear hats. A very warm Holly leaned back and sighed, stroking her rounded stomach where her yet-to-be-born daughter decided to practice her karate. Her new man, the steward who accompanied her son to Vegas, was buying ice creams from a stand on the corner.

“Jeez, I can’t believe I decided to do this again,” she said, rubbing her fingers at the side of her stomach where a foot could clearly be seen.

“I didn’t think it was a decision you made consciously,” Greg giggled. “From what I remember it was one shot too many at your birthday party that resulted in that.” He nodded his head towards the bump in front of her, his hands currently occupied.

Nick shook his head at the pair of them and removed a bottle from Greg’s hand and placed a cloth over his shoulder.

“Ok, cupid. I believe your little ‘get ‘em pissed to get ‘em together’ stunt is probably more to blame than anything else.” He stroked the cheek of his ten-week-old son and smiled. “Now, you gonna burp him before he explodes?”

“Aw, sorry Jack, was daddy ignoring you?” Greg gently swung the baby onto his shoulder and began to rub circles on his back, giggling when he burped. “That’s it. You put uncle Archie to shame. His title’s yours for the taking.”

“Title?” Holly questioned.

“Oh man, don’t go there.” Nick raised his hands in a ‘stop’ gesture and then looked thoughtful. “Holly?”

Holly looked around Greg to face Nick, smiling at the little kicks and rolls inside her.

“I never said this before, but I’m really sorry.”

Holly looked puzzled, her face wrinkled up.

“Sorry for what?”

“The way I behaved when I first met you.”

Holly laughed.

“Oh, Nick. That was over two years ago! I think I’m adult enough to get over it.”

“I know you are, Hol. But I was horrible and I’ve never apologised.” He smiled gently at her.

“You weren’t horrible exactly. I mean, I never even got to talk to you. I have no idea how it’s possible to be horrible when you’re not actually talking to someone,” she said.

“I think the not talking was horrible enough. I got jealous. Not that that’s any excuse. I convinced myself that the only reason you wanted Greg in the lab with you was to steal him away from me. And I kind of took my insecurities out on you. And you didn’t deserve it.”

Holly shook her head and winced a little.

“Just three more months, girlie. Then you better watch it.” Nick giggled as Holly told her tummy off. “Look Nick, I knew what was going on. And it’s completely fine. To be honest, I think I would have felt the same if the tables were turned.”

For a few seconds no one said anything, content to just bask in the heat and watch the kids playing in the sandbox and on the swings.

“Besides,” Holly began, “from what I remember, it was Greg that took the brunt of it.”

Greg giggled, lifting the restless baby from his shoulder and cradling his son in his arms.

“Hey, I’m not gonna complain about that!”

“Pervert,” Holly said. Greg just stuck his tongue out in reply.

Nick smiled and leaned back. Everything felt right with the world at that moment.

“By the way, how come this little cutie here made an appearance?”

Holly stretched her arm out, letting her hand touch Jack’s cheek. Jack gurgled and grabbed her finger, holding it as tight as he could.

“Well,” Nick said, “we’d always talked about having a big family. I mean, my family was huge . . .” Holly raised an eyebrow, “ok, maybe not as big as yours. But that size family is just freaky.” Holly stuck her tongue out at Nick and he smiled. She really was a female Greg.

“Point was, we’d always said we wanted at least three. Only the time never seemed right, there was always something in the way. Amy going to big school, promotion, Mark starting school . . . all those things that at the time seem huge but really aren’t that big after all. I suppose seeing how much it hurt you, not having Kevin around, it made me appreciate what I had and the fact that the time’s never right. So I told Greg I wanted another.”

“And I couldn’t get my pants off quick enough.”

“But then he remembered that he was a guy and couldn’t have one . . .”

“The pants didn’t go back on though . . .”

“Greg!” Nick blushed, the red tint travelling up his face to his ears. “But the next morning we talked about it. And we decided to go for it.”

“How come he got to be daddy this time?”

“Honestly?” Nick asked, throwing an arm around his husband.

“Yeah.” Holly rubbed the bottom of her bump, the tiny torturer deciding to take its revenge on her pelvis for a bit. “How come you didn’t get to sire the spawn as it was your suggestion?”

“I just wanted more of him around.”

Holly shook her head and looked out towards the kids.

”Christ, he’s at it again.” She hauled herself from her seat. “Kevin, pack it in! Eat any more sand and you’ll poop a sandcastle.”

Nick and Greg just looked at each other and laughed.

Yep, she fitted in perfectly.