One Year, Two Mismatched Men and Three Million Dollars 8a/?

[gregisamazing.livejournal.com]

Title: One Year, Two Mismatched Men and Three Million Dollars

Chapter: 8/? (Previous chapters are found here)

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Alcohol is known to do some pretty dangerous things to men, but when Research Scientist, Greg Sanders and Professional Trainer, Nick Stokes meet one drunken night- neither of them knew that it’d change their lives forever. In this instalment Nick and Greg face a little break-down in the ranks between the pair; Greg meets the wonder that is Norris the bartender and Warrick gets to meet the man that has made his best friend so happy.

A/N: Now, for the sake of not wanting to write 364 chapters, plus that would be very tiresome. Now... I'm going to do four chapters per month... So this will mean about a week per chapter; but it will most likely mean the drama is central.
 A/N2: This chapter happens to be too big to fit in to one post -_- Part 2 can be found here
A/N3: Thank you to everyone that has read and reviewed this so far, I don't think you realise how much this means to me *dabs eyes* Thanks

JULY 2007- THE FIRST MONTH TOGETHER (Part 1 of 4)

“Wait, you mean to say Sara came and visited you at your work?”

 

“Uh-huh, apparently she does yoga there and managed to convince Catherine she knew me really well. Actually if I think about it Catherine probably thinks I’m married to her.”

 

Greg laughed brightly, taking another bite of his meal, whilst trying to gage Nick’s reaction to one of his friends practically stalking him. He wasn’t sure whether Nick was putting a positive spin on it, or whether he was looking for an escape route already. Greg wouldn’t know what to do if one of Nick’s friends just appeared at his work, could he handle it as expertly as Nick had done? Somehow he doubted it; he’d probably rip a hole in their perfectly crafted story.

 

“Sorry, I was vague enough about you because I don’t even know the details and yet she still manages to find you. I swear if she didn’t work in medical sciences she’d be an awesome detective.”

 

“No kidding. I can’t believe that Catherine thinks she’s my wife. She’s not my type.”

 

“And I am?”

 

“No.”

 

“Calm down, I know that. You’re going completely out of your normal gender.” Greg took another bite before continuing. “How did that go down?”

 

“Don’t talk with your mouth full, it’s disgusting.” Nick said, looking at his clean table that was now littered with scraps of food.  “And it went down well with the one I told, surprising well. I had envisioned a punch at least.”

 

“Friends can be very surprising, just look at Sara the Super Sleuth.”

 

Nick nodded, demonstrating to Greg the concept of manners about eating with your mouth closed and not talking with a mouth full. He really needed to house-train his partner, he was beginning to equate him to a little puppy… But that wasn’t fair on dogs.

 

“Warrick wants to meet you.” Nick said, taking a sip of water and watching as Greg’s mouth hung open- revealing the half eaten piece of chicken. “Greg, mouth!”

 

Greg snapped his mouth shut, his surprise emphasized by his wide eyes. He swallowed his mouthful, almost choking on it, coughing wildly.

 

“Meet me?” He said between coughing fits. “I can’t meet him.”

 

“Of course you can meet him. It’s easy enough, I invite him over and you say hi and excuse yourself to your studies. That way you don’t have to make small-talk and haven’t really met him.”

 

Greg took a deep gulp of his water, wishing that he could have some alcohol instead to numb the pain he was experiencing. He hadn’t intended to meet any of Nick’s friends, for them to all realise what Nick had married, then again he hadn’t intended any of his friends to meet Nick but that had still happened.

 

“I can’t meet him.” Greg rasped his throat sore from the dry coughs. “Seriously, it’s for your sake more than mine.”

 

“How is it for my sake?” He said confused at Greg’s reaction. It had shocked him (and sent him into panic mode) when Sara had turned up at the gym, but he’d blundered through it because it’d help with the illusion. It was now Greg’s turn to return the favour.

 

“Think about what rubbish you’re going to hear about at work when it’s discovered you are married to a weedy scientist. Any reputation you have will probably be shredded to pieces if that becomes common knowledge.”

 

Nick looked at Greg in disbelief, trying to figure out how someone that had seemed so confident could be so insecure at the same time. To him it made no sense, because confidence came when you were sure of yourself, not when you were trying to solve your insecurities. Maybe Greg wasn’t confident beneath the surface, he wondered why that was.

 

“Why would I get ripped to pieces?”

 

“I am not the type of person you want to be seen with. Trust me.”

 

“I don’t trust you.” Nick admitted, “Warrick is going to meet you, end of story. If I ruin my reputation it won’t be that much of a loss, I can rebuild it easy enough.”

 

“You’re sure that I can just excuse myself and take refuge in my room?” Greg asked, pushing his half eaten meal to the side, suddenly not feeling so hungry. Nick nodded slowly, and Greg sighed. “Okay then, as long as I can go and exit to my room I’m sure I can manage a few minutes in awkward silence.”

 

“Good!”

 

“As long as I don’t have to talk about sport.”

 

“You won’t have to talk about sport.” Nick assured his nervous partner.

 

“And I don’t have to watch any sport or talk about my sporting achievements.”

 

“Sporting achievements?”

 

“Chess team,” Greg confessed, “Helped win the regional tournament.”

 

“Don’t worry; we’ll avoid that topic of conversation for your sake.”

 

Greg visibly relaxed, not too worried about the meeting because Nick would help him out if he needed it. Nick had dealt with Sara; he could return the favour with dealing with Warrick. After all, it couldn’t be that hard…

 

Could it?

 

“Just so I can field all questions you better tell me the back-story you have going.”

 

“I don’t.” Nick shrugged, leaning back in his chair. “We didn’t do details, I was telling a guy- unlike Sara he didn’t want to know when we met or where- he just wanted to know when he could meet you and whether we could double date.”

 

Greg paled, shaking his head in disbelief. He ran a hair through his hair making it more dishevelled than normal.

 

“Relax; I was joking about the double date. I don’t think you and Catherine would get along- she’d have no company to go and powder her nose with.”

 

“Ha-ha.” Greg said dryly, resting his elbows on the table. “Okay, so if he asks me, or you, the back story is basically we met in a pub a few months ago, we were just friends helping each other out back then. Anytime you ran into trouble you couldn’t talk to Warrick about you called me and I did the same. Eventually we realised that in each other we’d found the person we were desperately searching for all along and we got married. By the way, we have no idea who proposed to who- which of us do you reckon did it?”

 

Nick laughed, realising that it was a very valid question that Greg posed. They’d never stopped for a moment to think about what their wedding had been like, whether they used the traditional vows or whether they invented their own, whether Nick proposed or whether Greg did…

 

“Do you reckon they’d have recorded our wedding for legal purposes of the contract?” Nick asked, getting up and collecting their plates- scraping the remains into the bin before dumping them into the sink. “If they did I think we should get a copy of it, for purposes of sentimentality because married couples are very sentimental and love clinging onto the memories.”

 

“Plus we don’t remember it. Might be nice to see what my wedding night was like.”

 

“And that too.” Nick turned on the water, filling the sink with scalding water and numerous bubbles. They’d yet to discuss about splitting the cost of groceries and utilities and splitting the household jobs- that was something they really had to do, Nick was fed up of always washing the dishes, straightening his apartment because Greg was certainly messy.

 

“But out of a guess, which one of us do you reckon was the proposer and which was the proposee?” Greg pressed for an answer. In his mind he had an idea, and Nick probably had an idea too… He wanted to know whether they matched up.

 

“Haven’t really thought about it.”

 

Liar

 

“I mean, it’s not something I think is important.”

 

Liar

 

“It’s a matter of opinion really; we’ll probably say different things.”

 

Possibly, still want to hear what you have to say though.

 

“Still want to hear my opinion?”

 

Yes! Oh wait, he can’t hear me… I’m already nodding, that’s good.

 

“I think it was you that proposed to me.”

 

Liar

 

“Ah, I think it’s the other way around. No offence or anything, even intoxicated I’m a one person guy. I wouldn’t have suggested it because I have,” He cringed, correcting himself. “Had Archie.”

 

“You forget the fact that with or without alcohol I am a hetero.”

 

“Apparently not.” Greg snapped back at him. “Look here,” He pointed to the ring on his finger as a statement. “This proves that you’re not as hetero as you thought. If a heterosexual man was proposed to by another male- he’d run away screaming or beat the guy to a bloody pulp- look you didn’t do either to me!”

 

“Are you accusing me of not being straight?” Nick yelled, spinning to face Greg at the table, a dish clutched tightly in his hands. Greg identified the threat, but didn’t back down, he was willing to stand up and fight Nick.

 

“Either you’re not as straight as you claim to be or you proposed to me- which means you’re not as straight as you claim to be!”

 

Nick could see sense in what Greg was saying, by now he was getting used to the fact that Greg always spoke a lot of sense in every situation. There was truth to his words, a truth Nick didn’t want to face, a truth that Nick didn’t want to believe and hated hearing about- Greg had said it with ease, without feeling guilt or remorse- but it always pained Nick to hear someone else identify it.

 

“And I’m supposed to believe that you are a bisexual? I know that’s a lie to make you more socially acceptable, we both know there is only one gender for you- but you’re afraid to admit that to anyone because you know you’ll be shunned!”

 

When the door slammed he was relieved to hear the silence of his house.

----- 

“Gimme another,” He slurred out whilst swaying on the bar stool. The bartender looked at the man with curiosity, he wasn’t a regular to the place, in fact he’d only seen him once before and that was on the Friday night in a similar state. He wondered what the man’s story was, why he found himself in his bar on a Tuesday morning mumbling to himself whilst downing another shot.

 

The bartender waddled over, setting another glass of the electrifying blue liquid in front of the young man.

 

“You’d feel better if you spoke about it rather than drinking it away.”

 

Greg snatched the glass up, wiping his finger around the rim.

 

“Maybe I would, but I ain’t got anyone that’d listen.” He said downing the shot again and cringing as the liquid sent a burn down his throat. “Besides, who would understand?”

 

“More people that you realise…” He paused for a minute, remembering all those years ago when he’d found himself alone in a pub, drinking his problems away and someone had offered their ear to him. Back then it hadn’t seemed all that important, but now he knew it had been a turning point. “I’m Norris.”

 

“Greg.”

 

“You want to go somewhere a bit more private.” He said, gesturing to the numerous booths and tables that were submerged in the darkness and smoke coming from the patrons. “Because until you do, you’re not having any more alcohol.”

 

For a moment it looked like the man was going to protest and stagger out the door to find himself another pub, but he eventually sighed and hoisted himself off the stool and swayed towards a secluded booth in the corner.

 

“You’re holding the fort now Lozza.” Norris said to the man that was busy cleaning the glasses, “I’ve got some important business to attend to.”

 

He took the seat opposite Greg, wondering since when the booths had become so tight for his rapidly developing beer-belly. It had only seemed like a few years ago that he’d been youthful and skinny with shaggy brown hair; but now there was wrinkles around his eyes and his mouth, there was a beer-gut and a second chin and his brown hair was now more grey tied back in a ponytail- the years hadn’t been kind to him.

 

“Now this is how it works; you talk, I listen and chip in when I feel necessary.”

 

“You wouldn’t understand it though.” Greg whined, “No one else has the same problem as I do. But you’re asking, so I’m going to tell me. Don’t blame me if you come away from her traumatised because it’d be your fault for making me talk about it to you. It will warp you, it’s so fucked up that it’s unbelievable. You won’t believe me actually.”

 

“You’re babbling and it’s not even about what’s bugging you.” Norris pointed out to the man that was still swaying back and forth as if it was a nervous impulse.

 

“Sorry, if I’m upset or excited or nervous or hyperactive I babble. I can’t help it.” He took a deep breath knowing that he would need it if he wanted to tell the story all in one. “It happened here on Friday, you probably don’t remember us but there was me and a Texan.”

 

“Of course I’d remember, you and Nick, you two seemed to be hitting it off quite well.”

 

“Yeah, quite well, anyway to cut a long story short we got married. Yeah, I’m a married man and I’m bi, if you want to maul me can you wait until I finish the story? Okay, so we’re married. Of course Nick wants to pretend we’re playing happy families, that everything is fine in paradise. Problem is it’s not. It’s not fine at all, there’s no sunshine in paradise, just rain and a lot of rain at that. We’re not in love; I don’t think we can be in love because we’re two mismatched men that have been thrown into something that’s really not working for us. He’s in denial that it happened. He doesn’t want it to happen because I ruin his reputation; he’s heterosexual he swears. But if he’s hetero why would he propose to me or accept my proposal? I mean, you wouldn’t, would you? So that means he can’t be, or is bisexual and just won’t admit it because he’s afraid of the word and the truth of the situation. Okay, so I told him outright that he wasn’t as straight as he claims to be and then he had a go at me saying that my bisexual status is fake, he thinks I am just a one gender guy. He wants me to admit I’m gay, like fully. So what if I’m gay!? It doesn’t matter if I’m not interested in women because I’m already in a gay marriage- it doesn’t alter my position in the relationship unlike him. So I stormed out, I don’t want to pretend anymore, I want it to go back to the way it was before I met him. I was happy; I had a boyfriend, a wonderful boyfriend I was planning on spending the rest of my life with and I bumped into Nick and that whole plan went out the window. I’m not with Archie, I’m not spending my life with the person I thought I was in love with, and I’m with someone else pretending that we’re in love in public and then you close the doors and we’re trying to kill each other!”

 

Norris signalled to Lozza to bring another drink over, as Greg clenched and unclenched his fists whilst he blinked back the hot tears.

 

“You’re right about no one else having the same problem as you; I think this is one of a kind. You were speaking way too fast- I could only catch bits and pieces when you spoke clearly and slowly, but I got the gist I think. You and Nick are married and you’re regretting the marriage because it’s so fake and you’re unhappy. There was something about straight and gay in there though, that confused me. If it’s making you unhappy, just up and leave. It’s easy enough.”

 

Lozza set down another shot in front of Greg and he looked into the liquid as if it held all the answers and all the solutions.

 

“If only it were that easy.” He said, downing the shot and moving back to the bar, leaving Norris alone in the booth to try and decipher the strange tale Greg had just told him.

Comments

[mangojunkie.livejournal.com]

Oh their first fight and I am alright close to shoot Nick.

Go GReg, for telling Norris the story who is now probably confused and needs therapy. =)

I hope they manage to get their acts together and have at least soe nice days in the next year.

[gregisamazing.livejournal.com]

I know, when I finished writing the fight scene I was like... I hate Nick for this. xD

They will have some nice times and some not so nice times, I mean, that's married life right?

Thanks for the review!

[abbynormalitis.livejournal.com]

*snugs Greg* Nick stop being an asshole. *nods* Yes I know you have one that doesn't mean you have to BE one. *outraged gasp* No I'm not playing favorites! *rolls eyes* SO you might be bi! Who cares! That does not excuse your assholishness! Fuck you! Wait...I take it back, un-fuck you! D<

Okay, I'm done yelling at Nicky. *snugs Greg some more* You know I like Norris. *squee* He reminds me of Auron from Final Fantasy 10 with a gut for some reason XD <3 *scurries off to read the second one* YAY!

[gregisamazing.livejournal.com]

*Protects Nick* Hey, I don't want him too damaged so he can't work in the next chapter... What would I do then? *Just write about Greg xP* He's got to stay in one piece and assholeyness until he realises a few things... We have our ways *Mwhaha*

Yaaayy! Someone likes Norris, I've never seen/played final fantasy *le gasp* but I wrote him based on a friend xD

Thanks for the review!

[donnab810.livejournal.com]

LOL that was a fun chapter poor Greggo. Damn that Nick, Greg's right a straight man would never marry another man even if he was on deaths door, a bisexual or a clossed gay male most certainly would.

Liking it a lot, thanks for the story...

Going to read the next chapter...