Taboo

Keywords: Ch., Artist's, 04, Dragon, The,

"!!!WARNING!!!: This chapter contains sexual content of a bi-sexual nature. DO NOT read it if you don't like it."

*Chapter Four: Cousins*

"So why is it we never knew you had a cousin?"

Gabriel glanced at Alastair and sighed. He'd asked the question that everyone had been avoiding up until now. Six pairs of eyes were on him, curious and intent. I suppose they have a right to know, he thought, since this is going to disrupt their lives, as well. The twins were being allowed to use Alastair's and Alanna's old rooms (Quinn had flatly refused). Gabriel knew that neither of them were really happy about it. You wouldn't see it in most situations, he thought, but our kids are spoiled.

"What was left of my family, that being my uncle and my cousin, didn't exactly welcome me with open arms," Gabriel said. "Since I thought it was likely you'd never meet any of them anyway, I figured there was no need to tell you."

"And we only have to take care of them until their brother gets custody of them?" Alastair asked.

"Seems that way," Gabriel replied, frowning. "I'm not certain how that's going to work, though. They're out in California. They may have to come here."

"All of them?" Aislinn asked, her eyes widening.

Gabriel shook his head. "I don't know."

What would he do if all six of them ended up here? At least the

older siblings could live on their own. I guess I am a little curious to know what they're like, he admitted to himself. I never got to know Ethan or his wife. Gabriel found it nerve-wracking to stand around waiting. High security meant they couldn't go down to the gates. But there aren't even any chairs out here, he thought, scowling. How inconvenient.

As a man who'd preferred a motorcycle most of his life, he hadn't been thrilled with Aislinn's suggestion to get a mini-van. Now Gabriel could see the wisdom in that suggestion. All of his children had insisted on coming, and where Alastair and Quinn went, Sada and Xandri went too. With the addition of Elijah and Sydney, the extra space in the mini-van was going to come in handy. But it's still so uncool, Gabriel thought, smiling to himself.

A stream of people began coming up from the gate. He watched them passed, growing more and more concerned with each long moment that ticked away. Finally, when the crowd had thinned to just a few, they appeared. That wasn't a recent picture, then, Gabriel thought. Elijah's hair had been short in the picture, but now it was down almost to his shoulders, and was terribly unruly. Sydney, in contrast, had a short pixie cut that looked adorable on her.

Neither of them looked happy. Elijah spotted him first and his eyes narrowed. Gabriel fought back a grin as the boy strode forward, moving protectively in front of his sister. The boy's expression was grim and determined, and it reminded him so much of himself that he fought not to laugh. Definitely related to me, he thought wryly. Elijah came to a halt in front of him, with Sydney stopping beside him a moment later.

"You're Gabriel?" Elijah asked gruffly, his arms folded over his chest and his face drawn into a scowl.

"I am," Gabriel answered, smiling gently. "Don't look so grumpy,

boyo. You have nothing to be afraid of here."

"I'm not afraid!" Elijah retorted, his scowling deepening. "Not of you!"

Gabriel sighed. "Good. Then we shouldn't have any problems. Let's get your luggage."

They traveled down to the baggage claim, all of them silent, Elijah and Sydney following rather reluctantly. Gabriel kept his gaze

determinedly forward, trying to ignore the way the rest of his family kept sneaking looks at Elijah and Sydney. I guess I can't blame them, he thought, sighing. God, how am I ever going to deal with this? He had a feeling these two weren't going to warm up to him, or the rest of his family, very easily.

*****

Drake wasn't used to seeing Alastair in such a mood. Usually he was there before anyone else arrived, but he'd gotten there late and gone stomping into the changing rooms. When he'd come out, he'd snapped at them to begin warming up, then stormed into his office. The other dancers grumbled as they warmed up. I hope there is something really wrong, Drake thought. At the thought of something wrong, the image that came to mind was Alanna. He stubbornly shook it away.

"All right, slackers," Alastair snapped, as he came out of his office. "Let's get to work!"

"Trouble with the little lady, Alastair?" Jordan called. The other dancers laughed.

"I wish," Alastair grumbled as he turned on the stereo. "That's easier to take care of than this. Okay, let's get started!"

What's going on, if it isn't his fiancé? Drake wondered. Now was not the time to ask. Before long his mind was completely focused on dancing. He had to be; with this many dancers, it was far too easy to accidentally hurt one another. They worked hard, as they did every day. Alastair was a hard taskmaster, but he wasn't stupid. They practiced five days out of seven, and even though they spent a good six to eight hours in the studio daily, at least two of those hours went to stretching and resting.

Hours later Drake lay stretched out on a gymnastic mat, panting. It was time to hit the showers, but he could barely move. He'd been staying late at the garage to help Tifo and he was exhausted. Alastair came over and dropped down onto the mat next to him. Drake couldn't see the other man with his gaze so intent upon the ceiling, but he could feel Alastair's eyes on him.

"You look beat," Alastair commented.

"I'll live," Drake told him. "I think."

Alastair chuckled. "You bet you will. I'll be very pissed off if you die on me. You're one of the best dancers I've got."

"Thanks," Drake said. He pushed himself up onto his elbows and glanced at Alastair. "So um…what had you so lathered this morning? Er, if you don't mind me asking…"

At first Drake thought he wasn't going to answer. Perhaps it had been too much of a personal question. But then he found himself listening as Alastair explained about how he'd found out that he had cousins he'd never known. How two of them, a boy and a girl, were now staying in his family's house. And how the two of them were acting so miserably that it was affecting his whole family.

"Mom and dad are busy trying to get those two to stop moping," Alastair complained. "Quinn and Xandri are always off somewhere, either for her to take photos or…well, whatever, I don't want to know. Alanna has been moping around for some reason. And I want this dance studio to be a success, but I miss having sex with my fiancé!"

Drake didn't know whether to laugh or not. He wanted to ask Alastair what was wrong with Alanna, but he quelled that urge fiercely. Why is he talking to me about this, anyway? he wondered, frowning. It's not like we're close friends or anything… Then again, Alastair was the impulsive type. He probably wasn't even paying much attention to who he was ranting to.

"So um…your sister is mopey, huh?" Drake wheeled, despite his better judgment.

Alastair glanced at him and grinned. "She's been moping around and staring off into space ever since you showed up for dinner."

"I um…I'm sure it has nothing to do with me," Drake said. He got the feeling Alastair was a very overprotective brother.

"I'll admit, man, I don't like guys moving in on my sister," Alastair told him. "But she's made it easy, cause she hasn't really been all that interested. I was starting to get worried about it, but it seems she's finally interested."

The thought thrilled him. Drake stomped firmly on that emotion. I'm acting like a boy with his first crush, he thought, frowning. This is getting way out of hand, far too fast. He noticed Alastair watching him closely and hoped that what he was thinking wasn't showing on his face. Alastair must have seen it, though, because he chuckled softly and patted Drake on the back.

"It's all right, man," Alastair assured him. "I'll reserve judgment…for now. For my sister's sake."

Drake smiled uneasily. Alastair might reserve judgment now, but if he knew the truth, he'd be more than ready to judge. Of course, I

don't really blame him, Drake thought, biting his lip. But…he'd never let me near her. I'd never see those eyes again… The thought was painful. I need to figure out what to do, he thought, groaning inwardly. But there's no one I can even talk to for advice…

*****

Alanna sighed and dropped her pencil. She'd been trying for hours to draw something, but every time she began, it was Drake who came to mind. Grumbling to herself, she picked herself up off the floor and headed into the kitchen. She opened the fridge and scrounged around for something to eat. I have no fun food, Alanna thought, pouting. I need to go and get some ice cream or something.

The door opened suddenly. Since Bea was the only other person with a key, it had to be her. Unconcerned, Alanna continued her inspection of the fridge. She laughed when Bea grabbed her from behind, pulling her away from the fridge. Lips pressed against the curve of her ear. She sighed and sank back against the red-head, letting her head rest against her shoulder.

"Still sulking, Lonnie?" Bea asked, her voice teasing.

"I'm not sulking," Alanna grumped, scowling.

"Sure you are," Bea said, laughing and nipping at her earlobe.

Her hand slid up beneath the thin camisole Alanna was wearing and up over her breast. Shrieking in surprise, she turned on the red-head, squirming out of her grasp. Bea settled the back she was carrying on her shoulder, then chased after her as she darted for the bedroom. Giggling, Alanna sprang onto the bed and grabbed a pillow to defend herself. Bea sprang onto the bed after her, tackling her and carrying her down onto the mattress.

"Slowpoke," Bea teased, grinning.

"No fair," Alanna said, pouting. She wriggled under Bea until she slid off onto the bed. "What did you bring, anyway?"

"Something to perk you up," Bea said, opening the bag. "You've been mooning after Drake since he went to your house.

Keywords: Ch., Artist's, 04, Dragon, The,