The Kitchen

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Alexis walked into the kitchen ahead of Theo, it was dark so he switched the lights on and manuvered himself over by the stove. He pulled a sauce pan from the cabinate and set it on the stove. He turned the knob of the gas stove on until a small blue flame appeared under the pan. "Milk....chocolate syrup.." He mumbled this to himself as he walked over to the fridge and opened it, studying the inside for a moment he pulled out a carton of milk and a bottle of Chocolate syrup and headed back to the stove top. He set the two items on the counter and wait for the pan to heat.

Theo followed after Alexis, looking around the kitchen in awe he watched Alexis fummage through the fridge, when he found what he was looking for Theo moved closer to him by the oven "Is anyone home? Or is it just us?"

Alexis stared at the pan a moment before turning his eyes towards Theo, "For now its just us. Aunt Cassandra needed to go do some clothes shopping and then James the butler, and his boyfriend probrably moved to their place. My aunt should be back in maybe a few hours." He smiled as he poured the milk into the pan, he instantly started to stir it with a flat wooden utinsel. He kept stirring it evenly, waiting for the milk to heat as well. "Are you ok with it just being us?" he asked without looking behind him.

"Of course it's ok, I'm a little bit worried about meeting all these people, you know I get shy" Theo admitted, leaning back on one of the counters, still watching everything Alexis was doing.

Alexis nodded, "I know...but Aunt Cassandra is really nice..she's been taking really good care of me. I...don't think I could have made it through..anyway..I owe her alot." He quickly added the chocolate syrup to the pan and stirred it in. His face looked like it was carved from stone, and he was glad to have been looking at the pan, cause he was afraid that Theo would see the tears forming in his eyes.

"Well, from what you have said she sounds pretty cool, and i must say she keeps a very nice house, and shes cool with you being gay which is a really good thing, won't have to hide me under your bed hmm?"

Alexis couldn't help but smile, after a few moments of silence and stirring he nodded, "That's right! No hiding under the bed this time. Besides, my room is on the opposite side of the house from hers. So she probrably wouldn't find you to begin with. Hot chocolate is done." He grabbed two sage green mugs from the cabinate in front of him and carefully poured the hot chocolate into them afterwards he set the pan in the sink and grabbed the two mugs. He smiled and grabbed a peppermint and dropped it into his before turning around and offering Theo his glass, "I was gonna ask iff you wanted a peppermint in yours, but I remembered you never liked that.."

Theo smiled "Yeah good memory. So this place must be pretty big huh?" He took the mug from Alexis "Thank you." He smiled as he blew it slightly for it to cloo then took a sip "Seriously, you are the best at making hot chocolate."

Alexis smiled and nodded, "Yes it is, it use to be smaller but Aunt Cassandra had it remodeled when she moved in. We don't even use half of the rooms she has. We use the kitchen, the library, the lounge, the foyer, umm..the billiard room, then our own repsective rooms and bathrooms, oh and the office." He took a sip of his own Hot chocolate, blushing brightly at Theo's remark.

"Even that is a lot of rooms to use, considering my apartment only has kinda only two rooms when you think about it." he smiled as he noticed the boy blush "Can you drive yet?"

Alexis nodded slowly then tilted his head at the others question, "Drive? I can, but I don't have my liscens yet. My parents never allowe dme to. They figured I just drive away and never come back. And here, well...things are so close I can just walk. Aunt Cassandra even bought me my own car as soon as I moved out here..but I haven't driven it yet..since I don't have a licesne."

"And what are you like planning on doing out here? Getting a job?" Theo asked as he drank some more of the drink.

Alexis nodded, "Yes..I'm not gonna keep living off of my aunt..I have an appointment with my doctor in a few days. We're gonna see if I am able to hold a job." He said this quietly as he sipped more of his hot chocolate.

Theo didn't relaly know what to say, so instead cupped the mug in both of his hands and finished his drink, he placed the cup down on the counter when he had finished and put his hands back into his pockets.

Alexis recognized the silence, "Sorry...I guess..it's still new for you to hear I'm sick.." He downed the last of the chocolate, not even flinching at how hot it was. He set the mug on the counter and walked over to Theo and wrapped his arms around him, gently giving him a hug.

Theo hugged him back, holding him close to his body "I just...dont like that it's partly becuase of me, you know I never wanted to hurt you, and by us being together it has made you ill"

Alexis snuggled his head closer into Theo's chest, "It wasn't us, it wasn't even you...it was my parents..all the stress they put me through took its toll on my body. I'm ok, as long as I take my medicine, and I don't get too worked up over something." He listened softly to the other male's heart beat a small smile spreading over his face.

"Well, lets make sure you stay nice and relexed hmm?" Theo said softly, holding Alexis tighter, his hand brushing the other males hair slowly.

Alexis smiled and sighed contently, but after a moment he realized something, "You haven't seen the rest of the house! Is there any place in particular you want to see?" His voice was kinda muffled against Theo's chest.

Theo smiled "Well, where do you want to show me? Im not a nosey little thing like you" He laughed.

Alexis blushed softly and was glad the other couldn't see it. "Well the office isn't really that exciting..neither is the library..the billiard room is ok..and then so is the lounge! I got to help my Aunt pick out the style for the lounge. Lets go there!" His face brightened and he had a huge smile on it. "Want to?"

"yeah sure, lead the way..." Theo let go of the male so he could take them to a new part of the house.

Alexis smiled biggern and grabbed Theo's hand and led him from the kitchen to CQ Lounge.

THEO :D

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Cassandra walked into her kitchen and was still smiling to herself, "That boy...he has a certain luck to him. Or the univers just loves him." She laughed sardonically and pulled some pots and pans from some of the cabinates and went about preparing dinner for the three of them. She hummed softly to herself before swtiching on a radio to an oldies station and started to dance in time while making sure nothing burned.

Alexis walked into the kitchen in time to see his Aunt do her famous dance to "Dancing Queen" he laughed and clapped his hands, "You still got it Aunt Cassie!"

Cassandra turned around and laughed still moving in time with the music. "The bones will never get old enough to lie sill. Where's that Theo of yours? He coming down to eat?" She laughed before turning back to the food to save it from boiling over a pot.

Theo entered the kitchen as he followed after Alexis, he smiled at the boys Aunt and stood with Alexis.

Cassandra turned around and smiled, "There you are!! Well don't just stand there ALexis pull out some plates! This food is about ready to be eaten!!" She smiled and started to sing along to Dancing Queen.

Alexis laughed and walked over to the cabinets and pulled out three plates and set them on the island. He grabbed three mugs and walked over to the fridge, "ANything specific you'd like to drink Theo?" he asked looking up.

Theo still stood a little awkwardly in the doorway "Um, just water please if thats okay?" He replied.

Alexis smiled and motioned for Theo to move to the island and sit in a chair, "Ice water it is..Aunt Cassie? What about you? Anything special for this meal?" he asked in a bemused voice.

Cassandra walked over to the Island with a steaming pot and gently ladled some long curvy noodles onto each plate. She thought a moment, and then smiled, "Grab me a bottle of Wild Turkey from the back, and don't you be skimpy with me!" She laughed and grabbed a saucepan from the stove and gently poured a sweet smelling thick sauce over the plates of noodles.

Alexis grabbed a long necked bottle that was filled ith an amber colored liquied with a picture of a crazy turkey on it and set it next to a random plate with her glass. He poured himself some lemonade and smiled at Theo, "I don't know what she cooked, so be prepared for anything."

Cassandra smiled as she poured herself a gererous amount of the Wild Turkey, "I made a new dish..its hand made pasta noodles, boiled in water and white wine, and the sauce is a mixture of of different things...I won't tell you whats in it..it as my mothers recipe!" she said with a laugh as he took a swallow of her drink.

Theo sat down at the Island "Im sure it will taste great" He smiled at Cassandra then at Alexis "Noodles can never taste bad anyway"

Alexis nodded and slid a plate over to Theo then pulled one to himself. He cursed softly and jumped up from his seat to grab three forks from a drawer by the sink. "Can't believe I forgot these." He laughed and handed one to Cassandra then Theo. "To good food and love!" he said as he speared his fork into the noodles and twisted them around his fork.

Cassandra smiled and took another swallow of her drink, "That...is some good Turkey...wish I would have had this when your parents came to visit...would have made things alot easier..hell I could spiked their food with it!" she laughed and started to twirl noodles around her fork before popping it into her mouth.

Theo took a sip of his water "So, Alexis tells me you have lived here a long time, Im surprised we have never met before" Theo said to Cassandra with a smile.

Cassandra smiled, "Yes I'm surprised to hear you lived here a while. I thought I would have found you long time ago. Not many people ever escape my notice!" she squints an eye at him, "Haven't been...lying low have we?" she asked in a cop like manner.

Theo laughed slightly "No, quite the opposite considering my job and all" He took a mouthful of the noodles.

Cassandra smiled, "Really? What kind of job do you have? Work for anybody I know? Hmmmm?" She ;aughed and drained half her glass.

Alexis smiled softly and wished she didn't drink Wild Turkey like it was water. But he couldn't really do anything other than hide the alcohol when she got too drunk to notice...which was rarely. The woman has the tolerance to drink all the liqour in Puerto Rico and not even miss a step.

"I work for Nick Richardson, he owns a modelling agency, wuite a big successful one actually, I do modelling for a few ad campaigns for him"

Cassandra blink and nodded, "I see thats very interesting, a model? Who'd have thought...please forgive my saying but I was always under the impression Models were paper thin, didn't eat anything larger than a cracker and most deffinatly didn't date outside the world of fame?" she was scrutinizing him now, trying to find a chink in his armor.

Theo looked at her for a moment "Actually, most of the people I work with don't date within the industry...and weight isn't really talked about, well, it is more with the female models, but not so much the male ones"

Cassandra smiled and nodded, "Thats good to hear...I won't have Alexis dating some namby pamby diva.." She gave him a once over before draining the last of her Wild Turkey. She gently set the cup down attacked her food, leaving Alexis and Theo free to talk for a moment.

Alexis turned to Theo with a sad smile, "Sorry...she's in the mode to interrigate you...she wants to know anything and everything she can about you to decide wether or not she'll like you or let you date me..."

Theo raised an eyebrow "You need permission to date me?"

Alexis shook his head, "No..she just is giving us a hard time. But it would be nice if she approved of you so she wouldn't be watching us every moment we were here together." He turned his eyes on his aunt and sent a soft glare before smiling at Theo.

Cassandra snorted into her food, "Well he's got that right. He diesn't need my permission to date,I just need to know he'll be ok with you." She went back to her food, but this time at a much slower rate so she could join in the talking at the table.

"He always was okay with me, I would never let anything happen to him. It was his parents who he was not ok with" He smiled feebly.

Alexis nodded slowly agreeing with Theo, "Thats true, they did everything in their power to keep us apart...even as far as threatening his life..so I had to leave." Alexis poked at his food, remember how his parents, especially his father had barrated and threatened Theo and Alexis for dating each other. He remembered how his mother wish she had had a normal son, and that if it was the last thing she'd do she would turn him on the right path.

Cassandra nodded thoughtfully, "Well there isn't need to worry, they don't know your here, and I'm not about to go spilling any beans at all so.." She ate another fork of her food. She chewed it slowly and then looked back at them, "Your secret yet not secret relationship is safe with me..besides, I do have legal custody now, so they can't do anything even if they wanted to.." She smiled warmly at Alexis who was awestruck at his Aunt.

"Aunt C....how in the...when did you....what?" His mind was wurring over the many possibilities floating around in his head at the thought of his aunt being his legal guardian. "Aunt C...thank you do much!" He said with a bright smile. He got up from his seat and hugged her tightly when he reached her.

Theo smiled as Alexis got up to hug his Aunt "So that means they cant take him back? Even if they know i'm here?" he said with a huge smile on his face.

Cassandra let go of Alexis and shook her head, "No they are very powerful people, so they can do anything they want outside of the law, but inside of the law they can't do a thing. I have already informed the local authorities and some of my.....closer outside friends and they'll be keeping an eye out for unusual people." She smiled and pushed Alexis back to his chair.

Alexis sat down with a large smile on his face and started eating with gusto. He smiled widely at Theo and looked alot happier than he had been in a long time. "Thank you Aunt C, I know they'll try anything but at least legally we are safe inside the law..plus I would never doubt your friends. They always get things done."

Theo took a sip of his water "I will look out for you too Alexis, your parents don't know where I live, so if they ever came here you know you could stay at mine...if thats ok with you Cassandra?"

Cassandra smiled and nodded, "Of course! Plus anytime you feel lonely in that place of yours, your always welcome to come here. We leave a spare key under the gnome by the flowerpot on the front porch." She laughed and forked some of the last bits of food off her plate into her mouth.

Alexis nodded and smiled, feeling blessed and loved all at the same time. He kept switching looking between Theo and his aunt. He loved both of them very much and were willing to face his parents just to protect him. He felt at peace, such as he hadn't felt in a long time.

Theo's phone beeped through a messge for him, he took the phone out of his pocket and looked at the message, he frowned for a moment before putting it back into his pocket "So, how long have you lived here Cassandra?"

Alexis didn't say anything as he watched Theo look at his phone, he wanted to ask who it was from and what it said but it wasn't any of his business.

Cassandra smiled, "Well I've been living in this house for twenty years...I lived here for a long time, I doubt I could ever leave, even if I wanted to. I love this place to much." She laughed softly and looked around the kitchen, "Alot of love has been given into this house, so...I expect it to be that way after I die...right Alexis?" she said in mock threat.

Theo looked at Alexis with a grin on his face "Right Alexis?" He had the same mock tone in his voice that his Aunt had.

Alexis blushed and nodded, "Of course! I'd never let this house be any less than it was meant to be!" He smiled and finished off his drink and smiled, "Well what now? I'm kinda full, and I don't think I have any room for dessert." He laughed and sighed happily.

Cassandra giggled, "Well if you boys don't need anything else, I can clean up here, and you boys can go back to Alexis' room, just keep the noise down, we don't need the neighbors complaining again for the noise being too soft, they like our music style." She said jokingly to Theo.

Theo smiled warmly at her "Thanks for the lunch, it was really nice, and Alexis it is really up to you what we do...?" He then looked back to Alexis, as he did his phone went off in his pocket again, but he ignored it this time.

Alexis smiled and nodded, "Well lets go back to my room, I still have some things to give you...thanks Aunt C! I love you! C'mon lets got!" He hugged his aunt and grabbed Theo's hand and pulled him to CQ Alexis' Room.

Cassandra laughed and started to clean the area where they had just eaten, she scraped the leftovers into a small container and put it into the fridge and then started to wash the dishes.

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