Billy and Justin drove out, through the pouring rain, to the Carver's Ranch. It was a cold, wet, gray and miserable day. Christian and Roman met them at the door.
"Superboy, Billy, at last! They're in the big lounge, sitting by the fire."
"We took their clothes off them,' Christian grinned. "They're in the wash and the boys are wrapped up in blankets; so they're not going anywhere."
"Thanks Guys. We appreciate that."
"We had to stop them from running away again. They claim that they're going to Christchurch."
"Yeah," Roman said. "It's taken them 2 days to come 25km; it'd take them forever to get there."
"They're going nowhere but home. Thanks for looking after them."
"Not a problem. There was a time when we had nowhere to go and the Family looked after us."
"Well of course! I'll just go in and talk to them."
Justin went, by himself, into the Big Lounge. Marty and Andy, wrapped in old woollen blankets, sat together on a small couch directly in front of the open fire. He went and stood, with his back to the fire, in front of them - Two skinny, delicate-looking, handsome young boys, identical in appearance and with their long blond hair falling around their faces.
They said nothing, avoided eye-contact with him and both shifted closer together.
"It's about time someone put some walls up in here," Justin said. "This room is way too big and it's impossible to get it warm. I think it's going to be a late summer this year."
"What are you doing here, Justin?"
"If you think you're going to take us back, you can think again. We're not going."
"I'm not taking you back. No-one wants you anyway. They're all glad to be rid of you."
"What??"
"They are not!"
"Of course they are. Why wouldn't they be? And, you're not staying with us - one teenager is more than enough to live with."
"But."
"But, you said that you loved us."
"I used to," Justin shrugged. "Well, I suppose that we should be getting back to town. Bloody awful weather out there.
Good luck walking to Christchurch. It's going to be cold up in the mountains, but you can do it - probably. Your great, great-something, grandfather came to Westpoint by walking all the way from Christchurch. He did it, so can you.
Of course, his twin brother died on the way. He's in an unmarked grave on the side of the road, up there somewhere. No-one knows where. But then, he was just a boy, you're older than he was, so you should be all right - if the weather's kind to you.
I wouldn't try hitching a ride. That girl was raped and murdered a couple of weeks ago; they haven't caught whoever did it, yet. Good luck, Boys. It was nice knowing you."
He went back to the kitchen where Billy, Christian and Roman stood looking aghast at him.
Marty and Andy looked at each other and Marty started crying.
"What are you bawling for? He doesn't mean it. Of course he wants us to go back."
"He's not exactly begging us, is he? He's right, it is going to be bloody cold up in the mountains, and you're already sick. I don't want you to die, Andy!"
"Oh Marty, I love you too. I don't want you to die either!"
The blankets fell away as they embraced, clinging together and crying together.
"Come on." Marty was the first to pull himself together. "Let's go and ask Justin if he'll take us home."
"Yeah. We have to, but we are not sleeping in separate rooms."
"No way! Not ever."
"Never!"
Clutching their blankets around their naked bodies, they shuffled out to the kitchen. Billy was getting a hot drink, Christian and Roman sat at the table and Justin stood in front of the fire. He looked over when they came in. They stopped and looked at him. He smiled and they both flew at him, dropping their blankets on the floor as they wrapped their arms around their loving uncle. They all cried together.
"Justin. Oh, Justin, please don't leave us."
"Take us home, Justin. Please take us home."
"Oh, my Sweet Boys! Of course we'll take you home. I love you, Boys. I really do."
"We love you. I love you the most!"
"You do not, I do."
"Shut up, Dork. I love him the most."
"Andy! Marty!" Justin laughed through his tears. "Stop fighting, Boys. Stop it or I'll slap your bare bums."
"Umm, yeah." Red-faced, Marty picked up the blankets, handed one to his brother and wrapped up in the other. "Will our clothes be long, Christian? We need them back. We're going home."
"They'll just be a few minutes. They're on the drying-cycle now."
"Thanks. Thanks everyone, we just want to go home now and face the music."
"We do, but we're not going to be separated. I love Marty and he loves me and we are going to be together."
"We are! Always."
Billy came over and held out his arms. He hugged one boy and then the other. "It's going to be all right, Boys. Everyone just wants you at home. All of your parents love you just as much as we do - more, probably. Everything's going to be okay."
Marty and Andy thanked Christian and Roman and hugged them both as they were leaving.
Roman said, "You're welcome, Kids, but it's good to see you going home - you're doing the right thing."
"You are," Christian agreed. "Any time you want to run away, you run out here to us. Now, go away. Daniel will be here, any minute now, with a bus-load of visitors for us. What would people think - walking in here to see naked teenagers all over the place?"
"Christian!"
"Yeah, shut it, Christian."
They got into the car, Billy driving, Justin next to him and Marty and Andy, cuddled together, in the back seat. Back in town, at the Beachhouse, the boys were really nervous, but the uncles gave them no choice. Justin led the way in and Billy brought up the rear.
Kathleen stood, arms akimbo, just inside the door. "So! You are a pair of naughty little boys! Your parents have been worried sick - everyone has. I'm very disappointed in you. Next time you run away, for goodness sake, come to the Adelphi. You know there'll always be a bed there for you."
"Thanks, Gran. Sorry, Gran. Nice to see you too."
"Yeah. We love you, Gran. Sorry."
Lana came running down the stairs and hugged and kissed them both. "Welcome home, Boys. About time too! Your mum and dad are in the kitchen.
Jonathan stood up when they walked in. "There you are! Do you know how much time everyone has taken off work because of you two?"
"Sorry, Dad."
"Sorry."
"So you should be. Don't you ever do that again. Now come here and give me a hug - I love you Boys."
"Oh, Dad!"
They both hugged him and then turned to face their mother. She stood and frowned at them.
"You two are grounded. Both of you. You can both go up to your room and don't come down until tomorrow."
"Up to our room?"
"Our room?"
"Yes," she smiled at last. "Your room. Your beds are where they've always been. I'm not saying that I like it, but you can shut the door and we don't have to know.
Welcome home, my Lovely Boys."
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