Love's True Path

Emiko looked up at Nicky, smiling. "Nervous?"

"Not at all. After all, I'm only meeting my brother that I haven't seen in years." He shifted from foot to foot.

She laughed. "Sarcasm much? You've talked to Greg. He says Nathaniel's sweet."

Nicky adjusted his coat. "What if he doesn't like me?"

"Why wouldn't he?" She gave him an odd look.

"What if he's homophobic?" He asked.

"Nicky, he's best friends with Jason and Caleb. The couple? Who are having a double wedding with him and Jase?" Emiko hugged him. "Don't worry."

Nicky kissed her forehead. "Thank you for this Emiko. None of this could have happened without you."

"It's not a problem. Besides, I've met Gregory through it, even if he won't go for the home run... or second base..."

He laughed. "He's just shy."

"You're sure?" She quirked a brow at him.

"Not everyone is horny like you."

Emiko glared, hitting him. "Behave. We're seeing Nate!"

Nicky laughed. "That hurt." He rubbed his arm.

"Wuss." She rolled her eyes, knocking on the door.

Jase smiled as she opened the door. "Hi Emiko." The women hugged.

Nathaniel stared at Nicky, his eyes wide. "I..."

"Nate." Nicky said his eyes swelling as Jase stepped aside to let them in.

Nathaniel stepped forward. "You're.... I..." He licked his lips... then fell backwards in a dead faint.

Jase caught him before he hit the ground. "Nathaniel!" Nicky knelt beside his brother.

Emiko stared. "He still faints when stressed?"

The leopard laid there, unconscious.

"Sometimes." Jase stroked his hair.

Slowly, the dark auburn lashes fluttered, and he tossed his head. "Nicky..."

"I'm here, Nate." He smiled.

Nathaniel's violet eyes focused on the other man, and he groaned. "I just made an idiot out of myself. So much for a good impression..."

Emiko shook her head. "It's fine." She motioned to Jase, and went to sit by the bed to give them time alone.

Jase followed Emiko. Nicky helped Nathaniel sit up. "It's just good to finally see you again.

"Thanks.... I think the same." Nathaniel sighed. "I hate passing out."

"I know. You always did." Nicky hugged him. "I've missed you."

Nathaniel hugged him back, burying his face in his neck. "I missed you too."

He held his brother close. "God, Nate. I never thought I'd see you again."

"Ditto." Nathaniel swallowed, trying not to cry.

"I find you and you're married and having a baby."

Nathaniel flushed. "Um, yeah... you seeing anyone? Married?"

"Um...not seeing anyone. And I can't get married until they allow gay marriage." Nicky smiled slightly.

Nathaniel paused, then smiled. "That's cool, though."

His smile widened, "Yeah."

Slipping away from Nicky, Nathaniel flipped himself to his feet. "So... what do you do for a living?"

Emiko began to laugh from the bed. Nicky glared at her. "I'm a hairdresser. Emiko says it makes it that much more obvious that I'm gay."

"It's better than my job."

"What do you do?"

"I'm a stripper at Guilty Pleasures down in the district." Nathaniel shrugged.

"A stripper?" Nicky asked. "I took a workout class that used stripping techniques once."

"It's fun." Nathaniel waved at a chair. "Jase, Nicky, Nick, Jase."

Jase waved. "Hi. I'm your sister-in-law." She smiled.

"Nice to meet you Jase."

"You can sit, Nicky. We don't bite." Nathaniel swallowed. "But... I do have something I have to tell you. Several somethings."

Nicky sat on the bed beside Emiko. "Alright."

"I'm a lycanthrope." Nathaniel waited for it to be thrown in his face, and for his friends to leave.

"I know. Emiko told me that you both are." Nicky responded.

Nathaniel stared. "You don't mind?"

"Why would I? It's just another part of who you are."

"Oh." Nathaniel nodded. "I'm a wereleopard. Jase is a wolf." Biting his lip, he began to explain the happenings since he had last seen his brother.

"You've had a hard life. I'm just glad you made it through." Nicky hugged him again.

Unable to believe this was happening, Nathaniel hugged his brother close. "Aren't you worried about Shayne?"

"We'll be safe here." Nicky said.

Emiko grinned at Jase. "Aren't they cute together?"

"Yep." Jase laughed. "They're adorable."

Nathaniel shook his head. "'Miko, you didn't say that when we sacrificed your Barbie for GI Joe to save!"

"That's because you were evil little boys. They always stole my dolls." Emiko told Jase.

"So? GI Joe saved her..." Nathaniel grinned.

"After she nearly got her head chopped off." Emiko pouted.

"So? She just had cool scars!" He winked at Nicky.

Nicky laughed and Emiko elbowed him in the side. Jase rolled her eyes. "Boys."

"What's wrong with boys?" Nathaniel grinned, tugging Jase into his lap.

"They're mean." Jase crossed her arms over her chest.

Smirking, Nathaniel crawled over to her, resting his head on her thigh. "Are you unhappy with me being mean?"

"Just don't steal my dolls." She teased.

Nathaniel snickered. "Of course not." He looked at Nick. "So.... plans for tonight?"

"Well, I was hoping that I could borrow Jean-Claude's kitchen and make us some dinner." Jase suggested.

"Sounds great." Nicky smiled at her.

"I'll cook." Nathaniel stood. "Might as well eat now."

"I think that's Nathaniel for "I'm hungry'" Emiko teased.

"Sounds like a plan." Jase stood up.

Nathaniel kissed Jase, rubbing her belly before leading them down the hall.

Zane stood at the stove, frying himself a cheese burger, wearing jeans that hugged his hips and a Guilty Pleasures t-shirt.

Jase patted his butt as she passed by. "Hey, if you stick around you can join us for dinner. Oh, and meet Nate's brother. I think you already met Emiko."

Zane jumped. "Still teasing me, Jase?" He grinned, offering a hand to Nicky. "I'm Zane." He glanced at the rather pathetic attempt he was making at food, then Nathaniel. "I'll do kitty eyes if I have to..."

Nathaniel laughed. "Nicky, Zane, the beggar."

Nicky shook his hand, noting his bright blue hair. "Nice to meet you."

Allowing his eyes to trail over Nicky's lean form, and dark hair, Zane smiled. "Nice to meet you, too. Where are you from?"

"Flirting with my brother, Zane?" Nathaniel conveniently let his sibling know that Zane leaned that way.

"Jefferson City." Nicky said smiled at Zane.

"Huh. That's cool." Zane shrugged. "I've been in St. Louis for most of my life."

Nathaniel shook his head. "That's cause you're odd, Zane."

"Am not. I'm even." Zane turned off the stove. "I give up on cooking."

Jase took his food away and dumped it into the trash. "I'd say so." She gave the pan back to Zane and whispered. "He's single."

"I like Jefferson City, but I'm thinking about moving here."

Zane pinched Jase on the butt. "Thanks, Sweet buns."

Nathaniel rolled his eyes. "Stop hitting on my wife, Zane."

Zane looked at Nicky. "Oh really?"

Jase slapped his hand. "Yeah, I want to be close to Nate and his family." He smiled at his brother.

Hugging his brother, Nathaniel rolled his eyes. "Well, Zane, why don't you see about taking Nicky around town? I'm sure you'd be able to, and that way Shayne wouldn't make him a target."

"That freak's still out there?" Zane glowered. "He's causing too much trouble."

Nicky sat down at the table with Emiko. "Yeah." Jase said as she pressed a hand against her stomach.

"You want a beer, Nick?" Zane bent over the fridge, grabbing one.

Nathaniel began to make chicken Alfredo with grilled veggies.

"Sure." He said his eyes lingering on Zane's backside a little too long. Emiko kicked him from under the table.

"You, Emiko?" Zane offered belatedly.

Nathaniel quirked a brow at Nicky, smirking.

"I'll take a water." She said. Nicky and her shared a look.

Nathaniel blinked. "Greg didn't get you pregnant, did he?"

Emiko choked on her water. "No, we haven't even had sex."

"Gutter head, Nathaniel?" Zane smirked.

Speaking of the devil, Gregory walked into the kitchens, rubbing the back of his neck.

Zane smirked. "Look who we have here."

Emiko snipped her water, glad that the subject of her drinking water had been dropped.

Jase wrapped her arms around Nathaniel's waist.

"Hey, everyone." Gregory blinked at Emiko and Nicky. "Hey... I wasn't expecting you two..."

Zane plopped himself down in a chair next to Nicky, his legs sprawling. "What're you up to, Greggy?"

"Dinner. I got off of work. I think the humans are going insane." He sighed, turning to the fridge.

"Eh, just sit, Gregory. You can have some of this." Nathaniel motioned to the pan, kissing Jase.

Emiko smiled at Gregory. "Hey. How was work?"

Nicky sipped his beer as Zane's leg brushed his own.

Jase whispered something naughty to Nathaniel as she helped him cook.

Gregory kissed her cheek. "Eh, alright. The women weren't happy I wasn't Nate, or Zane... or Jason." He shrugged.

Zane looked at Nicky. "So..."

Nathaniel kissed Jase again. "Behave."

Emiko patted his hand. "I bet you did great."

"So?" Nicky said,

"I don't want to." Jase told him.

Gregory shrugged, grabbing a beer. "I guess."

"I was trying to think of something stunning and witty... so... I'll settle for asking how old you are." Zane rolled his eyes at himself, sipping his beer. No wonder Cherry left, idiot. Brilliant conversationalist, you are.

"Brat." Nathaniel nipped Jase's neck, stirring the Alfredo sauce.

Emiko sighed to herself. Gregory wouldn't open up to her at all.

"Twenty-five. You?" He smiled at Zane. He was cute, very cute.

"Mmm." Jase licked behind his ear.

"Twenty five. My birthday was in October." Zane shrugged.

Nathaniel purred. "Tease."

Gregory sighed, rubbing his face. "I'm sorry, Emiko."

"Sorry for what?" She asked Gregory.

"Ah, well happy late birthday."

"I am not." Jase laughed.

"I'm not exactly talking a lot." Gregory shook his head.

"Thanks. Don't suppose I get a present?" Zane waggled his brows at Nicky.

"Yeah. Right." Nathaniel pressed her hand to his hardness. "You tell me."

"It's alright." Emiko told him.

"What do you want for your birthday?" He asked Zane.

Jase stirred the food. "I'm innocent."

"Depends... what do you want to give me?" Zane smirked.

Gregory looked down, sighing. "Emiko, can we take a walk? I'd like to buy you dinner..."

Nathaniel snorted. "Uh huh... and that's how you got pregnant with my baby."

"Depends on what you want." Nicky drank some of his beer.

He's going to break up with me. Emiko thought to herself. "Sure." She smiled. "I don't think they'll mind if we sneak away."

"Me? I'm just the innocent virgin that you used your charms on." Jase hid her laughter.

Gregory took Emiko's hand, leading her from the room.

Zane ran his tongue along his fangs. "What are you willing to give?"

Nathaniel laughed. "Yeah, with whips, and knives all about your bed!"

Emiko followed Gregory silently.

Nicky shrugged. "Nice fangs."

Jase snorted. "Please, like you wouldn't like for me to use all of those things on you."

The blue haired man paused. "Yeah. I got stuck in my other form too long. That's why my voice is screwed." He referred to the deep rasp he spoke in.

"I begged for them." Nathaniel kissed Jase deeply.

"I like it. It's different." He smiled at the cat.

"We have guests." Jase reminded him as she nipped on his lip.

Nathaniel purred. "You started it... besides, Zane's flirting."

"You do?" Zane tilted his head at Nicky. Huh.

"They're still in the room." She said glancing at the boys.

Nicky nodded. "Yeah, It's sexy." He went to the fridge and grabbed another beer. "Smells good Nate."

Zane stood, setting his empty on the counter before leaning around Nicky, his body brushing the human's as he grabbed another beer. "Yeah, it does, Nate."

Nathaniel smiled. "Thanks. It's nearly done."

Nicky had to stop from shivering as Zane press up against him.

"Go sit down you two." Jase began to set the table.

"Something wrong, Nick?" Zane quirked a brow.

"No." He quickly took a swig of is beer.

"Hey, Zane... question." Nathaniel asked, setting the meal on the table.

"Answer?" Zane quipped.

"Mind if Nick stays with you? We're out of rooms here, and we were going to have to have him stay on the couch..."

Nicky choked on his beer, but managed to hid it with a cough. "Went down the wrong tube." He cleared his throat.

Zane shrugged. "No skin off my ass. JC gave me that king size bed, remember?"

Nathaniel nodded. "Okay with you, Nicky?"

"It's fine with me." Nicky said as Jase set the food on the table.

"Cool." Nathaniel looked at Jase. "Want me to get you some milk?"

Zane served himself and Nicky some salad, pausing after the salad was in Nicky's salad bowl. "Uh, you did want some, right?"

"Yeah." Nicky smiled at him. "Thanks."

"Milk sounds great." She kissed Nathaniel.

"No problem." Zane sat back down after serving the other two.

Nathaniel grabbed a glass of milk for Jase and himself.

Jase ate her salad. "What's wrong with Gregory, Zane?"

"He's having issues with Stephen. He's got these mad flash backs to when Raina and... well, let's just say it's not pretty. He's scared it'll happen if he gets physical with Emiko." Zane sighed, adding Italian dressing to his salad.

"Has he talked to Mika?" Nathaniel asked.

Jase squeezed Nate's hand. "Poor Gregory."

"Yeah." Zane finished his beer, then stood again. "You want something else to drink, Nick?" He poured himself some iced tea.

"I'm good for now." He told Zane. Jase finished eating first.

"Crap. I was supposed to call the wedding planner." She kissed Nathaniel as she left the room.

Nathaniel finished next, standing. "Nicky, it's great to see you, but I've got work tomorrow, so it's bed for me..."

Zane smirked slightly. Being left alone...

"Night, little bro." Nicky smiled at him as he left. All alone with the sexy blue haired leopard. Hm... what to do?