Randy shook his head to clear the cobwebs as Dave slammed out of the room. After making a mental note not to push him again when he was already upset, Randy stood and began to clear up the food plastered onto the wall, Fortunately most of his own food had still been in the bag so it survived relatively intact although his tacos looked more like taco salad. Shrugging he put the mess on top of his nachos and began to wonder what he was going to tell Mark when his cell phone rang.

Cursing his bad luck Randy looked at the phone hoping it would be anyone other than his other lover. "I'm eatin'," he said sourly as he answered after recognizing the number as Mark's private line from his study at the ranch and heard a chuckle on the other end.

"Just what is new about that, boy?" Mark asked leaning back in his favorite chair. "How's things goin' with the boyfriend?"

Wrinkling his nose, Randy took a sip of his pop before answering in an attempt to stall what he was sure was going to be an unpleasant conversation. Somehow he had to figure out a way to keep Mark from killing Dave over something that was really after all Randy's fuck up. "Not good," Randy finally replied, "He's sorta kinda not here."

Lifting an eyebrow Mark asked, "What do you mean sorta kinda not there?

"You didn't find him?"

"Oh I found him alright," Randy said rubbing the back of his head as he wished he hadn't been so adamant that Dave not be alone that night. "But I sorta kinda pissed him off."

Mark's eyes narrowed as he wondered if he was gonna have to have words with the demon Batista. "Sorta kinda," he repeated softly trying to figure out why Randy was stalling. "I am most definitely gonna have words with Batista," he thought to himself, "if he so much as hurt a hair on my baby's head."

"Yeah sorta kinda," Randy confirmed but still didn't offer any real information which made Mark growl in warning.

"Randall…"

Sighing Randy shivered at the tone wishing he was in Texas watching that look on Mark's face even if it meant that he was in trouble. It never failed to get him hot and ready to go. "Look, its no big deal. I'm fine. Dave would never really hurt me. Knock the wind outta me yeah, but it ain't like he punched me or something."

When all he heard was another growl this one deeper and more dangerous in its intent, Randy rushed on to explain. "Marcus chill with the growlin'. You're too goddamn far away to make me this horny and besides it was my fault he lost his temper to begin with. It you was here you woulda probably knocked me upside the head. Shit all he did was shove me against the wall and growl at me."

Taking a deep breath Mark tried to calm the urge to hurt Dave. Once he felt he was somewhat calmer he demanded that Randy start from the beginning. Once the boy got to the ending Mark wondered why Randy hadn't been punched. "You really compared his feelings for Paul to what we've been doin' behind his back? What in the blazes were you thinkin'?"

Randy winced at the question thinking that he sounded worse every time Randy heard it. Somehow the whole conversation seemed to be trapped in some endless loop in his head playing itself over and over again relentlessly. There really wasn't any excuse he could give to justify it so he just sighed instead. "I miss you," he muttered not in the mood to discuss Dave any longer.

Sighing Mark rubbed his forehead and decided to let Randy change the subject. "I miss you too. How's your daddy enjoyin' his time back on the road?"

Now it was Randy's turn to growl thinking about his father. "Is it time for this to be over with Mark pleeeeeeeease? I swear that I feel like I'm fifteen again. He corrects half of my damn moves, has to know what I'm goin' every fuckin' second, and damnit he keeps trying to set me up with the fuckin' Divas!"

Mark chuckled until he heard the last comment and frowned stroking his chin unhappy at the thought of one of those girls putting their hands on his pretty baby boy. Then he remembered that it was fairly well known within the divas which way Randy swung so the chances of one of them going along with Daddy Orton's matchmaking attempts was slim. "It ain't like them girls don't know where your interests lie. Whether it is me or Dave they all know you ain't interested in anything they got to offer."

Randy nodded picking up a nacho and popped it in his mouth. Chewing thoroughly and swallowing Randy tossed around the idea roaming around in his mind before speaking it out loud. "Baby I been doin' some thinkin' and there's somethin' that we gotta talk about."

Mark straightened hearing the serious tone in Randy's voice. Immediately self doubts hit and Mark wondered if Randy had finally realized that their age difference was too much to over come. The truth was Mark still didn't understand how or why Randy would be interested in an old fart like him. Hell if truth be known it was Randy that had pursuit him not the other way around, which if Dave ever found out would only make Randy's betrayal hurt that much more. Mark had not been easy to convince that the two of them could work out no matter how much he secretly needed the younger man. For the first time in more years that he wanted to count, Mark felt not only alive but younger than his forty plus years. Shaking his head Mark pushed the negative thoughts away refusing to slip backwards. Randy deserved better and Mark was determined to give him everything he deserved. "'Bout what?" He asked possibilities floating around in his head, but the answer he got was the last one he ever expected.

"Coming out."

Mark had no doubt what Randy meant and getting up moved to close his study door before responding. As he approached the doorway he saw Sara sitting on one of the Indian rugs playing with one of her little yippie dogs. Quickly he closed the door before she could spot him and moved back to his chair. Randy coming out would drastically change both of their lives. There was no chance that he would allow the boy to do it alone. He wouldn't be safe and Mark loved him too much to hide in the closet while his lover suffered in front of the world.

"Mark?"

The fear in Randy's voice yanked Mark from his thoughts. Cursing at himself Mark smiled softly thinking his lover amazing. "Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you. I was just thinkin' about the changes that we'd have ta make. Leavin' Sara was gonna be messy anyway, but when she finds out that not only am I leavin' her for a man, but I'm comin' out too it'll turn down right ugly."

Food forgotten Randy stared at the wall stunned. Never in even his wildest dreams did he imagine Mark would go through this with him. Randy had prepared himself for everything from Mark leaving him to having to get used to a life of sneaking around more than he already had to. The idea that his well respected and older lover would dare to risk this ridicule with him never once entered his mind. "Mark you don't have to," Randy started, but was quickly cut off.

"Now you stop right there, Randall Keith Orton. If ya think that I'm gonna let you do this alone then you're insane. I ain't never been ashamed of either you or who I am. I ain't gonna claim that there wasn't a time in my life that the idea of people finding out who I really am didn't scared the shit outta me, but then I got over it and decided that if someone can't deal then they can kiss my ass. Shit only thing that's kept my secret as I am this long is Ol' Vinnie Mac. So as far as I'm concerned anyone who don't like what we're fixin' to do can say it to my face, which I don't think is gonna happen much.

"I gotta tell ya boy I'm damn proud of ya for havin' the guys to do this. There ain't a doubt in my mind that you ain't turned all the fallout over in your head. I'm as close to retired as ya can get without actually getting there anyway, but you got alla your career ahead of ya. Now I will help ya out as much as I can, but… well I'm damn proud of ya."

Randy couldn't keep the smile from his face and got up to bounce around the room excited. "I'm just tired of pretenin'. I don't know how dad'll react, but I'm pretty sure mamma knows. I just… I don't wanna hide how I feel about you.

"I'm pretty sure after my stupid ass remark Dave and I are done, which I suppose is a good thing considerin' what we're talkin about. I don't know how he would react, but I can't imagine Paul would be thrilled with it an' I would hate to hurt their relationship. I wish things hadn't ended like this though. I'm gonna miss Dave's friendship if nothin' else. He's always been a person I knew that I could count on.

"Far as the rest of the world is concerned though… shit Mark I'ma Orton. I don't really care what most of 'em say. I know I'll have you and that's all I care about."

Smiling softly Mark slipped the ring off his finger and set it on his desk. Things were gonna be hell for awhile, but it was nice to know that he'd be in hell with the man that he loved.

The End… for now!
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