The Guard To My Sanctuary - Chapter 48: Chapter 48

Marco
"We have to see what's going on don't we," Elm asked sounding muffled because his face was tucked into my chest. I could feel him breathing in and out on my bare skin. The small burst of warm wind causing my nipples to get hard and tickled a little. Everything about Elm still enticed me even after fifteen years of marriage the amount of love I felt for him had not dimmed it only seemed to grow bigger by the day. Even when we argued or were too tired to talk to one another just seeing him made my day brighter.
"Yeah, I guess we have to," I said equally as annoyed to be up on my late day. I heard the sounds of Maddox yelling and a door slamming and knew something serious was up. Mad as we called him was rarely truly angry with his brothers or anyone. He was the most outgoing, caring, and for the most part seemed to have good common sense. Calloway was the softest of the three, he could have his loud moments but all the shyness came out if he was asked to do simple interactions like go up to a counter at McDonald's and ask for extra sauce or something. He made up for the shyness by being the smartest of the bunch, I knew he would be some sort of scholar when he grew up. Ozias gave us the most problems out of all of his brothers. He loved to fight and could be dismissive of others feelings but if one could look past the things he did he was sweet and hardworking and just as intelligent as his brothers when he applied himself. I got up out of bed and picked up my shorts off the ground and slipped them on knowing whatever that went down would take a minute to sort out. I grabbed my phone and texted my boss telling him that I might be a little late which I knew would be fine since I had finished our latest project two weeks early and would really just be there filling out reports. The hallway was clear when I opened the door but seconds later I saw Calloway dash from his room that was the closest to ours and Ozias came out of his looking heated. I didn't even think as I moved and stepped between them while they put their hands up to fight.
"Just know that if either one of you guys swings on each other you're going to have to fight me," I said using my old "military" tone so that they knew I meant what I said. They both backed down allowing me to take in the situation.
"What's going on here and why is Beo crying in the guest room, also and most importantly why am I awake and hearing you boys argue before I even get a chance to brush my teeth," Elm asked walking out in a robe his hair disheveled.
"Why don't you ask them," Calloway said his voice laced with anger and started to walk away.
"I didn't say you could walk away," I said to him and he spun around to me.
"But," he started to say.
"But nothing stand where you are till everything is figured out," I said to him and he didn't argue. They were never really truly disrespectful to me and definitely not to Elm who they called variations of Mom I guess to somewhat fit in with their peers. Elm explained it with his psychobabble that flowed in one ear and out the other after that I heard he was fine with it.
"Beo get out here," I said aloud. Beo was basically my fourth son, his parents kicked him out once and he asked to stay the night and we allowed it and that bloomed into him staying with us for the majority of five years and even before then he was over often. His parents were stuck in their homophobia so deep that they refused to see the smart, funny, and truly kind child that they had created. He plodded out of the room looking disheveled in a crop top and shorts. I wished he would wear longer clothes the looks he would get from grown men really bothered me especially since I treated him the same as I treated Call.
"What's wrong," Elm asked putting his hand on the side of Beo's red-tinted face.
"I'm sorry I should go home," Beo said walking away. Elm grabbed his arm and pulled him back which was almost funny to see since Beo was the only person that he was physically strong enough to manhandle in the house.
"You know this is as much your home as anyone else's and what are you apologizing for," I asked him hearing Ozias say something underneath his breath.
"What was that," I asked him cutting my eyes over to him. He wasn't much shorter than me and was built slightly smaller than I was. He glared at me as if he was going to do something that would cause me to have to throw him down the stairs.
"Soften that look, little boy," I checked him and he huffed.
"Kutiya," Calloway called his brother a bitch underneath his breath. I really wished I had watched my mouth around then when they were little since we worked as a lead by example type of household. Elm and I bother agreed that we wouldn't be the 'do as I say, not as I do' type of parents so we let them cuss within reason along with making decisions for themselves instead of dictating their lives for them. We both knew that it was like to not have a real childhood and make choices and didn't want to do that to our kids.
"Hey be nice," Elm said to Calloway who soften his gaze looking at his mom. They all were like little children when it came to Elm it was almost a cute moment if they weren't seconds from fighting.
"I'm tired of this, can I go Cartier is coming to pick me up soon," Call said to us.
"No, since I'm up way too early and my sleep has been messed with you're all going to stay home and deep clean," Elm said which meant a day of organizing everything in the house and waxing the floors and extreme dusting. Maddox had gotten scarlet fever when he was six and Elm had been adamant about making sure the house was sanitary afterward.
"What," Call said angrily and looked at his brother.
"I said what I said," Elm responded still holding a sobbing Beo.
"All this because your hoe ass had to fuck my best friend," Call shouted pissed and sidestepped me to throw a punch at his brother. Ozias ducked and held his hand up to strike Call.
"I swear to every deity that I will find a belt and beat you like children if you two lay a single hand one another. We don't fight we talk things out in this family," Elm said already tearing up. I hated to see him cry and knew I had to do something. Something different clicked in my head after a few seconds of thinking and I decided to roll with it.
"You know what, since you all are acting like cavemen how about you beat the hell out of each other, you all are almost grown and you can take care of each other. Elm go and pack a bag and call in sick to your agency I'm going to take the rest of this week and next week off and we're going to have a personal vacation. You guys should be able to catch the bus or something to school. Beat the hell out of each other if you want just don't fuck my house up. Everyone get to your rooms and Beo come with me," I said in a tone that showed just how serious I was. Elm looked at me like I was crazy for a second but we worked together and he didn't disagree in front of the kids. Beo shuffled over to me with his head down as everyone went to their rooms. I took his hand and pulled him into a hug and he held me back and I pulled away and grabbed his hand walking him downstairs to the couch and we sat down.
"How long has this been going on," I asked looking at him patiently while he dried his tears.
"I don't know maybe a year, last night was the first time we actually," he trailed.
"If you're grown enough to do it then you should be grown enough to say it," I said sternly but at the same time not trying to be mean or make the situation more awkward than it already was.
"It was my first time having sex," he said with extra emphasis on the fact that it was his first time, not Ozias's. I knew that would be a big deal for Elm since his past made him a little sensitive to the subject. It was something he was totally open about with the kids since he wanted an open line of communication in case they were being abused or something which I agreed with.
"I'm sorry," he said about to cry some more.
"Stop apologizing," Elm said coming into the room with the earlobe of Ozias's left ear in-between his thumb and index finger. Ozias was hissing as he was being pulled along and sat down in a chair. Elm walked over and sat down next to me I could smell the scent of mint and knew he went to brush his teeth real quick.
"So Zi how long have you been having sex with Beo and whoever," Elm asked looking at Zi.
"I don't know maybe two years, I've been safe and mostly with girls," he said.
"So you started at thirteen," Elm said. I was tempted to slap the back of his head but restrained.
"What was my one request that I asked you all," Elm said speaking to Zi and Beo. Elm spoke to the kids about sex all the time saying he wanted it to be normalized or something like that and we did have a big talk with them and he was clear on his one request.
"I'm sorry Ma," Zi said to Elm looking guilty.
"I said come to me and tell me, now what was the most annoying this is that you think we don't know what fucking sounds like. You share a wall with our bathroom pendejo," Elm ignored Ozias. I liked hearing him use Spanish insults.
"You think we don't know what it means when a headboard constantly hits against the wall, the walls may be thick but they aren't that thick," Elm said to him and plucked his forehead.
"Oh, sh-shoot," Ozias caught himself.
"Yeah, what are you two even doing with one another, are you dating," I asked wanting to get down to the nitty-gritty. Beo looked over to Zi and I could see how their story had played out up to the point that we were at. Zi was a good looking football player with a bright future so girls weren't a problem for him. He hadn't told us that he was gay, bi, pan, nothing so he was probably one of those no labels people which was fine with me but what wasn't fine was that he probably dragging Beo along with everything. I don't raise cheaters nor people who intentionally hurt others who had done nothing to deserve it. Beo definitely didn't deserve to be dragged along.
"Ugh, y-yeah," He said to us and Beo beamed. I wanted to shake him but knew if I said something they both would be drawn closer to each other especially Zi who was not above doing things out of spite. Elm looked over at me picking up on what I was seeing and I gave a quick nod.
"Alright well, you two need to figure the stuff with Calloway out because like I said you're almost grown and we can't solve all of your problems anymore. Know that he's more than likely hurt that his brother and his best friend have been keeping this huge thing from him for a long time. Now Zi I know you're room is dirty so get to cleaning, this house should be spotless when we get back," I said sending him away. He got up and Beo went to follow him but I grabbed him and pushed him back into the chair.
"Look no matter what happens you have a home here, now we can't have you two sleeping in the same room where not that progressive but we also aren't  dumb enough to think you two won't be having sex Just be careful and don't throw it in everyone's face, act as if we don't know what's going on between you two. Also, protect your feelings, don't let him run over you and vice versa, understand," Elm asked Beo and he nodded.
"Alright call your parents for me we need to tell them that we are going to be gone out," Elm said. Beo pulled out his phone from his small pocket and dialed the number. I took the phone and pointed upstairs for him to go clean something.
"Hello," I answered the phone while watching Elm leave.
"What do you want we told you not to call here. You're as embarrassed us by not showing up," Beo's mom yelled into the phone.
"Ma'am this is Marco, I'm just telling you that the boys will be here alone for a week while me and my husband are on vacation," I said to her.
"And what do you want from us, we send you three hundred a month to keep him there," she spat.
"Ma'am three hundred dollars isn't half as much money as you think it is, we're just informing you that we won't be here to watch him," I said getting annoyed.
"I don't give a fuck you said he can stay over there he's your problem," Beo's mom shouted into the phone. I really wanted to call child protective services on her but there was no guarantee Beo would be able to stay with us. I was more than willing to adopt him but now that he and Ozias were "together" it would be too odd.
"Ma'am I'm not sending him back, you know what we should have a talk when I get back about the well-being of Beo since it is obvious that you don't want him. So let's see what we can do as adults to make sure you guys are both happy," I said and hung up the phone. I had to take a minute to mentally cuss that bitch out before walking up the stairs and going into Maddox's room. I opened it to find him wiping this fan blades off while balancing on his swivel desk chair. I walked over to him and grabbed him startling him a little and put him on the ground.
"You could break something," I said noticing a red mark on his chin and grabbed his face.
"They hit you," I asked him.
"Yeah sorry for yelling they were just getting on my fu-nerves," he said pulling away.
"Oh, well me and mom are leaving for the rest of the week and all next week. Catch the bus to school tomorrow and next week, call your uncle's or grandpa if something is going down that needs immediate attention. And I'll transfer a hundred to the card that should last you till we get back since there's food in the house. Oh and if you're going to get them back don't really hurt them," I said about to walk away.
"By the way, you're not having sex are you," I asked hoping that he wasn't because if Oscar found out he'd lose his shit. Oscar and Nia were more traditional parents which were working well for them.
"No, not yet," he said blushing. I laughed at him finding it amusing how he blushed at the thought of Wylder. I walked over to him and brought him into a hug because he looked like he needed one. I felt like they would make it past their teen years. I walked out of his room and shut the door and walked into Ozias's room where he was sitting in his bed still angry.
"I said something stupid to Calloway he's going to be pissed for a while," Ozias said to me.
"That's between you and him to work out, I don't want to hear it and don't play with Beo's feelings, do you hear me," I asked him he breathed out and nodded his head.
"Alright, I'm annoyed with you right now but I still love you. I'm transferring a hundred in your account don't go wild and take your ass to school, no fighting at school either," I said to him and kissed his forehead before leaving out. Beo was in the guestroom and I handed him his phone giving him another hug and telling him the same spiel about sending him money. I didn't tell him about me maybe making this his more permanent home since I didn't like to promise something I couldn't come through with definitively. When I was done with Beo I walked in Calloway's room after he unlocked the door for me to get in. He sat on his bed and I sat on the end of it and we just looked at each other.
"I'm not saying what they did was right but Beo is your best friend who's been there when you needed him and Zi is your brother who I know would never truly mean to hurt you. You three need to solve those issues because I care about all three of you and want you all to get along
Can you do that for your Papa because it hurts seeing you guys like this, " I asked and thought about how he Called me Papa till he was around twelve. Calloway was definitely a daddy's boy, so I knew that asking him something and putting an emotional edge on it would soften him up. He nodded and I held my hands out for a hug sensing the tears coming. Elm was just off of his period so I knew Calloway had just started his and would be emotional. I never told them how emotional they could get because they reacted as if I punched them in the face. He hugged me and snuggled in and cried for a little while. I kissed the top of his head and pulled away.
"Do the right thing, I'm putting some money in your account don't waste it on clothes and don't badger your family for more. Oh by the way since I asked everyone else, are you having sex," I asked truly not wanting to know the answer.
"Oh God Dad, no I'm not trying to have kids. Please leave," he said looking disgusted by the notion of having sex. I might have drilled into him that even though getting pregnant would be hard for him it was possible and that Elm and I weren't taking care of any kids he may have. I smiled as I left out of the room knowing that he wasn't putting himself in danger.
Finally, I walked into my room where Elm had already packed his bag and gotten dressed in some skinnies and a graphic t-shirt. I could see that he had been crying as well due to the puffiness of his eyes. I walked over to him and leaned down to kiss him on the lips and pulled away. I still couldn't believe I had gotten him.
"Where are we going boss man, and do you really think this will work," he asked wrapping his arms around my torso.
"Yeah I think they will figure things out by the time we get back, I mean if we did anything good with them we made sure that they know we love them all and that they should protect each other," I said pulling him closer to me.
"You're right," He said.
"We're going to San Diego by the way you've always wanted to go and we have money saved up so why not. I hope you packed for the beach and called your agency," I said to him.
"Yeah, I packed for warm weather and called Peter, your boss telling him that you want to take vacation days like I was going to surprise you with something and he said yeah," Elm said and I smiled at him.
"I love you," I said and kissed him.
"Me too, I hope you're right about this," he said to me.
"I know I am," I responded without any doubt in my mind.