"It's getting better."

[thankfuckforlife]

Who: Richie Jameson, Karla Jameson, Lorenzo Chevalier (and later, Clint Chevalier)
What: That moment when awkward doesn't quite cut it
Where: Lorenzo and Lewis' home
When: Thursday

Richie was nervous about this whole introducing his mom to Lorenzo thing. There was a lot of heartache leading up to this for obvious reasons... and for all of them. For different reasons. He didn't think he would be nervous, but he was. Lorenzo had told him to get in touch when he was feeling better and up to it, and they could fit a time in around stuff. He would make time if he had to. Which really made Richie feel awesome, because for so long, he had convinced himself his brother was either 1) a deadbeat like his dad (and he felt terrible for that grossly incorrect assumption), or 2) wouldn't want a thing to do with him because he was made when his dad raped Richie's mom. It was an awful situation, but Lorenzo was an amazing enough guy to see past that and wanted a relationship with Richie.

It had taken Richie a few days after getting home from overseas to be near functioning to be out in public. He had slept a hell of a lot, but it was okay because he had been staying at Adrian's place. In the process of that, he and Adrian got to spend more time together. With Richie not feeling nauseated or puking anymore, it was a lot of lying around and snuggling or being spooned while he slept, and he was pretty sure that aided his recovery this time around. Adrian had a pile of business to see to now, and that included a meeting with Callum, that Richie helped orchestrate. Ethan and Callum had been through a lot, and Richie was happy to help them have something nice, and Adrian had been more than open to considering Callum for a job.

Now Richie was on Lorenzo's doorstep with Karla and ringing the bell. It wasn't a dive of an apartment block. Lorenzo explained on their first meeting that he had moved into Lewis' home and Lewis was quite well-off from the work he had done. Turns out Lewis had also worked with Adrian, which Richie thought was one of the coolest things ever. He liked the whole secondary connection thing going on. It allayed his nerves a little. On the cab ride over, Richie had been Skyping with Adrian while he had a lunch break. There was no doubt about the fact Richie was more than smitten with his boyfriend and he wanted Lorenzo to meet Adrian as well as his mom sometime soon too.

Comments

[livingforlife]

The better part of twenty years ago, Karla had watched Richie nearly bleed to death, the logical mind of a young doctor not able to overtake the terrified mind of a young mother who was watching her baby bleed out. His physical health and well-being had hung all too delicately in the balance, and it had been the scariest thing she could remember. But now, there was that same familiar maternal pain, but this time, directed toward Lorenzo. She wasn't his mother. And perhaps it wasn't her place to worry for him the way she worried for Richie, but worry she did. He had no mother here to love and care for him or worry after him. Though he apparently had a beautiful husband who cared for him dearly, Karla still had this overwhelming need to be here for him since his mother couldn't be. She sort of just wanted to wrap him up in cotton wool, much as she had a much younger Richie after his diagnosis with hemophilia, and protect him. "Richie's right, Lorenzo. Either of us is more than happy to check on him for you, if both of you feel up to it. Unfortunately, medical ethics won't allow a sneak attack checkup, as much as I might wish they did sometimes." With that, she shot a pointed look in Richie's direction, remembering many times that Karla the doctor had to put Karla the mom in her place.

"What is said here stays here," Karla agreed. "Justin's Uncle Sam is a friend of mine, and I'd never do anything to jeopardize that poor kid. He's been through so much already, I think he's had quite enough. Richie's right, though. If we were in the habit of backing down from complicated, our lives would certainly be a hell of a lot different now. We're not going anywhere. Clint, you weren't here a moment ago, but I told Lorenzo, and this expands to you. You're my son's family, and as far as I'm concerned, that makes you my family, too. I don't have a list of snooty bullshit about how you have to behave to be allowed in my family. All I care about is that the people that I care about care back and aren't just takers... And it's pretty obvious that you guys have giving hearts when it comes to the people you love. At the end of the day, if you have a lot of ink, or a lot of sex, that doesn't change anything for me."

[privateinvestigations]

As hard a bastard as Clint could be, he had a definite soft side when he needed to. For all the banter and insults he and Lorenzo flung at each other, mostly out of affection, for most of their lives, Clint was always concerned and worried about Lorenzo. First the family violence, and then what he got into with Mara. Sure, she killed herself and succeeded in what she had been attempting since they hooked up, but it left Lorenzo in a bad place that could have really finally been the straw that broke his psychological back. Though, Lewis was a new factor, and Clint really adored the guy. He had been everything Renz deserved all along, and they were obviously deeply in love, despite the hardships. But when Lorenzo talked of Lewis, it was with such helpless lethargy. He wanted to take care of Lewis and protect him the way Lewis had for him, but he was obviously feeling like it was out of his grasp or he was failing on some level.

"Renz, it is what is is. Que sera sera. Life can be seriously fucking shit, but we're here. Whatever help you need while Lewis is sick, just let us know. And I know you're exhausted and like to get the shits with me because I'm the one who pisses you off the most, but shit happens and you know I've got thick skin. I'm not going to fuck things up on any level with you getting to know your new family. I'm over that whole feeling weird about new people coming in and trying to take my place," he added sheepishly. "That's not because I'm a selfish cunt. It's just because it was Renz and me for so long in a pretty shit environment that we always had each other's backs. At least, until I had to go deep undercover overseas for a year, and it was when all this shit happened and Renz still hasn't quite forgiven me for it..."

[nothingelsematters]

Lorenzo shook his head. "It's okay. Thanks, but I know what's wrong with him. He's just no so sure about it. It's withdrawal. Lewis is... how shall I say it... an alternative thinker. A deep thinker, and sees the world through a different spectrum to most. He blows my mind sometimes." At this, he looked over with a side-eyed glance at Clint, a mere silent warning not to make any puns about Lewis blowing more than his mind. "Which means, he had a very sturdy set of beliefs, and a valid background to support why he thinks the way he does. Long story short, after he was kidnapped and badly hurt... like, badly hurt, he did bounce back. It took a little while, but he seemed to just deal with it and didn't want to let it bring him down. Only, it was just like a band-aid over festering trauma beneath the surface. He ended up having trouble sleeping, leading to bad nightmares when he would finally crash that had flashbacks. He drove himself into exhaustion going back to work too soon and had a nervous breakdown. So, he was put on some medication to help him sleep, and anti-anxiety meds. He tried valium at first, but it made him very woozy and out of it, so they changed to Xanax XR. He's really smart, though. Did all the research, knows it's not good to stay on benzos long-term. He wants off them to try to adapt without meds, but he's gone cold turkey and I think that's what is making him sick. Usually if it's a bug, all three of us get it. He was vomiting when he woke up and had the sweats."

His nose crinkled a little, but he couldn't deny he was still a bit pissed at Clint. Only a bit, though, and it was more the fact it was a whole fucking year without any word. "Only because I was fucking worried you were dead, bitch. If you got yourself friggen killed undercover, no one would know to tell me, would they? So, if I'm still a bit pissed with you when I'm in my seventies, you'll just have to fucking wear it. I wish I could tell you why I'm not locked away in a mental unit somewhere. Some days, I feel like I should be. It's been a lot of crap and a lot of the time I haven't coped, but I had to keep going for Holly. She's my life, and my life is hers. You just sort of... do it when you're a parent. I don't even know how to explain it, you just keep going."

[thankfuckforlife]

"I can see why he would want to do that because it's true, they're best not used long term unless you really need them. It's admirable he wants to give it a go, because many wouldn't. But you need to be careful he doesn't dehydrate. Just keep him drinking. If he can't keep water down, you'll need to get him to the hospital for IV fluids. Just give me a call, I'll be able to arrange something. I think the most important thing about someone trying to recover from trauma is to let them keep as much control over their decisions as they can. You'll know that, it's a little easier to cope if you have that control. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Try another strategy. Maybe a staggered reduction in dose rather than cold turkey, or don't go back to Xanax, try something a little less harsh on the system. Plus, there's always alternative remedies to try. Some people swear by meditation or herbal remedies, and there's some great naturopaths here in the City. Even things like massage or vitamin supplements can contribute. If Lewis things more peripheral to mainstream, he might be open to the ideas," Richie suggested, because he really did just want to help on some level. Plus, no doubt about it, Lorenzo would be worried about his husband no matter what it was. It might bring him a little peace of mind to know there were other options on the table to help Lewis if he didn't want the meds.

Then he was watching the exchange between Lorenzo and Clint in amusement. They really did seem like brothers on some level. They obviously cared about each other, even if there was mocking. Lorenzo seemed like such an open and honest person, and Clint clearly his polar opposite. He knew there was no doubt about the fact that his mom would be very much identifying with what Lorenzo was saying here, and as such, probably thinking she wanted to take him under her wing and be his adopted mom. She might try to accidentally mom Clint in the process, but Clint was probably the sort of smooth-talker who would just end up making her laugh rather than letting her win at that game. This new family thing really might just work.

[livingforlife]

"Clint's right," Karla agreed with her son's cousin, looking over at the same stunning set of blue eyes. "Life happens. No one is going to judge you for having an illness, Lorenzo. If anything, we're all going to want to be here to help you and support you while you fight it. And we're here for Lewis, too, even if we haven't met him yet. I do know a few naturopaths here in New York who are fantastic... A lot of people seem to have the idea that it's all silly, 'out-there' kind of stuff, but it really isn't. I know some very scientifically minded people who use natural means to treat illnesses and I've seen a lot of good results from their work. Not every person is the same, and Lewis sounds like the kind of person who could benefit from something a little different. Either way, whether you go that route, or different medication, or just wait out the withdrawals, we're all here to support you guys. I can go ahead and let you know that any time you need a babysitter for Holly, I volunteer my services happily. She's a beautiful sweet baby, and I know that you guys probably have hoards of babysitters on standby, but I would love to be one of the hoard if that's allowable." She gave Holly a sweet smile as the baby cooed at her and tried to put a handful of Karla's dark curls in her mouth.

"I can vouch for that parent thing like crazy," she agreed. "Their life is all that matters to you. It's everything. You spend your days worrying about them, thinking about them. Doing what's best for them, no matter what it is that you think might be fun. Richie's my world. Even now that he's an adult, I still want the best for him. Granted it's not my place to provide it for him anymore, but it still matters to me. I still give advice... sometimes totally unsolicited, but he's pretty good about not telling me to fuck off... So I get that part. Protecting her... Doing what's best for her? That will always be your priority. And then what's best for you and Lewis as a team will come next." That was one she had no experience with, but definitely got the concept of.