Hide Your Heart

What The Hell Is All This?

Paul didn't have to react as his boyfriend ran into his arms.  All he could do was put his arms around him as tears soaked his shirt. Tentatively putting a hand on Tommy's back, Paul slowly began rubbing. "Sh. Sh. It's alright, I'm here."

"D-D-Don't let go. "whispered Tommy. "J-J-Just hold me."

"I'm here."

Finally , after talking softly to Tommy, Paul convinced him to go to the master bedroom and lie down. "I don't know what happened, but I'm gonna lie behind you and hold you." "I really would like you to tell me but I'm gonna let you do it in time." 

"Paul? I'm sorry for letting him in. It's my fault."

That statement got Paul worrying what had happened. Did Tommy and Jaime do something? Did Jaime hurt him more? What had taken place?

Turning Tommy to face him, Paul lifted his chin up and looked him in the eyes. "I am now worried because of that statement. What the hell happened?" He kept Tommy's chin in his hands so the guitarist couldn't look away. "I'm waiting."

"I-I-I let Jaime come in after he said he had something to tell me. He told me to sit down but I said no. After he grabbed me and made me sit, h-h-he told me y-y-you were only with me out of pity and you were with Gene and Eric....a-a-and then he....." Tommy trailed off as the doorbell rang.

Cursing under his breath, Paul got up and headed downstairs. Opening the door, he saw Gene and Eric standing there. "You guys  kinda picked a shitty time to show up. The damned ex showed up this morning, filled Tommy's head with some damned bullshit and I don't know what else. He now thinks we're in a three-way and I'm only with him out of pity."

"Well. We came over to see if you two wanted to go to lunch. "said Gene. "I'll go talk to Tomcat and see if I can clear things up."

"You don't have to." said Tommy coming down. "GET OUT!!!BOTH OF YOU!!!I HATE YOU!!!""I MAY NOT BE EXPERIENCED BUT I KNOW WHAT A THREE-WAY IS!!!"he started screaming. 

"HOLD ON A DAMNED MINUTE THAYER!" snapped Eric, turning around. "I AM NOT FUCKING PAUL!!! YOU NEED HELP THOMAS CUNNINGHAM!!! "I DON'T KNOW WHAT JAIME TOLD YOU BUT I'M WITH GENE!" 

Gene grabbed Eric as Tommy snapped and lunged at the drummer. "Whoa....both of you hold on." "Eric, calm down. Tommy, if I was with Paul,  you'd know it because he'd be off limits.  Now, why don't we all go sit down and find out if we can be friends again. "

The whole time, Paul was just looking back and forth between the other three. He motioned Gene into the kitchen as Eric headed outside and Tommy sat down on the stairs.

In the kitchen, Gene poured Paul and himself coffee and sat down. Tom is seriously messed up right now. I should have let Bruce come back temporarily until things were better. Eric's gonna be pissed for awhile but I'll get him through it, Me, I think it's funny."

"Funny how? The fact that if I leave he thinks I'm cheating? Funny that I don't even know what happened? That kind of funny?" 

"No, Paul. Funny in the sense that you tried so hard to hide your heart from us when I knew a long time ago you liked Tommy. You wear your feelings like you show off on stage." "Hell, even Eric knew." "Now, I'm going to talk to Tommy and you go see if you can cool the wildcat off."

"Lucky me." mumbled Paul.

Gene walked over to the stairs, picked Tommy up and took him upstairs. Paul headed outside to see if he could find Eric. 

"I'm cool. " said Eric. "Let's just focus on getting Tommy back to reality. Take him on a vacation if you have to." 

Paul gave Eric a hug as they headed back inside. They could hear Gene talking to Tommy  upstairs so they stayed in the living room. "Well, this is fun." said Paul.

After a few more minutes, Gene came down and joined them. "Eric, we'll come back in two hours. Paul, you go up there so Tommy can open up. He promised he would. When we are at dinner, not lunch, we will all feel better. Paul, no ugly hat." As Gene and Eric left, Paul flipped Gene off.

Paul headed upstairs just as Tommy came out. "I'm not pushy like Gene." 

"I know." Tommy held out his hand. "I love you so I'm going to tell you what happened." 

"Only if you're comfortable."

It only took Tommy a few minutes to admit he had let Jaime kiss him in the kitchen as well as go a bit further before backing out and changing his mind. The guilt had made him sick which is how Paul had found him.

"If you want me to leave, I will."

"Sweetheart, I forgive you. I can show you later how much if you're willing." "We both have a lot to give to this relationship so we won't ruin it by fighting."

"Looking forward to it." 

Paul pulled him into a deep kiss before breaking into laughter. "Gene told me no ugly hats at dinner so I think I have the perfect outfit."

Tommy rolled his eyes before heading to the shower. When he came out, fully dressed, Paul was finishing up. "You're really gonna wear that?!" he died laughing.

Paul had on a neon pink/blue polka dotted tank top, day-glo yellow leather pants with green stripes, white knee-high boots with fringe and an enormous pink feathered boa with green tips. "No hat." he smirked. 

"My black and gray clash hideously." replied Tommy. "You look like an electric peacock."

"Gene said no hat. " 

Tommy cracked a smile and took a picture. "I'm sending this to Bruce and entitling it "Our First Dinner Date." "I honestly thought you had gotten rid of all the neon."

"Gene thinks I did too."

Tommy opened the door later and raised his eyebrows at Eric. "Did you mug a BeeGee brother? Bell bottoms? Good lord."

Eric pointed to Gene who had on a bright orange/yellow flowered shirt with jeans and a red jacket.

"Goddamn Stanley!" cried Gene. "You win the prize for ugly clothes."

The four of them headed out, actually laughing and having a good time.

Tommy was finally at ease and guilt-free.