The Tale's Willow

Winter Seduction 3

A/N:   *WARNING: MENTIONS OF CHILD ABUSE*

And this is gonna be another pretty long chapter although I'm having to split it into two chapters (which was not my original intent but...ya know...ideas and and things, lol). There's also quite a few images in this one because...well...I like them :P So there ya go ;)

"The simple answer is...my family."

"Sweetie, you're gonna have to give me more than that. I love the Christmas season. How everyone seems much more willing to help one another. The parties. The carols. How everything looks better with tinsel and colorful lights. (Chance giggled)" Chance gave Adam a squeeze as he spoke.

"Pfft. The over-crowded stores. The mad dash for stupid shit people either won't use or don't need." Adam started.

"Baby, tell me the honest reason you don't like the season. Yes, the over-crowded stores can be a pain. But when you find that perfect gift for your loved ones, something they've really wanted or need, and their face lights up...it's all worth it." Chance kissed Adam's forehead.

Adam sighed heavily not really wanting to talk about this. He hated thinking of his childhood. He really didn't have many good memories of the "holiday season" and didn't like thinking about it either.

"Adam, look at me. (The blond finally lifted his eyes to meet Chance's) I'm not going anywhere. You're not going to scare me off. I really, really like you. I want to know everything, I mean absolutely everything, about you. There's things you're keeping me from and I don't know why. I'm not going to judge you or make fun of you or anything. I want to help." Chance stared into blue eyes that were starting to get a bit teary.

Adam had to take a few deep breathes before he was ready to talk. Chance continued to rub his back gently while he laced the fingers on his right with Adam's left.

"Christmas was a huge deal for our family. My parents made it more religious than most other families which made things awkward. I would ask for things I wanted for Christmas, not super expensive stuff either by the way, but my parents always got me what they thought I needed instead. Socks, underwear, new coat, maybe new shoes, dictionaries, stuff like that. My younger sister was a whole other ball game. She got everything she asked for.

Any carols that were sung were only the religious ones. My mom and Grandma always said the 'other ones', you know the fun ones like "Rudolph" or "Grandma got run over by a reindeer", were of Satan and evil and refused to let us sing them. Mom would decorate the house but us kids were never allowed to help. Her house had to be just perfect and us kids would mess everything up. (Adam was fighting a losing battle with his tears by this point)

If you haven't guessed, we grew up in an unbelievably strict religious household. My mom continuously badgered my about why I didn't have a girlfriend and stuff. It made me... when I realized I was finding myself more attracted to the other boys than girls... well, it made me very self-conscious. I was paranoid about being caught because of how disgusted with the gay community my parents were. Listening to how they talked made me very fearful for my own safety. (Chance gasped)

Mom had actually thrown a fit when she discovered I was gay. I didn't want them to know but her and Dad surprised me on campus one day. I was leaning against my boyfriend as we were relaxing in between classes. She, uh, she began calling me names, really awful names. She even threatened to cut off my tuition, if you can believe that. She started ranting about what a heathen sinner I was and how I was going to hell and burn for eternity. I've never been more embarrassed than I was that day.