Confession

No Comment.

We'll see you when you get back.

We.

It resonated in Mike's head for the rest of the night. When he opened the door to Chester's deep kiss, his face shining as he said, "I'm so proud of you." When he chose shirts and pants and laid them out before folding them to put in his suitcase. When he removed his contacts and stood brushing his teeth that evening. Why did she say we? She hasn't wanted to see me or be around me in weeks. We. What does that mean?

Chester was already in bed when he stepped out of the bathroom, propped against the headboard on two pillows, immersed in something on his phone. Smiling, Mike slid under the sheets next to him, forgetting about Anna for a moment as he leaned close to Chester and rested his chin on his arm, looking at the phone screen. "Whatcha doing?"

"Looking at all the nonsense on Twitter. Nothing important," he said, putting his phone on the table by the lamp and turning to Mike, scooting down in the bed and resting their foreheads together. "I had a good day, today," he said, lifting a hand to stroke through Mike's hair.

"Me too... even if you guys kicked my ass at soccer."

Chester giggled, his fingernails tickling lightly along Mike's scalp. "Tired, love?"

"A little bit, yeah." Mike closed his eyes, relaxing under Chester's hand. "That feels good, Ches..." He felt the light kiss Chester pressed to his lips and sighed contentedly. "The kids seemed to be okay when I dropped them off to Anna."

"I told you they would be okay. They're going to be more accepting that you think. Even Otis," Chester added at the end, aware that Mike had been particularly worried about his son.

With his eyes still closed, Mike said, "he overheard Anna telling someone we're sleeping together. He didn't understand what she meant, but still..."

Several silent minutes passed as Chester continued to soothe his fingers through Mike's hair, then he said, "well, it's better than some of the things she could have said. Sam says all kinds of horrible things to Dra, still, even after all these years. I haven't even bothered to try to talk to her about all of this. She's like poison."

Opening his eyes, Mike commented, "She always hated me. I don't understand why, but she did."

Chester exhaled slowly. "I think she could see how you and I interacted, how we really felt about each other. She felt threatened. With good cause, apparently," he spoke thoughtfully, carefully. "She's going to lose her mind when I tell her about us. She didn't care when I told her that Tali and I split, but I think this might send her over the edge." A devilish smile crossed his face, and Chester whispered, "and I don't fuckin' care."

Mike chuckled quietly. "Me either. I can't wait for Dra to be eighteen and out from under her constant influence. At least Anna is reasonable. She didn't say much to me, but she wasn't being ugly either. She even mentioned seeing me when I got back." He paused, checking for a reaction. Chester gave him nothing. "I guess that's something."

"Yeah... it's something..." Chester passed his lips over Mike's cheek, dismissing the conversation about their soon to be ex-wives. "Let's go to sleep, we have a lot to get done tomorrow before we leave out again. Don't forget we have that interview in the afternoon." He rolled over, leaned and reached for the lamp, turning it off, and snuggled back close to Mike.

"Ugh, yeah, I remember. Hopefully it will be quick. Standard questions and all that." Mike rolled his eyes in the dark, sliding an arm around Chester's waist and pulling him flush against his body, placing a gentle kiss on Chester's cheek. "Good night, Ches. I love you."

"Love you, too."

**********

The next morning's early hours passed in a flurry of activity, most of which was Chester calling Mike back to their bedroom repeatedly to give his approval of the many ultra-coordinated outfits and pairs of shoes he was trying to take with him.