Basil and the Slumbering Emerald

The Emerald Appears

Basil woke up with Gram still snuggled up in his arms. Feeling the need to use the restroom he carefully shimmies out of Gram's arms and gets up going to the bathroom. Just as he gets to the bathroom door he hears voices from downstairs. "Kelkian, I think you are being a bit rash. You have to give him time." Petril's voice came from downstairs making Basil turn and sneak down the stairs silently to hear more. Kelkian sounded like he was crying.

"He clearly wants to be with that shackled more than me. It's better for everyone if we just cancel the arrangement."Kelkian sniffled making Basil frown his own heart aching at the thought of hurting Kelkian. Petril was obviously comforting him even if Basil couldn't see it.

"You are soulmates Kelkian. I know you are hurting right now but I have no doubt that if Basil were to hear you right now, he would agree with me, that he doesn't want you to call off the arrangement. You have loved him for a very long time Kelkian, he hasn't had his memories of you for very long. You have to give him time. I don't think Basil would string you along if he didn't feel something for you. He has feelings for you both and while custom dictates that he make a decision, you and I know very well that having more than one lover isn't uncommon in our world. You have to learn to share him Kelkian." Petril soothes but ever the fathering type tries to teach at the same time. Not able to stand it any longer Basil walked out into the living room and sat next to Kelkian. He intertwined their hands and used his other to pull Kelkian into a kiss, ignoring the taste of tears.

Petril took this as his cue to go check on dinner and left the two alone. Basil wiped away his tears pulling him in for more kisses, mounting Kelkian's lap to kiss him more. "Kelk... Love... I'm sorry if I hurt you. I don't want you to call the arrangement off. Petril is right okay?" He runs his fingers through his ebony black hair gripping it to kiss Kelkian much more firmly before putting their foreheads together. "I call you Love for a reason Kelk." He nuzzles their noses together.

"I know... I just feel a little pushed to the side when Gram is around. It's not easy not to take it personally love. I spent years dreaming of when I could finally have you to myself. I never expected someone like Gram to be a part of this. I'm willing to keep trying. I just need to know you mean this..." Kelkian digs in his pocket for a small ring box presenting it to Basil. When he opens it a sparkling silver band with an ornately carved emerald sat affixed to it. Basil gasps looking surprised.

"How did you know emeralds are my favorite?!" Basil looks up at him excited and Kelkian can't help but smile. He takes the ring out of the box and slips it on to his finger.

"I've had my eye on you from a far for a long time my love... So is that a yes?" Kelkian looks up at him with hopeful sea-green eyes. Basil pulls Kelkian into passionate and needy kisses surprising him by the fierceness of the kiss.

"Yes." Basil smiles just as Petril pokes his head around the corner.

"Dinner is ready. Better go get Gram, Basil." Basil nods and gives Kelkian one last lingering kiss before getting up and going to get Gram. They all come down for dinner sitting around the dinning room table with Basil at one end flanked by Gram on the left and Kelkian on his right. The other end of the table was Basil's father with Petril next to Kelkian and his mother next to Gram. They eat silently for a moment before his father speaks up.

"So... there are two of you?" Deciding to get the elephant out of the room. Petril and Basil stop eating at the same time, sharing a look between them that practically screams "fuck, this is going to end badly." Kelkian decides to speak up for Basil.

"Yes there are two of us, however Basil just agreed to my proposal." He grabs Basil's hand and shows off the ring on his finger. His mother takes his hand and inspects the ring looking impressed.

"That's wonderful sweetheart. Such a nice ring too." His mother chirped cheerfully. Basil gives Kelkian a warning look.

"Mom, Dad, you've both met my boyfriend Gram before. Yes there are two. No I won't be picking sides, but I am going through with the arrangements." Basil's mother smiles at Gram welcomingly and pulls him into a hug.

"I knew you two would end up together at some point." Basil's mom attempts to be supportive making Basil smile until his father clears his throat.

"Well that's nice and all but you will have to choose one of them eventually, it's tradition." His father says before taking a bite of roasted chicken. Petril chimes in defensively against his brother.

"Actually it's not against tradition to have two lovers, only that Basil has to marry one of them. If Gram is okay with Basil marrying Kelkian then they can stay together the way they are." Petril winks slyly at Basil. Gram stops shoveling food into his mouth long enough to speak.

"Well I would prefer to have Basil all to myself but if this arrangement makes him happy, I can adjust. I'm okay with sharing." Basil reaches out holding both of his lovers' hands and his father sighs admitting defeat.

"Well since that appears to be settled, I must say dinner is delicious my love." Basil's father changed the subject as everyone showered praise on Basil's mother for dinner. From then on the tension over dinner seemed to disappear. Basil smiles contentedly as they finished dinner, enjoying the feeling of his entire family there with him. His mother brought out dessert, blackberry pie with vanilla ice cream. Gram wolfed his down happily. Kelkian shared his pie with Basil knowing Blackberry is his favorite. Once dessert was over the three went up to his bedroom.

"Well that could have definitely gone worse." Basil sighs with relief collapsing onto the bed. Gram laughs and crawls into bed pulling Basil close. Kelkian gets in on the other side and sandwiches Basil between them. He turns to Kelkian snuggling up to him a bit as Gram wraps his arms around his waist hugging him from behind spooning him. Basil felt content finally with both of his loves surrounding him. He drifted off to sleep.

Once again, he was plunged into a dark forest, a voice calling out to him like a siren calling sailors to their death at sea, but he couldn't help but run to follow it. Something deep in his soul told him he needed to find it. For the first time since he started having these nightmares, he happened upon an overgrown alter, lit with moonlight like light from glowing statues. In the center was an overgrown pedestal full of water. Approaching the pedestal he found a glimmering emerald in the center. The moment his brain realized what it was he was pulled from his dream by his alarm clock.