Short Journeys

Steve Perry looked across the dining room table at his partner. It was Christmas eve and  he knew Greg was keeping some secret from him. After all this was there first real Christmas together. The Christmas tree was brightly decorated. On it’s top was a beautiful star made in Portugal, a gift from his mother.” To celebrate your first Christmas with Greg”, she said as she handed the beautiful delicate work of art. The tree was piled underneath with presents from Steve and Gregg to each other. It was challenging, keeping  the gifts hidden from the other but now they were all wrapped  and ready to be opened the next morning.

When Steve joined Journey Greg had welcomed him into his home. The  two had become friends, best friends, then something else  had began to develop.  Steve had came into the band so shy, lacking confidence  and intimidated by the rest of the group.  But he had looked to Greg and his  vast experience  as a vocalist for help.  The keyboardist sort of became his security blanket. And as Steve and Greg spent more time together a passion ignited. Eventually they began to share a bed,  on tour and off. 

In  fact Steve thought that the secret Greg was harboring had something to do with the master bedroom since he wouldn’t let him in there. Greg had been keeping him busy outside of the house a lot and Steve could have sworn his sensitive nose detected fresh paint.  Finally he could stand it no more. He  said “ What are you hiding, I know it is something.”  “ I don’t know what you are talking about. “ Greg  replied  with a smile. “  Steve said “ You haven’t let me back in the bed room for two days.  You have been making us sleep in that squeaky bed in the guest room. Probably everyone in the neighborhood knows when we make love cause the springs creak so much. “ It is fun  to make love in different beds don’t you think so.”  Greg teased him.  Steve sighed, exsperated “ We did that for six months on tour, remember ? “  Greg stood up and pushed his chair underneath the table “ I will do the dishes  ! ”  “Greggg !! ,” Steve drew out his name sounding a bit like a pouty child who was not getting his way. Gregg  just giggled and started clearing the table. Steve did not get up he just sat for a few minutes till Gregg had the the dishes in the sink and was starting to work. Steve got up and went to the kitchen. Despite the size difference in him and Greg, he managed to turn the keyboardist around to face him. “Yes ?” Gregg asked.  Steve  kneeled down in front of Gregg and reached for the snap on his jeans.             ” Please tell me what is in the room”, Steve looked at him imploringly.  He followed by  pulling Greg’s  zipper down. Steve batted his beautiful hazel eyes,  “ Please!”  “ Whoa “,  Greg said as he felt Steve’s mouth on his shaft.  Greg moaned and run his hands through Steve’s hair.  He quietly enjoyed  Steve blowing him. He whispered over and over  “ I love you !”  He suddenly came into Steve’s mouth, and almost collapsed against the sink. They were both breathing hard then he said “ You drive a hard bargain Steve… “ Greg chuckled softly then said “ a very hard bargain.”  Steve teased him “ Now tell me what  is in that room. Or I will do it again, and this time I won’t finish. “  Alright !” Greg finally gave in.  He closed up his pants and helped Steve to his feet.  “Come on, I was going to show you at midnight, but we can do it now.”

He led Steve upstairs to the bedroom.  He opened the door and flipped on the light.  Steve let out a gasp, but it was a happy sound.  The walls had been repainted  a soft creamy off white.  The older bed they had been sleeping in, been replaced with a queen sized brass bed.  But what  Steve had to smile at was the linens were  all a deep cool cobalt blue. The curtains, the bed quilt, even the two easy chairs that faced out the large picture window were newly upholstered in Steve’s favorite color. Along the shelves on either side of the wall  were several pieces of the cobalt glass  Steve loved because his mother had collected it for years.  “ Well ? “ Greg asked. Steve turned and almost embraced Greg so tightly he almost knocked him off his feet. “ I love it, it is perfect.  How did you did manage this without me knowing. “  Greg said, “ I paid two friends of mine who are decorators. They are discreet, fast, and very talented. They painted while we were Christmas shopping  two days ago. They did the rest of it while we were visiting Neal yesterday.  “ Steve had tears in his eyes, he was so happy, it was overwhelming.”” This is your home Steve, I will love you forever.” Gregg told him. Steve replied “  I love you too, you have made me so happy.”     He then said “ Why don’t we both take a shower and we can christen the new bed.” Gregg agreed and Steve said “ You go first I will finish the dishes.”  Smiling Steve went down to the kitchen while Gregg disappeared into the bathroom.

Later on Gregg was waiting while Steve finished his own shower. Steve was in the bathroom drying off  when  the door bell rang. He heard Greg talking to someone briefly then sound like a bag rattling. He pulled a robe on  quickly and went downstairs , “ Who was that ?” Greg looked up and said “ Oh Santa left you a gift !” He gestured towards the couch which had a wicker basket setting in it. Steve looked down at the  soft pink blanket in it and heard a “ mew”. Looking up at him was a pair of big green eyes staring out of ball of fluffy grey fur.  The tiny kitten opened her  mouth and yawned  revealing it’s soft pink tongue. Steve eagerly lifted her into his arms saying “ Hello little girl !” He stroked the kitten’s head and she purred, rather loudly for such a little creature. “ Steve looked at Greg and said “Thank you Greg, I love her. “ Greg said “ I have a cat bed for her.”  Steve looked at him somewhat surprised and said “ No this little baby will sleep with us !” Gregg said“ OK, now I have two tiny angels in my bed to try not to roll on. “  Steve leaned up and kissed him and Greg responded passionately. When the two separated, Steve said, “ You spoon with me and she can sleep on the other side.   Greg asked “ Do you have a name for her”  Steve  looked down at the kitten snuggled against him and said “ She is the color of the mist on the bay. I will call her Misty.”  Greg said “ She has already been feed, her belly is full and she looks sleepy. Let’s take her upstairs. “

A hour later the house was dark, even the tree was turned off for the night.  The two lovers  were spooned together, enjoying their comfortable new bed.  Misty  was curled up in a blanket in the far corner of the bed, snoozing .  The clock struck midnight and Greg whispered “ Merry Christmas Steve !” “Merry Christmas Greg, “ Steve answered. “ Your love is the best Christmas present I have ever received.”