was sure to find him. Michael headed to the one place he
knew he shouldn’t go. The one place he needed to stay far
away from, yet it was the one place which cal ed to him:
home. He needed to see his family, and he wanted them to
see him. He wanted for things to go back to normal even if
it was only for a little bit.
Just for tonight Michael needed his real family and
everything it entailed. Right now he wanted love, and not the
perverted kind he had found today.
But most of al , he wanted to see Gypsy. His soul craved
her. Even he knew he wasn’t meant to stay away from her
for so long. If he could just see Gypsy then he knew
everything would be alright. Gypsy would fix things just the
way she had always done for him. She was the stronger
half of them. Gypsy would knock him on his arse for being
so stupid then pick him up, dust him off, and make
everything al better. This is exactly what he needed right
now. Though he didn’t think it would be as easy with his
parents. They would have questions that he just didn’t have
answers for. Wel , not answers they could easily accept.
When he got to his house Michael stood under the tree
in the front yard like he had on so many nights since he had
been changed. Heart aching, he watched through the
window as his father picked up his photograph and
frowned. Michael knew that it was a photo of him just by
seeing the frame. It was the picture of him and his dad
sitting on the Ferris wheel at the fair. He watched as his
father tried to cover his sadness when his mother came to
stand beside him. Wrapping her arms around him, she took
the photo and put it back in its place. It was then he realised
his father was crying. This smal act made his heart lurch in
his chest. He hated knowing he was the one which had
caused his father al this pain. Watching his mother wipe
away his father’s tears made his feet final y move.
Standing before the front door, Michael hesitated, his
knuckles held only inches from its surface. Sadness
overwhelmed him as he debated whether or not this was
the right thing to do. Should he come back into his family’s
life, only to have to leave again? Would his coming back
only cause them more pain or would it ease what his family
was now feeling? Would being near his family be any good
for him or would it just screw him up even more than he
already was? Michael’s internal struggle was answered for
him as his mother opened the door.
“Damn it.” Michael pul ed his mother into an embrace,
hugging her tight against his chest. “I’m sorry, Mum. Can
you forgive me? Please, I need you to forgive me.” Tears
streamed down Michael’s face as he she clung to him in
disbelief. “I love you so much, I’m so sorry I hurt you. So
damn sorry.”
“Michael!” His mother gasped in shock. It suddenly hit
Michael — he could hear her heart racing. “Charlie, come
quick! Michael’s come home.” His mother screamed as
she clutched at him. Michael was worried she had gone
into shock. Maybe he should leave before he caused them
anymore heartache. She must have seen it in his face what
he was thinking because she grabbed a hold of him and
refused to let go.
“Michael!” He was pul ed roughly from his mother’s arms
when his father reached them. “Where the hel have you
been? I don’t care. I missed you. We al have. Tel me
you’re home for good.” His father stood there and held him
tight as they al cried. This is what Michael had come for, to
be loved as only his family could love him.
Slowly, Michael’s father let him go when he felt Michael
trembling against him. “What is it son?” His parents pul ed
him into the house, and he was too overwhelmed to protest.
“Whatever it is, you can tel us.”
“I… I… I can’t stay.” Everything in him hurt when he
realised he had made a huge mistake in coming here. This
wasn’t right. He couldn’t drag his family into his bizarrely
twisted life. It wasn’t fair to any of them, especial y when
their scents were so overpowering. He would never be able
to control himself around them. “I just came back to say
goodbye, and to tel you that I am so sorry for leaving the
way I did. I just… I don’t belong here anymore. I’m so sorry.”
“Why?” Michael’s mother cried, reaching out to touch his
arm, but he pul ed away. A look of shock fil ed his mother’s
face as she saw him stare at her. Her reaction horrified
him, and at the moment he couldn’t handle how she kept
touching him. She didn’t know what each little touch was
doing to him and he couldn’t tel her. How could you explain
to the woman who gave you your life not to touch you
because you wanted to take her life from her? Her blood
cal ed to him and it made his gut clench in need.
“I’m sorry. I never should have come back here. I never
meant to leave, but now I can’t stay.” Michael tried to make
them understand. He wanted them to know they were stil in
his every thought. “I love you. I wil always love you al .”
In an attempt to stop him from leaving, Michael’s father
asked, “Are you in trouble?” Michael sensed his inability to
explain things was pissing his father off. But he couldn’t tel
them, if he did they would tel him to leave and never come
back. This only confused him more because he knew he
should leave them, they didn’t need him in their lives. It
would be best if he just walked away from them right now.
Then why was he finding it so difficult to do just that?
Because he needed them. He needed someone to stil
love him unconditional y.
Hesitating, Michael looked at his father. “I’m not in
trouble, but my life has changed. It’s different, and now I
don’t belong here. I never wanted it to be this way, but now
it is and I can’t change it,” he rambled, stil not making
sense.
His father threw his hands up in the air. “Then what the
hel is it Michael? Is it drugs? Are you in trouble with the
police? Have you gotten some girl pregnant? Mixed up in a
gang? Or a cult?” His father asked, probably hoping he
could guess why his son felt the need to leave home the
way he had. Michael knew they could see how upset he
was at being back at home and they knew he wasn’t going
to be able to stay.
“It’s not drugs; it’s not any of those things. Dad, my life is
just different now, real y different. It’s better if I’m not around,
better for you both, better for Gypsy.” Now that he was
actual y here standing in his former home, Michael felt
nervous and il at ease, yet his mind and heart stil
wondered where his sister was. “Where’s Gypsy?” It was
weird how he had come here to see her and she wasn’t
here. It was so typical of the way his luck was running.
It was then Michael saw something dawn in his father’s
eyes “Is it because you’re gay, son?” His father asked.
Michael flinched at the question, and it was a dead
giveaway to his parents. “Michael, we don’t care if you are.
We just want you to come home. You can even bring a
boyfriend home to meet us. It doesn’t matter who you love.
Not to us, because you are our son and we love you.”
Michael slowly nodded, taking a deep breath he spoke.
“His name is Christian, he’s just…” Michael shook his
head, “it’s complicated.”
“But you love him?” His mother asked.
Standing there, Michael thought about it for a moment.
“Yeah, I do. I real y do.” He looked into his mother’s eyes. “It
isn’t al perfect, but I…”
She smiled. “You love him.”
Michael nodded again. “Yeah.”
“Michael, if you need to come home. If you need us for
anything…” his father fel quiet.
Angry with himself, Michael hit himself in the head with
his fist. “I can’t,” he said. His parents scent was so
intoxicating. It was messing with his mind. Their fear for him
was driving him mad. It was al he could do to keep his self
control. “I have to go. I left Chris. I just walked out, I need to
go back and make things right.”
Was it real y a fib? He knew he would go home
eventual y, but he stil needed time to think, and Christian
would be there waiting for him when he went home. Michael
abruptly turned toward the door. In his heart, Michael
realised he was glad Gypsy wasn’t here after al . Deep
down he didn’t honestly know if he would have been strong
enough to walk away from her again, not when she stil
consumed nearly every thought. This is the longest they had
been apart since the moment of conception. He wondered
if she was suffering as badly as he was.
“Wait! Michael, al your things, they are stil in your room.
Don’t you want any of them?” His mother cal ed out in
desperation. “Please Michael, don’t shut us out. Not now
that you have come back. I won’t be able to survive you
leaving again.”
Tears slid from his eyes as Michael tried to shut out her
words as he changed direction, heading through the house
toward his old room. Nothing had changed; it was stil
exactly as he had left it. Did this mean they had always
expected him to come home one day? He could hear his
parents arguing quietly about him out in the lounge room.
His mother was begging his father to make him stay and
his father was tel ing her he couldn’t — the choice had to be
Michael’s. Pul ing his bag from under his bed, Michael
threw in as many clothes as he could fit. How in the hel was
he supposed to get through this? Even now he didn’t want
to dwel on the fact that this was going to be the last time he
would ever get to stand in his room with al his belongings.
Taking one last look around his room Michael headed back
out to his parents, stopping only long enough to grab one of
the family photos which sat beside his own picture.
“Can I have this?” He hugged his parents, kissing their
tear stained cheeks while his father pushed money into his
pocket. “Dad, I never came here for this.” Michael said as
he tried to return the money. He just needed to get away
before he did something to them he would never be able to
forgive himself for. “I love you both,” he whispered.
“You keep it; you come back if you need more. You hear
me son? Whenever you need more, the door is always
open.” Michael felt heartbroken at the pain he was causing
his family. “Son, I…” his father’s words faltered as his voice
clogged with tears. “We’ve had no clue where you have
even been al this time, and I need to know you are taking
care of yourself. I don’t want you living on the streets.”
Michael frowned, and his father continued. “I know you are
an adult and can take care of yourself. In my head I know it,
but my heart doesn’t believe it. My heart says you are stil
my little baby boy, and I need to provide for you. Just let me
do this. Let me take care of you.”
“Thanks, Dad. Just so you know I haven’t been living on
the streets. I haven’t been on my own.” Okay, so it was a
little white lie, but he didn’t want his parents to worry.
“Please tel Gyps… just tel her, just tel how much I love her,
and I miss her like crazy, and I am so sorry for leaving her
the way I did.” Turning, he left before he al owed them to talk
him into staying.
Michael didn’t look back, not even when his mother cried
out his name. It punched a hole through Michael’s chest
right where his heart should stil exist, but now thanks to
Christian there was nothing. Everything and everyone he
had ever loved was lost to him forever because of what
Christian had done to him. Michael knew there was no way
he would ever return to his parents’ home. He couldn’t put
them through this again. He didn’t want to return to
Christian either but couldn’t stop his feet from heading in
his direction anyway. Some part of him deep down knew he
belonged with Christian. The closer he got to home the
more the pain he was feeling eased.
Why was life always so fucking complicated?
What was he supposed to do now? Where did he
belong? Why the hel was he headed back to Ambrose
Street now that he knew the truth? How could he face
Christian again, knowing deep down there was some sick
making him into this monster? Stil craved his kiss, stil
wanted to be comforted in his arms, even with everything it
entailed? Shaking his head he knew it was because he stil
loved Christian. Being with Christian was the only thing that
felt right, even if he was pissed at him. He wasn’t sure he
could admit this to the others though, not until he had ful y
worked it out in his own mind.
A lone figure stood at the end of the street Michael was
walking along. Without a doubt he knew she was watching
him approach, waiting for him. Even at this distance she
was familiar to him. What the hel was she doing out here?
Had she fol owed him? And why could Michael feel waves
of anger flowing out of her, and why the hel were they
aimed at him?
“Charm?” Michael placed his hand on her shoulder.
Anger slammed into him as Charm’s eyes almost
glowed with her fury. “I came to find you but I lost your scent.
It just fucking disappeared. One moment it was there and
then — poof — it was just gone. How the hel did you do
that?” she punched him in the shoulder — hard.
Rubbing his shoulder he answered her. “I’m here now.
You found me. What was so important you had to come
looking for me? Don’t tel me — you had a dream,” he
ended sarcastical y.
“Kerr and Doyle made Chris leave.” Her voice vibrated
with anger. “You have to find my angel. You have to bring
him home. If you bring him home the others wil let him stay.
It’s your fault they threw him out so you can fucking fix it.”
She growled as she punched him again. “Why did you have
to blurt out everything the way you did?”
“I’l find him,” Michael said, calmer than he actual y felt.
“And for the love of God quit punching me.” Michael shook
his head. How the hel was this his fault? He wasn’t the one
who had changed an innocent person without their consent.
The little niggling voice in the back of his head piped up.
Are you sure this is all Christian’s fault? It takes two to
tango, dumbarse.
It struck him as funny how the pain in the arse voice was
beginning to sound more and more like Gypsy as time
passed.
“Promise me,” Charm demanded, grabbing his arm. “I
need him to come home. You have to bring him home.”
“I promise.” Michael took hold of her hand, and began
walking home with her. As they walked along Michael
wondered if the others in the family even cared he had
walked out. Pul ing out Christian’s phone from his pocket of
his jeans where it had been left, he flipped through the
stored numbers until he pul ed up Kerr’s name and pressed
cal .
“What?” Kerr snapped into his ear.
“I’m with Charm,” Michael said calmly.
“Michael, where the hel are you? You walked out and
she disappeared about an hour ago. Doyle and I haven’t
been able to find either of you.”
“We’re on our way home now. We’l be about twenty
minutes or so. See you then.” He hung up without letting
Kerr reply, it was juvenile but a part of him was hurt they had
forced Christian to leave. They were supposed to be a
family after al .
“The night is such a wondrous time don’t you think? It is
when al the interesting creatures come out to play.” Charm
wrapped her arm through Michael’s as they walked. Her
change in mood freaked him just a tad. “I feel so alive when
darkness covers the earth.”
To any people passing by, it would seem like they were
two lovers going on a moonlit strol .
“Don’t be too mad at him when you find him.” Charm
paused for a moment, “even if it is true and he real y did
create you. The look on Chris’s face was total shock. I think