Tim's Last Orgasm 24: Terry's Solution

"Terry, it's late," Barry said when his son was nagging him to get out of bed. "I'm sure whatever your idea is can wait ‘till morning."
"No it can't, Dad," Terry insisted. "You gotta hear this. Tomorrow's Sunday and that means we can spend the day setting things up. Christine is comin' over an' she's gonna want to know what we got planned for her baby so she can decide whether to have that abortion or not. You gotta hear this, Dad! I think you're gonna like it."
"Fine," Barry said. He knew Terry would not let up until he'd had his say. "Go get Tim and Nathan," he instructed. Terry bounded out of the room and dug Tim and Nathan out of bed.

"It's really so simple I dunno why I didn't think about it right away," Terry said when they were all assembled, all sitting on his parents' bed. "Mr. Nelson is tryin' to find a buyer for the computer store, and you're looking for something else to do. You got all those investments from last year, so you can just buy Mr. Nelson's business. Mom can quit her job and help out, but her schedule will be more flexible. We can even build a bit of a nursery at the store where we can all keep our eye on him."
"HIM?" Tim questioned.
"Yeah, the baby. Isn't it gonna be a boy?"
"I don't think anybody knows that yet," Tim said, but then he wondered. Why on earth had Terry assumed it was a boy? Could he possibly have got some communication at a higher level that none of the others had access to?

"That's a fine idea," Barry said. "Unfortunately you are forgetting one very important point. Neither your mom or I have the faintest idea how to run a computer business, or what's involved. And we're a little old for learning new tricks, don't you think?"
"No, Dad, I don't think," Terry returned. "That's the most beautiful part of this whole idea. Mrs. Seymore has been learning the business, and Nathan and I have been learning the technical part of it. Tim has already been there over 4 years. We could all help you and Mom, and we could all pitch in so Mom basically won't have to do much at all except take care of the baby. And because we're all family, we don't have to worry about salaries and payrolls and stuff. If the store is doing well we get paid; if not, we don't."

"He has a point," Virginia said.
"You bet I do, Mom," Terry said, beaming. "And by the way, don't you even try and tell me you wouldn't rather take care of that baby. I saw that gleam in your eye the very first time anyone mentioned it. You know you wanna be a mother again!"
"Terry, of course you know that we'll have to give the baby up as soon as Larry can take care of it," Virginia reminded him. "It's not as if you're getting a baby brother, you know. At the very longest, this is a two year arrangement."
"I know that, Mom. But just because he doesn't live with us any more doesn't mean we can't love him, does it?"

Dan Nelson was delighted with Barry's proposal. Tim knew he would be from some of the things he'd said over the past year. He had built this business from nothing and didn't want to part with it unless he could be assured that it would prosper. Barry didn't have nearly enough money to buy the store and all the business connections outright, but by the end of the day the two men had worked out a deal that they thought would work. Dan would retain part ownership, which of course would entitle him to a percentage of the income. That was fine with Barry because all three boys were in Dan's will, so they would get it back eventually.

By the end of the next week, everything was pretty well set. Christine would not have her abortion, but she had signed away all rights to the child she was carrying; Barry and Virginia had both given their notice, effective the end of November. By that time the business would have changed hands and Barry Chandler would be the new President, with Valerie Seymore his Executive Vice President. Virginia would be working part time so she could learn the business, but her primary objective would be to turn her guest room into a nursery. She and Barry were to have full custody of the baby, including a medical power of attorney. "What in the world's that?" Terry wondered.
"It gives us the legal authority to make decisions and approve any medical procedures, surgeries and that sort of thing that the baby might need while his father is away," Barry explained. "Without that form, doctors might refuse to give him some needed treatment until his father can be reached."

Tim saw the glint in Terry's eyes as he listened to his father's explanation. He had seen that glint before and he knew precisely what it meant. Terry had played enough baseball to know that there was merit in having all the bases covered, and he had just covered another one. Tim grinned to himself as he felt his phantom erection spring to life. He knew this was not the last time he would hear the term ‘medical power of attorney.'

***********************

"Hi, Carlos, it's Tim Chandler," Tim spoke into his cell phone. It was almost the end of November, and Tim had endured increasing pressure from both Terry and Nate to get started on setting things up for their trip to Cancun. Larry was now somewhere in the Pacific on an aircraft carrier, fully confident that his baby would be well cared for until he could take up his duties as a single father. Everything was arranged, it seemed, for a foursome to travel to Cancun during the spring break next March.

"Tim!" Carlos exclaimed. "Man, it's good to hear from you! How are you doing?"
"I'm fine, Carlos," Tim answered nervously. "Actually, I wish I could tell you this is just a social call, but that would be a lie. I'm calling tonight because I need your help, Carlos."
"I understand, my friend," Carlos replied. "You're no more guilty of withholding communications than I am. I've been meaning to email you for weeks! How's college life treating you?"
"It's great, Carlos. I'm really enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. It's so different than high school! How's Gina?"
"That's another story," Carlos said. Tim could tell by the change in his vocal tone that he'd opened a bit of a can or worms. "It didn't work, Tim," Carlos went on. "We're still sorta on friendly terms, but we don't see each other that much. Gina changed schools, so she's sorta out of the picture. How's your love life?"

Of all the questions that one could ask Tim, the one that Carlos had just asked was the most inadvisable. Tim felt a wave of pure warmth wash over him as he heard the question. He had so few opportunities to tell anyone about his gorgeous 16 year old lover, and he enjoyed telling it so much! But he knew Carlos would understand.

"I've got a boy friend," Tim said into the phone. "Actually, that term really doesn't do him justice, Carlos. He is so totally awesome!" Tim went on probably more than he should telling him the details about Nate.
"I'm... I'm glad, Tim," Carlos said. Tim could tell that Carlos was anything but glad. What had happened? Had Carlos changed his mind yet again about his sexuality? Tim certainly hoped not because the last thing he needed was a conflict between Nate and Carlos. But Carlos hadn't finished what he had to say. "I sure wish I could meet him," Carlos went on. "I'm really missing you, Tim, and I know he must be really special if you're in love with him."
"You'll get to meet him in March," Tim said excitedly, "and my brother too. We're all coming to Cancun, Carlos. Actually, that's why I'm calling."

"You're coming to Cancun?" Carlos responded. Tim could almost feel the excitement in his voice. "That's great, Tim! More research?"
"Nope. Carlos, I was hoping I could get you to ask your dad to schedule them both for a penectomy. We're not exactly sure of the dates yet, but it'll definitely be some time in early March..."

There was a long silence while Tim waited for Carlos to respond. "Tim, I don't know," Carlos said finally. "Dad's kinda changed the rules. After all the trouble you had, he decided it just wasn't worth it. He's not doing anything like that to anyone under 18."

Tim felt a shudder pass over his body. How in the world, after all the arguments and fights and discussions, could he tell Nate and Terry that the whole thing was off? "Carlos, can't you talk to him?" Tim implored. "We've been talking about this for months! And I thought he understood my problems were not because I had my penis off, it was just a lot of crap coming down on me all at once. Can't you change his mind, Carlos? He did tell me he would do anything to make up for all that mess with Dr. Strangelove here trying to castrate me."
"I know, Tim," Carlos said. "I'll try and talk to him, but I just don't know...
"You think it would help if I talked to him?" Tim wondered.
"Let me talk to him first. I'll do my best, Tim," Carlos promised. "I'll call you in a couple days, ok?

Tim had sensed a definite change in Carlos' voice. It simply wasn't the voice of the happy Mexican he'd met the last time he was in Cancun. Or was it just his imagination? He was glad now that he'd chosen a time to call when neither Terry nor Nate were around. He decided he wouldn't tell them the bad news until he was sure it was a definite no. Tim wasn't good at keeping secrets from the other two, but this time he had to. In the meantime the computer business was booming and keeping everyone a lot busier than they would have liked. It seemed that everyone in Chicago wanted a new computer for Christmas, and a very large number of them wanted one built by the Chandler computer company.

Tim had a swim meet in a small town about 150 miles away the following Sunday. His new friend Jared had offered to drive, and Tim had accepted. So Jared, Tim, and Nate made plans to travel on Saturday afternoon, returning Sunday after the meet. Nate and Jared were both excited about the trip because they had never met, though each knew about all there as to know about the other. Neither Tim nor Nate was prepared for the surprise that awaited when Jared picked them up.

"Holy moly!" Terry exclaimed as he glanced out the front window. "Who is this Jared guy anyway, some kinda gangster or something? He just pulled up in a big black stretch limo!"
"You sure it's Jared?" Tim called from the kitchen.
"I dunno, but a young guy just got out and he's coming to the door," Terry answered.

It was indeed Jared. "Sorry about the limo," he said. "My dad insisted. He said we'd all be tired after the meet so he didn't want me driving. He said he wasn't using the limo all weekend anyway so he wanted us to take it."
"He doesn't trust you to go alone, does he?" Tim observed.
"No, I don't suppose he does," Jared replied, his embarrassment very obvious. "He still thinks I'm 9 or 10 I think. I hope you guys don't mind. Don won't get in our way, really. He'll have his own room and he'll just hang around and stay out of sight unless we want him to drive us someplace."

Tim and Nate were completely intimidated by the luxurious limo, but perhaps even more so when their imaginative minds began to speculate on what they didn't know about Jared. He seemed to sense their discomfort, so as the big Lincoln floated along the highway, he began to explain. "My dad is in the oil business," he said. "His whole life revolves around oil. I've been pampered and coddled like a fucking prince my entire life, and I hate it! I never have any time to myself without body guards or chauffeurs or some of my other dad's goons. He's even told me when I declare my major I'm gonna have to take Business Administration, and the fact that I want to go into medicine makes no difference to him. I hate living like this, but I don't see that I have any choice. But just to put your minds at ease, he's not into anything illegal. He's just so damned rich it's completely gone to his head. But I'll be 18 in February, and things are gonna change."

"Jared, you're not thinking of leaving home are you?" Nate said with concern.
"You're damned right I am," Jared replied vehemently. "I've got enough money in my personal account to get me through college, but I can't leave now because he can freeze everything I own. Once I'm 18, I'm gonna live a normal life."
"But won't he try to force you to come back?" Tim inquired with concern. "I mean, if he has that much power..."
"He'll be so pissed off he'll disown me," Jared said confidently. "He doesn't want a son, he wants a puppet. I'm sorry, but I'm not anybody's puppet!"

Tim and Nate both tried to convince their new friend that his plan could cause him all sorts of trouble, but he was adamant. He explained that he'd tried to tell his dad many times that he wanted to live his own life, but he just wouldn't listen. "I've also been meaning to ask you about your missing penis," he said to Tim as he blushed slightly. "Where did you have it done? Was it cancer or something?"

Tim had developed a general policy not to discuss the reasons for his penectomy with anyone but those who were very close to him, but in this case he made an exception. He didn't know why, but Jared had touched a nerve somewhere deep inside him and he felt that the truth was in order, so he told the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. As he revealed his secret, he saw Jared's eyes brighten. He could almost feel the electricity of his friend's excitement as he confessed that there had been no medical need for the surgery, that it was just something in his being that would not be satisfied as long as he had a penis.

Jared reached into the limo's small refrigerator and pulled out three cokes as Tim finished his explanation. He handed one to each of this friends, then looked Tim directly in the eye. Tim could see that Jared's eyes were becoming misty. "Tim, you told me that you and Nathan are... are lovers, right?"
"Yes," Tim confirmed.
"But... but without a penis, how in the world can you... you know..."
"I'm gonna have mine off too," Nate announced. "Then we'll be equal. Right now it's kinda lop-sided sexually, but we'll be taking care of that next March."

Jared's eyes popped open so wide Tim was afraid his eyeballs were going to fall out and roll down his cheeks. "You... you're gonna do that for Tim?" he questioned incredulously.
"For US," Nate corrected. "Tim hasn't been able to have an orgasm since his penectomy, and I guess you could say that's my commitment to him. I just don't want to have something that he doesn't have."
"OMYGOD!" Jared exclaimed. "I can't believe this! This is so incredible! If you guys only knew!" Then to both Tim and Nate's complete astonishment, Jared went into some sort of a trance as tears rolled down his cheeks. What in the world!

Tim looked at Nate, but he found in his lover's face the same puzzled expression that he was feeling. They didn't have the vaguest idea what Jared was going through, but they knew whatever it was, that it was profound. Was he so traumatized by their frank explanation or their position? Would this end their friendship, before it had even begun? Had Tim been wrong in being so honest?

"I gotta tell ya, you guys are the answer to my prayers," Jared declared. "Ever since I was a tiny boy and realized all that my dad was always telling me about heritage, my responsibility to procreate, to produce heirs, I have wanted to be nullified! I'm not a son to my father, I'm a fucking stud whose only purpose on earth is to produce grandchildren! But sex without love has no meaning for me, and frankly I have never learned how to love. Now it seems you've provided me with a way to do exactly what I've always wanted! You've got to take me to Cancun with you! You've just GOT to!"
"Nullified?" Tim questioned. "You mean you want everything off?"
"Everything!" Jared confirmed. "I hate ‘em! I hate my genitals, my sexuality, my ability to reproduce. I hate it all! I want them all gone!"
"You don't know what you're saying," Tim exclaimed. "If you don't have genitals, balls, you have no hormones. You'll be completely sexless!"
"I know," Jared said confidently, "that's exactly what I want. I want to be rid of everything!"

"You can't do that," Tim pontificated. "You're young, and as handsome as a god, Jared. If you have everything cut off you'll never develop any more. I've seen you naked, man, and you're not even close to being fully developed. You've got no hair on your body, not even that much pubic hair. That's why I kept my balls, so I could develop into a normal man. If you lose your hormones at this stage, you'll never develop into anything more than what you are right now. You'll be a boy all your life, only a little taller."
"Is there something wrong with the way I am right now?" Jared demanded.
"Well, actually, no. I think you're gorgeous! Even though you're almost 18, your body looks a lot like my brother's, and he's only 14."
"Then what's the problem? I agree with you, Tim. I like my body the way it is right now. If I can stop the development of my body right now, I want to do it."

"It's not that simple," Tim pointed out. "You'll have a lot more trouble keeping your body hard and muscular. You'll have a tendency to get soft and flabby, almost female in appearance. You'll never grow any body hair or develop any muscle tone unless you kill yourself working out, and you'll never develop any more sexually. But you'll still age, Jared. Castration is not a fountain of youth, it's not a secret formula to immortality. If you get totally nullified at this stage in your life you'll just be a nullified eunuch, which most people would be quick to tell you is not a man at all! It's not magic, Jared!"

"Don't you think I know all that?" Jared said angrily. "I might not be the best swimmer in the world, and I may not be a sexual animal, but I'm not stupid! I've been studying this for years, Tim! I have never done anything about it because I knew the way my father was over-protecting me and monitoring all my comings and goings that all I would do would be to get others in trouble! But I'll be 18 soon, and that ends his hold on me. There's something else you might find interesting as well, Tim. But first I have to ask you a question. How old were you when you had your very first orgasm? I mean, the first time you ever did something sexually to have an orgasm?"
"I... I dunno, Jared," Tim answered. "I guess I was maybe 10 or 11, maybe 12. I'm not sure..."
"Nathan?"
"I remember it like it was yesterday," Nate said as he shot a loving look at Tim. "I was 12."
"That's kinda what I thought," Jared said thoughtfully. "You guys are not gonna believe this, but I'm only a few months away from being 18, and I have never in my life had an orgasm! I have never had sex with a girl, another boy, nothing! I have never jerked off. Never!"

"Get outta town!" Nate exclaimed. "You're tryin' to tell us you've never shot your wad? Ever?"
"I didn't say that," Jared countered. "I said I had never had sex with anyone, including myself. I have had wet dreams since I was 13, just like everyone else. But every time I wake up with that disgusting goo in my pants, I want to die! I just plain hate myself as a sexual being! I have no desire to make babies, and I find the whole idea of sex totally disgusting! I just want it all gone! I thought you guys would understand that. Was I wrong?"

"This is gonna take some time to digest," Tim said reflectively. In his mind he was going back over his memories and how incredibly wonderful it had been, at 14, 15, 16, as he developed sexually. He remembered all the times he had beat off alone, all the times he had masturbated with someone else. He recalled all the incredible times he'd had with Larry as they shared their sexual awakening. He thought of Randy; all the times he'd wondered where his brother was in his development. He remembered once again, for the millionth time, his first encounter with Nate in the boy scout tent when he was 14. He knew now that the incident in the tent, in spite of the unpleasant consequences of their actions, had been a part of their mutual destiny. He realized how incredibly special every one of those memories were, and he realized for the first time just how important it had been from the very beginning to keep his hormones, his sexuality, his testicles. But at the same time he realized, when he thought of a very troubled little boy growing up in the lavish luxury of a mansion the likes of which he couldn't even conceive, that it was equally important to Jared that he not retain his sexuality.

"You weren't wrong, Jared," he said almost in a whisper. "I'll call Dr. Smith as soon as we get home and add you to the list."

The room arrangements had to be changed a little. Originally the three boys were to share one room while Don the chauffeur had a room of his own. Tim and Nate wanted to take the opportunity to get a little more noisy in bed than they could do at home, so Jared volunteered to bunk with Don. "He won't mind," Jared told them, "and frankly I prefer it. I've spent many hours in the Internet and I have some idea what you guys like to do and I'm happy for you, but I don't want any part of it. I guess I'm a little scared if I get involved in sex I might change my mind about my operation, and now that I've got a real opportunity to have it done I don't want to do anything that might make me change my mind. I know that if I do I'll regret it sooner or later."

Tim and Nate assured him that he would not be in the way, and they didn't want to kick him out of their room, but Jared was determined. "I know it's hard for you guys to understand, but the truth is I think it'll be easier living my life as a nullified eunuch if I don't know what I'm missing. I just don't want to take the chance of getting myself into a position where I'll have to make the decision all over again."

********************

Terry was working alone with his father at the computer store. He had promised Tim that he would work extra hard building computers so Tim and Nate could go to the swim meet, but he hadn't been making as much progress as he had hoped. Barry had sensed his frustration and was helping. "I'm not sure what I'm doing here," he said. "But if you'll just tell me what to do I'll help you all I can. I'm all done in the office for today."
"Thanks, Dad," Terry said gratefully. "Actually I kinda wanted to talk to you anyway."
"Really?" Barry said as Terry showed him how to mount and connect a hard drive. "It sounds kind of ominous."
"I guess it kinda is," Terry agreed. "It's kinda embarrassing, but I been thinking for a while now..." Terry felt himself blushing. He wasn't being exactly honest with his father because the idea had just come to him that very morning, but it had already grown to a minor obsession.
"There's nothing wrong, I hope?" Barry asked as he worked away.
"Not... well, not exactly WRONG wrong," Terry said. "But if I could... I mean, I wish... I wish I could be like the other boys. In the locker room I mean."

Barry put down the screwdriver in his hand and regarded his beautiful son. "You've lost me," he said blankly. "Why don't you just tell me what you're talking about, son?"
"Dad, I wanna get circumcised. I thought maybe over the Christmas school break..."

Now Terry had his father's full attention. His first reaction was to tell him not to be so foolish, but he felt a stirring in his loins that gave away that he didn't find the idea at all preposterous. "Circumcised?" he stalled. "May I ask why?"
"I already told you, Dad. I'm startin' to get tired of kids makin' fun of me in the locker rooms. You had it done to Tim, and now he's glad you did."
"But that was different," Barry said. "With Tim it was necessary. I don't know..."
"It's startin' to get necessary with me too, Dad," Terry pleaded. "It seems like I might have a future in basketball, an' it would just be so much more pleasant in the locker rooms if I was like the other guys."
"How much thought have you given this, Terry?"
"A lot, Dad. I mean, it's getting so it's on my mind all the time." That comment was the truth: ever since he'd first thought of it, Terry was intrigued with the idea of having this minor surgery done before the big step. As he was trying to convince his dad, his erection had grown to the painful level.

Father and son worked together in silence for another hour. Terry showed his dad how to mount a motherboard and connect it, how to add memory and processor and how to set the various jumpers. Barry was deep in thought, but his concentration was not on motherboards or jumpers and Terry knew it. He had planted the seed and stated his case, which was all he could do for now. Once again Terry's uncanny ability to convince people of what he wanted was right on the mark. All he had to do now was to let his father mull over the idea in his head.

"Ok," Barry said as they drove home.
"Ok what?" Terry said blankly.
"Ok, if you're serious, I'll call the doctor in the morning. You know don't you that it's a rather painful procedure?"
"Yeah, Dad, I know. But it's something I really want. Are you serious that you'll do it? Do you think the doctor will be ok with it?"
"I'm serious," Barry assured him. "As for the doctor, he's been trying to get me to do it since you were one day old. I think he'll jump at the chance. Actually now that I think about it, it'll be good having a matched set again."
"A matched set?" Terry questioned.
"Yeah. You and Tim, Terry."
"Oh yeah," Terry said as his face brightened. "You're right, Dad. Before long we'll be exactly the same!"

*************************

Tim and Jared had a very successful swim meet. Tim had spent a lot of extra time with Jared in the pool ever since they'd met, and their efforts were rewarded that Sunday. Don, the chauffeur, had watched the entire event and had noticed the improvement. "Your father will be very pleased when I tell him, sir," he commented as they loaded up the limo for the return trip.
"Except that you're not gonna tell him," Jared said firmly.
"Not tell him? But Master Jared..."
"Not one fuckin' word!" Jared ordered. "I just don't need one more disappointment from him right now. You know as well as I do that the only way I could possibly please him would be to buy the whole fucking swim team and then win every event single-handedly. Not a word, Don!"

Don had to admit that Jared was probably right, but he still had the last word by telling Jared that he was impressed anyway, for what that was worth. "It's worth a lot, Don," Jared assured him.

"When I was little, Don used to spend a lot of time with me," Jared explained. "When I was 3 or 4, I remember thinking he was my daddy. But that pissed off my father and he made sure Don always had something to do that kept him away from me. But in some ways he's more of a father to me than my own dad."
"What about your mother?" Nate asked.
"She left about six years ago," Jared said neutrally. "She was a drunk anyway. I suppose this might be unfair because I really don't know, but I've always just assumed that my dad drove her to drink. Anyway she's somewhere in Europe. We haven't heard from her since she left."

After his last comment, Jared said he wanted to change the subject. That was a welcome suggestion to his companions, so they spent the remainder of the trip home discussing the swim meet, some of the college social issues around campus, and of course the trip to Cancun next March. By the time they arrived home, everything was settled, at least in principle. Jared would travel with them and have his surgery the same time as Nate and Terry.

Tim didn't see much of Jared over the Christmas holidays. The store was backed up with computer orders that had to be filled by Christmas, and Tim had been enrolled in prenatal classes. Larry had wanted Tim to be present when his baby was born because, he said, Tim and he were approximately the same age and build, so if there was anything to the theory that newborns will bond to the first adult they see and feel Larry wanted it to be Tim, not one of his parents. Now to further complicate things, Terry was scheduled for a circumcision 4 days before Christmas.

"I just don't understand why you've got to have a circumcision now," Tim argued the night before the operation. "You're gonna have the whole thing cut off in a couple months anyway."
"I dunno," Terry said. "I guess you can call it a dry run or something. Tim, I'm so excited about this, I been beatin' off 4 and 5 times a day ever since Dad said he'd do it. I get hard just thinking about it!"
"Well, you'd better enjoy it while you can," Tim said with a grin. "After you get cut it's gonna hurt like hell every time you get hard, and you're certainly not gonna be touching it, to say nothing of rubbing it." Tim would have presented more objections, but his own phantom erection had been rampant non-stop ever since Terry had told him of his plan.
"I was kinda hoping we could play a bit tonight," Terry suggested. "Nathan's gone home for the night, an' Laura's working..."
"But I thought..." Tim protested in total surprise.
"You thought I said I was straight," Terry said with a grin. "I did, and I meant it. But you're my brother, Tim! Brothers are special. Now, are we gonna play or not? Please, Tim?"

Tim was indeed a willing playmate. He wanted to inspect Terry's beautiful unblemished cock one more time, and if Terry was willing he wanted to watch, or perhaps even taste, at least one more eruption. But before they got into their games, Tim got out his new digital camera and photographed Terry's raging member from every angle, from closeup to full length pictures of Terry's entire nude body. He wanted similar pictures of the member in question in its flaccid state, but that would have to wait because there was only one way to make it go soft; so Tim proceeded to get an eruption out of his brother. It took three successive orgasms before Terry stayed flaccid long enough to get some pictures, after which the games continued.

Terry had an idea - something neither he nor Tim had tried before. After the pictures were taken, the boys printed a half dozen of them, then Terry lay on Tim's bed, on his back, and idly browsed the pictures while Tim went to work on him. There was no one else home, so no one else heard the moans and delighted yelps that were coming from both brothers. It was all Terry could do to keep from participating, but he was determined. The incredibly wonderful sensations coming from Tim's efforts as he just lay there and allowed it to happen, were a powerful turn-on for both boys! When Terry erupted, much too soon for both of them, Tim was sure he was going to cum too! He didn't, but this was the closest he had ever been since his surgery.

**************************

Terry found himself lying on an examination table in Dr. Enfield's office. He was naked from the waist down and feeling very embarrassed at being exposed for all the world to see. Dr. Enfield had delivered both boys and had taken care of them their entire lives. He had circumcised little Tim ten years ago, and now it was his brother's turn. Dr. Enfield had no problem with Barry's proposition that he perform the operation because he believed that all boys should have the procedure done at birth; he was however a little confused about why Terry suddenly wanted it done. "What's going on, Terry?" he questioned when they were alone. "Why do you suddenly want your foreskin off after all these years?"
"I dunno," Terry answered in a shaking voice. "I guess all your brainwashing all those years finally paid off. But I'm not feeling real comfortable lying here with everything I've got on display. Can we just get on with it?"
"As you wish," the doctor replied. "Do you want your parents with you?"
"Oh God no!" Terry said, almost in a panic. "But... if it's not too weird, could I have Tim with me?"
"Tim?" the astonished doctor asked. "You want your brother with you?"
"Yes, please, if I could, sir," Terry replied. He was getting more nervous by the minute, and was really wondering if he was doing the right thing. But the doctor complied with his wishes and asked Tim to join them.

Terry shivered slightly as his brother appeared. In spite of having been seen, handled and even sucked by his brother, he felt somehow exposed and vulnerable to be seen, even by Tim, with his legs splayed and elevated in the stirrups the way he now found himself. Tim, sensing his brother's trepidation, took his hand and kissed him on the forehead. "It's ok," he whispered. "If you want to change your mind I'm sure everyone will understand."
"I've come this far," Terry said with his usual determination, "I'm not gonna chicken out now. As far as I'm concerned the worst is over. I'll be ok, but thanks for coming in with me, Tim."

"It's really a very simple procedure," Dr. Eliot said more to Tim than to Terry. "I have already numbed the area with a shot of local anaesthetic. You can't feel it when I touch you, can you, Terry?"
"No, sir," Terry replied. "But I would like to watch. May I have my head up a bit?"
"That I really don't understand," the doctor said as he gave Tim a questioning look. "But if that's what you want, I don't have a problem with it. Tim, if you would just get above Terry's head and lift on the cushion holding him, I'll set the supports." Tim did as he was asked, and Terry was soon sitting in an almost upright position from the waist up.

Once Terry was in position and comfortable, the doctor continued. "As you both can see, I have a whole set of little hood looking things we call bells," he explained. "I just have to choose one that fits the penis I am circumcising." Having said that, he pulled Terry's foreskin back, revealing his cute pink head. "He won't become erect," the doctor went on as if answering Tim's unspoken question. "The local I injected has completely killed all feelings, and without that the penis simply will not respond to my handling."

The doctor then tried three "bells" until he found the one that fit perfectly over the end of Terry's cock, then grunted his satisfaction as he held it in place and pulled the foreskin back down over it. Terry shuddered again and squeezed Tim's hand. The doctor noticed. "Are you sure?" he asked as he looked Terry directly in the eye.
"I'm sure," Terry replied. Tim knew he wasn't sure at all, but he also realized that this was only a small taste of things to come, so he said nothing. If Terry could survive this procedure, having watched every move, he would have a small sampling of what was to come.

The doctor placed a clamp device around the flared end of the bell and tightened it. "Now is when it gets a little messy," he announced. "You can see that the foreskin is stretched very tight between the clamp and the bell. All I have to do now is cut around that circle and your foreskin is gone, Terry. There will be a little blood, so if you want to look away, this is the time."
"I'm ok," Terry said with determination. Tim wasn't so sure he was as "ok" as his brother, but he steeled himself to watch anyway. There wasn't as much blood as Tim remembered as the doctor ran his scalpel around the end of the bell, completely severing Terry's ample foreskin. But then it had been a different situation, and Tim had been only 8 years old which of course would mean that this procedure would have been magnified at least fifty times. His raging phantom erection was screaming at him for attention - the attention he could never again give it - as he watched the scalpel encirculate his brother's penis.

"That's it," the kind doctor announced as he took off the clamp and withdrew the bell, a limp piece of skin still clinging to it. "I have to do some stitching now, but you're circumcised, Terry!"

Tim had an almost irresistible urge to cry as he watched the doctor toss the little piece of skin nonchalantly into the small receptacle he had nearby. This was only the first step in his little brother's road to a life without a penis, and Tim was already beginning to wonder if it was a road that should be traveled. True, there were selfish reasons: Tim had come to absolutely love Terry's cock. He had loved it with its hood of skin, but he knew he would love it without the hood just as much. But what about when it was gone? And did he have any right to intervene? He knew, because of his recent conversations with Dr. Smith, that neither Terry nor Nate would have their surgery without adult consent; so Tim could put a stop to this madness if he so chose. But was it madness, or was it necessary? That was what Tim now had to figure out.

Jared sat in his palatial suite two days after Christmas, browsing real estate sites. He had told Tim and Nate that he had some money and with their frames of reference, they took that to mean he had a few thousand dollars. In truth he would be a very wealthy young man when he turned 18, thanks to an inheritance he'd received from his grandfather. The day he became an adult, Jared would have a lifetime income larger than Tim and Nate combined would ever make in their lives! But Jared was determined not to let it go to his head. He would buy an average home, at least by his standards, somewhere in the two to three hundred thousand dollar range, and there he would set up residence while he decided what to do with the rest of his life. His nullification was going to happen a lot sooner than he had planned, but that was not bad news to Jared. As far as he was concerned, the sooner the better! He felt his erection growing as his mind wandered to what it would be like when he was a true eunuch, and he forced his mind back to the business at hand: finding a suitable home.

*******************************

At exactly the same time that Jared was house hunting, Terry way lying on his bed, naked, gingerly fondling a very sore erection. He was alone in the house and was naked, not for any erotic reasons but that just seemed the only state in which he was comfortable. His young anxious cock got hard every time it was touched, even by clothes, and the pain was almost more than Terry could bear. He would be going to have the stitches removed tomorrow, and he hoped that would help. It was doubtful that he would be able to beat off even after the stitches were gone, and Terry desperately wanted to masturbate. The frustration of unquenched thirst for sex, combined with the pains shooting from his rampant member brought tears to his eyes. This situation, hopefully minus the pain, was what he was about to subject himself to for the rest of his life. Was he totally insane?

On the other hand, as he reflected on his condition after surgery, his erection grew even more intense and painful. Yes, he would be deprived of all hope of ever again having an orgasm if his brother's experience was any indication; and even that thought, and frightening as it was, caused his raging rod to hurt even more as it engorged itself with every drop of blood it could scavenge. Finally Terry had to get off the bed and pull on a pair of soft sweat pants, trying to think of something else so his erection would go down. He fired up his computer and browsed idly to the eunuch web site.

***********************

"You're planning to leave, aren't you?" a voice said behind Jared, startling him. Jared wheeled around and looked up at his father.
"Yes, Father, I am," he replied.
"May I ask why?"
"I'm sorry, Father. I just don't feel that I can ever be an individual as long as I live here. I will always be your little boy, your puppet, your heir. I have to get out on my own and find my own way."
"You're not ready to be facing life on your own, Jared," his father stated. "There's so much out there that you're not ready for."
"I know that, Father," Jared admitted. "But I don't think I'll ever be ready if I don't try. I don't want to live this way, Father! I've made a friend at school, and he's so happy living in what I had always considered to be one notch above squalor. He has a brother, and friends, and... and FREEDOM! He has his own car, he works very hard with his father in their family business... he has so much I have only dreamed about. He knows about life, Father, and that's what I want. All of this... I mean, my own apartment inside your mansion, chauffeured limos, maids, butlers... I don't even know how to boil eggs! I've never been allowed to do anything for myself! I'm tired of it! This is not the kind of life I want to live, Father!"

"I suppose that means you'll be studying medicine and not business?" his father inquired.
"Yes, sir," Jared answered defiantly but nervously. "I have no interest in the business world."
"I still think you need to stay," his father said. "I'm not going to force you, and I'll see to it that you're well taken care of financially. But if you'll give me a chance, I think I can change. I really do love you, Jared. I know I haven't said that very much, and you probably don't think I've shown it either, but I do. And believe it or not, I'm proud of you.
"You have never given me any reason to believe I'm anything but one of your servants, or an heir to carry on your business, or whatever. I don't really know you, Father!"
"That's why I'd like you to stay," his father said. "If you stay, I promise to give you your freedom as long as you stay out of trouble. But if you're still living here you'll have a safety net when you fall. I'd like that, Jared. I'm not used to begging, but I'm begging you now. Let me be your father... your REAL father? Please?"

"It's too late, Father," Jared said reluctantly. "I'm not some crown prince, and my destiny is not to take over your business. I don't feel any obligation to make babies so you can have heirs, in fact I doubt that I'll ever have children. I don't even know how to love, Father! Actually I don't think you do either."
"Are... are you gay, Jared?"
"I wish I could say yes, Father. I wish I could say I'm something, but I'm not! I'm not gay and I'm not straight. I'm nothing! As far as sexuality is concerned I'm just nothing!"
"And that's my fault too, right?"
"I didn't say that," Jared said angrily. "All I know for sure is that I'm not one of your puppets! I'm an individual, and I can't be an individual as long as I'm living here."

Father and son eyed each other, each trying to read the other's true feelings, but they both failed miserably. "I know you won't believe me," his father said presently. "Believe it or not, I understand what you're saying. I guess I felt pretty much the same way about my father, but I didn't have the guts to say anything. I admire you for that, Jared. I know it had to take a lot of courage to confront me like that. Now if you could just find the courage to let me try again..."
"I've got about 6 weeks before my birthday," Jared answered. "We can see how it goes if you like. Actually I'd like to think we can still be friends even after I move out, but I don't know..."

**********************

"Can we talk, Tim?" Terry said one day in mid January when they were alone in the shop. Between his basketball games, Tim's swimming, Laura and Nathan, the two brothers were hardly ever alone any more.
"Sure, Terr," Tim said. "What's on your mind?"
"Cancun," Terry said. "I'm getting kinda nervous about it. I... I just..."
"You startin' to change your mind?" Tim asked as he stopped what he was doing.
"Not exactly," Terry said doubtfully. "I guess... I guess I'm just gettin' kinda nervous. I had a real hard time dealing with not bein' able to cum while I had those stitches in. The pain was so bad every time I got hard I could hardly stand to touch it! How do you do it, Tim? I mean, how can you stand not bein' able to cum?"

Tim sat and looked at his brother. Terry had grown so much in the past year! He was taller than Tim now, and his beautiful body was the body of a well toned athlete. Tim knew that Terry was destined for great things on the basketball court, and he was incredibly proud, and a bit envious, of him. "I have to admit it's not easy sometimes, Terry," he said. "Sometimes I think I had to be totally out of my mind to do such a thing, but..."
"But you knew if you hadn't done it you would have always regretted it, right?" Terry offered.
"That's right," Tim agreed. "But if you're not sure, Terry, we need to at least postpone it. I can't let you do it if you're not sure."
"But Laura says we'll never have sex anyway, or at least she won't enjoy it."

"Are you and Laura doing anything now?" Tim asked. Ordinarily he would never have asked such a question, but he felt Terry had brought it up, and he needed to be fully informed before he could even begin to give enlightened advice.
"We... we touch a lot," Terry admitted. "That's enough for her, an' I'm tryin' really hard to make it enough for me..."
"But it's not?" Tim suggested.
"Sometimes it isn't," Terry confessed. "The few times you and I, or Nathan and I fool around, I find myself wondering how I could live without that. I know Laura has said she doesn't mind and she understands, but... but shouldn't it be enough, what I do with her?"
"I don't know, Terr," Tim answered. "I can't tell you what to do, or what you should need or want. All I can tell you is my own experience. Before I had Nate in my life I thought I was gonna go out of my mind. Then you and Laura got together and I thought you and I would never do anything again, and if it hadn't been for Nate I would have lost it. But somehow I know as long as I have Nate, even after his cock is gone, it'll be enough. That's not to say I won't be terribly frustrated sometimes, but it'll be enough. Of course for me there's always the option to get castrated if things get too rough, but I don't think that's an option for you."
"Why not for me?" Terry asked.
"Because if you marry Laura, you might want a family," Tim pointed out. "Even without your penis you can always get sperm if you need it through prostate stimulation. And then there's your basketball. I know that's important to you and you got a really great future; but without testosterone I just don't know..."

Terry thanked his brother for helping him talk out his doubts. He still felt that he needed the surgery and asked Tim not to convey his doubts to Dr. Smith, but still he was apprehensive. He just had to work it out before they got to Cancun, and in the meantime he would spend every moment he was alone trying to exhaust himself of his seed.

***********************

Tim was just leaving his final class for the day when his cell phone rang. He had always believed that babies always decide to be born in the middle of the night; it had never once occurred to him that Christine might go into labor in the middle of the afternoon, but that's precisely what was happening. It was February 3, almost a week early according to all reckoning, and it was snowing rather viciously as he answered the phone. "It's time," Christine announced. "My contractions are getting really close together so Mom's gonna take me to the hospital so you don't have to come pick me up. I'll see you there."

Tim felt a sensation flow through his body the likes of which he had never felt before. Had he been a eunuch he would have known the feeling well. Tim was having a hot flash, or something very much akin to it. He was excited, but he was also scared to death. This was it! And a week early at that! Just be calm, he told himself. You know exactly what to do, so just calm down! All you gotta do is time contractions and keep a log, keep the nurses informed about how she's feeling, and keep Christine calm and coach her on her breathing. But you gotta be calm yourself, ya stupid idiot! So get hold of yourself!

Tim had indeed been taught exactly what to do. The instructor in their prenatal class had assured him that he would be better at this than most "fathers" because he wasn't emotionally involved. He had declared then that there was no way he could be any more involved even if he were the mother, but the others in the class had just laughed at what they interpreted as an attempt at humor from a very young father stand-in. But he had all the facts, knew the exercises and procedures, if he could only remember them.

"I'm at the hospital," Tim said to his mother on the phone. "Can you pick up Nate and Terry? They'll be waiting for me, especially in this snow storm."
"She's in labor?" Virginia said excitedly.
"Yes, Ma'am," Tim said. "I gotta go, Mom. They've just got Christine settled in the labor room."

Tim was truly magnificent. He remembered all that he'd learned and applied it as necessary. He kept the nurses well informed; he tended to Christine as a loving husband and father to be; he did it all! Unfortunately, all his efforts were for naught. Twenty hours later Christine was till in labor, in excruciating pain, and no closer to giving birth. "Hi!" a man that Tim didn't know said as he came into the room. "I'm Dr. Kerr. I'll be delivering your wife's baby."
"She's not my wife," Tim corrected the man.
"No matter," Dr. Kerr said pleasantly. "Your girl friend then."
"Unhhh... It's not my child," Tim corrected again. "I wish I could say it is, but it isn't. The child's father is in the Navy in the South Pacific. I'm his friend and I promised him I'd be here for his baby's birth."

Dr. Kerr then took the time to review Christine's chart, for perhaps the first time. "Your name is Tim?" he said after spending a few minutes browsing the information before him.
"Yes, sir," Tim replied.
"Then I think we need to talk, Tim," the doctor said as he led the way out of the room. Christine had fallen into a fitful sleep, so thankfully no explanations were necessary.

"I need to understand a few things here," the doctor said as he again reviewed the chart. "It says here that the mother does not want to see her baby or hold it, that once it is born it is to be handed to you, not her. I have to say this is very irregular, seeing that you are not the father, the husband, or even the boy friend."
Yes, sir," Tim replied. "If I may, I think I can explain it all."
"Please do," the doctor invited. "I have to admit I am very confused."

Tim thought to tell the good doctor that if he had bothered to read the fucking chart and the background information before he'd got involved in the case it would all have been perfectly clear, but he thought better of it. Instead, he explained as briefly as he could exactly what was going on and why he was here and not the father. The doctor listened, eyes widening as Tim went on. "So if I understand correctly," the doctor said when Tim had finished. "you have no emotional connection at all with the mother except that you're the father's best friend?"
"Not exactly true," Tim corrected. "I guess that was true a few months ago, but since I spent some time with Christine, went to prenatal classes with her and all, I've got to know her and I respect her a great deal. She has convinced me that she doesn't want to hold the baby or even see it because she's afraid she won't want to give it up if she does. I started this thing thinking she was a pretty hard person to take the stand she's taken, but I've learned a lot since then."

Dr. Kerr sat and studied his young would-be father. "Do I sense a budding romance here?" he asked. "Could it be that the father of this baby is being crowded out?"
"No, sir," Tim answered emphatically. "Doctor, I'm gay! I've got a lover and we are totally committed! I'm here because my friend Larry couldn't be, and that baby needed a home and someone to love it. You can be assured I'll do anything you would expect of the real father, but the truth is I am only standing in for him."

"That's very admirable," the doctor said. "Unfortunately as you have to know by now, things aren't going well and we have no idea why. The labor is simply not progressing the way it should, and before long the baby is going to be in distress, and then we're going to have to intervene. If it were a normal husband and wife scenario, I would have to ask you at this point to make a decision. Under the circumstances, I'm not sure if that's fair to you, or to the mother, or the baby for that matter."
"A decision?" Tim queried. "What sort of decision?"
"Well, two actually," the doctor replied. "The first one you can defer to me and I promise I'll make the best, most informed decision I can. That is whether to do a Caesarian section if I feel it is warranted. The other, I'm afraid, will have to be made by someone else. I'm afraid we might come to the place where we might have to choose between the baby and the mother. If that's the case, I don't know..."

Tim could simply not believe his ears. This was to be a simple childbirth. Even at that it was pretty heavy stuff for an 18 year old who never expected to have to face such a thing, given that he was not only gay but without the means to impregnate anyone. Even so, something in his head told him to keep his cool and do just what he would want done for him should he be in Christine's position. "How long before we have to make that kind of decision?" he asked.
"It's not urgent," the doctor answered. "Right now everyone's stable and doing fine. But within an hour or so unless my judgment is ‘way off, the mother's blood pressure will begin to drop, or the baby will start showing signs of distress, and we're going to have to act. Naturally we'll do our best to save both, but some guidance on where to place the emphasis would be helpful."

Tim looked at the doctor incredulously. "You want me to choose between the baby and the mother?" he said. "You want me to decide who lives and who dies?"
"It's not as simple as that," the doctor said, trying to calm what he regarded as a mere boy who had been thrust into a responsibility he wasn't ready for. "Naturally we'll ask the mother for her opinion, but we need someone to speak for the father, and I guess that's you. As I said, we'll do all we can for both of course, but if it comes to a choice..."
"Just give me a few moments alone," Tim asked. "Then I want to see my family, and then we'll let you know our opinion, for what it's worth."

The doctor left him alone. He had disappeared so suddenly Tim was a bit shocked to find himself staring about in the stark clinical atmosphere of an empty examination room. He hadn't been in the habit of praying, had hardly ever prayed until he watched Nate praying faithfully for his mother. In Tim's mind, the prayers of her son had been the single most powerful influence in her recovery, and no one, not even the doctors, had said or done anything to refute that thought. So now Tim didn't hesitate; he dropped to his knees.

After a short but sincere prayer, Tim rose and walked as if in a trance to the waiting room. He was totally unprepared for what he found there. It was crowded to overflowing with... with everyone who had even the least significance in his life. His mom and dad were there, as were Terry, Nate, Laura and Jared. Christine's mother and father were there and so were Larry's parents. Now their eyes were all on him, looking expectantly for some announcement. But Tim was in no condition to make an announcement; instead he burst into tears and buried his face in his mother's bosom.

"They're tryin' to get me to choose," Tim wailed. "They want me to decide who lives and who dies!"
"I doubt that it's that cut and dried," Virginia said as she patted her son's head. "They just want to know..."
"They just want me to take the pressure off them," Tim countered. "If they can only save one, they don't want to have to be the ones to choose which one."

"May... may I talk to him?" Jared asked tentatively.
"Of course," Virginia replied.
"Alone?" Jared added.

"I guess I shoulda told you before now," Jared said when he and Tim were alone in the little hospital chapel. "I've had a couple long talks with my dad, and one really long one with Don, and it looks like I might not be moving out."
"That's great," Tim said. "But I don't see what that has to do with a little baby who's waiting for me to decide whether it lives or dies."
"Just let me finish," Jared said with more authority than Tim had ever seen before. "I was determined to move out because I thought my father and I had absolutely nothing in common. I didn't realize till now that we're exactly the same, and I owe you for that. Don told me some things that I hadn't thought about before, but they didn't really make sense to me until right now. My dad is all about winning, and so am I! I couldn't stand to be in the same house with him because he's so powerful, such an authority figure! I thought I just couldn't measure up, Tim! I can't leave him just because we've got different goals and what's important to us is different! I've gotta stay there and show him that what's important to me is just as important as what's important to him! If I leave now, it would be admitting defeat and I can't do that."
"That's really great, Jared," a very confused Tim said. "But I still don't see what that's got to do with..."
"It's got everything to do with it, Tim! Christine is in there fighting for her life, but she's really not fighting! She really cares for that baby, but she's already lost it before it's even born so she really has nothing to fight for! And the baby's got nothing to fight for because it's... well, it's not been given a reason to fight. All you gotta do is to show them that they're both important, and that they both matter, and make ‘em fight, Tim! This isn't about sacrifice, it's about setting goals and then going for it! That's why I can't leave a good home, and it's why Christine has got to fight for herself and that baby. So quit cryin' and feeling sorry for yourself and get in there and make them both see that what they're doing is important. And quit making apologies because you're gay, you're not the father, you're just a kid, and on and on! You got a job to do here, Tim! You are all the father that kid's got right now, and you're all he needs! And you're all the support Christine needs! But you're not worth shit if you don't believe in yourself."

Tim still wasn't real clear on exactly how Jared had related one incident to the other, but he had made sense anyway. So Tim hugged him and thanked him, then the two boys returned to the others in the waiting room. "If you'll excuse me, I got a job to do," Tim said to them all after giving his mom and Nate a quick smile, then he headed back to the labor room. "Ok, Christine, let's get serious here," he said authoritatively. "We got a baby to deliver and you haven't been doing very well. You must be getting tired, and if you're tired the baby must be tired too, so let's just do it."
"I'm so exhausted I'm weak," Christine complained. "The doctor says my blood pressure is going crazy. He wants to do a Caesarian section and take the baby."
"Not gonna happen," Tim said forcefully. "You didn't drag me to all those classes just so I could stand by helplessly and watch ‘em cut on you. It's not best for the baby and it's certainly not best for you. C'mon, let's get back to your deep breathing and let's have a baby."

Christine did manage to pull herself together, and things began to happen pretty quickly. "You'd better go change," the nurse advised. "It looks like we might be going to the delivery room pretty soon. Dr. Kerr will take you."

Tim soon found himself in the doctor's changing room with Dr. Kerr. The room looked a lot like one of the dozens of locker rooms Tim had used, except that the purpose of this one was different. He and the doctor both stripped to their underwear and then slipped into the green OR scrubs that were provided. "That baby's father must be some kind of friend, for you to go through all this for him," the doctor commented.
"Larry and I have been friends our whole lives," Tim told him. "There's nothing we wouldn't do for each other; but I'm not really doing this for Larry, I'm doing it for the baby. My mom always taught me that we all have a right to a good start, and there's no way I was gonna let that baby get born without someone around that loves him."
"It's too bad you're gay," the doctor said to Tim's amazement. "You would have made a great father. What you did with Christine... it got her back on focus and that's all it took. You're very passionate, Tim!"

Within an hour Tim was in the delivery room. There were three nurses scurrying about, adjusting various electronic devices, fine tuning an IV, and getting everything set. The doctor was between Christine's legs, encouraging her to push, while Tim was at her head, wiping the perspiration off her forehead and relaying the doctor's instructions to her. "There's the head," the doctor announced. Tim directed Christine's attention to the overhead mirror that was aimed directly at her crotch. Sure enough, they could see something round and smooth emerging from her body.

By the time the baby's head and shoulders were in the open air, the baby began screaming. It occurred to Tim that it was so pissed off at having had to wait so long, it was going to start objecting before it was even born! "There's no doubt that's Larry's kid," he commented to whoever was listening. "That's Larry's temper if I ever saw it!"

Before Tim was anywhere near being ready, there was a screaming baby boy in the doctor's hands. There was no need for the nurse to clear its nose and mouth of mucous; the baby had quite effectively done that himself. She took the little boy from the doctor and wrapped him in a blanket, squeezed a few drops of some sort of liquid into his eyes, and then... and then she plunked the infant, who was now beginning to quiet down, into Tim's arms. "You have a beautiful son, Daddy," she said with a wide grin.
"I'm not the..." Tim began to say, then he dropped it. His knees were weak and his voice was trembling. He was holding his best friend's son, only seconds old! If they wanted to believe for the moment that he was the father, Tim wasn't going to burst their bubble... or his for that matter.

Per Christine's instructions, she was wheeled out of the room as soon as she was ready. She had told them that she was afraid to hold the baby for fear she wouldn't be able to let him go, and she didn't want to hear his name. That information had been given to Tim before Larry left, and no one was to know what names he had chosen until the baby was born. Tim noticed with some dismay as he held the little boy who still didn't have a name that Christine was crying as she was wheeled out.

Once Christine was gone the nurse took the baby from Tim and placed him in an incubator. "He's so perfect!" she exclaimed. "We need a name though. Have you decided on one yet?"
"Y-yes, Ma'am," Tim said nervously. "His n-name is... is... Unhhh... His name is Timothy Nathan."

When Tim again appeared in the waiting room, he looked even worse than he had the first time. He was gaunt and pale, and definitely unsteady on his feet. Everyone was still there, waiting. They were waiting for Tim's announcement, but they had little choice anyway because it was still snowing and they couldn't have left even if they'd wanted to. "He... He's beautiful!" Tim said as everyone stood expectantly. "Timothy Nathan is so beautiful!"

Terry doubled over and screamed with laughter when Tim announced the baby's name. Everyone else was silent in their awe and thankfulness that both mother and son were well. "What the hell's so funny?" Barry demanded.
"I'm sorry," Terry gasped. "I just thought, now when I introduce my family I'll be able to say ‘this is my brother Tim, and this is my other brother Tim.' Good job, big brother!"

It's doubtful that there has ever been a time when Tim loved his brother more than he did at that moment. Little Terry, all grown up now and looking very mature and every bit a young man, but still he could see humor in just about any situation! But Tim had a very important, very pleasant task to perform. He had to get on the phone and call an anxious, lonely sailor somewhere on a ship in the pacific, and tell him he had a perfect, beautiful son.

Next: XXV: Preparing For Cancun