Opening Eyes

[Demeter]

Lysander grinned at Dominic. "Yeah, we have the day off. We could stay in, cuddle and do nothing. Or we could actually leave the house and deal with the public." L leaned back against the pillows, legs crossed at the ankles, and watched Dominic. Once the man had set the plate and mug aside, L reached over and grabbed the man by the back of his pants and yanked him backwards. "I'd much prefer staying inside this apartment, you know."

L wrapped an arm around Dominic's shoulders and settled his chin on the little dip between shoulder and neck. "Just the two of us spending a lazy saturday sprawled infront of the TV and doing nothing inparticular. Think about it, Dominic, when was the last time you did absolutely nothing for hours on end. I find it incredibly relaxing when I have someone with me. Besides, I can cook you dinner."

L pressed his lips against the back of Dominic's neck. "What do you say?"

[Maira]

Dominic so wanted to do what L was suggesting. It had indeed been a very long time since he'd had a lazy Saturday. But there was one very good, very cute reason for that and she was likely on her way over right that moment to be dropped off with him for the weekend. When Dominic heard tires crunching on the gravel driveway, he sighed and wiggled out of Lysander's embrace. "The munchkin is here and I promised to take her to the zoo, so the snuggling in front of the tv doing nothing will have to wait till she goes to bed tonight L, sorry," Dominic said as he hurried over to his dresser to pull out some jeans and a comfy old tshirt.

Just as he pulled the shirt over his head he heard two distinct sets of footsteps on the stairs that led to his front door and Dominic hurried out of the bedroom, mostly shutting the door behind him. The last thing he wanted to do was try and explain to Saiyuri why there was a man on his bed...

He reached the front door, just as a small fist started pounding on it and he threw the door open and swooped up his daughter, turning them both in circles and he quickly placed kisses all over her face making her squeal with laughter.

In the next few moments, Saiyuri poked her head through the door and smiled at the sight of father and daughter. The only part of Lani that looked like her, was the shape of her eyes, otherwise she was all her father and Saiyuri knew one day that'd be enough to break many boys' and mens' hearts.

Once Dominic stopped twirling Lani, Saiyuri handed him Lani's overnight bag which he just tossed onto the couch. "We're going to the zoo today, like I promised her. Then we'll probably go to my mother's for dinner since she's been begging to see the little terror. I'll bring her by tomorrow night before dinner okay?" Saiyuri fidgetted a bit then answered him, "We're actually supposed to go see Thiery's parents tomorrow afternoon, could you bring her by before noon? Or, we could come pick her up on our way if that'd be easier for you."

Considering how little he got to see Lani anyway, Dominic's heart wrenched at Saiyuri's words. He nodded silently then handed the little girl back to her mother for a quick goodbye before taking her back and shutting the front door behind Saiyuri. Once he was sure she was gone, Dominic set Lani down and told her in a conspirital tone, "There's somebody in the bedroom who would love to see you. Why don't you go in and tickle him okay?"

"Okay Daddy!" the little violet eyed girl answered in the same tone he'd used before scampering off through the nearly closed bedroom door. The peals of laughter he heard coming from the room moments later let him know that Lani had found Lysander and that it was likely the little girl getting tickled, not the other way around.

Certain that she was in good hands, Dominic went to the refridgerator and pulled out a beer. Cracking the can open and downing it quickly so Lani wouldn't see, he waited patiently for the feeling of warmth to calm him. Why could Saiyuri still get to him so much when they weren't even a couple anymore? That was probably something he'd never understand...

[Demeter]

Lysander plopped the girl on the bed, grinning as she panted for breathe. "That should teach you, little monster. Never try to sneak up on the tickle master. Now then, where did you leave you father. Apparently we are going to the zoo today. I suppose that we could return you to your relatives, the monkeys."

Lani giggled. "I'm not a monkey. I'ma kitty!" She hopped up onto her knees and bounced.

Lysander flopped onto his side, head propped up in one hand. "Are you sure about that? You seem to climb around like a monkey. And you're silly, like a monkey." He snagged the girl up and rolled off the bed. "Dominic!" he called out as he walked out of the room, Lani stuffed under his arm. "Lani says that isn't a monkey. I say she is! She certainly acts like one."

He leaned against the kitchen doorway, almost certain that he knew what the man was up to. He set Lani down. "Hey, Munchkin Monkey, why don't you go put your stuff in your room so that we can go to the zoo sooner and that way we can drop you off with your monkey cousins." Once the girl was out of the room and dragging her bag to the little room Dominic had set up for her, Lysander closed in on Dominic.

"Hey, lovely, why the long face?" he asked, wrapping his arms around Dominic's waist and resting his chin on the man's shoulder. "No need to be so unhappy. Munchkin's here and happy to see you. Or was this caused by Munchkin's Mother. You know what I do when you get distracted because of her." He leaned in to whisper into Dominic's ear. "Remember us up against that wall, right over there. Or the night at the Inn. I'm sure you remember that night. The only reason I don't have you pinned against the wall, in my favorite way of making you forget her, is because Lani could walk in at any point and we wouldn't want her seeing what I do to her father. But tonight, Dominic, tonight I can guarentte that you will forget about her."

[Maira]

He was still off in his own little, very dark, world when Lysander and Lani reached the kitchen. He barely heard the older man send the little girl off, let alone walk up behind him. When Lysander's arms slipped around his waist and his chin found Dominic's shoulder, the sigh that escaped him was very nearly a groan of pain. Before he could unload his newest frustrations with his ex-wife on L, the man was trying to distract him and cheer him up with not-so-innocent memories of some of the more intimate times they'd shared.

One corner of his mouth eventually tweeked up into a very weak smile and Dominic turned in L's embrace to face him and kissed him quickly on the lips. "Thank you for trying. I'm just losing most of a day with Lani tomorrow because Saiyuri and Theiry are taking her to see his parents." He sighed again, but this time it was just with frustration instead of pain.

Joint custody sucked.

[Demeter]

Lysander considered his options. He'd once sided with Saiyuri but now, due to his attachment to Dominic, now sided with the blonde haired vampire. He squeezed Dominic in an embrace. "I don't know what I can do to cheer you up, in this case, as it is hardly fair of Saiyuri to do this. She should have been able to tell Theiry's parents that Lani wasn't available."

Lysander nuzzled Dominic, quickly turning away when he heard the thump of Lani's sneakered feet heading towards the kitchen. "Look alive, Dominic, the munchkin is on her way in. Your daughter is incredabily perspective."

Lysander crouched down and snatched Lani as she raced into the kitchen. He easily hauled her up and perched the little girl on his shoulders. "Now, aren't we supposed to be going to the zoo?" He glanced up at Lani, "What do you think, should we return her dad to his cousins, the kitty cats? I suppse we could return you at the same time, since you are so sure that you are a kitty instead of a monkey."

[Maira]

The trip to the zoo had been a blast, and Lani was completey zonked out in her room a half hour before bedtime. This gave Dominic some time to give Saiyuri a call and plead his case to keep Lani until her regular time. The conversation was not going well at all, Dominic actually went outside to pace around on his deck while arguing with the woman. At one point he nearly crushed the phone he was getting so frustrated. Finally he just yelled at her, "Just because I screwed up in the past doesn't mean you can keep punishing me now by keeping our daughter away from me 'Yuri, its not fair!" The silence that followed was deafening.

When Saiyuri finally replied her voice was barely audible, "I'm sorry Dominic, I didn't realize you felt that way. We will be at Theiry's parents' house til late tomorrow night so you can either keep her another night, or I can call you when we get home."

Unsure if he'd heard her correctly, Dominic asked, "You don't mind if she stays an extra night?" He didn't work Sunday nights either and if he was actually being given a chance to have his daughter a whole extra night instead of just a partial day he wasn't about to turn the opportunity down.

"Nope," Saiyuri answered quietly, "she's your daughter too and I know how much you miss seeing her so of course you can have her. I'll just have to plan to take her another time."

Dominic stopped pacing and thanked her before quickly hanging up before she could change her mind. Once he'd hit the "end call" button, he just stared at the phone in shock. He had never once yelled at Saiyuri while they were married, he'd raised his voice a little during an argument but he'd never outright yelled at her. He wasn't sure if her giving him that extra night was due to the shock he'd given her for yelling at her, or that he'd actually stood up for himself. He hadn't done that since the day he'd walked away from Saiyuri and newborn Lani. He figured he deserved all the anger and the bitterness and being treated like crap. Why he'd finally snapped out of that mindset tonight he had no idea. It felt kind of good though, if more than a little strange.

When he went back inside, L was standing staring at him with concern written all over his face. "Lani is staying tomorrow night too, I hope you don't mind," was all Dominic said as he dropped the phone on the couch and made a beeline for the shower. He wanted a drink, but considering the mindset he was in at the moment it would turn into more than one drink and getting drunk when his daughter was there was not an option so a nice extra hot shower would have to do.

[Demeter]

Lysander checked on Lani. The little girl was belly down on her bed and he didn’t think that she would be stirring through the night. He checked the monitor and made sure it’s twin was on before sneaking into the bathroom. He knew that Dominic had a rule about being together when Lani was around but Lysander had a feeling that Dominic needed a bigger distraction than a shower. He quietly closed the door and, grateful that Dominic had a shower curtain instead of a glass door, undressed.

He slipped behind the curtain and wrapped his arms around Dominic. He grinned when the man yelped and spun around. “Hiya,” he said while slowly walking Dominic the few steps until he was up against the wall. “Lani is down for the count,” he said while slipping his hands down Dominic’s body. “You need something other than a shower by yourself. I can distract you better than some water can because I will make sure you don’t think about her tonight,” with that, he bent his head and kissed Dominic. The hot water ran out long before they even started to think about leaving the shower.

[Demeter]

In the end, Lani ended up staying through till the end of the week. Theiry's boys had picked up a nasty cold while visiting the grandparents and Saiyuri didn't want Lani catching it. Following Dominic's wishes, Lysander had hidden away when Saiyuri had stopped by to see her daughter and to drop off a few more items.

A few of the cutting remarks she'd lobbed at him had made Lysander growl and twitch. If asked, he'd reply that no, he still did not agree with the way Dominic had ended his marriage. To Lysander, abandoning newborn child and spouse was morally wrong. On the other hand, he could see how Dominic had ended up doing what he'd done. And while there was a part of him that agreed that Saiyuri had a right to be angry, she didn't need to be a complete and total bitch about it.

And he was getting damned tired of being a secret. He understood the logic; Dominic believed that Saiyuri knowing he was now with a man would only make things worse. But still, if he wasn't being kept as a secret, he could have been out there, beside Dominic and running interference.

He'd hustle the little woman right on out that front door, thanking her for the extra clothing and toys while letting the stormdoor slap her in the ass.

On Friday, when the boys were declared healthy, Lani was summoned home and Saiyuri showed up two hours early. Dominic was working the afternoon desk shift at the hotel, the scheduled employee having called in sick, and Lysander, who busted his ass Monday through Thursday, had his Friday's free. He'd been recruited for baby-sitting for a few hours.

Saiyuri's muttered comments about Dominic being an irresponsible parent and leaving Lani with a stranger while she packed the baby's luggage into her van made him snap. He'd had enough if this woman constantly putting Dominic down.

"Hardly a stranger," he said, "I've known Dominic since before your divorce was official. I was a gentleman, of course, and waited till he signed the papers before I seduced him."

That got the woman to shut up and turn around. He grinned at her and wondered if she'd notice that he was wearing one of Dominic's old T-shirts. "I can understand your anger but I really don't know how you could let him go without trying to make things work. Oh, wait, I remember what happened. You were the one who met someone else and haven't even tried to understand what Dominic was feeling at the time."

He rocked back on his heels. "I seriously hope that Theiry is it for you,"'he said, "because you have lost your chance with one hell of a man. He's genuinely sweet as well as warm and caring. He has a generous soul and would give away the shirt on his back to keep a dog warm. Also, he has a one hell of a rocking body that keeps me up for hours at night. And I refuse to let you run roughshod over my lover."

Looking straight at the gobsmacked woman, Lysander waited for her response to him outing Dominic.

[Maira]

She had missed Lani during the week she'd been gone but she knew that Dominic was thrilled to have her for so long. Lani being away, even if it was just because her older step brothers were sick, had given Saiyuri time to think about the custody arrangement she had with Dominic.

She had come to pick up Lani early because she'd wanted to talk to him about maybe changing things so he could have her for longer and more frequent visits. Only Dominic wasn't there. Some man she'd never met was watching Lani while Dominic covered a shift at the Inn. She was annoyed that Dominic had never mentioned the babysitter and that she hadn't had a chance to meet him before he'd started watching Lani.

Saiyuri didn't realize she'd been muttering under her breath until the babysitter snapped at her. She started at him blankly as he continued his tirade against her. When he finally stopped she continued to stare for a moment, then smiled at him before leaving in and kissing him on the cheek. "Thank you for caring for him. I never stopped loving that man and I really do want the best for him." Then, with a dangerous gleam in her eye she informed him, "If you hurt him, or Lani, you will probably regret it."

That said, Saiyuri got in the van and shut her door. Before the dark haired man could turn and go back in the house she rolled down her window and told him, "If you could have Dominic call me, I wanted to talk to him about him getting more time with Lani. Thanks!". When the man nodded in answer, Saiyuri rolled up her window and backed down the gravel driveway.

[Demeter]

Lysander blinked at the taillights of the can and wondered just what the hell happened. One minute he's berating the woman and outing Dominic to woman and the next she's telling him that she'd kill him if he hurt Dominic. Lysander sat down in the dirt and stared. "Hell," he murmered.

He was still sitting there when Dominic came strolling back from the Inn. He looked up at the man, took his hand and yanked him down. He pulled Dominic into his lap. "I think I need to apologize. I, uh, outed you to Saiyuri this afternoon. Hearing her mutter about a "stranger" taking care of Lani made me snap. She wants you to call her."

[Maira]

The shift at the Inn had been cut short because the girl from the morning shift had been able to come back in and Dominic had hurried back to his house in hopes of getting to spend a little more time with Lani before Saiyuri picked her up. As he walked down the path between the Inn and his home, he noticed L sitting in the driveway with a far-off look in his eyes. Curious what was going on, he was going to ask when he got close enough. Instead, he got yanked down into L's lap and was informed just what had happened without even having to ask a thing.

He stared at L much as Saiyuri had minutes before, then placed a kiss on the other man's forehead before reassuring him, "Its okay. I'm not mad." He then pulled back slightly, smiled at his lover, and informed him, "I was working up the nerve to tell her anyway because I was tired of hiding your presence in my life from her. You make me happy, you shouldn't be a secret." The slightly baffled look on Lysander's face made Dominic laugh a little before climbing out of the older man's lap and yanking him up off the ground.

As they walked back into the house, Dominic mumbled something about needing lunch before calling Saiyuri. L had never mentioned just what Saiyuri wanted and not knowing he was about to get a very pleasant surprise he thought he needed to fortify himself for another argument.

[Demeter]

It would become a universally accepted fact that Lysander Gallagher made Dominic Sullivan act out of character. It would just be one of those things that happened.

At the moment though, this was not a universally accepted fact and Jake Mallon, best friend of Dominic Sullivan since preschool, was staring in shock at the two men. He would have never guessed this was what Dominic wanted to tell him about. He may have had his theories about Dominic but proof was something else.

With the exception of Dominic's ex-wife, his mother, and his uncle, Jake had been the only other person to be told in private about Dominic's relationship with this man. Dominic had chosen a simple yet effective method to come out to the rest of their mutual friends. Even knowing the facts, Jake's brain had shirt circuited on seeing the two men dancing together. Knowing was one thing, he thought as he listened to their friends shocked exclamations but seeing it was something else.

***

The club may not have been Asylum or one of the other clubs oriented to the Others but the place was popular with the city. Dominic had picked it because it lacked the inhibition diminishing influence of succubi and incubi. No one could claim that Dominic's actions were anything but his own.

And given that Dominic was currently examining Lysander's tonsils with his tongue, Lysander sincerely hoped that The Friends understand what was going on. Not that the way they were rocking together on the dance floor, along with the making out, left much to the imagination. He hoped that this Custosstration was over soon so that he could push Dominic up against a wall, wrap those legs around his waist, fill his hands with Dominic's hot ass and plunder that mouth. Or, perhaps, he could be the one with his back to the wall.

That would certainly leave no questions as to the intimate nature of their relationship. Then again, those actions would probably lead to hot wall sex and Frank, the owner of this particular club, frowned on public nudity and the possible hot wall sex would get them both banned from the place. He'd have to stick to grinding against Dominic and tongue-fucking his mouth in order for Dominic's public coming out plan to work.

Which was such a shame as a Dominic freed from inhibitions was awesome, seductive, naughty man. He'd been this way since Monday afternoon; that fateful day when Lysander had outed his Lover to the man's ex-wife and his lover had confessed to not wanting to keep Lysander a secret anymore. Keep his hands off Dominic had proved to be a near impossible task since then.

Sitting on the hard-packed dirt driveway, his heart had soared at Dominic's confession. The first person he'd held genuine affection and love for in decades wanted to declare that they had a relationship to friends and family. After that tender moment on the drive, they'ed retreated to Dominic's home for a quick lunch and a afternoon nap. As much as Lysander wanted to haul Dominic to the nearest mountain too for the Declaration, Lani was as exhausting as she was cute and both men needed to recover from her daily dawn wake-up call.

They'd woken the early evening to rain and had indulged in a slow, lazy and warm bout if lovemaking. After dinner-in-bed, Dominic had made the call to Saiyuri. He'd explained when he'd met Lysander and the length of their relationship. While the woman seemed a little upset about not knowing, she seemed to accept the idea that her ex-husband was with another male.

On Tuesday, they'd told Dominic's mother; who'd replied that she'd already known in that way mothers knew everything. On Wednesday, they'd told Dominic's uncle; who'd also already known and he'd told them that if they really wanted to be discreet, they shouldn't suck face in direct view of the Inn. On Thursday, Dominic had invited his childhood friend, the man who'd stood up for him at his wedding to Saiyuri, over and told him the news. Jake Mallon had seemed stunned but accepting.

Now, on Friday nignt, Dominic came out to the rest of his friends by dancing with Lysander. And, when confronted by the picture Dominic made with Lysander, the best friend seemed very shocked. Slitting his eyes open and concentrating on Jake, a difficult task when Dominic was all but riding his thigh, Lysander determined that the shock was related more towards Dominic's aggressive actions then who was on the receiving end.

His normally quiet and reserved Lover was acting very out of character and had been since Monday. Lysander could only groan, grip Dominic's hips and hang on for a ride. Dominic was clearly aiming to either kill him or shock his friends to death.

***

Jake wanted to rub his eyes with bleach. Dominic was practically climbing up Lysander's body and he didn't doubt that either man was seconds from getting off. And this was the man who'd only chastely kissed his wife at their wedding!

Jake squeaked when he heard a familiar voice calling out a greeting. Saiyuri! Dominic had said she knew about Lysander but had she ever seen them together? Did she know about how they looked together when they were...dancing?

Jake snuck a look and swallowed. From the way Dominic was jerking against Lysander's thigh, he figured their dancing had a new purpose. He spun around to block Saiyuri's view. "Hey, 'Yuri, Theiry. Date night?"

He might have succeeded if he had any sort of luck but destiny was against him. A drunk couple stumbled into him and knocked him down. From his place on the floor, Jake had a perfect, if upside down, view of Dominic as he arched back, eyes closed and mouth open in bliss. A perfect view of Lysander grinning and gripping Dominic's hips as he rolled his own. The crowd around the two were whistling and clapping in appreciation of the show.

And Saiyuri had had a perfect view of her ex-husband being brought to orgasm by another man in the middle if a crowded dance floor.

[Maira]

She wanted very much to have a nice evening out with Theiry. Her mother had the terrifying trio, along with Rowan, for their semi-weekly sleep over and that freed up a whole night for them to let loose. And after the week she'd had, finding out about Dominic's new lover and then meeting with a lawyer to get the custody papers for Lani adjusted, she really needed a bit of time to unwind.

She didn't mind that her ex-husband was involved with another man. It surprised her, yes, but she was just glad that he had finally found somebody new. Despite her own residual anger over what had happened between them, she still loved the man and she only wanted the best for him. Still... Knowing that Dominic was now with a man, had left Saiyuri questioning all week if he hadn't even been attracted to her while they were married. It was that questioning that Saiyuri needed to recover from, not the news that her ex's new love was a man.

Knowing that she loved to dance, and that is was an excellent way for her to release tension, Theiry had suggested that they do just that for their date night. Saiyuri had agreed eagerly. Wanting to lower the chances of running into people who may know her immediate or extended family, people who might ask questions about things that would just cause her further stress, they had opted to go to a club that wasn't geared towards the Others.

After the couple had handed over their personal items at coat check and gotten their tickets, they made their way toward the dance floor. Immediately, Saiyuri saw Dominic's best childhood friend and even though she smiled and waved at him in response to his friendly greeting, inside she was groaning. The point had been to AVOID people they knew... And then, before either Saiyuri or Theiry could answer Jake's question, he was flattened by two very obviously drunk club patrons revealing a rather salacious view of two men doing a whole lot more than dancing in the middle of the dance floor.

Saiyuri was smirking with amusement at the sight, when Theiry was suddenly turning her away. She pried his hands off her shoulders and poked him playfully in the chest before teasing him, "Worried I'm going to get ideas?" She turned around again, hearing Theiry rubbing his hands over his face as he sighed, just in time for the blond man to tip his head back as he climaxed.

Saiyuri was familiar with that look on Dominic's face, she knew exactly what it meant. She also knew that she had never in her life expected to see such a look on his face in a public place. A hand pressed into her chest, to make sure her heart hadn't stopped, Saiyuri choked out hoarsely, "Oh Gods...." Her world then started to spin, and she felt herself falling. Luckily she blacked out before her head hit the table behind her.

[Demeter]

Lysander considered it a miracle that he didn't drop Dominic onto the dance floor. Any setting where they might have been horizontal instead of vertical, he might have indeed blacked out for a moment or two but something kept him conscious. He still might have dropped his lover when he became aware if the spectacle going on off the dance floor but instead of loosing his grip, he tightened it and hauled Dominic upright.

Across the floor, Theiry wasn't quick enough to turn Saiyuri's attention from the couple on the floor but he was quick enough to catch her before she smacked her head on the table. With both halves of the former couple momentarily incapacitated, the current significant others stared at each other.

From the floor, Jake's head turned on a swivel between the two couples. "Awkward," he whispered.