Forgive me, Father...

 

"Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned." Terry knelt penitently at the feet of the priest.

 

"What did you do now?" the priest asked as he frowned into the mirror. "Do you think this collar looks all right?"

 

"Leo! That's not what comes next!" Terry protested as he sat back, irritably hitching up his borrowed choir robe when it got in his way.

 

"It is if you aren't Catholic," Leo replied with a chuckle. "Come on, babe. Help me with this collar."

 

Terry grumbled as he stood up. "I can't believe it. You had me on my knees in front of you and all you can think of is that stupid collar."

 

"Only because we're late, love," Leo assured him as the nimble fingers adjusted the white band under the collar of his black shirt. "Rain check, ok?"

 

Terry's face clouded. "I'm sorry we're late, Leo. I really didn't mean--"

 

"Shh!" his partner put a finger over his lips. "I already heard your confession, remember?" He waited for the smile at his slight joke, then continued. "When did I say we'd take care of it?"

 

"Tomorrow."

 

"And is it tomorrow yet?"

 

"No, but-- OW!" Terry rubbed his butt ruefully. "Ok, I got the message. No more talking about it tonight."

 

"No, tonight is for fun. I'm glad you talked me into this party."

 

"Well, we can't sit at home on Halloween!" Terry looked shocked at the very idea. "There." He stepped back and considered Leo's costume. "You look good. Very priestly."

 

"And you look very altar boyish," his partner returned the compliment. "Give me a kiss and let's get going so we can get home to that rain check."

"Leo, Terry! Great costumes! Glad you could make it," their host, a very Satanic-looking vampire, greeted them. "Can I get you something to drink? Beer, wine, something non-alcoholic? Or Steve is mixing up some wicked Zombies," he added, indicating the mummy behind the bar.

 

"Beer is fine," Leo said with a laugh, and Terry held up two fingers.

 

"Terry!" A harem boy in his mid-twenties bounded up to them. "Come on, you've got to hear this!"

 

At his partner's nod, Terry hurried off with his friend. Leo, tired from a long day in court, wascontent to find an out-of-the way corner where he could sit and sip his beer while watching the party swirl around him. He had debated skipping the party tonight rather than putting off the discipline; now he was glad they hadn't. Terry's job as a physical therapist was challenging and fulfilling, but also depressing at times; he worked with paraplegic patients and took both their successes and failures very personally. He had been looking forward to this party and he deserved it.

 

"Leo, how was court today?" A rather seductive Amazon sat down next to him. "Love the costumes, by the way."

 

'Thanks," he replied. "They were Terry's idea."

 

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" she asked with achuckle. "He's good for you, you know. You're too serious. He makes you laugh."

 

"I know," Leo agreed. "I don't know what I'd do without him."

 

Their conversation turned to the court cases they were working on, then to more general topics as other partygoers joined them and left again.Terry came and went, bringing Leo another beer, joining the conversation for a few minutes, then wandering off again. Finally, he approached Leo during a quiet moment. "I--" He took a deep breath. "I'm ready to go home now. If you are."

 

"Anytime you are," Leo replied agreeably. "How much have you had to drink?"

 

"A couple of beers. One of Steve's Zombies."

 

"Better get us a cab then. You can come back for the car tomorrow."

 

"All right." He went off to find a phone as Leo started the process of saying their good-byes.

 

The ride home was quiet and Leo was fairly sure of what was coming as they entered the house.

 

"Leo?" Terry hesitated, aware that he wasn't supposed to bring up the subject again that evening.

 

"You want to get it over with tonight?"

 

"Yes, please." He nodded. "I don't want it hanging over my head any longer."

 

"All right. Go get out of your costume and then meet me in the office."

 

When Terry entered the office a few minutes later,dressed only in a long t-shirt, Leo didn't speak; he simply patted his knees and helped Terry arrange himself over them.

 

"I'm sorry, Leo," Terry said in a small voice, very close to tears.

 

"I know you are, sweetheart," Leo replied gently as he raised his hand and brought it down in the first solid Thwack. A half hour later, Terry knelt beside his partner, his head buried in Leo's lap, the sobs diminished to a few hiccuping sighs.

 

"Better?" Leo asked, gently stroking the tousled hair.

 

"Uh huh." Terry reluctantly lifted his head. "You want me to lock up and help you get ready for bed?"

 

"If you wouldn't mind."

 

Leo lay in bed, his arms around the penitent Brat whose head rested on his chest. He glanced at the chair sitting next to the bed, but didn't say anything. Instead he silently recited along with the mental checklist that Terry did every night.

 

"Doors locked? Check. Coffee made? Check. Alarm set? Check. Chair--"

 

Right on cue, a muffled voice said, "Damn. I forgot to plug in your chair." He groaned as he pushed himself up and out of bed, padded over to the wheelchair and pushed it to the wall outlet. "I hate that chair sometimes," he muttered petulantly as he draped himself back across Leo's chest.

 

"I don't." Leo replied softly as he rested his hand on his lover's sore butt. "Without it I'd never have met you."