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A Hanover Christmas

A gray, cold, Wednesday. The first of December. The clock on the wall struck high noon in the assembly hall of Ben's workplace, Centoh Aircraft. Working with a pneumatic drill, the tan and beige husky labored to put together his massive radial engine that sat on its assembly stand. Nineteen year old Ben Reynolds was learning the art of old radial engine technology, under the watchful eye of his mentor who assisted him. Today's task was to bolt on and finish installing one of the three power recovery turbines to his R-3350. He had already completed the tedious process of installing the fluid coupling and driveshaft for the turbines. Ben sucked on his lower lip while he installed the impeller and bolted it to the driveshaft. His blue eyes momentarily glanced up at the clock; his half-day was almost over. Just another half-hour to go.

"That looks really nice, Ben~" his mentor nodded. Old Bill, who had a long experience in maintaining aircraft radial engines, checked off his paperwork as Ben snapped on the turbine cover and made sure it fit flush.

"We'll get to finishing this engine up tomorrow, and get 'er on the test stand~" Bill suggested.

"Sounds good to me~" Ben nodded.

"Very good Ben~ You're a quick learner!" Bill complimented. He handed the paperwork off to Ben to sign off, and went about his way. Ben leaned against his work bench, putting his tools away, and looking accomplished at his almost finished Duplex-Cyclone. Checking the time again, Ben went to go get himself cleaned up in the locker room.

At the big utility sink, Ben scrubbed his paws down with a heavy duty degreaser soap, the warm water running black. The grease and oil washed away to reveal part of his almost finished tattoo sleeve, that adorned his right arm. Ben glanced at his own reflection in the mirror. His face bore a nasty dark scar that dominated the left side, the product of an assault at school a few years prior. His medium brown hair was long and pulled back into a braided ponytail of interwoven locks, Viking style, which fell to his upper back. He dabbed a grease spot on his forehead with a paper towel and cleaned it up. Rinsing his arms off and giving them a shake, he dried himself off with some brown paper towels. Grabbing his lunch bag and jacket from his locker, the husky threw his coat on and carried his lunch bag with him as he left the locker room.

Walking down the hallway, he grew excited as he got closer to the terminal to clock out at. He had big plans with his boyfriend Cyrus, back home in Hanover, and took a half-day to go spend more time with him. Cyrus was getting the holiday mood started by getting his yearly Christmas tree; it would be their first Christmas together, after becoming boyfriends back in the spring. Ben couldn't wait to get home, change, and make the hour drive "back home" to Hanover.

"Hey you take care now, Ben!" came his boss, the owner Jake Barion. Jake, a black and white wolf-malamute, who had tattoo sleeved arms that swayed casually as he walked.

"Thanks Jake! See you tomorrow."

"You too~"

Ben clocked out, and made his way for the exit. He stepped outside to see snow flurries sputter in the icy breeze. Ben adjusted his beanie a bit and walked across the parking lot, where his bright red, dually Silverado sat waiting. He climbed in, tossed his bag onto the passenger seat, and fired up his Duramax. The diesel chugged under the hood as he let it warm up momentarily.

"Hey stud! Just got off work... gotta get cleaned up and I'll be over!" Ben texted Cyrus. He got a thumbs up response from him a minute later.

Leaving the airport area, Ben hopped on I-670, and looped back to north 270, which took him to Westerville, on the northeast end of greater Columbus. Mid-day, the traffic was light, and Ben had the lane to himself as he cruised on home in his truck. Fifteen minutes later, he pulled into the gravel driveway of his home, which he shared with his older friends, Anton and Borr. Ben had his own little pad, in a finished bedroom above the three car garage. He climbed the steps and ventured on inside, out of the cold.

After a relaxing hot shower to get cleaned up, Ben emerged through the steam, fetching a towel on his journey towards the big mirror bolted on the door. The husky dried himself off, dabbing his face with the now dampened towel. Though blurred by the steam, Ben glanced at his abstract reflection. Wet locks of brown hair clung to his face as he stood there, admiring the progress to his body. In three years, he had gone from the chubby sixteen year old, to a leaner, muscular nineteen year old. Glancing down, Ben gave his big floppy cock a shake. Thick and uncut, his manhood was nicely tan, with a fat cockhead covered by his thick, tapered foreskin. He scratched his trimmed pubes and yawned a bit. His flat stomach, that was starting to show his emerging abs bore a surgical scar that ran almost to his chest. He also bore a few stab scars. Like the facial scar that cut across the left side of his slightly numbed face, it was a reminder to the gay bashing that almost killed him. The gay bashing that changed his life.

Stepping out of the bathroom naked, Ben walked to his dresser and grabbed some underwear and socks. He soon got dressed in a pair of jeans and an undershirt, over which a red plaid flannel shirt was buttoned up. Ben reached back and slowly redid his braid, interweaving the locks of brown hair back into the pattern, which he secured with two hair bands. Looking at himself in the mirror, he shoved his feet into his brown cowboy boots and grabbed his wallet and keys. He locked the door behind him as he returned to his truck, excited to begin the journey back home to Hanover.

Hopping back into his truck, Ben turned around and departed. As he turned onto the main road, he saw Anton arriving back home, apparently to grab something for his gym or something. Ben smiled and waved, and the burly Ukrainian husky stuck a tattooed arm out of his white Silverado and waved in return as Ben passed by. Ben really appreciated those huskies that he shared a house with; they took him in at a time when he had nobody else.

Hopping back onto the highway, Ben began his journey east. He took 270 to route 161, which led him into Licking County. Ben sat back and admired the scenery as he drove eastbound, going seventy-five with the highway almost to himself again. Thinking about how much progress he had made in three years, Ben remembered being the closeted teenage hick, who got nearly killed at school after accidentally coming out and coming onto a friend. He was saved by his boss' twin-brother, Rob Barion, who initially took him under his wing after his family disowned him for being gay. Realizing that he was going to corrupt Ben with his own traumatic past, Rob asked his friends, Borr Eklund, and Anton Savchenko to take Ben. Borr, a husky from Sweden, and Anton, who failed from Ukraine, were the best thing to happen to him, and helped with all the pain after being disowned by his parents, and sexually assaulted by a classmate. Now Anton and Borr were fuck buddies with him and his boyfriend. In three years, Ben went from the naïve teenager, to a bit more jaded nineteen year old, who had a full-time job, making good money learning the art of piston engines. But he was most happy in having his older boyfriend, thirty-three year old, Cyrus Filton.

Ironically, Ben knew Cyrus from many years before, when he was a little kid. The Reynolds and Filtons were once close family friends until their fathers had a huge falling out. Ben used to call Cyrus "Big Cy", and Cyrus in return called him "Little Benny". Everyone in Hanover used to call him "Little Benny". Ben was reunited with Cyrus at a sex party, where Ben bottomed as their young cumdump. Through some escapades, they fell in love and became boyfriends in the spring. Several months later, they were preparing to celebrate their first Christmas together. Despite their fourteen year age gap, they were both madly in love with each other. Every Wednesday, and usually on the weekends, they spent time together. Cyrus had a hectic schedule with his landscaping business, and Ben worked his usual seven to four o'clock gig at Centoh Aircraft. But whenever he got to be with Cyrus, it was just a blissful experience every time.

Ben passed through the middle of Newark, the biggest city in Licking County. He passed through downtown Newark and exited to soon return to countryside on the eastern half of the city. Eventually, he came up to Marne road, and made a left to take a winding two-lane road into Hanover itself.

Hanover was a dinky little township, located in the northeast of Licking County. It was nothing more than an intersection with a light and some homes surrounding a gas station, baseball diamond, and pizza shop. One could blink and be through Hanover. Everything looked so familiar to Ben as he drove through town and quickly exited. He made a right turn onto County Road 5, and drove a few miles on the hilly rural road. Farm fields that were muddy and barren mixed with patches of naked woodland. Snow flurries smacked against the windshield as he continued on. Finally, he slowed up and put his turn signal on at the red reflectors off in the distance, signaling Cy's driveway. He slowly turned onto the crunching gravel, which led him through a patch of woods that lined the road. He found Cy's home looking all cozy in his patch of woodland, the old farm house adorned in cedar siding. Ben spun around and backed in, beside Cy's white Sierra and his nephew's gray Silverado. He hopped out and made his way to the porch to ring the doorbell. Almost immediately, the door swung open to reveal Cyrus, a tall blonde wolf, with fire red hair that was long and braided up like Ben's. A big grin emerged on his face.

"Come on in outta the cold!" Cyrus greeted. He held the door open as Ben stepped inside, and closed it behind him. Ben turned and put his arms around Cyrus for a hug and kiss. He pressed his lips against Cy's, which had silver snakebite rings, and enjoyed the feeling of his tongue slipping in and pressing against his. They broke their kiss and smiled at each other.

"Oh my god, red plaid too?" Cyrus laughed. He wore the virtually identical getup as Ben did, complete with brown cowboy boots.

"Holy shit, you're right~"

"This is like gay stereotype one oh one!" the wolf exclaimed.

"Fuck it!" Ben laughed.

"Yeah! I agree!" Cyrus laughed with him. "How was your half-day there part-time?"

Ben chucked to Cy's teasing. "Fine, Cy~ How's your day?"

"Oh you know, same shit! Diff'rent day!" laughed the wolf. "Got my clerical duties done~ So now let's go get the yearly Filton Christmas tree!"

"Alrighty!"

"Freddy! C'mon!" Cy shouted up the stairs. Soon his seventeen year old nephew came bouncing on down. Freddy wore his usual moto jeans, with a red flannel shirt as well. Other than long brown hair, and a lack of chinstrap beard, Freddy looked like a lanky clone of Cyrus. He stopped and just stared at the two of them.

"Are you fucking kidding me... red too!?" Freddy exclaim with a snort.

"What is this?" Cyrus laughed. "Did the planets align or something?"

"Hey, I just grabbed what was first in the closet." Chuckled the husky.

"Now people are gonna think we're a giant gay couple or something~" Freddy joked.

"We can all be a giant gay couple in the truck! C'mon! Let's get the tree!"

"Alright! Alright!" Ben laughed as he opened the door for Cy and Freddy. They all hopped into Cy's 3500HD, and took off for the road.

---

Detouring around a car accident that closed the main highway, Cyrus took his truck down a narrow dirt road, deep in rural Perry County. Tires droned on the compacted dirt and gravel road, surrounded by hilly woodland that the road was cut into.

"Cyrus, where the hell are we going?" Freddy asked in the backseat. "Bumfuckistan?"

"A step up! New Lex." Cyrus laughed.

"I think I can hear banjos, Cy~" Freddy chuckled.

"Yeah, this is a really bumpy ride..." Ben said, as the truck was jostled by the uneven road.

"Naw, this is the fun shit right here! Yee haw!" the wolf grinned as he held his speed.

"Well had somebody not closed the whole highway wrecking their car..." Freddy said sarcastically.

"Think of it as a scenic car ride!" Cyrus suggested.

Ben watched a burned out trailer come into view, the entire property cordoned off with caution tape. He turned to smirk at his boyfriend. "Some view, huh."

"Someone's meth lab exploded." Laughed Freddy.

"Take it for what it is!" grinned Cyrus.

The dirt road wound through woodland and open countryside of muddy, fallowing fields. Ben sat back and watched the drab scenery pass by. The snow flurries picked up pace, and the visibility grew lower as the flurries danced about in an icy breeze. Returning back to the main highway, Cyrus drove into New Lexington, a little town in the heart of the county. Going through the downtown, and continuing south for ten minutes, Cyrus took another country road, which led him to a big, newly built home that his landscaping business tended to. He pulled into the big gravel driveway and parked.

Hopping out into the cold, Ben adjusted his beanie, and met the homeowner, where Cyrus introduced everyone. They then followed him over to the spot where he planned on putting a detached garage at. At the spot stood a small clutch of pine trees, and in the middle of them stood a perfectly proportioned blue spruce.

"And there she is!" Cyrus pointed. "Look at that beauty!"

Ben walked up to it and felt some of its prickly blue-gray needles. He guessed that it was almost nine feet tall, as it felt to tower over him. Cyrus went and fetched his chainsaw from the truck, and Freddy and Ben helped to stabilize it while he cut the base. Very gently, the tree was laid down, and secured with some netting and rope and placed in the long truck bed for the journey home. Saying thanks and goodbye, they climbed back in and turned around to head back home, going the same route they came, detour and all.

"This is it, getting the tree, gets me all in the mood for Christmas!" Cyrus exclaimed with excitement to his voice. "Twenty-five days, Ben!"

"Whoo~" Ben said in a sarcastic way. "Christmas is... well... it is what it is."

"Oh c'mon, enjoy the holiday cheer!" Cyrus nudged him playfully.

"A lot's happened around this time." Ben admitted. "It kind of sours the mood."

"Well I'm just gonna have to fuck that outta ya!" Cyrus grinned.

"Heh, you might!" Ben laughed.

An hour later, they returned back to Cy's home, to bring their tree inside. Getting covered in pine sap, they brought the large blue spruce inside and sat it on the tree stand in the living room in the corner near the fireplace. Cyrus and Ben trimmed it up with some snips while Freddy dragged out all the boxes of decorations. Lights were hung up and soon the sparkling blue spruce was put in its final place. They all dug into the boxes of ornaments and hung them up on almost every single branch. Cyrus pointed out to Ben that some of the ornaments were from his grandparents, the old faded ornaments that he carefully hung up.

"This one's my favorite..." Cyrus said, showing Ben a faded glass bulb that faintly read "Merry Christmas 1957" in gold script, and below it "Gary & Norma Filton". "This one's one of the first ornaments my grandparents got for their very first Christmas."

"Wow, that's sixty-four years old." Ben nodded.

"It's a treasured family heirloom." Cyrus chuckled as he hung it up on top, front and center. "I miss my Grandpa. It's been six years since he passed."

"Tinsel time!" Freddy exclaimed. With a package of silvery strips of foil, the young wolf threw it onto the tree, which soon had shimmering little strips of silver all over it. Everyone took a step back and marveled at another Filton Christmas tree. Cyrus stood with his arms around Ben.

"Wow, that looks great." Ben smiled at Cy.

"When you're good! You're good!" grinned Cyrus with a laugh.

"Now I and everything smell like pine sap!" Freddy exclaimed.

"Now it feels like Christmas!" Cyrus cheered. "A good ole' Filton Christmas!"

"With no family brawls..." Freddy shook his head.

"...Yes."

---

Closing the bathroom door behind him, Ben breathed a sigh of relief and began to strip himself of his sap covered clothes. He watched amusingly as Cyrus crossed his beefy tattooed arms and pulled his shirt off, revealing his chest tattoo and nipple rings. He had a chiseled chest and a nice six pack from working out. Cyrus took his jeans off, tossed them aside, and then ripped his red briefs off. His floppy tan cock plopped out. Uncut, it sported a silver Prince Albert piercing, a curved barbell poking out from under the foreskin. Ben rubbed his own floppy member and walked up to rub Cy's stomach and chest with a playful stroke of his paw. Cyrus smiled, put an arm around him, and pulled his husky into a kiss. Ben closed his eyes and played with Cy's tongue, while Cy untied his ponytail. He was quickly whisked into the hot walk-in shower to get cleaned up.

Enveloped in the hot steam, Cy and Ben both took the time to lather each other up and give their fur a good scrub down to remove traces of sticky sap. Cy rubbed his boyfriend down and playfully massaged his scalp as he washed his long locks of brown hair. Ben leaned back into his lover and savored the feeling of being rubbed down by his big strong paws. With a playful pat, Ben walked over to go rinse himself off. As he stepped away, he felt Cyrus playfully smack his butt and could sense the grin on his face. Ben washed himself off and traded places to let Cyrus rinse himself off.

"How do you manage all that hair?" Ben asked him jokingly.

"When you're good! You're good!" Cyrus laughed as he rinsed his head off. He flipped his wet locks of hair around and grinned. Ben laughed and slowly dropped to his knees and took Cy's big cock into his muzzle. He sucked on his softie and felt it begin to get hard in his muzzle. His tongue teased the silver piercing.

"Ooooh! Activating the launch sequence!" Cyrus teased as he rubbed Ben's ears. The husky swallowed every inch of his wolf and bobbed his muzzle up and down on Cy's rock hard boner. Cy stroked the top of his head and thrust a bit into his muzzle. Ben's blue eyes looked up and enjoyed the look of contentment on his boyfriend as he suckled on him. Cy closed his eyes, gasped a bit and rubbed and tugged on his nipple rings. Ben concluded with a few playful strokes of his thick foreskin and giving the tip a teasing lick.

"Fuck! You could suck start a jet engine!" laughed Cyrus.

"Heh, heh~" smiled Ben.

"My turn!" grinned the wolf, who dropped his knees as Ben got up. Ben looked down and watched Cyrus stare at him with his icy blue eyes. He shoved Ben's chubby into his muzzle and began to suck on it. Ben closed his eyes, and felt the blood surge to his cock, which quickly grew hard for him.

"I could suck start a jet engine? Look in the mirror~" Teased Ben jokingly as he gasped a bit. He watched Cyrus swallow all nine inches of his cock and bobbed his muzzle effortlessly. Ben leaned against the wall, closed his eyes, and let out a pleasureful moan. Cy worked his cock for a bit, ending with a playful kiss on the tip. He got up, and rubbed his hard cock against Ben's, stroking both their nine inches in his grip as they made out in the hot stream of water.

Getting out of the shower and drying off, Ben led Cy back to the bed, where he climbed in first. Ben laid on his back, and watched Cyrus fetch his bottle of lube from the dresser. His beautiful long hair flowed down the sides of his head like a fiery waterfall. Cyrus squirted some lube onto his paw and lubed his hard cock up, which glistened in the light of the lamp. He got onto the bed and straddled himself between Ben's legs. Caressing them, he lifted them up over his shoulders and positioned himself, taking aim with his shaft for Ben's snug hole. Getting a bit of lube smeared onto his hole, Ben felt Cy's pierced cock press against him. He adjusted his back and relaxed as Cyrus slowly pushed himself in. The husky closed his eyes and exhaled slowly as he opened up for the wolf's hard cock. Cyrus hilted himself in and slowly began to thrust.

"Ah fuck... that's nice..." Ben huffed, as he started to jerk himself off.

"Well yeah, 'cause it's my big 'ole dick!" grinned Cy with a laugh.

Getting himself warmed up, Cy adjusted himself and laid out over Ben. His long locks of hair fell around his head like a red waterfall, which made Ben smile. He put his arms around his muscular boyfriend and ran his fingers through all that hair affectionately.

"I am the luckiest husker in the world..."

"I say the same thing too..."

Cy leaned in for a kiss from Ben, and made love to him.

"I love you~"

"Love you too~"

"Love you more!"

"Heh, heh! And so on~"

Thrusting faster, Cyrus made Ben moan and the bed creak. Kissing his neck, Cyrus let out a loud growl and came; he slammed his cock all the way in and bred his husky with a pent up load. Ben moaned and started to laugh as Cyrus got off him.

"Oh fuck that's great..." Ben smiled as he resumed stroking his hard cock. Cyrus pushed his paw away, spat in his right paw and gripped Ben's shaft and stroked it for him. Ben closed his eyes and smacked his head into the pillow. He just couldn't last, and blew a load all over his stomach. Cyrus laughed and grabbed a towel to wipe his paw off. He leaned in and cleaned Ben's belly off, the towel being simply tossed to the floor. Cyrus laid down beside his lover and pulled him into his arms for a warm embrace. Ben rested his head on Cy's tattooed chest and smiled as his boyfriend caressed him lovingly. Ben rubbed his belly and pubes. They didn't say anything while they basked in the afterglow of sex.

Finally after twenty or so minutes, Cyrus broke the silence.

"What do you want for Christmas, stud?" Cyrus asked.

"Oh? Hmm..."

"C'mon! Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!" the wolf grinned. "Santa Cy will get ya what you want!"

"Oh geesh... I've just been so distracted by all the world events and bullshit going on, I completely never thought much about it!" Ben admitted with a laugh. "Well...hmm..."

"Anything? Maybe a new pair of cowboy boots?"

"Okay, now you're speakin' my language." The husky laughed. "I do like your snakeskin boots~"

"I do too! I think I could make that happen."

"How 'bout you just surprise me, Cy~"

"Sure!"

"Always like a surprise." Ben chuckled. "Like being surprised that I met you again at a cumdump party, of all places."

"Ha! Well what can I say? Hot asses need to be bred!" Cy grinned as he gave Ben a kiss.

"I'm glad we met like that." Ben chuckled. "So much has happened over the past... well...gee... two years."

"Yeah."

"In a way I'm better off... and in a way... I still feel like life has whiplashed me."

"I agree."

"I got a nice full time job, and I have you in my life now... my Aunt and Uncle are back in my life... Ha, well... if you want to surprise me... reconciling with my Mom would be nice... but nah..."

"Why nah?"

"I don't see it ever happening, honestly." Ben admitted with a shrug. "Mom now lives in Tennessee apparently, and just so much shit has happened... my mom's a fair-weather gal, and just doesn't handle stress and shit... it's just not worth emotionally exhausting myself for someone who tucked her tail and ran after Dad passed away."

"Never say never, Ben."

"I know... but it's just... it's like ripping a bandage off a wound." Ben said in a bland tone. "Maybe someday...somehow... but eh... fuck it... it's her loss."

"Never close the door fully. I mean, I didn't think my parents would get over my coming out, and here they are now!" Cy exclaimed.

"And somehow your family doesn't brawl anymore."

"I know right?" Cyrus laughed. "All it took was a violent tornado to shake things up!"

"Literally!" Ben laughed.

"Like I said, stud, never say never." Smiled Cyrus, who got another kiss from Ben.

"Hey! Guys! Pizza's here!" Freddy shouted from downstairs.

"Dinner!" Ben exclaimed as he got up. "Oh fuck, I gotta clean up again."

"Careful getting up like that! The contents of your anus may have shifted a bit!" laughed the wolf.

"Yeah from your big 'ole dick!" Ben grinned.

"Yeppers!"

"Join me in the shower real quick?"

"Sure, stud~"

Cy put his arm around Ben as they walked back into the bathroom to clean themselves up.

---

The following morning was blustery and gray. Snow flurries churned in the frigid northern winds that whistled through Hanover. Rumbling into town, Cyrus slowed up and turned into the lot of "The Pitstop", Hanover's Marathon gas station. The white Sierra rolled up to the pump where Cyrus stopped and hopped out to get a load of diesel. Shoving the nozzle into his fuel port, he leaned against his Sierra and watched the pump run, slowly filling his large tank up. As he stood there playing around on his phone, another work truck pulled up opposite of him, a Ford SuperDuty belonging to a well drilling company. He looked up to see Vance Reynolds stepping out. Just the person he wanted to see.

Vance was a black and gray husky in his early fifties. He sported a black goatee that was mottled with some gray, and like Cyrus, he was dressed in brown Carhartts that had oil stains on them.

"Mornin'!" Cyrus greeted.

"Mornin'!" Vance waved in return. "What's up, Big Cy?"

"Same shit, different day!" laughed the wolf. "Just the fella I wanted to see!"

"Oh yeah? What's up?"

"Hey... uhh... I remember Ben saying something awhile back about you trying to get back in touch with his Mom?"

"Oh god... yes..." Vance shuddered sarcastically. "Talk about pullin' teeth, Cy!"

"Any luck?"

"Yes, and no." Vance admitted. "Valery lives in Gatlinburg... and works at a gas station, according to her sister... I told her that Ben would like to hear from her... and she said Valery wasn't sure about it... like c'mon bitch, that's your son!"

Cyrus shook his head. "Wow~"

"Valery's a fair weather gal- when the going's good, she's fine, but the moment she runs into any problem or opposition, she just shuts down and gives up."

"I always thought she was very passive-depressive."

"Well I would be too if I was married to someone like my brother." The husky joked with a snort at the end. "I loved Bill, but you know how he was, Cyrus."

"Yeah, a grifter~" chuckled the wolf. "Remember the GTO he sold my Dad?"

"That car should have been scrapped years before, but Bill thought he was soooooo smart and talented. I wouldn't let him weld a bumper!" Vance joked.

"What a balloon head." Cyrus laughed. "Regardless, Vance, I really want to somehow get Ben and Valery to reconcile, or at least try... he said something to me about wanting to get in touch with his mom... but was doubtful about it... since he reconciled with you and Mary."

"Yeah, I had my head shoved my ass for too long..." Vance frowned. "But life taught me a thing or two this year..."

"How's your health after the twister?"

"Well I just got back to work half a month ago!" Vance exclaimed. "Dude, I tried going back earlier... but I just couldn't do it... my lung function wasn't up to snuff..."

"Yeah... collapsed lung ain't fun~"

"No way, Cy." Chuckled Vance. "As for Ben and his Mom... I mean... I can keep on trying... but I don't know... Valery won't talk to me... her sis says it's just too painful... whatever the fuck that means."

"Jesus Christ lady~" laughed Cyrus as he rolled his eyes. He heard the pump click and he leaned over to grab the nozzle and stow it away. "I want to at least try and help you out... being Ben's studly boyfriend!"

"He's lucky he's got someone like you~" Vance nodded.

"I'm lucky I got someone like him as well." Smiled the wolf. "We have a age gap, but he's old for nineteen."

"Ben's a driven young man~"

"He ain't his Dad that's for sure." Cyrus chuckled.

"I'll tell you what, I'll keep you in the loop, and I'll keep buggin' Judy."

"Sounds good to me!"

"Sounds good to me as well, Cyrus~ You take care!"

"You do the same, Vance!"

Waving goodbye to each other, Cyrus and Vance took off for work, departing in opposite routes out of Hanover.

---

The first weekend in December brought a snowstorm to central Ohio. In the early morning light, the pristine white landscape took on a bluish hue as Ben drove, through the choking snow that blustered in a frigid wind. His Silverado crawled along the practically unplowed Route 16, burbling in four wheel drive. Ben had the highway practically to himself as he drove to Hanover, with only an occasional sight of an overwhelmed plow truck futilely pushing snow away and salting the lanes, only to be soon covered up again a few miles down the road.

Turning onto Marne, Ben spun the tires to his truck to get traction. He slowly rolled through Hanover, finding nobody out and about. Exiting the other side, he eventually made it to Cy's home, all nestled amongst the snowy woodland. He turned and drove his way through half a foot of snow to park by the garage. Ben trudged through the thick snow until he got to the sidewalk, where Cyrus had shoveled and salted it.

Cyrus welcomed Ben inside, and the two ate breakfast together, watching the snow continue to fall from the kitchen windows. After breakfast, they returned to the living room couch to watch some TV and make out for awhile. After taking some time for an intimate moment together, Ben and Cyrus sat watching a holiday themed movie aimlessly, with Ben's head resting on Cy's chest.

"I don't know what to do today?" Cyrus admitted, his voice sounding bored. "I'm bored!"

"Yeah, same here." Laughed Ben. "This has been my story for like... almost two years."

"Heh, join the crowd!"

"I had such big plans... turning eighteen and partying up with friends... graduating... and the moment I turned eighteen... everything closed... life became this shit mess."

"Oh I sympathize... I said on New Years that 2020 was gonna be my year and it would be great! HA!"

"HA!" Ben laughed. "Jokes on you Cy!"

"Yeah!" the wolf laughed. "More like beat the fucking shit out of me and give me Covid on Christmas!"

"Same here..." Ben shook his head. "Dude that was so fucking awful... I laid in bed for days with zero energy and a high fever..."

"The past two years have been a rollercoaster that I definitely want off of now!" Cyrus chuckled.

"And just when I thought it was getting better... here we are again in a Delta surge..." Ben shook his head. The husky got up and stretched his arms. "It's so fucking frustrating! I still can't do anything because of the pandemic! Everyone knows what to do and they refuse to do anything about it! Because of stupid ass politics!"

"It also don't help that viruses don't give a shit..." Cyrus shrugged. "Own the libs by dying!"

"'MERICA!"

"YEAH!"

"All the doom and gloom... man... Cy... with the way our politics are going... the pandemic... everything... it's like this horrible pressure building up deep inside me like-"

"A MASSIVE FART!" Cyrus grinned big.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO~" Ben exclaimed with a hearty laugh. "Motherfucker, I'mma light your farts on fire! WHOOOSH!"

"Light my fire, baby!" Cyrus grinned.

"Eww." Ben smiled.

"But yeah... I agree with ya... it's a crazy world... and the crazies are running it!"

"Heh, yeah, sadly." Ben nodded. "Well if you want idea of something we could do later... how about this evening we go back to my place and smash some husker butts?"

"That sounds like a great idea!" Cyrus exclaimed. "Husker butts are meant for fucking!"

"Now that sounds oddly specific~" chuckled Ben as Cy got up to give him an affectionate hug and kiss.

"You would know firsthand! You cute lil' cumdump you~" smiled Cyrus. Ben put his arms around his boyfriend and gave him another kiss.

"What can I say?" Ben smiled, just as Cy's phone rang on the coffee table.

"Oh boy...here we go..."

Cyrus walked over to pick up his phone, finding it was his brother Ed calling him. Cyrus put his phone on speaker phone as he answered. "Damage report, bro!"

"Hey, I'm down here in Zanesville... two of our guys went off the road on one-forty-six... they're in a ditch..."

"Are they okay?"

"Guys are fine... the trucks are both fucked... apparently some yahoo lost control and they swerved to avoid him and down in the ditch they went..."

"Fuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk..." Cyrus groaned. "That means the snow plows are destroyed..."

"One vehicle might have been totaled..."

"Well fuck me silly, Ed!" Cyrus laughed sardonically. "Alright, let me get ready and help ya unfuck this..."

"Not to interrupt you on your day off with Ben~"

"Fuck it, we're bored!"

"I'm up for an adventure." Chuckled Ben.

"We'll be on our way!"

---

Battling the snow, Cyrus and Ben slowly turned onto a very snowy Route 16. Despite being in four wheel drive, complete with a thousand pounds of ballast placed in the bed around the fifth-wheel, and a heavy fifth wheel trailer behind them, the Sierra spun its tires on the snow and slush mix and slid in the slow arcing turn Cyrus gave. Cyrus sat behind the wheel in his Carhartts and beanie, as was Ben who sat in the passenger seat. They entered near whiteout conditions as they slowly drove east.

"Whoa boy, it's been a while since I've seen a snowstorm like this~" Cyrus muttered.

"They said this winter was gonna be a whopper." Ben nodded.

"Well I guess it's a good thing Rob bought me four new trucks..." Cyrus chuckled.

"If it's not one thing, it's something else, Cy~" Ben smiled.

"That's right!"

"Mount bullshit is what I say!" the husky laughed.

It took forty-five minutes to make the trip towards Zanesville. From Route 16, they made a perilous trip up the curvy and hilly Route 146 that went southbound. There were multiple vehicles in ditches that were left abandoned from motorists earlier in the morning. Ben sat and watched the scenery drift on by their slow journey. 146 was a mixture of woods from the Dillon Lake area, and a few homes scattered about. They passed by a small cemetery and a hill where a large cross was displayed, the cross commemorating the life of a friend's wife who died in a car accident a year before on the road.

Passing by Dillon Dam, Cyrus had to constantly pump his brakes to keep control down another hill, which had a gentle left turn at the base. Coming down and making the turn, Cyrus spotted police lights blocking off the road. He instantly spotted his work trucks in opposite ditches, with another truck lying on its side in the road. There were vehicles everywhere, and people stood around. "Well I think we found the crash site!"

Slowing up, Cyrus pulled over and put his hazards on. He hopped out with Ben and drug himself through the snow and slush to inspect the damage with his brother and Dad. Ben walked behind Cyrus and walked up to the edge of the road to find one of Cy's Silverado's lying busted against a tree. His mid-2000's Silverado, a three-quarter ton in red sat with its front end crushed in, the plow destroyed with it. The airbags had deployed and the windshield was smashed. Ben took one glance and knew that it was totaled. Cyrus and Ed talked with their Dan about how to pull it out. Ben walked over to the other ditch to find a slightly newer Silverado lying in the ditch with its rear tires off the ground. Paramedics were checking over two of Cy's guys, who were similarly dressed like them in brown Carhartts. The entire road looked like a complete mess with all the paramedics, and Sheriff's vehicles blocking traffic. In the distance, Ben scrutinized a black Ford SuperDuty, lying in the middle of the lanes. A young looking girl looked uncomfortable and shook up while being interrogated by State Highway Patrol.

Getting to work, Ben grabbed the chain and hook from Cy's truck, and carefully shimmied his way down the snowy embankment to hook the back of the Silverado at the hitch. Knowing that his truck wouldn't have the traction to pull the vehicle up, Ed brought their bulldozer, which Ben hitched the chain to. Climbing aboard, Ed fired it up and ordered everyone back as he attempt to pull the red Silverado out. Ben watched as the bulldozer slowly pulled back and the Silverado began to slowly be dragged out. The tread slipped a bit, but Ed slowly pulled the truck back onto the pavement. The snow plow broke off, along with bits of the front end. A trail of colored fluid stained the snow as "2085" was brought back onto 146.

"Oh yeah, that's fucking totaled~" Ben said to Cyrus, who nodded.

"That's NOT how I planned on retiring this vehicle!" Cyrus shook his head with a cynical smirk. "Alright, let's get her on the trailer..."

Ben grabbed the winch cable and hooked it up to the front axle of the truck. Slowly it was dragged onto the trailer, and Ben took a set of straps and secured the tires to the trailer for transport. Ed pulled the second vehicle out, and it was able to drive itself onto the trailer. As Ben finished up securing both vehicles, he saw Cyrus get into an argument with the young girl who lost control of her father's truck. Ben ran over to see what was going on.

"Daddy told me this vehicle would be good to drive in the snow!" protested a young wolfess, who had a pouty voice.

"It's a level two snow emergency, dingleberry!" laughed Cyrus. "You can't go that fast when there's over half a foot of snow!"

"I had it in four wheel drive!"

"That's not going to help~" Cyrus said. His voice was very calm as always. "Look I'm not upset, but please understand that you just put two of my vehicles out of service and could have severely hurt my guys~"

"Everyone's acting like this is my fault!"

"Did you go sixty-five in a fifty five in a level two snow emergency?" Cyrus asked her.

"Well yeah, but I told I could-"

"Then it is your fault!" the big wolf exclaimed. "Leave ten minutes earlier next time~"

"C'mon, Cy, let's go~" Ben said, putting an arm around his boyfriend.

With two damaged vehicles strapped down, the heavily loaded Sierra slowly took off and turned around for the long trip back to Hanover.

"This is NOT how I wanted to spend my Saturday, Ben!" laughed Cyrus with a sigh at the end. "Now I gotta get insurance claims, and I just know ole twenty-eighty-five is a write off."

"Yeah, that's fucked, and the age of it? Nope~" Ben shook his head.

"You're pretty good with 'yer paws there~" Cyrus teasingly complimented. "You lassoed those trucks perfectly and got em all strapped down!"

"What can I say?" Ben smiled with a joking shrug. "Been around cars that Dad tried to work on for a long time, so you learn a thing or two~"

"Yeah, from your Dad probably having to tow everything 'cause he sucked!" grinned Cyrus.

"Heh! Probably!" Ben laughed in return. "Well I mean, this gave us something to do at least."

"I guess so!" Cyrus shook his head, laughing with Ben. "With everything going on...weekends are kind of dull sometimes because there's nothing really to do..."

"I've never bored with you, Cy~"

"Well yeah, 'cause I'm a stud in bed!" the wolf exclaimed. He reached over to affectionately hold and caress Ben's paw while he drove. "And you're always great company that usually make my boring Saturday's much nicer."

"Aww, thanks~" the husky blushed.

"But seriously... once I get this shit resolved today? We're gonna smash some husker butts~"

"Fuck yeah, Cy!"

"Dibs on Anton's behind!" Cyrus claimed with a grin.

"Borr it is~" grinned Ben.

---

Huffing and puffing with his boyfriend, mixing with the creaking of leather chaps, Ben and Cyrus fucked their friends, Anton and Borr. The bed creaked and some music played in the background, as they all enjoyed a steamy, intimate encounter in their leather gear. Standing at the edge of the bed, Ben and Cyrus fucked side by side; Ben worked his cock into Borr, a burly white and gray Swedish husky, with long blonde hair that was braided just like Cy's red mane. His muscular backside bore a tattooed mjolnir in blue, and his right arm was sleeved, as was his chest. Cyrus fucked Anton, a muscular Ukrainian husky, with tan and beige fur like Ben. He had a stubby Mohawk and goatee that was dyed blue, and was sleeved up like Cyrus. Anton's trademark was his butt tattoo- a koi fish and lily pads tattooed onto his right cheek and extending to his hip. Cyrus gripped the base of his curly tail and fucked his firm bubble butt with his hard nine inches. Ben watched and licked his chops while his nine inches were buried deep into Borr's snug white butt.

"Fuck Ben! This is a great idea!" Cyrus exclaimed.

"I know right?" laughed the young husky. He gave Borr's butt a playful smack, and gripped his hips hard to fuck faster, which made Borr moan.

"Whoa, easy there!" Borr laughed. "You're gonna wear my ass out!"

"Sloppy~" Ben teased. "Ugh... getting close!"

"Blow a load in me sexy!" Borr exclaimed.

"It's coming~" grinned Ben. He looked over at Cyrus and grinned, and his boyfriend grinned back at him. Cyrus leaned in and gave Ben a kiss.

"I'm gonna fucking blow a huge load..." Cyrus chuckled to Anton.

"Yes! Dump your hot cum in my fuckable ass~" Anton chuckled.

"Oh god... here it comes... ugh! UGH!" Ben exclaimed. He slammed his cock deep, and came. He gasped as his cock throbbed and bred Borr. The Swedish husky moaned and breathed a content sigh of relief as he collapsed his head onto a pillow. Ben slowly pulled his slickened cock out and gave it a shake and stroke.

"Oh god... yeah... yeah... OHHH YEAH!" Cyrus yelled as he worked his cock hard for the last thrusts and came in Anton's rear. The burly husky grunted with Cyrus and enjoyed his breeding as Cyrus worked every last drop out. He slowly pulled his pierced cock out to wipe it clean with a tissue.

"Trade you!" Cyrus exclaimed to Ben as he hopped onto the bed to suck Borr off.

Ben climbed onto the bed, and rubbed Anton's muscular backside. He rolled over for Ben and pulled him into his tattooed arms for a deep kiss. Ben happily accepted a long, deep kiss from his friend, who played with his tongue while they made out.

"Lemme cum in your mouth, sexy~" Anton asked Ben with a smile.

"I like that~" Ben chuckled. He licked and kissed his way down to Anton's thick tan member. He stroked it a couple times with his leather gloved paw, teasing the thick foreskin and fat cockhead. He lowered his muzzle and accepted it, sucking and licking while Anton closed his eyes, put his arms behind his head, and groaned contently.

Cyrus laid on top of Borr with his rear in Borr's face while he sucked the husky off. He worked Borr's cock fast with his muzzle, and teased his tightening balls in his grip. His chaps creaked to him adjusting his leg some while Borr caressed his back and butt.

Bobbing his muzzle up and down, he loved the grunts that Anton made. A big paw was placed atop his head and Ben sucked harder and faster for the husky, who even thrust some into his muzzle. "Suck it just like that- ooooh yeah... gonna nut in your fucking mouth..." Ben played with his friend's tightening balls, rubbing and tugging on them. Anton closed his eyes, grunted and came. Ben felt his cock pulse in his muzzle, and warm saltiness on his tongue. He swallowed every drop. Pulling his muzzle off, Ben took a deep breath, and was then pulled into Anton's arms for another kiss. Ben breathed a sigh of relief and laid his head on Anton's chest while he held him and pet him. He looked over to see Cyrus curling up with Borr. All of them laid in bed for awhile, quietly enjoying the afterglow together with a big group cuddle.

"Great idea, Ben~"

"I agree~" Ben chuckled. "What do you guys say?"

"Love cock up my butt!" Anton exclaimed with his hearty deep voice.

"Yep!" Borr grinned.

"Got my hot ass husky pile tonight!" Cyrus exclaimed with a big grin.

"Only the best!" Borr exclaimed. "Dang... Ben... my butt is sore!"

"That's cause my dick's so huge!" Ben laughed.

"Well we're all packin' heat..." Cyrus chuckled. "Nine inch club here."

"Yes~" Anton grinned. "And it all needs to go in my butt!"

"Whoa, let's take turns here, power bottom." Ben laughed.

"Says my cute lil' cumdump!"

"Shush, you're gonna make me blush!" Ben exclaimed as they all shared a laugh.

"What do you guys want for Christmas?" Borr asked them.

"Oh nooooo, you don't have to get me anything!" Cyrus responded. "Take care of Lil' Benny!"

"Oh c'mon, it's Christmas~" Anton protested jokingly. "I'm going to get you something!"

"Alright, fine, just surprise me!" Cyrus suggested. "I like surprises."

"Surprise you with my big dick up your ass!" Borr grinned.

"Ohh myyy!" Cyrus laughed.

---

Cyrus returned to Ben's bedroom, above the garage. Feeling tired, the two were retiring for the night. Ben went and grabbed his night clothes from the dresser, while Cyrus stood at the window, gazing out at all the moonlit snow that covered the landscape. Ben threw his shirt off and put on a black tanktop and kicked his jeans to the hamper to walk in just a pair of snug blue briefs.

"Ya know Lil' Benny, you've really made success for yourself~" Cyrus complimented as he turned around to smile at him.

"Well, I don't know about that!" Ben laughed jokingly. "I had help along the way- a lot of help."

"You got your awesome lil' pad here, and your shit in order!" the wolf laughed. "Shit when I was nineteen, I was still livin' at home working with the landscaping business. You're on your own with a full time gig, and hell, an airplane soon!"

"Well it helps when you have no alternative." Chuckled the husky with a shrug. "I had no choice but to go with my parents! But I made the best of a bad situation, and told myself I choose to live. Period. And I did just that."

"Well I'm very proud of you." Cyrus said as Ben put his arms around him and gave him a kiss. Ben reached back and gently untied Cy's ponytail, which unfurled into a waterfall of red that ran down his back.

"Ya know? You're great." Ben smiled.

"Yeah?"

"Oh yeah. That's why I love you~"

"Aww!" Cyrus grinned. He gave Ben another kiss in return. "You sweet talker you!"

"What can I say?" the husky smirked. "Love ya!"

"Love ya too!"

"It's hard to imagine that we've been together for... well gee... what? Eight months now?"

"Yeah~" Cyrus nodded. "Time flies when you're dealing with chaos!"

"Heh!" laughed Ben. "You're right. Damn~ Sometimes I feel like I blink and we went from spring to nearing Christmas."

"It's the insanity!"

"Yeah!"

Ben laughed with Cyrus, the big wolf sitting down on the bed to take his shirt off and wear just his white tanktop beneath. Ben watched amusingly as he had to fix all his hair that clung to his face after pulling his shirt off. "God this fucking long ass hair is so sexy, but a pain sometimes!"

"Totally worth it~"

"Yes!"

Ben chuckled and crossed his arms as he sat down beside Cyrus. "Since we've been together for eight months now I'm sure you're probably wondering what our future plans are... like if you want me to move in with you, or whatnot?"

"Oh, well, you do things at your own pace there, Ben~" Cyrus nodded. "You got your shit together and it's all running smoothly, and I'm a-okay with how things are with us hanging out on the weekends and Wednesday."

"Ah, okay~"

"I don't want you to rush into anything. We're not in any hurry, or U-Haul lesbians~"

"Oh god." Ben chuckled.

"If you want to move in with me whenever, that's fine." The wolf smiled affectionately. "But seriously, I had a friend in Dayton who met this gal at the bar, and within a week she moved in with her. Whoa-boy... did that blow up."

"Who does that?"

"Apparently she did!" Cyrus laughed. "That's why you take the pace of the relationship at your speed Lil' Benny!"

Ben smiled and laid down in his bed. Cyrus laid beside him and caressed his chest and belly. "God you're so hot, Ben~ I got a really hot boyfriend."

"Heh, same here. I got a hot ass boyfriend myself!" Ben grinned.

"That's right!" Cyrus laughed. He leaned over and nuzzled Ben's face affectionately and got another kiss from him.

"And the open relationship thing- that's okay too?"

"Why do you think I blew my nut into Anton's hot fuckable behind?" Cyrus grinned.

"'Cause we're horny motherfuckers?"

Cyrus grinned and wagged a finger in agreement.

"Ha~" Ben snickered. "Just making sure, Cy~"

"C'mon, here~" Cy muttered as he pulled Ben close. Ben rested his head on Cy's shoulder and felt the wolf hold and caress his side. "I'm so glad you're checking in on the relationship. A lot of guys don't do that."

"Well, I'm just making sure you're okay in it, ya know?"

"Smart! Lil' Benny, I love that~" Cyrus smiled. "I don't mind an open relationship, because monogamy is sort of a strange, artificial social construct, a weird holdover of Puritanical crap."

"Oh yeah?"

"When I was a newbie gay living in Dayton way back when, I tried the whole monogamy spiel, and I mean, if guys can do it, great, but everyone I dated just seemed incapable of not keeping their dicks in their pants. I wanted to show my parents that gay people weren't just a bunch of promiscuous sluts, but my boyfriends almost all cheated on me, and it pissed me off."

"Wow."

"I'm not a demanding person! All I asked them was not to cheat on me... and what did they do? And one of them cheated on me with a fat slob of a guy in his forties! Now it's one thing if it's a strapping, ripped stud, but not some fat slob. Unbelievable!"

Ben just shook his head. "Stupid."

"Hey exactly~" Cyrus laughed. "After awhile I just stopped giving a shit frankly, and accepted an open relationship, which works out, because I'm horny! And my dick's fucking huge! Ha! But on a serious note, Ben, the thing that I realized was... sex is just mechanical, love is something more."

"That's what I've realized too." Ben acknowledged. "Having sex with you is hot because-"

"It's me!"

"Well yes~" Ben laughed. "But because you're beautiful and you're my love. Sex with Anton and Borr is great, but it's different, ya know?"

"Yep, I get it fully. But how lucky are you- how many nineteen year olds can say they can sleep with not just two fucking hung, tattooed up husker butts, but a studly, tattooed up, landscaper guy like me!"

"Not many that I know of!"

"There ya go!" Cyrus laughed. "Plus I trust you, Ben~"

"Well it helps that we fuck the same people..."

"Great minds think alike~"

"God, I'm so happy with you, Cy~"

"Same here Lil' Benny~"

Ben smiled and nuzzled Cy's chest. Cyrus kissed his forehead and cuddled with him. Ben reached over Cyrus and turned the lamp off, leaving them to just be bathed in the pale blue moonlight filtering through the windows.

"Good night stud~ Love ya~"

"Love you too, studly Ben~"

---

Blue eyes shielded behind polarized sunglasses, Cyrus battled the morning glare of the sun as he drove down his road, enroute to Vance's house. The sky was a deep blue and almost cloudless. The snow was blinding white, with little flakes glistening in the sun as they were blown about by a frigid wind. Salty brine, stained gray and brown by dirt clung to his white Sierra that burbled down the cleared road. After a ten minute commute on the back county roads, he pulled into the driveway of Vance's new home, a cozy looking ranch that was dressed sharply in dark blue siding with white shutters and trim. It sat atop where his old home once stood at, having been destroyed in the May tornado. Honking his horn twice, Vance soon came bolting out the front door. He was dressed in his brown Carhartt jacket and beanie, with jeans and boots on. He quickly hopped into the truck, and Cyrus backed up and pulled back out onto the road to begin their journey to Heath, to the Newark-Heath airport.

After months of trying to find Valery, and speaking to her sister, Vance finally found out where she exactly worked at. And with Cy's connections and help from his friend, Rob Barion, they were heading to the airport to go fly down to Gatlinburg Tennessee, to go try and talk to Valery, and get Cy's hopes of Ben and his Mom reuniting in motion. But there were no guarantees.

Arriving at the Newark-Heath Aviation Works, Cyrus pulled into the parking lot. He pointed out to Vance, their transport plane that awaited them on the tarmac. Vance looked in shock to see a brightly polished Super Constellation sitting on the ramp. The curvaceous, silver Lockheed was tended to by its ground crew, as the massive propellers were hand-turned, and fueling finished up. Vance was expecting just a dinky little Cessna.

"Cyrus, holy fuck!" Vance pointed. "We're flying on this!?"

"Not what you know, Vance! It's who you know!" the blonde wolf grinned with a laugh at the end. "My buddy Rob hooked me up with his transport plane! All expenses paid! And the best part is I didn't have to suck dick for it!"

Getting out and getting checked in at the terminal, Cyrus and Vance walked out onto the ramp to gaze at the immaculate Connie that awaited them. It was all bare metal, polished to a mirrored shine, with a fuselage that beautifully tapered fore and aft, with a unique triple-tail design. The only splash of color was a dayglo orange band on the tail, and the BATS insignia on the nose. The wings mounted four massive radial engines that drove three blade Curtiss propellers, tipped in red, white, and blue. A boarding airstair was propped up on the port side door. The upper fuselage read "UNITED BAREV INDUSTRIES" in black stenciling, the nose bearing the golden arrow shaped "BATS" insignia of "Barev's Air Transport Service". "Coneflower" was written in golden cursive.

Walking up to greet them was Rob's primary flight crew, assigned to "Coneflower". Cyrus and Vance were introduced to Jordan Hoover, a German Shepherd, and his boyfriend, Ivo Horvat, a gray wolf from Croatia. They were both twenty-seven. Their flight engineer was thirty-six year old Ron Entwistle, a white and gray malamute with brick red hair and goatee, and twenty-six year old Felix Barion, a fawn Doberman, would serve as the backup pilot and radioman.

"So make yourselves comfortable, and per Rob, the whole plane is yours!" Ivo explained. "Rob has also provided you with a nice meal and drinks."

"Oooh!" Cyrus exclaimed.

After getting a walk-around tour of "Coneflower" and a brief history of the old propliner, Cyrus and Vance boarded. They stepped inside to find a very regal executive suite of a cabin. The forward part of the plane was a large lounge, with a card table, couch and television, and some plush swivel seats. Peering through the bulkhead, Cyrus spotted a chrome lined galley kitchen, and a small compartment with normal airline seating, another bulkhead sheathed in faux wood paneling, and then Rob's personal office and bedroom in the tail.

"Wow." Vance muttered.

Vance and Cyrus took a seat at the card table, where they had a view of the starboard engines. Cyrus sat his backpack down in the booth and sat down opposite of Vance, and they both buckled themselves in. Cyrus dug out his camera from his backpack and readied it as the number three engine was started. Watching the flat-tipped blades slowly turn to the whine of the starter, the big Wright Cyclone coughed to life with a thundering belch of oily smoke and flame. The turbine exhaust of the turbocompound radial belched brilliant flames that were quickly quenched by an outpouring of bluish smoke. Cyrus fired his shutter and captured the sights as engine four was started up with a similar explosion of smoke and flame. The cold radials gave a raspy chug-chug of their cylinders. As the engines came up to temperature, the raspy chug smoothed out to a steady drone. All four engines were soon warmed up, and the propliner began to slowly taxi for the runway.

"It's been so long since I've flown!" Vance exclaimed. "Here we go!"

"Yeppers!"

Getting onto the runway, Ivo and Jordan commanded maximum takeoff power, and the L-1049E roared to life. The cabin was filled by the deep roar of propellers as "Coneflower" began its takeoff roll down the runway. Cyrus watched as the flames erupted from the turbine stubs of the radial engines. Brilliant cherry red flames glowed. Him and Vance watched in amazement as the turbines glowed red hot, just visible beneath the cowl gills. Slowly, the propliner climbed off the runway, and they watched as Route 79 passed beneath them in a slow, smooth climb.

"And here we go~" Cyrus said to himself as he fired off another picture.

Climbing for altitude, Ivo and Jordan cranked the L-1049 around to head south-southwest. Glistening in the cold, clear skies, "Coneflower" had the sky to itself as they flew to Gatlinburg. Reaching ten thousand feet, the curvaceous Lockheed leveled off and droned along.

Over some coffee and snacks, Cyrus and Vance sat at the card table, listening to the drone of the engines, and getting some paperwork done. Vance worked on some purchase orders for the well drilling company, while Cyrus worked through a bunch of folders, signing and making notes on paperwork, and working on Christmas cards for his customers. He stopped here and there to take a sip of coffee, or bite into a jelly donut. Occasionally, he'd sneak a few views out the cabin window, and take some pictures of the rugged landscape that was passing by below. After an hour of flying, they arrived to Knoxville, for an uneventful landing. An Uber awaited them to take them the forty miles to Gatlinburg.

---

Entering the tourist trap of Gatlinburg, Cyrus and Vance rode in the backseat of a blue Prius, rolling into town. Cyrus thought it was a bit tacky in places, seeing tourists mingle about various shops and eateries. Cyrus checked the time on his phone, and felt Vance nudge his arm.

"We should totally hit up Dollywood." Chuckled the husky.

"Oh god~" laughed Cyrus. "Hard pass!"

"It's not that far away!" Vance laughed with him.

"This is tacky enough, dude!"

The Uber took them to an anonymous looking 7-Eleven gas station, situated at an intersection. Asking the driver to hold for them, Cyrus got out first, followed by Vance. There was no snow anywhere, but the air was very cold. Adjusting his beanie, Cyrus donned his mask with Vance, and they stepped inside, where immediately, Cyrus recognized Valery Reynolds behind the counter.

Looking glum, Valery finished up checking a customer out at the register. She was a middle-aged tan husky, looking just like Ben in fur pattern. Having medium locks of light brown hair, most of her face was hidden behind a green cloth mask clutching around her muzzle. Her body language and eyes gave away the glumness to Cyrus.

"There she is..." Vance quietly said to Cyrus. Vance stepped ahead of Cyrus and walked up to the counter, as the customer turned to leave.

"Hello, how can I-" Valery started to say, when she watched Vance pull his surgical mask down. She instantly recognized him and froze.

"Valery!" Vance called.

"Vance?" Valery asked. "Vance! What the- what- what the hell are you doing here!?" She pulled her mask down to speak more clearly and looked visibly shocked.

"I'm here to see you!" Vance exclaimed. "Valery! Jesus Christ! What happened to you!?"

Cyrus saw that Valery's face looked as though she got beaten up, and it was still recovering. The right side of her face was still bruised in places, and around her right eye was still puffy and swollen looking.

"It's a long story, I don't want to talk-"

"Valery... please talk to me..." Vance said.

"What are you doing here in Gatlinburg?" Valery asked him.

"I'm here to see you! I want to talk to you!"

"Oh god... you've been bugging Judy haven't you?"

"Yeah!" Vance exclaimed. "I'm here because I want to talk to you about your son..."

Valery closed her eyes and sighed. "Oh my lord..."

"Valery, c'mon, please!"

"Why do you care, Vance?"

"He's my nephew!"

"I thought you didn't care for him being gay?"

"That was... before...." Vance said, with a hint of regret. "Valery... please talk to me..."

Looking flustered, Valery motioned for them to hold on a second. She stepped into the back room, and soon returned with her coat and jacket on. She stepped out from around the counter and went outside, where Vance and Cyrus walked up. Valery pulled a cigarette out from a pack and lit it up and took a heavy swig and exhaled gray smoke with an exhausted sigh.

"When the hell did you start smoking again?" Vance scolded. "You know that shit killed Bill! C'mon!"

"What the fuck do you want Vance?" Valery snapped at him. "Can't you people just leave me alone!?"

"You're family!" Vance protested. "And I'm here because I want to help Ben. He would like to hear from you..."

Valery softened her expression. "How is Ben doing?"

"Well... he's doing pretty damn good for himself..." Vance nodded. "He's got a full time job... makin' really good money... and he's got himself a nice partner~"

Cyrus waved at Valery. The husky tilted her head, scrutinizing Cyrus' appearance, when he pulled the mask down and grinned.

"Big Cy! Oh my god! You're Little Benny's boyfriend?" Valery exclaimed.

"Mhmm!" Cyrus waved.

"But you're so much older than Little Benny!" Valery exclaimed. "Oh my god! You're my son's boyfriend!"

"He's old for his age." Cyrus nodded. "We're here because we want to help Ben, and want to see you two back together again..."

"I don't think Ben would want to hear from me. Not after everything that had happened..."

"You don't know till you try." Cyrus reasoned. "There's still a bit of pain in his heart not hearing from you, Valery... and I don't want Ben to harbor that pain forever."

Valery looked unsure of what to say. She took another puff of her cigarette and paced a bit, looking frustrated. "I fucked up. I panicked. I didn't know what to do, everything just happened so fast- bam-bam-bam! And I snapped and just packed up and left after Bill died, I just didn't know what to do."

"Valery, that's your son, and please stop continuing to abandon him. Stop kicking yourself in the ass, and running away from your problems!"

"I'm not running away from my problems!"

"Then what the fuck are you doing back here in Tennessee!" Vance exclaimed. "Is that not the epitome of running away from problems!?"

"Well I got problems here too!" Valery yelled.

Vance took a step back. "Valery... I'm not mad at you... You're always going to be family to me, because you were married to my brother~ Please... just tell me... what all happened?"

Valery sighed and snuffed out her cigarette. "I come down here to just escape. That's the word. Everything I had hoped for came crashing down. When I married Bill, I hoped for a nice perfect life, and then his dumbass just fucked everything up, we were always short on money, and the house was falling apart... and then Ben got attacked at school, he almost died, and when things looked like they were on the mend... he told us he was gay... and Bill flipped out, and disowned him, and it just went out of control. Then he had the heart attack... and he never really recovered from it... he had the operation... but then had a stroke and died. The house burned down... and I... just couldn't take it anymore. I figured I burned my bridges with Ben... and that was that. I knew he was being taken care of by better people... so I left to go home here... and that blew up in my face too."

Valery pointed to her face. "I started dating someone I thought I could trust... and when it went south... I broke up with him... and then he beat the shit out of me..."

"Oh no..." Cyrus muttered.

"Put me in the hospital for about a week." Valery admitted. "He beat the shit outta me."

Vance looked upset at hearing Valery explain that.

"Is that what you want to hear, Vance?" Valery asked her brother-in-law. "Is that what you want to hear? How life just beat the fuck outta me as punishment for abandoning Ben?"

"Now's your chance to make it better." Vance explained.

"I thought you didn't care, Vance?"

"I was like that... but mother nature taught me a very valuable lesson. A lot of shit the past year has taught me a big lesson..." Vance explained. "I lost my home building business, lost a huge amount of income... and had to move back to Hanover... and my fucking house was leveled in a tornado... I about died when a beam came down and crushed me. And Ben saved my life. Ben and Cyrus here, and the whole Filton family... they saved our lives when the house was about to crash in on us..."

Valery nodded. "You mean the Filtons weren't brawling?"

"Funny..." Cyrus shook his head.

Vance just shook his head sarcastically. "No! But that's beyond the point. I was kind of mean to Ben in what I said about his gayness, yet he came back and risked his life to save ours. But you know what? Him being gay means nothing to me now. That's my nephew, whether he's gay or straight. It means nothing because it doesn't define who he is, only who he loves. And it shouldn't mean anything to you, because that's your son. That's your creation with Bill. So please don't hurt Ben anymore with your abandonment. Now's your chance to right a wrong."

"God... what am I going to tell Ben? Oh your mom abandoned you and got the shit beat out of her by an angry boyfriend?"

"You can start off by apologizing and getting things mended." Vance suggested. "Ben still loves you as his mother... so keep that in mind... he's much more forgiving than me if I was put in his boots~"

"He told me it would be nice to hear from you~" Cyrus added. "Please?"

Vance reached into his jacket and pulled out a folded up sheet of yellow legal paper, that had Ben's contact information. "Please, Valery."

Valery accepted the piece of paper from Vance, finding Ben's address, e-mail, and phone number on it. She gently folded it back up and put it in her pocket. "Since ya'll came so far... okay, I'll contact him."

"This is your chance, Valery~" Vance said. "I assure you, Ben isn't upset at you anymore."

"Okay." Valery accepted. "Look I'm sorry... but I gotta get back to work~"

"Alrighty. Well you take care Valery."

"Thank you Vance. It was nice to see you again. And it's a surprise and nice to see you as well Big Cy~"

"Anytime!"

Vance and Cyrus stood and watched as Valery quickly went back inside, away from the cold. Cyrus and Vance turned around and walked back to their waiting Uber, to begin the forty minute trek back to Knoxville for their flight home.

---

Wednesday the fifteenth, the middle of December. The air was somewhat mild, as a warm front had pushed into the area. The sun was shining brightly in a bright blue sky, with scattered clouds silently drifting. The harsh white snow had melted away, leaving behind a muddy, browned landscape.

Cyrus checked the time on his phone, while he leaned against his pickup truck soaking in the rays. He clutched his camera bag and waited for Ben to show up at the airport. It was their afternoon together like always, and Ben promised Cyrus a plane ride, so he could take pictures of the countryside around his house. As he went to check his phone again, he saw red out of the corner of his eye. Looking up, Ben pulled up into the parking lot and quickly hopped out.

"Sorry I'm a bit late!" Ben exclaimed, running up to Cyrus, who put an arm around him and gave him a kiss.

"It's fine!" smiled the wolf.

"Some moron wrecked their damn vehicle on six-seventy, and delayed me a bit..."

"Ah yes, the usual." Chuckled Cy.

"Plane ride time!"

"Yes!" grinned his boyfriend as they walked into the terminal to get him checked in.

Ben gave Cyrus a tour of Rob Barion's extensive aviation museum. The airport was co-owned by the mercurial and reclusive Rob Barion, who wasn't at the airport today. Cyrus worked his hardworking Alpha camera and took various pictures of the unique and rare warbirds that Rob had on display in the museum as Ben led him towards the rear exit for the tarmac. Towards the exit, Ben pointed out his polished silver G.59 that awaited him. Cyrus stood taking pictures of Ben's future Centauro, which sat on display near the back, next to a Soviet Hurricane, and his brutish Helldiver with its wings folded up. The G.59B was a two-seater, with a long heavily framed canopy, the training version of the Italian fighter aircraft. It was basically a wartime Fiat G.55 mated to a British Merlin 500 V12, and a four-bladed American Hamilton propeller, complete with roof cuffs. The propeller spinner was painted red-orange, Ben's favorite color.

Heading outside onto the tarmac, Ben found his ride being prepared for him. Rob Barion's immaculate AT-6 Texan, christened "Troy Alec" after his late brother, sat at the fuel pump, having its wing tanks topped up with a load of 100LL. The little trainer was fresh out of the paint shop, it's gull gray Marine Corps scheme replaced by a canary yellow training scheme from the West Virginia Air National Guard.

"Now that's purdy~" Cyrus pointed out.

"Let's get you suited up~"

For the plane ride, Cyrus was given a leather flying helmet which contained the headset. He tucked his ponytail into his jacket and Ben attached the helmet to him. He went through some preflight procedures and notes of caution for his boyfriend. Ben walked the plane and inspected it for any damage, or abnormal observations. He signed off the checklist and helped Cyrus into the rear cockpit, where he buckled him in and made some notes about the simplistic instrument panel and all the gauges and controls. Ben climbed down to hand turn the two-bladed Hamilton propeller, checking the Wasp Jr. for any hydraulic lock. He gave the prop a half dozen turns and felt confident about it. Climbing back into the cockpit, Ben strapped himself in and began going through the checklist. He switched on the batteries and all the indicator lights glowed as he checked over his instrumentation. The altimeter was calibrated, and once he confirmed it, he reached over to engage the starter. The prop began to turn, urged by the engine's whining starter. He counted seven blades when he flipped the magnetos. The engine hacked to life, with a sputtering of oily smoke that erupted from the exhaust and under the cowling.

The cold radial chugged roughly at low power while Ben waited for the oil temperature to come up. Over the course of a couple minutes, the Wasp Jr. smoothed out to a purr. Engine and oil temperatures came up to operating temperature, and Ben radioed back to the terminal building.

"You ready to go big Cy?"

"Yeah!" his boyfriend said over the intercom. "Ready for you Lil' Benny!"

"Heh, okay then~" chuckled the husky.

Beginning to taxi for the runway, Ben kept the plane in a slow zigzag down the service ramp for the runway. He putted along and turned onto the runway to make a brief examination of his instrumentation. Gripping the throttle, he opened it up and revved the Wasp Jr. up to full power. The propeller roared, its supersonic tips letting out a loud "VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR" as he picked up speed down the runway. Putting opposing rudder in to mitigate the torque pull, Ben gently pulled the Texan into the air for a slow climb.

In the backseat, Cyrus watched as they passed over Route 79. The wolf sat back and just watched in awe at the scenery of Heath, and in the distance, Newark, come into view from the vantage point of being in the air. It always felt so strange to see the ground from above; it gave such a unique view of all the scenery. Cyrus worked his camera and snapped some pictures of Newark as they passed overhead. The downtown drifted by to Cy's left, and Ben banked around to make a few orbits for his boyfriend. Exiting a turn and leveling out, they then flew north-east towards Hanover. Ben navigated by following Route 16.

"Wow~ This is great." Cyrus muttered over the radio. "I love this!"

"Glad you do, Cy~" chuckled Ben. He felt happy that Cy was having a good time with him up in the air.

Arriving over Cy's home, Cyrus opened the rear canopy, and aimed his camera for some shots while Ben orbited around. From a thousand feet, his farm house was just a small square nestled by a pond and a bunch of woodland that was hemmed in on both sides by fallowed farmland. The woods were barren and the naked trees stood amongst a mottled landscape that was covered in browned leaves on the forest floor. A winding creek cut through his property, the water taking on a lifeless, cold gray color. Switching to his telephoto lens on the third pass, Cyrus fired the shutter way excitedly.

Ben descended in lower for his boyfriend, and they followed along the road, watching the woodland and farmland pass by. The husky flew along empty farmland on the deck, the Texan roaring along with the supersonic whir of its propeller. Ben pulled into a climb, startling Cyrus who was pressed into the seat.

"WHOA!" Cyrus yelled.

"Hold on!" laughed the husky. He pulled into a climb and did an abrupt roll for Cyrus, who was not expecting such a maneuver.

"Holy fuck, Ben!" Cyrus shouted.

"What'd you think?"

"I think I need new undies... WAIT! Hey!" Cyrus exclaimed. Ben saw in the rear view mirror bolted above him Cyrus pointing. "HEY! What the fuck is Darryl doing with my tractor!?"

Ben glanced to his three o'clock to see a tractor being used in a field to drag irrigation pipes. Cyrus mentioned about his brother telling him that one of their tractors left on a job site went missing, and he suspected Darryl commandeered it. "Go over there and buzz that retarded motherfucker!"

"Your wish is my command!" Ben exclaimed as he banked around and descended in. He came in at a slight angle and passed by, watching, and laughing, as Cyrus flipped his brother off in the pass.

"Ha! Darryl didn't expect that from me!" Cyrus laughed. "Stupid ass motherfucker~"

Ben just shook his head and chuckled. "Let's get back to the airport~"

"Good idea!"

Ben flew back to Newark-Heath, where he made a perfect landing right on the centerline. Rumbling back to the tarmac, he turned and parked, and was soon met by ground crew, who swarmed over the plane and helped them disembark. Ben and Cyrus stood and watched as the Texan was hooked back up to a tug, and towed back to the museum's hangar for storage.

"Rob makes the trains run on time~"

"Yeah 'cause they're terrified of him~" Cy smiled. He put an arm around Ben and walked beside him as they left the airport, back to their vehicles.

---

After having dinner with Cy in Newark, and saying goodbye, Ben returned back home to Westerville. Following a shower with his friends Anton and Borr, Ben laid in bed with them, being caressed and loved by the two older huskies.

"So how was your day, stud?" Anton asked with a smile as he lay on his side and caressed Ben's chest all lovingly.

"Oh, fantastic~" Ben said with a smile on his scarred face. "Cy really loved the flight~"

"Well that's good!" Borr exclaimed. "Plane rides are fun!"

"Heh, he even got to flip Darryl off over taking their tractor." Chuckled Ben.

"Oh lord..." Anton laughed. "Cyrus and his brother~"

"Gotta take care of boyfriend needs~" chuckled the tan husky. "And then we'll hang out again for the weekend."

"Ah, good~"

"What did you two do today?"

"Heh, work." Borr chuckled. "C'mon, Rob's my boss! You know how it is!"

"Well you fucked him once..."

"And I still didn't get the pay raise!" Borr sarcastically exclaimed with an arm flail. "Unbelievable! I thought I'd help my career by making him squeal!"

"Heh, you guys can make me squeal anytime!" Ben grinned as he closed his eyes and savored being caressed by the two tattooed up huskers. "God I love it when you guys caress me all over!"

"Well we love having a smoking hot, stud like you as our extra!" Anton laughed.

"C'mon, you're making me blush." Ben chuckled.

"Good~" Anton laughed as he and Borr kissed the side of Ben's muzzle. They all shared a laugh and cuddled together to relax for the evening.

Following a long cuddle session, Ben returned back to his bedroom above the detached garage. Locking the door behind him, Ben stretched his arms and turned the TV on to relax. He was about to sit down on his bed when his phone went off. The husky picked it up out of his pocket, to find a number he didn't recognize, a Tennessee area code. The same number had called him a few times earlier in the day, and he just figured it was another spam call. But this time, he swiped to answer.

"Yeah, hello~" Ben greeted in a plain, low tone.

"Ben?"

The husky stood straight up and looked serious. He recognized the voice instantly. "Mom?"

"Yes Ben, this is your Mom." Came her voice, sounding tired.

There was an awkward moment of dead air between them. Ben wasn't sure what to say. He was never expecting to hear her voice again.

"Where have you been, Mom?"

"Running away from my problems I guess." She admitted in a sad way. "How are you doing these days?"

"Alive." Ben said softly. "Living the best I can."

"I was given a lil' bit of encouragement to give you a call, since it had been a long time."

"Yeah... it has been."

"I guess I should start off by saying... I'm sorry that I left you behind two years ago."

"I'm not upset about it anymore." Ben admitted. "It happened."

"I don't know what gotten into me... when your dad got sick... and then he died... and the house burned... I just panicked and left!" Valery tried to explain.

"I understand that feeling..." Ben nodded. "That's kind of how I felt when you and Dad just left me in my hospital room after I about died. But unlike you, I had no place to fall back to, but complete strangers who opened their hearts up for me."

"Ben I'm sorry, I shouldn't have."

"You know I about died myself three years ago, and I came out because you were you going to find out one way or another, and I rather have told you myself, than a school counselor, or a damn police officer! And I figured it was going to be a messy coming out because of the way Dad was, but to just leave me in the hospital room? To recoil in horror because your son is gay and just leave? And then when shit hits the fan, you just shut down, pack your bags, and fucking move? Sure wish I could have just done that, Mom!"

Valery sighed in a bitter way.

"But you know what, I don't care anymore. That was a couple years ago. I've toughened myself up some and got a full time job."

"I was informed by your uncle that you're doing pretty well?"

"Well I'm trying~" Ben shrugged. "I work for an aircraft parts factory, and I'm learning how to build radial engines and fly a plane. So I'm slowly getting there."

"And I was told you have a pretty nice boyfriend?"

"Yeah."

"I'm surprised it's Big Cy~"

"Why?"

"He's a lot older than you?"

"And?"

"Well I mean... I was surprised that-"

"We click, and that's what makes it work." Ben cut in.

"Well, I'm happy to hear that you're doing okay."

"Mom... how have you been?"

"Well... not good, son." Valery admitted.

Ben put his phone on speaker and laid down on his bed to continue talking to her. Losing track of time, Ben and his Mom spoke for over two hours, getting caught up on things. Ben's initial apprehension dissipated once he started hearing about his Mom's situation down in Gatlinburg. He was shocked to hear about her getting beat up and hospitalized from an abusive relationship, and unemployment issues during the early part of the pandemic. Valery also talked about battling a Covid-19 infection that about put her and her sister in the hospital. Ben told her about his own Covid-19 illness over the holidays last year, which made him Anton and Borr all very sick for about a week. After awhile, Ben was happy to hear from her, and he felt sad when it was time to end the call. Before ending it, Valery promised to come up and see him for Christmas. Ben told her that he wanted to have a relationship with his mom once again, and they agreed to Christmas Day for a visit.

"Hey Mom, it was great to hear from you again."

"Little Benny... you too~ And I promise you, I'll be there Christmas Day!"

"Alrighty." Ben smiled. "I love you, Mom."

"Love you too, Lil' Benny. Good night~"

"Good night, and goodbye~"

Ben hit the end-call button and laid out on his bed, staring up at the ceiling with an introspective gaze. A sense of calm descended upon him as he thought about the idea of seeing his mom again. It would be the last family member to reconcile with.

---

Saturday, exactly one week before Christmas. On a cold, and blustery Saturday afternoon, Cyrus came up from Hanover to spend the weekend with his boyfriend in Westerville. Deciding upon hitting up the mall, they planned to watch a movie, grab dinner, and knock out some Christmas shopping for themselves.

"So how'd your day go, stud?" Ben asked as he rode shotgun with Cyrus in his rumbling truck.

"Oh busy! The usual" laughed the wolf as he merged lanes to get onto the outerbelt. "Had to take the new trucks to the detail shop so the decals could be slapped on, and then do more paperwork. The usual!"

"You should work in the government with the amount of bureaucratic bullshit you gotta push through!"

"Yeah! Like the IRS or something."

"You'd really be fucking people in the ass then!"

"HA!" Cyrus and Ben laughed.

"What about you, Lil' Benny?"

"Oh just more flying~ Today was my first solo in the Centauro, and it was quite the experience~"

"Oh yeah?"

"That's a lot of power." Chuckled the husky. "But it was a very uneventful flight."

"Well good!"

"Now let's paint the town red they say!" Ben exclaimed.

"Oh god, now you sound like my Grandma." Laughed the wolf. "It's the bee's knees!"

"Ha~" Ben snickered.

"Grandma Norma... my fiery lil' Irish Grandma." Cyrus recalled. "Ya know, every morning she eats bacon and eggs, and has a glass of Scotch to go with it."

"Wow."

"Yeah, I say that too." Cyrus grinned. "I wouldn't want to meet up with her in a prison shower, that's for sure~"

"Oh lord~"

As the last rays of light slipped behind the horizon, Cyrus and Ben arrived at Easton, Columbus' town centre. It was a constantly busy shopping complex, arranged like a miniature town. Cyrus entered the parking garage, and after several minutes trying to wedge his massive truck into a spot, they hopped out to enjoy their evening. Cyrus wore a pair of gray sweat pants and a blue hoodie, complete with a black Carhartt beanie covering the top of his head. Ben had jeans on with a flannel jacket. Like Cyrus, his braided ponytail poked out from under his beanie. Both had their faces partially covered up with a cloth mask as they entered, their cowboy boots clicking along the concrete.

Venturing through the main shopping hall, Ben and Cyrus climbed the fancily lit up stairs for the theatre, on the second floor. Grabbing tickets and some popcorn, they went to go watch some holiday flick that sounded good. The theatre was almost empty, and they had the whole upper row to themselves.

An hour into the film, Ben sat with a disinterested stare on his face. He grabbed a handful of popcorn and shoved it into his muzzle and slowly chewed, thinking about how utterly boring the film was. It was a cheesy, unoriginal holiday flick. Glancing over, Cyrus sat with his hoodie resting on his lap, looking distracted and bored.

"Kind of a boring film, don't you think?" Ben quietly said to him.

"Yeah..."

"Wanna do something else?"

"Oh I got an idea..."

"Oh yeah?"

Ben went to fetch a sip from his pop when he felt Cyrus grasp his right paw and pull it towards him. Ben was just beginning to put the cup down, when he felt his paw slip under Cy's hoodie that was resting on his lap. He instantly figured out why.

Under the hoodie, Ben felt his paw be placed on Cy's rock hard boner. The husky almost immediately blushed as he saw Cyrus grinning at him. A smirk curled up on Ben's face as he started to slowly stroke it. "Nice~" Ben quietly complimented. The husky played with Cy's boner for a bit, stroking it and playing with his foreskin and piercing. After a few minutes of slow stroking, he felt Cyrus gently push his paw off. The wolf slid a paw over and fiddled with Ben's belt and jeans. Ben responded by whipping his chubby out, which grew hard when Cyrus gripped his paw around it and began to stroke.

Closing his eyes, Ben breathed slowly while enjoying the feeling of Cyrus pumping his big tan member. He briefly scanned the almost empty theatre, to ensure no prying eyes were on them. He closed his eyes and huffed as Cy picked up the pace of his stroking. Gripping the sides of his seat, Ben grunted and blushed as he soon shot his load. He shot a big rope of cum all over Cy's paw and the tip oozed out hot cum. Exhaling a sigh of relief, Ben continued to blush as Cyrus chuckled. The wolf pulled his paw away and licked the cum off. "Nice~" he grinned. Ben quickly got himself cleaned up and stuffed his cock back into his jeans.

"Now let's go... this film is boring~" Cyrus suggested.

Quietly getting up, the two left the darkened theatre and exited to go about their shopping.

---

Ben exited Macy's with a bag full of clothes, and $150 less in the bank. His Cyrus beside him, the two stepped back into the cold to walk across the street of the town center, to go grab something to eat in the food court. It was dusk, and snow flurries danced in the frigid wind.

"Lord, you'd think the pandemic was over." Chuckled Cyrus as he nudged Ben. They were surrounded by a sea of maskless people, milling about. Only Ben and Cyrus wore their cloth masks.

"Gotta party like it's nineteen-ninety-nine~" Ben teased.

"That early? Try sixteen-ninety-nine, since people seem like they wanna die like that too!" the wolf laughed.

"Oh, right." Ben chuckled.

"It just drives me nuts, ya know?"

"Yeah, I get it."

Finding a spot to themselves in the food court, Ben and Cyrus munched on a couple slices of Sbarro pizza and a salad at their table. Their bags of goods sat around them.

"Well I got Mom a few sweater things..." Ben said over a slice of pizza.

"Yeah? Whad'ya get her?"

"Oh a couple purple and white, and a blue sweater that has winter themes on it... Mom really likes purple, so I thought I'd get it to cheer her up."

"Well that's very kind of ya!"

"Well... she's my Mom." Ben smiled. "But... I'm kind of nervous? Nervous the right word, Cy? I mean...everything that happened... I just am kinda nervous about the whole thing."

"Oh I understand." The wolf nodded. "That was like when I was reconciling with my family. When I drove back home for the first time in a couple years? That was nerve wracking... I had to stop at a rest stop and collect my bearings..."

Ben leaned in with a sarcastic gaze on his face.

"Okay, yeah, and I had to take a shit~ You ever blow a rest stop up bad enough that everyone leaves?" Cyrus asked him with a grin.

"Wow." Ben muttered with a sarcastic smile.

"Just saying!"

"I'mma light your farts on fire~ FWOOOSH!"

"I'mma rip ass!"

"Oh god." Laughed Ben. "ANYWHO! I guess Cy... I just don't know what to expect. After everything."

"Just take a deep slow and breath and take it for what it is." Cyrus suggested. "That is what I did when I saw Mom and Dad for the first time in two years. Going in angry is a disaster waiting to happen."

"Thinking about it brings this pressure inside..."

"Like a huge fart!"

"NO CYRUS, not like that!" Ben laughed.

"Alright, alright." Laughed the wolf. "Sorry Ben, I can't help it! Farts are funny!"

Ben shook his head and smiled. "You make me laugh you sexy motherfucker you~"

"I try, Ben!"

"You do a really good job!"

Finishing up dinner, Ben and Cyrus made their way to the truck, which was parked on the roof of the parking garage. The sky was black as night settled in, and the parking garage roof was lit up by harsh white lights that glared. There was nobody else around them as Cyrus unlocked his truck, and they stowed their gifts inside the backseat of the crew cab truck.

Cyrus slammed his side shut. "I'mma go take a leak~"

"Good idea~"

Ben and Cyrus walked to the back of the truck, where the concrete wall was. Peering out over all of Easton, the two whipped their cocks out to pee against the concrete.

"I love a good view with a leak~" chuckled Ben as they peed together.

"My dick's pretty fuckin' huge, thanks~" grinned Cyrus teasingly.

"That is true." Ben laughed as he gave his member a shake. He felt Cyrus gently grab him, and pull him into a kiss. His big paws stroked his softie. Ben closed his eyes and returned the gesture, his paws stroking Cy's pierced cock, which soon got rock hard for him. Glancing around to make sure nobody was present, Ben stroked his boyfriend's cock, which throbbed as they kissed and played with each other's tongues. As he slipped a paw under the hoodie to caress Cy's abs, he felt sticky warmth, as Cyrus came in his grip. The wolf growled under his breath contently, as his thick tan cock pulsated and oozed cum all over Ben's fingers.

"Oh fuck that's nice..." Cyrus quietly muttered.

"Much better than the movie, eh?"

"Oh yeah~"

Ben laughed and wiped his paw on the wall, leaving a streak of sticky cum stuck on it.

"Marking one's territory!" Cyrus exclaimed as they climbed back into the truck, to make the trip back to Westerville.

Hitting the outerbelt, Cyrus punched the gas and merged in with the evening traffic. Headlights peered out into the sea of red brake lights.

"It's Christmas... and I'm happy...but I'm also kinda not?" Cyrus said to Ben. "I feel frankly, emotionally exhausted?"

"Yeah, I'm right there with ya. I think everyone is exhausted from recent events."

"I remember feeling so hopeful back in the spring, since cases were going down, vaccines were becoming available, and now as we end the year, I feel like in a way we're worse off."

"A shame." Ben shook his head. "I had the same feeling until the fourth of July, and then watched the slow speed shitshow unfold. Frankly I'm out of fucks to give for those who refuse to protect themselves."

"And it's a shame too! I've known a couple people in Hanover who died from Covid. You know Misses Applebee?"

"Oh no, did she die from Covid?"

"Yeah. Her and her husband, and her brother all died of Covid. So did Martin Browne, and Donald Ridenour."

"Wow." The husky said, shaking his head.

"These weren't evil or selfish people. This is what makes me so upset. All these people died because of basic ignorance and political meddling in handling this crisis. It's frankly like watching all these people commit suicide." Cyrus quipped. "When vaccines became available, I told my guys to please get it to protect themselves, and almost everyone did, but I lost a couple guys because of it. I mean, they were a bunch of knuckle draggers anyways, but... to walk away from a job because of a jab... I don't get it."

"People are strange, Cy~"

"Yeah, sadly."

"At least we're protected, and so is my family. All the others are fucked!" Cyrus laughed sardonically. "But man... we're nearly at starting year three..."

"Yeahhhhhhhhhhh~"

"Between a disease pandemic, and a wannabe fascist takeover of America by Republicans... what a time to be alive~"

"Or be a millennial and be fucked multiple times by financial recessions." Ben shrugged. "Us Gen-Z'ers are fucked too."

Cyrus grabbed Ben's paw and held it while he drove. "Well we can just be fucked together!"

"Sure!"

Ben and Cy laughed together and shared a smile.

"Sometimes we have to weather the bad... to appreciate the good."

"Keep calm and carry on~"

---

Having the sky to himself, Ben flew alone in his Centauro, on a job assignment. A couple thousand feet above the snow blanketed earth, Ben flew to Detroit, a test of his nascent flying skills. The silver Fiat glistened in the sky, its Merlin contently purring under the cowl. In the backseat of his G.59B sat a large, rectangular box, which contained a critical part needed for a customer at Willow Run. It had been accidentally left off the morning's Electra flight. Ben offered to fly it out as it gave him a perfect excuse to get more hours on the Centauro.

Strapped into the cockpit, bundled against the cold, with all his flying gear on, the husky looked content at the controls of his silvery mount. Sometimes it was crazy to think that he now held his pilot's license, and was flying a very expensive aircraft that was gifted to him. At the age of nineteen. In three years, he had progressed from the naïve sixteen year old Hanover hillbilly, to now flying his own warbird, working a stable, full-time gig. It was a mighty proud feeling for the young husky.

Ben made an uneventful flight into Willow Run, dropped the package off, and turned around to head back to Columbus. Climbing back into the air, Ben pulled the gear and flaps up and climbed to four thousand feet, where he casually flew on back to Columbus, aided by his GPS navigation. Circling around in the landing pattern, Ben dropped his gear and flaps, and descended in for the long runway. Flaring in slightly, he touched down on the main gear, and let the speed bleed off to touch the tail wheel down on the pavement. Ben rolled to a crawl, and taxied back to Centoh Aircraft's tarmac, on the south side of the airport property.

Rumbling in with the purr of his Merlin at low power, Ben turned and parked, finding his boss Jake standing on the tarmac. Running the engine lean, Ben cut the mixture and the engine powered down. Watching the prop windmill to a stop, the husky stepped out onto the wing and jumped down. Jake walked up to greet him.

"How was the flight?"

"It was good, Jake~ Uneventful!"

"I appreciate you running that box of parts out for me." Jake complimented. He held up an envelope for Ben to accept. "I have your Christmas bonus for ya- just don't tell the other guys, it's a 'lil extra." The wolf hybrid said with a grin. "For all the hard work you've put in. Me and CJ appreciate you a lot~"

"Oh, well thank you!" Ben smiled. "I appreciate you taking me in two years ago."

"Keep up the good work, Ben~" Jake smiled as he turned to head back inside out of the cold.

Following work, Ben clocked out for the day. Walking back out onto the tarmac, the husky strapped his toolbox in the rear cockpit and climbed aboard for the short flight back to Newark. He was assisted by Centoh's ground crew, who watched with fire extinguishers as Ben turned the Merlin over. It took only a "couple of blades" for the Merlin 500 to catch, with a cough of white glycol smoke. Ground crew pulled the chocks, and Ben began to taxi for the runway. As he rolled down the ramp, he spotted Centoh's second Electra returning from a run to Georgia. He momentarily glanced at the silver and gunship gray L-188CF, and thought about how someday he would be flying one of them.

Returning to the air, Ben made a very short hop over to Newark-Heath. He flew low over Columbus, admiring all the scenery, which slowly faded out to countryside as he crossed into Licking County. Seven minutes later, he touched down at Newark-Heath.

Turning the plane over to the ground crew, Ben stood on the tarmac and watched as his silver Centauro was pushed back into the museum's huge hangar to resume its display for visitors. Ben turned and walked towards his truck, opening the envelope in the process. He stopped at the door and looked in amazement at a personal check from Jake, totaling $1,500. A friendly note was attached, thanking him for all his hard work. It brought a smile to his face.

Climbing into his Silverado, Ben hit the highway and drove east to Hanover, to have dinner with Cyrus and their friends, Marty Millis and his boyfriend, Jason Greene.

At Cyrus' home, after getting cleaned up, Ben ventured back down to have dinner with everyone. At the table sat Marty and Jason, with Freddy opposite of them. Cyrus was walking back and forth bringing food to the table. Ben took a seat, and Freddy handed him a plate.

"How was your day, fly boy?" Cyrus teased with a grin. He grabbed Ben's plate and loaded it up with some food for him.

"Heh! I go from part-time to fly-boy." Ben chuckled as he popped the tab on a Pepsi.

"Cy has to give everyone nicknames, huh Big Cy?" Freddy quipped.

"Yep Freddo!" laughed the wolf.

"Take fly-boy in stride! 'Cause being called an old man is worse!" laughed Marty. He was a fifty-one year old red Doberman, an ex Hells Angel, all tattooed up with his arms sleeved in tribal designs. Marty had a stubby Mohawk of slowly graying auburn hair, and a chinstrap beard like Cy's. His boyfriend was forty-one year old Jason Greene. He was a red Dober who had a short crop of brown hair and his right arm sporting a colorful tattoo sleeve of tropical flowers, almost Japanese style.

"Well you are an old man, Marty!" Cyrus exclaimed.

"You don't have to remind me, motherfucker!" Marty laughed. "You know what it's like to get up out of bed too fast and your check engine light comes on?"

"Dude, I feel like that at thirty-three sometimes!" Cyrus laughed. "Roll wrong in bed and there goes my neck! Tell you what, I'll get you and Jason a matching set of Life Alert's."

"Oh my god..." Marty laughed with Jason. "Wait till you're my age, Cyrus!"

"Eww, lord." Cyrus snorted.

"You're gonna blink and the next thing you know? BOOM! Fifties!" Marty pointed out with a laugh. "Now the gray hair... that comes from having four kids!"

"Whew, thank god." Chuckled the wolf.

"I must admit, time has flown..." Jason said as he took a bite of Cy's pot roast. "It's three days till Christmas!"

"Yeah, this year has gone quick, Jason." Jason nodded.

"Chaos will do that." Freddy joked.

"Yeah!" Cyrus exclaimed. "How's work there Marty?"

"Oh you know, same shit, different day." The Dober shrugged. "I'm a supervisor, but here I am putting fucking tires on, because people keep dropping out with Covid. I do tires, oil, other lubricants and fluids, and then my own job! Chaos indeed!"

"The tax office in Newark is thankfully quiet... and people there aren't as boneheaded with vaccines..." Jason explained to the group. "But the new variant has me a bit concerned... you know how Licking County is..."

"Full of fucking retards." Freddy rolled his eyes. "I've never seen a group of people so bent on just trying to get themselves killed to prove a political point."

"Ignorance is a hell of a drug." Marty grumbled. "But ignorance, dumbasses, and this pandemic aside... I'm gonna tell you what? This is the happiest I've felt in ages."

"Well that's good!" Ben exclaimed happily.

"It took a long time, but it was worth it." Marty admitted.

"Same here." Jason smiled at Marty. "It's nice to let your hair down and just be you~"

"I agree." Ben nodded. "Just like me and Cy- it's your first Christmas together!"

"I'm so excited." Jason grinned. "Plus, we have our families to visit, which is a great thing because earlier this year! I didn't think it was going to happen!"

"My parents got over me being gay, so they like Jason~" Marty said to Cyrus.

"Well that's great news. See? Everything happens in time."

"That sounds like me... since Mom's visiting on Christmas Day~"

"Oh really? Valery is coming back to Hanover, eh?" Marty asked Ben.

"Yeah." The husky acknowledged. "But I'm feeling a bit nervous about it...since it's been a good while and everything that had happened."

"Trust me, it's gonna be nervous at first, but you have to work out the issues, as awkward as it could be..." Jason explained.

"How did you two handle your parents?" Ben asked the Dobers.

Jason had a look of thought on his face. "Well for my parents, I simply made it clear... this is who I am, this is who I've had to hide for a long time... and I'm not going back into the closet, and I'm going to live my life to what makes me happy and that's it. And my parents accepted it."

"Well, it probably helped that your soon to be ex-wife burned the house down..." Marty chuckled.

"They didn't like her anyways~" laughed Jason. "If Big Bob Greene can accept having a gay son, and he's Mister Republican... than almost anyone certainly can~"

Marty leaned in towards Ben. "Big Bob said he's glad Jason got himself a rough n' tough biker guy for his boyfriend, and not some pride flag wearing fag..." the older Dober just rolled his eyes with a sarcastic snort.

"Well fuck, who wouldn't want a hardass mechanic and ex biker?" Cyrus grinned.

"Can't argue with that, Marty~" Ben smiled.

"But just be calm about it~" Jason suggested. "Tell your Mom how you feel...and if she truly loves you? She'll understand."

"Let 'er rip!" Cyrus exclaimed.

"You gotta make a fart reference don't you?" Marty asked Cyrus with a sarcastic gaze. The wolf simply grinned big in return and enthusiastically nodded.

Marty looked at Jason. "This motherfucker will use any issue to make a fart reference!"

"Yeah! Farts are funny!" Cyrus laughed. "Hey Marty! Pull my finger!"

"Farts are not funny!" Marty laughed. "They're gross and stink!"

"Eww! Icky!" Cyrus mocked in a feminine sounding voice.

"NOOOOOOOOOO~" Marty exclaimed. He glanced at Ben. "You know embarrassing it is when you have a colonoscopy and you have to get all the air out!"

"Well you just had one in October didn't you?" Cyrus asked him.

"Yeah! And it was fine, by the way! But to do the procedure, they have to fill your intestines with air so they can scope it out! And where does that air go when they're done? Well you have to fart it out! I was SO EMBARASSED! Guys! I am not farting in a room full of female nurses! No way! I can't do that!" the Doberman exclaimed.

Cyrus blurted out laughing at Marty's comment. "Now that is AWESOME!"

"No it is not, Cyrus!"

"When I had a colonoscopy, that was the BEST PART! What other medical procedure will fill you full of air that you have to FART OUT!? SUPERCHARGED FARTS, MOTHERFUCKER!"

"Wait... why did you have a colonoscopy?" Jason asked Cyrus.

"'Cause my ex Talon shoved a toy in a little too hard... and tore something and it bled a little bit... and the doctor was like... let's just do it as a precaution..." Cyrus explained.

"Ouch..." Ben cringed.

"Supercharged farts made up for it. AND! The best part is! You're all cleaned out, so you don't risk shitting yourself if you push too hard!"

Marty turned and looked at his boyfriend. "You see what I'm talking about?" Jason just smiled in return.

"FWOOOSH!" laughed Ben. "Light em up, Cyrus!"

Following dinner and its raunchy jokes, they relaxed in the living room, where Marty and Jason gave Ben and Cyrus their Christmas presents. Ben opened up a package and found himself getting a new sexy jockstrap. It had black straps and a neon blue pouch. "Oooh, nice!" the husky exclaimed as he held it up.

"Hell yeah!" Cyrus whistled. "Hot, dude!"

"We said the same thing~" chuckled Jason with a playful smile.

"Now this seems oddly specific... like a bunch of horny motherfuckers want me to wear this!"

"Crazy!" Cyrus grinned with a sarcastic quip.

"Nahhhh~" Marty smiled playfully.

Ben's second gift was packaged in a gift bag, which he gently opened. Inside were a new set of leather gauntlets, and a snug pair of leather gloves, all shiny black. Ben needed a new set of gauntlets after one broke on him. He thanked Marty and Jason for their generosity. Sitting on the cough, Cyrus opened his gift to also get a sexy jock, in red and white. The wolf excitedly bragged about it after "wearing the last one out with his big dick!" much to everyone's laughter. Cyrus also got a new set of gloves from Marty.

"Aww well thank you guys!" Cyrus exclaimed. "Now it's your turn! Go! Go! Go!"

Jason opened his package up to get a nice set of sexy underwear, and a gift card worth seventy-five dollars. "Ohh my on the undies... these are gonna be nice~"

"Yeah, when I rip them off and spank that ass!" Cyrus exclaimed.

"Ha~" Jason chuckled.

"CYRUS!" Marty yelled. The aging Doberman held up a medical alert bracelet. "What the fuck is this!?"

"I'mma get you a life alert! Remember?" Cyrus laughed.

Everyone just laughed at Marty, who shook his head at Cyrus jokingly. "Motherfucker..." he muttered sarcastically as he got his main gift, a leather codpiece and vest.

"The gift that keeps on giving, Marty!" Ben laughed.

---

Hitting the road early, Ben departed Westerville, eastbound for Hanover. Headlights peered out into the dim dawn as Ben took the 270 to 161 exchange. The early morning sky was dark, with only a dim band of red-orange off in the eastern sky. An overnight snowstorm dumped another five inches of powder, and the highway was crudely plowed and salted. Ben gingerly drove the 270 to 161 exchange and merged onto 161 to begin his straight shot back to Hanover.

Forty-five minutes later, the husky rolled his truck into the sleepy little township, nestled amongst the undisturbed snow. Passing through town, Ben drove to his uncle's home, to help him and his son Josh cut up a big tree that had fallen in the snowstorm. Tires crunched in the unplowed driveway as Ben turned and parked in front of Vance's new home.

Meeting up with his uncle and cousin, Ben waded through the thick powder with them, armed with a well used chainsaw. All three huskies wore their well used, oil stained Carhartts. In the back, near the wood line, an old maple tree had come down, overloaded by all the ice and snow. It took out another tree, turning the back yard into a broken mess of naked limbs.

"I woke up to a big ass crash!" Vance exclaimed with a laugh. "It was maybe... three-thirty or something? BOOM! Scared the shit out of me and your Mom~"

"That's an old ass maple tree." Josh said with a nod. The twenty-six year old husky looked like his Dad, with white and black fur and a thick goatee of shiny black hair. He clutched a chainsaw in one paw and a jug of gasoline in the other.

"I guess by the size of the trunk, maybe a century old~" Vance guessed. "It's all dry rotted in places, so it was just waiting to fall..."

"Well now it's firewood!" Josh exclaimed.

"Keep my wood burner stocked!" Vance laughed.

Ben, Vance, and Josh spent the morning cutting up the trees, slowly turning broken branches into neat chunks of firewood. The big trunk took the longest, with the three of them slowly chopping it up large chunks. By noon, there were big stacks of firewood all over; the once pristine white snow was covered in wood chips, with tracks packed in the snow.

Throwing a small log into the bonfire, Vance sat back in his lawn chair with Ben and Josh. They had built up a big bonfire of leftover wood that crackled and burned. It took the frigid bite away from the cold air.

"Now this is what I love~" Vance said, holding his paws out to warm them up. "Spending time with family!"

"Who wants to grab lunch?" Ben chuckled.

"What do ya'll want? Burgers or something?"

"Yeah, that's fine." Josh and Ben both agreed.

"Want me to run out and get 'em?" Ben asked.

"Nah, I'll go get 'em, since I gotta run back to the house~" Josh said, volunteering to grab food for anyone.

"Here's my bank card~" Vance offered as he handed his son his debit card.

"I'll be back in a bit, guys." Josh said as he walked back to his truck. The old Ram 3500 coughed to life and pulled out with a load of firewood already in the bed. Ben and Vance just sat together in front of the bonfire, listening to it crackle and spit sparks.

"Uncle Vance?"

"Yeah Ben?"

"So tomorrow's the big day~"

"Yeah, I can't believe it's Christmas." Vance admitted. "This year has flown by too fast."

"Perhaps for the better..."

"Yeahhhhh~"

"I've just been thinking... Do you think Mom's gonna show up tomorrow? She said she will... but do you think she will?"

"I'm pretty confident she will, Ben~ I talked to her as well, and I told her how much it would mean to you, and she sounded determined to make the drive up."

"It's crazy to think it's been two years since I last saw her... and god... what a mess back then..." Ben shook his head. "What a mess now!"

"Yeah, a bit of an understatement." Vance chuckled. "Two years ago, I had my own homebuilding business in Dublin and things were great, and that really fell apart fast!"

"If I knew everything that was going to happen... I would have handled myself differently." Ben said, sounding regretful. "I feel like a piece of shit for just leaving my Dad when he tried to come back..."

"You were upset and hurt by what he did, and you acted under pressure from all that." Vance reasoned. "I... I'm regretful for how I handled you coming out, and I was wrong to say the things I said... but I was really pissed at your Dad for just disowning you... in the damn hospital!"

Ben turned to look at his uncle with a look of surprise.

Vance pursed his lips. "You coming out was like a big surprise... and it shouldn't have been... but hindsight is twenty-twenty. And I wasn't sure how to react... I mean... I knew guys like Cyrus were gay, but it's different when it's family... I don't know how to explain it? I guess... your assumption of someone gets shattered? I don't know. But I told Bill how fucking stupid he was- here your son about died in a violent assault at school, and he comes out, and you just walk out of the hospital! I told Valery she was a dumbass as well for just going along with it."

"Ah."

"The last time I talked to Bill was the day before he died, and he was recovering from heart surgery. And we talked about you for a bit. Bill looked resigned to fate and said 'I really fucked up'."

Ben frowned and nodded slowly. "Wow."

"It was hard to lose my brother, but he had nobody to blame but himself. Smoked like a chimney, drank like a fish." Vance shook his head. "Bill pissed everyone off being a god damn shyster all the time, thinking he was so clever and smart. He wasn't. He's my brother, Ben, but he was still a god damn idiot~"

"If Dad hadn't died... do you think... maybe we would have reconciled?"

"I think so." His uncle nodded. "That was our last conversation. He said that there was an argument when you tried to visit, and he was upset that it happened and that he and Valery fucked up. He said you looked real hurt when you left. He thought he blew it, and said he missed you, and it was a big mistake."

"That hits right in the feels, Uncle Vance."

"But sadly, fate didn't work out for Bill. That's the cruelty of life..." Vance shrugged, chucking another log into the warm fire. "Life doesn't always end like the fairy tales."

"I hope Mom comes tomorrow... so I can have my family back."

"Sadly there's not many of us left after Grandma and Grandpa Reynolds passed away."

"Nope~" Ben shook his head.

"I'm confident your Mom will return- I mean, me and Cy hitched a flight down to convince her!"

"Really?" the husky asked, looking surprised.

"Ha, your boyfriend is the brains behind the operation. He got his friend to fly us down to Gatlinburg, and we told your Mom you missed her, and you wanted to see her."

"So that's why she called."

"You have a very wonderful boyfriend in Cyrus. He really cares about you, and loves you to death. He's a very good man~"

"That sounds like Cyrus~" Ben chuckled. "Wow that's so sweet of him."

A smile stayed on Ben's face as he sat back down to enjoy the warmth of the fire with Vance. Soon Josh returned with food, and the trio sat in front of the fire and told stories and jokes over some hamburgers. After lunch, Ben loaded his truck up with a load of firewood to take over to Cy's place for his firewood. The heavily loaded truck crunched through the snow, as the sun began to brilliantly shine.

---

By nightfall, Ben fixed himself a mug of hot chocolate in Cy's kitchen. The house was quiet and dim, with the soft glow of the Christmas tree in the corner, mixing with the flickering amber glow of the fire in the fireplace. Freddy laid on the couch, watching TV, while Cyrus sat at his desk editing pictures from a plane ride with Ben. The husky carried his mug of hot chocolate back with him as he saw Cyrus working away in Photoshop.

"Hey check these out!" Cyrus exclaimed, pointing excitedly at his second monitor at an edited picture. Ben took a sip from his mug and leaned in to see a photo Cyrus had took of Joey Paulo and his bubble topped G.59B. In the rear seat sat Joey's nephew Alvin, who was simultaneously taking a picture of Cyrus. In the background, slightly unfocused in the bokeh flew Felix Barion, in Rob's single-seat G.59A. All the planes were polished natural metal with Italian markings. Captured in the evening light, the bare metal took on the colorful glow of evening. Cyrus and his Sony Alpha captured the shine perfectly.

"Wow~" Ben complimented. "That looks good!"

"Sometimes I just impress myself~" laughed Cyrus, who showed Ben another photo, this time of his home and property, nestled in the snow, with the winding creek through his woods all iced over. The evening sun painted the snow red-orange, and Ben looked in awe at it.

"Now that one's gonna be framed!" the wolf pointed with a big grin. "Look at that color! Timed it just right Ben!"

"I love it~" smiled Ben. "Just like I love you!"

"Took the words outta my mouth Lil' Benny!"

Ben leaned in and got a kiss from his boyfriend and smiled at him. Cyrus smiled back and rubbed his nose affectionately against Ben's before stealing another kiss from him.

"And here's you and me, taken by Alvin~" Cyrus said, showing Ben a photo of them flying over Hanover. Alvin had shot the photo with a really slow shutter; the G.59B was motionless against a smeared background, giving the impression of speed. The propeller was a perfectly gray disk, tipped in yellow.

"I need to get that printed and framed~" laughed Ben. "Wow that looks nice~ I even look like a professional!"

"Heh! I didn't feel unsafe with you flying!" Cyrus teased.

"Imagine your brother flying that Fiat~"

"Maybe Ed...Darryl? Hell no!" laughed the wolf. "Darryl can barely drive as it is!"

"Yeah... like the lack of stopping at the intersection..."

"What a fucking retard." Cyrus shrugged. He got up and stretched his back and looked at the time. "Holy shit, it's starting to get late!"

Ben finished the last of his hot chocolate and stretched, yawning himself. "Yeah, you're right~"

Cyrus walked over to gaze at his glowing Christmas tree. Ben walked over to stand beside him, watching as Cyrus adjusted an ornament. His big tree was surrounded by all his wrapped presents for everyone. Ben felt Cyrus wrap a tattooed arm around him, and kissed the top of his head. It made Ben smile.

"I got everything ready for tomorrow's Christmas party~"

"Heh, including Covid booster shots?" Ben joked with a sly grin.

"Lord...this pandemic... help us!" Cyrus laughed sardonically. "Thankfully everyone's vaccinated, even Darryl~"

"Wow." Freddy chuckled from the couch. "Stop the presses~"

"I can't believe it's Christmas, Cy~" Ben said, leaning against his lover. "And it's our first!"

"Super excited for that~" Cyrus grinned.

"I sure hope my Mom shows up..." Ben said with worry on his tone.

"She will~ She will, Ben."

"Uncle Vance told me you and him went down to convince her to get back in touch with me."

"DAMNIT VANCE!" laughed Cyrus. "Ebenezer Scrooge here! Ruining my Christmas surprises!"

"No! No! It's fine!" Ben smiled. "You know, I really appreciate it from you, Big Cy~"

"I knew it was still bothering you. I know because I was the same way when I was away from my family, living in Dayton. I know that empty feeling in one's heart, and I didn't want you to deal with it for the rest of your life... this pandemic has really taught me the value of family... YES...even the stupid retarded ones like Ronnie and Darryl!"

"Or Aunt Necky~" laughed Freddy on the couch.

"That too~"

Ben put his arms around Cyrus and hugged him tightly. Cyrus wrapped his arms around Ben and kissed the top of his head again. Ben looked up and kissed Cyrus.

"Eww, you guys get a room!" Freddy teased.

"At least I'm getting some! What are you getting? The pillow?" Cyrus teased. Freddy simply flipped him off sarcastically.

"But seriously Ben... she'll be there~" Cyrus assured.

Getting ready for bed, the clock struck ten o'clock as Cyrus was in the process of changing into his nightclothes, which were nothing more than a pair of underwear and a tanktop. As he got the bed ready, Ben stepped into the extra room, to talk to his Mom on the phone. Cy's extra bedroom was empty, save for a desk, a dresser and a bed. Ben stood gazing out the large windows at the pale blue moonlight faintly lighting the naked woods.

"I plan on leaving around six... so I can try and get up there by noon for you." Valery promised. "It's gonna be a long drive..."

"Oh I can imagine... please be safe Mom."

"I look forward to seeing you again Lil' Benny~"

"Same here, Mom. I love you. I must head off to bed~"

"I love you Benny, and Merry Christmas!"

"I love you Mom. Merry Christmas too." Ben said, a smile forming on his face.

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

Ben ended the call and stood with a look of introspection on his face as he processed the phone call with his mom. She promised him she would make it to Ohio. A promise was all he had, and he had to accept it. Returning to Cy's bedroom, Ben plugged his phone in next to Cy's on the dresser, and took his clothes off to just be in his briefs. Cyrus wolf whistled playfully with a grin.

Ben chuckled and turned the lamp off as he laid in bed next to Cyrus. He got himself comfortable, and rolled over to curl up and snuggle with his lover.

"What a chaotic year." Ben admitted. "Such high hopes... and then... nope!"

"Heh, yeah!" Cyrus laughed. "I had such high hopes, and Delta, and now Omicron just punched me in the gut again!"

"When it rains, it pours~"

"But hey, at least I got you!"

"I say the same~" smiled Ben as he got a kiss from Cyrus. They broke away momentarily, but gently placed their muzzles together again for a longer, drawn out kiss that they slowly broke away from.

"Nice." Cyrus smiled. "Love you Little Benny~"

"Love you, Big Cy."

"Goodnight~" they said to each other.

Ben closed his eyes and enjoyed the warmth of his lover under the covers. As he slowly drifted off to sleep, he thought about the holidays, and all the crazy events of the year leading up to Christmas. He eventually drifted off into a deep, spent sleep with Cyrus.

---

Ben slowly awoke from his deep sleep. As he woke up, he felt something heavy laying on him. Something warm. His raging morning wood felt pleasured, a wet warmth sliding up and down his pole. A faint sucking sound could be heard. Ben cracked open an eye and soon both his blue eyes were wide open at the sight of Cy's rear end in his face. His boyfriend was tending to his morning wood, wearing just his red jockstrap.

"Holy fuck, Cy~" Ben muttered with a yawn and a subtle laugh. "I wasn't expecting to see this side of you on Christmas morning!"

Cyrus slowly pulled his muzzle off. "Merry Christmas stud!"

"Heh, Merry Christmas to you~"

"Gotta take care of that morning wood!"

Cyrus hopped off him with a playful grin and crawled between Ben's legs to continue sucking on his cock. His long red hair was untied and messy, spilling all around his head like a fiery waterfall. Ben slid himself around and grabbed Cy's chubby, which was flopped against his leg. He took the tip to his muzzle and licked the head and piercing, which instantly began to get his boyfriend hard. Putting his pierced cock into his muzzle, Ben sucked slowly, just like Cyrus. A few grunts and groans, huffs and puffs, and they both took care of their morning wood. Hopping into the shower together, Ben and Cyrus got themselves cleaned up to go unwrap presents downstairs.

Downstairs, Freddy got a fire lit in the fireplace, and the tree lit up. The young wolf soon began to make breakfast in the kitchen, as Cyrus and Ben made their way downstairs.

"Merry Christmas Freddo!" Cyrus called.

"Merry Christmas, Cy~" Freddy called back.

Following a hearty breakfast of pancakes, and bacon and eggs, Cyrus sat down and began to pass out gifts for everyone. Freddy got a new PS5 console, some games, and clothes from his uncle. In return, Freddy got Cyrus a $200 gift card for an auto parts store, and a new camouflage hoodie. Cyrus got his boyfriend a new flight uniform that was dark green and had his name embroidered on it. Ben also received a new set of leathers; a nice pair of snug chaps with a red stripe down the sides of the legs, a new pair of pointy tip black cowboy boots, and a new harness. In the last bag, Ben pulled out a beautiful garrison cap, made of shiny black leather. It made the husky blush a bit. From Ben, Cyrus got his new cowboy boots, which had his initials embroidered on the sides. A couple nice gift cards, one for a store and one for a restaurant finished Ben's gifts for his boyfriend. Ben got Freddy some more PS5 games, and a couple more gift cards. Freddy got Ben gift cards for a couple stores.

"Oh thank you everyone!" Cyrus exclaimed. He pulled Freddy and Ben into a tight group hug.

"No homo, Cy~"

"Shut up Freddy and enjoy it!"

"Alright, fine~"

Ben looked at the clock on the wall. It read seven-thirty. His Mom was on her way from Tennessee.

After unwrapping presents, Christmas Day was quiet, as Ben helped Cyrus and Freddy get food ready for the Christmas party. Cyrus put a honey and brown sugar glazed ham into the oven, and worked to get a veggie platter and dip ready. Freddy set the table, and everything was in place.

At noon everyone showed up. The house was filled as Cyrus hosted his family, along with the Reynolds, who came to spend time with Ben. Food was served, wine and champagne doled out, and everyone talked and exchanged gifts. It was a lovely time. Even Cy had to remark the enjoyment of spending time with his family without having a brawl like before.

Uncle Vance and Aunt Mary gifted Ben with more clothes, including a bunch of new Carhartts. He got a new set of bibs and a thick winter jacket and beanie. Ben was very appreciative. Even his cousins gifted him gift cards, which he returned with more gifts cards for them. Ben kept his eyes on the clock, and watched as the time drifted past one o'clock, to two and then three o'clock. He wondered where his Mom was. She said she would leave at seven, and it would take her several hours to drive up from Gatlinburg. It made his anxiety flare up; would she show up?

Going to get another glass of champagne, Ben saw Vance answer his phone. His uncle looked serious and turned to quickly say something to Mary, and quickly left. Ben fumbled his brow about it as he took a sip of his bubbly amber drink.

As the sun set, Cyrus and everyone said goodbye as everyone went on home. Soon the house was quiet, and Cyrus began to get his living room cleaned up and organized again. Ben helped, but looked disappointed as he threw trash away.

---

Throwing another log into the fire, Ben sat back down on the couch. The living room was quiet, dimly lit by a floor lamp in the corner, and the lights from the tree and fire. The husky looked festive in his Christmas sweater, but a sad look of disappointment was on his face as he sat looking dejected. He had hoped that his Mom would have come, so they could have worked out their problems and have a relationship again. But it looked like Valery wasn't going to show up. The opportunity had passed.

Cyrus walked over to Ben, carrying a cup of eggnog for him. Ben accepted it and took a slow sip.

"Ben...I'm sorry that your Mom didn't show up." Cyrus said, looking glum himself.

"I appreciate that you tried, Cy~" Ben nodded.

"I told Valery how much it would mean to you... but I guess it just wasn't enough." Frowned the wolf.

"Eh. It's whatever now. If that's how Mom wants to be... then so be it. I don't need her. I just wanted the opportunity to make things better you know?"

"I understand that completely." Cyrus nodded.

Even Freddy looked sad as he walked into the living room, understanding Ben's predicament perfectly from his own estrangement from his Mom.

"You know if it makes you feel any better... I'm in that same boat, Ben." Freddy spoke up.

"It's fine everyone... once you get disappointed a few times... it doesn't hurt~" Ben said, chuckling in a very cynical way.

"No, but it's the idea that it's your mom..." Cyrus reasoned.

"I'm done worrying about it." Ben shrugged.

Cyrus sat down and put an arm around his lover and pulled him against his side. Ben nuzzled his chest and held it there. Cyrus kissed the top of his head and nuzzled him.

"Wonder where your uncle went?" Freddy asked. "I saw Vance on the phone, and he left in a hurry. I asked Mary about it, and she said he had to tend to something urgently."

"Huh. No idea." Ben shrugged.

"Everything's gonna be okay, Ben~" smiled Cyrus.

"Yeah, things will be okay." Ben mustered a smile.

Light momentarily filled the darkened windows of the living room, which made Freddy look. "Hey... Vance is back!"

Ben and Cyrus got up to see what was going on. Vance had returned in his black Silverado and was getting out as Ben opened the door up to step out onto the porch.

"Uncle Vance! What's going on, I..."

Ben stopped mid sentence when he saw the passenger door open to reveal a very tired looking Valery. The husky stood motionless at the sight of his Mom for the first time in two years. She looked dazed and had bandages on her forehead, which made Ben immediately concerned. He walked down the steps to the base to stand in surprise. Vance went over to help Valery, who wore work pants and a purple jacket and hat.

Valery looked up and paused at the sight of Ben. The two just stood there, realizing how much each other had changed since the last time they had seen each other.

"Ben I'm sorry I didn't call you!" Vance called out. "My damn phone died- your Mom got in a car accident along the way and I forgot to charge the damn phone!"

Overwhelmed by emotion, Ben ran forward and hugged his Mom. Valery threw her arms open and hugged her son, instantly breaking down into tears of joy as she hugged him tightly. They both dropped to their knees in the deep snow, tightly embraced as they cried together.

"Little Benny I'm so sorry!" sobbed Valery. "I'm so sorry! None of what I said before... I'm so sorry, it doesn't mean anything to me anymore... I love you!"

"I love you Mom~"

"I love you too Benny~"

Cyrus walked up with Vance to help them. "C'mon, let's get out of the cold and inside where it's warm." Vance suggested.

"I got plenty of food leftover for you Valery! Come on in!" Cyrus welcomed.

Ben helped his Mom up the stairs, who complained of a sore neck and back as she walked up onto the porch. She was quickly welcomed inside Cy's home, away from the cold.

In the end, Ben got the best Christmas gift of all, his mother. As Christmas came to a close, Ben closed the final chapter in his coming out odyssey. He had his whole family back now. In three chaotic years, Ben had nearly died, came out of the closet, was thrown out of his home, and was sexually assaulted. But the rough lessons he learned made him the better person. He got to explore his sexuality, meet a new circle of friends, and get himself the boyfriend he always wanted.

Now with his Mom finally back in his life, and moved on from the shock of his gayness, Ben could finally bury that sword. He had everything he had wanted, back to status quo.

---

Epilogue:

Traveling slowly on the old dirt road that he grew up on, Ben came around the corner and slowed to a stop. His tires crunched on the compacted snow. Putting the shifter into park, Ben hopped out with his Mom. They had stopped in front of where their old home had once been at. The charred remains of their home that burned in 2019, were finally cleared out, and the frozen, muddy landscape was slowly being turned into the foundation for a big house being constructed. Valery had finally sold the land, but took a huge loss due to all the environmental pollution that Bill Reynolds had created with his makeshift junk yard.

"Lord that old home..." Valery said with a shake of her head. "I didn't like it when we moved in, but we had no choice."

"Really, Mom?" Ben asked in a surprised tone.

"Me and your father were looking at this nicer home... and we had not renewed the lease on our apartment...so we had to leave... but the owners of the nicer home backed out at the very last second... and we were screwed...and this home just had to do..."

"It was definitely a falling apart fire trap for as long as I can remember..." Ben chuckled. "Turn something on and the lights flicker, or the outlets hum..."

"Your Dad always talked about fixing it up, but lord have mercy~" Valery laughed.

"'Oh one of these days, this whole place is gonna burn'" Ben quipped, impersonating his Dad's voice.

"Oh Bill... I miss your Dad... idiot and all~"

"Yeah." Ben nodded.

"I'm glad this place can finally be repurposed into something nicer... bury the past they say." Valery said, shaking her head and crossing her arms.

"I'm glad you're back home, Mom~"

"I am too."

Climbing back into Ben's truck, they took off for Hanover itself, the bed of Ben's Silverado filled with new furniture that was purchased from a furniture store in Zanesville. After reconciling with Ben, Valery decided to move back to Hanover, so she could be close to her son and in-laws. Ben, using his connections, helped Valery buy a little house in Hanover, adjacent to where Marty and Jason lived. Valery got herself a new job with Jason Greene's help, landing a position as an accountant with the Newark tax office.

Returning home, Ben saw Cyrus and his brother Ed helping Marty and Jason move some of Valery's belongings inside. Valery grabbed a smaller box, and carried it with her inside her new home. It was a single story cape cod, with a square shaped living room that was open to the dining room and kitchen. It was small and cozy, with bay windows that looked out to the street.

"Hey I appreciate you guys helping me~" Ben said to Cyrus and his brother.

"Well anything for family." Ed assured with a happy expression on his face.

"You're not Darryl~" teased Cyrus.

"Thank god~" Ben grimaced.

"Oh Ben!" came the voice of Karen Millis, Marty's mother. She and her husband Luke walked up, carrying coffee and donuts with them. "I thought maybe you boys need a little break and a snack!"

"Oh Misses Millis, thank you!" Cyrus grinned.

"Where do you want them at?" Luke asked.

"Oh just set it on the table inside! Appreciated!" Ben pointed.

Karen and Luke stepped inside and happily greeted a happy looking Valery as she showed them their new house.

"Did my parents come over to snoop?" Marty joked to Ben as he gave him a playful nudge.

"Yeah, they dropped some donuts off~"

"Hope they got some lemon~" the Dober muttered as he carried a table lamp inside.

"Hey Marty, thanks for helping Mom~" smiled Ben.

"Anytime, for a friend~" Marty chuckled.

"Careful Marty! You'll strain your back with that lamp!" grinned a teasing Cyrus. Marty just flipped him off in return.

"Oh this is gonna be so great... I can't wait to get all my pictures hung up!" Valery exclaimed to Karen. Already hung up on the wall were three framed photos. One was a slightly faded picture of Bill, Valery, and a young Ben, posing together for Ben's eleventh birthday. It was one of the pictures Ben had salvaged from the rubble. Another picture was of Ben flying his silver Fiat, and lastly, just below it, a picture of Ben and Cyrus posing together with happy smiles on their faces. Valery looked at the pictures and it brought a happy smile to her face. After two years of being away, she was happy to be home.