This story is about a young man's quest to fix a major birth defect--he was born without a penis. On his quest he meets his soul mate and many other soon to be friends.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and events are the product of the author's imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to any real person is coincidental.
The story depicts procedures and practices common for gender reassignment; however, this story does not claim to be a medical treatise, and information is primarily for the purpose of the story and not medical advice. This story is written for adults with adult themes. If you are underage or live in a location where references to gay relationships or transgender people is forbidden, please log out of the story or move.
This work is copyrighted by Boethiuscell@gmail.com © 2023
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Chapter 12--The Talk
Once back at the hotel, Chris quickly changed into a robe. It was early, only a little after ten, but the day was exhausting. He grabbed a bottle of ginger ale from the fridge dimmed most of the lights, turned on the fireplace and sat on the sofa, soon lost in thoughts--most not soothing. Tom slide onto the sofa next to Chris wearing only royal blue silk boxers. He is so gorgeous, Chris thought. How did this happen? Tom. Could I lose him and survive. Yes, barely. I have a job so I do not need to return to the past. But what future without Tom? Steve wanted to be honest and maybe scare me so I would not be ignorant. But I know I must do this with or without Tom. A child with Tom--nice. But I know nothing about Tom except is grandfather is titled in Britain. Tom what are you hiding? Why? Chris looked at Tom's smooth chest. He was not well muscled, but he was well defined. His face was firm, eager, and young, very young. His smile was spontaneous and genuine. Chris could see himself growing old with him. God, he is so perfect. Could I ever survive losing him? What...
"You seem to be elsewhere," Tom intruded on Chris's rumination, "Did Steve scare you that bad?"
Chris looked up at Tom. "Did Stephy scare you?"
Toms laugh was like water falling, "Seems they scared us both. Have you changed your mind?"
"No," Chris's reply was soft but firm. "You?"
"No, not one bit. I know what I want and will work through whatever it takes to keep it."
Chris moved so his head rested on Tom's bare chest. "I am prepared for the worst. Time for you to tell me everything you have been hiding." Chris tilted his head up to look at Tom, who sighed. "I know your grandfather is titled, your parents live in LA. You have two brothers and a sister. Nothing there is scary. Why the reticence?"
Tom loved how Chris felt leaning against his chest. He was suddenly afraid that he could lose him if he did not tell everything. But he might lose him if he told everything. Tom sighed deeply; Chris's head undulating with the inhale and exhale. "What do you want to know?" Tom asked, hoping that Chris would be happy with basics.
"Parents in LA why?"
Easy question. "My Dad is a screenwriter and my mother is an attorney." Tom felt some burden lift. "LA was a natural location to live."
"Are your parents British or American?"
"My dad was born in Britain, but is an American citizen, as am I," Tom quickly added. "My Mother is American, born in Montana."
"Why is your dad an American citizen? I mean, your grandfather must not have been happy."
Tom chuckled softly, "Not much makes Grandda happy. Grandda did not approve their relationship. Does not approve their relationship."
"Why?" Chris looked up briefly to meet Tom's violet eyes. "Because she was an American."
"Partly?" Chris waited for more. Tom felt trapped and didn't know how to escape. "Grandda does not feel that my mother meets the family standard." There was a strong touch of bitterness in his voice.
"Your father is heir to the estate right?"
"Yes, but because of the marriage he was cut out of succession."
"So, it's you.?"
"Yes," Tom sighed in resignation.
"Why?" Chris asked, "Your father is out so why not you too?"
"I am the next in line, after my father, so Grandda will likely name me. Although, I have several cousins would could qualify."
"Do you meet the family standard?"
"I do."
Chris lay against Tom's chest feeling swaddled in love, but something was not still said. Chris always hated twenty questions at parties. And Tom was not going to say anything unless forced. Chris moved away from Tom's chest. "Tom, you are not being fully honest. You must be if you want to keep me." Tom flushed and stammered. "At the library you told Cindy that the Greenwood forest was named after the family. Why would a forest be named after your family and not the other way?"
Dangerous ground, Tom stiffened, "The roots of my family go back thousands of years in Britain. At least according to family lore, which I believe." Tom looked at Chris, sitting erect against the arm of the sofa. He wished Chris would resume his place on his chest. It must all come out. "In ancient times, before the Normans, Saxons, Romans, and Celts, the island of England was covers in vast forests, where my ancestor's live part hunter gatherer part farmers. The forest was our home and our livelihood. We cared for the forest, we're one with the forest. But each wave of invaders came and chipped away until all that is left is what is on my Grandda's estate. So now that forest bears our name."
"Did your ancestor's build Stonehenge?"
"Probably, we were already in Britain before Stonehenge was conceived.
"I find it curious that you have family history going so far back. I mean I barely know my grandparents and have heard stories of my great grandfather emigrating from Italy through Ellis Island, but beyond that nothing. To have thousands of years is mind boggling."
"I do not have details and names. I just am told that we, my forbearers, were present and so was the forest?
"Do you believe the family story?"
"Yes," Tom's answer was firm and sudden. A muscle above Chris's eye twitched. "We were sometimes called the hidden people or the white ones"
"Why hidden?"
"We were the original inhabitants and forced into hiding."
Chris looked quizzically at Tom, "White ones? Are you a fairy?"
Tom quirked an eyebrow at Chris. "Very funny."
Chris laughed, "I thought so."
"I'm an elf."
Chris started to laugh and say now smile on Tom's face. "An Elf?"
"That is the old term, but not like in the stories or in the Rings."
`Elves are no smaller
than men, and walk
as men do, in this world,
but with more grace than most,
and are not immortal.'
This modern poem I think explains it." Tom smiled hoping all this was not a bad idea, But also knowing it was necessary.
"So, enlighten me" Chris smirked, but quickly turned serious because Tom was.
"It is not very complicated. The Greenwoods are gifted by nature."
"Why was your mother not acceptable to your grandfather?" Chris thought a change of direction was needed. "Is she not gorgeous like you?" Chris smiled with a small upturn of the corners of his mouth.
"My mother is beautiful." Tom replied. He was defensive and wary. But he saw Chris's gotcha smile. "You saw pictures of her while at the library."
"Yeah," Chris beamed back. "So why not accept her?"
"You know how royalty is supposed to marry royalty. So, it is with my Grandda."
"I don't understand. Ariel is not royal; she was from London, educated but common stock."
"It is not that kind of royalty. It is in the blood." Tom stopped, "the genetics. My mother is not gifted by genetics."
"How not gifted?"
Tom looked at Chris. He had a decision, either was fraught with peril and losing Chris, but it was time, Chris was not going to stop until he understood. And Chris would need to know eventually; Tom just hoped it would be after their relationship had more time to grow. "There is a genetic mutation, we currently believe, that makes the Greenwood family tree." Tom paused looking for a passable word. "Unique."
"Like hemophilia?"
"The Greenwood trait is not debilitating, usually." Tom looked at Chris, who had concern in his rigid posture. "You might say we are gifted--psychic, but that is not accurate."
"Read minds, see dead people, know the future," Chris felt himself on a roll, "Tarot cards, crystal balls, aroma therapy?"
"Chris, this is serious."
"I am being serious, and you are not being clear."
"Ariel sees auras, like you, but she also can sense danger."
"Tells the future?"
"No," Tom pause, "Yes, sort of, It not like she can say that in a year you will meet a tall dark stranger. She senses imminent threats to people that are close to her." Tom looked at Chris for reassurance and got a smile. ""A couple of years ago Cedrick was at the airport ready to board a plan when she grabbed his arm and said don't go. Of course, he didn't and the plane crashed killing everyone."
"Wow, it could have been a coincidence that she was right." Tom shook his head, Chris sat thinking, "That is a terrible burden because she could have warned the other people on the plane and saved lives." Chris dropped his head, "But who would have believed her. Cassandra's curse."
"She did tell a few people, who believed her, but they boarded the plane anyway."
"Can one escape fate." Chris sat quiet pondering that question and the past week. "And what is your gift?"
"I have not come fully into mine. They develop with age. But one I have is just being in the right place at the right time to make a difference in a person's life."
"Like Chaz?" Chris asked, "He told me how you met."
"Yes like Chaz."
"And me?"
Tom paused at that question. "Not sure." He shrugged, "Usually I see someone and have an urge to intervene." Tom looked at Chris suddenly realizing something that nagged him.
"Sort of like the Long Island Medium approaching strangers and talking about dead people?"
Tom laughed, "Sort of."
"Doesn't that make your feel manipulated? Destiny or fate forcing you to act."
"I am not forced to act. At the restaurant the night we met, Remember Henry" Chris said yes, "I had a feeling that he needed to meet me. At some point our paths will cross again." Tom pulled closer to Chris. "Just a feeling that may or may not happen."
Chris put his head back on Tom's chest. "Why aren't you sure that you were destined to meet me?"
"You approached me, so it may have been your destiny and not mine."
Chris lazily drew circles around Tom's nipples. "Are you worried that your grandfather may reject me like your mother?"
Tom took a deep breath and shooed Chris's hands away from his nipple. "Don't distract me, but yes."
"I don't have the Greenwood gift?"
"I suspect that you do, You see auras. That is rare. And you have an innate way with people. You help them--like Cindi at the library."
"I didn't do anything special, Just talked."
"But, you see that is a gift."
"So why are you worried about your grandfather?"
"I am his heir apparent."
"So."
"I am expected to have heirs. Being gay does limit the prospects."
"Doesn't he know your gay and now you will have to tell him."
"Oh, he knows. My mother always knew I was and made sure Grandda knew and respected me." Tom thought. "I think that is one reason that he does not like my mother. She won't stand for his crap and attitude."
"I can't wait to meet your Mother; I think I will like her."
"And she you."
"Your grandfather wants an heir. I understand that."
"I have cousins who are very fecund and could inherit, but Grandda wants me to succeed. Don't ask me why. He would be content if I married a woman but screwed any man I wanted as long as the woman gave birth to my child."
Chris sat thinking about his conversation with Steve. "Tom. I am a woman and could have your child if you wanted?"
"Would you?" Tom asked and then looked in Chris's face. "Have you ever had vaginal sex?"
"No," then Chris added, "thank God."
"I will not ask that of you. I think it would destroy you." Tom smile broadly, "I like you as a man."
"I like the idea of us having a child together." Chris smiled, "Steve suggested that I freeze my eggs and then use a surrogate."
Tom blinked several times as the idea trickled through his brain. "That is a wonderful idea, if you are willing." Tom pulled Chris into a kiss. "But won't it interfere with your hormone therapy?"
"I can postpone starting until after Milan, It's only a few months away," Chris quickly added.
"Serious?"
"Yeah, very serious." Chris smiled as a whole future of little Greenwoods burgeoned.