"So tell me, sweetie," Naomi Sandburg chirped. "Is Jim a good kisser?"
To say that Blair was taken aback by this question was putting it mildly. "Huh?"
"Is Jim a good kisser," she repeated.
Blair opened his mouth but found nothing came out as a look of pure puzzlement crossed his face. "Wh...what exactly do you mean by that?"
Naomi folded her arms. "It's a simple enough question, sweetie. I just want a simple answer to my simple question."
Blair shook his head as if to shake off his mother's aura. He couldn't believe that she had made one of her rare whirlwind trips to Cascade on a quest for this information. "Maybe you should be asking Michelle."Oh great. Michelle will love you for that one.
Naomi fished into the canvas bag that hung from her shoulder and retrieved a section of newspaper. "No, Blair. It looks to me as if I should be asking you."
There it was again! Same picture. Same article... Different newspaper, however. Blair leaned against the back of the sofa. "So?"
"Sooo. Why didn't you tell me?" Her tone was somewhat patronizing. "I mean I understand these things."
Blair's lips parted. "What things?"
She gave her son a "you know" look.
"Oh, just great. You're as bad a Jim's dad. I mean how can you possibly think..." He didn't even bother to finish.
"So, is he?" Naomi persisted.
"Is he what?"
"A good kisser."
Blair rubbed at his eyes then looked to Naomi who was waiting expectantly. "And this is something important for you to know because...."
Naomi reached out and stroked his arm. "Well, sweetie, I want you to be happy. And if this is what you've chosen, I'd at least hope he's a good kisser."
Blair knocked his mother's hand away. "You just don't get this do you. Jim and I aren't..." He thought of trying to explain it to her and then figured that anthropologically and biologically speaking his life expectancy was only fifty more years. Instead he threw his hands up in frustrated surrender. "Fine. Fine. Jim's a great kisser!!! Are you happy now?"
*************************
Jim and Michelle had been riding the elevator in companionable silence, she unaware that Jim had his hearing trained on the situation in the loft. As they exited the elevator Jim burst out laughing.
"Was there something humorous about that short ride that I missed."
"Sorry," Jim apologized. "I was listening in on the loft. Blair just told his mother I was a great kisser."
"Yes, I guess that is pretty funny," she said so serious that Jim threw her a classic Ellison sneer.
*************************
"There's no need to get upset with me." Naomi seemed wounded.
"Mom, I'm not... Okay, I am. It's because you aren't getting this."
"I'm glad at least he's a good kisser."
"You know," he began sweetly. "You can kiss my...."
"Chief!" Jim and Michelle's entrance prevented Blair from telling Naomi exactly what she could kiss.
However, Naomi rushed to Jim and kissed his cheek saying something about being happy for the two of them. And how she wanted him to know that she understood.
Michelle surveyed the situation. "Great. Same movie. Different actors. I've got to stop coming in like this."
"It's okay, Jim," Naomi continued. "I saw the paper." She held it up for inspection.
Jim once again found himself face to face with the picture taken at the friendship ceremony... at the very moment of consecration. Irritated Jim asked to no one in particular. "Doesn't anyone ever read the articles?"
Naomi answered. "I think the picture says it all don't you?"
Jim sighed. "It does indeed. It's just not saying what you think."
Naomi moved to Michelle. "What do you know about this?"
Michelle folded her arms. "I know it's not what you seem to believe."
Indicating the picture Naomi asked, "Come on now what would you think?"
"Knowing the two people involved... as well as you do... I'd think it was friendship."
While Michelle and Naomi were going back and forth, Naomi insisting that that behavior was indicative of romantic love, Michelle explaining until blue that it wasn't Jim moved closer to Blair's side. And with only the need to lighten his friend's mood he leaned to whisper in his ear, "I heard you think I'm a great kisser." He got the reaction he was after when Blair blew out a laugh.
"So, what did Betty think about this?" Betty was Michelle's mother and a long time acquaintance of Naomi's.
"I believe her exact words were Mazel Tov."
"She isn't alarmed that her daughter is seeing someone who's involved."
"Naomi, I know what you're thinking. You've made that extremely clear. But, see, my mother understands that this was a ceremony to consecrate friendship." Michelle looked to Blair. "Why am I the one explaining this?"
Jim squeezed her shoulder. "No one should even have to. Look, Naomi, Blair means more to me than anything..."
She opened her mouth. Jim held up a hand to hush her. "That's what that ceremony was about. Our friendship... period." Again she opened her mouth. "End."
"May I speak now?" Jim acquiesced with a gesture of his hand. "If it's not that, and, you know, I would have no trouble accepting it if it was. Then why... why are you kissing my son like it is?"
At that something in Blair snapped. "Because he isn't!" He was raising his voice now. "Look, you were not on the giving or receiving end of that kiss so you know nothing about it!"
"But, sweetie," Naomi leaned close to him. "You're kissing on the... lips." She spoke the word lips barely above a whisper."
"That's right- lips," Blair informed her mid rant. " You don't have to whisper. It's no secret. I was there. I know where the kiss landed."
"And it doesn't bother you?"
"Oh, for cryin' out loud, Mom. You kiss me on the lips."
Naomi laid an affectionate hand on her son's cheek. "I'm your mother."
Blair recoiled from the contact. "Yeah, you are. Hey, maybe we've got some incest thing going!"
It was all Jim and Michelle could do to keep from laughing hysterically at that statement.
Relenting Naomi lowered her hand... and her head. "I hear that," she said quietly. And with that she retreated from the loft.
The three let out a collective groan. And one behind the other circled to the front of the sofa all sitting simultaneously, Michelle between the two men. "You two are out of parents at this point, right?"
Jim leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands over his ears. "I don't want to hear anymore about it."
Michelle copied his stance with her hands over her eyes. "I hope I don't see her for a while."
Blair fell into the same position, his hands over his mouth. "I'm not saying anything."
A minute passed and the three leaned back against the sofa cushions. Then Blair let out an exhausted grunt and turning fell back across Jim and Michelle, his head coming to rest in Jim's lap. As if on automatic pilot Jim laid his right hand on top of Blair's head, his fingers weaving into the curls, his thumb smoothing the tension lines on his forehead. His left hand dropped on Blair's stomach. Just as absently Blair began to toy with the fingers on Jim's left hand. Jim used his right thumb to delicately close each of his friend's eyelids. He then resumed the comforting touch to his brow.
Michelle watched the scene silently for a few moments then asked, "Do you two want to be alone to cuddle?" There was no sarcasm in her question.
Instantly, Blair's eyes flew open and he glared at her. Jim's hand came to a halt and his head whipped around as he pinned her with a stern gaze. "Cuddle?"
Michelle shrugged. "I'm sorry. I don't know the politically correct macho term for it." She paused. "Do you want some close time?" She didn't wait for a response. "Sit up," she told Blair.
When he did she rose part way and leaned back to give Jim a kiss. "I'll see you at the bullpen tomorrow for lunch." And before he could say anything added, "I know. Deep fried heart attack on a stick. You got it." They shared another kiss before she turned to leave, her hand meeting and sliding across Blair's in a farewell gesture. "Good-bye."
When she was gone Blair scooted back against Jim who wrapped an arm around his shoulder and anchored him close, placing a kiss on the side of his head. Blair took hold of Jim's free hand and resumed the motions of play. "Is that what we're doing, man, cuddling?" Blair finally asked.
Jim chuckled. "Yeah, I suppose it is."
Blair nodded. "I just never thought about it before. I mean we just do what we do. Funny how when Michelle put that word to it we both freaked. I guess in a way we're just as uptight as our parents."
Jim shook his head. "Never, Chief." There was a pause. "With all this hassle from the family, you don't regret having the ceremony do you?"
Blair turned to look at his friend. "God, no! Of course not! I know I was reluctant at first but I'll never regret it." He settled back against Jim.
There was another pause. "Do you wish I'd landed that kiss elsewhere?"
"Jim, man, that wasn't just you. That was something we shared." He tipped his head to look at him again. "Wasn't that the idea? Look, your dad had his little hissy fit. My mom had her say. And who really cares anyway. It's just kind of tiring to listen to. It's not about them anyway."
Jim tugged the young man even closer. "I love you, Blair." No matter how many times he said it it didn't seem like enough.
Blair sighed relaxing back against the brother of his heart. "I know."
"Well?" Jim asked with feigned indignation.
"I love you too, big guy."
Jim bent to whisper in Blair's ear. "I know."
And in that knowledge the two sat.... yes dang it! Cuddling.
THE END