Part Three

The moment the door was closed, he slid down against it until he sat. He had done it. He had held up his end of a successful date, a date with Mohinder Suresh. He had kissed him. Mohinder had kissed him back. His lips were still tingling from the experience. Mohinder had bought him dinner. Mohinder thought he was special. Mohinder even wanted to see him again- here. Suddenly a fist of raw panic gripped Gabriel's heart hard. Mohinder would coming here for dinner tomorrow night. He had less than twenty four hours to prepare. He had to sleep, at least a little. He had to work tomorrow. That left him- no time to spare.

Gabriel stood and looked around with a critical eye. He really hadn't given his apartment this much thought since before moving into it. He had never had anyone else over. His mother was too much of a recluse to bother him at home, at least in person- thank God. That was the purpose of his cell phone. He was neat by nature. He didn't care to feel the weight of clutter around him. As a result, his rooms were kept tidy and strictly functional. The kitchen was a little less bare than the rest but no less functional. He spent more time there and in the bedroom than anywhere else. He had never enjoyed any of the television his mother watched and saw no reason to purchase one of his own. All the electronics he owned he kept at the shop. Most of his books were here though. Usually when he was not cooking, eating, reading, showering, or sleeping, he was at the shop. His apartment, though it suited him most days, was looking sparse and uninviting at best to him now. He hadn't dusted for nearly a week. Why had he never bothered to repaint the place after the previous inhabitants? He simply didn't have time to worry about that now. Gabriel had too much work to do.

After he dusted thoroughly, cleaned his windows, swept the floors and vacuumed the carpets, Gabriel checked his refrigerator, freezer, and cupboards. He made a shopping list, then started on the things he could prepare ahead of time for dinner tomorrow. It was nearly midnight before he was ready to call it a night. Gabriel curled up on his side in bed and let the events of the day unfold in his memory. Today had been without a doubt the best day of his life. He touched his lips again remembering the feel of Mohinder pressed against him. Just the memory of their kisses caused his breath to catch and his heart to hammer.

What would tomorrow bring? What if Mohinder changed his mind about him? What if he doesn't show up at all? Should he call him if that were to happen? Just to make sure that Mohinder was okay? Would that be too pathetic? What if he does show up but doesn't like dinner? What if something burns or turns out badly? What if Mohinder hates the apartment? What if the toilet backs up like it did last year? What if there's a gas leak in the building? Anything could happen! Why had he wanted to bring Mohinder here? Why not meet him in public somewhere again, somewhere where Mohinder could have fun. He could have asked to take him to a museum or a concert or a film or something. No. Mohinder had wanted to come. Mohinder wanted a home-cooked meal. He could provide that. He would make this work. It was necessary that he did.

That night Gabriel dreamt that he could do amazing things. He could bend steel in his bare hands. He could create objects out of thin air. He was dressed all in black for some reason and was standing on a rooftop overlooking Manhattan. Mohinder was there too, but was afraid of a monster that was coming to get them. He tried to tell Mohinder not to worry, that he would protect them both. Mohinder wouldn't listen. He started running away in a panic. Gabriel pursued him. Then Mohinder fell over the side of the building. Gabriel rushed to the edge and found Mohinder hanging there. Gabriel reached down to grab Mohinder's hand. When their eyes met, Mohinder let go. As he watched Mohinder fall, he finally understood why Mohinder had been terrified. The monster was him.

He awoke near dawn in a cold sweat. He stripped off his tshirt and sleeping pants, and pulled the sweat-soaked sheets from the bed too, and tossed the lot into the clothes washer in the kitchen. By the time he had showered and dressed the specifics of his dream were distant. Nothing but a vague feeling of dread remained that he attributed to worry over his second date with Mohinder. In the kitchen he transfered the clothes to the drier and put the kettle on. He rarely drank tea, but figured that today he could use the caffeine. Tea made him feel close to Mohinder too. He added tea to his shopping list figuring the ancient Lipton's teabags he kept in his freezer weren't terribly impressive. He remade his bed waiting for the kettle to boil. These were his best sheets. The thought made him blush. No way was Mohinder going to see them anyway. It wasn't like that. It was just dinner.

But he might see them some day, right? That was where all this could lead, providing tonight went well. Before meeting Mohinder he never even had considered the idea of having intimate relations with a man. Thinking about bed and Mohinder in the same sentences made him realize why sex beyond masturbation had been of so little interest to him before now. Before now, his ideas about intimacy had always involved a woman. Women were so alien, so complicated, so intimidating. Some women were like his mother. The idea of being intimate with any woman was something he didn't even like to think about. According to his mother it was his mission in life- to find a nice girl (like her) and settle down. That would have been settling for less, he now realized. Less, and far too little given the possible alternative. Mohinder added a whole new dimension to the idea of settling down. So, that meant that he was gay, right?

"I'm gay." Hearing it out loud sounded right to him. So he was gay. He knew nothing whatsoever about being gay. He needed to read some books and soon. He needed to make a to do list and write that at the very top. He needed tonight to go smoothly. He needed Mohinder Suresh. More than he needed to keep breathing, he needed Mohinder. The kettle whistled. He'd have his tea then clean his bathroom whether it needed it or not.

Though he got more than the average Saturday's worth of customers, his hours at the shop dragged. His every thought not referencing Mohinder directly, involved preparations for a quick close and doing what needed to be done before Mohinder arrived at his door at six thirty. At three-thirty two, he'd had all that he could stand of Gray and Son. He lit the closed sign, locked the door, and counted down the drawer. It was sixteen past four by the time he locked the doors behind him. The shops were packed. At each he grabbed what he needed and tried to pick the quickest line. It was five to five by the time he returned bags in hand to his building. Almost an hour and a half gave him just enough time.

At six thirteen, Gabriel tossed his apron and clothes into the washer and took a very quick shower. He brushed and flossed his teeth, gargled, dressed, and was just about to comb his hair flat when the knock sounded. Why was his hair a complete mess everytime he saw Mohinder? He opened the door. There stood Mohinder and his perfect smile.

"I hope I'm not too early? I didn't want to be late."

"You're perfect. Come in."

"Hello."

"Hello Mohinder." Gabriel leaned down slightly. Mohinder went up on his toes. Their lips met in the middle.

"I missed you."

"I've been thinking about you all day. I'm so glad you're here now."

"Something smells wonderful. You're not cooking Indian food?"

"Well I hope that's what it is. Come take a look."

"Your apartment- it's so clean!"

"I dusted."

"Dusted? We could eat off the floor in here!"

"That's not another one of your kinks, is it?"

"It just might become one. What have you made? Are those idlis?"

"I know it's considered mainly a breakfast food. The shapes are a little off too. I had to use a glass devilled egg dish since I didn't know where I could get my hands on an idli pan."

"You made idlis! I can't believe it! Do you know that I dream about eating idlis?"

"There's a sambar and a mint chutney to go with them."

"Gabriel, I don't know what to say. I would never have expected anything like this. I'd have been perfectly happy with a cheese sandwich."

"Now you tell me."

"I'm very happy I never mentioned it."

"There are also mango lassis and chai, a salad too, and apple pie for dessert. I thought about trying for an Indian dessert, but I make pretty good pies."

"I love apple pie."

"Good, because I made three. You can take one home with you."

"Three?"

"Little ones. I used 5 inch pans. The other one's for my mother."

"Your mother lives here in the city?"

"Three blocks that way."

"I'd love to meet her some time?"

"Maybe you think that now. My mother- she's difficult."

Just then the phone rang.

"And her timing is impeccable. This might take a while. Feel free to start."

"It's fine. I'd much rather wait and eat with you."

"Hello? Now? No. No. Please listen. Please listen? No. No. Can I- no. Can I do that later tonight? Because I have a date. Right now. Yes, we are about to eat. Not exactly. Look, can I come over later? No. No. Yes, all right. Yes, I know. I do. Yes, I do. No. No. I'll come as soon as I can. No. No, it won't. It won't. It won't. I wouldn't do that. Listen. Listen for a minute. Please just listen? No. No. No, of course not. You know better than that. You know that I do. I can't. I can't. Not right now, I can't. Please listen, I can't. I'll come over right after we eat. No. No, right after. No. No. After. No. No! Fine. I'll be right there. Yes. No, I'm coming over there now. Right now. I just said that I'd come right over. No, I'll leave now. Now. As soon as you say goodbye and hang up your phone. Bye. Hang up. Hang up your phone. Goodbye. It's okay, just hang up your phone. Just hang up the phone now. If you won't I will. Fine. Bye."

"I couldn't help overhearing. Is everything all right?"

"I'm so sorry, Mohinder."

"What is it? Was that your mother?"

"Yeah, she's having a bad day."

"Is she all right?"

"Not really, no. I didn't mean that she's hurt or anything. She wants me to go over and move some furniture for her. Stay. I hope you enjoy dinner. I'll be back just as soon as I can- but if you're not here when I-"

"Let me come. I can help you move your mother's furniture. Besides, idlis are even better cold."

"I appreciate that you would offer. It might be better though if you were to meet my mother-" at her funeral maybe? "when she's more calm."

Mohinder's disappointment was subtle and tinged with- what? Hurt? Could he possibly think that Gabriel was ashamed of him?

"You know what? She's equally difficult in any mood. As long as you're sure you want to accompany me, I'd like it very much if you do. But just so you know- her furniture weighs a ton."

"I've had plenty of practice with my own difficult parents. I'll be most happy to assist," Mohinder gave Gabriel a rather significant and understanding look, "in any way I can."

"I just- look Mohinder, I apologize in advance if this turns out to be a really unpleasant experience for you. She's-"

"Difficult, yes, I understand."

"I know that moving my mother's apartment to the left was probably the last thing you had in mind for tonight. It's perfectly okay if you want to reconsider your offer. You can stay and eat in peace, or if you'd rather, I'll wrap up the food to take with you, or-"

Mohinder's lips pressed against his, took away the rest of that thought. Then Mohinder pulled him into the perfect hug and whispered against his shoulder, "Gabriel, I came here tonight with no expectations except to eat, possibly just a cheese sandwich, and to spend time with you so we may get to know one another. I'd be honored to meet your mother tonight."

"Just remember that I did try to warn you."

"Gabriel you worry too much. How horribly wrong could our visit go? We are bringing her apple pie after all."

(TBC- Thanks for reading. All comment is welcome. Reviewers are my favorite people in the world.)