**************************************************

A few minutes later, a big green Chevy Malibu station wagon pulled up to the curb, with Ace at the wheel. Patty rode shotgun, glancing anxiously out. Ace asked, "Hey guys, what's shakin?"

"Good Lord, what happened to Rachel?" Patty shouted. Fumbling at the latch she opened the door and rushed out to stand by Corinne and Paul, and seeing Gene carrying Rachel, knew better than to interrupt. He looked like he had THAT situation in hand.

"Huh?" Gene said, snapping out of his thoughts.

"Ace, shut up and give us a ride," Paul gritted.

"Biff was being an asshole," Gene said. He gave her a feral grin. "But he won't be messing with her anymore."

"What are you waiting for? Get in curly," he says as he opened the door and climbed out. "Pete's already gone for his shift at the restaurant... he figured you guys might wanna ride. Boy was HE on the money,"

"What a coincidence," Rachel muttered, still clinging to Gene.

"Yeah...strange..." Gene agreed, shooting Paul a look. 'You think your SO sly don't you Paulie?' he thought, restraining a laugh. Already Ace and Paul opened doors and bustled the group towards the vehicle, with the keys still in the ignition. Paul smirked, and Ace nodded as he climbed into the car, and started the engine again. Climbing into the front seat, Paul allowed Corinne and Patty to sit next to one another in back. Gene sat down on the other side and planted Rachel protectively into his lap. Voices soft and urgent, Corinne filled Patty in on the afternoon's developments.

"So it's onto Rachel's home for the end of Q1?" Ace asked, attempting to lighten the dour mood as best he could. "I got the stuff in the trunk..."

"Yup. That's it exactly." Gene agreed. "Pete gonna meet us or what?"

"He's bringing the chow," said Ace as he pulled away from the school. Through the rear view mirror he watched Gene sitting in back with Rachel on his lap while Patty and Corinne talked in hushed voices. While

Paul sensed their astonishment, he realized they're just glad Ray's all right to question Gene's strength.

"SO who's "staying" at my house just so I can cover for them?" Gene asked suddenly.

"Me," Paul said. "Mom and dad knew I was hanging out with ya today. No worries."

"Where's your glasses," Patty asks Ray, who was blinking.

"Don't ask," Paul winced.

Gene laughed. "Your mom HAS to be getting suspicious. That's what? 3 times this week? My mom gave me the eyebrow yesterday. She's gonna flip tonight when I try the 'I'm at Paul's" thing again."

"Well my place's not overused Curly," Ace shrugged. "You can tell 'em that I was helping ya with Physics... and showing off my new invention..."

"Yeah, right," snorted Corinne. "Your space age computer? Never work."

"No offence Ace but my mom thinks you're a pot head," Gene laughed. "Physics or no physics."

"Jeez, just tell 'em that Rache's giving you all a tutoring in science... she's gonna be a scientist or something someday anyway," Patty laughed.

Gene coughed, "Yeah...she's "tutoring" me alright...That'll work Space Ace!"

"Hey, I'm the driver, Curly, not yer social seccy," Ace laughed.

"Give him a break guys," Patty sighed.

"Lighten up, everyone," said Corinne. "It will be ok. The guys helped us..."

Gene sighed, putting a hand to his head, as he said in a low threatening voice, "They were out of line. WAY out of line. I swear if I see that asshole Biff again I'm gonna KILL him...." he growled

"Uh oh," said Ace. "Is he for real, Paul?"

"Deadly real," Paul telepathed back to Ace.

"Your DAMN right I'm for real Ace. He was groping Ray. WITHOUT her permission I may add. I would have decked him if it were ANY girl...but its personal. She's MY girlfriend."

"Gene, it's ok, you stopped him," Rachel urged Gene. "Let's just forget about it.. please…"

"He's right in what he did, Rache," Paul said. "He's justified. I wanted to tear them apart for what they almost did to Corinne. No man should treat a woman like that, EVER."

"Gene," Rachel said, kissing his cheek. Paul sensed she was really blown away by Gene's protectiveness toward her.

"And for the record I DIDNT initiate. He stepped up first. He started it." Gene took a deep breath trying to calm down. He REALLY didn't need to lose it right now. Paul slowly glanced at Gene, a purple glow emanating from deep within his dark eyes, seen only by the men.

"Do you want my help?" he telepathed to Gene. "Or should I butt out?"

'I'm good. Get outta my head, Romeo.' he growled, though more jokingly than anything.

"He's ok," Paul laughed to everyone. Corinne leans back and closes her eyes as Patty glances in confusion.

Ray leaned her head against Gene's shoulder and cuddled tightly against him. She felt safe, extremely safe, and at this realization Paul blinked. Corinne was edgy, that was sure enough because she had witnessed an ugly side of Gene. Luckily Paul's gentle telepathic 'fogging' had managed to lessen the effect of what Corinne had seen. Only he and she had witnessed the red glow in Gene's eyes, and Ray hadn't been looking at Gene when it happened.

"The shadow knows," he muttered, realizing how he was learning to use his powers.

Gene pulled Ray closer to him. "Everything's gonna be all right Hon," he whispered, kissing her ear softly. At Paul's words he looked up. "What Paul?"

"Nothing," Paul said. "I'll tell you later."

"Uh huh, I'll believe THAT when I..." Ace cackled, but shut up at Paul's glare. Sometimes he should quit with the wisecracks while he was ahead.

***

A half hour later, Ace pulled into the empty driveway of Rachel's home. Six stone steps led to a front porch, of a three story brick house. It was in a middle class neighborhood where a number of white collar professionals lived, not to mention a few well to do bluecollars that had made it up in the ranks, and well paid teachers and salespersons. Since her brother currently served in the Army he was not at home.

"Your mom planted petunias," Corinne said.

Gene wrinkled his nose. "What the hell is a petunia? I thought that was a dog's name..."

"It's an asteroid name," Ace cackled.

"Shut up Ace," Paul muttered. "It's a flower. My mom has 'em in window boxes."

He sensed that Peter was not far away from them, along with Beth. Nobody else was home or in the vicinity paying him or her any mind.

Gene rolled his eyes at Ace, "Power down there Ace. Get your feet back on Earth, ok?"

"Sorry Curly. Got carried away," Ace apologized. He climbed out from the driver's seat and ran around to open the door for Gene and Rachel. As Paul opened the door for them on the opposite side, the girls got out. Gene handed Rachel's keys to Corinne. She walked up to the mahogany door on the porch first to unlock it, followed shortly by the others.

From the trunk Ace grabbed a duffel bag with his d and D paraphernalia. Patty glanced at him, rolling her eyes. Gene wrapped his arm around Rachel's waist, refusing to leave her side. Slowly he walked alongside her to help her up the stairs and through the front door. When he helped her over the threshold, he leaned down and kissed her ear. "So I'm spending the night?" he whispered.

"Yes, I don't want to be alone," she pleaded.

As they walked into the foyer they followed Corinne into the living room area off to the right. Upstairs Gene glanced, remembering exactly where her bedroom was, down the hall from her parents room, and wished it was up in the attick where the children's old playroom was. Paul noticed the place was ecclectically neatly furnished; though clean. Ace cackled as he looked at the console TV and turned it on. He crowed, "Whoa, look, they have Beta!"

"Shut up and watch a tape if you're gonna do a social commentary," Paul rolled his eyes as Ace thumbed through their movie collection. Patty walked past them, checking out the dining room that was across the foyer. Both rooms were connected by a kitchen behind the front stairs. There was a butler's pantry even, laden with canned goods, and all manner of staples for making family dinners.

Gene kissed Rachel gently and nodded. "Let me go save your technology from Ace." he joked.

Corinne wandered into the kitchen, and shouted, "I'll get us some sodas... you got tab in here Rache?"

"There's coke in the fridge, and some potato chips in the pantry... and there is some tab for you Corinne," Rachel called back, sitting on the sofa while Gene moved over to stop Ace from punching the wrong buttons on the betamax. Paul joined the girls to help in the kitchen.

Gene walked up behind Ace and grabbed his shoulders, steering him toward the couch. "And the next stop on the Space Ace's tour was Rachel's lovely couch. Please have a seat. Refreshments will be served shortly." Gene joked as he shoved Ace onto the couch and imitating a flight attendant.

"You're no fun," Ace mumbled, sulking. Seeing her boyfriend in a mood, Patty entered the living room with a can of coke and put it into his hand. Ace cheered up, and rubbed his hands together when she set a bowl of chips in his lap as well.

"Glad you're here woman," he said, pulling her to sit on the arm of the chair and gave the back of her hand a kiss.

"Let Paul playing host with Corinne," she winked.

Gene grinned, all of the sudden in a playful mood. The atmosphere of the quiet house and his friends around had calmed him. "No fun huh Ace?" He put his fists up in a mock boxer's pose. "Fight ya for the couch."

"Uh huh, fatso's spoiling for a fight?" Ace grinned, setting the chips aside. Patty moved out of the way as he leapt up. Tackling Gene around the waist he started to wrestle with him.

"Boys, boys!" Patty groaned. Ray giggled, glad for the diversion. Bless Gene for trying to keep her emotionally sane with his antics, and for Ace chiming in.

"Fatso huh? Don't make me sit on your skinny ass," Gene playfully growled going for Ace's legs and knocking him onto the ground.

"Not in the face!" Ace laughed, holding his hand up before his face to block Gene's hand snaking toward it.

Paul wandered out of the kitchen, carrying a plate of sandwiches. Noticing the wrestling match he said, "Gene, Ace, you dumb asses, starting the party without ME?"

"Boys," Corinne sighed as she snatched the sandwiches from Paul, and set them next to the six packs of Coca-Cola on the coffee table.

"I know, really," Patty nodded, but the twinkle in her eye betrayed her true feelings. They loved seeing their guys busting each other's chops and wrestling with one another. It was comfortable and sane.

"Join in Paulie. Let's see what you've got. Fatso versus the worlds two skinniest guys." Gene teased back, throwing an imaginary punch at Ace and making a comic book sound effect, while sitting on his legs.

Ace laughed and said, "Zowie!"

Paul grabbed Gene's neck in a half nelson, and applied his fist to give him a noogie. Gene grunted grabbing Paul's arm and pretending to be stuck.

Hysterical, Ray panted, "Guys, guys, do that in the GARAGE... this isn't Friday night BOXING!"

"Aww you're no fun!" Gene called back.

"Let's let the BOYS have their sandbox time while we LADIES eat all the pizza," Patty called.

"No way!" Ace shouted. "Leave some for us!"

"You snooze, you lose," said Corinne.

"Shit, we'd better wrap this up quick guys," Paul laughed.

Corinne answered the sharp rat-tat-tat that diverted their attention. Peter stood behind the front door holding two boxes of pizzas. He shook his head. Gene laughed and grabbed Paul's legs, knocking him on his butt and tickling his ribs. "Paybacks a bitch huh? Say uncle."

"Your ass," Paul laughed back. Shoving the pies into Beth's hands, Peter joined the fray. Peter grabbed Paul's leg and pretended to twist it.

Beth shook her head, setting the pizzas before the amused girls. They opened cans of soda and quickly divided the pizzas among them. As the girls start to tear into the pizza and cokes, Ace grabbed Peter's arm and squirmed under Gene's body.

"Yeah! Get him Peter!" Gene cheered releasing Paul and locking Ace into a headlock.

Ace squawked oddly, "Ack! Whatcha doing..."

"What the hell kinda noise is THAT?" Paul asks as he hears Ace's squawk. Peter rolled over, pinning Paul, but Paul managed to twist out from under him. They began to wrestle high school style, pushing one another with their bodies past the sofa.

"Ace getting shot down for being a big mouth." Gene laughed, dodging one of Ace's flailing arms. He backed off and dropped into a wrestling pose. "Come on Space Ace."

Ace snickered and snaked out his leg to trip Gene. Paul and Peter are continuing to wrestle, neither one gaining any ground. Gene tripped, tumbling into Ace and sending Ace sprawling. "Nice one Ace..." Gene groaned. "You alive..."

"Get off me!" he laughed. "I'm getting crushed... gravity too heavy..."

Paul gets up from where he pinned Peter on the floor and hauls Gene off Ace with little effort. Sides heaving, Peter laughed his butt off because they looked so silly.

"I think I have rug burn on my chin." Gene laughed sitting down on the couch heavily, grinning.

"Tough," laughed Corinne. "That's what happens when you BOYS play around."

"Ouch," Paul laughed.

Gene grinned at her. "Oh yeah little lady? How bout you next?"

"Keep off, she's mine," said Paul as he tiptoed over and started to tickle her. She shrieked, falling backwards onto the love seat. Paul tripped as her leg snared his, and landed heavily on top of her.

"Whoops, whoa boy," she winked. Paul knew better than to ask if she was all right, and quickly seized the opportunity.

They started to kiss softly, and Ace groaned, "What is this, planet Venus?"

Gene rolled his eyes. "Uh...yeah...Have at it."

"Only YOU would say that," Peter laughed. He nodded towards Beth, who took the cue. He took Beth's hand and a plate of pizza in his other. Together they retired to the kitchen. Ace shrugged and takes a seat with Patty to watch TV.

Gene looked at Rachel and crooked a finger at her. "How bout you? Dare to challenge me?"

"Mmm, let's see," Rachel grinned as she crawled toward him. She launched herself at Gene with a mock growl. Meanwhile, Ace sat down, having chosen a channel he liked. Putting Patty on his lap, she set the popcorn between them, and a plate of pizza. They settled down to watch a monster movie on TV.

Gene laughed, catching Rachel. "Ooh yeah baby, you know I like it rough, " he teased, kissing her.

She moaned through the kiss, and they hear soft giggles from Paul and Corinne who were making out on the sofa. Peter was with Beth in the kitchen, with the door closed. Yet they could still hear a few thumps and snatches of laughter from within that indicated peter was frolicking, and not simply making soup. Subdued, Ace put away a second slice of pizza with his girlfriend on his lap in the easy chair. Both were off in their own world, oblivious to their surroundings.

Gene mock growled at her and stretched out on the couch, pulling her against him. She laughed and feels him under her, his muscles substantial and strong. She was amazed with how strong he seems, and how easily he carried her away.

"Just like a comic book," she laughed as she kissed him, and twined her fingers in his curly hair. Overnight it seemed to have grown several inches, bushier and giving Gene a wilder appearance.

Gene chuckled through the kiss. "Only better. Cause I'm real and I ALWAYS get the girl."

"Thank god for that," she muttered as she rubbed his chest and felt the warmth his body radiated.

Corinne giggled as Paul tickled her, but their innocent play soon took on a more mature tone. Within minutes they moaned softly as their hands glided over one another's bodies. Shaking his head, Ace turned up the volume on the TV to drown them out.

Gene saw Corinne and Paul out of the corner of his eye and laughed. "Get a room you two."

"Sounds good to me, what do you think, sexy?" Corinne asked Paul.

"C'mon let's stop the peepshow and get down to business," Paul said as he grabbed her hand and pulled her up to stand next to him. They walked into the den, and closed the door behind them.

Gene laughed even harder. "That was easy," he said, smirking at Rachel.

"So, here or someplace else?" she winked. With a nod she indicated Ace who was pressing soft kisses to Patty's face. What took him so long, Gene wondered. Ten to one, Ace was still waiting to make his move. Better late than never.

"You up to it…" Gene asked, resting his arm around her shoulders.

"More that up to it. My hero gets the girl, and you're going to get your reward," she purred. Gene grinned and picked her up. His feet clomped heavily upstairs toward her room, and Ace heard the distant slam of her door.

"Love shack," Patty muttered through the kiss with Ace.

"More the merrier woman," Ace cackled as he leaned forward and touched his nose to hers. He pressed a soft kiss to her lips and she moaned as she leaned into it. His gropes became more sure, with each caress, and she lowered herself to him with a smile on her face when he opened the recliner. Gene had the right idea, because he had a suspicion that Dizzy would be giving them a call to pay him another visit sooner than they expected.

**

Turning over, Rachel jerked awake, and felt releif when she felt Gene's strong arms around her. He was strong and heavy in her bed, and she was glad she had a full because she had to lie on top of him so they both could fit into it. Not that she minded considering what they'd just enjoyed.

"What time is it?" she asked as she looked down at him.

"Don't care," Gene murmured, pulling her back down in a kiss. Their clothes were strewn about the floor in a haphazard trail from the door to the bedside. She played with the gold chain around his neck as he fingered her star of david.

"You said you couldn't make any promises about staying the night earlier, and now you're here… are you in some kind of trouble… you said your parents home was like a war zone…" Ray said fingering his chest hair.

"Don't think about it. Just think about now," Gene urged, cutting her off with a hungry kiss. "You don't need that drama. You got enough with me…"