As the summer sun continued to beam through the shimmering windows Kevin Oaks pushed the doors open in the small cafe known as Molly's Cafe. The small yet beautiful place had beaten out competition from bigger competitors simply because it had the support of the stubborn people of St. Peters. Although they where often set in their ways, and that was a bad thing, he was pleased that this place was still around. He had grown up in this shop, going to the meetings his mother made with her friends here and where his dad came to get ready for another binging session. Looking around he nodded his head as he noticed the attention he had gained since his entrance but interest soon disintegrated and he was left to sit alone with his own thoughts. He hadn't wanted to spend the day with Christian anyway, not when he was catching up with Markus. So now he found himself, sitting waiting for the time to pass in one of his favourite places in St. Peter's. Pulling at the sleeve of his sweater, the two variant shades of brown slipped over his hands before he decided to remove his jacket. The brown leather jacket was attracting unwanted heat that he wasn't truly ready for. It was busy today, a waitress or waitor had yet to pay a visit to his table but that was okay he supposed. He had the time to sit and relax. mull over the refreshing break he had had.

As soon as he managed to pull himself from the bed, he took a nice warm shower which was always a pleasant sensation before getting ready in civilian clothes. He had settled down on the sofa and caught up with Christian, something they had needed. In which the plans to spend the rest of the day with Markus were revealed, and although he was invited of course he had chosen to decline. The light blond tips of his hair fluttered before his eyes as he waited, as patiently as he could. He was killing time. No other reason really to be here. He just wanted a coffee and that wouldn't even take a minute, his back pocket vibrated as he pulled out his cellular. A text asking how he was from an unrecognized number. He was certain he would see the texter before the end of the day as he looked around the building checking from wall to wall but it made sense the texter wouldn't be present hence the text. As he replaced the phone in his back pocket the fidgetting wiith the helm of his sleeve continued and no matter how hard he tried not to he couldn't stop. He had always hated his habits, they annoyed him so much. As a sensation of tiredness brushed over him he covered his mouth shielding a gentle yawn before he stretched out. Wrapping his fingers around one another cracking them, he was drowzier than he had though he would be but it wasn't surprising, "A few good nights sleep," he muttered as he looked over his shoulders again signalling a waitress this time and she gave him five minutes.

Kevin watched as the people passed by, the slow steady lives they lived. They never thought for a moment that the slow news days, they were the luckiest of all. The icy blue eyes almost jumped as they saw the blank expression staring back at them in the window across from him. The daze he was in was rudely pulled from beneath him by the emergence of the young waitress as she smiled at him while asking for his order. "Just coffee, some milk and two sugars please," he responded as he returned to his dream world. He had been soppy and slightly upset this morning when he arrived home but the emergence of new facts and the realisation he was home was sinking in. Finally he was able to relax without being so depressing, which he hated. Being depressed was wasting perfectly good time that could be devoted to projects of another nature. As he watched the waitress finally get to his order he smiled, bearing his teeth. Something he never did as he had a pet peeve about his appearance and it all centered around his teeth which was bizarre enough in itself. He continued to watch as she tried desperately not to spill the contents of the steaming cup over herself and he was surprised to find himself amused. He just wished he had company, anyone. Anyone except Coralee, he wasn't sure he could listen to her persistant questions right now. The waiter staggered slowly towards the table.

Sabrina felt out of place. She was pretty much wandering around down without a reason, and all alone. It was unusual for her; even her occasional aimless walks had a reason. But now, there was nothing for her to do, so she just let her feet take her where ever they would. Meanwhile, she just thought.

The boys had finally come home. She'd pointedly avoided the arrival; in her mind, that was for family and really close friends. She didn't have any older brothers to catch up with, and her close friends where all underage for the draft. She supposed she could go say hi to those she knew who'd come back today, but it was still family time in her mind. Connor and Landon would be busy with Scott and others, and Ricky had Jacob's homecoming. Markus was spending the day with Christian. Jordan and Corina were also running around, saying hi to returned friends.

So, Sabrina was left to wander. It gave some time to think about what differences might come with the boys return, and what lay ahead for the summer. Obviously, Corina's wedding, but what about the others? There were already rumors flying around about required weddings. And the disturbing accouncement of the lowered draft age.

Physically stopping to prevent herself from following the road that those thoughts made, Sabrina looked up at where she was. Molly's Cafe looked back at her, the adorable cafe that had always been here. Smiling, Rina pushed open the door. Something sugary sounded good right abou now.

Looking around at the people inside, she mentally ticked off names of the people there. She stopped when she saw one familiar head. It was Kevin, Christain's boyfriend. She'd seen him alot when she'd gone over to Mark and Christians. But where were they? Would Kevin spend time with him boyfriend once he got back?

Overly curious, Sabrina wandered over, waving at the passing waitress. Tapping the older man on the shoulder, she smiled at him. "All alone too?"

As the young waitress, she looked around fourteen or fifteen, placed the cup of warm coffee carefully in front of him she gave a nervous smile before walking back towards the counter. The steam brushed up upon his face, a warm sense of relief. He was happy that he wasn't currently wearing the coffee, "Thank god for small mercies." As he looked towards the next table he noticed this mornings newspaper lying there, reaching across he pulled it from the vacated table. He knew there wouldn't be much he hadn't already been informed off, he had talked to Markus for awhile before he left the house. As he blew on the coffee, the sweet and somewhat musty aroma sifted through him. His eyes where closed and he took the first sip, still a little to hot it could have done with more milk but if he asked again it would either take forever or be thrown over him so he took his chances with letting it cool by the normal means. Trying fight back another yawn be covered his mouth as he scanned each page, the paper's dullness seemed to become a blend of black and white as he tried to regain full and active consciousness. The celebrities where gaining frontline news as usual, so and so had been snorting cocaine. It was nice to know while he was out fighting for his country the celebrities had the luxury of cocaine and the various other drugs. Raising the coffee to his lips he noticed someone familiar.

He couldn't remember her name at the minute, she was a attractive young girl with ash blonde hair. She spent some time around at his house when she was with Markus, as she entered he continued with his paper. She didn't seem to notice and a preoccupied teenager wasn't the company he was looking for. He would welcome her if she stopped spacing out. Making her way past she made for the counter while he licked his thumb and turned the page. As he felt a wrap on his shoulder he turned around to see her as she took smiled as she spoke, "Yeah. All alone as usual. Take a seat." The young blonde bobbed around him as he looked away only seeing her in the corner of his deep, blue eyes. Closing over the paper he looked at the front page before lifting it and reaching back towards the table as he set it back. Looking at her, she was thin and he felt somewhat even more gay than he was when he said she should eat more. Sabrina. Her name was Sabrina, she was the youngest sister and he had met her older sisters occassionally. Jordan and Corina Lillies. From what he heard Corina was getting married and he wasn't sure whether he should believe all the gossip he heard, he would ask later for sure. "You looking to order?" He said as he waved the waitress to approach them and once again she signalled five minutes, "They're slow today." He smiled nervously as he looked away.

He had never been an expert when it came to dealing with younger teenagers, children. He was good with Coralee but they were related so they fought and became friends again while generally annoying one another. Even Markus, he lived with him and this had allowed him to gain a friendship and some leway when it came to the stupid fights about not cleaning up after themselves or lounging around. Sabrina wasn't a girl he had ever had much contact with, he knew she was a sweet little girl by all accounts who behaved herself well when they gathered at his house. Once or twice he had to make a run for it when they all arrived while he was in the shower, this resulted in a fight with him and Markus after each occasion and always ended badly. Ignoring each other for a few days but then for Christian they put it behind them, he wasn't sure if Sabrina was aware of this little piece of trivia but he certainly hoped she wasn't. As he swallowed more coffee he looked at her, "So, I didn't see you at the airport. Where you there?" Step one: initiate conversation. Good start, he thought to himself.

Sabrina took a seat, keeping quiet and just looking around. Things looked like they were backed up today. She'd been hoping for one of the cafe's little treats (paid for by herself, of course), but if they were running low, she might just have to pass. It was a shame, really. Not much could beat Molly's baked treats, all sinfully sugary and delicious. Even Jordan couldn't quiet match them.

When she'd come in, Sabrina hadn't noticed how absorbed Kevin had been in his paper. She wondered what made it so interesting. The international and national news was all the same; war, war, war. The papers had gotten so tired of running the war stories that they'd turned to the age old relapse fodder: the stars and their problems. As 'fascintating' as that may be for some, nearly everyone had gotten sick of it after a week or two. There was only so many times you could read about a druggie starlets missteps and rehab adventures. The only part of the newspaper that had retained any intrest for Sabrina and her sisters was the local announcements. It kept track of the weedings and those sorts of things. But even that was usually outdated by the time it came out, people hearing about it by word of mouth. Mostly it was just confirmation of the more doubtful arrangements. Like Corina and Jesse's engagment, which the Lillies had hanging on their refrigerator to remind themselves of it. It had already been 'accidently' thrown away several times.

When Kevin looked up from the paper and spoke to her, Sabrina was mildly confused for a moment. The airport? Oh, the boys coming home. "No, I wasn't there. I figured that family should see them first, not me. Give them some space. I'd feel weird, wouldn't know what to say." She realized that the comments sounded a little stupid, for her she was talking to one of the newly returned soldiers. Well, part of it was still true. The conversation, if it could be called that, wasn't really a smooth, easy one. She might now of Kevin, but she couldn't really say she knew him. Sabrina started to wonder why on earth she had disturbed him.

This was the perfect opportunity for Kevin to get an insight into Markus' life, the reluctant friend was dating the girl and that meant he had some leverage as threatening as that sounded. As he lifted the warm mug of coffee to his lips again his icy blue eyes drifted through the window, daydreaming wasn't normally his thing but he knew how it played out. Dreams. The figment of ones imagination, the relevance of the hearts desires and his mind, was on Todd Alexander Frost. Snapping out of it, a spooked expression on his face, he tried to push it to the back of his mind. He had a boyfriend and therefore was in no position to be thinking of anyone else in a sexual manner, especially not Todd. His breathing becoming somewhat heavy as he emerged slowly and reluctantly from his thoughts his heart yearned that it could not have so often, he was ashamed to say he often didn't feel for what he had. He loved them both, and more than them where just a mere attraction. He didn't know much about relationships, Todd was the "manwhore" Kevin was just there to pick up the peices left behind after one of Todd's, many, disasterous relationships with older men. Jealousy wasn't Kevin's style but watching Todd with those guys, that was hard work and he hated every minute. He could always stand up, declare to Todd and the rest of St. Peter's within moments about how he felt. Word travelled fast in the small town, he hated this lying. Living a lie.

Kevin had thought coming to terms with his sexuality would have made the internal chaos easier to handle, instead he found himself more lost and twisted than ever. Constantly seeking something else, it was almost, pardon the cliche, as if there was a hole missing from him and try as he might, Christian couldn't fill that hole. Soulmates. Kevin had faith that someday he would find his true love, the man he would spend his life with. Whether Todd was that man was still to be decided and as for Christian, he was Mr. Right Now. Sometimes the fairytales didn't come true, sometimes they never happened. Kevin worried, constantly. AIDS, HIV. The main killer's of the homosexual population. Positive thinking helped him through it. He wouldn't say he feared them, for fear was a state of mind. Denial. He was definately uncomfortable around the topic, as Christian had discovered early into their relationship and he had nothing worry about. Protection was a necessity for him because of this. As he sat quietly holding the cup, these thoughts ran through his head. He had to be the strong one, always ready to go and help Todd out of his latest mess while trying to spend time with Christian and working, somewhere in there he was supposed to take time to evaluate his life. The constant worrying about Coralee's welfare in a house with their father didn't help either.

The sudden remembrance that he was sitting with young Sabrina forced him from his dreamlike state as he cast her a smile and sat the mug upon the glistening table, he hadn't noticed until now but he could see a reflection of himself within the damp parts of the glass. Table must have been cleaned shortly before he arrived, as his eyes moved back towards the pretty blonde ahead of him he spoke for the second time, "So I hear Corina's getting married? I hope it goes well for her." Corina Lillies wasn't a friend, but she wasn't an enemy and that helped when it came to wishing someone well. Marriage was a big step and for one so young, he was surprised to see her taking it.

Kevin might have been lost in his own thoughts, but Sabrina could hardly comment on it, not being fully there herself. Her thoughts kept drifting off to her boys, wondering how their family reunions were going. She’d spoken to Markus a little the night before, just long enough to get that his day would be spent with his brother, and not much more than that. She hadn’t seen Connor in days, and only spent a few hurried minutes on the phone with him, and even Landon she’d only seen for a couple hours two days ago. They’d both been distracted by getting ready for Scott coming back. Frederic she’d seen the two days ago also, but again, that nervous anxiety that had taken over most of the town in the past week and obviously distracted him. All of the boys had family coming home, leaving her out.

Of course, her father had come back too, but that had consisted of her mother picking him up from the airport, driving him home, kicking them all out of the house, and locking each other in their bedroom. The girls had been given strict instructions not to come back to the house till at least ten, and then they were again booted out at eight, their mother having taken the day off to be with their father. The girls knew how extremely hard the past three months had been on their mother, and had silently agreed to catch up with him later, and give their parents some time to get ‘reacquainted’. And so Sabrina had started wandering around town. Which brought her right back to where she was, sitting in Molly’s with Kevin. Kevin, who linked to Christian, who lead to Markus, who lead to Freddy, Connor, and Landon. And thinking about the boys and how they were busy with their family lead to how she’d been kicked out of the house because of her mother and father’s need to spend time together. Which lead back to the café, and etc…My god, what a trip.

When Kevin’s comment about Corina’s wedding freed Sabrina from the dizzying circle, she smiled pleasantly, something she’d started to do whenever the dreaded wedding became the subject of a conversation.

“Yes, well, we all hope that it turns out well for her. It was a bit of a surprise for us all when our parents told us that they’d arranged a marriage for her. But we’ve all moved past that, and are just excited to Corina. It will be hard to have her leave the house though.” Polite talk. Keep it nice, don’t show disgust over the entire affair. That’s right, keep things moving, don’t focus on how stupid the entire thing is. Maybe if you keep saying it’s a wonderful thing, it will become wonderful and you can start believing it. “I’ll pass on your good wishes to her.”

Sabrina wondered how Corina would take that. Congratulations on the wedding you don’t even really want to happen! Oh, thank you, that means so much to me….

Sabrina seemed a little apprehensive about Corina's marriage and Kevin couldn't help but wonder why. From the few occasions that he had met Jesse, he had seemed like a nice enough man and weddings had been deemed "necessary" due to the war. People would have to make sacrifices. The men had to go to war and as unfair as it may seem, the women had their part to play and this included the marriages and pregnancies being forced upon them. Brushing his hand through his blond hair, he moved it from his eyes as he watched Sabrina. When the topic of marriage was brought up she became clammy and even closed. Would I be the same if it had been Coralee? He pondered as he thought of his younger sister, whom he had yet to see but he couldn't call around the house for her. He would have to wait until he saw her on the streets, sending one of her friends to get her seemed a little seedy to him. As though he had something to hide and he didn't but talking to him would have reprecussions for Cora that he didn't want her to face. He hated that, the big brother protecting his younger and very annoying sister even though he could barely spend five minutes with her. His feelings towards her were often muffled, he had never wanted her in his life at birth but she grew on him and when he was kicked out he distanced himself from her but she came calling and she still had up until he had left for the war.

Could she have changed that much? He hadn't had a single letter from her and Johnny hadn't mentioned anything either. She wouldn't be happy to hear that he had become pally with her boyfriend while they where away, no doubt she would find that some bizarre invasion of privacy. The sound of wedding bells had become a common occurance in St. Peters, without warning Kevin found himself remembering his High School days and those hidden feelings. The lack of weddings in his future was in someway depressing, he remembered back to High School where he had a "girlfriend" Jessie Galloway, he chickened out everytime she made a move to kiss him and it was her that made him realise that he only had feelings for guys. Love had yet to come his way, or did he have it but lust forced him to wish what he couldn't have? The whole relationship status had his head in a swim, seeing Sabrina he couldn't help but think how easy she had it. A simple little straight girl. Kevin had to worry his boyfriend would leave and that he could leave him for a woman, he may be weird but he found that embarrasing as though Christian wasn't getting what he needed from him.

Letting out a deep sigh he took another sip of the cooling coffee as he looked at his watch, he should head over to the Frost's in around ten minutes. Ronnie was cooking dinner and he didn't want to miss it, he read so much about it and he couldn't miss it. Smiling he replied, "It's sure to be a big occasion, hopefully they're happy together."