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Addison jumped out of bed with the innate feeling that he was going to be late. And when he looked at his alarm clock...

"Shit!" he hissed.

There were only ten minutes until he was supposed to be at his voice lesson. He opened up the trunk that he stored all of his clothing in only to find it empty. "Fuck."

He raced down the stairs to the main portion of the house, passing Rachel and Marissa on his way to the laundry room and ignoring both of them quite effectively. Addison grabbed a T-shirt and turned to fly into the downstairs bathroom to change. And ran into his stepmother. Of course that would happen today...

He went to push past her with a muttered apology but she caught his wrist. "Where do you think you're going in such a hurry?" she sneered.

"I have class in ten minutes," he explained in a rush shaking off her grip and locking himself in the bathroom.

From outside the room his stepmother continued to talk to him, "You're going to your first class in makeup?"

Addison shot a startled glance into the mirror, "Fuck!"

He clearly had makeup on. The makeup he had worn last night as Daniella. Some eyeshadow, mascara and a neutral tone of lip gloss. He grabbed some toilet paper and wiped off the makeup, to the best of his ability damn stuff was hard to get off, then looked into the mirror again.

A little more presentable, but nowhere near up to his normal standards. He left in a hurry and sped off to class faster than ever completely missing the dark calculating look on his stepmother's face.

~ARC~

Lysette couldn't figure out what was wrong with that boy. He'd always been strange. Too musical and flamboyant. She knew that he was gay and worked in that kind of bar. But he had been acting strange—stranger—lately. Sneaking out of the house all day when he didn't have anything to do was weird. Usually he just played that annoying string instrument when she locked him up. (She knew he climbed out of the window when he had class but never put a stop to the escapes because she was hoping he'd fall and break his neck on his decent.) Then his inheritance money would be hers finally, like it should have been when the boy's father died.

The boy meant nothing to her. Perhaps he could have, if Frank would have lived, but, honestly, scum on the bottom of her shoe meant more than that boy.

But his newfound strangeness didn't concern her as much as this new fling of Lyle Prince's. The girl had started popping up with Lyle about a week before Thanksgiving. Now, basically a month later, she was still around. Lysette was beginning to sweat.

This Daniella girl was ruining everything she had worked for. And stranger still, nobody knew shit about her. Lysette had tried to do some digging on the interfering beauty and found out absolutely nothing. No last name, no pedigree, nothing, zilch, nada. She just popped up one day with Lyle.

The only thing Lysette knew for certain: the girl was in the way. Lyle Prince was absolutely crazy for her and she was in the exact position Lysette wanted for Marissa. She'd just have to keep digging around for something to destroy this girl and push Marissa to go after Lyle Prince even more.

She had gotten wind that Lyle was planning to go to an opera in mid-January. Marissa wouldn't like it (she hated operas) but Lysette would make sure she attended the event. She wasn't quite sure which show the millionaire would be attending so she'd just make sure Marissa attended them all.

~ARC~

Lyle groaned in agitation. His father had sent their house keeper to get him saying he was supposed to meet the man in his stuffy office in five minutes. The man was so busy he bet this little seemingly random meeting had been planned back in November, let's say around Thanksgiving time. After rumors started that Lyle Prince had a girlfriend.

He stood outside the grand mahogany doors. Lyle didn't really want to have this little "meeting." He was reasonably sure he knew what—who—it was about and he wasn't ready for his parents to be a part of his and Addison's relationship. Hell, he wasn't ready to explain that Daniella was a man.

He knocked on the door and heard the muffled voices of his father granting him entrance.

Slowly opening the door, Lyle made his way into his father's study to find both his father and his mother sitting, not at the desk, but at the lounge furniture situated in front of their electric fire looking all nice and cozy. And they were totally staring at him. His father beckoned him over and he took the hint, sitting down in the vacant chair.

His father gave him the stare down, his icy blue eyes unwavering in their intensity. Leaning forward in his chair, he folded his hands in front of him before finally beginning to speak. 'So, Lyle, is there something you're not telling us?"

Lyle peered around the room refusing to meet his father's prying gaze. After a few minutes of successful avoidance Lyle finally looked his father in the eye and gave a rather obtuse reply, "Nothing that I can think of, sir," he then sat back, truly enjoying the comfortable chair, and waited for his father's eminent implosion.

Yup, and there it started. His face was beginning to turn a burning red. Lyle's mother placed a placating hand on the man's shoulder mumbling a quiet, "calm down," and as quickly as the anger had been building it disappeared.

That temper was one thing Lyle had always been grateful he hadn't inherited from his father. The man's nerves were shit.

"How do you explain all of this then?" his father asked pointing to a great number of tabloid-like magazines that all had pictures of him and Daniella doing various activities on the front cover.

"Oh, that," Lyle laughed nervously. How had he slipped enough to let those pictures happen? He'd never been on the front of a magazine before.

'When the hell were you planning on telling us you have a girlfriend?"

Lyle sighed and muttered under his breath, "When I get one."

His father completely missed the snarky retort but his mother, with her dog-like hearing, sadly, did not.

"What do you mean, 'when I get one?'" she stated calmly face scrunching in confusion.

Well... Lyle was sure he'd have to tell them eventually. Maybe he should start with telling them he was gay and ease them into the explanation of Addison. He thought that was a logical order.

"Well, Mom, Dad," he took a deep breath, "I'm gay."

His dad immediately began to argue, "Don't be ridiculous—

"I know," his mother spoke effectively getting both men to gawk at her. "Don't look at me like that. I've known since I found your porn stash in high school."

Oh god was this embarrassing.

"If you're gay, why are you with a beautiful girl like that?" his father asked. He was taking this remarkably well. Lyle was impressed. His parents had always said they had no problem with any kind of love but he was worried that their acceptance might not extend to their heir.

"Isn't it obvious?" his mother piped up again. Lyle gaped at her. She knew about Addison too? But he had been so careful. "She's his beard."

Okay, so maybe she didn't know. One out of two wasn't bad. He allowed himself a small chuckle, "Not exactly."

"Explain!" his father ordered.

"Daniella and I are going out but," he paused, more to annoy his father than for actual dramatic effect, "but Daniella's a guy."

"That's a guy?" his father practically yelled while his mother erupted into a fit of giggles.

"Yes?"

"He's very pretty," his mother commented.

"What's his name?"

"Addison," Lyle answered unable to keep the affection out of his voice.

"You really like him," his mother commented.

"Yes," he answered more serious than they had ever heard him sound.

His father cleared his throat, "So, when do we get to meet him?"

"Uh, at the masquerade?" Lyle tried knowing they'd press to meet Addison before the engagement announcement.

And that was assuming Addison wanted to marry him. Lyle was absolutely smitten with the amazing musician and he'd like to think Addison was just as invested in the relationship as he was but you never knew how a relationship would go. But seriously, after making him wait those three initial weeks, he and Addison had gotten pretty serious about each other.

He just worried about moving too fast.

And the media...

He didn't want to complicate Addison's life any more than it already was.

"No, that won't do," his mother said shaking her head.

"Yes," his father agreed. That was too long of a wait, "invite him for Christmas," he spoke as if the decision was already finalized.

Now Lyle knew Addison had absolutely no plans for Christmas. He had been putting about it since his university went on holiday a week ago. Usually he didn't mind his breaks so much, he would work more and stay out of his house by going to Eva's... a lot. But Eva had been instructed to go home this Christmas and Addison was stuck without anything to do on the long holiday.

"I'll ask him to come," Lyle gave in.

He knew Addison would be more than happy to have someone to celebrate the holiday with. Honestly, Lyle had always planned on spending a majority of the day with his boyfriend. He figured he could have lunch with his family and go exchange gifts and have dinner with Addison. Inviting him to a Christmas lunch only meant they could spend more time together.

~ARC~

Addison fidgeted from his seat in the back of the really expensive car that has picked him up at his house. He knew his stepmother had seen it and would ask him about it. And he really didn't know what to tell her. It was also the first time he was going to meet Lyle's parents and he was dressed as himself. They decided it would be okay because the car would pick him up and drive him straight to Lyle's patent's house. Straight into their garage and he'd be ushered right into their house.

The hecklers that were so interested in Lyle's live life would have no opportunity to find out anything. And... it was Christmas day.  A majority of the city was indoors with family.

Addison gawked as they pulled into t the long driveway of a humongous mansion. It was a house that screamed old money and appeared to jump out of the past, more like a French cathedral than anything else.

It was grand and beautiful. And Addison was already beginning to feel out of place. He had spent all his life in a humble town house. He barely had enough money to buy food for himself after taking care of his bills. This place was decadence and extravagance.

The car pulled into a garage and soon the frog be was holding Addison's door open for him. Time to meet Lyle's family. Addison convinced himself that it was going to go well. That they'd all get along.

Then he followed the driver into the house.

The inside was just as extravagant as the outside. They seemed to have entered into some side sitting room that was decorated tastefully with live greens and red ribbons.

Addison noticed a small two foot Christmas tree sitting on a table in between the two chairs. It was white but looked real. He went over to examine it and, sure enough, it was real and looked to be spray painted white with lots of sparkles.

Unable to resist, Addison flicked one of the branches and glitter rained down on the table.

"My mother went a little overboard didn't she?" a voice asked making Addison jump nearly a foot in the air.

He turned around quickly to find Lyle walking over to him, bounce in his step and grin on his face.

Addison found a smirk threatening to appear on his own face when he saw what Lyle was wearing. It had to be the ugliest Christmas sweater he had ever seen. It was knitted. A blob that looked suspiciously like a reindeer was on the front surrounded by brightly colored Christmas packages that looked more like the deer had eaten some skittles and vomited the rainbow. It was a hot mess.

"What are you wearing?" Addison asked trying and failing to keep the laughter out of his voice.

"Oh, you noticed," Lyle intoned flatly.

"How could I not?"

"You like it," Lyle asked with a knowing smile on his handsome face.

"Love it."

"Good. My mom made it. I'm pretty sure she made you one too. Maybe we can match," Lyle laughed at the horrified look on his boyfriend's face. Lyle pulled Addison into a quick embrace and kissed him on the head before holding the man at armslength. "I have to warn you, my parents can be... a little intense."

Intense was not the word Addison would have used to describe Lyle's parents. Overbearing; yes, strange; yes, intense... not so much. And Lyle's mom had, in fact, made Addison an almost identical shirt.

The meal went off without a hitch and then they had moved into a parlor room with a piano and several chairs sitting by a grand fireplace. They all sat in the chairs even though Addison was dying to get his hands on that piano.

It was a Steinway!

Then the inevitable began... It was nowhere near as bad as Mel's talk and Addison actually ended up learning something about his own life.

"So, Addison, what's your last name?" Lyle's dad asked while getting comfortable in his chair.

"Montgomery," Addison answered lazily. He was tired after so much delicious food but even with the sleepiness he didn't miss the little tinge of interest in Mr. Prince's eyes when he mentioned his last name.

"Any relation to Frank Montgomery?" the man asked excitedly.

"Yeah?" Addison answered slowly. Why did Lyle's father know his dad's name? It's not like they were even close to being in the same social circle, hell, the same social sphere.

And to make the situation even stranger, Lyle had been throwing him oddly calculating glances since his father asked about Addison's dad, as if trying to piece a puzzle together that was missing more than a few pieces.

Addison saw Mr. Prince open his mouth to speak but he was cut off by a very loud exclamation from his son, "Holy shit, I'm dating Frank Montgomery's son!"

Lyle jumped from his seat and moved closer to Addison. He couldn't believe he has missed the resemblance. The beautiful man was pretty much the spitting image of his late father, a little leaner, but still remarkably similar looking.

Addison was confused, "How do you know my father?"

This wasn't adding up for Lyle. Frank Montgomery had been his father's biggest business rival back in the day. The man was an international success and was frequently flying cross-country and oversea to further expand his business up until his death fifteen years ago...

"Addison," Lyle began slowly, "do you know what your dad did for a living?"

He watched as the man slowly shook his head from side to side. "He-he traveled a lot. But whenever I asked him what he did he'd say he would tell me when I was older. Then," Addison paused, swallowing the lump that had suddenly appeared in his throat, "then he died," and no one else ever told him anything about his father again.

"WHAT?" Lyle's father boomed making everyone else in the room jump. "Frank Montgomery's kid! No one ever told you about your dad?"

Addison shook his head demurely.

"Well, I'll tell you something about him," the man growled. "He was an amazing investor and a complete and utter arse when it came to spending money." Addison let out a small laugh. His dad would never spend money if he could avoid it. "And I bet you he has billions tucked away for you somewhere."

"I'm dating a billionaire?" Lyle asked sounding slightly awed.

"I don't have any money," Addison murmured softly.

"Poppycock!" Lyle's mother chimed in.

"Yeah, what she said," Lyle agreed before adding, "and you do have money. You told me yourself that your dad left it for you and your stepmother was keeping it from you."

Lyle watched as Addison's eyes grew as wide as saucers. Probably thought his dad left him some money for school loans, not billions.

Addison watched Mrs. Prince whisper something to her husband that he was reasonably sure concerned him and his lack of money. They whispered a little longer before excusing themselves to, "go see a man about a horse."

Lyle chuckled and walked over to Addison deciding to perch on the armrest of the other's chair. "That wasn't nearly as horrible as I thought it would be," he admitted.

Addison just nodded in agreement.

"I can't believe you're a billionaire."

"Neither can I," Addison managed to breathe out.

"So, can I say I'm using you for your money now?" Lyle asked wanting the shoe to be on the other foot... for once.

Addison smirked, "Is that what you're gonna tell the papers? You're using me? Maybe they'll stop calling me a gold digger then."

Lyle just laughed.

Then Lyle was kneeling down in front of Addison. Love shone in his eyes and Addison found his own reflecting much the same sentiment. They had only known each other for two months yet Addison couldn't picture himself being with anyone else. "I love you," he whispered and his cheeks instantly flushed scarlet. He hadn't meant to say that aloud so soon.

"I love you too," Lyle answered back almost immediately. He reached a hand out, taking one of Addison's into his grasp.

"Addison, Addi," Lyle's heart soared as the man smiled at the nickname, "I know we haven't known each other very long, but I need to ask you this now... Are you familiar with the ultimatum I have to find a person to marry?"

Addison nodded his head, not trusting himself to speak. His heart was traveling a million miles per minute and threatening to leap right out of his chest. Why was Lyle bringing that up now?

"I need to announce my engagement to the person of my choice by March or I'll be forced into an arranged marriage."

Again Addison nodded.

"I really want that person to be you."

Addison gasped. Lyle was holding out a box that definitely contained a ring. He opened the lid and Addison felt tears welling up in his eyes. And then Lyle began to babble. "I saw the stone and immediately thought of you. It's so beautiful and... oh... this isn't an engagement ring. Just a promise of sorts. My mom has a hand me down from her mother but this one... It's so special. I made the design and had the stone put in and, oh, I hope you want it and—"

"Lyle?" Lyle looked up to Addison grateful for the cutoff, "shut up and kiss me," Addison demanded before jumping out of his seat and into his lover's arms. He smashed their faces together and they shared a searing kiss.

They broke apart grinning. "Does that mean you'll wear it?"

Addison didn't respond. Instead he dove in for another kiss and took the ring, slipping it on his finger.

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

Image of Marissa

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