It was just after lunch by the time Mark made it back, but the car wasn't in the driveway. It had been a few hours since he had left the shop, and Felix should have been back by now. Mark tried not to let his mind wander to what Felix was probably doing and probably saying to a certain Irishman on his behalf. He got in the house, kicking his shoes off as he shot a quick text to him asking where he was. He gave the dogs a quick hello and let them out back for a pee before entering his office, sitting at his desk booting up his computer. As he was logging in his phone beeped, Felix responding to him.

had 2 pick sum stuff up for tonight b home in a few

Mark still cringed at the improper grammar and spelling Felix used when he texted. What was so hard at taking a few extra seconds to type out a proper message?

What’s going on tonight?

He placed his phone down to open up his email to sort through his work ones when his phone went off again.

things ;)

Well that’s comforting. Mark left it alone, knowing there was no point in trying to understand him. He’ll find out tonight. He still had to talk with Felix about Sean. He knew it was another Jack, obviously, but he didn’t realize that it was Jack. Mark had never even told Felix his last name. It was something he never really talked about. When he had left the shop he had told Felix he would explain later, as to why he was so shaken. He didn’t want to have this conversation, knowing Felix would push him to do the exact opposite of what he planned.

Looking through his emails Mark thought back to the idea of taking some time off. The vampire activity in the area was really starting to crescendo and he had no idea why. It seemed like someone was going around turning people willy nilly, and it was starting to become more than he could handle. Adding on the stress of Sean, Mark figured it was as good a time as any to take the time. He hadn’t taken any vacation time since he started, and they had recently hired some student’s temps for the summer, so it worked out pretty well for him. He sent off an email to his boss requesting the time. He had six weeks of holidays, but he'd take them in a couple weeks. Wade’s wedding was in June so he might as well have it correspond with that.

He did some more work on his computer when he heard Chica and Edgar start barking and the front door open, a booming voice echo through the house.

“Mark! Come help me with these.”

He sighed, pushing away from his desk and making his way to Felix.

“Ya know, you could always text me when you get here, rather than screaming and alerting the entire city you’re home.” Mark quipped as he watched Felix come back in the door carrying a couple grocery bags and some cases of beer. “What the hell is this for?”

“Easier, yes. As rewarding? No.” Felix shoved the cases of beer in Mark's arms and closed the door behind him. “And this, is for the company we are having tonight.” Felix started making his way to the kitchen, Mark trailing behind.

“What company Felix? We only have like three friends we see regularly, and we never go to this much trouble for them.” Mark set the cases on the counter and turned to face Felix who was pulling out a platter of assorted foods and chips.

“Well, seeing as Ken has some new hire’s that are new to the area I figured why not have them over and introduce them to the good people we know? So I invited Bob, Mandy, Wade, Molly, and Tyler over and Ken is bringing Ethan and Jack with him tonight. Good chance for them to make some friends.” Felix was smiling but it slipped off slowly as he looked at Mark. “Whoa, buddy, you okay? You look like someone just ran over Chica.” Felix stopped what he was doing and faced Mark.

Mark was sure he looked horrified, and in truth he was. A couple of hours ago he had decided to completely avoid Sean all together and now he was coming over to his house, and meeting his friends, the very few that he had.

“Felix, what the hell? Why didn’t you talk to me first before this? Were you not even present this morning? Sean can’t come here. I don’t even want to see him. Just, fuck!” He balled his fists in his hair turning away. Anger was starting to take control as his primary emotion, covering the ever mounting anxiety he felt.

“Whoa, whoa, there. What are you talking about? First, you’ve never told me I had to ask you to invite our friends over, we aren’t married. And Second, I know you were freaked to see Jack today, but you’ve never been so against it before. Is it because of the day? Or because of Joel?” Felix kept his tone calm, as he approached Mark, arms up.

“You don’t understand, Fe. It’s not just another Jack, its Jack. They are practically identical, same face, same voice, same God damn name basically. And the pull, it’s so strong, almost more than the first time. Felix,” He looked back at him, eyes watering as he tried to keep back the tears he had thought he had run out of so long ago. “I can’t see him, I can’t love him, or let him love me. I can’t watch him die again.” He was close to losing it again, and when Felix opening his arms, inviting him, Mark couldn’t resist throwing himself into the embrace, clutching at Felix and hiding his face in his shoulder, still desperately trying to regain control of his emotions, that only Jack could throw so out of whack.

Felix rubbed Mark's back soothingly. “Mark, I know this is hard, but you can’t run from it, you know you can’t. It’s been the same for four hundred years and nothing you have done has changed anything. It’s only going to cause both you and Sean more pain.”

“That’s the thing though, it has been the same for so long, but now it's different.” Mark pulled away once he had managed to regain some composure. “He’s the same, the exact same, and maybe, maybe if I can avoid him, the cycle will end. I can finally save him Fe.” Mark had to.
“What if it’s the opposite? What if now, you can finally be with him, be with your Jack? Maybe the cycle will end when you accept him one last time.” But Mark was already shaking his head.

“No. I wish so much that could be true, but I don’t deserve it. This curse is my punishment, and if it is finally over, I won't be rewarded with having what I so desire, and Sean deserves better anyhow.” Mark looked away. “Even if it was possible, I couldn’t risk it, risk hurting him, not again. Not like the first time.”

“Mark…” Felix went to say more but Mark cut him off.

“Please Felix, leave it. I’ve made up my mind. I’ll deal with tonight, it would be rude to cancel and it is a good chance for Sean to make some friends here, but after that, we don’t even bring him up. Okay?” Mark was so tired, more tired than he had been in a long time, and he just wanted this to be over. Felix looked like he was going to protest, but he shut his mouth then nodded.

“Okay, Mark. I’ll agree with this. For now.” He turned and went back to preparing the food for tonight, and Mark decided he was going to take the dogs for a walk and try and clear his mind before getting ready for tonight. It was going to be a long night.

After Mark had gotten back from his walk, he helped Felix tidy the house and finish getting things ready. It was just after six when Bob and Wade along with Mandy and Molly showed up. Tyler had to go to the office today to finish some work and would be over as soon as he could, and the rest would be showing up a little after eight. They talked about the usual stuff, work, bitching about work, complaining about construction, what new games were coming out. All such trivial matters. While Mark enjoyed partaking in these conversations with his friends, really meant so little to him, considering the era’s he had lived through. He was quite pleased when the topic changed over to Wade’s rapidly approaching wedding.

“Planning a wedding is hard man, there’s so many things that need to be done.” Wade flopped back against the couch exasperated while Molly rolled her eyes.

“What did you think went into it?”

Wade shrugged, hands up in a helpless gesture. “I don’t know, I thought you picked a date, place, food and dress. I had to help pick the colour and type of flowers that were going to be placed on the tables, AND the arrangement, AND had to make sure it matched the colour scheme of the table clothes and set up. Like?” Wade had leaned forwards more and more as he went on before flopping back down again. Molly just patted his leg as everyone laughed.

“Aside from the terror that is floral arrangements, are you guys almost ready for it? Getting excited?” Bob asked the couple. Smiles lit up both their faces as Wade grasped Molly’s hand.

“Other than some last minute details, and my dress fitting it’s all basically ready. Everyone we invited is able to make it too which is amazing.” Molly turned to Mark and Felix. “That reminds me, I know Bob has his suit fitted, but have you two gone and done that yet?” Wade had asked Mark to be one of his groom’s men, along with some childhood friends, Tyler, Felix, and Bob, who was his best man. He had been honored to be part of his wedding, and was excited. He had never been in a bridal party before, for obvious reasons. It was rare he even really made friends and stuck around long enough.

“I have my appointment made for May sixth, along with Felix. I made the appointment for you knowing you’d forget to do it.” He cut off Felix’s incoming questions. He pointed his finger at Mark mouth open with a retort, paused then shrugged his shoulder.

“Eh, can’t really argue with that.” He took a sip of his beer while the group laughed.

“When’s Tom flying in?” Bob asked.

“His flight is on the twenty-eighth of May, he’ll be staying with us until the wedding.” Wade responded.

“Shit man, how long is he staying?”

“Three weeks. He had some vacation time stacked up and he also has a possible contract out here with a publishing company that likes his work so he figured he’d kill two birds with one stone.” Wade turned to Mark and Felix. “Tom is a long-time friend of ours. He's a couple years older than us, but he lived on our street when we were growing up. He moved to Ohio when his father passed away about ten years ago to live with his step mom and we have been pestering him to move back here since. I think you’ll really like him, especially you Mark. I can’t wait for you to meet him.” Wade said with a goofy grin. “I look forward to man.” Mark smiled.

A little while later Ken, Ethan and Sean showed up, and Tyler soon after. Sean immediately made eye contact with Mark, which he held just long enough to manage a greeting before turning away and talking to the others, trying very hard to ignore the forlorn look on Sean’s face. Everyone sat and chatted, drinking the beer Felix bought along with the cases the others brought with them. Mark didn’t join the rest in drinking, the alcohol burned through his system faster than it took for it to get him drunk so he didn’t see the point of consuming, plus he didn’t want to act like he was drunk. He usually just told people he was allergic to it to avoid the pestering he tended to get if he refused a drink. Throughout the night he made sure he was always sitting between anyone that wasn’t Sean or that he was always in a conversation with someone else.

Mark knew he was being childish, essentially hiding from Sean, but he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t see those eyes, hear that laugh, watch those lips, and not be drawn into the vortex that was Sean McLoughlin. He knew Sean had been trying to get close to him all night, with help from Felix’s, the fucker, who would keep trying to get them to sit near each other, or be alone. Even brought up relationships.

“So, Jack,” Felix started up, well into his fifth beer. “Any Irish lover back home?” Felix had a playful smile on his face and was resolutely ignoring Mark's glare.

 Sean looked confused for a moment, opening his mouth to answer when Felix cut him off. “I ask, to see if we can set you up with any eligible bachelorettes or bachelors in this wonderful city of ours.” He winked at Sean and Mark watched as understanding seemed to dawn on him as his eyes flicked over to Mark's. Mark was about ready to throw Felix out the window.

“No, livin’ the single life. Dated a few men here and there but never really felt right, like they were the right person fer me.” He took a sip of his beer, making eye contact with Mark. He held his gaze for a moment, eyes electric before breaking away and bringing up that Felix had met someone, letting the peanut gallery jump onto that.

It was well into the evening, and mostly everyone was pretty inebriated, and attempting to play Mario Kart. Ken, Felix, Ethan and Wade were all crammed together on the couch, screaming at the game and at each other, Tyler and Mandy standing behind, Molly sitting on the floor beside the couch and Sean and Bob raging right along with the guys from the chairs. Mark was hiding in the kitchen tidying up some dishes as a lame excuse to be out of that room. Since everyone was pretty drunk and preoccupied, no one bothered him.

He had just loaded up the dishwasher when Sean came stumbling into the kitchen and plopped himself down at a stool along the island. Mark stiffened immediately and started looking for an out.

“Oh buddy, do yer friends have quite tha mouths on ‘em. Though look who’s a talkin’. Ya should hear me when I get goin’.” He laughed and a small hiccup escaped him. Some more roaring could be heard from the living room along with a crash which he assumed was Wade based on the cursing that followed.

“Yeah, they’re a rowdy bunch, but they’re good people.” Mark started the dishwasher and turned to face Sean, very aware of his position in the room.

“Yea, they seem like it. I’m glad ya invited me over, I ‘aven’t really made any friends since gettin’ here, other than I guess Ken and Ethan, but that's coworkers. Not the same ya know?” Sean took another swig of his beer finishing it, and plopping the bottle down as he wiped his mouth. “Ya need any help in here?”

“No, I was just finishing up. Why don’t you go back in there with the rest? Try your hand at taking them on?” Mark grabbed Sean’s bottle to put with the other empties and started wiping down the counters he had washed twenty minutes ago, his back facing him.

Sean rested his elbows on the island and cupped his face. “Eh, I’ll probably just make a fool outta myself right now. Besides, in here is better.” He tried to wink at Mark but ended up just blinking at him. Mark snorted at the attempt while he tried to fight back the butterflies.

Mark looked over his shoulder as he spoke to Sean. “If you mean it’s quieter and cleaner, then yes. Which is why you should get yer Irish butt outta my kitchen before you mess it up. I put a lot of hard work into this.”

“Ah yes, that one spot you’ve been wipin’ for tha past two minutes sure is lookin’ good.” Sean pointed out as Mark paused and realized he had been just moving the cloth in the same motion on the counter the whole time. He blushed, before throwing his cloth in the sink and turning back to Sean, leaning against the counter. Sean stood, wobbled a bit before regaining his balance and walked over the fridge to grab another beer. He twisted the cap off then walked, well more stumbled, around the island and mimicked Mark's pose, now right in front of him. Mark did his best to keep his stance lax even though tension and desire were both coursing through him. Sean tipped the bottle to his lips and took slow gulps of his drink, head tipped back. Mark's eyes watched as his adam's apple moved each time he swallowed and he had to forcibly move his head back to Sean's face where he met his eyes, watching Mark steadily.

Mark blushed again, turning his head away from Sean. Get it together buddy. You’re how old and you’re acting like a horny teenager. Sean finished and wiped his mouth with a sigh.

“Ah, nothing like tha cool refreshin’ taste of a cold one. Sucks ya can’t drink, I’d love ta see what kinda drunk you are.” Appears that you are a very seductive and confident drunk, if a bit clumsy. Note to self; do not hang out with drunk Sean. Mark swallowed and cleared his throat.

“Yea, too bad.” Mark shifted. “We should get back in there, make sure they don’t break anything. Some of them can’t handle their liquor.” His statement was followed by the sound of something breaking and Bob yelling “That was Wade’s fault!” And so I can put more space between us because you are killing me right now.

Sean laughed, killing Mark more by the second. “Yer probably right. Though I don’t know what help I’ll be. Probably just make more of a problem for ya.” They stood up straight, even closer together now and Sean went to throw his arm around Mark's shoulder which he quickly side stepped, acting like her was going for the fridge and grabbed a can of pop. He couldn’t, couldn’t, touch him. He didn’t think he’d be able to resist it if Sean touch him right now. He turned back to Sean who looked a little dazed and gestured to the living room.

“Shall we?” Sean looked at Mark and smiled with all his teeth holding his own drink up to Mark. “Onwards, my sober friend. Back to babysitting.” Mark held his own drink up, clinking the can against glass.

“Oh the woe’s of soberness.” Mark smiled a little as he followed Sean back into the living room. He watched as Sean went over and grabbed a controller from the ground, challenging Felix to a round of Mario Kart, claiming he’d “Kick his Swedish ass all the way back to Sweden.” Before plopping rather ungracefully back on the couch. Mark leaned in the doorway, watching him with a small smile before sighing.

This was going to be harder than he had hoped.