Steve

Adam comes home from his 'Industry' party reeking of cigarettes, and in a sullen mood. Steve doesn't argue with him about the smoking, Steve tries to be encouraging & help Adam through whatever it is that is troubling his lover. But it just gets worse. The holidays fly by & Adam's mood does not improve as spring approaches. Steve has given up trying to believe this is just part of Adam's normal mood routine: there is something wrong he's avoiding discussing with Steve. He's glum, distracted & a little jumpy, making Steve very anxious. And it couldn't be at a worse time in history. While Adam is sulking about something he won't talk about, there is a revolution going on in San Francisco. They're giving marriage licenses to gay couples in that city, but it might not last, as there were immediate attempts to stop it. If this had come at this time last year, Adam & Steve would be married now....but now, something is wrong. It seems like such a bad time to propose.

Steve comes home from work one night to find Adam in his 'normal' mood, the spirited & cheerful Adam Steve was used to, the one he had fallen in love with...he had an audition today, for a soap opera, and he got the part. It will only be for a few months: his role is an out of town relative visiting in the hospital & who has an affair with the surgeon, who is also the wife of the Chief Surgeon on the show. His character eventually leaves town & the show, but this is a very big step in Adam's career.

Steve is thrilled for Adam, and congratulates him enthusiastically. Throughout dinner, Adam chats merrily about his new role & what it could lead to. Steve listens happily, glad to have his old Adam back. The funk he's been in has been about his career and now it's over. Steve no longer has to worry.

They celebrate after dinner in the hottub. Adam tells he's already memorized his lines the first week's shows, saying he starts out with mostly giving 'soulful looks' to the surgeon he'll seduce in the second week. And he shows Steve an example of his soulful look, which Steve promises him is very seductive. Steve's mind starts working around his new situation. He wants to take the opportunity to get married before it passes, and Adam is finally in a better mood. But they only have a few days before Adam will be busy with his new job..."So, you've got a few days before this thing starts, how would you like to take a little trip up north to celebrate?" Steve asks Adam, seeing first if Adam is up for the trip. Adam is surprised & asks if Steve doesn't have to work. Steve will have to reschedule some appointments, and that's not something he usually would do, being very professional. But this is a very special case & not something he intends to do again. Steve puts his arm around Adam & looks him in the eyes, "I was thinking we could go up to San Francisco, and get married while they are still doing it. That is, if you would do me the honor?"

"Of course I'll marry you," Adam says.

Steve drives a little too fast in his excitement, as though they'll shut it down just as he & Adam show up if he doesn't rush all the way there. When they get to San Francisco, they have to wait at the courthouse, in line with otherr couples like them, with TV cameras and protesters all around. Once they are married they head back down the coast to Cambria for a quick 'honeymoon'. They don't have the time to do it properly...after Adam is free again, when Steve can clear his schedule for a real vacation, they'll throw a big party & take a real honeymoon.

What they have tonight is just the honeymoon 'spirit'.

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