Previously, the police arrested Michael before he and George Michael could escape on the yacht. Lucille is still in jail, but Michael is out on bail, and forbidden from leaving town. George Sr. is living in the model home, and is mad at Michael for various reasons. Stan Sitwell has managed to make himself the Bluth Company's CEO, and Lindsay the president, in order to get closer to her; he has also promised her a lavish birthday party and is using Tobias as a mole to inform him of George's schemes. Lucille 2 is still dating Sitwell, but is also helping Buster, now that his mother is gone. Buster is now living with Oscar, and spending more time with Lupe. Michael wanted the kids to get an annulment, but has since changed his mind out of guilt. George Michael and Maeby found out that they are emancipated, so they left town together. Tobias went to an audition and is trying to find the kids in L.A. They are not there yet because they stopped at a hotel on the way. Michael and GOB had sex, and he almost slept with Lindsay, too, but ended up scaring her off. Michael is hoping that he and GOB are not related, and has hired Gene Parmesan to investigate possible adoptions. GOB broke up with his girlfriend, and got his yacht back from the police impound. After resisting for a while, Michael snuck out to see GOB on the yacht.

So now let's get on to the new stuff. I guess this George Michael/Maeby part should have been in the last chapter, but it was already too long. Now it's made this one too long to include Lindsay's two birthday parties. Well, I'll get to those soon.

Anyway, George Michael and Maeby went to the jewelry store at about the same time that Michael arrived at the penthouse. Let's say that once Michael turned his cellphone on again, he didn't listen to all his voicemails, because most of them were from GOB, nagging him to come to the yacht. So Michael didn't notice a missed call from his son and didn't call him back that day or night.

At the jewelry store, George Michael and Maeby picked out matching wedding bands, then walked back to the hotel together. George Michael held her hand and said, "I'll buy you a diamond later, Maeby. I promise." Even using his banana stand money, he could not afford a decent-sized diamond, so Maeby had suggested a plain gold ring without a stone.

"I told you, it doesn't matter to me, George Michael. It's just so people will know for sure that we're married, without us having to pull out the marriage certificate all the time."

"I know. I just wish I could've gotten you something as nice as my mom's ring." He squeezed her hand.

"That's okay. You don't have a credit card or anything yet. I still gotta get you a job at my studio."

"Yeah. With a job I can save up for a real ring."

Maeby was beginning to get nervous. George Michael's insistence on a real ring of course meant that he considered this a real marriage. To Maeby it was more of a useful accident, a cover story that would allow them to date; she preferred thinking of them as girlfriend and boyfriend now.

So Maeby said discouragingly, "Well, no, we should both save our money for rent and stuff. L.A.'s very expensive."

"Oh, right." George Michael sighed with disappointment. "Well, I'll just have to save up longer, I guess. I'm sorry."

"That's okay. No rush." She kissed him to change the subject. Maeby didn't want George Michael to spend money on a real wedding ring, when she wasn't sure that their marriage would actually last forever. They should wait it out a while, she felt, especially since they hadn't even had sex yet.

Once they returned to their honeymoon suite, George Michael excused himself to call his father, and to secretly ask him for Tracy's wedding ring. He wanted to surprise Maeby, and he hoped that she wouldn't object to his mother's wedding ring as she did to the engagement ring. Also, if his dad was willing to hand over the ring, that surely would be proof that he accepted their marriage now. Unfortunately, Michael didn't answer the phone, so George Michael left a voicemail message.

In the other room, Maeby phoned the movie studio to say that she definitely wouldn't come back to work until tomorrow. "I mean, as long as I paid for the whole night, we might as well use it for the night."

Her boss shrugged it off, since it was Maeby's honeymoon. "I guess so. The lawyer's still getting your work permit approved, anyway." Despite her emancipation, child labor laws still required that Maeby have a work permit, which usually required passing grades at school. "By the way, your dad came to the studio looking for you."

"Oh no. We moved out to get away from him! You didn't tell him where we are, did you?"

"No, and anyway, he didn't come to complain. He was actually bugging us for a part in the movie. He wanted to play George Bluth! So the lawyer talked him into signing a form saying that he home schooled you during that time that you missed school, and that you got great grades."

"Wow! How'd you do that?"

"Money, and we convinced him that he'll have a part as a home school teacher in the movie. So we sent Tobias home to work on his 'lines' and to read up on the state's home schooling curriculum, so he could get certified. We'll film a scene with him, and then just cut it out later."

"Great. So I'll see you at work tomorrow."

"And you'll sign all the documents and contracts, right?"

"Yeah, definitely. I'll bring George Michael too, if he needs to sign anything. Uh, he also wanted to talk about rewriting the movie script to mention our getting married."

"I guess it wouldn't hurt." Then Mort added awkwardly, "Uh, congratulations, by the way. And I'm sorry about... you know, flirting with you before. I mean, you didn't tell me your real age or anything." Mort had hinted about taking her out to dinner.

"I know. But I did remind you that you're married."

"Touché. I guess you had to keep your secrets then, just like I hope you'll keep my secrets now. Hint, hint." So far, Maeby hadn't got Mort into trouble with his wife.

"Sure," she said. "And I was wondering if George Michael could get a job at Tantamount too. Hint, hint."

"I'll see what I can do."

"He'd be good as a script reader." Then Maeby told Mort about her mother's upcoming birthday party at Stan Sitwell's estate. "We can go there and make a big publicity push for the movie."

"Yeah, that sounds great. Really build the momentum for our movie, instead of the one with that Annyong kid."

Meanwhile, George Michael ordered a romantic dinner for them, and Maeby got off the phone when the room service arrived.

Bringing the food to the couch, he lit the candles and turned down the lights in the room. "I'm glad we're staying the night."

She agreed, "Me too." Maeby was too drunk to drive, and it wouldn't be so bad to fool around again.

So they finished off the champagne bottle from before, and this made Maeby giggle anew. George Michael pulled out his laptop again and they watched his Les Cousins Dangereux DVD.

This time they paid attention, and Maeby got rather turned on. The movie was much better than her sanitized American remake, and it was definitely rated R for a reason. The kids started making out on the couch, and George Michael eagerly rounded second base again.

"Oh, George Michael..." Maeby started to undress George Michael in return.

"Maeby." They slid off the couch onto the floor, where they could only hear the movie, not see it. George Michael had practically memorized the movie, of course, so he tried some moves from it.

"Oh!" She found his increasing boldness very hot and surprising.

While the sexy music played from the movie, George Michael got into her pants, then her panties.

Moaning, Maeby kissed him and kicked off her shoes, as her toes started to curl. She started to wriggle out of her pants, and her hair spread out on the rug beneath them.

Part of George Michael's brain said that maybe he should slow down, or at least pause for a moment. Instead of messing around on the rug, maybe he should do something gentlemanly, like carry her into the bedroom. However, George Michael stopped listening to his brain, diving head first into third base.

She cried out passionately and ran her fingers through his hair. George Michael was certainly no expert in oral sex, or any other kind for that matter, but she wasn't very experienced either. He made up for his lack of skills with his enthusiasm and his willingness to try anything. He also paid close attention to her verbal and nonverbal signs of approval when he did stuff right. She wriggled and squealed as he alternated between fingering her and tasting her.

Getting quite hard, George Michael stopped to undo his fly and to gaze at her now naked body. She was so beautiful. "Maeby." He kissed her and murmured, "I love you." If it made her nervous, he figured that he could claim drunkenness again.

She did not object, though, and this time she smartmouthed, "I know."

George Michael grinned, and hurried to discard the rest of his clothes as well.

Then she pulled him close again and they felt the full heat of each other, skin to skin. She was wet and opening up, and he wanted to be inside her, but he wasn't sure that she really wanted to go all the way yet. Was she just drunk? So he reminded her that they didn't have any condoms, and nervously asked, "Uh, you think we should get-um, call room service for-I mean, if we, we need some now?"

She nodded and said, "Okay."

"Yeah? Okay," he grinned in relief and delight. "Yeah, I'll-yeah." He caressed her disheveled hair, then sat up to grab the nearest phone.

She sat up too and remarked that they might as well move from the floor now. Getting off the rug, she walked into the bedroom and climbed onto the bed.

George Michael watched her appreciatively and quickly ordered the condoms before rushing to join her. They kissed and embraced on the bed, and while waiting, she started to feel him up and find out what moves could make him moan. He could hardly believe this was really happening, that they were married and about to consummate it. He felt lightheaded enough to be dreaming.

When the room service arrived, Maeby got up and put on her robe to answer the door. She hurried back to bed and handed him the pack while she slipped off her robe. After some clumsiness in tearing open the wrapper, George Michael managed to put on the condom. With kisses, he gently opened her up again, and Maeby cried out when he sank inside her. She was so wet and hot, and he paused to make sure then she was comfortable. Then Maeby clutched his back and closed her eyes as he started to thrust. She writhed and moaned as he rocked her against the mattress. He lasted for as long as he could, and called out Maeby's name when he came. This set her off, and they collapsed together.

She sighed when he slid out of her, then opened her eyes to gaze at her not-cousin, who wasn't so timid after all.

George Michael finally caught his breath and looked at her in return. "Oh, Maeby." He smiled goofily and nuzzled her. He had lost his virginity at last, to his dream girl.

They kissed some more, but began to feel cold, so he pulled the blankets over them. He took her hand and caressed her ring finger again, kissing it. Now they no longer had to lie about consummating their marriage.

She snuggled close to him and didn't even have the energy to worry about the realness of their marriage. She felt safe in his arms, rather than scared, and they cozily fell asleep together.

On the yacht the next morning, Michael awoke next to his snoring brother. Daylight seeped into the cabin, filtering through the glass at the bedside table, and he watched the shadows and light play on GOB's brown skin. Michael could never brown like that; his own skin freckled or burned most of the time. Hmm, maybe that was another clue that they weren't real brothers? He could only hope so.

Michael woke up his brother with a soft kiss.

GOB rubbed his eyes, then grinned. "Hey, Mikey."

"Hey."

"So you didn't run off, huh? I thought maybe you'd sneak away in the night."

Michael shook his head and joked, "Nope. I'm still not good at one-night stands."

GOB laughed and mussed up his hair. "Yeah, and I'd never believe a Chareth Cutestory name."

"Nope," Michael agreed. He still didn't understand his feelings for his brother, but he had decided that he didn't regret last night.

Soon GOB nuzzled Michael and asked, "So, we should go get your stuffs from the penthouse, right? 'Cause you're moving here now, and you didn't bring anything last night. Just your bike."

"Oh. Yeah, I-I guess so." He didn't feel like leaving bed just yet, though. "Actually that was George Michael's bike that he left at the banana stand."

"It was?"

"Yeah, I found it last night when I couldn't sleep and I drove around town." That reminded Michael that he'd left the staircar at Balboa Island, and he realized that they needed to get their stories straight. "Listen, GOB, we should tell Buster and Uncle Oscar that, um, I already knew the bike was there, and I went to get it. Then I decided to go see you and spend the night here, okay?"

"Okay." GOB nodded.

Michael added, "Oh, and uh, we gotta agree on what we were fighting about yesterday at the penthouse. They got suspicious 'cause I said it was about Lindsay, but you said it wasn't."

"Oh right. Well, let's say we were fighting 'cause you tried to steal my yacht."

"I didn't-!" he started to protest, but then gave in with a sigh. "Fine." Why deny it? He really did try to take the yacht to Cabo at first. "Okay, then last night I couldn't sleep because I was missing George Michael so much. And I, you know, remembered that he left his bike at the stand, so I went to get it. Then I decided to go make up with you for some reason."

"Because you were sad and wanted to cry some more," GOB suggested. "So you stayed the night."

Michael rolled his eyes, but then felt guilty, since he had quickly forgotten about his son last night, in order to indulge his lust. Still, there was no point in fighting the illicit cravings anymore; he'd just get weak and give in again.

GOB continued confidently, "Yeah, 'cause I already told Lindsay and Steve that you were crying all day yesterday."

Michael looked a little embarrassed about that, though he did indeed cry for a little while. It was a plausible excuse at the time. "But, uh, would everybody really believe that I went to you to cry again? After you made fun of me before?"

GOB admitted, "Well, it wasn't pretty during your big speech on the ship, guy... but you know, you finally stopped being a robot." Getting to taste Michael's tears had also helped to make the crying less of a turn-off. "And like I said, you came over to apologize for stealing my yacht."

Michael shrugged, "Okay, then I just broke down again I guess. So now that we've made up, I suddenly want to move in with you?"

"Yeah. It's too crowded for you to stay at Mom's place, anyway."

"But isn't there only one bed on this yacht?"

"We'll say that we're sharing, or that there's a sleeping bag upstairs."

"Are you sure it doesn't sound weird? They'll know something's going on."

"No they won't, Mikey. Come on, they don't know about us."

Michael pointed out, "Hey, everybody thinks that I almost slept with Lindsay! If they could think that, then maybe they could wonder about us too." He sighed and shook his head. "Besides, the police would still wonder why I'm on the yacht with you. They'll think I'm trying to escape."

GOB said, "Well maybe you should. Let's skip town, like I said."

"No, GOB. I told you, I don't want to disappear, especially since I just made up with George Michael. Look, maybe we can't really stay here. Maybe we have to live somewhere else."

"But I like my yacht! Don't you?"

"Frankly, I'd prefer a real kitchen and shower and everything else. I mean, you can stay if you want, GOB, but maybe I should just get an apartment of my own. You can sneak over there at night."

"No, that's no good. It'd be harder to keep us a secret."

"But-"

Before they could argue further, GOB's cellphone rang.

It was Buster, who was so worried that he didn't even greet him with "Hey, brother." "GOB, we can't find Michael anywhere. Do you know where he went?"

GOB glanced at Michael nervously. "Uh, yeah. He's right here actually."

"What? He's there?"

Michael took the phone and tried to sound casual. "Hello."

Relaxing a little, Buster replied "Hey, brother," then asked why Michael disappeared last night. "You left all your stuff behind, even your cell phone!"

"Yeah, I'm sorry, Buster. I-I didn't mean to scare you guys. I just couldn't sleep last night, so I went to go get my son's bike that he left at the banana stand. And while I was up, I decided to go see GOB and make up with him for our fight."

"Oh. Yeah, why were you guys acting so weird last night?"

So Michael told Buster the agreed-upon cover story, while GOB added his own commentary. "Yeah, Mikey was crying all over again-the big baby!"

Michael cleared his throat. "Anyway, I stayed the night here, and now I'm gonna move in with him."

"Really? On the yacht?' Buster sounded incredulous.

Michael improvised, "Uh, yeah. I just feel like a change. I'll come back to the penthouse later and get my stuff, okay?"

"Okay." Buster still sounded confused, but since Michael had apparently cried so much, maybe he was very depressed, and that was causing his erratic behavior.

"Thanks. Bye."

"Bye, brothers."

Michael hung up in relief and put down the phone. "You didn't have to call me a baby, you know."

GOB shrugged, then smiled flirtatiously. "You want me to make it up to you?" He leaned close for a kiss.

Michael gave in for now, though in the back of his mind he was still wondering whether Buster suspected anything inappropriate between them.

They were still embracing when they suddenly heard a noise outside.

Running down the docks, Steve Holt loudly announced himself as usual, and called out as he climbed aboard, "Dad? Dad!"

"Oh my God!" Michael quietly exclaimed. He panicked, lying down and pulling the blanket over his nakedness.

"Don't worry," GOB whispered, then got up and put on a robe. "Just a minute!" he called out to Steve.

"Okay, Dad." He stopped knocking on the door, but he commented on the mess he found-the knocked over Segway, and the bicycle lying on the pier. "Hey, Dad, what happened here? Is this George Michael's bike out front? Did he come back from L.A.?" Preferably with Maeby. Steve Holt kind of missed her, and hoped that she was reconsidering her marriage.

After concealing Michael's scattered clothes, GOB stepped outside and closed the cabin door after him. "Uh, no, he didn't come back. Michael just biked over here last night 'cause we had a fight before, and he wanted to make up."

"Uncle Mike?" Steve was surprised. "Hey, Uncle Buster was looking for him."

"Yeah we just talked to him. Did he call you earlier?"

Steve explained, "Actually, I tried calling Uncle Mike's phone, and Uncle Buster answered it, saying that he couldn't find Uncle Mike anywhere. He was very worried and hoped that Uncle Mike didn't run away with the staircar, or that the police would catch him."

"Nope. Wait, why were you calling Michael?" GOB wondered if Michael was trying to steal his son again.

Steve Holt answered, "Well I thought he'd moved in with you yesterday, and I was calling to see if you guys wanted to go to the beach today. But Uncle Buster told me that Uncle Mike didn't move in after all." Steve was confused. "But now he's here, without his phone?"

"Uh, yeah. He forgot it 'cause he was so sad about George Michael being gone. Now he's changed his mind again, and he's gonna stay with me. You can help us move his stuffs over here."

"Okay, Dad."

"And next time, call my phone before you come over here, okay?"

Steve said, "But when I call you, Dad, you don't answer all the time. That's why I tried calling Uncle Mike first."

"Oh. Right." GOB shrugged off his parental neglect. "Well, then, don't come over so early in the morning."

"It's 8:30," Steve said.

"Yeah, too early. Michael's still asleep right now."

"Okay, I'm sorry. Hey, Dad, why didn't Uncle Mike move in with you yesterday? How come he was staying with Buster and Oscar?"

"Oh, he said that he was worried that the cops would think he was escaping. But never mind now. Can you go to your car and wait for us? I'll wake up Michael, and we'll go to the penthouse."

"Okay, Dad. Then we can all go to the beach today, right?"

"Sure. Whatever."

After Steve left, GOB went back inside. He told Michael that everything was fine now.

"Are you sure he wasn't suspicious?"

"Yeah, Mikey. Don't you trust me?"

Michael's heart was still racing. "It's just-what if that had been the police, or somebody else who didn't knock? We could have been caught."

"No, 'cause I locked the door last night."

"Oh good. Well, we have to always remember that, and keep the blinds shut, and I-I have to get my phone." He sat up in bed and looked for his clothes.

GOB helped him, and lightly teased Michael for walking a little funny when he stood up. Michael worried and felt self-conscious, but GOB told him, "If anybody notices, we can say that you fell on your bike weird, or something, in the dark last night."

"Okay." Michael relaxed again. "Yeah, since it's George Michael's bike, not mine, maybe I didn't adjust it properly and hurt myself."

So they both cleaned up and dressed, even though Michael only had his pajamas and robe. Then they went to meet Steve, and Michael explained that he had left the staircar at Balboa Island. So Steve drove them there, then GOB and Michael both got into the staircar and drove it the rest of the way, with Steve following.

At the penthouse, they went upstairs to pack Michael's bags, and return the keys to the staircar. Michael also changed his clothes and checked his phone messages. When he heard his son's voice, he felt guilty again.

The voicemail said, "Dad, Maeby and I bought rings today, but I couldn't afford to get her a diamond, so I thought, maybe you could get me Mom's wedding ring to give to her. Do you mind? Not the engagement ring, 'cause Maeby doesn't like that I used it as a pre-pre-engagement ring before. So I'm gonna try to surprise her with Mom's wedding ring instead, and hope she likes that. Is it okay with you, Dad? If it is, maybe you could bring it to Lindsay's birthday party on Saturday, so I can get it from you then. Let me know. Thanks. It's George Michael."

When Michael called his son back, he said, "Oh, hi Dad! You got my message?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry I didn't call you back sooner. You want your mother's wedding ring?"

"Uh yeah. Do you mind?"

Despite Michael's reservations, he replied out of guilt, "No, that's fine with me, buddy. She's-she's your wife now. I'll just have to get it out and make sure that Lindsay didn't try to steal it to wear on her toe too."

"Thanks, Dad. I'm so glad that you're happy for us!"

"I'm very happy for you," but he spoke with a twinge of sadness, "I just wish could be there to see you, you know. Uh, how are you guys doing now? Haven't run into Pop-Pop's bounty hunter yet?"

George Michael laughed, "No, not yet. We're at Maeby's studio in L.A. already. She's talking to her boss right now-I guess signing some stuff and getting me a job here. Then I'm going to go get us an apartment, so we can move in today. Otherwise we'll have to check into another hotel."

"Sounds good," Michael said. "Let me know when you settle in."

"Sure, Dad. And I'll see you at the party Saturday."

"Yeah, see you."

"Bye, Dad. I love you."

"I love you, too." He hung up and sighed sadly.

"Mikey, what's taking you so long?" GOB called at the door.

"I'm coming!" he answered, then came out of the bathroom. They said bye to Buster and Oscar, then left with Steve Holt.

After putting Michael's bags in the Camaro, GOB sat in the backseat with Michael while Steve drove them back to the docks. They brought Michael's bags to the yacht, then Steve wanted them all to go to the beach.

GOB wanted to refuse, but Steve looked hurt and insisted, "Come on, it will cheer up Uncle Mike, so he won't cry anymore."

Michael said, "All right," over GOB's protest. "Uh, can you wait outside, Steve? Let me put on some sunblock and, uh, look for a beach towel."

"Okay."

When they were alone, GOB whined in a low voice, "Mikey, come on, we should get rid of him."

Michael shook his head. "He's your son, and you promised him already. Besides, we don't want him to get suspicious, GOB. Just for a couple of hours, then we'll have lunch and tell him that I have to meet my lawyer or something."

"Fine. Then we send him home!"

"Or to hang out with some of his school friends. Come on, let's go." Michael gave GOB a brief kiss, before they gathered their beach stuff, to join Steve Holt.