Gone but not Forgotten 

Part Six


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“Did you think we were ever getting away?” Justin asked Brian. Gus was sitting mesmerized by the latest movie involving the purple gay dinosaur Barny.

“It still seems like we haven’t left.” Brian raised his glass of iced coffee that had been served to him by the steward. “To us, you and I on our first time flying together.”

Justin giggled. “There’s going to be a lot of first times with us. But you know we spent so many hours talking and sharing our previous lives that I feel like we’ve known each other since birth.”

“You mean we haven’t?” Brian smiled at the man he loved. “I’m almost sorry that we have company, we could have spent the flight doing something more pleasant than sitting here behaving.”

“This may be our first flight, it isn’t our last flight.” Justin got up and sat in Brian’s lap. “I promise you the next time we fly and we are alone, things will be a lot more interesting.”

“I love your promises Sunshine.” Brian kissed Justin softly and then more passionately. The two of them could feel themselves wanting more than just a kiss.

“Daddy, Justy, I need to go potty.” Gus was standing there looking up at them. “Is there a potty in this ‘plane?”

“Yes, I’m sure we can find one.” Justin stood up. “I’ll take him Brian.” Brian watched the two men in his life go hand in hand toward the small restroom. He was staring out the window watching the clouds when Gus rushed back and climbed up on his knee. 

“Daddy the pee goes down into a little hole. Do you think it goes on the people’s heads on the ground?”

“No it goes into a holding tank.” Brian wasn’t sure if that’s what happened but he hoped it did and that was good enough for him.

“What’s that?”

Brian looked at Justin helplessly. Justin shook his head and laughed. 

“It’s a big tank that all the waste water goes into and it’s pumped out when we are on the ground.”

“A tank is for driving around in daddy. GI Joe drives a tank. “

“I think Justin has a snack for you, don’t you Justin.” Brian said helplessly.

“Coward” Justin mouthed. “Sure I have a snack Gus. It’s hot dogs. Do you like ketchup on your hot dog?”

“Yep and mustard. “ Gus got off of his father’s knee and followed Justin to where the steward was preparing their lunch. 

“Gus would like his lunch as soon as it’s ready. He wants a hot dog with ketchup and mustard.”

“And a drink please.” Gus added. “I’m very, very thirsty.”

“We have apple juice, would you like some cold apple juice Gus?” the steward asked.

“Yes please.” 

“Come on back to your seat Gus. We’ll put up your tray and Max will bring you your lunch.” Justin led Gus back to his seat.

“Daddy too?” Gus asked.

“Yes, daddy will be having lunch too. “

“Hot dogs.” Gus crowed.

“Not likely Sonny Boy” Brian muttered.

“Daddy and I are having something different.” Justin smiled. “You can have some of our lunch too if you want.”

“Okay” Gus was satisfied. He began to entertain himself with his coloring book on the lunch tray while he waited for lunch.

“So brat, what is for lunch? Does it involve a high protein snack for dessert?”

“You are soooo bad Stud. Actually you’ll like this lunch. Max has prepared you your favorite Sushi among other things.”

“Really?” Brian was intrigued. “I could get to like your airline Sunshine.”

“Well considering that we own the damn jet, you’ll find yourself on it fairly often.” 

“We?”

“I told you everything I have is yours, so yes ‘we’. “ Justin sat back down on Brian’s lap. “I made sure everything was changed before we left. I told you I had to see my lawyer.”

“But Justin, you didn’t tell me you were going to put half your holdings in my name.”

“I didn’t, I put all of my holdings in both of our names.” Justin grinned the smile that always went straight to Brian’s heart. “You can’t tell me that you didn’t do the same thing when you went to see your lawyer last week.”

“Well actually I did, but it isn’t the same.”

“Hmmmm, and how is it different?” before Brian could speak Justin sealed the other man’s lips with a kiss. “Don’t think so hard Stud we’re partners now and forever. Partners means just that.”

“Did I mention that I love you?” Brian asked, keeping his whirling thoughts about how much money he now had control over to himself. It was mind boggling as far as he was concerned.

The landing at Vancouver International Airport was disappointing as far as seeing much of the mountains. It was raining and cloudy so they appeared seemingly out of a fog of cloud and ended up over the ocean as the small jet descended to the runway. 

Brian already knew that they weren’t going to a hotel. It worked well actually with the plans he had. Justin and I guess now he, owned a condo in North Vancouver that was used during the frequent coming and going to the family home in central British Columbia. 

“Daddy, how come that man is looking in my suitcase?” Gus whispered loudly. The customs officer smiled at him and continued doing his job.

“When you go into a different country, they want to make sure that you aren’t taking anything bad into it?” Justin answered for Brian. He could tell that Brian was questioned out after the five hour flight.

“What kind of bad?”

“Well, drugs or guns.” Justin said.

“My mommies said don’t take drugs.” Gus said reasonably. “Everybody knows little kids don’t take drugs, so why is he looking at my pajamas and stuff?”
“Sometime parents put things in the kids suitcases thinking we won’t look in them. “ the customs man answered for Justin as he closed the suitcase. 

“My daddy and my Justy would never do that.” Gus looked at the man. “You are a bad man touching my stuff.”

“I’m just doing my job.” The man defended himself. 

“I’ll explain it to you later Gus.” Justin said. Brian stood behind him and he could tell by the tense muscles touching him that Brian was close to exploding. He hated crowds these days and the airport line for customs was stressful. Not that Justin could blame him, he felt the same way.

Justin smiled at the customs officer and loaded their cases onto a luggage carrier. “Do you want to ride up here?” he asked Gus.

“I’m not a baby Justy, I’m a big boy.”

“I guess that answered your question Sunshine.” Brian’s hand in the middle of Justin’s back was providing just enough pressure that Justin knew he’d better start moving forward.

“We can get a limo outside of the airport to take us to the condo.” Justin said as he pushed the luggage carrier. Gus had one hand on the side of it ‘helping’ with the pushing. 

“Not necessary Sunshine.” Brian observed as they landed on the outside sidewalk of the busy airport. A uniformed man holding a sign that said Taylor-Kinney told them they were being met. “I arranged for a limo to pick us up. I thought it would be easier this way.” Brian let Gus scramble into the large back seat first and the Justin in the middle before he got in himself.

Justin helped Gus with his seat belt before doing up his own. Brian’s strong arms pulled him close as they began the drive that would take them to their condo in North Vancouver. 

Justin relaxed in Brian’s embrace. He was so tuned to the other man after spending almost a year with him that he actually felt himself start to panic when too much time passed without them touching. He was going to ask Brian if he felt the same way, when he realized that Brian was always pulling him close or holding his hand. Brian must feel the same. The thought made Justin smile. 

“Boats.” Gus observed looking down at a marina from his vantage point in the limo as they traveled over a bridge.

“I love you.” Justin whispered to Brian. He put his head on Brian’s shoulder and shut his eyes. The drive from the airport was familiar to him, he didn’t need to see it and he rather enjoyed traveling with his eyes shut as his body absorbed the feeling and smells of the man he loved.

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“Shit Justin, you said it was a little condo in North Vancouver that your family used when they traveled back and forth.” Brian was standing in front of the balcony doors staring out at the ocean. They were on the twenty third floor, a penthouse suite with four bedrooms no less, it was larger than his loft times three.

“It is.” Justin came up and wrapped his arms around Brian from behind; resting his head on Brian’s back. “It’s not really that big, especially when it has two kids, parents and sundry other friends. I guess I never thought of it as looking quite like it does. It was just the place we stayed for a few days coming and going or if we wanted to see a concert in the city, or go shopping.”

Gus was thrilled with the bedroom he’d been assigned. It had been Justin’s bedroom when he was a child and because he didn’t come often, he’d never gotten around to changing it. So it was filled with lots of wonders for the small boy.

“Justin, there is a fucking great big tree on this balcony.” Brian couldn’t bring himself to out on the roof deck, which he referred to as a balcony. It held a large fir tree that had to be thirty feet tall. 

“Yeah, it’s gotten big over the years.” Justin agreed. “Mom and Dad always had it filled with lights at Christmas time. It looks pretty amazing from below.”

“No shit.” Brian glanced at the tree again. “Apparently I’m going to have to question everything you tell me. You are the master of understatement.” 

Justin giggled. “So when I tell you I love you, you can just imagine that it’s only a teeny little bit of the way I actually feel about you.”

“Come around here and let me kiss you.” Brian turned away from the tree and the view and pulled Justin into his embrace. “I love you too Sunshine, more than I can say.”

“I know you do Brian, I know.”

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“Brian we’re supposed to start heading to our home today.”

“One more day in Vancouver isn’t going to hurt you. Besides, I read about this place on the internet. I’d like to see it and I bet Gus will like it as well.”

“We can see it on the way back.” Justin all but whined. He was in bed after having an amazing night of being made loved to by the master of all love makers. He hated to get out and he sure didn’t want to get out if they were staying in the city for another day.

“Get your bubble butt out of bed and into the shower. I want to be on the ten o’clock tram up the mountain.”

“Daddy, are we really going way up to the top of a mountain?” Gus asked when they had finally made their way to the mini van. Apparently he now owned jointly with Justin a mini van that was kept at the condo. 

“Yes we are going to the top of Grouse Mountain.” Brian made sure Gus was strapped in before getting into the passenger seat. “You do know how to find this place don’t you Sunshine?”

“I’ve been there lots of times. I would never have thought it would be your cup of tea, but I guess I just don’t know you as well as I thought.” Justin began to drive.

“Do you know that they have two grizzly bears living on the mountain that have been raised there since they were orphaned cubs? And that they live together with the humans without harming them. There is only a very small and not too strong fence mostly to keep the humans out not the grizzlies in. “

“I saw them when they were cubs. I imagine they’ve grown some.” Justin drove them expertly toward their destination.

Gus was thrilled with the ride up in the tram. He spotted an eagle flying beside them and entertained the whole tram with his excitement.

At the top when they got out of the tram, there was a man waiting with a sign that again said Taylor-Kinney.

“Brian, what’s going on?” Justin asked puzzled.

Brian looked nervous, it was now or never. “Justin, do you know what day today is?” Brian asked.

“Tuesday” Justin said.

“Yes, it’s Tuesday, but it’s also the anniversary of the day that you and I met. I want this day to be important to us for other reasons other than the fact we were kidnapped. I want to marry you here. On top of this mountain with only the clouds above us, no one and nothing enclosing the two of us. And I wanted to marry you with Gus as our witness, for other than you, he is the most important person in my life.” Brian reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring box. “Will you marry me Justin Taylor?”

Justin was crying silent tears all through Brian’s speech. His hand shook when he took the ring box and opened it. “They’re beautiful,” he said. “Yes I’ll marry you.”

“I have our clothes in the chalet. There is a photographer to record this moment for posterity too.” Brian grinned.

“You’ve thought of everything.”

“Not everything, you might have said no.”

“Never would I have done that Stud. I told you, your ass was mine the instant it walked in that door.” 

“No yours was mine.” Brian teased.

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Standing on a grassy hill at the peak of Grouse Mountain, with only the clouds above them and a view of endless green mountains behind them, Brian and Justin exchanged their vows in front of a rather tearful Justice of the Peace. Gus looked on solemnly taking his job as best man for both of them very seriously. 

The wedding photo that they would carry with them forever, showed the two of them, Gus in the middle against a backdrop of clouds and two eagles gliding in the air behind them. Later Justin would paint some of his best work using the backdrop of his wedding day. He never told any of his fans where the background came from, he would only smile as he looked inward remembering that day.

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“Brian, I’m going to drive if you don’t mind. It’ll be easier for all of us. You aren’t used to the roads and they can get, well, difficult at times.” Justin said. 

“Fine with me Sunshine.” Brian was feeling mellow. He kept glancing at Justin’s hand where the ring that matched the one he had on, gleamed in the sunlight. He never imagined that he would ever be married and certainly not married and happy about it.

“Daddy, Justy, look at the mountains.” Gus pointed out from his vantage point in the back seat of the van. 

They had been driving through the flat land of Fraser Valley, the lush green acres were framed with the coastal mountain range. The mountain that had caught Gus’ attention was Mount Baker in Washington State.

“That’s Mount Baker.” Justin said.

“Why is there white stuff all over it?” Gus asked.
“That’s snow Gus, that mountain is so high that the snow just never disappears because it’s always cold.” 

“Can we go there?”

“No, maybe some other time, right now we are going to a different mountain.” Justin smiled at Brian.

“Is there snow?”

“I hope not Sonny Boy” Brian said. “It’s spring time.”


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Brian turned in the seat of the minivan to ensure that his son was not making a mess in the back seat. They had left around 10 that morning, and after being in the car an hour already, Brian had to wonder when they would get there. Gus had never been on a long car ride before, and Brian hoped the young boy would not throw a fit because he was bored. Gus however was sitting in the booster seat, just staring out the window. “Daddy, look…’nother mounain.”

“Mountain? Yeah, bud, there are lots of those.” Brian turned forward in the seat again and stole a glance at his husband. Shaking his head, Brian couldn’t believe that he was actually married. “So, Sunshine. How much longer?”

Justin glanced over at Brian and laughed. “Stud, we have a long way to go. We’ve only been on the road a little over an hour, and we still have about six to go.”

“Fuck!”

Justin laughed and placed his hand on Brian’s knee. “We’ll make frequent stops so that Gus can get out and run around. It will add time, but at least we’ll be able to give him some air.” Justin turned his attention back to the road, just smiling at what he knew Brian’s reaction will be. His lover, now husband, had stated on many occasions that he wasn’t afraid of being out in the woods, and that no place could be as isolated as Justin like to say his place was. Justin knew that Brian was going to be in for a BIG surprise. Of course the last thing he wanted to tell Brian that they could have easily flown and been there in an hour or so. “We can stop at Hope, and get a quick bite to eat and fill up the tank. But we’ll make a couple of stops just for Gus… and for you by the looks of it.”

“What does that mean?” Brian asked with a raised eye-brow.

“I’m just saying that you are already getting crazy being trapped in the car. You’re not used to long car rides are you?” Justin tried not to cringe slightly at the thought of bringing up Brian’s childhood. He knew that the older man had never been on a ‘family’ outing like this before… only the car trips with his friends as he got older.

“I have too; it’s just that I’m worried about Gus. He’s never been in the car for long periods of time.” Brian’s explanation fell a little flat, letting Justin know that Brian himself wasn’t all that comfortable. “Plus when I go on these trips I’m the one normally driving.”

“Well, why don’t you just sit back and enjoy the scenery. Close your eyes, and relax. That’s what this trip is for, right? To relax. Plus, Stud, if I let you drive we would get lost.” Justin laughed slightly knowing that he was now getting an evil look from his husband. 

When Justin started to notice Gus start to squirm in his seat, he pulled off the side of the road at a small rest-stop area. “Do you have to go potty, Gus?”

“Yeah.” The young man stated as Brian stepped out of the minivan and stretched his long legs. As he looked around, all Brian could see were mountains. No homes, nothing that could relate to civilization except for the telephone poles and electrical towers. The highway was a two lane road that was starting to weave in and out of the mountain paths. Reaching into the back seat, Brian removed Gus from his booster, and placed him on the ground. “Potty, daddy.”

Brian looked around for the bathroom, and saw two outhouse type buildings. “Oh hell no.” Brian said shaking his head. “I thought you said running water, and heat.”

Justin laughed as he got out of the car and stretched. “I did. And I have that… at home. We’re out in the mountains, Stud. This is the best as it gets until we reach one of the cities, and I don’t think Gus could last that long. Justin tried not to laugh as Brian took Gus over to side to let the boy go to the bathroom. Smiling, he opened the back of the jeep and started to pull out their small cooler. He knew that this would be a good place for them all to just sit and have a light snack before they moved on.

“So where the fuck are we at now?” Brian asked as he and Gus returned and helped Justin set the small blanket out. 

“Gold Pan on the Thompson River. We used to stop here all the time whenever we drove from home to Vancouver.” Justin said with a small smile. “It’s peaceful.”

Brian leaned back on the blanket and looked up at the clear sky. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a sky that blue.”

“No pollution, no smog… none of that damn city shit that you have to deal with back in Pittsburgh.” Justin handed Gus a sandwich that he had made and watched as the boy moved in beside Brian and ate his food. “He’s a good kid. It’s been a long trip so far and longer to go, and not once has he complained.”

“Yeah he is a good boy, aren’t you, Sonny boy?” Brian ran his hand through Gus’ hair, grateful to have him there with them. 

“I a Good boy.”

“I’m a good boy.”

“Yeah.” Gus took a big bite of his sandwich and reached across for his sippy cup. “Pretty.”

“Gus, you can talk better than that. You’re not a baby.” Brian lightly scolded his son as he ruffled his hair. 

“Sorry, daddy. It pretty here, Jus’n.”

“Yeah it is. I’m happy that I can show it all to you.” Justin told the young boy. For the first time in his life, he had felt like a real family. Well one of the times in recent months, but Justin couldn’t help but enjoy it more and more each time he got to spend time with Brian and Gus. He wouldn’t trade any of it for all the money in the world. “Once you finish, and once your daddy eats something, we’ll be back on the road. I want to get there before it gets dark.”

“What’s the plan?” Brian sat up and reached for a sandwich in the cooler, and a bottle of water. He figured that since Justin was the one driving, Brian would let the man make the plans on where they would stop and what they would see. Despite his little complaints about not having the ‘comforts of home’ out here, Brian knew that at that moment he wouldn’t give it up.

“I was thinking a couple more stops on the way, of course so Gus can get out and walk around.. and you can as well. We will stop in Hope for gas, stop to eat at 108 Mile resort, then head on in. It shouldn’t be too dark by the time we get there.” Justin set his trash into a small bag in the cooler and took a sip of his water. “You sure you want to do this? You sure you don’t mind being out basically in the middle of nowhere?” Despite Brian’s reassurances that he wanted to go to Justin’s family home, and he didn’t mind the slight isolation, Justin knew that seeing it for real and seeing how isolated one really is was going to be a shock to his husband.

“I’m fine, and yes we’re going. Stop fussing. We’ll be fine.”

Justin took a deep breath and bit his lower lip. He hoped that Brian was as ‘fine’ with it when he really saw it. If he could survive getting to 108, Justin figured that Brian would at least get over the initial shock. It was the rest of the way, and seeing that yes… there are things more isolated than that, that could get him hurt when they finally arrived. Justin figured he would not be able to top for a while, but he would make the sacrifice as long as he could actually get Brian up there and out of the car.


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After their lunch, the three men were back on the road. Gus had shortly fallen asleep, and from what Justin could see, Brian wasn’t that far off. “You can rest you know. We’ll be in Hope soon, and we can just fill up and be on our way right after that.”

Brian nodded as he leaned his head against the door, and closed his eyes. He didn’t dare tell Justin that he wasn’t really tired, just didn’t like the look of the sudden drops right off the road. When they say uneven road, or slight drop, Brian knew that here, it was serious. It wasn’t that he didn’t mind heights, it was just seeing Justin going about 100 kilometers an hour through the narrow winding paths with ‘rock slide’ warnings on one side of the road, and a cliff on the other, Brian got a little nervous.

Not that Brian would ever tell the blond that. Brian just closed his eyes, and sent a silent prayer that they made it to their destination in one piece. 

Brian felt a hand on his shoulder, and heard Gus’ excited yell. Immediately his eyes snapped open wondering if someone was trying to take his son, or if they were actually falling off the side of the damn road. “Hey, Stud. Come out and stretch your legs. You’ve been napping a while, and Gus has to go potty.”

“Again? Christ what did you give him to drink with lunch?” Brian slowly stretched while sitting in the seat, opening his eyes to look at their surroundings. “Where are we?”

“You’ve been asleep for a while now, so had Gus. I filled up the tank and let you guys rest. Of course Gus woke up 5 minutes ago saying he had to go… so here we are.” Justin stepped out of the car after reaching back and releasing the seatbelt for Gus. The young boy climbed over to the front of the car and followed Justin out toward the outhouses. 

Brian looked around and saw one of the most beautiful sights he had ever seen. Well the most beautiful sight besides Justin that was. He got out of the jeep and walked toward the edge of the landing and looked out across the land. You could see the valleys, and mountains across the way, and everything was green. 

“I just love it here,” Justin said as he came up behind Brian and wrapped his arms around the man’s waist. “It’s almost like you can see forever. The trees, the lush, green grass down there in the valley…”

“It’s perfect.” Brian whispered, placing his hands over Justin’s. Brian looked down at Gus as the young boy was staring out at the vast space with his mouth open. “You like it, Sonny boy?”

“Beautiful.” Gus said as he ran up to his father and looked up at him. “Up… wanna see far away.”

Brian bent down and lifted Gus on his shoulders, as Justin moved in beside them. “What do you think, bud?”

“Can we stay?” Gus asked looking down at Brian and Justin.

Justin glanced up at the boy and shook his head. “We can stay for a little bit, but we still have a little ways to go before we get to my house. Sorry, buddy.”

Brian set Gus down and told him that he could play for a little bit, but to not get too close to the edge, and not go out into the street. He wanted Gus right by him, but he also knew that the boy was full of energy from being trapped in the car all day. “I can say that I’m surprised he’s doing so well on the trip so far. I wasn’t sure since he had never been in a car this long before.”

“I think the stops are helping… well that and his nap. He’s a good kid, and I see how much he takes after you.” Justin smiled up at Brian. “You two are so alike. You even look like when you’re ‘napping.’”

“I don’t nap.” Brian tried to sound upset, but his smile broke through. “Okay… I was a little nervous with driving through those mountains, and I guess I just zonked out.”

“I knew you were. I think I have to check the door handle for holes the way your nails were digging into it.”

“Hush. I’ve never been to the damn mountains, do you blame me. And Christ, as fast as you were going…”

“I was only going 100. It’s not that fast. What… 65 miles per hour or so. So hush. Besides, this is where I learned how to drive.” Justin laughed and shook his head. “Just wait until you try it during the winter time.”

“Hell no.” Brian said shaking his head. “We’ll find another way in if it comes to that. NO way in hell am I going to be on those roads in snow and ice.”

“You’re no fun.”

“I’m a lot of fun… it’s death that I don’t find fun.”


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
As the three men drove through the small town of 100 Mile House, Justin stole a quick glance over to his husband and tried not to laugh. Brian’s eyes were wide, and he looked like he was going into shock. “Brian? You’ve been staring out the window for the past hour, there’s really nothing to see.”

“No shit. When you said it was out in the middle of nowhere, I didn’t think you meant it literally.” Brian stated as they began to pass the center of town. All Brian could see was some small stores lining the street, not much in the way of anything in this town. 

Justin finally let the laugh that had been building out, as he shook his head. “I tried to tell you, but you didn’t listen. The closest hospital from here is a little over two hours away…well there’s the clinics, but you know. Hey… at least there’s a KFC.”

“Oh boy.” Brian shook his head as he continued to stare out the window. “How much longer?”

“Not much before we stop for an early dinner, then it’s an hour or so up to the house.” Justin turned his head toward Brian and smiled. “If you think that this is remote, just wait. I tried to warn you, but did you listen…. Noooooo.”

“Hush, young man. You can still be spanked.” Brian turned slightly so he could look at Justin, a look of confusion and disgust on his face. “There were fucking goats in the road, Justin. Goats.”


“Brian, it’s not that bad, really. We both need to get away from everything, and this is a perfect chance. And the goats are almost always in the road right there. It’s just something you learn to deal with” Justin tried to reason with his husband. Shaking his head at that thought, Justin let out a small laugh. “I still can’t believe that we’re married.”

“But well worth it.” Brian stated as he reached across to lay his hand on Justin’s. “So how much are we worth?” Brian smiled at Justin as he wiggled his eye-brows.

Justin wrinkled his nose, and shrugged a little. “You know… I hate that. I hate the whole money issue, it’s never been a good topic with people. But…” Justin said getting away from his slight fear of what Brian will think once he finds out the truth. “I will let you look at all the books once we get to the house.”

“Justin, you know I don’t fucking care about the money.”

“I know…I know.” Justin glanced over at Brian and gave the man a smile. “I know you don’t, and you have no idea what that means to me. There are times, though, that I wish I didn’t have money. That I was just someone without all of this.”

“Nah… then we wouldn’t be here. We wouldn’t have our little get away. You love it, and you know it. Just relax, and we’ll deal with all this shit later. Just don’t even begin to think that a little money is going to scare me off. You’re stuck with me now.”

“Yeah, I am.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“Daddy, Jus’n… I’m hungry.” Gus called out from the back of the van. “An my bottom’s sore.”

Justin smiled and glanced over his shoulder real quick, to see the young boy. “We’re almost at the lodge, Gus. We’ll get out, and get something to eat. Can you hold on for just a couple of minutes. We’re almost there.”

“Okay… but not long, k? My bottom’s really, really tired.” Gus tried to be patient as they continued down the road. “Are we there yet?” He asked, with his lower lip sticking out slightly.

“Yeah, are we there yet?” Brian playfully whined to his husband, copying his son’s sad face.

“Almost. We’re turning now, and then we’re be just about there. Just another minute or so, okay?” Justin stated shaking his head. He knew now what the poor drivers while he was growing up, and his parents went through with him and his sister in the car. Finally when the resort was in sight, Justin let out a sigh of relief. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could handle the two pouty faces of the men he loved. “We’re here.”

“Yeah!” Gus yelled as he began to jump up and down in his seat. “Daddy… I can’t get out.”

“Just a second, Sonny boy. I’m coming.” Brian stepped out of the van and opened the back to let his son out. The instant Gus’ feet hit the ground he was pulling Brian along with him to the entrance of the resort. “Justin?”

Justin stepped out of the van and stretched as he watched Gus drag Brian into the building. “I’m right behind you.” Following the two boys into the resort, Justin led them toward the restaurant and sat down. “Only one more hour left.. then I’m hopping in the Jacuzzi for an hour.”

“Jacuzzi? We have a Jacuzzi?” Brian’s eyes went wide, giving Justin a half grin. “The fun that can be had.” Brian lifted the menu and tried to figure out what he wanted to eat. He knew that the whole carb diet would have to go to the wayside during this trip, so he glanced at the menu trying to find something that would at least taste good. 

Justin leaned over to Gus, and helped him with his menu. Looking up at Brian Justin gave the man a smile. “It’s not after 7 here, Brian so you can forget the no carb crap. It’s only 4, so eat.”

Brian stuck out his tongue at his lover, once again amazed at the young man’s ability to read his mind. One the waitress came to the table, they all ordered their meals. Both Brian and Justin had discretely told the waitress that Gus wanted a small portion, without the little boy’s knowledge. Gus still believed that he was a big boy and could have the same amount of food that the adults had, so he refused to eat off of the kids’ menu. Brian didn’t want the boy to be upset if he didn’t finish his meal like the grown-ups, so he figured if Gus finished the small portion they would get another helping.

Justin reached out and linked his fingers with Brian’s. He hated being in the car as long as they had, because they hadn’t had much opportunity to just hold each other. He could feel the loss grow as each kilometer passed. The frequent stops had been as much for him as they had been for Gus. He knew that without those stops he never would have made it. Once the food arrived, Justin continued to hold Brian’s hand or lightly rubbing their knees together. Any form of contact needed to be had. As Justin leaned back in his chair after he had his fill of food, he let out a long sigh. “Only one more hour.”

“Do you want me to drive for a while?” Brian asked bringing their joined hands up to his lips, and placing a light kiss in the center of Justin’s palm. 

“Nah, I’m fine with driving. It’s just that it’s strange not being able to touch you.” Justin shook his head and laughed. “Am I a bad … well father if I’m wondering how quickly we can get Gus to bed?”

Brian laughed as he shook his head. “If you are than so am I, Sunshine. So am I.”


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Gus was dozing in his seat so he missed the spectacular entrance to Wells Gray National Park. Brian’s breath quickened when he saw the narrow bridge they were about to cross. “Shit” he said softly as the wheels of the minivan hit the bridge deck. 

Justin smiled to himself but said nothing. He was concentrating on getting across. “Sorry Brian” he said finally. “I forgot that the bridge had been washed out when the road caved in last spring. This is a temporary bridge that was put in until the government forks over the cash to build something less likely to be taken out in a flood.”

“Somehow that wasn’t very reassuring Justin.” Brian unclenched his hands. “If this is a provincial park, how come you have a house here?”

“We have a house here, because my family has owned the land for five generations. They gave the land to the province with the exception of a few acres around the house. Of course the house has evolved over the years to what it is today. You have to understand a lot of Taylors had varying ideas about house building here in the park. But I think you’ll kind of like it. I know I do.”

“How far is it now?” Brian asked because the night shadows were descending and it couldn’t get any blacker out here if it tried. Only the stars were providing any form of light and it sure wasn’t much.

“It’s just around that corner.” Justin pulled around a large stand of trees into a cleared area. Outlined by the moonlight, stood one of the largest log houses Brian had ever seen. It was a mixture of logs with a rock foundation. Two wings led off from the center that was two stories high. Moonlight glinted off of a metal roof and cheery lights were on inside. “There are lights on. “ Brian said unnecessarily. 

“It’s Joanne, she flew up a week ago to get the place ready.”

“What the fuck do you mean she few up?”

“She flew up in the jet. She always does. It’s only an hour or so from Vancouver. We have a private airstrip that’s kept up on the other side of those trees.” Justin couldn’t understand why Brian appeared upset.

“You mean we didn’t have to spend the entire day driving on roads that threatened to drop us off the side of the mountains?”

“Brian, of course not. We would never have the time to drive up here all the time. But I thought you’d like to see it at least once.”

Brian rolled his eyes. “Let’s get in the house. I believe a Jacuzzi was mentioned.”

Justin had lifted Gus out of the van. He began to walk toward the house when suddenly he heard Brian squeal. 

Justin turned around and looked. It was Ghost and he had his nose in Brian’s crotch. 
“Sorry Brian, he just wanted to say hi.”

“It’s a fucking wolf and he has his nose on my balls.”

“Tell him to go away.”

“You tell him, I’m not fucking moving.” Brian stood on tip toes paralyzed.

“Here boy, come and give me a kiss and meet Gus.” Gus had come awake when his father squealed. Justin put him down and introduced Gus to the large grey wolf who looked almost white in the shadows of the night.

“This is Gus, he’s our pup. Make sure he’s safe.” Justin said. “I’ll talk to you later.” He leaned down and gave the wolf a kiss on its nose. The wolf followed the three of them into the well lit house.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Justin leaned back and let the hot water rush against his sore body. Finally after what seemed like forever, they had gotten Gus into bed. Once they were positive that Gus was sound asleep, Justin asked Joanne if she could keep an eye on the young boy, for a couple of hours while the older boys relaxed. They didn’t want to be too busy, in case Gus needed them since this was only his third night away from his mommies. When Brian crawled in behind Justin, they both let out the breath they had been holding, finally feeling like they were home.

“Do you think Gus will be alright?” Justin asked as he linked his fingers with Brian’s in the water.

“He’ll be fine. Besides he has your damn wolf watching over him. Somehow I think we’ll know in an instant the second Gus starts to stir.” Brian laughed. He still couldn’t get over the sight of the wolf following his lover around the house.

“He’s not my wolf. He’s just a friend. One who helped me when I needed it.” Justin pouted slightly. “He’s great though. He always makes sure I’m safe, and that nothing happens to me, or to those around me.”

Brian nodded as he began to run his hand up and down Justin’s chest. “Still, it’s a wolf, Justin.” Brian felt Justin’s slight shrug before the younger man placed his head on Brian’s shoulder. 

Justin closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of his husband’s hands on his body. “You’re not freaked out or anything? Are you?”

“Why would I be?” Brian asked his voice warm and soft next to Justin’s ear.

“About all of this… you know.”

Brian moved so he could turn Justin around to face him. “What are you talking about? The wolf?” At Justin’s negative shake, Brian realized what his lover was trying to say. “The house, the condo, the cars, the plane?”

“Yeah. It doesn’t freak you out?”

Brian laughed, but stopped immediately when he realized just how serious his lover was at the question when Justin started to get out of the Jacuzzi. “Justin, come here. Come here.” Brian grabbed a hold of Justin’s hand and pulled his lover back into his lap. “I wouldn’t fucking care if you owned all of Canada. Money doesn’t mean shit to me. I know I haven’t seen the books yet, but unless your hiding a country somewhere in there, it won’t make a damn bit of difference to me. Why are you so worried that I’ll freak out?”

Justin turned around so he could face his husband, allowing his fears to be out in the open. “I know you don’t care, Brian. You’ve shown that already.”

“So what the fuck is the problem?”

“What will everyone else think? All my life, I’ve had people look at me different, and treat me differently because of the money that my family had. What will they think if they knew how much money you now have?” Justin closed his eyes, and wrapped his arms around Brian. He hated that he was so insecure, despite knowing where he stood with his husband. It wasn’t that he was afraid that Brian would leave him, or treat him differently, he just didn’t want Brian’s friends and family to treat him any worse than they already were. “I don’t want them to think that you’re only with me for my money.” 

Brian placed a light kiss on top of Justin’s head, thankful that his husband couldn’t see his eyes rolling. “Who says I give a fuck what any of them think. You know why we’re together, and money has absolutely nothing to do with it. Yeah, it’s an added bonus to have my own plane, and lake-front property… and what ever the fuck else, but it’s not why I’m with you. You know that, and I know that. No one else matters. Okay?”

Justin nodded in agreement. He heard what Brian said, and he knew that it didn’t’ matter to his lover. It still couldn’t stop the fears deep inside of him for their future and Brian’s relationship with his ‘family’. Justin hoped that one day they would all get along again, and that things would be perfect for his lover, but he couldn’t help but think that him being in Brian’s life could ruin those chances. It would be something that he would have to try and overcome. One way or another. Right now, it was their time. Time to reconnect… at least before Gus woke up.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


“Gus, don’t go too far.” Justin watched as the young boy started to run in and out of the woods in front of the house, stopping at every new sight he could. Justin could not remember a time when he had been that excited, or when everything had seemed so new. Now he was able to experience it all with new eyes, with a new outlook. Turning toward Brian, Justin looped his arm around the man’s waist. “He’s having fun. I love watching him just explore.”

“As long as a bear doesn’t come out of the woods to attack us… or a cougar, or whatever they have here, I think we’ll be alright.” Brian shook his head as he watched his son, once again get ‘tagged’ by the wolf. “I think that is something a lot of people would find just a little strange. Are you sure he’s wild?”

“Yep. He found me when he was a pup, protected me. He lives out here in the wild, of course minus the times I’m home and he wants to make sure I’m okay. Guess he’s got someone else to protect, and play with. He is pretty old after all, though you’d never know it watching them play.” Justin smiled as he saw the wolf nudge Gus back onto the path, as the boy then ran ahead to play ‘tag’ with the animal. “They have been at that since breakfast.” Justin shook his head as he continued to watch the two continue to chase one another across the yard.

“I think Mel and Lindsey would have a little fit if they saw this. We’d never get Gus again.”

“Ghost won’t hurt, Gus. I know he won’t.”

“Ghost?”

“Well that’s what I thought he was when he rescued me. All white and fluffy.”

“You’re so sad.”

Justin pinched Brian’s ribs and stuck out his lower lip. “I had to call him something. Besides, you have to admit; in the dark he sure as hell can scare you. He did last night.”

Brian shook his head, and placed Justin in front of him on the steps. “How the hell was I supposed to know that the damn thing would be laying in the doorway?”

“Protection, Brian. Protection. You were scared out of your mind.” Justin laughed.

“I was not.”

“You screamed just like a girl, admit it.”

“Never. And what do you expect when this thing suddenly jumps in your way and noses your crotch?”

Justin laughed as he leaned back into his lover. “He just wanted to make sure that you weren’t some stranger. Besides… he was only making sure that I was alright.”

“Damn beast.”

“You love him. He’s good with Gus., and everyone needs a little protection once in a while.”

“Yeah, we do.”


End of Part Six