Are You Ready For Love?
Plot bunny by Stephanie M 
Author: Bryant Maclagan

Chapter 4 - 

Jennifer closed the door to the sitting room carefully. She didn’t want to wake Brian and Malia.

“Mom where’s Brian?” Justin asked. He’d just checked in on BJ and Gus who were happily playing with the train set Brian had brought over. The other three children who had come for the party had left earlier and Justin had been busy cleaning up the debris that was scattered around the yard.

“Look” Jennifer said with a smile. “I couldn’t resist and took a picture. I hope you don’t mind.” She opened the door for Justin to look inside.

Brian was stretched out on the sofa, Malia lying on top of him. His arms held her tight. Cake was smeared on Malia’s face and now on Brian’s chin and on his shirt. Both of them were sleeping soundly.

Justin tiptoed in and taking a throw from another chair, he covered the two of them before leaving. He was glad his mother had taken a picture. He carefully shut the door and then grinned at his mother. “I bet you never thought you’d see that.” 

“I have to admit I was surprised to see Brian here today. But he was so wonderful with all of the children; I couldn’t imagine him anywhere else. The man is astonishing.”

“He is certainly surprising me. “ Justin agreed. “I guess we can let the two of them sleep for an hour, but then Gus will have to be taken home.”

“I’m going to help Nonna in the kitchen, why don’t you go and play with the boys. I think I remember a time when you liked to play with trains.”

“Mom, that was a long time ago. But I will go and sit with them.” Justin laughed. He picked up the camera that was sitting on a table. It would be a good time to get some pictures of Gus and BJ.

“How come your name is BJ?” Gus asked. Justin smiled when he heard the question. 

“Cause that’s my name.” BJ said. “How come your name is Gus?”

“Daddy said that your daddy named me when I was born.” Gus smiled at Justin. “That’s right isn’t it daddy Justin?” 

“That’s right.” Justin smiled. Gus had taken to calling him daddy Justin, like BJ called Brian, daddy Brian. “Your daddy kind of named BJ. BJ are the initials of Brian and Justin. We called him BJ because there really is only one other Brian.”

“That’s cool.” Gus said. He looked at Justin. “I washed my hands real good before playing with BJ’s train. Grandpa Vic said that kids should always wash their hands when someone has HIV ‘cause germs can make them sick.” He held out his hands. “Grandpa Vic says germs are invisible but they are still there.”

“Your Grandpa Vic is a smart man.” Justin smiled remembering his old friend. “And he’s right. Germs that might not bother you could bother Malia and BJ. Thank you for being careful.”

“That’s okay; BJ and Malia are my friends.” Gus smiled and kissed BJ’s cheek. The two of the sitting on the floor side by side could have been brothers, they looked so much alike. “Daddy Justin, how come my daddy smiles so much when he’s here? He never smiles like that at my house.” 

“I don’t know. You’ll have to ask you daddy that.” Justin said pleased with the question. “Why don’t we watch a video while Malia and Brian have a nap?”


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


Ben sat at the table with his piles of papers that he was supposed to be grading. Mel and Lindsay had arrived ten minutes prior, and Ben knew that any hope of getting his stuff done in the house that night was gone. He couldn’t work with all the yelling and screaming going on, especially not with the topic on hand. Silently he listened to what was being said, to the ‘true’ feelings of his friends. This was one of the most enlightening conversations he had heard in a long time.

“How could Brian do that? And since when do they allow someone like… Justin to have kids?” Michael continued to pace the length of the apartment, ignoring everyone but the two women sitting on the couch. “He should be doing what you asked and bring Gus home. He’s your son, not … theirs.”

“Brian doesn’t get it. They are children. Children play rough, especially boys. The fact that he’s completely ignoring our concerns, and keeping him in that type of environment is not what we had agreed on when we said he could start to take Gus places.” Mel stated from her spot on the couch. “I swear, if Gus gets AIDS then I will kill Brian and Justin. I will sue their asses so quick that their heads will be spinning.”

“Now he’s going to have to be tested. I can take him if you want.” Michael knelt down and placed his hand on Mel’s knee.

Ben rolled his eyes, and stood up. He was angry, furious with what everyone was saying. Picking up his papers, he started to throw them into his briefcase. 

Michael turned to look at Ben, he’d almost forgotten that the man was still there. “Ben?”

“I don’t believe you. Any of you. How can you honestly think that either Brian or Justin would put Gus in a situation that could kill him?” Ben didn’t even bother to look at any of them, his anger filling him from deep within. 

“How can you say that Gus isn’t in a situation that could kill him? Those two children are positive. You of all people should know what that means.” said speaking for the first time in minutes.

Ben turned to look at the three on the couch. “If anyone is in danger, it’s those two small children. Not Gus. Gus is more of a threat to them then they are to him. If Justin has had these kids for any length of time then he knows what to do, and how to do it. They wouldn’t have given Justin the kids unless he knew how to properly care for them, and others.”

“Ben…”

“No, Michael. I’ve sat here and heard every word that’s been said. I was just going to keep quiet, but I can’t. Gus still doesn’t cover his mouth all the time when he coughs. You do realize that whatever comes out of his mouth could kill those two children? That (IF)is he doesn’t remember to wash his hands, the germs on his skin could kill them?” Ben moved throughout the room picking up the things he would need. “Jenny comes here every couple of days. You’re not scared that she might get something from Hunter or myself?”

“You’re adults, it’s different.” Mel argued.

“How? What if I accidentally forget to properly dispose of one of my razors that I cut myself with and Jenny gets a hold of it and scratches herself? It wouldn’t be the first time she’s gone through the trash. There is some danger no matter what. I had thought all of you knew what it means to be positive, what the risks are and aren’t.” Ben moved over to get his jacket from beside the door and began to slip it on. “Educate yourself. Gus and any normal healthy child is more of a danger to those children… to me, to Hunter, to Vic than we are to them. We live with it, we know what can and can’t be done. Normal children do not, normal people do not.”

“Where are you going?”

“I think I have had enough of this for one day. I’m going where I can actually do my work.”

“When will you be back?” Michael said, maybe realizing that he should have at least waited until Ben was gone to voice his opinions. 

Ben turned to look at his husband, saddened that Michael who lived with two positive people, and had another one in his own family could feel this way. “Maybe when you realize that what you’re angry about is not the fact that the children are positive, because any parent of a HIV child knows the risks. But that you’re angry that it’s Justin. That he left here, left Brian and left all of you. That he has a life that you don’t know about. That you’re angry with Brian for spending time with Justin and those children,” he began looking over at Mel and Lindsay , “and didn’t tell you. Look at the real issues, then get back to me.”

“That’s not the reason.”Lindsay argued, not entirely sure that Ben isn’t right.

“It is. At least in a way, I hope to God it is. Cause if it is the fact that those children are positive that is the problem, then we have more of an issue, more of a problem than those two children.”

“I’m coming with you.” Hunter said coming out of his room with a bag. Stopping in the middle of the room, Hunter stared at the three who were now standing by the couch. “You make me sick. Just fucking sick. I thought you understood, I thought you were okay with everything. Now… you’re just like all those assholes at school who treat me like shit just cause I’m positive.” Turning to look at Ben, Hunter grabbed his coat. “Get me the fuck out of here before I fucking puke.”

Ben glanced at the other three in the room, picked up his bag and led Hunter out of the apartment. Ben had his work cut out for him if he ever wanted the relationship between Hunter, himself, and the three still in the apartment. A lot of work on all parts would have to be done to repair the damage that was caused. Ben wasn’t sure what to do. He only knew that he wasn’t going to start, he wasn’t going to be the only one to try and fix this. They would have to come to him, they would have to make the first move. Until then, Ben was sure he could find a hotel room for him and Hunter.

Once the two were far enough away from the apartment, Ben stopped his bike and pulled out his cell phone. Hunter stood beside him with a confused look on his face. “Brian.”

“Ben, what the hell are you doing calling? I’m a little busy right now.” Brian was sitting on the sofa at Justin’s relaxing with the blond. The kids were busy eating their dinner and no one was paying the two adults any attention.

“I just wanted to ask if you were going to be spending the night at the loft.”

“Why?” Brian’s voice turned hard over the phone. “They went running to Michael didn’t they?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Fuck! Those fucking cunts.” Ben could hear the underlying anger from the other man, and was grateful that he wasn’t on the receiving end of it. “Why don’t you try and catch a cab. Come over here and we can talk. I’d like to explain my situation to you, as well as where Justin stands with regard to the family.”

“What about Justin? I don’t want to do anything that would upset him, or the children. That is not my intention. Hunter and I just need a place to stay for the night, and well… I left my wallet in the apartment, at least my credit card.”

“Justin’s beside me right now, both of us understand that you don’t want either Justin or the kids hurt. Come over and we’ll get this straightened out. If nothing else ,the two of you can stay here and watch Gus while I rip some new assholes.” Brian gave them the address, and hung up.

Ben felt bad for going to Brian, but the other man had to be warned at least. He had to know the ‘witch hunt’ had started. Ben had no doubt that it wouldn’t be long before the rest of the gang got involved. Brian, Justin, and now his head was on the chopping block. Life was never easy with this extended family.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Brian hung up the phone and pulled Justin into his arms. He rested his head against Justin’s while he though about what he was going to say. 

“Brian just say it.” Justin’s voice was resigned to the inevitable. 

“Justin, this is hard for me.” He began. Justin started to pull away expecting the worst, but Brian hung on to him tightly. “Justin don’t pull away. I want to tell you how I feel about you, you aren’t making this easy. I wasn’t planning on springing it so soon. What I said the other day is true. I love you. I probably always have. I never said I was the brightest bear in the woods.” He chuckled and so did Justin. 
“Things have been taken out of my hands. Lindsay and Melanie have gone to Michael, completely going against what I asked of them. I will not have you and the children subjected to Michael and the rest of them. You all don’t need that kind of shit. 

Ben called; he and Hunter are on their way over. If you don’t mind, I’ll spend the night here with Gus and send the other two to the loft for the night. We can decide what to do later. I do think though that I should call my locksmith and have the gate secured so that only those with keys can get in. I know it’s going to be a pain in the ass if there is any deliveries, but damned if I want Michael or Debbie here ranting and the kids hearing them. I think this property has to be a no fight zone.” He looked at Justin. “Will you let me call the locksmith?”

“Yes” Justin said quietly. Brian was acting like a real partner and asking before doing. It was kind of nice. “What do Ben and Hunter want?”

“Well, I guess keys to the loft for starters.” Brian chuckled. “But I think they are going to offer their support to you and the children.”

“And to you.” Justin looked at him. “You are part of this now. Do you think you can stand it? It won’t be a pretty fight.”

“I’m Irish; we never back down from a fight.” Brian grinned. “I know that we don’t have a relationship like we once had. But I do want that again, only this time I want it on terms that we both can deal with.”

“The sex was good.” Justin said remembering.

“The sex was better than good.” Brian agreed.

“The kids like you.”

“I like the kids.” 

“It’s going to be a lot of work and there are going to be some times that really suck.”

“We’ll face it all together Justin. Whatever happens, we’ll face it together. I guess that’s the biggest hurdle we need to get through to the gang. It isn’t Justin Taylor and two HIV kids back in Pittsburgh. It’s Brian Kinney and Justin Taylor with their family, together as a family team.”

Justin started to tear up. He buried his head into Brian’s shoulder. Brian didn’t say anything more. He just held the man he loved and waited for Ben and Hunter.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
“Justin there’s a man at the door. He says he’s a locksmith. Isn’t it late to be changing the locks?” Jennifer was standing in the doorway of the living room where Brian and Justin were sitting.

“Come on in mom, Brian and I have something to tell you.” Justin let his fingers be linked with Brian’s for added strength. “I guess Melanie and Lindsay had a less than positive reaction to Gus coming over today. They’ve gone to Michael and you know what that means.”

“Yes, the next thing you know we’ll have Debbie here. She means well, but the children don’t need to be upset. “ Jennifer was being charitable.

“Brian suggested that we have a lock on the gate so that only we can get inside the grounds. It’ll be both keyed and with a remote. I hope you don’t mind.”

“I think it’s a good idea dear. Thank you Brian for thinking of it. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but Debbie and Michael are two people I really have to work up to dealing with some days.”

Brian laughed out loud. “I know what you mean.”

“You can go now mom if you want. Brian is going to spend the night. Ben and Hunter will be here any moment to get the keys to the loft. It seems there was a bit of a disagreement and they made themselves scarce.”

“Well, I am tired. Nonna and I have finished up in the kitchen. Why don’t we give the children their baths and get them ready for bed. You and Brian can have the last few minutes of peace before Ben and Hunter arrive. I’m sure you won’t get much afterward.” She laughed. “Brian..” she hesitated. “I’m glad you’re back in Justin’s life. We both missed you.”

Brian flushed with embarrassment and Justin laughed. “Mom he hates having people love him.” 

“Well that’s just too bad, because he’s part of the family and I do love him very much.” With another quick smile that reminded Brian of Justin’s, Jennifer left the room. 

“So I’m family now. Does that mean I have to sleep in the spare room tonight?”

“If you want to.” Justin grinned.

“I’d be lonely.”

“Well, I suppose I could get BJ to lend you his Brian Bear.” 

“I’d rather have a Justin bear.” Brian pulled Justin close. They were lost in a kiss when Ben and Hunter entered the room. . Hearing someone clear their throat, Brian reluctantly pulled back from Justin, running the back of his hand across Justin’s cheek. “It looks like they made it safe and sound.”

“Brian. Justin.” Ben slowly came into the room, sitting in one of the chairs that Justin pointed to. “I’m really sorry about all of this.”

“It’s not your fault, Ben. I know that.” Justin stated as he looked over at the other person in the room. “I’m Justin by the way.”

“Hunter.” The teen stated as he moved over to where Ben was sitting. “So… you and Brian…”

Justin turned to look over at Brian then rested his head against the other man’s shoulder. “One day at a time,” was all he said.

“So what the fuck happened? Why did the … Mel and Lindsay come crying to Michael?” Brian asked as he tightened hold on Justin, pulling the man closer to his body. He knew that Justin would need a lot of strength to deal with all of this, plus it also gave him something to do besides getting in his car and tearing into someone.

As Ben explained what was going on, what had happened, Justin slowly removed himself from Brian’s arms and stood in front of the bay windows. “Justin?” Brian asked, worried about the younger man. 

”They haven’t even met the kids, and they sure as FUCK DON’T KNOW ME!” Justin rested his head against the windows and started to take a couple of deep breaths. It angered him, more than he had been in a long time, knowing that the people who he had once considered ‘family’ could feel this way. “I don’t ever want to see them, Brian. Ever. They are not to come near me, or my children.” 

Brian got up from the couch to try and comfort Justin, only to have the younger man walk out of the room. “Fuck.” Brian felt his own anger grow. He never liked anyone trying to hurt Justin, and now the three children upstairs. In one fell swoop, all four had been hurt. “You two can stay at the loft as long as you want. I sure as fuck won’t be going back there anytime soon.” Brian reached over to his jacket that was laying on the back of the couch and pulled out his keys. “All I ask is that when you get back to yours and Mikey’s place… you keep him away from me for a while. He’s never to see Justin, but I will talk to him in my own time, not his.”

Hunter who had been standing quiet the entire time felt something tug at his pant leg. “Is Daddy Bwian mad?”

Hunter kneeled down to look at the small girl who held tightly to a stuffed elephant. “I wouldn’t say he’s mad. I think he’s more sad. Someone hurt him right here.” Hunter reached out and tapped the girl lightly on the chest. “Why don’t you go give him a big hug, I’m sure that would make him happy.”

“Come here, munchkin. I’m sorry if I upset you.” Brian picked Malia up and held her tightly in his arms. 

“Daddy sad too. He has sad eyes.”

“Mali, baby, your daddy and I are a little sad, but not about you. Never about you. You and your brother, and Gus make us happy.” Brian gave the girl a kiss on her nose, making her giggle a little.

BJ came into the room and lightly kicked Hunter in the shin. “You hurt daddy, and daddy Brian.”

“BJ,” Justin scolded from the doorway. “Hunter and Ben did not hurt us. They are our friends. Now say you’re sorry to Hunter for kicking him.”

Hunter rubbed his shin as he looked at the boy studying him. “You have one he.. heck of a kick.”

“You didn’t hurt daddy?”

“I hope not. And with you around to protect them, I don’t’ think I ever will.” 

“Okay. Sorry.” BJ ran back over to Justin and waited to be lifted up. “Daddy Brian. Can Gus sleep with me?”

“Please daddy?” Gus went over to his father and gave him his best puppy dog eyes. “Please?”

Brian rolled his eyes and tried not to laugh. “Everyone ready for bed?” All three children nodded, as Brian looked over to the door where Jennifer was standing. 

Jennifer nodded and quickly inspected all of their hands before giving her ‘seal of approval’. “All cleaned and ready for bed. They only came down to say good-night.” Both Brian and Justin gave the kids good-night kisses then watched as the kids one by one gave Hunter and Ben kisses and hugs as well, as Jennifer tried to keep the smile from overpowering her face. It was time that the kids had someone else in their life besides Justin. It was time that Justin opened up and allowed himself the help and love that only a lover could bring. Glancing at Ben and Hunter, she smiled. “Well, while Nonna puts them in bed, I guess it’s time for me to go. I can drive you two over to the loft.”

“I would appreciate that.” Ben stood and grabbed his bag. “If you two need anything, or if you want me to do anything let me know. Even if it’s just to talk.”

“Yeah, or if you need someone to watch them.” Hunter nodded to the stairs where the three children disappeared. “It’s not like I have a life.”

“We’ll keep that in mind. Thank-you… for everything.” Brian led all of them to the door and rested his head against the wood frame the moment it was closed. He could feel Justin’s arms wrap around his waist, and he allowed himself the comfort and peace that only Justin could give him. “I will need to talk to them… Mel and Lindsay before I take Gus back home. I don’t want him to hear what I have to say.”

Justin rested his head against Brian’s back and closed his eyes. “We’ll deal with that in the morning. Why don’t we finish tucking the kids in, and get some rest ourselves. It’s been one hell of a day.”

“I’m going to pay the locksmith and get the keys and remotes from him. You go on up, I won’t be long.” Brian kissed the top of Justin’s head. “I want to make sure he’s on the other side of the gate and that the gate is locked before I go to sleep.”

“You do persist in looking out for me.” Justin shook his head.

“When you let me.” Brian laughed. “And don’t tell me you wouldn’t do the same damn thing.” 

“I suppose I would.” Justin admitted. “Don’t be long.” 

“Yes dear.” Brian said in falsetto.

“Asshole.” Justin replied moving quickly to avoid Brian’s swat to his ass.

Brian met the locksmith as he was finishing up. He wrote him a check and then tested the device that had been installed before letting the man go. There were remotes for everyone that needed one in the household including Jennifer and himself.

Walking back to the main house, he watched Justin through the lit window of what had to be his room and he wondered if they were ready to resume where they’d left off so many years ago. Letting himself in the house, Brian secured the door and then checked all of the other doors before turning off the lights and heading up the stairs. A night light burned in the hallway with enough light to see the children asleep in their beds. Malia held onto her Brian Bear, her head resting on its chest. BJ and Gus slept wrapped around each, other smiles on their lips as if they’d fallen asleep while sharing a joke. 

He was nervous when he walked into the only room that had a light on. Justin had a pair of glasses on and was sitting up in bed reading a book. He looked up at Brian and grinned. “The bathroom is through there, if you want a shower there are towels. I’m afraid you’ll have to use my toothbrush and I don’t have any pj’s. You’ll have to sleep in the raw. “

“So I’m roughing it. Well since I’ve had my tongue up your ass, I guess I can use your toothbrush.” He grinned at Justin’s flushed face. “Shit Sunshine, take off those glasses before I forget myself and fuck you right now. You are way too hot with them on.”

“Why Brian, you say the sweetest things.” Justin quipped. “Get your ass in the shower; you’ve been here all day and much as a sweaty Brian is a turn on, I think that by morning you’ll have fermented.”

Brian began a slow strip in front of Justin, his eyes never leaving the blond’s. Justin licked his lips. It was apparent from the tent in the bed covers that he was aroused. He finally slipped off his blue jeans only to reveal that he wasn’t wearing any underwear and that he too was aroused.

“Fuck Brian, get over here right now.” Justin all but growled. 

“But I’m sweaty.” Brian smirked.

“So you’ll be sweatier in a minute and you always did taste good regardless.” Justin threw back the duvet. “Ass, here, now.” He his voice was hoarse with passion.

“Damn Sunshine, you always were quite the romantic.” Brian laughed as he dove into the bed covering Justin with his body. Their lips found each other and any traces of nervousness disappeared as the familiar love making took over. Afterwards Brian lay with Justin cradled in his arms. “It’s like riding a bicycle, you just never forget.” 

“I never forgot. Not once in all these years.” Justin murmured quietly. “I remembered every time you ever touched me. I’ve written about it over and over.”

“I know, I read the books.” Brian sounded amused. “I think you took some artistic license though Sunshine, I don’t remember quite that much variety.”

“But there could have been, we just didn’t have time.” Justin’s voice was sleepy and he began to drift off.

“No we didn’t have the time.” Brian whispered to the man sleeping in his arms. “But this time we will.”

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


Brian had left Gus with Justin, BJ, and Malia right after breakfast. He wanted to get a couple of things done, and the last thing he wanted was for his son to bear witness to it all. Gus didn’t deserve it, and Brian would not have him subjected to the fight. Brian and Justin would fight, and they were going to do their best to keep it all as far away from the kids as possible. Pulling up to the loft, Brian took the stairs two at a time until he reached his floor. Realizing that he had given Ben the key, Brian knocked on the door and waited for someone to let him in. “Brian, welcome home.” Ben said with a small smile realizing that he didn’t feel right granting Brian permission to enter his own home. “We were just finishing breakfast, did you already eat?”

“Yeah, had a good solid meal with the kids.” Brian moved toward the bedroom and started to pull out a suitcase. Quickly he began to pile clothes and his necessities into it, his suits going into the hanging bag, and his toiletries into another small bag. “You two can stay here as long as you need. I’m staying with Justin for a while. How long, who the fuck knows, but right now the less I see of everyone the better.”

“What are you planning on doing?” Ben asked as he stood at the top of the stairs watching Brian pack up some of his things. 

Brian stopped in the doorway to the bathroom, and took a deep breath. “I have already called everyone on the way over here. In about a half an hour everyone will be piled into Mel and Lindsay’s place for a little heart to heart.”

“You mean a huge fight.” Hunter smiled thinking of what was to come to the others in their ‘family’. 

“Yeah, well. If it comes to that then yes. I’m not backing down, and this is something they will have to discover on their own that I’m not playing around. Those children do not need to be shit upon, and Justin has enough on his plate right now that he doesn’t need their shit either.” With Ben’s help, Brian’s bags were placed beside the door, and Brian went over to his computer desk to pack up some work he had brought home with him. “I don’t want to put the two of you in the middle of this mess, but you know that it’s not going to be pretty for a couple of days at least. That’s why I figure if you want to stay here you can.”

“We’ll handle it, don’t worry about us.”

Hunter sat on one of the stools in the kitchen and gave Brian a small smile. “If you ask me, I don’t want to speak to them right now anyway. They can all go to hell.”

“Hunter.” Ben said sadly. He hated that Hunter was being put in the middle of all of this, but he knew he couldn’t do anything about it. Hunter was hurt badly by the words that were spoken the night before, and now it was up to Ben to try and heal the teen’s psyche. It would be a long hard road, and Ben could only hope that one day they could all be a real family again.

“It’s true. I don’t want to see them. You can’t make me go back there.” Hunter turned in his seat and looked at the wall. 

Brian lowered his head and ran his hands through his hair. “Hunter… I’m sure that if you want, you can go and spend time with the kids. It could be… I don’t know a safe haven or some shit like that.”

“Really? You don’t think Justin would mind?”

“Justin and I talked about it, and we think it would be great. For the kids and for all of us. You’re welcome anytime.”

“Thanks. I just might take you up on that offer.”

“Now… I have a war to continue. I’ll be in touch. Stay here as long as you need.” Brian turned with bags in hand to leave the loft; behind him were both Ben and Hunter helping him with his things. Brian wondered if this was the way things would be from now on. Ben, Hunter, Justin, Jennifer, and himself against the rest. He hoped it wouldn’t, but at the moment he wasn’t holding his breath.


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

Brain felt like he was walking into a war zone, the moment he stepped foot into the house. The past couple of days he had learned a great deal about everyone around him, and to say he was slightly disappointed would be an understatement. Behind him was Hunter and Ben, and Brian was never more grateful for their help than he was at that moment. He knew that this was going to be a fight, a fight that should never have happened. But Brian was ready, and he wasn’t going to lose.

“At least you’re all here for this; to say I’m impressed would be a fucking lie however.” Brian came in and sat down in one of the open chairs in the living room. “Where’s Jenny?” The last thing he wanted was for any of the children to hear the fight.

“Where’s Gus?”

“I asked first.”

“Jenny is at a neighbor’s,” Lindsay informed him, trying to keep things calm.

Ben moved away from Michael who was trying to give him a hug, and stood by Brian with Hunter at his side. He hated that his husband and him were fighting, and Ben wanted to do anything to fix it, but with Hunter being hurt right now, he couldn’t do that. He took his responsibility very seriously. “Hunter and I are only here to show our support, nothing else. We’re not coming home yet, Michael. I’m sorry.”

“But… What about the vows we made? You know I wasn’t talking about you last night.”

“Can we please get to the issue at hand? I would like to get back to the kids and enjoy the rest of my fucking weekend.” Brian stated. It wasn’t that he didn’t care about Ben and Michael’s problems he did, but that was not the main issue in this mess. The main issue was the belief that Justin’s children… his family would cause Gus to get sick. The issue was plain ignorance, and Brian knew that if they could get that cleared up, then Michael and Ben could start to heal themselves. It was the ignorance that was causing the rift between the two men. 

“Why isn’t Justin here? It seems that he is part of this.” Michael crossed his arms in front of him as he felt his mother wrap an arm around him.

“Why can’t we talk to him? You want to talk about those children, then we should be able to talk to Justin and get the facts. They aren’t yours, and you have no part in this.” Mel added, daring Brian to dispute her.

Brian leaned back in the chair and shook his head. “Frankly, Justin doesn’t want to talk to any of you. You had your fucking chance yesterday, Mel, and you fucked it up. You started in on him about how his kids were not worthy of playing with Gus, how they were just some fucking diseased things that weren’t worth your time.” Brian saw some of the others turn to stare at Mel in shock. Brian figured she didn’t fill them in on the conversation on the phone the day before. “Now why in the hell would he want to get more of that?”

“Those kids are a danger, Brian. To Gus, to Jenny. You can’t deny that.”

Deb turned to look over at Brian, her arm still around Michael. “How did he get the children?”

“Yeah, how could they give someone like him kids like that? And we’re supposed to accept it and go on? Let Gus and Jenny near them because you said so.” Michael huffed.

“Oh, so it’s okay for you to adopt Hunter, who by the way in case you don’t remember is HIV positive, but it’s not okay for Justin to adopt two children who are positive. None of you had any problems with you, Ben and Hunter, why do you have a problem with Justin and the kids?”

“Maybe because we know that Justin can’t be trusted. He left you, left all of us. How can you ask us to trust someone who purposely, intentionally lied to us for years?” Michael felt himself get angry at Brian’s ability to try and turn it all on to them. Like it was their fault, like they were the problem and not that little twink who had betrayed them all.

“How in the hell did he lie to us, Michael? He left me, because I gave him no other option. And besides, what goes on, or doesn’t go on between Justin and I is OUR problem, not yours and sure as fuck no anyone else’s here either.” Brian stared at his best friend, wondering if Michael could ever get over his jealousy of Justin and his place in Brian’s life. “Justin is a part of my life, always has and always will. Nothing you will say will change that.”

Emmett who had been sitting quietly on the floor looked up at Brian. “Can we see Justin? Cause hun, not all of us feel... this way about him.”

Brian turned to look at Emmett and gave the man a small smile of thanks. “Anyone who wants to see Justin can tell me, and I’ll clear it with him. He’s not real happy right now with all of this shit, and frankly he doesn’t need the stress. The house will not be turned into a fighting ground.”

“Yeah, BJ has one hell of a kick, and he’s not afraid to get on you if he thinks that you hurt his daddy.” Hunter said with a small smile. “The kids seemed great to me. Healthy, happy…and Gus seemed to be having a great time.” 

“You don’t know kids, Hunter. You don’t know what will happen from one day to the next.” Mel tried to explain to the teen. “Kids play rough, they get hurt. And until I can be allowed to see what is going on, I will not let Gus into that environment. Until I can explain to Justin the rules, then I forbid Gus from going over there, or spending time with the kids.”

Hunter shook his head in disgust. “I’ll wait for you outside. I can’t hear this shit anymore. If you had any clue, you would know that no one would put Gus in any situation like that. You would fucking know that Gus is safe around them. But you’re so fucking full of yourselves, and angry at Brian and Justin that you’re using the kids as a fucking excuse. You’re just like my mother!” With that Hunter stormed out of the house.

Ben closed his eyes and turned his attention back to Brian. “Call me, we’ll talk some more.” Once he got Brian’s nod of agreement, Ben turned and headed out of the house. “It’s not only those children you are hurting, it’s not only Gus or Brian, or Justin, or BJ, or Malia. Look at what you’re doing to Hunter. To me. AIDS and HIV have hit this family hard, more than it ever should have. But to use that as an excuse, to let your fears rule your lives after all of these years… it makes me wonder if you will ever accept us.” 

“Ben?” Michael tried to call out to his husband, but was too late as Ben closed the door behind him. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he turned his attention to Brian, anger filling him. “This is your fault. Yours and Justin’s, and those damn kids.”

“No it’s yours.” Vic stated from his seat. “It’s yours, and everyone else’s in this room. If you could let go of your fear, let go of the anger you have, then maybe you will realize the blessing this is.” Vic went to stand, grabbing his coat from Rodney’s hands. “I was afraid that something like this would happen, the moment Brian told me. I was afraid that something could happen to those children, knowing that they may not live very long. I just never thought that the danger to them would come from all of you.”

“You knew?” Deb asked staring at her brother in shock.

Vic nodded as he put his coat on. “I knew, not long after Brian found Justin again. I told him to get the facts, to do the research. Ask questions. I had hoped that after all of these years, you all would be more understanding, and more educated than this.”

Rodney and Vic went over and gave Brian a hug, wishing that they could do more for the man, if nothing else than to be there to support him right now. But luckily they knew that Brian understood why they had to leave. Their lives, their beliefs in the ‘family’s’ understanding had been shattered, and it would take a while for things to ever get back to normal. “Have Justin give us a call sometime, if he wants. Vic and I will be there for all of you.”

“Thanks, Rodney. It means a lot. I’ll tell him.” When the two men left, Brian himself stood from the chair. “I guess the battle lines have been drawn. If you want to see how Justin takes care of the children, ask the questions that needed to be asked, you need to first look at yourselves. You are not to see him, you are not to try and contact him or the kids, until you can fucking prove yourself to me. I won’t even let you know shit until you prove to me that you can fucking act like adults, and act like just maybe, you give a damn about something other then yourselves.”

Brian headed to the door, but turned to look once more at the people he had considered the only family he knew. “Emmett, I’ll talk to Justin and see if he wants to talk. The rest of you… you know the rules, and I expect you to respect them. I will bring Gus back later today before 4, you can try and tell him that he can’t see those two children. You can tell him why. I only hope that you don’t push him away too, because he loves BJ and Malia. He doesn’t understand hatred.”

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

The phone started to ring non-stop just moments after Brian called to say he was stopping off at the store on his way back. “Hello, Taylor residence.”

“Justin, I’m glad I finally caught you. We need to talk.”

Justin shook his head at the sound of Lindsay’s voice. He didn’t want to deal with them, not so soon after the mess the day before, so he just hung up without so much as a good-bye. ‘To hell with country club rules,’ Justin thought. He didn’t care about what was right and what wasn’t. He just didn’t have the energy to deal with their stuff at the moment.

“Hello.” He answered the phone as soon as it had rung. He hadn’t even had been able to take a breath after hanging up on the last call. Justin had been expecting a call from his publicist soon, and that was the only reason why he had even bothered to pick up the phone.

“Justin, sweetie. I was wondering…” Justin didn’t let Deb finish the sentence as he once again hung up the phone. 

After the fifth call and fifth hang-up, Justin finally gave up and headed up toward his small office to try and see if he could get some writing done. It seemed that the lines had been drawn, and now Justin was going to have to deal with the ‘family’ no matter how much he had tried to stay out of it. He had wanted to do things on his own time, in his own way… but now like much in his life, that too had been taken from him. 

The next time the phone rang; Justin just sat at his desk and stared at the phone. If anyone wanted him they could call him on his cell phone, or better yet, they could send him an e-mail. 

Nonna came into the office and looked at the young man. “Is it them?”

Justin turned his head to look at the woman who had become a huge part of his life in a short time and gave her a weak smile. “Yeah, it’s them. I don’t think they like the fact that I hang up on them, but…” Justin ran his hand through his hair, and let out a slow deep breath. “I just don’t have the energy right now to deal with them, you know? Did you hear any of the ‘talk’ yesterday? Do you know what they were saying?”

“Brian told me, and I’m sorry. They are ignorant assholes if you ask me.”

Justin laughed for the first time that day, shocked at the woman’s words. “Nonna, what would the children think if they heard you talk like that?”

“Well your mother is downstairs with them now, so it’s not like they can hear me.” Nonna came into the room and sat down in a small leather chair by the window so she could look at Justin. “It’s the truth. If they can’t… won’t see how things are, then they don’t need to be around those two little children. I won’t let anything hurt them.”

”I know, and I can’t tell you how much that means to me. You are godsend, Nonna. I don’t know where I would be if you weren’t here.”

“You would be fine, of that I have no doubt. You’re strong and have a great deal of love to share.” Nonna grabbed the phone this time as it rung, and gave Justin a wink. “Taylor residence… no, Justin cannot come to the phone… no he will not discuss the situation with you at this time, and I can not allow you to talk to the children… Good-bye.”

Justin stood from his chair, anger radiating off of his body. “Now they want to talk to the kids? FUCK!”

“Well I won’t let them. Now, I’m going downstairs to start on lunch. You, my dear, have a chapter to write.” Picking up the phone, Nonna quickly turned off the ringer. “Let me handle them, you just worry about those kids, and your story. They will have to get past me first. Then of course Brian before they even come close to you.”

Justin could feel the tears building behind his eyes as he nodded his thanks to Nonna. “I think I’m going to get the number changed tomorrow. Unlisted.”

“The address is still in the phone book.” She reminded him.

“I can’t do anything about that, but luckily they won’t be able to get in through the gate.” Justin gave her a small smile, shaking his head. “Plus I don’t think that any of them are smart enough to do what Brian did and climb the fence so we should be alright.”

“If not, I have a shotgun, and I’m not afraid to use it.”

”Nonna,” Justin placed his hand over his heart in play shock. 

“No one messes with my family.” Nonna left Justin to his writing as she made her way around the house, turning off all of the ringers on the phone. Once the new number was activated she would have to remember to turn them back on, but for now peace and quiet was the main goal. As she walked into the kitchen she placed the portable phone beside her on the counter, helping Jennifer with lunch. “I don’t know how you deal with them.”

“Not easily, I can tell you that. They are great… they helped Justin when I couldn’t, in ways that I couldn’t. But …” Jennifer began letting the sentence die on her lips. Both women knowing what was not said. “What you don’t want to deal with, I will. We can trade off, so that one of us is with the kids and the other fending off calls.”

Nonna gave Jennifer a small wink, thrilled that the other woman was on the same page as her. “The children will never know.”

“Not if I can help it, they won’t. And neither will Justin.”

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

Brian sat for a moment in his car. He’d called Justin to tell him he was stopping by the store. He rested his head against the steering while he regrouped. The scene inside the muncher’s house had been more exhausting than he realized.

His cell phone rang and he smiled when he saw it was Justin. “Hey Sunshine.” He tried to sound upbeat.

“Hey yourself.” Justin sighed. “I’m calling to let you know that I’m not going to be answering the phone. Nonna will field the calls and I’ll get my numbers changed and unlisted on Monday.”

“It’s that bad already?” Brian could feel his temper rising. Tense muscles tightened in the back of his neck and he glared at the house he was sitting in front of.

“Yeah, I don’t want to deal with them. I wish I’d never come back. I could have started my school in New York or anywhere else. I let my own feelings about Pittsburgh and my romanticized views of the place color my better judgment.”

“I’m glad you came back. We’ll deal with this together.” Brian pinched the bridge of his nose. “Justin, I’d like to stay at your place for a few days if you don’t mind. Ben and Hunter have the loft and I would feel better if I was with you and the kids.”

“Brian, I told you before, I can handle it.”

“I know you can Justin, but I need you to handle me too. Do you think you can manage?”

“You?”

“Yeah, I’ve fallen for two great kids and their dad isn’t half bad either. I want to slay dragons for them and to do that I have to be close. If you don’t want me there it’s okay, I’ll rent a camper and camp outside the gate.”

Justin giggled at the thought of Brian living in a camper. “You put the‘d’ in drama queen.” But suddenly his voice was serious. “Brian, I don’t want the kids lives disrupted. I don’t want you living here and then moving on later. It would be too hard on the kids. It would be too hard on me.”

“Are you proposing?” Brian asked.

“Pardon me?” Justin’s voice caught.

“Well you said you didn’t want me moving on, I assumed that meant you wanted to make what we have permanent. You know that it isn’t legal in Pennsylvania, but I could have legal documents drawn up. Do you want a Prenup? I figure you must have more money than I do, what with BJ Amour being such a prolific writer not to mention Justin Taylor the artist.”

“No I don’t want a fucking Prenup asshole.” Justin declared. “You aren’t kidding about this are you?”

“If you’re willing to make an honest man of me, I would never kid about that.” Brian smiled. “Of course if you just want to live in sin, I suppose that’s okay too, but I would prefer some kind of a ceremony.”

“How about the commitment kind when we commit you to the loony bin?” Justin laughed.

“I was thinking maybe a trip up to one of the states that will allow gay marriages and maybe a honeymoon at Disney World.”

“Okay, that’s it, who the fuck is on Brian’s phone?” Justin laughed.

“Oh and I want a decent ring, not anything too flashy, but something tasteful and in 18 carat gold or maybe platinum. I think I’m a platinum kind of guy don’t you?”

“Get your ass and your designer clothes over here. I want to look in your eyes when I ask you to marry me.” 

“You sweet talker you.” Brian said with a laugh. “Later.” And he hung up the phone, suddenly more cheerful than when he first sat in the car.

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