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

Final chapter

“Okay Lex, here’s the deal.” Brian was seated across from Lex in a Starbucks. Lex had his favorite hot chocolate in front of him. “Justin and I would like you to come and live with us.” 

“I don’t need no foster home.” Lex glared at him. “I do just fine in the group home.”

“If everything is so peachy at the group home, then why is it every time I turn you are either on my step at Kinnetic or at the house?” 

“I get bored.” Lex took a sip of his hot chocolate and the licked the foam off of his top lip.

Brian could hear the fear and hurt in Lex’s voice. “Lex, we want you to be part of our family, just like Malia and BJ are.” 

“You mean like being your kid and everything?” a hint of hope appeared in his eyes.

“Like being our kid and everything.” Brian looked at Lex. “But there’s a catch.”

“Yeah, like isn’t there always.” Lex sounded bitter.

“The catch is, you have to be part of the family too. That means you need to follow the family rules.” 

“I know, no talking about dying and stuff.”

“There’s that, but there’s also, you go to school every day, you work hard for your grades, you don’t talk back to the adults in the house and you do your chores just like the other kids do theirs.” Brian raised one eyebrow. “Do you think you can handle it?” 

“I guess I could try.” Lex answered.

“You do that, and Justin and I will try and be the best dad’s we can be.”

“Can I call you guys’ dad?” Lex looked into Brian’s eyes. “I never had a dad before. I have a mom, or I used to have, but I don’t have a dad.” 

“Well now you have two.” 

“No shit.” Lex beamed.

“And watch the language, you brother and sister are younger than you and don’t need to pick up bad habits.”

“You say shit.”

“I’m older than you.” Brian smirked. “Drink up kid, its moving day.”

“What about the group home?”

“Justin’s already been there done that. There will be some court time and we’ll have your social worker on our ass once in awhile, but other than that, you are now part of the Kinney-Taylor household.” 

“You guys aren’t married, I asked Justin, I mean dad.” 

“Well we’re sort of like married.” Brian said and he realized that he was proud of being able to say the words.

“Why don’t you get married? You love him don’t you?” 

“Guys can’t get married in Pennsylvania.” 

“So you would if you could?” Lex looked at Brian curiously “Daddy J said that there would be a blue moon before you ever asked him to marry you.” 

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


Brian came down the steps, stretching the tight muscles in his back. The warm spring weather had melted the snow, and the kids were going crazy about wanting to go outside to play. Being cooped up in the house during the long winter months had started to get to them. BJ had been bugging both Justin and himself about learning how to ride the bike he got for Christmas, so the two men have been taking their turns every single morning since the snow melted away to teach him. 

Walking into the kitchen, Brian gave Nonna a small smile as she immediately handed him a hot cup of coffee. “A woman after my own heart.”

“I have learned a few things over the past … well almost year with this little family. Coffee for both you and Justin in the morning or neither one of you can function.” 

Brian shook his head as he left the kitchen with cup in hand. He had talked to Cynthia the night prior about the pitch they were giving that morning, and Brian silently hoped that they had everything set at the office. This account would bring in a lot of other accounts, just the name bringing Kinnetik over the top. Picking his briefcase up from beside the door, Brian slipped his jacket over his shoulder. Once he stepped outside he could hear his son and Justin as they road their bikes up and down the street. 

BJ had gotten good enough in the past couple of weeks to warrant letting the boy leave the safety of the driveway and brave the sidewalks along the street. Brian had been so proud of the boy as he watched him peddle the bike like a pro. Shaking his head, he looked toward the door, wondering what was taking Lex so long.

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

Justin smiled as he watched BJ peddle his bike down the deserted sidewalk. “Look daddy! I’m doing it!” BJ yelled back to his father turning his head a little to look back.

“Slow down, BJ. Don’t get to far ahead of me.”

“How do I stop?”

“Push the peddles back, buddy. Slowly, not too fast. Just enough to slow you down some, remember?”

“I remember daddy. This is fun. Catch me!”

“BJ.” Justin saw the car just seconds before it smashed into the side of BJ’s bike. Throwing his own bike down, feeling the hard cement digging into his flesh, Justin ran toward where his son’s bike was laying now in the street. The driver of the car quickly put it in park and rushed over to Justin’s side as he carefully cradled his son in his arms. “Call 911!” Justin looked down at the small, bloody body in his arms, and felt the tears cascading down his cheeks. “Brian!”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
“Daddy Bwian, is BJ gonna die?” Malia asked. Her eyes were big and round and full of fear. “I hate that car.”

Brian picked her up and looked over at Lex who was sitting on the sofa trying to look like he was terrified. He carried her over and sat down beside Lex putting his arm around the small quaking shoulder. “BJ is going to be okay, he’s got to stay in the hospital right now because he’s a bit broken. But doctor Daphne will fix him all up and he’ll be home before you know it.”

“Pwomise?” Malia’s voice shook.

“Dad always says true stuff.” Lex declared. “He never lies.”

Brian hoped beyond hope that Lex was right this time, but he just couldn’t take the little bit of hope that his words had given the two children away, by denying them.


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

Justin looked at the bed holding his son, praying that he would wake soon. It had only been a day and already he was ready to lose his mind. This was the last thing that he would have had to worry about. He figured that the only thing that he would be in the hospital for the children for would be something dealing with the virus in their system. It was naive to think that, but Justin hadn’t even thought about all of the other things that could send them to this place. 

He wondered briefly is this was what Brian had felt like when he was in the hospital after the Prom. The ambulance ride was complete torture, almost as bad as the waiting for word from the doctor. Everything was a blur to him, and Justin wasn’t sure if he really wanted to remember seeing the car running his son over. He remembered Brian rushing to his side, remembered the paramedics placing his son into the ambulance, but everything else became one big blur. 

Brian had been in and out of the room and hospital since they brought BJ in, but Justin had told him that he needed to at least try and do the pitch. Brian and Kinnetik needed that account, and Justin knew Brian was the only one who could get it done. It wasn’t that the others in the office were incompetent; it was that the owner of the company only wanted Brian. So after a slight postponement to today, Brian was off giving the pitch. Justin knew he would return the second it was over, most likely never even finding out whether or not the contacts were signed.

Slowly, so not to disturb the wires and tubes connected to his son, Justin climbed into the bed and rested his hand lightly on BJ’s chest. BJ had a broken arm, bruised hip, scratches all over, but it was the slight head injury and slight internal bleeding that they were watching. The doctor had thought it best to try and keep the young boy in an induced sleep to ensure that the healing started. They didn’t want the boy to start moving and irritating the internal injury. The head injury luckily wasn’t major, only a slight concussion, but Justin knew that until his son woke, they couldn’t know for sure.

Closing his eyes, Justin laid his head on the pillow as he ran his hand over his son’s forehead. “You know, when we get you out of here, we’re going to get those bushes removed. We need to try and find you another bike too, cause you’ll be back on there racing up and down the street in no time. That way you can teach your sister how to do it.” Justin smiled slightly as he took a deep breath. “Of course you know we’re going to have to convince both Grandma Jenn and Daddy Brian that it’s okay for you to get right back on the bike. Okay… maybe some convincing daddy too. 

“I remember when I was a boy, though, I was riding my bike. I was just gong down the road when someone opened their door right in front of me.” Justin rolled his eyes, remembering what it must have looked like as he was flying through the air after his bike hit the car door. “I got right back on that thing as soon as my arm was out of my cast. My dad raised hell with the person who had opened the door without looking.”

“Are you telling him stories again?” Brian walked into the room, making his presence known. He had quickly rushed through the pitch and came directly to the hospital. Luckily the owner understood and was shocked that Brian was even there after hearing that his son was in the hospital. But the moment the pitch was over with, Brian gave his excuses and left the rest of the work to the legal department. 

Justin looked up from his position beside BJ and shrugged a little. “Maybe. Just telling him about my own horrors with a bike.” Reaching out with his hand, Justin pulled Brian to stand beside him. “How did the pitch go?”

“Edwards was wondering what the hell I was doing there when my son was in the hospital. If he had said something like that yesterday to Cynthia I wouldn’t have even been there today. But he liked it, and now it’s up to Legal to finish.” Brian leaned down and placed a kiss on both Justin’s and BJ’s head. “How’s he doing?’

“No change. They still want to keep him sedated. Daphne told me that they were going to take him in later today for more testing to see if they can start to ween him off of it and wake him up… I don’t know.”

Brian lightly ran his hand through Justin’s hair, knowing that no matter what he said or tried to do, Justin would not be leaving that room until at the least BJ woke up. “Did you get any sleep last night?”

“A little. How was Malia this morning? I know she wanted to stay here with BJ, but… I called mom and told her to bring the kids over after they pick Gus and Lex up from school.”

“That’s good. I know they all want to see him. When was the last time you ate anything?”

“They brought in some food for breakfast. I almost forgot how bad it is. They have gotten better, but I’d still rather be home with a nice greasy pizza or something.”

“Ahh carbs. That stuff will kill you.”

“True, but at least it would be enjoyable.” Justin turned his head a little and gave Brian a small smile. “I’m going to try and get some sleep. Wake me if there’s any change?”

“Considering you’re in bed with him, I think you’ll know. But you don’t even have to ask, I’ll wake you.” Brian leaned in and kissed Justin lightly on the lips. “Get your bubble butt up and get on the cot they brought in. Please.”

“Yes dear,” Justin shook his head as he carefully got out of the small bed and walked over to the cot. “I love you.”

“You too. Now get a couple of hours before the other terrors come in.”

“Yes sir.”

“Much better.”


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


“Lex? Do you want to come sit on the bed with Malia and I? I’m sure we could find the room.” Justin asked the newest addition to their family. He had been trying to include Lex in everything, not wanting the boy to think that he wasn’t a part of them all. Justin knew he had to work at it a little since he was so used to only have the two again after what happened with Michelle. It was always a huge adjustment for him with each new addition, but Justin hoped he was doing it right. “I’d ask Brian if he wanted to join us, but I don’t know if he’d fit. You would though.”

“Nah, that’s okay. I don’t’ want to hurt him.” Lex nodded to the small figure in the bed, still unconscious. 

“You won’t hurt him, Lex. As long as you’re careful of the wires.” Brian held out his hand for the boy, waiting to see if he could join them. Brian had taken the spot in one of the chairs next to the bed so he could be readily accessible to help Justin if need be. It allowed him the chance to touch Justin, to keep him calm. 

“When will BJ wake up, Daddy?” Malia asks as she lays her head on Justin’s leg.

Justin reached over so he could run his hand through her hair, trying to give her the support she needs. “Doctor Daphne said they are going to start taking him off the medicine that’s keeping him asleep later tonight. He should be waking up real soon.”

“Then he can come home again?”

“In time. It will be a while, but he will be home very soon. Then we just have to keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn’t do anything to hurt his cast.” Justin knew that it was silly to tell his daughter that the cast could cause a problem, but he also knew that with any type of head injury they would have to keep an eye out in case BJ became dizzy. If he told the little girl to keep an eye on the cast then he knew they would know the instant that BJ wobbled even a little bit. “Plus BJ’s head may feel a little funny, and he might not want to laugh real hard for a while. But before you know it he will be good as new. Okay?”

“How do you know for sure?” Lex asked, stopping himself before he could say something that might either get him in trouble, or scare his little sister.

“I just know, I guess. Daphne is a really smart doctor, and she’s positive that he will be okay. We have to have hope, and pray that she’s right. Plus BJ’s strong, just like the both of you are. He’s pulled out of worse, and he can come out of this. And he’ll be back on his bike as soon as his cast is off.”

“Maybe.” Brian stated quietly as he looked over at Justin. “He will be on by the end of summer, most definitely. We’ll just have to make sure that Daddy J here lets him out of the driveway.”

“I said he would be riding his bike. Where he’ll be riding it is another question.” Justin stuck out his tongue at Brian and shook his head. 

“Do you think there will be any more bad cars?”

“We can’t predict everything, sweetheart. What happened was an accident, but we can’t let it stop us from doing what we love. And BJ loves riding his bike. We can’t let our fears, or other people tell us what we can and cannot do. Okay?”

“Okay. Can I lay down with BJ? I’m tired.”

“Of course you can. How about we wake you up when dinner comes?”

“Okay.” Justin carefully got off the bed and helped tuck Malia in beside her brother, as Lex slowly climbed up on the bed to sit at the bottom. Justin sat down on Brian’s lap to lay his own head on his lover’s shoulder watching as Lex guarded over his siblings.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Justin had fallen asleep on the cot; Brian tucked Malia in next to Justin. Lex was still sleeping on BJ’s bed, though he’d moved up until his head was almost even with his younger brother’s. Brian sat and watched his family; there was no point in dragging the kids home, they were happier here with BJ, though if something didn’t happen soon, he and Justin would have to come up with a schedule for them.

Daphne had been in and made sure that BJ’s medication was adjusted to allow him to wake up. Now it was a waiting game, would the boy wake up and still be the BJ of old, or would he be somehow changed. Brian checked the clock on the wall, it was after midnight, and he stretched his long body out as best he could in the leather easy chair that had been brought into the room.

Slowly his eyes lowered until Brian too was sleeping. Brian woke up to the sound of quiet talking. He didn’t open his eyes, instead just listened.

“Yeah, it was real cool; you got to ride in an ambulance and everything.” Lex spoke quietly.

“Did they turn the siren on?”

“Yeah, real loud.” 

“How come I have such a yucky color cast, your’s was nice.” BJ asked.

“I guess ‘cause you weren’t awake, they didn’t let you pick the color.” Lex adjusted himself. “Are you okay like this?” he asked.

“Yeah, it’s nice having a big brother. Now I don’t have to be scared when I go to school. I’ll have a big brother to protect me.” 

“I’ll always look after you BJ.” Lex declared.

“Doesn’t daddy look cute when he’s sleeping? I bet Malia drools all over him though, she always drools.”

Lex giggled. “Girls are weird.” 

“Yeah. Hey Lex, I’m really, really starving to death, when can I have breakfast?” 

“I don’t know, but it’s still kind of early. I mean I can’t hear anything much going on in the hall and the dad’s are still sleeping.”

“What if we starve to death?” 

“I won’t let that happen. I’ll find you some food. Besides, isn’t that IV thingy supposed to be some kind of food?”

“I don’t know, but it sure is annoying sticking in my arm.” Brian could hear the sheets rustle.

“There is that better?” Lex asked.

“Thanks Lex.” 

“You’re welcome little bro.” 

BJ giggled and then asked. “Do you think daddy will get me a new bike?” I mean Santa Claus got this one and I don’t want to wait until next Christmas.” 

“Yeah, Daddy J said you’d get a new bike.”

“Maybe he’ll get you one too, ‘cause I need my big brother to protect me. What color do you want?”

“I don’t know, I never thought about it. Green I guess, I kind of like green.”

“I like red.” BJ’s voice was sleepy. “Lex, I’m sleepy.”

“Go to sleep then little bro, I’ll keep you safe.”

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

“BJ, be careful. That cast hurts.” Justin told his son with a small smile on his lips as BJ continued to explain to Hunter his adventure with his bike waving his arm around. 

Hunter moved once again as BJ turned around his cast coming close to his nose. “He’s a killer.”

“I’m not a killer.” BJ turned around and glared at Hunter. “I’ll be careful daddy. My cast doesn’t hurt me. It itches though.”

“It will itch as your bone heals, and I’m glad that the cast doesn’t hurt you. I’m just worried about it hurting others.” Justin reached over and lightly tickled his son. “Remember when the cast hit Daddy Brian in the nose?”

“He bleed a lot. And … Daddy what was Daddy Brian saying? I never heard those words before.”

“Yeah, Daddy Brian did bleed, but at least he’s okay.” Justin thought of the words that came out of his lover’s lips and tried to hold back the laugh that was threatening to come out. Even at his age, he hadn’t heard some of the words his lover had used before. “Your daddy wasn’t really saying anything, buddy. The words all sounded funny. Remember when he tried to say okay?”

“Yeah he sounded like his nose was stuffy. He sounded funny.”

Hunter looked above BJ’s head and smiled at Justin. He had heard the whole tale about Brian’s broken nose, and hadn’t been able to stop laughing. The look he had gotten when he walked into the house that morning when he saw the dark circles under Brian’s eyes, and the tape around his nose only made it worse for the teen. “So we just have to be a little careful there, Slugger. I don’t know if your daddy B can handle it right now.”

“And it taught your Daddy Brian a good lesson.”

“What’s that daddy?”

“Never try and tickle a child who has a cast on his arm.” Justin finally couldn’t hold it in much longer as he felt the laughter burst out of him. “

“Is Daddy Brian mad at me?”

“He could never be mad at you. I think the only thing that hurts on him really is his pride.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s… You know how your daddy always stands really tall and everyone looks at him with respect?” Justin saw his son nod his head. 

BJ had always loved seeing how his daddy had walked and talked. He wanted to be just as strong as Brian one day. “So daddy doesn’t feel so strong? Cause I bumped his nose?”

Justin could see the small pout start to form on his son’s lips. “Well he feels as strong as ever. He just feels silly for it happening. Okay?”

“Okay. I’ll kiss it and make it better. He doesn’t have to feel silly.”

Justin tried not to laugh as he tried to picture Brian trying to keep the tears out of his eyes as his son kisses his nose to make it feel better. Brian’s nose would never be the same again.

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

“Your ten o’clock is here Ms. Marcus.” Melanie checked her schedule. She didn’t have any appointment. “Okay” she said into the intercom afraid that she’d missed something.

“Hey Mel.” Brian drawled as he strolled into the spacious office. “I see you’re back at work. Where’s the kid?”

“Today Jenny is with Lindsay, it’s her day off, not that it’s any of your business how we arrange for our children to be cared for.”

“Point taken.” Brian sprawled in one of her chairs without waiting for an invitation.

“What do you want Brian?” Melanie asked after waiting what seemed like hours for Brian to say something.

“BJ is having a birthday party on Saturday. It’s his fifth. I would like Gus, Jennie and you and Lindsay to be there. It’s going to be a kind of family barb b que deal. Justin and Jennifer are putting it on.”

“What happened to your nose?” Melanie had to ask. Seeing Brian with yellow/green smudges around his eyes and his nose taped was driving her curiosity factor nuts.

“Nose?” Brian asked as if he always looked like he did. “I don’t know - must have bumped it. That Justin likes it rough every now and then.”

“Asshole, you’ll never change.” Melanie said with a huff of a laugh. “I’ll get the real story from someone at the party.”

“So you and your better half will bring the kids? It’s at eleven on Saturday. Give Justin a call and let him know that you’re coming. My job is just to issue the invitations.”

“So he assigns you jobs now does he.” Melanie held in her laughter, knowing that now wasn’t the time.

“Apparently it comes with the ring.” Brian held up his hand. He was still amazed that he wore Justin’s ring and rather liked being off the market. “Who knew?”

“Yes, I’ve heard.” Melanie looked at Brian and realized that he’d changed. It was time now for her to do the same.

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

“So how did it go?” Justin asked. He had arrived at Brian’s office a few minutes before complete with Brian’s favorite latté. 

“Not bad, everyone is coming, but they’ll all call you or your mom and confirm.” Brian could get the barest of smells from his steaming cup. He’d be glad when his nose was back in shape. He didn’t even want to think about the shit they’d packed in it. BJ had a hell of a wallop.

“What about Michael, is he okay with it?”

“His husband and kid are coming, and so is he. It’s time to mend fences Sunshine, on both of your parts.” 

“I know, fuck I hate being the grown up some times.” Justin laughed.

“Me too.” Brian grimaced when the top of the coffee cup touched his nose.

“I can’t believe that this is the second birthday BJ will be celebrating with you there. Where in heck did the time go?”

“We’ve had a hell of a year, haven’t we Sunshine?” Brian looked at his partner across the desk and his eyes spoke volumes.

“We have, but you know what Brian, just having you with me has made it bearable.” Justin got up and walked around the desk, he moved Brian’s chair back and then sat in his lap nuzzling his partner’s neck. He knew it drove Brian wild when he did that. “You Bwian bear have kept me sane and made me smile when I’d sooner have cried. Thank you.”

“Watch the nose,” Brian said gruffly, his throat thick with emotion. But he held Justin tight and kissed his forehead in silent thanks for the compliment.

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

Walking up behind Brian, Justin wrapped his arms around his lover and glanced over his shoulder to see the kids play in the backyard. “You did remind BJ to be careful with the cast right?”

“Yes, dear. Of course I did. My nose will never be the same.” Brian leaned his head back to rest against Justin’s and took a deep breath through his mouth. “Damn kid packs a wallop.”

“Who knows, he might be the next heavyweight boxing champion.” Justin said with a smile. “Well we can all dreams, even if it will never happen.”

“So true. But at least it’s true. Somehow I don’t think he will have problems at school, and I don’t think that Lex will have to do a lot of work of protecting BJ.” Brian glanced at his four children shaking his head slightly. Never in his life would he have thought that he would have had anything like this. Basically a husband and children… four children. “Lex may be tough on the outside, but I think in the end it will be BJ protecting Lex.”

“Maybe. It might turn out that BJ is a lot like you. Protecting his brother without his brother knowing.”

“Why would you say that’s like me?” Brian gave Justin a small smile as he gave Justin a light kiss on the cheek. “Have you talked to Mikey yet?”

“He seems happy right now. Spending time with Hunter and Ben. I’m trying to decide what I can say to him, and Mel. Can I really forgive them? Trust them?” Justin shrugged his shoulders slightly and took a deep breath. “I don’t know. I’ll give them a chance, I said I would… but I don’t know if I can trust them. They have a lot of hurt to try and overcome.”

“But you’re going to give them a chance right?”

“Yes, Brian. I’m going to give them a chance. But I don’t have to make it easy on them.” Justin gave Brian a small smile. Releasing his arms from around his lover’s waist, Justin made his way over to the children as they played. Kneeling down on the ground, Justin gave all four a small kiss on the cheek. “I think it’s almost time for cake and presents.”

“Yeah!” everyone yelled, as they raced into the house. 

Justin looked over at the extended family, giving them a small smile. “We all better get in there before the kids eat all the cake.” It was a start, that’s all Justin could give at the moment.

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

“So what exactly happened to Brian’s nose?” Lindsey asked as Brian left the room to get some items so they could put the presents together. 

Justin tried not to laugh out loud as he shrugged. “What did he tell you?”

“Mel said something about you, and… well you get the idea.”

“Oh he is sooo going to get it tonight.” Justin laughed shaking his head. “Let’s just say that having a child who speaks with his hands who has a cast on his arm isn’t the smartest thing in the world. Especially not smart to put your face anywhere near him.”

Lindsey started laughing, trying to picture Brian being taken down by a small boy. “Now that I would have paid to see.”

“It was funny. I tried to tell him to watch out, but did he listen? Of course not.” Justin continued to shake his head, imagining the ‘bravito’ that Brian was trying to portray while trying to keep him image intact. “I’m not sure what hurts him the most… his pride, or his nose.”

“Both I think. Did BJ break it?”

“No worse… bruised it.” Finally losing his battle to keep the laughter at bay, Justin let it out. “You should have seen Brian trying to consol BJ while blood is just running out of his nose. Trying to tell him that it as okay and he wasn’t hurt while he couldn’t breathe.” It felt good to be able to laugh with people, to talk and share things with people that had once been close to him. “But he was great. He took it all in stride, didn’t even get mad at me when I took him to the ER.”

“You took him to ER?”

“Daphne couldn’t stop laughing, just kept telling him how she had tried to warn him. We all think that BJ will be some prize fighter or something. He packs one hell of a punch.”

“And Brian could verify that fact.”

“It’s something I don’t think he will forget anytime soon, that’s for sure.”

Once the laughter died down, both Justin and Lindsey continued to sit on the couch watching as Brian worked hard trying to get the toys together. “You know, it would be easier to actually look at the instructions.” Lindsey informed her friend. 

Brian looked up at her, rolling his eyes. “And looking at the box it’s easy enough that a child could put it together. How hard could it be?”

Michael came into the room carrying Jenny and tried not to laugh. “Evidentially you forgot the whole mess in trying to put Gus’ swing set together.”

“That was not meant for a child to put together.”

“Brian.” Justin began shaking his head at his lover. “You above all people should know that what is written on the box or in an ad is not always correct. I can’t believe that you would fall for something like that.”

Brian glared at Justin and turned his attention back to the toy parts littering the floor. They could all laugh, he was going to get this thing together no matter how long it took. Without any help from the peanut gallery. He’d get it together, without the damn instructions. How hard could it be?

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


Justin sat on the bed reading the new paper trying not to hide his laughter from his lover. Brian had spent five hours trying to put BJ’s toys together, until he had finally relented and asked for Justin’s help. How he could ever forget Brian’s stubbornness was beyond him? “I’ve been thinking about BJ and where he will go to school.” Justin began, trying to get his lover’s attention. Seeing Brian stick his head out from the bathroom toothbrush sticking out of his mouth, Justin tried not to smile. “You’re so cute when you do that.”

“I’m not cute. Sexy as hell maybe, but not cute. And damn it Justin how many times do I have to tell you not to wear those glasses to bed?”

“I need to read don’t I?” Justin smiled knowing the effect of his glasses had on the other man. “As I was saying, I was thinking that it might be a good idea to send BJ to a regular school for a while. Let him get used to being around other people.”

“Yeah, and let them rag him forever and a day because he’s different. Kids are cruel, and I’m sure that it wouldn’t be a walk in the park for him.” Brian rinsed his mouth then moved out of the bathroom to lay down beside Justin. “Just look at how rough it was on Hunter… and on Lex. Do you really want BJ to have to go through that?”

“But Lex is having a better time at his new school He’s made a lot of friends. I think part of his problem was where he was at. The fact that he didn’t have any hope, that he didn’t think anyone could love him. He’s doing better now, and I thin that helps where the other kids are concerned.” Justin explained as he set the paper on the beside table next to his glasses. “At least we have to give it a try. He should be able to experience things the way the other kids do. The school will be informed and it’s not like we hide what he has from people.” 

Brian propped the pillow up behind his back so he could lean comfortably against the headrest. “You know where I stand on it. I think that they should be in a school that can handle his needs, same with Lex and Malia.”

“Yeah, but we cant’ protect them forever.”

“We can sure as fuck try.”

“Someday they will experience hate, we can’t keep that from them. They have to learn to deal with it and find a way to get around it. We won’t be around forever.”

“Then I’ll guard them from my place in hell.” Brian huffed. “I know, alright. I know we can’t always be there for them, and that we can’t protect them. I learned that lesson the hard way.” Brian stole a glance at Justin, letting the other man know what he was thinking about. “I just don’t want what happened to you, happen to them.”

“Even if it does, we will have to deal. Brian… you couldn’t protect me. I made my own mistakes, and my own decisions. Whether or not you were there wouldn’t have made a damn bit of difference with him attacking me. You being there saved my life, I have no doubt about that. But we can’t keep the children in a bubble. What happens when they go out into the real world?” Justin turned so that he could look at Brian, wanting the man to know what was going on in his mind. “What happens when they finally graduate high school? Go to college? If we try and keep them protected from all of the hate, when they actually get out into the world they won’t know what to do.”

Brian wrapped his arm around Justin and brought the man to his side, holding him close. “You have thought about this haven’t you?”

“Yeah, I have. I’ve been going back and forth on the whole mess for years now. And seeing everything, knowing what they will have to deal with… I guess I finally have realized that I can’t protect them from everything. If BJ’s accident showed me anything it showed me that. The real world, the real hatred will come through whether or not we are ready for it. We won’t always be there, so they have to learn to do things themselves. That’s the gift we can give them. That’s what I have been working for all this time.”

Brian sat there and thought about what Justin was telling him. He knew that his lover was right, that they couldn’t protect them, but that wasn’t going to stop Brian from worrying about the children. Wouldn’t stop him from trying to keep the monsters at bay. “Okay. But the first sign of trouble, we’re pulling them out.”

“Thank-you.” Justin leaned in a kissed Brian lightly on the lips. “the first sign of trouble we’ll talk about it.”

“No, I said we pull them out.”

“We’ll talk about it.”

“Christ, this is that whole negotiating and compromising shit you hear about with couples huh?”

“Yep, get used to it.”

“Fine. We’ll talk about it. But I will win that argument.”

“Discussion.”

“Fuck! Fine. Can we do something besides talk about this shit now?”

Justin moved so that he was sitting on Brian’s lap as he leaned in once again to kiss Brian’s neck. “What do you have in …” Justin never finished that thought as Brian picked him up, threw him onto the bed and climbed on top of him. “My hero.”

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Epilogue

Takes place 15 years in the future


“Hurry up will you.” Lex jiggled his legs and then got up and began to pace up and down the floor.

“Calm down Lex we’ve got lots of time.” Justin laughed. “You’re as bad as your father.” He looked outside and could see Brian walking rapidly up and down the driveway. He knew his husband was desperate to smoke, but would never give in to the craving.

“Malia left two hours ago. She’s going to be having a fit if we aren’t there.” Lex said. He wanted to rip the tie out of Justin’s hands and strangle him with it. Justin was so anal about having the knot perfect.

“BJ is with Malia and you know that the graduating class always is there early. It hasn’t been that long since you graduated from high school or BJ too for that matter.” Justin laughed and then went over and gave his son a hug. “ Malia will be just fine.” 

“But she’s so….” Lex didn’t know how to continue. He’d been in love with Malia almost from the day he’d met her. There was six years difference in their age and he’d never said anything but everyone in the family knew. Well everyone except Malia.

“I know Lex” Justin gave him a hug. “I know.” 

Brian looked up when Justin and Lex walked over to the car. “It’s about damn time. So help me Sunshine I’m going to cut up all your ties into little tiny pieces one of these days.”

Lex burst out laughing, he’d been thinking the same thing.

“Don’t be such a grouch.” Justin got into the car and leaned over giving Brian a kiss. “You want me to look good don’t you?” 

“ You always look good.” Brian let his hand caress Justin’s face.

“Will you two stop it? I want to get to the ceremony while it’s still on.” Lex grouched from the rear seat.

“You could have taken your own car.” Justin looked back and grinned.

“No I couldn’t, I let BJ have it.” Lex admitted.

“You let your little brother drive your baby? Wow the world must be ending soon.” Brian snickered.

“Daaaaad” Lex whined.

“You sound like your uncle Mikey.” Justin snickered.

“Be nice” Brian admonished. The bantering continued all the way to the conference center where the graduation ceremonies were being held.

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

“Lex will you sit down.” Justin scolded their oldest. “You can’t see her from here; we can’t see her from here. Just sit down until they start actually doing something.” Shaking his head, Justin turned to rest his head on his husband’s shoulder. “Please tell me I was never that bad.”

“No you were worse. Following me around, pushing yourself into my life. Oh you were a terror.” Brian laughed, lightly kissing the top of Justin’s head. Feeling the light slap to his stomach, Brian tried to keep the laughter inside. “Do you believe that Gus is planning on getting married?”

“Where did the time go?” Justin smiled. “All the kids have grown up, college, and now lives of their own.”

“We finally have the house to ourselves.” Brian smirked.

“Oh, I think I forgot what that was like.”

“Now we can christen it properly.”

“I am so not going to eat over there until I know it’s clean.” BJ rolled his eyes at his father’s. “Thank gawd I’m staying at the dorms.”

“Our children are no fun.” Brian pouted slightly. “Where did we go wrong?”

“Drama King.” Lex told his brother, both nodding in agreement. “Will you two stop. She’s next.”

Both Brian and Justin got their cameras ready as they watched their youngest make her way across the stage. Justin could feel the tears start to form behind his eyes as he watched his little girl get her diploma. “She made it.” He whispered to Brian, Justin couldn’t help but feel the sudden loss of their last child. He was grateful that it was a loss to life, and not death. They had all survived when many like them had not. He could only hope that they would be able to be where he was now. Be able to watch their own children reach this point. “Okay… I really need to put a stop to my thoughts.”

Brian looked over at Justin with a raised eyebrow. “What?”

“I’m already having them married, and us grandparents. Please stop me.”

Brian gave his husband a look of terror, and then wrapped his arms around Justin’s shoulders as they watched their daughter take her seat with the other students.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
November 9th, 2004