Brian glared at the man across from him. He shook his head for the umpteenth time, trying to make Jason understand that they weren’t going to be together. “Why not, Brian?” Jason asked. “Because I am with Justin.” Brian told him. “After all that has happened?” Jason asked. “He saw us.” “So what?” Brian asked getting angrier by the minute. Jason sighed. “I love you, Brian.” Jason told him. “I tried to keep away. You were the one that came after me first.” Brian frowned and looked away. “We can be together now. I would make you so happy.” Jason told him. “I love him.” Brian told him. “I want to be with him, not you.” “What about me?” Jason asked. “You love me too.” “No, I don’t.” Brian said. “That’s bullshit.” Jason said getting up. “You made love to me.” “I was thinking of him.” Brian told him. “You would always call my name.” Jason hissed. Brian glared at the dark haired man. “Get out of my office.” Brian told him. “We have nothing else to say.” Jason straightened up and nodded. He left Brian’s office, but he wasn’t done. He was going to be with Brian. He was going to make the brunet see that they were meant to be together. *** “I’m just calling to see what we are going to do about Liam?” Brian said. “What are you talking about?” Justin asked irritated. “Well, his birthday is coming soon.” Brian pointed out. “I know.” Justin said. “Mom is helping me with the party.” “She is?” Brian asked taken aback. “They took Liam the other day. He came back in one piece. He had fun.” Justin told him. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Brian asked. “Well, I thought you might be busy with other stuff.” Justin spat out. “Don’t do this.” Brian hissed. “Don’t keep me away from them, Jus.” Justin sighed. “Brian, I have to go.” Justin told him. “Please, Justin.” Brian begged. “What I did has nothing to do with our kids.” Justin frowned and tightened his jaw. “I know that, Brian.” Justin hissed. “I want to see them.” Brian told him. “They are staying with Debbie tomorrow.” Justin told him. “You can go see them.” “All of them?” Brian asked. “Liam is going to be at the daycare.” Justin told him. “I think Michael and Chris are taking Keefe. They are smitten with him.” Brian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “When can I see you?” Brian asked. “You can’t.” Justin told him dryly. “Justin.” Brian whispered. “I have to go.” Justin told him and hung up. Brian looked at the phone in his hand and closed his eyes. He put the phone on its base and sat down on the chair. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly as tears ran down his face. He was sure that there wasn’t a thing he could do to make Justin change his mind. *** Once Brian left the house, Debbie got up from her chair and sat next to Vic. “He looks so broken.” Debbie commented. “I know.” Vic told her. “Do you think this is it?” Debbie asked. “I don’t know.” Vic told her. “I hope not. They both love each other very much.” “And they have the kids to think about.” Debbie pointed out. “That’s not what should matter here. I know that if they broke up, they would still do anything for their kids.” Vic pointed out. “They should get back together because they want to and nothing is pushing them to be together but the love they have for one another.” “You're right.” Debbie told him. “I’m always right.” Vic told her. Debbie laughed. “So, how are things with Hamilton?” Vic asked smirking. “Do you hear that?” Debbie asked getting up. Vic arched a brow. “I think Sheridan is crying.” Debbie said moving to the stairs. Vic just shook his head and laughed. *** Chris looked himself in the mirror and smiled. His bruises and scratches were gone. He was happy that he was healing fast. He heard a knock on the door and wondered who it was. “Brian?” Chris asked surprised. “Hey. Justin said that Keefe was here.” Brian told him. “Come on in.” Chris said. Brian moved inside and looked around for his son. “Is he sleeping?” Brian asked. “He is not here.” Chris said closing the door. “Michael just left with him. They were going to get Liam because he wouldn’t stop crying. We know they are very close.” Brian nodded. “I should go then.” Brian told him. “Stay. We haven’t talked in a while.” Chris said. Brian moved with Chris to the living room and he sat down on the sofa. “So, how are things?” Chris asked. Brian shrugged. “They are okay.” Brian told him. “How are things with Justin?” Chris asked raising a brow. Brian looked at Chris and frowned. “I fucked up.” Brian said shrugging. “I bet he is going to forgive you.” Chris told him. “I know he loves you.” “So?” Brian asked. “You know Justin. He won’t back down. He said he didn’t want to see me and he won’t.” Chris nodded. “Just give him time. Let things cool down.” Chris said. Brian didn’t know what to do anymore. “Look at Mike and me. We broke up and took some time apart. Slowly he came back and then, next thing you knew, we were back together.” Chris said. “Things are a little more complicated.” Brian told him. “No, they are not. Same type of fight, really.” Chris said. “I fucked up too, Brian. Mike forgave me.” Brian nodded, remembering when Chris and Michael were apart. “The things that you got to have is love and you have that.” Chris told him smiling. Brian smiled and took a deep breath. “So wait.” Brian muttered. “Yeah.” Chris said. “You guys can still talk and what not. Just take things easy.” Brian nodded. “You're a good friend.” Brian told him. “I try.” Chris said. “How are you doing?” Brian asked nodding towards Chris’s legs. “Better.” Chris said. “Much better.” *** Brian walked around the house as he picked up his things. He couldn’t believe he was moving out. No one knew what he was doing. But he knew that Chris was right. That he and Justin needed some time apart before the blond ended up ripping him to pieces. He grabbed his clothes and then some of his toiletries. When he was done, he moved to his kid’s room. He looked around at the many toys that were found in every inch of the room and smiled. He missed his family. He rubbed his face and closed his eyes not wanting to cry. He was going to leave them today, hoping that it would make things better. That some day he would be able to come back and things would be back to normal. He looked at his watch and decided to leave before Justin got home. He was heading out of the girls’ room when he saw a picture of all of them. They were all in the bed. Brian was holding Sheridan and Illona while Liam was holding Keefe as best as he could with Justin’s help and Justin was holding Fiona on his arm. He smiled at that and decided to take the picture with him. Once he left the house, he got the things in his Jeep and drove to the one place he knew he could stay as long as he wanted without being in the way. He reached his destination and got his things. He went inside using the code that had been given to him and then up to the apartment. He knocked and waited. “Hey, Sonny Boy. What are you doing here?” Jack asked cleaning his hands in a kitchen rag. “Can I stay for a couple of days?” Brian asked looking at the floor. Jack nodded and let him in. “I’m just making dinner. Do you want some?” Jack asked. Brian smiled and nodded. “Where have you been staying these past weeks?” Jack asked him. “A hotel.” Brian told him. “Michael went to the house and got some of my things but now…” Jack looked at Brian with an arched brow. “I got my stuff.” Brian said and shrugged. “He needs time to cool down.” Jack nodded and didn’t ask anymore questins. *** Jack knocked on the door and waited. He gave Justin a little smiled when the blond opened the door. “Where are the kids?” Jack asked. Justin stepped aside and pointed towards the living room. Jack went inside and walked to the living room where some of the kids were sleeping and the others were playing. Liam was watching TV but got up to hug his grandfather when he saw him. “How are you doing, Sonny Boy?” Jack asked. “Okay.” Liam told him and then looked to where Justin was. Liam lean over to Jack and whispered. “Papa is crying.” Liam told him. Jack kissed the boy and told him to go back to what he was doing. He got up and followed Justin to the kitchen. “So?” Jack said sitting at the kitchen table. Justin stayed standing behind the kitchen island. “Do you want anything to drink?” Justin asked. “No, I’m okay.” Jack assured him. Justin nodded and kept quiet. “You called me, Justin.” Jack told him. “What did you want to tell me?” Justin frowned. “I…I came home today and he…he had taken all of his clothes and a few of his things.” Justin said sniffing. Jack nodded already knowing that. “I…I didn’t know what to do.” Justin told him. “I felt so…so lost.” “You guys need some space.” Jack told him. “It doesn’t mean things between you guys are over.” “What about this Jason guy?” Justin asked. Jack shrugged. “Brian doesn’t want anything to do with him.” Jack said. Justin shook his head. “I saw them…they looked…close.” Justin muttered. “He’s probably with him.” “He’s not.” Jack told him. “How can you be sure?” Justin asked a little mad. “He’s staying with me.” Jack told him. Justin sighed. “I don’t know what to do.” Justin told him. “I…I don’t want him to leave but…” “You are not ready to face him.” Jack finished the sentence. Justin nodded. “Is he okay? Is he eating okay?” Justin asked. Jack smiled and shrugged. “He’s eating.” Jack told him. “He is devastated.” Justin bit his lower lip. “He’s sorry, Justin. He never meant to hurt you.” Jack told him. Justin just stared at the counter. “You guys are going to get over this.” Jack said. “That’s what everyone keeps saying.” Justin muttered. “So many people can’t be wrong.” Jack pointed out. Justin smiled a little. “He wants to see the kids.” Jack told him. “He can come and see them whenever he wants.” Justin told him. “I’ll tell him that.” Jack said. “I love him you know.” Justin said sniffing. “Can you…can you tell him that kids love him?” “I’ll tell him.” Jack said getting up and walking over to the blond. “Thank you.” Justin told him. “He told me to remind you too.” Jack said as he stood in front of the blond. “Remind me what?” Justin asked puzzled. “That he loves you and the kids very much.” Jack said. Justin moved forward and buried his face on Jack’s chest. Jack held him and took a deep breath and let the blond cry. *** Justin hugged Daphne tightly and then moved to hug Paul. “It’s so good to see you guys.” Justin told them. “Come on.” Daphne and Paul followed Justin into the guest room. “I can unpack our stuff.” Paul told Daphne. “You go and catch up with Justin.” “Thank you, Paul.” Justin told her. Daphne and Justin walked to the living room and sat down. “I saw your new car, Justin.” Daphne said smirking. “You are like the soccer moms we used to make fun of.” “Don’t remind me.” Justin said still hating his SUV. “When did you get the van?” Daphne asked. “A month after Brian had the babies.” Justin told him. “We needed more space.” Daphne nodded. “Where are the babies?” Daphne asked. “Where is Liam?” “Liam is taking his nap and the others are with Brian.” Justin told him. Daphne nodded and looked at the floor. “So, how is everything?” Daphne asked. “I heard that you and Brian are not living together.” Justin nodded. “Well, you know how I lost the baby.” Justin told her. Daphne nodded and put a hand on top of Justin’s. “Everything went downhill from there.” Justin told her. Daphne frowned. “I was going through a rough time. I was drinking and doing drugs and tricks. I felt so fucking lost and empty.” Justin told him as his eyes watered. Daphne put a hand on top of Justin’s. “Things got better.” Justin said closing his eyes. “We started talking but still it wasn’t like before. I was trying hard.” “So, what happened?” Daphne asked biting her lower lip. “We kind of grew apart and…and he was with this guy.” Justin choked out. “They seemed so fucking close. Like they knew each other.” “My god.” Daphne whispered. “He said he had fucked him before but that he didn’t know him and after that it was just one time.” Justin told his best friend. “I didn’t know what to believe. I was there. I saw them.” “I’m so sorry to hear that, Justin. Why didn’t you tell me this the many times you called me?” Daphne asked. “This is why you called me last time, isn’t? This is why you sounded so desperate.” Justin nodded. “I was already losing him.” Justin whispered. “I didn’t tell you everything because I didn’t want to bother you with my problems, Daph.” “Do you still love him?” Daphne asked. Justin nodded. “We still talk.” Justin said. “About the kids and stuff. Only on the phone though.” “Well, at least you guys talk.” Daphne said trying to see the positive side of things. “That’s good.” “I think…I think I’m ready to face him. We haven’t seen each other in two months. He wasn’t here for Liam’s party.” Justin informed her and bit his lower lip. Daphne frowned. “I told him to stay away.” Justin said sniffing. “Justin.” Daphne said surprised. “I was so mad at him.” Justin told her. “Things were okay, but then I went to talk to him at his father’s apartment and he was outside with Jason. Daphne frowned not liking what she was hearing. “He swore to me that Jason was following him. That nothing happened. I just…I was so fucking mad, Daph.” Justin told her. Daphne sighed. “That was wrong, Justin. You shouldn’t have done that.” Daphne told him. “I know. I was such an asshole.” Justin said. “But I was seeing red and not thinking straight.” Daphne hugged him. “He stayed with Liam the rest of the week. But it was not the same and Brian was mad.” Justin said. “I imagine.” Daphne whispered. “You are going to let him come for the quad's birthday, right?” “Of course, Daphne.” Justin said. “I know this time he would so strangle me if I got another of my drama moments.” Daphne laughed and nodded, sure that Justin was right. “Maybe you guys can talk.” Daphne suggested. “Yeah.” Justin said smiling. “I think I’m ready for that.”