Chris smiled as he returned from tucking the kids in bed. He was pleasantly surprised to find Tobias doing the dishes in the kitchen. “What are you doing?” He asked. “I’m helping you out a bit,” Tobias answered hesitantly. He liked Chris so much but was afraid Chris didn’t feel the same way. Chris smiled; he enjoyed having someone around the house again. “Uh, you don’t have to, really.” Tobias shrugged but continued to wash the plates. Chris sat at the kitchen counter and watched the man. They enjoyed the peaceful silence together. Tobias felt Chris’ gaze studying him and it scared him. But it also secretly thrilled him and made him happy. Tobias smiled unable to hold back his fondness for Chris. Chris laughed knowing he had been caught watching. “Sorry.” “That’s okay,” Tobias assured him. “Do you want something to drink?” Chris asked trying to ease an awkward situation. “Uh, no, I’m okay,” Tobias answered. He tried to be as fast as he could. All he wanted to do was take Chris in his arms and posses him. He had to get out of there before he did something that would push Chris away or scare him off. They had come a long way since there initial encounter. Chris got down from the stool and walked to the fridge. He took out a bottle of water and then closed the door. He opened the bottle and took a sip. He looked at Tobias and sighed. He wanted the man so much. “Well,” Tobias said as he grabbed the rag to dry his hands. “I think is time for me to go.” Chris walked over to the man. He kissed him like he was used to before they said goodbye, only this time neither one of them pulled away. Tobias pressed Chris’ body against the counter. Chris moaned and kept kissing the man. Tobias’ hands grabbed hold of the man’s hips. Tobias kissed Chris’ neck. “Oh god” Chris moaned. “I can’t.” “Okay,” Tobias sighed. “I don’t want to rush this.” Chris frowned, upset at himself that he couldn’t go further. “I...I’m so sorry.” “Don’t be,” Tobias told him. “You must hate me,” Chris whispered in anguish. “I love you, Chris,” Tobias gently responded. “So much.” Chris gasped as he stared deep into Tobias’s eyes. He could see that Tobias meant it. He wrapped his arms around Tobias once again and pulled him close. They started kissing again. “Chris,” Tobias gasped out. “We have to stop.” “No,” Chris told him. “We don’t have to. I want you too, I need you.” Tobias looked at the blond and saw Chris’ determined look. He wanted the man in front of him so much. His hand grabbed the back of Chris’ head to pull him into a crushing kiss. “Come on,” Chris said as he grabbed Tobias hand. He had his heart in his throat as they neared the bedroom. Once inside Tobias locked the door. He walked over to Chris and the two of them slowly got naked. “God,” Chris whispered. “Do you want to stop?” Tobias asked as he caressed the man’s face. They were pressed against each other. “No,” Chris told him. “Don’t you dare walk away now, not when you finally have me.” Tobias pushed Chris back on the bed and then got on top of him. He kissed different spots on Chris’ body. The blond thought he was going to die soon. It felt so good to have Tobias touching him everywhere. “I want you so much,” Tobias whispered. Chris turned them around in the bed. He straddled the man’s legs and started showering Tobias’ stomach with kisses. Tobias caressed Chris’ thighs and hoped with all his heart it wasn’t a dream. Chris kept going down until he reached the man’s cock. He closed his eyes as he took the older man in his mouth. “Fuck,” Tobias grunted. His fingers dug into Chris’ shoulders. After a few minutes Tobias pushed the man away. He didn’t want to cum just yet. Chris stayed in bed while Tobias went to his jeans to get a condom and some lube. He was always prepared just in case something was to happen between them. “Go slow,” Chris whispered. “It’s been a while.” Tobias nodded as he unwrapped the square foil. He put the condom on and got in between the blond’s legs. He reached for the lube next. They kissed slowly as Tobias slick fingers entered Chris. The younger man was on fire; his hips arched to receive more and more. When Tobias thought that Chris was ready he pulled his fingers away and positioned his cock. He entered Chris slowly. Trying to keep his eyes open to watch the younger man’s expression but at one point his eyes closed. “My angel,” Tobias whispered before he kissed Chris’ neck. Chris sighed contently. Then their bodies started to move. Sweat slowly started forming and mingling together. Their moans kept sounding harder and more frequently. Chris held on to the man on top of him feeling himself falling. “Love you,” Chris whispered. Tobias growled hearing the declaration. His movements accelerated, happy to know that Chris was his. They belong to each other now and there was nothing he had to worry about. He could feel it. “God yes!” Chris yelled as his body arched. Tobias kissed him hard trying to muffle the screams. He knew he was gone the minute Chris started cumming. The tight muscles around his penis brought him over the edge. “Chris,” Tobias said after a long time. Chris opened his eyes and smiled. Tobias smiled back. “I didn’t hurt you?” “You were so great,” Chris assured him. Tobias pulled away slowly. He got rid of the condom and pulled Chris closer to him. Chris closed his eyes and realized how happy he was at that instant. He expected to feel guilty but he wasn’t and he didn’t want to feel remorse either. “Are you okay?” Tobias asked feeling Chris’ body stiffen. “I’ll be right back,” Chris told him getting up from the bed. He quickly walked out of the room and towards the kitchen. “God,” he whispered to himself. The blond touched his face to find tears silently falling. Chris somehow knew this was the moment he would say goodbye to Michael and it would be definite. It hurt so much because part of him didn’t want to; he had loved Michael so much. Then there was the part that couldn’t wait to see what would happen next with Tobias. He didn’t know how long he stood there but suddenly Tobias was there. The man didn’t say anything as he cleaned Chris’ tears. “Do you regret this?” Tobias asked. “No,” Chris answered sincerely. Tobias stood there with a slight smile but he was worried. “What do you say we go take a shower and then go to sleep?” “Yeah,” Chris said as he nodded. ”Be happy,” Chris looked back as he thought he had heard Michael’s voice. The younger man had always felt like Michael had been there watching over him. He smiled and kept on walking forward with Tobias into his new life. *** There was a knock on the door and Chris came inside where Justin was with Illona and Sinead. “How is everything?” Justin asked as he changed Sinead’s diaper. Illona watched carefully. “Okay,” Chris smiled. Justin smiled back. “You look happy.” “I am happy,” Chris pointed out. “Did you just...” Justin looked at Illona and put his hands over her ears before he said, “get laid?” Chris laughed and nodded. “How was it?” Justin asked as he reached for Sinead’s skirt. “It was amazing,” Chris told him. “We were supposed to get some sleep after the first time,” Chris said laughing. “But instead he ended up having to go out to buy some condoms.” Justin laughed. “Sounds like an interesting night.” “I know,” Chris sat on the bed and picked Sinead when she was changed. “I’m really happy to hear all this,” Justin said as he grabbed the dirty clothes to put them in the hamper. “She’s my little sister,” Illona said as she caressed Sinead’s leg. Chris smiled at her. “Want to take her to play?” Illona nodded and Chris put the younger girl on the floor. The two girls left the room soon after that. “I like him a lot,” Chris said. “That’s good to hear,” Justin told him. “You deserve to be happy.” “I guess,” Chris told him. “What are you doing?” Sheridan asked as he came into the bedroom. Chris smiled at the boy and went to pick him up. “Hey, champ, how is it going?” Sheridan smiled from ear to ear. “Where are your little ones?” Brian asked coming to the room. “With mom,” Chris replied. “Lucky you,” Justin said laughing. “So out of the goodness of your heart you decided to come and help us for the day,” Brian teased walking in. Chris chuckled. “I would be spending it with Tobias if I were you,” Justin informed him. “I wanted to talk to you guys about Emmett,” Chris said. “He wants to leave.” “Leave?” Justin asked frowning. “He can’t leave,” Brian said getting angry. “He didn’t do anything wrong.” “I know,” Chris said. “I want you guys to help me convince him. He can stay with me. I have an extra room for him and Alicia and Vicky can share a room. It’s the perfect solution before they grow up and start demanding their own room.” Justin nodded. “And we have room too,” Justin said and looked at Brian. Brian nodded his approval. “I just want him to stay. I don’t care if we have to kick Ted out of his apartment so Emmett has a place,” Chris told them dead serious. “I don’t want him to go. I think part of him feels ashamed for what happened.” Justin sighed. “We’ll have a family dinner and we’ll convince him somehow. If not we can always get a rope, torture him and lock him up.” “That’s my boy,” Brian said throwing his arm around Justin’s shoulder. “Let’s tie him to the bed until he feels like staying.” Chris smirked. “I have to go. Tobias is in the car waiting for me.” “Ah..young love,” Justin said. “Say hi to him for us.” Chris nodded and kissed Sheridan before he left. “Poor Emmett,” Justin said. “I don’t know what he must be going through.” Brian nodded slightly. “I wanted to talk to you about something.” “What?” Justin asked and watched as Sheridan ran out of the room. “Come on. Talk and walk. I want to see what the kids are doing.” “Wait,” Brian said pulling Justin to him. “It’s that thing.” “What thing?” Justin asked. “The operation,” Brian told him. “We’ve been so busy we haven’t had time to talk about it. But I think it’s time for it to be done.” “Oh,” Justin said understanding. “Okay. Just pick a day and we’ll go to that one clinic we checked out.” Brian nodded and kissed him. “You are sure about this, right?” Justin nodded. “I don’t want more kids, Brian. We have enough. We’ll go nuts.” Brian chuckled and nodded. When they went out to the living room the kids were running wild. One of the last lamps was thrown on the middle of the floor. Sheridan and Keefe weren’t there. Sinead was hitting Fiona. Illona was telling everyone to shut up. Tiernan was the only one that looked like he was behaving. “Like I said,” Justin repeated. “We have enough kids.” Brian only grinned. *** “Dinner was great, Brian,” Denise said as she looked at the brunet. “Justin is a great cook,” Brian replied and looked at the taxi that was waiting for Denise. They were outside the house having a few words. The rest of the family was still inside. “Do you really have to go?” Brian asked. “You’re part of the family.” Denise smiled. “I know that,” she said and hugged Brian. “You take care of yourself and keep in touch.” Brian nodded his reply. He watched her go and stayed eerily still. He started thinking about his father and how much he missed him. “Hey,” Chris said. Brian rubbed his face and took a deep breath. “Hey.” “You okay?” Chris asked. “Never been better,” Brian told him. Chris licked his lips and knew right away it was a total lie. “Um, Justin and Emmett are talking.” Brian nodded slightly. “I think Justin has convinced him,” Chris informed the brunet. “He could convince a cow to buy milk,” Brian said smirking. “Oddly enough I understand what you’re trying to say,” Chris said laughing. When Brian and Chris came inside Justin was talking with his mother. The blond stopped talking to her and looked at Brian with a brilliant smile. “I’m taking that as a good sign,” Chris muttered and moved to where Tobias was having, what looked like a very important conversation with Vicky. Brian walked over to Justin and kissed him on the cheek. “I was saying goodbye,” Jennifer said. “Craig and I have and early appointment tomorrow.” Brian nodded and kissed her on the cheek before he went to say goodbye to Craig. He found the man talking with Abe and Liam or more accurately, chastising them. “What’s going on?” Brian asked. “These two rascals,” Craig said. “I’m watching you two.” Brian didn’t even want to know what they had done; it kept him sane not knowing. He looked at his watch and decided it was time for the kids to go to bed. So one by one he gathered and put them to bed. When he came back Justin, Emmett, Chris, Tobias and their kids were the only ones left. “I think we should go,” Chris announced. Brian went over to Emmett and smiled. He hugged the man and Emmett hugged him back. Justin smiled at Chris briefly. He loved how much Brian cared for his friends. “It will be okay,” Brian whispered. “We’re here for you.” Emmett nodded and even though he felt like crying he gave them a big smile. They were right and he knew he could count on them. He had been a bit blind for a while. He was happy they were there for him. “I think is time to go.” “I’ll get the kids,” Tobias offered. “He’s perfect,” Chris said to them in a low voice. They all laughed and were happy for Chris. When finally everyone had left Brian and Justin moved to the living room and Brian put some music “Want to dance?” Brian asked. “Why not?” Justin asked and they started dancing. Brian closed his eyes as his hands caressed Justin’s body. Their movements slow and sensual like the music. Justin kissed Brian’s neck and then they kissed each other. “I love you,” Brian whispered. Justin smiled from side to side. “You know I do too.” Brian nodded and held Justin close to him. “I think we’re lucky,” Justin said. “Why is that?” Brian asked. “Because we have each other and a great family no matter what we go through,” Justin answered. “I see,” Brian replied. “I think our lives are perfect,” Justin said as he held on to Brian. Brian kissed Justin’s forehead and even if he didn’t voice it he thought so too. *** Justin got home and put his book bag on the sofa. “Jill! I’m here,” he shouted contently. “He’s not here,” Brian answered as he came into the living room. “Hey,” Justin said. “What happened? No one called me.” “Everything is okay,” Brian assured him “How are you feeling today?” Justin asked. “Good,” Brian said. “Someone is happy.” Justin frowned. “I was just writing and got into one of those moods because it all flowed together. And then I came home and I was thinking of you and the kids and that got me in a happy mood.” Brian smiled and nodded. “So, where are the kids?” Justin asked frowning. “I thought we could spend some time together,” Brian said. Justin smiled. “I like that idea. So, what did you have to do for us to get some quality solitary dad time?” “I gave money to Molly and with the help of Kirk and Jill they went to your parents’ house,” Brian informed as he came closer to Justin. Justin moaned as Brian attacked his neck first. “Go take a shower,” Brian instructed him. “I want to eat you out.” Justin groaned as he hardened even more. “God, Brian. You need to jerk me off now.” Brian chuckled. “Can’t you control yourself?” Justin pushed Brian away slightly. “I’m going to take that shower and then we’ll see who can’t control himself.” Brian knew it was hopeless for both of them. He went to order something to eat for them and then hung up the phone. Brian was about to make his way upstairs when there was a knock on the door. He went to open it but almost shut it in surprise. The brunet’s frown deepened as he came face to face with Ethan. “What the fuck are you doing here?” Ethan bit his lips. “He said fuck,” the little boy next to Ethan said. “That’s bad,” the other boy told Brian. Brian looked down. He looked at the blond boys, one with green eyes and the other one with brown ones. “Who are they?” “My kids,” Ethan told him. Brian frowned. “Oh.” “And Justin’s,” Ethan told him. “What?” Brian asked taken aback. “What the fuck are you talking about?” “He has a dirty mouth,” Jacob pointed out. Brian sighed. “What is going on?” “I didn’t know about it when I left town,” Ethan said. “They’re seven and eight months.” Brian felt like he had been punched. Liam was seven years and ten months. Brian knew that Justin had been with Ethan while the blond had been pregnant; the time line fit quite well. “Fuck.” “He said a bad word again,” Evan pointed out. “Talking bad words is not good sir,” Jacob told him. Brian sighed and looked at Ethan. “You’re lying.” “We can do the paternity test whenever you guys want to,” Ethan spat out. “Look, I didn’t come here to argue. I came to the Pitts because I needed to talk to Justin. I thought he would call me.” Brian wanted to tell him to fuck off. He looked back at the kids and felt like he was being stabbed. “Look, I’m not trying to get Justin to pay for anything or even try to break you guys up,” Ethan said. “I just think that this is something we should talk about.” Brian swallowed and let Ethan come inside with the two boys. His life was taking a big turn into a direction he had never foreseen. “Where is Justin?” Ethan asked quickly. “Do you want to sit down?” Brian asked. “Anything to drink?” “Sit down,” Ethan said to the boys. The two boys marched as one and sat down. Brian looked at them and wondered if they were robots. They were too good to be true. “So what are you doing here?” Brian asked. “After so long.” Ethan stayed quiet. “I’ll talk with Justin myself and I’ll only tell him everything. I don’t owe you any answers.” Brian was infuriated. “I’m his husband.” Ethan frowned and looked away briefly. “Money?” Brian asked. “I don’t need your stinking...” he stopped himself and looked at his kids. “I don’t need your money.” Brian nodded slowly. He was terrified of what Ethan wanted from Justin. “He’ll come down soon,” Brian said sitting slowly across the twins. He stared at them and could find pieces of Justin in them. And that hurt more than he imagined. He looked away and tried not to think about it. “What’s going on?” Justin asked entering the living room with a bathrobe. “Justin,” Brian said getting up. “We have to talk.” Justin frowned. “Talk about what?” he asked as he looked at everyone in the living room. He wondered what Ethan was doing there and who the two kids were. Brian sighed and started explaining. *** Justin kept pacing back and forth. Ethan had left the house about an hour ago. Even though they had been alone for some time neither one had said a word. Both were too afraid to speak or voice their true feelings. Instead, they just kept quiet while Justin paced and Brian sat down on the sofa. The delivery guy had come and Brian had quickly paid him, but now the food lay in the kitchen forgotten. “Justin,” Brian said in a low voice “Brian I don’t know what to tell you,” Justin said. “I mean...what the hell?” Brian sighed as he sat on the sofa. “I don’t remember him, Brian,” Justin yelled suddenly. “I mean, I know is Ethan and because I saw him that one day at the diner. But that’s it. I kept away like you told me! I did!” “Jus,” Brian whispered. “This is so fucked up!” Justin shouted. “So fucking messed up!” Brian knew that the blond had to vent, so he let him. “What are we going to do?” Justin asked finally sitting down. Brian got up and walked over to the blond. He sat down next to Justin and threw his arm around his husband. “We’ll figure it out.” “What do you want to do?” Justin asked. Brian sighed. “Brian,” Justin said. “Well, you can’t abandon them,” Brian pointed out. “What if they are not mine?” Justin asked. “They look just like you,” Brian replied. “I think he was telling the truth when he said that all he wanted was for the boys to meet you.” Justin sighed. “Fuck. What am I supposed to do?” “Be a father to them,” Brian answered. Justin looked at Brian. “What are you thinking right now?” “What do you mean?” Brian asked. “Do you hate me? Do you hate me for what I have done to us and our family?” Justin asked and bit his lower lip. He was so scared that Brian would leave him. “Justin,” Brian said taken aback. He got up quickly and stared at Justin like he had a third eye. “Why would you think that?” “Look at what I have done,” Justin whispered. “I fucked things up.” “No, you haven’t,” Brian assured him. “We’ll deal with this.” Justin got up slowly and hugged Brian. “I’m sorry, Brian. I never meant for this to happen. I love you and I’m so afraid of all this. I don’t know what to do.” Brian closed his eyes and tried not to think about the reality of their situation. It was too weird. He didn’t know what to do either, but what he knew was that he would stand next to Justin no matter what. Brian half expected Ethan to say it was some elaborate hoax to blackmail them for money. Brian knew he needed to be strong for his family and for Justin. He couldn’t give in to his emotions, especially the pit of despair that threatened to swallow him. But even though he was holding Justin there was a growing rift between them. It bothered Brian to know that Justin had kids with someone that wasn’t him. Justin was numb with emotions and feelings he couldn’t recall. Brian swore that nothing would tear their family apart. They survived the accident, his father’s and Mickey’s death, they could survive this. But not since the accident was Brian so afraid of what else life might bring.