Shadows in a Mirror 4
Conclusion 

Notes: While Chris Isaak's song Shadows in the Mirror is used in this fic. It is 
not specifically a song fic. My version of a plot bunny hatched by OG and 
Margaret and passed on to me. Thank you both.


I'm watching somebody's heart break in two.
And wondering if somewhere you're crying too.
Shadows in a mirror tell me that I'm wrong.
Shadows in a mirror, tell me that we're through.

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

"Have you seen Justin?" Brian asked Jennifer. 

"He went outside a few minutes ago Brian."

"I'll go look for him. He's probably down by the lake. Can you listen for Gus, 
he was pretty tired so I don't think he'll wake up."

"You go and talk to Justin Brian, I'm going to read for a bit and I'm sure if 
Gus wakes up I'll hear him."

"Thanks Jenn, we're going to miss you when you leave." Brian kissed her cheek 
and left to find Justin. He didn't want to say anything to Jenn, but he had an 
uneasy feeling about Justin and he was pretty sure it had to do with Michael.

As soon as he stepped into the night air, the mist swirling around his ankles, 
he heard it. Justin was down by the lake crying his heart out. It was a sound 
Brian hadn't heard for a long time. It was a sound he'd hoped he'd never hear 
again. He began to walk toward the lake, leaving the light of the house behind 
him as he walked into the dark. The lake was a smooth mirror reflecting the 
moon, the trees along the edge casting shadows over the glass like surface.

Justin sat in the red sand, deep maroon in the night, his knees drawn up, his 
arms around them, his head down, while he cried like his heart was breaking.

Brian sat beside him and gathered him into his arms until he was cradling him 
like a child. Neither one of them noticed the cell phone still connected to 
Melanie's home number on the sand beside them.

Melanie heard Justin when he broke down and wasn't sure what to do. She stood 
with the phone in her hand listening to his pain. Lindsay walked into the living 
room where Mel had answered the phone. "What's up?" she asked curious as to why 
her partner was standing there with the cell phone and not talking.

"It's Justin, I told him about Michael and he says it wasn't him and something 
about Brian not wanting him anymore when he finds out. I'm not actually sure - 
he kind of melted down at this point."

Lindsay took the phone and listened to Justin's sobbing. She heard a rustling 
and then Brian's voice.

Brian held him tightly and began to murmur nonsense words of comfort and slowly 
Justin calmed down, the soothing tone of Brian's voice combined with his tight 
hold on him, grounded him until he was able to think again.

Lindsay was embarrassed to be eavesdropping on the two of them, yet she couldn't 
cut the connection. She'd never heard Brian's voice so full of love and concern; 
it was almost like he was someone entirely different.

"Don't do this to me Baby, you're breaking my heart," Brian's voice was soft, 
yet quivered with emotion. "You have to tell me what's wrong."

Justin, sure that this was the end of the two of them started to talk, "Michael 
has never liked me, he tolerated me when he had to, but he never liked me. I 
just kind of learned to live with it because I love you and he's your friend." 
He looked into Brian's eyes, "he didn't do it Brian, I can't let them punish him 
for something he didn't do, it wouldn't be right."

"I know you'd never hurt Mikey, Justin. You aren't that kind of man." 

"But I can't tell you what happened, you'll hate me," he began to cry again, 
this time silent tears reflecting the heartbreak in his eyes. And Brian felt his 
pain more sharply than if it had been his own. 

"There is nothing that you've done or could ever do that would make me hate you 
Sunshine," Brian's arms tightened around the quivering body. "You don't have an 
exclusive on fucking things up between us. I've managed my share. But we're 
still together, we still love each other. Nothing can change that."

"When I met you Brian, I fell in love with the very idea of you. I didn't really 
know Brian Kinney the man, but it didn't matter. To me you were part of my soul 
that I'd been searching for my whole life. I didn't see the foolishness of me 
being only seventeen and you twenty-nine. I only saw the kindness in your eyes 
when you made love to me the first time. I heard you when you said 'I love you'. 
I saw the love you instantly had for Gus when you held him in your hands for the 
first time and I knew with all my being that Brian Kinney was a good and 
honorable man."

"In the next few months I realized that you didn't know yourself. The family of 
friends you'd pulled around you didn't know you and I was amazed that they 
couldn't see you, Brian Kinney for what you really were. I didn't say anything, 
because I was just a kid and no one listens to kids. What I felt for you the 
first night we met grew into an all encompassing love and again I couldn't say 
anything. I could only try to be there for you when you needed to be loved and I 
could only lie beside you when you slept and will my love to protect you from 
the hurts of the others. I really believed that the strength of my love I had 
for you would help you."

"One day I heard about Kip Thomas." Brian froze when he heard Justin utter the 
name and a feeling of dread spread through his body. "I was at Deb's and Michael 
was chattering on in that irritating way he had about him. He was relaying what 
was happening to you. I realized that they all kind of believed you were some 
way at fault and not one of them was even going to attempt to do anything to fix 
things. I couldn't let that happen. Someone had to look out for you. I'd seen 
Kip that night he came over to work at the loft with you and I set out to work a 
con of sorts on him," he sighed, glad that Brian was remaining silent. "I know 
now that it was a stupid thing to do and I risked a lot by doing it. But I was 
seventeen and in love for the first time and fiercely protective of you. I 
managed to convince him that he should drop the suit or my father would have his 
ass thrown in jail because he'd had my dick in his mouth. The thought still 
creeps me out. It worked and he dropped the suit and your job was safe and you 
were happy again. I thought it was something I'd never have to think about 
again. I suspected you'd be pissed with me and I wasn't about to tell you my 
role in the whole thing. I figured keeping it a mystery was just fine."

"Holy shit, Melanie, wait until you find out why Kip Thomas dropped the law 
suite against Brian," Lindsay whispered to her partner.

Brian couldn't quite believe what he'd heard. "You didn't for one minute think 
maybe Kip was right? You knew how much I fucked around."

"Brian, I knew from the very first how much honor and integrity you had. There 
was no way that Kip Thomas's accusations were truthful."

"Justin, what does this have to do with now?"

Justin sighed and resigned himself to the inevitable. He savored these moments 
with Brian's arms around him, he was sure they were going to be the last.

"It was toward the end when we were together. I was feeling guilty for hurting 
you, I loved you desperately, but I was also craving love for me. It's kind of 
mixed up in my mind. I met Ethan and he said all the things I'd longed to hear 
from you and I would shut my eyes and fantasize that it was your lips saying the 
romantic things. I was living a lie when I was in the loft and I was living a 
lie when I was with Ethan. I hated myself and I hated what I was doing, but it 
was kind of like being on a roller coaster and I couldn't stop. You pushed me 
out of your life and on the next day I ran into Kip Thomas. He assumed like 
everyone else that I was done with you and was in love with Ethan. I liked 
Ethan, I liked him a lot and I was using him and his words to take the place of 
what I craved."

"Kip showed up for the first time outside of Ethan's apartment building. I'd 
just kissed him goodbye and was walking down the street when Kip grabbed me and 
pulled me into an alley. He hit me with something and when I was down he kicked 
me;all the time he was shouting, how I had it so easy first with you and then 
with Ethan and how it was my fault he lost his job and it was my fault he 
couldn't have a relationship. When he left, I managed to get up and go on to 
class, I didn't say anything to anybody because I felt it was somehow my fault." 
He lowered his head and Brian could barely hear him. "It got worse, he kept 
finding me and he started to threaten Ethan and you. I had to pretend it didn't 
matter to me if he did anything to you. I had to lie and make him think it was 
Ethan I was in love with and it was killing me. I couldn't have him thinking you 
were important to me because he was really crazy. I couldn't have him hurt you. 
So once again I was forced to pretend love for Ethan. He broke my fingers - he 
said it was a taste of what he could do to Ethan. He snuck into my bedroom at my 
mother's and that's when he first sliced me with the knife. He got into Ethan's 
and sliced up all his violin strings to prove that he could hurt him. I had no 
one to turn to. I was afraid to go to you because I was sure you hated me and I 
thought if I told you who was hurting me you'd say it was all my fault for 
interfering in your life in the first place." Justin began to cry and he 
struggled to get out of Brian's arms.

Brian wouldn't let him go and eventually the struggles became less and less 
until he lay there passive in his strong arms, a look of resignation in his 
eyes. "Is that everything?" Brian asked his voice quiet.

"Isn't it enough?" Justin was bitter.

"Do you feel my arms around you, my heart beating, do you feel my breath on your 
face?" Brian asked him.

Justin nodded.

"No matter where you are or how old you are, my arms will always be around you 
protecting you. My heart will always beat for you. Every breath I take is for 
you. You are NEVER alone. Do you understand me?"

"Yes," he whispered.

"We will deal with this together. I'll call Mel and she can arrange for you to 
do a video-taped statement at the RCMP office in Charlottetown. You don't have 
to go back. He'll never find you and he'll never hurt you again. Mikey won't be 
arrested and any grief this has caused him - well he brought that on himself by 
bad mouthing you."

Justin was emotionally drained; he melted close to Brian's body and let the love 
Brian felt for him wash over him cleansing all the bad things that he'd held 
inside for so long.

Brian held him in his arms and did his best to control his temper and rage that 
was directed at Kip Thomas. He knew if he started to vent, he would be hard 
pressed to stop, so instead he held the man he loved and marveled at how 
Justin's love for him had healed his own scars, one at a time without him even 
knowing it.

Lindsay broke the connection and turned to Mel. "I'll tell you all about what 
happened to Justin but first I have to tell you that you and I could never even 
come close to knowing how much love is between Brian and Justin. It makes me 
ashamed of every moment I ever doubted Brian. They sat beside each other on the 
sofa holding hands and Lindsay began to relate the events of the past few 
minutes.

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

Melanie turned off the television and the VCR, picked up the phone and called 
Michael. "Michael, it's Melanie," she said when he answered. 

"I thought you'd picked whose side you were on and it wasn't mine," Michael 
said, his voice bitter. "I hope you're happy. Carl just phoned to let me know 
that they are probably going to arrest me by the end of the week," he gave a 
half laugh. "He wanted to give me time to find someone to look after the store."

"Can you come to my office? I have something to show you that will change 
everything."

"Unless you have that little shit Justin there to tell the truth about what 
happened, there isn't much that's going to change the cop's minds. They figure 
I'm the one and that's the end of the story. They won't even look anywhere 
else."
"Just come to my office," Melanie said. "Try to get here by four." She hung up 
the phone and thought for a few minutes before phoning the police precinct to 
speak to the officers in charge of the case.

At three forty five, Michael, Debbie and Vic arrived at Melanie's office. The 
receptionist had them wait in a conference room. Soon they were joined by Carl, 
Brad and Tony.

Carl walked into the conference room with his two colleagues. He went over to 
Debbie and kissed her cheek. "Hi Baby," he said to the amazement of Michael and 
Vic. Debbie blushed and held his hand squeezing it gently.

"I'm glad you're here Carl. It's nice to have a friendly face in the group."

He smiled and Vic got up and offered his seat beside his sister to Carl, who 
nodded his thanks and sat down still holding her hand. Brad and Tony looked at 
each other and shrugged then sat down on the other side of the large table.

They all turned and looked at the door as Melanie walked in. "I'm glad you were 
all able to come. And Michael, it was nice of you to bring Debbie and Vic, I 
think this is something that they should see as well, and I wouldn't have been 
able to show them otherwise."

She pointed a remote at a television set on a stand in a corner and they all 
watched. An RCMP officer stood in and read off a prepared statement of the date, 
time and location of the detachment where the recording was being made. He gave 
the detachment number rather than an address at the request of Justin and Brian 
because they were concerned that their location would become common knowledge if 
Michael and anyone else viewing heard it. After listening to Justin's story he 
was willing to grant them this concession.

Justin was suddenly on the screen in front of them. He looked a little different 
then he had the last time any of them had seen him. His hair was longer and sun 
streaked, he even had a slight tan, something none of them had seen before. The 
camera moved slightly in an effort to focus and they all caught a glimpse of 
Brian who sat beside Justin and appeared to be holding his hand. The handsome 
and debonair ad executive was gone and been replaced with a relaxed tanned and 
fit Brian Kinney, with laugh lines starting around his eyes.

Justin gave his name and age and stated the date. He was visibly upset. He 
looked to the left and they knew he was looking at Brian. He paused for a moment 
and they could almost see him gaining some kind of strength from the man he was 
looking at. "Before I begin with my statement of what happened to me a few 
months ago, I have to say this. To the best of my knowledge Michael Novotny had 
nothing whatsoever to do with my rape." An audible sigh came from Michael, 
Debbie and Vic. "The only abuse Michael Novotny showed to me was mental. He 
persisted in that from the first day I met him and apart from the occasional 
shove he never touched me physically." He looked directly into the camera, "if 
you are watching this Michael, I'm sorry that the police thought it was you that 
raped me. I'm sorry that they put you through the mental anguish of being under 
suspicion. I was unaware that this was happening until yesterday and when I 
found out I realized that I had to do something about it. No matter what you've 
done to me, you did it because you mistakenly thought it was for the best for 
your friend. I know I would do anything in my power to protect Brian from 
something I figured would hurt him and I understand your reasoning."

Justin looked toward Brian again and this time he gave him a slight smile. They 
all could see the love he had for the man who was sitting beside him and 
providing him with the strength to continue.

The next forty minutes had Justin relating everything that happened to him. He 
began with the reason behind Kip Thomas's attacks and his reasoning why he said 
nothing. When he would falter, you could see him gain strength from looking at 
Brian. They all could see that Brian held onto Justin's hand and would 
occasionally squeeze it. After that the RCMP constable took Justin through a 
series of questions pertaining to his statement, until finally, Justin visibly 
emotionally exhausted was able leave. The tape ended when he stood up and two 
strong arms wrapped around him and held him close.

The onlookers in the conference room sat in silence for a few minutes. No one 
really knew what to say until Deb spoke, "can you tell Sunshine that I'm sorry I 
didn't see what my son was doing to him?" Debbie's voice was soft unlike her 
usual bluster. 

Vic looked at Melanie, his voice incredibly sad, "they're never coming back to 
Pittsburgh are they?" He was going to miss Brian who had been like a son to him 
and Justin, while he didn't know him as long, had been working into that role 
himself.

Tony looked at Brad. "This Kip Thomas fellow, wasn't he the------his words 
petered out. 

"I'm not sure; we'd better check it out." The two detectives stood up and faced 
Michael, "you're off the hook Novotny. There isn't much we can do about what the 
kid had to put up with having you as a friend of his partner. I guess this Brian 
Kinney was forced to choose. He seems pretty happy. I guess he made the right 
choice." With that said the two detectives left the room.

"Thanks again for coming Carl," Debbie kissed him, her lips brushing his softly. 


"Anything for you Deb," he smiled at her. He nodded goodbye to Michael and Vic. 
"Michael, Vic," he said and he left the room.

Michael started, "He made Brian leave his family and his kid. What kind of 
partner is that?" his voice a familiar whine.

Debbie looked at him and shook her head. Melanie, much as she hated to had to 
defend Brian. "Brian and Justin had Gus for two weeks this summer. They will 
have him for a couple of weeks every three months until he is school age and 
then he'll spend part of every summer with them as well as spring break. So 
Brian hasn't abandoned Gus, he would never do that and I don't think Justin 
would allow it no matter how many bad memories Pittsburgh holds for him."

"Justin was in no condition to demand anything of Brian the night they left the 
city. It was Brian's idea and Brian's alone to protect his partner in the only 
way he knew how. From the little I've been able to tell, they are both happy 
where they are."

Debbie and Vic started to walk out of the room. As they passed Michael Debbie 
said, "Michael, honey, I love you very much. But right now I don't like you at 
all." Vic shook his head as he walked past, the disappointment in his nephew 
clear.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

7 years later - summer
Glenfinnon Lake, Prince Edward Island

"Hey Pop, Dad's here," Gus ran out of the house where he'd been helping Justin 
with supper. He jumped down the few steps off the porch, his long legs barely 
bending and raced over to the black crew cab truck that was pulling into the 
driveway. Each side of the black truck had Kinney and Son Contracting blazed 
across it in rainbow colors along with the company telephone number.

He launched himself at Brian, who with muscular arms swung the tall boy up in 
the air and back down again in their familiar greeting. "Hey Sonny Boy, how's it 
going. Did you and Pops get all the food ready or do I have to spring for pizza 
when they all get here?" he teased. Gus and Justin had been working for days on 
the food preparation for the Canada Day celebration that was being held at their 
place this year, each neighbor having taken a turn on previous years.

"That is sooooo not funny Dad. Pops and I have the most awesome stuff ready. "WE 
ARE THE BEST," he shouted in childish enthusiasm.

"I don't know, they'll all be expecting lobster." There had been considerable 
discussion about the serving or not serving of the traditional lobster at this 
year's celebration. Both Gus and Justin didn't have the heart to plunk the green 
sea creatures into the large kettle of boiling water. Last year the two of them 
refused to even go to Margaret and John's until that part of the supper was over 
with. Brian had spent every chance he'd had since then teasing the two of them 
when this year's celebration came up.

"Tough," Gus said and Brian could see himself at the same age and he had to 
smile. 

"They'll all think you guys are a couple of girly boys, not a manly man like 
your Dad."

"You are sooooo not a manly man, you wouldn't boil anybody to death either." Gus 
was pretty sure of his father's soft heart.

"You say I'm not a manly man? Look at these muscles?" as Brian flexed his 
bronzed arms for Gus who started to giggle. He loved it when his dad started 
this routine because it meant that Pops would get all smiley and let him have 
extra dessert to keep him busy while they went into their room for a discussion. 
Which Gus knew meant they were going to have sex, that's what his friend Bobby 
told him and he was pretty sure Bobby was right. 

Brian ripped his white tee shirt down the middle and Justin hearing the familiar 
sound all the way in the kitchen, started to smile, wiping his hands on a dish 
towel he came out on the porch to watch the show. His cock hardening as he 
walked. He was glad he'd kept the apron on. Brian was standing in the late 
afternoon sun in the middle of their lawn, his well muscled body toned to 
perfection from the physical labor he did every day. He was going through a 
series of muscle poses and Gus was giggling on the lawn watching him. "No girly 
boy would look like this young man," he said sternly to Gus. Gus jumped up on 
him, his legs around Brian's waist, his thin arms tight around his neck. He 
kissed his father's face all over. 

"A thousand kisses for the manly man Dad," he said and Brian pulled him off of 
him and threw him over his shoulder, racing down to the lake with the squealing 
boy.

Neighbors in their yards up and down the road barely glanced over, the site so 
familiar. Justin picked up a couple of towels and began to walk to the lake.

"Would a girly boy throw his annoying son in the lake?" Brian roared in his best 
imitation of tough guy. He was out on the end of the small jetty that he'd built 
a few years ago for Gus to have something to dive off of. He pretended to trip 
and the two of them fell sideways into the lake with a large splash only to 
surface a few seconds later identical grins on their faces. Both with hazel eyes 
sparkling, looking toward the shore for Justin to appear laughing at them both.

"I should leave the two of you outside to dry off. You're not coming in and 
dripping all over my clean floor," Justin said his hands on hips waiting for 
their answer that, as usual came in unison. 

"Pops is the girly boy, we're manly Kinney men."

Justin looked at them indignant and was about to reply when a shout came from 
the road. He turned around and his mother leaned out of her car window. "Boys, 
it's time, we'll meet you there." They could see Molly in the car with Jennifer, 
her face sweaty and pale. Justin and Brian looked at each other a combination of 
worried and happy. 

Gus swam over to the shore and pulled himself out of the water. He looked at his 
two fathers and shook his head. "You guys are both girly boys. Come on we have 
to get ready," he raced to the house. Brian dripping wet grabbed a towel from 
Justin and the two of them hand in hand walked back to the house. The screen 
door slamming and Gus's feet racing up the inside stairs could be heard all the 
way across the road.

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

Eight months earlier

Jennifer sat on the bed in Molly's room smoothing the hair of her daughter as 
she cried. They had been living near Brian and Justin for five years now and 
both of them had benefited from the quiet country lifestyle. Everything had been 
perfect up until now.

Jennifer and Justin had opened a small art gallery in Confederation Square, in 
downtown Charlottetown and it was an immediate success. Justin's paintings sold 
well and he was making a name for himself in the Canadian art world. They often 
hosted events to introduce new artists and the two of them worked well together.

Molly fit into the local school system and quickly became the belle of the ball 
in high school society. Her straight 'A' average and her astonishing good looks 
had boys from all over lusting after her.

A few weeks before she had fallen deeply in love with a visiting professor from 
the University, he was in his early twenties and seemed captivated by the good 
looking blonde. He had left the city two weeks before when Molly had discovered 
he was married and that she was pregnant. He disappeared into the nether world 
where all asshole men seem to go and neither Jennifer nor Molly knew where he 
was or even wanted to know.
"Molly, it's up to you, I'll stand by you no matter what you decide," Jennifer 
reassured her daughter.

"I just can't kill him," Molly sobbed.

"I'm going to suggest something that might work, but we'd have to talk to your 
brother and his husband. "Why not let Justin and Brian have the baby. Brian is 
such a wonderful father to Gus and so is Justin. You will always be the baby's 
mother and part of his life." She laughed, "Now you have me thinking of him as a 
boy."

"The baby is a boy," Molly said with complete confidence. "I just know it,"
She looked up at her mother. "Do you think Justin and Brian would still let me 
be part of his life?"

Jennifer looked at her daughter and smiled. "Can you really see them refusing 
you? Both of them are complete softies."

"Can we go over and ask them now?" She sat up and wiped her eyes. "I can still 
go to University?"

"You could always have done that sweetie. But yes I'm sure the boys are still 
up. I'll call them while you wash your face. We'll walk over the weather's still 
nice."

Molly was in the bathroom washing her face when Jennifer dialed her son's house. 
"Hi Brian," she said when Brian answered the phone. "Molly and I need to talk to 
the two of you. Could we come over now?"

"Sure Jennifer, Justin was having a snack before bedtime should we put some 
coffee on for the two of you? Justin playfully nipped at the erect cock in his 
mouth causing Brian to yike. 

"No coffee for either of us Brian. We really won't keep you long. We're going to 
walk over so I'm sure Justin will be finished eating by then."

"Walk slow, he's a not a very fast eater these days," Brian smirked at his lover 
as he hung up the phone.

"You want fast oh exalted one?" Justin asked continuing to worship Brian's cock.

"I'm liking slow, Sunshine," Brian groaned as the warm mouth once again 
descended over the thick shaft.

Justin decided to speed things up, quickly escalating the heat with a well lubed 
finger that was soon joined by a second and then a third. Combined with suction 
and some smooth up and down movements of his head and Brian was shooting his 
load directly in the back of Justin's throat while he keened his name.

The last spasm passed and Justin moved up the lean body and kissed Brian, 
letting him taste himself on his tongue. "You cheated Sunshine," Brian said when 
he could finally speak. 

"Poor baby," Justin teased. "Now why is my mother and Molly coming over for a 
visit on a school night and after nine o'clock?"

"I have no idea but seeing as I can't move now, you'll have to entertain them."
"Not a chance. She's your mother in law." Justin kissed him again, "Get your 
butt off of the bed and put on something sexy. When they leave I'll show you 
what I learned down at the docks today when I was painting."

"It had better be a new water color technique," Brian said. But he smiled and 
reluctantly rolled off the bed to look for something to put on.

The two men were downstairs waiting when Jennifer and Molly came to the door. 
Justin had made them each a glass of iced tea and he'd put out a plate of 
Brian's favorite cookies and laughed when Brian pouted at having to share. "I'll 
make some more tomorrow," he whispered when he walked past him.

"Ok ladies, spit it out. Why the late night visit?" Brian got right to the point 
when it seemed like they were going to be spending hours on small talk.

"Justin and Brian, have the two of you ever considered having a child together?" 
Jennifer began.

Justin and Brian looked at each other. "Not particularly," Justin answered for 
them.

"Uh, Jus, actually I have given it some thought," Brian said. "I missed out on 
Gus's early days and we haven't seen a lot of him for a long time now," he 
looked at Justin. "It was just a passing whim, Sunshine. Don't worry about it."

"You want another child?" Justin asked. He looked at Brian with wonder. "I never 
thought I'd ever have a child with you. I mean Gus thinks of me as one of his 
dads but it isn't quite the same."

They had been sitting side by side on the sofa. Brian moved closer to Justin and 
pulled him in tight to his body. They both turned and looked at Jennifer and 
Molly and suddenly the reason for the question became apparent. "Molly, are you 
pregnant?" Justin asked.

"Apparently," his sister replied drolly.

"You want Brian and I to have your child?" his voice was full of hope and Brian 
hearing it, kissed the top of his head.

"I don't want to kill my baby and I'm not stupid, I can't look after a baby now 
and mom has already had you and me to deal with, she doesn't need to start 
over." She looked at the two happy faces in front of her. "I'd sign him over to 
you, so you both have full custody, but I'd kind of hoped that you'd always let 
me be part of his life."

Brian looked at Justin. Neither one needed to say a word. They looked back at 
Molly and said, "Thank you Molly."

Molly began to cry and she threw herself on the two of them, "You guys don't 
know how happy you've made me. I was so worried about my baby."


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

"It's really happening" Justin said to Brian. "I feel like I'm going to throw 
up."

"How do you think I feel? There are rumors that I'm approaching forty."

"How can people spread vicious gossip like that? Brian Kinney will forever be 
twenty nine and beautiful."


"That's true," Brian said with a grin and Justin swatted his ass. They ran to 
the house hand in hand. Brian grabbed Justin by the waist and swung him up to 
the top step. Justin plastered himself against Brian's wet body, his lips 
seeking the full sweet lips of the man he loved. "Do we have time for a quickie 
before we leave?" Brian whispered into Justin's ear.

Gus standing on the other side of the screen door in only his underwear, his 
clothes in his hands looked at his two fathers. "Hey guys, could you hold off on 
the sex stuff until later? We have to go."

Brian and Justin looked at each other and smiled. "Sonny Boy is growing up," 
Brian said in Justin's flushed ear. He turned and said to Gus, "Pops and I need 
to discuss a few things; we'll be down in half an hour. Trust me Gus; nothing 
much is going to happen for at least a couple of hours. There's lots of time."

Justin looked at him, "Have a piece of cake once you get dressed and wipe up the 
water off the floor. Did you throw your wet things in the laundry tub?"

Both Brian and Justin held back their laughter as they watched Gus roll his eyes 
so much like his father and stomp off into the kitchen mumbling.

Justin started the shower while Brian stripped off the rest of his wet clothes. 
He smiled when two arms wrapped around him from behind and nimble fingers began 
to open his pants, letting them drop to the floor. He raised his arms and his 
shirt was pulled over his head. Brian kissed the golden shoulders letting his 
lips and tongue trace a pathway to Justin's neck pausing only to suck gently at 
the pulse spot under his ear. Brian's cock became even harder with the moan that 
seeped through Justin's lips. Justin turned his head and their lips met with a 
passion that the past seven years hadn't diminished. Brian pulled open the 
shower door and they walked into the steamy water without breaking apart. This 
was a familiar dance, the steps well rehearsed. The door shut with a gentle snap 
their hard cocks pressed tightly against each other. Brian enjoyed the sensation 
of the shorter man's cock rubbing against his balls and the base of his own 
cock. 

Justin's senses drank in the delicious smell of his lover, fresh sweat from his 
work, the smell of newly cut pine, the smell of the lake all mixed with the 
heady fragrance of his cologne. "Fuck me Brian, I want you inside me NOW," he 
breathed as he turned his back and leaned against the sturdy shower wall. 

Brian's balls tightened as they always did when Justin's voice held that husky, 
'I want to be fucked' tone. He pulled the lube from the soap dish where it was 
always kept, putting a generous amount on his fingers, coating his throbbing 
member, then fingering Justin's hole smiling when Justin thrust back on his 
probing finger. "I love you Justin Taylor," he whispered as the head of his cock 
slipped past the first ring of muscle, both of them gasping at the exquisite 
pleasure they felt. Brian's hand clasped Justin's thick cock as he pulled on it 
while he moved in and out slowly. Both of them enjoying the closeness, savoring 
the building pleasure that was gradually taking over their minds and bodies 
until no matter how hard they tried to hold back, it exploded with a 
skyrocketing bang of orgasmic delight. Brian held him close, letting the water 
wash over them while they caught their breath and their heart rate returned to 
normal. "Will you still love me tomorrow," he whispered in Justin's ear and 
Justin laughed knowing he was referring to their new life that was beginning 
that day.

"I'll love you for a thousand tomorrows and a thousand more after that until the 
day the world ends." Justin placed his hands on each side of Brian's face and 
kissed him, first letting his tongue taste the full lips, then slipping in while 
his lips crushed Brian's in a passion that soon had them both hard again. 
Pounding at the bathroom door made them both break apart and look down at their 
hard cocks with rueful smiles. "We'll be right out Gus," Justin called to their 
son.

"You guys are too old to be having sex every time you have a shower. We have to 
hurry," Gus yelled back at them and Brian and Justin both cracked up laughing 
together as they quickly washed.

When they walked out of the bathroom to get dressed, Gus was sitting in the 
middle of the big bed, his legs folded under him. "I'm trying to be patient here 
guys," he said serious as any pre-teen can get when reasoning with an adult.

"Believe me Gus, we have lots of time," Justin said.
"Dad," he asked Brian, "Should I stay at Nanny's tonight?" his hazel eyes, so 
much like his father's stared up at the tall man. "She's going to be all alone 
if Molly's in the hospital and she might be scared of the dark."

Brian walked over and hugged Gus. "You can ask her when we get to the hospital."
He looked at Justin, "We don't need to trade him in, we can keep him. I like 
soft hearted boys."

"That's good; I'd hate to have to train another one," Justin teased Gus. "It was 
bad enough training your father. It took me years."

"Was he a bad boy?"

"He was a bad boy alright. I could tell you stories that would curl your hair. 
But I'll wait until you're a little older."

"Justin Taylor, you are not telling our son stories about me and my younger 
days," Brian looked indignant.

"Pops, tell me just one story. Tell me about the night I was born," Gus bounced 
up and down on the bed. He loved this story.

"Well, it was early in September, hmmmm, it was the day before you were born in 
fact." He grinned at Brian as he settled in to tell the familiar story. "Your 
Aunt Daphne drove me down to Liberty Avenue near where Grandma Deb works and 
dropped me off. I was seventeen and had decided that I wanted to meet someone 
like your Dad." Brian mouthed, "You were horny" at him from behind Gus's back.

Justin ignored him and continued. "It was kind of a scary place and there were 
lots of unfriendly guys walking around and some that were too friendly. I was 
almost ready to look for a bus stop and head back to your Aunt Daphne's house 
where I was spending the night when I stopped for a minute to get my bearings. I 
was standing - 

Brian interrupted him, his hazel eyes filled with love looked into sapphire blue 
ones. "He was standing leaning against a street light, his blonde hair 
shimmering in the misty night air. He had the most beautiful blue eyes I'd ever 
seen and they captured my heart instantly," he looked at Gus and smiled.

Justin began again, "This handsome bad boy walked up to me and as he talked, I 
knew immediately that he was mine forever and I was his." He laughed, "Of course 
I didn't even come close to knowing how much work that was going to be just to 
make him even reasonably civilized." 

Brian kissed his cheek and looked at Gus, "I had no idea how stubborn he was and 
did my best to try and keep my distance. I thought he was too young and I was 
too old and there was no way I was going to admit that I loved him."

"But he did it, didn't he Dad?"

"He did," Brian smiled at Gus. "I must have known deep down in my heart that he 
was the one for me, because when your mom called and said you were born I took 
him with me to the hospital."

"Your Dad was so excited that you were here," Justin continued. He wrapped his 
arm around Brian's waist. "We drove over and picked up your Uncle Michael and 
then it was off to the hospital to see you for the first time. We ran down the 
hallway to your mom's room, walked in and there you were."

Brian looked at Justin and pulled him a bit closer. "Your mom gave you to me and 
I held you for the very first time. I asked Pops to help me with your name and 
he named you Gus after his teddy bear. Now how girly boy was that?" he joked and 
Justin swatted him. "I didn't know that at the time of course."

"My bear Gus was my best friend for years Brian. It's a wonderful name."

"I like it dad. How many other kids get named after a bear, not many I can tell 
you that. We talked about names in school last year and their meanings and the 
reasons for our names and I was the only kid who was named for a teddy bear," he 
smiled at Justin. "Thanks Pops, it was kewl."

Justin looked at Brian and laughed, "See I knew he'd like his name and so would 
the kids at school." 

Brian couldn't resist the smiling lips and kissed them soundly. "Brat" 

"So we had to leave you there with your moms and we went back to your Dad's loft 
and he showed me that he was just who I thought he was, the kindest, gentlest, 
most tender, most loving man I would ever meet in my entire life."

"You forgot to say 'best kisser'," Gus prompted.

"Yeah, you forgot 'best kisser'."

"I'd never forget 'best kisser' I was saving that for last," Justin kissed him. 
The phone rang and Justin picked it up, "Hello"

"Hi Mom, we're almost ready to leave. You know Gus, he's slow as molasses when 
you want to go somewhere." He ducked when Gus threw a pillow at him.

"You boys had better hurry up. Things are developing nicely."

"We're on our way." He hung up the phone and looked at the other two. "Show time 
boys."

In no time at all they were dressed and out the door. Justin could see that 
Brian was visibly shaken all of a sudden so he unlocked the door of his car. 
"I'm driving today guys." 

Brian looked at him as he got into the car. "Am I that transparent?" he asked 
shaking his head.

"Pretty much," Justin leaned over and kissed him. "It's going to be alright."

"You guys kiss too much," Gus commented from the back seat.

"Come here and say that," Brian said turning to look in the back seat.

Gus moved forward and started to say "You guys kiss ---- when his father grabbed 
him and kissed his face over and over causing him to giggle.

"Children, do up your seat belts," Justin admonished, only to have Brian grab 
him and kiss him all over too, making him giggle along with Gus.
They did eventually get the car headed down the road the short distance into 
Charlottetown. 

When they parked and entered the hospital the three of them began to race down 
the hallway to where Jennifer and Molly were. Both Brian and Justin couldn't 
help but remember the time they raced to see Gus and when Brian turned to see 
Justin behind him he grabbed his hand as well as Gus's as they continued down 
the hall.

Jennifer met them at the end of the long corridor dressed in green scrubs. "It's 
about time. Here, each of you put this gown on over your clothes and this mask. 
We're all waiting."

"You mean she can wait?" Brian asked

"No you idiot, I was joking," She laughed at him. "But it's getting close so if 
you all want to be part of this hurry up."

Justin helped Brian with his gown and Gus as well and Gus tied Justin's at the 
back because Brian's hands were shaking too much.

They trooped into the deliver room and Molly laughed when she saw their faces.
"I guess I can get started now, the two dads and the big brother are here," she 
joked with the Doctor who after placing her legs in the stirrups took his place 
between her legs.

"Brian and Justin, you're the dad's?" the doctor asked. "Well the head is 
crowning so come on over here and watch, you too Gus."

Brian clutched Justin's arm hard enough to make bruises as they walked over to 
watch the baby being born. "You've been telling the doctor all our secrets 
Molly?" he asked.

"I've had nothing better to do since I got here," she said and began to grimace 
with a contraction.

Brian, paled as he stood and watched as the baby slowly began to come out, 
Justin was fascinated but Gus all but had to be held back he was so interested. 
The doctor caught the baby as he slipped out with a pop, his little mouth opened 
and he gave an outraged cry at the indignity of it all. Justin was grinning ear 
to ear and so was Gus and Jennifer. The doctor clamped the umbilical cord and 
Gus cut it. The baby looked at Gus and the two of them bonded instantly. The 
Doctor handed the squalling boy to Brian. "Here Dad, you can take him to Mom 
while we finish up here."

Justin watched Brian as tears streamed down Brian's face while he looked down at 
the new life in his hands and slowly carried him up to Molly, to place him 
gently in her arms. "Molly, you have no idea how much this means to Justin and 
I," he said and kissed the forehead of his new son and then Molly's forehead.

"I have some idea Brian," she replied. Justin could tell she was exhausted. "Hey 
Jus, come and hold your son," she offered her baby to her brother and Justin 
held his new son for the first time marveling at his long hair that was 
plastered to his head." She looked at Gus, "Gus, I believe it's your turn now to 
introduce us all to your new baby brother."

They all looked at Gus who was staring at the baby with wonder in his eyes. In 
order to include Gus in the new member of the family's birth, and to make him 
feel part of everything even when he was only with them part of the year, the 
task of naming the baby had been given to him. He'd taken it seriously and they 
had watched him research names for weeks, discussing the pros and cons of each 
name.

"I had to see him first before I could decide for sure," he said. He looked at 
his two dads, then his grandmother and Molly. "I'd like to introduce all of you 
to Abraham Taylor Kinney." Justin and Brian looked at each other and started to 
laugh but they both stopped when they realized that Gus looked hurt by their 
laughter.

"We aren't laughing at Abe or you Gus," Justin said. "We're laughing at the 
poetic irony of life. Someday I'll tell you another story about the day you were 
born." He kissed Gus on the top of his head. He looked at Brian, "I'd almost be 
willing to go back to Pittsburgh to see Melanie's face when we introduce our 
son."

"I'd pay good money to see that Sunshine," he said. "Maybe we'll do just that."