BEWITCHED AND BEWILDERED - 6
Author: Elsarose
Plot bunny and collaborator: Judy Uhrich
Post 513 – hey it could happen 


Justin was now three months into his 23rd year. His life was filled with Gus and his school, with Brian and everything that was Brian, and with Daphne and Cam. He knew things were going too smoothly. 

For one thing, they had acquired a rather grizzled old dog with three legs named Lester. But Brian barely noticed him. The dog had a way about remaining almost invisible. He slept in a specially prepared dog bed in a corner of the old kitchen when he wasn’t hanging out with Gus. 

“Stop thinking so hard, you’ll get wrinkles.” Brian kissed Justin’s forehead. “Did you buy a garden gnome?” 

“Not a chance.” Justin laughed. “I think they’re creepy.”

“Michael has a whole set of them. Deb gave them to him and Ben.”

“Point taken.” Justin laughed. “But no, no gnomes.”

“I was sure I saw one in the upstairs hall.”

“A hall gnome?” Justin snickered. “I don’t think so.” 

“And it’s not the first time. I saw the same gnome under Gus’ bed a few weeks ago. I was going to mention something, but, well a certain blond distracted me. I didn’t remember until I saw the one in the hall.” 

“Maybe Gus found one in the garden. I mean the place is a jungle. I’ll be glad when it’s warm enough to tidy the place up without looking like we’re freaks.” 

“It should be okay this weekend.” Brian peered out the window. “We could at least unearth any garden gnomes and stick them in a shed or give them to Michael or something.”

“I suppose.” Justin handed him a page he’d printed out earlier. “I’ve been given another show at the Resnick Gallery in New York and all on my own, no magic tricks.” 

“That’s the only way.” Brian put his arms around Justin. “When is it, maybe we could all go there.” 

“Gus has school. But we could take him for a weekend. It can’t hurt and he might like the excitement.” 

Suddenly Lester started to bark frantically. A raven started to pound his beak on the window where they were standing and the phone began to ring. Justin looked petrified. Brian picked up the phone. “Kinney.”

“DADDY, DADDY, THE HEAD MASTER HAS A BROOM AND IS GOING TO KILL EMMYLOU. GET DADDY J, QUICKLY.” 

“Gus, what the fuck.” Brian looked at Justin, but Justin was already gone. “I’ll be right there.” He managed before throwing the phone on a table and racing for the car. He’d barely gone through the door when he found himself in a classroom filled with hysterical children, the head master of the school, a broom raised, about to rain destruction down on a small grey mouse, with a tiny Saint James necktie on. 

Gus was about to throw himself on Emmylou, when Brian scooped him up. Justin waved his hand and the broom fell to the floor. The Head Master turned and glared. “What are you doing in this classroom?” she demanded as she reached for the broom. 

Taking no chances, Emmylou scampered up Justin’s trousers and into his pocket. “I came to check on my son’s progress.” Justin said calmly. “Imagine my surprise to find you about to murder his pet.”

“Dirty filthy rat, he has a dirty filthy rat as a pet?” 

“No, he has a small grey mouse as a pet.” Justin was doing his best to calm everyone in the classroom, including the teacher and the Head Master.

“Say one more word.” Brian cautioned the Head Master. “And I will own this school.” Gus had his face buried in Brian’s neck, his sobs barely subsiding. 

Justin was surrounded by a circle of children. “See, this is Emmylou, she’s a little grey mouse. She should have stayed at home, but she didn’t. She wouldn’t hurt anyone. See, she has a little tie, just like yours.”

“We weren’t scared of Emmylou, she comes to school with Gus all the time. It was Miss Anderson who freaked.” A young red haired girl said as she glared at the Head Master. “Miss Anderson saw us giving Emmylou some apple pieces at lunch time.” She leaned over close to Justin, “What a bitch.” She whispered. 

Justin grinned. “Emmylou, back in the pocket.” He turned and said Miss Anderson, “Gus will be leaving school today. He will back when he receives an apology from you. No apology and this little incident will be all over the internet and trust me, you won’t come out on top.”

“Brian, Gus, it’s time to go home.”

“Emmylou?” Gus’ chin wavered. 

“In my pocket.” Justin took Brian’s hand and let himself be guided out of the classroom. 

“Uh, Jus, we don’t have our car. It’s going to be hard to make a statement of our exit.”

“The car is outside.” Justin grinned. “I am getting better you know.” 

“Daddy J, I’m sorry I took Emmylou to school, but she really wanted to learn stuff.”

“So Emmylou is real.” Brian shook his head. The mouse was now sitting on his shoulder. He couldn’t believe he had a rodent on his shoulder, but then in the last three months stranger things had happened. 

“Of course I’m real.” She said and then clapped her paws over her mouth. “Oops, you didn’t really hear me talk, did you?” 

“You’re sitting an inch from my ear. Of course I heard you.” Brian rolled his eyes heavenward. “Justin, am I dreaming? Is this some wacked out left over from some bad stuff from Anita?” he opened the car door for Gus and for Justin. Emmylou jumped from his shoulder onto Gus’ when his seat belt was secured.

“Emmylou, you weren’t supposed to talk.” Gus whispered. 

“Sorry.” Emmylou looked sad. “Your daddy is very handsome, but your daddy J still scares me to death.”

“Daddy J isn’t scary I told you and told you, he would never turn anybody into a mouse.” He leaned forward. “Would you Daddy J?” 

“I haven’t turned anybody into anything yet.” Justin admitted. “I think there’s some kind of rule about it.”

“And a good thing there is.” Brian huffed, driving away from the school. “Since my day is shot, let’s have lunch at the diner.”

“Can Emmylou come too?” Gus asked. 

“I’m not leaving a rodent in my car. These seats are leather.” Brian griped.

“Emmylou, you have to stay out of sight.” Justin cautioned. “Mice aren’t really welcome in a diner.” 

“It’s not fair. I’m just as clean as the next guy.” She grumbled. “I have a bath every night with Gus and I have my own towel and everything.”

“Do I want to know this?” Brian asked. 

“Probably not.” Justin shrugged. 

“Grandma Debbie might be there. I bet she’d like Emmylou.” 

“Don’t count on it Gus, unless you tell her that the mouse is gay, chances are, she’ll just see a rodent.”  Brian pulled into a parking spot close to the diner. “For once I’m actually hungry. Defending small boys and even smaller rodents, gives me an appetite.”

“Daddy, stop calling me a rodent.” Emmylou said, her feelings hurt. 

“Shit, did the rodent just call me daddy?” he asked Justin who was laughing so hard, tears were coming out of his eyes.

“That’s your name, daddy.” Gus replied. “I call you daddy.” He was unbuckling his seat belt. “Isn’t that right Daddy J?” 

Justin could only nod, he was incapable of speech. 

“Out of the car, both of you.” Brian had opened their doors. Shaking his head, he led his son and his lover into the diner. He could only hope the mouse kept herself well hidden. 

“Grandma Deb.” Gus ran in and hugged Debbie who would have lost the tray of dishes she was carrying if Justin hadn’t been there with a quick fix. 

“Gus, my little man, you sure give good hugs.” She put the tray down on the counter to hug him back. “You almost bowled me over.” 

“I’m starving to death.” Gus declared. “Daddy and Daddy J are too.” 

“Now Daddy J I can understand, but your daddy too?” Debbie teased. “You boys sit yourselves down and I’ll bring you something to make you all smile.”

“Uh, Deb, watch the carbs.” Brian asked, sitting down in his favorite booth. For once none of the gang appeared to be in the diner. He hoped it would last. 

“After what you did to Michael, I’ll watch the carbs all right.” She shook her finger at him. 

“Me, I have barely seen him in the last few months.” Brian looked at Justin who shrugged. 

“He’s up and down. It’s driving Ben to distraction and Emmett and Ted won’t even let him talk when they come into the diner. It’s a quarter inch and then half an inch then back to the quarter inch. He won’t tell me what the fuck he’s measuring, but I can only guess. And you were the last person with him.”

Justin’s face turned red as he remembered the night at Babylon. “Deb, sorry, I think it was me who got him started. It was just a joke.” He looked contrite. “I didn’t think he’d get quite so carried away.”

“Sunshine, it was you?”

“Like I give a shit how big Mikey’s dick is.” Brian drawled. 

“Yeah, sorry. I’ll try and fix it.”

“That’s okay, it’s really harmless I suppose, but it would be nice if you could get him distracted with something less annoying.” She patted Justin’s cheek and turned to put their order in.

“With you it’s harmless, with me I get a slap upside the head.” Brian shook his head. “You are one frustrating piece of blond boy ass.”

“Daddy, what’s blond boy ass?” Gus asked. “Is it something good?” 

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


In the fourth month of his twenty third year, Justin kept himself holed up in his studio most of the day and night. He relied on Daphne and Cam and of course Brian, to look after Gus’ day-to-day requirements. He had the show to get ready for and commissions to finish. He refused to use his power to do any of his art. It had to be his own and Brian understood. Even Gus understood after he had a long talk with Joe, the raven.  

Gus sat on the tire swing Cam had built for him in the backyard. He could see Justin through the windows of his studio, his Ipod plugged into his ears, lost in a jumble of music and art as he painted furiously. 

“Daddy J is always too busy.” He said to Joe and Ned. Ned had appeared under a Japanese maple tree. Lester was snoozing in the sun too far away to pay them heed and Emmylou was spending some time with Daphne talking about girl stuff. Gus was feeling left out and ignored. 

“Your Daddy J is preparing for a rather prestigious show. And in New York.” Joe offered. “In my day that would be cause for a celebration. I remember New York, all the lights, the clubs, the men.” He sighed. “I suppose I could fly there, but it wouldn’t be the same.” 

“I know he’s going to be in a show.” Gus said with a sigh. “But does he have to be in there and paint all the time, even at bedtime?”

“When I did my sculptures, I used to lose myself in each one, barely coming up for air until I released the form from the marble or rock.” Joe hopped on one foot and then back on the other. “I have two pieces in the Met.” 

“You do?” Gus looked up at him. “That’s kind of cool.” He knew about museums from his mothers and from school. 

“He’s always bragging about museum this, rock that.” Ned grumbled. “It’s been going on for years.”

“How come you guys don’t get older?” Gus asked, momentarily distracted. It was a question he thought about a lot, but had never asked. 

“It’s the bewitching part. It keeps you the same age as you were when you ran into whatever bitch, I mean witch, you pissed off.” Joe said. “I suppose it’s at least something. I mean I’m a man in his prime, thirty three, bad and black.”

“You aren’t bad.” Gus said. “But you are black.”

“It’s an expression kid.” Joe flew down to sit on one of the tire swings ropes. “Look at Ned here, he’s a f.. freaking garden gnome.” Joe was trying to keep his language clean these days due to Gus’ young age. “He was twenty when he was changed. Of course he was damn ugly, so I suppose it wasn’t a stretch that he’s a garden gnome.”

“I was not ugly you fat black piece of road kill wannabe.” Ned now stood under the swings. “I was interesting looking, my mother told me.”

Gus giggled; he’d heard mothers say stuff like that. Usually the kid was definitely not pretty. “You’re a very nice garden gnome.” Gus said. “You look pretty good for a garden gnome and I love your red hat.”

“Don’t listen to these two whiners.” Lester had wandered over to the swings. “They’ve been winging at each other for years. At least they have all the legs they’re supposed to have. I have three when I should have four, only because the witch that did me was drunk.”

“I thought you were in an accident.” Gus looked at his old friend with interest. “You walk very well for a dog with three legs.”

“Thanks Gus.” Lester sat down beside the swings. “You’ve got to understand about Daddy J, he’s an artist, but he’s also your daddy’s husband and your best friend. You’ll never have anyone better than him to love you and to stand up for you. You need to give him some space to do what he loves to do and that’s to create beautiful paintings. From what I’ve seen, you and your daddy are in most of them. That means he wants you with him even when he’s painting. Maybe if you found something quiet to do, you could be in the studio with Daddy J. It would be like you were together. I bet he’d like that.” Lester sighed as only an old dog can sigh and lay down in a patch of sunlight. 

Brian stood in Justin’s studio watching Gus as he sat on his swing. “I think he’s talking to that garden gnome and the crow. Now Lester is adding his two cents worth.” He turned to Justin. “Is that even possible?”

“The crow is a raven, two different birds.” Justin walked over to Brian, put his arms around his lover, laying his head on his back. “I love listening to your heart.” He whispered. 

“You are the ultimate romantic.” Brian huffed a laugh. “I have to wonder if this is going to warp his mind.” 

“What is going to warp his mind?” 

“All this talking to things that aren’t supposed to talk.” Brian turned in Justin’s arms so they were facing one another. “It seems rather surrealistic. There aren’t any more talking rats or singing squirrels around here that I don’t know about, are there?”

Justin laughed. “I have no idea. I didn’t know the raven and the gnome talked, though I suspected the gnome was bewitched. I mean he turns up everywhere. Think of it this way, it’s teaching Gus to be tolerant of things that are different. You have to admit, he’s very good with them. And it’s taken is mind off of his mother and her problems.”

“I’ll admit that he does seem happy. A lot happier than when he first arrived. And he’s doing great in school after that little rat and broom incident.” 

“You know darn well Emmylou is a mouse.” Justin laughed; he tilted his head up to look into Brian’s eyes. “I think, Brian Kinney, that you are amused with all of this, but you don’t want to admit it.”

“I have to admit it’s been an interesting four months.” Brian’s eyes twinkled and he let his lips caress Justin’s. “Though I’m not happy with the idea that these talking animals and the gnome were once living breathing humans. I have to wonder why they ended up the way they are and what you’re going to do about it.”

“Me?” 

“Yes you Mr. Magic, you seem to be providing food and shelter for all of them here at Shadow Manor. Who knows what else is lurking in the underbrush. Emmylou can’t spend all eternity being a rodent. She needs to be turned back into a little girl. Lester, the raven and the gnome; I don’t know their story but I’m sure it’s interesting. We can’t keep a bunch of talking wildlife around. You need to figure out how to make them back into themselves.”

“I know.” Justin admitted. “I’ve been thinking about it. I guess I’m going to have to consult Mom and Granny M. because I sure don’t have any idea and I’m afraid if I try something, it might backfire.” He looked up at Brian. “If I do change Emmylou, you realize we can’t just throw her out. It means we’d have a daughter. A daughter who would be about 6 but really about a 100. It wouldn’t be easy.”

“Life isn’t all about being easy.” Brian shrugged. “Look at us. It’s been a bumpy ride to get us this far.”

“Ha, you were a piece of cake.” Justin joked. “Well maybe devil’s food cake.” 

“You are an annoying piece of blond boy ass.” Brian laughed. “But damn, I love you.”

“I love you too.” Justin grinned. “We’d better go and see what Gus and our <i>kids</i> are up to.”

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

“Mikey, Ben.” Brian kissed Michael and shook Ben’s hand. Justin followed him in the door with Gus, who was lugging a garden gnome. “Where’s Hunter?” 

“He’s in the yard with JR. We have her for a week.” Michael said he stared at Gus. “Why does he always bring that garden gnome with him when he visits?” 

“He says Ned, that’s the gnome’s name, likes to visit with the ones you have.” Justin snickered. Gus was heading out the back door to join Hunter and JR in the garden. 

“Well it’s weird.” Michael turned away from watching Gus. “Can I get you a beer?” 

“I’ll get it.” Ben smiled. “Have a seat, Gus will be okay with Hunter.”

“Did you go to Toronto to pick up JR?” Brian asked. 

“No, Melanie dropped her off on the weekend.” Ben said as he handed Brian a bottle of beer. 

“She was here and didn’t stop in to see Gus?” Justin’s eyes were large.

“She said she thought it would be too hard on him. Lindsay is still in the hospital, but she’s expected to be released this week. That’s why she wanted some alone time without JR.” Ben handed a beer to Justin. “I suppose it’s a logical assumption on her part.”

“Perhaps, but she could have at least called.” Brian drained his bottle of beer, pissed with Melanie once again. He usually tried his best to put her out of his mind. 

“He’s doing it again, he’s talking to the gnome, and he’s got Hunter and JR doing it too.” Michael’s face was pressed against the window. 

“Oh for fuck sake Mikey, you don’t know that Gus is talking to the gnome, he could be talking to Hunter and looking at the fucking gnome.” Brian was pissed, more with Melanie than his friend, but he needed to lash out. 

“I’ll go out and see what’s up.” Justin said to break the tension. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“I’ll go with you. Ben can finish making his tofu surprise or whatever we’re eating.” Brian stood up to follow Justin. 

“I’m coming too, JR is my kid.” Michael was right behind them.

“Hey guys, what’s up?” Justin asked as he came off of the bottom step. 

“Gus was introducing us to his gnome.” Hunter shrugged. “JR thinks it’s kind of cool.” He looked around “Ned looks better than all these ones.” His hand indicated Michael’s gnome collection. 

“Buncha fakers.” Ned mumbled.

“What?” Hunter turned. 

“Uh, I think they’re fake.” Gus said, glaring at Ned who had promised not to talk out of their own yard. 

“Of course they are Gus.” Hunter snickered. “Can you imagine having a garden full of these guys. Nightmare city, that’s for sure.”

“Well, Ned here had better behave himself or he’s going to be tomorrow’s trash.” Brian grumbled. 

“It’s a garden gnome, made of cement Brian, you don’t give them names.”

“I call my gnome Ned.” Gus looked up at his Uncle Mikey. “I bet all of your gnomes have names. You should learn them.” 

“I don’t think so.” Michael looked at Gus and then at Brian. “You know Brian, all the drugs you took, you know, when…. “ he glanced at Gus. “I mean it could have affected your sperm.”

Justin, his face red, waved his hands behind his back. All the garden gnomes in Michael’s line of vision began to advance on him. Each one with a wicked grin on their faces, pure evil shining in their eyes. 

“HOLY FUCK.” Michael shouted, scooping up JR and running into the house. Hunter, Gus and Brian, who had been facing the other way, looked puzzled.

Brian glanced at Justin and mouthed. “What?” 

Justin only shrugged. “Maybe we should go in. The garden gnomes were all back to their normal cement silence, well all except Ned, who winked at Justin. “Ned, stay out here and visit with your buddies.” 

“They’re all dumbies.” Ned protested, Hunter who had reached the back door didn’t hear him, Gus giggled and Brian humphed a half laugh. He had to agree with Ned’s assessment of Mikey’s gnomes. “They’re cement heads.”

Justin grinned, Brian choked back a laugh and Gus snickered. “I’ll get you before we go.” Gus promised. “Uncle Mikey is kind of funny about having you in the house.” 

“Cement head.” Ned mumbled, not meaning the garden gnomes.

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