Part 11

Mel returned from her morning run and looked through the window to see Lindsay reading the paper. She thought about what she would say to her wife while she did her cool down stretches.

Lindsay heard the door close and looked up to see Mel standing in the foyer.

"Can we talk?" She asked.

"If you're ready to discuss the real issues, yes. If you plan on denying things then I'm not interested. I've heard all of that before," answered Lindsay.

"I thought about it while I was running and maybe it would help if I saw a therapist for a little while."

"Really? You'll do that?"

"I'm not sure how much good it will do, but I'll do what ever you want to make up for what happened. I was totally wrong and even scared myself. Hopefully a few sessions will help me deal with my frustration better."

Lindsay wrapped her arms around Mel. "I love you so much. Thank you."

"I love you too," replied Mel. If I didn't I wouldn't waste time and energy doing this, she thought to herself. I'm fine. I don't need any help and especially not therapy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Molly was setting the table while Justin paid some of his mother's bills online. Brian settled Gus in front of the TV and a Little Bill DVD.

"You know, you and Gus are the only two people on the planet that could talk me into eating pepperoni pizza with extra cheese," Brian said to the young girl. Her smile faded.

"If you don't like it, you should call and order something you like. Hurry up or it won't be delivered with ours."

"I like pizza. The problem is I like it too much."

"I don't understand," said Molly.

"If you were lucky enough to inherit your brother's metabolism, you never will."

"What?"

"What Brian is trying to say is that he's so scared of gaining weight that he only eats boring stuff," Justin offered from his seat at the computer desk.

"Ooohhh, like Aunt Terri. She can't decide what to eat without a scale and a calculator," Molly laughed and then stopped abruptly. "Do you want to borrow my calculator?" She asked with a sweet smile.

Justin almost fell off of his chair laughing.

"No, that's okay…" Brian was interrupted by the ringing doorbell. "I'll get it."

"You better not have forgotten the salad," he said, as he opened the door.

"What the hell are YOU doing here?"

When Brian looked up from his wallet, he was standing face to face with Craig Taylor. "I could ask you the same thing?" Brian countered getting past his surprise of seeing the man.

"I'm here to see my daughter."

Suppressing the urge to repay the man for past indiscretions against Justin and himself, Brian started up the stairs without saying a word. Craig followed him.

"Where's the pizza?" Justin asked before he saw Craig. Then he braced himself for the inevitable argument. "Dad."

"Where's Molly?"

"Right here," she answered joining the men.

"Pack your stuff. You are coming with me," Craig said firmly. "Where's your mother?" He spat in Justin's direction. "She made a huge mistake. She knows I don't want Molly exposed to you and your depraved lifestyle. I should call my lawyer right now."

"Daddy, where pizza, me hungry," said Gus walking over to Brian and looking at him expectantly.

Craig's mouth literally fell open from the shock. "Y…you have a son?"

"Who dat? Pizza man?"

"No, Gus, this is my daddy," answered Molly.

Gus walked over to get a better look at Craig. Brian quickly grabbed him not trusting the other man at all.

Reading Brian instantly, Justin crossed the room and gathered the boy from his lover.

"Jus, you daddy?" Gus asked looking at Craig again.

"No, I don't have a daddy," he answered firmly. Craig straightened.

"Sawry. Daddies is good," Gus said, looking at Justin with genuine sympathy.

"You have a good daddy. You're lucky," he explained and hugged the little boy. "Molly, would you take him upstairs for a few minutes."

"Kay."

After the children left the room, Justin started to explain the situation to the man that he used to idolize. "Grandma had a heart attack and Mom had to go…"

"Is she alright?" Craig interrupted with concern in his voice.

"Yes, Grandma is going to be fine," smiled Justin, heartened by his father's concern.

"What about Jen? She hated moving away from her family. She always resented me for that."

"I talked to her earlier and Nathan is visiting for the weekend so that will help her relax."

A troubled look came over Craig's face. Brian noticed immediately and chuckled. "Having regrets about throwing away your family?" He asked the older man.

Craig didn't respond.

Brian's smile widened. "Good! I hope you can't sleep at night after the way you've treated your own flesh and blood."

Gus' cry was heard from upstairs.

"I'll go," said Justin out of habit.

"No, stay here with your father. My impulse control only lasts so long."

"How long has your mother been gone?"

"A few weeks."

"And you've been taking care of your sister?"

"Yes."

"Has he been staying here too?"

"Not really," Justin answered cryptically.

"Does he stay the night?"

"Sometimes."

"Justin, how could you expose your sister to such sin?"

"It's not a sin, Dad," Molly said, coming back into the room. "I was taught that sex is for adults that love each other. Brian and Justin obviously love each other. I mean anyone can see that. So what's the big deal? You sleep with Ginger and I don't even think you love her."

Justin smiled at his sister proud of her.

"That's not the same thing and this is not right. Go pack some stuff because I am not leaving you here with these animals."

Totally ignoring her father Molly went to look out the window.

"Mol, why was he crying?"

"I think he's just hungry. It sure is taking that pizza a long time to get here."

"MOLLY! I told you to go get your things."

"Forget it Dad! I'm staying here with Justin. We're having fun and Gus is here."

"Gus?" Craig asked.

"Yeah, Justin named Brian's son after his teddy bear," Molly laughed. "What a dork!!"

"You named his son? When? Why? That little boy must be three years old or more."

"Gus was born the night that Brian and I met."

"Best night of my life," Brian said, walking by the Taylors to get some juice for his son.

Justin beamed.

"See what I mean," laughed Molly. "There's nothing wrong with them being together."

"MOLLY!"

"I'm staying here. It has been a month since the last time you came to see me."

"I was away on business."

"And you didn't call or email me once. Justin used to email me almost everyday even after you threw him out. He doesn't get too busy for me."

The doorbell rang.

"Finally," sighed Molly. "I'm starving."

"Peza! Peeza!" Gus said, scurrying into the room.

"Calm down, Sonnyboy," chuckled Brian, as he went to answer the door and soon returned with a large box and two paper bags sitting on top of it.

Justin tried to think of what he could do to make the situation better and a thought came to him. "Do you want to stay for pizza?" He asked his father.

Brian's head spun around. He was on the verge of saying no fucking way when he saw the flicker of hope in Justin's eyes and decided to keep his mouth shut.

"I'm not eating anything that HE paid for. This whole thing is wrong," Craig started, his voice getting louder with every word.

"I would appreciate it if you would keep your homophobic and hateful opinions away from my son, even if you don't have the sense to stop doing it in front of your own children," Brian said with an even voice but his body language told of his seriousness.

"Peeeezzzzaaa!!" Gus whined. He had waited longer than any little boy could handle

"I want to talk to your mother. This is unacceptable."

"Do we have to bother her. She's stressed enough as it is."

"Our divorce and custody agreements aren't finalized yet and this is definitely going to work in my favor."

"I'm not bothering Mom on the first night she's had to relax in weeks," said Justin firmly.

"I think it's time you left," Brian snapped.

"I'll leave when I'm ready and what you think has nothing to do with it. It's not your place to tell me to leave."

"Maybe not but all you are doing is upsetting everyone, especially Molly. We just want to have a peaceful dinner. If you think you can handle that grab a plate. If you can't, you know where the door is."

"Fuck you."

"No thanks you're not my type," smirked Brian.

"You fucking cocksucker…" Craig blared, crossing the room to confront Brian.

Brian grabbed his arm and pulled him out of sight of the children.

"You've been very smart so far by sucker punching me and ramming my car because you'd never win a fair fight. I'd love to teach you that lesson the hard way but Gus and Molly are here. They don't need to see us fight."

"I think it's best if you leave. Mol, told you she doesn't want to go with you. Maybe if you call her tomorrow when you are both more calm and talk she'll want to spend some time with you. Maybe even next weekend. It's up to Molly."

"I'll go, but this isn't over," Craig snapped and slammed the door on his way out.

"You okay?" Brian asked Justin, concerned that another rejection from the man who used to be his father would be too much for him.

"I'm fine. Letting him get to me doesn't help anything."

"That's easier said than done. I know, I speak from experience," offered Brian.

"I'm okay, now let's go eat before there isn't any left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Craig sat in his car and watched the outside of Jennifer's condo fuming about the scene that had just unfolded. They were corrupting his daughters mind and he had to do something to stop it. He pulled out his cell phone.

Ten minutes later a patrol car pulled up to the condo building and two officers went to the door.

Justin opened the door. "Yes?'

"Is there a young girl by the name of Molly Taylor here?'

"Yes. Why?"

"We have received a complaint that she was being held here against her father's wishes."

"Come in," said Justin with a sigh. "I'm her brother and my father is just trying to make trouble."

"We understand that is a possibility but we have to check things out. May we see Molly please?"

"Come up stairs," said Justin leading the way.

"What's this?' Brian asked when he saw the police officers.

"Apparently my father called them."

"Asshole," grumbled Brian.

"Mol, can you come here for a minute?"

"Did I do something wrong?" She asked.

"No dear, we just want to ask you a few questions." The tallest officer said.

"Okay," she answered nervously.

Kneeling down, the policeman tried to put Molly at ease.

"My name is officer Reynolds, but you can call me Rey. Everyone else does. Where is your Mommy?"

"At Granny's. She's sick so Mommy went to help her get better."

"Okay, do you usually live here with her?"

"Yes."

"What about your Daddy?"

"He was he before but he left."

"Do you ever stay with him?"

"Sometimes but I don't like it there."

"Why not?" Justin asked.

"Because he's no fun. All he does is work, watch sports or lock himself in the bedroom with Ginger."

"Who is Ginger?" The other officer asked.

"His girlfriend. She goes to college like Justin," Molly explained. Brian chuckled from the other room. "Will I have to go with my Dad?"

"I don't know yet."

"I hope not," she added with a pout.

"Who is the little boy?" Rey asked, seeing Gus.

"My son," Brian said firmly.

"So, you are her older bother?"

"Yes," Justin answered. "My mother asked me to stay with Molly. My father had been out of town and out of touch for quite some time. He returned tonight and wanted to take Molly with him. He and I don't get along."

"Why?"

"Because I'm gay and he doesn't approve."

"Your mother doesn't have a problem with it? She left you with a small child"

"No, she doesn't. We could call her."

"Maybe that would be best," agreed Rey.

Justin went to the phone. After a short exchange with Jennifer he handed the phone to the officer and then started to look through files in the drawer of his mother's desk.

Rey returned the receiver to the cradle and turned to Justin. "Do you have the paper work that your mother mentioned?"

"Yes, here it is."

Rey scanned the documents. "Everything seems to be in order. I apologize for interrupting your evening but the information we received over the phone didn't explain that your mother had full custody pending the final agreements. Have yourselves a good night. Nice to meet you Molly."

"You mean I can stay here with Justin?"

"Yes, sweet heart."

"Great."

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"Where's my daughter?" Craig asked, as the officer walked to their car.

"She is staying with her brother."

"But I want her to stay with me."

"Your wife has full custody so what you want doesn't have any legal basis. Please try not to use the police as a weapon in a family fight, Mr. Taylor. We have more important issues to deal with."

Brian watched a disappointed Craig return to his car up the street after his conversation with the officers. What an asshole he thought.

"Why would Daddy call the police on us?" Molly asked Justin.

Justin sighed. "Mol, remember when we talked about how Dad hates that I am gay. He was just trying to upset everything again because of me. I'm sorry if that made you scared but you can trust that Mom and I will do everything we can to keep you safe and happy."

"Okay, I hate Daddy sometimes."

"I don't think that's true. I think you get angry with him but he loves you and it's okay that you love him."

"It doesn't hurt your feelings that I do?"

"No. I would never ask you to choose between me and Dad, that wouldn't be fair. I love you and I want you to be happy. If that includes spending time with Dad, then great. If you want to call him and see him tomorrow that would be fine with me."

"I don't think I want to. Can we watch the movie now?"

"Sure go get it it's by the back door."

"You are amazing with children," Brian said hugging Justin from behind and kissing his neck.

"I know that's why I am so good at dealing with you," chuckled Justin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Brian, I really wish you would give Mel a break. She's still trying to get over what happened. Hell, I'm still trying to get past it and it wasn't even my body."

"Mikey, I totally understand that and I feel I've been quite understanding and very accommodating, but Gus shouldn't suffer for it."

"I know," Michael conceded. "How is the little guy?"

"He seems okay. Although, I am convinced he's going to be straight."

"Not again. Why now?" Michael laughed.

"He's sitting here totally enthralled by a NASCAR race. What's more breeder than that?"

"I don't know," chuckled Michael.

"You'd think with a little kid's attention span that he would get bored but no. They are just going around and around in circles. I mean I like a fast car as much as anyone but these all look as if Emmett decorated them. It's awful."

"If you don't want to watch, why don't you read?"

"There's nothing here to read except cookbooks, romance novels, and parenting magazines."

"So, read a parenting magazine. Maybe you will get a tip on how to distract Gus from car racing."

"I was so bored earlier that I actually started one but it's all about preteens and puberty. So I gave up and called you."

"Thanks, I feel so honored. Where's Molly?"

"She's upstairs on her computer."

"Is she upset by what her father did last night?"

"I think so. She's been awfully quiet. She's usually really talkative like Justin. I'll go check on her in a few minutes."

"Stockwell sure is holding a grudge, huh?"

"Asshole doesn't know when he's been beaten," sighed Brian.

Molly cautiously made her way down the stairs.

"I gotta go Mikey. I'll call you later," said Brian when he saw the look on the young girl's face.

"When is Justin going to be home?" She asked.

"Not for another hour or so. Why?"

"I think I need to go to the doctor."

"Why? Are you sick?" He asked, looking into her eyes and at her complexion. "You look okay."

"I'm bleeding," she mumbled, embarrassed.

"Where?" His gaze shifted to her hands and arms.

"Can't we just call Justin?" She pleaded, as tears formed in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, he went on that field trip to the museum in Harrisburg. You have to tell me so I can help."

"When I went to the bathroom, there was blood in my underwear," she whispered, as her face turned three shades of pink.

"OH… Ohhh," Brian offered. "Did your mother ever talk to you about this?"

"No."

"How old are you again?"

"Gonna be ten next week," she answered trying to hide a sob.

"You're going to be okay. Just give me a minute to think."

Brian went to the window and stared at the suburban neighborhood that surrounded Jennifer's condo. What am I supposed to do now? I am definitely NOT the person that should be explaining this. I'm going to kill Justin. She looks so scared. Should I call Jennifer? Deb? Daphne? Daphne! He thought to himself.

"I'm going to call Daphne. She will explain this better than I can."

"Okay," Molly said with a look of relief.

Brian grabbed the phone and dialed. "Fuck! There's no answer."

The tears that had been sitting in Molly's eyes started to fall. Brian didn't know what to do. "Why don't we go see Gus' mom. This is really a mom situation."

"Alright," Molly said, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.

"I know you don't know her that well but she's very nice and this is really a conversation you should have with a woman. We'll call your mother from there."

"Kay."

Within five minutes Brian had both Molly and Gus secured in Jennifer's minivan and headed for Lindsay's. Sitting at a red light he looked across the street to the drug store. Taking a deep breath, he turned the car into the parking lot. He helped the kids out of the car and together they entered the store. He had been there hundreds of times in the past, but today he went to an aisle he had never been in before. He had no idea what he was looking for. He never even watched the commercials on TV. Standing there overwhelmed by choices, he cursed his channel surfing habit. In a desperate bid to get the hell out of there he grabbed several packages and walked to the cash register. The cashier seemed confused by his purchase, but she bagged them into three large shopping bags.

Molly who held Gus' hand through all of this pulled him out of the store and to the car. Her fear, confusion, and embarrassment grew with every passing minute.

Ten minutes later, Brian set the shopping bags on the porch. He picked Gus up who was excitedly chanting.

"Mommy, mommy, mommee, mommee." Molly quietly stood off to the side. Brian knocked on the door.

Mel opened the door.

"Momma," Gus screeched and launched himself towards her. She caught him despite her surprise.

"Hey baby, I missed you." She said kissing his cheek, humbled by his forgiveness. She looked to Brian. "I know we have to talk."

"I agree, but first I need Lindsay to help me with something."

"What?" Lindsay asked taking her son from her wife.

Brian moved out of the way to reveal an obviously upset Molly.

"Come in," said Mel, reaching for the girl. "What happened?"

Following them into the living room, Brian placed the bags on the coffee table.

"What's all this?" Lindsay asked looking into the bags. "Why would you buy feminine…OH."

"Molly, honey, why don't you come upstairs with Mel and me for a little while so we can talk?"

The young girl nodded and started to follow Mel.

"I told her she could call Jennifer from here. Take my phone. The number is programmed."

Lindsay took the phone and started for the stairs.

"Linds," Brian said. She turned to look at him. "Thanks," he smiled.

"You're welcome."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Justin stood in front of a large abstract painting. He was trying to decide what emotions it evoked in him, but to be honest he didn't feel anything.

"This stuff is for shit," said a voice from behind him. He turned to see Jonathan Hatcher. "This whole trip is a waste of time. PIFA is a good school but there's not much of an art scene in this neck of the woods."

"I know what you mean," agreed Justin.

"Our field trips should be to Italy and Paris, or at least New York. Everybody in our program is a better artist than whoever did this crap."

"Jonathan, your modesty is amazing," laughed Justin.

"Oh, come on. You have to admit you're better than this."

"Okay, but maybe we could learn something here anyway."

"If you figure out what let me know. I'll be outside having a smoke," smirked Jonathan.

Justin's cell phone rang as he watched the scenery go by through the bus window. He looked at the display window and saw Mel and Lindsay's number. Puzzled, he answered. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's me."

"Why are you at Lindsay's?"

"There was a small emergency."

"Oh no! Is Gus okay?"

"He's fine. I needed the girls' help with Molly."

"WHY?" Justin asked panic-stricken. "Is she okay?"

"Yes, she's fine too. She got her first period today and I am definitely not in touch with my feminine side enough to deal with that."

"She's only nine!"

"I know. Lindsay says it's happening earlier and earlier these days."

"Fuck."

"Yeah, I almost died when she told me."

"You're sure she's okay?"

"Yeah, the girls explained everything to her and they called your mom. Now they're making a celebration of womanhood dinner. So Molly's doing great. I, however, am in desperate need of rescuing. Please tell me you'll be home soon."

"We're just coming into town now. We'll be back at the school in about twenty minutes, so I can be there in about forty to forty-five."

Brian sighed. "Later."

"Brian?"

"Yeah."

"Thanks for being there for Molly."

"You owe me big time."

"No problem. Your rewards are always very enjoyable for me too."

"Later."

"Later."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"What took you so long? I'm dying from estrogen overload here," Brian exclaimed as he pulled Justin through the door.

"Sorry traffic was bad for a Sunday," Justin explained, kissing the disgruntled man.

"Where's Mol?"

"Kitchen, but I wouldn't try to go in there if I were you."

"Why?"

"From what I understand, anyone with a dick gets kicked out. Wait here. She'll be out in a minute to tell me what they are doing next."

"Is she okay?"

"She's having a blast cooking."

"Good," Justin said, relieved. He looked over at Gus and the TV. "Why are you watching a car race?"

"Because Gus won't let me turn it off. He's going to be straight and I guess there's nothing I can do about it."

"I think it's too soon to tell anything about his sexuality yet, but Gus being straight wouldn't be the end of the world."

"Hhmpf."

"Just think of it this way, if he's straight, there's a better chance that you'll be a grandfather."

A look of sheer horror came over Brian and Justin couldn't help but laugh. Molly entered the room and started to laugh at the look on Brian's face. "He's had that look most of the day."

"Hey, you've had a big day. Are you okay?"

"Yep."

"Do have any questions? Are you sure you understand everything."

"Yes, and no, I don't have any questions. I was scared at first. Then I was grossed out but it's cool. I can have a baby now. That would be way cooler than my doll." Molly said innocently.

Justin coughed and sputtered. He had been taking a sip of Brian's beer. It was Brian's turn to laugh.

"Molly, you are way to young to have a baby. In fifteen or twenty years I would love it if you made me an uncle, but until then get the baby idea out of your head."

"'Kay. For now, anyway. I don't want to change dirty diapers. GROSS!"

"I used to change yours and it is very gross."

"I have to go help with the cake."

Justin smiled as he watched his little sister excitedly head for the kitchen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Vic, I told you that I'm just not ready to introduce you to my children yet. They aren't ready. My being positive has been very hard on them."

"I know, but in a way I can't help but feel like you are ashamed of me or us on some level."

"No, of course not. My divorce was very bitter considering the reason for it was my infidelity with a man. My ex has said some things to the kids that were very hurtful when they were still at an impressionable age. I've only introduced them to a man once and that was a disaster. It's just since they have turned eighteen that I have been able to start to rebuild our relationships. It hasn't been easy, but we've made a lot of progress over the last few years. I don't want to destroy that by rushing to introduce my boyfriend."

"We've been together for months. It's hardly rushing it."

"Vic, I really need for you to understand and respect my feelings on this."

"Okay, I'll back off," said Vic. For now, he added silently.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was his first class on a Monday morning and Hunter still found it hard to get up so early. He tired to stifle a yawn. Sam laughed.

"Late night?"

"I'm definitely not a morning person. Why couldn't school start at ten or eleven?"

"Because they like to torture us."

"Yeah."

The bell rang and everyone started to rise from their desks.

"Finally," sighed Hunter.

At his locker in the hall he pulled out a can of coke and popped the top. He offered Sam a drink.

"No thanks. How can you drink that so early in the day?"

Hunter guzzled the whole can and burped. "Caffeine is a good thing," he smiled.

"You're so cute," laughed Sam.

"No, I'm not. I'm handsome."

"Whatever you say," Sam agreed and then quickly kissed him before heading up the hall to class.

Hunter stood stunned. What was he feeling? Attraction? To Sam? No way! We're just friends he decided. But he couldn't help but watch Sam walk down the hall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Emmett walked up to Vic and picked him up from behind and started to spin. "The greatest thing just happened," he squealed.

"Tell me before I get dizzy," laughed Vic.

"Sorry," said Emmett putting him down. "I just got a call about possibly planning a society wedding at the country club."

"Wow. Big weddings are the one area that we haven't had much luck breaking into the market. This could be big."

"I know. I have so much to do," said Emmett heading for his little office area.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Debbie wiped down the counter. She hated working the late shift on Mondays. There weren't many customers and the time dragged. The cook was cleaning the grease trap on the fryer and therefore to busy to talk.

She decided to refill the ketchup bottles. While gathering them up in a bus bin, she heard the bell above the door.

"Have a seat. I'll be right with you," Deb said without looking at who came in.

A moment later a hand came around her face and clamped onto her mouth. "Don't make a sound or I'll kill you," snarled a voice. "Get me the money in the register and don't do anything stupid."

Deb nodded as fear gripped her. She could feel a gun being held to her back.

The chef called her name. "Deb did someone come in? What do I need to cook? Deb? Deb? He starts to walk to the front of the diner.

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