Enjoying Life Together

The Labor Day Surprise

They said it was a Labor Day picnic. Mel and Linz were having everybody over to their place on the holiday. Brian didn't think the occasion was the holiday at all though that suited their purpose. Gus had begun to call both of them "Mama" but he had not said "Dada" despite all the urging Brian could summon up. "I'm not going," he told Justin, "My kid has two mothers but no father."

"You are too going. He's your kid whether he knows it or not. Maybe he'll say 'Dada' while we're there, " Justin replied emphatically, "But I'm going with or without you and I don't intend to explain why my boyfriend, and that's you by the way, found something better to do. So you're going, and that's that."

Brian stood there for a minute showing that odd smile that so frequently occupied his face these days and finally said, "Well I'm not getting dressed up."

"We can argue about that later," Justin smiled as he threw his arms around Brian's neck and kissed him, "I love it when we argue and then make up."

"You're crazy," Brian stated as he put his arms around Justin, and pulled him close, and kissed him back.

"Like a fox," thought Justin, but he rightly felt that enough had been said.

Labor Day dawned beautiful and clear over Pittsburgh and Brian presented himself to Justin wearing a garish combination of red, white and blue. "I'm ready to go." He announced to Justin.

"Like that," Justin replied, stifling a smile.

"Either I wear this or I'm wearing nothing at all." Brian insisted.

"Suit yourself - or unsuit yourself," Justin chuckled, "Either way you're sure to be noticed." Another point for Justin. When they set out for the picnic, Brian had dressed in more restrained garb. Justin could not have been happier. Brian was almost as happy. If Gus would just say "Dada," Brian could give Justin a run for his money in the happiness department.

They got there just at the appointed time. That was another compromise between Brian, who was always early if he chose to show up at all, and Justin, who considered all times to be approximations. Debbie and Vic had come over early to help the girls with their preparation, and Gus was seated in a high-chair dressed very much like what Brian had been wearing earlier. "See," Brian said, elbowing Justin, "The uniform of the day."

"He's 2: You're 29," Justin replied.

"31," Brian admitted, "Don't try to drag me down to your age level. I'm too mature for that.' They both laughed.

Debbie and Vic came over to greet them as the first arrivals. They were very pleased that the Brian-Justin pairing was going so well. They had gone through a lot with those two and their ups and downs. "Glad you're here," Deb welcomed them, "We need the folding chairs set up and you can do that."

"I'm too old to do that kind of work," Brian retorted, "But I'm sure Master Justin would be glad to do that little job."

"Indeed, I would," Justin said with a mock bow and headed in the direction of the still folded chairs.

"Things going well?" Debbie asked Brian.

"Thanks, Deb," Brian answered.

"What for?" she asked.

"You know," He answered. And she did.

The whole gang was at the picnic as well as some other friends of Mel and Lindsey's, most of whom Brian and Justin also knew at least by sight. Mel and Lindsey took turns carrying Gus around to all the attendees, and Gus acted like "Mama" was the only sound he could make.

Ted came up to Brian and asked him if Gus also said "Dada," and Brian assured him that he did, but only at the appropriate time.

At just about that time, Emmett came running up, holding Gus. "I'm sure he said 'Emmett'," he declared. "Say 'Dada,' Gus," Emmett went on, but it seemed that Gus had nothing to say.

Brian took Gus from Emmett and held him; he loved Gus more than he had ever expected to. He had even warned Lindsey, before Gus was born, not to expect him to make any contribution, except financial, to the upbringing of their child. But Brian had changed his mind about a lot of things. He had met Justin on the very night of Gus' birth, and these two new additions to his life had made some big changes in his outlook. "Say "Dada," he said to Gus and then whispered in Gus' ear, "You little traitor."

"Dada," said Gus in a loud clear voice for all to hear.

Justin was one of those who heard and he came bouncing over. "He said it; He said it; See, I told you he'd say it;" Justin whooped.

"Must have been the appropriate time," Ted remarked. In the old days, Ted would never have gotten away with that comment but these were new days.

Brian proudly carried his son around to the assemblage, and Gus suitably said "Dada" whenever necessary.

It was like his tongue was loosed though because before long, he also said "Emm" and "Deb" and "Mike."

Brian was still holding Gus off to the side of the crowd when Justin came up. "He hasn't said 'Justin,' yet, so let me have him," Justin asked, and Brian handed Gus over.

"Say 'Uncle Justin,'" Brian commanded, but Gus said nothing. So Brian tried again: "Say 'Uncle Justin,' Gus," but Gus seemed to be as stubborn as his father.

Finally Justin said to Brian, "'Uncle Justin' is too hard for him. See, he even looks mixed up. Say 'Justin,' Gus."

Gus seemed to get the message and he spoke. He said: "Dada."

Justin wished a hole in the ground would swallow him up. "Not 'Dada,' Gus, say 'Justin,'"

But Gus stood his ground. "Dada," he repeated.

Justin was afraid to look up. Brian was standing right there, and for the first time since he had met Brian, Justin wished he were not standing next to him. He didn't look up. He couldn't look up. What a disappointment for Brian. Justin couldn't run. He couldn't stand there looking down at the ground forever. "I'm sorry, Brian," he said, almost in tears.

Brian reached his hand under Justin's chin and raised his head. Justin saw that Brian was smiling. "You have nothing to be sorry for." Brian consoled Justin, "My son loves you and so does his father."

Justin had had his share of ups and downs, but things seemed to get more and more intense. It was a lot for a 19 year old to fathom. "But…" was all he could get out.

Brian didn't interrupt him, but when it was obvious that Justin couldn't say any more, Brian instructed him, "Give my son to one of his mothers, and then come over and sit on the grass with me. I have to talk to you." Justin wasn't sure what that meant but he did as he was told and met Brian on the grass as directed.

"I'm sorry, Brian, he's your son," Justin tried to start the discussion.

"How about letting me talk this time," Brian said and Justin was pleased to do just that. "Lindsey has often said that Melanie is as much Gus' mother as she is, because if it were not for Melanie, she would not have had a child at all. And I think that's true. Lindsey is Gus' biological mother, but I'll bet she doesn't love him any more than Melanie. I've never been a big Melanie fan, and that is probably more my fault than hers, but I do not doubt that she would do anything for Gus, just like a parent should. So Gus has two mothers. I was Gus' biological father before I met you but I had no real commitment to him at all. My personal experience with fathers was that any kid would be way better off without one. I would have been without mine, and Mikey had no father at all, which was better than what I had. The first fatherly feelings I ever had were not about Gus; they were about you. You needed protection and I wanted to protect you but I couldn't let you know back then. Your father was shitty to you about your being gay and he threw you out of the house and all that, and you still told me you were glad you had a father and could never feel about your father the way I felt about mine."

Justin made a sound as if to say something. "Please don't interrupt your father figure when he's speaking," Brian stopped him. "Gus would have had a father if it hadn't been for you but he would never have had a 'daddy.' His father didn't know how to be a daddy. He learned that from you and only from you. So you have been for me what Melanie has been for Lindsey. You love Gus as much as I do, I'm sure of that, so why shouldn't a kid who has two mommies have two daddies?"

"But what about Lindsey and Melanie?" Justin asked.

"They might like you better than they like me," Brian responded. "If you feel more comfortable with 'Uncle Justin' later, that will be OK too, but let Gus think he has two daddies for now. I think he's a lucky kid to get you, " Brian finished up.

"Just like I was a lucky kid to get you, but can I ask a question?" Justin said.

"And what would that question be?" Brian responded.

Justin asked, "Are all your feelings for me fatherly?"

Brian grinned, "Hardly any of them since you got to be such a pain."

"That's good," Justin replied, "When can we talk about those other, non-fatherly feelings?" Justin asked.

"Later," Brian said.

"Later," Justin purred.

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