Devil's Playground

Chapter 10

Special thanks to Azure for reminding us about the Butterchurn.

"Hey Sunshine! Get your hot little as down here!" Deb shouted up the stairs. Walking into the kitchen, she continued to put groceries away. Tomorrow their little queer family was coming over for their annual Christmas party, and she always started dinner the night before in order to get it all done. She heard Justin running down the stairs, and paused momentarily to look at him.

"What's up, Deb?" he asked, looking at her, smiling. Deb returned the smile, walking over to him. Looking at him for a few seconds, she brought her hand up and caressed the side of his face quickly. Tapping his cheek quickly--a little love tap--she muttered, "You're so fuckin' cute, kid," before turning back to the groceries. Looking over her shoulder, she added, "Help me with this food. I'm going to show you how to cook tonight!"

Justin stilled. "What?"

Debbie chuckled, putting a gallon of milk in the refrigerator, "What? You didn't help your mom cook?"

"Well, not really," Justin replied, walking over and helping Deb with the remaining groceries. "Father hated the fact that I sewed and quilted and what not. Whenever he caught me in the kitchen instead of the fields, he would get so angry. Mother just decided that it was easier to avoid the trouble, so I helped sparingly."

"That's fuckin' stupid, Sunshine. A man that knows his way around the kitchen is a hot commodity. That Brian, the only way he knows how to cook is by making his fingers walk across the phone, and Mikey, well the little shit never cared enough to really learn. We're Italian for fuck sake, and he buys Ragu. Not you, Sunshine, you'll learn," she finished, smiling up at him again. She walked over to one of the cupboards and began arranging multicolored little tubes.

"But Deb, your food is so different."

Deb shut the cupboard and turned around, hands on her hips. Bringing one hand up and wagging her finger at Justin, she stated, "You're fucking learning, and that's it."

"Yes ma'am."

"So, they pluck and bleed it for you?" Justin asked, staring at the store bought turkey.

"Yep. All we gotta do it stuff it. Ha! I'm sure Brian taught you all about stuffing things." Justin turned bright red and looked away. "But funny, I haven't seen the asshole around lately."

Debbie wasn't an idiot. Justin had known that she would bring Brian up sooner or later, but a part of him had hoped that everything would be worked out before she had an opportunity.

"Yeah well, it just, we needed some time apart," he answered vaguely.

"Ok, what did he do?"

"What do you mean?" Justin asked, playing stupid. He continued to chop up the vegetables that Debbie had handed him earlier.

"Don't play stupid with me you little shit; you know what I mean," she replied, putting down the spoon she'd been using to stir the stuffing that she was planning on putting in the turkey and swatting Justin gently on the back of the head.

Justin sighed and stopped what he was doing. Turning, he decided to give the woman a condensed version of the events. He left out the parts about how he'd been attacked in the alley, knowing instinctively that she'd not only blame Brian, but that he'd get another smack in the head for running off as well. When he was done, she stared at him for several seconds before speaking.

"It's not my place, Justin, to tell you about the Kinney household or the shit that kid comes from. I will tell you though, that you've picked a hell of a man to be involved with your first time out, and it won't be easy. I know that we all say he's an asshole and talk about what a big shit he is, but honey, that's not him in here." Debbie tapped on Justin's chest, right over where his heart would be.

"I know that, Deb, you don't have to tell me."

Debbie smiled, "I know you do, Sunshine. He's different with you, you know? I think that's why Mikey is such a shit to you; because he sees it. You're a threat kid, because you've penetrated those defenses like no one has."

"I love him, Deb." He saw her eyes begin to water, and she opened her mouth to reply. Justin continued before she had a chance to say anything. "Don't tell me I can't know my emotions, Deb, please don't. I've lived my entire life with people telling me how I feel, what I should and shouldn't do, and what is right and wrong. This is the first time I've realized something on my own. This is mine, you know? I feel it."

"Oh, you little asshole, you made me cry! That's so sweet. I'm not going to tell you it's wrong, but it ain't gonna be easy. You're in for one helluva fuckin' ride," Deb paused, looking at him carefully, "but I think you know that, and I think you can handle it."

"Thanks Deb," he replied, giving her his brightest smile. Debbie wiped under her eyes with the knuckle of her index finger. Looking back at Justin, she resumed her work on the stuffing, elbowing Justin gently. "All right now, let's finish this bird so we can go to bed and wait for tomorrow."

Justin couldn't believe the commotion in Debbie's house. He'd never considered the space to be small, but right now it seemed to be getting cramped. Emmett was sitting in a lazy boy waving his arms around excitedly as he told Michael about some guy he'd met that apparently tied him to some kind of mount on the wall and spanked him. Justin shuddered just thinking about it. Lindsay and Mel were sitting on the couch in the living room, Gus between them, talking to Ted about setting up a trust fund for Gus's college education. Justin had done his best not to stare at Ted's crotch, considering this was the first time he'd ever met the man. He couldn't get the image of the male anatomy caught in a zipper out of his mind. This time he cringed.

"What has you spasming, kid?" Justin turned to Vic who was grinning at him from the corner of the room, a couple of feet away.

"Nothing, just thinking about things," he answered, smiling.

"This is my favorite holiday, you know?" Vic smiled as he slowly looked at all of the people in the room.

"Because baby Jesus was born?"

"Because everyone just seems to be in such good moods. And hello! I'm an old queen who will never complain about getting presents!" Vic winked at Justin, laughing quietly at his own joke. Justin smiled at him; he always enjoyed Vic's company.

"How long have you and Debbie lived here?" he asked.

"Since we were kids; you know, when the dinosaurs inhabited the Earth."

The front door to the house opened, and Brian walked in with his arms full of packages.

"Jesus, Brian. What the fuck is that?" Mikey asked, pointing to the biggest package of the bunch. It had to be at least three feet tall.

"Shut the fuck up and help me," Brian grimaced, maneuvering his way in.

"Nice of you to show up, Kinney," Debbie muttered walking out of the kitchen. She wiped her hands on the apron she was wearing and smiled at the group. "Everyone to the table, dinner is ready."

Michael hurried to Brian's side, relieving him of some of the packages, as everyone else walked into the dining room. Justin sat down, Emmett on one side, and the other side empty. As Brian moved to sit in the seat, Justin put his hand on it and smiled sweetly, "Daphne told me to save her a spot next to me. Sorry."

He saw the bones in Brian's jaw flexing, delighting in it silently. The brunet simply turned and sat in the seat across from Emmett, next to Michael. The front door flew open again, and Daphne rushed in, breathless.

"Sorry guys! People just wouldn't leave the store! But hey, can't complain about time and a half!" She hung her coat up and hurried over to the empty seat next to Justin, stopping to kiss Vic on the cheek, and hug Melanie and Lindsay along the way. Sitting down, she leaned over and gave Justin a quick peck. He'd been turning to greet her when she'd leaned in, so her kiss accidentally landed on his lips. They both jumped then looked at each other, momentarily stunned. Then, at the same time, both their faces scrunched up and they said, "Ew."

"Way to get hetero germs from your hag, Wonder boy."

Justin rolled his eyes, before jumping to Daphne's defense, "Oh, Mikey, where are your female friends? Oh that's right, you have none…wonder why?"

Sticking her tongue out at Michael, Daphne turned to Justin and handed him a thick stick wrapped in plastic. It was white except for a red that swirled from tip to tip.

"What's this?" he asked looking it over.

"Peppermint stick. So good, I ganked it from work for you."

"Thanks I'll try it later," Justin replied, laying it on the table next to his plate.

"So Teddy, glad to see you could make it to dinner this time. No dick in fly emergencies this time?" Brian asked, expertly switching gears on the conversation.

"And to think I had thought that in the spirit of Christmas you would give me a break, temporary insanity on my part," Ted replied, dryly.

"Oh honey, is everything in working order since it happened? Vic and me, we had this uncle Vinnie who wound up getting his cock caught in a--"

"It's fine Deb, really. Thanks for your concern," Ted grabbed the bowl of vegetables in front of him, scooping some onto his plate.

"Debbie, the turkey looks beautiful," Lindsay smiled, opening a jar of baby food for Gus, "you'll have to tell me what you season it with. I can never get it so perfectly golden brown."

"Sure thing, sweetie. Justin helped this year!" Justin smiled as everyone turned to look at him.

"How nice, he's a regular Betty Crocker." Justin glared at Michael before his angry look turned to one of disgust. The man had spoken with his mouth full, and a glob of turkey had flown out and landed back on his plate. He felt a tap on his arm, and looked over at Daphne, wondering what she wanted. She shook the hand she was holding her fork in and then gestured towards Michael. Justin looked at how the man was holding his silverware and just shook his head. How Brian managed to befriend the fool was beyond him.

"Well you guys, everything tastes fabulous!" Emmett said. "Good job, sweetie!" He threw an arm around Justin's shoulder, hugging him to his side. Justin blushed. There was a loud pound from beneath the table, and Emmett jumped.

"Ow!" came from Emmett, and "What the fuck?" from Deb. Justin saw the quick glare directed at Emmett from Brian across the table. His eyes traveled from Emmett's face to the arm around his shoulder. Getting the message, Emmett removed the arm and simply patted Justin's shoulder before going back to eating.

"Debbie, did you make pie for dessert?" Daphne asked.

"Well, yeah sweetie, but we just started dinner."

"I know, but I have to know these things in advance to plan ahead. Prioritize and figure out just what I really want to eat and what I can wait 'til later for!"

"Oh sweetie, whatever you want some of, I can give you to take home."

"You're the best Deb!" Daphne grinned around the fork she placed in her mouth.

The rest of the dinner went along smoothly, the conversations running together, everyone laughing and having fun. Occasionally Michael had a comment for Justin, but the blond had made it to the point where he wasn't simply going to sit and take it anymore, and of course, Daphne always jumped in from time to time with her own jibes.

With dinner and dessert out of the way, the group moved their party back into the living room, everyone settling down in different spots. Melanie and Lindsay cuddled together on a corner of the couch. Brian sat on the opposite corner playing with a happy Gus who sat cradled in his lap. Michael had taken a spot on the floor right next to them, occasionally butting in and tickling Gus. Emmett and Ted each had spots on the floor as well, between the two lazy boys that held Debbie and Vic. Justin and Daphne were both near the tree just watching the interaction between everyone.

"Does it feel strange to you? To be in the middle of all this?" Justin asked.

Daphne smiled and shrugged. "It did at first. I mean, it's so different, you know? Our parents would die if they saw all of this extravagance. I wouldn't change it though. Here, I don't have to worry about being shunned because I don't adhere to the exact codes of the Old Order. I don't have to change myself and restrict myself to another's beliefs. They accept me, and love me, for who I am. It's amazing."

Justin nodded. He hadn't been with these people as long as Daphne had, but he felt it as well. Remembering the peppermint stick Daphne had given him earlier, he pulled it out of the front pouch of his hooded sweatshirt. Looking it over again, he unwrapped it half way, and gave it a tentative sniff. It was really thick, about an inch if anything. Shrugging, he gave it a test lick. His eyes widened at the minty sweetness. It was delicious! He stuck the end in his mouth, sucking on it greedily.

Daphne looked over at him and snorted, before giggling quietly. Justin was too funny sometimes. She looked up to see if Brian had noticed, and indeed he had. He shifted awkwardly in his spot on the couch, his gaze locked on her clueless friend. A tornado could sweep through town and decimate the house around them, and Daphne would bet her life on the fact that Brian would know nothing except Justin sucking on his peppermint stick.

Daphne elbowed the teen next to her. He looked over at her curiously before she gestured towards the brunet across the room. Justin looked up and found Brian staring at him, the look in his eyes full of desire. The light bulb went on in his brain. Pulling the stick out of his mouth slowly, he grinned at the man, licking his lips seductively. Bringing the peppermint treat back to his mouth, he closed his mouth around it, thrusting it torturously slow in and out of his mouth, watching as the hazel eyes clouded over. Brian sucked his lips into his mouth, holding his breath.

"So, how about we open some presents?" Deb asked.

Brian jumped, suddenly pulled out of his trance. Shaking his head, he focused on what was going on in the room. Justin pulled the candy out of his mouth and rewrapped the remaining bit in the plastic. Daphne and Justin looked at each other and grinned.

With everyone in agreement, they decided to hand out the gifts in shifts, each person handing out their gifts for everyone at once. Melanie and Lindsay decided to go first. Justin watched happily as everyone opened their gifts one at a time. He understood what Vic meant about everyone being happy. The smiles and joyful exclamations…this holiday was quickly becoming his favorite English celebration.

"And finally, Justin," Melanie smiled at him as she handed him a heavy, wrapped box. Justin accepted it wide-eyed. He looked at Lindsay who smiled and nodded at him, as if to say 'go ahead, open it.' Swallowing hard, he set it in his lap and went about unwrapping it.

True, he'd gone ahead and made gifts for everyone, but he never expected that he'd be the recipient of any. He'd felt that he'd gotten enough kindness and gifts from everyone just in the fact that they'd taken him in, no questions asked. As the final bit of paper fell away, he saw that it was a lovely wooden box. It was plain and smooth. Unvarnished. Lifting the lid, his eyes widen as he looked inside. There were pencils of every color, sticks of charcoal, pastels and paints. Looking up at the girls, he tried to keep the tears that threatened to spill from falling. Shutting the lid, he grinned at them brightly as he hugged the box to his chest.

"Thank you so much! I love it!"

"Well, we know you enjoy wood work, but we figured that maybe you might enjoy trying other mediums as well. I teach some art classes over at the Gay and Lesbian center, so you can come by anytime and we can work on some things," Lindsay told him happily, very glad that he liked the present.

Justin nodded, still smiling. "I'd like that."

"Ok, ok! Me next, me next!" Emmett hopped up and sashayed over to the tree. He handed out his presents one by one, saving Justin's for last as well.

"Here you go, honey. I saw this and knew it was yours!"

Justin accepted the package and tore into it happily. He saw it was a light blue sweater. Having developed a love for clothes and fashion, he grinned widely until he saw the front of his sweater. His grin faltered briefly, but he quickly recovered and kept it in place.

"Isn't it fabulous! You can show off your hot little chest with these nipple windows and the blue is perfect for your eyes! I have one just like it! We can be twins one night!"

He heard Daphne hiding a laugh behind a cough, and saw Brian lowering his head behind Gus, using his son to hide the fact that he was grinning with his tongue in his cheek. The others were doing their best to just nod supportively.

"Thanks, Em. I love it!"

And so it went. From Debbie he wound up getting one of the dreaded shirts with writing on it. It was black with white letters that said '2QT2BSTR8'. Vic signed him up for some art classes offered by an old friend of his. Ted gave him a thin square box that had a picture of a man on the cover and a silver circle inside. Daphne had told him she'd explain the mechanics of a C.D. to him later. Ted said it was opera, whatever that was supposed to mean. Mikey didn't give him anything…not that he cared.

Just as Brian was handing Gus off to Melanie, Justin stood up and interrupted, "Can I go now? Please?"

"Oh honey, you didn't have to get anyone anything!" Deb exclaimed.

"I know, but I wanted to. Besides, I didn't really buy anyone anything, I just made everyone a little something." He turned and walked to a storage closet that Deb had beneath the staircase. He'd hidden most everything there, not wanting anyone to see anything. He pulled out the presents for Deb and Vic first, each a rocking chair, stained to a beautiful deep red color, with beautiful swirling designs on the hand rests and back.

"This is for you, Deb, and this one for Vic. Thank you for everything you've done, and will probably do, for me. I appreciate it." He set a chair down next to each of them, and gave them both a hug. Going back to the closet, he grabbed Gus's next. The toy chest was big, but it had turned out exactly as he'd wanted.

Setting it by the end of the couch, he looked at Lindsay and Melanie and smiled, "When I was baby-sitting, I noticed that you guys didn't really have anything to stick the little guy's toys in, so I figured a toy box for Gus would be useful."

Lindsay and Melanie both stood up to look at the cover of the box. Justin had created a border of children's blocks and toys. In the center, he'd written out Gus's name in neat, block letters. "Justin, it's beautiful!" Lindsay exclaimed.

"Yeah, fine workmanship, Justin. It's great!" Melanie ran her fingers over the surface of the box. Smiling at them, he opened the lid and pulled out the quilt.

"I also made him this. In the colony, it's custom to make the new born children quilts that they can keep as they age. When they have their own children, the quilts get passed down, and the legacy lives on. Each square symbolizes someone in the family, so Gus will be able to look at it and see everyone that loves him."

"I need a cigarette," Brian muttered, standing up and abruptly handing Gus off to Lindsay. Justin could swear that he'd seen a glint of moisture in the man's eyes, but he wasn't sure. Shrugging it off, he pulled out one final thing from the box.

"Then this is for you two. It's a memory box. Debbie told me all about how you guys had a commitment ceremony not long before I got here. She also explained that your gay marriages weren't recognized legally. Well, to show that I support you, and that I know that your commitment to each other is no different than anyone else's, I've made this box for you to put memorabilia from your wedding in. The design on the top is an old Celtic symbol. It's a wedding knot."

Lindsay had tears falling, and Melanie just stared at the box, unable to speak. Taking it from him, she swallowed hard, before looking back up at him. "Thank you, Justin. It's beautiful." Both girls leaned over and hugged him, kissing him on the cheek as well. When they released him, Justin stepped back and looked at everyone,

"I have things for everyone, but Brian's is still in the garage. Since he's out back smoking, I'm going to go and show it to him. I'll be back and finish handing things out."

He turned and headed towards the back door, hearing the hushed murmurs beginning as soon as his back was turned. Not caring, he grabbed his jacket and walked out back. Brian was standing in the middle of the backyard staring up at the sky. Justin walked up to him silently. They just stood there that way for a few moments. Finally, Justin broke the silence, "This is kinda like the night we first kissed, only with snow." Brian didn't move at all, so Justin just went ahead and continued, "The constellations change with the seasons you know. The constellations we saw then would be different, too."

"I've missed you."

It was so quiet, that he wasn't sure the words were actually spoken until Brian turned and stared at him intensely. Justin closed the distance between them quickly and covered Brian's mouth with his own. They kissed frantically for several seconds before separating and just holding each other.

"Those gifts for Gus, they're amazing Justin."

"Yeah, I know," he pulled away grinning. "Working wood is my thing."

Brian gave him a tongue-in-cheek smirk, "Don't I know it."

Rolling his eyes, Justin pulled away laughing, "C'mon. I have something to show you." He led Brian over to the garage, eager to show the brunet his gift, but the nerves practically causing a stomach ache. Flipping on the light, he led Brian over to the corner where the pieces were propped up against the wall. Brian stared at it for several seconds, before speaking, "They're very nice…shelves?"

Rolling his eyes, Justin took a deep breath before he explained, "Brian, that night at Babylon opened my eyes to a lot of things. You have your beliefs and your ways. You've had them long before I came along, and you'll continue to have them once I've gone. When I walked in and saw what I saw, I was hurt. I felt betrayed. I come from a place where they teach us that love is between two people and that's it. Specifically a man and woman, but whatever; their details may be a little skewed, but those aren't important," he joked, rolling his eyes. He got serious again and continued, "Regardless, those are the beliefs that I hold, and those are my ways. What happened that night was that we both tried entirely too hard to convince the other to see things our own way.

"Well, that can't happen; it won't happen. I don't have to, and don't plan to for that matter, change my opinions to suit you. I've done that for far too long, and I just can't do it any more. The point of Rumspringa is for me to find myself and be true to myself. On the same note, the same goes for you. That being the case, while I may not subscribe to the same beliefs and opinions as you, that doesn't mean I can't understand them. When you are with other people, it's different from when you are with me. I'm different. You care about me. While I may not approve of your activities, I won't demonize you or criticize you for them. Monogamy is not what defines love I realize, it's the emotions and actions between two people that do. I don't want to be with other people, but I understand that you have your reasons for needing it.

"That being the case, I've made a bed. The bed you have in your loft has been involved in many," he paused, searching for a word, "clandestine activities. It's tainted, it's dirty. I believe what we have is better than that. I can deal with what you need to do, as long as it doesn't occur in the bed that we share. This gift isn't just for you, it's for us. This will be strictly ours."

Brian stood there, looking between the pieces of wood and Justin. "What will I do with the one I have?"

Justin shrugged. "Burn it?" he suggested, smiling innocently. Brian rolled his eyes. Putting his arm around Justin's neck, he pulled the teen close kissing him softly, eyes open.

"You've got a deal, Sunshine."

Justin smiled his brightest and happiest smile before attacking Brian's mouth hungrily. Pulling away reluctantly, he pulled Brian back towards the house. "I've got to finish giving out the gifts, then it's your turn."

They walked in hand in hand. Deb caught Justin's attention and winked at him. Justin grinned back at her, unbelievably happy. He walked back to the closet and pulled out his remaining gifts.

He walked over to Michael and tossed his at him. The short man looked at it, his brow furrowing. "What the fuck am I going to do with a wooden butt plug? Are you trying to kill me, you asshole?"

Justin stared at him in confusion. He rolled his eyes. Using Daphne's favorite name for the rude man, he replied, "It's a door stop, you dumb ass." Turning to Ted and making an effort to ignore Michael as everyone chuckled, Justin handed him his present, smiling.

Ted looked at it, turning it over in his hands, "A shoe horn?" he asked.

A pink tint colored Justin's cheeks as he shook his head. "It's uh, a protector. For uh, your," the blond paused, gesturing to his crotch. Ted looked confused for a moment, before he understood. Turning bright red himself, he sputtered a bit before thanking Justin and sticking it in his pocket. Brian was the first to realize what he meant and he started laughing.

"Ted, you'll never have to worry about getting your dick caught in your zipper again!"

Still red, Ted glared at Brian. "Yeah, perfect. Just perfect. As if you weren't enough, your protégé takes shots at me too. Calm, well-meaning Amish, my ass."

The others started laughing as the significance as the gift became clear to them. Justin stared at Ted, eyes wide, "Ted, I'm not making fun. Honest. It just sounded so painful, and the teeth on those things look so dangerous. I thought it would help."

Ted looked at Justin and noticed the genuine expression on the kid's face. His anger faded a bit. He shrugged, "Such is my life, kid. Don't worry about it." Ted studied the present a bit. "So do you have a name for it?" he asked.

"Well I thought 'Cock Blocker' worked," Justin replied shrugging.

Brian snorted, "As if Ted needs another one of those. His personality does it well enough."

Justin smiled weakly before turning to Emmett. He handed him a wind chime he'd made. It was a swirling design, made out of hollowed out pieces of wood painted in the colors of the rainbow. When the pieces clinked together, they made a soft thunking.

"If you put it by the window, when the wind blows through, they'll make a whistling noise as they thunk."

"Honey, it's fabulous! I love it!" Emmett stood up and wrapped his arm around Justin, kissing the boy on the cheek. Brian walked over and casually removed Emmett's arm and replaced it with his own, sending the lanky man a look over Justin's head. Emmett went back and took his seat, not wanting to mess with a jealous Kinney.

Justin turned to Daphne. He moved out from under Brian's arm and kneeled in front of the girl.

"Daphne, you've been absolutely amazing to me throughout this whole experience. When I first came, you bought me clothes and took me under your wing. You've had unbelievable patience, you helped me find a job, and you've shown me around. You were the one that asked about the bike for me so that I would have a way to get around. You've been an amazing friend. You were there every time something's gone wrong, and every time something's gone right. Without you, this experience wouldn't be the same. I tried to think of the perfect gift for you. This is all I could come up with. You know the strict customs of our Ordnung, so you know what this means. It's been in my family for years, passed from man to his woman. Though I will not marry, I know that our lives will remain intertwined and that apart from those in this wonderful family that has taken me in," he paused to give Deb, Mel, and Lindsay each a smile, "you are the only other woman that is in my heart. With that said, I give this to you, a symbol of our friendship."

He opened his hand and held out an old pocket watch. It was silver and tarnished, definitely reflecting its age. Daphne knew what the meaning of this was back in the colony. When a man proposed to a woman, he gave her a clock or china. Justin was not proposing, but it was a beautiful symbol of his platonic love for her. She lifted it out of his hands as a tear fell down her cheek. Looking at it briefly, she locked eyes with Justin. Giving him a watery smile, she flung her arms around him and hugged tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Pulling away, she glanced around the room shyly. She unconsciously clutched the watch close to her heart. It was the nicest present anyone had ever given her.

"All right," Brian cleared his throat, "I'll go next." Justin sat back down on the floor next to Daphne to watch as Brian handed out his gifts. In the midst of it, he looked over at Deb, who mouthed silently. "I'm proud of you." He grinned in response.

"Hey Sunshine, you're up." Brian called out; gesturing to the tall, thin box Justin had noticed when he first had arrived. Standing up, he walked over to it, staring curiously. Brian pushed him towards it lightly, grinning. Shrugging, Justin pulled the top off the box, and the sides fell away. He paled, before turning a deep shade of red. Looking at Brian, he sputtered before running out of the room. Everyone stared at his back, Debbie vocalizing what they were all thinking, "What the fuck was that about?"

Brian ran after him, not understanding why the blond was so upset. He heard a door slam shut upstairs and followed the sound. Walking up to the door to Justin's bedroom, he knocked.

"How could you!" Justin yelled from the other side.

"What the fuck are you talking about, Justin?"

"You know how embarrassed I was! How you could mock me like that?" the young man cried.

"Justin, quit being so fucking dramatic and thinking ass backwards. I wasn't making fun. I was being fucking selfish. I want to watch your hot little Amish ass churn butter for me."

There was silence for several seconds before he heard the lock on the door click and it opened a bit. Red rimmed blue eyes looked out at him, "Really?"

Brian rolled his eyes, "Would I lie about fucking?" Justin chuckled. He opened the door wider and walked out, "Ok, sorry. So I'm a bit sensitive about it." Brian grinned at him and shook his head.

"Do you still have your Amish clothes in there? Because I have this really hot idea…"

A door slammed downstairs, and they heard Debbie yelling obscenities. Justin looked up at Brian, confused. Shrugging, Brian grabbed his hand and pulled him down the steps. When they reached the landing, Justin saw a tall lanky guy with nearly shaved dark brown hair standing in the entryway.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Justin looked at Brian wondering what warranted the angry tones.

"Hey asshole. What? Are you guys going to tell me that none of you missed me? Why, I'm hurt!"

"Cody, you know how we all feel about you, so do us all a fucking favor and LEAVE!" Daphne marched over to the entryway from her spot in the living room. The whole family was congregated in the small area.

"Shut the fuck up, you dumb bitch," the kid replied. Justin's eyes widened and he stepped out from behind Brian.

"Hey! Don't call her that."

The guy turned to him, looking him over. "You must be their latest acquisition."

Justin shifted awkwardly under the scrutiny. "So?" he asked edgily.

"Look Cody, you left here after playing your game. Just leave, we don't want no trouble. It's Christmas."

"Well, look at you, Deb. Every faggot on Liberty Avenue's surrogate mother."

Brian stepped forward, grabbing Cody just above the elbow in an attempt to push him out. Cody spun out of his grasp.

"Don't fucking touch me, you piece of shit whore. I'll leave when I'm ready to fucking leave."

Justin felt this feeling building up inside of him. He didn't know exactly what it was, but he could feel himself starting to shake. This asshole was being unbelievably rude.

"I'm calling the cops," Melanie stepped out of the doorway and headed for the kitchen.

"Like I'm afraid of the fucking cops," Cody shouted at Melanie's retreating back.

Cody laughed hysterically, before he spun in a circle slowly, looking at all of the people that surrounded him. He stopped when he noticed Lindsay holding Gus.

"No fucking way." He looked from Lindsay to Brian a couple of times. "You did it. I can't believe you fucking did it. Poor kid, he's fucking doomed. Not only does he have muncher genes, but he's got white trash thrown in. Honestly Lindsay, you're so above him…why would you go slumming for sperm. You could have gotten it from damn near anyone, and you settle for the Liberty whore."

Before Justin could reconsider, he grabbed Cody's arm and spun him around so that he was facing him. Not even thinking, he pulled his arm back and punched Cody right in the nose. From there, everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Lindsay, Deb, and Emmett all shrieked as blood poured out of Cody's nose. Brian grabbed the young man by the collar, threw open the door, and tossed him out on his ass. Daphne began to clap and laugh simultaneously, and he sat heavily on the third step of the stairs, his face contorted in pain as he cradled the hand he'd used to punch with against his chest.

"Fuck," he hissed rocking back and forth.

"Holy shit, Justin! That was amazing! I can't believe you did that!" Daphne exclaimed, practically hopping from foot to foot with glee.

"Justin, come on," Brian put his arm around his waist and lifted him to his feet, moving him into the kitchen. Taking him to the sink, he made Justin wash off a bit of blood that had gotten on him under the cool water. "Deb, can you wrap some ice in a towel or something?" Brian asked over his shoulder.

"Sure thing, honey. Oh Sunshine, I can't believe you just did that. I don't know whether to thank and congratulate you, or yell at you because violence shouldn't be the answer."

"And to think, it was all in the name of defending Brian's honor," Ted snarked from the doorway to the kitchen.

"Shut the fuck up, Ted," Brian demanded from his position at the sink, his brow furrowed as he glared at the plain looking man.

Melanie, who'd hung up the phone the minute everyone rushed into the kitchen, walked over to the sink to examine Justin's hand. "I hope you broke his fucking nose," she whispered.

"Melanie!" Lindsay hissed, lightly jiggling a crying Gus.

"That was just so romantic!" Emmett sighed, leaning against the refrigerator. Rolling his eyes and shutting off the water, Brian led Justin over to the kitchen table. Sitting him down, the brunet accepted the towel with ice that Deb held out to him. Placing it gently over Justin's bruised knuckles, he arched an eyebrow at the blond.

"So, what do you have to say for yourself, Sunshine?"

Justin grimaced before he looked at the faces staring at him around the room. Coming back to Brian, he replied, "I can see why none of you liked the asshole."

The tension left the room as everyone began to laugh.

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