Blended

Chapter 12

********

Monday, afternoon…

"You want to wear a dress?" Brian asked as he looked at his daughter. Junior stood up on the closed toilet seat with Brian's help, her toothbrush dangling out of her mouth.

"Yes, I do wanna wear a pwetty dress, like Dora," Junior said happily, toothpaste dripping onto her chin. Brian wiped the toothpaste off with a piece of toilet paper and took the toothbrush in his hand. "I want it ta be yewwo," she said happily, her hands rising into the air dramatically.

"Yellow," Brian said. "Do you even have a yellow dress?" Junior nodded her head quickly as Brian brushed her teeth and helped her rinse.

"Yeah, cause… cause daddy boughted me one," Junior said as she stepped on her left foot with her right. "I do really wanna wear dat dress." Brian held onto her arm as he helped her rinse and jump down off of the toilet.

Brian searched through her closet, pushing all the clothes out of the way. He found the dress, white on the top and yellow at the bottom. He pulled it off the hanger. "Your legs are going to turn into popsicles," Brian said. Junior giggled as Brian helped her into her yellow dress.

Junior jumped over to the mirror in her room and smoothed her hands over the front of her dress.

"I do like dis dress," Junior said as she walked back over to Brian. He brushed and combed her hair, adding a yellow barrette. He was a thousand times better at the hair thing than he had been when she was little.

"You look very, very pretty… if, I don't say so myself," Brian said. Junior smiled up at him, kissed his cheek and pressed the tip of her index finger to his before running to her closet to get her shoes.

********

"Happy birthday," Lindsay said to Junior as she opened the door. "How old are you now?" Junior counted out the right number of fingers on her right hand and turned them around so that Lindsay could see.

"I'm free," she said with a huge smile on her face. "My daddy had babies," Junior added out of nowhere.

"Wow, three years old and a big sister. You are such a big girl now," Lindsay told her as she gave her a kiss. "Aunt Melanie is in the kitchen, why don't you go and see if she needs your help, okay?" Brian put her down and they both watched as she ran off to the kitchen.

"Oh, aren't you excited?" Lindsay asked.

"Yeah, my heart's all a flutter," Brian answered. Lindsay gave him a small tap to the arm and smiled at him.

"Happy birthday," they heard Melanie say loudly. Lindsay latched onto Brian's arm as she guided him into the living room. Decorations were everywhere. The guys were sitting on the sofa stuffing goodie bags.

********

"Who in the fuck's idea was this?" Brian asked as he drank the last of his punch, grimacing as the last of the sugar water made its way down his throat.

"I have no idea," Michael said as they watched the Dora character dance around the room, the kids happily following. "The kids seem to be having fun."

"They could be watching a wall and they'd be having fun," Brian said lazily as the Dora danced past him. Junior smiled over at her dad and uncles. "Fuck," Brian said under his breath, "wave at my daughter, and make it look like you are having the best fucking time in the world," Brian said as they all smiled and waved back.

Ted walked over to the couch and stood in front of Brian, Michael and Emmett. "Oh, baby," Emmett said with a suppressed laugh, "what happened?"

"Forget to unzip?" Brian asked as he tapped his empty plastic cup against his thigh. Michael just shook his head as Ted looked down at his crotch and back up at them.

"It seems," Ted said as he made himself a space between Brian and the arm of the couch, "that Junior has the same sense of humor as her father." Emmett and Ted let out a laugh and Brian wrapped his arm around Ted, smiling over at him.

"Now Ted, we cannot help that you are such an easy target," Brian said. Ted stared at Brian as Brian smiled over at him.

"Fuck off," Ted said with a shrug of his shoulder. Brian took his arms from around Ted and sucked in a deep breath. "I don't know why someone would think to arm a room of three and four year olds with water guns."

Brian laughed, knowing it had been him. His own personal 'fuck you' to Mel for the Exercise Elmo that she had so happily dropped off at the loft. Just his luck Junior loved the fucking thing. "I am so fucking bored. This party sucks," Brian said.

Michael laughed at his best friend as he looked through one of the goodie bags that they had been in charge of stuffing. "Don't even think about playing the B-52's and spiking the punch," Michael said as he pulled out a lollipop and pulled the wrapper off.

"Hell, with all the sugar and shit that they consume on a daily basis I am sure they could handle it," Brian said.

"Yeah," Emmett said as they all looked at the kids in front of them, filling every space of the living room, dining room and kitchen, "but could you handle their parents?"

They all looked around the room at the numerous lesbians helping the kids play games. "We could probably take on one or two," Brian said as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Who said anything about we?" Emmett asked.

"Pussy," Brian said as Junior came running up to him. Brian put his hand out, stopping her before she could reach him. "What's in your hand??" Brian asked. Junior opened her hand and Brian saw the flattened piece of cake.

"Cake," Junior said happily. Chocolate cake was all around her mouth, on her clothes and in her hair. It was even up her nose.

"Why is it in your hand?" Brian asked with a laugh.

"I broughted you some," she said as she thrust the cake up into Brian's face. Brian closed his eyes as he felt the chocolate on his face. "Dad, you havta eat it in your mouf,' " Junior said as she rested her chocolate covered hand on Brian's jean covered leg.

"Fuck," Brian said, his eyes popping open. He looked down at the hand on his leg and the smiling face in front of him. Junior stood there, fumbling with her pocket. Brian wasn't paying her any attention as he snatched a napkin out of Emmett's hand and wiped off his face and jeans.

"Dad," Junior said as she moved closer to Brian, his hand too busy to keep her at bay. "Can you take it off?" Brian looked down to see his daughter prying the stopper out of the back of the small water gun. He reached out just as the stopper popped off, dousing his leg with water.

He took the gun. Revenge was not supposed to backfire on him. "Ahhh," Ted said, "now that's funny."

Brian glared at Ted as he got up. "Come on, let's get you all cleaned up. Or, at least try to," Brian said as he steered Junior toward the bathroom.

********

"Are you guys having fun?" Lindsay asked as she walked over to the small group on the couch. Melanie walked up and stood next to her partner.

"Thanks a lot for the water guns, asshole," Melanie said as she looked at Brian.

"You're welcome," Brian said as he looked at his watch. Daphne walked over and flung herself into the empty chair next to the couch.

"This party fucking sucks," Daphne said as she ate the leftovers of Damien's cake. She had finally abandoned her post as the blind folder at the pin the tail on the donkey. Damien walked up to her before she could take another bite.

"Mommy, I was gonna eat that," Damien said. Daphne sighed and gave the plate back to her son, rolling her eyes.

"Eat it all if you want it, stop playing with it." Damien walked back over to the table and sat down. "Shit, now I don't even have cake," Daphne said with a huff. Lindsay and Melanie laughed as they walked back over to the kids. "When is this over?"

"I'm afraid you have at least another hour," Emmett said. Daphne dropped her head onto the back of her chair and closed her eyes. Brian rolled his bottom lip into his mouth as his cell phone started to ring.

"Kinney," he answered. Justin smiled as he heard the bored, irritated tone in his husband's voice.

"Hey," Justin said as he burped Pilot. The nurse came in to check on the babies, stopping when she saw him on the phone. He smiled at her as she turned and left. "You sound like you are having a ball."

"The time of my life, what's up?" Brian asked.

"Just wanted to see how everything was going," Justin said as he shifted Pilot up higher on his shoulder. Brian filled him in on everything he was missing, smirking when he heard the disappointment in Justin's voice.

"Don't worry, sunshine, I have been taking pictures," Brian said as she looked at Ted taking pictures with his camera. "You'll have plenty to see." Brian hung up the phone and stuffed it back into his pocket.

"How's Justin?" Michael asked.

"Fine, just a little upset that he's not here," Brian said.

"Poor baby," Emmett said. Brian looked at his watch one last time and over at his daughter. He looked over at the backdoor and wondered if he could sneak out and have a cigarette without being caught. Daphne sat her head up and caught his stare.

"Don't even think about it. They'll see you," Daphne said. "They always see you."

"Tried already?" Ted asked with a small movement of his head.

"Yeah… twice," Daphne said.

********

"I got to tell daddy about all my pwesents," Junior said excitedly as she walked along next to Brian. They had driven to the hospital straight from from her birthday party, happily leaving the girls to clean up the mess.

Her dress was covered in juice and stains from the chocolate cake. Brian had groaned as he watched the once clean shirt take on a new design. "You can also tell him how you ended up looking like a canvas," Brian said under his breath as they reached the elevators.

"I can do it," Junior screamed out as they stepped into the elevator. Before Brian could press the button that would take them up to the maternity ward Junior lurched forward, lighting up the display panel as she quickly pressed four buttons. "Heehee," Junior grinned as she looked up at Brian's face.

"Next time let me push the buttons, okay?" Brian asked as they stopped on the third floor. Junior looked at her reflection in the control panel and looked down at her shirt.

"Daddy lets me do it," she said as she rubbed at the stains on her dress with her palm. "He lets me push all da buttons. Dere's juice on my dress," she said as they finally reached the maternity ward and got off the elevator.

Brian picked his daughter up and walked with her over to the sealed double doors.

"I know, there's cake too," Brian said as he pointed to a chocolate stain on her clothes. Junior looked down at her dress and tried to rub the stain away. Brian adjusted her on his hip and pressed the white button on the intercom. He heard the door unlock and he pulled the handle open.

"Where are all da babies?" Junior asked as they walked down the quiet hallway, the sounds of babies crying breaking the silence every so often.

"Shh, you have to talk quietly in here," Brian said as he reached Justin's door and knocked lightly.

"Come in," Justin said. Brian pushed the door open and closed it behind him. "Hey!"

"Daddy," Junior said happily as she tried to wiggle out of Brian's arms. Justin adjusted himself on the bed and turned the TV off. Brian walked over and plopped Junior down on the bed. Justin hugged her and gave her a big kiss.

"Special delivery," Brian said as he kissed Justin on the lips and ran his hand over his hair. Brian tossed the white bag on the bed next to Justin and sat in the chair.

"Thanks," Justin said as he took the bag and sat it on his food tray. He was starving and the hospital food was the last thing on his list of things to eat. "So, baby girl, tell me all about your birthday party. You look very pretty in your dress."

"Like Dora," Junior said happily with a smile.

"Yeah," Justin said, "just like Dora."

Junior sat up on her knees in front of Justin and launched into her story. She told him about the games and the puzzles and the presents she got. She also told him that Dora had come to her birthday party, just to see her. "Yeah, thank you for that," Brian said sarcastically as he folded his arms.

"Would you have preferred a clown?" Justin asked. Brian smirked as he thought about it. Given the choice he preferred Dora. "I didn't think so."

"And you know what else, daddy?" Junior asked as she pressed on his chest. Justin took her hands in his and guided her hands off of his chest, the stretching hurting his incision. "You know what?"

"What's that?" Justin asked.

"I gotteded…"

"Got," Brian corrected with a laugh.

"I got a bike," she said happily. Justin gasped.

"You did?" He asked excitedly, even though he knew she was getting a bike. It was so small it was barely off the ground. Brian had spent hours putting it together before taking it over to Mel and Lindsay's house and storing it in the garage. "Wow."

"And… and… and…." Junior stuttered as she tried to catch her breath. Brian and Justin were starting to suspect that she had asthma. "I got a wagon."

"You did? And who got you a wagon?" Justin asked as he looked at Brian.

"Dad," she said as she bounced on the bed. Justin looked at Brian and shook his head.

"What?" Brian said. "You knew I was going to go back and get it." Justin laughed. Race started to fidget in the small plastic crib before he started to cry. His screams were harsh and loud, demanding attention. Brian got up and picked up the small baby just as Pilot started to scream, competing with his brother.

Junior looked over at the small babies in her dad's arms and smiled. She had forgotten why they were there in the first place. She got excited as Brian handed Race to Justin.

"This is your brother, Race," Justin said as he pulled Junior closer to him and let her see the baby.

"Race," Junior repeated as she looked at her brother and touched his hand. Brian leaned forward and let her see Pilot.

"This is Pilot," Brian told her. Junior looked from one of her brothers to the other.

"It's da same," Junior said confused as she pointed from Race to Pilot. Justin and Brian laughed. The two boys were identical, sandy blond hair and matching crystal blue eyes.

"Yes, they are the same," Justin told her. Junior happily helped Justin feed the babies as Brian and Justin talked.

"The doctor's letting me out tomorrow," Justin said as he took a bite of the burger that Brian had brought him. Junior was stretched out on the bed next to him, sleeping soundly.

"I thought he said Wednesday," Brian said as he looked over at his sleeping sons. Justin swallowed and shrugged.

"He said since I was doing alright and I was ready to leave that he would release me." Brian nodded his understanding and looked at his watch. It was getting late and he had to put Junior to bed.

********

Monday, night…

"But… but, why?" Junior asked as Brian washed her hair. Brian poured the last bit of water over her head and took a deep breath.

"Because," Brian offered. He knew it wasn't an answer, but he was tired.

"But… why? I want to stand up too," Junior pressed.

"Because, you don't have a penis," Brian finally said as he washed her face. He filed this moment away as reason number one why he should not piss in the same bathroom as his daughter.

"Why?"

"Because you're a girl," Brian said as he helped her stand up. He picked her up and helped her dry off. Brian moved them into her room so he could finish getting her ready for bed.

"Can I get a pennes too?" Junior asked as Brian slid her shirt over her head.

"I don't know about that," Brian said, "but if Melanie is any indication you can sure get a set of balls."

********

Junior lay on the bed with her pillow over her head. Her white tee shirt was pushed up, revealing her tummy and rainbow colored underwear. "I don't very much want to go to bed," Junior said as she kicked her feet against the cool sheets.

Brian turned around, smirking at his daughter's speech. He held up two books. "Which one?" Brian asked. Junior took the pillow off of her face and stood up quickly.

"Da Capitiller," she said loudly.

"You always pick this one," Brian said as he walked over and flopped himself down on Junior's bed.

"I do like da capitiller," Junior said as she sat down, her back against Brian's chest and her hair in his face. Brian moved her hair out of his face as she tucked her legs under her body.

"I know you do," Brian said as he kissed her cheek. "Why wouldn't you, its all about food." Junior yawned as Brian got comfortable on his side and opened the book.

"In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf," Brian read. Junior kicked her legs out from under her and pointed at the picture in the book, almost knocking it out of Brian's hands.

"Look it dad, dat's da moooooon," Junior said as she pointed to the book and then out her window where the moon was shining brightly.

"I see," Brian said as Junior lay down on her stomach to look at the book.

"I want ta beeeeeeee da moon," Junior said dramatically. Brian laughed.

"But if you're the moon you can't drink chocolate milk," Brian pointed out. Junior stared over at him, the wheels in her head turning. Junior's most favorite thing in the world, besides her bear, was chocolate milk. They had Hunter, Trey, Ricky and Charlie to thank for that addiction.

"I love choc' late milk," Junior said. "I do not want to be da moon if I can't have choc' late milk," Junior concluded.

"That's good, because daddy and I would miss you if you were the moon," Brian said as he tickled her side. Junior giggled, her hair moving into her face. "One Sunday morning," Brian read, "the warm sun came up and -pop!-out of the egg came a tiny and very hungry caterpillar."

"Da SUN," Junior screamed. "Da SUN like daddy," she giggled her own sunshine smile in full effect.

"Yeah, the sun like daddy," Brian said as he turned the page. "He started to look for some food." Junior pointed at the caterpillar, her other hand worrying the pages of the rectangular book.

"On Monday he ate through one apple. But he was still hungry. On Tuesday he ate through two pears, but he was still hungry. On Wednesday he ate through three plums, but he was still hungry," Brian read. Junior yawned again and touched the picture of the strawberries as Brian turned the page.

"Look… strarries. I like strarries. I don't even like plooms," Junior said as she kicked her foot out, catching Brian in the crotch.

"Shit," Brian said as he buried his face in his daughter's hair. "Plums," he breathed as he tried to recover. Junior just waited patiently for him to keep reading.

Brian read about the strawberries and the oranges, pausing when Junior took in a breath of air. "I like oranges," she said.

"I know you do," Brian said as he twirled her hair around his finger. "I've bought enough of them to know," he said with a smile.

"Can I have some oranges on da marrow?" Junior asked as she played with Brian's earlobe.

"Yeah," Brian said as he read about the chocolate cake, pickle, salami, cheese, and all the other foods that the caterpillar ate.

"What's a salalami?"

"It's a type of meat," Brian said as he looked at her.

"Like hotdogs?" Junior asked proudly.

"Like Bologna," Brian said with a nod of his head.

"I don't even like balloknees," Junior said as she crinkled her nose, so much like Justin.

"You don't?" Brian asked. Junior shook her head adamantly. "Grandma Jen makes you Bologna sandwiches all the time," Brian said knowingly.

"I only even like her Balloknees," Junior said. Brian laughed as he pointed at the caterpillar.

"Oh no, the caterpillar has a tummy ache," Brian said. Junior opened her mouth, her tiny mind hanging on the suspense, even though she'd heard the same story every night for the past two weeks. Brian had bought the book on one of their weekly trips to the bookstore, and had been reading it ever since.

"The next day was Sunday again. The caterpillar ate through one nice green leaf, and after that he felt much better," Brian read.

Junior turned into Brian's chest, pulling her knees up. Brian instinctively moved his hips back a bit, protecting his manhood. Brian kissed her on the top of the head as he read the rest of the book. He had tried, once before, to stop reading when she drifted off but she always woke up wanting to hear the rest.

"… And he was a beautiful butterfly," Brian finished as he closed the book. He looked down at his sleeping daughter, kissed her on the cheek and slid out of the bed. He adjusted her in the bed and pulled the covers over her body.

Brian turned her nightlight on, the small cube projecting images of stars, moons and hearts onto the walls.

Junior opened her eyes just as Brian reached her door. "Dad," Junior said sleepily. Brian looked over at her, the muted light making her visible.

"Yeah, baby girl?" Brian asked. Junior held out her arm, her hand balled up into a fist, and extended her index finger.

Brian gave a small smile and moved back over to his daughter, extending his own index finger. The father and daughter pressed the tips of their fingers together, an action that started before she was one year old. "Love you," Brian said softly.

"Al'ays have… al'ays will," Junior said as she let her eyelids flutter closed.

Justin had laughed as Brian sat with their daughter, repeating the phrase over and over, but Brian was persistent. It was their thing.

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