Blended

Chapter 19

********

Justin leaned back on the bed and watched as Brian got dressed, tapping his pen against his notepad. "Do you think we're forgetting anything?" He asked as Brian walked into the bathroom.

"I hate this fucking tie," Brian said as he walked out of the bathroom, pulling the tie from around his neck. He tossed it on the bed and Justin scoffed as it landed on his notebook. Justin rolled his eyes as he sat up.

Brian pulled another tie out of the closet and slid it around his neck. "Brian, are you even listening to me?" Justin asked as he watched Pilot and Race quickly walk past their bedroom door.

"Unfortunately," Brian answered with a smirk. He frowned as he looked at himself in the mirror before pulling the tie from around his neck and unbuttoning her shirt. "Well?" He asked as he turned to Justin with his arms stretched out.

Justin rolled his eyes.

********

Junior was on the sofa curled up in a tight ball, her head resting comfortably on her teddy bear's tummy. She laughed as she watched the cartoons move across the screen. She sat up when her tummy grumbled for the second time.

"Ugh," she exaggerated as she rolled herself off of the sofa and onto the floor.

She padded across the floor in her pink tee shirt, yellow panties and bare feet. She kneeled on the bottom step and looked up just in time to see Pilot and Race at the top. "DADDY," she said loudly, "daddy, can I have some breakfast?"

Pilot plopped down on the top step and started to scoot down. "Ja," he said happily as he moved down the stairs toward his sister.

"Did dad say you could come down here already?" She asked as she wiggled around on the step. Race stayed at the top, his feet kicking repeatedly against the second step as he held onto a corner of his blanket.

Junior moved up one step and yelled again, this time trying Brian. "DAD," she called as she leaned her head on the stair.

********

"You look great. You always do," Justin said as Brian walked over and leaned in front of him. Justin breathed in deeply as Brian pressed their lips together.

"DAD," they both heard as Junior fought to get their attention. Brian pulled back and Justin moaned.

"Just as well, I have a meeting," Brian said with a smile as he reached out and helped Justin off the bed.

********

Justin walked out of the bedroom in front of Brian, scooping up Race as he made it to the stairs. "Walking all the way up the stairs was too much?" Justin asked his daughter with a laugh as he made his way down the stairs. He stepped between Pilot and Junior and stood Race on the floor.

"Dad'y," Race cried as Justin put him down. He started to whine as he followed Justin into the kitchen.

Brian followed Justin into the kitchen, with Junior hanging from his right hand. "Dad, are we going to have presents and cakes… and, and umm, ice creams and… and… and." Junior got distracted as something flashed across the television screen.

"Da," Pilot screeched as he stood at Brian's feet. Brian bent down and picked up Pilot as he waited for his coffee. Junior was still trailing his every movement as her attention flooded between the television and talking about her party.

"We can't have a party without cake," Justin reassured her as he filled three bowls with cereal. Brian gathered his things together and pulled on his jacket. Junior followed behind him and helped him slide the loft door open.

Junior jumped from the loft to the foyer again and again as Brian held the door open. "Wish me luck," Brian said as he stepped out of the loft. Justin smirked as he held the milk in his hand.

"I'll think about it," he smiled sarcastically.

Brian closed the loft door and Justin walked towards it slowly with the biggest smile on his face. He reached the door just as it slid back open. Brian stood on the other side with a giggling Junior held outstretched in his arms. "You should really pay more attention to where your children are?"

"Hmm, and here I thought she was with her father," Justin played along.

"Hi daddy," she giggled as Brian handed her to Justin after kissing her cheek. Justin took his daughter and closed the door.

"You know, it's a good thing you didn't get too far. You would have frozen your butt off out there with no pants on… and no shoes," Justin said as he tickled her feet.

"My butt all the way off," she laughed as Justin let her go.

Junior walked around the table to her chair. Pilot trailed slowly behind her while Race stood crying at Justin's feet. She stopped next to her chair and pulled it out, leaving just enough room for herself. She started to climb into the seat as Pilot made his way into the chair from the other side.

"No, Pilot, get down," Junior said as she got back on the floor.

Pilot ignored his sister as he pulled himself into the chair and mumbled a, "No." Junior frowned as she stepped even closer to the chair and started to climb up.

"Pilot, get down, GET…DOWN," she said as she tried to push him out. He held on tightly to the front and side of the chair.

Junior frowned as she wrapped her arms around her baby brother, dropping him to the floor with a loud smack. Pilot let out a shrill scream as Junior climbed into the chair.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH," he screamed as he stood up and tried to push her out of the chair before resorting to hitting at her and trying to bite her on her bare leg.

"OUCH, don't… bite me," Junior said as she got off of the chair and pushed her baby brother away from her. Race flopped himself down on the hardwood floor and cried as Justin refused to pick him up.

"I can't," Justin moved to the refrigerator to put the milk away, "I can't pick you up right now, I need my hands. You're a big boy." Justin looked over at Junior and Pilot. They fought over the same chair every morning.

"Pilot, that's Junior's chair. You're gonna sit in your highchair," Justin said as he moved to get some spoons, carefully stepping over Race's legs.

Pilot looked down at his pajamas and angrily pulled on his own clothes as Junior tried to bite him back. They bumped into the chair as they moved around the floor, knocking it down.

"Hey, hey," Justin said as he got close to the moving ball of limbs. He sat the two bowls he was holding on the table and bent down to pick up his son. Pilot kicked his legs as he was raised into the air, a handful of Junior's hair held tightly in his fist.

"My hair, ahh," Junior cried as she moved forward. Justin pried her hair out of Pilot's hand and knelt down on the floor. He moved the hair out of her face and patted her back. She sniffed as she frowned, her head hurting a little.

"No, no, no," Pilot said as he too frowned, both children looking so much like Brian. Justin made sure her head was okay as he looked at Pilot.

"You don't pull your sisters hair, NO," he said to his son as he turned to Junior. "And I have told you about fighting your brother," he said as he got up and secured Pilot in his highchair. Justin helped Junior up and sat her in her chair as he went to get Race and the other bowl of cereal.

Justin reached for the coffeepot as Junior, Pilot and Race sat laughing and eating their breakfast. He leaned against the counter and enjoyed the few minutes of quiet in between rounds.

********

Justin strapped Pilot into the stroller and grabbed Junior's hand as they crossed the parking lot. "Daddy, you know what? Trees get naked when it falls down," she informed Justin as they walked into her school.

Justin laughed as he followed his daughter down the hall. "Trees leaves fall off in the fall, it's a season," Justin corrected her. Junior held onto the straps of her backpack as they walked.

"Yes," she said as she agreed.

Pilot twisted in the stroller and looked up at Justin. "Cup, da'y, cup," he said as he reached up with both hands. Justin handed him his cup as Junior reached her classroom and quickly walked through the open door. Justin followed behind her and watched as she ran to Alissa and hugged the small girl.

"She's been doing a lot better," Mr. Jones said. Justin turned to face the teacher. Mr. Jones spoke briefly to the boys before turning his attention back to Justin.

"We talked to her about paying attention, she seemed to understand," Justin said. Mr. Jones had spoken to him before about Junior. She wasn't paying attention in class and called out frequently. Brian and Justin had talked to her.

"Well, it seems to have worked. I still have to remind her to listen and pay attention, but that's understandable," he said as Justin handed Race his cup. "I think she should be fine, she really is a good girl… just, extremely energetic and umm, rough," he laughed.

They talked for a few more minutes before Mr. Jones moved away to start getting the kids in order. Junior ran over to Justin and gave him a hug as he knelt in front of her. "Daddy, is Alissa coming to my party?" She asked as he wiped some stray toothpaste off of her face.

"Yeah," Justin said, "she is. Make sure you listen to Mr. Jones, okay," Justin said as he gave her a hug. Junior hugged him and took her book bag out of his hand.

"Yup, yup," she said happily as she danced away. Justin sighed as he watched the student teacher try to help Junior get herself settled. Just like Brian she refused the young girl's help. Justin released the brake on the double stroller and wheeled it out of the room.

********

"What's in your mouth?" Justin asked Pilot as they waited inside the bakery for the cake. Pilot looked up at Justin, his hat pulled down over his ears. Race was sitting in the double stroller next to him playing happily with a toy that Justin had given him.

Pilot kept his mouth sealed shut as he looked at Justin. "Do you have something in your mouth?" Justin asked again as he looked down into swirling blue eyes. "Let me see."

Justin moved closer to him and pushed his fingers into his mouth, staying clear of the teeth that were trying to bite him.

He frowned as he felt something hard. "What is… spit it out," Justin said as he held his hand under Pilot's mouth. Pilot watched him for a few seconds before opening his mouth.

Five of Justin's very expensive erasers fell out of his mouth in a ball of spit and chewed up food.

Justin frowned. "How long have you had these in your mouth?" Race started to babble and squirm as Pilot started to cry. They had been out all day getting ready for the party and they were both tired and cranky.

Justin sighed and wrapped the erasers in a napkin before sliding them into his pocket.

********

Brian waited outside Junior's school smoking a cigarette. He ignored the stares of the other parents as they drank him in. He pushed off of the car when he saw Junior walk out of the double doors. He dropped the cigarette to the ground and stubbed it out.

Brian smiled as she looked up and finally saw him. "DAD," she screamed as she ran toward him.

"Hey munchkin," Brian said as he picked her up. Junior smiled as she held up the piece of construction paper that she had been holding. Brian frowned as he noticed the cut on her lip. He stood her on the ground.

"What happened to your lip?"

"Look dad, look, we draw'd pictures of families. This is you and daddy and me and Race and Pilot and umm… and gramma Jen and Uncle Ted and a tree and daddy's car and my teddy bear," she told him as she pointed all over the sheet of paper.

Brian smiled as he looked at what she said were figures on the paper. "I don't think you inherited Justin's artistic talent," he said quietly. "I love it." He handed it back to her and smiled as he took her hand and started to walk to the car.

"Can we put it on the 'frigerator?" She asked as Brian opened the back car door. She climbed into the car with Brian's help and strapped herself into her booster seat.

********

"Special delivery," Brian said as he walked into the loft with Junior behind him. She huffed as she climbed the last stair and followed Brian into the loft.

"In here," Justin called from his studio. Pilot and Race were sound asleep in their bedroom. Junior took off for Justin's studio with her picture in her hand. Brian pulled off his jacket as he went to the kitchen to get a bottle of water.

"Daddy, daddy," Junior screamed as she made her way to Justin's studio. "I have a picture, can we put it on the 'frigerator?" Justin turned away from his latest painting and opened his arms for his daughter, careful not to get paint on her.

"Of course we can, if we can find any room," he said as he put down his paint brush and led her out of his studio so they could find a place for her latest masterpiece.

********

"But I don't like that dance class," Junior said with a huff as she linked two pieces of her puzzle. Brian walked over and sat down next to her.

"Yes you do," Justin laughed.

"Those don't match," Brian said as he pointed to the two letters that she had linked together in the alphabet puzzle. Pilot and Race each screamed as they fought over the same toy. Pilot pushed Race down and ran across the room, seeking refuge in between Justin's legs.

"Yes," Junior said as she looked at the letters. Brian shook his head slowly as he tapped on the puzzle pieces.

"Nope, this is a C and this is an F, not the same," he assured her. Junior pulled the puzzle pieces apart reluctantly. Justin tapped the thermostat again and frowned. "What the fuck are you doing?"

Justin sighed as Pilot and Race moved against his legs. "I think this thing is… broken," Justin said as he moved the thermostat again. "It's fucking freezing in here." Brian frowned.

"No it's not," Brian said flatly as he watched Justin glance over at him before touching the control one more time. Brian smirked as the buzzer sounded. Junior got up and ran to the door with Pilot and Race both on her heels.

********

Brian sat across from the coffee table with Pilot in his lap. He was slowly feeding him noodles from the Thai place down the street. "Are you coming to my show?" Justin asked with a smirk.

Pilot used his hands to help push the noodles into his mouth.

"See sunshine, I told you, you have nothing to worry about," Brian said. "They would have been certifiably insane to have passed up a chance to show your work, especially after the success of the show you put on with the extremely wealthy Vanessa Hallorson."

Junior leaned forward and spit some unrecognizable meat onto her plate. Brian frowned as he leaned into the sofa. Race sat happily eating a fortune cookie.

"The life of a famous artiste is extremely stressful," Justin joked as he picked up a piece of the fortune cookie and ate it.

Pilot reached for his cup and leaned into Brian's chest while he drank. "When is this show?" Junior put down her fork and started to drink her juice. Her eyes were slowly starting to close as she finished her dinner.

********

"I have to find my truck," Junior said as Brian finally got her shoes tied. She raced over to her toy box and began her search.

Brian stood behind Junior, trying to fix her hair, as she dug through her toy box. "Dance class, on a Saturday morning," he scoffed, "I could be going to the gym," Brian said as he fastened a clip in her hair. Junior looked up at him, her teddy bear dangling from her mouth as she chewed on its paw.

"I like it at the gym. I like the big, big, giant ball," she mumbled as she went back to digging in the box. Brian had taken her to the gym with him a few times and she loved it.

"Yeah, me too," Brian said, referring to a completely different type of ball. "Okay, there, you're all finished." Junior grabbed her truck out of the toy box and shook her hair from side to side.

"This is not how daddy does it. Daddy does it different," she said as she tried to look at her hair without the help of a mirror.

"Hmm, I bet he does," Brian answered as he walked out of her room. She followed behind him as quickly as she could with her toys loaded in her arms. She stopped at the last step and dropped her toys to the floor. She fell to the floor after the toys and proceeded to play.

"Do you want oatmeal?"

"Umm…no."

"Cereal?"

"Yes, 'cause I do very much like cereals," she said as she crawled around the floor. Brian opened the cabinet and looked at the boxes of cereal. They were running low on food. He knew someone needed to go to the store but he sure as hell knew it wouldn't be him.

"What kind do you want?" He asked as he stood waiting with the door open. He sighed when he didn't get an answer. "J, what kind of cereal do you want?"

"Ummmm… Cheerios dad," she said, "please." Brian picked up the cereal box and huffed.

"There are no more Cheerios. Do you want some Captain Crunch, we have those. I have no idea why but we do," he said.

"Okay," she answered as he saw her disappear again behind the sofa as she went around and around the furniture. Brian grabbed the box of cereal and sat it on the counter. He paused as he poured himself a cup of coffee and stirred in some sugar.

Brian sat a bowl on the counter and turned around to get the box of Captain Crunch from behind him and the milk out of the refrigerator. "Vroom," Junior said as she crawled around the floor on her stomach pushing her Tonka truck around in front of her.

"Junior, come eat," Brian said as he leaned against the counter drinking his morning coffee. Junior lay on the floor behind the sofa, out of Brian's sight and sighed.

"In a minute. I am very, very busy," she said as she rolled her truck back and forth. Brian rolled his eyes as he looked at the cereal in the bowl.

Brian looked over at the clock. They only had an hour before they were supposed to be at her dance class. Brian's stomach turned at the mere thought of sitting through a dance class, which is why they usually let Mel and Lindsay take her.

"We're going to be late." Junior flopped onto her back and wiggled her feet from side to side, her shoelaces flapping against her ankles.

"Late, late, LATE," Junior repeated as she smacked her feet against the hardwood. "I'm not hungry every morning," she giggled.

"You never are," he said. "Being late is extremely unprofessional."

Melanie and Lindsay had signed her up for dance class, saying that she needed something 'girlie' to do; something that didn't involve helmets and kneepads.

Junior pulled herself over to the center island by her hands, letting her feet trail behind her body limply. "Thank you for sweeping the floor," Brian said as he watched her until the counter blocked her from sight.

She pushed herself off of the floor and climbed onto the barstool. She smiled up at Brian and leaned over her bowl, sticking her finger inside. "That's not very hygienic," Brian said as he took another drink.

"Can I have some milk?" She asked as she pulled her legs up under her body and leaned on the counter. Brian motioned to her bowl.

"There's milk in the cereal already." She looked down at the milk and sighed as she rested her elbows on the table and dropped her chin down to the counter.

"I have to wait until the cereals get all squishy," she said as she waited. Brian frowned.

"You know, most people try to eat the cereal before it gets soggy. Not after," he told her as he looked at the clock.

"I like it when it's all squishy," she said as she dipped her finger into the cereal to see if it was soggy. Brian watched her as she picked up her spoon after determining that the cereal was soggy enough and proceeded to eat one piece at a time.

********

"Old MacDonald… EIEIOOOO, old MacDonald… EIEIOOOOOOOOO, old MacDonald… EIEIOOOO," Junior sang at the top of her lungs as she brushed the fur on her teddy bear's head.

Brian tightened his grip on the steering wheel and waited for the light to turn green. Junior switched songs as Brian pulled into the parking lot.

Brian pulled to a stop in front of the dance studio and put the car in park. "Is daddy coming with us too?" She asked as Brian unbuckled her straps and helped her out of the car. He closed the door and picked her up as they walked to the front door.

"Daddy had to go and get more things for your party, remember," Brian answered as they walked through the front door.

Brian stepped up to the woman at the front desk and stood Junior on her feet. Her hair was pulled sloppily into two ponytails with two flowered clips holding back the renegade strands, her black unlaced Converse a stark contrast to her light pink leotard, leggings and tutu.

"Hello sir, how may I help you today?"

"My daughter's in the dance class, we're late," Brian said as he finally removed his sunglasses. The woman behind the desk nodded as she got a pass for Brian.

"She's with the Movers and Shakers, they're in studio B. Just go straight down the hall, you'll see the sign," she said as she handed him the pass. Junior grabbed onto his hand as she started to walk down the hall.

"Come on dad, come on," she said happily as she pulled him along. Brian let her lead them down the hall as he looked for the door to studio B.

"You're the one who had to eat one piece of cereal at a time, might I remind you," Brian said as they reached the studio. He opened the door and stepped into the room. Luckily the class had not started yet.

"Junior, hello, it's so nice to see you this morning," her dance teacher said. Mrs. Blight looked up at Brian and smiled as she extended her hand. "Hello," she said, "and you are…"

"Brian… Kinney," he said as he shook her hand and helped Junior out of her coat.

"Oh, you must be Junior's other father. Yes, she talks about you all the time," Mrs. Blight said with a smile as she finally looked down at the shoes on Junior's feet. "Umm, that's a very interesting pair of shoes you are wearing."

Junior looked down at her feet and then back up at her dance teacher.

Brian reached into his pocket and pulled out the small pair of dancing shoes that Justin had reminded him, more than four times, to take with him. "Don't worry, we wouldn't dream of scuffing up your immaculate floor," he said with a smirk as he picked Junior up and carried her over to the chairs.

********

Molly sat crossed-legged on the sofa in a pair of black boy shorts and a white tank top. "I am so happy that I have you here to help me," she said to Hunter as she stuffed another bag full of party favors.

"I am offering much needed moral support," Hunter said as he focused in on the video game he was playing. Molly smirked as she tossed another finished bag onto the floor next to the others. She smirked as she threw a lollipop at the back of Hunter's head.

"Thanks," he said picking it up and peeling the wrapper off.

"Yeah, I can see that," Molly said as she leaned back and propped her feet up on the boxes in front of her. "You could at least unpack something." Hunter pressed pause on the video game and stood up, walking over to Molly. He maneuvered his way behind her back and she leaned into him.

"We are alone, on a Friday night, in our very own apartment that we have just moved into… and you're stuffing plastic bags. There is something seriously wrong with this picture," Hunter said as he rested his hands on her exposed hips.

"I know. It's so sexy," Molly said with a smile as Hunter pressed a kiss to her shoulder, his fingers tracing the fresh tattoo that now marked the skin along her hips and back.

"I cannot believe you got this done." Hunter traced his fingers over the tattoo, black barbed wire, in curling spirals along her skin. A black panther prowled through the slicing tangles, a diamond collar hanging around its neck with the name 'Hunter' displayed clearly.

"And it only cost me one and a half paychecks," Molly said as Hunter traced his finger along the inside of her underwear. She opened another bag and began to fill it with the various goodies that Justin had dropped off earlier.

"Hm, I'd say it was well worth it." Molly laughed as she reached over her shoulder and pushed Hunter back.

"Stop," she laughed, "or I'll never finish this." Hunter moved from behind her and moaned, willing his hard-on to calm down.

Hunter groaned. "How many more do you have to stuff, is half the world coming to the party?"

"I don't know. Justin has gone a little crazy. I truly don't think the kids care," Molly shrugged as she popped one of the lollipops in her mouth and tied off another bag. "Ten down, twenty more to go."

********

"Justin's party has officially made me feel like the worse mother ever," Daphne said as she made sure her phone was on. Molly laughed as she opened up another box of CDs and started stacking them on the shelf behind the counter.

"Nah, I'm sure there are worse," Molly laughed.

"Fuck you. Do you have that Nine Inch Nails CD?" Daphne asked as she sat on the counter at Molly's job flipping through a stack of CDs. All of the goodie bags that Molly had stuffed the night before were packed into a bag for Daphne to drop off at the loft.

Molly reached over and grabbed a CD off the shelf next to her. She tossed it to Daphne and turned back to her task. "Justin is taking this party to a whole new level. I question his sanity," Molly said as the bell over the door sounded.

Riah walked in with her bag slung across her chest and a half drunk cup of coffee clutched tightly in her hand. "Professor Thomas is the biggest fucking asshole on the face of the earth. I swear, I may have to kill him," she said as she sat her cup down and threw her bag on the floor.

"What happened?" Daphne asked.

Riah walked behind the counter and grabbed her time card. She swiped the card into the time clock and stuck the card sloppily back into its spot. Molly moved over and sat on the counter at Daphne's feet while Riah moved back and forth. She suddenly stopped moving and let out a piercing scream. "There, I feel better. What's up?"

"You're so fucking weird," Molly said as she looked at her best friend. Riah nodded.

"Yeah, I know. It's why you love me," Riah smirked. Daphne checked her watch and hopped down off of the counter.

"Shit, I have to go and get Damien from school," Daphne said as she grabbed her purse and the plastic grocery full of goodies. "Are we still going out tonight with the guys?" She asked as she reached the door.

"Oh yeah, after today I could use a few drinks," Riah sighed. Molly nodded her agreement as she spun her legs over the top of the counter.

"I'm taking this," Daphne said as she held up the Nine Inch Nails CD and left the store after they had all agreed to meet the boys at nine.

"Fuck, I'm gonna have to pay for that," Molly groaned.

Riah went over to the stereo that was hooked up to the stores speakers and opened the CD bay. "Hmm, good bye," she said as she tossed out the CD that was playing and put in a new one. "There." Riah jumped up on the counter next to Molly and bumped her with her arm. "I'm hungry, let's go get food."

Molly looked around the empty store and shrugged. "Yeah ok," she said as they hopped off the counter and headed out the door, leaving the music blasting.

"What about the customers?" Riah asked as Molly locked the front door. You know, she said, "It's a customer service issue to close down in the middle of the day."

Molly scoffed. "Fuck that employee manual and you have to have customers to have a customer service issue," she said. Riah pulled a worn looking cigarette out of her pocket and lit it as they walked down the street.

"So, where is your most wonderful brother having this all-star birthday bash? But most importantly, will there be free liquor?"

********

"In the loft, without even the slightest hint of the punch being spiked," Brian said as he walked ahead of Cynthia into his office. Cynthia suppressed the urge to laugh out loud as she stopped in front of Brian's desk.

"Well, I'm sure that the kids will appreciate all his efforts," she reasoned as Brian shrugged off his jacket and hung it over the back of his chair. Cynthia sat down and crossed her legs. Brian sat down in his chair and rolled up his sleeves as he looked over the notes that had already piled up on his desk.

He picked up a pink post-it, read it over and reached for the receiver. "All they know," he said as he dialed, "is that there will be cake. Yeah, tell Calvin that he has four minutes to make those drafts presentable," he said flatly as Frank in the art department picked up the phone.

Brian quickly put down the phone and moved on to the next message. "And presents," he finished. Cynthia reached over the desk and took the mock-ups that Brian was handing to her.

"The two most important things," she smiled. "I love these," she motioned at the photos in her hand. "I already bought them each a present. I love having kids to buy things for. My brother's kids are selfish little assholes. God, I love them." Cynthia's eyes caught on Brian's. He smirked as he tossed three post-its across the desk to her.

"Call Maurice and tell him that the boards for their new campaign are ready for Mr. Herring's approval. And get me a fucking cup of coffee." Cynthia scoffed as she stood up, grabbed the post-its and left his office.

********

Justin leaned over the bathtub as Pilot, Race and Junior splashed, screamed and laughed loudly. "The invitations went out, thirty kids are coming," Justin said into the phone as he tried to wash behind Junior's ears.

"Thirty, are you sure that's not too many?" Jennifer asked as she sat behind her desk trying to find a suitable list of houses to show her latest clients.

"RACE, come here," Junior coughed as water went in her mouth. Justin repositioned the phone between his shoulder and his ear as Pilot stood up and almost slipped.

"No, I think it's… shit, fuck… Pilot sit down before you… no, I think it'll be okay. Besides, their parents will be with them and I'll have you guys too. I think it should be…"

"DA'Y," Race said, his voice echoing off the walls. "DA'Y, Nnnda bawl," he droned as he tried to lean over the side of the tub and reach his small ball that was sitting on the floor. Junior pushed the wet hair out of her face as she held onto the bar of soap that Justin was using.

"…fine."

"I just don't want you to get too overwhelmed," Jennifer reasoned.

Pilot tried once again to stand up. Justin put his hand on the small boy's shoulder keeping him seated. He managed to finish washing Junior and moved onto Race. "I think it's too late for that. Stop worrying," he assured her.

"We are having a party, grandma," Junior said as she turned around and got on her hands and knees. "You can come." Jennifer laughed as she listened to her granddaughter ramble on and on. She held up a photo of a split level and considered it for a moment.

"All I have to do now is put up the decorations. Brian was against decorations but I managed to talk him into some. You have no idea what I had to promise to be able to decorate his precious loft."

"And I am quite sure that I don't want to know," she smiled.

Justin laughed as he finished with Race and started to wash Pilot's hair. "No, da'y," Pilot said as he tried to get Justin's hands out of his hair. He hated for anyone to touch his hair. He squirmed and squirmed, soaking the front of Justin's shirt.

"Did you get the bags from your sister?" Jennifer asked as she listened to Pilot struggle. "Doesn't surprise me, I could never wash your hair without a fuss." Justin smiled then frowned as Pilot let out another scream.

"Daphne is picking them up," he answered. Pilot splashed and moved as Justin started to rinse the shampoo from his hair.

"No, waad'r, no," he croaked out as water got in his mouth.

"I just hope that she remembers to drop them off before…." Pilot screamed as water suddenly fell down the front of his face. His arms flailed out as he tried to grab onto Justin. Justin grabbed onto his slippery arms just as Pilot knocked the phone off of Justin's shoulder and into the tub.

"Aww," Junior said as she looked at the place where the phone went into the water. Pilot cried as Justin wiped the water off of his face and plucked the phone out of the water. Race stood up on wobbly legs and yawned.

Justin sighed as he released the water and started to take the kids out of the tub. "We can add 'buy a new phone' to the list of things to do today," he said as he pulled Junior from the tub last and rubbed the extra water out of her hair.

"Yup," she answered.

********

Justin slipped the white tee shirt over Junior's head and pulled her hair out of the back. He reached over and picked up her jeans. "Can we go to the park today?" She asked as Justin helped her button her jeans.

"I don't know. We have a lot to get ready for your party and you still have to go to school," Justin said as he grabbed her shoes."

"I don't want to wear those shoes," Junior said as she sat in front of Justin, her hair falling in soft curls held back with two small pink clips on each side.

Justin leaned over and slid Race's socks onto his feet. "Well, which ones do you want to wear?" Junior jumped up and ran to her closet. She grabbed her pink converse and handed them to Justin. He opened them up for her and let her put them on while he waited to tie them up.

"But then after can we go to the park?" she asked hopefully. Justin finished tying her shoes and stood up.

"Maybe," he supplied as he began removing his wet shirt. Pilot moved over to Junior's toy box. "But now we have to go, or you're going to be late for school and we would not want that." Junior joined Pilot at the toy box as Justin went to get a dry shirt.

Race followed slowly behind Justin, holding on tightly to his ball.

********

Justin walked in the loft after dropping the boys off at Debbie and Carl's. He set the alarm and tossed his bag onto the sofa. Justin walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water before heading to his studio.

He sat the bottle of water down and pulled off his shirt, tossing it onto one of the stools. He left his tee shirt on as he walked over to the stereo and turned it on and all the way up. The sun was shining brightly through the windows providing the perfect light.

Justin stepped up to the canvas that he had been working on and stretched. He grabbed his paints and squirted various colors onto his palate. He wet his brush and dabbed the tip into the paint as he started to lose himself in his work.

He went over lines and colors in his mind as the picture started to take shape in front of him. He rested his paintbrush on his palate and took a drink of water. He wiped his forehead and pulled on the front of his shirt.

"Fucking burning up," he said to no one as the CD's changed and the music started again. He turned towards his supply cabinet and chose another brush. He wanted to get as much of the painting done as he could before he had to meet Brian.

********

Justin followed Brian down the aisle as they looked at all the toys. "What exactly are you looking for?" Justin asked as they stopped in front of the electronic toys. He looked down at Pilot and Race whose hands he was holding.

"Something that is not going to make me want to gouge my eyes out at every turn," Brian answered as he walked along, his hands in his pockets.

"And what would that be, we've been in this store for over an hour and you haven't even touched anything," Justin said as he knelt down and tied Race's shoe. Pilot walked over to Brian and held onto his jeans.

"Daddy needs to have patience, right sonny boy." Justin smirked as Race went to join his dad and his brother.

"I have patience. I have loads of patience, which is why I am just now starting to complain. I could have started forty-five minutes ago, but I held back," Justin told him with a smile as another couple moved past them down the aisle. "What did she ask you for?"

"A puppy, and there is no way in hell that's about to happen," Brian said as he took his hands out of his pockets and stopped in front of one of the shelves. Justin stood next to him and crossed his arms as he looked down to make sure the boys were still at least in the same aisle as them.

"Da," Pilot said as he patted Justin's leg and handed him a toy from one of the lower shelves. "Ca!" Justin bent down and Pilot stepped closer.

"It's a cat. I see, and it makes noise too. Wow," Justin said as he pressed on the cat's paw, making it shake and 'meow'. Race ran over and stood next to his brother, trying frantically to press on the cat and make it move again.

"Ahh, CA, CAAA. DA, CA!" Race said with excitement as he patted Justin on the leg. Brian picked up the small box he was looking at and turned it over, reading the back.

"I know, I see it but let's put it back, okay," Justin said as he put the toy back on the shelf and stood up. Pilot and Race went in for the kill, both of them grabbing the same box and flopping to the ground.

Brian and Justin both looked over as they each tried to make the cat move and make noise. The other people in the aisle looked over at the small blonds and laughed. "This is it," Brian said as he handed the box he was holding to Justin and picked up the boys and the toy off of the floor.

"Now," Brian said as he walked down the aisle, "we can go."

********

Molly walked into Justin and Brian's bedroom and sighed deeply. "I hate that your bedroom makes me want to orgasm. It's… disturbing really," she said loud enough for Justin to hear her. She made her way across the room and stood in the doorway of the closet.

"Please refrain from talking about your orgasms, especially when you are using the word in reference to yourself and our bedroom," he said as he came out of the closet and closed the door behind him. Molly turned around and looked at herself in the mirror.

"Please," Molly said as she picked up the candle on the dresser and smelled it. Justin walked over to her and took the candle out of her hand.

"You touch everything. It's just like when you were five." Justin sat the candle down and started to fix his hair. Molly smoothed out the front of her dress and sat down on the bed.

"Even the sheets feel like sex. I wouldn't even have to get fucked, the sheets would do it for me," she moaned as she pushed herself completely onto the bed and ran her fingers over the comforter.

"I just threw up a little."

Justin walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. He leaned his back against the door for a moment and calmed his nerves. He opened the drawer closest to him and pulled out a pregnancy test. He ripped open the package and moved toward the toilet.

Molly sat in the middle of Brian and Justin's bed waiting for her brother to come out of the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. "Justin, come on, I'm ready to leave," she said impatiently.

Justin paced around the bathroom as quietly as he could. "Okay, I'm coming, just give me a minute." Molly got up and walked over to the dresser again.

"What the fuck do you think I've been giving you?" She asked as she fixed her hair. "Come on." She was wearing a black strapless dress that stopped four inches from revealing all of her secrets.

Justin stopped pacing as he drowned out the sound of his sister's voice. He stood in front of the mirror wringing his hands. His jeans were relaxed and the pale blue shirt he was wearing was tight in all the right places. He had been feeling hot and cold off and on for a couple of weeks.

At first he thought it was the flu but he wasn't taking any chances. "I'm sick, I know it, that's all," he told himself.

The alarm on his watch started to beep and he quickly turned it off. He closed his eyes as he stepped forward to read the results. He had bought a pregnancy test on his shopping rounds and quickly hid it away until he could find a free moment to take it.

"Do you think this dress makes me look like a whore?" Molly asked through the door as Justin picked up the small stick and closed his eyes. He held it up in front of him and took a deep breath.

"Yes," he answered as he slowly opened his eyes and moved his thumb. The word 'pregnant' was clearly visible in the small window. He moved his thumb back over the window, uncovered it and read the word again.

"Holy fucking…."

********

"… Shit," Daphne said as Justin pushed her into an empty bathroom stall. She was still holding the pregnancy test in her hand. Justin moved back and took his hand away from her face where he had covered her mouth.

The thumping of the music in Babylon was beating in their ears as they stood in the dimly lit bathroom. Daphne bit her bottom lip as she slammed her small purse into Justin's chest and hitched up her dress.

Justin rolled his eyes and leaned against the wall of the stall as Daphne hovered over the toilet seat. "What did Brian say?" she asked as she handed the test back to him and reached for the toilet paper. There was none. "What the… you guys are so fucking nasty," she said as she reached into her bra and pulled out some tissue.

"How very high school of you," Justin said as she flushed the toilet and fixed her dress. She stood up straight as she adjusted herself. Daphne smirked.

"Yeah, 'cause I'm the one sneaking around taking pregnancy tests and then telling my best friend about the results in a dingy bathroom," she said flatly. "Brian should really have this place cleaned."

"Okay, I see your point and he has," Justin told her as she unlatched the door and pulled it open. She bumped into a rather attractive looking brunet and smiled.

"Sorry," she muttered. He raised an eyebrow and walked out of the bathroom as they made their way to the sinks. Justin leaned in next to her as she washed her hands.

"He's gay."

"They all are," she frowned, "it's a gay bar. There has to be someone here who is partial to pussy." Justin handed her a paper towel as they walked out of the bathroom.

The club was packed as they made their way across the dance floor to the bar. Brian was leaning against the bar nursing a drink while Michael, Ben, Ted and Emmett burned up the dance floor. "Hey," Brian said as he pulled Justin close to him and pressed their lips together.

Daphne leaned across the bar and ordered a drink. Molly and Hunter were on the catwalk, his hand hidden under the black material of her dress.

Trey walked over to the bar and sat down his empty beer. He looked over at Daphne and licked his lips. "Hey," he said catching her attention. Daphne looked over and raised an eyebrow.

"Hey Trey," she said as she licked the salt off of her hand. She took her shot and slammed the glass down on the bar before sighing and grabbing Trey's hand. Ricky and Charlie had long ago disappeared into the backroom.

Justin leaned into Brian, his hand lazily hanging down and toying with Brian's zipper. Brian smirked as he rested his arms on Justin's shoulders as they moved to the music, their pulses pumping to the beat. Justin pressed in closer to Brian and moaned as they moved their hardening cocks together. "Do you want to get out of here?" Justin breathed.

Brian was about to answer when the rest of their entourage flooded the dance floor around them. "Let's eat," Ricky said as he adjusted his jeans. Charlie stood next to Emmett as the taller man wrapped his arm around him.

********

Justin sat next to Brian sucking on a milkshake. Brian drank some of his water as his arm rested behind Justin's head. He tapped an unlit cigarette against the plastic as he listened to the random conversations. The effort that Justin was putting into looking like nothing was wrong was not lost on Brian.

"I'm fucking freezing," Daphne said as she sat next to Trey, neither one of them willing to tell the group exactly what had happened between them. No matter how many times they asked.

"You," Molly said as she motioned at her dress and pulled her coat tighter around her body. Hunter leaned back and glanced out the window. Ben and Michael pulled up two chairs, dropped a basket of fries on the table and sat down.

"You pay a high price to look good," Brian offered with a sexy smile.

"You guys still coming to dinner?" Michael asked Molly and Hunter. Molly looked over at Hunter and then over at Michael.

"Yeah," she said as she yawned again. Justin shifted in his seat and moved the straw around in his drink. Brian drank the last of his water and put his cup down, tossing a couple bills on the table.

"How sweet, a family dinner with the future in-laws," Brian said as he moved to get out of the booth. Justin looked over at him quickly before sliding out of the booth. Brian stood up and grabbed his jacket while Michael and Ben gave him an amused smirk.

Justin pulled on his jacket and smiled as Daphne and Emmett moved into their vacant spot from the booth next to them. "I expect you all to show up at the kid's party," he said as he followed Brian out the door.

"A chance to spend the night with running noses and tears, it'll be just like a night at Babylon," Ted said dryly, "we can't wait."

Molly pulled her hands into her coat and leaned into the table as Hunter reached for a fry. "So, what are you making for this special dinner?" She asked.

********

Justin walked up the stairs and unlocked the loft door. Chrissy, the babysitter that Daphne's babysitter had recommended was sitting on the sofa typing on her laptop. "Hey Mr. Kinney, Mr. Taylor," she said as she shut down her programs and closed her laptop.

"Hey," Justin smiled as Brian gave her a small smile. She packed up her laptop and put on her shoes. "How were they?"

Chrissy paused at the door as she waited for Brian to count out her money from the many bills in his wallet. "They were as good… as you could hope for them to be," she laughed. "Pilot might have given me a few gray hairs but running after him gave me a pretty good workout."

Brian smirked.

"Yeah," Justin agreed, "he can be a handful at times." Brian handed Chrissy her money and Justin closed the door behind her. Brian pulled off his jacket, tossed it on the sofa and stood looking at Justin.

"So, sunshine," he started. Justin turned around to face him. "I am dying to know the thoughts that are marching through your little head." Justin shifted uncomfortably as Brian closed the distance between them and slowly lifted his shirt over his head.

Brian smiled as he ran a finger down Justin's bare chest.

Justin started to speak but opted instead to bite his bottom lip and quickly unbutton Brian's jeans. They made it to their room in record time as they made their way out of their clothes.

Justin pressed up against the headboard as Brian buried himself to the root. Justin sighed as his palm pressed against the wall above the bed and Brian thrust into him, pulling out and them slamming home.

Justin felt like his voice was caught in his throat as Brian sucked on the tender skin of his neck. The positive pregnancy test that had fallen out of his pocket in their hurried frenzy was clutched tightly in his right hand.

"Fuck," he panted as Brian's hands pulled on his hips, his fingers pressing tightly into the pale flesh.

Justin bit his lip as he tried to grab the top of the headboard for purchase, dropping the pregnancy test behind the bed. "Shit," he laughed as Brian reached around and wrapped his hand around his cock.

Justin exploded and Brian followed soon after. Brian pulled out of Justin and collapsed on the bed. Justin slowly released his grip on the headboard and eased himself onto the bed next to Brian. "That's not exactly how I was planning to tell you," Justin said as he covered his face with his hands.

Brian looked over at him and raised an eyebrow. "I can just imagine what you had in mind," Brian said as he looked over at Justin. Justin shrugged.

"Nothing special, although you probably would have been a lot more drunk," Justin confessed as he moved to straddle Brian's hips. He pressed their cocks together as he leaned down to kiss Brian's lips. "You cock halfway down my throat was never part of the scenario, I assure you."

"Mmm," Brian moaned, "then I am definitely glad you went with plan B." Justin leaned over Brian and pinched his nipple as their tongues explored each others mouths. Brian smiled into Justin's mouth. "I just have one question."

Justin pulled back, his eyebrows raised as he waited. "Tell me, is this baby mine?"

"Fuck you," Justin laughed as they started another round.

********

Brian looked around the loft. He could barely recognize it. Justin had transformed it into party central and the thirty small children who were currently running around didn't seem to mind one bit. "Brian, the place looks amazing," Lindsay said as she stood next to him.

He looked over at her and frowned. Race walked up to him and reached up. "Up," he said happily. Brian bent down and picked him up. Lindsay rubbed the small boy's back and walked away to talk to Michael and Ben.

"What's wrong, sonny boy?" Brian asked his son as he handed him his cup. Race drank hurriedly before struggling to be put down. He took off running toward the crowd of children. Junior was happily playing with all of her friends.

Justin smiled at the guests as he made his way over to Brian. "Why the fuck didn't you talk me out of this?" He asked under his smile. Brian smirked as he watched the children eat the lunch that Justin and some of the other parents had prepared.

"I want fun, sugar and naked depravity. I believe those were your exact words," Brian smirked. Justin laughed as he leaned into Brian.

"That was before I actually realized what I was talking about," Justin reasoned as he moved away.

Brian moved over to the window and rested his back against the wall. He watched as the cake was served and the presents were opened. He sat with Pilot and Race and helped them open their gifts.

"We should have just bought cardboard boxes," Brian said as he watched Pilot and Race play with the boxes that their toys had come in. The toys were left on the floor while they explored the ins and outs of cardboard.

Junior was passed out on the floor with her arms curled around the robotic dog that Brian and Justin had bought her. "I told you she'd love that dog," Brian said, "just as good as the real thing without any of the fuss."

"You're so thoughtful," Justin said sarcastically as he looked around at the mess that was left behind from the party.

********

Justin leaned against the wall as he nailed up the support for his work. The exposure for the show was unbelievable but the budget was still tight and all of the artists had to hang their own works.

Justin reached into his pocket for a nail as he held a strawberry poptart in his mouth. "You look like you could use some help." He turned around and smiled as he saw Brian standing at the base of his ladder. Justin smiled as he climbed down from the ladder and looked up at the supports that he already managed to get on the wall.

Brian looked around the small art gallery and sighed. "Not exactly a step up from the L.A. gallery," he said. Justin laughed.

"Maybe not appearance wise but there are some pretty amazing artists here," Justin said as he ate his poptart. Brian smirked at Justin's choice of food. "Are you gonna help me or not?" Brian looked over at him with a raised eyebrow.

"No," Brian said as he motioned to the very handsome men that were already moving up the ladder to finish mounting the supports and hang the paintings.

"Have I ever told you I loved you?" Justin whispered as he pressed against Brian. Brian groaned lustily.

"Just protecting my investment," Brian downplayed as Justin pulled him into a kiss.

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