Blended

Chapter 25

********

Last week of October…

Summer faded into another winter quickly and Justin was glad he’d bought them all oversized coats the year before. Brian had blazed through his pregnancy with all the bitchiness and horniness that Justin knew he’d have. They’d found a house that they both liked. It was huge, with more than enough bedrooms and a huge front and back yard. It was only thirty minutes away from the loft.

Michael sat next to Ben on the park bench. All the kids were spread out around the playground. Tyler helped guide Blue through the different play areas. “All we have to do now is wait to hear if the owners accept our offer,” Justin said.

“You’ll get it,” Ben said.  

Brian walked back over to the bench after his second trip to the bathroom. “Are you taking the kids out for Halloween?” Michael asked.

“Hey, Emily, don’t climb on that like that, you’ll fall,” Ben said loudly. He settled back against the bench after she’d complied.

“Fuck that,” Brian answered. Justin shook his head in agreement. Neither one of them felt like going out for candy. They’d buy their own.

****

November, after thanksgiving…

Location: Loft, upstairs.

Day: Monday.

Time: 6:32 a.m.

Junior pulled on her jeans and fastened them without asking for any help. She shoved her hair out of her face and reached down to put on her socks. Justin sat Blue down on her changing table and turned to dig her clothes out of her dresser. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath when he heard her shoe slam into the hardwood for the third time. “What is with you and the attitude this morning?” Blue moved to get up and Justin sat her back on her butt.

Junior bit her bottom lip and concentrated on lacing her pink Converse, ignoring Justin for a few minutes. “I don’t like school,” she said quietly. Blue giggled as Justin pulled on her jeans and then her shirt.

“Since when?” Justin asked. Junior huffed and pulled her gray long sleeved shirt over her head, followed by her pink short sleeved shirt. “J, why don’t you like school? You loved it when you were in kindergarten.”

Brian walked by with Pilot and Race right on his heels, heading down the stairs. “Dad, pick me up,” Race pleaded with a slight whine to his voice. Pilot was completely occupied with the leg of the Transformer he was chewing on.

“I’m already carrying two babies, you’re on your own,” Brian told him, reaching out so that Pilot could hold on to his hand.

Justin stood Blue on her feet after brushing her hair, and putting on her hearing aids. He tossed the used diaper she’d been wearing into the diaper pail. She’d been doing well with the potty training, but had suffered a relapse. He turned to face Junior. She was busy pulling on her hoodie. Justin didn’t like how sad she looked. She’d always loved school and very rarely was completely unhappy. “Is someone bothering you?

She shook her head slowly and Justin had his answer. Blue lingered in the bedroom for as long as it took for her to gather her bumblebee and her new blanket that Brian had bought, dark blue with a bumblebee featured prominently in one of the corners. “You know you can tell us if someone is bothering you, right?” Junior nodded quickly. “Okay, go get some breakfast.”

Junior got up off the bed and followed her little sister out of the room and down the stairs. Justin picked up all the clothes in Junior and Blue’s room before moving on to Pilot and Race’s room. He made sure he had all of their clothes and made his way down the stairs.

Brian was leaning against the counter with a cup of coffee in his hand. “This decaf is for shit,” Brian said. Justin deposited the dirty clothes in the laundry room and went back into the kitchen. He poured his own cup of coffee and leaned on the counter next to Brian. “What’s with your daughter today?”

“I think someone at school is bothering her, she says she doesn’t want to go.” Pilot let out a loud squeak and pushed his brother’s hand out of his face. “Stop,” Justin said to them both. Blue was leaning against the side of her chair popping raisins in his mouth.

“Do you want me to drop her off and kill them?”

“No, since I am only partially sure that you’re joking. She hasn’t come right out and said anything about it, at least to me. Has she said anything to you?”

Brian shook his head. “No.” One of the babies shifted to rest even more against his bladder. “Whoever this is on the right is trying to torture me.”

After Brian made his third trip to the bathroom since he’d woken up they managed to get all of the kids cleaned up, into their coats and out the door. Brian held open the door as they all walked out.

“Cause you hav’ta put it up on that thing on there,” Race rambled. Justin had no idea what he was talking about but he agreed anyway.

“Yeah, you do. Come on and get in your chair,” Justin said. He picked Pilot up and then Race, buckling them into their car seats. Junior was already on the other side with Brian climbing into her booster while he strapped Blue in. Junior dropped her book bag to the floor of the car and sat back. Justin closed the door and went around to the trunk to deposit his portfolio.

Blue reached out for Brian as he backed out of the car. “No,” she signed. “Dad come with me,” she finished.

Brian shifted so that his stomach wasn’t pressing against the side of the SUV. “I can’t, I have to go to work,” he signed and said back. “We’ll play when I get home, okay.”

Blue shook her head ‘no’ and reached out for Brian again, the tears starting as he closed the backdoor. Justin reached up and closed the trunk. “She always cries and she always stops before we get there,” he said. Brian nodded. It didn’t make him feel less like shit. He couldn’t afford to stay in the loft all day for months like he’d done with Junior. He had a company to run.

“I know.”

Justin met Brian at the driver’s door and leaned against him. “Aw, Daddy, don’t be sad,” Justin said with a smile.

“Fuck you.”

Justin rested his hands on Brian’s stomach. “I have very big plans for you tonight, Mr. Kinney. If you promise to be good I’ll… ” Justin whispered into Brian’s ear and bit down on his bottom lip to stop the wide smile that wanted to break across his face.

“Really?” Brian asked. Justin nodded and leaned forward to press their lips together. Brian broke the kiss and moved back so that their lips were just barely touching. “I want to fuck you already,” he said in a whisper.

Justin smiled and moved back from Brian, sliding into the car and turning the engine over. “I think that can be arranged. Are you sure you don’t want me to drop you off?”

“Yeah, Cynthia is coming. We have an early meeting,” Brian said. Justin pulled his door closed and pulled away from the curb, pulling a U-turn on the small street.

**

“No,” Molly said into her phone as she drove down the street, a cup of Starbucks coffee in her free hand. “Franklin, come on, Jerry is a fucking idiot who doesn’t know shit about structural engineering. Fuck him.”

Franklin moved around his desk and picked up some of the blueprints he’d set down. He searched underneath them for the flash drive Molly insisted was there. “He might be an idiot, but he is still in charge of the McMillan building.”

Molly tapped on the brake and turned her car sharply to the right before speeding up. She held the phone up to her ear with her shoulder and took a drink of her coffee. She sat it down in her cup holder and grabbed the phone with her left hand. “Only because he is Donaldson’s nephew,” she countered. “Did you find the flash drive?”

Franklin moved back around the desk and sat down in front of the computer. “Yeah,” he said with a laugh, “it was not right where you said it was.”

“I said somewhere around there.” Molly pulled her car into a parking space and threw it into park. “Start printing out the proposal for Mann. I’ll meet you up there, give me about five seconds.” Molly slid her phone shut, grabbed her coffee and slid out of the car. She looked both ways down the street before making her way across quickly, her very expensive black pencil dress only allowing for the most graceful of movements.

She ran into the building, the five inch heel of her Manolo Blahnik Mary Jane’s clicking across the marble of the building's entrance. “Good morning, Ms. Molly.”

She pulled to a short stop in front of the elevator and jabbed at the button. “Hey, Tony,” she said to the guard. “How’s your wife?” The elevator doors opened and she stepped inside.

“Oh she’s good.”

“Send her my love and tell her that she has to come down and see Oz.”

“I will. You know how much she loves him.” Molly smiled and let the doors close. She took a long drink of her coffee before she reached her floor.  The doors opened and she rushed out and past the other offices. Franklin was already in her office waiting. “Did you print out the proposal?” Molly asked, already reaching out a hand.

“Good morning, Franklin. How are you this morning? Good? Oh well, that is wonderful. Did you do anything fun last night? You invited hundreds of women over and had an orgy? No kidding,” Franklin said to himself, tapping the edge of the proposal against his face.

She dropped her hand and sat her coffee on her desk. “I’m so sorry Franklin,” she said with a smile. “How are you?”

“Good,” he said shortly and handed her the proposal.

“You are such a bitch. You’re lucky I love you so much,” Molly told him. She unbuttoned her coat and let it slide off her arms. She tossed it on the couch in her office and started to flip through the pages Franklin had printed.

“How long did it take you to get into that corset?” Franklin asked, pointing a finger at the corset around Molly’s waist.

“How long will it take you to get my foot out your ass? Was this all of the proposal?” Franklin nodded.

“Yeah,” he said. “And I still don’t see what the rush was.”

“Donaldson wants it on his desk before he goes into the meeting with Jeff. He wants to pretend he knows what the fuck is going on around here,” she said softly. The door to her office was firmly closed, but you could never be sure. Donaldson’s secretary liked to linger. “I finished the drafts for that corporate building that they’re putting up in Vegas. They look amazing.”

“I cannot believe they are letting you loose on Vegas,” Franklin said, reaching forward and grabbing some of the candy off Molly’s desk.

Molly dropped the proposal onto her desk and sat down, crossing her legs. “Oh you bet your ass they are. The best part is that Hunter has a show in Vegas at the same time, and my mom is going to watch The Oz Bean.” Heather knocked on the door and waited for Molly to tell her to come in. She walked in carrying five long tubes. She set them on Molly’s drafting table.

“These are the beginning blueprints for The McMillan building.” Molly opened her mouth but Heather continued. “Jeff called from Memphis. He pulled Jerry from the project. Donaldson is pissed. I love it,” she smiled. “Oh, and he wants to see you.”

“Doesn’t he always,” Molly said.

Franklin turned his head to follow Heather’s progress to the door. “Marry me, Heather.”

“Not today,” Heather said before leaving. Franklin stood up and stretched.

“One day she is going to say yes,” he said.

Molly stood up and walked from around her desk, proposal in hand. “No, one day she is going to file sexual harassment papers on you.” Franklin laughed. “Get out of my office and go to work.”

Franklin stopped in the doorway. “Lunch?”

Molly shook her head. “My boy is bringing my baby to see me.”

Franklin turned to leave. “Fine, I’ll eat alone.” Molly walked out of her office and made her way to the elevator.

**

Junior sat on the floor with her back to the rest of the class. She hated first grade. Alissa was in a different class and she had to sit next to a boy she didn’t like. Peter. She turned a page of her book and blocked out the rest of the noise in the classroom. Peter walked up next to where she sat by the bookshelf and kicked her. “Move,” he said roughly.

Junior frowned up at him and shifted just enough so that his foot wasn’t touching her. “No. I was here first,” she said. Peter kicked her again and smirked. “Stop it.”     

“Or what, you gonna tell your stupid daddies on me? My dad says that two boys aren’t supposed to like each other,” Peter told her, pushing past Junior and grabbing a book off the shelf. Junior was more than used to hearing all about what Peter and his daddy thought. She was used to hearing the taunts over and over again from the kids with homophobic parents.

“Your dad’s an asshole,” she said firmly. The first time Justin had heard her use the word he’d bitched at Brian and told her not to say it again. He wasn’t around, so she figured she was safe.

Peter went from annoying to pissed in five seconds flat. He balled up his fist and swung, hitting Junior in the arm. She gasped and bit down on the tears that wanted to come. She was both Brian and Justin’s daughter, but she had just slightly more of Brian’s temper. She stood up slowly, reached back and punched Peter in the mouth. The few kids that had been sitting around them reading during their exchange ran to get the teacher.

Junior was far from finished. “My daddies are not stupid!” she screamed, punching Peter again. He held up his hands and fell backwards with Junior following him to the floor. The teacher tore his attention away from the group of kids he’d been helping and ran across the room to break up the fight. Peter was crying almost as loud as Junior was shouting by the time he made it to them. Junior got in one more punch before Mr. Baglin could pull her off of him.

“You’re stupid!” she screamed, her lip bloody and a bruise already forming on her face, thanks to Justin’s tendency to bruise fast. “You are. You and your stupid dad,” she said firmly, tears finally falling from her eyes. She wasn’t sad anymore, she was angry. She wiped at her eyes hard when Mr. Baglin stood her on the floor next to his desk.

“You stay right there,” he said and went to get Peter up off the floor where he was still crying. He helped the boy up and walked him over to the other side of his desk. He gave them both a pass to the nurse and then an order to go right to the office. He buzzed both the nurse and the office so they’d know to expect them. “Go. Stay on opposite sides of the hall and no talking. Do you understand?”

Junior nodded and took her pass, marching out of the classroom with Peter not too far behind her. He walked very slowly behind her on the other side of the hallway. They made it to the nurse and Junior walked in first, giving her the written pass that Mr. Baglin had handed her.

“My God,” Nurse Aja said. She took in Junior’s bloody lip and shook her head. She turned her attention to Peter and looked him over, shaking her head again. “Sit down, both of you.” Junior sat down and crossed her arms. Peter sat on the other side of the bench and looked anything but sorry; in pain and embarrassed, but not sorry.

**

Location: Justin’s downtown studio

Justin felt his phone start to vibrate in his pocket and reached for the remote to turn down the volume on the stereo. He answered on the fourth ring, tossing the remote back down on the table. “Mom,” he said. He turned to press his paintbrush into the white paint and turned back to his canvas.

“Hey, Justin,” Jennifer said. “Do you have a minute?”
 

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“The owner is willing to accept the offer that you and Brian put up on the house. It’s for a little less than what they wanted, but they’ve been trying to get it off of their hands for a couple of months now with no luck,” Jennifer told him. She straightened some papers on her desk and reached for a pen to make some corrections. “So, the house is yours.”

“Are you serious?” Justin stopped painting and sat his brush in a container of water. “That’s great. We were trying to move before the new babies came.”

“Then this works out perfectly for you. All I need you and Brian to do now is come down to the office, or I can come to you, and sign some papers to finalize the sell. Justin was about to answer when the call waiting signal interrupted.

“Hold on for a second,” Justin said. He clicked over to the other call and said, “Taylor.”

“Mr. Taylor? This is Mrs. Hall from Orland Academy.” They’d enrolled Blue at Orland to further her grasp on sign language and lip reading. They also worked on helping her use the hearing aids to their maximum potential.

“What’s wrong? Is Blue okay?” he asked impatiently.

“She’s fine, but she is running a fever. It’s pretty high and she’s been crying off and on for the past hour. We were wondering if you or Mr. Kinney would be able to come and pick her up.” She stopped talking and waited for Justin to give her an answer.

Justin looked up at his clock and ran Brian’s schedule through his head. “Yeah, um, I’ll be there in about twenty minutes. Thanks.” He switched calls back to his mother and sighed. “Sorry about that.”

“Not a problem. Is anything wrong?”

“No. Blue’s sick. I’ve got to go pick her up. Brian’s in a meeting until two, so…”

“My poor baby,” Jennifer said. “Okay, well, let me know when you can meet me or when I can meet you.”

“I will. Thanks, Mom.”

**

Junior sat with her icepack held to her lip, her feet pulled up onto the chair and her cheek resting on her knees. Peter sat less than two feet away, his legs dangling and kicking the legs of his chair. “You are both too young to be getting into fights like this,” the principal said. “I’m going to have to call your parents.”

Junior stayed sitting with her legs pulled up. Yeah, she officially decided that first grade sucked. She wiped the water from the melting ice off her face and crossed her arms, burying her face.

**

Justin walked into Kinnetik with his clothes still covered in flecks of paint and Blue in his arms. “Hey, Cynthia,” he said as she walked by the front lobby, a manila envelope in her hand.

“Hey, Justin,” she told him with a smile. “Oh my God, she is getting so big. She looks just like Brian.” Blue laid her head on Justin’s shoulder and yawned.

“I know. I’m still trying to decide if that’s a good thing or not.” Cynthia laughed and Justin hitched Blue up a little higher on his hip. “Is Brian here?”

“Yeah. I heard him yelling at someone about five minutes ago. I’m pretty sure he hasn’t managed to run off since then,” Cynthia said with a smile. Justin nodded and made his way to Brian’s office. Blue snuggled in closer to Justin and wiped at her nose, her fingers hidden in a pair of purple mittens.

Blue was smiling at Brian before Justin could even get the door to his office open. “Hey,” Justin said softly. Brian gave a wave and pointed at his Bluetooth. Justin took in the blue jeans, white button down shirt, and casual black Versace blazer, and reminded himself that their daughter was in the room. Brian looked uncomfortably pregnant and incredibly sexy.

“Yeah…. We’ll get on the changes by the end of the day. …No. Before five is the earliest that we can do,” Brian said tightly. “Do you want it fast or do you want it done right?” Justin leaned into Brian’s desk and shifted Blue’s weight to his other hip. “That’s what I thought.” Brian hung up the phone and walked around his desk, visibly trying not to waddle. “I think the Crosby account wants to kill me,” he told Blue and Justin as he lifted her out of his arms.

“I’m sure they’re not the only ones,” Justin said nonchalantly. Brian walked back around his desk and sat down. He situated Blue on the desk with her legs dangling down.

Brian chose to ignore that comment. “What brings you out of the studio? I was starting to forget what you looked like.” Brian leaned forward and grabbed the neon green stress ball he kept on his desk, handing it to Blue.

“You see me everyday. I have the hickeys and bruises to prove it,” Justin said as he moved over to the couch and sat down, tossing his jacket on the empty chair across from him. “I had to pick up your daughter since you were oh so busy. She has a little fever. She seems to have a cold. I think she might have got it from Pilot; they’re always glued to each other’s side.”

“So why the detour?” he asked Justin. Brian signed something to Blue and lifted her off the desktop to sit on what lap he had left, pulling her mittens off and sitting them on his desk. “You don’t feel good?” he signed. Blue shook her head and leaned into him, resting her left hand on his stomach.

Justin smiled tiredly He loved to see them together. “My mom says we have the house. The owners agreed to the price we wanted.” Justin pushed the hair out of his face and sat back further into the couch. “All we have to do now is… Brian, don’t let her eat that.” Blue was already half done chewing the first in a handful of M&M’s. The green ones were her favorite.

“But she’s sick,” Brian said.

“Yeah,” Justin said, “and when she throws them all up you’re going to be the one cleaning up the mess.” Blue pushed another piece of candy into her mouth. Brian felt her forehead and frowned.

“She’s still really warm.”

“I know. But she’s finding the strength to eat those M&M’s. I’ll give her some medicine when we get home. Anyway, she says once we sign the papers the house is officially ours.”

“Do you remember what you promised?” Brian asked. Blue ate another piece of candy before deciding that Justin’s lap was probably a lot more comfortable than Brian’s. She scooted off Brian’s leg and made her way over to Justin, stopping to sneeze on the way. She coughed as Justin lifted her up and sat her across his legs.

“Vaguely,” Justin said, twisting his finger around one of Blue’s curls. “Although, we might have to wait until you have five and six to really fulfill that promise.” They’d taken to calling the baby boys five and six, unable to agree on two names.

Brian touched a hand to his stomach and frowned. “You’ll still let me fuck you in the kitchen, though, right?” Brian’s cell started to vibrate on his desk and he picked it up.

Justin nodded with a smile, opening his mouth for the M&M Blue was trying to give him. “Are you trying to make Daddy sick too?” Blue stared at him while he talked and nodded quickly, a small smile on her face. The high price of the school’s tuition seemed to be paying off. She was getting good at reading lips.

“Kinney,” Brian answered. He listened as the person on the other end of the phone talked.

“Daddy not get sick,” Blue signed.

Justin leaned forward and kissed her cheeks. “He is if he keeps hanging out with you,” he told her. Blue sniffed and coughed. “When we get home I’ll get you some medicine.” Blue was too tired to protest. She shifted on Justin’s lap until she was straddling his legs and leaned into his chest, burying her face in his coat with a loud sigh.

Justin smoothed his hand down her back and looked up at Brian. “Where is she now?” Brian asked. He listened for a few more minutes, muttering single word answers. “We’ll be there in fifteen minutes.” Brian flipped his phone closed and stood up, picking up Blue’s mittens.

“What’s wrong?” Justin asked. Brian grabbed his coat and tossed her mittens to Justin. “Brian.”

“Your oldest daughter is in the principal’s office. She got in a fight,” Brian said. Justin slipped Blue’s mittens on her hands and got up to follow Brian out of the office. “Cynthia, get the art department started on the new boards for Crosby.” Justin walked out of Kinnetik and over to his car. He strapped Blue into her seat and closed her door.

“Yeah,” Cynthia said without fully looking at Brian, her attention focused on what Sean was telling her. Brian pulled on his coat and left the building.

Justin walked around to the driver’s side of his car and opened the door. “You want to ride with me or you want to take your own car?” Justin asked with a laugh. Brian hadn’t driven himself anywhere since he’d gotten in all three of their cars and realized that he didn’t fit comfortably behind the steering wheels.

“Fuck you,” Brian said. He opened the passenger side door and climbed in. Blue was already fast asleep with drool falling steadily out of her mouth and onto her coat.

**

Brian held onto Blue as they walked through the school and into the principal’s office, stopping at his secretary’s desk. “May I help you?” the secretary asked.

“We’re Junior Taylor-Kinney’s parents,” Justin said. The secretary nodded expectantly and waved them into the principal’s main office.

“You can go right on in, Mr. Williams is expecting you.” Blue moved her hand up to cover her ear and yawned, leaving her mouth slightly open and her head dangling precariously on the edge of Brian’s shoulder. Justin walked in front of Brian into the office.

“Mr. Taylor and Mr. Kinney?” the principal asked. Brian and Justin both gave quick nods, turning their heads to look down at their daughter. Junior looked up at them, her eyes still glassy from tears.

“Jesus,” Justin said before Brian could utter a word. He stooped down in front of her to look at the damage. Brian moved forward and took in the injuries.

“What the fuck happened?” Brian asked, as much to the principal as to Junior herself. “J, what happened?” She immediately started to cry, dropping her legs down from the chair. Justin reached onto Mr. Williams’s desk and grabbed a tissue to wipe her face.

Peter sat awkwardly in the office still waiting for his parents to show up. Junior took the tissue Justin gave her and took a deep breath. “Peter said that you were stupid. And then he said that two boys can’t like each other. And he picks on me all the time and pushes me. And then he punched me in my arm when I wasn’t even bothering him, so I punched him back.” Justin stood up and was about to ask a question when the office door opened.

Peter’s mother came in dressed in her hospital scrubs with her hair pulled back into a ponytail. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I had to get a ride here. My car is in the shop.” She looked at the principal and then at Brian and Justin before looking over at Junior. Her head turned and she looked down at her son. “Wow,” she said.

Peter crossed his arms. “What’d he do?” she asked. They all relayed the story, at least what they knew to be the story. Peter hadn’t denied a word of what Junior had said. “Oh… I… I am so embarrassed,” she said. “His father can be a bit of a…” she paused to mouth ‘asshole’. “Which is a big reason why we’re not together anymore,” she finished. She bent down to talk to Junior. “I am so sorry that he hurt your feelings and you, baby. You won’t have anymore problems out of him, okay?”

She stood up and offered the same apology to Brian, Justin and the principal. “Thank you,” Justin said. “We appreciate you handling it.”

Mr. Williams told her that Peter was excused from classes for the rest of the day. “I am so sorry,” his mother said one more time before pulling Peter out of the chair and out of the office. She walked with him down to the classroom to get his things so they could go. “We have so much to talk about.”  

Mr. Williams apologized and thanked them for coming down as quickly as they did. Brian and Justin left with Junior leading the way to her classroom to get her things. Justin held onto her book bag as they walked to the car. Junior was quiet as she climbed in, sat down, and buckled in. “Are you okay?” Justin asked.

“Yes,” she sad softly. Justin closed the door and got into the car. He dropped Brian back off at Kinnetik and headed towards the loft. They took the elevator up to their floor and stepped off. Junior walked through once the door was open, dropping her bag against the couch and pulling off her coat and hat. “Daddy, can I have some juice?”

“Yeah, get a juice box,” Justin answered. He pulled off Blue’s coat, hat, mittens, and scarf and sat her on the couch. He hung her things up on one of the low hooks they’d had installed by the door for the kids. He walked into the pantry and came back with the medicine box, sitting down next to Blue. Junior was already on the couch next to her sister sharing her juice box. “Everyone is going to be sick,” he said to himself.      

Blue turned her head away as soon as he got the dropper filled with medicine. Junior shifted slightly as Blue knocked into her.

“Oh, no you don’t,” Justin said. He picked her up and sat her on his lap. He held her head and pressed the dropper between her lips releasing the medicine steadily. “Such a big girl,” he signed to her. He went to the sink and rinsed off the medicine dropper, sitting it next to the box on the counter. He walked Blue up to her crib and laid her down. She grabbed her bumblebee and pulled it close to her chest, her eyes already closing.

Junior was pulling her shoes off with her straw still sticking in her mouth when Justin came down the stairs. He glanced at the clock to see how much time he had before the twins would come barreling in from preschool. He had about an hour and a half. He sat down next to his oldest daughter and nudged her with his elbow. “Do you want to tell me what’s got you all pouty?”

Junior kicked her shoe off and started on her other one. “Peter is mean to me,” she started. Justin nodded as her second shoe hit the floor. “He makes fun of me all the time. I don’t like first grade anymore.”

“Why do you think he’s mean to you?” Justin asked. Junior pressed in closer to Justin and huffed.

“Because his daddy told him that two boys shouldn’t like each other and have babies. And he knows I have two daddies, so he doesn’t like me,” she said clearly. Justin almost wished that she was still speaking in broken sentences so he could at least pretend not to understand.

“Does it bother you that he doesn’t like you?”

Junior shrugged. “Not all the time, but sometimes when he is mean to me it makes me mad and sometimes sad,” she admitted.

“It’s okay for boys to like other boys and its okay for girls to like other girls. It’s not bad. Don’t let boys or even girls like Peter make you feel bad. Do you know that Daddy and Dad love you very much?”

Junior smiled, her long hair hanging over her shoulders. “Yes. I love you very much too,” she said. She got up on her knees and gave him a kiss. “Can I watch Toy Story?” Justin laughed at the sudden change in his daughter. He pushed down thoughts of Chris Hobbs and baseball bats, pulling his hand away from where it was subconsciously rubbing at his scar.

“Yes, you can. Better enjoy it before your brothers come home.” She got up from the couch and ran to get the DVD, turning around to settle into the futon cushion. Justin got up and put it in for her, handing her the remote. “I have to go check my messages in the studio. Pick up your things and put them away, okay. Okay, J?”

Junior dropped the remote next to her and got up. “Okay.” She grabbed her shoes and hung up her jacket and hat, running up the stairs to toss her shoes in the closet. She moved through the room quietly, more than aware that Blue was sleeping in the crib.

Justin walked out of the room as Junior walked back into the room and settled down to watch her movie.  

**

Brian opened the door to the loft and Pilot and Race ran inside. Justin looked over at them from the kitchen. He dropped the chicken he was holding into the pot and washed his hands. “Hey!” he said happily. They ignored him once they realized that Junior was sitting on the futon. They headed straight for her, tackling her.

“Hi guys,” Junior said. “Ouch.”

“Sorry,” Pilot said. Race was already sitting on his knees eating some of the crackers that Junior had sitting in front of her. She helped her brothers out of their coats and hats. “Put them on the hooks, m’kay?”

“’kay,” they said at the same time as they ran off. Blue was on the couch staring at the activity in front of her. She had a balled up tissue in her hand and her nose was stuffed up. Pilot put his coat away first and made his way back to the futon, stopping on the way to lean up and give Blue a kiss.

“Remember when you were the first thing on their mind?” Brian asked. He walked up behind Justin and kissed the back of his neck. Justin smiled and moved away from Brian. “I might have to give Sean a raise.”

“Was the car ride that bad?” Justin laughed.

“Yes,” Brian said. He pulled a bottle of water out of the refrigerator and took a long drink. “How’s Blue?”

“She’s sitting over there. She’s a little better than she was before; needs some more medicine.” Brian nodded and went to see her. She smiled up at him and climbed into his lap as soon as he was settled.

**

Getting all the kids into bed proved to be easy for a change. Blue went down fast and first for once. Pilot and Race both changed into their pajamas relatively all by themselves. Junior took the longest, insisting that she wasn’t sleepy yet. Justin had left Brian to deal with her.

Location: Master bedroom a.k.a. Love shack.

Time: 2:08 a.m.

Brian walked out of the bathroom and across the room. Justin tracked his movements until he disappeared inside the closet. “I hate this,” Justin said. Brian walked out of the closet in pajama pants and an old tank top. “I hate that she’ll always catch shit because she has two dads.”

“She’ll learn to deal with it,” Brian said. “She could have let Paul…”

“Peter.”

“Whatever the fuck,” Brian said as he got into bed. He turned to look at Justin and propped himself up on his elbow. “She could have let the little asshole run all over her and say anything he wanted to say, but she didn’t.”

Justin shifted onto his side to look at Brian. “She can’t fight everyone, Brian. And this is the second time. I didn’t even really know what to say, because nothing I say is going to make it better. If someone had told me any of the things that I know I could say to her I would have punched them in the face.”

“I knew she didn’t get that violent temper from me.”

“I’m serious, Brian.”

“She’ll be fine,” Brian told him. “You got knocked around, hell, we all did, and we all turned out okay.”

“Not everyone does though,” Justin said sadly. “She could turn into some deranged serial killer.”

“She has already killed one fish,” Brian said. He reached out and ran his hand along the front of Justin’s pants. Justin moved in closer to Brian and let his eyes close when Brian’s hand started to move just a little faster. Justin grabbed Brian’s wrist and slowed his movements. “Fuck,” Justin moaned. Brian let Justin guide his speed, moved even closer and kissed along Justin’s jaw.

Brian sat up on his knees and pulled Justin’s pants down his legs. They undressed each other in a hurry. Brian refused to think about the pressure that was building in his back from the position. “I don’t want you to worry… about any…” Brian paused to kiss a trail down Justin’s neck and back up, “… thing.”

“Uh,” Justin moaned. Brian moved further down the bed and bit down lightly on the inside of Justin’s thigh. Justin pushed his fingers through Brian’s hair and spread his legs further apart. “Fuck me.” Brian smiled and stroked his hand over Justin’s dick before swallowing him whole. Brian sucked, pulling off all the way before swallowing him again. He backed off when Justin’s pleas turned into whimpers that bordered on sobs. “Please, Brian,” he panted.

Brian sat up and Justin got up, pressing their lips together tightly and rubbing his hands over Brian’s stomach and back. Justin moaned into Brian’s mouth before pulling away. Brian pouted as Justin reached back and dug through the nightstand drawer for a condom. He ripped it open with his teeth and rolled it down Brian’s dick. “I can’t even see it,” Brian said, halfway between amused and agitated.

“I can. It’s still very big,” Justin smirked. He tossed the wrapper to the side and rolled over onto his stomach to make it easier for Brian. Brian moved forward and positioned Justin exactly where he wanted him before sliding in. He stopped when their skin was flush together, gripping Justin’s hips. Justin gasped and buried his face in Brian’s pillow as he started to thrust.

“Tight,” Brian said under his breath. Justin fisted the sheets and let his mouth fall open. Brian hit his prostate again and again. It didn’t take long for Justin to come, falling from his knees down to the mattress. Brian came hard and let himself fall out of Justin, rolling off to the side and moving until he was flat on his back.

 “I’m in the wet spot,” Justin said into the pillow. He gathered as much strength as he could and turned himself over. Brian had a very self-satisfied smirk on his face. Justin moved over as best as he could and shoved some of the sheets under him to block the wetness.

“Very effective,” Brian said.

“Shut up,” Justin said with a laugh. He let his hand trail lazily up and down his chest. The room smelt like sex and the air was hot. “I called my dad, invited him to lunch in a couple weeks.” Brian didn’t say anything. Justin sat in silence and waited for him to react.

“What’d he say?” Brian asked. The thought of Craig Taylor spending any time with his children still made Brian less than thrilled. But, Justin wanted them to know his father.

“He asked if you were going to be joining us,” Justin told him. “It seems to be all he’s worried about.”

“I’m flattered that he thinks of me.”

Justin ignored Brian and continued. “He’s coming over here. I thought it would be less stressful for everyone. You can join us for lunch if you want.”

“As appetizing as that sounds I don’t think I’ll be joining you. Maybe I’ll hang out with Lindsay or Cynthia, get some work done,” Brian said poking his stomach. Justin did the same thing before pressing his palm flat and waiting for some movement.

“Fun,” Justin said. “We need to meet with my mom before the end of the week to sign those papers.” Brian nodded and shifted his legs on the bed. They heard Blue’s whimpers come through the monitor at the same time. Justin sighed and got up out the bed, finding his pants in the tangle of sheets. Brian got up to change the sheets and pull on his clothes.

Justin came back with a very cranky, stuffed up, slightly wheezy Blue. Her nose was red and Justin had his hand pressed to her forehead. “She’s still really hot,” Justin said. He walked into the bathroom with her and came back with the digital thermometer. He sat down on the bed and put the protective cap on the thermometer.

Blue whimpered and weakly moved herself away from Justin and over to Brian, getting even more cranky when she realized that laying against Brian like she usually did when sick was going to be impossible.

Justin turned the thermometer on and waited for the display to clear. “Okay, baby girl, let’s take your temperature.”

**

Day: Tuesday

“Thanks, Mom,” Justin said tiredly into the phone. He pressed off and sat the cordless back on the counter. He moved over to the coffee pot, got it ready, and turned it on.

Justin rubbed at the side of his neck and took in the quietness in the loft. He’d already checked his messages and gone through his schedule. Blue had slept little, if at all, through the night. She’d thrown up twice, ruining two sets of her pajamas and one of Justin’s.

She’d finally let exhaustion win out around 6 a.m. and Justin had rolled out of bed to start his day. He stood staring at the coffee pot, still dressed in his pajama pants and old shirt, and willed it to brew faster. He was still standing there when Brian made his way down the stairs and into the kitchen.

Brian wasn’t awake enough for words. He let his arm bump into Justin’s and accepted the nod that was given to him in return. They both stood waiting for there to be enough coffee for at least two cups. Justin gave Brian a look and Brian glared back. He was getting some caffeine at this late stage in the game, damn it.

When the level was high enough Justin grabbed the handle of the pot and poured himself and then Brian a cup. He drank his black. Brian added sugar to his and stirred it with one of Blue’s toddler spoons. “My mom’s gonna come over and stay with Blue today,” Justin said breaking the silence.

“You have got to love the woman,” Brian said. He drank some more of his coffee and leaned back against the counter, using the edge to press into his back. Justin pulled some Oreo cookies from the package on the counter and popped one in his mouth.

“She’s bringing the papers for the house with her,” he said around the cookie in his mouth. He swallowed and washed the cookie down with a mouthful of coffee.

“Hot,” Brian said. Justin pushed another cookie into his mouth and shifted his weight.

“Fuck you,” Justin told him after swallowing. “It’s your package of cookies.” Brian set his cup of coffee down on the counter and moved back towards the stairs. Justin moved towards his studio with every intention of letting Brian get Junior, Pilot, and Race dressed without his help.

Justin emerged from his studio at the same time that Jennifer was walking through the door. “Hey honey,” she said.

“Hi, Mom,” Justin said. Pilot and Race came down the stairs in their usual blur, dressed in matching blue rugby shirts and dark blue jeans. They ran over to Jennifer and wrapped themselves around her legs.

“Gramma,” they said at the same time. Jennifer set the bags she was carrying on the couch and knelt down to give them both kisses.

“Gramma, we go to school,” Pilot told her. Race nodded his agreement. Brian and Justin were still surprised every time they talked and it came out with more and more clarity.

“You do?!” Jennifer asked with surprise.       

“Yes,” Race answered. Their hair was long and falling over their ears. It needed to be cut. Justin had taken them once and brought them back with all of their hair shaved off. Brian banned him from taking them again. “And we col’r pict’rs and paint lots.”

“I paint a boat,” Pilot added. “Daddy put it on da wall.”

“And mine too,” Race told her.

“He did? Wow, I bet they look good up on the wall. You both have to make me some pictures so I can put them on my walls and make them look pretty too.” Pilot and Race twisted from her arms and started to move towards the table where Justin had put out some oatmeal.

“We can make a lots a pict’rs,” Pilot said. Race agreed. They climbed up onto their chairs and started eating after telling Justin good morning and getting their kisses. Jennifer stood up and moved towards the kitchen.

“They got so big so fast,” she said.

“Yeah, two years old,” Justin said. “Time flew.”

“Goddamn right it did,” Brian said. He came walking down the stairs with Blue in his arms and Junior walking in front of him. Jennifer looked down at Junior’s face and frowned.

“My God, what happened?” Jennifer asked. She moved towards Junior and took her face in her hands. Junior’s hair was pulled into two long ponytails with yellow ponytail holders. Her jeans were dark blue and her shirt was a yellow rugby with the number one on the back. Justin chose not to comment on the matching shirts.  

“Peter punched me, but I hit him back,” Junior said. Gone was the sad little girl from yesterday. She was proud of her busted lip, just like she was all the rest of her scars. Jennifer released her face and she ran over to the table to eat her own bowl of oatmeal.

“What’d the school do about it?” Jennifer asked.

“Nothing really,” Justin answered.    

Justin poured his mom a cup of coffee and slid it across the counter towards her. Brian tried to hand Blue over to Justin but she held on tight. “I’m her favorite,” Brian smirked. Her right leg was resting on Brian’s stomach. Her pajamas were sleep rumpled and the legs of her pants were scrunched up and twisted partway up her calf. Her shirt was pulled across her tummy and her fingers were curled in Brian’s shirt.   

Pilot let go of his spoon and it made a small clank against the side of the bowl. He reached out to get his cup of apple juice off the table. Justin poured Blue a cup of apple juice and screwed the top back on her cup before handing it to her.

“That’s it?” Jennifer asked. “Nothing?”

“They dismissed them for the day. Peter’s mom promised to take care of it. She gave the distinct impression that his asshole father was the one to blame. I talked to J about it,” Justin told her.

Blue took the cup from Justin’s outstretched hand and pressed the spout between her lips. Justin kissed her cheek and ran his hand over her hair and down her back. “You want to come to Daddy?” Justin signed as he talked. He held out his hands and Blue shook her head to the side as she drank. Justin dropped his hands and walked over to the fridge. He started pulling out all the things he’d need to make their lunches.

It had never been a secret that Blue was partial to Brian. Justin didn’t mind one bit. Jennifer patted Blue on her back and kissed her forehead. “Grandma is going to take very good care of you,” she signed.

Brian was dressed and ready for work in fresh blue jeans and a black shirt. “Did Grandma bring the papers for the house?” Brian mocked. Justin laughed and turned to take Pilot’s bowl after hearing his name being called for the fourth time.

Jennifer straightened up and walked back over to the couch. “Actually, I did,” she said. Brian and Justin both walked over to the couch and sat down. Jennifer sat on the large oversized chair across from them. She pulled out the papers while Brian positioned Blue’s legs so they wouldn’t be crushed. “Okay, all you have to do is sign, date, and initial in the places where it’s indicated.”  

Justin signed first. He sat back after signing and tapped his hands against his knees. He glanced towards the kitchen table. “Hey, Hey!” he said and stood. “Don’t do that.” Junior watched as Justin walked over and took Race’s bowl and spoon. “Okay, breakfast is over for you two,” he told his sons.

Justin wiped their mouths and hands before letting them get up from the table. They were already wearing shoes so he directed them to their coats. “Do you need help putting them on?” he asked. Junior picked another raisin out of her oatmeal with her spoon and ate it, washing it down with some milk.

“No,” Pilot said. He was already pulling his coat from the hook.

“No,” Race said. He had his hat on and was working on getting his right arm into the sleeve of his pea coat.

Justin finished packing their lunches and shoved their lunchboxes into their bags. The new school year had brought with it two new Thomas the Tank Engine book bags. He was the twins’ new obsession.  

“Okay,” Jennifer said. “That’s it. The house is yours. I’ll have the keys for you this afternoon.” Junior got up from the table and dropped her bowl and cup in the sink. She wiped her mouth with the napkin Justin handed her and threw it in the trash before running to put on her own coat.

“Great,” Justin and Brian said at the same time. Brian kissed Blue on the top of her head and handed her off to Justin. She whined, her nose running again. Justin pulled a tissue from his pocket and wiped it, letting her head fall onto his chest. Jennifer gave all the kids hugs and kisses before they walked out the door.

“Later, Daddy,” Junior said before leaving.

“Later.” Pilot and Race were already on their way down the stairs. Justin didn’t take it personally. They both had way too much energy to stop and say goodbye. Brian followed them out and slid the loft door closed.  

“I thought he wasn’t driving,” Jennifer said to her son. “Wow, it’s so quiet.”

Justin laughed. “I know. Michael meets him in the front on Tuesdays,” Justin told her. Jennifer nodded her understanding. Blue yawned into Justin’s chest and let out a string of coughs. “I have to give you some more medicine, bug.” He knew she couldn’t hear him but he talked to her anyway.

“Did you want me to make her something to eat first?” Jennifer asked. She was dressed casually in jeans and a white tee shirt. She slid onto one of the barstools and took a drink of her coffee.

Justin shook his head. “She doesn’t usually want anything to eat when she’s sick, but you could try to give her something. We have plenty of juice though, if she doesn’t want anything.”

“I’ll see if I can get some food in her. It might make her feel a little better.” Justin took another drink from his cup while he glanced at the time. “Molly told me you invited your dad here for lunch.”

Justin almost choked on his coffee. “Damn, she works fast. I just told her that when she called me last night,” Justin said. “Do you think it’s a mistake?”

“No,” Jennifer said plainly. “He wasn’t always an asshole, Justin. I think he might like to get to know your kids. He seems to have taken to Oz easily enough.” Justin smiled at her and nodded.

“Yeah, I know,” he said. “I just hope I don’t regret it. I have to get ready to leave. I have a ton of shit to do today.” He walked around the counter and handed his daughter to his mother. Blue transferred hands easily enough. Justin turned and grabbed his cup of coffee before heading up the stairs.

“Let’s get you something to eat,” he heard his mother say.

**

Junior still wasn’t too thrilled with first grade, but recess she could take. She waited on the swings for Alissa’s class to come out. When she saw Alissa’s puffy purple coat she smiled. “I think it’s too cold to come outside,” Alissa said.

“I like it,” Junior told her. Junior sat up straighter on the swing and started to move. Alissa climbed onto the swing next to hers and kicked her legs back and forth.

“My Mommy said she’s gonna have a baby,” Alissa said. Junior looked over at her and kept swinging.

“Just like my Dad.” Junior kicked her legs harder and leaned back to look up at the clouds. “You get to be a big sister,” Junior told her. That seemed to make Alissa smile. She was very nervous about being a big sister, but maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. If Junior could do it then so could she.

Peter walked by the swings and Junior glared at him. He didn’t say anything he just kept walking, his cheek turned a nice shade of dark purple.

**

Jennifer turned on the humidifier in Blue and Junior’s room and paced the floor with her granddaughter on her shoulder. She’d managed to get her to eat some oatmeal which she immediately threw back up. She’d given her more juice and some medicine. Jennifer fixed the small blanket back into place. Blue was wide awake, her chest slicked in Vapor Rub. She whimpered and squirmed. “I know you don’t feel good,” Jennifer said into her hair.

Blue moved her hand and signed out, “Dad.” Jennifer hitched her up higher.

“I know you want your Dad,” Jennifer said sadly. Blue’s eyes started to close and when she was finally asleep Jennifer chanced laying her down in her crib. She snuggled in closer to her bumblebee and Jennifer covered her with her thicker blanket before walking out of the room.

Halfway down the stairs her phone started to ring. “Hello?” she answered. “Yes, Justin, she’s fine. Between you and Brian you’re going to drive me crazy. If something happens I’ll call you.”

**

“I was really surprised when you called me,” Camille said. She took off her coat and hung it on the hook by the door, sitting her bag down against the wall and out of the way. “I mean, I didn’t really think you were serious about me working with you.”

Justin laughed. He was wearing a short sleeved shirt with an abstract design over his right shoulder, down the front and back. Camille was dressed in jeans and a faded gray tee shirt. “Very serious,” Justin said. “I think we’ll work well together.”

Camille smiled, ready to get to work. “So, what’s the project?”

Justin moved around his studio. He pushed back some unfinished canvases and covered others. The brushes that he’d been using before she arrived were already soaking. “I have to put a piece together for The Parson Gallery’s yearly exhibition.” Camille took in a deep breath.

“The Parson Gallery?” she asked. Justin mouthed ‘yeah’. “Why do you need me?”

Justin unlatched and lowered one of his larger tables from the wall and secured it into place. “You mean besides you being talented?” Camille nodded. “Their theme this year is collaborations. They want to see what two artists will do when forced to mingle their egos… and their talents, into one piece.”

“That can be dangerous,” Camille laughed. Justin rounded the table and started pulling out supplies.

“Very,” Justin agreed. He pointed towards her portfolio and camera equipment by the door. “You’ll need the portfolio for now.” She walked over to get it and met him back at the table. “Are you ready to get dirty?”

“Always,” she answered. They got to work on the tentative outlines of their project, just letting their minds and hands guide their strokes as they mapped out the piece.

**

Location: Daycare Center/Preschool

Time: NAP TIME!

Calvin was tired, but he liked his job. He took the job at the Center when the summer camp packed it up. The kids all liked him right away, especially Pilot and Race. That seemed to sit just fine with all the other teachers and aides. Pilot was finally asleep with Race draped over his back, drooling. The other kids in the room were snuggled into their mats and fast asleep. He could count on one, possibly one and a half, hours of bliss.

Monica weaved her way through the cots and limbs to the front of the class. “Taco’s,” she said in a whisper and handed him a bag. He took the bag and inhaled the smell.

“Thank you. I owe you one, name your price,” he told her. He was already digging into the bag and pulling out a taco. She sat the drink she’d brought for him on the desk.

“Do afternoon snack for me?”

Calvin agreed. “Only because you brought me tacos.”

**

Brian listened to Ted run down the numbers for the Brown account. He broke his own stream of thought and asked, “So when are you moving into the new place?” Ted had been the first one to even know they were looking for another house. Being their accountant paid off when it came to getting to hear news first.

“Are you offering to come over and help us pack?” Brian asked, leaning into his computer monitor. He’d taken to buying baby things online. It saved him trips to the store and didn’t make him want to kill everyone he came in contact with. Especially after the one trip he’d taken with Lindsay that he was trying hard to forget.

“I might be willing to set aside some time in my busy schedule to help out a friend,” Ted said sarcastically. Brian smirked and clicked the mouse. They already had two cribs, two of everything, in storage. All the other purchases were just extras.

Ted turned the pages over in his ledger and picked up where he left off. Brian continued to listen while he bought random items.

**

Jennifer took Blue’s temperature, gave her a bath and changed her clothes. She managed to get her to eat some soup and keep it down. She seemed to be doing a lot better. “What do you say we venture out to pick up your brothers?” Jennifer picked her up and got her ready to go.

**

A couple weeks later…

Location: Doctor’s Appointment.

Day: Wednesday.

Patrick walked into the doctor’s office and smiled at Brian. “You look really comfortable,” he said. Brian glared at him and he held up his hands. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he laughed.

“Why the fuck haven’t I had these babies yet?” Brian snapped. He was sitting on the examination table in nothing but the stupid paper gown. “My due date was yesterday.”

“I know Brian, but we can’t rush this. If you go more than a week or if the babies are in any danger we’ll induce labor.” Brian resisted the urge to make a smart comment. There was a knock on the door before it was immediately opened. Justin slipped inside and shut the door behind him. “Justin, I didn’t know you were joining us today.”

“Yeah, I had to go to the bathroom.”

“He wants me to wait for at least a week for him to induce,” Brian told Justin.

“Is that good for the babies?”

“What about what’s good for me?” Brian asked. Patrick squeezed a good amount of gel onto Brian’s stomach and started the machine, flicking off the lights at the same time. Patrick moved the wand around, clicking pictures every few minutes. He turned off the machine and handed Brian a couple of paper towels to clean himself off. Justin sat quietly while Brian endured a physical exam, his stomach being poked and prodded.

When he was done he told Brian he could get dressed and went to wash his hands. “I say we give it a couple more days. Don’t let it get to you. They’ll come when they’re ready.”

“I’m the parent,” Brian said, “they’re supposed to listen to me.”

**

Location: The Loft.

Day: Wednesday. Bring on the weekend.

Time: 8:24p.m.

Justin held onto Pilot and worked the shampoo into his hair. “I don’t… want it. No! No, Daddy!” Pilot screamed. Race turned in a circle and sat down with a plastic fish in his hand.

“We do this every single night,” Justin told him. “You need to calm down.” Pilot kept screaming, his face turning red. The girls had already been washed and were with Brian getting ready for bed.  

Justin was more than convinced that Pilot was conceived with the help of the devil. Race stared up at his brother, waiting to throw his own tantrum, as Justin poured water over Pilot’s head to wash away the shampoo. Junior ran into the bathroom with her hands over her ears to block out her brother’s screams, her hair still wet from her own bath. “Dad said Blue doesn’t have anymore diapers,” she told him over her brother’s cries.

“Because Blue is supposed to be using the potty,” Justin said offhandedly.

Pilot gulped for air when the water stopped falling over his face and wiped at his eyes. “I don’t like it,” he said, his voice raspy. Race reached for one of the toy boats floating in the water and pushed it under. Justin pulled his own hand out of the water, picked the small washcloth up and stood Pilot on his feet with his arm holding him in place as he washed his back and down his legs.

Junior waited, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet.

“I know you don’t,” Justin said. The front of his shirt was soaked and his knees were starting to hurt. “Um, tell him to look in her bag.” Junior took off out of the bathroom; her pajama pants pink with purple and white stars, her shirt a plain white tank top.

Race turned around in the tub and pressed his feet up against the side. “Daddy, we can go see gram’ma?” Race asked. His hair was already slightly wet and sticking to the side of his face. Justin rinsed the baby wash off of Pilot and reached behind him for a towel.

“You want to see grandma? Grandma Jen?” Race and Pilot both nodded quickly. “We’ll have to see about that. Maybe if you are super good at school tomorrow, okay,” Justin told them.

Junior ran back into the bathroom with one of Blue’s blanket around her shoulders. “Dad said to tell you that he looked already and he didn’t see none in there,” she said with only the slightest bit of annoyance. Pilot giggled as Justin picked him up out of the water and dried him off.

“Lift up your foot,” Justin said. Pilot held into his shoulder and picked his foot up off the floor. Race stood up in the tub and smiled, his mouthful of teeth all perfectly white. “I don’t think so, sit down.”

Pilot reached out to try and grab the blanket Junior was holding around her. “Quit it,” she said.

Justin grabbed Pilot’s hand and put it back down at his side. Race sat down and moved over in the tub. Justin looked at him to make sure he listened before turning his attention back to Junior. “Tell him to just use one of your brothers’ old pull-ups. We’ll get some diapers tomorrow. Take Pilot with you so Dad can get him dressed.” Junior grabbed Pilot’s hand and pulled him behind her out of the bathroom.

Justin turned his attention back to Race. “Okay you, are you going to be any better with the hair washing?” Race stared up at Justin with a smile on his face and shook his head. “No?”

“I be good an ‘den we have some candies?” Race asked as he leaned in close to Justin, his voice nowhere close to being sleepy.

Justin reached for the bottle of baby wash and pumped some onto the towel in his hand. “I don’t think so.”

“Is time for sleep?” Race asked. Justin washed his face, his hair, behind his ears and down his arms.

“Yes, it is time for you to sleep,” Justin confirmed. He finished washing Race off and lifted him out of the water. Race let out a loud yawn and held onto the front of Justin’s wet shirt while Justin dried his legs off. “Mm, you smell good. Do I get a kiss?” Race leaned forward with his hands on Justin’s cheeks and kissed him. “Thank you.”

“Thank you,” Race repeated.

**

Location: The Loft, downstairs.

Day: Still Wednesday. Seriously, it’s not Saturday yet?

Time: 8:24 p.m. – until…

“When we go to the new house can we still go to the park?” Junior asked. She turned her attention away from the cartoon on the TV long enough to look at Brian.

“There is a whole backyard for you to play in,” Brian told her. He got Blue into her pajama top and looked around for a diaper. Blue twisted her body around to look at her own butt. Her nose was still slightly red but her fever was gone. 

Junior lay back on the futon cushion, her feet bare and her legs bent at the knee. “But I like the park and I can ride my bike there,” she reasoned.

“You’ll still go to the park, and that yard is huge, you can ride your bike there too. Can you get me a diaper for your sister?” Junior got up and ran through the playroom and into the bathroom. She came out empty handed and stood close enough for Blue to pull on the drawstring of her pants.

“There’s none in there,” she said. Blue signed something and Junior quickly answered her with a huge smile plastered on her face.

“Go get one from upstairs. If you don’t see any tell Daddy that Blue doesn’t have anymore diapers.”

“Why do I have to go all the way back up the stairs?” Junior pouted as she turned and headed back up the stairs.

Brian held onto Blue and silently pleaded for the baby resting on his bladder to move, just a little. Junior came back into the living room and leaned over the arm of the couch. “Daddy said to look in her bag.” Blue clapped her hands and bounced up and down a few times before getting more restless.

“You need to get dressed so you can go to sleep,” Brian signed. Blue pressed her forehead to Brian’s cheek and smiled. Brian looked up at Junior. “Tell him that I already looked in there and there aren’t any.”

“M’kay,” Junior said and took off back up the stairs. Brian let Blue go and leaned back. At over nine months pregnant he was more than a little uncomfortable. Blue didn’t seem bothered at all by the fact that she was naked from the waist down. The baby resting on his bladder seemed to suddenly shift and Brian let out a deep sigh of relief. Junior came back down the stairs with a pull-up in her hand. She handed it off to Brian and planted herself back on the futon cushion.

“Thank you.”

“Daddy said to just...” her attention waned as she stared at a commercial. “He said to use that and then he’ll buy some tomorrow. Dad, is tomorrow Friday?”

“I wish,” Brian said.

Brian sat Blue down on the couch and pulled her legs through the holes in the pull-up. He helped her stand up and pull it up her legs. He grabbed her pajama bottoms and pulled them on, snapping the two snaps in the front and the one at the back that kept them from falling. Blue realized that she was as free as she was going to get and pushed herself off of the couch. She made it over to where Junior was sprawled and sat down hard, half crushing the side of Junior’s body.

Pilot was very happily occupied with the elastic of his new underwear. Brian motioned for him to come closer and started to put lotion on him and help him get dressed. “I heard you upstairs yelling. Were you trying to make Daddy crazy?”

“Yes,” Pilot answered. He bent down to pull up his pants after Brian finished with the lotion. “We gonna go to a new house?”

Brian finished putting lotion on his right arm and moved to his left. “We are,” Brian told him. Pilot seemed to lose interest after getting confirmation and focused his attention on the movie on the TV. Brian finished putting lotion on Pilot and helped him put his shirt on. He ran over to the futon cushion and sat down on the other side of Junior.

Blue turned and made her way back over to Brian, climbing up on the couch next to him. She grinned up at him. Her eyes were glassy from the cold she was still trying to shake. “Are you sleepy?” Brian signed as he asked.

Blue dropped herself into Brian’s lap. She straddled his legs and leaned in against his stomach. “No sleeping,” she signed back. Her tiny tummy was sticking out from under her white long-sleeved pajama top. She dropped her cheek to Brian’s stomach and listened for the babies. “Baby,” she signed quickly.

“Two babies,” Brian told her and signed.

“Can we watch a movie?” Junior asked.

“No,” Brian answered quickly. “You are going to sleep before Dad and Daddy go crazy.”

Justin came down the stairs with a freshly washed Race in his arms. “I don’t know why I put all that water in the bathtub. It always ends up on the floor,” Justin said. He slipped Race’s underwear on, quickly followed by his pajamas, a green slug wearing a pair of sunglasses featured prominently on the front.

Pilot was dressed in a matching pair with a blue slug instead of green. “Bedtime,” Justin announced and signed for Blue. She snuggled in closer to Brian’s side and covered her face with her hands. Her hearing aids were already off and sitting on her dresser next to her crib. Justin stood up and scooped her up. He leaned her in close to Brian so she could get a kiss. “Say goodnight to Dad.” Junior, Pilot and Race all moved over to the couch and climbed up to give Brian a kiss.

Before Justin could move away he grabbed his wrist and held him close. “If you promise not to cry I’ll wash your hair and tuck you in,” Brian said into Justin’s ear with his voice low and full of lust.

“How can you possibly still have enough energy left to think of sex?” Justin asked as he turned to follow his children up the stairs.

**

Brian stayed staring at the ceiling long after his breathing started to slow down. Justin turned onto his side and ran his hand down Brian’s side and across his stomach. “Do you remember when you first met me?” Justin asked.

Brian looked over at him and smiled. “I have the vaguest of recollections,” Brian answered sarcastically. He wanted a cigarette more than anything. “I want a cigarette.”

Justin ignored Brian and shifted against the sheets. “I was scared to come back here with you.”

“But you came anyway,” Brian said, moving his hand over his stomach and turning on his side. He looked at Justin and resisted the urge to run his fingers through his hair. He’d had more than his fill in the shower.  

“I was horny and you looked like you could fuck,” Justin said with a laugh. “I wasn’t wrong.” Brian smirked and shifted back onto his back, trying to get comfortable. Justin reached up and grabbed one of their extra pillows. He shoved it at Brian and let him position it underneath his stomach.

“How much longer do you think I have?”

“Doctor said a couple days. We won’t be moved in before they come,” Justin said. He sat up facing Brian and crossed his legs.

“I know,” Brian said.

Justin scratched at his arm and leaned forward on his thighs. “My dad is supposed to come for lunch on Saturday. I’m nervous as hell.”

“Having second thoughts?”

Justin shrugged and let himself fall back on the bed. He shifted upwards until he felt slightly more comfortable against the pillows. “Yes,” Justin admitted.

**

Molly sat Oz up on his butt and tipped him forward. “Hello, my big boy,” she said. Oz grinned at her, all gums, and kicked his legs. “Yes, you are so cute.”

Hunter sat down on the bed and moved closer. “Are you sure you’re okay with me going to Denver?” he asked. Molly let out a laugh and let him take Oz out of her hands. He hoisted him into the air and wiggled him a bit. Oz laughed and a string of slobber poured from his mouth.

“Yes,” Molly said. She leaned back against the pillows and pulled off her glasses, reaching over to sit them on the nightstand. “You traveled before he was born, Hunter. I didn’t expect you just stop.” Molly curled into Hunter’s side and buried her face in his neck, her hand moving to slowly slide against his thigh.

“Okay, Oz Man, time for you to go to sleep.” Hunter got up quickly and went to lay Oz in his own crib. He popped his pacifier in his mouth and covered him with a blanket.

He made it back to the room in enough time to see Molly pull her tank top over her head and drop it to the floor. She smiled at him lewdly, already holding a condom, the edge of the foil packet already between her teeth.

**

Brian got up in the middle of the night and made his way to the kitchen. He pulled a bottle of water from the fridge and opened it quickly. He drank down half the bottle and made his way over to the window. “Do you remember when you asked me to marry you?” Justin asked. Brian didn’t flinch, had heard him coming. Justin moved around the couch and sat down, pulling his legs up and wrapping his arms around them.

“Do you remember telling me ‘no’?” Brian countered. “What’s with the trips down memory lane?”

Justin laughed. “You asked me again. You bought a house for us and you asked me again. Do you remember that?” Justin knew he did, knew he couldn’t forget it.

“Yeah,” Brian said. He looked down out the window and watched the few cars on the street drive by. “I was terrified. What’s your point?”

“That I’d turn you down again?” Justin asked with a smile, choosing to ignore the second question.”

“That you’d say ‘yes’ and then I’d have to actually go through with it. I was sure you’d say no and then I wouldn’t have to give up anything. I wouldn’t have to leave behind anything. I could do whatever I wanted without a single thought.” Brian stopped talking and turned towards Justin.

“I’m too good of a fuck to resist,” Justin said with a shrug and a smile. “I was afraid you’d never ask again.”

“Then it must be a good thing that both of us are so determined,” Brian said. Justin laughed.

“I guess so,” Justin said. “I love you.”

“You fucking better.” Brian smirked and looked down at the floor. “Well, what better way to cap off this lesbian-like night,” he said. Justin looked down at the growing puddle on the floor beneath Brian and frowned. “I don’t even feel anything.”

“Um,” was as coherent as Justin could hope to be.

“Don’t just fucking sit there, Justin,” Brian said calmly. “Go call your mother. I’m gonna go put on some clothes that aren’t wet.” Brian left Justin sitting on the couch and made his way back up to their bedroom.

**

Brian was calm, exactly the way he was during Junior’s birth. He didn’t scream in pain when a contraction hit, he just closed his eyes and let out long deep breaths while gripping the sheets. Justin stood next to the bed and rubbed circles around Brian’s stomach. Jennifer had made it to the loft in record time. She pushed them out the door and told them not to worry about the kids.

“Fuck,” Brian said when the contraction finally passed.

Patrick walked into the room dressed in his scrubs with his stethoscope around his neck. “Can you ever have a baby during the day?” he asked with a smile.

Brian tried in vain to sit up a little. He let his head fall back against the pillows. “I like to keep you on your toes,” Brian said. Justin took a drink from the water bottle he’d brought with him. “How long do you think it’s going to be?”

Patrick walked over to the monitor and checked on how the baby was doing and how far apart the contractions were. “You’ll be happy to know that you are next. The nurses will be in to prep you in a few minutes. We should have some babies before 7 a.m.”

“Great,” Justin said.

“Bring on the fucking drugs,” Brian said. Patrick nodded and pulled on the handle of the door.

“Of course,” Patrick smiled. He knew Brian way too well. The nurses came and left in what felt like only a few seconds. 

Justin moved to sit down and propped his feet up on Brian’s bed. “I think I might cut my hair again,” he said. Brian turned his head towards Justin, his left hand wrapped tightly around the bedrail. “Watch the IV, Brian.”

“What the fuck would you do that for?” Brian asked. He was obviously in pain, waiting for the drugs to take effect. His eyes moved up to Justin’s hair and back down to his face.

Justin shrugged. “Something different,” he said. “I thought you liked it.”

“It was hot,” Brian admitted. “That doesn’t mean that I want you to go chop off your hair for no reason. But, it’s your hair. If you want to cut it all off, do it.” Justin was about to open his mouth and tell Brian that it was just like him to not give a straight answer when the door opened.

“Hello, Mr. Kinney,” the nurse said. “I’m Carol. What do you say we get you to the operating room?” Another nurse walked in and together they unlocked the wheels on the bed and started to push and pull the bed out the door.

Brian stayed curled on his side with his arm curled around his stomach. “You can just slip into the scrubs and someone will be in to get you once we’re ready, okay?” Justin nodded and stepped back into the room to put on the scrubs she’d given him.

*

Brian turned his head towards Patrick when he walked through the operating room doors. Justin was seated next to him wearing a surgical mask. “I see you guys are all ready to go,” he said. The nurses in the room were busy prepping for the twins. Patrick waited while a nurse helped him into a pair of gloves before stepping up to the operating table. “Let’s get started.”

Justin talked to Brian about anything and everything. Until Brian gave him a look that said, plain and simple, ‘shut the fuck up’. He settled for sitting next to Brian and humming a song that only he knew. Patrick sanitized Brian’s stomach, leaving him covered in Betadine. The incision was quick and neat, following the faint line of the first cesarean. Brian closed his eyes with the sensation of pressure as they went to work on the uterine incision.

“You’re doing really well, Brian,” Patrick said. Brian kept his eyes closed and gave a slight nod.

“Can you feel anything?” Justin asked quietly.

Brian shook his head. “No, just a… pressure,” he said. Justin touched his hand to the top of Brian’s head and let it rest there. It had been hours since the first contraction and Brian hadn’t said anything about pain besides the occasional curse word. Justin knew he’d probably get to hear more bitching at home than he would in the hospital.

“Are you ready to meet your sons?” Justin looked up and Brian opened his eyes. Patrick pulled out twin number one, suctioned his mouth and nose, and held him up as he started to cry. “Baby Boy Number 1,” Patrick said and handed the baby off to a nurse. She turned and took the baby over to one of the warmers.

Less than two minutes passed and Patrick pulled out another screaming bundle. He was bloodier than his brother. Patrick suctioned his airways clean and held him up for Brian and Justin to see. “They’re so cute,” Justin said. “Covered in blood, but cute.”

“Did you expect anything else?” Brian asked sleepily with a small smirk as they got to work on the closure and clean-up. Justin watched as they cleaned up the babies and took all their vitals.

It took a good forty minutes before Brian was being wheeled into his recovery room. Justin followed them into the room and waited while they got Brian situated in the bed. “Someone will bring your sons down as soon as they're finished getting cleaned up,” the nurse said before leaving the room. Justin sat his coat down in the plastic chair and moved closer to Brian. He leaned down and kissed him long and deep.

The nurse walked into the room, pushing the door open with her back and wheeling in the baby warmer. The two newest editions to the Taylor-Kinney family were swaddled and laying face to face. They both had their eyes firmly closed. They were all clean with little blue hats pressed onto their heads. “They’re handsome,” the nurse said. “I’m Ellen, their nurse.”     

Justin stood up and walked over to the warmer. “They look just like Pilot and Race,” Justin said. The nurse looked up at him questioningly. “Our other twins,” he explained.

“Ah, I see. Well, if you need anything don’t hesitate to call. I’ll be back in a little while to check in.” Justin nodded and picked up the baby closest to him. The nurse backed out of the room and Justin turned to hand the baby to Brian.

“Got him?” Justin asked.

“Didn’t plan on dropping him,” Brian said. He looked down at his son and smiled. Justin turned around with the other baby and situated himself on the small piece of bed next to the rail. “Hey,” he whispered to his son. Justin smiled. He loved the Brian he got to see when no one else was looking. He held his son up and studied his face.

“I should call my mom; should check on the kids,” Justin said. Brian nodded and loosened the blanket around his son to count all his fingers and toes. Justin was already well on his way to doing the same.

“We have bigger problems,” Brian said. Justin looked over at the twin Brian was holding and reached out to touch him.

“What’s that?” Justin asked. The twin on his lap squirmed and Justin pulled his hand back to wrap the blanket back around his body.

“What the fuck are we going to name them?”

**

Time: 9:03 a.m.

Brian fell asleep with his son curled up against his chest, his hand held on his back and the other under his butt to keep him in place. Justin stayed next to him, running his hand over both of his sons’ hair. The nurse walked back into the room with a short wave and a small smile.

“I guess I can officially say good morning,” she said. “Did you want to feed them?” Both boys seemed to squirm at the mention of food. Justin thought about all of the kids he already had at home. He thought about the many nights that lay ahead where some nice young lady in scrubs, the shirt covered in Care Bears, wasn’t going to be there. He shifted until he was sitting with his back to Brian and his feet touching the floor.

“No,” Justin told her. “I think they’ll be okay eating in the nursery.” She nodded and moved forward to take the twin from Justin’s arms. She placed him in the portable crib and moved it slightly out of the way.

“Want to take advantage while you still can?” she asked knowingly as she moved around the bed and took the baby from Brian’s chest. Brian opened his eyes long enough to process what was happening.

“Of course,” Justin said. “We have four kids at home, I figure we better.”

“Wow!” she said, “Really? I bet they’re all as cute as these two,” she said as she placed the second twin down next to his brother. 

“Thanks, and I’d like to think so,” Justin told her, standing and yawning as he stretched. Brian shifted slightly in his sleep and turned his head towards the window.

The nurse unlocked the wheels on the clear portable crib and started towards the door. “I’ll bring them back in about an hour or two; we’ll get them dressed and freshened up,” she said. Before Justin could answer her she was gone. Justin took advantage of the alone time and walked over to the small table in the recovery room. He sat down and pulled out his phone.

Jennifer answered on the sixth ring and if the noise in the background was any indication he owed her a very big gift. “Just please tell me the building is still standing,” Justin said when she finally got the phone situated against her ear.

Jennifer held onto Race’s hand while he tried in vain to struggle free. His hands were covered in cookie batter. “Barely,” she answered with a laugh. Junior stood vigilant in front of the oven, watching. Blue stood next to her chewing on a mouthful of chocolate chips. “Since school was closed today we decided to make cookies.”

“How’s that going for you?” Justin asked. Brian opened his eyes and located Justin before repositioning his sheets and falling back asleep.

Pilot sat at the table drinking a cold glass of milk, holding the glass with both hands. Jennifer finished wiping off Race’s hands and let him go. “Good. You’ll have a slew of chocolate chip cookies,” she laughed. “How’s Brian? Did he have the babies yet?”

Justin smiled. “Yeah, he did,” he told his mother. “He had them early this morning, around 7. They’re perfectly fine, so is Brian. He’s just tired.” Jennifer motioned for her grandchildren to move back and away from the oven. She took out the tray of cookies and closed the oven door. She sat the tray on the stove and started to move the cookies to the cooling rack.

“That’s great. Did you name them yet; how much do they weigh?” She handed the kids a cookie from the batch that had already cooled. They all ran over to the oven to watch her put the next tray in.

Justin yawned again and rubbed at his mouth. “They’re both around six pounds,” he said. “We haven’t signed the birth certificates yet, but we’ve settled on Max and Sam.”

Jennifer laughed, wiping her hands on a towel and sitting it on the counter. A loud knocking on the door tore her eyes away from where her grandchildren were sitting. They’d moved out of the kitchen and were sprawled on the futon cushion watching a Dora movie. “I like those. They’re so normal,” she laughed. She pulled the door open and Tucker walked inside, pausing to kiss her. He moved around the kitchen, grabbing a cookie.

“Who’s that?” Justin asked.

“Is that Justin? They have the babies? What’d they name them this time?” Tucker fired off his questions one after the other, stacking four cookies on top of each other and claiming them as his. He reached over and grabbed a glass and the milk that was on the counter.

“It’s Tucker,” Jennifer said to Justin. “Yeah, it’s Justin. Nothing outrageous this time; Max and Sam,” she told Tucker.

Tucker nodded and swallowed the cookie in his mouth. “Nice.”

Justin leaned back in the chair and pulled the other chair closer with his foot before propping both feet up and relaxing into the uncomfortable plastic. They really didn’t plan on telling anyone that Brian had an unhealthy obsession with Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, or that Sam was the name of the first guy they’d fucked together as a couple. They’d liked the way the name sounded.

**

Except that Michael knew Brian long before Justin and had introduced him to the movie.

“That’s so cool,” Michael said. He sat down in the chair holding both babies at the same time. They both looked up at him with wide eyes, blinking sleepily. Brian was slowly making his way back from the bathroom after being freed from the catheter earlier. He pushed the IV stand back into its spot by the bed and sat down on the edge of the mattress, uncomfortably pushing himself into a comfortable position against the pillows.

“What is?” he asked absently, watching his sons watch his best friend.

“What you named them after. Ben would kill me.” Brian shrugged. “Where’d Justin go?” Brian reached for the orange juice they’d left on his tray and peeled the top off. He took a sip and sat it back down.

“He went home to check on the kids, change, and get some sleep,” Brian said. A nurse walked into the room to do a routine check and when she was satisfied she left them alone again. Brian’s gaze shifted across the room and came to rest on the flowers that were sitting on the table in the room. “What the fuck is that?”

Michael moved his eyes away from the twins and over to where Brian was looking. “Flowers,” Michael answered slowly. “I brought them.”

“What the fuck for?”

“Because you’re in the hospital,” Michael said with a laugh. “That’s what you do when people are in the hospital, you bring them flowers.”

The babies started to cry and Michael stood up, handing them both over to Brian. “What do you both have to cry about, you’re living the good life,” Brian told them. He laid Sam down on the bed between his legs and hoisted Max up on his shoulder. He reached over to the two bottles the nurse had left and positioned Max in his arms so he could eat. “Want to feed Sam?” he asked Michael.

Michael picked up his newest nephew and sat back down in his chair, pressing the nipple of the bottle between Sam’s lips. He latched on immediately and started to suck, hard. Michael filled Brian in on everything he’d missed in the day and a half since he’d been in the hospital. Brian listened and pretended that he was really interested.

“Tyler wants a dog,” Michael said when Sam was halfway through with his bottle.

Brian pulled the empty bottle from Max’s mouth and positioned him over his shoulder. “Every little boys dream,” Brian said as he patted Max’s back. He stopped when he was presented with a soft burp. Michael followed suit and was rewarded with a burp from Sam.

“Yeah” Michael sighed. “I think we’re going to get him one for his birthday. Ma says I begged her for a dog when I was the same age.”

“And thirty years later you’re finally getting one.” Brian shifted to the left and reached out for the portable crib. He pulled it close and moved enough to comfortably place Max inside.

“Time flies,” Michael said. He stood up and walked Sam over, laying him next to his brother. “Just think, in just a few short months they’ll be crawling and then walking.”

“Jesus, don’t remind me.”

**

Oz sat against Hunter’s chest with his hand shoved into his mouth, watching the images flash by on the TV. “Pizza good?” Molly asked. She walked out of the kitchen with the cordless phone and a jar of baby food; chicken and rice, yum. She was dressed in dark blue sweats and an oversized white tee shirt, her feet bare.

“Yeah,” Hunter answered, “pepperoni.” His bags were all packed and sitting by the front door. He was dressed in dark blue jeans and a gray vintage band shirt, covered with a black hoodie. His feet were propped up on the coffee table and he barely glanced over when Molly sat down next to him. Oz turned his head to look at her when she pulled his hand out of his mouth.

Molly pulled her feet up on the couch and twisted the top off of the baby food jar, sticking an infant spoon inside. “Feed him?” Molly asked, holding the jar up with a huge smile. It was no little known fact that feeding Oz was a task.

“Give him a bath?” Hunter countered. He turned the channel and settled on another airing of Fight Club. Molly let her fingers tap against the beginning number for the pizza place. This was their nightly dance.

“Feed him and give him a bath and I’ll give you a pre-flight blowjob,” Molly tossed out. Hunter seemed to think if over, rolling his bottom lip into his mouth.

“Where is the huge bonus for me? Besides you getting horny while blowing me?” Hunter asked, turning his head to look at his wife. Oz was sitting up, his feet kicking back and forth against Hunter’s lap. He was dressed in a blue onesie and white socks. His hair was messy and still smashed against his head from his nap.

Molly thought about it for a minute before answering. “I’ll wear the leather catsuit and let you use the handcuffs.” Hunter turned Oz around and grabbed the jar of food from Molly’s hand. Oz grinned and let out a loud laugh before Hunter managed to shove in the first spoonful of food.

Molly grinned and dialed the number to order the pizza.

**

“When can we see the babies?” Junior asked from her spot next to Jennifer. They were packing up all of the cookies they’d made. Pilot and Race were in the playroom and there had been no sign of bloodshed, so far. They’d gotten their hugs and kisses and were satisfied. Blue stayed hovering near Justin until he knelt down to hug her again.

“Very soon,” Justin answered with a smile.

“Your father called,” Jennifer said. She pulled the plastic container she was storing the cookies in closer so Junior wouldn’t have to reach. Justin stood up with Blue still clinging to the fingers of his left hand, her hair expertly brushed and held out of her face with little pink clips. You had to give it to grandmas. “He wanted to know if it was still okay for him to come over.”

“That had to have been uncomfortable,” Justin said, slightly amused. Blue was satisfied when Justin leaned over and picked her up, steadying her on his hip.

“Daddy, do you want a cookie?” Junior asked. She held out a chocolate chip cookie and Justin gladly took it. Blue signed to her sister and held out her hand expectantly. Junior rolled her eyes and handed a cookie to her sister.

“We do know how to be civil, Justin,” Jennifer said. “I think that’ll do for this container,” she told Junior and snapped the lid on. She pulled out another container and placed it in front of Junior, moving the other one over to the other counter.

“Funny, the last time you talked about him you called him an asshole,” he reminded her. Jennifer shrugged. Justin stood Blue on her feet and watched her walk off towards the playroom.

“Well, I have Tucker now. It’s too much energy to stay mad at him. Plus, like I told you before, he wasn’t always an asshole. When we first got married and had you and your sister he was fun and funny, nice. He had so much ambition and so many dreams for us, for you, for Molly. He was great. Maybe he still is for someone else, just, not me anymore.”

Justin nodded. “I’ll call him back,” he said. “I’m gonna go take a shower. Is that okay?”

“Oh, yeah, sweetie,” Jennifer told him. “Go ahead. We’ll be fine.” Justin walked past and grabbed Junior from behind, lifting her from the chair she was standing in and spinning her around before kissing her cheek and standing her back on her feet. “Love you.”

“I love you too, Daddy,” she answered. Her hair was pulled back into a very neat and thick ponytail.

**

Taking a shower and getting cleaned up didn’t take as long as Justin thought it would. He made lunch for the kids and played Candyland. Every single time Justin had to go down a chute he cursed Lindsay for buying it. He left them on the playroom floor with Jennifer filling in for him.

“Where ya goin’?” Pilot asked. Race was curled up on Justin’s lap and Blue was pressed against Jennifer, yawning.

“Daddy has to go back to the hospital to see Dad and the babies,” Justin told them. Junior got up on her knees and reached across the board. She snatched two of the paper cards out of her sister’s hand and put them back on the stack.

“Oh,” Pilot said. Justin sat Race on the floor and stood up.

“Okay, be good for grandma.” Justin made sure his phone was in his pocket and checked the time. “I’ll be back, probably after they go to bed. Are you okay?”

“Justin, go,” Jennifer answered.

Justin left, sat in traffic for more than twenty minutes for no reason. He pulled into the hospital parking lot and found a parking space, as close to the door he wanted to go into, as possible. He walked through the hospital with a bag of things Brian had packed, and some for the twins. He rounded the corner into the maternity ward and walked down to Brian’s room, pushing the door open. He stopped just inside the door and frowned. The room was completely empty.

He walked across the room and set Brian’s bag on the empty bed. A nurse walked in with a fresh pair of sheets. “Do you know where Brian is?”

The nurse dropped the sheets and Justin moved the bag to the chair so it wouldn’t be in his way. “Ah, Mr. Kinney,” he laughed, “he made his way outside to the smoker’s balcony, against all my protests. My name’s Kevin by the way.”

“Kevin,” Justin said. He was already moving towards the door. “Thanks.”

*

“Please tell me you have another one of those,” Brian said to the only other person out on the balcony. She reached into the pocket of her robe and pulled out a cigarette. Brian took it, his right hand wrapped around his IV stand. Dressed in the solid hospital gown and an issued robe Brian leaned against the balcony railing and lit his cigarette with the lighter she held out.

“I’m Viv,” the woman said, bracing herself against the sudden burst of wind.

“Brian,” he answered with little emotion. He moved back from the railing and sat down in one of the chairs not too far from his new acquaintance.

“What’d you have, Brian? If you don’t mind me asking,” she added. Viv tucked her robe tighter around her neck and took a long inhale from her cigarette.     

“Boys, twins,” Brian told her and took another pull on his cigarette. Her eyes trailed down to his stomach. He was suddenly glad he’d worked out so much over the course of the pregnancy.

“Congratulations,” Viv said. “Are they your first?”

“No,” Brian said without elaborating. The door to the balcony opened and Justin stepped outside.

He gave a quick smile to Viv and moved towards Brian. “Brian, what the fuck, it’s freezing out here.” Brian leaned back in his chair and looked at Justin.

“I hadn’t noticed,” Brian said, looking up at Justin and taking a long pull off of his cigarette. Justin snatched the cigarette from between Brian’s fingers and snuffed it out, tossing the filter over the balcony.

“They have a bucket full of sand for those,” Viv informed him, pulling another cigarette from her pack and lighting it with the tip of the other. Justin looked around and spotted the very obvious red bucket.

“Oh.”

Brian let out the last bit of smoke in his lungs and used the table to help levy himself up. He moved his IV stand from around the legs of his chair and started towards the doors. Justin was already following him, letting the doors close behind them as they walked back through the halls. Brian made it to the elevator banks first, pushing on the button to take them back up to his room.

Justin stood next to Brian with his arms crossed, relaxed. “The loft smells like cookies,” he said absently. Brian raised an eyebrow and pushed on the button again. “You only have to push it once.”

“It won’t open.”

“Because there is nothing for the doors to open up to,” Justin said. “Unless you want to fall to your death,” he finished dramatically. Brian pressed the button one more time just because Justin was right.

**

Location: Loft, YAY. Hospitals suck the ASS.

Day: Saturday night.

Brian slid the loft door open and stood back. “Fuck, look at you,” Debbie said. “When was the last time you slept?” she asked. She handed over a container of food. Brian didn’t see the need to point out that he’d just had two babies and was entitled to look less than stellar. Debbie gently pushed past him into the loft.  

“Deb,” Brian said as he closed the door, “you always know exactly what to say.” Brian made his way into the kitchen and moved past Justin, sitting the dish down on the counter.

“Hey, Debbie,” Justin said from the kitchen. Brian and the twins had only been home for a day and the visitors hadn’t stopped coming; first Michael and Ben, then Emmett, Ted, Daphne, Jennifer, Lindsay and Melanie.

“Hi sunshine,” she answered, already losing herself in the newest twins. Junior, Pilot, Race and Blue had all gathered around when the babies got home, but watching them sleep had worn off quickly. They’d abandoned them in favor of their toys, stopping to look at them whenever a new movement caught their eyes.

Justin was in the middle of making dinner, a dish that Brian had taught him how to make. The kids loved it. He was looking through the cabinets in search of the pan he needed for the next step.    

“Jesus fucking Christ, they’re goddamn gorgeous,” Deb said loudly. Brian walked slowly back over to the couch and sat down as softly as he could. He was wearing a belly band to ease the pain. Max and Sam were sleeping soundly in their bassinettes. They flinched when Debbie raised her voice and quickly settled back into sleep.

Loud screams and squeals came from up the stairs, followed quickly by a stampede of footsteps. “What the hell are they doing up there?” Debbie asked, looking towards the stairs.  

Brian unscrewed his bottle of water and took a long drink. “Pilot and Race have this ball that lights up and spins. You’re supposed to catch it, we think,” Brian told her. Justin jumped down from where he’d climbed on the counter and brushed his hands off on his jeans.

“Except they like to kick it,” Justin told her. “Brian, we had a fucking baking dish that looked like this,” Justin gestured with his hands. “It was oblong. Where the fuck is it?”

“How would I know?” Brian asked. Junior came racing down the stairs with the flashing ball in her hands and her brothers and sister on her heels, even if Blue was trailing behind. Her little legs were doing their best to keep up with the pack.

They were all dressed in their pajamas. Blue was wearing a white two piece set with pink ribbon around the sleeves, ruffles on the panties that covered her diaper, and a bow on her chest slightly off center. Pilot and Race were comfortable in boxers, both in white tee shirts and white socks. Junior’s hair was all over her head, tangled and falling around her shoulders, wearing an oversized shirt and panties with no socks.   

“You used it last,” Justin said. He was beyond frustrated and irritated.

“Hey! Don’t run in here!” Brian said firmly. Debbie watched the kids slow down slightly before disappearing into the playroom. “No I didn’t.”

“Yeah, you did, Brian,” Justin said. He moved out of the kitchen and came to a stop by the couch.

Max opened his eyes at all the sudden noise. His bottom lip started to quiver and a loud wail erupted from his lips, startling his brother and causing him to scream at the top of his lungs. Justin turned towards the sound and moved to lift Max up. He scooped to get Sam once Max was settled against him. He handed off Sam to Debbie who looked like she was going to burst if she didn’t get her hands on at least one of them.

“Would you mind feeding him?” Justin asked. He walked back into the kitchen with Max propped up on his shoulder. He grabbed two bottles and warmed them quickly before making his way back over to the couch. He handed a bottle to Debbie and watched as she tested the milk and settled into the oversized chair. She was a mother through and through, never losing her touch. Justin positioned Max in his arms and started to feed him. Brian was sitting next to him trying not to fall asleep.

Max finished and Justin handed him off to Brian to get burped. He got up and went back into the kitchen to finish dinner for the other hungry mouths they had. “You did good Brian,” Debbie said softly. Brian looked up from his son and smirked.

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” he told her, his voice dripping with sarcasm and just underneath the surface, with sincerity. Debbie knew him well enough and nodded with a smile. She moved Sam to her shoulder and started to rub circles on his back.

**

Next weekend…

Brian was still upstairs sleeping when Justin made his way into the kitchen. They’d both been up all night, every few hours. He started his morning routine and pressed the on button for the coffee pot. He made a mental note to buy an automatic one. He pulled down a cup from the cabinet and moved around the kitchen picking up stray toys. He walked them all into the playroom and tossed them into the toy box. It was one of the few things they hadn’t packed yet.

The house was slowly being filled with boxes. Hunter had a friend who worked in a warehouse and the supply was endless. Justin was working mostly by himself with Brian unable to really lift anything. The kids’ rooms were practically finished. Their bedroom was a mess and Justin didn’t even want to think about packing the studio. The soft knocking on the door pulled him out of his thoughts.

He was pulling open the door before he even realized what he was doing. And Craig always did have a knack for shocking the hell out of people. “Dad,” Justin said.

“You seem surprised to see me,” Craig said nervously. His eyes scanned just inside the lift, taking in the boxes. “It’s a bad time, I can… come…” he trailed off and Justin moved back.

“No, it’s fine. Come on in.” Craig walked into the loft and Justin closed the door behind him. “We’re just in the middle of packing. Well, I’m packing. Brian mostly watches and gives instructions,” Justin said with a laugh. Being in the same room with his dad was still weird. “Um, you can take off your jacket. It’s a little early so everyone’s still asleep.”

Craig nodded and pulled off his jacket. He sat it on the barstool next to him and moved to sit down. “How is Brian? Your sister told me he went into labor.” Craig’s voice faltered and Justin smiled. He was trying and it was more than he even thought he’d begin to ask for.

“Yeah, he did. He’s upstairs actually; had two little boys. We named them Max and Sam,” Justin told him. Craig was a little thrown by the knowledge that Brian was just up the stairs. Justin studied him, placed a cup of coffee in front of him before moving to make his own. Craig looked like he had so many things he wanted to ask. “You can ask me anything you want, Dad. I’ll let you know if I’m offended.”

“Thanks,” Craig answered. “So, Max huh. You know, I wanted to name you Max, but your mother said no. I had an unhealthy obsession with Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.” Justin laughed and almost choked on his coffee. “What?”

“Nothing,” Justin lied. He reached to get a paper towel and clean up his mess. “I didn’t really have anything planned for today. We’re supposed to paint. You can join us if you want.”

“Sounds good,” Craig said. “I have all day.”

“Good.” Justin was about to ask his father why they settled on naming him Justin when he heard small whimpers coming from upstairs. Craig turned to listen and smiled. Justin took a long gulp of his coffee and pushed off the counter. “That’d be Blue,” Justin said knowingly. “Brian’s sleeping so…” he gestured toward the stairs, “I’ll be right back. You can relax on the couch if you want.” Justin hurried up the stairs.

“Okay.” Craig decided to stay where he was. He wasn’t entirely comfortable with the idea of wandering around Justin’s house. He spun around on his stool and took in the loft. Even half packed it was impressive.

The pictures on the wall in the playroom nudged his curiosity and he stood up, walking slowly across the hardwood floor and up the steps. Boxes were shoved against the wall, marked with black sharpie. The pictures were large black and whites of the kids, strategically hung in what looked to be a sort of ‘H’ pattern.

“Justin took those,” Brian said, dressed in gray lounge pants and a white tee shirt. He’d been far from sleeping when Justin met him in the hallway, already on his way down the stairs. Craig jumped, knocked into a box and reached out to make sure it wasn’t going to fall. Craig turned to look at the one person he’d always hated. “Hung them too,” he added. “I think he might have a slight touch of OCD.”

“He always did like to have things a certain way,” Craig answered. He stared at the man that took his son away and couldn’t muster the energy to feel anger. “Hello, Brian.”

“Mr. Taylor,” Brian greeted. And that was that. Brian turned to walk back to the counter. He pulled out the bottles, formula, and liners he needed to make the twins their breakfast. Craig followed him and sat back down on his stool.

“I guess I could say I was sorry, but we both know that’d be bullshit and at the time… I wasn’t.”

“I don’t want you to apologize,” Brian said. He poured the formula into the bottles and started to twist on the caps.

“You don’t look like you just had twins,” Craig said without thinking.

“Thanks.” The conversation was awkward, but at least they weren’t beating each other to death.

“You said Justin took those pictures. I thought he painted.” Craig felt bad for not knowing more about his son’s life. He mostly only knew what Molly told him and even then he only halfway listened. Brian finished the bottles and threw the empty can of formula in the trash.

Brian nodded. “He paints, mostly. He takes commissions and does photography. The bulk of his work and income comes from freelance graphic design work. And he publishes a comic book,” Brian told him.

Craig stood staring while Brian talked. He had no idea Justin did so much. “I really thought he just did sketches and painted.” Craig moved his arms to the counter and leaned forward. “How does he find the time to do all of that and have all the kids. I had two and I barely had time,” Craig said with awe.

“We work it out,” Brian told him. “We set our own schedules, perks of being in charge. Justin had a studio built here so he could work whenever he wanted to. But he has a main one downtown that he can be found in most days. It’s easier with the kids in school all day.”

Craig was shocked at how normal they were. “Can I say something?” Brian didn’t answer, he just stood and waited. “I thought all you did was go out to the clubs, fuck, drink and do drugs.”

“We do,” Brian said proudly. “We still fuck and drink. Sometimes we do drugs that are not prescribed by a doctor. And I own the hottest club in town. We’re not dead yet,” Brian told him. “We still have fun.”

“Brian, you came down here thirty minutes ago,” Justin said. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Talking to your father about the importance of recreational activities in a young person’s life,” Brian answered. Justin groaned and looked from his father to Brian. They seemed calm and resolved.

“Blue wants her Dad. Apparently I’m not good enough. Even if I did carry her for nine months and have her.” Brian grabbed the two bottles and made his way back up the stairs. His steps were still slow. “She’s sitting in the middle of the bed.”

“Daddy!” Justin heard. Craig laughed.

“I remember when I used to hear that all the time,” he said almost sadly. Justin smiled and took a quick sip of his cooling coffee.

“Looks like they’re all waking up,” Justin said. “I’m going to go see what he wants. Want to help me make breakfast?”

“Yeah, I’d like that,” Craig said.

Justin nodded and ran back up the stairs. He made it to the top where Pilot was standing with his blanket still in his right hand and his underwear in the other. “Did you pee on yourself?” Justin asked with a sigh. He took the underwear from Pilot and reached out for his hand.

“Yes. Sorry,” he said sadly. They made their way down the hall and a quick glance into the master bedroom proved that everyone was awake. Junior was holding onto Max and feeding him, the bottom half of his body positioned between her legs, his feet kicking out against her thigh. Blue and Race were helping Brian.

“It was just an accident, right?” Justin walked into the twins’ bedroom and stopped at Pilot’s bed. They’d learned quickly to put a pad down under both boys and the cleanup was easy.

“Yes, ‘cause my pee won’t stay on da inside,” Pilot said as he hopped along next to his daddy. Justin laughed and pulled Pilot’s shirt over his head. He dropped the shirt and the wet underwear into their hamper.

“We’ll have to work on that then,” Justin said. He maneuvered around some of the boxes on the floor and pulled some clothes for Pilot and Race out of the closet. He gave Pilot a bath and got him dressed, getting him out of the way.

One by one he got the kids washed and dressed. He grabbed a shower for himself and walked out into the bedroom with a towel around his waist. “What do you think he’s doing down there?” Brian finished changing Max and Sam and leaned back against the headboard with them still on the bed. Max was dressed in a white long sleeved onesie and Sam in blue. They both wore white socks, pulled up their legs to block some of the cold.

“Waiting for you to come back down,” Brian answered. “Cynthia’s coming over. I have some final copies to approve. You’ll have all the time you want with your dear old dad, and I’ll only be a few rooms away.”

Justin gave him a smile and pulled on his jeans and shirt. He sat down on the bed and picked up Max. “You have got to stop passing on the dark hair,” Justin said. He kissed Max on the cheek and stood up. He waited for Brian to put Sam in his arms before leaning forward to kiss him.

**

Craig hadn’t moved from the stool. Justin came down the stairs with all four of his older kids trailing behind him. Craig stood up and smoothed his hands down the front of his shirt. Justin smiled at how nervous his dad was. “Guys, this is my daddy, your grandpa,” Justin told them.

“Hi,” Craig said. He knelt down on one knee, dropping down to their level. “You must be Junior,” he said. Junior stepped forward and hugged him quickly, her hair in two long ponytails.

“Yes,” she said. “And this is Pilot and Race and Blue.” Craig watched as her little fingers flew as she talked, unconsciously signing for her sister. “Daddy has Max and Sam, but they’re just new so they can’t talk or anything.” Pilot and Race nodded in agreement. They all followed their sister’s example and gave Craig a hug.  

“Oh, that’s good to know.” Craig stood back up with a smile on his face that Justin hadn’t seen in years. Justin moved closer and held the twins so that his father could see.

“This is Max,” Justin said gesturing towards his right arm with his head, “and this is Sam,” he told him, moving his head to the left. Craig made a move to take one of the babies and stopped himself. “It’s okay, you can hold them.” Justin shifted his sons into his father’s arms and stood back.

“Justin, they’re so cute. They all are,” he said.

“Thank you.” Justin rubbed his hands together and went to start breakfast. “Who wants waffles?” A chorus of voices tore through the loft and Craig laughed.

“Are you gonna make ‘em like Dad makes them?” Junior asked. She got into her chair at the table and sat down. Pilot and Race were pulling themselves up. Craig opted to sit in one of the kitchen chairs.

“Oh no,” Race said, “t’at is m’dad’s chair, yes.”

“He can sit there, Race,” Justin told his son. Blue was still standing in front of her highchair and Justin poured out some batter on the waffle iron before walking over to unsnap the tray and sit her down. He secured her in the chair and kissed the top of her head. “Ready for waffles?” he signed and said as he walked back over to the waffle iron.

“Yes, waffles!” she signed back with a grin.

“How long did it take you to learn to do that?” Craig shifted on the chair when Max moved and Sam mirrored the movement, both babies wiggling.

“A couple months, but it was very intense. We’re still learning. We have a private tutor, although I think I use her more than Brian does. He prefers to teach her his own brand of sign language. It really is nowhere near as hard as I thought it would be.” Justin pulled one waffle off the waffle iron and poured out the batter for another. Craig wasn’t really helping, but he was talking and the kids seemed to like him so Justin could forgive him.

“The kids learned the same way?”

“They go to a class,” Justin told him. He repeated the routine with the waffle iron and moved to the cabinet to get plates. “Blue goes to a school for the deaf, at least for the moment, to teach her more extensively and to help her with her lip reading. They figured out not too long after her initial diagnosis that she can pick up certain things so we’re working a lot more with her hearing aids.”

“Wow,” was all Craig could think to say. Justin finished the waffles in no time and served them with glasses of milk and plenty of syrup, just like Brian usually did. Justin took Sam from his dad and motioned towards the couch. They settled in and Justin handed Craig the bottle that hadn’t been finished. Craig fed his grandson with a satisfied smile on his face. “I’m sorry I waited so long,” he said softly.

Justin almost didn’t hear him. “I’m just glad you called at all,” Justin said honestly. “I missed you sometimes. I needed you sometimes.” Justin looked towards the table to make sure no pieces of waffle were flying through the air. He considered the fact that they were eating without incident to mean his waffles ranked among Brian’s.

“I came and saw you, after you got hurt. I came in the mornings, before I went to work and you woke up.”

“You and Brian are more alike than you’d probably like to know,” Justin said. He moved Sam to a sitting position and patted his back to make him burp. Craig did the same, a little more awkwardly, his days with an infant long behind him.

Pilot stood up in his chair with his fork still in his hand. “Daddy, can me have s’more?” he asked.

“Me too!” Race added.

“And me and Blue too,” Junior said.

Justin moved to get up and Craig stopped him. “Can I? I mean, if that’s okay.”

“Yeah, go ahead,” Justin said. He settled back into his seat and turned Sam to face him. He watched as his father stood up and gently laid Max down in his bassinette. He walked over to the kitchen table and took their plates, loading them up with waffles and cutting them up like he’d seen Justin do. Pilot sat down in his chair and started eating.

“Thank you,” they all answered with Junior the loudest. They started to eat and Craig went to get the jug of milk.

“Grandpa, do you like waffles too?” Junior asked. Craig started at being called ‘grandpa’. Justin noticed but said nothing.

“Um, yeah, I do,” he answered. “I like mine with strawberries and whip cream.” Justin got up and laid Sam down in his bassinette, covering him with his blanket, before moving over to Max and making sure he was comfortable.

“Sometimes Dad puts bananas, but not strawberries,” Junior said. Pilot was shoving a piece of waffle in his mouth, using his hand and his fork.

“Justin?” Craig asked. He remembered a time when Justin didn’t want anything on his waffles, not even syrup.

“No,” Race said, “Dad.”

“Daddy likes only to eat his waffles with butter, but sometimes he eats them with syrup; only when Dad asks him to really nice,” Junior told. She licked a drop of syrup off her hand and took a drink of milk.       

Craig took in that information and nodded. “So, Dad is Brian and Daddy is Justin?” he asked. All the kids nodded. Blue was eating her waffle and dropping more onto the tray and in her lap than she was probably getting into her stomach.

Justin met them at the table and smiled. “Okay, let's get all cleaned up. We have painting to do.”

“Is grandpa gonna paint with us?” Junior asked as she shoved the last piece of her waffle in her mouth.

Justin looked at his dad. “Ask him.”

“You gonna paint with us?” Justin took their plates from the table and set them in the sink. He sat their cups inside next and cleaned off the table.

“Is it okay if I do?” Craig asked.

“Yes. Daddy plays music and we get to use the paints and lots of paper,” Junior informed him proudly.

“I paint too,” Race said. Pilot held out his hands for Justin to wash and didn’t protest too much against the wet towel on his face. Justin let him go and started the clean up on Blue. He had her standing on her feet sooner than he thought.

“I think we’re ready,” Justin said. “Are you okay to paint in that shirt? It can get messy.” Craig looked down at his shirt and shrugged.

“Nothing I can’t replace or wash,” Craig said with a slight laugh. Blue was already dancing her way to the studio.

“Okay. Well, let me just tell Brian that we’re going into the studio. J, why don’t you take grandpa and show him how we get all set up,” Justin suggested.

“M’kay,” she said happily. She grabbed onto Craig’s hand and started pulling him down the hall. Pilot and Race followed quickly, almost tripping Craig. Blue was waiting at the studio door and Junior pointed up. “You have to pull on the lock up there,” she pointed.

Craig looked up and reached for the lock, obviously installed so that little people couldn’t enter by themselves. Junior started pulling out their smocks and paint supplies as soon as she was through the door. The studio was large and more photos were hung on the walls, black and whites and some in color. Some of the pictures were of the kids, but most were of Brian and parts of Brian. He was relieved not to see any nudes.

“The ones you’re looking for are in my studio downtown,” Justin said, walking into the studio with a CD in his hand.

“Oh,” Craig said. Justin loaded the CD and a remix of Elvis’s Rubbernecking immediately started to flow through the speakers. Pilot and Race immediately started to dance. Blue could feel the bass through the floor and danced with her sister. Justin pulled out paint and handed Craig two large glass jars.

“Can you fill them with water?” Justin asked. Craig walked over to the sink and filled the jars, stopping when he thought the water level was high enough.

Justin pushed back all the questions he had lingering in his head for his father. He swept them to the back of his mind for another time and another day, rolled out the large sheets of white paper he kept in the studio’s storage closet and taped them down.    

**

“Keep the font and change the background color; have Cole call me with the confirmation from Duncan,” Brian said. Cynthia nodded and made a note in her planner.

“I swear Brian, they are so cute. You make such cute babies. Can I take them home with me?” Cynthia repositioned Max in her arms and touched his nose with the end of her finger.

“Yeah,” Brian answered noncommittally.

Cynthia leaned forward and laid Max down, covering him up. “So, he’s in there right now?” Brian didn’t answer. Cynthia wasn’t surprised. “He’s been here all day?” Cynthia kept her eyes locked on Brian, a smile spread across her face.

Brian turned to look at her and waited. “What?”

“You have got to be so uncomfortable,” she said. “Either that or you’d really like to punch him in the face. Has he said anything to you?”

“We talked,” was all Brian offered before getting up to go to the bathroom. The incision from the cesarean still hurt, but wasn’t as painful as it had been the day after the surgery. He left the bathroom and stopped in the kitchen to take a couple of pain pills. “Did Ted send the figures for this month?”

Cynthia took the change of subject and pulled out the paperwork Ted had put together, handing it to Brian.

**

Painting with the kids was messy and loud and fun. Craig had left after giving them baths. He’d insisted and Brian and Justin were more than happy to let him do the honors. He’d even managed to wash all the paint out of Pilot’s hair without him throwing a tantrum. Justin asked him his trick. He’d shrugged and told him he’d been the same way, hated water.

Location: Loft, master bedroom.

Time: 2:29 a.m.

Justin curled into Brian’s side and inhaled. Brian smirked and moved his head slightly to give Justin more access. “Today seemed to stretch on forever,” Justin said. His voice was muffled and warm against Brian’s neck.

“Did you have fun with your daddy, sunshine?” Brian asked sleepily, his eyes already closed. Max and Sam were bundled up tightly and sleeping side by side in their crib with matching pacifiers in their mouths. Brian moved his hand up and down Justin’s bare arm. “You’re cold.”

“Actually, I did,” Justin said with a yawn. “The kids seemed to like him; he asked if it’d be okay for him to call, come over again. I told him yeah.” Brian made a noise somewhere between a grunt and a sigh. “Tomorrow I want to stay in bed and sleep all day. We still have to load up the stuff and move it to the house.”

Justin took a deep breath before pressing in closer to Brian and letting himself fall asleep. Brian was already well on his way, the pain medication he’d taken earlier finally kicking in.

They’d worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.

**

Time: 3:00 a.m.

Max woke up, yawned and turned his head to the side, his tiny hand coming up to rest against his mouth, pushing the pacifier that had fallen out of his mouth against his eye. He kicked his legs, tenting the blanket and bunching it up around his middle. He let out a small squeak of a noise and sucked on the side of his hand. His tiny fingers were bunched in a fist and his eyes were wide open and taking in the darkness.

Sam didn’t move beside him, his pacifier resting in his mouth. Max shifted his head and his legs kicked again almost involuntarily. He pushed his fist back into his mouth and his pinky caught on his tongue. He sucked hard. He couldn’t hear any sounds coming from the room, his hair soft where it rested around his ear.

He drooled on his hand and onto the sheets before giving up. His cries were sudden and piercing. Sam woke up, blinking his eyes against the small amount of light coming from the windows. Max turned his head back towards the ceiling and continued to scream.

Sam was getting more and more agitated, his limbs starting to move, his hands covered with the sleeves of his shirt. He sucked steadily on his pacifier while his brother cried.

Brian opened his eyes and forced himself up from under the drug induced sleep. Justin rolled further into his pillow and sighed. “Do you need me?” Justin muttered.

“I’ve got it,” Brian answered as he stood up and walked across the room. He stopped at the crib and picked up Max. He held him against his chest and tucked his hand back into his sleeve. “How’d you get your hand out of there?” he asked with a frown as he took in the long red scratch on his son’s face. Justin had started covering their hands to stop them from scratching themselves, but they always seemed to wiggle their hands free.

Max continued to scream and without his brother next to him Sam’s cries started to fade into silence. It didn’t take long for him to start slipping back into sleep.

Brian carried Max downstairs, fixed two bottles and turned off the kitchen light. Max’s screams died down to a loud cry as Brian made it back to the bedroom and sat down on the bed. He propped Max up in his arms and offered him the bottle. Max took it greedily and sucked until the plastic bag was bunched up tight against the nipple. Brian took it out of his mouth and burped him.

Max wiggled in Brian’s arms, his arms and legs sprawled and loose as he started to slip back into sleep. Brian walked him over to his crib and laid him down. He smiled as he covered his hands back up and made sure he was tucked in. Sam was sleeping soundly but Brian scooped him up, fed him, burped him, and laid him back down before he could decide he was going to interrupt their sleep for food.

Justin shifted over when Brian laid back down and took a deep breath, covering his eyes with his arm. He pretended not to feel the shift in the bed ten minutes later as Pilot crawled over his legs and positioned himself between them on the bed. Brian turned on his side and fell asleep.

Five hours later Justin lifted Pilot’s arm from around his neck and got up from the bed. He walked into the bathroom. After emptying his bladder and washing his hands he pulled on some jogging pants and a long sleeved shirt. He picked up his running shoes and checked on Max and Sam before leaving the room. Pilot rolled over and fit himself snugly against Brian’s back, his right leg on the top of the duvet and his left leg buried in a mess of sheets.

Justin didn’t bother to turn on the light in the kitchen. He pulled out a large bottle of water and poured a glass. He glanced out the large windows and sighed. “Fuck, it’s gonna be cold,” he muttered to himself. He checked his watch and yawned. He looked through the mail sitting on the counter and started the dishwasher in the time it took for his sister to show up.

Molly walked into the loft and sat Oz’s carrier on the counter, stuffing the keys they’d finally allowed her to keep into her pocket. Justin looked over at her and swallowed his mouthful of water. “Hey,” he said.

“Hey. Can I have one of those?” Molly asked with a gesture towards his water bottle. She dropped Oz’s bag to the floor and moved towards the refrigerator. Justin walked over to Oz and moved the blanket so he could see him.

“He’s getting so big.”

Molly backed out of the fridge and let the door swing shut. “I know, right. Are you ready?” she asked. She slipped her water bottle into a holder around her waist. Molly had enlisted Justin as her new running partner after Riah got a new job. He didn’t exactly hate it and spending time with Molly wasn’t bad.

“Yeah,” Justin said and started to stretch. Oz squirmed and sneezed. Molly picked him up out of his carrier, pressed a kiss to his cheek, and walked him over to the playpen to sleep. “Brian already knows he’ll be down here, so…”

Molly nodded and pulled her hair into a ponytail. She followed Justin out of the loft and waited while he locked the door. She pressed into his back and nudged him with her arm. “Dad came over?” she asked and started to laugh. “Tell me everything. But speak clearly ‘cause I want to hear every single word.”

“Fuck you,” Justin said with a smile. He pushed past her and walked down the stairs. They made their way out the front door and stretched on the sidewalk before turning to the left and starting to jog. Justin told Molly all about Craig’s visit as they ran, maneuvering to the side to avoid other joggers and pedestrians.        

Molly controlled her breathing. She could feel the burn in her legs as they started their fifth mile. “He’s seeing someone, ya know,” she breathed. “Did he tell you that?”

Justin glanced down at the ground and wiped the sweat away from his face. He started to slow his strides, slowing down until he was walking. He rested his hands on his hips and let out a puff of air. Molly slowed down and stretched her right arm over her left.

“We didn’t really talk about him all that much,” Justin admitted. People were everywhere, most rushing to start their days at work. Molly smiled at the man working one of the stands at the outdoor market, their daily destination. 

“Huh,” Molly muttered as she sorted through the fruit. “Want some peaches?” Justin shook his head no and then shrugged. Molly smirked and tossed a few extra into her bag for him.   

They walked along the sidewalk, both feeling the sweat cool on their skin. Molly pulled her cell phone out of the holder attached to her arm and checked for any messages. Satisfied that no one had tried to reach her in the few hours they’d been gone she slipped the phone back into its holder. “What’s her name?” Justin asked.

Molly veered to the right and Justin followed as she made her way between the fruit stands lined up along the street. He leaned against a pole and waited while she searched through all the fresh fruit, reaching forward to pick up an apple and smell it. “Lisa,” Molly answered. “You know, some would say that is a little unhealthy. You spent all day with your father and didn’t ask him any personal questions.”

Justin pushed off of the pole and picked out some oranges for himself. “Really,” Justin said sarcastically. Molly pulled a bunch of bananas towards her and stared at them for way too long.

“She’s nice.” Molly put the bananas in her bag and thrust it towards her brother with a smile. “Thanks,” she said when he took it. “Yeah, she’s nice. I mean, I think she’s a little… clean.”

Justin laughed as they made their way to the cashiers and started to check out. Justin let Molly pay for his food. She stuffed her card back into the cuff around her wrist. “Isn’t that a good thing?” Justin asked. They walked away from the crowds gathered around the food stands and made their way back towards the loft, moving down the sidewalk at a leisurely pace.

Molly pulled her hair from the ponytail and wrapped the band around her fingers. “You know what I mean.”

“I really don’t,” Justin laughed. He stared into the windows of the shops as they passed.

“She’s just clean, really clean. She has one of those little vacuums in every room in the house. She irons everything. And she does this weird hand washing thing. Oh my god, you have got to see it.” Justin laughed, tightening his grip on the bag of fruit.            

“I doubt we’ll be having a family dinner anytime soon,” Justin said. They rounded a corner and Molly checked the time on her phone. “Let me see that.”

“True,” she agreed and handed over her phone. “It’s fucking freezing out here.” Molly pulled on the sleeves of her shirt and zipped up her vest.

”I love this phone,” he said as he looked it over.

Molly scratched at a spot on her chest and ran her hand through her hair. Dressed in her old lacrosse shorts over a pair of gray sweats, the waist rolled down, and a white tee shirt, she was the picture of comfort. “Hey, Hunter’s back in a couple of days; you and Brian want to come over for dinner?”

“Who’s paying for dinner?” Justin asked as he gave her phone back. The jog had felt like forever, but the walk seemed like it only took a few minutes. The loft was just ahead of them.

“We’ll pay for the food and you guys bring the beer?”

“Okay. I’m supposed to meet with Maxine today,” Justin said with a groan.

Molly laughed. “That bitch who hates everything you do and who would, if given a chance, probably kill you for being a disgrace to everything the art world holds sacred?” Justin pulled out his keys and unlocked the entry door.

“Do you have to quote her every single time I mention her?”

“Yes,” Molly said as they made their way up the stairs, “because I find it hilarious that she fucking slammed you in ArtX magazine and then unknowingly took a job for the agency that reps you.”

Justin unlocked the loft door and Molly walked in. He closed the door behind them and tossed his keys on top of a packed box. Oz was still sleeping soundly in the playpen with his back pressed up against the mesh and his blanket tangled between his legs. “You do realize that he is way too cute, right?” Justin asked.

“Why thank you. I went out of my way to make a beautiful baby,” Molly said happily, taking fruit out of the bag Justin sat on the counter. “You think you’ll have another one?”

Justin almost choked on the tap water he’d been drinking. “What?”

“Just asking,” she said and slid onto a stool, pulling a muffin from one of the bags she’d left on the counter before their run.

“We have six kids,” Justin said as if that explained it all. “Max and Sam aren’t even two weeks old.” Justin felt his heart hammering in his chest.

“Jesus, don’t fucking have a panic attack, it was just a question.” Junior came walking down the stairs with her hair in two tangled and loose pigtails, her hands rubbing at her eyes.

“Morning, Daddy,” Junior said, her voice quiet and still half asleep. “Hi, Aunt Molly,” she yawned. Justin took some calming breaths and smiled for his daughter.

“Hey. I hear you have your own room at the new house,” Molly said. Junior leaned up against Molly’s legs and took a piece of her muffin.

“I do. It’s big and Daddy and Dad said that I am big enough.” Justin sat a blueberry muffin on the counter and Junior climbed up onto the stool. “We had to put all our stuff in boxes.”

“Packing is a pain,” Molly agreed. Her phone rang and she pulled it out of its holder. She checked the ID and quickly flipped it open. “Hey,” she said into the phone as she hopped off her stool. She made it across the loft and into the bathroom with a giggle into the receiver, sliding the door closed behind her

Justin looked at the time and frowned. Junior was going to be late for school and he was going to be late for his meeting. He’d made their lunches the night before so it was one less thing to worry about. Junior picked at the last pieces of her muffin and drank the glass of milk Justin had set in front of her. A loud laugh came from the bathroom followed by the sound of something falling over.

“What’s Aunt Molly doing in there?” Junior asked. Justin walked around the counter and lifted his daughter off of her stool. Junior squealed as he tickled her and lowered her feet to the floor.  

“Don’t know. Let’s go wake up your brothers and your sister,” he suggested. Junior held onto his hand as they walked up the stairs. Brian was already up and walking two very pissed off and sleepy little boys from their bedroom into the bathroom. Justin decided not to comment on the fact that the doctor had told Brian to take it easy. He wouldn’t listen anyway.

Junior walked back into her room and started stripping out of her pajamas. “We are always late,” Junior said, her shirt getting stuck as she pulled it over her head.

Justin pushed open the closet doors and searched the small amount of clothes he hadn’t packed away. Junior tossed her pajama top on her bed and sat down, curling her legs under her and wearing nothing but her panties and a white camisole.

“We’re not always late,” Justin defended with a laugh. They did manage to make it to most places on time, sometimes.

“Grandma Debbie says we are.”

“That’s because Debbie wants everyone to be three hours early,” Justin said, backing out of the closet with Junior’s clothes in his hands.

Blue was still asleep, curled up on her side with her thumb in her mouth. Justin tossed a pair of jeans on the bed, followed by a navy blue shirt and a slightly darker navy blue hoodie. “Go brush your teeth.” Justin walked over to Blue’s bed and picked her up. Junior moved into the bathroom and got up on her stepping stool. She put toothpaste on her toothbrush and started to brush her teeth.

Blue whined and drool fell out of her mouth when Justin pulled her hand free and kissed her cheek. He pulled a diaper from the shelf and sat it on the changing table before turning towards the dresser and pulling out a small pair of jeans and a pink shirt. He sat her down on the changing table and made sure she was awake enough not to fall over.

Junior got dressed and pulled on her shoes. Justin got Blue washed up and dressed, running a brush through her hair and clipping it back and out of her face with two pink barrettes. Justin turned his attention to Junior’s hair. Blue grabbed her bumblebee through the bars on the bed and growled in anger when the bulk of its body wouldn’t slip through.

Justin let Junior go, leaving her hair untangled and smooth. Junior ran over to Blue’s crib and hoisted herself up on the side. She grabbed the bumblebee and tossed it over the bars and onto the floor. “Thank you,” Blue signed.

“Welcome,” Junior said, hopping down from the side of the crib and almost stepping on the bee and Blue’s hand. Blue picked up the bumblebee and immediately shoved the wing in her mouth.

Brian walked to the door with Pilot and Race fully dressed and ready to go in blue jeans, Pilot in a red shirt and Race in a green. They were both wearing gray hoodies and all black Pumas. “They’re all yours,” Brian said. The front of his shirt was wet and remnants of toothpaste were stuck to his arms.

The kids filed out of the bedroom with Blue stopping to hug Brian’s legs before following everyone else down the hall and down the stairs. Justin stepped up to Brian and leaned up to kiss him, knocking his arm against the doorframe. Brian moaned, slid his eyes closed and deepened the kiss. “Give them breakfast,” Justin asked hopefully, pulling away from the kiss with a whine.

“Yeah,” Brian said. He tightened his grip on Justin’s neck before letting him go and dropping his hand. “Bring them down with you when you come.”

Justin nodded and disappeared into their bedroom. Brian made his way down the stairs to wrangle his troop to the breakfast table.

Justin checked on Max and Sam before grabbing a shower and getting dressed. When he was sure he was ready to go he changed both of their diapers, waking them up, and scooped them up into his arms. He carried them downstairs and into the main room, stopping by the couch. He sat them one by one into their bassinettes. They both squirmed and flailed their arms before deciding that crying was much more effective.

Brian was already making their bottles with Oz firmly sitting on his hip with his thumb in his mouth. “She’s still here?” Justin asked.

Brian nodded and twisted the top onto one of the bottles. Oz reached out for it and pouted when Brian held it out of his reach. Justin reached to take his nephew, his hair long and covering his ears.

Brian held him out across the counter and Justin grabbed him under the arms. He searched through the bag Molly had brought and found his bottle. He was sitting happily back in the playpen drinking by the time Molly came out of the bathroom freshly showered and in her work clothes. “Hey Ozzy,” Molly said, bending down to tickle his stomach. Oz grinned up at her and kicked his legs out, milk running from the corners of his mouth.

Justin walked into the kitchen and Brian walked out, going over to give Max and Sam their breakfast. Justin cleaned the milk from around Pilot, Race, and Blue’s mouths. Junior settled for a banana, already full from her muffin. “Come on, we’ve gotta go,” Justin said.

Molly picked up Oz and quickly packed him up. She situated him in his seat and buckled him in, handing his bottle back to him. Justin managed to get Pilot and Race into their coats at the same time. He bundled Blue up and left Junior to zip up her zipper.

“Hey Brian,” Molly started sweetly, “I have some proposals for you.” Justin pulled on his own coat and picked up his portfolio and phone.

“The last time you said that it cost me money,” Brian said. He pulled the bottle away from Sam’s mouth and burped him. With both of the twins fed and calm he let himself relax back into the couch. Pilot and Race, however, were busy trying to open the loft door.

“And you ended up making double what you spent,” Molly countered. “I’ll call you. No worries.” She patted Brian quickly on the head and went to pick up Oz. She clicked the handle into place and lifted the seat, slinging his diaper bag and her purse onto her arm. “I’ve gotta go. It might as well be fucking noon, damn. Bye guys,” she waved.

“Bye, Aunt Molly,” they said.

“Try not to have too much fun,” Justin said to Brian. He waved the kids through the door and he looked down to make sure they all had their lunches.

Brian just stared until Justin smiled and closed the door.

**

Brian took a much needed shower, dried off and pulled on some loose pants and a shirt. He went over the paperwork Ted had sent over and approved three of the four ads that Cynthia had sent by FedEx. The boys didn’t have enough energy to do much more than sleep and Brian eventually decided that that wasn’t such a bad thing.

A quick diaper change and Max and Sam were both yawning, their eyes closing slowly. Brian put his phone on vibrate and got in the bed next to his sons. He made sure they were covered with their blanket and fell asleep.

**

Blue crossed her arms over her chest and refused to budge. Marcy sat in front of her on the floor with her legs crossed. “We’re not finished,” Marcy signed and said. The other children in the room were changing centers with their respective teachers.

Blue moved away from the book center with her favorite book tucked against her chest. Marcy stopped her and took the book from her. “Book time is later. Now it’s time for letters,” she signed to her.

“Read,” Blue signed quickly, her face in a frown. She stomped her Nike clad foot onto the carpet and pulled at her hair. Marcy caught her hand and pulled the long curl from her fingers.

“No. It is time for letters. After we do our letters then we’ll read the books.” Blue shook her head no and knocked the book out of Marcy’s hands and onto the floor. She stepped on it once and Marcy stood up. “Okay, well, since you don’t want to do your letters, you can sit in time-out,” Marcy signed quickly.

She took Blue’s hand and led her over to the time-out chair, sitting her down and moving the chair away from the wall. Blue had the decency to look like she might want to apologize. But the Kinney in her wouldn’t let her. Marcy walked away after setting the timer for three minutes.

Blue twisted in the chair, pulled the barrettes out of her hair and yanked her shoes off. She tossed them down, one falling in front of her and the other rolling somewhere behind her chair. Her socks were pink with purple stripes and she let her legs fall open around the sides of the chair. She sighed and sat up before letting her body slide back down, her shirt riding up. She watched Marcy and the other teachers hand out the miniature chalkboards and fresh pieces of chalk in every color.

The miniature chalkboards were her favorite thing to do. She stretched her neck, pushing her two year old body up in the chair so that she could try and see. The three minutes seemed to take forever to pass and when Marcy made her way back to the time-out corner Blue was almost falling asleep.

“Are you ready to come out and be a good little girl?” Marcy signed. Blue sat up, her right foot pressing down on her left, and nodded.

**

“Are you ready to come out?” Calvin asked. Pilot was already up and out of the time-out chair. Calvin caught him around the waist and hefted him up as he stood to his full height. “Oh no, where do you think you’re going?”

“I want to play,” Pilot said, pointing to the playground outside. Race was already sitting with the rest of the class in the math center. Calvin shook his head and walked Pilot over to the center and deposited him on one of the tiny chairs. Monica handed Pilot his sticks, a number one and a number two, laminated and attached to their own jumbo sized Popsicle sticks.

“We are going to play, just not outside,” Monica told him. Calvin had developed an elaborate game to help his class learn math. It involved hours of him using his drawing skills to develop large pictures for him to hold up while the kids counted. Monica pulled out the roll of stickers to give each student when they got an answer right.

Calvin pushed the plastic bin full of koosh balls out of his way and zipped open his portfolio. He pulled out the large picture cards and turned back around to face his class. He held the cards under one arm and pressed his finger to his lips with the other, the whistle on the band around his wrist bumping against his jaw. “Are we ready to start?” he asked enthusiastically.

“YES!” the entire class screamed.

**

“Daddy has gotten it into his little blond head that I need to stay in the bed because the doctor told me to,” Brian said to Max and Sam as he walked around the main floor of the loft. They were both sitting in their bouncy chairs, freshly dressed in plain white onesies and white socks. Max smiled reflexively. Sam turned his head to the side and started searching for something to suck. He let out a low whine and Brian paused.

Michael scoffed and rolled his eyes, continuing with what he’d been saying. “It’s gonna be great, one whole week at a luxury hotel with no one to bother us at all,” he said.

“The perfect opportunity to fuck as hard, and as loud as you want,” Brian clarified. He finished packing the box he had in front of him and taped it closed. He’d worked his way through most of the leftover packing  

“Or to reconnect as a couple; not everyone spends their every waking moment…”

“Wanting to fuck,” Brian finished, glaring at his friend. “I don’t need to take a fucking trip to get off.” Max pulled his tiny fist into his mouth and started to suck on his fingers. Sam flailed his legs, his diaper crinkling with the movements.

“Obviously,” Michael mumbled. Brian finished marking on the box he packed and Michael moved in to lift it out of the way. Brian picked Max up and pressed their cheeks together. Sam squirmed in his chair and watched the ceiling, letting out small grunts as he worked his way to crying.

Brian picked up one of the pacifiers off the coffee table and popped it into Sam’s mouth to try and buy a couple of minutes. “One of you at a time,” Brian said. He sat down and picked up a diaper off the stack by the coffee table, spreading out the changing pad and changing his son.

Sam moved his hand towards his mouth, his movements blocked by the pacifier. He opened his mouth and let the pacifier fall out, the nipple hitting him in the eye. He let out a series of stunted cries before releasing scream after scream. Michael moved over to pick him up and propped him up on his shoulder. “He’s so light,” Michael said. He smoothed his finger over Sam’s hair.

Michael patted Sam on the back and waited while Brian went to fix two bottles, Max cradled in the crook of his arm. “Give him a couple of weeks,” Brian said. He handed Michael a bottle and followed him back over to the couch. Michael sat down and Brian sat on the opposite side of the couch, pressing a pillow in place behind his back.

“Does Justin know you’re packing? I thought you were supposed to be taking it easy, doctor’s orders.” Michael pulled the bottle away from Sam’s mouth and repositioned him in his arms.

“Tell Uncle Mikey to save the advice for someone who needs it,” Brian said with a smile and his eyes locked on his son. Michael frowned.

**

Justin groaned and frowned, sat up from where he was laying on the floor of his studio and checked his watch. “I’ve got nothing,” he said and pressed his hands into his thighs. Camille pushed her hair back over her shoulders and sighed.

“Yeah, me either.” Justin stood up and started to clean up the few supplies they’d managed to use. Camille pushed herself up off of the floor and started to help.

“I say we call it a day,” Justin said. “I’ve got to pick up my kids soon anyway.” Camille nodded.

“Is it weird, having so many?” she asked. She turned her back to Justin and started to rinse the brushes in the sink. Justin thought about it while he packed away the film equipment.

“I don’t know if weird is the right word,” he laughed, “but it’s… different.” He stacked the equipment up on the shelf and moved back to the table. “Brian and I never really planned to have any.”

Camille washed off her hands and wiped them on a towel. “I want at least one, someday,” she said with a smile.

“Good luck with keeping that number at one.” Justin finished with the film equipment and went to grab his coat. He’d wiped as much paint as he could off his hands and pulled his sleeves back down over his arms. Camille pulled on her jacket and slung her purse over her shoulder. “I wanted to get some painting done in the morning, so, what do you say we meet after one?”

“Sounds good to me,” Camille said as Justin locked up the studio, the alert for the alarm counting down the seconds. “I’ve got to meet up with an editor tomorrow; that gives me plenty of time.”

**

Justin twisted around, following Junior as she moved, one of her arms hanging out of her coat. Her bottom lip was pulled between her teeth and she had a death grip on her math handout. “Do you want me to hold that? Let me hold it,” Justin said. He was already holding onto her book bag.

“No,” Junior said, shaking her head. “No, I want to hold it because I want to show it to Dad when I get home.” Justin stepped out of her way when she moved to reach around him. “I got a gold star today and Becky said that everyone got one on their papers, but really not everyone did,” she rambled.

“Is Becky your friend?” Junior smacked her paper down on her desk and reached for her other sleeve. She pulled it on after only a slight struggle and sighed.

“Sometimes she is my friend. But sometimes she makes noises with her mouth and it bothers me,” Junior explained. Justin smothered a laugh at her reasoning and started to walk towards the door while she buttoned her coat.

“You ready?”

Junior picked up her handout with the gold star proudly positioned in the top corner and grinned. “Yes.” They walked out of the classroom and out of the building. Justin deactivated his car alarm and opened the back door. Junior climbed in and strapped herself into her seat. “Daddy, can I have a piece of candy?”

Justin tossed her book bag in the car and stuck his hand in his pocket. “How do you know I even have any candy?” He pulled out an individually wrapped life saver and handed it to her.

“Thank you,” she said with a huge smile. She started to pull the plastic open and Justin closed the door.

**

Brian opened the door before the feeble attempt at pounding could get any louder. His eyes immediately traveled down to the tiny blur of little boy that was making his way across the floor and up the playroom stairs, his jeans already dropping around his ankles as he made his way into the bathroom. “I gotta pee,” Pilot yelled.

“Thanks for sharing,” Brian muttered.

Justin walked slowly behind Race with Blue in his arms and his portfolio on his shoulder, Pilot’s book bag held tightly in his hand along with the mail. “There is coffee all over the inside of my fucking car,” Justin said. Brian stepped back and let them all through the door, shutting it behind them.

“Look, I got a star and its gold,” Junior said as she shrugged out of her coat and hung it up. Race followed suit and hung his crookedly on the hook. Pilot came out of the bathroom with his hands dripping water and his jeans pulled up and twisted to the side.

“Did you steal this one?”

“Brian…” Justin started.

“What?”

“No,” Junior answered. “Mr. Baglin gave it to me. Not everyone got one, but I did because I did it very good.”

“Of course you did, you’re smart. Put it in the homework tray and we’ll put it in the file later.”

“M’kay,” Junior said happily.  

Justin set Blue down on her feet and dropped the handful of mail he was carrying on the counter. He handed Pilot his bag and walked into the kitchen. “Something tells me your day was less than relaxing,” Brian said after getting greetings from all of the kids. They made their way over to look in on their brothers.

Justin dropped his portfolio down on the table and turned in a circle before settling his attention on Brian. “Actually it wasn’t that bad. But then I picked up your sons. I think they have a pact to try and torture me. They screeched the entire way home, I’m actually surprised that I can still hear. You know that screech they do.”

“Very well,” Brian confirmed.

“Then, some asshole cut me off and the cup of coffee I was using to keep me sane fell over.”

“You dropped it?”

“No. It was sitting in the passenger seat,” Justin said. He pulled off his own coat and tossed it on the counter, glancing over to the kids. “No, Pilot, they don’t need your toys, okay?” he said before his son could drop the matchbox cars into the bassinette. 

“Why don’t you use your cup holders?” Brian asked. Justin glared at Brian and punched a number into the cordless. He quickly ordered a couple of pizzas and ended the call. Brian picked up the mail and flipped through it quickly.

“Molly faxed over some proposals. They seem pretty good,” Brian said. He ripped open a bill and unfolded the paper. Justin pulled some plates from the cabinet and leaned against the counter.

“I thought you said you weren’t going to do anymore freelance work; for like, at least the next couple of months,” Justin said.

“I wouldn’t really have to. I’ll have Ted draw up the contracts; Molly can work directly with the art department. If we have to we can even hire on more artists. It’s not like we couldn’t use the extra hands. Especially with the new international market,” Brian said. Junior ran over, twisting her hair around her middle finger.

“Can I feed the babies?”

Justin opened the dishwasher and pulled out four plastic cups, each a different color. “Not right now, they’re sleep,” Brian told her.

“They’re not, their eyes are open like this,” Junior said, leaning forward to demonstrate. She blinked her eyes rapidly before suddenly stopping. “Just like that.”

“How about we let them wake up a little first,” Justin suggested. “I can refer some people to you,” Justin said in answer to Brian’s thinking.

The next forty-five minutes went by in a blur. The pizza arrived and was practically gone just as fast. Brian opted to put the girls to bed, leaving Justin to the joy that was Pilot and Race post dinner and hopped up on grape Juicy Juice.

“But I’m not sleepy,” Race said. He rubbed his eyes and yawned. Justin nodded and slipped Pilot’s shirt over his head.

“I know you’re not, but Daddy is, so….” Pilot pulled on his own sweats, the matching pants to his pajamas ruined by an unruly bladder. Justin tucked them both in and thought about which scene he wanted to act out from one of their books. Junior and Blue were both content with stories, but the boys wanted live theatre.

**

“Ugh,” Justin said. He sat down hard on the couch and rubbed at his knee. Brian smirked and held Max out for Justin to take.

“We’ve still got two more,” Brian said. They changed them both and Justin propped his feet up on the coffee table, letting Max lay against his legs, his blanket open and his limbs unfurled. “I used to hate the thought of this.”

“No you didn’t,” Justin said. He ran a finger across Max’s cheek while he drank and smiled. “I love when they can’t talk. They just do everything you say and keep all their tiny little thoughts to themselves.” Sam was finished and burping before Max was even halfway through his bottle.

“I think we should take a vacation,” Brian said suddenly. Max sucked down the last of his milk, the plastic bag crinkling as he sucked. Justin pulled the bottle out of his mouth and leaned him over his shoulder to burp him.

“You’ve been talking to Michael.” Justin repositioned himself on the couch and pulled his legs up under his body. He switched babies with Brian and held Sam up so he could get an even better look at his son. Sam settled his eyes on Justin briefly and Justin smiled, murmuring quietly to him.

“Give me a little more credit, Sunshine; I’m not talking about some lesbian laced mockery of a straight man’s excuse to get a facial. I mean a real vacation, nothing to do but fuck and suck.”

“You’re poetic.” Justin let his shoulder brush up against Brian’s and sighed. “When were you thinking of going on this vacation? We can’t exactly just pick up and go.”

“I didn’t mean tomorrow,” Brian said. Max wiggled against his chest and Brian let his hand rest against his back. Justin leaned forward and picked up the two pacifiers off of the coffee table. He popped one in Max’s mouth and then one in Sam’s. “In a couple weeks when I can actually fuck again and don’t feel huge,” he added.

“Hm, sounds good to me.” Justin moved to get up. He made sure he had a firm grip on Sam and reached down to pick up his blanket and the empty bottle. “Come on Mr. Kinney, I’ll let you make out with me.”

***

Eight weeks later…

“How do you feel?” Patrick pulled two gloves from the box on the counter and started to pull them on. Max and Sam were both sleeping in their car seats. They’d gotten considerably bigger in the two months since Patrick had delivered them.

“You mean besides the fact that I haven’t fucked in over two months?”

“Well, yeah.” Patrick prompted Brian to lie back on the examination table. He started to carefully examine the incision. “You seem to be healing well, nothing out of the ordinary.”

“I feel fine. I’ve felt fine for weeks.” Brian sighed and rolled his eyes when he felt Patrick press in on his stomach again. Max let out a loud grunt before settling back into sleep. They were both dressed in matching sleepers. “So, do I get the green light or what?”

Patrick moved away from the examination table, pulling the gloves off and dropping them in the garbage. “You can sit up and get dressed now,” Patrick said. Brian sat up and quickly got dressed. “I say you’re clear to resume sexual activities; going to the gym.”

“Thanks doc,” Brian said. He pulled on his coat and moved towards where the twins’ seats were sitting on the floor.

“Try not to overdue it though, Brian,” Patrick warned. He opened the door for Brian.

“Thanks for the advice.”

*

“Brian, I was eating that,” Justin said. He was halfway through a bagel that he’d almost had to break a woman’s arm to get. Brian didn’t let go of Justin’s wrist, he pulled him through the studio and into the back where he kept his large canvases and supplies. He let the door bang closed behind them and turned to face Justin. “What?” Justin asked, swallowing the bit of bagel in his mouth.

Brian closed the small distance between them and locked his mouth over Justin’s. They kissed until their lips were swollen and red. Justin pulled back and tucked his bottom lip into his mouth, tasting Brian on his skin. “Went to the doctor this morning,” Brian said urgently as he pressed his hand against Justin’s stomach.

“Oh.”

Justin grinned and started to unbutton Brian’s jeans. He moaned when Brian leaned in and bit down on the skin of his neck, sucking until the spot turned deep red. There’d be a bruise and just the thought made Justin’s dick twitch against Brian’s hand. He let out a shallow breath that quickly turned into a desperate whine when Brian pressed their hips together. “Where… oh god … where are the boys?”

Brian pulled Justin’s shirt over his head and dropped it to the floor. “Kinnetik, left them with Ted,” Brian breathed.

Justin muttered a response and let Brian guide them down to the hardwood floor. Their jeans came off fast and Justin’s cock was already soaking the front of his boxer briefs. Brian sat up on his knees and pulled the offending material off Justin’s hips and down his legs. He leaned back over Justin, pressing urgent kisses against his jaw and down his neck.

Justin arched his back and let his hand settle on Brian’s head, urging him to press harder, bite down, make it hurt. Brian listened to the silent commends, bit down on the soft skin just below Justin’s bellybutton and licked the pain away.

Tangled words tumbled out of Brian’s mouth, muffled against Justin’s hip and down to the inside of his thigh. Justin twisted his upper body, reaching for the shelf behind him and knocking the contents of the small basket across the floor. He stretched forward and grasped the edge of the square foil packet, pulling it close and letting his back settle against the heated hardwood.

Brian pulled off his own underwear and tossed them over his shoulder, leaning down to capture Justin’s lips in his. His fingers worked Justin open, his cock already wet and his hole blazing hot. “Fuck me,” Justin ground out, reaching between them to roll the condom on Brian’s dick.

Justin’s voice was watery, flooded with want and need. He took a deep breath, inhaled the smell of skin and heat and paint. He drank it in. Brian tangled his fingers in Justin’s hair and pulled as he pushed in, felt the heat of Justin wrap around him. Justin tightened his grip on Brian’s arms and let one hand drop to his waist and still his movements. “Wait… Jesus, fuck me, just… wait… wait….” Justin could feel every beat of Brian’s heart. His cock pulsed with it, their chests stuck together with sweat.

Brian dropped his forehead to Justin’s shoulder and waited, his heart hammering in his chest. “You okay?”

Justin nodded, swallowing down all the words he couldn’t say. He nodded and relaxed his hold on Brian. Justin arched his back and Brian took that as his cue to move. He pushed in and closed his eyes before pulling back out. His pace was brutal and Justin took it all, urging him deeper, harder.

It went on for forever, time expanding and twisting around itself. Everything blurred and Justin felt his orgasm coming. He leaned up, shifting the angle of his hips and catching Brian’s bottom lip between his. He sucked on the skin as he came, slicking their stomachs with his cum.

Brian opened his mouth to Justin, sucking on his tongue. “So good,” he breathed into Justin’s mouth. He swallowed and started to come, pumping into Justin and spilling into the condom. He snaked his hand between their bodies and wrapped his hand around his dick, pressing in on the flesh and milking every drop he could.      

Justin twitched against Brian, willing his breathing to level out. Brian rolled off of him and pressed against his side. He reached down and pulled the condom off, tying a knot in the end. “Damn,” Justin panted.

“You up for another round?”

**

“Yeah, that and the… um, the large photographs on the wall around the corner,” Justin directed. The moving men were everywhere, taking boxes and furniture out of the loft and down to the large van parked in front of the building. Justin was holding onto Sam, rocking him slightly back and forth.

“I didn’t realize we had so much shit,” Brian said. He came down the stairs with an empty box in his hand, dressed in dark blue jeans and a white Hanes t-shirt. Pilot and Race were running around their increasingly less full room. Blue was sitting happily inside the little red wagon near the window in the main room. Her finger was stuck between her teeth and she was thankfully still dry on her first full day back in panties.

“And we still need furniture for some of the rooms in the new house,” Justin reminded him. Junior was in her room coloring, still not completely sure about this whole “moving” thing.

Max was curled up on his side in the bassinette, sleeping. Justin repositioned Sam in his arms and turned from Brian when some of the movers walked back in.

“Hey, guys, we’re pretty much done. All we have left is the master bedroom and the bedroom across the hall; then we’ll be ready to head on over to the house. So, if you wanted, you can go on over and wait for us there.” Brian dropped the box he was holding and took Sam from Justin. He blew on his stomach, making him smile.

“Thanks, Jerry,” Justin said. Jerry nodded and walked up the stairs. “Do you want to go over to the house now, or wait and follow them there?”

Brian went to lay Sam down in the bassinette. He didn’t bother covering him with a blanket, knowing he’d just kick it off. Blue ran over and wrapped her arms around Brian’s legs. “We might as well head over now,” Brian said. He bent down and picked up Blue, tickling her. “By the time we get them all in the car they’ll probably be at the house anyway.”

“Yeah,” Justin said, his attention focused on the very, very large black and white glass framed photograph being carried through the loft. One of the men carrying the side let his grip slip and Justin felt his heart catch in his throat. “Fuck, please, please, be careful with that.”

“You’re going to have a fucking heart attack,” Brian said. “They know what they’re doing.” Pilot and Race came walking down the stairs holding each other's hand. Junior came down next with her coloring book tucked in her arm and her box of crayons against her chest.

“They’re taking all our stuffs,” Pilot said with a frown and a pout. Race dropped Pilot’s hand and pulled on the front of his shirt.

“They’re taking all our stuffs,” Race echoed. Brian and Justin faced off with their children, feeling like they’d done something wrong.

“Who’s hungry?” Brian asked.

“Me,” Race and Pilot said together.

“Me too,” Junior agreed. Blue signed ‘yes’ and nodded her head.

Justin rested his hands on top of his head, his shirt rising up and exposing the skin of his stomach. “We can stop and get them something to eat on the way,” Justin said.

“Okay, come on, coat and hats, let’s go,” Brian said. He spun Blue around in his arms, kissed her cheek and stood her on her feet. “Go get your coat,” he signed.

*

“Deb, can I get some service?” Brian said. The diner wasn’t quite packed, but Debbie had her hands full.

“Keep your fucking pants on, Brian. I already know what you want,” she tossed over her shoulder. She put in his order without him even saying a word and grabbed the two orders that were already waiting.

Brian leaned on the counter and waited. Justin was waiting in the car. The DVD player was on and playing the same Thomas the Tank Engine movie it’d been playing for the past two weeks. Justin listened to the movie and willed himself not to fall asleep. He harbored a secret hatred for Mr. Conductor. It burned deep.

Debbie walked around the counter and started packing Brian’s finished order into bags. “Haven’t seen you in a couple days,” she said.

“Aw, Deb, you miss me?” Brian said sarcastically.

“Asshole,” Debbie muttered. “You headed over to the house?”

“Yeah, it’s about time.” Brian took the bags Debbie was passing him and got up off the stool. “Only took us two months, we had to reschedule the movers twice.”

Debbie pointed a finger at Brian. “We’re having dinner tomorrow night. I expect you there. And I don’t want to hear any of your shit; I want to see those babies. 6 o’clock, and be on time,” she said before leaving to tend to a table.

**

They made it to the house forty-five minutes after the movers. The guys were standing outside the moving van smoking. Brian put the Escalade in park and got out. He unlocked the front door before walking back to the car and helping unload the kids. He grabbed both of the twins’ seats and started back towards the door.

It didn’t take long for the moving van to be unloaded. Getting the kids calmed down enough to eat something had proven more difficult than usual. They were anxious to explore their new surroundings. After wiping their hands and mouths Brian let them loose. It didn’t take Pilot and Race long to realize that open space, at least for the time being, was almost as good as being outside.

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

“You’re both going to blow your lungs out,” Justin said loudly. “Please let it be soon,” he said to himself. Pilot and Race were learning the layout of the house in their own unique way. They’d been up and down the stairs four times, down in the basement twice and around the main floor more times than Justin wanted to count.

Brian was upstairs with the movers, arranging the last large pieces of furniture. Max and Sam were screaming as loud as they could and Blue was passed out on the floor with her coat still on. Junior was inspecting the house on her own, moving out of the way whenever Pilot and Race blurred past.

Justin walked into the extremely large kitchen and pulled out two bottles from the twins’ diaper bag. He filled them quickly with formula and screwed the tops on. He hurried back into the front room and sat down on the oversized chair. He pulled their bouncy chairs closer to him and stuck the nipples in their mouths at the same time. “Daddy is good. Daddy is perfectly sane and very good at doing more than one thing at a- Okay, boys, stop moving, please. For at least twenty minutes,” Justin said, awkwardly moving his leg to try and block their path.

Pilot and Race both paused, inching their way past Justin and up the stairs. He didn’t hear them running so he just assumed they ran into Brian. Junior flopped down on the chair next to Justin, squeezing her body into the space. “Pi and Race with Dad?”

“Yeah,” Junior answered. Her hair was tangled at the ends and Justin made a mental note to comb it out. “Can I help?”

“Be my guest,” Justin said. He handed her one of the bottles and let her take over feeding her brother. “Did you see your room?” Junior nodded. “You like it?”

“It’s big,” Junior said. She smiled brightly and Justin watched her. She was getting too big too fast. “You painted skateboards and motorcycles on the walls.”

“That’s what somebody said they wanted, if I’m not mistaken.” Max and Sam finished their milk and Justin burped them both, letting Junior sit back in the chair and hold onto her brothers.

“I like ‘em,” she confirmed and Justin wasn’t sure if she was talking about the walls of her room or the babies.

“Good.”

**

Location: The new master bedroom.

“Do you hear that?” Justin asked.

Brian looked up from his magazine and waited for Justin to continue. Justin held up his hand, his fingers wrapped around the neck of a bottle of Absolut Vodka, frozen to perfection. He pulled his other hand from behind his back and produced a plate piled with limes and a shaker full of salt. Brian closed his magazine and leaned back on the pillows behind him.

Justin lowered himself down to the floor and slinked up to Brian, stopping when he was sitting comfortably on Brian’s lap, his knees firm against Brian’s hips. He sat the plate on the floor and picked up a lime wedge, his jeans bunched up and pressing uncomfortably against his hardening cock. Brian smirked and his eyes darted to the crib in the corner of the room before settling back on Justin.

Justin licked a strip of skin on his hand and sprinkled on some salt, pressing the piece of lime against Brian’s lips and waiting for his mouth to open. “They’re sleeping, and they’re two and a half months old. I’m horny,” Justin whispered.

“I taught you well,” Brian said. Justin licked the remainder of the salt off of his skin and cracked open the vodka bottle. He drank down a long swallow and offered the bottle to Brian, smiling when vodka dripped out of the corner of his lover’s mouth as he pulled the bottle away.

“Too well; I want you to fuck me,” Justin whispered, swallowing down another mouthful and sucking on a lime. “I want you to rim me until I can’t breathe and I’m begging you to let me come.”

Brian took the bottle of vodka from Justin and drank the liquid down to just under half. Justin fed him another wedge of lime and Brian leaned all the way back on the pillows, letting the alcohol burn its way down his throat as Justin raised up and started to strip them both.   

Their bedroom was virtually empty. There was so much more space than there’d been in the loft and neither of them knew what they wanted to do with it. Brian stifled a laugh and let Justin tip the bottle against his lips before raising it to his own. Justin relinquished his hold on the bottle and shifted backwards, pulling Brian’s jeans down his legs and tossing them on the floor.

Shedding clothing fast was already a skill they both possessed. They’d gotten faster with each new addition to the family and Justin had Brian and himself naked in no time. It wasn’t long before the vodka was forgotten, grains of salt were sprinkled over the floor and stuck to their skin, and the plate of limes was pushed half a foot away, warming and forgotten. Brian gripped Justin’s wrist and pulled him closer, covering Justin’s mouth with his left hand as he thrust up.

“Still so tight,” Brian said with his hand still over Justin’s mouth. Justin was biting down on the skin of Brian’s palm, his eyes rolling closed and his head tilting back. He felt Brian come. Justin’s body clamped down and milked Brian’s cock as he rocked back and forth. “Don’t come yet,” Brian said quietly.

“Brian,” Justin whined.

“Not yet,” Brian said. He pulled out of Justin and shifted them so that he could stand. He stood up slowly, reaching down to help Justin up. “I could use a shower, and I think I remember something about rimming.”

Justin smiled and felt a tremor run through his body. He let Brian help him up and into the bathroom. He let his fingers trail up and down Brian’s sides as they waited for the water to heat up.

…      

“That’s good, right there,” Justin panted. He turned his face away from the water and slipped his fingers through Brian’s hair, wet and slick. The room smelt like fresh soap and hot water. Brian was on his knees in the shower, a position he rarely took, with Justin’s cock pressing insistently against the back of his throat. “Jesus,” Justin shouted, muffling the edges of his voice with his arm.

Brian grinned and pulled back until just the head of Justin’s cock was between his lips. He teased his tongue along the slit before dipping it inside and tasting all of Justin.

Brian moved his right hand from Justin’s waist and followed the path of water soaked skin around his body and down to his hole. Justin bucked and came when one persistent finger pressed inside and Brian swallowed him again. “Fuck, you’re too good at this,” Justin said. His heart was hammering in his chest and his legs were getting weak.

Brian released Justin’s cock and stood up, pressing their lips together and moving his hand behind Justin’s head to stop it from colliding with the shower tiles. “I think good is an understatement,” Brian said. He tilted his head back and let the cooling water wash over him.

**

“Nice shower,” Craig said. He followed Justin through the house, touching the walls every once in a while, Sam held in the crook of his arm. They walked out of the master bedroom and down the upstairs hallway. “Big house.”

“You’ve said that five times,” Justin said with a laugh. Max was curled against his shoulder his eyes taking in the room as they walked. Pilot, Race, Blue, and Junior were all out in the backyard, occasionally watching Brian and the rest of the guys dismantle the previous owner’s swing set. The guys, and Brian, took the added bonus of not being uncomfortably comfortable inside the house with Craig as a good thing.

Craig shrugged and paused in front of one of the large windows that looked out over the backyard. “Do they know what they’re doing?”

“I don’t think so,” Justin said with a laugh, “probably not.” He flinched when a large piece of the side fell off and landed right in front of Pilot. Max yawned and reached up to stick his hand in his mouth. They were both dressed in nothing but tee shirts and socks. Justin watched as Pilot bent down to pick up the rusty piece of metal. Ben quickly stopped him and Justin and Craig watched as he was reprimanded.

“I’ll try to be better for them than I was for you,” Craig said softly.

“I’ll hold you to it.”

Justin smiled and watched Pilot move away from the piece of swing set. He ran off to join his brother and sisters on the other side of the yard. Having their very own yard was a thrill for them. The acres that comprised their land went on forever, but Brian had opted to fence in the yard as soon as he could. Justin was so engaged with what was going on outside that he almost didn’t hear Craig’s stomach grumble.

“We can put them down and then we can order some lunch?” Justin asked more than said. Craig gave a small nod. He was nervous about eating with the guys. He knew they all knew what he’d said to Justin and Brian in the past, how he’d treated them. “Relax,” Justin said, almost reading his mind.

“Sounds like a plan,” Craig said. He turned to follow Justin back down the hall and down the stairs. There were three ways to get downstairs and thanks to Pilot and Race they knew them all. The house really was huge.

Craig laid Sam down in the bassinette and Justin put Max down in his. “I think they’ll be fine with the place down the street. You?”

“Yeah, it’s fine,” Craig agreed. The relationship was new and trying. Craig listened when Justin talked and tried not to judge, sighing in relief whenever Justin laughed and told him to just spit it out; cringing whenever he grew too silent. Brian kept his distance. He preferred to remain outside the radar, for the most part.

Lunch was quick and painless. The kids ate as fast as they could and made their way back outside. The guys left, filtering out of the house one after the other. Craig opted to stay until it was time for the kids to go to bed. He waited while Brian and Justin got them dressed and then read them all a story. Max and Sam were anything other than interested but they still stayed quiet.       

“Are you sure you’ll be okay? It’s getting dark out and the street isn’t exactly well lit,” Justin said as he followed Craig down the stairs. They crossed the foyer and Craig pulled on his jacket.

“I’ll be fine. I’ll… uh, call you,” Craig said. Their goodbyes were still awkward. Justin nodded and closed the door behind his father. Brian was sitting in the middle of the living room with an open box between his legs, unpacking.

Justin grabbed a box of his own and sat down beside him. “That was a very healthy goodbye,” Brian commented. He lifted the large glass vase out of the box and frowned. “Why did we bring this?”

Justin looked over and stared at the vase. “And you would be the perfect person to judge a healthy parent to child relationship.” Brian swiftly pushed himself up off the floor and walked over to the area where the TV was positioned. He sat the vase down and took a step back. His body was already a few pounds away from being back to his pre-baby weight, and he’d only been going to the gym for the past month. Justin was in envy of his recovery rate.

“Don’t put that there,” Justin said.

Brian looked down at the vase and frowned. “Why not?”

**

Blue ran across the hardwood floor and slipped. Brian heard the loud thud and resulting crash a second before he heard the soft whines coming from his daughter. He left Max, diaper freshly changed and t-shirt unbuttoned, to see what’d happened.

Pilot was standing away from his sister, crying simply because she was. Race was watching with the hem of his shirt pulled between his teeth and Junior was standing the closest and signing for her not to move. Brian made it down the stairs from the nursery and across the room in no time. “Shit,” Brian said. He walked up and leaned over the shattered glass around his daughter. Her hands were bloody and her right foot was bleeding.

Brian carried her into the kitchen quickly and sat her down on the counter. “J, go and get me the first aid kit out of the bathroom,” Brian said quickly. Blue was crying and trying to sign. A minute went by and Justin walked into the kitchen with the kit in his hand and Junior on his heels.

“What happened?”

“She knocked the vase over and it broke.” Brian pulled out a pair of tweezers and removed all the glass before cleaning and bandaging the cuts. The cut on her foot was less serious than it looked.

“I told you not to put that vase there,” Justin said after Blue was happily put back together and laying against Brian’s shoulder. She moved her hand to suck her thumb and Brian blocked the action, leaning against the counter and glaring.

“Thank you,” Brian said flatly. “I think everyone could use a nap, huh,” he said looking down at his daughter. “Let’s go get your brothers and sister.”

..

Brian and Justin had woken up determined to be finished unpacking by the end of the day, and nap time gave them a good window to get most of it done.

They emptied every box, realizing, not for the first time, that a serious shopping trip was in order to fill the rest of the rooms. The kid’s rooms were quick. Justin had already painted their walls; extreme sports for Junior, cartoon inspired insects for Blue, and construction themed walls for the boys who they figured were better off staying in the same room together, at least until they got a little older. Max and Sam’s room had basic walls, hushed tones of gray mixed with various shades of blue.

The boxes were easy. Hanging the art was proving to be a bitch.

“Hold it up,” Justin said, his voice dripping with tension. “Shit, Brian, hold it steady,” Brian held up his end of the very large photograph.

Pilot was sitting on the couch watching Teen Titans, Junior stretched out next to him. Race was sitting on the floor pushing his cars around, and Blue was holding on to her bumblebee, a matchbox car in her fist and her finger in her mouth, watching them. Max and Sam were sitting in their chairs, watching anything that caught their eye.

“Just push it up,” Brian said. Justin pushed and they both held their breath as it stayed braced on the wall. “Fuck this.” Brian got off of the ladder he was standing on and grabbed his cell phone. One quick call and forty minutes later Jimmy and Vince from the gallery were hanging the photos on the walls.

“You moved all the pictures from the loft?” Jimmy asked. Justin shook his head.

“No, just the ones we really liked. Please, be careful.”

“Justin, relax. We do know what we’re doing,” Vince said.

“I know.” Justin bent, leaned over and picked up Pilot, who was repeatedly tugging at his sleeve. “Hold on,” Justin directed softly to his son. “Thank you guys so much for coming out, really.”

“No problem,” they both said at the same time. Justin left them to do their job. He’d already given them more than enough instruction.

***

It only took a day for all the boxes to be unpacked. It took four days longer than that, and the addition of four nightlights, for the kids to all stay in their respective beds throughout the night.

Location: The New master bedroom. Give the walls some secrets baby, they love to gossip.

Day: Saturday

Time: 10:00 p.m.

“I love them, and I am so glad that they're going to visit your mom tomorrow,” Brian said. He ran two fingers lightly over Max’s hair. It was brown and sticking up in every direction. It was fine and determined to do its own thing. Max and Sam stared up at them from their spot on the bed between them.

Justin grinned, laid flat on his back and ran his hand over his eyes. “If Pilot and Race pee in the bed again tonight I am officially writing them off as lost causes,” he said sleepily. Max and then Sam made a small grunting noise and Justin smiled before turning on his side. Brian smirked and wiggled his finger in Sam’s face.

Max moved his head around against their baby blanket before hitching out a small cry and falling quiet. His small legs were scrunched underneath his body, his butt propped up in the air. Sam was spread out on his back with his head turned to the side.

“You gonna put them in the bed?”

Brian got up and picked up both of his sons. He put them down in their shared crib and covered them up. He walked back to the bed and slid in behind Justin, wrapping his arm around him to pull him close. “We’d just be getting to Babylon,” Justin commented.

“And now we’re in the bed before midnight, with six kids under our roof,” Brian said. He burrowed further into Justin’s hair and moved his left hand over Justin’s leg, up his thigh, and across his stomach. “How pathetic.”

“It is sad,” Justin laughed as Brian’s hand moved steadily down and under the waistband of his boxers. “I suppose you could take some solace in the fact that you own the club,” Justin said, his breath hitching around the words as Brian’s hand wrapped around his dick. Brian smirked and continued his movements, keeping them slow and even. Justin bit into his bottom lip and turned onto his back, keeping his legs spread.

Brian pressed a kiss to Justin’s cheek and Justin turned his head to press their lips together. Justin sat up and rolled them until he was straddling Brian’s hips. “I thought you were tired,” Brian said. One of the twins made a noise and Brian and Justin both paused for the split second it took for him to decide to stay asleep.

“I am,” Justin said. He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it towards the end of the bed. Brian licked his lips and grinned up at his husband, trailing a hand down his creamy skin.

**

Blue didn’t try to wipe the tears off her face. She pulled on Justin’s jeans, wiping tears and snot against his denim covered leg. “Give it back,” she signed. Her feet were bare and her jeans were rolled up so she wouldn’t trip, her shirt electric blue with a ladybug on the front.

Justin pushed the washing machine door closed and turned to face his daughter. “No,” he signed. “Bumblebee is dirty, we have to wash him.” Blue cried harder with the explanation, watching through the front loading door as the bee got soaked with water and detergent.

“He’s not dirty,” she signed quickly. “He’s not dirty, he’s clean. Give him back.” Her movements were forceful and Justin could almost feel her anger. Pilot ran into the laundry room with two handfuls of leaves.

“Look what I gots, Daddy,” he said happily. He was out of breath and his nose was red. “We picked up all the leaves and Dad said we didn’t need to keep them, but I kept these.” Pilot wiggled and Justin frowned, reaching down to take the leaves.

“They’re nice; you need to go to the bathroom, now. Go, go,” Justin ushered. Pilot let Justin take the leaves and ran out of the room.

Justin knelt down next to his daughter and pushed the hair out of her face. “You’ll get bumblebee back in no time,” he signed and told her. “Do you want to go outside with Dad? We can play in the backyard,” he offered.

She thought it over before nodding her head. “Okay, let’s do that. Come on, you can use the bathroom and then I’ll grab the monitor.” Justin took her hand in his and led her out of the laundry room.

**

“He smells good,” Jennifer said when Blue shoved her bumblebee in her face. She stood up after kissing Pilot and Race on the top of the head. “Where are the babies?” Justin looked up from the sketch he was working on.

“In their room last time I checked. Brian was giving them a bath and getting them dressed; probably where Junior is too,” he said. Jennifer nodded.

“Your sister tells me that your father’s been here,” Jennifer said as she slid onto one of the stools at the counter. Justin’s hand paused.

“She has the biggest mouth. I swear I’m not telling her anything else,” Justin said. He dropped the drawing pencil he was using and wiped his hands. “He’s been here, twice, no big deal. We talk about random shit and he’s uncomfortable a lot of the time.”

“I bet,” Jennifer laughed. “So, how late should I expect you both back tonight, tomorrow is Monday.”

Justin shrugged. “Giving you a time would probably be pointless seeing as how I plan to engage in numerous acts of depravity, fueled by alcohol and illegal drugs,” Brian answered. Jennifer suppressed a frown, more than accustomed to her son, and her son-in-law's, extracurricular activities.

“Nice,” Jennifer said with a slight nod. “I plan to surround myself with small children, eat pizza, and expose my grandchildren to the beginning stages of gambling.”

Justin moved to grab a bottle of water from the refrigerator. “God, I fucking hate Chuck E. Cheese,” he said before taking a long swallow.

Jennifer stood up, ready to go and round up her charges. “I don’t mind it. Your dad always had so much fun, almost more than you and your sister I think.” Pilot and Race walked into the kitchen in a straight line. Jennifer turned to them and smiled. “Go get your coats; we have lots of things to do.”

“Tell J and Blue,” Brian tossed over his shoulder.

“M’kay,” they both yelled.

“I better get going,” Jennifer said. They moved out of the kitchen and into the foyer. Brian left to get Max and Sam. “Tucker is almost as excited about this little adventure as the kids are. We’ll be at the house whenever you boys decide to come up for air. I’ll assume it’s going to be late.”

Pilot and Race were already dressed in their coats, hats on their heads. Junior was zipping up her coat and Justin was kneeling on the floor tying Blue’s shoes. “Be good,” Justin signed. “Don’t give grandma too much trouble, please. We need her for future favors,” he told them all. Junior was already pulling the door open, her brothers and sister right behind her.

“You can take my car,” Justin offered. Brian followed the kids out of the house to help Jennifer get them all buckled in. “Call if you need anything.”    

**

Location: Babylon. Temptation is its own drug. I’m an addict, baby.

It didn’t take long to change and meet up with the guys. The bouncer at the door moved to the side and promptly let Brian and Justin pass. “Didn’t know you’d be coming up to the surface tonight,” Mike said. The line to get in was long and people pressed into them as they rushed to get in.

“I’m always ready to come up,” Brian quipped and pulled Justin behind him into the club. Five drinks in and they were feeling no pain, no pain at all. Michael was talking; all the guys were talking, and Brian and Justin blurred their voices together into nothing they wanted to hear.

Three and a half hours into the night and the energy was still pulsing. “Come on,” Justin said, tossing back another shot, “dance with me.”

The music was loud, pulsing through every vein and they sucked up every drop, barely feeling the heat from the bodies around them. Justin leaned his head back and let his hips grind against Brian’s, his neck stretched and exposed. He didn’t yelp when Brian leaned in and licked from his collarbone to his earlobe, pulling the flesh into his mouth and sucking before pulling back.

“It hasn’t changed,” Justin said. Beads of sweat dripped down his back and Brian pressed his hands over the damp material, pulling him in closer.  Justin dropped his head onto Brian’s shoulder and let a hard shudder course through his body. “Fuck me,” he breathed into Brian’s skin.

Brian picked him up, spinning him in the direction of the backroom. He dropped him to his feet and started backing him towards the backroom. Neither felt their cell phones vibrate in their pockets. Justin winced as his head slammed into the wall. Brian laughed into Justin’s mouth and grinned as Justin moved his hands to unbutton his jeans.

**

Jennifer couldn’t hear past the blood rushing in her ears. The thump of her heart felt like it was in her throat. Her hands were shaking and her nose was red. Tears wouldn’t stop pouring from her eyes.

Tucker pulled on Jennifer’s arm. “Come on Jennifer, they’re fine,” he pleaded. She’d checked on Max and Sam twice already. She’d been the same way when she’d brought Molly home from the hospital. Pilot, Race, Junior and Blue were asleep in the guest room, curled around each other in a tangle of limbs.

“I know,” she said. Tucked laid back on the bed and rested his hands under his head. She walked across the room in her nightgown and peered into the portable crib. Max was on his side with his pacifier in his mouth, chest slowly rising up and down. Sam was on his back, his arms on either side of his head. Jennifer watched them for a minute before turning to walk away. She paused and looked back into the crib. The slight blue tint on Sam’s lips stopped her heart.

Time stopped. She screamed and Tucker was up and out of the bed in a flash. He reached into the crib and picked up the baby. Jennifer called for an ambulance and every minute seemed to take hours.

“Any luck?” Tucker asked as he ran up to Jennifer. She shook her head. He’d helped Debbie pack the kids into Justin’s car and waited until she drove off.

“No. Nothing,” she said. Her breath hitched and she bit at her bottom lip. “Here, call them again. I don’t know how else to get in touch with them.” Tucker took her cell phone and dialed Brian and then Justin’s number again.

The doctors had rushed Sam back, shouting orders to nurses and disappearing behind the double doors. It’d been an hour and they hadn’t told her anything since.

Tucker let out a frustrated growl and pressed the button to automatically dial Justin’s phone again. He picked up on the fourth ring, his voice husky. Tucker sighed in relief and launched into all the facts of what had happened so far. “Justin,” he shouted when there was no response. Jennifer bit her lip and waited; her whole body tense.

Justin took a deep breath and every noise in the club hit him full force. Brian stilled next to him, his hand gripping Justin’s arm. Justin felt himself nodding as Tucker and then his mom talked. He heard the words and swallowed them all down. Brian waited, staring into his face with a look so concentrated Justin could almost feel it. Justin pulled the phone away from his ear and looked up at Brian, tears in his eyes.

“We have to go,” he heard himself whisper. He took a step forward and Brian followed. “We have to go, now. Pittsburgh General Hospital,” Justin said softly.  They reached the corvette and climbed inside.

“Justin, what the fuck is going on?”

“Sam, he stopped breathing,” Justin said. And he couldn’t stop the tears. Brian’s breath hitched and his heart dropped into the bottom of his stomach. 

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