Brian has done quite well for himself.  It was touch and go after the shit hit the fan with the Stockwell thing, but he recovered nicely.  He was stronger, richer and badder…in a good way.  Justin too made a name for himself in the art world.  Rage was doing well and his paintings and sketches are received with acclaim.  He and Brian remain joined by the heart as well as the hip.

With children constantly running about and the moms and dads staying at each other’s home, Brian decided to buy a large estate.  As Ted put it, “it’s a good investment”.  To Brian it just made sense.  Brian wanted room for Gus and Deborah, a home office and a studio for Justin.

The estate had several out buildings; Lindsey and Mel sold their house and moved into one.  Michael and Ben took a small cottage also on the grounds.  The kids had a wonderful playground within the estate where their friends could come and play and there was always a parental figure present to supervise.

It was an arrangement that suited everyone.

Everyone except Justin.

Justin was close to 30, he loved Gus and Deborah; he was #2 dad and #1 babysitter but it also made him a little sad. He had so much love in his artist’s heart that was straining to get out.  He became cranky and short tempered; and no matter how old he got he still could pout.  Brian read all the signs.  He teased Justin a bit but not too much.  He knew his young stud was brooding over not breeding.

Brian had no choice.  He had to call the one person in the world that could set things to right.  He called Daphne.

Daphne and Justin remained close, best friends.  They continued to share everything about their lives.  Daphne was now a successful career woman and although she was seeing the same man for 5 years, it didn’t seem like they were headed for the altar anytime soon.  Brian had secretly suspected that she was waiting for Justin to turn straight and steal him from Brian---FAT CHANCE!

Daphne met Brian for lunch and he made his pitch.  At first Daphne was a little pissed, she loved Brian and all but now he was getting too personal.  He stopped talking, ordered more wine for the two of them and sat back giving her time to think.  When he saw her features soften he knew he had her.

Daphne was well aware that if she was ever going to be a mother this was the right time in her life.  She also knew that there would be no better father than Justin.  Boyfriend or no boyfriend, Justin was the only one she would consider fathering her child.  Now the problem was how.

Brian recalled the first and last time Daphne and Justin slept together, way to much weirdness after.  Brian reminded her of himself and Lindsey and Mel and Michael.  They agreed that a cup and turkey baster was the right course of action.

Now the co-conspirators needed to spring it on Justin.

Daphne said that this was her job; she knew that if Brian did it Justin would balk.  She knew the right words.

Right then and there she called Justin and made a dinner date.  In less than a minute Brian’s cell phone rang-guess who-Brian said no problem he had to work late at the office and told Justin to have fun with Daphne.  Love and kisses—later.

Daphne and Brian ordered more wine and glowed.

Later that night Daphne and Justin met for dinner.  It had been 3 whole days since they had spoken and a week since they saw each other.  The chatter fest began.

They both droned on and on, laughing and giggling like kids cause they could only get this noisy with each other.

After the laughter subsided Daphne got serious.  She took Justin’s hand in hers; Justin got a little nervous and no it wasn’t because they were holding hands, they did that all the time.  He thought something was seriously wrong.  Daphne smiled sweetly and said she was considering having a baby.  Justin, a little shocked, broke into the Sunshine smile, reached over the table to give her a hug.  When they sat back down he looked up at her and said “with Stan?”  “Heaven’s no!”  She didn’t think that Stan was ready for fatherhood and had doubts that their relationship would progress any further.  She said she was thinking about a sperm bank.  Justin listened and nodded, then he spewed forth.  “A sperm bank; how could you Daph, you don’t know what you’d get, what if the donor tracked you down, what about the cost…”  Justin kept babbling on then stopped.  He looked at his best friend and then said  “What about me?”

If anyone looked at the two of them, they would have thought, what a lovely couple.  They’re so much in love.

Justin and Daphne both had tears in their eyes as they made their pact.  She would set up an appointment with her doctor and he would start storing up sperm.  Then the two started giggling again “Brian!”  He’s not going to like being celibate for a while.  Justin still laughing said he would take care of Brian.

As they left the restaurant they hugged and kissed.  She’ d call him with the details; he’d call her just because.

Hello?

Justin?

Daph?

It’s time…

I’m on my way

Later that morning an exhausted Daphne and a gushing Justin held up their beautiful baby girl with caramel skin, curly golden brown hair and ice blue eyes.

Their whole family was there; Gus and Deborah too, to see their new baby sister.

Lindsey, Mel, Deb and Jennifer hugged and kissed the happy parents as they fawned over the baby.  The guys slapped Justin on the back and passed around bubble gum cigars.

Brian arrived fashionably late, of course; strode over to the beaming trio and kissed Daphne tenderly on the lips, then planted a sloppy one on Justin.  As Justin handed the baby to Brian, Brian said, “well Sonny Boy, what do we have here?”

Two sets of cool blue eyes gazed up at the proud hazel ones.  Justin simply said, “meet Briana”.

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