Chapter 5

By the time the elevator stopped at their floor, Briana had quieted down. She was in Brian's arms and still hitching out a few tears but the worst was over. On their way out of the elevator another couple was rushing down the hallway.

"Hold it, please?" the husband pleaded and Justin quickly stuck his hand between the doors preventing them from closing.

"Thank you," the wife said. She was holding an infant while her husband had what looked to be a two year old in a stroller. "You had to buy him that cheesy snow globe, didn't you?" the wife stated with an accusatory tone. "Now he won't get any sleep until he gets another one. I told you not to buy it." The husband gave Brian a pained look as the doors slowly closed. "That store better still be open or there'll be hell to pay."

Brian and Justin looked at each other and sighed. At least they weren't the only parents with a demanding child.

When they got to their room, Brian went about getting Bree into her pajamas and into bed. He sat with her and read one of her favorite stories. Soon the exhausted child was asleep. Brian kissed his wayward angel then left the room leaving on a small night light, just in case.

He gently opened his brother's door. John was asleep gently snoring and curled up around a pillow. Brian felt a twinge of guilt. He felt responsible for separating John from his own partner. Brian shook his head then closed the door.

"Hey," Justin said softly as Brian entered their room. "She asleep?"

"Yes, so is John. Justin, tell me honestly, am I making a mistake trying to open up this office? I've turned our lives upside down and separated John and Bobby."

"Did John say something?"

"No, of course not, he's sleeping, hugging a pillow. He misses Bobby and Patrick. I know he does."

"Brian, John volunteered. He wouldn't have done that if he thought this was a mistake. Your brother has no qualms about speaking his mind."

"I guess so."

"I know so but I am concerned about Briana's behavior. I thought when you got home and us being together she'd go back to normal."

"What's normal?"

"The sweet child we know. She's almost unrecognizable. I don't know what to do with her anymore."

"Justin, I think this has been coming on since Florida."

"Florida? That was months ago. What makes you think that?" Brian took off his clothes and sat close to Justin on the bed. They snuggled together, getting comfortable on the bed that would be there's for the next several weeks.

"Let's analyze this for a moment. First we go off and leave the Squirt with her uncles for a week."

"But she had no problem with that."

"I know, Sunshine, but that's not the only thing. Give me a chance." Justin let out a long sigh and tried to remain quiet as Brian laid out the facts. "We had a great time in St. Augustine but you have to admit, Bree had some very prissy moments. The thing with that redwood house, shouting out 'hungry' when she didn't get what she wanted right away and even that little scene at the Shark House."

"Brian, Clinton Die was awful. You can't fault her for that."

Brian reconsidered that one. "Then we come home and I leave almost immediately with Gus."

"But it was only four days, Bri."

"An eternity to Bree. Couple that with all the noise and commotion of the work crews and the moving of Rachel's house. She was an infant when John moved their cottage; it didn't affect her. Then I leave again. Patrick goes off to school. Justin, it's not one thing, it's all of it. How do you explain all of that to a three year old? I'm having a hard time adjusting to all of it myself and at least I can rationalize it. Bree can't. We've thoroughly upset her whole routine."

Justin remained quiet for a long time, processing what Brian said. He had to admit, it all made sense. "So what do we do?"

"First we get a good night's sleep. We try to stay as close to a regular schedule as possible. We stay firm and strong with Bree, especially when she has one of her drama princess moments. You were right when I came home on Thursday. It was best that I stayed out of her room when you punished her. As much as it hurts, we can't send mixed messages. That'll only confuse her more."

"A united front?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I can do that. I'll work out an agenda. We'll discuss it as a family and try to stick to it. She may not understand all of it but if she sees you and me doing this together, she'll get the idea." Justin yawned widely and snuggled down next to Brian. "Bri, I'm so tired." Justin felt a little guilty not making love with Brian. They rarely went to sleep without some form of sex.

"Go to sleep, Sunshine. I don't need to make love with you to know I love you," Brian said gently into the blond's ear.

"I love you so much," Justin whispered back.

"Me too, Sunshine, me too." The exhausted lovers fell asleep.

*****

The next morning Briana had forgotten all about the snow globe. They ordered room service for breakfast and sat around the table in the living/dining room of the suite. Brian watched John wondering if he was regretting his decision to come to New York.

"What are you staring at?" John said suddenly. "You're driving me nuts."

"Oh … I … was wondering," Brian began but then hesitated not sure he wanted to bring all this up.

"He wants to know if you're missing Bobby and Patrick," Justin volunteered as he put some fruit in front of Bree.

"What? Of course I miss them."

"Enough to want to go back home … today?" Justin added voicing what he knew Brian was thinking.

"Go home today? No, as much as I might like to, I said I'd get your offices tickety-boo and I meant it."

"Tickety-boo?" Brian laughed.

"You know what I mean," John scowled.

"Seriously, John, if you need to go home, you can."

"Brian, I know I can and I may want to, but that doesn't mean I'm going to. I'm staying here and doing the job that I promised you. That's all there is to it. Bobby and Patrick will be here next weekend. It's fine."

"I appreciate you doing this," Brian said softly. "I know how much I missed my family that last few weeks." He tweaked Bree's cheek and she giggled as she stuffed fruit into her mouth.

"Dada?"

"Yes, Squirt."

"Wuv you."

"That's love and I love you too."

Justin smiled at them both. Things seemed to be back on an even keel.

After breakfast John and Brian got ready to go to Kinnetik N'rgy and scope out what needed to be done. Justin decided he would stay out of their way until things got going. He was going to walk to the Metropolitan Museum and see if he could get some information for one or two more 'Old Masters' in his series. He was going to have his show in early December, so he needed to finish up whatever he was going to submit pretty soon. Bree would accompany him in her stroller.

They left the suite and headed for the elevator. The couple they had seen last night with the infant and the little boy in the stroller arrived at the elevator at the same time as they did.

"The kids seem to be in better humor this morning," the man observed cheerfully.

"Yeah," Justin smiled. "I like them much better like this." The adults all chuckled. "You're a cute little guy," Justin said leaning down to look at the little boy. "What's your name?"

"Josh," he replied with a smile and a bit of a lisp. He reached his hand out to Justin. Justin took it and squeezed gently. The little boy giggled.

"He likes you," the mother observed.

Justin smiled. Bree watched all this from the confines of her stroller.

"Daddy?" she said. "Mine." She reached out for Justin's other hand obviously jealous of his attention to another child.

Justin glanced at Brian as he took hold of Bree's hand. Were they going to have another meltdown? The elevator door opened and Justin released the little boy's hand as well as Bree's while they all piled in. It was a tight fit but they all rode down together.

As they exited, the little boy looked over at Justin and called, "Bye," as his father wheeled him away.

"Bye," Justin replied before turning his attention to Bree. "Did you think I was going to leave you and go with that little boy?" he asked her pointedly.

She nodded with some tears forming in her eyes. Maybe her daddy was going to follow the little boy. Is this what he was telling her?

"I'd never leave you for some other child, sweetheart," Justin said softly kneeling beside the stroller. "I love you and so does Dada. If we ever have to leave you, you should always know that we're coming back. Isn't that right, Brian?"

"Absolutely. I'm going to work with Uncle John, but I'll be back this afternoon. You can take that to the bank."

Bree looked at her dada. She didn't know what taking it to the bank meant, but her dada sounded like he meant it, so that was good enough for her.

"Love you, Dada," she said reaching up to him. She did her best to get the 'L' right.

"I love you too, Squirt," Brian said bending over to give her a warm hug. "I'll see you both later." He and John headed to the parking garage.

Justin pushed Bree's stroller over to a chair in the lobby and sat down. "I want to talk to you very seriously, Briana," Justin said staring into those baby blues. "Are you going to listen carefully?"

"Yes, Daddy," she whispered wondering what he was going to say to her.

"When I was talking to that little boy and took his hand, that didn't mean that I don't love you. I was just playing with him. Do you understand that?"

Bree stared at her father and then nodded. She sort of understood.

"I would never want to leave you and go with some other child. You're my daughter and I love you. You don't have to say 'Mine!' because I am yours. I always will be."

Bree stared into her father's eyes. She didn't understand all of what he had said, but it sounded like she didn't have anything to worry about. She kicked her little legs and smiled at him.

"Ready to go?" he asked as he smiled down at her.

"Weady."

"That's ready."

"Ready," she repeated.

"Good girl," he smiled. She liked it when her daddy smiled. She smiled back at him.

"What an adorable little girl, and so good too!" a woman said as she walked by.

"Thank you," Justin said. "She's all mine, and I'm all hers."

"Just the way it should be," the woman laughed as she continued on her way to the main doors.

Bree giggled. "I share," she declared.

Justin groaned. They didn't quite have this right yet, but it was worth a try. "Let's go hit the museum and see how you like the Old Masters." He wheeled her out the door.

*****

John maneuvered 'the beast' through the city traffic. His plan was to drop Brian off then go to the one and only Home Depot in the city to pick up the supplies he had ordered the day before. The office of Kinnetik N'rgy wasn't in as bad shape as Brian made it out to be. The immediate problem was the unfinished walls and the plaster dust. The dust was playing havoc with Brian's sinuses and thus contributing to the 'grump' factor. It was a simple problem and it would make Brian a more pleasant person to be around; a small blessing in itself.

"John, we could have taken a cab or even the train."

"Brian Kinney using public transport? Will my heart stand the strain?" John snarked.

Brian snorted but then confessed. "When in Rome... Seriously, John, driving this beast around is scary."

"I know but I'm going to pick up some building materials and I need this beast, as you so aptly named it. So stop yer bitching and get out; we're here. After I come back with the supplies and if I can't find parking I'll take her back to the garage then cab back over. Now don't you get your knickers in a knot. Go be adman and leave the construction to me."

Brian couldn't argue so he grabbed his briefcase and got out. John had worked in construction for most of his adult life. Big trucks and large equipment were a walk in the park for him. Brian watched his brother drive down the street then went inside.

"Morning, Boss," Ted said cheerfully as he relieved Brian of his briefcase and slapped a contract they were working on in his hand.

"Good morning, Sire," Cynthia snarked as she placed a large mug of Brian's brew in his other hand and guided him to his new desk. Ted and Cynthia had arrived earlier in the morning. Some new office equipment was being delivered and Cynthia wanted to be there to supervise. Brian took a large sip of coffee. He was grateful that Cynthia and Ted were there to help. It felt just like when they were getting Kinnetik up and running. Things felt like they were finally going right.

"Boss, we've got some interesting offers from several agencies. They all want to partner with you. Even Kennedy and Collins submitted a proposal. We have to make a decision and quickly. New York is fickle; it won't wait that long for you to decide." Ted handed Brian some e-mails he had received in regards to a partnership. The word had gotten out that Kinnetik was expanding.

"Brian, if you want my opinion, which you're getting anyway, I'd prefer a merger with a new company or a small one, not one of these long standing, nationally known ones. You'd have more creative control and we all know how you like your control. These other companies will kiss your ass up until you sign with them then go for the jugular. They want the Kinnetik name."

Brian listened carefully to Ted and Cynthia's counsel. Simon was right. Brian had the best and he'd be an idiot not to listen.

"Schmidt, show me the background info on the smaller agencies."

Ted and Cynthia smiled. Brian fucking Kinney was back.

*****

Justin stood at the steps of the Met. Bree was sitting quietly in her stroller and so far was on her best behavior.

"Bree, we're going inside this museum in a few minutes and I want you to be very, very good for daddy. This is big place with lots of things that can go crash and break. None of it belongs to us. We can look but NOT touch. Do you understand?"

Briana could see that her daddy was very serious about this big house. She nodded contritely.

"If you're going to be rude or loud, we will leave. There are a lot of pretty pictures inside that I want to see. Okay?"

"Okay, Daddy, I be good," Bree promised.

"Okay, here we go." Justin took the ramp up to the main doors then pushed the stroller inside. He hadn't been to the Met in a long time and he was eager to see the Old Masters and the newer exhibits. If Bree was good as she promised, Justin planned to treat her to lunch in the museum cafeteria. He silently said a prayer in hopes that Bree would behave. This was a new page in the Kinney-Taylor book.

Justin and Bree leisurely strolled to each floor and played tourist. They oohed and aahed at the exhibits just like everyone else. The large echoing rooms were a bit overwhelming for the tiny tot but Bree was with her daddy and had Muñequita to protect her. She was safe in her stroller and her daddy never left her side.

"Bree, look!" Justin unsnapped her seat belt to lift Bree into his arms. They stood in front of Van Gogh's Starry Night. They became mesmerized by the swirling colors. "I wish I could paint like that," Justin sighed.

"Daddy paint good," Bree reassured her daddy and patted his face. "You paint boo-ti-ful pictures!"

"Oh thank you, baby," Justin gushed into her fine strawberry blond hair. "Thank you." They sat on a nearby bench to admire the paintings in this gallery. A low rumbling noise caught Justin's attention.

"You getting hungry, Bree?"

"I could eat," Bree answered, mimicking her Dada.

"Okay, let's go get lunch then daddy wants to come here and sketch. Does that sound like a good plan?"

"Good plan!"

Justin put Bree back in her stroller, snapped the seatbelt around her and her dolly and they were off to find the cafeteria.

After a nice lunch they went back to the main gallery where Justin could sketch. He found a bench and settled himself in. He angled Bree's stroller so that she could see the room and Justin at the same time. She had stuffed her little belly and was feeling sleepy. The low noise from their fellow art lovers lulled the child to sleep. Justin pulled out his sketch pad.

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