Post Fractalization

Chapter 2

“How’s it look, Squirt?” Brian asked Bree. The assembled family stood back to admire Brian’s handiwork in resurrecting the tree in the sun porch. Even without decorations, the full evergreen was a sight to behold. The aroma of fresh pine filled the porch.

“It’s bootiful, Dada!” Brian didn’t bother to correct Bree. He knew she was teasing but he agreed; the tree was indeed beautiful.

“Hi, hi, hi!” Emmett said as he breezed into the sun porch with Drew, Ted and Allen in tow. “Oh my, that’s a lot of wood!” Emmett exclaimed as he looked the tree up and down.

“Thank you,” Brian snarked as he handed Emmett a cup of eggnog and waggled his eyebrows.

“Oh you,” Emmett said as they all laughed.

“So are we going to decorate it?” Ted asked.

“That’s the plan,” Justin said. “And since my he-man hunted down the tree and erected...”

“I excel at erecting, Sunshine,” Brian interjected.

“Yes, you do,” Justin said as he wrapped his arms around his lover then gave his he-man a kiss. “And since you did such an outstanding job of obtaining our tree and securing it in the stand, it’s only fair that we do the decorating.”

“And what am I supposed to do while you’re all decorating?”

“Oh I don’t know, maybe sit, relax, watch my country ass as I work on the tree,” Justin said seductively.

“Mmm, my favorite pastime, Sunshine watching,” Brian purred. Justin helped his mate settle back on the chaise then joined the family in decorating the tree.

 

*****
 

While the family wrestled with tree ornaments and the task of turning the sun porch into a Winter wonderland, Brian decided that sitting idly by just wasn’t for him. So he began to make a simple dinner consisting of a huge salad, a large pot of tomato soup and dozens of grilled cheese sandwiches. John thought it prudent to help.

“What’s wrong, big bro? That’s the third time I’ve seen you grimace tonight. You been taking too many dips into the holiday cookies?”

“No, I haven’t. As a matter of fact, food has lost its appeal lately.”

“How long has this been going on?”

“Not sure. I was fine throughout the Summer but then about a month ago my side began to ache. Not a lot and not every day. Since it happened around Thanksgiving, I just thought I overdid it.”

“We do have a habit of celebrating large,” Brian commented.

“Yes, we do. Then it all went away. About a week ago, the pain returned.”

“Appendix?”

“Nah, had that removed when I was twelve.”

Brian flipped a bunch of sandwiches as John stirred the pot.

“I think you should talk to Doctor Dan. Have him check you out before it gets any worse. If anything happened to you, you’d have one really pissed off red-head on your hands.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Can you handle having the soup? Maybe you should skip the cheese.”

“I can handle the soup. The salad shouldn’t be a problem either.”

“Okay, but if the pain gets any worse, I’m taking you to the hospital,” Brian growled.

“Don’t get all tough with me, Kinney. I can still take you.”

“Maybe, but if I squeal on you, that angry red-head will be all the backup I’ll need,” Brian said smugly. John nodded; he might be strong enough to bully Brian but not Bobby.

“Okay, you win. When Dan visits on Christmas I’ll speak with him. If he recommends I go to his clinic on Tuesday, I will. No argument.”

“Good enough. Now let’s go feed our Christmas angels.”

Brian and John began to bring the dinner fixings out to the porch.

 

*****
 

“So are you good with telling the family that we’re expecting in May?” Owen Jr. asked his wife. They were packing an overnight bag for their trip up to the cottage. Brian had insisted that they prepare to stay the night.

“Yup, I think it’s best. Although most of Liberty Avenue won’t be there,” Molly replied.

“I know. How is Debbie?”

“Mom spoke to her earlier today,” Molly laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“Apparently, Debbie had taken a pain pill. Mom said she was stoned.”

“Now there’s a scary thought,” Owen chuckled then he gently patted Molly’s tiny baby bump. “I’m so happy, Mol, are you?”

“Yes,” Molly whispered, “I’m very happy.”

 

*****
 

It was Christmas Eve and everyone was sitting around in the sun porch. The abbreviated family who were going to be at Edna’s Treasures for Christmas was all there. The tree was decorated and the lights were twinkling on the branches. All assembled were quiet looking at the beautiful tree and the lightly falling snow outside.

“I hope we don’t get another storm for Christmas like we had last year,” Seth said.

“You don’t want another adventure like our shoveling escapades of last Christmas?” Brian chuckled. Justin was snuggled up against him on the chaise. He kissed the top of the blond head.

“I like shoveling,” Bree piped up.

“Sure you do, Squirt,” Brian replied. “You moved one shovelful of snow for every ton I moved.”

Justin pinched Brian and whispered, “That wasn’t very nice.”

“I still have sore muscles form all the shoveling,” Brian griped. Then he frowned and looked at his daughter. She looked ready to cry.

“I tried to help, Dada,” Bree whispered.

“I know you tried to help, sweetheart. And you did help, you and Patrick. Everybody helped. I’m just being grumpy,” Brian said regretting his hasty remark. “Come give me a hug, Squirt.” Bree crawled up on the chaise with her daddies. “And you better pray that we do not fucking have another snowstorm like last year,” Brian added once the princess had settled down on his lap. All seemed to be forgiven.

“As the resident weather predictor, I would say we don’t have anything to worry about,” John told the group. He popped his finger in his mouth and held the wet digit up in the air. “All clear,” he declared.

“Is the wind in the sun porch that predictable, Uncle John?” Gus laughed.

“Absolutely!”

“I need a drink,” Brian stated after a minute. “How about the rest of you?”

Most people nodded and mumbled their agreement. Brian and Bobby got up to go get drinks for everyone. Bobby brought in the huge bowl of eggnog that Emmett had prepared.

“It’s laced with the best rum money can buy,” Emmett announced. “I’ll have a large one please, Master Bobby.”

“Coming right up,” Bobby replied as he ladled a cup of the creamy liquid for Emmett.

“Beer?” Brian said from the doorway. A few hands went up and he distributed the bottles to those who wanted them.

Bobby was still dishing out the eggnog when Brian came back with a bottle of wine and also a bottle of very old scotch. He doled that out to those who wanted it. Bobby went and got some apple cider for the children.

“Pop, can I have a glass of wine?” Gus asked before Brian set it down.

“I don’t see why not, Sonny Boy. It’s the holiday season. But only one.”

“Sure, Pop,” Gus said with a big smile. He was finally getting to be treated like an adult.

Brian poured his son a half glass of red wine. Gus sipped it and made a face.

“It’s an acquired taste,” Brian said with a smile.

“I’ll keep trying,” Gus said. He really didn’t like the wine very much, but he didn’t want to admit it in front of everyone.

“Everybody got a drink?” Brian asked.

“Molly, you don’t have anything,” Jennifer said as she looked at her daughter. “Here, have my wine and I’ll get another glass.”

“No thanks, Mom.”

“But…can I get you something else?” Seth asked.

“Only some juice,” Molly said with a radiant smile.

“Juice? On Christmas Eve? That’s not allowed,” Brian declared.

“It is if one is pregnant.” Molly grinned.

“Pregnant?” The question echoed from all over the sun porch.

“You…you’re pregnant?” Jennifer asked, her mouth dropping open. “But you didn’t say anything.”

“I’m saying it now,” Molly stated.

“But … how far along…?”

“Not quite four months,” Owen said wanting to have a part in this discussion.

“Oh my God, Molly! That’s wonderful!” Jennifer squealed. “I’m going to be a grandma.”

“Congratulations, you two,” Justin said coming over to hug his sister and shake Owen’s hand.

The congratulations and questions flew around the sun porch for the next several minutes, until everyone had been filled in on all aspects of the good news.

“This is the best Christmas present,” Jennifer gushed. “I’m so happy.”

Brian sat down on the chaise where Bree still remained. He noted the troubled look on her face. “What’s the matter, Squirt? You like babies, don’t you?”

“Don’t know,” Bree pouted.

“Sure you do.”

“Dada, will Gamma Jenn still be my grandma if Molly has her baby?”

“Of course she will.”

“She forgot all about me,” Bree continued to pout. “She just wants the new baby.”

“That’s not true, Bree. She’s just excited because Molly made her announcement. It was a surprise to everybody,” Brian explained.

“Can I still be the flowergirl at the wedding?”

“I would think so. The baby won’t even be born by then, if my calculations are correct,” Brian chuckled.

“Good,” Bree said emphatically.

 

*****
 

Hector, Raph and Curtis were sitting in the living room of the Piece of Plenty. Seamus had invited them to join him for Christmas Eve. Christmas carols were playing softly in the background. They each had a drink and were looking at the finished tree, watching the lights as they blinked on and off.

“How do you like our tree?” Seamus asked.

“I love it,” Raph said. “We’ll have to start getting a real tree when we have Christmas at home.”

“Would you like that, Curtis?” Hector asked.

Curtis nodded. “I love the tree.” He stared at it for a minute or two. “I didn’t know anything could be so beautiful.”

Raph and Hector looked at each other, their eyes filling with tears. Raph reached over and took Hector’s hand giving it a warm squeeze.

Seamus watched them and smiled. “Christmas brings out the best in us. We feel things much more intensely than we do any other time of year. Especially the love of family and friends.

Everyone nodded at that statement knowing the truth of Seamus’ words.

“Is this normally how you spend Christmas Eve?” Hector asked.

“Sometimes I go to a party at a friend’s, but I’m much happier here with you tonight,” Seamus said.

“That’s lovely to hear,” Raph replied. “We couldn’t ask for a better Christmas Eve.”

“One thing will make it better,” Seamus stated. The three people in the room stared at him wondering what could possibly be better than what they were doing. “I’m going to midnight mass. It’s always so beautiful, the music and the service. Would you like to join me?”

“We’re not Catholic,” Raph said.

“I used to be,” Hector added ruefully. “But I haven’t been to church in a very long time. They didn’t want me when they found out I was gay.”

“My church is very forward looking. If you’d like to come, I’d like you to be there with me. The service really is lovely.”

“Won’t they object to a couple of fags and their new son being in their church?” Raph asked.

Seamus shook his head. “As far as I know, they don’t ask about sexual orientation when you come through the door. You won’t be able to take communion, but then I rarely take it either.”

“What do you say, Curtis?” Raph asked.

“I’ve never been to a Catholic church, but you make it sound nice,” Curtis said slowly.

“Looks like you’ve got company for midnight mass,” Hector grinned.

“That’s great,” Seamus replied with a warm smile.

 

*****
 

“Bree, come sit beside me,” Molly requested. She had seen the unhappy look on the little girl’s face, and she thought she knew the likely source.

Bree walked slowly to the couch and climbed up beside her Aunt Molly. Everyone else kept talking, trying not to look like they were watching to see what Bree might do.

“Are you worried about me having a baby?” Molly asked as Bree snuggled up against her.

Bree nodded. “Don’t want a baby.”

“Really?” Molly asked. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

“Why?” Bree asked.

“Because it will be part of Owen and me. Having children is a great experience. Your daddies wouldn’t have such a great life without you in it. That’s what I want from my son or daughter,” Molly explained.

“Is it a son or a daughter?” Bree asked.

“I don’t know yet.”

“Why not?”

“It’s too tiny to tell.”

“Where is it?”

“Right here,” Molly said placing Bree’s little hand on her tummy. “Inside there.”

Bree frowned. “How does it breathe?”

“It’s connected to me and I give it oxygen and blood and food.”

“Oh?” Bree said in wonder.

“Babies need lots of care when they’re little.”

“Do you want it to be a girl or a boy?” Bree asked.

“I don’t know,” Molly said. “It doesn’t really matter.”

“Yes, it does,” Bree declared. “I have mostly boys around here, except for you and JR, and Michelle and Cindy. But they’re hardly never here no more, and neither are you. I think it should be a girl.”

“Hm, that’s a good point,” Molly agreed. “But it might be a boy.”

“No, a girl!”

“I can’t guarantee that,” Molly chuckled.

“Could you trade it for a girl if it’s a boy?” Bree asked in all seriousness.

Molly laughed. “No, I’m afraid I’m stuck with whatever I get.”

“Okaaay,” Bree agreed reluctantly. “I guess a boy would be all right.”

“When it gets a little bigger you’ll be able to feel it kicking inside me,” Molly explained.

“Really?” Bree asked in surprise. “But I’m not apposed to kick anybody. How come the baby gets to kick?”

“The baby isn’t really kicking,” Molly said gently. “It’s just moving around inside me, and it feels a bit like it’s kicking.”

“Does it hurt?”

“No, it’s kind of fun actually.”

“Okay,” Bree agreed.

“Do you feel better about me having a baby now?”

“Well, if you have to have one, yes,” Bree stated.

“I do have to, and I want to. I’ll always love you, Bree, but I have enough love for the baby too.”

“’Kay, Auntie Molly.”

“Good girl.”

 

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