Chapter 1

Christmas time 2015 Beau's POV:

[dark...lub dub...lub dub...lub dub...warm...lub dub...lub dub...sleep]

"Merry Christmas, Jackie!" Steve quickly came through the door.

"Um, Steve?" John looked at his stepfather with a question on his face.

"Oops, sorry son, Merry Christmas," Steve said as he reached into his coat and pulled out a six month old shepherd mix puppy and handed him over to John.

"Merry Christmas, big brother, and let me introduce you to..."

"Beau!" John and Brian said in unison.

Everyone greeted the newest addition to the family...

[bright...loud...shiver...lub dub...lub dub...lub dub...warm...sleep]

*****

"Bobby?" John called out from their kitchen, he was making sandwiches for lunch. Bobby was relaxing, reading a book in their living room, a fire crackling in the fireplace. Patrick was in his room playing with some of the new toys he had received for Christmas.

"Yeah, Babe," Bobby replied, looking up from his book.

"Have you seen Beau? I want to take him out for a walk."

"Didn't you just take him out?"

"Puppies piddle a lot; it's been about two hours." Bobby bowed to John's experience with puppies. The Anderson farm nee the Kinney estate had had a "Beau" for almost two hundred years. "I'll help you look for him," Bobby said as he got up from the couch.

John and Bobby made short work searching their end of the cottage. The last place they went to look was in Patrick's room. John quietly pushed the door open. There on the thick bedroom rug was Patrick, peacefully asleep, with little Beau cuddled close with his head on Patrick's chest also asleep.

"Leave them for a while longer, John. Patrick's stomach will wake him soon then you can take Beau out," Bobby suggested. John nodded in agreement and closed the door slightly. They went back into the kitchen to complete the preparations for lunch.

"John, tell me about Beau." Bobby gazed up at his life partner with love in his eyes. John sat next to Bobby at the granite kitchen island.

"What do you want to know?"

"The Beau I knew was what, about sixteen when he died?" Bobby heard the slight hitch in John's breathing. The pain of losing such a long time and loyal companion was still fresh.

"Yes, he was. He was a good dog, very loyal and very smart. All the Beau's, each in their own way, were smart dogs and had different jobs."

"Different jobs?"

"Old Beau was more of a working dog and outside dog. He preferred sleeping in the barn. We didn't train to him to be out there. He just took up residence and that was that. On those real fiercely cold nights, Mom would insist that Beau come into the house and he preferred to stay in the kitchen."

"You mentioned a job. What was his?"

"He loved the Farm. Every morning he'd disappear through the path to the Farm. When we had more sheep and cattle on the Farm, Beau was out there, herding sheep, harassing the calves when they were dawdling. Beau was a natural herding dog. Steve looked like a real cowboy in his younger days, still does. He taught me how to ride before I could walk. Then as Beau got older and the Farm gradually turned into what it is now, Beau became more of a protector. A watch dog."

"That must have been a good thing when you went off to college and to work."

"It was. I didn't worry leaving Mother all on her own. She had Beau."

"But he wasn't the one around when you were a child, the one that Brian met that day."

"Nope, that was the Beau I grew up with. Now talk about a watch dog! He didn't want anything to do with sheep or cows." John let out a burst of laughter. "And he loved his comforts, no barn for him. Spoiled mutt. He was an inside dog. At night before he settled down, he'd patrol the perimeter, make sure the house was secure to his satisfaction then come into my room. He was one big dog, a hundred and fifty pounds at least. When he'd jump onto my bed he'd nearly toss me out. But he took his job as protector very seriously. Damn near followed me to school a couple of times. Mom had to keep him in the house until the bus dropped me off after school. Then if she didn't open the door, Beau would have jumped through a window. Come to think of it, we did lose a screen or two."

"How was he when Brian met him?" Bobby leaned into John and kissed his shoulder. They loved holiday time when they could be together, quiet and not hurried.

"Grandpa Aidan introduced Beau to him. I guess me and Brian had a lot in common even back then, because Beau immediately became protective of Brian too. Even if it was for a short time." John stopped talking. He was only ten when he met his half brother for the first time but didn't know who Brian really was at the time.

"If things were different..." John began.

"No, John, some things were meant to be."

"How can you say that? You know the kind of childhood Brian had or didn't have. Maybe if he had stayed here or if Mom had told Jack..."

"Then there would be no Brian and Justin or maybe no John and Bobby. No, it all happened for a reason and now we're all here, together. The way it's supposed to be. And with a new Beau to protect our son and Edna's Treasures." Bobby gave John a warm lingering kiss.

"Sometimes, I think you're too damn smart, Bobby Morrison." John leaned in for more kisses.

"That's Bobby Morrison-Anderson to you, mister. Let's go get Patrick and Beau before we have any accidents."

"Good idea. I'll take Beau out for a quick walk, then after lunch we can all take a hike through the woods."

"Sounds like a plan." The lovers kissed again then went to get their son and dog.

[lub dub...lub dub...lub dub...warm...good...home]

*****

"Come on, Patwick," Bree called.

"I'm playing with Beau."

"But he don't do nothin'," Bree whined.

"He's a good puppy, aren't you, Beau?"

"Patwick!"

"Come and look at him, Bree," Patrick said.

"He sleeping."

"Yeah, but he'll wake up if you pet him."

"He will?"

"Yep."

Bree kneeled down beside Beau. She tentatively put her hand on his head. He immediately opened his eyes and raised his head.

"See," Patrick told her.

Bree liked the feel of the puppy's fur. She placed her hand on his head and trailed it all the way down to his tail. The tag swished back and forth. Bree giggled.

"Beau's fun, aren't ya, boy?" Patrick said giving Beau a rub behind the ears.

Bree copied Patrick's motions scratching at Beau's ears. The ear was very soft and she squeezed a little harder feeling the soft fur underneath. Suddenly Beau gave a yelp and jumped away. Bree sat back on her bum surprised by the dog's actions.

"What did you do?" Patrick asked her as he wrapped his arms around Beau and hugged the frightened dog.

"Squeezed his ear," Bree admitted with a scared look on her face.

"Why?"

"It soft," Bree said getting ready to cry since Patrick seemed to be mad at her and Beau wouldn't let her pet him now. Every time she raised her hand to touch the pup, he backed away.

"You have to be careful," Patrick said solemnly. "Be … gentle. Like this." Patrick proceeded to show Bree how to properly pet the pup. Beau soaked it all up.

"Don't like Beau," Bree said standing up. She headed out of the sun porch to find her fathers.

"Well, Beau doesn't like you either," Patrick yelled after her, making her cry as she entered the house.

"Daddy!" she wailed. "Daddy!"

"What's the matter?" Justin asked rushing into the kitchen.

"Beau don't like me," she cried.

"What happened?"

"I petted him and he got mad," she said as her father picked her up.

"What's all the wailing?" Brian asked coming down from his office.

"Bree and Beau had some kind of altercation."

"Did they now? Where's Beau?"

"Out there," Bree said pointing to the sun porch.

"Maybe we need some puppy lessons," Brian said.

Justin carried Bree as he followed Brian into the sun porch. Patrick and Beau were still laying on the floor side by side.

"What happened, Patrick?"

"Bree squeezed Beau's ear. He don't like that."

"Bree," Brian began, "you have to be gentle and not startle Beau. Watch." Brian petted the dog who started to lick Brian's face as the man squatted beside him. "Um, yuck, enough of that," Brian said as he pushed the pup away.

"Who's giving who lessons?" Justin laughed. "Dada's silly, isn't he, Bree?"

"Silly Dada," Bree agreed. Her tears were all gone. She squirmed until Justin let her down. "Sowwy, Beau," she said giving the pup a hug like she had seen Patrick do. The pup gave her a good face licking as she giggled with pleasure.

"I'm glad she likes dog slobber more than I do," Brian said. "You can show her the proper way to pet the pup."

"Thanks," Justin replied, "but I enjoyed your demonstration." He couldn't stop the laugh that escaped.

"Ha, fucking, ha!"

"Oh, come on, you old poop. I'll help you wash it off."

"In the shower?" Brian asked with a suggestive waggle of his eyebrows.

"Okay," Justin said. "I think the kids and Beau will be busy for a while as long as Bree doesn't squeeze the pup's ear."

"Don't squeeze anything, Squirt," Brian said as he grabbed Justin's hand and headed for the shower.

*****

"John, is us having a puppy a good idea?" Bobby asked his spouse pensively.

"Why do you ask?"

"Patrick may not be old enough for this responsibility and Briana appears to be jealous. Beau is monopolizing Patrick. Bree's had Patrick all to herself up till now."

"You do have a point there but I think Patrick takes his responsibilities very seriously and it's winter. I spend most of the season at home. Beau will be properly cared for and trained. By the time summer rolls around the pup will be a well trained member of the family."

"Unlike some us," Bobby snarked and John scowled angrily. "I was thinking of Brian," Bobby said with a chuckle.

"Oh. Dinner........the roast......oven....."

[blah...blah...blah...warm...smell good...hungry...up...up...mmm]

"YIPE!" Beau squealed as his nose touched the hot oven.

"Beau!" John and Bobby yelled. John picked the poor puppy up into his strong comforting arms then quickly took out a small bag of frozen peas from the freezer. Grabbing a dish towel, he sat on a stool with the pup firmly in his arms close to his chest. John cooed something soothing to the puppy while lightly holding the wrapped peas to the pup's nose.

"Did he get burned?" Bobby asked with concern.

"No, Baby. The heat just scared him; he only touched the oven window for a fraction of a second. Something he won't do ever again. Will you, boy?"

John held the forlorn puppy up higher to look into his eyes and to examine his nose. Beau was scared but no wounds to be had.

"John, I'll finish dinner, you take him inside. I think he needs your gentle touch." Bobby smiled lovingly at his partner. John nodded and took the hapless puppy into the living room.

[lub dub...lub dub...lub dub...warm...safe...sleep...lub dub...lub dub]

*****

"Hey little brother, get your ass down here!" John shouted up to Brian's office from the sun porch. Brian was working from home, Justin's Old Masters were knocking them dead at the gallery. Justin had gone to Pittsburgh to do an interview. He had taken Bree with him.

"What's all the shouting about?" Brian grumbled from the balcony.

"I'm going to take Beau out for a walk. You should come too. You've been cooped up all day in that office. I'm beginning to regret I ever built that thing."

"You think I need the exercise?" Brian was horrified at the thought that he was getting flabby.

"Cut. It. Out. You're still too skinny; however, the fresh air will do you good. And I want to take a good look at the land while Beau enjoys his walk."

Beau was wearing his little doggie overcoat and wagging his tail. Or rather the tail looked like it was wagging him. He enjoyed the walks he took with John.

Brian didn't argue. He put on his own heavy overcoat and followed his brother and Beau out. About fifteen minutes into their walk, John broached the subject.

"Brian, are you still considering buying up the surrounding land?"

"Yes, why? Don't you think it's a good idea?"

"I think it's an excellent idea. Bobby and I have been looking into it. It is state land. Much of it foreclosed farmland. And we know the infrastructure is in place. A few more homes can be built without overtaxing the land or we can leave it for the next generation. The state is losing money on it so they may part with it cheap."

"It'll be a good investment for the future and I like that we can control who lives on it."

"Whom do you have in mind, little brother? I can hear those wheels grinding from here. Were you thinking about Gus?"

"Maybe, but I was thinking more of Emmett and Drew?"

"Emmett and Drew? I'm surprised; thought he'd be a true city boy."

"Ah but you forget where he grew up, Hazelhurst, Mississippi," Brian said with his best southern drawl. "He's always wanted a quaint old cottage with a white picket fence. He almost got it." Brian looked away at the memory. John reached over to cup his brother's chin.

"What happened?" John asked softly.

"It was back when Emmett and Ted were trying to make a go of it as a couple." John gave Brian a look of disbelief. "Yeah, I know, scary thought, but they tried. Even found a house that Emmett could transform. Then all hell broke loose. Stockwell had Schmidt arrested. It was the beginning of the end for Teddy."

"But that's long behind you, and Ted got a second chance." Brian nodded at his brother's statement. It seemed like many of his family got second and third chances. They had just about got it right by now. "So you think Emmett and Drew would like a cottage way out here?"

"I think they'd love it. Of course it would have to have the ultimate kitchen and a white picket fence."

"I can do that," John said with pride.

"Of that I have no doubt." Brian also had pride in his brother's capabilities.

Beau was scampering on his long lead just in front of the brothers. He was having the time of his short little life attacking dried up old leaves he found among the patches of snow. He was rather victorious over twigs. Beau also answered nature's call as best he could, given his still short puppy legs.

"What the fuck is he doing?" Brian looked at Beau with a combination of shock and disdain.

"He's peeing. What the hell do you think he's doing?"

"John, if I'm not mistaken, I bought a boy puppy. It's squatting," Brian groused about the now gender questionable pup. John burst out laughing.

"He's a boy, Brian," John reassured his brother.

"Then why the fuck isn't HE raising his leg?"

"He's still a baby. He doesn't know how to do that yet." John tried to explain reasonably to Brian.

"Well, hurry up and teach him, for fuck's sake, that's embarrassing." Brian turned, then stomped away toward the cottage, muttering all the way. John's laughter filled the crisp winter air.

"I have a brother who prefers to bottom and a boy dog who squats when he pees. Where did I go wrong?" Brian asked the gods in the sky.