Chapter 11

"Oh fuck!" Brian awakened with a start.

"What's the matter?" Justin mumbled sleepily.

"What time is it?" Brian looked around, slightly disoriented then he focused on the bedside clock. "Shit! I gotta go." Brian scrambled out of bed grabbing clothes as he sprinted to the bathroom.

"Bri?"

Brian stuck his head back into their room. "Go back to sleep. I have to get to the cottage. I'll call you later," Brian hastily explained to Justin who was burying himself back under the sheets. It was July the 5th and they survived the weekend of endless parties and barbecues. Justin had no intention of getting out of bed anytime soon.

Briana had decided that boys were dumb. Although she and Patrick had made up, Bree still harbored some hurt feelings. When Rachel and her girls suggested a girls' only sleepover, Bree happily jumped at the chance to spend time with girls. Even though they were much older, Michelle and Cindy 'adopted' Bree as their new baby sister. Bree sucked up the attention like a sponge. Brian thought it a good idea as well. Bree was the princess among the princes. He thought it wouldn't hurt for Briana to get in touch with her feminine side.

Brian kissed Justin then went out into the porch. Beau had heard Brian rummaging around for clothes so he was ready to join his other man for a jog.

"Come on, Dog, we have furniture to get," Brian explained needlessly to Beau. Beau was just happy that someone was awake and paying him some attention. Brian and Beau jogged down the path toward the cottage. They got to the cottage just as the delivery truck was pulling up.

The unloading and setting up of the furniture took several hours. The furniture that Drew had selected was big, made of thick pale pine and decidedly masculine. While the furniture at the loft could in no way be construed as feminine, it did reflect Emmett's tendency to flame and it was very 'city'. Drew wanted sturdy furniture in the 'Shaker' style and with Brian's assistance, that's what he got. Brian approved of the quality. Drew and Emmett were tall men and even though they were aging they kept in shape. Brian could only imagine the workout each piece of furniture was going to have to endure. It needed to be sturdy to accommodate such activities. Brian chuckled then shook his head at the thought of Emmett having sex. He shuddered then turned his attention to the hutch that was coming through the door.

Brian paid the men then watched the truck drive away. He scrutinized the front path and garden for any damage then went back inside the cottage. It felt 100% homier now with the furniture in place. Gordon's crew had installed all the brackets for the drapes and curtains that Drew had picked out. Brian opened up the box and began to hang the drapes in accordance to Drew's instructions.

"Hey, little bro! We were wondering where you got to," John said as he came into the cottage. "Wow, this looks great! I see you've been busy." Brian wiped the sweat off his brow and nodded. "Here, I think you can use this," John said and handed Brian a cold bottle of water. Brian drank it down greedily. "You should have called me. You know I would have helped."

"I know, but I overslept and by the time I got down here the truck was pulling up. One thing led to another. I'm almost done."

"What's left?"

"The bedroom and den curtains."

"Give them to me while you finish up here. Call Justin. He didn't remember you leaving." John took the remaining curtains as Brian called home.

While John and Brian were tending to the cottage, Beau patrolled the perimeter. Since the fire Beau had made this end of the lane a part of his territory. Rachel too, would see the large dog every once in a while in her yard. At first Rachel thought Beau was a small wolf or coyote until she realized it was Beau doing his patrolling thing. Since her husband often worked late, it made Rachel feel secure knowing Beau was out there.

Beau sniffed and rooted around the garden and fencing. He could smell the scent of the workmen and of his humans. He could also smell the fragrance of the new garden and of the new wooden furniture. Beau resisted the urge to mark each fence post, but he did manage to discreetly mark a few of them. After all, it was Beau's job to protect and he couldn't accomplish that without letting the rest of the world know who was top dog.

"Too bad it's too warm for a fire. Emmett will love this," Brian commented as he carefully placed logs in the fireplace.

"Have Emmett come up here late in the day. It still gets cool at night. Drew can have a small fire going when Emmett arrives. He can keep the windows open." John wanted Emmett to experience the full effect as well. "I would love to be a fly on the wall when Emmett sees this place."

"No you don't," Brian snarked.

"Why?" John asked in all innocence. Brian just stared, waiting for his brother to get a clue. "Oh. Ew!" John exclaimed when the clue bus struck him. Brian giggled. "It's going to take some time to get that image out of my head." Brian and John cracked up. Beau's barking brought the brothers down to earth.

"Is this a private party or can anyone join in?" Bobby called out as he, Patrick and Justin came up the path. Beau was bouncing around happy to see his pack. They came into the cottage to admire the handiwork.

"This is beautiful." Justin's artistic eye approved of the simple yet tastefully done decor.

"I love this furniture," Bobby echoed the appraisal. "Emmett will love it. When do you lure him up here?" Bobby asked Brian.

"Next weekend. Drew has some Ironmen business to do and I need him for a new ad."

"More underwear?" Justin asked.

"Yes, as a matter of fact. That underwear ad Drew did for me has become a classic. The client wants an updated version with a younger athlete. I agreed but I also convinced the client not to ignore us mature but hot stylish guys. We buy underwear too."

"Or not," Bobby snarked as he recalled Brian's habit of going commando, that's when he remembered to put on pants. Brian retorted by sticking his tongue out at the red-head.

"Oh, yeah, real mature," Bobby murmured.

Brian ignored him. "I convinced Drew to model. He recommended a few players that would look good in the ad. The client was very happy with the test demographics. Kinnetik goes to press this week." Brian was very proud of the ad. Older men could be just as sexy as the younguns.

"Bri, does Emmett suspect? I caught him looking at you and Drew a few times on Sunday. He didn't say anything, did he?"

"I think Mr. Honeycutt has turned over a new leaf when it comes to me and believing in rumors. No more jumping to the wrong conclusions without getting the facts first. He couldn't help being curious so Drew and I told him about the ad. Of course, Emmett came to Drew's defence. Quote, my Drewsie is sooo fine, unquote. We have Emmett's approval to use Drew in the ad. However, I conveniently left out the part about the cottage. Ted knows; we needed him to let us know if Emmett suspected anything."

"And Ted sees the bills," Bobby added.

"True," Brian confirmed. He looked around, declared everything perfect then they all left to go back to their own haven.

*****

Just before lunch Michelle and Cindy walked Bree back to the cottage. Bree ran through the door to show her fathers her new hairdo and her painted nails. All the men of the family were sitting in the sun porch drinking lemonade, having finished their work at Emmett's cottage.

"Daddy, Dada, look at me!" Bree cried when she spied them all.

"Hey, Squirt, let's see what they've done to you," Brian laughed.

Bree stopped in front of Brian and did a pirouette. She was dressed in a pink halter top and capris. She held out her hands and one sandal clad foot for her father to admire her painted nails. She put her hand up to her hair which had been pulled back into a ponytail and the end curled nicely at her neck.

"You look bootiful," Brian said pulling her in for a hug and a kiss.

"Daddy?" Bree asked.

"My little girl is growing up," Justin said with the sparkle of tears in his eyes. "You look wonderful. And thank you, girls, for doing this with Bree," he added as Cindy and Michelle appeared in the doorway.

"You're welcome," both girls said at once.

"We had fun with Bree," Michelle laughed. "We left her bag by the front door."

"Me too," Bree giggled as she climbed up into Brian's lap.

"Would you like some lemonade?" Justin asked.

"We have to get back," Cindy said. "We're not finished working on Mom yet."

"By all means go and finish Rachel off," Bobby joked. "See you later."

The girls made their way out of Edna's Treasures.

"Those are lovely nails, Briana," John said taking one of Bree's little hands in hers and examining the handiwork of the girls.

"Thanks, Unca John. Michelle and Cindy and me read stories and stayed up late and did our hair. It was lots and lots of fun." Bree looked pointedly at Patrick who was watching all this in silence.

"Girl stuff," he said, his nose clearly out of joint.

"Good stuff," Bree retorted. She was glorying in all the attention. "Michelle says we can do it again."

"She did, did she?" Justin asked.

"It was fun," Bree declared.

"I think you look lovely, Miss Briana," Bobby told her.

"Thanks, Unca Bobby."

"Um, Bree, want to come out and play with Beau?" Patrick asked.

Beau was immediately at the table wagging his tail when he heard his name mentioned.

Bree made a little face and thought about the invitation. "Play in the playhouse? I want to have a tea party."

Patrick sighed. "Can Beau come too?"

"Sure," Bree said happily as she climbed down off Brian's lap. "Let's go."

The two children and Beau ran out the door of the sun porch. All the adults shook their heads as they disappeared into the Wendy house.

"And peace reigns again!" Brian declared loudly.

"Until the next time they have an argument," John remarked.

"Oh goody, we have what, twenty more years of that? I'm not sure if I can handle it," Justin said, sighing loudly.

"If we're lucky they'll both go away to college," Bobby said wistfully.

The dads exchanged looks and toasted each other with their glasses then Brian stood up.

"It's after five somewhere in the world, anyone want to join me in a beer?" Brian received nods as his answer.

"I'll help." Justin got up to help clear away the glasses and to bring out the beer.

*****

[good dog...big boy...mine...protect...good boy]

Beau walked out of the playhouse. The children had fallen asleep on their little lounge chairs after their pretend tea party and building with their Lego blocks. Beau ran down to the stream but there were no frogs about to harass. He sprinted back to the playhouse and took a peek inside. The kids were resting peacefully.

Beau ran full out toward the lane then down to the new cottage. He loved the freedom his humans gave him and the trust they showed in him. Beau repaid them with his loyalty and protection. The humans that resided in these homes were his pack. Beau would guard them for life.

As Beau approached the new cottage, Gordon drove up. He wanted to take another look around and inspect the completed project. He saw Beau standing on the path. He held his hand out palm side up as greeting. Beau sniffed the hand and recognized the smell as friend. He wagged his tail as Gordon petted his head.

"You're a good dog, Beau, a credit to the Beaus who came before you. And you have a great family. You coming in with me?" Gordon asked the dog who barked loudly then took off back up the lane toward Rachel's house. "I guess not," Gordon laughed as he watched Beau take off. Gordon went into the cottage to do his inspection.

*****

"Hi, Beau!" Michele called out as the large dog ran into her yard.

"Hey, big boy!" Cindy said. Beau wagged his tail furiously at the girls. He made his rounds, stopping momentarily at a large bowl of water that Rachel would leave out for him. He took a good long drink then ran back to Edna's Treasures. His humans caught a glimpse of Beau out of the sun porch windows as he ran toward the playhouse.

At the playhouse Beau stopped to stick his head into the door. Finding the children still asleep, Beau laid down at the entrance to the playhouse. It was Beau's first birthday although the date held little meaning to him. What was important to him was that his pack was safe, he was safe, he had his bed in his warm patch of sun and he was loved. Beau sniffed at the air then laid his head down to take a nap.

[good dog...mine...safe...protect]

*****

"Hellooo," the tall flaming queen leisurely answered his phone as he was relaxing in the apartment he shared with his long time partner, Drew Boyd.

"Honeycutt, where the fuck are you?" Brian growled into the phone.

"Where I usually am on a Sunday afternoon. I'm home, relaxing. And don't call me Honeycutt!"

"Did I interrupt something, I hope?" Brian snickered. He knew full well that he didn't interrupt anything. Drew was standing next to him.

"Asshole. And not that it's any of your business, no, you didn't interrupt anything. Drewsie's out doing something footbally."

"Footbally?" Brian arched an amused eyebrow at Emmett's choice of vocabulary.

"You know, something manly and hunky."

"Oh, that footbally."

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of you screaming at me over the phone?"

"I need you to get your scrawny nelly bottom ass up here to the cottage."

"And why would I do that?"

"Because I'm planning a special dinner party and I need the help of the number one party planner in the Pitts."

"Well, perhaps I can put up with your insults for a while."

"Especially when cash is involved," Brian snarked at his friend.

"There is that. When do you want me up there?"

"Like yesterday. Pack a bag for a couple of days. This may take some time. I don't want you to have to rush off."

"Are you propositioning me?"

"Maybe, but you know my rules about not doing friends. Besides, Justin would have my other ball and not in a positive life affirming way. And then of course, Drew would just kill me." Justin and Drew nodded in agreement.

"True! Okay, I'll see you in a couple of hours."

"Oh, and Emmett?"

"Yes, Brian?"

"Call when you get to the turn off for our lane. I need you to stop there and park."

"Why?"

"A couple of tree branches came down overnight and we haven't cleared them yet. Call when you get there. I'll meet you with the Jeep."

"Your wish is my command." Emmett was equally adept at snark.

*****

"Kinney," Brian snapped into his cell.

"Hello, Sire, I'm here at the edge of the lane."

"Stay put, I'm coming."

"Ooooo!" Emmett loved to tease.

"Oh for fuck's sake, can it. I'll be right there."

"I'll be waiting," Emmett said still giggling.

*****

"Brian, I don't see any tree branches."

"Shhh."

"Don't you shush me.... What the...?!" As they drove slowly down the lane, Brian pulled up to a quaint cottage complete with white picket fence. They could see smoke wafting from the chimney.

"Surprise!"

"It's a house!" Emmett's eyes grew wide as he stated the obvious.

"At least we know your eyes still work."

"With a picket fence."

"Yes, specifically a white picket fence."

"And Drew, standing on the porch!"

"Honeycutt, you're getting good at this. A house, with a white picket fence and Drew standing on the porch. Now, why don't you get your ass out of my Jeep and go see Drew."

"I, uh, Brian, what does this mean?"

"Welcome home, Emmett!" Brian cooed softly as he gently shoved the startled man out of the Jeep.

"Oh my God!" Emmett shouted, with tears in his eyes. He made a beeline for Drew and his new house. Brian watched as Emmett threw himself into Drew's strong arms. They kissed then went into the house but not before Drew gave Brian the thumbs up. Brian drove back to Edna's Treasures.

TBC

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