Jennifer blinked and stretched luxuriously. She turned to look at the man sleeping in her bed. She smiled happily. It had certainly been worth the wait for last night to come. Seth was a wonderful lover, so kind and gentle and masterful. Jennifer felt a little shiver course through her at the delicious memory.

She shifted slightly so she could prop herself up on her elbow and look at the handsome profile of the man lying next to her. Her hand reached over without any conscious thought and gently traced the length of Seth's cheek.

"Morning," Seth whispered as his eyes fluttered open.

"And a very lovely morning it is too," Jennifer replied with a bright smile.

"Only topped by the magnificent evening we had last night."

Jennifer grinned. "It was pretty awesome, wasn't it?" she giggled.

"Like totally awesome," Seth said with a laugh. "And I totally mean every word of that."

"Thank you."

"It's me that should be thanking you," Seth said honestly.

"I waited a long time for last night," Jennifer stated. "I knew it would be special, and you made it very, very special."

"I might have another something special left in these old bones," Seth replied.

"You think so?" Jennifer's eyes twinkled with delight.

"When you look at me like that, I know so." Seth rolled over toward Jennifer finding her lips and kissing the woman he now knew he loved beyond all else.

 

*****

 

"You ready for school, Dada?" Bree asked as she finished her cereal.

"I guess so," Brian replied in a very unhappy tone.

"Don't you want to come to school with me?" Bree asked, a hurt sound in her little voice.

"I want nothing more than to come, Squirt," Brian told her, trying to sound like he really meant it, and still getting his sarcastic crack in. He could think of nothing worse than spending the morning with a bunch of four year olds, telling them about art when he knew nothing about art. Justin should be the one going to this damn fiasco, not him.

"I'm ready, Dada," Bree said sliding down from her chair.

"I just bet you are." Brian reluctantly stood up.

Justin came back into the cottage. He was bundled up against the cold having carried some of his canvases out to the SUV. "I think you have everything you'll need," he told Brian.

"Everything but you," Brian said trying to do his version of puppy dog eyes.

"You're going to have to work on using the eyes if you really want results," Justin laughed.

"Has anybody told you that you have a cruel streak?"

"You, on many occasions."

"Well, you do."

"Has Bree got her lunch?" Justin asked ignoring the comment.

"Here, Daddy," Bree said holding up her Dora the Explorer lunchbox.

"Then let's get you bundled up. It's freezing out there today. Is Patrick ready?" Justin asked as he put on Bree's coat and boots.

"I'm here, Uncle Justin," Patrick said coming in from his side of Edna's Treasures.

"Then you're good to go," Justin said with a cheerful smile.

"Yeah, good," Brian griped. He headed for the front door.

"Don't I get a kiss goodbye?"

Brian turned and blew a sarcastic kiss to his husband, that is, if there is such a thing as a sarcastic kiss.

Justin chuckled. "Have a good day at school … all of you."

"Bye, Daddy," Bree called as she followed her father who was trudging dejectedly out to the SUV.

Brian strapped the two children into their car seats and climbed behind the wheel. He looked out the window at Justin who was standing still bundled up in his coat and boots at the front door. Justin waved and Brian gave him the finger. The last thing Brian saw before he swung the SUV into the lane was the bright smile on his mean husband's face.

When they arrived at school, Bree ran to tell her friends about her Dada coming to speak to the class. Brian began carrying into the school the canvases and other supplies that Justin had put in the SUV. Bree's teacher met him in the hall and showed him where to set up his equipment.

By the time Brian had everything inside and set up, the bell rang to bring the children into the school. Brian took a deep breath and braced himself for the onslaught. He was standing by the blackboard at the front of the room surrounded by canvases and Justin's and Bree's easels. The children came quietly into the room. That surprised Brian as he had expected them to be full of energy and bursting with questions.

"Why are they so quiet?" Brian asked as he walked back to help Bree off with her coat.

"Miss Sharma says that we need to be calm and think about what we're doing. She says we learn a lot more that way. It helps us to listen," Bree explained.

"Good for Miss Sharma."

Bree hung up her coat and went to her seat in the classroom. Several of the children gave Brian inquisitive looks, and a couple said hello to him.

One little boy came over and looked Brian up and down. "Are you a real artist?" he asked.

"Are you a real student?"

"Yes," the little boy said confidently.

"Then I guess I'm not a real artist. My partner is."

"Why isn't he here?"

"Damned if I know," Brian said pointedly.

"Miss Sharma, Mr. Kinney said 'damn'."

"I'm sure that was just a mistake, wasn't it, Mr. Kinney?" Miss Sharma said, giving Brian a rather disapproving look.

"Very big mistake!" Brian sighed. He tried to look contrite.

"I think we're ready to begin."

"If you say so." Brian waited as Miss Sharma took attendance and did some other stuff he was sure teachers had to do every day.

"Now, class, you all know that Bree's father has brought some of her father's paintings to school today. Mr. Taylor is a very famous artist, but he couldn't be here today. So, Mr. Kinney, Bree's other father, has agreed to speak to us about art and its importance in the world. Mr. Kinney works with art in his advertising business. Am I right, Mr. Kinney?"

Brian walked back to the front of the room. He knew that bravado had got him through a lot of unpleasant situations in his life. He could pull this off, if there was a fucking god somewhere that wasn't out to get him.

"Yes, Miss Sharma, I use art in my business. Thank you for the charming introduction." He smiled at the teacher with his best sexy smirk. She seemed impressed. 'Yes,' he thought, 'I can do this.' He cleared his throat. "Perhaps Bree would come up here with me. She wanted to show you all how her father and her paint at their easels at home."

"How can she show us when her father who paints isn't here?" a little girl asked.

"I can show you," Bree said confidently walking to her easel.

"How come you have two fathers?" another child asked.

Brian blanched and wanted to grab Bree and run for cover. "Um…" Brian began. "Bree has two fathers because…"

"Because I'm very lucky," Bree said finishing Brian's uncertain beginning. "I have two daddies and they are the bestest daddies in the whole world."

Brian felt his eyes fill with tears. What had they done to deserve this special little girl? He was so proud of Bree at that moment that he could have burst.

"Bree has two fathers who love her a lot," said a voice from the back of the room.

Brian looked up to see Justin removing his coat and advancing to the front of the classroom. "What are you doing here?" Brian asked. He couldn't help but smile at this unexpected turn of events.

"Bobby dropped me off. We talked about this and it didn't seem fair that you had to do this all by yourself."

"I was … coping," Brian said with a smile.

"I bet you were, but I could leave if you want to do this on your own," Justin offered mischievously.

"It will be much better with you here," Brian added quickly.

"Of course it will," Justin laughed. "So," Justin said and turned to face the class, "these are some of my canvases. This one is almost done." He pointed to a partially finished picture of Brian. "I thought I'd add some more to it if my model will sit for me."

"I'd be delighted, O master artist!" Brian chuckled.

The class giggled and watched with interest.

"Positions," Justin said as Brian sat down in Miss Sharma's chair, assuming the pose he had used in the picture Justin had brought. Thank God he wasn't naked in this one. "You ready, Bree?"

"Ready, Daddy."

"Then this is how we mix paint," Justin started to explain. He squirted some paint from the tubes he had sent with Brian onto his palette and Bree's. "We take the colors we want and blend them together like this." Justin demonstrated as he mixed a flesh color. "You can add more of one color or change to a different one." Justin continued to show the children.

Bree mixed her own version of a color and they each applied some to their own canvas.

"Would someone like to mix some paints?" Justin asked the class.

All hands went up. Justin picked a boy and a girl to try mixing a color. That was the beginning of a fun morning for the students and for Justin and Bree who taught the other students about what colors when mixed together would make new colors. The students experimented and Justin added some strokes to his picture of Brian. Brian sat happily in Miss Sharma's chair watching the universe unfold as it should.

 

*****

 

"Mr. Hunter, sir, I'm not so sure about this," Curtis was worried and very afraid. "Are you sure they're not just going to arrest me?"

"Let's go through this again so that you're absolutely certain." Hunter was trying to put the scared boy at ease. Karen and Melanie were waiting for Curtis in Hunter's office. Curtis was huddled on his bed in the dorm room.

"Karen is your advocate. She and Melanie Marcus, who is your lawyer, will be taking you to see the family court judge. We'll be seeking temporary custody until a permanent foster home becomes available, or even adoption. Sergeant McGinty and Officer Rodgers along with a mutual friend, Carl Horvath, will also be there to take down your statement."

Curtis' eyes grew wide with fear.

"Don't worry, these are the good guys. Matter of fact, they've been speaking with all of your victims and so far, none of them are going to press charges. As long as we can guarantee that your 'crime spree' is over and you're back in school."

"What about the last guy?"

"I've been avoiding him for now but we're not that worried. Ms. Marcus is going to speak with him personally. So, are you ready to meet your lawyer?"

Curtis nodded hesitantly. He still wasn't all that convinced that he wouldn't land in juvenile detention, jail, or worse, back at the Hardigans. That would be a fate worse than jail ever could be.

"Mr. Hunter, what about Alfred?"

"Let's meet with Melanie and the police first. Then we can deal with Alfred."

Curtis got up off the bed. Following Hunter closely, he went out to face his past crimes and future life.

 

*****

 

"Hector! Are you ready yet?" Raph called into the kennel part of the veterinary clinic.

"Keep your shirt on. Geesh, you'd think you were meeting my mother, the way you're fussing."

"Hector, I've met your mother, and believe me, I would not be fussing, as you put it. You know she doesn't approve of me."

"I know, babe, but lucky for you, I approve of you." Hector smiled angelically at his life partner. "I have Matty all ready to go. What time did Hunter say we should get there?"

"About three. Hunter wants Curtis to get through the rough stuff first. Hunter and Curtis' advocate want to assess how he handles himself when he gives his statement to the police and meets with Melanie. I'd be more afraid of Melanie," Raphael grumbled.

"No worries, babe. Considering what this kid has survived, he can handle anything."

"Hector, but can he handle gay parents?"

Hector, who was placing Matty the cat into a well cushioned cat carrier, paused. He hadn't thought about that. The thought that Curtis could be straight never occurred to him.

"I guess we'll find out."

Hector and Raph bundled themselves up against the elements then left for the Jason Kemp Center.

 

*****

 

"The judge wants to meet with Curtis and get his statement regarding the Hardigans," Melanie informed the officers. They appeared to be pleased.

"You'll be going with him?" Carl asked Mel and Karen. "Who's the judge?"

"Yes, and it's Judge Schultz. We have a nine AM appointment for tomorrow. I want all our ducks in a row before we meet her," Karen replied.

"Judith Schultz?" Melanie asked.

"Yes, I've worked with her before. She's the number one supporter for child rights. She also knows how I feel about the Hardigans. If we can shut them down, that will be a bonus. But most importantly, Judge Schultz is fair and truly wants the best for children," Karen explained.

Sergeant McGinty and Officer Rodgers got up to leave. Carl wanted to stay to see Raph and Hector.

"Carl, let me know how it goes," McGinty asked Carl.

"Will do," Carl said as he shook the officers' hands. "I'll let you know how it all turns out." Hunter showed the policemen out.

"What just happened?" Curtis was overwhelmed. He did not fully understand what was happening and the possible new direction his life was about to take. Karen was about to explain when Hunter came back into the room. He wasn't alone.

"Alfred!" Curtis shouted as he jumped up from his chair and ran to the big kindly looking man who was clutching the carrier that held Matty. "Can I hold him, please?"

Curtis' face became alive as Raph gently took the almost well cat out from the carrier. Raph carefully placed the cat into Curtis' arms.

"Is he all better?"

Hunter squatted down in front of Curtis and his cat.

"Curtis, before you ask about the cat, don't you have something to say to the men who cared for it?" Curtis was startled; his grandfather had taught him better than that.

"I'm sorry, sir," Curtis said to Hunter then stood to address Raph and Hector. "My name is Curtis Samuels, sir," the boy said as he slowly extended his hand to Raph. "Thank you for making Alfred better."

Raphael took the boy's hand in his, noting how small it looked in comparison to his. The boy was nothing but skin and bones just like the cat.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Curtis. My name is Dr. Raphael Angles and this is my partner Hector Sanchez."

Hector moved forward to shake hands with Curtis.

"I have a few important things to tell you about 'Alfred.' First, Alfred is a girl; we've been calling her Matty. Her fur was rather matted and infested so we had to shave most of her. She's still rather weak and is on a special diet so we can't let her stay with you just yet."

Curtis' face fell with disappointment.

"However, once all your business with Melanie is completed, you may come and visit with Matty anytime. She'll heal much faster with you loving her."

"She's a girl?" Curtis asked with disbelief. Everyone in the room chuckled.

"I'm afraid so," Raph confirmed.

"But she's going to be okay?"

"She'll be fine, a few more weeks at the most."

"And I can help make her better?" Curtis asked hopefully.

"Yes, as long as Hunter and Ms. Marcus give the o-k, you're welcome at our clinic anytime. And Curtis, I mean through the front door. No more sneaking around in alleys."

Curtis looked suitably abashed. "Yes, sir," Curtis said, his face heating up with embarrassment.

 

*****

 

Justin and Brian were driving back to Edna's Treasures. Justin looked very smug. His art presentation and demonstration had gone very well.

"You could wipe that self-satisfied grin off your face, you know," Brian told him.

"Why should I? I saved your ass."

"I think it was Bree who saved both our asses," Brian reminded him.

"Yeah, that answer of hers about being lucky to have two fathers was…I don't know what word to use to describe it."

"I was kind of at a loss for words too," Brian admitted. "She took my breath away. How did we ever bring up such a special little girl?"

"She's a product of both of us, and she's truly a little miracle."

Brian nodded. "I can't believe that someone I've had such influence over could turn out like that."

"Of course, they would," Justin begged to differ. "You're just as special as your daughter."

Brian smiled. "And we're both what we are because of you."

"Thank you for that. I do like to think I had something to do with it."

"More than something … everything."

Justin grinned. "I don't feel much like painting this afternoon. I was thinking we might do something together."

"Oh, like what?"

"There's a big brass bed and lots of lube involved," Justin winked suggestively.

"Ah, that kind of together. I could be persuaded."

"You need to be persuaded?"

"No, not really, but I always enjoy your coaxing," Brian smirked.

"Like when I say, 'Wanna fuck?', and you jump my bones?"

"Exactly like that."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Justin asked.

With a big grin on his face Brian wheeled the SUV into the lane at Edna's Treasures.