Brian rolled off his husband and glanced at the clock. "I have to go pick up Bree in an hour."

"Then we have time for one more," Justin said with an evil grin as he gave Brian's nipple a twist.

"Cut that out. I'm getting too old to spend all day in bed with a young twink."

Justin smiled. "I thought when you got old you spent all day in bed anyway."

"Alone in bed, not fucking someone's brains out."

"Suit yourself. If you want to be alone, I'll leave." Justin threw back the covers.

"Oh no you don't!" Brian said grabbing Justin before he could escape. He kissed Justin's cheek and held him against his body.

"I love you," Justin whispered.

"Backatcha, twink."

"Am I still your twink?" Justin asked.

"You'll always be my twink."

Justin smiled as the phone rang.

"Who the fuck could that be?" Brian asked.

"Probably my mother."

"No, she only calls when we're mid-fuck. This person has slightly better timing."

"Answer it," Justin said.

"What?" Brian demanded into the phone in his usual cordial manner.

"Brian, it's Melanie."

"What the fuck do you want?"

"Thank you for that gracious greeting," Melanie said sarcastically. "I guess I must have interrupted you mid-fuck."

Brian felt his head start to throb. He hated when she sounded so much like him. "No," he replied. "We were done."

"Ew! TMI."

"Look, you called here. I didn't call you."

"Point taken," Melanie said contritely. She didn't want to antagonize Brian when she needed his cooperation. "I need to talk to you about something."

"Today?"

"Yes, today would be preferable."

"Can we do this over the phone?"

"I'd feel better about this if we did it in person."

Brian realized this was his first real conversation with Melanie since the girls had returned from St. Augustine. He wondered if this was about the repairs to the house. Brian sighed. "Is this really necessary?"

"Yes."

"Ask her to come to dinner," Justin suggested. He had his ear against the receiver.

"Dinner?" Brian repeated.

"I'd love to have dinner with you. Where?" Melanie asked leaping at the chance to get Brian alone.

"Justin suggested that you come out here for dinner with us."

"Oh?"

"We promise not to lace the food with arsenic," Brian said sarcastically.

"Great! But I need to talk to you alone."

"I'll set aside some quality time just for you and me," Brian said with a smirk.

"I can hear that smirk, Kinney."

"I don't doubt that for a moment."

"I'll be there around six so I won't be too late getting home afterwards."

"Okay." Brian hung up the phone. "Great, we're going to have a lovely evening with my favorite person."

"Yes, we are," Justin told him. "So, get up and let's make something delicious."

"What happened to another fuck?"

"Later, big guy."

"Yeah, later," Brian mumbled as he threw off the covers and got out of bed.

 

*****

 

Melanie arrived to delicious smells from the kitchen and a dashing looking Brian Kinney who greeted her at the front door.

"I don't think I've ever been here for dinner … or anything … without Lindsay," Melanie commented.

"There's a first time for everything," Brian snarked.

"Dinner's ready, so we can sit right down," Justin said. "Bree, come say hi to Aunt Melanie. Dinner's ready."

Bree ran down the hall and into Melanie's waiting arms. She kissed her "aunt" on the cheek when Melanie bent over to give her a hug. "Daddy made his famous chicken and dumplings," Bree stated knowingly.

"Sounds great," Melanie said as they sat down to eat.

They ate amidst pleasant conversation much to Brian's surprise. Melanie told them all about St. Augustine, and Brian and Justin marveled at how similar their trip had been to the girls'. Bree informed Melanie about her fathers going to school with her and how they had instructed her class about art. Everyone was very civil and on their best behavior.

After Bree was put to bed, Justin brought coffee to the living room. "I thought we could talk in here."

"I should probably talk to Brian alone," Melanie said hesitantly.

"If this is about the renovations to your house, I know all about them. Brian did what needed to be done," Justin said defending his spouse.

"I didn't come about the renovations, but now that you bring them up, I have a check for you," Melanie said pulling a check out of her pocket. "This is a start to paying you back."

"You don't need…"

"I do need," Melanie said emphatically. "I want to thank you for looking after things while we were gone. We really needed to reconnect on our vacation, but I intend to pay you back for all you did."

"Thank you," Brian said pocketing the check. He wasn't going to fight with her over this. He knew how proud Melanie was of taking care of her family. "I hope the trip accomplished what it was intended to do."

"It did," Melanie replied with a happy look on her face. "And thank you also for the champagne and chocolates."

Justin raised an eyebrow, but Brian merely tipped his head in acknowledgement.

"Now, for the real reason I'm here." Melanie proceeded to explain about Curtis and what had happened to him over the last few months. Brian was about to interrupt a couple of times, but when Melanie raised her hand to stop him, Brian waited until she was through with her complete explanation.

"You want me not to press charges?" Brian asked.

"That's fucked!" Justin protested. "That kid robbed Brian and almost cut him. He deserves to be punished, not get away with that Scot-free."

"I know what he did was serious," Melanie said calmly. "But he's basically a good kid who's already been punished enough in life. The foster family he was with are criminals themselves … and abusive. We're going to try to go after them. Curtis deserves a break for a change."

Justin shook his head. "I don't know."

"I'd like to meet the kid," Brian said.

"Will you at least consider not pressing charges?" Melanie asked. "If I can tell the judge that, things will go a lot easier for Curtis."

"I'll think about it. It's not like I really missed the money he stole."

"He used it to pay Raph and Hector to look after that sick cat he found somewhere," she explained.

"I know, but…" Brian reacted.

"Brian, he's still a criminal. He could have really hurt you," Justin felt compelled to say.

"Arrange a meeting with Curtis," Brian said. "I want to think about this."

"You got it," Melanie averred. "Now, I better get home. Thanks for dinner."

"You're welcome," Justin said. He escorted her to the door. "You know I don't like this."

"I know, but I think you'd like Curtis if you met him."

Justin shook his head. "I doubt it." He closed the door behind Melanie and walked back into the living room where Brian seemed to be lost in thought. "You okay?" he asked.

"Just thinking."

"I know you'll do what you think is for the best, but remember that this Curtis could have really hurt you."

"I'm not going to do anything hasty, Sunshine."

"Good. What are you going to do with Melanie's check?"

"I think Hunter could use another donation to the center."

"I knew you'd say something like that, and I know you've already decided not to press charges against Curtis," Justin said as he slid onto Brian's knee.

"You know that, huh?"

"I do."

"And what are you going to do about it?"

"Fuck your ass off."

Brian laughed as Justin captured his lips in a kiss.

 

*****
 

Brian hadn't slept very well that night even with his ass thoroughly fucked off by his very talented spouse. Brian hadn't felt this agitated since he experienced those nightmares that sparked the clinic project. Brian eased himself out of bed, softly reassuring Justin, cooing him back to sleep. Brian grabbed some clothes then quietly snuck into his bathroom. After checking on Bree and leaving a note for Justin, Brian left the cottage and drove to the Pitts.

"Damn, even after all these years and all that I've taught him, he still can't seem to make a decent cup of coffee," Brian groused, as he threw away the dregs in his cup, shut off the coffeemaker and began to wash the pot out to make fresh. As the coffee dripped he shoved some bills in the large donation jug that was on the counter. Taking a pen out of his pocket, Brian endorsed Melanie's check over to Hunter and the clinic. Brian sat at one of the chairs in the kitchenette to sip his coffee.

"Much better," he mumbled around his cup.

"Who are you?" Curtis asked. Since his grandfather's death and not having a permanent home, Curtis had become a light sleeper.

"I might ask you the same," Brian snarked with an arch to his eyebrow.

Trying to be polite, Curtis introduced himself. "I'm Curtis Samuels, sir," Curtis said as he extended out his hand.

"Brian Kinney," Brian replied as he shook the small hand.

"How did you get in? The door was locked."

"I have a key."

"Are you the owner?"

"Of sorts, I own the property and the bath house next door. My brother renovated the building and the theater and bowling alley as well."

Brian recognized Curtis as his assailant. He wasn't sure if Curtis recognized him. It was dark that night and Brian looked more like a businessman. Today he was wearing his favorite jeans, a grey sweatshirt and leather jacket. He looked more like a tough guy rather than a businessman.

"So, you one of Hunter's kids?" Brian was trying to draw the boy out.

"I guess so. He found me on the street. I-I ran away from home and ..."

"And?"

"And I did some bad things, very bad things. But Mr. Hunter he took me in and gave me a real bed to sleep on and I'm not hungry and I'm gonna get my cat back soon and..." Curtis suddenly recognized the man sitting in front of him. He started to shake then took off toward the front door.

Brian quickly scrambled from his seat to catch up to the fleeing bandit.

"Whoa there, pardner!" Brian said as his scooped up the skinny boy with one arm.

"Put me down!" Curtis yelled.

"I will, when you promise to stand still and not run. Besides, it's freezing outside. You won't get far in your pajamas." Curtis kept squirming, Brian tightened his hold.

"Brian, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Hunter came out of his office to witness his number one benefactor and closest friend holding Curtis like a sack of potatoes in his arms, not a child. However, Hunter wisely did not interfere. Curtis would have to explain himself to Brian's satisfaction. And Hunter knew that Brian would never harm one of Hunter's charges.

"Caught this young-un trying to make a break for it. Thought you'd appreciate me stopping him before he ran off into the storm dressed only in a set of your pj's."

"Kinney, you're an ass..."

"Uh, uh, uh, not in front of the lost boy," Brian snarked, but did not release his grip.

"Curtis," Hunter addressed the hapless boy who was hanging limply near Brian's waist. "I think it would be best if you assured Brian that you won't run. It's too cold."

"Yes, sir. I promise, Mr. Kinney, I won't run away," Curtis promised.

"It's about fucking time. You're getting heavy." Brian said with a grunt as he placed Curtis on the floor, right side up.

Hunter steered them both back to the kitchen. The coffee smelled good and Hunter wanted to make some hot chocolate for Curtis.

"Brian, what the hell are you doing here? It's five o'clock in the morning!"

They all sat at the small table in the kitchenette.

"I had an interesting dinner guest last night and she told me about your meeting with the judge this morning. She asked me to think about not pressing charges." Brian got up to pour himself more coffee.

"And how was your dinner with Mel?" Hunter asked with a playful smirk on his face.

"Definitely an experience I would not like to relive anytime soon. At least not without the appropriate amount of alcohol."

"Brian, it couldn't have been that bad."

"No, it wasn't. She was actually kind of human."

"And your decision?"

"You have no idea what this is going to cost me." Brian took the check Melanie had given him the previous night then stuffed it into the donation jar. He glared at Curtis with one of his most powerful Rageian stares. "Don't fuck this up, kid. You have one hell of a team looking out for your interests. Don't disappoint them or you'll have to answer to me."

"Thank you, Mr. Kinney!" Curtis said as he threw himself into Brian's arms, mustering up the strength to hug the taller man.

"You won't regret this, Brian." Hunter beamed a dazzling smile.

"I'm regretting it already."

"Why?"

"Because I have to answer to Justin!"

Brian gave Hunter a kiss to the side of his head, patted Curtis on the top of his, grabbed his leather jacket then left the clinic. As Brian drove off, Hunter and Curtis laughed and jumped with happiness.

 

*****
 

"Keep your fucking shirt on!" Melanie shouted as she was trying to tie her robe without tripping over the sash as she stomped down the staircase to answer the door. Seeing a familiar silhouette in the window, Melanie was less than pleased.

"What the fuck do you want, Kinney? It's barely six in the morning!" Melanie grabbed Brian's arm to get him inside. The wind was freezing and she was barely dressed.

"Oh yuck, Mel, is that all you wear to bed?" Brian gave an exaggerated shiver at the state of Melanie's lack of clothing.

"Well, if you weren't so rude and impatient I would have put on my ball gown."

"Covering your twat in lace won't make the image of that go away," Brian snarked as he pushed past her to get to the kitchen. Mel looked down and realized she wasn't wearing any underwear. She took the time to tie her robe up properly before facing off with Brian.

"What do you want at this ungodly hour?" Melanie asked as she watched Brian rummage through the cabinets looking for something to eat.

"Cereal would be nice." He said as he held a bowl in one hand and a spoon in the other. Melanie started the coffee, then took out some cereal and milk for the asshole.

Mel watched as Brian poured some cereal into his bowl and added some milk.

"You're not going to join me?" he asked Mel with a full mouth.

"You're a pig, you know that, Kinney," Mel said as she poured them both some coffee. "Why have you come to harass me?"

"I just left the clinic and I figured that if I have to be awake and Hunter and Curtis have to be awake then....oomfph!"

Brian couldn't finish his statement. He found his arms full of a one hundred pound grateful lawyer kissing his face. His cereal and spoon went flying.

"Brian, would you mind telling me why you're kissing my half naked wife in MY kitchen?" Lindsay stood at the door, glaring. Brian blushed, shrugging his shoulders helplessly. Melanie just kept giggling like a school girl as she flung her arms around Brian's neck and bounced in his lap.