"Nick?" The young doctor turned to see who called out his name. "Raphael Angles," Raph said as he extended his arm to shake Nick's hand. "We met over Christmas."

Nick smiled; he remembered the handsome vet and his partner. And that they looked a little awkward at first at Edna's Treasures, but by the end of the two and a half day 'Christmas dinner' Raph and Hector had become part of the family.

"Of course I remember. I also remember all the shoveling. I think I'm very happy that I live in an apartment and the management company handles the snow clearance. What brings you to the diner? I don't think I've ever seen you in here. Your clinic's on the other end of Liberty, right?"

"Yes, I'm closer to Emmett's Place. I was hoping to see Carl Horvath or maybe Debbie. I heard she still works here."

"Yeah, we can't get her to retire. She keeps reminding us that her 'kids' need her. I guess it's true. Can I help?"

"I'm not sure. We have a little mystery going on at the clinic and I was hoping to speak with Carl to get his input before going to the cops."

"Mystery, huh? I love a good mystery but if it's Carl you want, he's probably home, asleep. He's the manager at Babylon."

"Babylon! The Babylon? What is an old straight cop doing running the hottest gay nightclub in Pittsburgh?"

"As it goes, when Carl retired from the force, he wanted something to do with himself."

"Being married to Debbie isn't enough?" The two doctors laughed.

"Brian made him an offer he couldn't refuse. And frankly, between Brian and Carl, Babylon is the greatest and the safest place gays can go to hang loose. Debbie's off today but here's their number. Call after twelve; that should be safe."

"Thanks, I appreciate the help." Raph ordered a coffee to go and a lemon bar then left for the clinic.

 

*****

 

The occupants of Edna's Treasures were sticking close to home. Even though the weather was relatively clear in the city, a snow squall had stalled not too far from Bridgeton. The edge of the squall was dumping more snow on Edna's Treasures. The kids had a snow day, and Bobby wasn't needed in court, so chose to work from home. John and Brian had nothing pressing. With the youngsters having fun in Patrick's room, Brian and Justin took advantage. They were indulging in a little cuddle time in their room before Justin went back to his easel.

"Justin there is no need for you to baby me. I'm not hurt or sick."

"Maybe I want to baby you. Maybe I want to make sure that I'm the only one who gets to kiss all your boo-boos to make them better," Justin responded in a sultry whisper.

"Ooooh, now I see," Brian mused with a raise of an eyebrow. "You're checking on my boo-boo." Justin nodded with a broad smile. "And does that include everywhere else I might have an ache or a pain?" Brian purred seductively.

"I intend to thoroughly examine every inch of your body," Justin murmured then captured his lover's lips in a deep kiss. After Justin released Brian's lips, he trailed tender kisses down Brian's body stopping briefly at the fading welt on his arm.

"I love you, Brian," Justin whispered as he gently kissed the injured area.

"Love you too, Sunshine," Brian said as he gave over his body to the younger man who was expertly loving him.

 

*****
 

"Raph, can you meet me at the police station, say, in about an hour. Bring the 'donations' and any other records such as the dates when you received the money. It may help." Carl was having brunch with Debbie when they got the call from Raph.

"Okay, see you then," Raph confirmed then began to organize his notes and the packets of the 'donations'.

 

*****
 

"Danny?" Michael was behind the counter at The Comic Book Store. Danny was stocking the shelves with the latest Spiderman issue.

"Yes, Michael."

"How do you feel about Lacy replacing Justin as the artist for Rage?" Michael was whispering even though there wasn't anyone in the store at the moment.

"Michael, I remember her drawings and paintings from the time of the fundraiser. There was a reason they were put near Justin's Rage pictures. Lacy started out imitating Justin's style until she developed one of her own."

"But shouldn't she have developed her style first?"

"Michael, all artists start out imitating someone else. You ask Justin. I'm sure he had to study the classics in school and they certainly influenced his "Old Masters" show. Lacy views Justin as a hero. So it's not surprising she emulates his art. After all, imitation is the highest form of flattery. And I should know."

"What do you mean?" Michael asked not truly understanding the point.

"Michael, my boy, I'm a drag queen. The first time I ever slipped on my size twelve pumps, I began my career based on imitation. And I tried to do each of the women I imitated justice. Divina was my triumph."

"But I don't remember an actress or star with that name."

"No, you wouldn't because Divina was based on my mother." Danny smiled fondly at the memory. His mother was a cross between Donna Reed and Mae West. She was feisty and down to earth. She didn't quite understand the gay thing nor the drag queen thing, but she loved her son and that was all Danny needed to know.

"Really?" Michael was intrigued.

"Really. I have pictures of her and my father, if you're ever interested in seeing them. You and Ben could come to dinner one night," Danny said hopefully.

"I'd like that," Michael affirmed. "So you think I should give Lacy a chance."

"I think, she's the best man for the job," Danny said with a little tongue in cheek of his own. The door jingled, signaling a customer. Michael temporarily tabled the conversation.

 

*****

 

"Daddy, can we make a snowman?" Bree asked as she ate her toast and peanut butter.

"I don't know, Bree. It's snowing pretty hard out there," Justin replied.

"Please, Dada, come with me?"

Brian looked at Justin. They smiled at each other. Their daughter had learned the fine art of manipulation, playing one against the other. Justin nodded at Brian.

"We'll see if it clears off this afternoon. If it does maybe we could make a snow fort," Brian suggested. "All of us could," Brian added pointedly.

"What's a snow fort?" Bree asked.

"You don't know?" Justin asked. "No one at school has made one in the playground?"

Bree frowned. "Don't know. What's a snow fort?" she repeated.

"Your education is sadly lacking, young lady," Brian said with a grin. "We'll hopefully rectify that this afternoon."

"What's pectrify?"

"Rectify," Brian said with a chuckle. "It's means to make something right, to fix it."

"Can you pectrify the light in my bathroom? It don't work," Bree stated.

Brian and Justin chuckled.

"It's rectify, sweetheart," Justin repeated.

"Rec-ti-fy," Bree parroted making sure she got each syllable right.

"That's correct, Squirt," Brian said. "Now how be we go fix that pesky light."

"'Kay, Dada," Bree replied, sliding down from her chair and holding out her hand for her Dada to take it.

Justin smiled as he watched them walk out of the kitchen hand in hand.

 

*****

 

Curtis awoke with a start. He always did, because he was never sure what he'd find when he woke up or what might have caused him to awaken.

This morning it was someone slamming the lid of the dumpster, he decided. He stayed quiet hoping no one would disturb his little nest of boxes. He didn't like being found by someone trying to clean up the alley. He usually had to run, and his feet were quite numb from the cold. It was always better to start slowly than try to run first thing.

Curtis listened until all was silent outside his box. He slowly tipped the box over and looked around. His fingers felt slow and stiff inside the old gloves. He flexed them several times hoping to get more feeling back.

"Why the fuck couldn't I have run away in the summer?" he muttered as he tried to stand up.

He staggered a bit and fell against the dumpster which helped to keep him upright. He slapped his thighs with his hands trying to get feeling back into his extremities. He'd give anything for a hot bath and a nice warm bed … a hot meal. His stomach rumbled mightily. That piece of donut from the night before hadn't stayed with him long.

With fingers that refused to cooperate, Curtis fished in his pockets. He had kept back a few dollars of what he stole from that good looking man. Maybe it was time to spend it on something hot to eat. Curtis looked at the back door of the diner. He wondered if they'd kick him out if he went inside to eat. He knew he smelled pretty rank, but he was really hungry. He decided to take a chance.

He walked down the alley and peered around the corner of the building. Nobody suspicious or threatening seemed to be around. He looked up at the sign that said Liberty Diner. Maybe it would be worth a try. After all, he had accepted the hospitality of their cardboard boxes all night.

He straightened his shoulders and headed for the door.

As Curtis turned the corner from the alley to go into the diner, Lacy was hurrying down the street to report for her shift. Curtis froze. Lacy recognized a kindred spirit. Curtis almost cried with frustration and fear and he was about to run.

"Wait," Lacy pleaded. The androgynous person looked harmless enough to Curtis so he stopped. "You're hungry and cold?"

Curtis' eyes grew large.

"Meet me at the kitchen door. It's around the side in the alley. Do you know where it is?"

Curtis nodded.

"Just wait there. It'll be all right. I promise. Go!"

Curtis scurried back into the alley. Lacy went into the diner. The breakfast rush was over. She bussed a few tables then began assembling what would look like a feast to a street kid. If the boy rationed himself, the food could last for days. The container of chicken was large enough to last the whole day just by itself.

Taking the food into the break room, Lacy looked around for something to pack it all in. Finding an old backpack that had a missing strap, Lacy packed up several sandwiches, fruit, small boxes of cereal and a few lemon bars. Opening her locker, Lacy took out her spare pair of gloves, a scarf and a raincoat that she kept there for emergencies. Then she carefully made her way to the kitchen door.

"Kid. Kid! You out here?" Lacy called out. Curtis stepped out from behind the dumpster. "Here, put this on," Lacy instructed.

Curtis slipped the raincoat over his other clothes. Lacy was so much taller than Curtis so the raincoat almost reached the ground. It wasn't very thick but it shielded the boy from the wind. He wrapped the scarf around his head and neck, tying it tightly so that it covered his almost frozen ears. He shoved the extra pair of gloves into the raincoat pocket.

As Curtis reached for the backpack, he questioned his mysterious benefactor, "Why?"

"Why am I helping you?" Curtis nodded. "Because a few years ago, I was on the street, just like you. I was scared, hungry and whoring myself for a meal or a place to sleep. Someone very good and kind helped me. He can help you too."

"No! No, I can't. If they catch me, they'll just send me back. I'd rather die than go back there."

"They hurt you, didn't they?"

Curtis nodded, tears stinging his eyes.

"I was hurt too. I gotta get back. Meet me here at four. I'll take you to Hunter. He'll know what to do."

"Hunter? The Hunter-man?" Curtis used the nickname Hunter had earned from the street kids he saved. "I thought he only helped faggots." Lacy ignored the insult.

"Hunter helps all kids and anyone else who needs him. Just be here at four." Lacy thought she heard Curtis say yes. "Oh, there's chicken soup in there. Eat that first," Lacy said as she retreated back into the kitchen. Lacy wrote down everything she had taken on one of her dummy checks then tallied the bill. She'd have to use all her tips for the day to pay for it.

 

*****

 

"Daddy, I'm cold, Daddy. Can we go inside now and you make us some hot cocoa?" Bree asked her Daddy Justin. He made the best hot cocoa.

The snow squall had eased up for a while, so Brian and Justin bundled up their daughter and Patrick and went outside to build the snow fort. It was rather impressive. One fine and large drift behind the fort had shielded them from the wind. However, now the wind had changed direction and the snow was beginning to fall again.

"Of course, baby. Guys, Bree's cold. We're going in," Justin said to Brian and Patrick who were stocking the fort with snowballs. Justin picked up Bree to shield her from the wind and went back to the house.

Not paying attention to the weather, Brian and Patrick worked on. In about fifteen minutes, Beau showed up at the fort barking loudly.

"Hey Beau!" Patrick greeted his dog with a pat to the large head. Beau latched onto the front of Patrick's thick coat and began to pull him toward the cottage. "Uncle Bri!" Patrick cried out. Brian popped his head up then stepped from the fort to witness Beau's 'rescue'.

"Okay, Beau, I get it. Time to bring the boy inside," Brian said as he caught up to them. Within minutes, Beau had his charges safe and warm within the walls of Edna's Treasures.

 

*****

 

"Thank you, Daddy," Bree said as Justin placed her mug of cocoa in front of her at the table.

Justin had changed Bree out of her snowsuit into her warm pink footie pajamas. It was a bit early for pajamas but Bree didn't mind. Her toes were warm and so was her belly. Justin made a large pot of cocoa so that Brian and Patrick could have some too. John and Bobby were preparing the family dinner.

Beau sat on his cushion in his corner of the porch. All was as it should be in his home.

 

*****

 

Lacy hung around the kitchen door of the diner waiting for Curtis to show up. At least she hoped that the kid would show up. The cook was beginning to eye Lacy suspiciously and she thanked whatever gods were looking down on her that Debbie wasn't working. Lacy would have gotten the third degree if Deb had been there. She waited for about thirty minutes. When Curtis didn't show, Lacy decided to go home.

Curtis watched Lacy from across the street. He saw her walk away. He was surprised that she actually kept her promise, let alone waited a half hour for him. He felt guilty for not going to her but he had to be sure. The weather was turning bitter again; he had to find shelter or freeze to death. Curtis finished the soup Lacy had given him earlier. The rest of the food he was saving. The freezing weather would keep the sandwiches from going bad. He needed to find a place to spend the night.

"Hey kid, you need a warm place to stay?" someone called out from behind him. Curtis was poised to run.

"I'm Hunter. Sometimes the kids call me the Hunter-man. I'm not a cop; I'm a counselor. I try to help kids like you."

"What do you know about kids like me?" Curtis said angrily. Lacy had made the same claim. She looked like she could have told him the truth. She had that look in her eyes, the scared look like someone was going to discover who and what she was and turn her in. Hunter didn't have that look...anymore.

"Because by the time I was fifteen, my mother pimped me out. I lived on the streets for years. I hustled, I stole, I slept in boxes when I could find them."

Hunter paused to let that bit of info sink in. Choosing his words carefully, Hunter then continued.

"I run the drop-in center a few blocks from here. It's warm, clean and dry. I have showers with good strong soap. Clean clothes if you want them; a washer and dryer if you want to save the clothes on your back. I might even have boots your size. You're welcome to them. And to a bed for as long as you need it."

"You'll turn me in!" Curtis could feel the tears sting his face.

"No I won't."

"But I did some bad things."

"How bad?"

"I-I stole money," Curtis said, crying now.

"We'll work that out. Let's just get you out of the cold first, okay?" Curtis nodded, grateful his nightmare was almost over.

Hunter cautiously approached the boy, slowly like someone approaching a hurt animal.

"Her name is Lacy," Hunter said softly using his calm Social Worker voice.

"Whose name?"

"The girl who gave you the raincoat. Her name is Lacy."

"He's a girl?" Curtis hadn't been sure.

"Yeah, but don't let her know I told you," Hunter chuckled. Lacy still kept up the mystique and on Liberty, it fit. "Come on, let's get you warm."

"And clean?" Curtis asked hopefully.

"And clean," Hunter replied, leading his latest lost boy to the Jason Kemp Center.