Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Queer as Folk characters in this story. They belong to Showtime and Cowlip. No copyright infringement is at all intended and no money will be made.

2009

Gus bounces on the balls of his toes in excitement as he holds up the two sets of Valentine's Day cards. "I really like the 'Bee mine' ones," He tells his dad. "But I also really really like the 'You're Dino-mite!' Which one do you think I should get?"

Brian flinches back from the cards like they're poisonous and stares into his son's hopeful face with appalled detachment. He's a changed man, he really is. He's more accepting of love and all the bullshit that goes along with it. But sadly Brian hasn't changed enough to tolerate choosing between two brightly colored cards sets with cheesy slogans and amateur cartoon characters.

Which is why he finds himself saying, "Sonny boy, I'm going to leave this one up to you."

Gus pouts in response. "I just don't know which one Sophie will like."

"Oh, so you're doing this for a girl?" Brian asks curiously, not at all surprised by his son's heterosexual feelings.

Eyes averted and blushing, Gus nods.

It's not until they've paid for the cards and are sitting in the parking lot in the car does Brian decide to bring up the subject of Sophie again. The idea of Gus thinking about girls to the point where he wants to buy special holiday cards is both horrifying and fascinating.

"So, Sophie's like your girlfriend then?"

"No."

Brian eyes his son curiously through the mirror. "But you want her to be?"

"No."

Annoyed with his 9 year old son's monosyllabic responses, Brian asks, "Why not? It sounds like you really like her….and don't bother being afraid that she'll say no to you- have you seen your face lately Sonny boy? You look just like me."

Grinning, Gus concedes. "If I asked her out, she'd probably say yes."

"Then what's the problem?"

It takes Gus a few seconds to answers. When he does it breaks Brian's heart.

"What if she leaves me like Justin did to us?"

"Gus…." Brian starts to say at the same time as his heart clinches painfully. Fuck.

Turning around in the driver's seat, Brian gazes into his son's sad eyes. "First of all Gus, Justin never left you. I know for a fact that he still calls you and sends you gifts."

"It's not the same," he mutters. Brian knows it's not the same. If anyone knows, it's him.

"You're right, but that's the chance you take when you let people into your life. Yeah, Sophie might become disillusioned with some average looking Joe after a while or she might decide she likes girls, but that's life. After a while you learn how to roll with the punches."

At Gus downcast expression, Brian pushes on. "Don't let the unknown keep you from going after this girl. For all you know, you might be the one to break her heart.

"I don't think so," his son answers forcefully. "I really love her. If you saw her you would understand why-"

Brian sighs, "Sonny boy, love? Really."