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DISCLAIMER: QAF and its characters are the sole property of Showtime and Cowlip Productions; no copyright infringement is intended.
Kinnetik Offices...
Brian smiled as he hugged Kelly and Emma goodbye before standing back up to shake their dad's hand. "Go home and enjoy telling Cathy the good news. I'm sure that the rest of your day will be an adventure."
Laughing, Kevin glanced over to where his little girls were excitedly talking with Cynthia and Ted. Looking back at Brian, Kevin shook his head, still laughing. "It sure will! But everyday's an adventure with those two; I wouldn't change it for the world."
Placing a hand on Kevin's shoulder, Brian replied, "I know what you mean; not a day goes by that I don't love Gus more and more, and he definitely keeps me on my toes, dragging me on all sorts of adventures with him. But I wouldn't have it any other way."
Smiling, Kevin chuckled. "He is like a mini you, which is a good thing. We should arrange another play date for them, since they had such fun on the last one."
Brian peered over at the girls as he replied, "Most definitely. Gus is always asking me when can they can hang out again. He loves playing with them."
Biting his lip, Kevin's eyes misted over as he responded, "What I love about Gus is that not once did he ask what's wrong with Emma. I remember we met Gus and Melanie in the park. These kids came over to Emma and they started poking her in the face and arms, asking what's wrong with her and making fun of her. Just before either Melanie or I could intervene, Gus beat us to it. He stood there with his arms crossed over his chest, standing between Emma and this one boy, and told him in no uncertain terms that "you do not lay your hands on a lady, and that there was nothing wrong with Emma. And then he told him how dare he speak to her like that, and he said that his mother better take him home and teach him some manners," Kevin added, laughing now. "The mother came over, muttered 'sorry,' and dragged her son off. Gus then hugged Emma and said, 'Don't pay him any mind. He's just a bully. Let's play.'" He shook his head in amazement. "I was so proud of Gus that day, and he isn't even my kid."
Brian's heart swelled with pride of his own after hearing that. "Gus never ceases to amaze me." He smiled. "We can't pass a homeless person without doing something to help them. He's influenced me so much that I do it even when he isn't with me."
Kevin looked at Brian, smiling, as he commented, "We are very lucky parents, that's for sure."
Brian watched as Kevin left, holding his daughter's hands as they still chatted up a storm. Laughing to himself, he went back to his desk, ringing his son to hear that little voice that he loved so much.
Gus answered, knowing by the special ring that it was his father calling him. "Daddy! How are you?"
Smiling into the phone, he replied, "I'm good, Sonny Boy! I have something to ask you. How would you like to help daddy with something at work? With your mommy's' permission, of course."
Gus jumped up and down as he clutched the phone in his hand and excitedly replied, "I'd love to help if Mommy and Mama say it's okay!"
Lindsay and Mel then took over the phone call once Gus handed it over, so Brian could explain what he wanted Gus to help him with. They were thrilled with what Brian had in mind. Lindsay spoke for both of them when she exclaimed, "Brian, I think that is a brilliant Idea! I can't wait to see how this turns out!"
Happy that they were all on board, Brian said his goodbyes and got back to work with a smile that never left his face.
Kevin's Car...
On the car ride home, Kevin could observe his girls in the back of the car through the rearview mirror, and could see Kelly bouncing in her seat. "Daddy, isn't this all so exciting? Do you think Mommy will be happy with our news?"
Stopped at a traffic light, Kevin replied with a smile, "I think that Mommy is going to be very excited. I think we all need to go out for dinner and ice cream to celebrate. What do you think, girls?" He was met with excited sequels and clapping as his answer.
The Adams House...
Cathy sat at home waiting for her family to arrive, wondering how the girls' meeting had gone. She knew how much they loved Brian, and wondered what the meeting had been about.
Hearing the car pull up she prepared herself, because she knew how excited the girls could get and how hyper they normally were after a visit with Brian. Laughing to herself, she thought no one would ever believe her if she told them that Brian Kinney could actually do something so 'domesticated' as making her daughters' wishes come true. But she would be forever grateful for the opportunities he had given them.
The door opened and she was right - two very excited, overactive, chatty girls whirled in, talking a mile a minute.
Kevin followed them in, laughing as he urged them, "Girls, girls, slow down! Mommy won't understand a word you're saying! So take a breath and then one at a time, okay?"
The girls nodded as they stood in front of their mom with smiles on their faces, more radiant than she had ever seen them before.
Kelly was the first to speak. "Mommy, Brian and the advertising people are using our ideas! My teddy bears picnic pictures are going to be in it, and they are paying us! They really are! And they want me to do one of the voices! My voice and pictures will be on TV and radio and the internet! isn't that cool? They are giving me seventy-five thousand dollars." She furrowed her brow as she asked her mother, "Is that a lot of money, Mommy?"
Cathy's eyes went wide as she heard all of that. "Yes. Yes, it's a
lot of money," she told her, astounded by the amount. Kevin had told her they would be getting an excellent nest egg for the girls' college fund, but that was beyond her wildest imagination. She was momentarily rendered speechless until she managed to reply, "Wow, Kelly that is amazing, honey! I'm so happy for you! You must be very excited to be doing this!"
Nodding vigorously, Kelly clapped her hands. "I am, Mommy! It's going to be so much fun!" Turning to her sister, she instructed her, "Now, Emma, tell mommy your great news!"
Emma jumped with glee. "Mommy, Brian told me that I'm already a princess, so the person who wants the ad done is letting ME play the princess in it! I'm so excited!
And they're going to pay me the same as Kelly! Brian was so happy, I thought he was going to cry!"
Cathy looked over at her husband with tears of happiness in her eyes, then peered back over at her little girls. "I'm so proud of you girls," she told them, her voice thick with emotion. She hugged her little ones; her heart was so full of pride.
Kevin went over to join in on the hug. "Okay, now how about we go out for dinner and ice cream to celebrate?"
"Yay!" both girls cried out as their parents laughed. It was all Kevin could do to grab his car keys before they all rushed out the door.
Taylor-Kinney House...
Brian got home from work around six and was greeted by his wonderful husband with a kiss. "Hey, sexy, how was work? You had that meeting with the girls today, didn't you?"
Kissing Justin back just as deeply, Brian finally pulled back long enough to take a breath and answer, "Yeah, and they did their mother and father very proud. They were glowing, Justin, you should have seen them."
Justin loved when Brian talked about Kelly and Emma. He always had the same type of look whenever he was talking about Gus. "I bet you were glowing just as much," he teased him. "You love those girls."
Leaning his forehead to Justin's, Brian admitted with a smile, "Yeah...They are great girls."
Heading into the kitchen, Justin started getting out the plates for their dinner. "Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes; I think you might have just enough time for a shower. At least if you shower alone," he added with a smirk, as Brian gave him a mock pout. He grinned. "Later," he promised.
Giving Justin another kiss, Brian rolled his lips under before turning to walk toward the bathroom to change and shower, looking forward to a relaxing night with his lover.
Later that night, lying in each other's arms, Brian spoke as he ran his fingers through Justin's blond locks. "How was your day, anyway?"
Snuggling into his husband's arms, Justin answered, "It was great; all my paintings were sold, and I got a phone call asking about doing a commission piece."
Brian peered into his eyes proudly as he asked, "Who wants you do some commission work?"
Justin replied, "Some guy named Thomas Hooper from Boston. I think he said he's in the hotel business or something."
Turning his head to look in the blond's eyes in astonishment, Brian exclaimed, "You're shitting me! Thomas Hooper?"
Justin nodded, curious. "You've heard of him?"
"Are you serious? He is fucking huge, Justin!"
Justin laughed. "You know that from personal experience?"
Brian rolled his eyes. "Not like THAT," he replied as Justin grinned. "He's the owner of a large chain of hotels worldwide. I've have been trying to land his account for years now."
Leaning up on an elbow now, Justin looked down at Brian, incredulous. "Are you serious? Shit, maybe I should talk to him then. I know! I could tell him that I'll do the artwork for his commercials and ads...if he signs with you. It's freelance work, after all; he's the one that wants to hire me, so why not use that leverage to our advantage?"
Pushing Justin down onto the bed, Brian covered the slender frame with his body. "I like the way you think, Sunshine. If this works out, I could wind up with a multi-million dollar account." He paused. "Although I'm not sure I like the idea that he would only sign with me as a condition of hiring YOU."
Justin knew how proud his husband could be, so he totally understood his hesitation. "I can see why you would feel that way," he told him quietly. "But we're partners, aren't we? We support each other. Besides, once he sees what you have in mind for his advertising, he won't want to do business with anyone else."
Brian considered that for a moment before finally nodding. Kissing Justin deeply, Brian could feel Justin returning the passion he felt for him as they began a night-long lovemaking session.
Kinnetik Offices...
Kevin hadn't been seated at his desk for long when he was summoned to Brian's office.
Knocking on Brian's door, he heard a brief 'come in' before he entered his boss's suite. "You wanted to see me?"
Brian nodded, his attention temporarily captured by some paperwork on his desk, as he motioned for him to approach.
Kevin walked over and sat down opposite him. "Everything okay?" he asked after a brief pause. He always felt a little bit like being called to the principal's office whenever Brian summoned him, but he soon found out he had nothing to be concerned about.
Looking up from his file, Brian smiled as he confirmed, "Everything's going great. I have some news for you, and I wanted to tell you in person. I just got a call from Sophia Landers, and she's agreed to make the dress that Emma designed for the commercial, and we're going to get Jack Lamar to do her hair and makeup that day."
Kevin's eyes grew very wide in astonishment. There seemed to be no end to surprises regarding his daughters lately. "Sophia Landers? The Hollywood dressmaker? How on earth did you manage that? And I've heard of Jack Lamar! He does all the stars' hair and makeup for all those award shows! Oh, my God! How…?" He was rendered speechless as he thought about it.
Laughing, Brian replied, "I see you watch Access Hollywood. I went to college with them, and when I shared the girls' news they wanted to do something. I set up an appointment with Sophia for tomorrow. You can have the day off to take care of Emma and Kelly. Sophia will also make something for Kelly to wear while she's doing her voiceover. And don't worry; you will be paid for tomorrow."
Kevin couldn't believe it "I...I really don't know how to thank you for all of this. The girls will be thrilled."
Shaking his head, Brian smiled, "It's I that should be thanking you. Thanks to your wonderful girls' creativity, I'm convinced we're going to gain a lot of new clients as a result, and it's going to make them quite a bit of money along with it. They'll be set for life to do whatever they want before they even get out of school." Brian paused, feeling a little awkward before he added, "Kevin, I love those girls like family. But if you ever tell anyone about what I just said...I'll make sure you get nothing but decaf coffee in the morning for the rest of your life."
Laughing hard, Kevin blinked back the tears of pride that threatened to escape as he responded,"That would be a fate worse than death. I promise your secret is safe with me."
Taking the instructions for the next day, Kevin went back to work, excited about the events coming up for his girls tomorrow.
The day wound up being a quite busy one, with both new clients and old clients wanting new advertising campaigns created; it resulted in a very productive and lucrative day for Kinnetik.
Justin's Studio...
Justin was thrilled after completing a video call with Thomas; just as he had hoped, the man had agreed to give Kinnetik strong consideration as his permanent advertising company. He had actually been seeking a new agency, so it was perfect timing. Justin couldn't wait to share the news when Brian got home later that night.