Ready for the next instalment, because here it is.

A quick note first, Jasper may be making a return; technically speaking, I never said that he had died. I said they had pulled the plug and 1 in 100 cases actually survive.

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to family guy

Chapter 2: The aftermath.

"You love Stewie, and I guess he loves you to."

These words seemed to buzz around in his head for ages, how could he love someone who had once shot him through the knees and set him on fire? "Are you sure? I mean, it can't be a definite diagnosis." rushed Brian; he needed to be 100% certain before planning his next move.

"No, I'm pretty certain, it is either that or you're a masochist who enjoys pain, and I know you well enough to tell you which it is most likely to be," said Dr Caplan in a matter-of-fact tone. He could tell by the expression on Brian's face that he would have preferred to have been called a masochist, "once in a while we must hear things we don't want to hear, I'll leave you alone to get your head around what I have just told you".

As Dr Caplan left, Brian sank back into the bed, his head spinning, what was he going to do? Who could he tell? "Should I tell Stewie? If I did, how he would react?" Even before he had finished thinking he knew the answer to that.

He could see the smile on his football shaped head going from one pointy ear to another, his cheeks blushing and almost at the point of crying, but wait he can't be with Stewie, it's just wrong, he was basically thirty five and Stewie was only six.

But Stewie was a genius, he would know what to do, if he was honest, being with him might be quite nice, and he knew Stewie would never leave him.

Brian shut his eyes and tried to get to sleep, "Yeah right" he said to himself, "after what's happened, I'll be lucky to fall asleep again," but as he shut his eyes a smile came across his face as he tried to imagine life with Stewie.

Weeks had passed since that life changing day; Stewie was watching TV on the sofa when Lois entered the room, "Stewie, guess who's coming home today"

"Brian? Oh my god really? Oh I can't wait! Do you know what time?" Flapped an excited Stewie.

"Oh, somebody's excited, well, he should be no more than about fifteen mi..., uh, and where are you going young man." Asked a concerned Lois, she thought that Stewie was excited that Brian was returning, so why was he leaving.

"I'm just going outside, ready for when he comes back" the door slammed shut behind him and he sat down on the door step, next to which he saw a bed of flowers with very large petals, should I, I mean I know he hates me, oh, what the hell, should be fun. He picked a flower with the brightest candy pink petals, and he began picking at the petals chanting "he loves me, he loves me not" and so on. The final petal he picked was a 'he loves me' one, "fat chance" Stewie thought as he picked up another flower, and again it fell on a 'he loves me' petal.

After about five 'he loves me' flowers in a row, Stewie started to become uneasy, what if the flowers were right, "nah it was only a game, but, I mean, I know I love him but what are the chances of him loving me back, oh, this is going to be awkward" thought Stewie.

Just then he noticed the familiar sight of Brian's Prius and saw the door open revealing the familiar sight of the white Labrador that was Brian, Stewie jumped up, so fast that it seemed to be the fastest he had ever done in his life. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him and embraced Brian in an arm aching hug.

"Whoa slow down kiddo", it may have been a few weeks, but Doctor Caplan words were still running around in his head, considering how close Stewie was, especially to his area, made him feel uncomfortable, but strangely he decided to let Stewie have his hug. "So how have you been, since I was in the hospital"

Strangely, Stewie needed all the will power in his body to prevent himself from speaking the truth, "that every day that past another part of his heart died", and said "oh, the usual, to be honest I didn't really notice you were gone", Brian could tell that this was a blatant lie, or was it that he wanted it to be?

"What are all those petals on the step?" Asked Brian.

"Brian can you watch Stewie, he should be asleep for the rest of the night so he won't be too much trouble" Lois shouted from the kitchen

"Oh no", Brian was hoping to put off talking to Stewie for at least a few more weeks, if not months, years, but before he knew it the words "yeah, sure." Came out of his mouth, then Brian heard a door shut, "Damn it, ok ok, he's asleep, I'll just be real quiet and get myself a beer" as he got up he noticed the familiar looking football shaped head at the base of the stairs.

"Hey Brian, can I talk to you for a bit, I'm not tired", Said the drowsy voice of Stewie.

"Yeah sure" Brian felt sweat run down his fore head at this point, he thought that he would be okay if he didn't bring up the subject.

The silence seemed to go on forever then, Stewie spoke the first sentence, "So..., you ok"

"Yeah, great actually thanks, ho.. how about you" replied Brian.

"Oh, same, what you watching"

"This FOX show, the Simpsons,"

"Oh, I've heard of that, heard its pretty lame,"

"Tell me about it, I mean no body is as stupid as that bald fat guy"

"Except Peter." They shouted simultaneously.

The conversation seemed to go on and on; the relief ran through Brian as he'd dodged a minefield by not bringing up the L word, but suddenly...

"Brian, I love you, I can't hide it any longer, please don't hate me", rushed Stewie who seemed to want to finish that sentence as quickly as you rip off a plaster.

How could he hate him for saying that, he felt the same way! Now came the awkward part, Brian felt the temperature fall a few degrees, how could he tell him that he felt the same way, Brian had once sky dived from ten thousand feet whilst scared of heights, he'd gone on the kraken whilst petrified of rollercoaster's, but this scared him most of all. He felt stupid, all he had to do was reply "I love you too," but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

He looked in to the expectant eyes of the infant next to him; the look in his eyes suddenly filled him with the confidence to say it.

"Oh, what the hell, Stewie, I love you too."

The two seemed to stare into each other's eyes for an eternity, neither had any idea of what to do next, Brian noticed Stewie's eyes welling up with tears and felt his doing the same. Brian's arms locked Stewie into the tightest hug possible and started kissing him; with much restraint he stopped himself throwing himself on top of Stewie though his urges kept on telling him to do it, yes it was wrong but who will notice, "Stewie this is wrong, but we've got to find away to make it right, I need it so much I'd do anything, and I mean anything"

"Would you do me right here and now, would you scream our love from the roof tops" whispered Stewie romantically.

"God I would, if I could but it's too wrong, I couldn't live with the label "paedophile" even to be with you" Brian wished that this wasn't true but no matter how hard he wished he knew it was no use.

"Well, lucky for you, I've thought of that." Explained Stewie.