Sickness & Health, Good Times & Bad

Post 513, the story starts after Justin spent 18 months in NYC before coming back to Pittsburgh 6 months later. Justin & Brian's relationship remained intact during the NYC sojourn. I do not own the characters just the situations.

Chapter 29

Eventually the chaos spilled out onto the patio and for some attendees into the pool. Now that Gus had swimwear that fit he was anxious to get in the water. JR was a little put off by some many people and so much noise. She stayed happily in Uncle Ben's arms. Ever since she was a baby being held securely in Ben's arms was where JR wanted to be if she felt at all anxious or unsure.

John and Peter were in the pool. Peter was attempting back flips into the deep end. John was giving him a boost up. Justin was sitting on the side of the pool watching Gus paddle around the shallow end of the pool, swimmies firmly on his arms. Ben got in the pool still holding JR, he ducked down to get JR wet. Each time he did it she produced a delighted squeal.

Michael camera in hand was busy taking picture of his daughter in his husband's arms. Most of the other adults were occupying chairs and loungers talking and watching the action in the pool.

Gus got fascinated by Peter's backflips and moved closer to John. "Hey Gus! Want to try doing a back flip?"

A very excited Gus willingly agreed. Peter swam to the side of the deep end and Justin slid into the water on the other side of the pool. John gave Gus some instructions. John laced his finger together and got Gus to stand on them before lifting him and throwing him over.

A smiling Gus sprung up out of the water coughing a little. In seconds Justin and Peter were by his aide asking if he was okay. Gus assured them he was fine, he just forgot to keep his mouth closed.

Gus swam as quickly as he could back to John and asked if they could do it again. His second attempt went off without incident. JR still safely in Uncle Ben's arms laughed and clapped her hands at her brother's antics. A smiling Gus again swam over to his cousin ready to do another backflip.

Lindsay was watching from her chair and before the third backflip she called over to her son. "Gus I think you should stop doing that. You might get hurt."

"I am being careful Mommy. This is lots of fun."

Jennifer was sitting near Lindsay. "Lindsay dear, you need to relax. You'll have a nervous breakdown before Gus is a teenager. Boys love rough housing. John is a very responsible young man, he's had to be with that mother of his. He'll make sure Gus is alright. Justin and Peter are both ready to come to Gus's rescue."

"Well it makes me nervous. Gus is just a little boy. I think John may be too rough with him."

Jennifer's eyes narrowed. "Really dear you are over anxious. Do you think Justin would allow this if he thought Gus could get injured? Gus is having a great time and JR is enjoying the show her brother is providing. Maybe you should just turn your chair around and not watch."

Lindsay started to argue but she was cowed by the disapproving look Jennifer gave her. Debbie was also looking at her and shaking her head. "Relax Linds. Jennifer is right boys are always doing some crazy thing. Sometimes it is better to just not watch. Sunshine is keeping his eye on him."

Brian overheard the conversation from where he was sitting and talking with Tucker. He excused himself and went over to the side of the pool. When Gus surfaced from his latest attempt, Brian was clapping. "Good job Sonny Boy! Cousins can be a lot of fun can't they."

Gus had a huge smile on his face and he looked towards John with delight. "My cousins are the most fun!"

As Gus swam back to John, Brian turned and gave Lindsay a look that let her know she had better sit back and relax. He smiled at Jennifer who raised her eyebrows and shook her head. Both Brian and Jennifer felt Lindsay's main issue was Gus interacting with his cousins. Both were prepared to nip her attitude in the bud.

After a few more tosses into the deep end Justin distracted Gus by racing him across the pool. Brian got in the pool and let Gus ride on his back as he swam around the pool. After that his cousins showed Gus how to cannonball into the pool. Gus could hardly remember ever having this much fun.

Jennifer and Debbie were soaking in the hot tub, Michael was trying to coax his daughter out of Ben's arms while Tucker chatted with Lindsay and Melanie.

Eventually Justin asked Brian to get the grill started for lunch. Justin headed into the kitchen. He was getting burgers, hotdogs and seafood kabobs out of the refrigerator along with the fixings for a salad.

Jennifer came into the kitchen. "Sweetheart what can I do to help?"

Justin laughed "Pick whatever you want and start chopping it up."

Jennifer grabbed a knife and started chopping broccoli. She glanced out the French doors to the patio. Gus was sitting in Brian's lap by the side of the pool and JR was sitting in Michael's lap. They were all watching John on Ben's shoulders and Peter on Tucker's shoulders compete in chicken fights in the pool. Jennifer could see both Gus and JR laughing and clapping their hands. Debbie still in the hot tub was also watching the pool hijinks and laughing.

Melanie and Lindsay were sitting off to the side of the patio and talking together. Jennifer frowned. "Gus seems to be enjoying his new cousins but Honey what is up with Lindsay and Melanie?"

"They seem to have some problem with John and Peter. I have no idea why."

"I hope they are not going to make a problem about Gus's visit."

Justin chuckled grimly. "I don't think they will dare make any trouble right now."

Jennifer looked at her son with raised eyebrows. "What's up?"

"You cannot tell anyone, especially Debbie, but they are broke. Somehow they have spent all their money."

Jennifer was astonished. "So what happen now?"

"Well first I buy the kids all new summer clothes because they came with none that fit them. Than Brian gives them six thousand dollars to see them through the next two months. He does make a condition of the money that he gets a formalized visitation schedule with Gus. What happens next is undecided."

"Wow!"

They got back to preparing the salad in silence.

Jennifer clears her throat. "You know Honey I have something to tell you. It concerns finances."

"Molly already told me that Tucker has his condo up for sale and that he is moving in with you. I hope you will both be really happy."

Jennifer laughed. "You are such a bad liar. I know Molly told you. What I wanted to tell you was that I got a letter from your father's lawyer asking to reduce my alimony payment. Looks like his business is not doing so well so you were smart to go a different career direction."

Justin laughed. "I hope you told the lawyer to forget about any reduction."

"Actually honey I had my lawyer send a letter saying that since MY business was doing so well Craig could stop the alimony altogether."

"Mom, why would you let him win?"

"Justin don't you see. He hasn't won, I have! I made sure the response letter said how well my business was doing. I don't need anything from him, I can take care of myself. That will drive Craig insane. He was so sure we would all fall apart without him."

Mother and son were smiling as they went back to salad prep. A few minutes later Brian came in to get the food for grilling. He gave the grinning mother & son an odd look before heading back outside.

Brian was delighted with the mass exodus after lunch. JR went home with Michael & Ben; Justin sent their July 4th outfits with them after making them promise not to mention the matching outfits to Brian.

Jennifer and Tucker left next and finally Lindsay and Melanie left to have dinner with friends.

Exhausted by his fun afternoon, Gus fell asleep while watching a video. John and Peter went downstairs to the game room.

Brian placed a baby monitor in the media room and brought the receiver with him while he and Justin took a shower, including some intense sex, in the bathroom by the home gym. Happily Gus slept soundly in the media room for an hour and a half.

They ordered Pizza for dinner and woke Gus up in time to eat. He watched the end of his video before bath and bed. Justin read Gus a story and once the boy was asleep Justin headed to the studio.

Brian worked on his laptop in the family room. When he heard the front door open he went to the entrance hall. Lindsay and Melanie were just coming in from their dinner with friends.

"Hello ladies. I trust you had a pleasant evening."

Lindsay smiled. "We had a really nice dinner. How was your evening?"

"Great. We had pizza for dinner, Gus enjoyed it. I'd like to discuss a couple thing with you. Let's go down to the study, we'll have privacy there."

"Actually Brian. We are a little tired, maybe we should put off any discussions until tomorrow."

"Actually no. It won't take long but we need to talk about a couple things tonight."

Brian led the way down the hall. Once they were all in the study Brian shut the door. "Would you like anything to drink?"

Both Lindsay and Melanie shook their heads.

"First I would like to ask what you have against my nephews. You have both been barely civil to them since you got here."

Lindsay looked uncomfortable. "Well knowing their history we are concerned about them spending time with Gus without proper supervision."

"So this afternoon with Gus's mothers, fathers and grandmothers all watching; you didn't think there was proper supervision?"

Lindsay shrugged. "I guess we can't get past John accusing you of abuse. I don't want Gus to get into the middle of something like that. Also we are worried that Gus will get attached to these new cousins and when they go back to live with Claire and disappear from his life he will be confused and hurt."

"John and I have made our peace over his abuse allegation, which he did recant before it got too far. If I am okay with that situation I don't think anyone else needs to be concerned about it. Frankly it is none of your business. Justin and I have promised the boys that even when they go back to live with their mother we will stay in touch with them. They are not going to disappear from anyone's life."

Melanie shook her head. "Brian I can hardly believe I am going to accuse you of this, it must be Justin's influence, but I think you are sugarcoating this situation."

"And I think that both of you are so convinced that I cannot be trusted with my son that you look for problems that don't exist. Moving on to the second topic I wanted to talk about; I think we need to sit down and discuss establishing a formal visitation schedule for Gus and what plans you have for your financial future. I suggest we have a lunch meeting at Kinnetik on Monday. That will give us the privacy we need to resolve these things."

Melanie looked shocked. "What visitation agreement are you talking about? Lindsay and I are Gus's legal parents. We decide when and where you get to spend time with him."

"You and are wife are not communicating very well. A formal visitation agreement is my condition for my financial help and I told Lindsay that yesterday."

Brian walked over to his desk and picked up his support spreadsheets. "Here are the totals for what I sent to you for Gus's support for last year and so far this year. I have already spoken with a lawyer and he feels pretty confident that if I take this to court I will get the visitation I believe I deserve. I prefer to handle this privately between us. I told Lindsay this was my condition for the five grand that will be deposited to your account on Monday and she agreed."

Melanie looked at Lindsay who shrugged. "And what choice do we have Mel?"

A visibly annoyed Melanie turned back to Brian. "This is blackmail! I wonder how you would like it if someone forced you into doing something like this."

"From my viewpoint you and Lindsay have been blackmailing me for years by threatening to limit my time with my son! As for anyone forcing me to do something, I will tell you what I told Claire when she complained about having to go to rehab. Once I left Jack and Joanie's house I have never let myself get into the position of letting anyone else control my actions, except Justin.

Monday; be at Kinnetik at noon, we'll order salads from the diner. If you choose not to be there, we will be in court later this week. My lawyer has a tentative court date of Friday unless the holiday delays the court schedule."

Melanie and Lindsay left the room without saying anything.

Brian headed over to the studio where Justin was busy painting. Brian brought his partner up to date on his conversation with Gus's mothers. Brian was amused by the blue fire coming from Justin's narrowed eyes. Justin was ready to go to the guest room and confront the two women but when he saw that Brian was okay and had the situation under control he calmed down.

Sunday started early with a knock on the bedroom door and Gus asking "Daddy can I come in?"

"Come on in Sonny Boy the door is unlocked."

A delighted Gus burst through the door, slamming it closed behind him. He got to the bed in a full run and jumped between his fathers. Brian grabbed him and gave him a kiss.

"Good morning Sonny Boy you are up nice and early this morning."

Justin opened his eyes briefly. "Good morning Little Man."

Gus giggled. "Papa are you going to be a sleepyhead this morning?"

Brian laughed. "Your Papa is a sleepyhead every day!"

Gus thought that was hysterically funny and kept laughing even when Justin hit him with a pillow. Brian grabbed a pillow and a full-fledged pillow fight ensued with Gus laughing too hard to land many pillow hits.

"Sonny Boy, help your Dad. You need to tickle Papa so I can win the pillow fight."

A still laughing Gus dove under the covers to attack Justin's midsection with tickles. A squirming, laughing Justin had to concede defeat. All three of them lay back on the bed laughing. Brian finally got out of bed announcing he had to use the bathroom.

Justin sat back against the pillows and Gus moved to lie right beside him. Justin put his arm around the boy and pulled him close. Gus snuggled against his Papa and rested his head on Justin's chest. Justin hated the thought that one day, probably not too far in the future, Gus would not be as ready to snuggle with his fathers.

Gus got quiet and turned his head slightly to look up at Justin's face. "Papa do you and Daddy ever argue?"

Justin wondered where this conversation was going to lead. "Well Gus, not too often but I think that everyone who lives together all the time disagree sometimes. So yes; your Dad and I sometimes argue."

"Do you yell at each other when you disagree?"

Justin smiled. "Actually when Brian and I argue we usually get quieter but it is not something we do very often. Why are you wondering about that?"

Gus was quiet for a few moments and had a very serious expression on his face. "Mommy and Mama don't get quiet! When they argue they yell really loud. I try not to listen but it scares me when they yell so much and it scares JR too."

"I'm really sorry that you and JR get scared but your mommies are not trying to scare you. People have different ways to disagree and sometimes yelling helps people get their feelings out and afterwards they feel better about things that were bothering them. It doesn't mean your mommies don't love each other."

Justin was heartbroken to see Gus's eyes fill with tears. "Lately Papa when they yell, Mama says to Mommy that they have no money. She said that we are going to wind up living on the street. I see people sometimes laying on the sidewalk. Mommy told me that sometimes people don't have any home so they have to stay outside all the time. I don't think I would like to live outside, I think I would be afraid. I know JR would be afraid because sometimes she cries just because there is loud noise outside our house."

The tears were flowing down Gus's cheeks and Justin hugged the little boy and kissed his forehead. He glanced up to see Brian had come into the bedroom. Justin had never seen Brian look so stricken. Justin almost got out of bed to go to his partner.

Brian hurried to the bed and climbed in. He moved next to Gus and put his arm around his son so that Gus was cradle between the two men.

Brian gave his son a kiss on the top of his head and used his hand to wipe the tears off his cheeks. "Gus I need you to listen to me. You know your Dad never breaks his promises right?"

Gus nodded and Brian smiled at him. "I promise you, Sonny Boy, that I will never allow you to be homeless. That will never ever happen! Your Papa and I both work very hard and we make enough money to make sure that you will always have a home."

"But Daddy supposed Mommy and Mama and JR have to live on the sidewalk. I would worry about them."

Justin knew that Brian was probably wishing a much worse fate on Lindsay and Melanie so he took over the conversation.

"Gus we have a big loving family that would never allow any member of the family to not have a home. There is Grandmom Debbie, Uncle Mikey, Uncle Ben, Grandmom Jen even your Auntie Em. None of them would ever allow one of us to be homeless. So your mommies and JR will never have to live outside."

"Are you sure Papa?" "Gus I am 100% positive, absolutely no doubt in my mind!"

Gus sighed and his smile reappeared at half-mast. Brian suggested they go downstairs and have breakfast. Gus was off the bed in an instant and heading downstairs urging Brian and Justin to hurry up.

Justin gave Brian a kiss. "You doing okay Daddy?"

"I'll feel better once I kill Lindsay and Melanie!"

"I think your plan may need some work. I don't think it will make Gus happy to have two dead mommies and a Dad in prison. It could make him feel a little less secure."

Brian gave Justin a smack on the bottom before kissing him.

In the kitchen Gus requested frosted flakes, which to Brian's horror, had been stocked in the cabinet by Justin. Brian insisted on slicing a banana into the cereal so there would some nutritional value to his son's breakfast. He also insisted that Gus drink a glass of orange juice. Justin enjoyed a bowl of frosted flakes from the stool beside Gus. He also had a cut up banana in his cereal courtesy of Brian.

Much to Brian's annoyance and Justin's relief, Lindsay and Melanie had already left for a day of visiting with friends.

John and Peter came downstairs for Breakfast. They opted for frozen waffles with fresh strawberries which met with Uncle Brian's approval until they added whip cream as a topping. Brian announced he was afraid he was gaining weight just by being in the same room as all the unhealthy breakfasts so he took his dry wheat toast, coffee and guava juice out onto the patio.

After breakfast Peter asked if he could invite Josh and his parents to the 4th of July barbeque. Justin told him that was no problem. With all the people Brian invited, three more would hardly be noticed.

Gus got permission from Justin to change to a bathing suit and as he raced out of the room, Justin warned him not to run on the stairs. Justin poured two mugs of coffee' added some half & half to his and 4 spoons of sugar to one for Brian, and went outside.

Justin gave Brian a kiss on the top of his head and placed his coffee mug on the table in front of him. "So Daddy, Gus is changing so he can go in the pool. One of us will have to put on a bathing suit."

"Okay. Do you think Mother Taylor could come over here tomorrow to kind of oversee Gus and the nephews?"

"I'll give her a call but do you think we really need her to be here? Alice & Charlie will be here and I'll be back after we meet with Lindsay and Melanie."

"I think the munchers are feeling pushed to the wall and I'm just afraid they will try to create some issue to put us on the defensive. Maybe a call to the state to say the boys are not properly supervised."

"I think you might be worrying over nothing but I'll give Mom a call."

Gus burst through the patio doors from the house. "Daddy come swim with me!"

Brian smiled. "Okay Sonny Boy just wait a minute for me to change." He headed over to the pool house to put on a bathing suit.

Justin went into the house leaving father and son happily splashing around in the pool. He called Jennifer who said she would be happy to spend time with the three boys. She had a client who closed on a house last week who owned a bowling alley. He said to let him know when she wanted to bowl and he would reserve a lane for her. Justin agreed with his mother that bowling would be a great outing for all three boys. Jennifer laughingly said she would be glad to bowl with the gutter guards they would put up for Gus, she was sure that would improve her normal score.

John & Peter came downstairs dressed for swimming. Justin gave them a smile. "Gus will be thrilled to have more people to swim with. I was just talking to my Mom; she is going to take you guys and Gus bowling tomorrow. Uncle Brian and I have a lunch time meeting at Kinnetik and I have to stop at the gallery before that."

John gave a quick laugh. "We haven't been bowling since Gramps died. He took us several times."

Peter added. "He sure hated when we got a gutter ball. One of those always resulted in lots of coaching from Gramps."

Justin was a little surprised that the boys seemed to have a positive memory of Jack Kinney. "You guys won't have to worry about gutter balls. Grandmom Jen is going to have them put the gutter guards up on your alley for Gus. I haven't told him about bowling. Why don't you guys tell him? I know he will be thrilled that you are going too."

A few minutes after the nephews went outside, Justin heard Gus's squeal of delight. He looked out the door and saw Brian looking towards the house with a big smile on his face. When he saw Justin he gave him a quick wave before turning back to the game he was playing with Gus.

Justin headed up to the studio with a smile on his face.