Previously On Queer As Folk: Justin and Daphne tried to make a baby the old fashioned way, but neither of them could go through with it. Instead, they went to the clinic and got it taken care of.

Emmett and Ted got married to Calvin and Blake.

Chapter Thirty-Six

"So, how are you enjoying married life so far?" Michael asked, refilling his glass of wine. He and Ben had invited Emmett, Ted, and their spouses over for a couples' dinner. Brian and Justin had not been able to make it, they'd said something about meeting with Daphne. Probably something to do with the baby.

"I'm liking it," Emmett answered, grinning up at Calvin. "I'm actually kind of sorry I waited so long. If I'd known it was this good, I would've gotten married years ago."

Ben laughed. "I certainly wouldn't trade it for anything," he said.

"Me neither," Ted agreed. "I don't think I've ever been this happy in my life."

"What about you guys?" Michael asked Blake and Calvin. They were so quiet that it was easy to forget that they were even there.

"It's wonderful," Blake said. "I get to spend the rest of my life with the person I love most in the whole world." He smiled at Ted and held his hand.

"Yeah," Calvin agreed. "There's nothing better."

"Awww, sweetie." Emmett stroked Calvin's hair lovingly.

Michael and Ben exchanged smiles. "It's nice to finally be able to hang out with other married couples. Eli and Monty are great and all, but they can't compare to you guys," Michael said. Eli and Monty were a married couple that lived in the same neighborhood as Michael and Ben, they had two children. Since Proposition Fourteen had failed to pass legislature, they were talking about adopting a third.

"Just wait until you decide to start a family." Ben laughed. "Then the real fun starts."

Ted choked on his wine. "Are you okay?" Michael asked, patting him on the back.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks," Ted gasped. "It just went down the wrong tube."

"I don't know if parenthood is for me," Emmett mused. "If anything ever happened and my kids were taken from me, it'd be unbearable."

"Well, hopefully the government will find another issue to harp on besides gay marriage and adoption. If they'd leave us alone, we wouldn't have to worry about it," Ben said.

"Like that'll ever happen," Michael muttered, sipping his wine.

"Well, I try to be optimistic. What choice do we have?" Ben shot back.

"I agree with Em," Ted said. "I'm not really a kid person, to be honest."

"I didn't think I was either, but now I've got two," Michael pointed out. "Lots of people who don't like kids love their own. Look at Brian."

"I guess, but at my age it's kind of late to start thinking about having children."

"Not necessarily," Blake piped up. "You're only thirty-nine."

"Yeah, thanks for reminding me," Ted grumbled.

"You know what's worse? Your big 'four-oh' will be here before you know it. I think we should celebrate in the best way possible," Emmett suggested.

"And that would be?"

"Going to Babylon and having a fabulous time."

"We do that anyway," Ted pointed out.

"What's your point?"

"My point is...just forget it, it doesn't matter."

"Do you not want to celebrate?" Michael asked.

"To be honest, I don't care either way. I already have everything I could ever want." He kissed Blake. "My life couldn't get any better."

"Well said, Ted." Ben smiled. "I couldn't agree with you more." Michael caught his eye and smiled.

Hunter came in the front door. He'd been out on a date with Lexi. "Hey, guys," he said in passing.

"Hey," Michael and Ben said in unison.

"Oh, God. Don't tell me that's what we have to look forward to," Ted said.

"What?" Michael asked.

"Speaking in unison." He shivered. "It gives me the creeps."

"Oh, stop." Michael laughed. "I think it's kind of cute."

"You would," Emmett murmured, sipping his wine. Calvin snickered.

"So, how are things with Hunter and his girlfriend?" Ted asked.

"To be honest, he doesn't tell us much. He's at the age where he wants his privacy and Ben and I give it to him," Michael explained.

"You don't think they're...you know...?" Emmett waggled his eyebrows.

"I don't know," Michael admitted, frowning. "I don't think so. If they are, there's not much we can do, we just have to hope that they're using protection."

"Hunter wouldn't do anything stupid like have sex without protection," Ben assured them all. "He's a smart boy, he understands the risks."

"I am so glad that he found someone who's positive, too. It saves him that awkward 'hey, before we have sex I thought you should know that I'm HIV positive' conversation," Emmett said. "Not too many people would stick around after that."

Ben and Michael exchanged looks. They knew that conversation all too well. Luckily, the love that they had for each other had allowed them to stay together despite Ben's illness. I don't know where I'd be now without him, Michael thought sadly. Probably living in the old apartment with Emmett and Calvin...sad and alone.

"Is everything okay?" Ben asked, brushing his fingers along the back of Michael's hand.

"Yeah. Fine," Michael answered. "Why?"

"You just looked a little sad," Ben replied.

"No. I just had a bit of indigestion," Michael lied. "Does anyone want anymore wine?"

Michael and Ben talked their guests into staying for dessert. "I bought some raspberry sorbet," Ben had said, hoping to entice them.

"That sounds great!" Emmett exclaimed. "Though, I should probably cut back on the sweets, one of these days I'm going to ruin my figure."

"I like your figure," Calvin whispered in Emmett's ear. "We'll stay," he said out loud.

"Great." Ben smiled. "What about you two?" he asked Ted and Blake.

"We'll stay, too," Blake answered.

After dessert, Ben and Michael were washing up. "I lied at dinner," Michael mumbled, avoiding Ben's eyes.

"You didn't like the sorbet?" Ben asked., chuckling.

"Not about that. About the indigestion."

"Oh..." Ben shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, aren't you even the slightest bit curious about what the truth was?" Michael asked.

"Of course I am. Come on, tell me."

Michael chewed his lip. "After Emmett made that comment about Hunter and Lexi, I thought of what my life would be like if I'd never met you or if I'd listened to my mother and broke up with you when you told me you were positive."

"And?" Ben prompted, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I didn't like it. A life without you isn't a life at all."

"Come here." Ben held his arms open wide.

Michael put his arms around him and rested his head on Ben's impressively expansive chest. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you, too," Ben replied.

"Are you two at it again?" Hunter asked, suddenly in the doorway.

"At what again?" Ben asked, clearing his throat.

"You know, fucking," Hunter replied, shrugging.

"No!" Michael insisted with mock indignation. "But you might be in about ten minutes."

The smile on Hunter's face vanished and his face flushed with embarrassment. "Hunter, is there something you want to tell us?" Ben asked, taking a step forward.

"No," Hunter answered, swallowing.

"I know this conversation is a little awkward, but uh...you and Lexi...?"

"Can we please not have this conversation?" Hunter asked, rolling his eyes. "I haven't been a virgin for a long time and I know all about sex. I was a hustler, remember?"

"We remember."

"So we can just skip it."

"Okay, if you don't want to talk about it, we respect that. Just...be careful okay?"

"Please, Hunter," Michael begged.

"We will," Hunter relented. "Can I go back to bed now?"

"Sure. Good night."

Hunter hurried out of the room. "I thought were weren't going to have that conversation?" Michael said.

"I didn't mean to...it just slipped out." Ben sighed.

"Well now that we have our uncomfortable moment quota for the day, I think I'm going to go get ready for bed."

"I'll be right up," Ben promised.

"I'll be waiting," Michael replied, winking.

Brian and Justin sat in Daphne's living room, waiting for Daphne to finish in the kitchen. "Listen, I just wanted to thank you again for the trip to New York, it was incredible," Daphne said, excitement in her voice.

"Don't mention it," Brian replied. "If it weren't for you, we'd have to pay some stranger to carry the baby for us. Personally, I don't like that idea. How about you, Sunshine?"

"Not really," Justin answered. "Plus, this way, there's no way the baby's going to be ugly."

"Thanks...I guess." Daphne laughed. You aren't bothered by the fact that the baby isn't going to look like you?"

"Why would I care? As long as it's healthy, that's all I care about."

Brian chewed his lip. "While we're on the topic, I think we should discuss something."

"Okay." Daphne joined them on the couch. "The floor is all yours."

"I just think before we get wrapped up in the baby nonsense, we should work out the parental rights issue."

"Oh. Sure."

"You and Justin will be considered the baby's parents, but if you give up your parental rights, I'll be able to petition for second parent adoption."

"Like Melanie did with Gus," Justin explained.

"I'll still get to see the baby, though, right?" Daphne asked.

"Sure. You can be as active a parent as you want to be, but the baby will live with Justin and I," Brian continued.

"That's fine. I just don't want to carry it for nine months and then never see it again, you know? It'd be too hard for me."

"We understand," Justin assured her. "We can even work out a schedule where you can have the baby every other weekend and during the summer. We don't have to figure it all out now, there's plenty of time."

"The visitation stuff won't even require a lawyer or anything, we can work the schedule out ourselves," Brian added. "We'll be fair."

"That's good. I'm sure that between the three of us we can work something out."

"And I want you to know that whatever you need, it'll be taken care of; medical bills, pre-natal vitamins, maternity clothes..."

"I don't know..." Daphne began.

"We insist," Brian replied. "For one thing, I can afford it. You're about to graduate from college, you haven't even paid off your tuition yet. Or found a reliable job. Let's face it, there's no possible way you can do this on your own."

Daphne shook her head. "I don't want to feel like I'm taking advantage of you guys."

"You aren't," Justin insisted. "You're doing us a huge favor and we're covering the expenses."

"Lindsay never complained this much," Brian mumbled.

"Please?" Justin begged.

Sighing, Daphne grudgingly nodded her assent. "Okay, fine. I'm going to try my best to keep the cost down though, I don't want you to have to pay a fortune."

"Deal." Brian offered her his hand. Daphne accepted the proffered hand and shook it.

"By the way, I made an appointment with the doctor next Thursday. They said it could take up to twelve days for the egg to get fertilized. Hopefully the news is good "

"Here's hoping," Justin said.

Brian checked the time. "We'd better get going," he said. "I still have to finish the Dwyer account, and you," he looked at Justin, "have so some school work to do."

"Don't remind me," Justin grumbled. "I'm going to be up all night writing that paper."

"Which paper?"

"I have to write a five page paper describing why I should be allowed to be a student at PIFA. Isn't that stupid?"

"Mmmmm." Brian nodded. "Maybe I'll keep you company," he suggested, grinning devilishly.

"I'd like that. Maybe we can..."

Daphne cleared her throat. "Well it was nice seeing you guys. I'll be in touch," she promised, walking them to the door.

"Bye, Daph." Justin gave her a hug. "Call me."

"I will," she promised.

"Daphne." Brian leaned in and kissed her on the cheek.

"Bye, Brian." Daphne couldn't help but laugh. Brian was so charming! If he wasn't gay...

Once in the car, Brian asked, "Were you as grossed out about that as I was?"

"What?" Justin asked.

"The egg talk." Brian scrunched his face up in disgust.

"Since when are you squeamish?"

"I'm not, I just don't particularly care to hear about eggs."

"Didn't Lindsay talk to you about that kind of thing when she was trying to get pregnant with Gus?"

"No. We had an understanding: I did my part and she did hers. I gave her some money to help out and that was that."

"Wow," Justin commented.

"What?"

"Nothing. I guess I forgot how much you've changed."

"I do, too sometimes," Brian admitted.

Justin stared out the window for a second. "Do you ever miss it?" he asked.

"Miss what, Pittsburgh? Not really."

"No. Your life...before."

"Not at all," Brian replied without hesitating. "I was never happy until you came along, and now that I have you...I couldn't live without you." Justin smiled. "Why, do you miss your life before?"

"No. The night we met was the day that my life started. I wouldn't go back for anything."

Brian laughed. "Listen to us, we're starting to sound like something out of a goddamn romance novel."

"Is that so bad?" Justin asked.

"I'll get back to you on that." Justin reached over and lightly punched Brian's arm. "No, it isn't," Brian relented, rolling his eyes.

"You'd better say that if you ever want to see this again," Justin pointed at his body.

"I do," Brian said.

As Brian parked the car, Justin felt trepidation set in. He really did not want to work on his paper. I'm sure I can persuade Brian to put off his work for an hour or so, Justin thought, following Brian into the house. He reached down into the front of Brian's pants. "How about we have some fun?" he asked, grinning.

"Hmmm." Brian laughed. "Homework first, sex later." He grabbed Justin's hands and put them back at his side.

"Oh, come on," Justin begged.

"I'll tell you what, you go write your paper and when you're done I'll fuck you, okay?"

"You drive a hard bargain," Justin replied, deflated.

"You'll find out when your paper's done."

"Fine. I'm going." Justin trudged off to Brian's office. "Can I use your laptop?"

"As long as you're working, not looking at porn."

"Like you'd know," Justin challenged.

"Oh I'll know. I'm going to come in and check on you."

"Are you serious?"

"I'm dead serious. You've been putting this paper off since last week, and I will do whatever it takes to get you to finish it."

"What about your homework?" Justin asked.

"I'm almost done with it. Now, go get started. I'm not waiting up all night."

Justin started on his paper and was surprised by how easily and quickly he finished it. The only reason that he had put it off as long as he had was because he'd had no idea what to write, but now the words flowed out of him. Let's just hope they're the right words, the last thing I need is to get a failing grade on this.

True to his word, Brian came in and checked on him after an hour. "How's the work coming?" he asked.

"Actually, I'm done," Justin answered with a dazzling smile. "See?" He held the paper out for Brian to see. "Five pages.

"Good job, Sunshine."

"This means you have to keep your word," Justin reminded him.

"When have I ever not kept my word?"

Justin plucked the paper out of Brian's hand and put in his messenger bag. "Let's do it in here," he suggested. "On the desk."

"If that's how you want it," Brian replied.

"It is." Justin sat down on the desk, moving the laptop to a nearby shelf. Brian sat down next to him and started taking his shirt off. Lying down, Justin smiled.

Next Time On Queer As Folk: Over breakfast at the Liberty Diner, Michael confesses that he misses Brian. Brian and Justin invite their friends over to see Britin Manor. Jennifer has a favor to ask and Daphne has something to share.