Thank you all for your lovely reviews. Between my two stories I'm updating regularly, I'm working on many others...and there's also the factor that I'm looking for a job. So...time is money. I really want to get back to all of you and thank you personally or answer questions. I'll try harder.

Brian's POV

The intercom in the conference room buzzed and I picked up the receiver, apologizing to my clients.

"Cynthia. You know better than to disturb me," I whispered.

"Have Rick take over. He's great."

"Sorry?" I couldn't believe what she just said. "Nick," I emphasized the correct name of my new intern, "is not ready for this."

"Justin is here. He looks pretty distressed, Bri."

Fuck. "Is Tiff okay?"

"She's with him, but she's fine. He, on the other hand, doesn't look too good," she said softly.

"All right." I hung up, already standing. "Gentlemen, if you'll excuse me. A family problem arose. Nick Johnson here is going to finish the presentation." I clapped Nick's shoulder. "Don't fuck it up," I hissed into his ear.

My clients graciously allowed me to go deal with my family problems, understanding the importance of my departure.

I stormed into my office, not paying attention to anyone on my way there.

Tiffany was on the couch, drawing on the ever-present sketchpad Justin carried around. At four years old, she was the most beautiful angel I'd seen in my life.

If someone had told me some years ago I'd end up in a monogamous relationship, let alone married, and with a kid, I'd have sent them to see a shrink. My life had changed irrevocably since I met Justin, especially since I decided to pull my head out of my ass and embrace my feelings for that twat I now called husband.

I stroked her hair, smiling down at her. "Hey, sweet pea. Where's daddy?"

She pointed in the bathroom's direction, not looking up from her drawing.

She was so fucking adorable. She'd inherited her daddy's artistic talent and all the walls in the house were testimony of Tiffany following in Justin's footsteps. No matter how much we told her people painted on paper, she insisted the walls made a better canvas.

I left her to her drawing, as I slipped into the bathroom. My stomach dropped when I saw Justin hunched over the sink, breathing harshly, his hands gripping the edge of the sink. He stiffened when he heard the door, hastily wiping his tears.

"I told you to wait on the sofa, baby." His eyes widened when he turned and saw me. "Brian."

"The fuck happened to you, Sunshine?" I gathered him in my arms, where he sagged, and a small sob escaping him. "You look like you've seen a ghost. A bad one at that."

"Weren't you in a meeting?" He tilted his head to stare at me with tear-filled eyes.

"Fuck it. Tell me about you."

Justin sniffed, tears knotting at his chin before they fell on my shirt, soaking it.

"Sunshine," I insisted, stroking his hair. Shit. It physically hurt to see him crying.

"I went shopping with Alannah," he said after a few long minutes.

"Oookay. How did that cause you a meltdown?"

"She insisted we go buy chocolate. I caved."

"You always do." I kissed his forehead fondly. Just like I do. Just like everyone caves to her big blue eyes.

"There was only one of her favorite left. And then a little boy…" He took a shuddering breath. "Okay, maybe not so little…maybe around eight? Fuck," he spat, scrubbing at his face in a vain attempt to stop the tears.

"Did he do something to our princess?" I had no idea what could have caused him to cry like this.

"He…he…took the chocolate bar. Then he saw her almost in tears and handed it to her, telling her not to cry."

"That's sweet. I wouldn't have done it at his age." I laughed, but stopped when Justin sobbed harder into my chest. "Justin?" I combed a hand through his hair, at a loss at what to do or say.

"Then," he said in an almost hysterical voice. "His dad appeared from around the corner and praised him on his good deed."

"He was proud of his son."

Justin met my eyes, his were still swimming in tears. I hadn't seen him like this in years.

"You'll never guess who he was! I still can't believe it. Can you pinch me?"

"Someone you hate, obviously. Kids don't always turn out like their parents. Best examples are us. You've been telling me that for years." I rubbed his cheek softly. "We're not like our fathers."

"Funny you mentioned Craig. The son of a bitch not only cheated on Mom, then moved in with his mistress after the divorce…he also has a child with her!"

"What?" I gasped, hugging him tighter. It all made sense. "You mean you just saw…"

"Yes! And when he saw me, all he did was pull the boy away from me as if I was infected." He went back to sobbing. "I'm so stupid! I thought he'd say 'Hey, son! Long time, no see," or at the very least, introduce me to my brother. Fuck, Brian. I have a brother who is around eight years old. How fucked up is that?"

"Didn't he say anything to you?"

"No, he steered his son away, but at the corner of the aisle, he turned to look at us, mostly at Alannah. I'm sure he's curious if I decided to be straight, have a real family. Shit. He's probably calling Mom for an explanation."

"You need to calm down. Did you tell Tiff who he was?"

"No. She asked, but I said he was someone I once knew. I can't do this, Brian. I can't. That sack of shit could have at least let us know he had another kid. I'm thirty-one, and I have a little brother, who's eight. He could be my son!"

I realized there was no room to talk sense into him at the moment. He was too distressed and freaking out over this impromptu run-in with his father.

I filled a glass of water and handed it to him. "Don't pass out on me. I'm sure he won't do anything."

"You don't know him. What he saw gave him hope that I'm straight! He'd try contacting me." Justin slumped on the closed toilet seat. "I didn't always hate him, you know? That's why it's hard for me. We were happy once."

"If he chooses to contact you, let me handle him. I've been itching for revenge!"

"No. Please don't. He may treat me like shit, but I know he's good with that kid. All I can hope is that he's straight, so he doesn't have to go through what I did."

I rolled my eyes. He was too good toward that asshole. I sprinkled water over his head, making him eye me questioningly.

"Saint Justin."

"You're a jerk. I'm sorry that Jack was a shitty father to you, but Craig was the model father. He was great. Why the fuck do you think I used to cry for hours after I first moved in with you? The man who used to love me, who I looked up to, hated me and had hurt badly the only man I truly loved. You."

"Still, I say he doesn't deserve your tears. He won't try contacting you, trust me. Now, pull yourself together. I'm going to check if Tiff decided to repaint my office." I winked.

My words extracted a small giggle from Justin. "I used to do that, too," he mumbled.

"I know. Jennifer told me." I scowled, before leaning to kiss him. "No more tears. Give me your Sunshine smile."

He grimaced.

"Close enough. Practice."

I returned into my office to find my princess still on the couch. I sat next to her, catching sight of what had her so focused. It was another one of the sketches Justin made for her to color.

"Hi, Dada!" She grinned, turning the page my way. "Look what Daddy drew for me!"

I gathered her small body in my arms. "It's beautiful. Who is that?" I played dumb as I could clearly tell who was drawn on the paper in front of me. Justin loved to draw me in every form.

"It's you, silly!" Tiff giggled. "But I have a problem," she declared solemnly.

"What's that?" I pushed some of her hair out of her eyes.

If it wasn't for her skin tone, which looked like she had a tan, I wouldn't have known Daphne helped at all. She had also donated some of her genes in Tiffany's curly hair, but everything else was Justin's—her blond hair, her blue eyes, her cute button nose, even her smile.

"I can't find the right color for your eyes," she explained seriously.

"They're brown." I searched through her colored pencils, trying to select a lighter shade of brown.

"They're hazel." Justin's voice came from behind me, making me jump. "It's something between brown and green."

Tiff pouted adorably. "It doesn't exist. I can't get Dada's eyes right!"

"What did I tell you about combining colors? Hazel is not a color on a pen or in a tube of paint, because it's a special color." Justin wrapped his arms around my neck, kissing my deeply. "Just like your dad."

Tiff eyed us thoughtfully. "Can you help me make this color?"

"At home," Justin told her. "Let's pack up. We have to stop by grandma's on the way home."

"Do you think Grandma Debbie has more of these yummy cookies?"

"I hope not," Justin whispered into my ear, chuckling. He kissed me again, before pulling away. "I'll see you at home. Thanks for listening to my drama queen moment."

"That's why I'm here, Sunshine. I'll try be home by dinner time. I need to drop by at Babylon."

"Again?" He hissed, narrowing his eyes at me.

Babylon had been a hot topic all week. "I told you, the mayor is going to send people to search the clubs in town. They'll search extra hard in Babylon, because they hate fags!"

"What about the manager? What's his name?"

"Travis. He's there too, so is Ted. I don't want them to close my baby."

"There was a time when you wanted to sell it. Then I left, and you kept it, even reopened it—all shiny and new." He groaned, throwing the colored pencils in his backpack.

"Justin," I said quietly, aware Tiff could hear us fighting. "I'll be home for dinner."

"I don't keep dinner on the table until two in the morning." He zipped the bag violently. "Give dad a kiss, we're leaving."

I picked Tiff up and she snuggled into my arms, giving me a wet one on the cheek. I returned it with all my love.

Then Justin pried her from my arms, carrying her out the door, without looking back.

The last thing I heard, before the door shut behind them, nearly broke my heart.

"Why were you screaming at Dada?"

An itsy bitsy tiny drama ahead.

Craig won't make a reappearance, but I thought of how Justin would react if they met...so here's what my crazu brain came up with. :)