As Justin dressed, he muttered to himself, "This can't be true. It can't."

"That's the beauty of parenthood. It doesn't require special skills, just dumb luck."

Justin laughed. "That makes me feel better. Not. If I was nervous about seeing Daphne before, I'm a million times more nervous now."

"You're great with Gus … "

"Maybe. But I'm not his dad. I don't want to be a disappointment to my child. What am I gonna tell him or her?"

"Her."

Justin froze for a second. "Her."

Brian nodded. "Kayla."

A little blankly, Justin whispered, "Pretty name." Then he swallowed hard and shook his head. "What am I going to tell her about myself? That I'm brain damaged and one step away from writing gay porn?"

Brian raised an eyebrow. "One step?"

Justin blushed. "I mean one step up from pure porn."

Brian pulled Justin into his arms. "You're a writer. And an artist."

Justin harrumphed. "I used to be an artist … "

Brian's voice dropped to a whisper. "And the kindest person I know. She's going to adore you. So put your pants on. Let's go."

"You go. I'll be out in a second."

Brian slid his hands along Justin's cheeks, kissed Justin gently on the lips, and said, "Okay." Justin didn't watch him go. He was trying to think of a song to sing. Unfortunately, all lyrics escaped him in that moment (he barely remembered his own name). He was too … everything. Too angry … too hurt … too terrified.

When he eventually emerged from the bedroom (pants on), despite the heads up Brian had given him, he jumped a little, froze, and then went cold. That was actually a reaction to a combination of stimuli. His eyes had started low … on the floor. And had moved up until they'd lighted on Kayla (standing on the floor in between the couch and the coffee table. She turned to look when she heard the bedroom door slide open and then closed). She was beautiful. And even ten feet away, he noticed her eyes. Then his gaze moved upward, up to Daphne, who was sitting on the couch, her arm outstretched protectively, her hand resting lightly on Kayla's waist.

In a whisper, Justin said, "Hey …"

Daphne's eyes widened, and she whispered back, "Hey."

They just stared at one another, neither saying anything.

Brian broke the silence with an uncharacteristically bright voice (one Justin had never heard, not even when Brian was with Gus). "Hey Kayla. Do you like ice cream?"

Kayla turned (actually jumped and turned) and started clapping her hands. But despite Daphne's protective hold on Kayla, she barely noticed. She was still staring at Justin. To her, Brian said, "There's a frozen yoghurt place a few blocks from here. Why don't I take her?"

"Ummm … yeah … sure."

Brian swung Kayla up into his arms and left. Justin was only dimly aware that they'd gone (when he heard the loft door close).

Since first laying eyes on Daphne, he'd noticed a few things, not only her formal wear (he decided she must be on her way to a cocktail party) but also the vague unhappiness underlying her smile (which he doubted few, if anyone, would have noticed … he could always tell when she was unhappy and trying to hide it) and … the two rings on her left hand (a ginormous diamond and a gold wedding band), which, Justin imagined, so focused on Kayla, Brian had failed to note (that or he found them irrelevant).

"You got married?"

Daphne nodded and stood. But she held her ground.

Justin cleared his throat. His voice still sounded hoarse. "When?"

Daphne looked down. "About … about a month after we broke up."

Justin gaped. Then he huffed a laugh and looked down, simultaneously shaking his head. "Wow."

Daphne didn't say anything in response.

A few moments later, Justin added, "I guess that explains why you never visited or called."

"Justin … I …"

Justin's head snapped up. He hissed, "You what?"

"I …" Daphne sighed. "It sounds weak, but I'm sorry."

Justin looked down and repeated softly, "Sorry." He clenched a fist and looked back up. "You said we'd still be friends. That you'd always be there for me."

"When I said that, I meant it … but it was just too hard."

"Too hard? I nearly died. I was in a coma for weeks. I had brain surgery."

"I had … other things on my mind."

Justin scoffed, "You had other things on your mind? Like what? Finding a more socially acceptable father for your gay ex-fiancé's baby?"

"You have no right. You were the one who left me."

"Left you?"

"You said you loved me. You promised that we'd have a life together."

"I did love you. What could I do? I didn't choose to be gay, Daphne. But you made a choice. You chose to pretend I didn't exist."

TBC…sorry to end this part abruptly…I'm out of time (have to work)