The Secret Life of Brian

by LDEJRuff

Chapter 12 - Reconciliations

Within the two-month period, Thanksgiving had come. Since it was a holiday weekend, Brian decided to take some time off and spend it with Dylan, who took time off from school. Because the two didn't want to spend Thanksgiving alone with just two people, Brian decided to invite his cousin, Jasper, and his spouse, Ricardo, for the occasion.

Anyway, while Brian and Dylan were watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV, Jasper and Ricardo came over. Jasper knocked on the door, and Brian answered. He was delighted to see his cousin once again.

"Jasper!" he said. "I was beginning to wonder when the two of you were going to show up. Please come in."

With that, they came in the house to greet Dylan.

"Hey," Dylan greeted back. "You must be Dad's cousin, Jasper."

"Good to see you, Dylan," Jasper replied. "When I learned that your father was alive, I was so astonished."

Dylan sighed. "I sure wish Uncle Vinny would come, too."

"Me, too," Brian replied, "but he's spending Thanksgiving back at the Griffin house. I can't imagine what it would be like if Peter isn't carving the turkey."

"Yeah," Dylan agreed, "now that he and Mr. Quagmire are on tour."

"Actually," Brian began, "Mr. Quagmire walked out on Peter last night during an episode of Conan."

"Really?" Dylan replied, surprised. "What happened?"

"Well, I feared that all the fame went to Peter's head and it caused life for Mr. Quagmire to become stressful. Well," he began, rather sarcastically, "I feel sorry for him."

"Why?" Dylan shrugged.

"Mr. Quagmire and I have some...trust issues," Brian answered. "He doesn't like me for the things I've done, and I don't like him for being a neglectful father, a cheating pervert, a sex offender, or for stealing my ex-girlfriend."

"Dad," Dylan began, "you can't hate on someone just because they don't like you. In time, you two will set aside your differences and learn from your mistakes, and maybe someday, the two of you will become friends again."

"Well," Brian responded, "that doesn't mean I still can't be mad at him."

"I agree with Dylan, Brian," Jasper said, laying a paw on his shoulder. "I bet Glenn is probably going to learn from his mistakes right now."

Later that afternoon, Glenn paid for a plane ride to Providence from Burbank after walking out on Peter the night before. He wore an angry expression on his face and crossed his arms.

"Stupid Peter," he growled. "All that 'fame going into his head' ********. Well, who needs him anyway? I can do just fine without him!"

"What's that?" a passenger in front of him asked. "You sound like you just lost a best friend."

"I did," Glenn answered. "He just ruined a performance on an episode of Conan last night and made things worse."

"You know, sir," the passenger said, "you need to forgive him for that."

What she said reminded him of what Vinny said to Glenn earlier about forgiving Brian.

"All I'm offering," Vinny's words echoed, "is that you forgive him for all the things he's done, like I have. You need to change. Think about it."

Throughout these words, Glenn started to feel guilty.

"Oh, my God," Glenn moaned. "What am I doing?"

With that, he placed his hands on his face.

Some time after the plane landed, Glenn asked for directions to Tracy's house. He got a taxi ride there, and when he got there, he knocked on the door.

"Okay, Glenn," he whispered to himself. "Don't blow it in front of him."

Brian opened the door, and his eyes narrowed when he saw Glenn.

"What the hell are you doing here, Glenn?" Brian asked, coldly.

"Brian," Glenn shrugged sadly, "I...I was told that you...should be forgiven."

Brian's eyes widened in surprise. He never thought he would hear Glenn say those words.

Glenn continued, "Vinny told me that you're his big brother two months ago, some time before the music festival. Throughout the tour, I started acting like such a jerk toward Peter, just like I was toward you. Well, now I know that there are some things more important than fame and fortune." His expression changed to that of sadness, as if he was begging. "Brian, I don't know how to tell you this, but..." He sighed then. "I forgive you."

"Glenn," Brian responded, emotionally touched. "That...was the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

"Now, the question is: Can you forgive me?"

Brian couldn't help but smile. He gave Glenn a heartwarming hug, and the two had just become friends once again.

"I'm glad to see such a warm embrace, Mr. Quagmire," Dylan said. He, Jasper and Ricardo had just watched the emotional bond.

"You should come inside," Jasper offered. "We're just about to have dinner."

"Thanks, Jasper," Glenn replied, "but I have something I need to take care of back in Quahog."

With that, Glenn walked on his way back to the taxi.

"Wait," Brian got his attention. "I'm sorry for making that threat on the day after the 'accident'."

"And I'm sorry for calling you a bore," Glenn replied.

"Still keeping your promise?" Brian asked.

Glenn responded with a thumb up.

"Guess I can take that as a yes."

"Dear Lord," Dylan prayed, as dinner was ready on the table, "we thank you for such a wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm just sorry that Mom couldn't spend it with us this time. I pray that you be with her as she tries to regain consciousness sometime. Be with Mr. Griffin and Mr. Quagmire as they reconcile their friendship. Be with us as we spend this Thanksgiving together. For all this, we ask in your name. Amen."

"Amen," Jasper repeated. "Brian, you may not believe in God now, but someday, you will."

"Thanks for the kind words, Jasper," Brian replied. "I'll try to keep that in mind."

Later that night, back in Quahog, as soon as Glenn returned, he noticed the tour bus in front of the Griffin house, and that Peter had returned to his family.

After paying the taxi driver and getting his guitar out, he got the family's attention. "Hey, you got room for another?"

"Quagmire?" Peter asked as he and the rest of the Griffins got out of the group hug. "I thought you were still out on the road."

"I was," Glenn replied, "but then I thought, what was Simon without Garfunkel?"

"Wildly successful?"

"Yeah, but all that success would mean nothing if I lost my best friend. Do you do you think you can forgive me?"

"Oh, Quagmire."

With that, the two reconciled by giving each other a kiss and a hug.

"Well, I'm glad to have you back home for Thanksgiving, Peter," Lois said, getting her husband's attention.

"And I'm glad to be here," Peter replied. "'Cause everyone knows that life after being famous is even better than it was before. Let me just grab my stuff off the bus."

With that, Peter went to the bus...and then shot himself. Luckily, it was just an attempt.

As Lois and the kids rushed to the bus, Vinny walked up to Glenn.

"So, Quags," Vinny began. "Have you taken my advice?"

"I have," Glenn replied. "Thanks, Vinny."

"My pleasure, Glenn." Vinny then looked behind himself. "Happy Thanksgiving, big brother," he whispered.

Author's note: And so ends what happens during "In Harmony's Way". I'll be starting what happens in "Christmas Guy" soon.