Chapter Three: Settling in at Mikey's house

When they get to the house, Ben tells them that he has an air mattress in his camping gear and goes to set it up in the baby's room.

Gus is still asleep, clinging to Brian's neck for dear life. "How am I supposed to tell him about Mel and Linz. It's fucking bad enough to lose one parent, but two at the same time… You're lucky JR is still a baby, Mikey."

"What the fuck does that mean? She lost her parents too."

I'm just saying, she won't remember, so it won't be near as fucking bad for her as it will be for Gus."

"Brian, you're an asshole. You know that?"

"I think I've been called that on occasion."

"Brian honey… I still don't know if that suits you."

"As long as you don't say it in public, I might not rip your balls off."

"It's going to be tough for sure, but unlike most kids who lose their parents, Gus still has you. He knows that you love him. You've never been perfect but what dad is. Certainly not yours or mine. You're a good dad because you love your son unconditionally and you let him know that he can always count on you."

"Justin, it's really amazing how you always see the best in me even when it's not there. I'm a shitty father, always have been. I swore I would never be like my dad, but look at what I've done."

"So you didn't see him as often as you should have. He had two parents. You saw him a hell of a lot more than most sperm donors. You provided everything he needed. You showed up for his birthdays. You made sure he got into a good school. You never wished he had never been born."

"There was that one time right after the birth."

"You know you didn't mean it. Anytime Lindsey asked for anything for Gus, you came through without hesitation, even when that meant giving up your rights. That was the most selfless thing you have ever done, even if I didn't think of it that way at the time. Here let me take Gus and put him on the couch until Ben's done. He's got be feeling really heavy by now."

With Gus now on the couch, Brian starts to feel the soreness in his arms. Gus may only be five, but that's still pretty heavy to hold for that long.

"What's going to happen to Gus now", Brian vents?

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, now that Mel and Lindsey are gone…"

"You're not serious right now?"

"Yeah, I fucking am."

"Brian, he's your son, which makes him my step-son, so he will be living with us of course."

"We just got married and you're ready to take on raising my kid?"

"He's our kid now and yes I am. You know I always wanted to have kids some day when you were finally ready, and I knew you would be or I wouldn't have married you. Well, you have no choice now. You have to be ready, because he's already you r son. But hey, if you'd rather I can call Lindsey's mom back. I'm sure she would be happy to take Gus off your hands."

"The hell they will. I'll be damned if those homophobic bastards will ever get near my son as long as I have anything to say about it."

"That's what I thought baby. Oooh, baby, that might work." He gives Brian a hug and kiss to let him know that everything will be okay.

"The fuck you'll call me that ever again. I'll cut your fucking tongue off. I'd rather you stick with old man then that shit."

Michael and Ben come back downstairs. "We have everything set up in the nursery. Sorry about the accommodations. Hunter said you could have his room, but we figured that Gus would want to be with Jenny and you would want to be with Gus."

"Thanks Mikey… you too professor", Brian lets out.

"I'll stay down here on the couch", Justin offers.

"On our wedding night, sleeping in separate beds? I don't think so. Also, what if Gus wakes up in the middle of the night? I won't know what to do."

"Okay, but it's not like we're going to have our wedding night anyways."

"I knew there was a reason I wanted to consummate it immediately. Now you can't leave, for sure."

"I wasn't planning on it, remember."

Brian picks Gus up and they head upstairs. They sleep with Gus between them. Brian leans over him and gives Justin a kiss.

"You really are a good wife. I don't know why I didn't marry you sooner."

"I think you do, and as long as you remember to appreciate this good wife we'll be just fine."

They fall asleep holding hands over Gus' head. This was definitely a new form of cuddling for the both of them. The fact that Brian had ever come to enjoy cuddling with anyone was still a shock to him. Brian Kinney doesn't cuddle he remembers once saying to himself.

Next up will be Chapter four: The morning after(shock)