Chapter Thirteen: A Fight for a Life

"Brian, I thought I said that I would call you, what's up?"

It's now 15 minutes before 3:00pm and Brian has been in a panic all day. It was all Michael could do to keep him from calling Justin before now. He told his oldest friend that it wouldn't do him any good to get Justin upset as well. He got Gus to get Brian to help build a lego set to keep his mind occupied for a while. He knew Brian would try to stay calm for Gus' sake as this had become his routein the last few days.

Brian knew that Justin and Ben had to be getting closer and he couldn't wait any longer.

"There's been a change of plans. Michael is heading out to the house. I gave him the keys. Have Ben bring you straight here first. Then if he can go meet Michael at Bri-Tin, Mikey said he would take care of everything and then they can bring JR's things back here. You and I have more urgent matters to attend to and they can't fucking wait."

"What the fuck, you sounded so good this morning when we talked? What happened?"

"Those homophobic breeders are trying to take my son away. Those assholes don't know who they're dealing with. I'll rip them apart."

"Holy shit Brian, why didn't you call me sooner?"

Just hearing the voice of the only man who can truly comfort him is calming Brian down. " There wasn't anything you could do but worry, so I didn't see the point."

"let me guess; Michael told you not to call. It's okay. I won't ask how YOU are doing, but how is Gus? Does he know what's going on?"

"No, your mom and Debbie came to take the kids. They're going to watch them for the day. I didn't want him to see his father losing it. It's really fucking funny, because if this had happened five years ago I probably would have said give him to anybody, because I didn't sign on to be a dad. But, just like you he got in under the wire and I can't imagine my life without him anymore then I can imagine it without you. Fuck, I think I am turning into a stepford fag."

"My hot sophisticated husband is a stepford fag? I don't think so. You just happen to care about the people you love. I think it's endearing."

"You would. You're the one who originally told me not to give him up, so I guess it's only fair that you help me fight."

"Together forever remember, no matter what."

"I know, and I'll feel better when you're here to hold my hand you little twat."

"We should be there in about 20 minutes."

""I'm ready to go. Michael is leaving for Bri-Tin right now. Hurry, but tell Ben to drive careful okay. We don't need any more accidents."

"I'll see you soon old man."

"Thanks for calming me down Sunshine. I love you."

Twenty minutes later Ben pulls up outside of his house. "You go. You can pick up your stuff later. Michael and I will be back as soon as we finish at your place."

"Thanks Ben. We really appreciate all of your help and Michael's too."

Justin gets out and rushes up the walkway. Brian had seen him coming and is already heading out the door with all the files. "Let's get a move on. I want to make sure that there is as little for those fucking bastards to use as possible. I'll explain on the way to the courthouse."

"The courthouse, how could they get a court date so soon?"

"They didn't. The hearing is set for Wednesday. I'm sorry, I had hope to tell you all I had done while you were gone as a surprise. Now it's all gone to shit."

Brian opens the door, to the car he had ordered, to let Justin in. "I just didn't think I could drive without wanting to run into a pole or something, so I ordered a car."

Once in the car, Justin begs Brian to tell him everything. "How did you find out about them wanting custody?"

"Some punk kid came by this morning and told me I was being served. Luckily Larry arrived at the same time, and he's going to do whatever he can to help."

"Why was Larry here?"

"He was dropping off the papers that gave me back my parental rights and some other papers I had asked him to drop off for us?"

"For us, what papers?"

"He brought the papers to file for you to be able to legally adopt Gus."

"Oh, I didn't realize there was such a hurry."

"I wanted everything legal. After what happened to Mel and Linds I don't want to take any chances. I want to know that you and Gus will be taken care of in case anything happens to me. I also started papers for our civil union. That's part of why we're going to the courthouse. I know our marriage isn't legal here, but if we register as having a civil union, it's as close to it as we can get. I also started the papers to have your name legally changed so that you, Gus and I will all have the same last name. That's the only way to get you all new identification, because they won't regognize our marriage certificate."

Justin is astounded at everything his amazing mate has done. Brian reads it as something else and says, "You know if you prefer, I'll just change my name. It's not worth a damn anyways. I can take yours, if that's what you want."

"Brian I can tell that you mean that, but I think everyone knows who the husband in this relationship is. I just can't believe you did all of this in one day. It just really means a lot that you want me to share the same name as you and adopt your son." By now Justin can't help the tears that are welling up in his eyes. They are both tears of joy for how his husband is so lovingly trying to make them a real family and tears of sorrow for yet another trial he must endoure. At least this time he isn't trying to push Justin away like he did when he had cancer.

"Give me the papers so I can sign them. I want all of this just as much as you do; maybe more."

Brian gives him the papers for the name change first; noticing how beautiful his husband looks whenever he is happy. He can't help but lean over to give him a kiss and whisper those three little words that have come to mean more then anything to the both of them. "You may show it better, but I think I may love you just a tiny bit more, than you love me. After all, you've given me more of a reason to."

"You old softy, you give me more reason to love you every day, like getting all these papers ready." Wait, what's this? "Brian you didn't fill this out correctly."

"I think I know everything there is to know about you by now, so what could I have gotten wrong?"

"My name is wrong."

"If your name isn't Justin Taylor, then who exactly am I married to?"

"Not my current name; you got my new name wrong."

"Again, I think I know how to write Taylor-Kinney. Maybe you just need to get some glasses, because I think my printing is pretty clear."

"That's just it. I'm not planning on going by Justin Taylor-Kinney."

"If you're not going by that name what are you going by; Sunshine Taylor-Kinney?"

"That's not even close to funny. I'll just be going by Justin Kinney. I've been practicing writing it in my notebook for years. I've got the signature down pat."

"Your just going by Kinney; dropping Taylor. I never even thought about you doing that."

"Well you should know this already by now, but I guess you forgot how old fashioned I am. As old fashioned as a queer can get anyhow. The wife takes the husband's name and we have already established that you are the husband, so I want To take your last name and only your last name."

At this declaration, Brian can't help but beam. He takes Justin's pale face in his trembling hands. He looks intently into his bright blue eyes. "I know I've said this a hundred times, but how did an asshole like me get so lucky to be loved by such a beautiful little twat such as you? I know I never did anything to deserve it. I made you wait five long years to even hear me say I love you for the first time. What an arrogant jackass I was; thinking I didn't need love. You changed that and you changed me."

Brian leans in as close as he can, his eyes just a couple of inches from Justin's, with their lips even closer and says, "I love you" right before he softly kisses his husband's lips with as much passion as he can muster. Justin falls into his arms and they just hold each other the rest of the way to the courthouse.

"Mr. and Mr. Kinney it is then. It has a nice ring to it."

"Don't you mean Mr. and Mrs. Kinney?"

"I'm the only one allowed to call you Mrs."

"Yes dear, as you wish."