"Brianna?" Brian gasped as he stepped further into the kitchen.
The young girl turned around almost knocking over the bottle of scotch. "Brian?" She grabbed the bottle before it tipped over. Brian walked over to the table where Brianna's red, teary eyes followed.
"You're drinking?" He asked shocked.
"No…" She looked down at her half empty glass and sighed putting her head down. Then she bolted up pleading, "Please don't tell Aunt Lois and Uncle Peter." Brianna sniffed, "I'm not an alcoholic. I swear, Brian. It's just, I-I started drinking after my parents died. It takes away the pain."
Brian looked at her with sympathetic eyes. This was a surprise. 'To take away the pain?' What about the scars on her arm? Should I ask her? Is it too soon? All of these questions were running through Brian's mind. He finally sighed, "I can't say I approve of this, Brianna. But… I rather you drink here at the house, than out there. May I join you?"
Brianna smiled as she pulled out a chair, while Brian grabbed himself a glass. Brianna poured some scotch in his glass then into hers as he sat down next to her. Brianna broke the silence and the opportunity fro Brian to ask if she was okay, with a question. "What are you doing up so late?"
"I came down to see if that dog was back in the patio. I hate him." Brian said looking behind him.
"Another dog, uh? Do you see him every time you walk down the stairs?"
Brian crossed his arms, "Yeah. He needs to know that this is my house. It's my house."
Brianna giggled knowing that the 'other dog' was just Brian's reflection from the mirror in the patio. She took a sip of her drink and smiled at Brian.
"So Brianna," Brian started, "You graduated from Brown?"
"Yeah I did. It's a lot different from high school, I can tell you that." She chuckled.
"You know… I also went to brown." Brian smirked.
"You did?" Brianna's face brightened. "What year did you graduate?"
Brian began to stutter as if he was caught off guard with the question. He wasn't about to tell Brianna that dropped out, twice. Brian quickly turned the subject around to her. "Um, what do you want to do? You know job wise?"
Brianna raised her eyebrow, and then answered the question. "You would think, with my education, that I would want to be a doctor or lawyer, but honestly… now don't laugh," She said staring at Brian hard, "I want to be teacher. A grade school teacher." Brian smirked causing Briana to playfully punch him. "I said don't laugh."
"I'm not laughing." Brian chuckled. "I think that's a great idea."
"You liar."
"I promise. If this is something your passionate about, who am I to tell you no." Brian answered.
Briana was about to argue her point but stopped herself when she heard Brian's answer. "You serious."
"Yes." Brian smiled.
She leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath. "That- that would be a first. I just wish that my mom would have-"She stopped herself gripping her glass. Brian thought it would shatter any second if she kept squeezing. Finally, Brianna released her tension. "Sorry." She whispered not wanting to look at Brian.
"What's wrong?"
She sighed, "I just wish that my mom would have said what you said about me becoming a teacher. Instead we argued about it. She wanted me to make something of myself, something other than a teacher who barley makes any money. She thought I was wasting my time and intelligence. I kind of told her off and I never got a chance to say… sorry." She said holding back her tears and turning her hands into fists.
Brian slowly reached for her hand then stopped himself, "Hey Bri, its okay. We've all done things were not proud of. But I bet everything your mother is proud of you and loves you with all her heart more than you know. Who wouldn't want you as a daughter?" Brianna looked up at him as a tear fell down her cheek. Brian gently wiped it away, "I bet she forgives you."
Brianna bowed her head, put her hands together, and closed her eyes. Silently she said, "I'm sorry mama. I miss you and papa. I love you." Then she whispered a prayer. Brian watched as she prayed, then wondered to himself if she was one of those religious nuts he saw at the supermarket. Brianna opened her eyes, drank a little more, and then looked at Brian. "Thank you."
He smiled at her, "So you're religious?" He dare asked. He was hoping that she was not, but fell silent when she answered that she was Catholic.
"But don't worry," She said, "I'm not going to tell you what I know. I'm a born Catholic but the thing is I don't know what's out there."
Brian wagged his tail. 'Good answer.' He thought to himself.
Brianna yawned and looked at the clock. They had been talking for an hour and Brianna thought it was time to go to bed. Brian stood up and grabbed the glasses and began to wash them. Brianna put the bottle of scotch back where she found it and stretched, "Thank you Brian. For everything."Brian followed Brianna out to the living room, where in the darkness they could see something moving. Brianna gasped, "What's that?"
Brian sighed, "Crap." He turned on the light and saw Peter dancing in his underwear. His eyes were closed as he quietly sang 'La Bamba.'
"What is he doing?" Brianna whispered.
"Sleep dancing. He does this every night with a different song." Brian answered. "And don't worry about whispering, he can't hear you."
Brianna giggled, "What happens on the nights that he's drunk?" They watched as Peter grabbed the living room lamp and began to dance around with it. Brianna was amazed how light on his feet her uncle was as he danced around the furniture and not bumping into anything. Peter tipped the lamp and began to kiss its shade. He began to moan.
Brian grabbed Brianna's hand and led her upstairs, "Trust me. You don't wanna know." He walked her to her room and opened the door for her. "Get some rest Bri."
"Thanks. Oh and um... Don't worry about that 'other dog,' I'm sure he's great." Brianna said smiling.
Brian laughed, not getting Brianna's reference. "He's still a dick to me."
Suddenly, Stewie's door opened. The one-year-old came out wearing a green face mask and rollers in his hair. "Hey! Some of us have daycare in the morning. So if you two don't mind, shutting the hell up!" He slammed the door, leaving Brian and Brianna holding in their laughter.
"Oh my God." Brianna said covering her mouth.
"Did you see his rollers?" Brian snorted.
"He has no hair."
The laughed quietly for a few more seconds, then Brian backed away slowly saying goodnight. He then waited by Peter and Lois's door as Brianna closed hers. "Wow." He smiled, "Wow, wow, wow." Brian touched his chest, and then took his place at the foot of Peter and Lois's bed.
The next morning as Lois got the piano ready for her nine O' clock appointment; Brianna was upstairs getting Stewie ready for daycare.
"Okay Stewie raise your arms." Brianna instructed.
Stewie did as he was told, and Brianna removed his pajama shirt. "Oh look at that," Stewie said as he looked at his bare chest. "It's cold in here."
Brianna grabbed a shirt with a dinosaur on it, "Oh look Stewie, you get to be Dino Boy today. Rawr."
Stewie laughed giddily, "Oh Brianna you are a card. You make dressing up time fun. Not like Lois or the fat man."
Brian walked into the room and waited by the doorway, watching Brianna. He loved the way she acted with Stewie, tickling him, making funny noises, and sometimes talking in a baby voice. Seeing that brought a smile to Brian's face. Stewie looked over Brianna's shoulder and saw Brian watching them. He shook his head, "Dirty dog."
Brianna turned around, "Oh hey Brian. Stewie is almost done; I just need to put on his shoes." When Brianna's back was turned, Brian flipped Stewie off then mouthed the words, "Shut the fuck up." Brianna tapped Stewie's foot, indicating that she was done, and reached for his little backpack. "You all set, little man." She kissed him on the cheek and stood up.
Stewie walked up to Brian shaking his head, "I'll be waiting in the car you dirty dog."
Brian took a deep breath trying to control his anger that he had for Stewie, and then looked at Brianna who was putting a few of Stewie's toys away. "Alright, I'm gonna drop off Stewie."
"Okay. See you later."
Brian swung his arms, holding on to the little time he had. "You…you wanna come with? I know this really great ice cream place by the daycare that we can hang out for a while."
Brianna walked to Stewie's crib and placed a few stuffed animals in a neatly order. "That sounds yummy, but I can't. I promised Aunt Lois that I would help her out the tone deaf kids today.
Brian sighed, "Okay then. See you later." He walked out of the room where he bumped into Stewie, nearly scaring himself. "Stewie? What the hell I thought you were going to wait by the car."
"Oh I was going to, but Rupert and I wanted to hear you fail in asking Brianna out on a date." Stewie snickered.
Brian checked behind him and then led Stewie down the stairs, "I wasn't asking her out, Stewie. I was just simply asking her if she wanted to get some ice cream."
"Yeah whatever helps you sleep at night bitch."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Brian unlocked his car and helped Stewie in his car seat. "She's my best friend's niece. You know how messed up that'll be?"
Once in his seat, Stewie pushed Brian's hands away. "No. I like to do this myself." Stewie said grabbing the car seat buckle. "I'm a big boy."
Brian took his place in the driver's seat and started the car. "Look, let's just get you to day care."
"Brian, what was going on between you and Brianna last night?"
Brian sighed, "Can we stop talking about this? We are just friends, all right? Nothing else."
"Did you get it in?"
"Damn it Stewie!" Brian snapped. "You're pissing me off!"
Stewie smirked, knowing that he had cracked Brian.
Peter set down his second glass of beer down on the table at the Clam. Quagmire was turned around, staring at a couple of collage girls who were sitting and laughing at the bar. Joe took out his wallet, "Tonight's on me you guys."
"What's the special occasion?" Peter asked taking a sip of his beer and wondering if he should order another one. After all, he wasn't paying tonight.
"The chief gave me a raise after I took down that drug lord last week." Joe replied.
Quagmire turned his attention back his friends, zipping up his pants. "Oh collage girls, gotta love them. Hey Peter, when's Brianna's birthday?"
Peter shrugged, "How the hell should I know? I don't even know my own kids birthday, let alone my nieces."
"I think it's great you and Lois took her in." Joe complimented.
"Eh, it's all Lois's idea. She wanted to keep her, while I wanted to give her to my mother. Were raising another kid." Peter gulped down his beer and wiped his mouth.
"You don't necessarily have to raise her, Peter." Joe said. "Brianna is 17 years old; she's already finished collage, and has her life in order. All Brianna really needs right now is her family. That's you Peter."
Quagmire laughed slyly, "If you don't wanna handle her, Peter, you could always drop her off at my house."
Peter shook his head, "Ahh, its fine. She's not a pain in the ass like Stewie, Chris and the other one."
"Good for you Peter." Joe said.
"Alright fellas, lets head out." Peter said scooting out of the booth.
"I wanna stay here a little longer." Quagmire said eyeing the girls.
Joe and Peter walked out of the Clam, leaving Quagmire. They didn't wait long until Quagmire walked out with hand marks on each cheek. "Who else but Quagmire?"
"That was very good, Andrew. Much better today." Lois said to her 10-year-old piano student, "Same time next week." She waited until Andrew left through front door and then took out her hidden ear buds.
"Well…." Brianna said awkwardly as she removed her buds as well, "That was, well different."
"Oh I know," Lois sighed, "These tone deaf kids really suck."
"Then why do you teach them?"
Lois picked up the music sheet and closed the lid of the piano, "Because if I don't, then I'm a racist."
"To tone deaf kids?" Brianna raised an eyebrow.
"Yes."
"I'm not sure that's a thing, Aunt Lois."
"It is in this town. You'd be surprised at what people in this town think is racist. Like shouting at an Asian man, 'Hey cat breath get off the road, you can't drive,' after he cuts you off on the road." Lois said making her way into the living room.
Brianna laughed nervously, "Okay then. I'm heading up to my room. Do you need anything?"
Lois turned on the television and started flipping through the channels, "I'm okay sweetie. Thank you."
Brianna smiled at her aunt then walked up the stairs into her room.
As Brian drove back to the house, he spotted a small flower shop. He stopped at a red light, thinking. "I never really buy the girls flowers." He pulled into the flower shop's parking lot and stepped inside looking around. The old woman at the counter looked at with Brian with a smile.
"What are we looking for today, sweetie?"
"I want to buy some flowers for two important girls in my life." He answered looking at the bouquets. "Oh crap, and then there's Meg. Almost forgot about her."
The old woman led Brian through the store, "These here are the prettiest in the store."
Brian picked up a bouquet with tulips, "These will be for Lois." He then picked a bouquet of roses, "These are for Meg, the girl who is unloved." He looked around some more wondering which flower he should choose for Brianna. And then he found them. "And these orchids are for the girl I really like."
"How lovely." The old woman said, "I'll just ring you up." The woman thanked Brian and waved goodbye.
"Have a good day." Brian called out to the woman. He went to his car and drove home, with the flowers in the front seat.
A/N: I'm truly sorry that this chapter took forever! I've just been behind on all of my stories and I need to catch up. I want to thank all of you who are reading this story and reviewing it. Please leave me a comment/review on what you thought about this chapter. Thank you again. Ciao!