A/N: I know I haven't updated in a while, so here's a long chapter for you guys. Thanks for the awesome reviews as well.
Chapter 6- Family Values
Spoilers: Babylon Boomerang
"Is she going to be okay?"
"I don't know."
"What do you think caused her to collapse?"
"She was working since six a.m. this morning."
"Holy shit!"
"This doesn't concern you, Justin."
"Yes it does."
"Does Vic know what happened?"
"Yeah… yeah, I called him," said Aiden. "When do you think the doctors will come out and tell us something? It's been almost an hour!"
"They have to treat by triage and usually start with the most critical patients, so if there's someone worse off than Debbie it's gonna be a while," said Ted.
"Thanks, Ted," said Aiden.
Her cell phone rang, and the guys watched as Aiden answered the call and began yelling at the person on the other end a few minutes later.
The phone call ended 20 minutes later.
"What happened?" asked Emmett.
"Nick and I got into a fight," said Aiden. "Third one this week."
"You should dump him, he's a lousy schmuck," said Brian.
"Brian's right," said Michael. "He's been taking you for granted and treating you like dirt ever since you two got engaged."
"Melanie set me up with him, do you have any idea how awkward things will get if I end it?" said Aiden. "I almost broke things off when Uncle Vic was sick, told Melanie that I was planning to end it. She accused me of not giving Nick a chance, of not giving relationships a chance… of being just like Brian."
"She did what?!" Brian yelled.
"You need a man who will treat you with the respect you deserve," said Emmett.
"I don't normally do relationships, and with good reason," said Aiden. "How can I trust that a man I decide to have in my life will except that I'm close to you guys? Except that I join Mom in demonstrations and protests? It's easier not having to deal with that."
QUEER AS FOLK
Aiden later decided she had had enough of waiting and decided to find out where her mother was.
"Aiden!" a voice yelled.
Aiden turned around and spotted her mother in a hospital bed. The two of them hugged.
"How are you feeling? Can I get you anything? Have any of the doctors seen you yet?" asked Aiden.
"I feel fine, I don't need anything, and no one's seen me yet," said Debbie. "Thank you, Aiden, for making sure I was okay."
"You're my mother, course I'm gonna make sure you're alright," said Aiden.
"Go wait with Michael, he needs you now," said Debbie.
Aiden reluctantly made her way back to the waiting room.
"Sir, you're gonna have to turn your phone off," said a nurse.
"Sorry, I just wanted to let my daughter know I was okay," said a voice.
Aiden felt like she had literally become frozen. She couldn't move, couldn't speak. She knew that voice – she had heard it many times, a long time ago.
QUEER AS FOLK
It took a moment for Aiden to muster up the courage to turn around and find the source of the voice she had just heard. She realized it was a man sitting in a hospital bed nearby, with a curtain partially around him.
"Aiden Novotny? Is that you?" the man asked.
"Crap," Aiden muttered.
She walked over to the hospital bed and once she got a better look at him, realized it was exactly who she thought it was.
It was her ex-boyfriend, Stuart Valens.
"Yeah… yeah, it's me," said Aiden.
"Good, I was afraid I was hallucinating for a second," said Stuart.
Aiden was about to laugh when she realized whatever had him in the hospital had to be serious.
"What happened?" asked Aiden.
"I got rear-ended on my way back home and was knocked out, so I'm probably gonna be here for a while," said Stuart.
"I'm here with a family member," said Aiden. "I was actually on my way back to the waiting room."
"Would you mind staying a while?" asked Stuart. "I think I broke my arm, I'd prefer not to think about how bad."
"Nah, I don't mind," said Aiden. "How's the campaign going?"
"If I win, I'll be the youngest U.S. Senator since Biden," said Stuart.
"My mother and I saw your commercials. She said you had a nice ass," said Aiden. "Went from chasing their skirts to chasing their votes? Could be worse, you could've pulled a Clinton and ruined an intern's dress."
"What? Hey!" said Stuart. "Those days ended a long time ago."
"I know," said Aiden.
Stuart thought he saw her smile.
"I really have to head back to the waiting room, my brother's gonna wonder why I was gone so long," said Aiden.
"Okay," said Stuart.
Aiden noticed he was writing something on a piece of paper.
"What are you writing?" asked Aiden.
Stuart didn't say anything, instead folding up the piece of paper and handing it to Aiden before she went back to the waiting room.
QUEER AS FOLK
Had it been an hour, or two, since they had gotten home? Aiden wasn't sure. They were all sitting in the living room with Debbie, who had been diagnosed with exhaustion. The doctor had told her to stay at home for at least two days but Aiden knew just how stubborn her mother was and that keeping her at home would be easier said than done as Debbie was already upset at the thought of missing even one shift at the diner.
Aiden and Michael also noticed the sad look on their uncle's face. When he walked outside onto the patio, the twins followed him.
"Don't worry, Uncle Vic," said Aiden.
"The doctors said it's just exhaustion," said Michael.
"Just exhaustion!" said Vic. "You have any idea how tired you have to be to fall over? That's how tired your mother is – and it's all because of me."
"What are you talking about?" asked Michael.
"Think about how unhappy she'd be without you," said Aiden.
"But I'm the reason she's pushing herself so hard, working double shifts – to pay off my debts," said Vic. "She even took out a second mortgage."
"What?" said Aiden.
"On our house?" asked Michael.
"Yeah. She couldn't get much but she did," said Vic.
"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Michael.
"She made me promise not to," said Vic.
"You know I'd help, I want to help and I have the money," said Aiden.
"Radio pays that much?" asked Michael.
"Yeah," said Aiden. "I'm paying everything off whether she wants me to or not."
"I can't let you do that, you need money for the wedding," said Michael.
"No I don't, Nick's parents are loaded to the moon," said Aiden. "He's their only child, so they're paying for everything but the dress – his mother volunteered to pay for that but I know if she does I'll wind up with a dress I hate. She criticizes everything I wear."
"I still can't let you do that alone… I'm going to help," said Michael.
"How? You're barely able to pay your own rent with the money you're making," said Aiden.
"I'll figure it out, don't worry," said Michael.
"Okay," said Aiden.
QUEER AS FOLK
The next day, Aiden found out just how Michael was planning to accomplish making more money to help their mother.
"I can't believe you're going for store manager! Why would you compromise yourself like that?" said Aiden.
"I'm not compromising myself, I'm trying to help Mom!" said Michael.
"I'm sorry… I don't like that you have to lie just to keep your job, much less get promoted," said Aiden.
"I don't know how I'll tell David, but I have to be honest," said Michael.
"Damn right you gotta be honest… and perhaps you should tell Tracy so she doesn't think you're taking her on an actual date," said Aiden.
"I can't. I don't know what she'll do," said Michael. "I don't know if she'll be understanding or tell everyone in the store."
"Okay," said Aiden. "Good luck getting the promotion, Michael. I know you got what it takes to run the place… and maybe make the environment there friendlier for other gay employees like you."
QUEER AS FOLK
The next morning Aiden and Michael decided to go see their mother and make sure she was resting. They weren't surprised to find her doing the opposite when Michael opened the door to find Vic trying to drag Debbie away from the door.
"… And you need to rest your ass!" Vic yelled.
"Hi Michael, hi Aiden!" said Debbie. "What are you two doing here?"
"Uncle Vic told Aiden and I to bring some rope to tie you down," said Michael.
"Kinky," said Debbie. "Either of you want eggs? You're both getting eggs. I need to do something with my hands!"
Debbie stomped into the kitchen, with Vic, Michael, and Aiden following her.
"Mom, will you stand still and listen to me?" Michael asked.
"You want tomatoes with those?" asked Debbie.
"Mom, will you please listen to Michael?" asked Aiden.
"I have something to tell you," said Michael. "I'm up for a promotion at work.
"Sweetie, that's great!" said Debbie.
"I may get it, I may not, but either way I'm making some changes," said Michael.
"You're not going straight are you?" asked Vic.
"Uncle Vic, shush!" said Aiden.
"I know how hard you work. You always have, taking care of Aiden and I by yourself, no one to help you," said Michael. "I've never done anything for you."
"That's not true," said Debbie.
"Now it's my turn to take care of you, and I will," said Michael. "I swear."
"Baby you don't have to take care of me," said Debbie. "You already do so much."
"I wanna do more," said Michael. "Now will you stay home and try and get a little rest?"
Michael and Debbie hugged. Michael then left and Debbie later went upstairs to rest.
"I ran into someone the night Michael and I brought Debbie to the hospital to get checked out," said Aiden.
"Who?" asked Vic.
"My ex," said Aiden.
"Which one?" asked Vic.
"Stuart Valens," said Aiden. "He got rear-ended and had to go to the E.R."
"How bad?" asked Vic.
"Bad enough that he was probably there a day or two, maybe more if there were… complications," said Aiden. "You and I both know what kind and I'd rather not talk about it."
"Nine years, and you never said a word about his condition to anyone," said Vic. "It would've been in the papers otherwise."
"I have nothing to gain from such malicious behavior. If I had wanted to say something I could've simply revealed the truth on my show," said Aiden.
"I know. Are you still in love with him?" said Vic. "It would make sense since you're still protecting him after all these years."
"No I'm not," said Aiden. "Besides, he's married."
"Separated," said Vic. "There are rumors that they separated."
"Married, separated, same thing," said Aiden. "I gotta pick up Brian and help him find a new car."
QUEER AS FOLK
The two friends arrived at a car dealership on Aiden's Ducati. Brian couldn't wait until he found a car – he had nothing against the motorcycle or Aiden, except that he had been sitting behind her close enough to lose his hard-on. He wouldn't have that problem with a car, though a motorcycle of his own didn't seem like a bad idea either.
"What's this all about? Really?" asked Aiden.
"You were in the triage area for a long time," said Brian. "Why?"
"Can't a woman spend time with her mother?" asked Aiden.
"Something is going on," said Brian.
"Even if something was I wouldn't tell you," said Aiden.
The two friends found a Jeep identical to the one Brian used to own that had been smashed by Justin's father. Aiden hadn't met either of Justin's parents despite seeing his mother at the gallery showing. Aiden couldn't contemplate how they could be more concerned with appearances, with seeming perfect, than with helping their own son.
"I approve," said Aiden as she looked at the Jeep.
Brian spotted a hot guy cruising him. He cruised back.
"He's not bad," said Brian.
"I was talking about the car," said Aiden.
Brian snickered. The two friends heard the car salesman approaching and turned around to greet him.
"Wow! You two are such a beautiful couple!" the car salesman gushed.
Brian wondered where the car salesman had gotten that idea, then remembered Aiden had a diamond ring on, as Nick had proposed with one. Brian hated the ring. It was very over the top, like Nick had had something to prove by purchasing a ring with that many stones.
You haven't married her yet you schmuck. Don't think I can't change her mind, either, thought Brian.
Brian decided to sit in the Jeep, and noticed the look on Aiden's face as the car salesman referred to the Jeep as a "gay" car. Brian would've smirked at how displeased she was but he already had a plan of how best to handle the situation.
QUEER AS FOLK
Brian and Aiden went outside to test-drive the Jeep.
"What an asshole. I hate car salesmen," said Aiden.
Aiden made a grab for the keys, but Brian held them out of her reach as they reached the car.
"I'm buying, which means I'm driving," said Brian.
"Where to?" asked Aiden.
"You'll see," said Brian.
He immediately hit the gas pedal and sped towards the dealership building.
"What the flying fuck are you doing?!" Aiden yelled.
She heard a loud crash as they drove through a large window, coming to a stop on the carpeting inside the building. Brian smirked as he used the wipers on the Jeep to get some glass shards off the windshield.
"We'll take it!" said Brian.
Aiden rolled her eyes as she stepped out of the car.
QUEER AS FOLK
Aiden was asleep when her cell phone's vibrating woke her up. Unfortunately, it woke Nick up too.
"Let it go to voicemail," said Nick.
"It's Justin," said Aiden.
"So what?" Nick hissed.
"Shush," Aiden whispered.
She rolled her eyes and listened as Justin talked.
QUEER AS FOLK
Aiden met Justin outside Brian's place.
"Where do you wanna go?" asked Aiden.
"Lindsay and Melanie's," said Justin.
"Alright," said Aiden. "Just help me tie your stuff to my bike, and we're set. I got a spare helmet in the trunk."
They were there in nearly twenty minutes. The ride normally took fifteen, but that was usually when Aiden was speeding. They sat on the steps and talked some more.
"You didn't ask whether or not I wanted to go home," said Justin.
"It's none of my business," said Aiden.
"My parents know, and they hate me," said Justin. "They couldn't even look at me and if I tried to stay at Daphne's her parents would bring me home. I have nowhere to go but here."
"If this doesn't work out you can always stay with me," said Aiden.
"Thanks," said Justin.
"Anytime," said Aiden.
After Lindsay let Melanie in, Aiden took out the piece of paper Stuart had give her two days ago. A phone number was written on it.
QUEER AS FOLK
The next day, Aiden found herself sitting in a café waiting for something to happen. She wasn't sure if Stuart would show. She had called him that morning, but it had been his idea to meet up. Aiden wasn't sure why, and she wasn't sure why she had agreed to this. She was engaged, she was happy with Nick… right?
She heard the chimes on the door make noise, meaning that someone had just walked in. She realized out of the corner of her eye that it was Stuart.
"What's going on?" asked Aiden.
"It's been a long time. I wanted to see you somewhere that wasn't an emergency room," said Stuart.
Aiden noticed Stuart's arm was in a sling.
"How bad?" asked Aiden.
"I fractured it," said Stuart. "How are things with you? Everything okay with your family?"
"Yeah, everyone's fine now," said Aiden. "My mother overworked herself to the point of exhaustion. Enough about me, how are things going?"
"My wife and I separated six months ago. I'm filing for divorce after the election," said Stuart. "Caught her cheating on me with the dentist."
"That's awful," said Aiden. "How's your daughter?"
"Elena's okay. I'm trying to keep things quiet until the proceedings start, I'd rather she enjoy her childhood and not get caught up in this mess," said Stuart. "I contemplated dropping out of the race but Wilson is an asshole."
"Last thing the state of Pennsylvania needs is two republican U.S. Senators," said Aiden. "That's worse than just being stuck with Sawyer around. I'm sorry but I don't like him."
"Don't be, Sawyer's an ass," said Stuart.
"Technically he's an elephant and you're an ass," Aiden joked.
The two of them laughed at Aiden's reference to the symbols of the republican and democratic parties.
"I've listened to your show, I think it's great," said Stuart.
"I insult politicians with satire, why would you like it?" asked Aiden.
"It's funny. You're funny," said Stuart.
They sat and talked for nearly two hours until they both left the café separately.
QUEER AS FOLK
That night, the Liberty Diner was busy but there was a big reason to celebrate that night. Michael had been promoted to store manager at the Big Q and Debbie had decorated the diner in her son's honor.
"I'm ordering for everyone!" Debbie yelled.
"Ma, we can't afford all that," said Michael.
"I'm fine," said Emmett.
"You did good Mikey," said Vic. "Thanks."
Michael went outside as Emmett put an arm around Aiden.
"What are you doing?" asked Aiden.
"You've been glowing," said Emmett.
"What?" asked Aiden.
"You've been on cloud nine since this afternoon. What happened?" said Emmett.
Aiden could feel all eyes on her.
"I'm gonna drag Michael out of the rain, be right back," said Aiden.
She went outside and stood under the awning with Michael.
"I lied," said Michael.
"I'm keeping secrets," said Aiden.
"I'm still in the closet at work and Tracy still thinks I'm interested in her," said Michael.
"My ex invited me to join him for coffee," said Aiden. "I didn't tell Nick."
"Why not?" asked Michael.
"We've been fighting, I didn't feel like giving him more ammo," said Aiden. "How did our lives get so confusing?"
The twins shared a hug before going back inside the diner.
So I delved into some of Aiden's past here. It won't be the last chapter of that either, so whether it's come back to haunt her something unexpected remains to be seen, so stay tuned!