“We’re gonna put this right next to your Dad’s soccer trophy.” I tell Gus, ruffling his hair. I set his newly earned Violin recital trophy up on the mantel next to Brian’s as promised.

“Oh no your not. There will be NO violin achievements of any kind next to my soccer shit.” Brian goes to grab the trophy and I smack his hand.

“Gus worked really hard for that. Now show some support for your SON.”

He rolls his eyes and turns back to beaming and proud Gus. “Good job Sonnyboy.”

“Thanks Dad!” He goes over and stares at his name perfectly engraved on the tiny plaque.

Gus Peterson-Marcus-Kinney
2nd Place. Goodwin Academy Emerging Musicians Show

“You did good, Gus.” I tell him. Brian wraps his arm around me tightly. I rest my head on his shoulder.

“Mr. Gold said I can sit first chair next year!” He was so happy. I had never seen him so happy.

A low grumble comes from Brian’s chest and I rub his lower back. “At least he didn’t call him Ethan.”

“Your friend seemed nice.” Brian speaks up.

Gus turns around and blushes softly. “Oh. Tyler? Yeah. He’s…nice.”

“You should invite him over for dinner one night.”

Gus and I both look at Brian with wide eyes.

“Really?” We both ask at the same time.

Brian rolls his eyes again. “Yes really. Stop acting so shocked. That’s what families do right? They meet their kids…whatever the hell he is.”

“He’s a friend. A good friend.”

“Yeah? Good like he walks you home from school? Or good like he gives you head during study hall?” Brian smirks at his 17 year old son.

“Both.” Gus winks at us and heads upstairs, taking 2 steps at a time.

“He’s growing up, Brian.”

“I know. Don’t remind me.” Brian flops down into the recliner, undoing his tie. I curl up in his lap and nuzzle my face into his neck.

“You were still the hottest Dad there.” I tell him. His arms wrap around me so naturally. We cuddle like that, yes I said cuddle, for a while.

“I love you.” He says quietly against my shoulder. I almost don’t hear him, and if there was anyone else in the room they wouldn’t have heard what he said. But I always know when he says it. He doesn’t say it loud and he doesn’t say it often. But when he does its meaningful. He said it now because of what we had gone through the past few months. His mother dying, the Chris Hobbs thing, the building of the gallery, Ethan, and Gus growing up into a smart and talented young man. A young gay man at that which I know in a way makes Brian more relieved than anything.

I smile against his neck. “I know.” I tell him, my fingers in his hair.

We are interrupted by the door bell.

“What the hell?” He murmurs. He swats my ass and I get up from his lap, groaning. I was so comfy. He squints at the clock on the mantel.

“It’s 4:15 on a Saturday. Who the fuck would be coming to see us?”

“Maybe it’s a girl scouts trying to sell us cookies.” I giggle, following him to the door.

“Right.” He opens the front door and we both blink oddly at little older lady standing on our front door step.

“Can I help you?” Brian asks.

“Yes. Hello, my name is Mrs. Travers. I am from the division of youth and family services for the state of New York. I’m looking for a Mr. Justin Taylor?”

I raise my hand and step from behind Brian. “I’m Justin Taylor.”

“Hello, Mr. Taylor.” She extends her hand and I shake it cautiously.

“Do you know a woman named Melissa Crowley?”

“Um. No, not that I recall.” I look at Brian and he raises an eye brow at me.

Mrs. Travers reaches into her briefcase and hands me a piece of paper. “Do you remember this, Mr. Taylor?”

I take the piece of paper and look down at it, reading it carefully. It was from the Kings County Hospital. I swallow hard. “Y-Yes.”

“Well, that’s a start. May I come in?”

I nod and move to the side so she can enter.

“What the hell is this about?” Brian asks with a worried expression. I just look at him, my heart racing.

“I’ll try and make this quick Mr. Taylor. Melissa Crowley went to Kings County 4 years ago and was inseminated with your sperm. She became the proud mother of a little girl, Aileen 9 months later. Unfortunately Ms. Crowley was killed in a car accident, 4 months ago.”

“Okay…”

“WAIT ONE MINUTE.” Brian interrupts. “YOUR SPERM?”

“Shhh.” I tell him.

Mrs. Travers gives Brian a gentle smile. “Ms. Crowley had no family. Her parents died many years back and we tried to locate any other family she had with no prevail. She had a will made out as it was just her and Aileen. She said if something were to happen to her, Aileen would go to her natural father. It took a lot of detective work. But we finally tracked you down.”

“Wait…me? I’m her…”

“Next of kin. Yes.”

“But…I don’t even…I…”

“I know this must come as quite a shock to you, Mr. Taylor. I take it…you did not know your sperm was used?”

“Well, no. I mean…” I look at Brian.”…I did it when I first moved to New York. I had to pay for school and rent. I mean…my old roommate told me it was a good idea. I didn’t even think…”

“Most men in that situation don’t. But unfortunately these things happen. I have schedule Aileen to be brought here…” she hands me a folder with a photo of Aileen paper clipped to the front.

“WHOA, wait one minute! I can’t just…take her! How do I know she is even MINE?” I stare at the picture then IMMEDIATELY regret what I said. She looks JUST like me. Curly blonde wisps on top of her head. HUGE smile and bright blue eyes. She’s pale and tiny. And…perfect.

Mrs. Travers blinks at me. “We can run tests if you need proof. Are you not in a good place in your life to take a child, Mr. Taylor?” She eyes the mansion with a raised eye brow.

“No! I mean I didn’t say that, but…I don’t know the first thing about a child.” I hand the folder to Brian as his hand is reaching out for it. His eyes widen at the picture. I watch his face closely. I wish to hell I could read minds right now like some sort of super hero. Maybe I could ask Michael which super hero reads minds. That would be awesome…okay wait. Back to reality here.

“Well, if you refuse she will then be put in the system and hopefully we can find a stable foster home to put her in.”

“No.” Brian finally speaks.

“What?” My mouth hangs open at him.

“Can you bring her by tomorrow? At noon?”

Mrs. Travers smiles. “Sure.” She hesitates. “May I ask…are you married, Mr. Taylor.”

I swallow. “Yes. To him. This is Brian. Brian Kinney.”

She shakes his hand and he looks like a deer in headlights. “That’s wonderful. Aileen will need a stable home to go into if you two choose to keep her. She has been through a lot.”

“Of course…” I feel like I cannot breathe.

“I’ll see you tomorrow at Noon, Mr. Taylor. Mr. Kinney.” She opens the front door and gives us one last smile before she leaves.

Brian and I stand there, dumbfounded, staring at the door.

“Say something. “ I finally tell him.

He doesn’t.

“Are you gonna yell?” I ask.

I see him shake his head out of the corner of my eye.

“Are you mad?”

Another head shake.

“Brian…I…”

“What’s going on?”

We both turn to find Gus standing at the bottom of the stairs, looking at us with a puzzled look. “Who was at the door?”

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