“Cause if you are moving in, Justin,” John continued, “then you’re going to need a bigger place, Uncle Bri.” If the scene before him shocked John, he didn’t show it. “I mean it’s bad enough that I gotta live in an alcove. We’d have to store Justin in one of your dresser drawers or something.” He started laughing when he saw the surprised look on Brian and Justin’s faces. “What?” “Uh.” Brian said again still unable to come up with anything better. “Jeez, Uncle Bri.” John mocked. “Buy another vowel, will you.” John laughed again as he went to the refrigerator to get a soda. “You know, I have seen adults kiss before. It’s not that big of a shock.” He said between sips. “Smart guy.” Brian growled then laughed in spite of himself. “You’re early.” “Gotta ride from Howie’s mom.” John explained. “What would you have been doing if I’d gotten here 10 minutes later. Hmmm?” He closed his eyes and gave a mock shudder. “At least you were only kissing.” “Shut up.” Brian said still smiling. John smiled again before heading in to turn on the TV. “Wise ass.” Brian called after him making the boy laugh all the harder. As John flopped down on the couch and picked up the remote, Justin stared at Brian. Brian stared after his nephew rolling his eyes and shaking his head. “What?” Brian asked when he looked back at Justin. “I don’t know where the parenting skills came from either.” Brian said with a shrug. “He’s a lot like me though. Maybe we get along because we’re like kindred spirits. I grew up with an abusive ogre for a father and an emotionally unavailable mother. John had an overbearing mother and an unavailable father.” Brian shrugged again. “Who knows?” Justin was still staring at Brian. “What?” “What does this mean?” Justin said pointing at first Brian then himself. “I don’t know.” Brian said. “What do you want it to mean?” “If I told you I was a complete idiot for leaving you, would you take me back?” Justin asked pleadingly. “No.” Brian said. “Then what do I have to do?” Justin asked defeated. “Ask.” “What?” Justin asked confused. “Just ask.” Justin cleared his throat then took a deep breath. “Brian, will you take me back?” Brian smiled and leaned into capture Justin’s lips once more. Justin kissed Brian with a ferocity that spoke of apology and love and longing. Brian smiled against Justin’s lips as they parted. He leaned his forehead against Justin’s. “You were never really gone.” Brian said before pressing his lips together and pulling away to look at the younger man’s face. Justin broke out into a brilliant sunshine smile. Brian couldn’t help but smile back. Justin then pulled Brian down to his lips once more. “You know, I can hear you two, right?” John called from the couch causing Brian and Justin to start laughing. “He’s definitely kin to you.” Justin said smiling still wrapped around Brian. “His smart ass gene has developed quite nicely.” -- The following afternoon, Brian went to pick up John from school when his afternoon meeting cancelled. Brian sat in the Corvette feeling extremely conspicuous. Several of the kids stared at the car as they walked by. When the flow of kids dwindled and there was still no John, Brian climbed out of the car and walked toward the school. Brian made his way to the office and was greeted by a petite blond who couldn’t have been much older than the kids who attended the school. “Can I help you?” Blondie asked when Brian reached the counter. “I came to pick up my nephew and he hasn’t come out of the school yet and I was wondering where he might be?” Brian said smiling. “Your nephew’s name?” Blondie asked. “John Burke.” Brian said. “Hang on.” Blondie walked to a file cabinet and pulled out a file folder with John’s name on it. “Here we go.” She walked back to the counter and opened the file. “Let’s see, John has Mr. Wellman for his last period.” “Right.” Brian confirmed. “Well, Mr. Wellman’s roll sheet shows that Mr. Burke was absent from class.” Blondie said frowning. “Absent.” Brian repeated. “That can’t be right.” “Hang on. Maybe John was tardy. His cast might have slowed him down.” Blonde looked in a basket at the end of the counter that was full of slips of yellow paper. “Huh, no, not tardy.” She pursed her lips. “Wait. Let me check the sign out sheet.” “Sign out sheet?” Brian asked. “For when parents get their kids out of class early.” Blondie said. “You know, for doctor’s appointments and such.” Brian tried to remember if John had an appointment that he might have forgotten about, but couldn’t. “Here it is. John Burke was signed out at 1:22.” “Who signed him out?” Brian asked anxiously. “Oh, darn, who ever it was only signed and didn’t print their name.” Blondie said perturbed. “May I?” Brian asked and took the clipboard from the woman. Brian didn’t recognize the unreadable signature. He handed the clipboard back to her. “Who would have been here in the office?” “Well, me, but I had stepped out to the copy room around that time.” Blondie explained. “So, you don’t know who took my nephew out of here?” Brian raised his voice. “Sir, now, calm down.” Blondie said. “It’s not like that.” “Where is the principal?” Brian asked. Blondie nodded and disappeared into an inner office. “Fuck.” Brian muttered. As he waited for the principal, Brian ran his hand through his hair and pulled out his cell phone. He dialed Justin number and waited. “Hey you.” Justin said cheerily. “Justin can you get to John’s school?” Brian said. “Yeah. What’s happened?” “John’s gone.” “Gone? How?” “Someone signed him out after lunch.” Brian said. “And, no one here knows shit.” “I’ll be right there.” Justin said hearing the anxiety in his lover’s voice. “Hurry.” Brian said. End chapter 9.