Brian and Justin walked to a booth at the diner and slid in facing one another. Brian was trying to keep a neutral expression, but Justin could see the tension in his lover’s face. “Maybe this was a bad idea.” Justin offered. “I will not run away, Sunshine.” Brian said determinedly. “I’m just saying that we could have gone somewhere else to eat breakfast this morning.” Justin continued. “Maybe let things cool down a bit. You know Michael went straight to Debbie.” “So?” “Brian.” Justin said warningly. Brian just gave him a quizzical look and went back to perusing the menu. “Good Morning.” Debbie said in a too-sweet voice. “Morning, Deb.” Justin said with a cautious smile. “Could we get some coffee, please?” Brian said using the same too-sweet tone that Debbie had used. “Certainly.” Debbie said with a huge phony smile. “Sugar with that or just arsenic?” “Debbie.” Brian sighed. “How could you?” Debbie hissed. “How could you stand against Michael on this?” “Because he’s wrong.” Brian said flatly. “Just because he’s ‘married’ now and living with the professor and the littlest ex-hustler does not mean that he knows a damned thing about being a father. A full time father.” “And, you think you’re some kind of expert.” “No, but then again, I’m not trying to rip my kid away from his mother, and the only fucking family he’s ever known.” Brian said firmly. “Michael is not you.” Debbie snorted. “Truer words have never been spoken.” “You think you know so much.” Debbie said sarcastically. “What about Gus?” “What about him?” “You want him passed back and forth between Melanie and Lindsay while they battle it out during this break up of theirs.” “They aren’t battling. At least, not anymore.” Brian said. “Sure, they made their fair share of comments to one another at first, but it’s been over a year now.” Brian arched his eyebrows. “This the other side of the ‘happily married’ coin, Deb. Gay-divorce. It sucks but straight people have been doing it for years. And, I’ve yet to hear of two straight people who’ve had their kids taken away from them because they got divorced.” Debbie pursed her lips. “And, this ‘two-people-can-raise-children-better-than-one’ defense of Michael’s should be a real slap in the face to you.” Debbie looked up sharply. “You raised him by yourself. And, I’d say you did a pretty decent job of it. Hell, you may as well say you raised me, too, from the age of 14. I don’t think you did so badly with me, either.” Debbie narrowed her eyes. Brian could see the dots connecting in her head. “And besides, I’m not taking anybody’s side, well, maybe JR’s, but then again, I’d think you’d be on her side, too.” “Debbie, you know in the long run the only one who will actually be hurt by this is Jenny.” Justin said. “She has the most to lose.” “So, what can I get you boys for breakfast?” Debbie said startling them with the neck-break speed of the change in subjects. -- “Daddy!” Gus shouted when he saw his father walking up to where he was playing. Melanie looked up from her book a cookie half in and half out of her mouth. Jenny made a happy noise as she tried desperately to get out of her stroller. “Hey, Sonny-Boy.” Brian called back. Gus carefully climbed down from the play structure then hurtled himself in the direction of Brian as fast as he could go. “Slow down, there, buddy.” Brian said catching Gus just before he face planted himself on the sidewalk. “You’re going to hurt yourself.” Gus just laughed when he fell into his father’s arms squealing with delight when Brian whirled him around in a circle before setting him back on the ground. “Hey, Brian.” Melanie said around a mouthful of cookie. “Come talk to this child before she strangles herself on her straps.” “Hey, JR.” Brian said as he squatted down by her stroller. “How’s my best girl?” “My By!” Jenny squealed. “Up, up!” “She just ate, so I don’t think I’d be whirling her around too much.” Melanie said shaking her head. “I’ll throw you around later, okay, Baby.” Brian said planting a raspberry on Jenny’s neck causing her to shriek with laughter. “So, what brings you to the park in the middle of the day?” Melanie asked. “I need a reason?” Brian asked as he sat down on the bench next to her. “It’s gorgeous out here.” “You are so full of s-h-i-t it isn’t even funny.” Melanie said making Brian smirk. “You weren’t home, so I thought you might be here.” Brian said. “And the reason being?” “I tried to talk to Michael, but he’s Michael, you know?” “All too well.” “This colleague of yours, he any good?” Brian asked. “He can hold his own.” Melanie said. “And, he’ll do it pro-bono so I don’t have to worry about money.” “You need money?” Melanie shook her head no. “Well, I know this guy. He’s a lawyer, he’s good, but he’s not cheap.” “And?” “I think that you should go into this thing with a little more than someone who can just ‘hold his own’.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “So, I’ll call him first so I can settle his fee, then he can represent you and Lindsay.” “You think it’s going to be that bad?” Melanie asked shocked. “I think it could get ugly, yeah.” Brian nodded. “Why would you do this for me?” Melanie asked her old suspicions rearing its ugly head. “Why would you go against Michael, your best friend?” “Because, JR doesn’t deserve to be dragged into a custody battle.” Brian said succinctly. “You and Lindsay don’t deserve to have your ability to raise your kids questioned just because you’re no longer together.” He shook his head. “Michael refuses to see the damage he’s going to cause with all this bullshit, so I have to try and stop him from hurting everyone including himself.” “I don’t know what to say.” “Just say, ‘Thank you, Brian’.” He instructed. Melanie nodded then looked at JR who was busy chewing on one of her shoes that she had managed to pull off. “Just be as opened about everything as possible. Don’t hold anything back, and I mean anything. Cause you know that Michael’s lawyer will use everything he tells her to prove you’re unfit.” “What exactly -?” “Marianne McDonald.” Brian said flatly. Melanie silenced at once. “No one stays clean in this, Mel. Lay it all out on the table. Otherwise, anything you don’t say will be used against you.” “Linds and I weren’t even married then.” Melanie said in her own defense. “Please.” Brian said rolling his eyes. “Don’t play the high horse card with me, cause it won’t fucking work. You and Lindsay had been together for how long when it happened? Hell, Gus was a baby. Don’t kid yourself thinking that defense will hold up in court.” “Fine.” Melanie spat. “And, Sam?” “I would hope that Lindsay knows better than to try and hide that bit of stupidity.” Brian scoffed. “Stupidity?” Melanie said shocked. “Is that what you think? That it was just stupidity?” “What would you call it?” “She betrayed me.” Melanie said in a low angry voice. “She loves you.” Brian said. “It tore her apart to know that she hurt you. I should know, I’m the one she came to. The one she talked to. All she could think about was you, Gus and the baby.” He shook his head. “Even after you found out, Lindsay’s only concern was for you and the kids. Still is. It’s one of the reason’s she has tried so hard to stay on friendly ground with you. She wants you to be Gus’ mom. Gus still sees you as Mama.” “Why didn’t you try to step in?” “Do you see me as a full-time dad?” “You do pretty well with John.” “Maybe.” Brian offered. “But, I got him by default. There wasn’t anyone else who could do it. Not even his own father.” Melanie nodded. “But, I wouldn’t have chosen to be his guardian. That sounds fucking heartless, doesn’t it?” “But, you did, you are.” Melanie pointed out. “And, you do a damned good job.” Brian frowned and looked to the sky. “What?” “Just waiting for the lightning bolt.” “Fucker.” Melanie said then looked quickly at Jenny who was busy watching Gus swing on the tire swing. “The point is that you and Lindsay are Gus’ parents whether you’re together or not.” Brian said. “If someone could just force Michael to see that -.” “Debbie?” “I don’t know.” Brian said. “I’m not so sure where she stands on this. She was at my door the morning after I spoke to Michael telling me that I had some nerve siding against my ‘best friend’.” Brian said using finger quotes to emphasize the last bit. “Is he?” Melanie asked. “Your best friend that is?” “I don’t know.” Brian shrugged. “I sometimes think I don’t know him at all anymore.” “Well, you have changed.” Melanie said. “You noticed?” “Of course I did.” Melanie said dismissively. “Should I feel complimented or surprised?” “But, he’s changed, too.” Melanie said ignoring Brian’s comment. “Yeah.” Brian paused looking toward the play structure as Gus was sliding down one of its many slides and smiled. “I’ll call Gabriel this evening when I get home. You should be able to call him first thing tomorrow to set up a meeting.” “Thanks, again.” Melanie said. Brian nodded then kissed her on the cheek before saying goodbye to Jenny and Gus and heading back to the office. End chapter 4.