Justin looked at Daphne and then at Jessica.

“Do I really have to be here?”  Justin asked not really serious.

“Well, let me think about it.”  Daphne mocked.  “It is your son’s birthday.   So I’m thinking yes.”

“You two are fucking nuts.”  Jessica said.  “So, umm, tell him.”

“Tell me what?”  Justin asked.

“Brian and Gus are coming.”

“I figured.”  Justin said.

“Have you guys talked?”  Jessica asked while she folded some towels.

Justin scrunched up his face.

“Not that much.  After he moved in with Stacy things haven’t been the same.”  Justin told them.  “The first month I said it was because he needed to deal with Lindsey’s death.  The second month was he needed to deal with Gus and their new schedule.  The third month I started to think I was a complete idiot and now I just want to kick his ass for being an asshole.”

“Don’t worry.  My sis says that he’s moping around the house all day.  I guess he misses you too.”  Jessica told him.

“When did she tell you that?”  Justin asked surprised.

“Like a week ago before she left to go visit mom.”  Jessica told her.

“Why didn’t you go visit your mom too?”  Justin asked.

“That would be because mom and I don’t get along that well.”  Jessica said.  “She always liked Stacy better.”

Daphne smiled and kissed Jessica.

“I like you better.”  Daphne told her in a low sexy voice.

“Hello, gay man here.”  Justin told them.  “What was I thinking when I let him kiss me?”

“Uh, this is hot?”  Daphne teased.  “I’m kissing Brian.”

Justin glared at her.

“Don’t be an ass.”  Justin said.  “So did you get everything ready?”

“Pretty much.”  Jessica said.

Daphne and Jessica looked at each other.  Justin saw the look and rolled his eyes.

“So how can I help guys?”  Justin asked.

Daphne smiled.

“How much is going to cost me?”  Justin asked.

“We just want to have a clown for him.”  Jessica said.

“Oh my god.  Do I really have to be here?”  Justin asked.

Daphne swatted him.

“He is just one year old.”  Justin said.

“But there are going to be kids of all ages.”  Daphne contradicted.  “Gus is almost three years old.  I think he would enjoy a clown.”

“Bribery will not work.  Plus he is young enough to be traumatized by one silly clown.”  Justin said.

“Are you talking from experience?”  Jessica asked that was trying not to laugh.

Justin looked at Daphne who was looking away.

“You told her!”  Justin screamed.

Jessica started laughing fully.

“I can’t believe you guys.  No clowns!”  Justin hissed and got up.

Daphne looked at Jessica who was turning red.  She shook her head and went after Justin.  She was going to have to do some convincing.

***
Brian came inside the party with Stacy and Gus.  He looked everywhere and thought that having a heart attack wouldn’t be overrated, since there were kids everywhere.  Brian came to a stop when he saw a clown and smiled when he saw Justin as far away as possible.  He knew Justin had a thing with clowns.

“Hey, Brian.”  George said.

“Hey.” Brian said.  “Where is your wife?”

Brian had always made fun of the fact that George and Molly always were together.

“She’s with Jennifer up stairs.  We are not attached at the hip.”  George told him.

“You could have fooled me.”  Brian told him.

“So how are things with Justin?”  George asked smirking.

Brian glared at him and didn’t answer him.  He kept on walking until he reached a safe place to put Gus.  Gus immediately ran off to meet the clown.  Brian shook his head and walked into the kitchen.

“Hey, Mickey.”  Brian said.

“Hey, Brian.”  Michael said kissing him.  “How are you doing?”

“I’m okay.”

Michael nodded and looked at Ben, trying to tell him to leave them alone.  Ben got the meaning and left the kitchen.

“So how have you really been?”  Michael asked.

“Not so good.”  Brian told him and shrugged.

“Have you talked to Justin?”  

Brian shook his head.

“You should.  He is miserable without you.”

Brian gave him a warning look.  Michael threw his arms up and took a step back.

“Okay, okay.  I won’t say anything.”

“Guys, we are going to go sing Happy Birthday before the kids start to get cranky.”  Jessica told them.  “Where is Emmett?”

“I think he is in the backyard.”  Michael told her.

“I’ll go get him.”  Brian said.

Justin watched Brian going out back.  Emmett and Ted came in with a couple of other people and some kids.  Brian stayed backed and Justin went to get him.  Brian lit a cigarette and took a long drag.

“Those will kill you.”  Justin said.

Justin sat down next to Brian and took the cigarette away from him.  Brian looked at him and smiled.  Justin smiled and then blew the smoke out.

“How you been?”

Justin shrugged.

“Okay, I guess.”

Brian nodded and took the cigarette back.

“So, umm, I was thinking maybe we should go running tomorrow?  I miss that.”  Justin said.

Brian looked at Justin and after a while he nodded.  

“Come on.  Let’s go put our singing skills in action.”

Brian smirked and put the cigarette out and followed Justin inside.

***

Brian laughed when he passed Justin.  Justin frowned and ran faster until he was next to Brian.

“What are you doing?”  Justin asked.

“I’m proving to you that I’m better.”

“Right, okay so…whoever gets to the house first wins?”  Justin asked him.

Brian nodded.

“You are on.” Justin said and pinched Brian on the ass.

“Hey,” Brian protested and stopped.

Justin laughed and took off on running.  Brian started running after him but couldn’t catch up with him until they got to the house.

“I guess I win.”  Justin told him as he opened the door.

“You cheated.”  Brian protested.  

“I did not.”  Justin uttered in a sarcastic voice.

Justin went to the fridge and took two waters out giving one to Brian.  Brian took it and glared at Justin.

“It wasn’t fair.”  Brian whispered.

“I say it was.”  Justin protested.

Brian pushed Justin against the wall.

“You pinched my butt.”

“Oh, that, it was for motivation, like basketball players do to their teammates.”  Justin assured him.

Brian shook his head.

“They don’t pinch each other’s ass.”

“I guess I got it confused.”  Justin told him smiling as he took a sip of water and pretended that Brian’s hand on his chest wasn’t bothering him.

“You just wanted to feel my butt.”

“Yeah, you got me.”  Justin murmured.  “It’s just that you have such a nice…”

Brian shut him up by kissing him.  Justin kissed him back with equal force.  They started rubbing against each other and both bottles fell to the floor.  Then all of the sudden Brian stopped and pulled back.  Justin bit his lower lip thinking that he had made the wrong move once again.

“I have to go.”  Brian told him.  “Stacy has to be leaving soon and I have to take Gus to daycare.”

Justin nodded and Brian turned to leave but stopped.  He walked up to Justin who was looking at the floor.

“Brain?” Justin asked looking up.

Brian kissed him quickly and smiled.

“I’ll…I’ll call you.  Okay.  Bye.”  Brian stuttered and then kissed Justin again.  “Bye.”

“Okay.”

Brian nodded and then kissed him again.

“Brian.”

“What?”  Brian asked.

“You are leaving.”  Justin whispered smiling from ear to ear.

“Yeah.  I am.”  Brian nodded and left quickly.

Justin smiled and was touching his lips when the door was opened and Brian came inside.  He kissed Justin hard once more before he really left.