“So, when are you leaving?” Brian asked as he took a sip of his beer. “Tomorrow.” Daphne told him. Brian nodded. “Have you talked to Justin yet?” Daphne asked. “You never change, do you?” Brian asked smirking. “Straight to the point.” Daphne smiled. “Here he comes.” Daphne whispered. “You fuck up and I will kick you in the balls.” Brian looked at her like she was nuts. “Hey.” Justin said. “You guys having fun?” “Yeah.” Daphne told him. “I need to go refresh my drink. Be right back.” Justin watched her go and then turned to Brian with a smile. “She never changes.” Brian told her. “Uh, no.” Justin said. “Sit down.” Brian told him. Justin sat down where Daphne had been. “How have you been?” Brian asked. “Good.” Justin told him. Brian nodded. “Are you okay?” Justin asked him. “Yeah.” Brian told him. They stayed silent for a while. “You can come visit the quads here if you want.” Justin told him. “I thought it would be easier for you.” Brian smiled. “They are getting so big.” Brian whispered. “I know.” Justin said. “Time flies.” “It sure does.” Brian muttered. Justin turned to look at Brian and his heartbeat accelerated. He wished he could grab Brian and kiss him senseless. He turned his head and started at the floor. Brian looked at Justin and his chest tightened. He wished he could kiss the blond and take him into his arms. He looked away and stared ahead. “I’m going to go see if everyone is okay. I am the host after all.” Justin said. “Okay.” Brian told him. “Maybe I will drop by later in the week.” Justin nodded. “I would like that.” Justin said. Brian smiled and watched him go. They had definitely taken a step forward. *** Justin was coming out of school when Jason stopped in front of him. Justin glared at the man and tried to keep on walking, but Jason grabbed him by the arm and turned him around. “What the fuck do you want?” Justin asked. “I want you to keep away from Brian.” Jason hissed. “What?” Justin asked shocked. “I saw you the other day. You went to see him.” Jason spat out. “What the fuck is your problem?” Justin asked. “I can see Brian whenever the fuck I please.” “Do you really love him?” Jason asked. “What? That’s none of your business.” Justin told him. “Well, if you did, you would leave him alone. You would let him have a life with me.” Jason told him. “God.” Justin whispered. “You are fucking delirious.” Jason glared at him. “Don’t make me mad.” Jason hissed. “Leave Brian alone. We could be happy.” “Look here, demented asshole. You don’t know Brian half as much as you think. Because if you did, you would know that it doesn't matter if the two of you were together, he would still have to see me. And you would know that he loves me.” Justin said to Jason, tired of the man. Jason shook his head. “Then why was he with me?” Jason asked smirking. “Because it was easy.” Justin told him. “He was having some troubles with me.” Jason frowned. “Look.” Justin said taking a step back. “Just find someone else. Brian is taken.” Jason shook his head. “He and I are going to be together.” Jason told him. “I know he loves me.” Justin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Fine, okay. I have to go. Say hi to Brian when you see him.” Justin told him sardonically and left. Jason frowned and watched Justin go, sure that the blond hadn’t paid attention to what he had said. He would make the blond see that Brian loved him. Justin would have to step away and leave Brian’s life. *** Justin got up and frowned as he heard one of the quads crying. He got up and went to their room. He found Illona standing up and holding to the crib’s bars as she looked at Keefe who was crying nonstop. Justin picked him up and frowned when he felt how hot his son was. “Jesus.” Justin said as he put him in the changing table. “You're burning up.” Justin held his boy as he reached for the thermometer. He saw that he had a fever way past the limit and started to freak. “Okay. Stay calm Justin.” Justin said to himself. “I have to call Brian.” Justin picked his son and reached for the phone they connected in the room. He dialed Brian’s number and waited. “Hello?” Brian asked in a sleepy voice but also a worried one. “Is everything okay?” “No.” Justin told him. “Keefe has a fever.” “I’m on my way.” Brian told him. “Hurry up.” Justin told him. Justin checked Illona, but the girl just kept staring at him like she knew something was wrong with her little brother. Justin was happy to see that she was okay. He moved to Sheridan and then to Fiona and his younger daughter felt a little warm. “This is not good.” Justin said. Justin grabbed a bag and started putting some things to take with him for the quadruplets. He made sure he had his wallet and all the papers he needed to take to the hospital. “Justin!” Brian yelled as he entered the house. “I’m up here.” Justin told him. Brian appeared in the room a little out of breath. “Did you run here?” Justin asked. “He would have.” Jack said. “He almost killed us in our way over here.” Justin frowned as he looked at Brian. Brian ignored the blond’s look and picked his boy up. “Jesus.” Brian murmured. “We have to take him to the hospital.” “I know.” Justin said. “Where is Liam?” Jack asked. “He’s sleeping.” Justin told him. “I’m taking them with me.” Brian frowned and started touching the rest of the kids. “Fiona is a little warm. I think they might be getting sick.” Justin said. “Can you stay with Liam?” Jack nodded. “Thank you.” Justin told him picking Illona and then Sheridan. “I’ll help you guys.” Jack said picking the back and then taking Illona who was still up and looking at all of them. After they got everything ready Brian drove them to the hospital while Jack stayed with Liam. Justin was worried, not knowing what was wrong with his son. He felt so helpless and scared and was glad that Brian was there. “We're here.” Brian told him. Justin nodded and got out. Between the two of them they got the kids to the emergency room and explained to the nurse what was going on. “The doctor will be with you in a minute.” The nurse said. “You need to take the two of them and come with me.” Brian and Justin looked at each other. “Just go.” Justin told him. “We'll be okay.” Brian nodded and left with Illona and Sheridan while Justin stayed with Keefe and Fiona, waiting to see what was wrong with his kids. *** Justin yawned and slowly opened his eyes to come face to face with Brian. He smiled at the brunet and took the coffee that was offered. “When did you get here?” Justin asked. “An hour ago.” Brian told him. Justin nodded and straightened in his seat. Brian had left after the doctor had said that Illona and Sheridan were okay. He took the kids home and came back to see what was going on with Keefe and Fiona. “What did the doctor said?” Brian asked. “They are going to keep them under observation.” Justin told him. “They are sure it's some kind of bacteria. They just can’t identify which one.” Brian took a deep breath as he looked at his children on the beds. He wished there was something he could do. “They put them on antibiotics and are hoping that they get lucky.” Justin spat out. “Did they say that?” Brian asked mad. “Not in so many words.” Justin told him. Brian nodded and sat down. “Thank you, Brian.” Justin told him. Brian looked at him and frowned. “There is nothing to thank me for, Justin.” Brian told him. “I would do anything for them.” Justin nodded and sipped on his coffee. “Jason talked to me.” Justin said out of nowhere. Brian frowned as he looked at Justin. “He doesn’t want to listen to me.” Brian told him. “There is nothing between us. There never was.” Justin nodded slightly. “Why are we talking about this?” Brian asked getting angry. “I was just making sure.” Justin told him. “Because…” “Because what?” Brian asked when Justin didn’t finished. “I miss you.” Justin told him. Brian got up and ran his fingers through his hair. He looked his hands for a few seconds before he looked at Justin. “What does that mean?” Brian asked. “That I miss you.” Justin told him. Brian walked closer to the blond and then squatted in front of him. “I miss you too, you know.” Brian told him. Brian leaned forward and Justin swallowed hard. He didn’t move forward, but he didn’t moved back either. “I miss you and the kids all the time.” Brian whispered. Justin caressed Brian’s face. “I want to try again.” Brian told him. Justin just stared at him and the brunet was about to kiss him when they were interrupted. “Hello.” The nurse said. Brian got up and moved away. “I’m here to check the babies.” She told them. “My name is Abigail.” “Hi.” Justin told her, smiling as he got up and walked near her to see what she was doing. “They are so cute.” Abigail said as she checked Keefe. Brian and Justin looked at each other and smiled. Brian couldn’t wait to have another chance to be near Justin. He wanted to be alone with the blond and he wanted everything to be right again. *** Chris picked Keefe up and kissed him. “I’m so happy that he is okay.” Chris said. “We were worried.” Justin nodded and smiled. “We're happy too.” Justin told him. “I hate hospitals.” “Me too.” Chris told him. “And to think that once they take the casts off, I have to spend some time in the hospital learning how to walk again.” “At least you have that option. Stop complaining.” Justin told him. “And hear me out.” Chris looked up with an arched brow. “Brian and I went out on a date.” Justin whispered. Chris moved and closed the door to the kitchen so Michael and Brian wouldn’t hear what they were talking about. Justin smiled and sat down. “Tell me everything.” Chris told him. “It was nice. We talked about what we’ve been doing.” Justin said as he took Keefe’s hand and played with his son. “He brought me home and kissed me.” Chris smiled. “Then he left and I was kind of sad, you know. I mean, things aren’t going to get solve by just fucking but I wanted him to.” Justin said to his friend. “Why didn’t you tell me before?” Chris asked. “Just in case things didn’t go as we planned. I didn’t want anyone to know.” Justin said. “Well, Jack and Denise knew but that’s because they stayed with the quads a couple of hours.” “Oh my god.” Chris said smiling. “You guys are way too cute.” “Stop it.” Justin told him. “Look at you. You are smiling like a fool. I knew something was up. Brian looks so different. He looks…alive.” Chris said. “Well, that’s good to hear.” Justin mocked. “You know what I mean. Brian doesn’t show his emotions all that much like you do.” Chris said. “But he shows a certain glow.” “I know what you mean.” Justin said smiling. “Hey.” Michael said coming inside the kitchen. “What’s up?” Chris asked. “We are going out to eat.” Michael told him. “Okay.” Justin said getting up and taking Keefe. “Dada.” Keefe said as he put his head on Justin’s shoulder. Michael and Chris followed Justin out of the kitchen. “I talked to Jack.” Brian said. “He told us to drop off Keefe and Fiona. That he didn’t mind taking care of all of them.” “Oh, so it will be us four only.” Chris commented. “Yeah.” Brian said looking at Chris. Brian turned around with Fiona in his arms and started to leave the apartment. “Bye.” Fiona said waving her little hand at Justin and Chris. Justin and Chris smiled at each other before the blond followed Brian. “Let’s go.” Michael said smiling. “I’ll call Ma on the way and tell her to stay with Victoria a little while longer.” Chris and Michael looked at each other with a knowing look. They so knew that Brian and Justin were going to be okay. *** “Thank you for coming with me.” Jamie said. “No problem.” Jason told her. “You know they are my favorite pair of nephews.” Jamie laughed and shook her head. “They are your only pair of nephews, dork.” Jamie said to her brother. “Oh, right.” Jason said and laughed. They found a spot and settled there. Jason was playing with his nephew Robert. He knew that some day he would have a kid. And he had dreams that that person would be Brian. “Where is Riley?” Jamie asked after a while. Jason frowned and looked around until she spotted the little girl talking to a boy. “I’ll get her.” Jason said getting up. Jason walked slowly to where his niece was. He could see her laughing and trying to hold the boy but the kid would just pull back and look slightly scared of Riley. “Hey.” Jason said kneeling next to Riley. “What’s going on?” “This is my best friend, Liam.” Riley told him. “We just met.” Liam told her. “I don’t know you. You are a stranger. How can I be your best friend?” Jason laughed and nodded. “That’s okay. Riley, is a good girl.” Jason told her. “I don’t know you either.” Liam told him. “I’m going back to play with my brothers.” “I have a brother too.” Riley told him. “He is three.” “I’m four.” Liam told her. “My little brothers are one and so are my sisters.” “How many do you have?” Jason asked smiling at Liam. “Four.” Liam said. “No. I mean how many brothers do you have?” Jason asked smiling thinking that Liam was giving him his age Liam frowned as he looked at Jason. “I have two brothers and two sisters.” Liam told him. “Oh.” Jason said. “Can I meet them?” Riley asked. “I can be their friends.” “I don’t know.” Liam told her. “Liam!” Justin called from afar. “That’s my Papa. I have to go.” Liam said and ran back to where his parents were with his brothers. Jason stood up as he picked Riley up. He took a few steps forward and then stopped as he saw where Liam ran to. He couldn’t believe his eyes. There were Justin and Brian smiling at each other as they played with their kids. He couldn’t believe it. He didn’t know that Brian and Justin had kids together, but he had seemed Liam and there was no doubt that Brian wasn’t his father “Hey. Someone you know?” Jamie asked as she looked at where Jason was looking. “Uh, no.” Jason told her and turned around. Jason put his arm around her shoulders and smiled seeing that Robert had fallen asleep in his mother’s arm. “What do you say we get out of here and get something to eat?” Jason asked. “Sure.” Jamie told him. “What about my friend?” Riley asked pouting. “You’ll make a new one. There are tons of other people in the world, Riley.” Jason told her sadly. Jason had been saying the words more to himself than to his niece. He just hoped that he could forget all about Brian. *** Justin walked to his house while looking at the flowers that Brian had bought him. He couldn’t believe that Brian had stopped on their way home and just gotten him a bouquet. “What are you thinking about?” Brian asked as they reached the door. “Thank you for the flowers.” Justin told him. Brian smiled and looked away. “Liam misses you.” Justin said. “A lot.” Brian frowned. “He asks me where you are everyday.” Justin informed him sadly. “What do you tell him?” Brian asked looking at Justin. “That you are spending time with your father.” Justin said. “He asked me if you were coming back soon and I told him that you were.” Brian bit his lower lip. “Do…you want to come back?” Justin asked. Brian nodded. “You don’t know how much.” Brian told him. Justin moved closer to Brian and kissed him. “The kids are going to be happy.” Justin whispered. “Are you going to be happy?” Brian asked. Justin looked at his flowers and just smiled. Brian put his hands inside his pocket and thought about what just happened. He could see that Justin was still doubtful about the whole situation. He knew that he was been asked back into the house for the kids and Brian wasn’t going to turn down the offer. He would make things work this time because he didn’t want to live without Justin. He was going to do anything to get Justin back. “I’ll bring my things tomorrow.” Brian told him. Justin nodded. “Later.” Brian whispered. “Later.” Justin told him. Brian turned around and left. Justin went inside the house and frowned. He was so scared of what was going to happen next. They had to work this time. They just had too. Yet, he was afraid that he had made the wrong decision or that they were moving too fast. He was afraid that Brian was going to hurt him again.