“I’m so nervous,” Ted said. “Why should you be?” Joshua asked. “I’m the one that’s meeting your family.” “I know,” Ted told him. “I just want them to like you.” “What if they don’t?” Joshua asked. “Then fuck them,” Ted looked at Joshua. “I love you.” Joshua smiled and pulled Ted in for a kiss. “You’re adorable when you say that.” “Hey,” Emmett said. “We were waiting for you.” “I can see that,” Joshua chuckled. Emmett stepped aside. “Come on in. I want everyone to see that I was serious when I said that Ted had a boyfriend.” “Shut up, Emmett,” Ted told him. “So,” Debbie said as soon as she saw Joshua. “You’re the blond that has our Ted crazy?” “Hope there isn’t another one around,” Joshua said smiling. “It’s nice to meet you,” Michael said pretending like he didn’t know Joshua. It would be too many questions and Brian didn’t want anyone to know that he was in a relationship yet, “this is my partner Ben Bruckner and I’m Michael Novotny.” Joshua shook hands with him a slight grin in place. “I’m Joshua.” “I’m glad you could join us,” Vic told him shaking hands with the man. “Vic Grassy.” “He’s my uncle,” Michael said. “And Deb is my mom.” “This here is Hunter,” Ben said as he smiled at his kid. Joshua smiled at all of them. “These are Melanie and Lindsay,” Ted said. “I have heard about the two of you two,” Joshua said not really interesting in knowing them. He knew he was being bias but he didn’t care. “Uh,” Ted said. “Is dinner ready?” “Yeah,” Debbie told them. “Hi,” Gus said as he ran up to Joshua. He was sure he knew the man. “Hey, little man,” Joshua smiled. “Where Mr. Justin?” Gus asked. “He’s at home,” Joshua told him. “What happened to you? What happened to him?” “He fell,” Melanie quickly said. Everyone stayed quiet. Joshua frowned. “That’s a pretty nasty fall,” Ted said. “The fuck it is,” Joshua said pulling his cell. “I know what a hit looks like.” “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Melanie asked mad. “You’re not calling the cops are you?” Lindsay asked. “Later,” Joshua said. “First I’m calling Brian.” “You know Brian?” Emmett asked taken aback. He looked at Ted who looked away. “What the hell is going on?” Debbie asked. “You’re not going to look at me and tell me that you guys don’t see that this boy has been hit,” Joshua looked at them and everyone was silent. “Wow,” Hunter whispered. “I thought he had fallen,” he said to Michael. Joshua shook his head and went outside. “What the fuck is wrong with that asshole?” Melanie asked. “He had to be friends with Brian.” “Mel, honey, did you hit Gus?” Debbie asked. “No,” Melanie hissed. Ted went out after his boyfriend. “Joshua.” Joshua was pacing and waiting for someone to answer the phone. “Hello,” Justin answered the phone. “Is Brian there with you? He has to come here and now. Gus is here and he looks like he has been used like a punching bag. They’re trying to pretend like he fell down but that’s bullshit. Are you listening to me?” “Take it easy,” Justin told him. “I’m not going to take it easy!” Joshua shouted. “Tell Brian that he needs to get here and now!” “What are you talking about?” Justin asked. Joshua explained everything through the phone once again and this time he went slower. “Okay, we’re on our way,” Justin assured him. Joshua hung up and called the cops. “I can’t believe you did that,” Ted muttered. “That boy is being abused,” Joshua complained. “Do you not see it?” “I thought...” Ted shook his head. “I guess I didn’t want to.” They stayed outside and a little after Brian and Justin got there. “Where is he?” Brian asked. “Inside,” Joshua said. The four of them went inside. “What the fuck!” Melanie hissed when Brian grabbed Gus. “I’m taking him with me,” Brian said. “You can’t,” Melanie hissed. “Watch me,” Brian told her. “The cops are outside,” Hunter announced. Brian walked out with Gus. “Excuse me,” he walked towards the cops, “my name is Brian Kinney and I want to take my son with me.” “What happened?” one of the officers asked. “His mother hit him,” Brian said. “Brian!” Melanie hissed as she walked behind him. “Give me my son.” “What can I do?” Brian asked. “Ma’am,” the second officer said. “Could you relax?” “He can’t take him,” Melanie hissed. “He doesn’t have any rights over him.” “Who hit him?” the first officer asked. Melanie swallowed. “She did,” Brian said. “He has to learn some discipline,” Melanie told him. “I didn’t hit him that hard. He has to learn Brian or he’ll be as bad as you.” “Fuck you!” Brian said as he put Gus down. “You’re a fucking bitch! I don’t fucking care how much you hate me!” Brian looked like a mad man. “My son doesn’t have to pay for it!” Melanie didn’t say anything she just crossed her arm. “Sir, you have to calm down,” the older officer told him. Gus walked over to Justin and tugged at the man’s jeans. “What is it, Gus?” Justin asked squatting in front of the boy. “I don’t want to go with my mommies,” Gus whispered. “Can I go with you?” Justin’s heart broke to a million pieces. He picked the boy up and looked at Joshua. “We can’t let the boy stay with you,” the officer said looking at Melanie. “Look,” Joshua said. “He’s going to be with his father.” The cops looked at each other. “We have to call social services.” “Can the boy spend the night with us?” Justin asked. “Yes,” Lindsay said. She didn’t want Gus to end up with a bunch of strangers. “Who are you?” the second officer asked. “I’m his biological mother,” Lindsay said. “And I want my son to be with his father for tonight.” “Lindsay,” Melanie grabbed her. “What the fuck are you doing?” “They’re going to take him away,” Lindsay hissed. “I can’t let that happen.” “We’re going to file a report and someone’s going to come and investigate,” the officer told them. “He might be removed from the home.” Brian was going to go mad. He didn’t want anyone taking his kid away from him. “Thank you officer,” Joshua said. They nodded and left the place. “So, it’s settled,” Brian said. “Gus is coming with me.” “Only for tonight,” Lindsay said. Justin was more than happy to hear that. They would find a way to solve the problem. “I’m going to go say bye to everyone,” Ted said as he went back inside. He was assaulted by everyone wanting to know what had happened. They asked about the blond that was with Brian but Ted told them it was Joshua’s cousin and nothing else, since it was dark and Justin always wore glasses and a cap they wouldn’t have guessed in a million years who it was. When Ted went back outside Joshua was waiting for him. Brian, Gus and Justin had left just like Lindsay and Melanie. “Hey.” Joshua smiled briefly. “Some impression I must have made.” Ted grabbed the blond’s hand. “Let’s get out of here. It really doesn’t matter. You made a great impression where it counts.” “We have to go back to Justin’s house and deal with something,” Joshua told him. “What’s going on?” Ted asked seeing how worried Joshua was. “Apparently someone broke in and destroyed some of Brian’s clothes,” Joshua was worried that something might happen to the brunet. “They even went as far as to pouring animal blood on them...well, we are hoping is animal blood.” “Jeez,” Ted muttered. “Can’t they catch a break?” Joshua wondered the same. *** “So what’s going to happen?” Lindsay asked as she looked at the lawyers. “They’re going to put Gus in a foster home,” Ken said. “Isn’t there anything that we can do?” Brian asked. “Well,” Marlin drawled. “There are other options.” “I want to know,” she said, “we can’t let Gus spend time there.” “Then you decide what you’re going to do,” Brian hissed. Lindsay bit her lower lip. “What do you mean?” “You can move out of the house with the boy,” Ken said. “Yes,” Marlin agreed. “But, I have nowhere to go,” Lindsay protested. “The loft,” Brian said. “I don’t want to be a bother for you, Brian,” Lindsay told him. “I don’t live there anymore,” Brian told her. “You don’t?” Lindsay asked. “Justin and I live together,” Brian said. Lindsay smiled briefly. “Okay, I’ll move out with Gus.” “You know that if you go back they will take the child away from you,” Ken said. “And Brian can’t take care of him since he doesn’t have rights over him.” Lindsay nodded. “I want to change that,” Brian said. “We’re working on it, Brian,” Marlin assured him. “You’re still going to do it?” Lindsay asked. “Are you even asking me that?” Brian asked. “Guys,” Marlin said sternly. “I don’t think you two should be arguing.” “It’s not going to do anyone any good,” Ken told them. “Try to get along,” Marlin agreed. “Gus needs the two of you.” Lindsay nodded. “Thank you for your help.” “Let’s go,” Brian said. “We’ll talk later, Brian,” Ken said. “Marlin and I will keep you informed on everything.” “This is so crazy,” Lindsay said. “Wow.” Brian stayed silent. “She didn’t mean to do it,” Lindsay muttered. “The many times she did it?” Brian asked. “Or the last time; or maybe you’re talking about the first time she hit him.” “Brian,” Lindsay protested. “He has marks all over him, Linds,” Brian spat out. Lindsay took a deep breath. “The doctors checked him and he has old bruises that aren’t a result of him falling down,” Brian was beyond pissed. Lindsay was now the one to stay quiet. “I’m going home,” Brian told her. “Who did you leave Gus with?” Lindsay asked. “With Michael,” Brian told her. “We’ll get him to the loft.” Lindsay nodded and then grabbed the keys that Brian was giving her. “Here’s some money,” Brian told her. “In case you need anything.” “Thanks,” Lindsay said. Brian nodded and left. If he stayed another second longer he was going to explode. He was going to take it out on her as well. He blamed her for it just as much as he blamed himself. *** Justin looked at everyone. “Sorry,” he said as he grabbed his cell phone. “It’s an emergency.” “Let’s take five, people,” someone yelled, probably the director. “Hello,” Justin said. “Hey,” Brian told him. “Is everything okay?” Justin asked. Ever since some of Brian’s clothes were destroyed he would answer his phone each time Brian called. He had told the brunet that he was going to stay but Brian wouldn’t hear about it. “I just wanted to hear your voice,” Brian told him. Justin smiled from ear to ear as he moved away so no one would see him. “You’re so sweet.” “Shhh,” Brian chuckled. “Don’t tell anyone.” “How’s everything?” Justin asked. “Good,” Brian said. “I’m here with Gus and Mich.” “Sounds like you guys are having fun,” Justin said. “What are you doing?” “We’re watching a movie,” Brian told him. “How is Lindsay?” Justin asked. “She’s doing okay,” Brian watched as Gus stared at the T.V. “She’s at work right now. So I’m watching Gus.” “You’re not going to go to work?” Justin asked. “I called Vance and told him that I was going to take a few days off,” Brian said. “How did he take that?” Justin asked. “He told me I had two days to get back or he was going to fire my ass,” Brian shrugged. “I don’t care. I really wanted to spend time with Gus.” “Yeah,” Justin smiled. “You do that, Brian. Don’t worry about anything else. If Vance fires you don’t have to worry about anything. You know that.” “When are you coming home?” Brian asked. “I don’t know,” Justin said. “Why don’t you come here?” “You know I can’t,” Brian told him. “Quit,” Justin said. “I don’t know. Start your own company and then leave someone in charge and you can be with me all time.” “I’ll just get bored of you,” Brian told him. “Brian,” Justin whined but laughed nonetheless. “I can’t leave Gus,” Brian muttered. “Then bring him with you,” Justin said. “I’m sure Lindsay wouldn’t mind. She can come too, I don’t care.” “I want to see you too,” Brian laughed. “Oh god,” Justin took a deep breath. “I have to go back.” “Okay,” Brian told him. “Later.” “Later, love,” Justin whispered and hung up. He closed his eyes and wished he could bring the brunet with him. *** Lindsay was preparing herself something to eat when there was a knock on the door. She went to open it and sighed. “Mel, how did you know I was here?” “Can I talk to you?” Melanie asked. Lindsay nodded and let her in. “I can’t believe you left me,” Melanie said. “It’s not like that,” Lindsay told her. “I had no other option.” Melanie frowned. “This is all Brian’s fault.” “No,” Lindsay said. “You brought this upon yourself.” Melanie walked closer to the bedroom. “Gus is sleeping.” “Yeah,” Lindsay said. “He was very tired.” “Lindsay,” Melanie turned to look at the blonde. “I want you to come back home.” “I can’t go back with you,” Lindsay told her. “But I love you,” Melanie said. “I thought you loved me too.” “I do,” Lindsay told her as her eyes watered. “You’re showing me differently,” Melanie rubbed her belly. “I need you Lindsay.” Lindsay bit her lower lip and wiped her tears. She wanted to go back but Gus needed her. “We can start from the beginning,” Melanie told her. “What do you mean?” Lindsay asked. “I was offered a job,” Melanie hoped that Lindsay would go with her. “Where?” Lindsay asked. “It’s in Canada,” Melanie told her. “It would be so perfect.” “Are you going to go?” Lindsay asked. “Yes,” Melanie told her. “And I want you to come with me.” Lindsay started crying again. “God.” “Lindsay I love you,” Melanie told her. “I love Gus too. I just...I got out of control.” “I love you,” Lindsay told her. “So much.” “Then why don’t you come home?” Melanie asked. “They would take Gus away from me,” Lindsay told her. “No,” Melanie told her. “They won’t. We’ll leave this place and it’ll all be okay.” Lindsay took a step forth and hugged her. “Promise me.” “I promise,” Melanie told her and kissed her.