There was a knock on the loft door and then Michael came inside. Brian was in the kitchen and he turned to look at his friend with an arched brow. “Hey, I left you a message last night,” Michael said. “You never showed up at Woody’s or Babylon.” “I had to work late,” Brian said. “I was exhausted.” What Brian was saying was partially true. He had worked two hours late, not really late until the night, but still, when he got home, he took a shower before he was in the land of the dead. “We missed you,” Michael said. “I think Ted likes me.” Brian smirked. “Yeah, he does.” “What should I do?” Michael asked. “I don’t like him and I don’t want to hurt him.” “Just pretend you don’t,” Brian said. “It works, trust me.” “What if he says something?” Michael asked coming closer. “What the fuck is that, Brian?” Brian looked at the scrambled eggs he was preparing. “What?” “I think they’re rotten,” Michael informed his friend. “No,” Brian told him, turning the stove off. “That’s just eggs and tuna.” Michael frowned. “What?” Brian put it on a plate. “Do you want some?” “Not really,” Michael said going to the fridge and pulling out the juice. Brian went to the fridge and pulled the chocolate milk. He served himself a glass and sat down to eat but not before he used ketchup to drown his eggs and tuna scramble. “You are going to die after you eat that, Brian,” Michael told him. “It’s good,” Brian said after the first bite. Michael shook his head. “Are you sure you’re not sick again?” Brian sighed. “I wasn’t sick, Mikey…well, not like you think...I am.” “Wait,” Michael said. “What? You mean you’re still sick? Brian,” he whined. “The doctor told you to take it easy.” “I’m pregnant,” Brian said. Michael stared at Brian for a few seconds before he glared at his friend. “What the fuck are you talking about, Brian?” he asked angry. Brian was surprised. “Michael?” “God, Brian,” he hissed. “What the fuck happened? I mean you…did someone do something to you?” Brian rolled his eyes. “No,” he answered. “It was that night when Emmett went with that guy in the motorcycle and I went with Justin. He’s the father.” Michael’s anger surfaced. “You let that man fuck you?!” “What about it, Michael?!” Brian asked getting angry as well. His best friend had no right talking to him like that. “You’re a top,” Michael said. “Why would you let him?” “You don’t know what happened, Mikey,” Brian said and drank from his milk. He shrugged it off. “I wanted him and that’s that.” Michael stared at the glass of juice he’d served himself. He walked closer to the brunet. “There are options. You can have an abortion or you can put it for adoption. You always said that you didn’t want any kids.” Brian stopped eating for a moment and thought about his parents. He always said he didn’t want a family like that because it was hell for him. He thought how his parents were always drinking and his father would beat the shit out of him while his mother looked away. He didn’t think he could go through with an abortion and giving his kid away didn’t assure him that his son or daughter would be safe. The best he could do was to keep the baby with him. And he would love it and never hurt it. He would give his baby everything it would need and always let her or him know how much he cared. “No,” Brian said. “I’m not giving my baby away.” Michael frowned. “But Brian…” “I said no, Mikey,” Brian hissed. Michael watched as Brian kept on eating. For a long time nobody said anything then Michael sighed. “If this is what you want I’ll help you,” Michael said rubbing Brian’s back. Brian looked up at him and smiled. “We’ll do it,” the man whispered. “Thanks Mikey,” Brian answered. “And please don’t tell anyone.” “Why not?” Michael asked. “I’m not ready for anyone to know,” Brian told him. Michael bent down and kissed Brian on the lips. “Whatever you want, Brian.” Brian smiled at that, happy that his best friend was on his side. *** Brian and Michael entered the department store. Brian was there to look at prices so he could compare them with the ones on the internet. He had found a lot of things for the arrival of the baby. He had bought a few books and was reading like crazy. As soon as they were in the baby section they started looking at things. “Look at this,” Michael said lifting a teddy bear. “We should buy this.” Brian didn’t like it. “Why?” “For the baby, Brian,” Michael said smiling. “I’m going to buy it.” “Please don’t,” Brian told him. Michael arched a brow and then smiled. “You don’t like it.” “No,” Brian admitted. Michael laughed and shrugged. “I’ll find another one. It will be the perfect one for her.” Brian looked at his friend like he was from another planet. “You’re enjoying this too much.” Michael laughed. “What?” “You think it’s going to be a girl?” Brian asked. “Well, yeah,” Michael said smiling. “I like girls. They are easy to handle, right?” Brian rolled his eyes. “Are you going to stay in the loft?” Michael asked. “Why?” Brian asked as he kept walking with Michael. “Because it’s big enough for you alone,” Michael pointed out. “Maybe you need another apartment.” Brian sighed. “Right now I can’t,” the brunet told him. “If you need money maybe I can help,” Michael told him. “I’ve been getting more hours and maybe I’ll get that manager assistant promotion.” Brian shook his head. “Its okay, Mikey,” the brunet assured him. The ad exec was working hard and saving as much as he could. He had cut down in his life style so when the baby got there he would have enough money. He knew that the loft was no place to raise a kid but at least for the first year it would be okay and he still had a whole year on the loft contract. He just couldn’t pick up and leave. “Are you sure?” Michael asked. “I’m happy that you’re helping me,” Brian assured him as he threw his arm around his friend’s shoulders. Michael put his hand on Brian’s stomach. “I’m happy for you, Brian.” Brian smiled. “Yeah,” he whispered. “Let’s go see the cribs,” Michael told him. Brian nodded and they walked together there. People looked at them thinking they were a couple. Michael would have loved to hear that and Brian would have completely freaked out about it. He loved Michael like a brother and nothing more. He was happy that Michael was helping him but that’s as far as it went, yet he couldn’t see how Michael was playing house everyday more. *** “Do you want to dance?” Emmett asked Michael. “No,” Michael said. “I’ll stay here with Brian.” Brian sighed. “You can go with him, Mikey.” “It’s okay,” Michael told him. “I don’t mind.” Emmett shrugged and looked at Ted. “You’ll dance with me, right Teddy?” “Of course, Em,” Ted assured him. “Let me have a bottle of water,” Brian said. Michael asked for the same. “Mikey, you don’t have to do the same,” Brian said. “You can have a beer. Someone should be drinking.” Michael shrugged. “Moral support?” Brian laughed at that, his friend was hilarious. “Hey,” a guy said nearing Brian. Brian sighed. “I’m not interested.” Michael watched the guy walking away and turned towards the brunet. “What’s going on?” “What do you mean?” Brian asked. “I mean, are you feeling okay?” Michael asked. “We can leave if you want to.” Brian shook his head. “I’m fine.” “You never turned down sex, Brian,” the dark haired man said. “And now that you’re…you must be like super horny. I read it somewhere.” Brian laughed at that. "Most of the time I'm too sick to even think about sex. Plus I don't want to risk the baby's health." Michael frowned. “I don’t know anything about these guys and I have to watch out for someone other than me,” Brian said. “Condoms really are not that safe, take me for example. This wouldn’t be happening if they were.” Michael bit his lower lip. “Brian,” he said moving closer. “If you need help…you know me.” Brian frowned, getting what Michael meant right away. “No, Mikey. You’re my best friend.” “Yeah but,” Michael tried again as he put a hand on the brunet’s chest. “It’s okay,” Brian told him. “As soon as the baby is out, I’m fucking all of PA.” Michael frowned. “But thanks for the offer,” Brian said and gave Michael a peck on the lips. “I’m going to the bathroom. Be right back,” he said. Michael nodded and watched him go. “Hey, Mikey,” Emmett said coming back. “What’s going on?” “What do you mean?” Michael asked. “What’s with Brian?” Emmett asked. “He’s been turning away tricks all night and he’s not drinking or smoking. And ever since he got out of the hospital he looks like he’s dropped a lot of weight.” “Is he sick?” Ted asked. “No way,” Michael said. “It’s not that, guys.” “What is it then?” Ted asked and signaled to the bartender for two more beers. Michael frowned and shook his head. “You can tell us,” Emmett said. “Maybe we could help.” Michael sighed. “I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone. He would kill me.” “Come on,” Emmett said. “I won’t tell a soul.” Ted kept quiet letting Emmett work his magic. He knew the man could make anyone talk. “I mean maybe he needs help with something and we could all do that, Michael,” Emmett said. “We don’t want anything happening to him.” “Well,” Michael said. “He’s…he’s pregnant.” “What?” Emmett asked opening his eyes wide. Ted started coughing as he started choking on the last bit he had from his old beer. “Shit,” he hissed. “You can’t tell anyone,” Michael said. “Promise.” “I promise,” Emmett said quickly. “Yeah, me too,” Ted quipped. “Fuck,” he said and swallowed. “What happened?” Emmett asked. “I thought Brian was a top.” “He is,” Michael said, his face changing into one of anger. “That fucking asshole must have given Brian something.” “Who? What?” Ted asked a bit confused. “That fucking bastard,” Michael hissed. “The asshole that Brian went with that night on the motorcycle.” Emmett opened his mouth wide. “You’re serious?” “Brian never lets anyone top him,” Michael stressed. “And now he’s pregnant by him. I don’t know. I don’t like it.” Ted and Emmett looked at each other. “Does Justin know?” Emmett asked. “Who the fuck?” Michael asked. “That’s his name,” Emmett pointed out. “Justin.” “No,” Michael said. “And it’s going to stay that way.” “Have you asked Brian?” Emmett asked. “Because I have Slater’s number and if you want…” “Drop it,” Michael hissed. “Brian and I will take care of the baby, nobody else,” the man said. “I have to go,” he said when he saw that Brian was coming their way. Emmett and Ted watched as Michael went and exchanged a few words with the brunet. Brian nodded and then they left Babylon. “I’m calling Slater,” Emmett said. “You can’t,” Ted pointed out. “Why the fuck not?” Emmett asked pulling out his cell phone. “Well,” Ted said and thought of why not. “I don’t know. Brian is the one that has a say on this.” “But I think Slater's friend should know too," Emmett said. "He should be here helping Brian. He was there when the kid was made. It's his responsibility too." “You don’t even know him,” Ted pointed out but Emmett had already dialed the number. “Hello?” Emmett said as he started walking out of there so he could talk on the phone. “Slater?” Ted sighed and wondered what the worst that could happen was. *** Brian stood down from the examination table and lowered his shirt. He was still in shock after having seen the baby in the ultrasound monitor. Well, he didn’t get to see much but he could see and hear the heart beating. It made it more real now. “You have to gain some weight Brian,” Henry told him. “I will,” Brian assured him. “Are you taking it easy at work?” Doctor Panache asked. Brian nodded. “Yeah, I’m not staying after work like I used to. I’m even leaving early when I can. I’m having breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner. And I’m taking my vitamins.” “Good,” Henry said smiling. “You know we could use the other baby’s father health history, Brian.” Brian sighed not sure what he was going to do. “I’m going to try and find it," he said. Part of him wanted to find Justin and the other part was terrified. He thought that maybe Justin wouldn't care or even worse, that the sandy haired man would try to take his baby away from him. Henry nodded. “I’m not promising anything,” Brian told him. “He was just a one night thing.” “I bet this was a surprise,” the doctor said. Brian smiled a bit. “A good one,” the brunet assured him. “I’m happy to hear that,” Henry told him. “I’ll see you in two weeks. Do you have any questions?” Brian shook his head. “Not right now.” “Then I guess we’re done for today,” Henry informed him. “Thanks, doctor,” Brian said. When Brian came out, Michael was waiting for him. The man could have gone inside with him but Brian had lied, saying only immediately family could because he wanted to be alone. Michael was starting to piss him off. Everything he did, Michael wanted to be there. “Are you ready to go?” Michael asked. “I could drive if you want to.” “No,” Brian said. “I’m okay.” “I was reading this book,” Michael said. “They are a bunch of names with different meanings.” Brian nodded slowly. “I guess I would have to see it later.” “We could name her Jessica,” Michael told him. “I think it’s pretty.” Brian sighed and looked at his friend. If anyone was going to be naming his daughter it would be him and not ‘them’. He sighed and wondered if Michael would follow him if he ran away and also how long it would take him to catch up with him. “Do you want something to eat?” Michael asked and rubbed Brian’s tummy. “We have to keep our little girl happy.” Brian sighed. “Yeah, sure. I could eat.” Michael smiled widely at the brunet, never noticing the frown on Brian’s face. *** Brian sat on the diner reading the paper when Emmett and Ted arrived. “Hey, Brian,” Emmett said. “How are you doing?” Brian arched a brow but didn’t answer. “So,” Emmett said. “Have you talked to Justin?” That’s when Brian lowered the paper to the table. “What for?” “Well, I talk to Slater, you know,” Emmett said. “I thought you did the same with Justin.” The brunet huffed. “I don’t. I’m not into relationships.” Ted hit Emmett’s stomach with his elbow. Emmett glared at his friend. Brian wasn’t even paying attention to them. He just wanted his breakfast before he was out of there. “If you want his number I could give it to you,” Emmett pointed out. Ted rolled his eyes. Brian shook his head and then stared at Emmett. “What is it to you?” “Nothing,” Emmett assured him. “I thought you liked him.” “It was just a fuck,” Brian informed them. Then he looked at his watch and sighed. “Deb, my breakfast.” “Keep your pants on. I’ll be there in a second,” she shouted at him. “Jesus,” Brian said. “So,” Ted said. “How are things?” Brian didn’t answer. He just stared at the man. “Uh,” Ted didn’t like the way that Brian was looking at him. “Are you better now?” Emmett asked. Brian’s head snapped to look at Emmett. “What do you mean?” “You know,” Emmett said. “You were in the hospital a while back.” “Oh,” Brian said and licked his bottom lip. “I’m better.” “That’s good,” Ted commented. “So,” Emmett said changing his tactics. “Did I tell you guys that my cousin is having a baby?” “He…is?” Ted asked very slowly as he looked at his friend not sure what Emmett was trying to do. “Oh yeah,” the man answered. “He’s two months pregnant. You should see how happy they are. I think they are going to get married. Isn’t that something?” “It’s all bullshit,” Brian hissed. Emmett, for moment, thought that Brian was onto him. “Love is not real,” the brunet said. “It’s just something you say to have sex.” “Oh, Brian,” Emmett said. “You’re so wrong. Love does exist and it’s beautiful.” Brian frowned and looked down. He listened as Emmett kept talking about loving your friends and family, about having someone special in your life. He put his hand on his lower belly and wondered if his kid would hate him for not giving him a normal family. He didn’t have anyone special in his life. Briefly he considered asking Emmett to talk to his friend so he could talk with Justin but decided not to do so. He didn’t need anyone’s help to go through his pregnancy. Plus he had Michael to help him and that’s all he needed. In the back of his head he still thought that no one would love him because he wasn’t worth it like his father told him when he was little. “Here you go,” Debbie said putting Brian’s plate in front of him. “I’m not hungry anymore,” he said getting up and paying for the food anyway. “You have to eat,” she told him. “I’m going to be late for work,” Brian told her. Debbie frowned and turned towards the other two men at the table. “What would it be boys?” Emmett looked at Ted and smiled. “I so did the right thing.” “I don’t want to know,” Ted assured him. “What are you guys talking about?” Debbie asked eyeing them. “I’ll take his,” Emmett said pulling Brian’s order towards him. “Just oatmeal,” Ted said. Debbie nodded and went to get it. She wondered if Brian’s mood change had been because of them, but didn’t think so. Lately Brian was like that all the time. She hoped that the boy was okay. She loved him like a son and she worried about him a lot. *** Slater knocked on the door and then went inside. “Justin, I’ve been calling you.” “I know,” the man muttered from under the covers. “I need to talk to you,” Slater informed him. Justin rolled in bed and sighed. “What the fuck do you want at this hour?” Slater sat on the edge of the bed. “I have to tell you something I found out about you. I’m shocked and appalled Justin.” Justin rubbed his head and sat up. He reached for his cigarettes and got up. “Have you seen my lighter?” The other man looked around. Justin stood in front of his dresser and picked his gun and put it on the front of his waist band. “So,” he said as he looked at Slater through the mirror. Slater, who was looking around for the lighter, looked at the shorter man. “You’re not going to believe it.” Justin used one of the lighters he had on top of his dresser. “What?” he asked. “Remember Emmett?” Slater asked. Justin nodded slowly as he took a drag from his cigarette. “Well, he called me,” Slater said smirking. “Just fucking tell me,” Justin said getting annoyed. “That kid you brought with you is now pregnant and all fingers point to you,” Slater told him. “Mmm,” Justin muttered. He opened the top drawer and put his cigarettes inside as well as his gun, making sure that Slater wasn't seeing what he was doing. “How the fuck do I know it’s mine?” “That’s what I asked him,” Slater said. “And Emmett explained to me how Brian is a top and he fucks anything that moves and he would never let anyone fuck him. So then he was asking me if you did anything to him like slip him something in his drink or I don’t know,” Slater related and laughed. “Did you?” “Of course not,” Justin said. “He wanted me fucking his tight hole, plain and simple.” “What are you going to do?” Slater asked. “Because if you’re going there, I might go with you.” “Slater,” Justin said grinning. “You really like this Emmett character.” “He’s fun,” Slater said. “A fresh breath of air from all these leeches that always want something from you.” Justin went back to the bed. He thought about going to see the brunet and decided to do so. He’d been thinking about the younger man ever since he had left Pennsylvania. There was something about Brian that had captured his mind. “I guess we’ll have to pay them a visit and find out what the fuck is going on.” Slater smiled.