Lois and Carolyn, thanks for the beta...you’re the greatest!  

I would also like to thank everyone who previewed the chapters for me.
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Chapter 40 - And So It Begins  
In the Middle of Sunday Dinner…(Day 63)


With Michael's drama queen moment about to begin, Justin started to push back his chair, already trying to figure out how he was going to get Gus and Jenny away from the table before tensions fully erupted in the room.   As he was trying to figure this out, Molly quickly recognized his facial expression of concern, and she nodded to Hunter, who also immediately understood.  

Molly said calmly, “Gus, it's going to be a while before Debbie has dessert for us.   What do you think about you and me checking out the swings?” she suggested, while simultaneously getting up and moving over to take Gus' hand.

Gus looked up at Justin to make sure it was okay; then, he happily took Molly's hand and headed outside.

“I'm not sure it's a good idea to leave Molly and Gus alone,” Hunter then suggested, so he leaned over and said to Jenny Rebecca.  “So JR, how would you like to check out the swings too?”

Jenny quickly extended her arms upward to be picked up, so that she could be released from the prison of her high chair.

“I've still got IT!” Hunter beamed with attitude, giving JR a hug.  Jenny merely giggled as she and Hunter followed Molly and Gus out the back door.

Brian slid over closer to Justin and casually leaned against him.  Being in physical contact with Justin helped him to relax and gave him a better view of Michael.

“Okay, Mikey,” Brian began, “You obviously have something on your mind; out with it!” he demanded from his relaxed postion.

“Why do you believe that I have something on my mind?” Michael stupidly asked.

“The jowls, Mikey…” was all that Brian needed to say.   Everyone else braced themselves for what was to follow.

“Sure, Honey, tell me what's on your mind?” Debbie asked with some concern.  “I know you thought that dinner was over, so I guess you came here to talk to me,” she pointed out.  “Well, here I am.   
So, start talking!”

“That's easy for you to say.  Your life is going along as if nothing has happened.   My life, on the other hand, has been thrown into chaos.  I'm suffering here!  Now, you expect me to talk about our personal problems with everyone still in the room,” Michael protested.

“No problem,” Ted simply said, and then, as if on silent cue, everyone at the table started to stand up, preparing to give Michael and Debbie some privacy, so they could hash out their problems.   They were all starting to relish being out of Michael's line of fire.   Unfortunately, their anticipations just were a bit premature.

Debbie may have been calm on the outside, but on the inside, she had to steel herself.   She and Carl had already been privy to one of Michael's tirades when he first found out the undisputed reality that Daniel was his father.  

“All of you just sit the fuck down!” Debbie demanded, and everyone quickly sat back down in their seats.    “We're family here.   There are no more secrets between us.   So whatever my son has to say to me, he can say it in front of everyone.” Then she turned towards him and simply said, “Michael?”

Debbie secretly hoped that the presence of everyone at the table would modulate Michael's behavior,  to some extent.

“You just can't leave things alone, can you, Ma?” Michael immediately began.   “First you hold on to the secret for thirty five years.   Then, you finally decide to tell the truth.   Now, you just won't leave things alone and let everyone adjust to things in their own time.”

“Michael, what are you talking about?” Carl asked.  

Brian could see where this was leading.   “Get over it, Mikey,” he calmly suggested.   “All your life, you've complained about not having a father.   Now, you know that you have one, who's very much alive.   Look on the bright side of things.   You and Daniel have a chance to get to know each other and build a real relationship.”

“You don't know that!” Michael challenged.

“In fact, I do,” Brian corrected him.   “Daniel is here, isn't he? He took on all of us, all at once.   Now, why do you suppose that he did that?” he pointedly asked.

“I don't know,” Michael mumbled, still unwilling to see any perspective other than his own.

“C'mon Mikey, really think about it,” Brian reiterated.   “I’d have to say that Daniel's actions speak volumes.”

Michael looked as if he was still trying to figure things out.   Rapid processing of information had never been his strong suit.   Therefore, everyone else in the room, with their more agile minds, had to endure the deafening silence, as Michael tried to process the obvious reason for Daniel's appearance.

Finally, Daniel decided to step in and speak for himself.   “I'm here because I was invited.   Although, I must admit that I’m really glad to be here.   I had the chance to meet all the people that are important to you,” he continued.   “You're very lucky to have friends...family even…who care so much about you.    I'd hoped that by getting to know the various people, who know you best that I might make fewer mistakes, as we get to know one another.” 

Michael considered what Daniel just said and realized that since he'd never considered that possibility.   Maybe, he’d been over-reacting just a bit.   After all, Daniel was just making an effort for his benefit.  So, he tried to calm himself down to listen to what everyone had to say.  

However, Michael wanted to be sure that everyone in the room understood, how miserable he was.  After all, he was the injured party here.  He was the one that was directly impacted by everything new happening in his life.  His was the life that had been totally disrupted by the people that he trusted and cared for most.

“I was hoping that we could get to know each other,” Michael finally admitted, “Just you and me, by ourselves!  I didn't want anyone else involved.  I didn't even want them to know about you just yet.”

“I had no idea that you wanted me to continue to be a family secret,” Daniel spoke with some surprise.

“I made the decision that everyone in the family should be told,” Brian interrupted.  “I wanted everyone to be able to support all three of you, without a constant repetition of the facts.  If you have a problem with my decision, that's most unfortunate, but what's done is done.  So go ahead and move on from here,” he added nonchalantly.

“I planned for me and Daniel to be really close before he had to get involved with all of you,” Michael protested, with a sweeping motion to emphasize the dramatics of his statement.  “Now that he’s met everybody, I wouldn't be surprised if he decided to disappear again.”

“I'm sorry,” Daniel said apologetically.  “I just didn't think that you'd had the time to make any plans.” 

The room fell silent as everyone else was also surprised that Michael had planned things out.  In fact, they found it all a bit hard to believe.  Any planning that had ever occurred in Michael's life had always been done by someone else…Debbie, Brian, David, or Ben.  Michael had always been good at complaining.  He had always just reacted to events as they unfolded, much like everyone was experiencing right now.  

No one could ever remember a time that Michael had EVER done any planning, but, everyone, around the table, kept these thoughts to themselves.

Daniel then continued, “You should have called and told me your plan,” he quickly pointed out.  "Then, I would have known to refuse the invitation of an old friend.  After all, Debbie simply insisted that I come over to look at pictures of you growing up and to stay for dinner.  I had no idea when I accepted the invitation that so many people would be here.  But even if I'd know, I wouldn't have seen any reason to turn down her invitation,” he explained.  “I've had a great time getting to know everyone,” he added with a smile.

“In fact, your mother didn't give him much of a choice,” Carl interjected.  “His presence was DEMANDED.   You know what that's like.” 

“He's now family, that seems reasonable,” Brian commented with a slight laugh, stating the obvious, even though Michael didn't want to think about it.

Everybody knew what that was like; for at one time or another, each person in the room had been on the receiving end of one of Debbie's demand appearances.  It was the demand appearances that reminded them that they were part of this family.  Everyone thought to themselves that Daniel had taken everything in stride, which was pretty remarkable considering that he had little choice in things.

Michael was ready to argue with Brian, but Debbie took over the conversation, giving him no chance to say anything at all.

“You should have seen Divina perform last night,” Debbie right jumped in.  “It was really fucking amazing….the gowns, the music.  The audience was clapping…there were encores and everything.” 

“And we had the royal treatment,” Carl added.

“Somehow, I knew that you would remember Casey,” Debbie said quickly, placing one hand on her hip.  “Let me tell you,” she teased, finding it necessary to bring everyone up to date on the events of the night before, "Carl has a secret admirer!" 

All this talk of Casey caused Carl to blush.

“It's okay, Carl, I'm sure Casey will get over it eventually,” Daniel quickly pointed out with a devilish grin, just for good measure.

Jennifer tried to help out by adding, “And Divina invited us backstage to her dressing room after the show,” she continued.  “It was wonderful.  Now, we've seen both Daniel and Divina, up close and personal.”

Michael was too surprised by what he was hearing to make any response.  He realized several things all at once.  First, Carl and Debbie had gone to see Divina at the Kit Kat Club, and second that Jennifer had gone with them.  That was a grouping he'd never expected.  And finally, he had the startling realization that Carl and Debbie and Jennifer and Daniel all seemed to really like each other.

Carl finally regained his composure and quickly pointed out that BOTH Daniel and Divina were welcome additions to the family.

“Thank you, Carl, from both of us,” Daniel said with a big grin and a slight seated bow.

Even though his little brain was spinning, Michael, once again, found his voice.  “See, it's started already.  I'm not going to allow it! He's not going to be family!” Michael irrationally insisted.  “He's MY dad.  He belongs to ME.  He doesn't belong to the rest of you!” he continued to protest.  “You all can't have him! I've waited thirty five years to have my dad.  And, I don't intend to share him with ANY of you!”

“Mikey, what are you talking about?” Brian had to ask.  He could already see that Michael was starting to sulk again.

“I believe it's a little late for that, Michael,” Melanie reluctantly pointed out.  “He's already spent time with Hunter, and he's already met Jenny Rebecca.

“Hunter already calls him grandfather.  JR is still trying to figure things out.  I think she’s trying to understand who this man is, who looks so much like you.  I would say, you're all in for the exciting adventure of getting to know Daniel better,” Ben calmly suggested.  

“See, It's starting already!” Michael complained, now shaking his head for emphasis.

“I'm so sorry, Michael, I had no idea…” Daniel said, continuing to apologize even though he clearly felt that he had nothing to apologize for.

Still, Michael was becoming more upset as each new bit of information came to light.  Daniel's only hope was that by all the unnecessary apologizing, Michael would be appeased and would calm down.  Unfortunately, no one in the room had a chance to explain to Daniel that there was no underlying logic to Michael's behavior.

“I'm sorry too, Michael…” Debbie began and then paused.  

Michael began to perk up, feeling as if someone now understood his position.  He thought his mother was at last on his side, for it was clearly unusual for Debbie to apologize so quickly.  

But to his surprise, Debbie wasn't finished, and her demeanor changed as she continued, “Because, no matter what happens, going forward between you and Danny… he IS now, and will always be, a member of this family!” Debbie told him sternly, in no uncertain terms.

With that statement, Michael flew into a rage.  “You can't keep picking up strays and making them members of this family!” he accused.

“Excuse me?” Debbie asked incredulously.

“What?” even Ted had to ask, at this point.  “We're all your friends, Michael.  Have you forgotten?”

“I'm not talking about you and Em and Brian.  You've always been my friends,” Michael pointedly clarified.  “I'm not even talking about Lindsay and Melanie.  I'm also not talking about Blake or Drew.”

“Then what are you talking about?” Brian asked, trying to quickly figure out who was left out of the friendship litany.  

Before he could say anything more, Justin interrupted.  “I see,” he quickly concluded.  “So, this is about me?” 

Brian was about to step in and come to Justin's defense, when Jennifer casually interrupted.

“This is about Justin?” Jennifer asked with complete amazement.  “I can't believe this!  For your information, Justin isn't a stray anything!” she insisted in full mother-mode.  “Debbie and I have mothered him together since he was 17.”  

Justin merely rolled his eyes at that comment.  He couldn’t believe that Michael would open this particular can of worms.

“Or, is that what the problem is, Michael?” Lindsay felt the need to ask.  “We're all family, and Debbie is the glue that holds us together.  You know that!  Are you saying that you resent the fact that Debbie is there for all of us?” she asked.

“Don't tell me you're still upset about the fact that Justin used to live in your old bedroom,” Ted pointedly asked.  “Even you have to admit, that's ancient history.  “ 

“So, I would say that you owe Justin a debt of gratitude,” Melanie suggested.  “Since Debbie's had Justin to mother, you've been left to live your own life.” 

“So tell me again what the problem is?” Emmett asked, totally confused by the turn of events.

The idea of being grateful to Justin about anything was enough to send Michael into a rage, again.  

And Michael definitely wasn't finished yet.  In pure reaction mode, without thinking anything through, he blurted out, “Ma just keeps on picking up strays and adding them to our family!” he shouted.  “She never stops to consider the consequences,” he continued, obviously on a roll and ignoring the cautionary looks that he was getting from everyone.  “Things haven't been right in this family, since HE came along,” he added, gesturing in the direction of Justin.

Brian was instantly on his feet.  

Justin gently touched Brian on the arm to let him know that he would handle this.  “Since the night that Brian first brought me home and fucked me, you’ve always wanted me gone.  Debbie, on the other hand, has always liked having me around, and we both know that she can be pretty persuasive.  Well, just remember at this point, Brian and I are a package deal,” he calmly said with an added smile.

Lindsay started speaking before Brian could say anything.

“Please, Michael, don't go there!” Lindsay said, already seeing trouble brewing, for she knew that Brian wouldn't put up with this.  Even if everyone else had forgotten, she clearly remembered the moment that Michael pushed Brian too far, and Brian had finally punched Michael.  She wanted to prevent a recurrence of that event, for she understood now, as she never understood before, that Brian was in full-protective mode where Justin was concerned.

Lindsay looked pleadingly over at Melanie for help.  

Melanie recognized her partner's anguish and stepped in to help.  “Michael!” she called out to bring him back to reality.  “Get a grip!” 

Michael appeared to calm a little at the sound of Melanie's voice, but clearly he wasn't done.  He was the injured party here, and he wanted to be sure that everyone knew it.  “Me and Brian have been inseparable, since we were 14.  Then, HE came along, and Brian started to change.  Brian hasn't been able to get enough of Justin since the day they first met,” he openly complained.

Hesitating to completely argue with the facts, Brian calmly said, instead, while retaking his seat, “Well, maybe not the first day.” Then he once again leaned against Justin and smiled.  “You've got to admit, he's pretty addicting.  Never enough, Mikey” Brian mumbled as if in some trance.

Justin simply leaned over and kissed Brian gently.  Brian held the kiss and allowed it to become passionate.  At this point, the two partners were completely ignoring Michael and everyone else.

“Now, you've gone and done it, Michael!” Debbie complained with a laugh, throwing her hands in the air.  “Brian and Justin had just about managed to get through one family dinner, without making out at the table,” she suggested.  “But you had to go and get them started.  Look at them now!  The next thing you know, they'll be fucking.”

“And you know how much Brian likes fucking in public,” Emmett quipped as a reminder to everyone.  “So please tell me that there was a reason that you started all this?”

Michael ran his hands over his face in frustration.  Once again, he'd totally lost control of events, and somehow watching Brian and Justin kissing was the last thing that he wanted to witness.

Brian and Justin finally pulled apart to breathe although they now both had these strange expressions on their faces.

Michael was still incensed and continued with his rant, “Ever since Boy Wonder joined our little family, he and Brian seem to need to spend EVERY spare minute they HAVE, together,” Michael complained, and everyone was still confused by the seeming non-sequitur.  

“Just as you used to spend all your spare time with Ben,” Ted finally reminded him.  “Is there a point here?”

“This has nothing to do with Ben!” Michael fired back quickly in anger.

“Nothing new there…” Ben fired back with a touch of disappointment.

Michael shook his head as he immediately realized his mistake.  “No…No.  That's not what I mean!” he said quickly.  “Brian and I are best friends.  It’s just that he doesn't have any time for me, now that he has Justin.   Some things aren't supposed to change.” 

“And some things are,” Melanie felt the need to say.  “Brian and Justin are a committed couple…more legally bound to each other than any of us.  You know Brian better than anyone.  What exactly did you suppose his actions would mean, Michael?  He's a friend to all of us…but he belongs to Justin.  Can't you see that?  Stop trying to change what is.  It's time to move forward.” She insisted.  

“How can you sit there and calmly defend him?  I'm no different than Lindsay.  We're both trying to find a way to keep him in our lives,” Michael argued.

“I'm right here,” Brian reminded everyone.  “I haven't gone anywhere.  Justin and I have attended most of the family dinners since his return.  What's your point, Mikey?” he had to ask.

“Sure you've attended every family dinner with Justin, but none of us ever sees you alone,” Michael pointed out.  “Justin’s always around.  We don't hang out like we used to,” he added.

“Mikey, we're not 14 anymore.  We've both grown up.  We each have partners and kids that take up our energies.  I've been busy, Mikey.  I have a lot going on.  Have you forgotten that I have Kinnetik and Babylon to run?”

“But you're not too busy to be with Justin!”  Michael complained.

“And I never will be,” Brian said calmly.  “So if that's what you’re waiting for, you're about to be very disappointed.  Grow up, Mikey.  You have a life…live it.”

“I can't!  Justin took my life away from me.  Now, I have nothing,” Michael professed.

Brian was once again on his feet.

Blake felt the need to step in here to try to do something to calm things down.  “Hold on a minute, all of you!  Michael, tell us what's going on with you.  Tell us what you really mean,” he insisted, now dropping into counseling mode.  “Everyone at this table loves and cares about you.  I'm sure that you know that.  So, take a minute and gather your thoughts, so that you can tell us what's really bothering you.  There has to be a reason that you're risking everything with Brian to suddenly take pot shots at Justin.”

Michael took a deep breath as he was instructed.  Then he blurted it all out.  “If Daniel's going to be a member of this family, then he's not going to have any time for ME.  He'll be hanging out with all of you, all the time.  He won't have any time left to build a relationship with ME.  He's already Hunter and JR's grandfather.   Where does that leave me?   I'll be all alone again.  No one has stopped to consider ME!”

With that last statement, everyone rolled their eyes.  <i>‘So that's what this was all about,' </i> everybody silently thought to themselves.  They were now starting to get the picture.

Daniel decided that this was his cue to take action, so he walked over to where Michael was seated at the table.  He lowered himself, so that he could look directly into Michael's eyes.  “Listen to me, Michael,” he said calmly.  “Are you listening?” he added, pausing to wait for an answer.  

Michael simply nodded yes, as he started to sniffle.  There was something familiar about the words that he just heard that made him sit up and pay attention.

Daniel continued, “Four years ago, when I found out that I had a son, I started to make plans too,” he quietly revealed.  “I knew then that you were someone that I wanted to get to know.  It took me this long to put everything together, so that I could move back here.  Jennifer and I still have to find someplace for me to live.  But I'm here to stay.  I'm here to build a relationship with you.  But thirty-five years is a long time.  And I realize that you've managed to grow up quite nicely without having a father around.  It's going to take us a while to be as close as Brian and Gus…“

At the reference to Brian and Gus, Michael, once again, became enraged.  “I don't want you to be a drop in dad like Brian.  I want you to be a real father, like I am with JR,” Michael insisted, interrupting whatever point that Daniel was trying to make.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Brian angrily answered.

“You had to lose a ball before you even noticed that Gus existed!” Michael challenged.

“Michael, Brian has always been a good father to Gus.  He always placed Gus' needs above his own.  You have no idea what goes on between Brian and Justin and Gus,” Lindsay reminded him.

“Look Michael, we all know how I feel about the Asshole, but I don't have an issue about how Brian has been as a father to Gus,” Melanie also corrected him.  “You saw Gus earlier, and you heard him talk.  He's very sure of who he is and where he fits with everyone in this family.”

“I'm sorry,” Michael finally said, seeing that he was alone in his position.  “I guess it's all been too much for me lately.  It's just that I've had so much to deal with,” he admitted, with tears streaming down his face.  "First, Brian breaks a promise that we made when we were kids.  Then, Ben leaves me and takes Hunter with him.  Then, I find out that my mother told me lies my whole life.  Now, it feels like Ma and all of you are trying to take Daniel away from me too.  When will it ever stop?” he whined, once again covering his face with his hands.

Daniel stepped in, again, to try to help here.  “Debbie just wanted to help make the transition easier for both of us.  Your friends have tried to welcome me because I was important to you.  But, Michael, I'm here for you,” he tried to reassure his son.

“What is it that you want, Michael?  Do you now want Daniel exclusively all to yourself?” Carl wondered aloud.  He already knew that Michael was selfish, but he never imagined him to be this egocentric.

“No….I just…” Michael began in response, until Daniel silenced him once again.

“Michael, you and I are father and son.  You and I will hopefully build a close relationship.  But Michael, even under the best of circumstances, we are NOT going to be the only relationship in each other's lives.  Each of us loves and will love other people.  That's life.  But just because we love other people, doesn't mean that there isn't room for us to love each other as father and son,” Daniel explained.

“Ben said almost the same thing when we first met…” Michael informed him.

“Yes, I probably did,” Ben agreed quietly.  “Little did I know…” 

“But look at us now,” Michael whined.  “We're married, but clearly living separate lives,” he argued.  “Ben obviously didn't mean all those vows that he said when we got married.  It was all hollow promises,” he added, wanting to be sure to add allies, now that he even had Ben's full attention too.

Ben was about to respond, but Daniel knew that he had to stay in control.  And he knew he had to remain the voice of reason.  He wasn't about to let things get off track, for he could see that Michael was like a willful child on the verge of another tantrum…probably just like the tantrum that Jenny had staged earlier this morning over Cap’n Crunch cereal.  

So Daniel continued, “I don't begin to know what happened between you and Ben,” he calmly admitted.  “If you want us to, we'll have plenty of time to talk about it.  We're going to spend lots of time together, just you and me.  But I must admit, I'm glad we have all these other people in our lives, too.  I'm sure that they'll be there to help us as we go along,” he added with a confident smile.

“But…” Michael started to argue again, but Daniel simply hugged him, silencing whatever he was about to say.

“Calm down, Michael.” Daniel insisted.  “One step at a time….”

Michael appeared to completely surrender to his father's embrace.  It felt good to have some actually
hold him.  His emotional tirade had cost him a lot of energy.  Now, he was emotionally spent.

When Daniel and Michael pulled apart, everyone in the room could breathe a collective sigh of relief.  Michael was now calm, and Daniel was smiling.  

One crisis averted.  One drama queen moment is now complete.