A/N: Not quite as long as wait as the last time. Just as an extra warning, this chapter and the next one is not particularily Lindsey friendly. Something about the way she acted in the last few episodes really upset me and this is my way of figuring out her motivations. As always, reviews are greatly appreciated and all mistakes are mine. ************************************************************************** Chapter 7 Justin’s POV The ride out to West Virginia is made in relative silence, well as silent as you can get with a toddler sitting in the back seat jabbering away to her daddy. My thoughts drift to Brian’s explanation for the jeep. I know it doesn’t make sense, but a part of me is jealous. Not that he got the jeep, necessarily, it does make sense, but more because of the connection he has with everyone. Not just Gus, because that’s understandable, but it seems as if he, the munchers, and even Michael and Ben have bonded and created this family unit and I’m left wondering just where I fit in. I don’t doubt Brian loves me. The fat desperate fuck in the bathroom is only one of the ways that he shows me how much I mean to him. The random ‘care packages’ of my favorite (and horribly expensive) shower gels, shampoos, and lube, not to mention random Pittsburg food, also let me know I’m more than just a piece of blond boy ass. It’s just that he has this connection with everyone that I no longer have. I’m suddenly an outsider, a visiting relative that everyone fawns over, but quickly forgets when I go back to New York. I don’t have a blood connection with anyone in this group and I fear the longer I’m away the greater the gulf will grow. Will there come a point where the effort to stay connected becomes too much and we just drift apart? I worry my thumbnail between my front teeth and continue to stare blindly out the window. I’m not sure how long I would have sat there, playing scenario after scenario through my brain of slowly losing Brian, but I’m rudely pulled out of my thoughts by a blast of cold air hitting me from my open door. Brian stands next to me, reaching in to undo my seatbelt. “Come along, Sunshine. I’m not your fucking butler, you have to help carry in the luggage.” He gives me a worried glance, slightly lifting his eyebrows, silently asking if everything is okay. I respond with a slight shrug and exit the jeep. I’ve managed to pull my big suitcase out of the back and pull it behind me up the walk when the front door opens and a three foot hurricane races out and tackles me. I’m barely able to keep us from falling when Gus’ words send me to my knees. “daddy Jusin. I’m so glad you’re home. Daddy and I missed you terribly.” As the tears begin to fall I continue to clutch Gus to me. Lindsey’s standing there with a strange look on her face. Is that disapproval? Before I have time to contemplate her look, Gus squirms out of my embrace and looks at me with worry. He shifts his gaze to over my shoulder and says, “Daddy? Why Daddy Jusin crying? Did I do somethin’ wrong?” His little lip starts to quiver and I quickly pull him back to me, hugging him tight. “Allergies!” Brian and I say at the same time. It’s enough to break the tension and I finally release Gus who goes to stand by his father. “Daddy Justin is just allergic to the snow, Sonny Boy. Why don’t you go back in with your mom and I’ll help him get out of the snow.” Brian gently pushes Gus towards Lindsey and they retreat into the house as Michael comes back out to retrieve the rest of the bags. “Miss the snow, Boy Wonder? Don’t they have snow this white in New York?” Michael laughs as he takes the rest of the bags, leaving Brian to deal with the sniveling mess that is me. “Come on. Let’s go to our room so we can get you out of those wet clothes and I can get into something much warmer.” I gratefully take his offered hand and begin walking toward the house. As I pass Brian he playfully smacks my ass, giving me no doubt what warm place he wants. I know it’s a ploy to distract me, and I let it work because, let’s face it, sex with Brian under any circumstances is a good thing. Brian quickly leads me into the house, through the foyer, and up the stars. Then he makes a left and leads me to the room at the end of the hall. He opens the door and pushes me into the room. I stop, stunned, as I take in the layout. “When? Why? How?” I can’t complete a single thought as I take in the massive four poster bed and other stuff, all stuff Brian and I had picked out a while back on a ‘window’ shopping trip during one of his visits to New York. “You didn’t honestly think I would just window shop did you?” Brian’s snarky ton forced me from my stupor. “But. Brian, it’s too much. I mean, had I known we were picking out furniture for ‘our’ place I wouldn’t have been so extravagant. There’s no way I can…” He cuts me off before I can finish that thought. “Be practical, Justin. We needed furniture for the house and since I’m the one primarily using it right now it only makes sense for me to foot the bill.” He pauses to wrap me in his arms. “think of it as a non-wedding present to me, or a way to still have you close even when you’re five hours away.” He kisses the top of my head then gently pushes me away. “Besides, I don’t do cheap, Sunshine, and if I have to be here every weekend with the munchers and Ben and Michael, you better bet your sweet ass I’m going to be comfortable.” There’s the asshole I know and love. With a sigh I reach up, pulling his face close to mine. “I love you too. And thank-you.” We get lost in our kiss, slow and sultry, where the earlier ones were fast an hard. Finally we come up for air. Slowly he begins to undress me, peeling each layer of clothing off slowly. “Let’s get you out of these wet clothes. You must be quite chilly.” As he removes the last of my clothes he gently pushes me down onto the bed. I push up father on the bed and watch, mesmerized, by Brian’s strip show. Unconsciously I lick my lips, shivering slightly from arousal or the lingering chill I’m not sure. Brian’s POV I’m enjoying this little show about as much as Justin. I watch as his eyes dilate with lust and marvel that after six plus years I can still make him this horny this quick. When his tongue darts out to lick his lips I have to pause in unbuttoning my jeans and concentrate on not coming like a neophyte. Once I finish removing my own clothes, I crawl up from the end of the bed, covering Justin’s body with my own. “Still a little cold, Sunshine?” His answering shiver could just be arousal, but I would bet at least part of it is residual chills from his time in the snow. “There’s two ways to handle hypothermia. One, we could hop in the shower and spend the next twenty minutes or so in the steam. Or, two, we could lay here and let my body heat warm you up.” I pause and pull him closer to my body, bringing the extra blankets from the foot of the bed, and wrap it around our bodies to help trap the heat. “Now, each option has its own merits, but I’m partial to being horizontal at the moment.” I kiss the top of his head. “I figure we have about a half hour before Gus comes looking for us.” “Bri? About Gus. I never…I would never presume…” I feel, more than see, his struggles. I just hold him close and let him work through his emotions. When he seems to have calmed down a bit, I pull back to stare deep into his eyes, “Justin, listen to me. Are you listening?” When he nodded I continued, “I have no problem with Gus thinking of you as his second daddy. He has two mommies, so why not two daddies? Truth be told, I’m surprised it’s taken him this long.” I pull him closer to me again, finding it easier to talk when I don’t have to look at him directly. “You have been a MAJOR influence in his life since his birth, Justin. It’s only natural he would feel that kind of connection with you. He’s been asking about ‘Daddy Jusin’ ever since moving back. If you’re not comfortable with it I can talk to him.” “No, Brian. It’s fine, more than fine actually. I’ve always kind of felt like a parent towards him, but I didn’t want to overstep any bounds.” Justin absently trailed his hand over my chest, lightly tweaking my nipples. “I didn’t want to upset you or take anything away from your relationship with him.” I felt his tears hit my chest and I shifted us so I was leaning against the headboard and pulled him to straddle my lap, facing me. I cup his chin, forcing him to meet my eyes. “Justin, as far as I’m concerned, and Gus too, you are his dad until you no longer wish to be.” My throat closed on the last part of that statement, shutting out the idea that he could leave me one day. “Ill never do that. But what about Mel and Lindz? She didn’t look too thrilled with Gus’ display outside awhile ago.” He swiped at his eyes, attempting to staunch the flow of tears. “Fuck the munchers if they don’t want to accept it. Gus and you are the only two who matter in this situation. I know you won’t disappear on him.” “You matter too, Brian. Should I talk to Lindsey do you think? I’m sure it must be difficult. Especially since I don’t’ live here at the moment.” “It’ll be okay. Lindz will get over whatever her deal is. Just let it be.” I pull his face toward me and kiss him softly on the lips. “Now, what do you say we table any discussions for the time being and continue warming you up.” I shift us again and lean over his body, stroking his chest with my left hand. I let my hand trail a little lower with each pass. As I near his erection, I hear his breath hitch and know he’s turned on. Slow and steady, I let my lips follow the path my hand took, leaving moist, open-mouthed kisses. The pink flush creeping up his body lets me know he’s warm, working toward hot. I spend the next hour working him to a sweat.