A/N: There is one more Chapter. I wanted it to be longer but I am leaving for a vacation and I decided that this is a good place to stop but I wanted one more chapter. I am sorry about the shortness there will be a Sequel "Define Love" will be up in August sometime. I hope you all like it. thank you Gerri for a wonderful Job. “Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live; it is asking others to live as one wishes to live.”- Oscar Wilde ~Alex’s Hotel Room~ "Don’t use her against me. I messed up when I left my son. I finally grew up when I met you and got married." "Then come back to me and us. Come back to the family we have before you mess us up too." "Am I supposed to let him be raised by two men?" "Yes!" Dave would rather see two happy families, than none. ~Deb’s House~ Michael opens the front door as Shae and Kira run inside. "Ma, I brought the brats." Both kids shout. "We are not brats!" Deb comes down the stairs and looks in the kitchen and sees them trying to work together to open the cookie jar. "Can I help you two?" They both look at her with wide eyes because they got caught. "We would like a cookie?" "Please?" Deb walks over to the jar and gets them each a cookie. "Now don’t tell your fathers okay?" They both nod there heads yes as their mouths are busy chomping in delight. At the loft we see the boys lying in bed happily sated partly because their own mouths have been busy, among other things. "We should get up and shower." "Nope." Justin laughs. "Okay let’s stay in bed for the rest of the night." Justin lays his head on Brian’s chest as Brian runs his fingers through Justin’s long hair. "We cant we have a party to go to." "I want to skip it." "I know and I wish we could." "But if we did Deb would serve our balls as the pink plate special." "Yep and the guys want to show their support." "I know. I’m just scared but here with you I feel safe." "You are and you have a family now and me, I'm not going anywhere." Justin leans up and bushes Brian's lips gently. "Thank you." "For what?" Justin just smiles and gets off the bed and walks into the bathroom. Brian hears the shower start and he isn’t sure what just happened until he hears Justin from the bathroom. "Brian are you going to help me wash my back?" With that Brian dives out of bed and heads for the shower. "Hell yeah!" ~Courthouse~ We go inside Jury Room A and we see on the side of the Defendant is Justin and Brian along with Anna. The plaintive side is Mr Peterson along with Alex and a very pissed off looking Dave. Mr Peterson tried to argue that Brian has no right to be there as a spouse since he and Mr Taylor weren’t married or had any form of ceremony but of course Anna argued saying that Mr Kinney and Mr Taylor have a commitment that we can only dream of. Their Judge was Mrs Beck, she was a hard ass liberal, yes, she was open minded but she would always put the child’s best interests ahead of anything if she felt that was right. She had nothing against same sex parents as she was one of the most fair and honest judges around in the court system. When Brian and Justin heard the name of the Judge their first thought was that they were screwed but then they asked Mel about her. Of course she said they were damn lucky and screwed also because if you said one thing she didn’t like she would screw you standing, while she smiled. As the bailiff tells everyone to rise, you see everyone in the court room as far as the liberty family is concerned except Deb and Vic. They are both watching the kids at home because all members decided the kids shouldn’t be exposed to this; they also had their Aunt Molly. Bailiff speaks. "All rise, presenting the honourable Judge Mary Beck." Everyone rises waiting for the notice to return to their seats. "You may be seated; this is the case against Justin Taylor verses Alexandra Mars for soul custody of Shae Alexander Taylor." All six of the of the people at the small table say, "Yes, your honour." "I want you to know that I will be basing my decision on what is best for the child. Mr. Peterson you may start." "Thank you your honour." They sat there listening to Mr. Peterson praise Alex for an hour saying how wonderful she was and called her up to the stand. He never once asked why she left her child; the only thing he focused on was the fact that now she was married and was more settled. He never brought up her past. "Mrs Stark it’s your turn." "Thank you your honour. Ms Mars why did you abandon your son?" "Your honour, I object. She shouldn’t have to answer that." "Why? Actually I would very much like to know the answer, but Mrs Stark just be careful how you phrase your questions from now." "Yes, you honour. So, Alex please answers my question. Why did you leave Shae when he was only a week old?" "Because I was, um scared." Didn’t you think my client was? He was the same age as you? So please can you elaborate?" "I’m not entirely sure. I thought Justin could take care of him at least better than I could then." "Now, you don’t think that any more?" Anne looks at her directly in the eyes. Alex looks at the judge. "Can I have a break please?" "Five minute recesses everyone." Judge Beck bangs the gavel, gets up and heads to her chambers while Anna walks back to the boys. "Are you two okay?" "No, she’s going to win isn’t she?" "I don’t know and I’m not going to lie to you because she could. We did get a liberal judge but Peterson did a great opening and I have a chance to change that so I need you to be ready okay. Justin nods his head yes and Brian kisses the side of his head. Across at the Peterson table. "She is fucking killing me up there." "Its okay. We had a great opening". "I don’t want to answer that question". Dave butts in; "Why, I want to leave Alex, can't we forget this…" "No, I am not letting my son be raised by a bunch of fags." Bailiff calls out; "Court is now backing in session. All rise…and be seated." They quickly all stand then sit back down and Anna walks into front of the room. "May I please call someone else to the stand?" "I suppose but remember Ms Mars you are still under oath." She nods her head yes and goes to sit down relieved. "I call Justin Taylor." Justin stands up and places his hand on the bible and says what the bailiff tells him too and takes his seat. "Okay Justin start from the beginning. What happened in the spring of your fifthtenth year?" "I slept with Alex once and when I was 15. I knew I was gay back then. Hell, I knew I was gay when I was younger but I did it because she was my best friend and she asked me to. " "So you didn’t really want to?" "No, but when she told me she was pregnant, then I knew what I wanted and I had to do be there for her and our child". "What happened on March 23 in 2002?" " My son was born." All of a sudden Justin's face went from frowning to a big Sunshine smile, which was noticed by Brian who couldn't help but smile also. "When I held him I felt at peace and whole. I was sixteen and I had never felt that before. Well, until recently, but that's a completely different feeling and reason. Justin smiles at Brian. "What happened a week later, Justin?" "Um, I went upstairs at my mom’s place to get something for Shae and Alex was downstairs feeding him. I thought he was okay, I mean Alex was with him. When I came back down, he was asleep in his swing and there was a note on the table." "What did the note say?" "Hey Jus, take care of your son. I’m sorry for what I've done. Later, Al." "How do you remember that? I mean it happened 5 years ago?" "You never forget the day when you lose your best friend and the mother of your son and I must have read it a thousand times over the years, trying to understand, thinking I missed something, something that would help me understand." Justin lowers his head and reaches for his wallet. "It never leaves me; I've kept it all these years, in case Shae ever wanted to see it, when he was older." With that Justin takes out an old piece of paper and Judge Beck motions to the bailiff to give it to her. Mr Peterson interjects. "That is not permissible in this case. I have not seen it nor has it been verified." "I realise that. I understand the law very well, but Ms Mars, did you write this letter?" "Yes your honour, a long time ago." Alex lowers her head. The judge reads it, carefully folds it up and hands it to Justin with a soft expression. "Well it can now." Anna resumes. "What if Alex came back a month later? Would you have given Shae up?" "No, I could never give up my son. But I would never keep him from her, if she had wanted to visit and be a part of his life." "And now…" "I don’t trust her!" Justin looks Alex dead in the eye. Anna glides towards her table grinning, "Your witness." Mr Peterson gets up and walks close to Justin on the stand. "Justin, you openly admit you are gay. Is that right?" "Yes I do and I am." "Are you married? Have a partner…some form of commitment?" "No, not yet." "So, you bring strange men around your son?" "No, I haven’t dated or been with anyone since my son was born. Brian is the first person and he is amazing." "Doesn’t he have a daughter?" "Yes, she is the same age as Shae and they act like brother and sister." "What are you going to say if your son asks what gay means?" "He already has." Justin giggles at the memory. "I told him that it means another boy loves a boy instead of a girl and that a girl may love another girl instead of a boy. It’s okay as long as you are happy." "So, you are teaching your son that is it is okay to be gay?" "Not directly no. I’m teaching my son to love who he wants and I will always love him and support him no matter what choices he makes. I will always be there for my son." "That’s all Your Honour." "You may step down, Mr Taylor." "Thank you Your Honour." Justin steps down and walks back to sit between Anna and Brian as Judge Beck begins; "I have heard plenty of testimony from both of the parents but I still have one question. Mr Taylor. You have answered every question with honesty and I respect that and I must say for having a child at such a young age, you have this strength and it seems you don’t regret your son. Ms Mars on the other hand, there is still one question I need you to answer. Why did you leave and why are you back? So please answer that for the court." Alex stands up. "Your honour, I sixteen when I had Shae and I know that’s no excuse but I didn’t think I would have been a good mother or the kind of mother that my son deserved. I needed to grow up and I did. I met an amazing man and we got married. Now, I want my son back so he can grow up in a normal environment. As to why I am back, I want my son to know that his mother loves him and I want him to have the chance to see what a normal family should look like and how to love. He doesn’t need to learn about whatever Justin has been teaching him. My son is a beautiful boy who will be amazing but only if he is away from that horrible immoral atmosphere. "Excuse me Ms Mars. Are you telling this court that you have a problem with that lifestyle because I see nothing wrong with teaching a young child to love and accept people for who they are as well as all the diversity in this world. You want to teach your child hate and I worry about that fact. What if he might be gay, what you would do then?" "He won’t be gay if you send him to a straight environment." People can’t choose and I’m sorry if you feel you can make your son be who you want. I thought I needed time to deliberate but I see I don’t. Mr Taylor I commend you on how you are raising your son. I think you are teaching love and showing him how to express himself and be true and honest. I think that is one of the most important things in a child’s development and not to try and stifle them. Ms Mars, I think you have some issues you need to work out. You abandoned your child when he was a week old. You call his father derogatory names. I am personally worried what will happen if Shae is gay or even just grows up to be different to what you expect. It won’t be because he lived with Mr Taylor. It will be who he is meant to be. I have made my choice. Justin Taylor you are awarded sole custody of your son. I will leave it to your discretion to whether you let Ms Mars ever see her son." Justin has tears in his eyes. "Thank you." "You’re welcome and as for you Ms Mars I suggest you learn acceptance." "How can you award custody to this fag and his lover?" "Easily and if I had any doubt, which I don't, your outburst would have clarified it for me. This court is adjourned." Judge Berk bangs the gavel and gets up and leaves. Justin jumps in Brian’s arms. "WE WON!" "Yes we did." Both dads turn to Anna. Justin hugs her. "Thank you so much Anna, you have no idea what it means." "Take care of him and if you need anything call me." You see Alex is not happy. She is yelling at her attorney and Dave however has a slight smile on his face. The whole gang along with Justin and Brian go outside the courtroom with smiles, hugs and a lot of tears of relief. Emmett squeals to Justin. "Congratulations sweetie!" "Thank you so much." Ted joins in. "So, what do you want to do now?" "I want to go get Shae and let's all go to dinner since Brian and I were late for the barbeque." " Michael laughs. "You mean that you missed it." Brian smirks, with a raised eyebrow. "Yeah, that too". The gang all walked out of the courthouse with smiles on their faces and into their cars so they can head over to Deb’s to get some very important members of their family. As Brian and Justin get in the Jeep neither say a word for a couple of seconds then Brian begins; "Are you okay?" "Um… I think so. Are you okay?" "I don’t know how you did it or what would have happened if the Judge gave Alex custody?" "That’s easy. I would have had cried. Held Shae until I had to give him to her and I then would have fought like hell to get him back." "You’re forgetting one thing." "What’s that?" "I would have been there with you. You are not on your own any more." Justin pulls Brian into a soft gentle, yet passionate kiss. "Thank you for being there." "Don’t mention it, so shall we go?" Justin smiles a truly happy smile. "Fuck yeah!" As Brian and Justin walk into Debbie's house they hear the kids laughing and Molly yelling stop. They walk into the house and see Shae and Kira attacking Molly while Debbie was taking pictures. Jennifer decides to intervene. "Molly, were you picking on them again?" Molly's breathless as she tries to answer. "Maybe a little, but it started over the last cookie." Brian and Justin sit down on the couch and Shae runs to his father. "Daddy!" Justin squats down to his level and hugs him with tears slowly showing in his eyes. "Daddy do I get to live with you for always?" "Yes, baby. You're mine for always" "Promise." "I promise." Justin picks up Shae, still hugging him close and kisses his head. "Well, let’s go to dinner to celebrate." "Wait!" Everyone stops to look at Kira. "Yes, brown eyes." "We have to talk." "Okay let’s talk. We are going outside for a minute okay?" Brian announces as Kira goes outside and sit on the swing on the back porch. Brian shortly follows. "What is it?" "I need to ask you something, you has to be honest Daddy okay, please." "Kira, I’m always honest with you baby girl." "I know, but you sometimes get sad when I ask you questions and I don’t want to make you sad." "Brown eyes, even if you make me sad I’ll answer, okay." "Okay, umm… how do you feel about Justin?" "Why are you asking?" "I knew you wouldn’t answer…" "Kira, I’ll answer. I just want to know why you are asking?" "When Me and Shae were watching a movie after lunch Grandma Deb and Aunt Molly were talking about how happy you both were and they had never seen you guys that happy before. So, I just want to know if you like Justin in that special way because I think you do and I know Justin does, so I just want to know." "When did you get so smart?" "Well, as everyone knows I’m your daughter so it must be in the genes. At least that’s what all my uncles say when they think I’m not listening." Kira smiles. "Yes, I like Justin in that special way. I think I even love him." "That’s good, because I love him too." Kira then kisses her father on the cheek happy that all in her little world is right. "Can we go to dinner now?" Brian laughs at how quickly the tone of the conversation changes with his little beauty. "Yes we can." They walk back into the house and everyone that were talking stopped mid sentence and looked in their direction. "Is everything okay?" Debbie asks tentatively. Brian nods his head. "Yep, everything is great. Let’s go eat." Michael smile at his best friend and his favourite girl. "You heard the girl. Let’s go." "Where we going Bri?" "Anywhere you want Sunshine." "Can we go to Dell's on Liberty Ave?" "Great! A restaurant full of carbs." They all go to Dell's for dinner. They are talking, laughing and the wine is flowing freely. No one is paying attention to the kids who are talking amongst themselves, starting with Shae. "You should ask Uncle Mikey now." "In front of everyone?" "Since when has that stopped you? Please they are always saying. 'Ask anything at any time'." "Your right, okay I’ll ask. Excuse me." Kira is annoyed that no one hears her so she repeats a little louder. "Excuse me! Uncle Mikey what is gay sex?" The kids look around at everyone at the table who has stopped drinking or mid chewing looking wide eyed at the kids and Michael to see how he is going to answer . "Uh…well…um..." Shae is getting frustrated. "You said we can ask anything." "…and we're asking this." "Didn’t I say you should ask Grandma Deb?" Shae and Kira roll their eyes and huff; "Yes, but she said that you have tell us since you brought it up." They both smile while Deb and Jen start laughing a little. Justin then decides to help the kids out; "Well, Michael answer the kids." "Do I have to Brian?" "Yes, answer the kids." "Um…well, it’s like this…you see…" By now Michael is beet red. Molly who can’t contain her laughter anymore blurts out. "Do you even know what gay sex is anymore?" "Uh…no." Michael responds in a very unsure and shaky voice. Everyone at the table busts out laughing, but Kira is not happy. "So, what’s the answer?" Molly decides to help Michael out as she is feeling sorry for him. "It’s like regular sex but you can only have if you are in love with a boy, (Molly addresses Shae) or another girl like you (and then directs towards Kira) okay?" Kira and Shae have a little think about it as everyone waits for the next question that never comes. "Okay." The kids forget the topic and happily eat dessert while Michael, although still a little red, is much happier after dodging that bullet from the kids questions.