One Wheel Too Many-3
Author: Elsa Rose with Miss Judy as prodder and idea lady
Plot Bunny: Jess

After washing up, Brian and Gus returned with Aaron trailing behind them as Mandy looked shyly at the two new additions to the house. The small main room of the cabin seemed filled with color and good smells. Buddy had moved from his position on the quilt rack to the back of Mandy’s chair and eyed the newcomers with suspicion. There were entirely too many people in the small room as far as he was concerned. 

“Uh, Justin, there’s a crow in here,” Gus said, as he noticed Buddy perched on the back of Mandy’s chair.

“He’s a raven,” Mandy said. “He’s my friend. My name is Mandy, what’s your name?” 

“I’m Gus.” 

“Are you going to be my big brother?” she asked. “And Aaron’s big brother too?” 

“I uh, don’t really know.” Gus looked helplessly at Justin and then at his father. 

“Justin is my new daddy,” Mandy announced and looked at Justin with eyes filled with love. “And you’re his son, so it’s just natural,” she sighed and shrugged.

Justin laughed. “Mandy and I had a long talk very early this morning. It seems she’s in need of a daddy, and I’m in need of a daughter, so we came to an understanding.” He looked at Brian his eyes speaking volumes, not sure what the older man was going to say. It was a lot to put on him when he’d just found him again. On the other hand, this little girl needed some kind of stability and love. He’d talked about it with Granny on and off most of the day. It wasn’t like he couldn’t afford to take two children under his wing. He had more than enough money. 

Brian looked deep into sapphire blue eyes and read the message loud and clear. He gave a slight nod of his head that only Justin could see. “Well Mandy, welcome to the Kinney-Taylor family.” 

“And Aaron too, just cause he can’t see real good doesn’t mean he isn’t a good brother.” Mandy touched her brother’s arm.

“Of course, Aaron too.” Brian smiled. “Aaron and I discussed it already.”

“Yes, they did,” Gus confirmed. “We have another sister, her name is JR and she lives in Canada with my two moms. She has a different daddy. His name is Uncle Mikey.”

“That’s weird,” Mandy said. “Granny, can I have two dumplings?” 

“Why don’t you have one and if you’re still hungry, you can have another,” Brian said to her. “If that’s okay with Granny.” 

“I see you’re used to children, Brian.” The old woman smiled. She handed him the tureen of stew. “I hope you like Irish stew; it’s one of the children’s favorite dinners.”

“I haven’t had it since I was a kid and visited my grandmother,” Brian admitted. “But it was always one of my favorites too.” He ladled out a serving of the stew. “How about you Justin?” he asked and put some on Justin’s plate as well before passing the tureen to Gus. 

Justin smiled up at Brian, before beginning his meal. It was always like that. How could he have forgotten? Brian always looked after him, made sure he had something to eat, made sure his glass was full, little things, done without thought, but done because he cared, because he loved him. What had been an irritating habit of Brian’s before had now become endearing as he finally realized that what Brian did, he did in love. 

“We don’t have a mommy,” Mandy blurted out when there was a lull in the dinner conversation. “Our mommy died when I was borned.” She looked at Aaron. “Isn’t that right Aaron?”

“Yeah.” Aaron looked sad for a moment and stared down at his plate. “But Granny came to live with us, so that’s okay.” He smiled up as his grandmother. 

“My daughter passed a week after Mandy was born,” Granny confirmed. 

“And their father?” Brian asked. 

“Grant passed not long after. He was overseas with the army. He was away a lot, he never actually met Mandy, but he knew Aaron some. After my daughter passed, he never came back.” She nodded toward the mantle where a picture of a young man in an army uniform stood arm in arm with a woman dressed in white. “That’s him with my daughter. It’s really the only picture I have of the two of them. We weren’t much for pictures. Now, I wish we had taken the time to have a few made. It’s hard for the children to remember just what they looked like as the years pass.” 

“That’s too bad.” Brian looked at Justin and then at the children. “I hope that Justin and I will be able to help. We were serious about our offer. It wasn’t said just to placate the children.”

“I know that Brian, I can see into your heart. You’re a good man. I’d be proud to have you and Justin be parents to my grandchildren in whatever capacity you can.” 

With that settled the family group continued their dinner chatting about many things and forming a bond that would remain unbroken.

The dinner was over and the kitchen cleaned up with Gus helping Aaron and Mandy with the dishes. Brian and Justin were sitting on cushions on the floor talking quietly with Granny. 

When the children were done in the kitchen, Mandy got out the quilt material and Aaron his guitar. Gus surprised everyone when he asked if he could borrow the guitar for a moment. 

“I used to play a lot at mom’s,” he said much to the surprise of his dads. “I kind of like the old folk songs that mom has on records. With everything that’s gone on in the last day or so, I was thinking that this song kind of suits my dads.” He smiled at the two men who were holding hands, Justin’s sketchbook lying on the floor beside him. “I think this is by Simon and Garfunkle but mom has a CD that is done by Eva Cassidy. I like her version better.” Gus began to strum the guitar, getting used to the instrument,  then in a clear young voice he began to sing.
<I>
When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
I'm on your side.  When times get rough
And friends just can't be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you're down and out,
When you're on the street,
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you.
I'll take your part.
When darkness comes
And pain is all around,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Sail on silver boy
Sail on by.
Your time has come to shine.
All your dreams are on their way.
If you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind. </I>
Justin and Brian had tear-filled eyes by the time Gus had finished. They watched unable to speak as Gus handed over the guitar to Aaron, who began to strum his own version of the song before moving into his more familiar tunes.
Gus looked at his two dads and mouthed ‘I love you both’ to them before turning to Aaron to help him with some fingering. 
Wolfy had crept over to Justin while Gus had been singing and his head now rested on Justin’s leg. Agnes looked like she was stalking Buddy, who perched on the quilt frame one eye on the cat in case he had to make a leap. 
The fire in the woodstove crackled and Granny hummed a hymn as she rocked her needle through the quilt she was working on. Mandy came over and sat beside Brian, resting her head on him until he put his arm around the little girl and held her close.
<hr>
Justin woke up in Brian’s arms. He didn’t dare move or even open his eyes in case it had been a dream. He lay there breathing in the scent of the man he loved and listened to the steady beating of his heart wondering how he could ever have doubted that love. 

Brian had talked to him long into the night about the accident and why he’d helped Michael and Gus before him. He explained that he’d thought Justin was okay.  How in his eyes Justin was always bigger than life, and stronger, both emotionally and physically than either Gus, who he still viewed as a child or Michael who had need of his help since they were fourteen. He apologized, something Brian Kinney always had a hard time with. Justin had listened closely in the dark room to the truth and sorrow in his lover’s words as he talked about the accident and things that had happened in the past. 
Their talk had been done in low voices, whispered words among night shadows, but necessary before they could go on with their lives. 
A loud banging on the door made both Brian and Justin open their eyes and sit up. 
“HELLO, HELLO, IS ANYBODY IN THERE?” called a deep voice. 
“Yes,” Justin finally croaked.

The sight that he’d woken to had filled him with shock and dread. He was in Brian’s arms on a narrow bed on a worn, bare mattress. Gus was on a similar one beside them and his eyes filled with shock as well as he looked around the cob webbed and colorless cabin interior. 
Where the night before there had been a warm fire, a good dinner, laughter and tears, now there was nothing but broken furniture, a cold wood stove that sat rusting on the bare floor.  Gone were the brightly colored rag rugs and soft pillows filled with sweet grasses gathered in the summer. 
The door opened and in walked a tall uniformed man. “I’m Sheriff Campbell. I saw your cars abandoned by the road and followed the trail here to the old Jackson cabin. Is everything okay here?” he looked at the three shocked faces. “I know the fog was damn bad for the last few days. I called the garage; someone will be out to get your cars going. That was a pretty bad puncture on the one car.” 
He could tell they all seemed to be in shock for some reason. He didn’t think he was that scary, but you never know, he had obviously just awakened the three.  What was damn funny was the fact that these were the seventh group of people that had broken down at the same spot and ended up spending the night in this cabin.
“Are you boys alright?” he asked again, walking into the room. “Is something wrong?”
“Sorry,” Brian said and got out of the bed. “I’m Brian Kinney, this is my partner Justin Taylor and our son Gus. I own the car with the bad tire and Justin owns the SUV. We’re from Pittsburgh. It’s a long story, but Justin arrived here the day before yesterday, I was looking for him and caught up with him last night.” Brian offered his hand to the Sheriff to shake. “Excuse me if we appear shocked, but this cabin, it’s different…..” Brian didn’t know what to say without sounding ridiculous. 

“I see,” said the sheriff who really didn’t see at all. He looked around; the cabin appeared to be in the same shape it was the last time he’d checked on it. These boys didn’t appear to be doing anyone any harm. He’d already run the plates on the vehicles and pretty much knew what Brian had already told him.  “I just wasn’t expecting anyone here. The place has been deserted since Granny Jackson died.”
“She’s dead?” Justin asked, shock apparent in his voice. 
“Been dead now about a couple of months or so. It was sad really, she’d lived here in the valley all of her life. Her daughter died years back and Granny moved back into this place to look after the daughter’s two children while their daddy was off fighting some damn war or other. The one was just a baby but Granny stepped in as family should and raised her up fine, the boy too, even though he was damaged goods. Their daddy was killed not too long after that but Granny never said a word. She sold up her place and kept on here because of the kids. She didn’t want them to leave the only home they’d known. It’s too bad you know, when Granny died we looked every where for another relative to take the kids, but no one was left of the family.”
“Where are the kids?” Brian asked his voice hoarse. His heart ached for the two children who were so filled with love.
“Oh, the county has them. They’re in one of the foster homes. They have a bit of a pension from their dead daddy, but they can’t live on their own. Mandy, she’s the youngest could have been adopted out, but she won’t leave her brother and because of that they’ve been rendered unadoptable. No one wants two kids especially the boy. He can’t see much and he needs special care.”
“Dad, we have to help them.” Gus looked at Brian and then at Justin. “Please, we have to.” 
“There’s not much you can do for them.” The sheriff looked around. “When they’re of age, they’ll have this cabin and the land it’s on but until then, they have to stay where they are.” 
“We want to see them,” Brian said. “Isn’t that right, Justin?” he had his hand linked with Justin’s. “Can you arrange that?” 
“I don’t rightly know…..” the man began. He wasn’t sure how two gay men would be received by the county authorities. 
“I’ll call our lawyer, he’ll vouch for us that we aren’t pedophiles if that’s what you’re worried about.” Brian was in full Kinney mode; nothing was going to stop him.
“Can you tell us how to get into town?” Justin asked. 
“If you go now, you can follow the tow truck in,” the sheriff admitted. “I’ll radio ahead and see what I can do about you meeting the kids.” 
Together the four of them walked outside, Justin maneuvering carefully with his crutches.  They noticed a raven meowed loudly from the fence post at the end of the driveway. He flew down and landed in front of Justin and Brian, cocked his head to one side and meowed again. 
“Stupid bird,” the sheriff said and made to kick at the raven.
“Stop that, it’s Buddy.” Gus stepped in front of the man’s boot. “He isn’t hurting anybody.”
“It’s just a damn crow,” the sheriff muttered.

“Buddy is a raven, there’s a difference,” Gus said with a glare.

“Watch out that cat’s gone feral,” the sheriff called out. He withdrew his gun. “I’ve been wanting to get this one for awhile. It used to belong to Granny, but with three legs, it’s only gonna starve out here.” He aimed his gun at the cat that looked up at Justin, one blue eye and one green one filled with fear. 

Justin could see that the cat looked half starved. The sheriff was right; Agnes couldn’t fend for herself out here. “Agnes,” Justin called at the same time as a shot rang out. The sheriff missed because Agnes had leaped with all her strength of her three legs into Justin’s arms. He held the shaking cat trying to calm her. “I guess we have a cat now,” he grinned at Brian and Gus. 

“Cool, I always wanted a cat.” Gus patted Agnes and scratched her chin. 

“She probably has fleas,” Brian grumbled, but added his fingers to the white and black head. Agnes purred loudly, her eyes slits of pleasure as she reveled in the attention of her new owners.

“Good thing we have a house,” Justin laughed. “It looks like we’ll be using up some of that empty space.” 

The sheriff shook his head as he holstered his gun. He couldn’t believe these people.

Brian made arrangements with the tow truck driver about his car, Gus helped Justin into the passenger side of the SUV and settled Agnes on his lap before getting into the rear seat. It didn’t take long before they were at the road.

 “Justin, I wonder what happened to Wolfy?” Gus asked. “He was sort of like a dog.”

“I don’t know but I hope he’s doing okay.” Justin looked into the blank wall of thick forest growth. He couldn’t see the one yellow eye watching the activity as the large wolf stood silently in the shadows with his old friend, Boo Bear.  Wolfy knew better than Agnes not to get anywhere near the sheriff and his gun. 
“Brian are you okay with this?” Justin asked quietly as they followed the tow truck over the country roads. 
“Justin, I don’t know what happened to you, Gus or I over the last day or so. But I’m Irish, I grew up living with stories of mysterious happenings and while I never really thought about it, I have to say I somewhat believe that what we went through was somehow orchestrated by the old lady. She knows the grandchildren she loves need someone in their lives.”

“But why pick us?” Justin asked. “I mean taking in two kids and a cat it wasn’t even in the realm of possibility in my mind.” 

Brian laughed, “Mine either, but in for a penny, in for a pound as <I> my </I> old granny used to say.” 
<hr>
When it had become apparent that they would have to spend the night and maybe even a couple of days while the lawyers wrangled with each other regarding the children, Brian rented a couple of rooms at a local motel. He and Gus shopped for necessities for the cat and for themselves, while Justin worked his magic on the county’s children’s services to be allowed to see Mandy and Aaron.

While he was out, Brian made a call to Michael. “Mikey, I need a favor,” he said when his friend answered the phone.

“What’s up, did you find Justin?” Michael asked. He was worried about the two of them. 
“We found him, but there are a few complications. I need you to get Emmett and your hubby together and fix up two of the empty guest rooms. Make one suitable for a ten-year-old boy who likes to play guitar. I want him to have a computer with a voice recognition system on it. He’s got a problem with his eyes. Make an appointment with my doctor for him. I want him checked out. His name is Aaron, not sure of his last name, so say Kinney. 

The other room is for a little girl. She looks to be about six. Tell Emmett not to go crazy, no princess shit, but I want it to look nice and feminine. She needs a computer of her own as well. I want them to have best of everything. Oh and I need whatever it is that a cat needs. A cat with three legs, so no climbing stuff, or at least nothing too high.”

“Fuck Brian, have you lost it finally?” Michael asked with a laugh. He’d been busy writing down Brian’s instructions. 

“No, I’ve found it,” Brian laughed. “I’ve found myself a family of my own.” The smile of pleasure was apparent in Brian’s voice. “Can you have Deb give me a call when she has a minute? I’m going to need her to go shopping for the kids and get them a few basics in the clothing department. When we get back to Pittsburgh, Justin, Gus and I will take them shopping for the rest.”

“And when might that be?” Michael asked. “This is going to take awhile.” 
“I want it done by tomorrow. I don’t want them to feel like they aren’t part of the family. I don’t know if we’ll be home tomorrow, but if we are I want it done,” he paused. “I’ll call Cynthia; she can help you with charging the costs.” 
“No problem Brian, but you know Ma, she’s going to want to know all the details and soon.” 
“I know, we’ll have a family dinner or something when we get settled.”
“No shit, a family dinner at your place?” Michael grinned. “I can’t wait, tell Justin and Gus hi, I’m going to be too busy to talk to them for a bit.” He hung up the phone, already anticipating what Emmett and Ted were going to say when he told them of this latest development in the saga of Brian Kinney.
<hr>
 “Aaron, I dreamed again.” Mandy sat close to her brother; they were hidden behind a bush that hugged the house where they’d been staying. It was the only privacy the two could find in the house full of children. 

“I did too, only I could really see.” He put his arm around his sister and hugged her close.
 
“Is it real?” she asked. “Do you think Granny is sending us two daddies?” 

“I don’t know. I guess she could,” Aaron sighed. “But it’s been a long time since Granny died. “Look there’s Buddy.” He pointed to the raven that was walking in his step hop way under the bush to join the two kids. “Hey Buddy,” Aaron said, his fingers gently stroking the black shining feathers of the raven’s head.

“Meow,” answered Buddy, making the children giggle. Buddy cocked his head to one side and meowed again. 

“I got something for you Buddy,” Mandy said. She dug in her pocket and pulled out half of a peanut butter sandwich. “I saved it from lunch.” She broke the mangled bread and peanut butter into small bits and fed them one by one to the raven. “He likes peanut butter better than cheese whiz,” she told Aaron. 

“He likes anything he doesn’t have to find for himself.” Aaron grinned at the raven. Having Buddy visit as often as he did, helped the two of them deal with their loss. 

“I would really like to have two daddies,” Mandy said. 

“I think having two daddies is kind of weird,” Aaron admitted. “But I guess if you like it then it would be okay.” 

“Do you think it’s real?” she asked again. 
“If we want it to be, it can be real,” Aaron replied. “Granny always said that you have to give everything you’ve got to get what you need.” 
“I need a daddy,” Mandy sniffed. “I need two daddies.” 
“Okay, one for each of us,” Aaron agreed, anything to make his sister happy.
“One for each of us, but together,” Mandy clarified. “I don’t ever want to leave you, you’re my big brother.” 
“What about the big brother in our dreams?” Aaron asked. 
“He would be my big, big brother and your big brother.” Mandy reasoned in the way of a six year old. 
“Yeah, that would be cool,” Aaron sighed. It was cold out under the bush, but it was their secret hiding spot and he rather liked it. When winter came it was going to be harder to find a spot for the two of them to be alone and where Buddy could visit. He wished Agnes and Wolfy and even Boo Bear could visit. 
The two of them heard a car drive up the driveway of the house. It wasn’t unusual so neither one paid it much attention until they heard their names being called by the housemother. 

“AARON, MANDY.” 

“I wonder what she wants?” Mandy asked. “It isn’t lunch time.” 
“We have to go and find out.” Aaron started to move forward.
“I don’t want to go. She’ll make me take a nap or something.” Mandy crossed her arms her bottom lip quivering.
“No she won’t. Come on, you have to come. I can’t see where I’m going here yet. I don’t want to get lost.” 
“You won’t get lost. You never get lost.” Mandy was being stubborn.
“Today I might.” Aaron held out his hand for his sister to grab. “Come on, if you come now, I’ll sing you a song after.”
“You don’t have your guitar,” Mandy said, but put her hand in her brother’s.
“I don’t need a guitar to sing.” 
“Can you sing the song that Gus did in our dream?” 
“I don’t know all the words, but I can make the music.” Aaron pulled his sister out from under the bush; soon the two of them were heading to the rear door of the house.
“Aaron, Mandy, go wash your face and hands. There are people here to see you.” The housemother looked kindly at the two children. They didn’t try to fit in with the rest of the kids, preferring instead each other’s company.
Brian paced back and forth in the living room of the home. The social worker sat with Justin on the sofa, Gus perched on the arm of the sofa. Everyone was tense as they waited for the children to appear. The next few minutes happened so quickly that later, no one would be able to say for sure what happened and in what order. 
Aaron and Mandy walked into the room holding hands. Mandy burst into tears and raced into Brian’s arms where she sobbed. Aaron too was crying as he walked over to Justin and hugged him. Gus grinned at the two kids with his dads and joined them all in crying and hugging. Everyone talked at once, no one made any sense, but it was apparent to the social worker as well as the housemother that Aaron and Mandy had found their family and Brian, Justin and Gus had found what they were looking for as well. 
When everyone was cried out, Brian and Justin sat on the sofa. Mandy was on Brian’s knee and Aaron sat beside Justin, between Gus and his new-found dad.

 “As you can see, Mandy and Aaron want to be with us,” Brian began. “Our lawyer is drawing up the necessary papers as you know for custody of these two. While the lawyers are working their way through things, I’d like to take Mandy and Aaron with us. I’d like to take them home, but I know you need to see where they’ll be living. What I propose for now is to take them back to the place we’re staying while you work things out. The children need some things, but more than just personal necessities, they need to be with us.”

The social worker could see how much the children had settled close to Brian and Justin and their son. It was as if they’d all previously known each other, something that she knew was impossible. Not much passed by in this close-knit community, and two gay men with their teenage boy visiting the children with their Granny, would have been noticed. 

Taking a big chance, she said, “I think that would be fine. Our office in Pittsburgh will let me know by late tomorrow afternoon about the children’s residence but for now, I agree, they need to be together with the three of you.” 
“Do you hear that kids?” Justin said. “You’re coming with us.” 

“Can Gus come with me to my room?” Aaron asked. “He could help me.” He looked up at Gus. “The older boys scare me,” he admitted. 

“Well let’s go little brother; no one messes with my brother.” Gus stood up. He put his hand on Aaron’s shoulder and they disappeared into the depths of the house.
“Mandy aren’t you going to get your things?” Brian asked the little girl who was snuggled close to him.
“No.” 

“I’ll go with you.” Justin offered.

“You will?” she looked at him shyly. “But what if the other daddy disappears?” 
“We’ll hunt him down and find him,” Justin grinned. He leaned over and kissed Brian’s cheek. “I’ll always be able to find him.”

“I can always find you too, Sunshine,” Brian said with a laugh. “But why don’t we both go with Mandy and help her pack up her things.” He looked at the two women who had witnessed Mandy’s request. 
“You do that. I’ll see you all at my office tomorrow about three. If anything changes I know where to reach you.” The social worker stood up. “I need to talk to Mrs. James for a few minutes and then I’ll be leaving.” 
Mandy held onto both Brian and Justin’s hands as she led them upstairs to her room. They passed the open door to the room Aaron shared with three other boys and grinned over Mandy’s head at Gus’ defense of his young brother. They could see they wouldn’t have to worry about Gus at all.
<hr>
 Michael and Emmett stood back and surveyed their handiwork. Emmett had been thrilled to have an open-ended chance to decorate two rooms at Brian and Justin’s, although he had to use considerable restraint, but still he was happy with the result.

 “So Michael, tell me again, Justin and Brian have two children?” 

“You just did the rooms, who did you think they were for?” Michael asked. “The last I talked to Justin, Brian was working with a lawyer to have custody of the kids given to the two of them. Gus was telling Hunter that he can’t wait to have them at the house. I couldn’t believe it, but apparently Gus is looking forward to having younger kids around. He said he missed JR.”  Michael walked into Aaron’s room and stood looking at everything. “Fuck, I wish I’d had all this shit when I was a kid.” 

“You wouldn’t have known what to do with it all,” Emmett laughed. “I know I wouldn’t have.” 

“I put some comic books in his room; do you think he reads them?” Michael looked around nervous that maybe he hadn’t done everything the way he should have.

“I thought he had a sight problem.” Emmett was sure Michael had told him that. After all they’d had to buy the special computer program. 
“Yeah, but you know Brian, if it can be fixed, he’s going to get it done,” Michael laughed. “Once Brian decides he’s a part of your life, he doesn’t hold anything back. It took me awhile to figure it out, but I’ve finally done it.”
 
“I’ve known that about Brian for a lot of years,” Emmett said softly. He put his arm around Michael. “I’m glad you figured it out, Honey. Brian is special but he was never complete without his Justin. It took Justin to make him what he is today.” 
“I know, I realized it when Justin was hurt this time. I felt like such an asshole and the first thing I did when I talked to Justin yesterday was tell him I was sorry.” 

“I’m proud of you, Michael.” 

“Hey are you assholes done?” Hunter took the stairs two at a time. “I’m tired; I cleaned the pool, and made sure that the cat stuff was ready. When are they coming home?”

“I don’t know, maybe tomorrow,” Michael replied. “And watch your mouth brat, show some respect.” 

“I don’t know why I have to always clean the pool,” Hunter grumbled.

“It teaches you responsibility and your other option was being grounded from the computer for a month. I don’t think a month of cleaning Brian’s pool is going to kill you.” 
“Yeah, yeah.” Hunter looked around the room. “You don’t have any pictures on the wall.”

“Justin wants to put up his own,” Emmett told Hunter. “I’m sure it will look great when he’s done.”

“Yeah, it’ll be kid stuff.” 

“Aaron is only ten,” Michael laughed. “I don’t think you even remember ten.” 

“I remember ten.” Hunter glared. “He sure has a lot of cool stuff.” 

“Well, you know Brian,” Emmett said with a grin. “Debbie is coming over to make sure they have enough food to feed them all for a month. I don’t know why she figures that neither Justin or Brian don’t know how to grocery shop.”

“You know Ma.” Michael shrugged. “It makes her happy.” 
<hr>
Brian, Justin and Gus had driven in Justin’s SUV along with Aaron and Mandy to MacDonald’s for lunch. The vote among the younger three had been unanimous for the golden arches and Brian could see that Justin wanted to go as well, although he’d not added his comments to their voting. 
“Granny took us here once,” Aaron said. “I had a cheeseburger and fries and a milkshake and ice-cream.”
“I had chicken nuggets,” Mandy said. “They were really yummy.”  The kids were walking ahead of the others through the wide glass doors. 
“Gus you can do the honors, get me a salad or something.” Brian took Justin by the arm and led him to a table near a play center. “I figure the kids might want to play in there. I don’t want to lose them.” 
“Like that’s going to happen,” Justin laughed. “I want to order.” 
“Gus knows what you want. He’s been around your appetite long enough,” Brian laughed. He desperately wanted to kiss his partner, but thought Micky D’s wasn’t the place.
“I know Brian.” Justin smiled into Brian’s eyes. He wasn’t referring to his ordering, but rather the need to kiss his partner. The two of them settled for sitting side-by-side, fingers linked under the table. 
Brian watched Gus talking to the two kids at the order counter. There was considerable discussion, but lots of smiles; he knew his son would look after the kids; Gus was his after all.