Sunshine Rainbows and Lollipops Sunshine, Lollypops, and Rainbows Disclaimer: lyrics used are by Leslie Gore and no money is being made with them. The boys of course have once again been thrust into this parallel universe by my perverse muses - I think they kind of like it though - did you see the smiles??? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Two Years after the Birth of Abraham Sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows Everything that's wonderful is what I feel when we're together Brighter than a lucky penny When you're near, the rain clouds disappear, dear, And I feel so fine Just to know that you are mine! My life is sunshine, lollipops, and rainbows Everything that's wonderful is sure to come your way When you're in love to stay You're in love And love is here to stay The words of the song drifted in the open window to Justin who was preparing the picnic lunch that had been ordered up by his three favorite boys. The clear baritone rose above the rest and he had to smile even though he was thoroughly sick of hearing the song. Brian had heard it being played on the radio the day Abe was born and it had been his theme song ever since. He'd even gone so far as to have the words 'Sunshine Lollipops and Rainbows' in script painted on the side of all the company vehicles under Kinney and Sons Contracting. Justin smiled fondly to himself when he remembered the day he'd driven over to Brian's office and saw the four trucks lined up, the black paint glistening from a fresh wash and the words added in rainbow colors to the rest of the signage. He'd left Abe with his mother and had planned on a little lunch time interlude. Brian was standing back looking at the trucks a contented smile on his face and a large sponge in his hand. He must have been the one washing the trucks. "So Brian, this is how you spend your Saturday mornings?" he teased. "Hey, Sunshine" Brian ran over and stuck his head in the window kissing Justin thoroughly, his tongue slipping between the sweet lips of his partner. He felt his cock stir when Justin began to moan deep in his throat as the kiss deepened. He pulled away to ask "I thought you were at the store today with Abe." "Mom has him, the tourist season is almost over and she wanted him for company." He smiled up at him. "Besides, having the model in the store where he graces the walls with his handsome father is a good selling tool." "I'm thinking that at two months he isn't a lot of good conversational kind of company. We must find a man for that woman. Make her leave the young stuff alone." Justin laughed and got out of the car. "I brought lunch for my hardworking man." Brian nuzzled his neck, "Hope that it includes a high protein dessert." "It might, if you're a good boy and eat all your lunch." Justin got out of the car to go inside the building. Brian picked him up and put him over his shoulder, his muscles rippling in the mid-day sun and began to stride toward the office section of his shop. "Hang on Sunshine, you just said the magic words." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Justin jumped, two arms were wrapped around him from behind and lips were pulling on the lobe of his ear. "Hey Sunshine, you're supposed to be making our picnic, not thinking about my cock." "Who made up that rule?" Justin teased. He turned and met the warm lips with his, in a soft kiss of peaceful love. "Where are the boys?" "Gus is walking Abe across to the lake." "I hope he keeps him out of the water at least until he has lunch." "For some reason our son thinks he's part fish. Keeping him out of the water is impossible." Brian leaned over and swiped one of the small sandwiches Justin had made for Abe. Justin slapped his hand but not before his lover popped it into his mouth. "Wait and eat your own sandwich." "But you make Abe's better. You cut the crusts off and everything." Brian whined in a Mikey imitation. He licked his fingers. "Hmmmm, rhubarb jelly and peanut butter, I want another one." "You are such a big baby" he kissed the sticky lips that smiled at him. "I made you one too." "Ok, I'll keep you around." He nuzzled Justin's neck. "Gawd the smell of your skin makes me hard." He whispered. "Think we can talk the boys into taking a nap later?" "Gus promised to sit with Abe in the backyard tent while he has quiet time today." He patted Brian's hardening cock. "Will that do?" "I can live with that." Brian picked up the picnic basket and followed Justin out the door. He let him get a few steps in front of him so he could watch his ass. He ran the few steps to catch up to Justin. "Hey Sunshine, look at the dock. The fish is about jump in." "Abe Kinney, you stay out of the water." Justin called. But he was too late, the two year old had been running as fast as he could down the wooden planks and was launched before the words cleared Justin's lips. Gus was in the water already and they could hear him laugh as the small blonde miniature of Justin paddled over to him. He looked at Brian who was doubled up with laughter. "What's with you Kinney's and clothes? Your son seems to have a real problem with keeping them on." "At least Gus is covered." Brian said when he could catch his breath. "Barely, I'm sure." "Daddy look, I'm swimming" Abe called. "I see that. Pops thinks you should come out and eat some lunch." Brian laughed when both Gus and Abe rolled their eyes. "Go on Brian, I know you want to join them. I'll go back and get some towels." "Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows," Brian began to sing to Justin and he jumped out the way when Justin tried to swat him. Justin stood on the grass and watched as Brian pulled off the white wife beater he had on leaving him in only his cut off blue jeans. He toed off his shoes and ran out on the end of the small floating dock and cannon balled into the water beside his two sons. It seemed like only yesterday when they had first met, yet it was almost twelve years ago. Brian's love for creation and success had taken his small contracting company into the big leagues and he and his company were committed to high end housing starts well into the next three years. People would rather wait than have someone else build their house. Added to that was his mother's decorating abilities that she had added to their shop in downtown Charlottetown. Life was good for the Taylor-Kinney's. He had a decision to make though, and it was a hard one. He was afraid it might cause some problems in their happy little family and he didn't want to do that. He often lay awake at night watching Brian sleep, the tanned features had weathered the years well and he still looked barely thirty, yet he'd had his fortieth birthday. Accepting the love he had for Brian, and making his man realize that he more than deserved the love of his mother, Jennifer, Molly, Gus and now Abe, had wiped the sadness from his eyes that had been so much a part of the old Brian Kinney. Yesterday Melanie had called. Brian wasn't home from his latest job and Justin had been sitting on the porch swing with Abe while Gus sketched them. He'd answered without thinking. "Hello" "Justin, its Melanie" "Hey Mel, did you want to talk to your kid? He's right here." "In a minute, I thought you should know that Debbie had a heart attack. She's in the hospital and everything seems to be ok, but she needs to take it easy now and slow down." Melanie paused. "She was asking about you and Brian, she misses you both a lot. I didn't tell her about Abe. I thought maybe the two of you could tell her if you come and visit." "Mel, I don't know if I can." Justin began, his heart was already racing at the thought of going back. He knew it wasn't rational. He knew Kip Thomas had died in a car accident just after he and Brian left town. But for some reason he had panic attacks just thinking about Pittsburgh. "I know, honey, I understand. Maybe you could tell Brian and he could come and see her. She was like a mother to him when he needed one Justin." "He won't go, Mel. I've tried to get him to go and visit his own mother but he won't leave me. I've even offered to stay at Mom's while he was gone. He's afraid something will happen to me if we are apart." He gave a soft laugh. "He's been an amazing husband Mel." "I know that Justin. I was just as surprised as everyone else when he picked up and left because he was protecting you." She wasn't sure how to say this. "Justin, if something did go wrong, if Deb is sicker than she's letting on. I don't think Brian would handle it well if he never goes back and makes his peace with her and Vic." She sighed "and Michael." Justin knew in his heart that she was right. Brian never once had ever said anything to him about missing his family and friends in Pittsburgh. But Justin was sure that he did. The connection he'd had with Ted and Emmett and Michael, not to mention Debbie and Vic were just too strong not to have missed them. "Look Mel, talk to Gus. I'll get back to you tomorrow. I need some time to think about this." And that had been all he'd been doing ever since, was thinking about it. Seeing Brian, playing in the lake with his two sons, made him realize that he was rather selfish in keeping the real Brian Kinney from his old friends. They should have the opportunity to see him with his children and to see the ruggedly handsome man he'd become. He turned and walked back to the house to get some towels for the swimmers and to make a phone call. "Hey, Mel" he tried to keep from hyperventilating. "Does the GLC still have it's summer fundraiser and art show?" "Yes, it's the first week in August like it's always been." "Do you have any objection to Gus putting in a couple of sketches along with a few of my pieces?" "Do you think he's good enough? I don't want anyone laughing at him." "He's pretty good Mel. He's got the talent from his mother and the tenacity from his father. He's very linear and for his age, his stuff has a lot of maturity." "Is he gay Justin?" "He hasn't said anything to either of us. We'll let him tell us one way or another when he's ready." He paused and then. "Why don't we drive down to the Pitts for the show? I'll ship the art soon and you and Linds can have it hung. We should be there for the opening." "What's Brian say about this?" "I haven't talked to him yet. It's his busy season, and we'd have to take at least two weeks. I'll need a few days to convince him it's time to make a trip back. Mom and Molly can look after the store." "It will be nice to see Gus, he hasn't been home during the summer in years." "I know Mel, I'm sorry about that." "Don't be Justin, Gus loves being with the two of you and Abe in the summer. He looks forward to it all year. I'm sure he'll return with you until he has to get back to school." "He's very good with his little brother." "I still smile when I think that he named him" Melanie chuckled. "I would have loved to seen you and Brian when he announced his new brother's name." "You sure you didn't coach him?" Justin teased. "I'll never tell." And she laughed. "I'll reserve a room for you guys at one of the hotels. And don't even think about keeping Abe with you. We have dibs on him for the length of your visit." Justin laughed. "Getting soft on me Mel?" "It's been awhile since I've held a little one. I kind of miss it." Justin hung up the phone and gathered together towels for his water rats. He opened the front door and began to walk toward the laughter and splashes on the other side of the road. Abe was standing on Brian's shoulders preparing to 'dive' into the water. Gus was making him squeal by pretending to be a shark. Brian was the sound effect man doing the theme from 'Jaws". Standing by the picnic table and watching his little family, Justin once again realized that Brian needed to have the opportunity to return to Pittsburgh and show everyone that he not only had a heart, but that he had the biggest one in the Pitts. "Hey, you boys planning on having lunch?" he called. "Not until you join us Sunshine." "Yeah Pops come and play." Gus shouted "Swim Poppa, swim." Justin knew that once again he would have to join them if he had any chance of getting Abe fed and tucked into the backyard tent with Gus for his quiet time. He pulled his shirt off over his head and slipped free of the baggy trousers he had on. He knew by the smile on his lover's face that someone's cock was aroused and he smiled back seductively. He had his bathing suit on under his pants. He'd played these games before and was prepared for water play when ever they talked him into a picnic lunch at the lake shore. He walked out to the end of the dock and dove in, cutting the water cleanly, surfacing near Brian, giving his underwater cock a surreptitious tug as he came up. He grinned at Brian wrapping himself around him, and kissing him soundly. "No kissy, kissy stuff you guys." Gus was going through a stage of embarrassment when he'd see Brian and Justin kissing. Mel and Linds had told them it was the same at home. Justin through himself back in the water and landed near Gus. He grabbed the gangly preteen and kissed him soundly. "I'm loving my Gus to pieces." He said. "Pops, I'm too old for kisses." Gus grimaced and swam away. "Brian, are you too old for kisses?" Justin asked "Nope, I love your kisses." "Me too Poppa, I like kisses." "So it's just Gus who's not into kisses?" Justin declared. "Poor Gus, no kisses for him." Gus watched Justin kiss Abe and Brian. "It's ok at bedtime" he mumbled. "What about when you and your daddy go off to work?" Gus loved going with Brian to his work sites. Brian let him work with him and when Gus was tired he'd sit and sketch his father. "That's different." "Ok," Justin smiled. "I'll keep that in mind." He kissed his wiggly wet son who had just jumped in off the dock again and had paddled to him and Brian. "Hey Gus, I was talking to your Mom when I was getting the towels. She wants you and I to put a few sketches up at the GLC for their August fundraiser. What do you think about that?" "I can't let anybody see my work?" Gus was scandalized at the thought. "Why not, it's pretty good and it would be good exposure for you." He smiled at Brian. "Your father was exposed there once." "Brat" Brian said. He whispered in Justin's ear. "What the fuck is this all about?" "Later" Justin said back, his voice soft. "Now time for lunch and then a bit of quiet time for our little fish boy." He made his way to the shore and walked towards the towels. It took a few minutes for the rest to follow but soon they were all dried off, Abe was clothed once again, though reluctantly, and they were sitting at the picnic table eating the lunch Justin had packed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Justin made sure that Abe was tucked into his small sleeping bag in the tent that he and Gus had established as their headquarters in the back yard. Gus sat cross legged just inside the entrance, his sketch book in his hands. Justin kissed the top of his head, and ran his fingers lightly through the silky auburn hair. He felt a tug on his heart, picturing Brian at that age. "Thanks for watching him Gus." He whispered, Abe had fallen asleep almost before the light weight sleeping bag had been drawn up over him. "That's ok Pops, I really miss him when I'm home with my moms." He looked up at Justin. "Do you think we really could put some of our stuff up at the GLC? I don't want to go back there if it means I won't get the whole summer with you guys." "I think maybe your dad and I would go too, we should show Abe some of the Pittsburgh gang. We'd only be there a few days, the rest of the time we'd be traveling, checking out the sites and then back here until it's time for school." "Dad won't want to Pops. He told me he was never going back." "I have my ways to persuade him." Justin smiled. "Don't you worry about it. I'll talk to him." "But something bad happened a long time ago to you. I heard my moms talking about it once. Dad won't want you to get hurt." "It was a long time ago Gus. The scars have pretty much faded. I think it's time I faced my problems from back then." "It doesn't matter to me Pops, I don't want you sad. I'm just a kid, there's lots of time for me to put my work on display." "Did I ever tell you I love you Gus?" "Yeah, I love you too Pops. Now go have wild sex with Dad, I know he's waiting." Justin flushed. "Brat" but he couldn't deny that's what he planned to do. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Justin walked into their bedroom expecting that Brian would be on the bed and ready for him. Instead he was staring out the window, his clothes still on and his back to Justin. "Sunshine, what's this all about, and don't give me any crap about Gus and the GLC?" He sighed and walked over to Brian wrapping his arms around the slim waist and resting his head on Brian's back. "It's time we went back for a visit Brian." "No" Brian shook his head. "I can't do it. I never want to see you in the shape you were when we left." "We can take Abe and show him off. Deb's been sick and we should see her and Vic." Justin ignored Brian's head shaking. "You should make your peace with Michael." "That part of our life is over Justin." Brian's voice was so low, Justin could barely hear him. "We have a new life, we have our children and we have each other." "That won't change Brian, you have to know that. But Deb and Vic, they were part of your life long before we met, and Michael too. It's time for both of us to show our gratitude." "What have you got to be grateful for? Michael put you through hell." "Deb and Vic and Michael kept you safe and sane through your teen years Bri, I will always be grateful for that. And they took me in when I had no other place to go. What Kip Thomas did wasn't their fault." "No, it was mine." Came the tortured reply. "Brian, don't even go there. Kip Thomas was responsible for his own actions." Justin turned Brian around to face him. "And yes it's going to be hard for me to go back there even for a visit. And yes it's probably going throw me for a loop. But you know what? I'll have you with me and Abe and Gus, so I'll make it through everything." He reached up and pulled Brian's head lower, first caressing the full lips with the end of his thumb as if memorizing them. His blue eyes gazed into Brian's and was surprised to see the hazel eyes wet with unshed tears. "Hey, no tears, we've had enough tears to last us both five life times. If you smile for me I'll let you sing your damn theme song." He joked, but followed the words with a gentle loving kiss. "I still think it's a bad idea. But you know I can't ever say no to you Sunshine." "Really, you'll do anything for me?" "Anything in the world within my power." "How about can the Sunshine, lollipops and Rainbows thing?" "Awwww, but Sunshine, that's not within my power. As long as we're together, that's how I feel." "You are such a romantic Brian." Justin had almost all of Brian's clothes off by now and was leading him to their bed. "Now show me how you feel about me" he pushed Brian across the bed falling on top of him, his lips beginning to kiss and taste and playfully bite down the lean tanned torso. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Dad, he's doing it again" Gus whispered in his father's ear. Brian looked in the rear view mirror at Justin who was sitting in the back seat with Abe. Justin was so pale he was almost translucent, his eyes were wild and Brian could tell he was on the verge of a panic attack. He looked up the highway and was relieved to see a rest stop in sight. Trying not to panic himself as he watched Justin in the rear view mirror he slowed down and made the turn pulling the car up to a secluded spot under some trees. He looked at Gus - "Can you keep an eye on your brother?" "Sure" Gus looked back at Justin who appeared to be terrified but still and quiet. "Is he going to be OK?" He looked at his Dad, "Is it my fault, I mean about the show at the GLC? We can go back, I don't need to see my stuff there." Brian gave his son a quick hug. "He has some bad memories and he really wants to face these demons. He couldn't do it with out all of our support. Just entertain your brother; I'm going to take Justin for a little walk under those trees. You should be able to see us all the time. Keep the doors locked and don't open them for anyone except me." "Dad, I'm not a little kid. I know about locking the door. Don't worry so much." "I'm sorry, force of habit." He kissed his son's forehead and then got out of the car, moving over to the rear door and opening up. Justin looked at him, his eyes large; Brian could see that he was enveloped in a cold sweat. "Come on Sunshine, we're going for a bit of a walk. Gus is going to watch Abe." He reached over and undid Justin's seat belt. When Justin didn't move, he pulled him into his arms and gently helped him out of the car. Keeping his arm tight around the blonde's shoulders he began to walk with him under the trees. "Shhhh" he whispered "It's ok Baby, we can turn back, you don't have to do this." He stopped and held him close, wrapping his long strong arms around the slight body in that protective way he had of shutting out the rest of the world and allowing all of his feelings of love flow into the trembling body in his arms. He rubbed circles on Justin's back and murmured words of love and gradually the trembling stopped and his lover melted into him." "I'm sorry Brian, I don't know what happened." Justin tried to pull away. "The kids must think I'm nuts." Brian refused to let him pull away, but instead, tightened his grip. He bent his head and kissed the top of Justin's, breathing in the scent of his baby shampoo that he'd taken to using on himself when he bathed Abe much to their son's delight. "The kids don't think that." He kissed him again. "With two queers for fathers they are used to Drama Princess moments. Now what's wrong?" "I don't know, I just started to get all panicky - like what used to happen after the bashing. I saw the highway sign for Pittsburgh and then started to lose it." "Understandable. But we talked about this. Long and often, if I recall. There is no way I want you to go through all this shit. We're turning around and going back home." "We can't go home Brian, everyone knows we're coming." "No one knows we're coming. I asked Melanie and Lindsay not to say anything." "They don't? Even Michael and Emmett?" "Not one person outside of the muncher's know we are coming. We can get in the car and turn around right now. Even Gus doesn't want you to go through this." "I can't not do this Brian. I really want Gus to see his work on the walls of the GLC. I remember how I felt my first time." "I remember how you felt on your first time as well Sunshine." Justin gave a half laugh, he knew what Brian was referring to. "I remember that too Mr. Kinney." "Fondly I hope" "More than fondly" Justin pushed his groin towards Brian's. Brian smiled when he felt the familiar stiffness rub against him. "But I also remember the day I saw my work on the GLC walls." "If I recall, you sketched some hot stud." "I told you that was just some guy in the locker room at school." He smiled at Brian. "Oh, you mean the one I did of you." Brian huffed into Justin's ear. "Brat" "But you love me don't you?" "Maybe" Brian found the full pink lips and let his own crush them in a passionate embrace. "I'll be with you every step of the way while we are in the Pitts." "Thanks Brian, look I'm sorry I being such a Drama Princess. I'm certainly old enough to know better." "I happen to love my young Drama Princess. Now, back to the car before the Abe gets too restless," Brian, his arm around Justin's shoulder led him back to the car and the two boys. "You OK Pops?" Gus asked. Justin could see the worry and concern in the young boy's eyes and he felt bad that he was the cause of such a look. "I've been better Gus, but I'm going to survive this. I don't want you to be worrying about me. This week is all about Gus, and your first exhibit." "Pops, was it really bad, what happened to you?" Gus kept his eyes on the intense, but sad blue ones in the back seat. "Because there is no way that Dad or me would ever let you get hurt or anything here." He put his small hand between the seats and patted Justin's leg. Justin covered the hand with his own, taking comfort from the love the boy displayed. "I know that you and your Dad will keep me safe." He smiled his gentle smile that always made Gus feel loved. "I'm not ready to talk about what happened to me Gus, maybe when you are older and can understand some of the inhuman things people do to one another. It was just the culmination of a lot of hurts over a few years and I happened to be in a vulnerable mental state at the time. It was my own fault - Your Dad rescued me and taught me all about love. I guess I've just been afraid to find out what everyone thought of me all those years ago." "You know what I think Pops?" Gus was serious. "It's like when I do something I'm not supposed to do, and I know it and I know what the moms are going to say and do, or at least I think I know. I kind of hide out and the longer I hide out the worse it becomes in my mind until I'm almost puking I'm so worried." He shook his head full of memories. "Mom will find me and give me a hug and say it's alright and I think of the crappy time I've had and I feel like an idiot." "So you're saying it's all in my mind and to suck it up?" Justin said and laughed at the horrified expression on Gus' face. "It's alright Gus, I was only teasing. I know what you're trying to say and I thank you for it." He looked at Brian and Gus and Abe "I have three of the best 'fail safe' anchors a man can possibly have in you three." "We love you Sunshine." Brian said. Brian looked over at Gus and they grinned identical grins at each other. Justin rolled his eyes, because he knew what was coming, even Abe knew and he began to laugh as Brian and Gus began their umpteenth rendition of 'Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows'. The four of them were having so much fun that the drive into Pittsburgh happened without anyone even noticing. The had agreed to drop Gus and Abe off at Lindsay and Mel's, stay for dinner and then head over to their hotel. Justin was holding one of Abe's hands and Gus the other as they slowly made their way up the front sidewalk. Brian followed, his hands full with the luggage for the two boys when the front door opened and Debbie, Michael, Emmett, Vic, Ted, Lindsay, Melanie and Ben all crowded out the door and down the steps swarming the four of them with hugs and kisses and tears. Abe grabbed Justin's leg for protection and Gus stepped in front of the two of them. "Back off guys" Gus said in a loud and forceful voice. "Pops and Abe aren't used to this kind of stuff." Brian stood back and watched proudly as his son protected his brother and his step-father, even Debbie, loud as ever, though obviously not well, backed off while Gus handled the introductions of Abe to the group, always keeping his hand in the small of Justin's back for grounding. Soon the young boy had them herded back into the house. He led Justin to a solitary arm chair, deposited Abe in his lap, nodded toward his Dad indicating he wanted him to sit by Justin's side and Brian dutifully moved over to sit on the arm of the chair, his arm around the back of Justin's shoulder, occasionally kissing the top of his blonde head. Lindsay and Melanie watched their son perform. "He's so much like his father it's uncanny." Melanie whispered to Lindsay. "But with the organizational skills of his mother." "Look at the two Kinney men, they protect Justin and Abe without even thinking about it. It's so smooth, if you weren't watching what was happening you'd never realize what they were up to." Lindsay and Melanie brought plates of sandwiches and fresh cut veggies and dip out. Brian teased Justin that they were eating lobster sandwiches and that Melanie had cooked the lobster herself in the kitchen. The look on Gus and Justin's face was enough to make him admit he was teasing and everyone laughed. The biggest surprise of the afternoon took place as Brian and Justin were leaving for their hotel. Justin looked at Michael and Ben "Both of you should try and take a few days away from the Pitts and come up to our place. I think you'd like the peace and quiet Ben and I'm sure Michael and Brian could keep busy on some of the job sites." "We'd like that Justin. Ben and I will check our schedules, we haven't had much time off this summer, and we may be able to get away just before school starts." Michael answered. Ben gave Michael's hand a squeeze, until this afternoon, no one had known where Brian and Justin lived or what they were doing. But the afternoon chatter had revealed all. Brian shut the door to the house and stood for a moment on the small porch, his hand in Justin's. The air was fresh and clean from a summer shower. He looked around at the once familiar street and then down at the man he loved. "I'm proud of you Sunshine." He bent and kissed the sweet tasting lips. Justin moved closer, he always felt safe and loved with Brian's arms around him. He looked past the tall man and started to laugh. Brian's eyes were questioning and Justin nodded at the sky. The afternoon sunshine streamed down through the shade trees and dozens of small rainbows were scattered all over. "Told you Sunshine" Brian said as he led back to their car humming his favorite tune.