Chapter 14 

“Brian, honey!” A clearly surprised Debbie exclaimed when she saw Brian enter the diner, carrying her grandson in a baby carrier strapped to his chest, the small boy being safely protected from the cold wind blowing outside by Brian's jacket that was wrapped around him.

She immediately walked over and kissed him on his cheek before looking at her grandson and smiling at the happily gurgling child. “And baby sunshine!” Before Brian could do much to stop her, she leaned down and placed a big, red, lipstick kiss on his son's forehead who only continued gurgling happily.

“We need to work on that, sonny-boy. You should have spit so she would have learned to stop doing that right from the start,” Brian winked which earned him a small, lazy smile from the baby and a slap to his head from Debbie. “Ouch!”

“Don't offend the grandma,” Debbie said sternly before guiding Brian to an empty booth and sitting down next to him. “Hand me my grandson,” she requested eagerly as Brian began to open his jacket and unstrap the small boy in his arms. He dutifully handed his son over to his grandma and watched as she left some more kisses all over him, inwardly sighing at all the lipstick he would have to remove from his son's head later. 

Debbie had started calling Luke baby sunshine a couple of weeks ago, much to his amusement when it had become clear that he had inherited Justin's blue eyes and apparently his tendency for big smiles. Both Jennifer and Debbie couldn't stop pointing out how much Luke looked like Justin and if Brian was honest with himself, he didn't mind at all. To him Justin had always been perfect and if his son had inherited more from Justin's genes than his own, he was absolutely fine with that. And he already had a mini-me running around with Gus, so it was only fair that his second son would look more like his other father. 

“I wouldn't dare,” Brian raised his hands as if to plead innocence and then watched with a gentle smile as Debbie cooed over the baby. She had made it her mission in life to see her grandson at least three to four times a week and by now Brian had gotten used to her unannounced visits at Britin. At first he had been slightly annoyed by the amount of times both Jennifer and Debbie had shown up unannounced, but slowly but surely he had started to understand that they only meant well and after his first three weeks of sleepless nights he had even been glad for their visits as they had given him a chance to catch up on some much needed sleep. He had gained the utmost respect for single mothers who didn't have anyone around to help them raising an infant. 

All in all Luke was a good baby, pretty easy-going and easy to take care of, but just like any baby he had this weird idea that waking up in the middle of the night to demand food was okay. And damn could he cry the house down if Brian didn't immediately give him food. That boy had lungs, Brian was sure his neighbours could still hear him on their estate down the road. 

“What are you doing here? I didn't expect to see you and baby sunshine here at the diner,” Debbie wiped away some spit that had gathered on Luke's chin and then turned her attention to the brunet sitting next to her.

“It was time to rejoin the world of the living,” he simply snarked in reply and then made a grab for the menu. Debbie stopped his movement and took the menu from his hand, knowing that after all these years Brian knew it by heart and took his hand instead, squeezing it gently. 

“It's normal, Brian. Everyone feels that way,” she said quietly before letting go of his hand, seeing how uncomfortable that gesture made him.

“What way?” He raised an eyebrow in question and eyed her warily.

Debbie shook her head in slight amusement, not surprised that Brian was trying to play it cool and wave her off. She had known him long enough to know that he knew exactly what she was talking about. 

“You can't just be there to take care of Luke 24/7. It's normal that you feel cooped up in your own house and need to get out every once in a while.”

“Seems like a 24/7 job to me,” Brian just gave back, reaching over to gently caress his son's cheek.

“Why don't you let me and Jen help every once in a while? Enjoy a night out at Woodies, spent some time at Babylon. I am sure you must be itching to get back on the scene,” his surrogate mother said gently and Brian could only sigh.

Both Jennifer and Debbie had offered numerous times already to take care of Luke and to watch him for a night or a weekend so Brian could enjoy some alone time on his own, but so far he had always shut them down. The more he had thought about it, the more he had realised that it wasn't because he didn't want their help, but because he didn't feel like going out. He could watch Luke for hours, could sit next to his crib and run his hand over his son's short, blond fuzzy hair and he'd never get bored at all. He could hold Luke in his arms and talk to him for hours about everything from Justin to his own life to his dreams and his hopes for Luke's life and never felt bored. The prospect of a night out just couldn't compare to an evening spent at home with his baby. And the more Brian had realised that, the more he had wondered when he had lost his dick. Some time during his pregnancy it had to have fallen off and he had to have turned into a lesbian. As much as that realisation had scared him at first, he had quickly come to realise that he didn't mind as much as he had feared he would. Maybe he had finally grown up. Maybe being pregnant and having a child had finally made him leave behind the over the hill club boy that he had been because Brian could say in all honesty that he didn't miss it. Yes, he still yearned for a good fuck and a good blow-job like every other queer, but he couldn't say that he missed the nights out, the getting drunk and the drugs. None of that compared to the happiness his son was giving him by just smiling at him or looking up at him from his big, blue baby eyes.

“Debs,” Brian started, fidgeting with his hands as he wondered how he could explain what he was feeling to her without really telling her about his feelings. After all his feelings were still private and none of her business. “I told you and Jen that I am grateful for your offer and one day I will definitely take you up on it, but now... now I just want to spend time with Luke and be the best father to him that I can be.”

Debbie smiled and nodded, looking down at the now peacefully sleeping boy in her arms. He had no idea how lucky he was to have Brian Kinney for a father. Brian himself might not see it that way and might not appreciate if someone pointed it out to him, but the dedication he showed to this small baby, the way he had completely changed his life and had basically become a stay at home father to his baby spoke of the love he felt for the small boy he had given birth to. Luke was indeed lucky for Debbie knew that he would always be loved by Brian beyond anything in this world. 

“That you are. He couldn't wish for a better daddy.”

When she heard Kiki call her name, Debbie knew that it was time to get back to work, so she slowly got up and carefully handed the baby back to Brian, who gently took his son in his arms and held him close, running his hand over his baby's head. 

“Is this just a social visit or can I get you anything, honey?”

“The usual,” he just said, barely looking up from the boy in his arms.

“Brian,” Debbie started to reprimand him, pointing out that he needed to eat more, but stopping when he held up his hand and smiled at her. 

“Hold it, grandma. You got to stuff me for more than six months, blaming this little tyrant here for feeding me all kinds of unhealthy foods you could come up with. I am not pregnant anymore, so you can't force-feed me. Those times are over.”

Debbie only nodded, accepting defeat, knowing that Brian was right and she couldn't force him to eat something more substantial than his usual sandwich. She squeezed his shoulder before she moved away to call in his order and start serving some of her other customers.

While she was busy serving other people, she couldn't help and look over at Brian and Luke several times and every time her eyes settled on Brian's booth, she saw him deeply engrossed in the small baby in his arms. Several times tricks walked past his booth and were obviously trying to get Brian's attention, some of them in really obvious ways – really, as if Debbie believed that that guy's cell-phone had fallen down in front of Brian's booth out of pure coincidence – but not once did he look up and pay them any attention. Brian really had changed a lot in the last 9 months and to her it was one of the best things that could have happened to him. She had always worried about his lifestyle, the drugs, the alcohol and the countless sex and she had been more than grateful when he had calmed down a bit over the years he had been with Justin, but seeing him like that, really did her heart good. She knew that Brian had grown up and had accepted his role as Luke's father. If only her other son could do the same. 

She sighed as she thought about Michael and his behaviour in recent months. Ever since Luke had been born three months ago, Michael had all but refused to acknowledge the baby's existence. She knew from Brian and from Ben that Michael hadn't seen the baby yet, but was pestering Brian to go out and have fun as in his old Stud days, totally ignoring that Brian was a full time father now. 

Brian didn't attend sunday dinners anymore and Debbie knew that it was so he could avoid Michael. More often than not they would have their own version of a family dinner at Britin with Carl, her, Jennifer and Ted and Blake in attendance. And if she was honest with herself, she enjoyed those dinners a lot more than the ones at her home where by now it was mostly only her, Carl and Ben, Michael and Hunter left. Emmett had slowly drifted away from their group and she knew that he had had a falling out with Brian. She assumed it had been about the way Brian had treated Justin, knowing that Emmett had always been very close with Justin. Emmett still called her sometimes and she knew that he had gotten back together with Drew and was busy with his catering service which made her really happy for him. Ted and Blake didn't come to her sunday dinners anymore as they had excused themselves after another one of Michael's tirades about Justin and Luke and had informed her that they would still see her at Britin, but couldn't stomach Michael's presence. It had hurt at first to know that they wouldn't come to her house anymore, but she could understand their point. Michael was grating on her nerves as well with his constant whining about Justin and the baby and as much as she loved her son, she just didn't know what to do with him anymore short of slapping sense into him. Carl had urged her to be hard and to make him face the hurt and division in the family that he was causing, but so far she hadn't been able to bring herself to that. After all he was still her son and she loved him. She knew he was not perfect, but he was her baby and she was his mother, so it was her job to stay on his side, even if it was incredibly hard at times. 

She was thrown back into reality when she heard a voice calling out to her. “Ma! Can you get me a cheeseburger and fries?” 

It took her a second to realise that she had been so lost in thoughts that she obviously hadn't noticed Michael entering the diner, but when she realised and saw Ben at his side, she couldn't help but frown. With Brian and Luke still there, this couldn't be good, she thought to herself as Ben threw her an apologizing look, resting a hand on his husband's shoulder and urging him to quiet down. 

“Michael, let us sit down first and then you can order when Debbie comes to our table.”

“Ben, don't be like that. I grew up in this diner. Nobody minds.”

Both Debbie and Ben could only roll their eyes at that statement, before Debbie forced herself to greet her son and son-in-law.

“What are you doing here, honey? I didn't expect to see you today. Isn't the shop busy what with Christmas around the corner?”

“Ben surprised me and invited me to lunch. Who was I to say no?” Michael explained quickly before he started looking around for an empty booth to sit down in. Debbie realised the exact moment when he saw Brian, because his eyes lit up and his whole face began to shine. Ben noticed the change in his husband as well and followed his line of vision and Debbie wondered if she had seen right when his shoulders sagged in a defeated sigh. 

“Brian!” he called out loudly to the man who was sitting to them with his back and obviously hadn't seen them yet. Debbie was pretty sure that she wasn't the only one who had seen him flinch when he had heard her son's voice. Ben had seen it too. One look at him proved as much.

When Brian didn't react quickly enough for Michael's taste, he shouted out his friend's name once more, quickly walking over to his side, followed immediately by Debbie and Ben. 

“Michael, calm down. You're scaring the baby with your yelling,” Debbie admonished, hitting her son on the back of his head for good measure. She still hadn't given up hope that one day she would be able to get some sense into that thick head of his.

“What baby?” Michael asked her when he stopped shortly ahead of Brian's booth and turned to his mother.

“Brian's baby. Luke. You're scaring him with all your yelling,” Debbie explained once more, walking past Michael to Brian's side, looking at her surrogate son in apology. “I am sorry, honey.”

“It's fine,” Brian just replied, holding his son close to his chest, gently running a hand across his backside and whispering gentle, comforting words to the baby that had started crying after Michael had yelled Brian's name the first time. “Shhhhh, it's okay. Daddy is here.”

It didn't take long for the tears to stop and soon after Luke had calmed down again in Brian's arms. Once his son wasn't crying anymore, Brian slowly turned around to his once former best friend and nodded curtly at him and his husband. “Michael. Ben.”  

“Brian, I am so sorry,” Ben immediately began, but his apology was waved away by Brian.

“It wasn't you that was yelling. Don't worry about it,” Brian said quietly, throwing a glare at Michael who didn't seem to realise that the three people in his immediate vicinity expected him to apologise which he didn't do.

“You still have the baby?” Was all Michael said, looking at him wide-eyed.

“Good day to you too. How are you doing? I am fine and yes, I still have my baby. Where else would he be?” Brian snarked, holding Luke closer as if to protect him from Michael's presence.

“I thought you were going to get rid of him once he was born,” Michael said seriously, ignoring the outraged cries of his mother and husband.

Brian only shook his head before he started strapping Luke back into the baby carrier, not feeling ready to listen to Michael's tirades once more. He didn't feel like hearing that keeping his son was a mistake and that Justin had just gotten him pregnant to ensure a part in his life. Not when his son made him happier than he had ever been.

“Michael,” Ben hissed at his husband, glaring at him. “How can you say that?”

Debbie looked just as shocked and for once in her life didn't know what to say. She was actually speechless.

“All this baby is doing is destroying Brian's reputation. He hasn't been to Babylon in months. People haven't seen him fuck tricks in forever and instead he's bringing this baby to Liberty Avenue... What are people supposed to think?”

“This baby as you so lovingly refered to him is my son and he is called Luke. Seeing how you are a father yourself, I foolishly led myself to believe that you would actually understand that as a father I want to spend time with my child and want to be with him, but apparently that is not the case, so please, excuse me, I am going to spend the rest of my day in better company.” With that Brian got up from the booth and looked at Debbie. “I'll see you on Saturday?” he asked and she could hear the slight insecurity in his voice for which she couldn't help but blame Michael. 

“Of course and I am going to bring your favourite, honey.” 

“Ma, why don't you watch the baby on Saturday so Brian and I can go out and have some fun at Babylon?”

“Michael, we have plans on Saturday,” Ben angrily interrupted his husband and glared at him even more. 

“Ben, we can postpone that. Brian and I haven't been out in months.”

“Don't worry, Ben. I have no intention of spending time with your husband on Saturday or any time else if he doesn't accept that I am a father and have a baby son that needs my attention,” Brian said quietly before he allowed Debbie to leave a kiss on his cheek. He then slowly moved towards the door, leaving the diner.

“Oh Ben, thanks for the lovely books you sent me after Luke's birth. He especially loves the one about the animals,” Brian gave as a parting shot, not able to help himself and not able to hide his amusement when he heard Michael's whiny voice. 

“What books, Ben? What is he talking about?”

“When a friend of yours has a baby you usually get them a present to celebrate that happy occasion. I got Brian and Luke a couple of books that Brian could read to him and that would be stimulating for a newborn,” Ben explained calmly, not in the least surprised when he saw his husband's shocked expression.

“What did you get him?” Debbie dared to ask, looking at her son from thunderous eyes. When she saw his defiant glare, she couldn't help but hit him over the head once more. “Oh you didn't!” 

“You didn't get them anything?” Ben asked in outrage and then stomped out of the diner without looking at Michael again.

“Michael, what the fuck is wrong with you?” Debbie asked him, sounding more than disappointed.

“He never wanted a child and he sure as hell wouldn't have wanted this child if boy wonder hadn't trapped him,” Michael started, but was interrupted by Debbie's angry voice.

“One more word and I am going to hit you so hard you're not gonna know which day of the week it is. You stop this whole shit right now. Sunshine did not trap Brian with a baby. He doesn't even know about the baby. And Brian loves his son. If you would only open your eyes long enough to see how loving and caring he is when he is with Luke you would see that he has changed. He might have been a club boy once, but he is a father now. Get that into your thick head, Michael. You are losing your best friend in case you didn't notice,” Debbie spat at him before walking back to the cash register and asking Kiki to deal with her son as she just couldn't be around him right now.

Michael only glared angrily at her and everyone else in the diner who was watching him from curious eyes and then huffed before sitting down in the empty booth that Brian had vacated just minutes before.