This was going to be a shitshow, he just knew it. They were having Thanksgiving dinner with everyone…and he did mean everyone. His kids, Justin’s kids, Gus and John’s girlfriend and boyfriend, Brian’s friends, his brother, Justin’s sister, and Gus’ girlfriend’s parents. It was going to be so many people. So many he had rented out a hall to seat everyone.

When Justin asked him what he would be cooking he told him nothing, his job was to procure the space, he had done that. Peter was making cranberries like Debbie had taught him. He didn’t know what Justin was making but wouldn’t be surprised if he argued with Debbie on who got to make the turkey.

“Dad, you have to be on your best behavior meeting Fly’s parents,” Gus told him.

“So, not talking about my sex life?”

“Ew, no. No one wants to hear about that.” Gus visibly shuttered. Brian wouldn’t have thought he would be the kind of parent who liked to embarrass his children but here he was.

“Are you going to marry Justin?”

Brian turned around and faced his youngest, who had asked the question. “Why are you asking?”

“I don’t know, just thought it would be nice to have a family.”

“We are a family. You don’t need two parents to be a family.”

“I know that, Dad,” he said smiling. “You’ve just been happier since you met Justin. I thought it would be nice to have it permanent.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Come on you guys, we need to get going.” He smiled to himself, he had this all planned out and for a moment was worried Peter was onto him.

The community hall was filled with his friends and family. It was the best feeling in the world. He looked over and saw Brian talking to Jackie and Debbie, Brian’s shadow was beside him grinning ear to ear. Brian must be telling Jackie and Debbie about Mika’s new glasses. When Brian had told him, Justin felt like the worst father in the world for not noticing his son having trouble seeing. Mika was extremely nearsighted. He loved his new glasses though; it had taken a few weeks for them to come in. He laughed when Mika preened, as Brian picked him up.

Everyone was there except Gus’ girlfriend and her parents. He could tell that Gus was getting nervous. Walking over to the kid, he sat down beside him.

“Don’t look so worried. She said they had to stop off at her grandparents’ house first, right?”

“I know, I just want them to like us. Her family is rich.”

“Your dad is rich.”

“No, he’s well off, at least according to him. She’s from old money.”

“Ah, so that’s it, new money vs. old money.”

“It’s just that her moms are proper you know. I don’t want Grandma Deb or Dad cussing; you know both of them can’t not curse to save their lives.”

“Trust your dad, that’s all I ask.” Justin was going to say more but in walked Fly and her parents. He had met Fly a few times at Brian’s but was shocked to see her parents. “I’ll be right back.”

He headed towards his sister, hoping to cut her off at the pass before she noticed their new guests. Just as he reached Molly, she spotted the new arrivals. Her eyes widened then narrowed.

“What the hell is Diane Connors doing here?” she roared, angerly pointing at the tall, elegant brunette woman who was standing next to her shorter, but just as elegant wife. Her wife had dark skin just like their daughter. While Fly looked like she walked off some trendy gothic magazine her mothers looked like they walked out of a Vogue magazine.

“I don’t know but keep yourself together. They are Fly’s parents.”

“What? That bitch ruins our life and what, runs back to her wife and she takes her back?”

Diane Connors had an affair with their dad, it was the beginning of the end. The country club was full of whispers, it was hard to miss. He hadn’t known they had a daughter. But it had been years since he was allowed to be at the club. This was before he had been kicked out of the family, Molly had just been a little girl then. His father never hid he was an asshole, at least after he got caught. Everything did turn bad after that, but he didn’t think it was her fault, that was all on his dad.

“She didn’t. She was having a problem in her marriage. I don’t know if her daughter knows that her and dad were together, you need to keep it quiet. Dad is out of our lives and we should be thankful for it. He’s insane and the less we were around him the better.”

He saw she was wavering. “I guess. But it doesn’t mean I gotta like it,” she said before tossing her hair over her shoulder and going to join John and his boyfriend.

While anyone was better than that fucker he was dating before, Bradley was still having issues because of it, but there was something about John’s new guy Justin didn’t like. He was older but still in high school, a senior, so not terribly old. Brian actually liked him, and he was a great judge of character. Maybe it was because of what happened a week ago. They had no idea who John’s secret boyfriend was but then all hell broke loose. Justin had gotten a call from John begging him to come get him without telling his dad. Justin couldn’t leave a very upset teenager in need.

He picked both John and Tim up that night. Tim was carrying an overstuffed duffle bag and his laptop. Justin could see he had been crying but didn’t mention it. He dropped Tim off at a friend’s and took John home. It was there he got the whole story. He had been seeing Tim for a little while. Tim told him his parents were going to be out of town. That left two teenagers with a house to themselves to behave like teenagers. John said he was with Tim in bed but all they were doing was making out, Justin didn’t care as long as they were safe, it wasn’t his business. They were too wrapped up in each other they didn’t hear the arrival of Tim’s parents.

The whole trip was a lie, they thought Tim would was doing drugs because of his secretive behavior and wanted to bust him. What they busted was him and John. John said they kicked him right out, that’s when he called Justin. After getting off the phone, Tim had come out of the house. Turns out his parents gave him an ultimatum, leave or go to a conversion therapy facility for a while. Tim did something that even John had been shocked about. He left. Tim reminded him of Chris Hobbs, that was maybe why he didn’t fully like him. But Tim wasn’t Chris, he was stronger he left his family rather than live a lie and have his brain messed with. Now Tim lived with his aunt who told her brother and sister-in-law to fuck off.

Nanette ran over to him and grabbed him by the arm.

“Daddy, come with me.”

“Where?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Justin didn’t roll his eyes, but it was a close call. He loved his daughter, but she was a bit high maintenance. He wondered what this surprise was, last time it was that she found a frog. He followed her out of the room the dinner was being held in and into the kitchen that was separated from the hall by a wall.

“What are we doing in here?” He looked around and saw that Debbie was heating up something in the stove.

“Sunshine, can you watch my baked ziti?”

“Baked ziti for Thanksgiving?”

“You’ve got a problem with that?”

“No ma’am,” he said quickly.

“That’s what I thought,” she huffed and left.

“So, why am I here?” he asked his daughter again.

“I’ve got a secret.”

“You do? And what secret is that?”

“Five dollars.”

“What?”

“It’s called a bribe. Five dollars.”

“I’m not giving you five dollars.”

“Then you won’t ever find out the best secret in the world. Its big…so big. You would drop dead from shock.”

“Where did you hear that kind of talk?” he asked her. She was clearly picking up things from other people.

“It’s part of the secret.”

Justin sighed. “I know I’m going to regret this.” He pulled out his wallet and opened it. “I don’t have a five.”

“What you got?”

“A ten and a couple twenties.”

“I’ll take the twenties.”

“You will not. I will give you the ten to hold onto until we can get it broke. Then I’ll get five back. I want you to know I don’t like my daughter being an extortion artist.”

“I am an artist, Daddy, you put my picture in a frame. ‘Member?”

He smiled. “Yes, I remember.” He handed over the ten and looked at her expectantly.

She took the ten and opened the little purse Brian had gotten her. It was funny, Nan had turned into Brian’s little princess and she didn’t seem to mind one bit.

“Nan? What’s the secret?”

“Oh, yeah. The stuffing has meat juice in it.”

“What?”

“The stuffing has chicken juice in it. Uncle Emmett says some people wouldn’t like it because of the meat juice and we should keep it quiet.”

“You never lie to someone about what they eat. Also, I MADE the stuffing, of course I know what’s in it.”

“Oh, doesn’t seem like you got a good deal then.” Then the little brat just skipped the fuck off.

Justin could feel his blood pressure rising, he was going to kill whoever taught his sweet little girl to scheme.

Brian was waiting with bated breath. This was the moment he had been planning since Justin brought up Thanksgiving. He never thought he would be the type to marry but here he was waiting on one knee for Justin to come back in the room. He smiled when Nan ran back in giggling at her deception. She was his secret agent, get Justin away for just enough time set up the proposal setting. He had all the kids go ahead, taking each aside earlier in the dinner to ask if it was alright. Gus and John rolled their eyes and said it was fine. Peter was happy. Nan and Mika were ecstatic, he had to give them both jobs just to keep them from shooting off their mouths before time. He had even asked Molly, she said whatever. Teens what were you do?

Jackie was bouncing on his toes standing next to Michael and Ben. Ever since Halloween Brian had been getting things in order and talking things through. He had found a house big enough to house them all. It was a seven-bedroom, seven-bath house. It was beautiful and even had a two-bedroom guest house on the grounds. He talked to Mary about having Jackie closer to him. She thought it was a wonderful idea. He had to go through the agency in charge of Jackie’s services but since he was his guardian now, it was no problem.

Justin walked in a paused looking at the sight. Brian’s knees were killing him, but he didn’t move.

“Justin Taylor, will you marry us?” he asked, waving a hand at him and his kids.

“I-I-

“Daddy, this is where you say yes,” Mika said jumping up and down.

“Yes,” Justin said.

Was it just him or did Justin looked panicked?