Since everyone needed to be in Pittsburgh, I came with them. It felt weird because it was the first time I was able to visit Nana and not have to be careful of who we would run into. I wanted to meet Blake and was curious about Jenny’s stepbrother. The guy might have messed up his life but he tried to do the right thing by telling Grandma Deb what he knew. I figured he should at least know my family appreciated him for it. I also wanted to offer him support, since Ted told me that having someone to support him made it a little easier for him.

Blake met me at the door when I showed up. I liked him already, just because he chose to help others. According to my Da, he was the reason Ted wasn’t so glum anymore, so I planned to make sure he stuck around because I liked the happy Teddy that Emmett gushed about.

“Hank’s having a hard day, so try not to upset him,” Blake says, leading me to Hank’s room.

“I just thought he could use a visitor, nothing else,” I tell him.

 “He had a visit from his grandfather, which didn’t go well,” he tells me.

“My dad said the grandfather sounded like he was going to support Hank,” I tell him.

“He’s trying to, but Hank doesn’t trust him right now. It’s hard for him to believe his grandfather is sincere when the last conversation they had was pretty much a repeat of all the conversations they had while Hank was growing up. I really think Lucas is trying, but Hank has to believe it,” Blake tells me, knocking on the door.

“LEAVE ME ALONE!” Hank shouts.

“I’ll take it from here, people like me,” I joke, opening the door.

“Jesus, I just want to be left alone,” Hank says, turning away from me.

“Isn’t that half the reason you’re here, everyone left you alone, not seeing what you’d been doing?” I ask.

“They didn’t care what I did as long as the family name didn’t get tarnished by it,” Hank mutters, at least willing to talk to me.

“That had to have sucked. I mean, part of being a kid is screwing up, while the adults help make us into better people, right? Not tell us we’re ruining the family name,” I tell him, hoping he’d just keep talking and not kick my butt out.

“Yeah. I guess you didn’t come from a family where disapproval is all they pass down to you,” he tells me.

“No. I came from a family that supports each other, so I don’t understand what your life must have been like,” I tell him.

“Most people wouldn’t understand. They think because my family is rich it meant nothing could be wrong in my world,” He tells me.

“Money doesn’t make up for feeling like no one gives a crap about you. I grew up with all the same advantages, but having my dads show me they love and support me is worth more to me than what they can buy me,” I tell him.

“Your that kid… Patrick? God, I was so jealous reading about you,” He tells me.

“Why?” 

“I wanted your life, having parents who didn’t care where I came from, but just loved me,” He tells me.

“What about your mom?” I ask since no one mentioned her.

“She can’t even get her life together, and helping me isn’t really a priority to her. My dad didn’t have me with her because he thought she’d be a great mother. He did it to carry on the name my grandfather puts so much value in. Once she served her purpose, she sent me to my dad to deal with. Then, once again, my dad picked another winner to deal with me,” he tells me.

“I can see why you don’t trust anyone in that family to have your back,” I tell him.

“What’s shitty is that I still want to, but what if I’m wrong? For the first time in my life, I don’t feel like some burden they’re dealing with, but that they really care about me. Deb should hate me for the way I treated Jenny, but she doesn’t. I used to treat her the way my father did, looking down on her, but when I needed someone to really see the mess I was in, there she was, holding her hand out and willing to help me. My grandfather’s idea of help was to threaten to disown me for admitting I wasn’t a perfect Cameron... I really don’t want to talk about them right now, it just makes me want to leave and lose myself again. Tell me about your family,” he says sounding sad again.

“My father’s sperm donor is the same way, so we have nothing to do with him. He lost everyone in our family and blames it on my dad, not on the fact that he pushed them all out of his life. My Aunt Molly is the only one he talks to, thinking she’ll eventually see his point of view about my dad’s deviant lifestyle, and how it ruined her life as well as Craig Taylor’s,” I tell him, something we sort of have in common.

“What does she think?” He asks.

“She thinks he’s still living in the time of stupidity and ignorance. Nothing her father says changes that my dads were always there for her,” I tell him.

“That’s something I don’t get, how did your fathers keep it a secret from everyone for so long?” He asks.

“They moved away from everyone and just lived their lives the way they would have if it hadn’t been for so many people trying to tell them how to do it,” I tell him.

“Did it ever bother you that there were parts of Brian’s life you couldn’t be a part of?” He asks.

“Not getting to know Gus sooner. But I wasn’t exactly a fan until we finally met. I always wanted to meet the fabulous Emmett and even grumpy Teddy, but I had my dad’s family and Grandma Deb… but yeah, it sort of bothered me. Not for me, but for my Da, he was having to juggle two lives in order to be happy. Da did something he hated, lying, because he wasn’t willing to lose Gus, and he couldn’t live without my dad. So he just kept our life from the people closest to Michael. Since, while he trusted them, he wasn’t going to burden them with his secret,” I tell him.

“I just can’t imagine loving someone the way Brian did, he was willing to do anything to be with Justin,” He tells me.

“I can’t imagine being with someone unless you really love them. I don’t think you can commit to a relationship unless you really love the person your with,” I tell him.

“I’ve only seen the opposite all my life, and trust me, it only brings out the worst in the people involved,” He tells me.

“Is that what caused you to start using?” I ask, curious.

“It started with me just wanting to be cool around the kids in our circle, then it became my way of coping with my shitty home life. It got worse when my dad moved us to Pittsburgh and brought Michael back into our lives. I didn’t get why he would want Michael back when he made us all miserable when we lived in Portland. What’s still strange to me is that it was the first time my grandfather actually sounded worried about me,” He tells me.

“Knowing what I know about Michael, I could see why he would be,” I tell him.

“I guess I would trust him more if he’d done more than voice his disapproval of the situation,” He tells me.

“The same way he did when you called him?” I ask.

“I should have known better. It’s why it harder for me to believe he’s willing to support me now,” he tells me.

“I can tell you what he told my dad, if you want me to,”  I tell him.

“Why would he go to your dad?” Hank asks.

“I think he was hoping for a way around Grandma Deb. He knew he’d screwed up with you and needed all the help he could get,” I tell him.

“What did he say?” He asked, trying to act like he didn’t care.

“Let’s start with the fun parts. He charged into my dad’s agent’s office, demanding to see my dad, only to have to keep coming back all day until he caught up with him. When he did, my dad told him he had five minutes, which is what my dad says to people so they know not to waste his time,” I tell him.

“Lucas Cameron must have loved that,” Hank said, smiling a little. Win.

“He didn’t. He said something about expecting better of my father since he was raised in the same sphere. Which wasn’t something to be proud of in my family, since those same people supported the asshole who hurt my dad. Lucas surprised my dad with what he told him. He wasn’t there trying to get your dad out of trouble but worried about you and admitting he made mistakes with you. He also ended up meeting Craig Taylor and seeing where his life was headed if he didn’t change the way he treated you,” I tell him.

“I won’t live up to the name to make Lucas happy,” Hank says, looking at the door.

“I don’t care if you do. Just let me help you any way you want me to,” Lucas says, not coming into the room.

“You want me to leave?” I ask Hank.

“No. If he is telling the truth then he shouldn’t have a problem with you hearing us,” Hank says like he was testing Lucas.

“If Patrick being here is the only way you’ll let me stay, so be it,” Lucas says, sitting next to me.

“What do you want?” Hank asks him.

“To get to know you, something I doubt I do,” He admits.

“I’m everything Patrick isn’t,” Hank says as if Lucas would have approved of me.

“You’re my grandson, who I should have loved and supported the way Patrick’s fathers did for him,” Lucas corrected him.

“So now it doesn’t matter that I’m not the Cameron you deemed was important to you?” Hank asks sarcastically.

“What did you like about my dad?” I interrupt before Hank closes off completely.

Lucas looked at me, confused at the change in subject, “He understood something I didn’t until recently, that a name doesn’t make the man. He didn’t let his father’s rejection define him, and he stood up to me, something most people don’t do,” he tells us.

“He also didn’t have to worry you’d cut him out of your life for not being perfect,” Hank commented.

“Even if I could, he wouldn’t have let it change what he was doing,” Lucas tells him.

“Unlike me and my dad who always cowed to you,” Hank tells him.

“Hank, you didn’t care what I said, instead you were willing to walk away and get the help I wasn’t willing to admit you need. You did something your father still can’t do, deal with your problems without expecting caring what I thought,” Lucas tells him.

“So now I’ve earned the family name?” Hank asks.

“No. You’ve shown me that the family name doesn’t mean anything when you couldn’t count on the family behind it. It’s hard to admit I failed as a father and a grandfather, but how could I have been anything but a failure if you had to look to others for help,” Lucas tells him.

“Did he ask you to come here and help him?” Hank asks me.

“It really shows how low an opinion he has of me doesn’t it, that I would use a child,” Lucas says, looking at me.

“I’ve never talked to him before today. I just wanted to come and say thank you for trying to do the right thing even if it meant going against your family to help mine. I also think that what you’re doing, trying to straighten out your life, is really brave even when it doesn’t feel that way,” I tell him.

“Right now I’d give anything to just walk out that door and make it easier,” Hank admits.

“Everyday you don’t is what my dad likes to call Winning,” I tell him.

“I wish I had your dad,” He whispers.

“If you want, I’ll call him and ask him to come. Or we can really talk for once in your life, without you fearing what I’ll say,” Lucas offers, almost sounding desperate to do anything for Hank.

“Would he?” Hank asks me.

“Both my dads would if you need them to,” I tell him.

“Why?” Hank asks.

“Their weird like that, when it comes to people who join the family. So I have no problem sharing them with you,” I tell him.

“How about you, old man? Do you have a problem with a family who isn’t up to your standards being in my life?” Hank asks, not as belligerent as it sounded.

“I’m hoping they’ll show us how to be a family, just you and me,” Lucas tells him.

“What about my dad, aren’t you going to help bail him out?” Hank asks, shaking his head at me when I got up to leave.

“He needs to figure this out on his own. He made the mess, let him clean it up. I’m also planning to throw my support behind Hunter if your father tries anything,” Lucas tells him.

“I made sure everyone knows it’s all true since I and a couple of friends heard him and Michael saying it to Hunter Dad wanted me to be friends with certain families, you know, the ones who have no problem stabbing you in the back while pretending to be your friend. I told those friends to keep their mouths shut,” He tells us, confusing me at what that accomplished.

“So even now it’s being whispered among everyone as fact and a warning to withdraw any support,” Lucas tells me.

“I’m so glad not to have to live in your worlds,” I tell them both.

“Are you going to visit me again?” Hank asks, which I took as him wanting me to leave.

“I’m only here until my dads deal with a few things, but it doesn’t mean you and I can’t talk to each other if you want to,” I tell him.

“Or I could find a place for us close to them after you get through this. I think it’s time we both find a life that doesn’t use a name to measure our worth, don’t you?” Lucas says to Hank.

“A world where we can just be Hank and Lucas?” Hank asks.

“A world where we find out who Hank is and help him be who he wants to be,” Lucas says, like a promise.

“Sounds too much like a fairy tale right now,” Hank tells him.

“Take it one minute at a time, then one hour until you can believe for one day. After that, however long it takes, Hank. Sorry guys, but Hank needs to get to group,” Blake tells us.

“I need to go anyway, but I’d like to come back if you want me to,” Lucas tells Hank.

“I’ll show up if you need me to keep him in line,” I joke pointing to Lucas.

“I liked hearing about your family,” Hank says before walking out the door past Blake.

“Should I come back?” Lucas asks Blake.

“Only if you’re serious about helping him, otherwise you could hurt his recovery,” Blake tells him. “It was good to meet you Patrick, but I need to go,” Blake tells me, hugging me.

“What’s your day look like?” I joke as we walked out of the clinic.

“I’m about to ruin my son’s day and hopefully give your brother what he wants without having to air all Melanie Marcus’ sins to the world. And then, sit right here in the hallway every day until my grandson believes in me. What about you?” Lucas tells me.

“There’s a four-pound burger Jenny says will beat me, but I will persevere,”  I tell him, as Nana pulls up with Jenny and Grandma Deb.

BRIAN

Gus and I agreed to meet with Lucas, he had Justin believing him and I trusted Justin’s judgment in people. Justin came alone when Patrick called to let us know he’d be with Jen and Deb for the rest of the day. I suggested Kinnetik’s conference room since I planned to check on the guy we were going to hire to run the office here. 

Gus and Justin went to talk to Murph until Lucas got here. I went to my office and started answering emails, which were mostly confirmations to attend the wedding, which Emmett assured us would be organized in time. I waited for him to spaz out when I told him he only had three weeks, which was the night Justin and I met each other, and Gus’ birthday. Justin tossed to combine the wedding and birthday, and invited Ian’s family, who offered to help Emmett. Emmett still wanted to enlist Darren to help, wanting to keep their business as a partnership.

“He’s here, I put him in the conference room,” Cynthia says, not moving out of my way.

“Anything pressing we need to discuss?” I ask her.

“No. I just like seeing you without the weight of the world on your shoulders,” she tells me, moving.

“You’re just jealous I got Justin,” I joke.

“While I love Justin to pieces, falling for a gay guy isn’t my cup of tea, something you taught me years ago,” she jokes.

“If it could have been, I would have been honored if it had been you,” I tell her.

“I’d have killed you the first week and then we wouldn’t have shown the world what three people could do in the world of advertising,” she says, kissing my cheek before wandering off.

“You know I could see that, and weirdly enough it didn’t make my dick shrivel,” Justin says seriously as Gus nods before they both laugh.

All the laughing stopped when David and Mel walking into my building. It left me debating if the old guy managed to fool Justin. Lucas came up to me before I could throw them out.

“I’m hoping to help you deal with all the problems at once. I know you have every reason to doubt me, but my intentions are to help you get what you want. I feel like I owe it to your family when your son made it so my grandson didn’t throw me out of the room today,” he tells me.

“You owe me or my family nothing, it’s not how we operate,” I tell him, as Gabriel came in behind them.

“I called him since I hope to help your other son too,” he tells me.

I went into the conference room, leaving Lucas to deal with Mel bitching at why she was summoned here. David came in glaring at me but sat down when Lucas told him to, like a good little boy. I could see Mel’s anger that I sat at the head of the table while Justin and Gus flanked me. She chose the seat opposite from me as if we were in some sort of power play. 

“What, nothing to say to me, Justin?” She taunts more than asks.

“What is there left to say, other than you turned out to be a disappointment as a human being. I won’t apologize for doing what I thought was right, just like you won’t for doing the shit you did,” Justin told her.

“I would think you would understand what it’s like when someone betrays their commitment to you,” She says, looking at me.

“I can understand how much it hurts when it happens, but not how you chose to deal with it. I can’t, because I would never hurt someone I love for any reason, even when what they did hurt me. I also couldn’t be friends with someone who would do what you and Michael did to anyone, regardless of the reason,” Justin tells her.

“Yet you stayed with someone who only kept you around as a guarantee his bed would be filled every night,” Mel tells him.

“It’s weird how you sound like Mel but I could swear it was Michael talking,” Justin snorts.

“Could we get to why you wanted me here, Father,” David interrupts.

“Yes. I’d like to know also, since I don’t understand the reason Brian, Justin, and Gabriel are here,” Mel says, looking at Lucas.

“They’re here because this concerns them too. I’ll start with you Mel, you’re suing David and Michael for more child support…”

“Why the hell should I have to pay even more for a bra… a kid I didn’t ask for, or want,” David interrupts.

“When you married Michael and turned him into a housewife, completely dependent on you, you also changed his income, which Jenny should benefit from,” Mel tells him.

“Which only matters to you now because you fucked up your career by forgetting that your loyalty should be to your clients. Why don’t you just admit that for you it’s all about using that kid to pay for your life.” David sneers at her.

“ENOUGH. I don’t care if you two squabble all day, it doesn’t change that everything she says is true. You married the putz and the responsibilities that came with him. The last thing you need right now is having people hear that you treated another stepchild badly,” Lucas tells him.

“I have the figures so we can be done with what you owe… Jenny,” Mel says smugly.

“I’ll get you the information for the firm that will handle the money David WILL put into an account for your daughter,” Lucas tells her.

“What am I supposed to do, jump through hoops when I need the money? I don’t think so. I won’t play the game David played with me, again,” Mel tells him.

“No games Melanie. As long as the money is used for Jenny’s welfare, it’s available. You wouldn’t want anyone to think what David said was true, that you’re using your daughter for money,” Lucas tells her.

“Fighting for the right to keep my daughter, is for her. In order to do that I have to have a place for us to live and prove I can take care of her. That takes using the money David and Michael owe us, ” Mel tells him.

“Why are you fighting when right now you need to figure out your life? All you’ve done lately is make Jenny miserable and feel like there’s something wrong with her,” Gus asks.

“So I’m the bad guy, even though I’m not the only one who lied to you?” Mel questions.

“I’m not trying to get custody of Jenny to punish you but because right now I don’t think you have Jenny’s best interest at heart. I don’t trust you after what you did at Deb’s house,” Gus tells her.

“I’ve never laid a hand on you or her before,” Mel tells him.

“It doesn’t change that you did,” I tell her.

“Mel, you know me and you know what I can and will do to help my clients. You can do what Jenny needs right now, or be ready to defend everything you’ve ever done,” Gabriel tells her.

“I’ll drag Brian into the mud with me,” Mel tells him, confusing Gabriel.

“I’m not sure how that would help your case but go for it,” I tell her, as she seems to realize what she said didn’t make any sense.

“I’ll need the contact information and to be called once the money is available,” Mel tells Lucas, not wanting to acknowledge her issue is really about me.

“Do you want to know why I still can’t forgive you?” Gus asks.

“Why do you think I care about your issues with me since you don’t care about me,” Mel tells him.

“I would have said it differently but you said it, and yeah, that’s pretty much how I feel and so does Jenny,” He tells her. 

Gus’ words hit Mel like a slap in the face. She flinched before walking out of the room with the card from Lucas. The rest of us got up to leave Lucas and David alone, but Lucas asked me and Justin to stay. I sat down, enjoying David’s discomfort.

“I’m more disappointed in myself lately, than in you David. I indulged you and encourage you to believe you were better than anyone else because you are my son. I should have encouraged you to be a better person and a better father to Hank than I was to you. It was my mistake that you never had to work for anything, knowing you could always fall back on me when you screwed up your life. I look at those two and see what you could have been if life hadn’t been handed to you on a silver platter. I’ve already instructed the family lawyers not to help you, the way they did with your first marriage. I don’t think they should have to help when you ignored their suggestions before you married Michael. Don’t even think about trying to salvage your reputation through Hunter Bruckner, I will support him if you do,” Lucas tells him.

“What happened to the Cameron name being everything? It’s funny that you even think of comparing me to Brian Kinney, who was the whore of Pittsburgh,” David says snidely.

“Where is your son, David?” Lucas asks, confusing David with the question.

“What does that have to do with you cutting me off?” David asks.

“Answer me. Tell me where your son is and I’ll support you and help you,” Lucas counters.

“He’s probably out fucking around with his friends, like always,” David tells him.

“Brian, where is my grandson?” Lucas asks.

“He should be in his group meeting. Ted said they last for hours,” I tell him.

“What the hell are you talking about?” David asks.

“I’m talking about the reason I’m done fixing your life since it only screwed up your son’s life,” Lucas tells him.

“So you wanted to embarrass me in front of them too?” David asks.

“No, I needed them as witnesses,” Lucas says, as three men enter the room. “As of today, the only thing you inherit from our family is the trust your mother set up for you. The rest of my estate will pass by you and go to Hank with Brian and Justin overseeing it if I pass away before Hank can handle it himself. I don’t trust you with Hank’s welfare or his future when you can’t even tell me your son went into rehab this week,” Lucas tells him.

“I’ve done everything you asked of me and this is what I get,” David yells, outraged as Lucas’ lawyer’s hand Justin and me copies of his will.

“Look at it as a way to live your life the way you want to since you no longer have to please me. You’re free to marry any number of numbskulls now and you’ll never have to hear me tell you ‘I told you so’, again,” Lucas says, walking out with his lawyers, as David ran behind them saying he’ll contest this will.

“Did we agree to this?” I joke since the paperwork made us responsible for Hank.

“How about a blow job, before we let Hank know he’s family,” Justin says, sliding down under the table.

“You have the best ideas,” I say, before moaning at that sinful tongue.