As Brian snuck down the stairs planning his escape from Alcatraz which is what the loft building had suddenly become, he received another text from Justin saying that he had left Michael in front of the building. Justin had recounted their entire conversation for Brian and advised him that they needed to meet somewhere else. Brian nodded, thinking the same thing as he peeked around the corner of the steps and saw Michael sitting there waiting for him. Part of him wanted to go out there and beat some sense into his former best friend, but self-preservation won out and Brian opted for the saner route, which was sneaking out the back door.

Making it to his jeep parked down the street without incident, Brian grabbed the packages from his and Justin's shopping excursion and walked to the corner of Fuller and Liberty. Tucking himself into the doorway of an abandoned warehouse, he waited until he saw the front of the stretch limo at the corner to his left. Hurriedly he made his way to the curb even as he heard his name being called in the most cringe-worthy and whiny tone of voice, a voice that could only belong to Michael. The door was flung open even before the car had a chance to come to a complete stop, allowing Brian to hop in and the limo to speed off into traffic.

"Thanks," he said simply, trying to calm his racing heartbeat. Looking over at his companion in the backseat he couldn't help but join the blond in his chuckles although his were more from relief than humor.

"No problem Brian. I figured that Michael would still be laying in wait for you to show yourself."

"Yeah well, he's always been persistent," Brian said sardonically, frowning a little at the end of his statement.

"I really don't understand what his problem is. You've shown him in a very explicit way that you don't want to be bothered. And now you've been forced to play James fucking Bond by jumping into moving vehicles just to get away from him."

Before Brian had a chance to answer Justin, his cellphone rang. Looking at the caller ID he breathed a sigh of relief noting that it was Emmett calling him. Placing the phone on speaker, Brian answered with a simple, "What's up, Em?"

"Oh nothing much, Your Studliness, except that Teddy and I received a rather distraught phone call from Michael moments ago. He said something about you deliberately ignoring him and jumping into a moving vehicle with a blond, who said that he didn't know you when he demanded to be let into the building."

"That sounds about right. So what did you tell him?"

"Just that perhaps you were too busy to deal with whatever it was he wanted to talk about right now."

Brian chuckled. "I bet that went over well."

Emmett scoffed in response. "It went so well that I had to hang up on him. You know how high Michael's voice gets when he screeches. My poor virgin ears couldn't take it. I think I even heard dogs barking in the distance from the high frequency of his whining."

Both Brian and Justin laughed aloud at Emmett's description. "I know that sound all too well. At least that's over with though."

"That's what you think," Ted said. "I've been in touch with Melanie. She called me right after Cynthia told her that you weren't in the office today. Brian, you won't believe the shit that those two dykes have been up to."

Brian sighed deeply. "Well since I know you're going to tell me anyway whether I want you to or not, let's just fuck off with the suspense and get to the point."

"Melanie caught Lindsay in bed with Sam again," Ted said as nonchalantly as he could.

"WHAT?!!! Repeat that bullshit slowly, Ted. I think Michael's whining has damaged my eardrums."

"You heard me right, boss. Lindsay and Sam Auerbach were fucking in Melanie and Lindsay's bed. And the kids were in the house, playing in the basement while it was going on. Mel threw Lindsay out of the house and all of her belongings went out the window. When Melanie dropped the kids off at the babysitter today, Lindsay nabbed Gus and headed to Pittsburgh in search of you."

"This fucking shit.... Didn't they leave Pittsburgh to get Lindsay away from Sam in the first place?" Brian couldn't believe Lindsay was pulling this shit again and with the same damn man that had caused most of the ‘Battle of the Bulls.'

Sam had asked her to run away with him before, and Lindsay had chosen Mel and their little lesbian love lair over the man. Now Lindz was fucking the man again behind Melanie's back and expecting Brian to fix her mistake of infidelity again. The first time, when cheating was Melanie's fault, Brian had paid with his parental rights. The second time when it was Lindsay's fault, Brian had allowed Gus to be moved to Toronto in the hopes of the lesbians achieving their little slice of Heteronormative Heaven. Now Lindsay had gone and rode the bologna pony in her house of carpet-munching and is expecting Brian to pay for it with what this time?

"What do you want me to do this time, Brian?" Ted asked as he realized Brian's dilemma. He and Emmett knew what it had taken for Brian to fix the Munchers' shit before, especially Lindsay's. If either of them could help it, the man wouldn't pay that kind of price again. Anyone could say what they wanted to about Brian Kinney, but no one could ever doubt his commitment to Gus' wellbeing.

"I think I may have a solution," Justin said. He didn't know all the facts but from what he could gather, Brian would need some serious help in this situation.

"Talk fast, Sunshine. My patience with this day isn't what it should be," Brian warned.

"I think you might need to see a lawyer immediately."

"No shit? I have already figured that much out."

Justin narrowed his eyes and folded his lips to keep the sharp retort bubbling up at bay. "I'm offering my lawyer's services," he said instead.

"Who is he? And what can he do for me?" Brian asked.

"I don't know what he can do for you since I don't have a law degree but if you're willing to speak with him, Harry will be more than happy for another client, especially regarding this."

"Harry? The same ‘Harry' you were so comfortable speaking with back at the apartment?" Brian's voice had risen with each question.

"Wait," Ted chimed in. "Justin, your lawyer wouldn't happen to be Harry Donaldson would he?"

Justin smiled. "How do you know Harry, Ted?"

"He's Melanie's ex-partner in the law firm she worked for before she moved to Toronto. Brian I would suggest you speak with him if you can. I'm not sure if it would be a conflict of interests but I do know that a free consultation never hurt anyone and you do need legal advice. Your ass and assets need to be protected at all costs."

Brian sighed again. He knew that what Ted and Justin had suggested was right but he was hoping to resolve all of this without having to go through legal channels again. "Fine Ted, I'll speak with him tonight. But then again wouldn't it be a conflict of interests since Justin was planning on meeting the illustrious Mr. Donaldson at the Chartrez event tonight as well?"

"Don't worry about it, Brian. If need be, I can handle my business with Harry without you being there. Besides, you haven't even given me a copy of the preliminary contract yet to go over."

"I was actually planning on rectifying that oversight once we got to the resort but I might as well give it to you now." Brian reached down into his briefcase and shuffled through the files there until he came up with what he was looking for. "It's a standard internship contract."

"Internship?" Ted asked. He wasn't aware of Brian offering anything with Justin beyond this week as his date.

"Yes, Ted," Brian drawled. "It seems that young Mr. Taylor here has been accepted to both Carnegie Mellon and PIFA. Providing he can get out of his contract with the dance troupe early, I offered him an internship at Kinnetik. Considering the current chaos our art department is in, I figured that if he were willing to give it a try, he could be useful as a permanent employee while obtaining his degrees."

"Oh good, " said Emmett. "Who knew that behind that gorgeous face and hot ass, there was a brilliant mind?"

"Thanks for the compliment...I think," Justin responded.

"How soon will we know?" Ted asked.

"I was supposed to meet with Harry tonight, but I think Brian's problem needs to be addressed before mine. I'll give Harry a call before we reach the resort and bring him up to speed. With any luck both Brian and I will both have some good options."

"You know Brian, Lindsay mentioned that she wanted to stay with you," Emmett said. "You don't think that this is just some ploy to..."

"Get in my pants again," Brian finished for him. He rolled his eyes heavenward unable to deny that he'd thought the same thing. "I don't know what the hell she's thinking, Emmett. What I do know is that Sam couldn't have known where she lived or gotten her new phone number if Lindsay hadn't given it to him. That was one of the stipulations that Melanie placed on her when they decided to move to Canada. She wasn't to have any contact with Sam Auerbach again. The man is a drunk and a womanizer; Lindsay was just a fuck to him at least according to Melanie. But there is a lot more to this than is being said, on both parts. I'm sure of it."

Emmett nodded even though Brian couldn't see it. "Something sure is rotten in the milk with those two, Brian. The third time is supposed to be the charm, instead it is bordering on becoming the Amityville Horror, Crystal Lake, and Elm Street all rolled into one. Who do you think is Freddy Kruger in this shit?"

Brian snickered at Emmett's take on the situation. "Ordinarily, I would say Melanie but I think I'll reserve judgment on this one. It still doesn't explain Michael's role in all of this."

It was Justin's turn to snicker at that statement. "Tell me Brian, how long have the two of you been ‘best friends?'" he asked, adopting Michael's notorious whine at the end of the question. Justin had heard it so much during his brief encounter with the man that he had the sound pitch perfect and delighted in the small cringe Brian gave at it.

"Since we were fourteen, Justin, although that has changed in the last few years."

Justin shook his head. "And still you don't know him."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Brian, the man is obsessed with your whereabouts..."

"He's just worried about his daughter, Justin, that's all."

"You can believe that if you want to. But in all that time I stood listening to his reasons for wanting into the building to get to you, he mentioned Gus, he mentioned you numerous times, he even mentioned Lindsay, although he spat her name like it was poison to him. But not once did he ever mention anything about his daughter. It was almost as if the thought of her and her mother never even entered his mind while I was standing there trying to reason with him."

Ted and Emmett confirmed Justin's observation of the situation. "He's right, Brian," Emmett said. "The whole time he was on the phone with me, it was all about you, and where were you, and he needed to talk to you but YOU were ignoring him. I asked him if he'd spoken with Melanie and he said that he did, but he wasn't interested in hearing anything she had to say unless it was that Lindsay was returning to Toronto where she and Gus belonged."

Ted added, "My conversation with Lindsay went in a similar vein to Michael's fixation with you, and Melanie stated the same thing about Michael. She was pissed because he didn't even ask to speak to JR or ask how she was doing. Michael had called to tell her that he didn't give a fuck what was going on between her and Lindsay, but that she had better fix it before you and he came up to Toronto to take the children from them to raise together."

"He actually said that?" Brian was incredulous.

He had actually hoped that Michael had gotten the foolish ass notion of he and Brian being together in any way, shape, form or fashion beyond friendship out of his head with the advent of Ben, then the littlest hustler Hunter and Michael's infrequent visits to Jenny Rebecca, which gave Michael his long-awaited chance for a semi-traditional family. The day he'd caught Michael naked in his bed, thanks to Ted's warning, Brian knew that he and the professor had an epic argument about Hunter's role in their lives and how Michael was going to move out and live with Brian. Brian had taken great pleasure in disabusing his former best friend of that notion, especially after the smell of sex assaulted his senses when he sat down on the bed next to Michael. There wasn't a doubt in Brian's mind just what Michael had been doing before he'd fallen asleep there.

Brian shook himself out of his momentary reverie. "Ted, I need for you to call Cynthia and tell her to get herself back here. I'll call the account personally and reschedule a time when Cyn can take the tour of the facility. You two are the only ones I trust to make this happen. I want both of you to get together with the security at Kinnetik and ban any access to me from both Michael and Lindsay."

"And if she has Gus with her, which she undoubtedly will?"

"Gus is allowed into the office or wherever I am in the building; Lindsay is not."

"You know this isn't going to go over well, Brian. Lindsay's tantrums..."

"I know, Ted. I'm counting on the fact that she's a WASP, and usually doesn't like public displays of disagreements to buy me some time."

"I'll do what you ask, boss, and I know Cynthia will too. Although, you'll probably want to give her a huge raise afterward so she won't quit."

"I know, Ted. I also want their numbers blocked on the PBX system. Sure they might try other avenues, but those can't be helped."

"You know Debbie isn't going to like this at all, Brian. I'm almost willing to bet that she has seen, or more than likely, heard from Michael by now about your well-executed escape off Novotny Island," Emmett pointed out, while rolling his eyes.

"I know she has, Em but that's what I need you to deal with for me. I know that she'll listen to you, where she won't to me. I don't want to have to tell her all of this shit, not that she won't accuse me of any number of things, including but not limited to breaking poor wittle Mikey's heart yet again." Christ, when is he going to get over this? When will he and Lindsay get over this shit?

Emmett cleared his throat a little before responding. "Brian, I know that this may be a little far-fetched... and it might not work at all but... well, perhaps you and Justin should enter a ‘real' relationship."

"What?" Brian and Justin said in unison.

"Hear me out, guys. No one would believe that you're in a relationship if you just tell them that you are, Brian. You've built yourself up in such a way that no one would believe it's possible for you to find someone, even if you were looking. That theory goes quadruple for Michael, Lindsay and Debbie."

"Get to the point, Honeycutt," Brian snapped.

"My point, Big Bad Brian, is that unless you bring Justin out and about with you to the diner to see Debbie and to Sunday Dinner a time or five, no one is going to believe that you are involved with anyone, and your stalkers will continue to harass you until you show them that you are off the market. You two need to make public appearances that have nothing to do with business."

"Brian, he's right," Ted said. "Although you are the undisputed King of Gay PA, you haven't been out as much as you used to be. Yes, you work your ass off and everyone still lines up for their turn aboard the Kinney Express. But everyone, especially Michael and Lindsay, believe that you are just biding your time until Melanie and Ben are no longer factors."

"What the fuck....how do you two come up with this shit?!" Brian demanded.

"We aren't coming up with these theories, Brian. Michael and Lindsay are. And they're spouting it to any and everyone who would listen, except you. I'm sure even Ben and Mel have heard the whispers in the wind over the years," Emmett said.

Ted confirmed Emmett's words. "The seeds of this particular lie have indeed been planted over and over at various points throughout the years. Ever wonder why Melanie hates you so much? She's heard this same rumor at different points for as long as she's known you. And whenever Lindsay feels that Mel is getting too comfortable, she does whatever she has to do to reenforce Melanie's doubts in reference to you. Usually she appeals to you for something that Melanie is unable, or more accurately, unwilling to provide for her. As a result, Mel gets to look like she's a bitch and you get to be the eternal bad guy, while Lindsay gets to be Mother Earth making ‘peace' between you two... for Gus' sake, of course. To Ben's credit, if he has heard the same thing, he doesn't hold any of the rumors against you personally. I don't think he has any delusions left about Michael after their last argument regarding Hunter."

The limo turned off the road into the gated driveway. Although nothing but a park could be seen to the left or the right, Justin was immediately taken in with the scenery while tuning out the rest of the conversation going on around him. Tall trees with their naked branches stood at various points of the property while snow adorned the ground as a blanket would the most inviting bed. Justin's fingers itched to capture it all, being reminded yet again of a time in his life gone by. He and Molly would have damn near killed themselves while hopping and racing from one snowbank to the other in this vast expanse of land.

Justin wished he could see it in its full springtime glory. He allowed his imagination to run wild, visualizing exactly how lush the land would look in its full bloom of spring and summer. The bleakness of a notorious Pittsburgh winter gave way to Justin's vision even as he looked over to the west of the property. There was no mistaking that what looked to be a sheet of ice, was actually a lake of some sort. The peaceful atmosphere was just the kind of scenery that made one both drool and dream.

When the house finally came into view, he couldn't help but gasp at the sight. The imposing structure and surrounding grounds reminded Justin of a Norman Rockwell painting he'd seen on a postcard once while visiting a museum abroad. The gigantic Tudor mansion didn't seem the least bit out of place among the scenery. In fact, it looked as though it was built specifically for it, without taking away any beauty from the park leading up to the palatial home.

"Where are we?" he asked Brian, near breathless in his excitement while beholding a place he'd only ever dreamed of.

"Guys, I have to go. We're here. Ted, if you can bring Emmett and meet us at Chartrez. I want you to hear all of the same information I get, firsthand."

"Will do, Brian. Black tie?"

"Yeah, so Emmett don't come there looking like a drag queen threw up on you. You both are representing Kinnetik tonight."

"Shit. Now I can't wear my new gold sequined tux," Emmett joked. "Don't worry about me, Brian. I know how important this is, so I'll be on my best behavior."

Brian hung up the phone and looked over to Justin, who was still sitting there in awe. He took in the man who was taking in the scenery of his palace. He remembered the first time Emmett had called him ‘King Kinney' and chuckled after seeing the house. "This is my little getaway, Justin."

"Little?" Justin shook his head. "This place is anything but ‘little.' How many rooms does it have?"

"Come on and I'll give you a quick tour. Besides we have to get dressed. We have about an hour before we have to leave for Chartrez."

"And we're staying here all week?"

"Yes, we are." Brian smiled at the look of disbelief still gracing the attractive blond's face.

Justin looked into Brian's eyes then. "Then the tour can wait for now. I'd rather get this evening over with."

"Why the hurry?"

Justin smiled then. "I haven't stayed in five-star hotels this fine. And I get to play ‘Lord of the Manor' for a week. You bet your ass, I'm in a hurry to get this over with."

Brian laughed. He was a little worried that after so many years on the road, Justin would feel a little out of sorts in a place like the manor. On the outside, it spoke ritz and glamor but Brian had done his best to make the place feel like a home for him and Gus whenever he came to visit. After Lindsay and Michael's comments, he had considered selling it for a brief time but couldn't let the place go. Growing up in the Kinney household with his drunken father and mean, spiteful and sanctimonious mother, Brian had often dreamt of escaping to a place like this-- a house with many rooms where he could hide himself from the world and no one would be the wiser.

So when he began looking for a place away from the city where he could be himself without all the pressures and trappings of being ‘Brian fucking Kinney,' this place didn't call to him; it screamed at him! The fact that the property had been on the market for eighteen months before it came to his notice aided in Brian obtaining it. He paid below fair market value of the home since the former owners were anxious to off load the expense of the mortgage. Brian had taken the money he'd saved and did a complete remodel to his specifications even as he kept many of the original structures and character of the house. If there was one thing Brian knew, it was how to take a rundown old mansion and turn it into a thing of beauty and envy.  

"I have to recall the staff for the week. Do you think you could manage until then, Lord Justin?"

"Hell yeah, I could," Justin laughed. "Well let's go. We've got a lot to do."

Justin's excitement rubbed off on Brian as both men alighted from the car heading into the manor. Brian led Justin through what was the official foyer into the area behind the formal staircase. Entering the center doorway Justin could tell that Brian had knocked down walls leaving the archways to define what was now an open floor plan. From where he stood in the living room, Justin could see all the way to the chef's kitchen at the back of the house. Justin was amazed at the amount of natural light coming from a row of floor-to-ceiling bay windows along the wall. Every piece of furniture and fabric between the living room and kitchen screamed luxury, without feeling like it was staid or unwelcoming. It was definitely high-end, but also comfortable.

"You should watch where you step, Justin," Brian said.

"Huh?" he asked, bringing his attention back to the man beside him.

"I said you should watch where you step. I would hate for you to slip and fall into the puddle of drool at your feet." Brian smirked.

"Asshole," Justin laughed. "I really can't believe that you own this place."

"Why?"

"It just seems so.... well you.... well..." Justin stuttered over his words

"Spit it out, Justin. I won't take your head off."

"It just seems so homey? Yeah, that's the word. It's homey while you are more ‘Big City Flash' I guess."

"What makes you say that?" He was generally curious about what Justin thought of him and the house. Oddly, Justin's characterization of him didn't bother Brian in the least.

"I was always taught not to judge a book by its cover. With you, the way you dress, speak and interact with those around you gives the impression of one thing, while this place is portraying another side of you. To anyone who hasn't had a conversation with you, you are as intimidating as this house looks from the outside. You look as if you're a Lion among us mere mortals, ready to take someone's head off if they step on your precious Pradas or hug you tightly enough to wrinkle your favorite Armani. Yet on the inside of this house, there is an inner peace which reminds me of how you are with Ted and Emmett. While you keep everyone else at bay, you hold them close in a sense. You let your guard down with them."

Brian cleared his throat. "And do you feel that I do that with you?"

Justin thought about all the interactions he'd had with Brian so far. "Yeah."

"If that's the case then why are you still so guarded?"

"I'm not."

"Yeah, you are. On one hand, you are candid in all you say and do. I've never had a more honest and direct conversation with someone I've just met than I did with you in the coffeeshop. Yet when things got a bit more personal, you put up the biggest concrete wall equipped with lasers and electrified barbwire."

Justin laughed at his assessment. "Okay, I'll give you that, Mr. Kinney. There's a reason for it and perhaps I'll tell you someday. However, right now we both have to meet with my lawyer and Kinnetik has new clients to schmooze, wow and dazzle. But I'll make a deal with you."

"What deal?"

"After this week, if we decide to make a real effort to get to know one another as friends, then I'll answer all of your questions directly. I'll let you into my life without reservation."

"Why do you have reservations now, especially since you're willing to help me with Lindsay and Michael?"

"That's different. I hate it when good parents or people, trying to do the right thing by their children, get manipulated by those around them with ulterior motives. Giving your permission for Gus to be moved to Canada was a noble sacrifice on your part. You wanted him to have a better life, with two parents who loved him without all the added drama of a strained relationship. I can respect that. However, what I can't idly tolerate is someone who is hellbent for leather on taking your kindness for weakness, and all in the name of personal gain. Whatever Lindsay and Michael's motives, it's clear to me that they do not have your little boy's, nor your best interests, at heart. These are completely cock-blocking, self-serving moves they're pulling! And since I would rather be your friend than your enemy, regardless of my own mess, I'll help you where I can."    

Brian was amazed at Justin's take on his situation. Although Brian himself had told him little of the problem, Justin was astute enough to know and observant enough to hear the root of Brian's issues. More importantly, he was willing to stand beside him without knowing all the facts firsthand. There was something to be said about blind loyalty, which was something Brian had never given anyone... until now.

Brian's cell phone rang again at that moment, breaking the spell of silence, interrupting the need for further introspection on Brian's part. He looked down at the caller ID and rolled his eyes.

Justin laughed. "Based on your expression that's either Michael or Lindsay."

"It's neither. This time it's Debbie."

~LS~

"Where's Dad?" Gus asked for the zillionth time since reaching Pittsburgh as Lindsay held the phone up to her ear again. Taking a deep breath, she answered her persistent son.

"I don't know, sweetheart. I'm trying to call him again but you know your daddy is busy, right Gus?"

"Well I say forget him," the man with the gray hair and stinky cigar said earning him rolled eyes from the ten year old.

"I say we forget YOU," Gus retorted without missing a beat.

"Gus..."

"No mom, NO! I'm pretty tired of the way this man butts into every conversation that we have. It is not his business. This is family business and he's NOT my family. Now find my father."

"Gus Peterson-Marcus you apologize to Mr. Auerbach right now," Lindsay demanded.

"I can't believe you brought this little shit along, Lindsay," Sam muttered.

"You do it," Gus yelled. "I will not apologize to him. He isn't worth it to me."

Lindsay blew an exasperated breath. More and more, Gus was beginning to frustrate her. The split with Melanie hadn't helped matters, since he knew all of the details of it. Gus was at the age when much couldn't remain hidden and that was especially true in this case. Sam was kind enough to pay for their plane tickets to Pittsburgh and instead of being grateful, Gus was being a willful stubborn brat!

Didn't he understand that until she could get ahold of Brian and he agreed to take care of them, she needed Sam? Didn't he understand that she was doing all of this so that she and Gus could have the kind of life she'd always dreamed of? Oh if only Brian would just pick up the phone...! Brian's voicemail had come on, once again, while Lindsay moved to the bathroom to leave her message. She could still hear her son and Sam going at it, worse than any cat and dog fights she had ever seen.

"Brian... Jesus what the fuck are you doing that you can't call me back? I'm in a bind and YOUR son keeps asking for HIS father! I hope you're not leaving me out to dry over a piece of ass, Brian. I would never do that to you, you know. Please Peter, call me back already!"

Lindsay hung up the phone, once again, wondering where the hell Brian was. When she'd questioned Ted earlier, he told her that Brian had a major meeting with an account and couldn't be reached. That was bullshit as far as Lindsay was concerned! Surely he could stop whatever he was doing to speak to her; after all, this was an emergency! Unfortunately, she was told the exact same thing when she spoke with Cynthia, before trying to call Brian and ended up speaking with Ted again.

She even thought about having Gus make the call so that she could reach Brian. She knew he would never deny a call from his son. But Gus wouldn't do it! Instead, he demanded that she find him like SHE was supposed to do since this was her mess to clean up. For the first time in a long time, she had regretted ever having Brian's son, since the little boy had sounded exactly like his father would have.

More than once, Brian had told her that her penchant for cock would get her into trouble if she didn't decide what she wanted. She had tried over the years to convince herself that she was truly happy, and satisfied with Melanie. No doubt, with the brunette Lindsay had achieved some of the best g-spot orgasms of her life. But even with the ‘Glenda the Good Witch' vibrator, it wasn't enough for Lindsay. Sometimes, she needed a stiff dick rammed in her until she couldn't see straight or remember her own name. With Sam, she had found that, but again, it wasn't enough.

With Brian though, it would be. He would allow her to be with as many women as she wanted, and fuck her whenever she felt the need to be fucked into oblivion. She remembered those few times in college, when she was still trying to be what her parents wanted. Granted when she and Brian fucked, he was high and stoned enough where he didn't care where his dick ended up. But he still fucked her like a maniac, and she couldn't forget it.

In her perfect world, she would be with Brian. She would have status and be a hetero in public; her parents would dote on her as much as they did her sister Lynette, and her place as a queen WASP would be assured. It was the main reason she wanted to have Brian's baby. If things didn't work out between she and Melanie, Brian would take care of her and keep her in the lifestyle she was always meant to have. Her Peter would do anything for his Wendy.... well at least that's what she told herself.

Things with Melanie were officially over, and her knight-in-shining-armor was currently lounging in the sitting room of the two bedroom suite that Kinnetik was paying for. Well there was that at least. She wished like hell that she and that idiot Michael hadn't talked Brian into selling that wonderful manor house he had, although their reasons for doing so were vastly different. For Lindsay's part, to her it was too big to live in all alone and would only have encouraged Brian to find a man to share that big beautiful house with. She had dropped all sorts of hints that she would have been happy to live there permanently, and he could come there on weekends to spend time with her... and Gus.

Yes of course, Gus! She simply must remember him in all of this. After all, he was her one-way ticket to Brian. But she thought that since the house was so big, they would barely see the boy since it was the perfect house for him to explore in. She would have happily occupied Brian until the little boy remembered that his father was visiting. Lindsay had it all perfectly planned out!

But on their next visit to Pittsburgh, Brian had told her that he'd sold it; no longer needing the getaway. Lindsay felt as though her heart had broken at the news. Brian had effectively crushed any dreams she had of living there in her perfect dream home. Although Melanie was a talented attorney, she would never make the kind of money Brian made in order to afford such a mansion. After that, Lindsay had felt that she had settled too many times in her life, and ultimately decided to reinstate her former relationship with a man who could afford her expensive taste.

Too bad it was Sam Auerbach. She knew the man really did care for her, but he lacked the finesse that Brian did. Reasoning with herself that Sam was a hetero male with money, she decided that one out of two wasn't bad and allowed him to fuck her again. Their affair had started out small and occasional, but had grown quickly. She would find all kinds of excuses to leave the house the minute Melanie came home:

A trip to the grocery store would translate to a tryst in a hotel room downtown. A need to workout would mean a fuck on the running trail of a local park. The need for a spa getaway would result in a few nights in a rented cottage not far from Niagara Falls.

Melanie hadn't caught on, or if she did, she hadn't said anything to Lindsay about it. Since Lindsay was technically the housefrau of their relationship, Melanie never questioned Lindsay's whereabouts; never begrudged her the need not to be ‘mom' for awhile. It wasn't really until Sam had shown up, and passionately attacked her neck in the foyer of her home while the kids were playing that Lindsay realized she was playing with fire. Melanie just happened to come home early that day, and caught the two of them mid-fuck. Then she took the kids out allowing Lindsay to get rid of Sam, before they had a major blowout about Lindsay's infidelity ‘and with THAT man,' as Melanie had put it.

Melanie had literally pushed Lindsay out of the front door, locking her out while throwing her clothes, and other possessions, out of the window onto the streets. Lindsay was thoroughly humiliated as the neighbors came outside of their homes to watch her scrambling to gather everything she could. Since she and Mel lived in a predominantly same-sex neighborhood, no one would aid her as the details of her betrayal came to the forefront. As far as they were all concerned, Lindsay deserved Melanie's treatment of her. It was one thing to admit that you were Bisexual, but to blatantly hide it, yet sleep with a man, was dishonest and completely unforgivable.

Fortunately, the irate woman had remembered to throw down Lindsay's cell phone during her tantrum. Lindsay remembered diving into the dead rosebush making sure that it didn't hit the ground. She promptly called Sam who hadn't checked out of his hotel and within minutes, he had arrived to help her collect what she could. During the night, Lindsay had formulated a plan to get back to Pittsburgh. Since the kids were on winter break from school, Lindsay decided that it would be the perfect time for she and Gus to visit Pittsburgh.

Sam had wanted to continue their fuck, so she gracefully obliged, even as she plotted in her head of what she would do once reaching Pittsburgh. While Sam had his requisite postcoital nap, Lindsay grabbed her cellphone and went to work. She'd left a few voicemails for Brian, then called Debbie knowing that she would get a message to Brian about her and Gus' imminent arrival. Her final act before lying down next to Sam was to book them three airline tickets on the first flight out of Toronto into Pittsburgh. When Lindsay had crawled into bed, she told Sam of the things she had done.

He'd tried to argue at first, saying that they didn't need to go to Pittsburgh; they could go someplace warm instead. But Lindsay reminded him that she still had her son to consider. When Sam had suggested she leave Gus behind, Lindsay had given him a withering look and explained that she couldn't and wouldn't do that. Gus belonged with her and her little boy needed to see his father at a time like this. With a promise from Lindsay that once things were settled with Gus, she and Sam would take a vacation to paint and fuck, Sam reluctantly agreed to Lindsay's ‘plan.'

But nothing was working out the way either of them had hoped!

As Lindsay emerged from the bathroom, she heard a door slam from the sitting room. "What.... Sam, where's Gus?" she asked, automatically knowing that something was terribly wrong.

The older man shrugged. "He said he was going out."

"Well, did he say where?"

"No. And I didn't ask him either," Sam said, looking at her directly.

"My God, Sam! He's only ten years old!"

"Yeah, well he should have thought of that before his little half-grown ass decided he was big enough to leave."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Sam was proving not to be the man she thought he was. That he would let a little boy roam the streets by himself was beyond anything she would have thought he could do. Besides the last thing she needed was for Gus to get ahold of a phone to call Brian, without her knowing about it. She grabbed the hotel's phone and dialed the front desk.

"Front desk. Miranda speaking, how may I help you?" the pleasant sounding voice registered in her ear.

"Yes, this is Lindsay Peterson. I'm staying in the Kinnetik suite on the top floor. My son, Gus has left the room. Can you tell me if he's down there?"

"How old is your son, Ma'am?"

"He's ten years old, but he's tall for his age. I would say he looks almost thirteen."

"I'm sorry, Ms. Peterson but he's not here in the lobby."

"Well could you alert hotel security that if anyone should see him that he be directed back up to the room? He's not to leave the hotel."

"I'll do that, Ma'am although I can't make any guarantees. The hotel is not responsible for keeping track of its guests."

"I understand that, but he's just a little boy."

"Does Gus have a diminished brain capacity, Ma'am?"

"Well no. He's perfectly capable of following directions and finding his way around."

"Then if he's able-bodied and of sound-mind, there really isn't anything we can do short of keeping an eye out for him and delivering your message," Miranda said.

"If anything happens to my son, I swear I'll sue you," Lindsay threatened, not taking kindly to the lady's condescending tone.

"That's certainly your prerogative, Ms. Peterson. Of course, the first question your attorney will ask is ‘Where were you?' Is there anything else I can do for you at this time, Ma'am?"

Lindsay hung up the phone without answering. She was at a loss of what to do. Brian wasn't answering his phone, and she was fucking tired of speaking to Ted! It was even harder to get straight answers out of the accountant than it was from Brian directly. Picking up her cell phone again, she dialed a number that she knew all too well.

"Hello."

"Oh good, Michael, thank you for answering. Look, have you seen Brian? Gus has gone missing and I don't know where he could possibly have gone."

"MISSING?! What the fuck do you mean that Gus is missing, Lindsay?!"

"Michael, calm down. Maybe I used the wrong word. Gus and I had a disagreement and he stormed out of here while I was in the restroom. I was hoping that he might have called you or Brian, the latter more preferable I'm sure." She lied smoothly while holding her index finger up to her lips when Sam was about to refute her claim.

"Well I don't know what the fuck to tell you, Lindsay, except that you better find Brian's kid! I saw Brian get into a limo with a blond earlier, but that was it. He hasn't been returning my phone calls either."

"What do you mean he was with a blond? And why isn't he returning your calls? What have you done now?!" Lindsay was bordering on hysteria at the news that Brian was possibly ditching her for some other blond.

"What the fuck do you mean ‘what have I done now', Lindsay? Don't tell me that you're about to make the fact that you're a lying, cheating whore and a neglectful mother about me?!" Michael screeched into the phone.

"You know what, Michael, FUCK YOU!" Lindsay said, and hung up the phone before she could get the answer to her first question about the blond. By the time she'd realized what happened, she knew that her only real avenue to finding Brian Kinney had now been blocked...possibly permanently.

~LS~

Gus was literally fuming as he walked down the street away from the hotel. He really couldn't take being there with that stupid man one more minute. Nor his mother! He was so angry! Now he knew what his Momma meant by being so mad that she could chew rusty nails. He and Jenny used to laugh at her when she said it, thinking that it really wasn't possible to be that mad, and that it would have been fun to see her try. Now he understood what she was trying to say. GOD, where was his father?! He would know exactly what to do.

Even though Gus was ten years old, he knew how to get around Pittsburgh by himself. He had stayed at the hotel with his dad whenever he would visit. The hotel was their little secret place to get away from the loft. The other secret place was the big house far away, where no mommies were allowed. Gus hadn't told anyone about it, not even Jenny and he KNEW that she could keep a secret. But he hadn't told her because her own dad didn't have one, and he didn't want her to be mad because his dad did. Jenny was more than his sister; she was his only real friend. And he missed her, especially now when he was arguing with his mom.

Gus went to the corner and made a right. Things were beginning to look like he'd seen them before. He passed by the park and crossed the street, remembering to look both ways just like his father had taught him during their many walks this way. He saw the line outside of where Grandma Debbie worked but he bypassed it, continuing his walk down the long street. He passed by the store where Auntie Em told him he used to work before he started cooking for a living. Another two blocks and the place he was looking for came into view. The blue building! Gus smiled wide, knowing that he had found his dad.

He ran toward the door when he was suddenly knocked to the ground by what felt like an immovable object. Looking up, he was quite afraid until his hazel gaze, so like his father's, travelled up further.

"Gus? Gus honey, what are you doing here?!" Emmett reached down and helped the little boy up.

Instead of answering right away, Gus reached out and buried his face into his Auntie Em's stomach, throwing his arms around the tall man and holding on as if his life depended on it. "Don't make me go back to her."

"Who, Sweetie?"

"Mom. Don't make me go back, Auntie Em," Gus sniffled, unable to stop the pent-up tears which he had held back, preferring to display anger at every turn. Tears were a sign of weakness according to his Momma and Gus refused to be weak. Tears were only for if you were hurt, so that someone could help you, and right now Gus needed help! "Where's my dad?"

"Oh, Gus," Em crooned. "He isn't here. But I'm going to take you to him, alright?"

Gus nodded, relieved that he would see his dad soon. He didn't believe for one second that his mother was really trying all she could think of to get him. She was too busy trying to please the bad man who didn't seem to go away.

Emmett disengaged Gus' arms from around his waist, but kept a sure hand at the boy's shoulders. "Come on, Gus. Let's go see Uncle Teddy."

Ushering the youngster inside, Emmett took a moment to introduce him to Pete, who was the security guard on duty. Emmett reiterated the orders that Lindsay Peterson nor Michael Novotny were to be allowed entry. He honestly doubted that either of them would come here to look for Gus since they were more concerned with finding Brian. But with them and their one-track minds, it never hurt to err on the side of caution. Coming upon Ted's office, Em knocked softly.

When Ted called out, Em announced, "Teddy, look who I literally bumped into on my way out."

"Uncle Ted," Gus yelled, and ran toward the accountant. Gus always liked him since he was one of the first adults to talk straight with him. Because of Uncle Ted, Gus was doing really well in math, and was way ahead of his class in Toronto.

"Hey Gus, how are you?" Ted embraced the youngster. "I think you must have grown about four inches since I saw you last." Gus stood just about at Ted's shoulder, proving that he was going to be a tall man once he finally stopped growing.

"I'm the same height as Momma now, but not quite as tall as mom." Gus said proudly, before changing the subject to who he really wanted to see. "Auntie Em said that you are going to take me to my dad. Is that true?" Gus couldn't help but ask since his mom kept lying to him all the time.

Ted shot a look at Emmett, but it wasn't one of malice. It was pity because he really did feel sorry for Gus. But first, he needed to know why Gus was here instead of at the Biltmore. "It's true, Gus, but I have to call him. He has a very important meeting this evening."

"But you just said that you were going to take me to him," Gus protested, getting agitated by being delayed.

Emmett saw it immediately. "Sweetie, we are. I'll tell you what. Let Uncle Ted call your dad, and while we're on our way to meet him, you can fill us in on everything that's happened. How does that sound?"

The look of relief on Gus' young face was answer enough for both men. Ted picked up his cell phone and redialed Brian. He left a message on voicemail for him. Then he dialed Cynthia and left the same message. The final call was to Melanie.

"Hi Mel, it's Ted."

"Hey, have you been able to reach Brian? I haven't been able to. It keeps going to voicemail."

Ted rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "No, I just left a message, too. But honestly, if he feels that whatever is going on with Lindz is going to warrant you giving him a verbal spanking, he's not going to answer. He doesn't have time for it. But..."

"What the fuck do you mean he doesn't have time for it, Ted?! This shit should be most important on his fucking list of things to do, not getting his dick sucked!" Melanie sneered.

Ted blew up then. "Would you just shut the fuck up and listen to me?! He is NOT getting his dick sucked, although if he were, it's his. HIS, NOT YOURS!! So whose mouth it ends up in has NOTHING to do with YOU! I'm so tired of you all coming down on Brian because he actually HAS a lucrative, thriving business to run instead of being trapped in Romper Room with all of you!" Ted took a deep breath before continuing, softly stroking Gus' hair to let the nervous little boy know that everything was okay. "Now again, Mel, I have something to tell you. Gus left Lindsay's care by himself. I don't know the full story yet, but he is with me and Em right now. I only called you so that you wouldn't worry, and so that you can give some serious thought to the conversation we had earlier about Brian's rights. He needs them like never before, unless you want a repeat performance of ‘Disappearing Gus.'"

"What do you mean Gus left? Does Lindsay know?"

"Like I said, I don't have all the details yet. But suffice it to say that Gus is not the top priority on her list, if he ever was."

"Brian is, of course," Melanie scoffed. "And for more reasons than he can possibly know, which is why I've been trying to call him, Ted. I-- I found something that he should be aware of. Lindsay's been having him followed by a PI in Pittsburgh. According to him and the bill I found, she gets updates on Brian every week. The latest one that just came today showed Brian at the manor house he supposedly sold. I don't know when it was taken, but it's recent. I would even venture to say a week or so ago."

"Holy shit! Where is she getting the money to pay a PI like that?" Fuck! The last time Brian had been out to the house before this week was last weekend to have some minor repairs done to the heated pool in the house. That meant that even now, Brian was being followed around. And he didn't even know it!

"That's another thing, Ted. You need to cut off all access to Gus' college fund NOW. That's where she's been getting the money from. You deposit the money for Gus' child support directly into our joint account, so nothing moves in or out of it without me knowing. But unfortunately, I didn't think that I needed to be as diligent with the kids' college funds- not with the way things have been up here. Brian sends more than enough to cover Gus' expenses, and he's even given permission for us to use whatever we need for Jenny since Michael doesn't send anything but the toys she always gives away to kids in need. Jenny hasn't played with ‘toys' since she was five. That's two years worth of toys that she's donated when we could really have used the money instead." Melanie rolled her eyes at her choice to have Michael become Jenny's ‘father.' She hated to admit that Brian Kinney would have been the better choice, and she would cut her fucking tongue out before she said it out loud.

"I'll block the access, Mel, effective immediately. In the meantime, do you need anything? Regardless of all this shit, you're still family and Brian would fire my ass as his accountant if I didn't take care of things, and that includes you."

Mel couldn't believe the lump that formed in her throat at the thought that Brian would still be willing to help her out. "No, we're fine for now, Ted. I would tell you to thank Brian for me, but I know he would rather have his tongue superglued to a lesbian's twat than have my gratitude. So let's keep it our little secret."

Ted snickered. Brian and Mel's verbal sparring had always been a source of comedy and angst over the years. But when all else failed they still looked out for each other, just not without the requisite sniping between the two of them. "Will do. I'm going out to the house with Gus now, but do me a favor?"

"Anything."

"Should you hear from Lindsay, don't tell her about any of this. But most of all, don't tell her where Gus is. I think we should let Brian handle that personally. If we get involved, she'll just deny any culpability. Brian and his boyfriend will be happy that Gus is safe and sound, but pissed off enough to take Lindsay to task for being irresponsible."

Mel gasped, which caused Ted to laugh. "What did you say? Boyfriend?! That shit can't be right! Ted, are you drinking more than coffee on the job?" Melanie couldn't help her disbelief. Of all the things Ted could have said, Brian having a fucking boyfriend was the furthest in her imagination. In fact, it wasn't in her imagination at all!

"You heard me right, Mel. Justin is a great guy and gorgeous like you wouldn't believe. And he's as clever as Brian; I would definitely say that they are well-suited. It's still fairly new, but Em and I like him a lot. But now that you have your dose of Pitts gossip for the day, let me get going. I have to be in the meeting with Brian in a bit and I want to get Gus settled beforehand."

They said their goodbyes, and Ted went to work on all they had talked about regarding the accounts. When Ted had finished, he printed up a copy for Brian to meet with Justin's attorney while at Chartrez. The financial records for Gus' support would go a long way in Brian's favor since he still financially supported a child, who wasn't technically his anymore. Michael always called Brian a ‘drop-in dad', but the truth in black and white was that Brian did more for both Gus and Jenny than Michael had ever done for his own daughter. By Ted's way of thinking, Michael was the ‘drop-in' or more accurately, a deadbeat dad between he and Brian.

But those thoughts he would save for the meeting tonight. In the meantime, he tried Brian's cell again and left another message. Then he sent a follow up text, reiterating what he'd left on the voicemail message. He also included the information that Melanie had just given him about Lindsay's activities. Feeling accomplished, Ted shut down his computer, and pocketed his phone.

"So Teddy, are you going to fill me in?" Emmett asked.

"Later, but first we need to pick up our stuff and head out to the mansion. Since Michael and Lindsay can't get ahold of Brian, that only leaves Debbie. And if we can't head that particular avenue off, Brian is going to be on a rampage."

~LS~

By the time Melanie got off the phone with Ted, she had made some decisions. The first was that no matter how much she had wanted things to have been different, there was no way she and Lindsay were ever going to get back together. Under Canadian law, Mel and Lindsay could have gotten married at any time. However, Lindsay had decided to wait until a year past them becoming full citizens in case they wanted to move back to Pittsburgh. At the time the decision was made, it had really seemed like the wisest course of action.

Things were not going well, and they were having trouble finding steady employment. Although a lawyer for many years in the United States, Mel had to work as a paralegal while studying to take the Canadian Bar Exam. She hated the thought of going backwards to move ahead, but she persevered and was finally able to obtain her law degree. It would allow her to practice both in Canada and the United States since she'd also kept up with the continuing ed classes on line for the US whie waiting. She had always believed in being proactive, and it looked like her forethought was about to pay off in spades.

But with only one minute income, Brian had stepped in to make up the deficit in her wages. By supplying more than enough money so that they could live- if not in luxury, then at least in comfortably- some of the pressure had been taken off of Melanie to provide for her family. It was more than clear that he did it for Gus, but all of them benefitted from his benevolence. But what was more important to Mel, was that Brian had never thrown his help into her face. Her pride was one of the most telling characteristics of Melanie, and Brian had not only understood that, but he honored it as well.

Then there was this situation with Sam Auerbach. When they moved from the Pitts, Lindsay's affair with the insufferable man was one of the primary reasons that Melanie wanted a change of scenery. Everywhere she turned was a reminder of Lindsay's infidelity. She would find herself wondering if they'd fucked here or there, and Melanie didn't want to live that way. When they decided to start leading separate lives while living under the same roof, each had no idea how it would affect the other.

Lindsay absolutely HATED the fact that Melanie was dating other women. In retrospect, it was probably because Lindsay herself wasn't. She was always jealous like that. No, instead Lindsay took to hiding herself within her work, trying to come to terms with the relationship she had ruined while Melanie was pregnant with Jenny Rebecca. After it was all over and they had gotten back together, Lindsay had confessed that the affair with Sam was in direct correlation to her feeling out of control in her life.

There were several regrets that kept eating at Lindsay, even as she watched Melanie ripen with a child that Lindsay denied herself the pleasure of carrying in favor of a career. She reasoned to Melanie that if she'd agreed to carry the baby, Gus would have had a blood relative. Melanie told Lindsay that what was done was done, and that they could move on from it together. But that if the relationship had any chance of healing itself, it had to be away from the watchful eyes of the family. At that point, Mel was just so damn tired of everyone else thinking they had some say in the lives she and Lindsay lived, even if it was Lindsay trying to gather allies at the time. 

Michael had become even more obnoxious than usual because of their breakup. And his chronic whining and belligerent accusations regarding a situation that wasn't his, began keeping Mel up at night because of wishful dreams of murder and mayhem. She didn't want that kind of thinking to mar her soul, even while she slept, believing that if she died in her sleep with those hateful thoughts about Michael on her heart, she would surely go to hell. She didn't want to give Michael that kind of power over her so she stayed awake. Debbie was smothering Melanie with ‘forgiveness' anecdotes and tons of unsolicited advice.

Mel had felt as if she was suffocating through all of the shit the Novotnys kept heaping on her. And although Ben tried to be the voice of reason several times between Mel and Michael, his husband had eventually infected him with the Captain Asshole guide to Self-Righteousness. Their house started to feel like the revolving door of Brian's loft with so many uninvited guests, roaming in and out at will. It just all got to be too much! The only ones who really seemed to stay out of it was Brian, Ted and Emmett.

Her moment of extreme alarm was when she began to understand how Brian felt when his privacy had been invaded against his will. She knew then that it was time for a major change. Through a lot of discussion, decision making and planning, Melanie and Lindsay broached the subject of moving to Toronto with Brian and Michael. At first, Brian said yes and Michael had said no, but then a few days later after a lunch with Lindsay, Michael had changed his stance. Melanie had taken a bit of perverse satisfaction in Brian's acquiesce.

Mel knew that he loved Gus, and that she had posed this solution to her and Lindsay's problems at a time when he and his son were getting closer. She could look back on it now, and admit that she was a bit jealous simply because Gus wanted to spend more time with Brian, than with her and Lindsay. But more than that, she also knew that Brian would never stand in anyone's happiness, no matter the cost to himself. It was a lesson she had learned by watching him over the years, and she played on that fact when it came time to ask for his blessing. She wasn't proud of her tactics, but deep down she knew that Brian understood exactly what was left unsaid during that meeting.

When they had packed the car on the way to Toronto, he said only a few words to her: ‘Don't fuck up.' Strangely, in that moment she understood exactly what he was telling her...that the problem in their relationship was no longer her, but Lindsay's own weakness. But she had to try again; she just had to! She was an overachiever by nature and wanted- no, needed- to try and make the ten year relationship last. Brian Kinney understood more than he had ever said, and now she wished to God that she had listened to what he hadn't spoken.

Melanie moved over to the counter, pouring herself a cup of tea. She replayed various rumors and innuendos she'd heard over the years about Brian waiting for Lindsay. But it wasn't like that; she knew that now. It was all in Lindsay's mind. Every problem that Melanie had with Brian could be laid at the feet of her partner... her former partner.

Melanie went through a series of conversations as the memories plagued her mind. Lindsay's constant driving and pushing for Mel to take on a bigger caseload; her aversion to the kids being raised by nannies- it was all Lindsay-speak for ‘Work harder Melanie so I can be the WASP I was meant to be.' And like a fool with a death wish, Melanie had. There were times she was so bone weary that she couldn't understand how she was able to walk in a straight line. When money was tight, Melanie absorbed her nest egg that her father left her just so that Lindsay could be happy. Now Melanie had nothing to show for her efforts nor her sacrifice, except a broken ‘marriage' after almost fifteen years.

Melanie looked at her empty left hand. She had taken off the band that had rested there for more than ten years the moment Lindsay left with Sam. Empty, like the way she felt, sitting in a house that she had desperately tried to turn into a home. Empty, like her heart, which was now devoid of the venom which had set there for as long as Mel could remember once Lindsay departed. Empty, like the bed she could no longer sleep on due to remembering Sam's hairy ass as it pumped into her wife.

Everything around her filled with material things, but still carried the stigma of being empty because there was no warmth in the shell of a house; nothing that said ‘love.' They were just things that held the illusion of beauty, but were just as empty as the woman who put them here to decorate the space. And maybe that was the lesson she should have learned years ago... to choose quality over quantity. Would that she had applied that lesson before she'd ever fell for the likes of Lindsay Peterson- a beautiful witch with a honeyed tongue that dripped poison, who possessed such a black heart.

Melanie decided that it was time to move on and regain a full life. One that didn't involve confused lesbians with an incurable penchant for dick. One that didn't mean being bitter and unhappy all the time. One that definitely didn't mean being held in indentured servitude under the pretense of making the relationship work. Part of reclaiming her life meant that Melanie had to take a page out of the book from when she first came to Toronto; go backwards in order to move forward. Melanie was going home to Pittsburgh.

"Jenny...."

~LS~

Debbie hung up the phone under the watchful brown eyes of her son. Michael had rushed into the Diner passed all the waiting patrons to inform her that Gus was missing. Although Michael couldn't hear the message that Debbie left for the tall brunet, she was just as concerned as Michael but for so many other reasons. One of them was that not long before Michael had breezed in, his husband Ben had left. When she asked about where her son was, Ben had given a slight shrug of his shoulders, advising her that she should call Brian since he would have seen more of his own husband lately than he would have.

Debbie didn't want to speculate anything. She'd been around enough to know that at base, Michael had created many of his own problems. But when she'd asked what Ben meant by his statement, Ben just shrugged nonchalantly again as if the answer should have been obvious. She had repeatedly warned Michael for the last four years that his obsession with Brian's life was going to cost him his own, and it looked as if she was being proven right. This was the one time that she was hating to be right.

"Ma. MA, ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?!" Michael shouted at her.

"I think the whole place is listening to you, Michael. Calm down and stop rambling," Debbie said, trying to keep her own impatience in check.

Michael rolled his eyes before stating, "See, Ma? He's not even picking up for you. That fucking blond he's with is probably holding him hostage or some other such shit! Lindsay said he isn't picking up for her either."

"What blond?" Debbie asked. Michael had left that part out when he first started complaining that Brian had run away from him.

"The other tenant in his building. Haven't you been listening to a fucking word I've said? That bubble-butt bastard told me that he didn't know Brian when I told him that I wanted to be let into the building. He told me that he wasn't going to let me in, and then he got into a limo and left. But not five minutes later, Brian jumped into the limo with that asshole and left me running down the sidewalk! I know he saw and heard me calling him, Ma!"

"Yes, well. Brian is busy, Michael. Ted said that they have been working well into the night on a campaign, whose opening is tonight. Perhaps he and Brian had some meeting before the event. After all, Brian does run a successful business and has those types of meetings all the time, Michael. You know, if you put half your effort into YOUR own business instead of chasing after Brian, you could be having meetings with limo riders, too! And regardless of the blond and his connection to Brian, I doubt that Brian has time for any drama of Lindsay and Melanie's making. And as for you, you should be concentrating on your OWN marital problems and not involved with any of this! By now, Gus is probably on his way to Brian's office, which he knows the way to since he's been there hundreds of times."

"Ma," Michael whined. Deliberately disregarding Debbie's advice he said, "Gus doesn't live here so he can't possibly know where Brian's office is. He and Lindsay should still be in Toronto, Mother, with Melanie and JR! And why the fuck would he go to Brian's office?! He should be back at the hotel with Lindsay, trying to convince her to return to his other mother!" Debbie reached over and smacked Michael in the back of the head. "Ow! What the hell was that for?!"

"Just making sure that your head was still on top of your shoulders and not in your ass since you seem to be talking out of it. This, Michael, is NONE of your business! And it sure as fuck isn't Brian's, past making sure that Gus is okay. Lindsay and Melanie are supposed to be grown women, able to handle their problems on their own."

"That's my thought too, but neither of them seem willing to work it out. Instead, Lindsay is planning on moving back here," Michael whined again, panic making it more annoying than usual.

Debbie rolled her eyes at the entire episode. "So? So what if she does move back here? Perhaps that will mean that Melanie will move back with my granddaughter. You remember her, don't you Michael? Now THAT'S who you should be thinking of right now!"

Michael shook his head as if trying to dispel her words from his psyche. "I am thinking of her. Mel, Lindsay, and the kids belong in Toronto!"

"Mel, Lindsay and the kids belong with their family, Michael!" Debbie argued. "They never should have left! They had no plan to speak of when they up and just decided to move. I know they felt that it would give them a new start, but sometimes new doesn't always mean better. Take it from me, I know. Now you listen to me, Michael Charles Novotny-Bruckner... STOP chasing after Brian and start dealing with YOUR marriage! Ben was in here a little while ago."

"Oh? What did he say?" Michael asked, genuinely curious. He and Ben had been avoiding each other ever since Brian had kicked him out of the loft weeks ago, and Michael had to return home to Ben. Carl, Debbie's husband, had told Michael in no uncertain terms that he was not welcomed to stay with them, and that he needed to work out his problems with Ben without involving Debbie.

"It wasn't what he said that bothered me, Michael, but what he didn't. You're going to fuck around and lose the best thing that ever happened to you...again!" She referred to his former relationship with his ex-partner, David Cameron. Back then she had blamed Brian for coming between the two of them, but Debbie was beginning to wonder if that was really case.

"What are you talking about, Ma? Ben's not going anywhere," Michael said confidently.

"Keep fucking around and he will. And so will Hunter. You want to lose the little family you've built for yourself to go chasing after something that will never be? Well then don't let me fucking stop you! But when you lose everything that you always said was important to you, don't expect NOT to hear me say, ‘I told you so.'" Debbie left Michael frowning and pouting at the counter to go and take care of her customers, hoping that her words would finally turn on the lightbulb in her son' brain. He could be so fucking stupid sometimes, but I still love the little asshole.