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Author's Chapter Notes:

Brian settles in at his in-laws

Eric feels a surge of pride, of fear, of smugness, of fierce protectiveness as he goes back in the house with Lily and Brian. He knows as soon as he goes in the living room, it will be awkward at the absolute best. He doesn’t think his mom will lash out, at least not immediately. But the inevitable coldness that she would emit would be worse. It’s in stark contrast to the loving and passionate demeanor he had grown up with. It sucks.

 

He barely has the chance to ponder whether or not to talk to Brian about being subtle and polite when Brian drops his bag on the floor and calls out, loudly, “Home sweet home!”

 

Jesus Christ. And the look of satisfaction on Brian’s face when the conversation in the other room comes to a complete halt...Eric can’t tell if Brian is satisfied for making the in-laws uncomfortable or if he’s satisfied with making Eric cringe.

 

“Daddy, this is not home,” Lily informs her father, taking his hand, “But it’s really great. They got an ocean and a pool! A real pool, not like the pool you got me. And there’s a water slide too! I’ll show you!”

 

Lily tries to pull Brian towards the back of the house but Brian doesn’t budge as Eric puts a hand on Lily’s shoulder.

 

“We’re gonna visit with your grandparents, aunt, and cousins, okay? If it’s not too late after the boat trip, maybe we can come back and swim,” Eric tells her.

 

“Oh, I would like that! Love it, actually,” Lily corrects herself, “My most favoritest thing ever is when you and Daddy and Emmett and Drew sit outside after we eat dinner and Duncan and I swim when the sky gets pink and purple then black and stuff. It’s Duncan’s favorite thing too. We just gotta bring him down her next time. Everyone’s gotta meet him. They just got to.”

 

“Right,” Eric nods, a little distracted, “Let’s go in the living room.”

 

When his family comes into sight, their reactions are definitely mixed. His sister looks amused, but she would be, he supposes. His father is distracting himself with bouncing Carlos on his knee. However, he does offer Brian an awkward, small nod, which is better than nothing. His mother is frigid, just staring at Brian with no emotion showing in her expression.

 

And Brian just stares right back with her and tilts his head, like they’re in some type of staring contest.

 

Which Brian loses when Julian runs up and slams into Brian’s legs.

 

“Hi!” the little boy shouts, looking up at him in awe.

 

“Hi,” Brian returns, touching the boy’s hair briefly.

 

“I missed you, Unca Bwian!” Julian informs him, reaching his chubby hands up, demanding to be picked up.

 

Brian looks both bewildered yet touched by the sentiment and picks the toddler up.

 

“Still as extroverted and curly haired has your uncle, I see,” Brian mentions as Julian leans his elbow on Brian’s shoulder.

 

“Et’s sit!” Julian suggests, still draping himself on his uncle.

 

Eric personally thinks Brian’s surprise by the affection radiating off the little boy and Julian’s love and acceptance are absolutely precious, but Lily seems to feel differently when she starts growling and stomping her feet.

 

“UGH, Julian!” Lily can’t help but explode, “That’s MY Daddy! He’s mine, not yours!”

 

“Lily!” Eric scolds, but he’s kind of amused by the jealousy, “He just missed his uncle. That’s okay.”

 

“No, it’s not,” Lily corrects him, crossing her arms, “He’s mine and I want to sit with him!”

 

Eric squats down and pulls her in so that he can speak to her softly.

 

“I get it. You missed him. Just remember that Julian hasn’t seen us since he visited in June with Aunt Amanda and Uncle Diego. You’ll have plenty of time with him.”

 

“But I want to sit with him now,” Lily stresses, logic escaping her.

 

“Why don’t you sit with me or your abuela?” Eric suggests, glancing at his mother.

 

Lily looks at her, smiles politely, then whispers to him, “She looks mad. I will sit with you.”

 

Eric turns around to lead Lily to the couch and realizes that Brian has taken the seat closest to his mother. Of course he fucking has. Because, besides the fact that Brian came here to support him, he also came to piss of his mother-in-law.

 

“I hope I’m not intruding,” Brian starts off, with a polite tone but a small smirk in place (and a toddler crawling all over him.)

 

“Hm,” is all his mother answers with.

 

“I just got a call from Eric last night and...well, I missed him. Never can spend too much time away from my love,” Brian tells her with a fake sincerity.

 

Jesus Christ, Eric thought, looking towards the ceiling and shaking his head. He married such a fucking instigator.

 

Of course his sister stifles a laugh at that, before saying, “How have you been, Brian?”

 

Brian shrugged, “I’ve been better. I found a grey hair in the airport bathroom this morning. Plucked it out.”

 

“You already have a little grey hair. Don’t act like it is your first one,” Eric points out.

 

“Yes, well, I didn’t have any grey hair until I met you,” Brian shoots back, “What does that tell you?”

 

“Afraid of eating, afraid of aging,” Eric’s mother mutters suddenly, “What is it with you gay men?”

 

“Okay!” Amanda interrupts with a nervous laugh, “Mom, we should be checking on dinner. Both of us. Together. And don’t worry, Brian. We made plenty.”

 

“Haven’t you heard? I’m afraid of eating,” Brian smirks.

 

Amanda gives Eric a look, as if she is trying to convey the message: Control him. Try to keep your husband on a leash.

 

And Amanda might be Brian’s sister-in-law now, but she really needs to get to know Brian better if she thinks Eric is going to be able to reel him in.

 

Things do get a little calmer once Amanda is able to get their mother into the kitchen. His dad and Brian actually have a conversation. Nothing more than business and Lily related, but still, it’s a start. His dad isn’t as open, friendly, inviting, and charismatic as he has been known to be in the past but it seems like he is trying.

 

Dinner is anything but a big and boisterous family get together. It’s riddled with small talk, with silences only Lily can fill due to her impressive ability to ignore awkward situations. And usually Eric can do that too. But this situation directly affects him. It’s different.

 

“-And Duncan,” Lily continues, throwing a hand over her heart, “Duncan’s the greatest bestest friend ever.”

 

“Just your greatest bestest friend?” Amanda asks, eyebrows raised, “When I visited, you took me to your room, told me that he was the ‘most handsomest boy’ ever, talked about your wedding-”

 

Lily’s face flushes with embarrassment, “Aunt Amanda!”

 

Lily crosses her arms and pouts at the table, feeling hurt over her aunt’s betrayal, before hopping down from her chair.

 

“I’m not hungry,” Lily mumbles, head down, ashamed, “I’m just not.”

 

“Sit back down,” Eric sighs, lifting her up to sit her back in her seat.

 

“I’m sorry, sweetie,” Amanda tries to say seriously, “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

 

“Well, you did,” Lily tells her, still hurt, “I told you that in pronfidants.”

 

“Pronfi-what?” Brian questions, tilting his head.

 

“Pronfidants,” Lily repeats, “Are you having problems hearing, Daddy? Like you got problems seeing sometimes?”

 

Brian glares at her and Eric shakes his head in amusement as his father starts to question Lily.

 

“So you have a boyfriend, huh?” the older man asks her, “Aren’t you a little young for all of that?”

 

“No,” Lily tells him, suddenly confident and proud of her relationship, “Love can happen to anybody, anywhere, anytime. Me and Duncan just got really, really lucky. We’re going to go on dates and give each other flowers, and hold hands and he’s gonna get me a ring and we will get married and live in a big house with a pool together and have lots and lots of babies-”

 

“Alright, that’s enough,” Brian interrupts, putting his fork down, “You are getting way too serious.”

 

“That’s ‘cause I am serious,” Lily confirms, nodding her head once, “Seriously in love.”

 

“No, you’re not,” Brian growls.

 

“Yes, I am!” Lily quips.

 

“No.”

 

“Yes!”

 

“N-”

 

“Brian, you’re getting into a power struggle with a four year old,” Eric mutters to him.

 

“I’m almost five,” Lily insists, flipping back her hair, “I turn five next Wednesday.”

 

“You literally just turned four less than five months ago,” Eric sighs, “And why is it always next Wednesday?”

 

“‘Cause, that’s the way it works,” Lily informs him.

 

And there is no way any of them can argue that logic. Brian is still too annoyed to take on a rational conversation, Eric’s father is still too focused on the fact that Lily has a boyfriend, Amanda is too distracted by Carlos’s sudden need to be fed, Julian is shoving food in his mouth with his hands, after trying so hard with a fork and failing, and Eric’s mother…

 

Eric’s mother is actually laughing. It’s the first time on this trip that Eric’s seen her do that.

 

Maybe things will be okay after all.

-----------

Brian feels his stomach churn at the jerk the sailboat makes as James steers it to the left. He puts his head in his hands and tries to focus on anything but the movements of the water. Not that he’ll admit it, but it makes him feel embarrassed, considering no one else is feeling the effects of this fucked up form of travel. He had been on boats in college during spring break. So why, just why, did this stuff have to happen when he was 44 years old?

 

“Daddy, Daddy!” Lily exclaims, running over from the front of the boat to lean on his knees, "I see another shark! It's swimming around the boat! It's so big and scary and wants to eat us! Let’s go look! Come on!"

 

Lily tries to pull at his hand with both of her own, insistent on making sure he would be the one who would be playing with her. But all he could do is groan and shoo her away.

 

“You’re the captain now, right?” he asks her, opening one eye, “So go and make sure you do a better job steering. You’re making my head hurt.”

 

“Feeling like you’re gonna hurl, Brian?” James laughs, as if it is funny, “Must have a weak stomach. Even Carlos is loving this sail!”

 

Brian turns his head in his hands and glares at his gurgling and happy nephew next to him in his rigid mother-in-law’s lap.

 

“Sweetheart, come look at the view!” James calls out to his wife.

 

“I have the baby,” she shouts back, instinctively holding the baby tighter.

 

“I can take him, Mom,” Amanda offers, ducking into the cabin.

 

“No,” is all Louisa answers with, “The boat could rock and one of us could drop him.”

 

Amanda rolls her eyes, before looking at Brian with concern, “Are you feeling any better, Brian?”

 

“He has weak sea legs,” Louisa smirks, sort of evilly if you ask Brian.

 

“I am doing fantastic,” Brian answers, gulping down the mild need to vomit.

 

“Daddy, Daddy!” Lily calls out, running back in the cabin with Julian in tow, “There’s three sharks out there now, and they all wanna eat us! A mermaid is out there too! She says she’s gonna help us and then she’s gonna get me and make me a mermaid too! She’s really pretty and has curly hair like me!”

 

“That’s great,” Brian winces, still not budging at Lily’s pulls, “I’ll miss you but I understand that an ocean life is what you were meant for. You weren’t meant to be human. In fact, I don’t think you are if you can run around this rocking boat of misery like it’s nothing-”

 

“But, Daddy!” Lily interrupts, “You have to come look! All the way up front! In the water!”

 

“Lily, I honestly can’t,” Brian breaks the news to her.

 

“Why not?” Lily asks sadly, her excited demeanor starting to deflate. Shit.

 

“Come on, honey,” Amanda interjects, putting a hand on her lifejacket, “Your daddy isn’t feeling well, okay?”

 

“But why?”

 

“He’s seasick,” Amanda explains, “The movement of the water and the boat are making his head and tummy hurt.”

 

“But why?” Lily asks fearfully, glancing at her father with worry.

 

Brian could see that Amanda is biting back impatience as she sighs, “Sometimes only certain parts of your body recognize you are moving at a certain speed. If his ears or his eyes can’t correctly tell his brain where and how he is moving, it throws everything off and makes him sick.”

 

Lily stares at Amanda, hard, before finally looking at Brian.

 

“That’s the stupidest thing I ever heard! Sounds like a ‘scuse, if you ask me!”

 

Lily began to stomp away before turning around dramatically.

 

“If you want to come see me one last time before I join my kingland, then I shest that you play with me soon! Before I go live with my new parents.”

 

“Oh my god, Lily,” Brian groans, waving her off, “Go away! I will hang out with you later, Jesus Christ.”

 

“Fine! My new parents will be more funner anyway!” Lily huffs, “Come on, Julian! Let’s go and look at the sharks and try to find the mermaid again! She told us to meet her over there, remember?”

 

“Yeah!” Julian agrees excitedly, “‘et’s go!”

 

“Yes, go…” Brian mumbled, “Please, just leave me alone.”

 

Brian leans his head against the cabin wall and breathes out through his nose slowly. The only sounds now are the muffled sounds of his father-in-law calling out to Amanda and Eric, the sounds of two small children squealing about mermaids and sharks, a baby gurgling and yelling out nonsense happily, and his mother-in-law silently judging him from no farther than two feet away.

 

It’s no wonder he couldn’t focus.

 

“Need something, Louisa?” Brian asks her, opening an eye.

 

“Are you one of those men who cry when they get a cold?” Louisa asks, looking him up and down, “You stay under covers all day and groan about how horrible you feel?”

 

Brian stares straight ahead and shakes his head, trying to will the woman to shut up, “Louisa, with all due respect, I can’t engage in a conversation right now. If I do, I may throw up on you.”

 

Louisa rolls her eyes and mutters under her breath, “El coño.

 

Brian actually has to laugh at that. The woman thinks she’s so fucking slick.

 

“Did you just call me a pussy?” Brian gasps in mock disbelief, before he tsks, “Louisa, I couldn’t be the only one who didn’t know a lick of Spanish in the family. And come on, you have to know me just well enough to realize which words I sought out to learn first.”

 

Louisa huffs and turns away from him. Carlos glances at Brian, then breaks out in a big toothless grin as he pulls his hand out of his mouth to reach for him.

 

“Hey, buddy,” Brian mumbles, one hand supporting his head as the other reaches out for the small fist, letting the baby grip onto his finger. The fingers are sort of gross and spit covered but not as gross as Brian feels now so he doesn’t find himself giving two shits about the germ infested hand.

 

Letting the baby play with his fingers takes his mind off the brunt of his seasickness, but then Carlos suddenly yanks his hand, making Brian lightly hit Louisa in the shoulder.

 

“Oops,” Brian shrugs, not really apologetic, as he extracts his hand. Louisa doesn’t get a chance to do anything more than glare at him before Eric comes into the cabin.

 

“How are you feeling?” Eric asks him, concerned, as he comes over to stand next to him, bringing Brian’s head closer to let it rest against the upper part of his stomach.

 

Brian leans against the toned muscle and rubs his cheek into the warm, dark olive skin.

 

“My poor baby,” Eric murmurs, in a sweet, teasing tone, running his hands through Brian’s hair.

 

Brian tilts his head up, silently asking for a kiss. Eric surprisingly takes the hint and leans down to meet Brian’s lips, right in front of Louisa. They don’t get hot and heavy. As much as he would love to make his mother-in-law uncomfortable, he knows it isn’t the right time for that. Eric came here to try to fix things...or whatever. And Brian still isn’t sure if he can keep his dinner down.

 

Louisa makes her discomfort known by clearing her throat and Brian has to force himself not to let out a sound of disappointment as Eric pulls away.

 

“And how’s my baby nephew doing?” Eric asks, squatting down in front of his mother, brushing the baby’s cheek, “Did he inherit our sea legs, Mom?”

 

Louisa purses her lips, probably getting over the horrific sight she just witnessed, but manages to speak, “I suppose. He’s not sick and groaning like your partner.”

 

Eric bites his lip, “Be easy on him, come on. Brian and I will just have to come down more often. We’ll make him into a sailor before you know it!”

 

And even Brian finds it to be a little offensive when Louisa mutters out something in Spanish and does a Sign of the Cross at that.

 

That offense turns into anger when the light in Eric’s expression starts to dim as his smile falters. Before Brian can say anything, probably something that would start out as a respectful punch to the gut only to turn into, ‘Fuck you, bitch,’ Eric clears his throat and stands back up to turn back towards him.

 

“Do you want me to get Dad to swing around and drop us off at the dock? He wants to fish with Lily and Julian, but I don’t want you feeling sick when you don’t have to. He can take them out and we’ll just head back to the house-”

 

“I’ll be fine,” Brian decides, cutting his husband off, “Have to get used to it, don’t I? Lily is already trying to disown me and get new parents because she’s mad that I’m in here. I should mend fences, I guess.”

 

“You’re sure?” Eric asks cautiously.

 

Brian stands up and tries not to wobble, “Yeah. I’ll be good.”

 

And then, just because he can, he kisses Eric with all the love he can muster, winks at Louisa, and walks out of the cabin towards the front of the boat.

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“I’m catching one! I’M CATCHING ONE!!!!” Lily squeals as she reels in the fish, “It’s a big one too!”

 

“Shhhh, you’re going to scare it if you squeal any louder,” James tells her softly as he helps his granddaughter reel it in, “Christ, it is a big one.”

 

Lily squeals again, in whisper form this time, then jumps up and down, “It’s a shark! I just know it!”

 

Brian raises his eyebrows as Lily’s pole starts to bend into a U and James struggles to get the line to reel in much more.

 

“One of you,” James directs to both Brian and Eric, “Take a hold of Lily. This thing weighs more than she does and it could pull her over if it keeps trying to swim off, “Then someone else needs to help me with the net and pulling it up onto the boat.”

 

Brian is on Lily in an instant and fuck, when the fish pulls, he has to keep a good grip on her and the pole to keep them in place.

 

“Daddy, I’m a really good fisher,” Lily says, eyes still on the pole, “I’m an actural. Grandpa said.”

 

“You mean natural. Just don’t let it get to your head,” Brian tells her.

 

“But if I’m the best, I’m just the best,” Lily shrugs before gasping as the fish pulls her across the dock a couple inches, causing Brian to bring her into his chest and hold her even tighter.

 

“Holy shit!” Eric yells out, looking over the side of the boat, “Lily, what kind of bait did you use?”

 

“I put some Mullet TwitchBait and a nightcrawler on her line,” James informs them, “On the count of three, pull. One, Two -”

 

Eric and James pull on the net and the line starts to loosen a bit as the fish comes closer to the deck. And, once the fish comes into view, Brian can’t blame Eric for yelling out before.

 

“Oh. My. GOD,” Lily states, dropping her pole and her jaw as she comes over to study the flopping four foot long fish on the floor, “I am a master at this.”

 

“You sure are!” James laughs, lifting the little girl up in the air with joy, “You may have broken a world record, sweet girl! Brian, you take pictures, right? Got your camera? We’re going to hang this guy on the weight when we get back to the dock and see if she is going to win a prize!”

 

Brian rolls his eyes and goes to get his camera from the cabin, where Louisa is sticking her head out of, and she also looks shocked by the size of Lily’s catch. Coming back towards the front, he catches the tail end of the conversation.

 

“-And then we can chop him up, pick out the bones, and have a feast tomorrow-”

 

“NOOOOOO!!!!!!”

 

Lily begins to sob as she throws herself over the fish, protecting the flopping monstrosity from the dangers of the world.

 

“I won’t let anyone hurt you, Huey. I won’t!”

 

Lily lifted her head up, glaring at her grandfather through her tears, “I won’t let you touch him! I can’t keep him in your pool ‘cause that’s stuff that SeaWorld does and they’re evil and Huey has a family and he needs to go back with them.”

 

James looks conflicted as he sighs, “Lily, I don’t think you know how satisfying it feels to catch your own fish and fry it up fresh-”

 

“And I don’t CARE to know!” Lily cries, hugging her fish once more, “I won’t let any of you touch him!”

 

Brian is grossed out as he tries to pick up. But when he tries to pull his daughter off the fish, the fish begins to flop horribly and he automatically lets go to allow Lily to fend for herself.

 

“How about this,” Eric decides, “We’ll pour water on him until we get to the dock so that he’ll stay alive. Grandpa can do his thing, weigh him and everything. Then we can turn around, sail out, and let him go.”

 

Lily sniffles and wipes at some of the fish grime on her face, “You promise?”

 

“I promise,” Eric tells her seriously.

 

Lily gets up and launches herself at her Papa, hugging him tight as they both stink up the dock with the stench of Red Drum Fish.

 

When they get back to the dock, Brian’s nausea is in full force when he is prodded to help get the fish onto the scale. James makes a few jibes at him and Brian can’t even bring himself to feel pissed about it because the feel of fish slime on his hands and chest is so disgusting.

 

“98 pounds,” James states before cheering, “98 pounds! Louisa, you looked it up right? The biggest was 95, didn’t you say?”

 

“That’s what it said on the IGFA website,” she told him, eyes wide.

 

“Four years old and you’re already going to be rich, kid,” James tells her, playfully messing up her hair.

 

“Wait, what do you mean, rich?” Brian asks, squinting.

 

“If it really is the biggest in its class, the state could give her $100,000.” James shrugs.

 

Brian gapes at that and the idea of his fucking four year old making that much money.

 

“IGFA is more strict. Might give us some trouble since she doesn’t have a fishing license and we got him in a net once we got him above the water and on the side of the boat. They could give her a few hundred thousand. Occasionally they will give out a million, but that’s usually for breeds of fish that can be several hundred pounds. But she broke the world record, Brian. I keep my gear certified in case something like this happens.”

 

“Just in case you catch a world record fish,” Amanda chuckles, rolling her eyes.

 

“You never know, kid. I may not fish much anymore, but shit happens.”

 

“Grandpa, that is a bad word!” Lily scolded, before brushing back her hair, “Now, let’s get these pictures done with and get Huey back to his family!”

 

Lily took a picture next to her fish, hugging him proudly before helping her grandmother pour water on him continuously as James gets all of the information needed to secure Lily’s world record money. Huey is still flopping around, thank god. Brian doesn’t know what Lily would do if he kicked the bucket. He thinks about staying behind in order to let his stomach settle, but he knows James and Eric would struggle with getting the fish back into the water safely and, although he knows Louisa was a fucking ice cold badass, she’d probably hurt herself or something and he doesn’t need that forced on his conscience by her.

 

So Brian forces himself back onto the boat and they sail off into the dusk to dump the ridiculously large fish, trying not to sigh at Lily’s chattering about how she can take care of things, now that she’s rich and all.

 

All of them need showers by the time they get back home. They hose each other off before going inside and take care of the kids first. Eric helps his sister with the boys and Brian focuses on Lily, as she is still chattering away about her possible prize money.

 

“I should give some to Julian. And Carlos,” she sighs, as if she pities them, “They didn’t catch anything and Julian cried when I did such a great job and he didn’t.”

 

“It’s up to you, kid,” Brian tells her, scrubbing her slimy hair with shampoo as hard as he can without hurting her. Usually he would use a conditioner concoction Eric made in order to not mess up her curls, but Brian was set on getting her hair as clean as possible, “But don’t get your hopes up yet. Organizations that give out prizes like that will find anything to discredit you.”

 

“I don’t know what that means,” Lily answers him seriously, “But I gotta think of what I’m gonna do with my money. How many Barbie dolls do you think I can buy?”

 

Brian shakes his head in disbelief, “Close your eyes and lean back your head.”

 

Lily and Julian stay downstairs with their grandparents and Brian and Eric take the chance to get into the shower. Together. Thank god. Eric’s on him immediately, capturing his lips and running his hands over his chest, before Brian pulls away.

 

“You smell like a radioactive fish,” Brian grimaces, stepping away.

 

“So do you,” Eric shrugs, “It shouldn’t matter.”

 

Brian groans, “Stop being kinky at inappropriate times and let me wash the slime off of you.”

 

They wash each other under the hot stream of water, standing in the shower with their arms around each other, filling the time with wet kisses. Brian starts to wash Eric in between his cheeks and rubs against his hole, before Eric breaks off the kiss and moves towards Brian’s neck.

 

“I actually thought I could fuck you,” Eric suggests in between kisses.

 

“Yeah?” Brian murmurs, eyebrows raised, “You know that I am fucking pissed at you, right?”

 

“Mmmhmmm,” Eric confirms, reaching for Brian’s cock.

 

“And I get why you want to top. Parents downstairs, in their house and all. You want to be seen as the man of our relationship in case they happen to walk in. Fuck, if the circumstances were different, I wouldn’t mind being seen by them as the perverted bottom bitch who permanently corrupted their son. Sounds like a laugh out loud riot, actually. But, like I said, I’m pissed. And I would be completely within my rights as a husband to withdraw my ass, or sex in general, for at least a week after your little unannounced road trip.”

 

“Sure, whatever,” Eric hums, grabbing their lube off the shower caddy to coat his fingers.

 

Brian stares at him, hard, then Eric groans.

 

“I’m sorry, okay? I really am. And, after Lily is in bed, you can yell at me all you want. But don’t you want to get off? It’s been so long. You need it as much as I do.”

 

Brian closes his eyes and exhales as Eric’s hand his waist to play with his ass. Eric’s index finger circles Brian’s hole, which causes Brian to let out a gasp when the man’s finger probes through. Brian holds onto him, giving his husband wet, open mouth kisses as Eric adds a second finger, before turning his head and laying it on Eric’s shoulder, solely focusing on the feeling fingers brushing against his prostate.

 

“That’s it,” Eric sighs when Brian lets out a moan and tightens his arms around Eric’s body, “Gonna add a third finger, alright? You’re tight.”

 

Brian shudders and nods against Eric’s shoulder, perking his ass out a little for better access. He digs his fingers into Eric’s back when the third finger makes it past the rim. Eric starts to thrust his fingers at a steady pace, pouring a little more lube onto them with his other hand.

 

“Harder,” Brian unexpectedly gasped against Eric’s shoulder, “Fuck me harder.”

 

Brian senses Eric’s smile as the man huffs, “Don’t come before I actually get to fuck you. We’ll have more time once everyone is in bed, but I need to be inside you before we get out of this shower.”

 

But Eric obliges and starts jerking his fingers in and out, hard and fast, causing Brian to let out muffled cries against Eric’s neck. Eric strokes Brian’s hair and shushes him but doesn’t let up on the speed or force of the thrusts until Brian feels like he is practically weeping in ecstasy. Only then, Eric yanks out his fingers and spins Brian around to face the shower wall.

 

“Put your hands out,” Eric quietly orders, kicking Brian’s feet apart, “Brace yourself against the wall.”

 

Brian obeys the demand, bending a little and steadying his position. He feels another squirt of lube drip between his cheeks, before Eric kneads his ass and spreads his left cheek with one hand. Brian takes a breath, bites his lip, and brings one hand back to spread his right. Instinctively, Brian tenses a little when Eric’s head pops past his sphincter, but, when Eric is halfway in, he soothes Brian by rubbing his back and murmuring in his ear. Brian feels his breathing get heavy and he grips at his cheek harder, while pressing his forehead against the shower wall and rocking onto Eric’s thrusting cock. Gradually, Eric increases his speed and wraps his arms around Brian’s middle, forcing Brian’s body back to meet his thrusts. Brian finally lets go of his cheek and lays his right arm over Eric’s linked ones. Both of them start to quietly moan in sync, in the pattern of their movements. As pissed as Brian still is at Eric, he fucking needs this more than he could ever express to anyone.

 

“Come on, Brian,” Eric moans, thrusting with enough force that the man’s wet balls are slapping against Brian’s ass, “Come on my cock. Don’t touch yourself. Just come from my cock.”

 

Brian starts to cry out and, he must be getting a little loud, because Eric puts his hand over his mouth and interlaces his fingers with the hand Brian has pressed to the wall. Brian thrusts back against Eric’s cock four, five more times, then comes against the wall with a moan, twitching and shuddering with the aftermath of his orgasm. It takes Eric another thirty seconds or so, but he eventually comes into Brian’s ass and collapses on Brian’s spent body that is only being propped up by the white tile.

 

“Fuck fuck fuck fuck,” Brian breathes out, eyes drooping shut.

 

“Did I render you speechless?” Eric laughs breathlessly. Brian can’t even answer the question, so the answer is probably yes.

 

He squirms a little as Eric pulls out, but lets Eric squat down and spread open his cheeks.

 

“Push it out,” Eric orders, nipping his ass.

 

Brian lets out a laugh at that, still breathing heavily, “You always said that was gross.”

 

“For some reason, I see the appeal of it tonight,” Eric smirks, “Must be your dominant and kinky ways rubbing off on me. Although you were the opposite of dominant tonight. My little su-”

 

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence,” Brian warns, but biting his lip because, fuck, Eric is right. The man had taken over completely and Brian had enjoyed every single second of it. Even though he is still pissed at him.

 

“Come on, push it out,” Eric insists, lightly slapping Brian’s ass.

 

Brian rolls his eyes but then gets an idea perks his ass out more.

 

“Okay,” Brian agrees, smirking, “I’ll do it. On one condition.”

 

“Yeah?” Eric prompts, before blowing on Brian’s hole, “And what’s that?”

 

“You have to lick. me. clean,” Brian enunciates, then waits for Eric’s reaction.

 

There’s a beat of silence, before Eric starts groaning.

 

“Brian, that’s fucking gross. It’s my come and it’s in your ass,” Eric grimaces.

 

Brian lets out a scoff of disbelief, “You have given me how many rimjobs?”

 

“That’s different. My come is way up in your rectum and it isn’t like you did an enema right before, other things can come out, you have to know this-”

 

“Ugh, don’t be gross,” Brian answers with disgust, opening the shower door, “Never mind. A man asks for one thing-”

 

“Oh my god, wait,” Eric sighs, still on his knees as he pulls on Brian’s hand, “Bend over. Spread your cheeks.”

 

“No,” Brian shrugs off, “Not if it grosses you out. I won’t make you do it.”

 

“I said,” Eric grits out, grabbing onto Brian by the dick, “Bend over. And spread your cheeks.”

 

“Well, if you say so,” Brian sighs, before giving Eric a wink and bending over.

 

“Alright,” Eric murmurs, giving Brian’s hole a lick, “Do your worst.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------

“That was a really long shower!” Lily is the first to point out as they come down the stairs.

 

Looking around, Eric sees that his father is pointedly looking away. Okay, so he probably knows what he and Brian had been up to. His mother is scowling, probably horrified over the mere idea of Eric having sex with a man in her home. And Amanda...well, she just has her eyebrows raised in amusement.

 

Fuck them. They don’t know shit. For all they know, he and Brian had just taken two, long showers separately.

 

“Well, we each took a shower. That takes time, Lily. We were all covered in Huey’s fish slime.”

 

Lily lets out a sad sigh, then crawls over into Brian’s lap as soon as he sits down, “I miss Huey. So much. My heart hurts. We can go see him again, right?”

 

“Maybe,” Eric answers as he sits next to his husband, already knowing the answer to most likely be no, even if they went to the exact spot they dropped him in.

 

Lily lets out a sad sigh, before perking up, “Grandpa and Abuela said I could watch a movie until I get tired. They have Netflix, like us!”

 

Eric glances at the clock and sees that it is already past 9, “It’s a little late. You really need to get to bed-”

 

“Please please please please,” Lily begs, giving him the wobbly lower lip and the puppy dog eyes, “Papa, I did good today. I did a world record. I’m important.”

 

“Only you, I swear,” Eric mutters, before sighing, “Alright. We can stay up and watch a movie. One. But as soon as you start falling asleep, you’re going upstairs to...where should you sleep?”

 

“Diego set up yours and George’s bunkbed back in June and put it in the spare room on the third floor for Layla and Julian when they visit and we have a full house,” Amanda informs him, “I figured Julian could take the bottom bunk and Lily could take the top.”

 

“Why does she have to be the one to take the top?” Brian blurts out, glaring a little.

 

“Because Julian is two and would fall in a heartbeat if he tried to go down the ladder,” Amanda answers reasonably, although Brian doesn’t seem to think it is all that reasonable.

 

“Yeah!” Lily agrees, bouncing once in Brian’s lap, “And besides, I want the top. It’s more fun up there anyways. Now, I think we should watch Home!”

 

Brian groans at that, “You had that movie on everyday while your Papa was down in New Orleans.”

 

“Because it is the best movie ever,” Lily exclaims, “And I didn’t watch it while I was down there. It’s been too long.”

 

Lily settles down into the couch and claps her hands, before letting out a gasp.

 

“Who has my rats?!” Lily yells out, looking around the room frantically, as if she would find them, “Daddy, you were supposed to take care of them!”

 

Brian rolls his eyes, “I left them with Emmett and Drew. I’m sure they are in great hands.”

 

Lily nods with a serious expression on her face, “FaceTime them then. I got to see my rats. I just got to!”

 

Eric can’t help but let out a laugh when Brian glares at her but gets out his phone, then warns, “Duncan might be in bed. So don’t be begging to talk to him. And if you still want to watch your movie, you better make your conversation quick.”

 

Brian presses his screen, only to hand it off to Lily. Lily waits with wide eyes, looking a little bit insane if Eric had to be completely honest. Eric’s thoughts on that end up being verified when Emmett lets out a startled yelp upon picking up, before covering it up by cooing, “Lily! What a surprise! How are you, sweetie? Did your daddy call for you or did you take his phone again?”

 

“He called for me,” Lily confirms, “I need to see how Vernon and Bianca are. I just got to!”

 

“Okay, okay,” Eric hears before the pattering of Emmett’s steps, “How was New Orleans? Did you soak in the culture and make yourself known to the city?”

 

Eric shakes his head as Lily lets out a scoff, “Of course I did! That’s what I do! Guess what else?”

 

“Hmmm...you saw the ghost of Marie Laveau!” Emmett guesses.

 

Lily gives him a strange look, “Noooo! I saw a boy ghost but that’s a whole nuffer story! Try again.”

 

Emmett makes a humming noise, “You met up with a bunch of voodoo priestesses and cast a spell on your daddy to make him short.”

 

“A little closer,” Lily advises, much to Brian’s confusion, “But try again. It’s something that happened here. At my Grandpa’s and Abuela’s.”

 

“Hmmm...I give up!” Emmett declares.

 

“I did a world record!” Lily squeals, “I caught one of the biggest fish in the world!”

 

“Did you?” Emmett gasps, laughing a little. Obviously believing Lily is exaggerating greatly.

 

“Yep!” Lily confirms, nodding her head, “It was so big! Taller than me, actually. And I named him Huey! We put him back though. After we took pictures so I can get all my money.”

 

“She’s telling the truth, Emmett,” Eric calls out, “She caught a red drum fish that was 98 pounds. Apparently the biggest was 95.”

 

“Wh…” Emmett starts, “I’m sorry, wha-”

 

“Emmett!” Lily prompts the man, “Where are my rats?”

 

“...Right. Of course. Here they are.”

 

Lily began to talk to her rats and tell them all about her day. It goes on for several minutes and Eric has to look at the clock to see how much time has passed. Tapping her shoulder, he lets her know it is time to wrap it up. By the look on Emmett’s face, he seems pretty relieved by Eric’s gesture.

 

“Bye, Emmett!” Lily calls out, waving, “Take care of my boys, okay?”

 

Eric has to snort at that, “Thanks, Emmett. Sorry for bothering you. Duncan in bed?”

 

“Yep, all tucked in, poor thing. He wore himself out at the pool today. But I can’t say that he caught a fish over twice his weight. I’m shocked that Lily is still so perky.”

 

“Same, especially since she got up at 6 am and never took a nap,” Eric lets him know, “She’s still hyped up. I’m guessing she’ll crash sooner than she thinks.”

 

“I will not!” Lily contradicts, crossing her arms, “I gotta watch my movie!”

 

“Talk to you later,” Eric tells Emmett, ignoring his daughter, “Say bye, Brian.”

 

“Later,” Brian drawls, starting to close his eyes and lean his head back against the couch.

 

Eric ends the call and tosses the phone next to Brian on the couch.

 

“Please, go upstairs if you are going to do that,” his mother says to Brian suddenly, almost scolding him.

 

Brian opens an eye, “What, close my eyes for a second?”

 

“You need to sleep upstairs, you came unexpected anyway. No need for you to take over the living room!” his mom scowls, which has Eric scowling at her.

 

“Louisa,” his father chides her softly, stepping in, an attempt to calm things down, “He was just resting his eyes. He is probably tired from the flight. I’m sure Brian will go upstairs if he feels like he might fall asleep.”

 

The room goes silent for a moment and Eric is the one who clears his throat.

 

“Well, if no one else wants to unfairly scold my husband, then I guess we should watch Lily’s movie.”

 

The atmosphere is awkward at best, even after the movie has started. Lily is the first one to ignore it, in order to focus on her movie. But somehow, god willing, she falls asleep fifteen minutes in and Eric jumps out of his seat.

 

“Well, that’s enough for tonight,” Eric jumps up, faking a yawn and a stretch, “Want to carry Lily, Brian, or should I?”

 

Brian looks down at Lily for a moment, appearing more exhausted than he did just 20 minutes before, but gathers the little girl up in his arms and stands up. Lily barely even budges at the movement, face pressed against her father’s neck and her little hands gripping his grey t-shirt. Eric lets himself take in the sight for a second, then walks over to his sister.

 

“Night, Sis,” he says, giving her a peck on the cheek, “See you in the morning.”

 

“See you in the morning, jerkface,” Amanda yawns, using her childhood nickname for him.

 

“Night, Dad,” he tells his father as he gives the man brief rub on the shoulder, who pats his hand in return.

 

Eric sighs and turns to his mother, “Duermas bien, Mama.”

 

Eric does get a stiff nod in return, which is better than nothing, he supposes.

 

Eric follows Brian up the first set of stairs, then the second, before realizing they will have to wake Lily up in order to get her in the top bunk.

 

“No, not doing it,” Brian says suddenly, as if he is reading Eric’s mind, “I'm not having her wake up suddenly, not knowing where she is, then getting scared and trying to find us only to to fall off. She can sleep next to Julian. There's enough room. Move him over a little.”

 

Eric bites back a smile at Brian’s surge of protectiveness before gently situating his nephew closer to the wall. Eric freezes when Julian sniffles and turns his head, but the little boy stays asleep and Eric gives Brian the okay with a nod.

 

Brian puts Lily down and suddenly seems captivated by her, studying her very closely. Eric feels his heart twinge when Brian brushes her hair out of her eyes, blinks a few times, and kisses her forehead.

 

Brian looks exhausted by the time they are walking towards his old bedroom. Part of it probably is from worrying and the travel, but Eric thinks a good bit of it was the fact Eric fucked him pretty intensely in the shower. The fact he can wear Brian Kinney out makes him want to be all smug. But on the other hand, Brian’s exhaustion may keep him from confronting Eric about what had happened. It's probably best to just be grateful and not poke a sleeping bear.

 

But apparently Brian doesn't need to be poked. They get to his room, brush their teeth side by side, and Eric turns over the covers, ready to get into bed. It's then that he realizes Brian hasn’t gone over to the other side of the bed yet. Eric turns his head and sees Brian standing there with his arms crossed and a hard glare in his eyes.

 

“What is it?” Eric asks, looking away from him, because he’s not dumb. He knows what it is.

 

“Fuck. You.”

 

Great.

 

“Brian…”

 

And fuck if Eric knows where Brian’s head’s at right now. He has an idea what it is about, he’s not an idiot. But Brian had been fine in the shower, despite telling Eric he was pissed at him; Fine downstairs, even if a bit annoyed. Eric has no doubt that dealing with his mother all day without blowing her head off has been a challenge, to be honest. It is understandable for him to be on edge at best. And, yeah, this...whatever this is. It would be understandable too if it had happened a few hours ago. If Brian had arrived and greeted Eric with a cold shoulder or had shown up raising hell, that would have made sense. But to get pissed after dinner, sailing, fucking in the shower...

 

But when has Brian ever made sense?

 

Eric has always known that Brian could be a time bomb when he was angry. He’s gotten better, but it has never been completely uncommon for Brian to bottle everything up until exploding, taking out the pride of anyone within a five mile radius.

 

Eric knows he should start apologizing profusely, calm him down, explain things from his end. But all he can do is watch Brian pace a fucking hole in the floor, fists clenched so tight that his husband’s knuckles are white.

 

“You took our daughter into a different state without telling me.” Brian finally began. “You took off in the middle of the night without sleep and drove for god knows how long to get here, didn't even ask if I was okay with it. You brought her here, where her grandmother drops constant hints to her that I'm not her dad!”

 

“Brian, I'm sorry! I said I was-”

 

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me? Why did you think I didn’t deserve to be fucking notified?”

 

“You did! You did deserve to know! I wasn’t thinking, I was stupid! I just-”

 

“You weren’t thinking? That’s your excuse? Well, that’s fucking lame, Eric. But hey, your mom’s technically right though, isn't she? I'm not Lily’s dad, not really, so what the fuck does it matter whether or not I know where she is or if she's safe?”

 

Eric feels his heart drop into his stomach as Brian’s angry words become more laced with pain.

 

“What are you saying? You are as much of her dad as I am! Don't talk like that, please!”

 

Brian lets out an angry growl and storms over to the bed to take a pillow off of it. Eric lets out a groan.

 

“Jesus Christ, Brian! Where are you going?”

 

“I'll sleep in the fucking pool house. Tell me where the key is and I should be good from there.”

 

“Stop it!” Eric hisses, pleading, “Don't you dare fucking leave without at least trying to talk with me! I meant it when I said you could tear me a new one, and you just did a great job at it, but I can't fucking sleep, or even try to forgive myself, knowing that I hurt you this badly!”

 

“Great, now you’ll know how exhausted I feel,” Brian grumbles, but then goes and sits down on the bed, back turned to him.

 

“Brian,” Eric breathes out, his thumb and index finger briefly holding the bridge of his nose, “I am such an asshole. I was only thinking of myself. I...I was impulsive and inconsiderate and stupid and all around a horrible husband. I...I love you. You do so much for me and Lily. You're the best dad a kid can ask for, the best partner a guy can ask for. What I did was so shitty. I didn't do it to hurt you in any way but the fact I didn't call you and talk to you about it is bad enough. I'm so sorry.”

 

The deflation of anger isn't as sudden in its visibility as the surge of it had been, but Eric can see Brian’s shoulders grow less tense as he lets out a slow exhale.

 

“You good?” Eric risks asking.

 

“No,” Brian answers, but his voice isn't as angry.

 

“You still want to sleep in the pool house?”

 

“...No. I overreacted.”

 

Eric slowly comes over to Brian’s side and sits a few feet away from him. He keeps his movements calm and cautious, set on not getting Brian worked up again.

 

“No, you didn't,” Eric can admit, “You just delayed your reaction and let your anger build up quietly. And then sort of blew up.”

 

Brian doesn't respond to that, running a hand down his face, “I’m tired.”

 

Eric knows he should still be hesitant, but already finds himself scooting closer to the man. With one hand on Brian’s left cheek and the other running through his hair, Eric presses his forehead against Brian’s shoulder and lets out a breath.

 

“I’m sorry, Brian. I’m so sorry.”

 

Brian’s posture remains rigid and, for a good minute, Eric thinks he might have to grovel more.

 

But then, with a sound of shock escaping his lips, Eric finds himself flipped on the mattress, lying on his back. Brian...Brian’s straddling him, rubbing their boxer brief covered crotches together. Eric reaches up to touch Brian, his face, his chest, anything. But Brian pins Eric’s hands over his head, leans down, and whispers into his ear.

 

“I’m in charge this time. Do you understand me?”

 

Eric lifts his hips a little and tries to lift his head up, “Brian-”

 

“Do. You. Understand me?” Brian enunciates, before bending down to fucking nip his right nipple.

 

“Okay, okay! Yes, I understand,” Eric squirms, before letting out a soft moan when Brian traces the nipple with his tongue before moving on to the side of his neck. Fuck, he wants it. Brian inside of him, thrusting into him hard and fast. But, god, the idea of his parents hearing them fucking, putting two and two together on who was doing what. It was stupid. They had to know that Eric got fucked-

 

“I’m going to suck you,” Brian murmurs, “And then I’m going to sit on your cock, ride you, and make you come inside of me so hard that you’ll forget your last name.”

 

“Which one?” Eric rasps out with a laugh, growing harder by the second.

 

Eric tries to stay quiet. He really does. He manages to when Brian practically rips off their underwear and he manages to bite back his moans while Brian sucks him off. But when Brian fingers himself with one hand and still manages to keep Eric’s hands pinned with the other, when he sinks down on Eric’s cock and gradually works his way up to a hard, fast, forceful pace? When Brian looks completely uninhibited, throwing his head back in ecstasy? Fuck, it makes Eric spew out a litany of filth, moan a little too loud, and whimper because Brian is relentless.

 

“You like it when I bounce on your cock? Bottom from the top? Make you take it?” Brian whispers into his ear, soft grunts trailing off his words.

 

“God!” Eric moans, thrusting his hips up as Brian sinks down once more, “Brian, fuck-”

 

“Shhh,” Brian interrupts against his lips, “No talking.”

 

And he doesn’t know why that gives him an adrenaline rush. But a second later, his hands are out from under Brian’s grip, and he’s up in sitting position, quickly and roughly wrapping his arms around Brian’s waist, pulling the man down on his cock. Brian’s eyes go wide, revealing how blown his pupils really are, and he lets out a sharp gasp. Instead of fighting for control once more, Brian wraps his arms around Eric’s neck, meets him for a filthy kiss, and roughly swivels his hips before moaning into Eric’s mouth. Eric begins to lift Brian up and down, the toned muscles in his arms flexing as he does so. Brian presses his forehead against Eric’s and thrusts down, more than complying with Eric’s movements.

 

“You’re so hot,” Eric breathes out, nipping at Brian’s lip.

 

“I know,” Brian sighs, recovering from a particularly hard thrust.

 

Eric huffs out a sound of amusement before giving Brian a light slap on the ass, then lets out a moan when his husband unexpectedly jerks at the movement.

 

Eric runs his hands down Brian’s ribs, “Jesus Christ, Brian. You’re going to be...fuck! Sore tomorrow. Your ass definitely, but we might be able to save your knees. Want me to fuck you on your back?”

 

It takes Brian a few minutes to answer, too aroused and set on making this last for an eternity. But he eventually relents, nodding slightly without stopping his movements. Eric changes their positions like a pro, not even pulling out all of the way as he quickly rolls and flips Brian so that he is in a more comfortable position, staring up at Eric, before closing his eyes as he wraps his legs around him.

 

“Maybe I should go a little slower, take it easy since I was a little rough with you in the shower,” Eric suddenly suggests, a little more mindful of how Brian might feel in the morning.

 

“Don’t you dare,” Brian moans out, completely out of it with desire.

 

And, although Brian’s levels of arousal, emotional adrenaline, and exhaustion are probably high enough to fuck up his rational thinking, Eric complies regardless and drills into the man, pounding into him hard and fast. Brian’s jerking his cock rapidly between them and Eric takes over, managing to bring them both over the edge in the process.

 

“You’re…” Eric breathes out, after he pulls out and falls next to Brian on the bed, “You were incredible this evening.”

 

Brian laughs, still trying to catch his breath, “And I’m not usually?”

 

Eric turns to his side to run his hand down Brian’s chest, “Of course you are. But...shit, I don’t know how to word this...You’re a fucking amazing bottom. I always love it when you let me top you, but tonight? You haven’t held back at all. You were open and passionate and giving and assertive and beautiful-”

 

“Go to Pittsburgh and announce that declaration to Liberty Avenue. See what they have to say,” Brian huffs, wincing when he shifts his body closer to Eric’s. Eric brings Brian in closer to hold him and Brian surprisingly lets him.

 

“Seriously,” Eric starts, not letting the issue go, “What got into you tonight?”

 

Brian rolls his eyes, “I was just playing the role of seductive and evil power bottom in case your mom walked in. You know this.”

 

“No,” Eric shakes his head, “Not even you are that convincing. Wait, you don’t think they heard us just now, do you?”

 

“Wouldn’t be surprised,” Brian shrugs, “You were pretty loud.”

 

Eric tickles Brian’s spot on his side, making the man let out a laugh, “So were you. You were practically out of it and told me to fuck you harder!”

 

“Shush,” Brian denies, closing his eyes.

 

“Seriously-” Eric begins.

 

“Oh my god,” Brian groans, “How are you so talkative after mindblowing sex?”

 

“Were you craving it? I didn’t want to say anything, but now that I feel we are at a new level in our relationship, I am going to come clean and say that I have noticed that, in the past three years or so, you’ll have like two week stints a few times a year where I top you roughly 90 percent of the time. Is this it? I thought that was going to be due next month.”

 

Brian sits up and takes a hold of his pillow, “I’m literally about to smother you.”

 

“But I like talking to you.”

 

Brian doesn’t smother him with the pillow, but he does hit him with it, twice.

 

He must not anger him too much though because, once Eric finishes laughing, Brian puts his head on his chest and traces Eric’s belly button, before moving back down to Eric’s dick to stroke it.

 

“While you have been gone,” Brian starts, “More times than not...The way I have been getting off is fucking myself with that red dildo we have. I started out just using it occasionally. Sort of just to switch things up. But, with you gone for so long, I have been fucking myself with it as soon as I have some free time to myself. Every night, not even needing to jack off every time to get off. So yeah. Guess I have been craving it a lot more than usual lately. And even when I could only jerk off in the shower, the last few days, all I could think about is you topping me over and over and over again.”

 

Eric finds himself breathing heavily once more, ready for round three. But then Brian pulls his hand away.

 

“Well, I’m beat,” Brian yawns, before snuggling into Eric’s shoulder, “Night.”

 

His husband is softly snoring against his neck within minutes, all while Eric’s erection is still close to throbbing. But hell, he probably deserves that.

----------

The next day is more quiet and peaceful. It’s a Saturday and Eric can already tell it will be a nice one, judging by the sun peeking through the windows and the sounds of seagulls flapping and calling out to each other outside. Eric looks over, still seeing that Brian is fast asleep. As much as he’d love to wake the man up, after the night they had, the least Eric can do is let him sleep a little longer.

 

After seeing it is just a little after 7 am, Eric quietly gets up and goes to check on Lily since, more often than not, the little girl wakes up earlier than necessary. But just this once, he goes up to the third floor and finds her fast asleep next to Julian and, by the looks of it, they haven’t moved all night. He decides to make the most of the quiet by going downstairs to make some coffee. He decides to put some effort into it, using his mother’s Nespresso machine he had sent her two years ago for her birthday. He’s glad she uses it, despite it being from him. It had been almost five hundred dollars, so the thought of it sitting in the attic or handed off to his aunt or one of her friends hadn’t been a pleasant one. He makes the cappuccino strong, froths some milk to put on the top, then heads outside and sits by the other end of the pool to get a full view of the bay.

 

“Morning,” he tells his sister, leaning down to kiss Carlos on the crown of his head, “Up long?”

 

“Maybe a little over a half hour,” Amanda shrugs, looking down at her baby, “Carlos needed fed and Mom and Dad were up already. I just stayed up too.”

 

“Where are they?” he asks her, “I didn’t see them when I woke up. I assumed they had slept in.”

 

“They both do this couples’ spin class from 7 to 8, then Mom goes to one side of the gym to do Zumba and Dad goes to the other to lift weights, and then they meet at the pool to swim laps for a half hour before showering and picking up Abuela to bring her back here for a while after they get brunch with her.”

 

“How romantic,” Eric murmurs, taking a sip of his cappuccino, “Even though it’s weird that you know every part of their day.”

 

Amanda rolls her eyes, “Well, Diego and I do bring the kids every other weekend to visit. We come down Saturday morning and Diego will stay for a few hours, then head back to the restaurant for the dinner rush, then come back down late that night or in the morning. It’s running up the milage on his car. It will be even worse if we end up moving to Charleston.”

 

“It’s only half an hour more in the other direction,” Eric points out, “And it’s a great city. Lots of history and art and great food-”

 

“That Diego will have to compete with,” Amanda interrupts, “And what about me? My store does well and I get that I’m still only going in part time so I guess I can stay home with the boys for a while. But what about when I have to work full-time? Add that to expanding to a bigger city? It’s too much at once and too expensive.”

 

“You have clients in Charleston who have gone out of their way, to you, in order to get decor for their houses and hire you as an interior designer. And if money is a problem, you know I will give you guys some to tide you over.”

 

Amanda’s face twists with annoyance at that before she punches him in the arm, baby be damned, “We’re not a charity case, Eric!”

 

“Jesus,” Eric winces, rubbing his bicep. Good thing his cup had been on the table.

 

Amanda settles back into her chair and looks conflicted once more, “Besides, I love Beaufort.”

 

Eric lets out an aggravated sound, “I’m just going to let you work this out with your husband.”

 

“Well, he’s set on it,” Amanda sighs, “He thinks compromising consists of finding a border beach town down there.”

 

“I’m sure it will all work out,” Eric tries to console, even if he’s only doing it to end the conversation.

 

Eric finishes up his cup then gets up, “I’m going to go check on Brian and the kids, see if they have even budged.”

 

“Wouldn’t be surprised if Brian slept the entire day, considering how much much he...exerted himself last night,” Amanda mutters, then just casually pulls her boob out right in front of him to feed Carlos.

 

Eric doesn’t really care about the boob. He’s all for women’s rights and the feeding of small children, so whatever. What makes him glare at her are the words coming out of her mouth.

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

Amanda studies him for a moment, before donning an innocent expression and shrugging.

 

“Nothing.”

 

“Bullshit. Okay, fine. I don’t care if you heard me fucking Brian. Did our parents hear? Did Mom hear?”

 

“I don’t know!” Amanda groans, “I didn’t exactly bring it up with them when Mom was cooking their pre-workout Avocado toast or whatever she found on Pinterest.”

 

Eric thinks about interrogating his younger sister more, asking her to look back and judge their mother’s mannerisms and comments and level of energy, but he doesn’t. What’s done is done and, if his parents did hear, then he would just have to move past it.

 

“I’m going to go check on Brian,” he reiterates, picking up his empty mug, “Need anything while I am inside?”

 

“I’m fine,” Amanda dismisses, before looking at the video monitor, “They kids haven’t budged. I can get them up at 9 or so to get them dressed and fed. If you and Brian...need time to yourselves...or you just want to take him out to breakfast or something, I can watch Lily for a while. Abuela should be in close to 11.”

 

Eric nods his head in thanks, then goes back into the house and up to the bedroom, only to find Brian asleep still. Eric sits on the bed next to him and begins tracing the man’s ribs.

 

“Brian,” he calls out softly, “Wake up, sleepy head.”

 

Brian lets out an exhausted moan and turns his face into the pillow, “Fuck me…”

 

“I could do that for you again, I suppose,” Eric chuckles, playfully pulling down the sheet.”

 

“Absolutely not,” Brian grunts out, pulling the sheet back up, “My ass is out of commission. Probably forever.”

 

“Yeah, right. You loved it,” Eric smirks, before growing serious, “Are you feeling really sore though? Maybe I should check it. Here, roll over so I can-”

 

Brian growls and sits up to push Eric’s concerned hands away before looking around the room, “I’m fine. What time is it?”

 

“About 7:45,” Eric informs him, “I was thinking that we could get a quick shower and maybe go out for a couple of hours. Get breakfast, walk around Main Street. If you can walk, that is.”

 

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Brian scoffs, but winces when he goes to get up, “If I can’t fuck you while we’re here, I don’t think we’ll be doing more than exchanging blowjobs and handjobs.”

 

“I’ll return the favor in the shower,” Eric rolls his eyes, “My parents are at the gym. You can fuck me to your heart’s content.”

 

Brian does take him up on that, but they do make quick work of it, considering they still want to get ready and have some time to themselves. But god, Brian’s cock feels so good. He’s missed it and it’s nice to not have to worry about his parents walking in, as if he’s a teenager getting lucky and fooling around instead of doing homework.

 

After they are washed up, they get dressed and let Amanda know that they’re leaving. Eric drives, since Eric’s argument of knowing the area a lot better than Brian does is more convincing than Brian’s argument on his rental car being a lot cooler. They take the scenic route, driving along the roads closest to the shore on Cape Fear, taking in the view of the beautiful beach houses and the families just arriving at the beach. He ends up taking Brian to Oliver’s. It has a beautiful view and great food, with enough healthy options to pique Brian’s interests.

 

“This is actually where I took Cynthia on our first date,” Eric tells Brian, suddenly remembering, “I wanted to impress her and I think it intimidated her a little. My mom gave me the money to make sure I could buy Cynthia anything she wanted to eat. Dad didn’t really want me dating her, since her mom had a few charges against her for public intoxication while we were in high school. I think Mom felt sorry for her. She even drove us out here and dropped us off.”

 

“Isn’t it a rule not to talk about exes while you’re on a date?” Brian asks, biting his cheek.

 

Eric grins, “Shut up.”

 

“Now, if it had been one of your hot exes, you could talk about it in detail all you wanted,” Brian fibs, “But a woman? That makes my dick soft.”

 

“Oh, so do you want to hear about the time me and Owen-”

 

“No,” Brian interrupts abruptly, leaving room for no argument.

 

Eric grins and shakes his head. Brian’s uncalled for jealousy regarding Owen will never cease to confuse and amuse him.

 

Once they get inside, they are seated near the front windows and give their waiter their orders within a few minutes. Fresh squeezed orange juice, Quiche du Jour for Brian, and Crab Cake Benedict for himself. And things are good. A sense of calmness washes over him, and that’s something Eric hasn’t had since New Orleans.

 

Probably since before he left for his trip, actually. While Brian has the ability to get him worked up, turned on, blissful, angry, hurt...he also has a way to merely be there and put his mind at ease.

 

It’s a wonderful ten minutes, filled with his great husband, good food, and beautiful scenery. And then he hears someone call out his name.

 

“Eric? Eric Davisson?” a southern accent calls out from a few tables over.

 

Eric looks over and tries to look pleasant enough when he spots the table of six. He recognizes three of them, but only remembers Barry’s full name. And he’s easy to spot. He hasn’t changed that much from high school, still bloated and broad shouldered, tall and dressed like a lumberjack. Only more drunk, despite it being only 8:30 in the morning.

 

“Hi,” Eric answers, a little subdued, raising his hand once to wave, “Barry Hughes, right?”

 

“The one and only,” Barry answers, spreading his arms wide.

 

Eric nods and tries to smile, “Well, it’s good to see you are doing well.”

 

And, it might be rude, but he tries to go back to his meal after that. He feels Brian studying him, trying to figure out what exactly is going on, but Brian probably won’t get far. None of those guys had really caused him much trouble. He hadn’t been out in high school and he had been a good enough actor to not raise many suspicions, except when it came to showing maybe too much acceptance for the gay and lesbian community whenever the subject was rarely brought up back then. Barry had poked fun at that, possibly tried to push him around a little for being too nice and popular with the girls. Popular with Clara, who had turned Barry down. That had really pissed off Barry back then.

 

Huh. He had forgotten all about that too.

 

“So I hear you are a big, fat success now,” Barry mentions, holding on to the conversation.

 

Eric turns to him a little, “I’m doing well for myself. Good job, great family.”

 

Barry smirks at that, elbowing the man on his right, “Family? I heard you were a fucking faggot.”

 

Eric grips onto his fork until his knuckles turn white, then forces himself to put it down.

 

“Well, you heard right,” Eric answers, a little loudly, “This is my husband, actually. And, to be a little blunt, you’re interrupting us.”

 

Barry’s mouth twitches at that and he cracks his knuckles, “Oh, yeah? What, are you two pansies too good to get in a conversation with real men? You better watch your back, you fucking pussy faggot snob. Get bashed like all you fuckers deserve.”

 

Who the fuck instigates and tries to start a homophobic attack during fucking brunch at a semi-upscale seaside restaurant? That is literally all Eric can think at first.

 

And then he feels rage, white hot and unnecessary rage that he isn’t accustomed to. Without any warning, to Brian or himself, he’s standing up and storming over to the table. He has no idea what is plan would have been once he got there, so it’s probably for the best that Brian intercepts him and holds him back.

 

“They aren’t worth it, let it go,” Brian warns him softly, trying to make Eric meet his eyes, “Look at me, Eric.”

 

“Let the fucker come at me!” Barry yells out, all while some poor waitress tries to calm the jeering table down, before threatening to throw them out.

 

“Brian, let me go,” Eric seethes.

 

“If you were thinking straight, no pun intended, you would be hitting yourself right now. Your emotions are on the fritz due to where you are and what you have been going through for the last couple of days and it’s impairing your judgment. So we need to go. Now.”

 

Eric takes a couple of deep breaths through his nostrils, then nods his head. He throws two twenties on the table, before storming out of the restaurant.

 

When they get to the car, he’s hitting the steering wheel for a couple of minutes. Brian doesn’t say a word, just turns his head to check on him so often, then eventually clears his throat.

 

“Maybe I should drive.”

 

“I’m fine,” Eric mutters.

 

“Yeah, right. You let yourself get worked up by a few losers who probably work some graveyard road construction shift and just drink most of the night away. They’re pathetic.”

 

“You shouldn’t diss them for their careers,” Eric scolds him.

 

Brian cracks a rueful smile at that, “Now, there’s the Eric I know and love.”

 

Eric snorts and looks away, “I can’t believe I almost got into a fight.”

 

“Me either. It sort of turned me on.”

 

Eric gives his husband a strange look, “You were the one who stopped me from suckerpunching him.”

 

“Well, I couldn’t have you getting arrested,” Brian sighs dramatically, “With all the backwards laws coming into effect here, you’d probably get the maximum sentence, lawyer father be damned, and I would be left a single father to three kids for up to a year. Do you want Gus, Lily, and whatever the fuck her name will be visiting you in a prison on weekends?”

 

Eric lets out a laugh at that, “I seriously doubt I would face more than a few hours in a holding cell.”

 

“Let’s get out of here, just to be safe. Cops are here,” Brian murmurs, looking out the back window to view the approaching blue and red lights.

 

Eric can’t argue with that.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

He feels the adrenaline coming off of him, even after they get back to his parents’ house. Brian announces to Amanda what had happened, but she obviously doesn’t believe a word coming out of Brian’s mouth.

 

“You’re great at telling stories, Brian,” Amanda huffs out a laugh, before ruffling Lily’s hair, “I see where your daughter gets it from.”

 

As Amanda predicted, their parents arrive at 11 with Abuela in tow. He’s glad to see her. He’s come down twice to visit since his grandfather died, both times just being him and Lily. While she hasn’t been enthusiastic about him being gay, she never disowned him or showed a strong disapproval. His grandfather had been more warm and open when he had come out, and had liked both Owen and Brian. While his grandmother hadn’t really liked Owen, she seems okay with Brian, after coming to terms with the fact Eric would always be with a man. It always warmed his heart to see Brian actually try with her, even if the language barrier often got in the way. But when Brian struggled with speaking with her in Spanish, Lily tended to make it her duty to translate for them.

 

And it’s no different this time. Eric greets her with a kiss, asks about the independent living community she’s now in. It had been hard for her to leave her home after his grandfather had passed but, with his Abuela growing more frail, his parents had managed to get her to agree to a compromise of sorts. She still got to live alone but nurses were assigned to check on her and the other members of the community every couple of hours.

 

Lily is so careful with her, something his Abuela probably wouldn’t stand for if it were anyone else.

 

“¿Eso está mejor?” Lily asks, sticking a pointless pillow at her bisabuela’s side.

 

“Si, si,” his abuela says warmly, patting the little girl’s hand, “¿Quiere sentarse a mi lado?”

 

“¡Definitivamente!” Lily exclaims, sitting down next to the old woman, “Daddy, tomas una foto de nosotros.”

 

“Uh…” Brian tries to think, obviously going over every word Lily just said in his brain, “Oh, right.”

 

Brian takes a few pictures of their little girl with her great-grandmother and everything is okay. His father is friendly enough, even if he seems preoccupied. Lily and the boys are being adorable and he can tell his abuela is in heaven when they come up to cuddle with her. Brian is sitting next to him, his right hand lightly entwined with Eric’s left. It’s nice and it’s something Eric thought he may never be able to comfortably do while visiting home.

 

It also helps that his mother is in the kitchen and has mostly stayed there, insisting she had to cook.

 

That should have been the hint. The past couple of days should have been, really. The way the tension just kept building up between his mother and him, with only sparse moments of affection at most.

 

The blow up happens at such an inappropriate time though. But he and Brian had gotten too comfortable. The family had been eating, enjoying the kids, laughing. Brian had flirted innocently and kissed him on the cheek after. A peck. That had been it. His grandmother had been fine with it. His father had been fine with it.

 

But his mother wasn’t. She ends up slamming her fork down because of it.

 

“I can’t stand for this anymore,” his mother mutters, looking down at her plate, “This...This isn’t normal!”

 

“Louisa,” his father warns, “Just settle down, alright?”

 

“Mom, please,” Amanda hissis.

 

“No!” his mother cries, standing up to stare at him, “You...You were supposed to be the good one! My baby boy! You were supposed to go far and do great things!”

 

“He did do great things, sweetheart,” his dad butts in, “He’s doing very well for himself and became a good man.”

 

“But he didn’t!” his mother yells out, “He disrespected us, our home, he…fucked that man in our home! You heard them!”

 

“Louisa!” his abuela scolds, shocked, “Cuidado con lo que dices!”

 

“Louisa, that’s enough!” his father orders.

 

“I don’t want them here!” his mother practically wails.

 

Eric lets out a shaky breath and throws the cloth napkin on his plate, “We’ll leave. It’s fine. Let me gather our things.”

 

“Eric, don’t. Mom’s just upset,” Amanda tells him quietly, “She’ll regret this tantrum as soon as you all drive off.”

 

“I know where I’m not wanted,” Eric mutters, standing up quickly, “Brian, if you want to get on the road with Lily, I’ll meet you at the rental drop-off at the airport. I can get our things. You don’t need to stay here.”

 

“I’m not leaving without you,” Brian tells him, fucking stubborn twat.

 

“I’ll meet you there. I don’t want Lily around this. I should have never brought her here. Not with the way my mother thinks about us. Please, just take her and go.”

 

Brian stares at him for a few moments, then gets up and picks Lily up.

 

“Daddy, I want to visit with my family some more!” Lily cries out, reaching out for them, “Bisabuela! Aunt Amanda! Julian! Grandpa!-”

 

“Shhh…” Brian comforts her, rubbing her back a little, “You can...You can call them, alright? After we land.”

 

“No llores, Cariño,” Eric hears his abuela murmur, holding out her hand to hold his little girl’s, “Hablaremos pronto.”

 

And Eric knows it is most likely the yelling and the stress that has pushed Lily to cry like this, but it still breaks Eric’s heart to hear her heaving sobs as she wails, “I WANT ELLIE! I WANT ELLIE!”

 

Yeah, that almost breaks him. So he goes up and grabs her so that Lily will have her before Brian pulls out of the driveway.

 

He hates the look that Brian is giving him from the driver’s seat, the hesitance and the suspicion, as if he senses Eric wants to break down and cry himself right now.

 

“I’ll be fine,” Eric chokes out, “It shouldn’t take me more than 20 minutes to get all of our stuff together.”

 

“You look like you are about to start blubbering harder than Lily is right now,” Brian responds, which only solicits another wail from the little girl.

 

“I won’t, I promise,” Eric sniffles, looking away, “That’d be a bit over the top for a grown man to do.”

 

“Eric-”

 

“Son.”

 

Both Eric and Brian look over and see the older man coming down the porch steps.

 

“Son, I’m...I’m so sorry about what your mother said. She didn’t mean it. You know how she is. Once she gets worked up, she-”

 

“You can’t make excuses for her every time she does things like this,” Eric interrupts, turning around, “Look, I’m glad that you are wanting to be apart of my life. I’m glad you are accepting who I am and are trying to get to know Brian. But I can’t come around here if she is going to treat me like this! Not anymore. I’m tired of trying to make her accept me.”

 

“Eric, please-”

 

Eric lets out a sigh, “You...You and Abuela are welcome to come up any time you want. I don’t want to keep Lily from you. Hell, I don’t want to keep Lily from Mom. I know she loves her. But until she starts to reevaluate her priorities? Until she starts trying to meet me part way? I can’t see her. I love her and it breaks my heart to say that, but I just can’t do it anymore.”

 

Eric sees the moisture in his father’s eyes again, the mythical moisture that can’t exist because it’s his dad.

 

“Can I...Can I give Lily a hug goodbye?” His dad asks, voice wobbling.

 

Eric has to cover his eyes at the sound before being able to nod his head, his mouth twisted in a grimace. He can’t bring himself to watch the farewell, but he can hear it. He can hear his father don a more cheerful and paternal voice, trying to bring Lily out of her woeful state. It sounds like it helps a little. His dad was always good at that.

 

He kisses Brian goodbye and watches the car pull out of the driveway and make its way down the street before going back inside to load everything into his own rental car. No one really bothers him, and it’s probably the best call on their part. There’s no changing his mind on this and they seem to know that.

 

He’s still not heartless though. He tells his abuela that he loves her and will see her soon, makes sure his sister is coming up for Thanksgiving, and hugs and kisses the boys before receiving a long, tight hug from his father.

 

His mother is nowhere to be found.

 

And then he’s able to drive away, watching the home he grew up in disappear in his rearview mirror.

 

And Brian is proven right when Eric starts crying almost as hard as Lily had been. Not that he’ll ever tell his husband that.

 

He’s calmed down once he arrives at the Wilmington International Airport. Forty minutes had been more than enough time to pull himself together. He checks the mirror and his eyes are a little red but other than that, he doesn’t look too terrible.

 

He gets out of the car to open the trunk and sighs. He’ll need Brian’s help with this if they want to make any progress. He has a month’s worth of shit in the back. They’ll need to rent a cart.

 

Fuck, they don’t even have plane tickets. What are they supposed to do from here? Yeah, they need to turn at least one vehicle in anyway. Eric should probably look up some hotels in case they can’t get tickets for New York tonight.

 

He makes his way into the rental office to meet Brian and doesn’t even see him there. Fuck, is there more than one now? He doesn’t remember there being-

 

“Hey,” Brian says, coming up right behind him.

 

Eric jumps, a little startled, then turns around. Brian puts a hand on his cheek and looks at him for several moments, as if he’s trying to find signs of emotional trauma or something. It’s cute, but it’s also unnerving, so Eric gently pulls away.

 

“Where were you?” Eric asks, glancing down to check on Lily, who seems much better.

 

“Getting tickets. Figured we should have a destination in mind if we were going to come here.”

 

Eric lets a humorless chuckle out, “Yeah, I didn’t think that through either. So, what flight are we catching to New York? The next one or are we going to have to wait a while?”

 

Eric looks around the crowded airport and shrugs, “We’re not going to New York.”

 

Eric raises his eyebrows, “Oh yeah? Do we have a transfer?”

 

“Nope,” is all Brian answers with.

 

“Okay...so where are we going?”

 

Brian smiles, a little wistfully, “It’s Gus’s birthday on Monday. Fifteen...Anyway, I thought maybe we could surprise him. I know you got him a bunch of stuff in New Orleans. You have all of it on you, so...yeah. I got us three tickets to Toronto.”

 

Eric lets out a small, wet laugh and smiles, genuinely, “I think that sounds like a great idea. Fifteen’s an important birthday.”

 

“Fifteen,” Brian groans, throwing his head back, “Makes me feel sick.”

 

“And old,” Eric is sure to add.

 

Brian playfully glares at him, before patting him on the arm, “I’ll be okay though. We’ll be surrounded by good people.”

 

“We will be,” Eric answers.

 

“Who love us, both of us, and will accept us no matter what,” Brian surprisingly continues, maintaining eye contact.

 

Eric feels his heart swell a little at that, then puts his arms around Brian’s neck.

 

“Of course they will,” Eric whispers, leaning in closer for a kiss, “They’re family.”

Chapter End Notes:

I know, I am three months late. I suck. But let me know what you think. I am fully expecting hate for this chapter so, if you loved it, prove me wrong and show me said love. And, if you hated it, prove me right and make me believe I have a future career as a hotline psychic, sort of like Miss Cleo. Thank you for reading! There will be a time jump in the next chapter to the end of October, from Justin's POV. :)

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