JUSTIN

This week seemed to go from good to bad. Emmett and Drew did the interview which we all knew wasn’t going to be pleasant. The press really tried to turn Emmett into someone who made Drew gay. Drew cleared that up by explaining that he’d always been gay, but football might like that he wins games, but not that he could love another man. When we left the studio with Grampy, I could see Brian was still a skeptic about Drew and Emmett.

“You don’t think that maybe he fell in love?” I asked.

“I just think if you love someone, you don’t do the things that Drew was doing. I understand that his sexuality could affect the way he was viewed, but if he wanted Emmett he wouldn’t have kept the fiancee.” He tells us.

“Brian, you're judging him based on how you would have handled things. Most people aren’t as comfortable with themselves, and they hide things that they aren’t ready to face.” Grampy tells him.

“Maybe I am, but you don’t love someone if your still with someone else. It’s just not something you can convince me is possible. Drew is in a situation where he doesn’t have a choice but to play this out, so I’m reserving judgement until I see if he really loves Emmett.” He tells us.

We were driving to my house that was furnished, if nothing else. Granny wanted to actually meet Michael, which I didn’t see as a good thing. Brian had changed all his personal numbers and treated Michael like he didn’t see him when Michael showed up everywhere. Brian told Granny he would come, but not to expect anything from him concerning his best friend.

Lindsay showed up when I was at work and wanted to cry about life being unfair and you know I really just didn’t have any sympathy for her plight, but handed her the bill for yet another visit. Mel called a few times but I think she was just lonely, Ben wasn’t coming around and Hunter seemed to be soaking up the love my Granny gives to everyone. Deb actually showed up and told Granny about Michael, and told Hunter that she and Carl wanted to be there for him too. I think Hunter was starting to see that he had more than disinterest in his life. Hunter heard about the outreach center and told Grampy and Brian, that it would take more than a pretty face and an open building to get those kids to trust in adults. Grampy told Hunter that he needed to tell them what he thought it would take. I think it was the first time Hunter ever heard that his opinion mattered.

So Grampy decided to invite everyone, because as he put it, “It’s time to air out all the closets”. 

“Some of those closets need to stay closed.” Brian told him.

“I think if you want to have time with Justin, then we need to get rid of the problem areas.” Grampy tells him.

So here we were in a room with Drew, who looked at Michael like he wanted to fold him in two. Lindsay playing with Gus and Jenny, but ignoring anything that would mean saying ‘I got knocked up by a man’. Michael sitting on the other side of the room, as if waiting for Brian to come and talk to him. Ben sitting next to Hunter, trying to be the father he hasn’t been, and Ted and Blake, who seemed to want to be anywhere but here.

“Well dinner’s ready, Michael I have a surprise for you.” Granny tells him.

“I’ve gotten enough surprises lately.” He tells her sullenly.

“Hello Michael.” Uncle Danny says walking in.

“Oh, now you want to show up, what, so you could see Justin?” He sneers.

“No, apparently you seem to think that somehow your life would have been better if I was there. I’m here to clear up that.” He tells Michael.

“Don’t bother, I get it, you were to busy hanging out with the rich folks to care that I might have needed a father.” Michael tells him.

“Michael, enough. You ran around all week acting like somehow your life was everyone’s fault. Well I’m to blame because I didn’t want you to have a father who wasn’t going to be there for you. I know having me for a mother was such a burden, but I wanted you to only ever know that I didn’t see you as a mistake a seventeen year old girl made. So I didn’t chase Danny down to tell him he needed to be a father, when it would have trapped him into a life that would have eventually felt like a prison. Was it really that awful that I couldn’t buy you a toy, but only love you?” Deb asks him.

“Look around you, this is the life we could have had.” Michael tells her.

“Michael, where do you get the idea that I could have given you this kind of life?” Danny asks.

“Because when you give a shit about someone you take care of them.” Michael tells him.

“Well then Danny did well by fucking you over, since that’s apparently the only thing you seem to think shows you care.” Emmett sneers.

“Emmett, he isn’t worth the time.” Blake tells him.

“I didn’t realize how it would sound when I talk to the reporter.” Michael tells Emmett. “Blake you need to keep your nose out of my business, being Ted’s piece of ass really doesn’t make anything you say worth my time.” Michael sneered.

“What about my opinion Michael?” Ben speaks, I’m really kind of surprised.

“Ben, I don’t understand why you're upset, this isn’t about us, but everyone else.” Michael tells him.

“Are you really not seeing that you’ve managed to alienate everyone?” Ben asks.

“What I’m seeing is Justin seems to get everything, while I’m being treated like I wasn’t there for everyone.” Michael tells us.

“Why do you think that is Michael? From what I’ve witnessed you seem to think all should be forgiven, yet you do absolutely nothing to help yourself.” Granny tells him, and he really needs to understand that she won’t listen to excuses.

“Until Justin showed up, my life was fine. I had Ben and Hunter and still had my friends.” He tells her.

“My grandson somehow made you ignore Hunter, go on the news and smear Emmett and from what I can tell did everything but talk to Ben. He did all those things by moving here? In my eyes, you did that all on your own.” She tells him.

“What about the fact that my best friend is acting completely out of character.” He tells her.

“What about that? It has nothing to do with what you did to Hunter, Emmett, and Ben.” She tells him.

“He’s acting as if all the years I stuck by him while he was fucking half of the Pitts means nothing. I got his ass home when he was too drunk and drugged out to take care of himself. I invited him to my house when his father was drunk and wanted to use him as a punching bag. Yet the minute Justin shows up, he seems to forget that he needs to be there for me.” Michael tells us this, really he is telling it to Brian.

“Michael, I arranged this dinner to meet you, because I believe in family. I just think you don’t, so maybe it was a mistake on my part to subject everyone to you. If you can’t sit down with your father and maybe understand why he wasn’t there, then the open that door and get out.” Granny tells him.

Michael seemed to get that there really wasn’t anyone in his corner and walked past Danny into the dining room. Lindsay tried to get past Granny but she gave the sit down look. 

“Everyone go in, I’d like to talk to Lindsay and Mel.” She tells us.

Brian picked up Gus and I grabbed Jenny and we left Granny to deal with them.

MEL

I don’t know why I came here, maybe to get out of the house. When I saw Lindsay all I could think was that I just don’t want to deal with her.

“Mel, you need to decide if you can deal with what Lindsay did.” Deb tells me.

“She won’t even admit to it. She keeps trying to act like Brian did this with her.” I tell them.

“Why would she do that?” Helen asks.

“Lindsay seems to think it’s easier than telling the truth for once.” I tell her.

“I just know you're not going to want me or these children when I tell you.” Lindsay tells me tears running as usual.

“Fuck you, couldn’t even tell me there was more than one.” It’s like she has to make this worse.

“Justin didn’t tell you?” She asks.

“No, dear, my grandson wouldn’t try to get in the middle of a marriage.” Helen tells her.

“He told Brian, maybe he’s not the good little boy you think.” Lindsay tells her.

“Brian’s his husband, and the man you tried to make take the fall for your mistake.” Helen tells her.

“You know, you seem to think Brian and Justin are going to stay married. Brian isn’t cut out for monogamy and marriage.” Lindsay tells her.

“Lindsay, you're getting a chance to convince your wife that your marriage is worth saving and bringing up Brian has nothing to do with it. I would also like to add that Warren and my opinions will be based on how Brian treats my grandson, not what anyone wants to tell us about him. I think you should worry about your marriage and give your wife a reason to think you really want to come home.” Helen tells her.

“I don’t really know if there is anything she could say anymore.” I tell her.

“I… damn it, it was Sam. It was a mistake and it’s over but I’m having these babies, because I couldn’t kill them.” Lindsay tells me.

“Could you ask Brian and Justin if they can keep the kids tonight? I need to leave.” I tell them because I don’t know if I can accept this.

“Mel, let me drive you.” Helen tells me.

“You have guests.” I tell her, just wanting to get away from Lindsay.

“Warren will handle them.” She tells me, grabbing my coat and ushering me out to her car.

I laid my head against the window and just don’t see a way to accept what Lindsay did.

“Is it that she got pregnant or that she was with a man?” She asks, as she seems to be driving us around.

“Why do you care?” I ask, because it’s nice and I haven’t had a mother figure in a long time.

“It’s the psychiatrist in me. I might have retired, but I can’t help wanting to take care of people. Justin got that from me, but sometimes I think he takes it further than I ever would have.” She tells me laughing.

“You know, he shows up and leaves breakfast, after taking care of Gus and Jenny most mornings.” I tell her.

“He just seems to think he has to take care of anyone in his life.” She tells me.

“That’s the thing, he doesn’t do it for any reason, just does it. It’s why Lindsay drives me crazy right now. She wouldn’t even think about doing something like that.” I tells her.

“Justin was raised to know that praise isn’t important, but doing the right thing means everything. I’ll admit during his late teens and early twenties, there were times he was doing things that I’m better off not knowing, but he still showed up and took care of everyone.” She tells me.

“Brian’s really lucky he found someone like Justin.” I tell her.

“Warren and I think it works both ways, in a marriage. I was a girl who got a full scholarship and Warren had already made it in the world of business. I married him and finished college, even though I never needed to work a day after we were married. He was proud to stand at my graduation holding Jennifer. That’s what I see in Brian, that he’ll stand there while Justin does what he needs to do.” She tells me.

“She brought Sam to our house and we all had dinner together.” I tell her.

“So it’s because you had to welcome the man who she cheated with into your home?” She asks.

“I liked him, he was nice. It was someone other than Brian at our house.” I tell her.

“You seem to be okay with Brian.” She comments.

“He loves Gus, that’s all I care about.” I tell her.

“Now you're seeing that possibly Brian wasn’t the problem, but that Lindsay can’t decide who she really is?” She asks pulling up to Justin’s house again.

“Why are we back here?” I asks her.

“You need to go in and decide how you want your life, Lindsay and babies or not. You have children and they can’t live in limbo.” She tells me getting out of the car.

I get out but just want to go home, so I start towards my car, to find Brian sitting on it. 

“I need to go.” I tell him.

“I know, I just came out to tell you that we were going to be staying here until Friday. If you need more time then call and Deb and Jen are willing to take the kids.” He tells me getting up and walking by.

“You aren’t going to tell me to give Lindsay a chance?” I ask him.

“No.” 

“Why not?” I ask.

“I'm really the last person to give advice on marriage.” He tells me. 

“I would think you knew more than any of us. Look at who you married.” I tell him. 

“We were drunk and it sounded fun.” He tells me. 

“I don’t see that, you love him.” I tell him. 

“Love is tricky, because it sneaks in. Would I have done the same things if I knew the life I'm probably going to have with him? Yes I would, but only because my mistake turned out to be anything but one.” He tells me. 

“Lindsay’s will be front and center when those babies are born.” I tell him. 

“Yes, but are you going to blame unborn children for something they didn't ask for?” He asks me. 

“So I should just take her back and pretend it's fine.” I tell him. 

“I wasn’t saying that, but you realize those children are Gus’s siblings and we have to let Gus see he can love them as much as Jenny. Lindsay really was the last thing on my mind.” He tells me. 

“How do you love someone who lies to you and cheats on you?” I ask him. 

“Ask Emmett, he knows.” He tells me walking in the door.

I walk in and sit next to Lindsay. She smiles through her tears, but I can't give her what she wants from me.

“We need to figure out how to live without each other.” I tell her, kissing her one last time. Getting up I walk out of the house and drive until I can face our house alone.

BRIAN 

As much as I want to ignore Lindsay flooding the living room, I can't.

“She's given up.” She tells me. 

“She's doing what she needs to for the kids.” I tell her. 

“You want Gus to have a broken home?” She asks me. 

“No, but you broke it anyway.” I tell her. 

“I don’t understand how my marriage is broken, yet someone like you seems to have it all.” She tells me. 

“Because I'm willing to put all of me into a marriage. I don't dole out what I think works for that minute.” I tell her. 

“We need to decide about Gus.” She tells me, and you know, I'm not going to be her revenge.

“Gus lives with Mel, nothing to decide.” I tell her. 

“I guess having your son would ruin your perfect marriage?” She asks.

“Justin would be happy, but it's about Gus, not you or anyone else.” I tell her. 

“I think he would be happy with me.” She tells me.

“Gus needs stability and that’s something you can’t give him right now. Moving him all over because you can’t figure out anything isn’t what he needs. Let him stay with Mel and deal with what you need to in order to be a mother to not only Gus but the two you're carrying.” I tell her.

“How am I supposed to do that, Sydney isn’t really happy with me and I’m barely holding on to the job. With Mel not supporting me, I don’t have a lot of options. No one is going to hire me when I’m going to have to go on leave so soon after getting a job.” She tells me, and why not just hold out her hand and tell me I have to help her.

“Then don’t give Sydney any reason to fire you.” I tell her.

She needs to realize those days are over, and what better way than to show her. Walking into the dining room, I can see that the guys want to leave and nod to Ted. Which gets Emmett, Ted, Blake, and Drew to leave after telling Granny thank you. Deb and Carl get up and leave without talking to Michael. 

“Hey I’m going to spend time with Ben.” Hunter tells us.

“I guess I’m going to go home too, with my son.” Ben tells us.

“Hunter if you want to come back, just call.” Justin tells him.

“I know and thanks for being there.” Hunter tells him.

All that was left was Michael and Danny. Michael who seems to think if he sits there I’m going to talk to him.

“Brian, let's take a walk on the grounds.” Warren tell me.

“Stogie time, Granny want to help me make up the kids room?” Justin asks.

Warren and I start walking around and I think he sees this night as one big mistake.

“I’ve had worse ideas, but then I thought maybe they would see what they were doing to themselves.” He tells me.

“You have to have people who are willing to see what they are doing.” I tell him.

“I was once told that a person is a reflection of their friends, but Brian, there isn’t anything that makes sense about some of them.” He tells me.

“There was a time when I needed them, and Michael is right, he was the one that kept me from killing myself. It wasn’t for any altruistic reasons, just trying to show me he would be there when I gave up trying to kill myself.” I tell him.

“You never thought of him as a possibility?” He asks.

“You can’t love someone just because they’re there. I just never felt the way he wanted, he realized it and moved on.” I tell him.

“Do you really think he moved on, or did he just decide to have someone until you changed?” He asks me.

“It wouldn’t matter, because I couldn’t change for him.” I tell him.

“You know you didn’t change for Justin right?” He asks me.

“I do, Justin was just right time. If it had been five years ago, I think we wouldn’t have had a chance, I was still trying to prove to the world that they wanted me. Now it seems less important. Gus needs me to be a father he can be proud of, and I just can’t run Babylon while partying in it. Kinnetik wouldn’t be where it is if I was still clubbing the way I was back then.” I tell him.

“It’s why I know you're going to be a major player in the business world.” He tells me.

“Really? It’s not my ability to juggle all the balls in the air at once.” I tell him.

“No it’s that you know what’s important, and cut through the bullshit. You aren’t afraid to tell Drew that he messed up, and you don’t want to automatically believe it was love.” He tells me.

“Falling in love makes you know what it really looks like.” I tell him.

“Yes, but I think Emmett will get his love story. I’m the eternal optimist, I invite Michael over, so that has to prove that I believe in long shots.” He tells me.

“Michael will ruin everything to be right.” I tell him.

“Danny’s not just a drag queen, but someone who, like his sister and Justin, will keep trying. I think he stayed away for Deb, but now he’ll at least straighten out Michael’s misconceptions of him being father of the year. What Michael does with it is really his problem. After tonight Michael isn’t welcome in my life.” He tells me.

“Why welcome him at all?’ I ask him.

“Damned optimism is going to be the death of me, but hey, I made a lot of money because of it.” He tells me laughing.

JUSTIN

I was really just staying out of the way. I have a feeling that Michael wouldn’t be happy unless Danny turned into his fairy god mother and gave him a few million. To bad he doesn’t realize that although Devina’s famous, drag queens really don’t make millions. Gus was fighting sleep and I stayed reading until those eyes closed for good. I leaned down and kissed his head and started for the door.

“Love you.” Gus mumbled.

“I love you too.” I whispered, trying not run back hug him to death.

Michael was standing over the crib looking at Jenny and I was going to leave before I had to deal with him, but he seemed to want to make sure he got to say something.

“You have it all, and I have to deal with the leftovers.” He tells me.

“What do you want me to say, that I had a good life. Yes, but not because of money, but because my family gave me time and understanding. I don’t agree that having a father changes anything, because mine really only cares if I do something he can point to as an achievement.” I tell him.

“My friends act like…” 

“You shit on your friends, so that one is about what you did.” I tell him.

“My husband and son are treating me…”

“No better than you’re treating them.” I tell him.

“So it’s all my fault.” He sneers.

“No it’s that it rained on Tuesday.” I tell him.

“What?” He asks.

“Blame it on the rain, or global warming if you need to, if it somehow changes that you did everything, but don’t stand here complaining.” I tell him.

“I would think since we are family, you could act like it.” He tells me.

“Did you notice that my mother wasn’t here?” I ask him.

“I guess.” He tells me.

“It’s because she wasn’t going to be here to listen to all the woes of Michael Novotny. The fact that Grampy even wanted this farce, was because he believes that people can change. I think we can all say that there is nothing you can change about yourself, because you have to see what you did to your friends and family if you did.” I tell him.

“I saw that Mel and Lindsay aren’t going to give Jenny a good home.” He tells me leaving the room.

I check on Jenny then go to see if Grampy and Brian came in. I found Brian checking on Gus and join him. He pulls me in front of him.

“What happens with Michael isn’t our problem, you, me, and Gus, that’s our problem.” He tells me.

“I know, it’s just sad to see someone who can’t love himself.” I tell him.

“It takes being happy, it’s how I know I love you.” He tells me.

“Is that what that is, because it feels like sunshine and rainbows.” I tell him, but then realize it’s time. “Or maybe it’s that I love you too.” I tell him.