“Hey Linds,” Justin greeted as he pulled the loft door all the way open so she and Gus could come in. Gus flung himself at Justin's legs and he leaned down to hug him back. “Hey, little man. Are you being good today?”
“Yes,” Gus said, thrusting a white paper bag in the air. “Mama bought me donut holes!”
“Wow, she must like you a lot,” Justin said, leading him over to a stool at the counter and helping him climb on it and situate himself. “Let me get you some milk.”
“Is Brian still asleep?” Lindsay peered over at the bedroom.
“Yeah, he was up late working on a presentation for Monday,” Justin said. “We're going to be extra quiet so we don't wake him. Right, Gus?”
Gus nodded, happily eating his breakfast.
“I'll see you tomorrow morning, okay honey?” Lindsay said, kissing Gus' forehead. “Be good for Daddy and Justin, all right?”
Gus nodded again.
Lindsay turned to Justin. “Everything he needs is in his bag. I'll be back around ten tomorrow, is that fine?”
“No rush,” Justin assured her. “Have fun.”
“Thanks.” Lindsay hugged him and then headed for the door. “Bye, sweetheart! Love you!”
“Love you, mama!” Gus yelled cheerfully.
“Gus, shh!” Justin hushed him. “Daddy is sleeping!”
Gus made a worried face. “Sorry. I won't do it again.”
“It's okay,” Justin said.
Gus slid off the stool he sat on and went to the garbage can with his remaining donut holes.
“What are you doing?” Justin asked.
“I'm done,” Gus said, ready to dump the bag in the trash.
“Give them to me,” Justin said, holding out his hand. “I'll eat them.”
“Mama said they're only for me,” Gus said. Justin almost said, 'No, she didn't,' but knew that would only lead to a round of 'Yes, she did'/ 'No, she didn't'/ 'Uh-huh'/ 'Nuh-Uh.'
“She won't mind if you share them,” Justin said. “Mama said you can share them with me if you'd like.”
“No, she didn't,” Gus said.
“Come on, Gus,” Justin appealed. “Don't you want to share with me?”
Gus shook his head. “No.”
Justin tried the pitiful puppy dog expression that usually worked on Brian. “I thought you were my friend...I guess I was wrong.”
“Okay,” Gus relented, walking toward Justin with the bag held out. “You can have them.”
“Thank you,” Justin said primly, hopping up to sit on the counter.
“Am I your best friend?” Gus asked, raising his arms so that Justin would lift him onto the counter too.
“Yes,” Justin said, hauling Gus up beside him. “Except when you're rude to me.”
“I'm not rude to you!” Gus denied. “I shared with you!”
“Well, yes, that's true,” Justin agreed. “I guess you're my best friend all the time, then.”
Gus smiled, pleased.
“You look older today,” Justin noticed suddenly.
“Because I had my birthday!” Gus said. “Remember, I'm four? Remember you came to my party?”
“Oh yeah,” Justin said. “That must be why you look so grown up.”
“Yeah, I growed up,” Gus said. “But I'm still little. Kind of little.”
“Yeah,” Justin said.
“My sister is a baby, but I'm not a baby,” Gus said. “I'm a big kid, but I'm not that big.”
“True,” Justin nodded.
“I'm bigger than my sister, but I'm not bigger than you,” Gus went on, "and Daddy's bigger than everybody.”
“Daddy's pretty big,” Justin agreed.
“Yeah, he's like a million inches,” Gus said. “Maybe I'm a hundred inches.”
“That's still a lot,” Justin consoled him. “What do you want to be when you grow up, Gus?”
Gus put his chin in his hands and thought about it. “Um...a dinosaur!”
“You want to be a dinosaur?” Justin said. “What kind?”
“A T-Rex!” Gus said immediately.
“Awesome,” Justin said, finishing the last donut hole. He hopped off the counter and then helped Gus down. “So, what do you want to do today?”
“I brought a movie with me,” Gus said. “Mama said I can watch it.”
Justin wrinkled his nose distastefully. “TV is boring. Why don't we color instead?”
“Okay,” Gus said. “Let me go get Daddy!” He raced off.
“Gus, wait!” Justin tried, but it was too late.
“Daddy, wake up!” Gus shouted, pouncing on his dad.
“Oof.” Brian grabbed Gus and rolled over, trying to go back to sleep.
“Daddy!” Gus squealed, trapped underneath him. “You gotta wake up now, Daddy! We're gonna color!”
“Go color with Justin,” Brian said, letting his son squirm away from him.
“You gotta color with us!” Gus insisted, balancing on the platform of the futon so he could kick his dad.
Brian grabbed Gus' foot and yanked him forward, catching him. “Don't stand on the edge like that. You're going to fall,” he said sternly.
Gus looked at him wordlessly. He didn't appear concerned.
“Do you know what happens if you fall?” Brian asked him. “You'll get my floor dirty with your blood.”
“Then who's going to clean it up?” Justin piped in.
“Not you,” Brian told Gus. “You'll be hurt. So then Justin will have to do it.”
“I hate to mop,” Justin added.
“Okay,” Gus said, looking properly contrite. “Sorry. I won't do it again.”
“Don't tell me you're sorry, show me you are,” Brian said, getting out of bed and ruffling Gus' hair. “Did you eat breakfast?”
“Yes,” Gus said, following his dad into the kitchen. “Mama gave me donut holes!”
“Mama sure is generous with the sugar when she doesn't have to deal with the aftermath,” Brian said, pouring himself a glass of guava juice.
“Daddy, can we go to the diner for lunch?” Gus asked.
“May we go to the diner for lunch, please,” Brian corrected him.
“May we go to the diner for lunch, please?” Gus parroted obediently.
“No, we may not,” Brian said.
Gus' face crumpled.
“Brian!” Justin scolded him. “He's just kidding, Gus. We'll go to the diner.”
Gus laughed up at Brian. “You were just teasing, right Daddy?”
Brian glanced at Justin, then back at Gus. “Yes, sonnyboy. Daddy was just being a little bit rude, right?”
Gus looked uncertain.
“Is Daddy rude?” Brian asked again, squatting down to his level.
Gus shook his head. “No, Daddy, you're not rude. You're nice.”
“But sometimes I'm rude, right?” Brian said.
Gus looked at Justin, who was nodding his head vehemently. “No, you're nice,” Gus insisted stubbornly.
“That's my boy,” Brian scooped Gus up into his arms.
Gus laughed happily and flung his arms around his dad's neck. He selected his grammar carefully, “Daddy, may we go to the park, please?”
“Okay, sonnyboy, but let Daddy take a shower first.” Brian put him down and headed for the bathroom.
Gus danced around the kitchen triumphantly. “Justin, may we bring bread and feed the ducks, please?”
Justin, who was eyeing the bathroom door longingly, snapped out of it and said, “Sure. Let's put on some sunscreen.”
* * *
“I want to do it,” Gus whined, trying to wrestle the bottle away from Justin.
“Put out your hands,” Justin said, dispensing a big dollop of sunscreen into the little cup of Gus' palms. As Gus rubbed the lotion onto his arms and legs, Justin smeared it on Gus' face and neck. Gus soon finished and wanted more. “No, that's enough.”
“I need some more!” Gus said.
“No, you don't. You're fine,” Justin said, applying sunscreen to his own skin.
“Let me do you!” Gus said, sticking out his hands expectantly. “Please?”
“Fine.” Justin handed over the bottle. “Be careful, though. Don't squeeze too hard or you'll make a mess.”
“I know,” Gus said, and went about his task with painstaking care.
Brian emerged from the bathroom; a towel wrapped around his waist, and smirked at the scene. “I leave you alone for ten minutes and you turn my kid into your cabana boy.”
“What can I say? I learned from the best,” Justin smirked back.
“Daddy, can I--may I do your sunscreen too, please? I know how to do it good,” Gus said.
“I know how to do it well,” Brian corrected.
Gus didn't seem to get it. “May I do it?”
“Let me get dressed first,” Brian said. He went to the dresser and pulled out some jeans and a white t-shirt. “Did you bring your soccer ball, sonnyboy?”
“No, Daddy, I forgot!” Gus lamented. “Will you go buy me another one so we can play at the park?”
Brian looked at his son steadily for a moment, then shook his head. “No, Gus. You'll just have to remember to bring it next time.”
“But Daddy!” Gus wailed. Seeing the look on Brian's face, Gus quickly stopped pouting and tried another tactic. “Justin wants to play, too.”
“Well, Justin is used to disappointment,” Brian said. “I'm sure he'll deal with this one.”
“It's okay, Gus. We're going to feed the ducks, remember? And we can go on the playground,” Justin said. Gus nodded sadly and finished rubbing sunscreen on Justin's legs. “All done?” Justin asked, inspecting his work. “Wow, you did a great job, Gus! Thanks! You're my favorite friend.” He pulled Gus into a big hug until he started giggling. Then he pushed him toward Brian and said, “Go put it on your daddy too. Make sure you don't forget his face.”
“I can do my own face, thanks,” Brian said. “The last thing I need is to have my eyes gouged out by a toy-deprived avenger.”
* * *
“These ducks are ugly!” Gus chirped amiably, throwing them small chunks of leftover dinner rolls. Brian, meanwhile, stood beside him holding a bag of rolls, tearing off pieces and handing them to his son.
“I feel like I should tell you that all living things are beautiful in their own way,” Justin said, glancing up from his sketchbook. “But I think you're too smart to fall for that shit.”
Gus froze and looked at Justin with big eyes. “You said a bad word.”
“Oops,” Justin said.
“Justin, you should be ashamed of yourself,” Brian admonished, his eyes twinkling devilishly. Justin glared at him.
“Say 'excuse me',” Gus ordered patiently.
“Excuse me,” Justin said.
“Hmm,” Brian said, looking down at Gus. “I don't know, should we excuse him?”
“Yes,” said Gus.
“You are excused,” Brian informed Justin grandly. “But in the future please, if you would be so kind, watch your filthy mouth.”
“Yeah,” said Gus. “'Cause if you say bad words then Mommy will make you wash your mouth with soap.”
Brian looked at Gus sharply. “Does Mel make you do that?”
“One time she did,” Gus said. “But then Mama yelled at her and said don't do it no more.”
“Don't do it anymore,” Brian corrected absently. “Well, that's good. If Mommy is mean to you, then you tell Daddy, okay?”
“Will you beat her up?” Gus asked eagerly.
“Do you want me to?” Brian said.
“No,” Gus said. “Mommy isn't mean to me. She's my friend.”
“I know she is,” Brian said, but knelt down and took his son by the shoulders, looking him directly in the eye. “Gus, no matter who it is, if anyone ever does something to you that you don't like, you must tell Daddy, okay? Even if it's Mommy or Mama or anybody. I'll always believe you if you tell me something.”
“Okay,” Gus said disinterestedly, trying to twist away so he could watch the ducks. “Daddy, look! The ducks are leaving!”
“Do you want to go play on the playground?” Justin asked, getting up from his place in the grass and tucking his sketchbook under his arm. “The swings are empty.”
“Yay!” Gus yelled, running off toward the swingset. Brian and Justin followed at a more leisurely pace. Justin didn't say anything about what Brian had told Gus, but he caught his eye as they walked together. Brian lifted his eyebrows, and Justin smiled at him softly and slipped under Brian's arm, curling his own arm around Brian's waist.
* * *
“Where's Uncle Mikey?” Gus asked Hunter, balancing on the tips of his toes as he clung to the counter.
Hunter rang up a customer as he answered, “He's at home with--"
“With our sister!” Gus interrupted. “She's staying at your house today.”
“Well if you know, then why'd you ask?” Hunter said, one arm digging around beneath the counter.
“I forgot, but then I remembered,” Gus explained. He grinned when Hunter's arm came up and extended a large lollipop his way. “Thanks!”
“Look, it has Mickey on it.” Hunter pointed to the cartoon mouse on the wrapper. He turned around as Brian and Justin came out of the storage room with slightly swollen lips. “That was fast.”
“Shut up,” Justin said, rolling his eyes. “Don't forget to bring home the drawings, I put them on the table. And tell Michael I picked up the notes and I'll do some preliminaries, okay?”
Hunter ignored him and looked at Brian. “You couldn't have been back there for more than five minutes. I won't pretend I'm not disappointed.”
“Do you think I'd do something like that in the presence of such impressionable youths?” Brian asked, aghast.
“You didn't mind corrupting me,” Justin reminded him.
“That was different,” Brian said. “You were asking for it.”
“And you were very willing to give it to me,” Justin grinned.
Brian shrugged, tongue in cheek. “Everyone knows the best part of a Twinkie is the cream filling.”
“Oh, that was bad,” Hunter groaned, as Justin snickered. “Why are you laughing? Don't encourage him.”
“He's just as bad without any encouragement, trust me,” Justin said. He looked over at Gus, who was sitting on the floor trying to unwrap his candy. “Gus, what are you doing?”
Gus looked up guiltily. “Nothing.”
“Save that for after lunch, okay?” Justin said, putting out a hand to help him up. “We're about to go right now.”
“Five minutes, Brian. Really,” Hunter said, shaking his head.
Brian raised an eyebrow at him and lifted Gus into his arms. “Leave him alone, we didn't do anything,” Justin said, smoothing Brian's hair back fondly. “He wouldn't do that with Gus sitting out here waiting. He loves his widdle baby too much.”
Brian pulled away from Justin irritably. “I'm sure sonnyboy bears witness to enough muncher moaning at home, the last thing he needs to hear is Justin begging for my--“
“Gus,” Justin cut in. “You hungry?”
“I'm starving!” Gus said. “I'm gonna eat ten sammiches!”
Brian told Justin wryly, “How cute, dear. He has your stomach.”
* * *
“I want Jell-O,” Gus announced.
“You don't want Jell-O,” Justin said as he cut Gus' grilled cheese sandwich into fourths. “You always order it and then you don't eat it.”
“I want Jell-O,” Gus persisted.
“Gus, you'll waste it,” Justin said firmly. “The answer is no.”
Gus looked unimpressed and turned to his dad. “Daddy, may I have Jell-O, please?”
Brian glanced down at where his son sat beside him. “What did Justin say?”
“He said no,” Gus admitted.
“Then what do you think I'm going to say?” Brian asked.
Gus sighed and scowled at his sandwich. Then an idea came to him, and he brightened. He looked up at his dad and tried again. “If you let me have it, I'll be your best friend.”
“That's okay,” Brian said. “I have too many friends as it is.”
“Then I'm not your best friend,” Gus threatened.
“That's fine. Justin will be my best friend,” Brian said. “Right, Justin?”
“Sure,” Justin agreed. “May I have some Jell-O?”
“Wait! I'm still your best friend, Daddy!” Gus cried frantically. “I don't want Jell-O.”
Brian peered at Gus warily. “I don't know...you're awfully rude. You didn't listen to Justin when he told you no.”
Gus slid out of his seat and went to hug Justin. “I'm sorry, Justin. I won't do it again.”
“I forgive you.” Justin hugged him briefly. “Now eat your lunch.”
Gus climbed back into the booth and picked up his sandwich. “We're still best friends, right guys?”
“All of us are best friends?” Brian asked. When Gus nodded, Brian looked doubtful. “Have you consulted Justin about that? He doesn't do threesomes anymore.”
Justin glared at Brian and reached over to muss Gus' hair. “Best friends forever.”
* * *
When Debbie came into work, she made a beeline for the booth where Brian sat next to a crying Gus. “What the fu--udge did you do?”
“You know when you point a finger at someone, there are three more pointing back at you,” Brian advised, lifting a hand to demonstrate.
Debbie frowned at him and asked Gus, “Honey, what's wrong?”
“He dropped his sucker,” Justin said, as he came up behind her bearing a plate of lemon bars. “Watch your step.”
“Huh?” Debbie looked down and saw she was standing in a mess of sticky lollipop remains. “Oh, shi--um, turd.”
Gus sniffled as he accepted the plate from Justin. “What's turd?”
“Uh...” Debbie hemmed.
“It means poo,” Justin said. Gus giggled and ate his dessert.
“You're giving him sugar this close to naptime?” Debbie asked, glancing at her wristwatch.
“I'm not sleepy,” Gus said immediately.
“Honey, if you don't take your nap, you're going to be a very cranky boy,” Debbie cautioned him.
“No, I won't,” Gus said.
“He'll sleep when he's tired,” Brian told her.
“Fine,” Debbie said, backing away with her hands up. “What do I know about raising a child?”
“If I was trying to raise a son that called to make sure it was okay every time he shot a load, you'd be my personal Dr. Spock,” Brian assured her. “Gus is getting older now, he has a mind of his own. He's not a trained animal meant to perform on command.”
“The last thing I'd accuse a four year old of is being trained,” Debbie told him. “But go ahead and do it your way. You always do.”
“It's a mad method, but it works for me,” Brian flashed a smarmy smile and gently pushed Gus out of the booth. “Give granny a kiss, sonnyboy. We've got errands to run.”
Debbie leaned down and accepted Gus' kiss, then sighed as Brian and Justin kissed her too. “Don't say I didn't warn you.”
* * *
They were in the cereal aisle of the grocery store, Brian and Justin a few feet away debating the merits of Chex versus Cheerios, when they heard Gus' slightly irritated voice say, “Yes, I can.” They glanced over and saw him talking to a middle-aged woman standing by the oatmeal. They turned away, paying no attention as she replied in a quiet, friendly voice, but spun around when Gus screamed, “YES, I CAN!” in her face.
They quickly covered the short distance to flank Gus. “Is there a problem?” Justin asked.
“No, no, he's just--" the woman started.
“She said I can't be a dinosaur!” Gus yelled, stabbing a small finger in her direction.
“He was saying he wants to be a dinosaur when he grows up,” the woman said with a smile. “I was just explaining to him that he can't, but maybe he'd like to study dinosaurs instead.”
“He'll be a dinosaur if he damn well pleases!” Brian roared. Justin grabbed Gus and the cart and made a hasty retreat down the aisle. “Where the hell do you get off telling our son what he can and cannot be?”
“Oh, I'm--I'm sorry, I just--" the woman stammered, blushing profusely.
“Brian, come on,” Justin called. “Gus is crying, let's go.”
Brian looked at his son, and his anger melted away. He hurried over and lifted him into his arms. “Don't cry, sonnyboy. I'm not mad at you. And don't listen to that nasty old cunt, you can be whatever the hell you want.”
Gus continued crying, too upset to even scold his dad for cussing. “He's just tired,” Justin said. “Look at him, he's exhausted. Take him to the car and let him lie down, I'll pay for this stuff and meet you out there.”
“Just leave it, we'll come back tomorrow,” Brian said gruffly. He stroked Gus' hair soothingly. “Shh, sonnyboy, it's all right. You're going to be a great dinosaur someday. The biggest, strongest, smartest dinosaur there is. And then you can eat that old bitch and spit out her bones.” They walked to the car slowly, Brian murmuring tales of Gus' future adventures as a dinosaur, and by the time they buckled Gus into the backseat, he was asleep.
* * *
Justin yelped and wrapped a towel around his waist as the bathroom door opened and Gus padded in, rubbing his eyes drowsily. He walked up to where his dad was peeing in the toilet and slapped his bare thigh. “Daddy, hurry. I gotta use it.”
Brian finished up and flushed, then stepped out of his son's way. “You have impeccable timing, sonnyboy. If you'd come in ten minutes ago, it would've cost me a fortune in prospective therapy.” He shook his wet hair out on his son, who laughed.
“Did you have a good nap?” Justin called over his shoulder as he went into the bedroom to dress.
“Yes,” Gus said. “Now I can watch my movie.”
“Oh really?” Brian raised an eyebrow, rubbing himself down with a towel. “Shouldn't you ask me first?”
Gus sighed, as though very put out. “May I watch my movie, please?”
“It's a free country,” Brian said. “But maybe you should check with Justin too, in case he's planning to watch something.”
“Who's Casey?” Gus asked as Brian helped him wash his hands.
“Casey?” Brian echoed, his forehead wrinkling in confusion and then smoothing in realization. His lips twitched amusedly. “No, in case he. In case he has plans for the TV.”
Gus gave his dad a foggy look, then went to find Justin. “Does Casey have plans for the TV?”
“Who's Casey?” Justin asked. Gus just stared at him.
“Gus wants to watch his movie,” Brian told him as he picked out a fresh pair of jeans.
“Gus, movies are boring,” Justin said. “Why don't we color now?”
“I don't want to,” said Gus. “I want to watch my movie. It's not boring, it's good.”
“But then who's going to play with me?” Justin said.
“Daddy can play with you,” Gus suggested.
“I just played with Daddy,” Justin said. “He needs to rest. Daddy can't play as much as he used to. He's getting older, you know.”
“Daddy can hear you,” Brian walked up behind Justin and grabbed him by the hips, “and he's going to make you eat those words after Gus leaves tomorrow.”
“I'll eat my words and you can eat...something else,” Justin bargained mischievously. He looked over at Gus, who was rifling through the duffel bag he'd brought with him. “Gus, no movie until after dinner, okay?”
Suddenly Gus leaped to his feet and ran up to them holding a truck. “Guess what this is!”
“A truck?” Brian said.
“No!” Gus cackled wildly. “Guess what it is!”
“Something that looks like, but apparently isn't, a truck,” Brian said.
“It's a transformer!” Gus cooed, rearranging the toy. “Look, now it's a robot!”
“Awesome,” Justin said.
“Wait, I forgot his arms,” Gus said, flicking them into place. “Look!”
“Arms and everything,” Brian admired it. “What will they think of next?”
“I had transformers when I was a kid,” Justin said. “They were the best.”
“So did I.” Brian wandered over to sit at his computer desk.
“Really, they made them way back then?” Justin remarked innocently, grinning when Brian glowered.
“I need a snack,” Gus declared from where he sat on the floor playing.
“What do you say?” Justin asked.
“Get me a snack,” Gus answered.
“Get me a snack what?” Justin coached.
Gus smiled and said, “Get me a snack now.”
“Gus!” Justin laughed, nudging him with his foot. “Brian, do you hear him?”
“I hear him just fine. He said to get him a snack,” Brian said.
Justin rolled his eyes. “You can get your own snack,” he told Gus, then flounced off toward the couch. Brian caught his arm and pulled him into his lap. “You just gonna leave my kid there to starve?”
Justin put his hand on Brian's cheek and said, “If you're so concerned, feed him yourself.”
“What's the use of a live-in houseboy if he doesn't obey?” Brian wondered aloud, pinching Justin's ass.
Justin squirmed and said, “Maybe you should trade me in for a Jack Russell Terrier, I hear they can be trained to do all sorts of stuff.”
“If anything on a leash is in my bed on all fours, it's going to be blond and begging,” Brian told him, leaning in for some kisses. “And after all that trouble I went through to housebreak you, it'd be such a waste to replace you now.”
“I only messed on your duvet once, if you'll recall,” Justin said with sly smile. “I learned pretty quickly.”
“Naughty,” Brian teased, pinching him again.
“You love it.” Justin kissed him for a few minutes. Finally Brian pulled away, a bit flushed, and said, “Not in front of the child.”
That made Justin twist around in Brian's lap to scan the loft. “Gus, where are you?” When he got no response, he stood up and strode into the kitchen. “Gus?” He found him sitting on the floor, dipping a cookie into chocolate sauce and shoving it in his mouth. A torn-open package of cookies and a worse-for-wear jar of Nutella were nestled between his outstretched legs. “Oh, holy...” Justin crouched down and took the food away. “How many of these did you eat, Gus?”
“Huh?” Gus' eyes were glazed with a sugar-induced high. His face was covered with gooey crumbs.
Justin stood and held up the cookies, “Brian, Gus is about to go nuts.”
“Well, I hope you learned your lesson,” Brian said unconcernedly, attention caught by his computer screen.
“You look all pink.” Justin pressed the back of his hand to Gus' face. “Are you okay?”
“I want to dance!” Gus said, his little body seeming to buzz with energy.
“Okay, come on.” Justin took his hand and led him into the living room. Gus had a book of CDs that he kept at the loft, and Justin gave it to him to select one. Gus pointed at a Disney compilation and Justin put it on for him.
“I want 'Just Can't Wait to be King'!” Gus yelled, referring to his favorite song from The Lion King. Justin turned it on and Gus started singing--or screeching, rather--and dancing along.
Brian scowled from where he sat at his desk. “Some of us are trying to work, here.”
Justin shrugged. “He's bouncing off the walls. Just let him wear himself out.”
They both jumped when the music suddenly hit ear-splitting volume. “I WANT IT LOUD LIKE A PARTY!” Gus screamed merrily.
“No way,” Justin said, grabbing the remote from Gus and clicking the volume down several notches. “You're going to make us all deaf.”
“Dance with me!” Gus urged, grabbing Justin's hands. Justin imitated his silly movements. “Daddy, come dance with us!”
“Daddy doesn't want to dance,” Brian said. “Daddy wants to jump out the window and put himself out of his misery.”
“Come on, Daddy!” Gus let go of Justin and jigged his way over to his dad. He turned and shook his bottom at him. “Let's boogie!”
Justin came up and copied Gus. “Yeah, Daddy, let's boogie.”
Brian grinned and got up, pulling Justin close by one hand and wrapping an arm around his waist. “Gus, have you ever seen the lambada?”
“We can't!” Justin gasped scandalously. “It's forbidden!”
“I won't tell if you don't,” Brian promised, guiding Justin around the floor in a sloppy waltz.
“What about him?” Justin studied Gus suspiciously. “He's cute, but he looks wily.”
Gus giggled and busted some moves. Justin was relieved to note that Brian's dancing skills didn't appear hereditary.
* * *
“I need another sheet of paper,” Gus said as he carefully signed his name to his latest creation. He held it up proudly. “I finished.”
“Another masterpiece,” Justin praised. “Go show Daddy.”
Gus got up from where he knelt by the coffee table and ran over to his dad. “Look!”
“An astonishing likeness,” Brian affirmed, placing it on top of the small pile collecting on his desk. “But aren't you tired of drawing the same thing?”
“No,” said Gus. All of his drawings so far had been portraits of Justin.
“You know, it's important for an artist to challenge himself,” Brian told him. “Maybe your next one should be of someone else?”
“Who?” Gus asked. “Mama?”
“Well, there's an idea,” Brian considered it. “But Mama isn't here right now, so maybe she's not the best choice.”
“But there's no one else,” Gus said, looking around the loft.
“What, do you have a thing for blonds?” Brian grumped.
“Like father, like son,” Justin said, laughing when Brian snorted. “Gus, why don't you draw your daddy?”
“Okay!” Gus said, then turned to his dad eagerly. “Daddy, I'm gonna draw you!”
“If you must,” Brian acquiesced. “Should I pose, or are my dashing good looks already burnt into your memory?”
“You're confusing him with me,” Justin flirted, picking up his sketchbook and moving to sit on the floor near Brian. “Come sit by me, Gus. We'll both draw Daddy.”
* * *
A little past six o'clock, Gus put down his transformer and said, “I think I need dinner soon. My tummy is talking to me.”
“What's it saying?” Justin asked.
“It says it needs pizza and chocolate milk,” Gus reported.
“No chocolate milk,” Justin said. “You've had too many sweets today. But we'll have pizza.”
Brian looked up from his computer. “Gus, you don't want pizza. You want Lebanese.”
“No I don't, Daddy,” Gus said. “I want pizza.”
“Well you're getting Lebanese,” Brian said.
“Let's vote,” Gus proposed. “My teacher lets us vote at school.”
“Okay,” Justin said. “All in favor of pizza, raise your hand.” He and Gus raised their hands. “The majority rules. Another triumph of democracy.”
“Fine,” Brian huffed. “But I demand thin crust. And don't even think about pepperoni.”
* * *
After dinner, Justin was loading the dishes while Brian bothered him, neither heeding when Gus wandered up the bedroom steps. “How about another shower?” Brian growled softly, slipping his hands down the back of Justin's pants.
“What if he walks in?” Justin asked, before trailing his tongue along Brian's neck.
“We'll let him watch his fucking movie, he'll be glued to the couch,” Brian said.
“But he's awake now,” said Justin. “What if he hears something?”
“You can be quiet,” Brian said. “I'll make you be quiet.”
“Mmm,” Justin smiled into their kiss as a familiar sound came from the bedroom: the mattress moving. “Is Gus jumping on the bed?” He laughed when Brian pulled away, and followed him into the bedroom. He stopped short when he caught sight of Gus. He was jumping on the bed with a bottle in his hands, soaking wet...with lube. “Gus, what'd you do?” He ran up and snatched the empty bottle away. “This is grownup stuff!”
“Close your eyes,” Brian ordered, picking up his son. “Tilt your head back.” He wiped Gus' face off with the sheets. As he carried Gus into the bathroom, he told Justin, “This is all your fault for buying the economy size.”
“What a mess,” Justin groaned, yanking the dirty sheets off the bed. He rolled them up and took them into the bathroom, dropping them on the tiled floor. He peeked his head into the shower, where Brian was scrubbing his son. "Gus, why did you do that?”
Gus shrugged.
“Did you think it would feel cool or something?” Justin asked, trying to figure out what the hell had possessed him. Gus seemed to think about it, then nodded. “Well, did it?”
“It was slimy!” Gus grinned, completely unrepentant.
“Gus, it was very rude of you to do that,” Justin reprimanded him. “That was a very special grownup lotion that kids aren't supposed to touch.” Gus looked at Justin blankly, so he went on. “It's really expensive, too. It costs fifty thousand dollars a bottle. We're probably going to have to sell your toys to buy more.”
Gus looked worried now. “It was an accident!”
“It wasn't an accident, don't fib. You should apologize to both of us,” Justin said.
“I'm sorry!” Gus cried earnestly. “I won't do it again!”
“All right,” Justin said. “Then I forgive you.”
Gus looked up at Brian. “Do you forgive me, Daddy?”
“Sure, sonnyboy,” Brian said. “What's a little lube between friends?”
“A good idea,” Justin answered.
Brian smirked at him. “You know, when I suggested another shower, this wasn't what I had in mind.”
Justin heaved a defeated sigh and said, “Hey, Gus, you know what sounds like fun? Why don't we all go watch your movie?”
* * *
Brian was working at his computer desk and Justin was on the couch reading while Gus watched his movie. He mimed the action and quoted the dialogue verbatim, belting out every musical number in a devastatingly off-key warble. He was only yelled at once, when he got overly enthusiastic and attacked Justin during a fight scene. After that, pillows were assigned to play the bad guys so that Gus could tackle and beat them to his little heart's content. When the end credits finally rolled, Justin glanced at the wall clock and said, “Gus, aren't you tired? It's hours past your bedtime.”
“I'm not sleepy,” Gus said. “I want to watch it again.”
“No way,” Justin said, getting up off the couch. “Time to put on your jammies and hit the bed.”
Gus ran into the bedroom, smacked the bed, and came running back laughing, “There, I hit it! Now let's play!”
“Playtime is over,” Justin said. “It's jammy time.”
“No,” Gus whined. “Five more minutes?”
“Zero more minutes. Brian, tell Gus to put on his jammies,” Justin said.
“Gus, put on your...jammies,” Brian said, still preoccupied with his work.
“I don't want to wear jammies,” Gus said. “You guys don't wear jammies.”
“Sometimes we do,” Justin lied.
“No you don't!” Gus said. “I want to sleep in my panties like you.”
“Jesus Christ, they've turned my son into a dyke,” Brian grumbled.
Justin stifled his laughter. “Gus, boys don't wear panties. Boys wear underwear.”
“I want to wear my underwear,” Gus said.
Justin pursed his lips momentarily, then shrugged and went to put new sheets on the futon. “Fine, get undressed and go to bed.”
“You have to tuck me in,” Gus said, stripping as he walked to his duffel bag to retrieve a book and an ugly stuffed bear. When he was down to his Batman underoos, he climbed onto the mattress and settled in the middle. “Daddy, you too.”
“I'm coming,” Brian said, shutting down his computer.
“Take off your clothes,” Gus told them.
“Oh my god, it's genetic,” Justin said, as he and Brian disrobed.
They lied down on either side of Gus, and he shoved his book at Brian. “Daddy, you read to us, okay?”
Brian sighed and opened the book to the title page. “I love you, Earth,” He read. “Gus, is this some sort of neo-hippie treehugger propaganda?”
“Daddy, just read it,” Gus said, sounding very exasperated.
Brian raised his eyebrows, but flipped to the next page. “I love you, grass; I love you, worm. I love you, sky; I love you, bird.” He went on, and Justin closed his eyes as he listened. Eventually Brian reached the last two pages and recited, “I love you, day; I love you, night...” before abruptly stopping. Justin opened his eyes to see what the problem was, and when he saw the words on the page he smirked at Brian expectantly, daring him to go on. Brian's eyes narrowed, but he read, “I love you, sunshine,” and Justin's smirk spread into a big devilish grin. Brian rolled his eyes without missing a beat. “I love you, moonlight. I love you, land; I love you, sea. I love you, Earth, and you love me.”
“I love you, Earth!” Gus shouted. Brian kissed the top of his head and said, “There, you got your story. Now go to sleep.”
“Read it again!” Gus said.
“Yeah, read it again,” Justin said, still grinning.
“No,” Brian said. “It's time for all the good,” he glanced at Justin, “and bad boys to go to sleep.”
“I'm a good boy,” Gus said, thrusting his bear in his dad's face. “Give Gus a kiss, too.”
“I'm not kissing that ratty old thing,” Brian said, pushing it away.
“It's not ratty!” Gus defended, hugging it to him. “He's my best friend! Right, Justin?”
“Right,” Justin said kissing first the boy, then the bear. “He was my best friend for a long time, too.”
Gus smiled at him and then looked up at his dad beseechingly. Brian made a show of sighing and rolling his eyes before kissing the bear. Satisfied, Gus peppered kisses all over his dad and Justin's faces, then snuggled between them. “Stay here till I'm dreaming,” he told them. Brian switched off the bedside lamp and Justin covered them with the duvet. In a matter of minutes, all three were fast asleep.
* * *
Justin woke up to the sound of Gus' shrill giggles. He got out of bed to pee and brush his teeth, then went into the living room and found Brian sitting on the couch with Gus in his lap, both still in their underwear. When he noticed Justin, Brian said, “Thank god. We're starving.”
“Give us some food!” Gus said, grabbing his belly for effect. “Please, my tummy's empty!”
Justin headed to the kitchen to heat up some frozen blueberry waffles. They were quiet for a while, the only noise the television and the toaster. As he got out a plate to serve the food on, Justin said, “How long have you been up?”
“Not that long,” Brian said. “Two episodes of Spongebob, and then whatever this is.”
“Fairly Odd Parents,” Gus supplied, eyes stuck to the screen.
“Why didn't you just make something yourself?” Justin asked, plucking the final pair of waffles out of the toaster.
“Daddy said he's not allowed to cook unless someone watches,” Gus said. “Just like me, right Daddy?”
Brian coughed and stared hard at the television.
“Daddy would starve to death if left to his own devices, but I'm surprised he didn't at least pour you some cereal,” Justin said.
“I don't want cereal. You don't got the good kind,” said Gus. “Daddy said if I'm too hungry then wake you up.”
“Oh, he did?” Justin asked, walking over and setting the plate of waffles on the coffee table. Gus got off of Brian to get one and Justin took the opportunity to steal his spot. Gus didn't mind; he handed each of them a waffle before climbing onto Justin's lap. “Daddy, are we squishing you?” he asked.
“No, but Sunshine's big head is blocking my view,” Brian said blandly.
“Sunshine, move your big head,” Gus told him, and Justin shifted around obligingly. They had finished breakfast and two episodes of The Fairly Oddparents when the intercom buzzed. Justin nudged Gus off of his lap and went to push the access button and crack the loft door open.
“Go put on some clothes, Mama's here,” Justin said, gathering Gus' things. He and Brian put on pants and Gus dressed without an argument, but when he saw Lindsay he cried, “I don't wanna go!”
“Aren't you happy to see me?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said, accepting her hug and kiss. “I missed you, Mama.”
She said, “I missed you too. Did you have fun with Daddy and Justin?”
“Yes,” Gus nodded. “Did you bring me a treat?”
“It's too early for a treat,” Lindsay said, taking Gus' bag from Justin. “Thanks.”
“But I made Daddy read my book!” Gus protested.
Lindsay blushed and fought a smile, quickly averting her gaze when she saw Brian's knowing scowl. “Gus, I'll give you a treat later, okay?” She addressed Justin, who was grinning at her broadly, “Thank you so much for taking him. Was he any trouble?”
“He was a peach,” Justin assured her. “And don't thank us, you know we love spending time with Gus. He's always welcome.”
“I could come next weekend!” Gus offered. “We could go to the circus!”
“The circus?” Justin asked, looking at Brian as though this was the best idea he'd heard all day. “I bet Daddy would love that.”
“Yeah!” Gus said, running to his dad and throwing his arms around his legs. He looked up at him excitedly, “Daddy, wanna go to the circus with me? They have clowns and animals! You could buy me cotton candy!”
“Gus, Mama will take you to the circus,” said Brian.
“I don't want to go with Mama, I want to go with you and Justin,” Gus whimpered, blinking his big doe eyes dramatically. “Please, Daddy? I love you.”
Justin joined in, clinging to Brian's arm and pressing his body close. He mimicked Gus' beseeching expression. “I love you, Earth,” he said.
Brian grimaced and pushed Justin away, then gently pried Gus off of him. “We'll see, sonnyboy.”
“Yay!” Gus cheered, taking that as a yes and jumping around in celebration. Lindsay, who'd been watching them amusedly, said, “Come on, Gus. You're going to be late for swim class if we don't hurry.”
“Okay, okay,” Gus said, sounding very rushed. He grabbed Justin and Brian's hands and smushed them together. When their fingers entwined instinctively, Gus planted kisses all over their joined hands. Then he let go and followed his mom out the door, calling over his shoulder, “Thank you for taking care of me! Love you!”
“See you tonight at Deb's,” Lindsay added.
The loft door slid shut and Brian and Justin stood alone. Brian looked at Justin and said, “I'm not going to the fucking circus.”
“Two things,” Justin said. “First of all, yes you are. Second of all, I stole Gus' book, and you're gonna read it to me every night whether you like it or not.”
“No you didn't,” Brian said, smirking.
“No, I didn't,” Justin admitted. “But I should have. You know you loved it.”
Brian didn't say anything; he just picked up the sound system remote and turned on the CD player. A few more clicks, and the opening strains of a familiar song played. He tugged Justin into his arms. “You are the biggest geek,” Justin scoffed, as Brian danced them up the bedroom stairs. When they reached the futon, Brian dipped Justin and then let him fall onto the mattress. Justin laughed as his head the hit a pillow, his smile blinding. Brian climbed on top of him and kissed him, and when he pulled back, he was smiling too.
Fin
[icons] - some icons inspired by this fic. So cute <3<3<3
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A/N: This is my first QAFic ever, and I appreciate the hell out
of everyone that read and responded as I posted this. It was only meant to be
a ficlet, and grew into a horrible shmoopfest. I have no shame though, because
I know that Brian is sekritly much, much more shmooptastic than I could
ever dream of being. Special thanks to paddies
for being my crack dealer.
<3 mc pof ife
Disclaimer: I own nothing, least of all QAF. No copyright infringement intended. No sue, 'kay? Thanks.