Justin sat quietly next to Brian as they drove back to the loft. Gus was sleeping contentedly in his car seat in the back seat of the Jeep; Brian had gotten another one when it became apparent that his convertible was not exactly child friendly. The blond artist listened in as his lover talked to his attorney in regards to what had happened back at Mel and Lindsay’s.

“I know they are his legal parents, Mark, and that I gave up my parental rights, but I didn’t exactly kidnap my son. The Munchers had already agreed that he could spend the night at the loft. All I did was take him a little earlier than anticipated….MmmHmmm….Yeah….Of course I am….Of course I do…Okay I’ll see you in an hour at the loft. And thanks Mark.” Brian hit the end button on his phone, silence taking over that car. It stayed that way all the way back to the loft.

Brian carried Gus up to the loft, carefully making sure that he didn’t wake up. Justin followed close behind, the gifts he and Brian had been taking to Gus’s party in his hands. Brian went over to the corner of the loft that had once housed his TV and sofa. Now it was blocked off with painted silk screens that showed various colorful cartoon characters. Brian and Justin had put them up a year earlier when it became apparent that Gus was getting old enough that he was going to need his own room in the loft, especially since he had begun to spend more and more time with his father. Brian and Justin also enjoyed the sense of privacy it gave them on the nights when Justin spent the night in his lover’s bed. And Gus loved his little room; especially it had been Justin that had painted the scenes from some of Gus’s favorite books.

After Brian had Gus settled in his bed, he went out into the living area and watched as Justin guzzled down some bottled water. When the blond noticed his attention his raised the bottle in his hand, silently asking his lover if he wanted some also. Brian nodded and Justin grabbed two more bottles, bringing them over to the sofa, joining Brian who was already there.

“Brian…about what’s going to happen,” Justin began, unsure of what to say. “You know how I feel about Gus, and that I’ll support you with any decision that you make.”

“I know you will, Sonny boy.” Brian leaned over and kissed the other man’s cheek.

“And I agree that the way Linds and Mel, and the rest of the gang, have been treating Gus since Annie’s birth truly sucks and is completely unfair to him…”

“But?” Justin smiled, knowing that he should have even tried to sugarcoat what he was trying to say.

“But, I don’t know that I’m ready to take on the responsibility of being a parent,” Justin finished. “Hell, there are days when I can’t even deal with my own bullshit and I see how hard it is for the girls raising Gus and Annie and I don’t think I can do it.”

“You can do anything that you put your mind to and you know it,” Brian assured the younger man. “Besides, Gus loves you and he already thinks you’re his father. If we do get custody of him, it will just make it official.”

“You.”

“Huh?”

“When you get custody,” Justin emphasized.

“Justin…” Brian groaned, not liking the direction the conversation seemed to be going. He understood the reasons Justin felt the way he did, especially considering he felt them a bit himself, but he hoped that the blond would be willing to help him make sure that Gus knew he was loved. He also figured that the fight for Gus would mean that Justin would finally be willing to move back into the loft, something that Brian had wanted for over a year, but for which the blond kept refusing, saying that the two men weren’t ready for the kind of togetherness just yet. Brian felt that argument was ridiculous considering the amount of time the two men already spent together.

“No, Brian, listen to me,” Justin went on, not wanting Brian to think that Justin didn’t support him, or want to be a father to Gus. “I will do anything and everything I can to help you. And if that means supporting you in getting custody of Gus, then that’s what I’ll do, no matter what everyone else says, or what the odds are against us. The only thing I won’t do is move in here just for that reason. It wouldn’t be fair to me, you or Gus. If we live together it has to be for the right reasons, not just for appearances sake or so that you would have a full time baby sitter for Gus.”

“Justin, you know that wouldn’t be the case.”

“I know, I’m just giving examples, but there’s a better than good chance that that’s what everyone else would say giving the timing of the move.” Brian stayed silent, knowing that Justin was right. Everyone would say the he only allowed Justin to move into the loft to help with the custody fight. As it was, many believed Brian was the reason the two men kept two separate residences, not Justin.

“Fuck em.” Justin laughed, leaning into Brian’s body and allowing the older man to place his arms around the artist’s shoulders.

“No thanks,” Justin shot back. The two men enjoyed the silence for a few minutes more before Justin continued what he was trying to say. “Brian, I want you to know. Even with me not moving in here, you know I will be more than willing to help you out with Gus if you do manage to gain custody, whether joint or permanent. I love that little boy, just like I have since the day he was born. And between the two of us I’m sure it will be no problem with at least one of us always being with him. Now that I’m in my third year, my classes are a lot more flexible considering the professors prefer us spending time in the studio as opposed to the classroom. And I can just switch to the dinner shift at the diner, that way I can spend the day with Gus while you’re at the office.”

“You don’t have to do that,” Brian told him. “You know Gus loves spending time in the office, and Cynthia loves having him there. I just thought I could bring him into work with me.” Justin smiled at the picture of Big Bad Brian Kinney bringing his son into work with him everyday.

“And what exactly would Gus be doing at the office? Somehow I don’t see him going into meetings with clients.”

“Well, no,” Brian admitted. “But considering how much he likes to draw, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind spending time in the art department. Maybe I could even get him his own little desk.” Justin thought about what Brian was suggesting and, while he could see some drawbacks, he could also see how it could work. And, if truth be told, Gus loved going to the office with his daddy.

“And I’ll be more than willing to watch him on my days off.”

“You know Debbie isn’t going to be too happy with you if you do support me in this,” Brian remarked. “No matter how she treats Gus now that Annie is around, she will still think that I’m the unfeeling asshole that is just trying to hurt the mothers of her granddaughter. She might decide to take that out on you.”

“She even tries to and she’ll be sorry,” Justin assured her. “I love her and the girls, but Gus is who’s important now. He’s the one who is feeling unloved by those that should be supporting him. I know how that feels and no kid should have to go through that.”

“I know, Sunshine. I know.” Brian took Justin into his arms and the two men continued to hold each other, allowing the silence to over take them. They stayed that way until the buzzer went off letting them know that someone was there. Brian went over to the intercom. “Yeah.”

“It’s Mark Cavanaugh, Brian.”

“Come on up, Mark.” Brian buzzed in the attorney turning to face Justin who made his way over to his lover. Brian raised his eyebrow at the younger man, his silence a question. Justin took Brian’s hand in his own, squeezing it.

“Whatever it takes, Brian, I’ll stand by you.”