Chapter Text
Brian, felt old today. Not in a bad way necessarily, but he did feel old. He was starting to feel the wear on his mind and body from the late nights and early mornings he’d been pulling. Thirty-four, he told himself, isn’t so old. However, as he reflected back on the last week he wondered if he’d really had any fun. He had turned his birthday celebration into one week long party, consisting of, drugs, booze, and men. And now as he parked his jeep outside of Mel and Lindz’ house he felt unsatisfied, and old. He walked to the door without the swagger he normally carried, he felt something inside him shift, his charisma faltered for those few minutes and he took note and thought on it. Then out of the door in a flash came a screaming four year-old. Gus was tall for his age and just as skinny. Mel complained that he was looking more like Brian everyday. It was true. The boy was a mirror image of Brian at that age.
“DAAAAAAADDEEEEEE” Gus shrieked and climbed Brian’s chest to get high enough to kiss him on the lips. “I stay with you for days and days” Gus held up two fingers of his right hand and three on his left showing them to Brian to prove his point.
Brian gently pulled up an extra finger on Gus’ right hand “This many, Sonny boy.”
Gus smiled and held up all ten digits “DIS MANEEEEE!”
Brian laughed. “Sure buddy. Now go get your things”
He the minute he set Gus down, the boy took off running into the house nearly knocking over his mother as he ran to his room. Brian looked Lindsey up and down she looked tired. Her hair was messily pulled back, she sported dark circles under her eyes, and she breathed an audible sigh of relief as she watched Brain step across the threshold.
“That happy to see me?” he opened his arms and Lindsey walked into his embrace.
“Brian, you have no idea what this means to us. Thank you for taking them this week.” Lindsey leaned against Brian.
“No problem, the way I see it now you owe me.” Brian smirked and then chastely kissed Lindsey on the lips. “Now, where’s my baby girl?”
“Mel’s just finishing up dressing her. Now I put all their toys and clothes and things in these suitcases. You have everything else.”
“That I do. Now, go get me my daughter. You two have a plane to catch in three hours and I bet you’re not even packed.” Lindsey just rolled her eyes and went up stairs.
A few minutes later, Gus returned with his superman backpack and went right out the door to stand by the jeep with this trademark ‘I’m waiting’ look. Brian rolled his eyes at the kid’s dramatics. Melanie and Lindsey reappeared carrying a red-faced two-year old. Katie, unlike Gus had Lindsey’s blonde hair but she had Brian’s hazel eyes. She was still a little pudgy with baby fat, and she was so animated it was sometimes hard to keep up with her.
“Dah!” the baby, suddenly happy, reached her arms out to Brian, who took her as he received a scalding look from Melanie. ‘Not my fault she likes me better’ Brian thought to himself.
“Hey there Katie, how you doin’, baby?” Brian kissed her and took the diaper bag from Melanie. He motioned to the two suitcases.
“Be a sport, Mel, and grab those for me?” And with that he was out the door.