“I haven’t seen Debbie around,” Jennifer told them.

“That’s because she’s been spending a lot of time with Martha and Christopher,” Brian told her.

“Oh,” Jennifer smiled.  “I’m happy that she’s doing something.”

“I think she met someone too,” Brian told her as he changed Tiernan’s diaper.

“Oh,” Jennifer sounded intrigued.  “How do you know this?”

“Chris told me,” Brian answered.

“I see,” Jennifer drawled.

“Ah!” Sinead screamed and started crying.

“What is it my darling?” Jennifer asked as she picked up her granddaughter.

“What’s wrong?” Justin asked appearing at the door while he held Sheridan by the waist and Fiona in his arms.

“It’s nothing honey,” Jennifer assured her.  “Are you okay?”

Justin shook his head before he disappeared with two of the quads. 

Brian smirked and picked Tiernan’s shorts to put them on the boy.  “They’re growing so fast already.”

Jennifer nodded as she rubbed Sinead’s back.  “They’re so amazing and time is going by so fast.”

“I know,” Brian sighed.  “Liam is going to turn seven soon and the quads are three and these little guys are three months old.  Jeez, I feel old.”

Jennifer laughed.  “Does that mean I should feel ancient?”

Brian looked at her and smirked.  “You’re not ancient.”

“Guys,” Justin said appearing again.  “Let’s change.  You gang up on the quads and I’ll take the twins.”

“I think not,” Brian told him as he picked Tiernan up.  He walked over to Justin and kissed him.  “Are they driving you crazy yet?”

“I think Jill is feeding them copious amounts of sugar,” Justin said frowning.  

Brian laughed and gave Tiernan to his husband.  “I have to go back to work.  You were the one that said you could do it.  I can always take them to the daycare with me, the quads at least.”

“Papa,” Fiona said smiling up at his father.  “Come,” she told him extending her hand to her father.

Justin smiled at her.  “No.  It’s okay.”

Brian watched him go and rolled his eyes.  “He’s eventually going to cave in.”

Jennifer laughed.  She looked at Sinead who was fussing.  “Brian, come here.”

Brian walked over to her.  “What is it?”

“She doesn’t look okay,” Jennifer told him.  She touched her forehead but the girl didn’t have a fever.

Sinead started crying again.  Brian tried to control her.  “I don’t know what’s wrong with her.”

Jennifer picked her up again.  “Jesus, I don’t think she’s breathing right Brian.”

Brian’s heart lurched.  “God, did she swallow something.”

“I don’t think so, Brian,” Jennifer said getting worried.  “I think she’s having an asthma attack.  We have to take her to the hospital now.”

Brian didn’t have to be told twice.  Jennifer held Sinead as she followed the brunet.  They didn’t even say goodbye to Justin.  Brian would call him when they reached the hospital and the girl was getting the attention she needed.  

Once the brunet was in the hospital he almost bit the head of a nurse who was being a bitch to them.  When his daughter stopped breathing Brian could have killed the woman.  Thankfully a doctor that was hearing the whole thing intervened.

“Brian,” Jennifer said as the man paced back and forth.  “Do you want me to call Justin?”

“No,” Brian told her.  He scratched his left eye.  “Not now.”

Jennifer nodded and pleaded, “Brian, please sit down.”

Brian sighed and sat down next to her.  He started tapping his foot on the floor.  “God, I never thought I would be here.”

Jennifer looked at him with a raised brow. 

“I mean with kids and worrying about what happened to them,” Brian told her looking in her eyes.  “I’m dying here.”

Jennifer nodded and put a hand around the man’s shoulder.  She was proud of him.  Brian had gone through a great deal.  

“Why does everything have to get fucked up?” Brian asked.  “There is always something.”

Jennifer rubbed his arm.  

“Sometimes I feel like someone is trying to give me some big fucking message.  Like I don’t deserve my family or deserve to be happy.  Every time I let my guard down and think the worst is over I get knocked down again.  Sometimes I feel like I’m in this alone and I’m sinking.  I know Justin is here, thank god but he has changed so much,” Brian muttered.  “He forgot about us.”

“That wasn’t his fault,” Jennifer pointed out.  

“I know that,” Brian told her.  “He’s trying so hard to get to know everyone again and it shouldn’t be like that,” he related.  “I wish I could fix it.  I know how hard it’s for him.  I can see it.  I know him and I know when he’s in pain,” Brian told her and closed his eyes when they watered.

Jennifer gripped his arm.  The brunet had reached his limit.  He had never broken down until now and she was amazed it didn’t happen before.  

“And now Sinead is sick,” Brian opened his eyes and a tear made it down.  “God, I don’t know what I’m going to do if...”

Jennifer was glad that the man didn’t finish his sentence.  “Brian, we have to be strong honey.  I’m here for you and the whole family is.  And I don’t want to hear that you don’t deserve this and no one is trying to send you a message that you don’t deserve to be happy because you do.”

Brian sniffed and nodded slowly.

“Mr. Kinney,” the doctor said coming out.  “Your daughter is going to be okay.”

Brian closed his eyes and let Jennifer hug him when tears of joy started to fall.

***

“What the fuck were you thinking?” Justin asked mad.  “She’s my daughter too!”

“Justin,” Brian said.  “I know that.  I didn’t want to worry you.  She’s going to be fine.”

“What if she hadn’t been fine?” Justin asked.

“What would you have done differently?” Brian asked mad.  “I acted as fast as I could.  Stopping to explain to you didn’t seem like a priority at the time!”

Justin sighed and he closed his eyes.  He threw himself at Brian and hugged him tightly.  “I’m sorry.  I was scared and mad and...I’m sorry.”

Brian hugged him as well.  He caressed Justin’s back.  

Justin pulled back and cleared his throat.  “Do you want to spent the night?”

Brian smiled at the blond.  He could see that Justin was dying to be the one to stay at the hospital.  “You can stay,” Brian assured him.

“Thank you,” Justin said hugging Brian again.

“Hey guys,” Emmett called as he walked over to them.

“Hey, Em,” Justin said rubbing his eyes.

“I heard what happened,” Emmett hugged Justin and then moved over to Brian.  “Is everything okay?”

Justin nodded.  “She’s going to stay until her lungs clear up.”

“Thank god,” Emmett said. 

“I’m going to go see her one last time for today,” Brian announced then he left for the room.

“Are you okay, baby?” Emmett asked.

“Baby?” Justin asked.

“It’s my nickname for you,” Emmett explained.

Justin smiled.  “Yeah, I’m fine now.  I almost died when Brian told me.  I called Molly to come stay with the kids and practically flew here.  Mom, left a few minutes ago.”

“I know,” Emmett said.  “She’s at the house with the kids.”

Justin nodded and sat down in the cold, hard plastic chairs with Emmett.  “Wow, thanks for coming.”

“It’s nothing,” Emmett assured him.

“You’re a good guy, Em,” Justin said.

Emmett smiled widely.  “Thank you.”

“I heard that you’re a great parent too,” Justin told him smiling.

“We’re trying,” Emmett replied.  “She’s doing so much better.”

Justin smiled at his friend.  “That’s good to hear.”

“Yeah,” Emmett whispered.

“She’s sleeping,” Brian told them when he came back.

Justin got up and hugged Brian.  Brian caressed the blond’s face and kissed him hard.  

“Here,” Justin told him giving him the car keys. 

“Thanks,” Brian whispered.  “The nurse is with her.  She’s checking her vitals, visiting hours are over.  She knows you’re going to be staying.”

Justin nodded and turned to hug Emmett goodbye.  “Thanks for coming.”

Emmett told him it was no problem once again.  They watched as Justin left for the room.  

“Are you okay?” Emmett asked.

Brian groaned.  “I could be better.”

Emmett nodded understanding the brunet.

***

Chris arrived around five at his parent’s house.  Pretty much everyone else was there.  He put Andrew down on the floor and let go of Vicky’s hand.   

“Honey,” Debbie said smiling widely before she kissed him on the cheek.

“Hey, Deb,” Chris smiled.  “You look happy.”

Debbie actually giggled before she picked up Andrew in her arms, took Vicky’s hand and walked away.

“Okay,” Chris said very slowly at Debbie’s reaction and walked to the kitchen.  He kissed his mother hello and then started opening the covered bowls.  “What is this?” Chris asked.

“Do you want some?” Martha asked.  “The food is almost ready, don’t be poking at it.”

“Jeez,” Chris said moving away towards the fridge.  “I’m just looking at the food.”

“We’re about to eat,” Martha told him.  “We’re waiting for Brian and Justin.”

“Okay,” Chris told her.

“Hey,” Melanie said as she entered the kitchen with a guy.  “This is Dan, Dan this is Chris.”

Dan and Chris shook hands.  

“He’s Stuart’s partner,” Melanie announced.  

“Oh,” Chris said.  He had heard of Stuart before.  Apparently he and Melanie were becoming good friends.  He was glad that there was someone outside the family that was supporting her.  Emmett told him that Stuart was a great guy and he was helping Melanie come out of her funk.

“It’s really nice to meet you,” Dan told him sincerely.  

Chris talked with them until he heard someone at the door.  He excused himself and smiled when he saw Brian and Justin arriving with the kids.  Both parents resembled crazy people at the edge of insanity

“Sheridan!” Brian yelled when the boy hit Keefe and took off running. 

Keefe started crying and clinging to Justin’s leg while he carried Tiernan.  Brian had Sinead and ushering the two girls, that were each a chatterbox, inside. 

Liam was standing looking at his family and he actually looked embarrassed.  Chris couldn’t help but laugh at them.  

“Do you guys need help?” Chris asked.  

“I have it under control,” Brian assured him. 

“Ahhh!” Vicky yelled when Sheridan pulled on her hair.  “Daddy!”

Chris took a deep breath and went after Sheridan.  He picked the boy up and kissed him on the cheek.  “Why are you bothering my girl, little man?”

“I good,” Sheridan shrieked and laughed as Chris tickled him.

“Liam!” Vicky ran over to him.  

Liam frowned and moved closer to Brian.  Then he grabbed his father’s hand and ignored the girl.

“Wan to play?” Vicky asked.

“No,” Liam yelled.

Chris smirked at the whole interaction. “Kids,” Chris drawled and put Sheridan down.  “Who’s hungry?”

“Me!” the quads yelled with delight. 

“I could eat,” Justin informed them.

Brian scoffed.  “No surprise there.”

“We’re ready to eat,” Debbie announced. 

Brian walked over to his father while Liam followed him.  “Hey Jack.”

Jack smiled at his kid.  “Let me hold her.”

Brian placed Sinead in the man’s arm.  

“Come on, Liam,” Chris said to the boy.  “Let’s get you a chair.”

Liam pouted and went with the man.  “No,” he said when he saw where his uncle wanted to sit him.

Chris smiled when he tried to sit the boy next to Vicky in the kid’s table.  “Do you want to sit with your brother?”

“I want to sit here,” Liam said taking a seat in between Alicia and Abe.  

Chris moved the chairs and let the boy sit where he wanted.  “There.”

“Fly!” Sheridan yelled as he attempted to fly by jumping from one of the chairs to the floor.

“No, easy there champ,” Craig said picking Sheridan up.

Chris laughed and went to pick up Keefe who was about to do the same.  

“Okay, okay, let’s settle down,” Martha told them.

Chris sat down with Keefe on his lap because once he picked the boy he didn’t want to let go.  They said a prayer and he was used to his parents doing that.  They started eating and talking.  From time to time someone had to get up and go separate the kids at the table because they were misbehaving.  

He looked at his family and smiled widely.  He was happy, really happy.  He still thought of Michael but with each day time healed raw wounds and they hurt less.  Each day that passed he could remember Michael yet he smiled at all the good moments without feeling as if his world would crumb to pieces.

“Ahhh!” Liam yelled.  “She kissed me!”

Chris looked back at Vicky who was standing next to Liam.  He laughed with the rest of the adults.  And even though he wished Michael was there for moments like this, he knew that he and the kids would be okay.

***

“Justin!” Brian called as he came home.  It was his lunchtime and he wasn’t sure if Justin was there.

“Mr. Kinney,” Jill said.  “Hey.”

Brian frowned when he saw the man without his shirt.  “What’s going on?”

“We have a problem,” Jill said.  “A big one.  Justin and I are trying to solve it.”

Brian frowned and followed the man into the den.  It looked like a food fight had taken place there.  “Jesus Christ!  What’s that smell?”

“Brian,” Justin said.  “Sheridan started it.”

Brian looked at the boy that had ketchup and mustard in his hair.  “What were you doing?”

“We gave them hot dogs,” Justin explained.  “Jill stayed to eat before he left and next thing we know we hear screaming and when we came in they were throwing food left and right.”

Brian shook his head.  “Where are the twins?”

“Sleeping,” Justin informed him as he tried to clean mustard from the wall.  

“Come here,” Jill yelled when Keefe tried to run away.  He was trying to clean the boys up.

“Don’t touch me,” Brian said taking a step back as Sheridan smirked at him and came running towards him.

Brian managed to turn the boy around and pick him up from under the armpits.  He kept the boy at arms length while the boy laughed.  “I have to go in a few minutes.”

“Okay,” Justin told him.  “We have things under control.”

“Hardly,” Brian said.  “And I’m leaving for New York.”

“What?” Justin asked.  “Why?”

Jill arched a brow and bit his lower lip.  “Okay boys and girls,” he said.  “We need to make a line and walk to the bathroom.”

Keefe ran and jumped in front of Jill.  “I first!”

Illona and Fiona ran behind them.  Brian put Sheridan on the floor and the boy ran to make the line.  

“Okay,” Jill said.  “March now and follow me.”

Brian smiled as he heard the boys and girls giggling as they followed Jill.  “He’s good.”

“Brian,” Justin said.  “What do you mean you’re leaving?”

“I came to pack,” Brian told him.  “I don’t have time to go into details.  My plane leaves in exactly two hours.  I came for a few things.”

Justin followed Brian into the bedroom.  “For how long?”

“Max a week,” Brian told him.  “Are you going to be okay alone with the kids?”

“I’ll ask Jill if he can stay longer today,” Justin said.  “Then I’ll call Molly.  She won’t mind staying in the evenings.”

Brian nodded. 

“So, what happened?” Justin asked.

“I have a chance to procure a new client, Brown Athletics,” Brian informed him.  “I’ve been waiting for the opportunity and I was informed through confidential channels that they’re looking for a new ad agency.  No one knows.  I have to act quickly.”

Justin nodded and smiled as he saw Brian excited about the unique opportunity.  

“I hope you get it, Brian,” Justin said. 

Brian nodded absently as he picked the clothes he was going to be wearing.  He looked briefly at the twin’s cribs and smiled.  “We need to go house hunting soon.”

“I know,” Justin said.  “I’ll look into it.”

Brian nodded and smiled when Justin started helping him pack.  He grabbed the blond by the waist and pulled him close.  “I wish I had time to ravish you.”

Sinead started crying then.

“You scared our child with such thoughts,” Justin teased.  

Brian laughed and kept on packing as Justin checked the little girl.  

“Guys,” Jill said knocking on the door of the bedroom, which was open.  He walked inside holding Sheridan by the waist.  The rest of the quads were behind him giggling and yelling.

“What is it?” Justin asked arching a brow.

“Could a kid die if he drank soap straight from the bottle?” Jill asked.  

Brian and Justin looked at each other and then at Sheridan who was hissing, coughing and spitting while trying to get away from Jill.

“Dude your kids are something else,” Jill told them.

“I believe you,” Brian drawled as he finished packing.

Justin went to see what he could do with Sheridan.  He knew it was something new with the boy each day and he shouldn’t be surprise but still he was stunned.