{"@attributes":{"version":"2.0"},"channel":{"title":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/","description":"paeansong - LiveJournal.com","lastBuildDate":"Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:49:47 GMT","generator":"LiveJournal \/ LiveJournal.com","image":{"url":"https:\/\/l-userpic.livejournal.com\/40489396\/9085146","title":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/","width":"100","height":"66"},"item":[{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/109411.html","pubDate":"Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:49:47 GMT","title":"The Gathering, Chapter 69 - Christmas Morning 5 of 5 (continued)","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/109411.html","description":"Title:                \tThe Gathering<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only (NC-17)<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tNone<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/><br \/>When Debbie and Carl have their first real date In QAF Episode 214, Carl showed Debbie pictures of his daughter, Vicki, who lives in Salt Lake City, and his son, Carl Jr., who was in the Air Force.  I kept waiting for an episode where Carl\u2019s family would actually appear.  It never happened, so here\u2019s my version of what happened when Carl\u2019s adult children and their families come to Pittsburgh to meet Debbie and the gang.   This is the first Christmas after Brian and Justin legalized their relationship, and they are now living in New York City. Ben and Michael are estranged\u2026with Ben and Hunter living in an apartment and Michael living alone in the house.  This story was intended to be a standalone story.  This is just a little holiday fluff, but it takes me a while to tell a simple story, so I will update frequently.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.<br \/><br \/>Lois, Kathy, and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Gathering&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s Comments:  As promised, here is your next installment of one chapter, which is really a continuation of Chapter 68.  I hope you like the chapter.<br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 69 \u2013 Christmas Morning, Part 5 of 5 (continued)<br \/>Later Christmas Morning, December 25th<br \/><br \/><br \/><i> And Returning to Bri-tin<\/i><br \/><br \/>Daphne and Gus were the first to arrive in the kitchen.  She poured him a glass of milk and one for herself.  <br \/><br \/>As they were sipping she had to ask.  \u201cSo, there are horses in the stables?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gus grinned from ear-to-ear as he nodded.  \u201cYep.  And, we need to cut up carrots and apples.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Daphne smiled.  \u201cWe cut up carrots and apples last night for Santa\u2019s reindeer.  Are you sure horses will like the same things?\u201d  She realized this was a perfect time see how much he\u2019d learned about the horses he\u2019d been lobbying for.<br \/><br \/>Again, he nodded.  \u201cThe first time Jus took Dad and me riding, I fed carrots to the horses.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat first meeting must have gone well.  You\u2019ve been riding for a while now.  The carrots must have worked.  But apples?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cHorses love apples too,\u201d Gus reassured her.  \u201cI read it in my book.  They also love sugar.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Daphne eyed the sugar bowl on the table in front of her.  She lifted the spoon in the sugar bowl let the granules slide off the spoon.  \u201cWe\u2019re not even going to think about this.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gus laughed. \u201cNot that kind of sugar.  Little blocks,\u201d he quickly corrected.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019re going there either.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019ll talk to Thomas about the sugar.  He knows everything.  He grew up with horses when he was little.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Daphne smiled, \u201cReally?  I guess Thomas is going to be really busy from now on.\u201d<br \/><br \/>There was a sight lull in the conversation and the back door opened.  Thomas strolled in and smiled at Gus. \u201cWhere are Brian and Justin?  Have you been back to see the horses?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNot yet,\u201d Gus pointed out, \u201cBut I\u2019m waiting...\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThey should be down any minute.\u201d Daphne answered, and then she turned to Gus.  \u201cWould you like some apples and peanut butter to go with your milk?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe need the apples for the horses,\u201d Gus informed her.<br \/><br \/>Thomas laughed.  \u201cYou\u2019re going to spoil them.  Trust me\u2026they won\u2019t miss the few apples that you\u2019re going to eat.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Daphne pulled from the refrigerator a few green apples.  She neatly sliced them and added some peanut butter.  Then, like Justin had showed her many times, she arranged the slices on a plate.  Once the plate was placed on the table, she and Gus reached for slices and offered some to Thomas, as well.<br \/><br \/>A few minutes later, Brian and Justin arrived in the kitchen.  Brian\u2019s eyes landed on his favorite snack and he immediately grabbed a few slices.   <br \/><br \/>\u201cLet\u2019s go see the horses,\u201d Gus insisted as he took Justin by the hand.<br \/><br \/>Justin hastily reached for a few slices of the apples before allowing himself to be tugged along.<br \/><br \/>Brian could see his son\u2019s excitement but he wasn\u2019t about to let Thomas off the hook. \u201cCome along Thomas.  Let\u2019s go see what you and Gus found in our stables.  I hope you have a good explanation for this situation.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMe?  I have no idea what\u2019s going on.\u201d Thomas responded in his own defense.  \u201cI heard sounds coming from the stables this morning.  I went to check it out.  Gus went with me.  We found horses had taken up residence in the stalls of the stables.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>Brian sighed.  \u201cWell, I guess it\u2019s time to check things out.  And, Thomas, I know you and Gus have been conspiring for horses.  I know you\u2019ve missed them.  Something about you growing up with them...\u201d He added a teasing tone. <br \/><br \/>\u201cI may have mentioned once to Gus about growing up with horses\u2026\u201d Thomas wanted to set the record straight.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Santa knew about that too,\u201d Justin added.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cOf course, Santa knew that,\u201d Daphne confirmed.  \u201cHe knows everything.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Thomas smiled as he led the way out the back door.  When they reached the stables, he stopped and looked down at Gus.  \u201cAre you going to be quieter this time?  Can you do this without squealing?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gus nodded before, squeezing Justin\u2019s hand.  \u201cOkay\u2026\u201d he said softly.<br \/><br \/>As the little group entered the stables, they found four horses nestled in stalls and comfortably standing among fresh straw.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSee Dad\u2026\u201d Gus said, looking over at Brian.  \u201cFour horses\u2026.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI can count,\u201d Brian muttered. <br \/><br \/>\u201cYou have to admit,\u201d Thomas said with a smile, \u201cThey seem right at home here.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t you start,\u201d Brian challenged.<br \/><br \/>As they walked closer to each stall, the horse walked forward to be petted.  Justin noticed that the horses were identical to the ones they\u2019d been riding.    This was a clue.<br \/><br \/>Thomas lifted Gus, so he could rub the horse\u2019s neck.  This horse looked identical to the Paint he\u2019d been riding for lessons.   Gus and the small horse were like two old friends meeting.<br \/><br \/>The other horses came forward in their stalls to be petted as well.  These were the Palomino and the Bay, which Brian and Justin remembered riding.  The fourth horse was the dark horse Daphne had been riding.  <br \/><br \/>Brian and Justin smiled at each other in silent communications.  <br \/><br \/>A few minutes later, the stable opened again.  <br \/><br \/>Lindsay and Melanie had arrived.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMerry Christmas,\u201d Melanie said, stepping through the door.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cMerry Christmas,\u201d Gus whispered followed by shushing sounds.  \u201cWe have to be quiet so we don\u2019t scare the horses.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Lindsay and Melanie shared hugs all around and quiet choruses of Christmas cheer.<br \/><br \/>\u201cTeres told us you were out here,\u201d Lindsay said with questioning expression.  \u201cWhen did you get horses?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cGus asked Santa for horses for Christmas,\u201d Daphne volunteered, \u201cAnd it looks like Santa delivered.\u201d She gestured in the direction of the horses to stress the point.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s one possible explanation,\u201d Brian whispered.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThey\u2019re beautiful\u2026\u201d Melanie said. \u201cI\u2019m glad you called us.  We wanted to see Gus open his presents.  But, this sure wasn\u2019t what we expected.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cPresents\u2026\u201d Gus suddenly remembered.  \u201cSanta left a stack of presents too.  This was just part of his surprises.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cPresents? Are you sure?\u201d Daphne asked, managing to attract Gus\u2019 full attention. <br \/><br \/>Gus nodded.  \u201cI checked.  They\u2019re on the train tracks.  I saw them there earlier this morning.  But I forgot about them once I saw the horses.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cPerfectly understandable,\u201d Thomas said with an amused expression. \u201cBrian, the horses appear to be quite content here.  Their straw is clean.  They seem comfortable.  Bridles and saddles are over there.  I think they\u2019ll be okay out here.  I\u2019ll keep an eye on them.\u201d  He reached over and stroked one of the horses.<br \/><br \/>So, Thomas had things under control, as usual, Brian thought.  He nodded before he looked over at Justin.  There had to be more to this story of how the horses came to be here in the stables, and he was sure that Justin had the answers to this mystery.  In time, he would get to the bottom of things.<br \/>  <br \/>\u201cOh, I forgot mention,\u201d Lindsay said, \u201cTeres has breakfast ready.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBreakfast?\u201d  Daphne asked feeling a little hungry.  After all, apples with peanut butter were technically only a snack.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThe presents?\u201d Gus wanted to remind everyone.  \u201cWhat about the presents?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAfter we eat\u2026.\u201d Brian insisted.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThen, let\u2019s eat.  We need to investigate your other presents,\u201d Daphne suggested to Gus before she turned to leave.<br \/><br \/>Gus caught up with her, \u201cThe horses are the best present!\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cIt\u2019s going to be pretty hard for any other presents from Santa to compete with them,\u201d Daphne said, slinging her arm around Gus\u2019 shoulder.  \u201cBut let\u2019s give Santa a second chance.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gus started to giggle as he walked with Daphne.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI assume, you\u2019ll join us?\u201d Brian asked, looking at Melanie and Lindsay.  He was obviously full of holiday spirit, for he\u2019d just extended an invitation to the Dragon Witch, as he fondly liked to think of Melanie.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019re starving,\u201d Melanie said.  <br \/><br \/>The little cluster of people strolled in the direction of kitchen.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDidn\u2019t you have breakfast with Debbie and Carl?\u201d Justin asked, knowing all too well how Debbie\u2019s household worked.  No one, usually, ever got to leave the house without breakfast.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDebbie and Carl went over to The Old House for breakfast and to watch the kids open the presents.\u201d Melanie revealed.  \u201cWe went to Michael\u2019s to watch Jenny Rebecca open her gifts from Santa, and she wasn\u2019t about to let anyone eat once she was focused on getting into the gifts.  She even made Hunter help her open them.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m surprised you didn\u2019t bring her with you,\u201d Justin said softly.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI couldn\u2019t tear her away from her new doll.  When we left, she\u2019d gotten Hunter and Ben to play with her.\u201d Lindsay added.  \u201cShe\u2019ll come with Michael.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo Ben and Hunter were at Michael\u2019s?\u201d Daphne asked as she cut a look over at Justin.<br \/><br \/>Justin caught her look and simply smiled back.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThey stayed overnight.\u201d  Melanie continued.  \u201cAnd Ben seems to have had an interesting night.  Apparently, he had an encounter with Santa and his elf.  It was quite a story.  He told us all about it this morning.  I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll tell you about it at dinner.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s one I can\u2019t wait to hear,\u201d Daphne said.  \u201cBen is such a good story teller.  I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll remember all the details.\u201d  She rubbed her hands together.  \u201cThis is going to be good!\u201c<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou\u2019re just in time,\u201d Teres welcomed them. \u201cI\u2019m going to leave you.  Thomas and I have a few things to do.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut, you\u2019ll be back when I open my presents?\u201d Gus asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe wouldn\u2019t miss it\u2026\u201d Teres said with a smile.<br \/><br \/>Everyone took their places around kitchen table.  Teres had prepared a breakfast consisting of French toast and bacon with assorted berries.\u201d  At last Lindsay and Melanie were going to get a meal.<br \/><br \/>Teres paused just before she went out the back door.  \u201cGus, I cut up carrots and apples for the horses.  They\u2019re in a container on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThanks, Teres\u2026.\u201d Gus said, pumping his arms in victory as he looked over at Daphne.<br \/><br \/>***<br \/>After breakfast, Thomas and Teres were called.  They came back and joined everyone in the living room.  The tree was turned on.   Christmas music started to play.  <br \/><br \/>Justin added a red Santa hat to Brian\u2019s head.  <br \/><br \/>Brian wanted to protest, especially as Melanie and Lindsay started laughing.  Oh, the humiliation of it all!  <br \/><br \/>But it was Christmas\u2026..<br \/><br \/>Brian finally reached the train tracks and the stack of presents - all clearly wrapped in Santa Claus paper, a perfect reminder that the jolly old man been here.    \u201cIt\u2019s a good thing you\u2019re opening these now,\u201d he said. <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd why is that?\u201d Melanie asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cGus and I have a date to play with the trains,\u201d Brian said as he wiggled his eyebrows. \u201cRight, Gus?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gus was grinning from ear-to-ear as he nodded.<br \/><br \/>Brian rustled through the stack.  There were presents for Daphne, Gus, and Justin as well as himself.  He separated those presents into little stacks and distributed them.  <br \/><br \/>Before anyone could open their presents, he looked at the stockings hanging above the fireplace.  True, each stocking had a name on it.  There was even one for Daphne.  But Gus had also hung stockings for Teres and Thomas.  All were bulging.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, it seems my duties aren\u2019t over,\u201d Brian said gleefully as he proceeded to the fireplace. He handed the first stuffed stocking to Teres.  \u201cSanta must have thought you were very good this year.\u201d He added with a laugh.  \u201cA little bossy\u2026but pretty good.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Teres gave Brian a hug before she took her stocking with goodies.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThomas, there seems to be one for you too,\u201d Brian said with a teasing tone.  \u201cI\u2019m sure this is part of the bribe for letting Santa install those horses in our stables.\u201d He handed the stocking to Thomas.  \u201cOtherwise, how could Santa have outsmarted our security system?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cChristmas Magic!\u201d Thomas said, laughing.  He tried to peek in his stocking as he carried it back to one of the chairs.  <br \/><br \/>Justin came over to help Brian give out the rest of the stockings.<br \/><br \/>Lindsay and Melanie were laughing and shaking their heads as they watched the packages being opened and the contents of the Christmas stockings being sorted through.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI can\u2019t wait until the family gift exchange during dinner,\u201d Lindsay said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMe too,\u201d Melanie added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd your entire family will be here\u2026\u201d Teres added.  \u201cSo I guess I should get to work.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou\u2019re not supposed to work,\u201d Brian corrected as he helped Gus open one of his packages.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t worry.  I only have a few last minute things to do.  But Brian, I want you to stay out of my kitchen.\u201d Teres said with a satisfied smile.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSee, there she goes again,\u201d Brian tried to complain, but as usual no one paid any attention to him.<br \/><br \/> \u201cThis is going to be this family\u2019s most interesting Christmas yet,\u201d Melanie gushed.<br \/><br \/>Brian looked at his watch.  In a few hours, he was going to be in the middle of major chaos\u2026otherwise known as the Gathering.  And it was all happening at this house with Gus and Justin and Daphne at his side.  He would forget about all the sad Christmases of his childhood.  He could, also, tuck away the warm memories of all the Christmases with Debbie, Michael, and Vic.  This one\u2026this Christmas\u2026was going to be different.  <br \/><br \/>And as Brian looked over at Justin and Gus, one more time, he smiled to himself, for he realized he was so looking forward to it all\u2026and that thought caught him by surprise.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis has all been fun,\u201d Justin said, looking around at the assorted presents and wrinkled wrapping paper.  \u201cBut, I think I\u2019d like to wait to open the rest of the gifts.  I want to save a part of Christmas for later tonight\u2026after dinner\u2026when we\u2019re alone?\u201d  <br \/><br \/>\u201cYou mean open our under the tree presents later?\u201d Daphne asked, \u201cSounds like a winner\u2026\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cYou\u2019re still the evil genius, you always were.  I like that idea too,\u201d Brian added as he looked over at Gus.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWill you make hot chocolate?\u201d Gus looked back and forth between his current presents, which included a new gaming station and lots of new games, and those treasures still unopened, under the tree.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOf course.\u201d  Justin confirmed.  \u201cAnd we\u2019ll even light the fireplace.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gus\u2019 eyes started to twinkle.  Brian and Justin exchanged knowing glances.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s a great idea.  Christmas usually disappears so fast.  This will make it last,\u201d Daphne agreed. <br \/><br \/> \u201cThis will be a new Christmas twist,\u201d Justin added.  \u201cWe\u2019ll be able to enjoy our friends and family Gathering here.  Then, we\u2019ll have presents to explore later when we\u2019re relaxing after everything is over.\u201d   <br \/><br \/>\u201cJust like us,\u201d Lindsay said, wrapping her arms around Melanie. \u201cWe still have presents under the tree at Debbie\u2019s.  We\u2019ve been so busy having fun watching Gus and Jenny Rebecca open their presents, we almost forgot about our own.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd now, you know, the true meaning of Christmas,\u201d Daphne whispered.<br \/><br \/>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/109411.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/109181.html","pubDate":"Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:22:56 GMT","title":"The Gathering, Chapter 68 - Christmas Morning 5 of 5","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/109181.html","description":"Title:                \tThe Gathering<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only (NC-17)<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tNone<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/><br \/>When Debbie and Carl have their first real date In QAF Episode 214, Carl showed Debbie pictures of his daughter, Vicki, who lives in Salt Lake City, and his son, Carl Jr., who was in the Air Force.  I kept waiting for an episode where Carl\u2019s family would actually appear.  It never happened, so here\u2019s my version of what happened when Carl\u2019s adult children and their families come to Pittsburgh to meet Debbie and the gang.   This is the first Christmas after Brian and Justin legalized their relationship, and they are now living in New York City. Ben and Michael are estranged\u2026with Ben and Hunter living in an apartment and Michael living alone in the house.  This story was intended to be a standalone story.  This is just a little holiday fluff, but it takes me a while to tell a simple story, so I will update frequently.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.<br \/><br \/>Lois, Kathy, and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Gathering&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s Comment:  Sorry everyone for the delays. Thanks for your patience.  Here is your next installment of one chapter. <br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 68 \u2013 Christmas Morning, Part V <br \/>Later Christmas Morning, December 25th<br \/><br \/><br \/><i> Returning to Carl\u2019s Old House <\/i><br \/><br \/>Chaos abounded in the living room as the kids, including Debbie and Carl, became acquainted with their initial cache of Christmas presents.<br \/><br \/>Debbie leaned over to Carl.  \u201cElise and Vicki must be working very hard getting breakfast ready for all of us.  Listen to their fucking footsteps.  Maybe I should go and give them a hand.\u201d<br \/><br \/>CJ was nearby and overhead the comment.  He gently touched Debbie\u2019s arm.  \u201cTrust me, they have everything under control.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Philip couldn\u2019t resist chiming in.  \u201cAnd they mentioned something about a surprise for us.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Six pairs of ears were suddenly attuned to every word being uttered between the adults.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat kind of surprise?\u201d Carl asked just loud enough for his grandkids to hear.  \u201cMaybe I should go and investigate?  After all, I am the detective in the family.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cHomicide Detective,\u201d Debbie was quick to remind him.  \u201cWhat\u2019s needed here is sneakiness.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Carl laughed.  \u201cI see.  In other words, it\u2019s unfortunate that Brian and Justin aren\u2019t here.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cExactly\u2026\u201d Debbie said with a nod.<br \/><br \/>Mark tiptoed over to join the conversation.  \u201cIf you want, I can crawl over to the kitchen door and see what\u2019s going on.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNow, see what you\u2019ve started?\u201d Philip looked over at Debbie and Carl with a pretend glare.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cWill you leave Debbie alone?\u201d CJ had to insist while trying to hide a smile. <br \/><br \/>\u201cYou may not be afraid of Elise\u2026but Vicki is a stickler.  When she says it supposed to be a surprise, she expects it to be delivered as such.\u201d  Philip wanted to be sure everyone understood the risk.  \u201cSo we\u2019re all going to wait until we\u2019re called.  It\u2019s Christmas.  We still have to be on our best behavior.\u201d<br \/><br \/>CJ leaned over to whisper to the kids.  \u201cDon\u2019t worry.  Your Uncle Phil is as curious as the rest of us.  He\u2019s just afraid.  See?\u201d<br \/><br \/>The kids all smiled in that special way of children, for they had just been made privy to some major secret.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay, I\u2019ve had enough of this.\u201d  Philip said as he stood up.  Then he called out, \u201cVicki.  What\u2019s going on in there?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cJust a few more minutes\u2026\u201d Vicki replied.  \u201cWe\u2019re almost ready.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d Elise echoed.  \u201cIn fact, if you would all go upstairs and wash your hands, we should be ready by the time you all get back.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, that was clear enough,\u201d Debbie said as she reached for Gretchen, who already had her arms up in the air ready to be picked up.<br \/><br \/>There was the sound of footsteps running up the stairs.  Then, the final echo of them returning to the living room by Trey, Ricky, Mark and the twins followed by the adults: CJ, Philip, and Carl with Debbie, bringing up the rear, carrying Gretchen.<br \/><br \/>When they got to the kitchen Elise and Vicki flanked the door with their own special Christmas greeting.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cMerry Christmas!\u201d Vicki said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cFroehe Weihnachten!\u201d Elise added stepping away from the doorway.<br \/><br \/>The standing crowd parted to let Debbie and Gretchen go through first.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cOh my goodness!\u201d Debbie said as she beheld the now decorated kitchen.  Garland had been strung around the wall just below the ceiling.  \u201cIt\u2019s so festive.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd look at the Christmas breakfast table.\u201d Carl said with glee, behind her.  <br \/><br \/>The table had been set in a festive manner with a special red and green Christmas tablecloth with printed garland trim with each place setting was gleaming in place.  In the center of the table was a gingerbread house - complete with sugar glazed windows and elaborate decorations of gum drops and candy canes along the house and the roof.  To add to the holiday mood of the centerpiece, on either side of the house were special holiday cookies stacked to form little sugar-dusted Christmas trees.<br \/><br \/> \u201cYou\u2019ve really outdone yourself this year,\u201d CJ said, leaning over to gently kiss Elise.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis just seemed like the proper setting for chocolate chip pancakes,\u201d Elise replied with a smile and a shrug of her shoulders.<br \/><br \/>Vicki was smiling as well.  \u201cOkay, everyone take your places.\u201d  She motioned to the seats for Debbie and Carl.  \u201cThese are for you.  We\u2019re so glad you could join us.  The pancakes are on the table.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Debbie laughed.  \u201cI\u2019ve been hearing about chocolate chip pancakes since Carl came here for breakfast.  I\u2019m really looking forward to this.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Elise added assorted berries to the table.  \u201cYou\u2019re going to need these.\u201d <br \/><br \/>Trey easily settled into his seat.  \u201cAnd you\u2019re going the need the whipped cream.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>\u201cSpoken by the resident expert on chocolate chip pancakes,\u201d CJ added with a grin.<br \/><br \/>\u201cHere you go,\u201d Vicki said, handing over the bowl of whipped cream.<br \/><br \/>Gretchen clapped her hands to make sure everyone knew she was there.   She was particularly fond of these pancakes, and Shannon and Kerry made sure she was served.  <br \/><br \/>A few moments later, the family attacked their Christmas breakfast.<br \/><br \/>***<br \/>After breakfast, while everyone was still sitting at the table, CJ stood to make an announcement.  \u201cOkay, using Phil\u2019s chaotic system for present distribution\u2026\u201d he paused and scowled over at his brother-in-law. \u201cWe only managed to get through the first round of present-opening.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>All the little faces turned in CJ\u2019s direction.<br \/><br \/>\u201cFirst round?\u201d Trey asked.<br \/><br \/>CJ smiled.  \u201cYes, you forgot to check your bulging Christmas stockings.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut I thought those were just for decoration\u2026\u201d Ricky added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cObviously, not this year,\u201d Carl whispered as an aside to Debbie.  \u201cMaybe we\u2019d better investigate,\u201d he suggested with his comment directed at the little ones.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe have to check our stockings?\u201d Mark whispered to Trey.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe were very good, so Santa filled our stockings too.\u201d Kerry whispered to Shannon, sitting next to her at the table.<br \/><br \/>CJ assumed control, once again.  \u201cSo line up!\u201d he said and then looked over to see what Philip was going to say.  <br \/><br \/>Philip displayed an evil grin.  \u201cYour grand line-up scheme might work this time.  After all there is only one overstuffed stocking per Munchkin.  As screwy as it sounds\u2026this might work.\u201d<br \/><br \/>The Munchkins didn\u2019t need to be told twice as they quickly stood up and headed for the living room again with Trey stopping long enough to take Gretchen\u2019s hand.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m glad you agree with me.\u201d CJ began leading the adults into the living room.<br \/><br \/>\u201cConsider it a Christmas present.\u201d Philip paused a moment.  \u201cI thought I\u2019d be nice to you, just in case Santa only filled your stocking with a lump of coal.\u201d<br \/><br \/>CJ growled at Philip.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSee that\u2019s the behavior that probably earned you that lump of coal in the first place.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Elise put her arms around CJ.  \u201cYou were very good this year.  Don\u2019t pay any attention to mean old Philip.  You know how he can be.\u201d<br \/><br \/>The kids were watching CJ and Elise with impatience.  <br \/><br \/>Philip felt the need to interrupt.  \u201cElise, you can cuddle CJ later to make him feel better.  We have work to do.  We have another gift brigade ahead of us.\u201d  He turned to the kids.  \u201cOkay, Munchkins, stake out your territory again.\u201d<br \/><br \/>And six little ones instantly scattered, with Gretchen holding tightly to Trey\u2019s hand.  This was a time when a little girl felt she needed her big brother.  <br \/><br \/>Carl and Debbie followed.  They were as curious as everyone else to see what would happen next.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWait a minute!\u201d CJ called out.  \u201cStake out your territory?  What about my orderly lines?  I just thought\u2026\u201d CJ began with a pout.<br \/><br \/>Philip stood for a moment shaking his head.  \u201cCJ, you saw their faces!\u201d He motioned in the direction of the kids. \u201cDo they look like they\u2019re in a <i>let\u2019s line up kind of mood<\/i>\u201d to you?<br \/><br \/>Vicki called out.  \u201cDon\u2019t open anything yet.  You have to give Elise and me a moment to clear the table.  Then we\u2019ll join you.<br \/><br \/>\u201cShe\u2019d better fucking hurry,\u201d Debbie whispered to Carl.  <br \/><br \/>And at that comment, for some unexplained reason, all the kids snickered.<br \/><br \/>\u201cPhil and I will get everyone ready.  In the meantime, they can just fondle their stockings.  But no one will peek inside or open anything until you arrive.\u201d CJ insisted. \u201cIsn\u2019t that right?\u201d he directed his question to the kids.<br \/><br \/>Six little Munchkin-heads nodded in unison.<br \/><br \/>Philip moved over to the mantle, very carefully removing the first stocking.  He added extra drama as he pretended to collapse under the weight of one of the stockings before he handed it to CJ.  \u201cWhat\u2019s in these stockings?  I need two hands just to lift this one.\u201d<br \/><br \/>The kids became even more excited when they heard that remark.<br \/><br \/>CJ continued with the struggle as he too needed both hands to maneuver the stocking he held.  With each step he silently decided Philip had been right, if everyone had simply lined up, they\u2019d never be able to carry their loaded stockings.  He delivered the first one to Kerry.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cNow that we\u2019re in the middle of this process, I can see that my system wouldn\u2019t have worked,\u201d CJ reluctantly said to Philip.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m glad you finally realized I was right,\u201d Philip couldn\u2019t resist gloating.<br \/><br \/>One by one the stockings were distributed.  The names written in glitter on each one made the delivery process go very smoothly.<br \/><br \/>The tension and excitement built as each one wanted to know what was in their particular stocking.  All sorts of theories were floated about the room as they waited for Vicki and Elise to join them.<br \/><br \/>When the two women finally hurried into the living room from the kitchen, there were cheers all around from with each waiting kid hugging their stocking.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay, we\u2019re here.  Let\u2019s see what\u2019s in those stocking,\u201d Vicki said.  She didn\u2019t have to repeat the request.  <br \/><br \/>Six sets of little fingers, with help from the adults, started to search through the stockings.  They found the little packs of cookies, candies, clusters of small toys and other interesting gadgets.<br \/><br \/>Mark was the first to find an envelope with his name on it in his stocking.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI have one too,\u201d Trey lifted his too.<br \/><br \/>One by one, the kids found the envelopes in their stocking. Inside each envelope was a card signed by Santa with special photograph attached.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI don\u2019t understand,\u201d Shannon said, turning confused eyes toward Carl.<br \/><br \/>Carl looked at the card and showed it to Debbie.  \u201cWhat did Santa say?\u201d she asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cLook at the pictures,\u201d Carl said with a smile.  \u201cSanta didn\u2019t want the new Christmas toys to be broken on your plane ride home,\u201d he began reading the pictograph drawings.  \u201cSo\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo what?\u201d Philip asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cFrom what I can tell, Santa delivered a dollhouse for you and Kerry to share to your regular house.  Here\u2019s what it looks like.  See the picture.  See the red bow.  It will be waiting for you when you get back to Salt Lake City.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Shannon looked at Kerry with confusion before scurrying over to her mother.<br \/><br \/>Vicky hugged her daughters.  \u201cWe\u2019re going to have another Christmas when we finally get home.  Your Barbie dollhouse will be waiting for you there.  See the picture.  That looks like our living room in Salt Lake City.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Shannon was as excited as any five-year old could be once she understood how this worked.  She then nudged Kerry over in the direction of Carl for a reading of her card.<br \/><br \/>Kerry had the identical card with a different Barbie dollhouse to share.  This one was a vacation cabin.<br \/><br \/>Mark finally opened his envelope and found the picture of a new bike inside.  But he didn\u2019t want there to be any mistakes, so he brought his card over to Carl to be sure his impression was correct.  He wanted to hold on to the hope that Santa might bring him a new Bike for Christmas.<br \/><br \/>Carl continued process of explaining the cards from Santa.<br \/><br \/>Trey found out he\u2019d have a new computer waiting for him in Germany.<br \/><br \/>Ricky discovered he received the new skis and poles he\u2019d been asking for.<br \/><br \/>Gretchen didn\u2019t find any cards at first, but she did find her own Barbie doll with a few outfits tucked inside the stocking.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cYou\u2019ll be able to play Barbie with us now,\u201d Kerry said to Gretchen.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWait until Daphne and Auntie Em find out about this,\u201d Shannon added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou\u2019ll be able to show them at dinner,\u201d Debbie reminded them.<br \/><br \/>Trey took a look in Gretchen\u2019s stocking and found a card at the bottom.  He showed the card to Carl, who confirmed that she had a new tricycle waiting for her at home in Germany.  <br \/><br \/>For some reason Trey took great pleasure in explaining this to his little sister, whose eyes grew larger and larger with excitement as she listened to her brother describe all the details.<br \/><br \/>Carl and Debbie stayed and watched the kids play with their new cache of presents for a while.<br \/><br \/>Eventually, Debbie had to say, \u201cThis has been fun, but Carl and I have to leave.  We still need to add the final touches to few dishes.  Then, we should get an early start.  We don\u2019t want the food to arrive late for dinner.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t worry, I\u2019m sure Em and Drew to give us a hand,\u201d Carl said.  Then, his eyes started to twinkle.  \u201cThis year is going to be the biggest Christmas dinner ever.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>\u201cI can\u2019t wait!\u201d  Philip added, as he thought about the other surprises in store for everyone.  He couldn\u2019t wait to see all the faces when Mac and Laurie joined them for Christmas dinner.  And for just a moment, he was so glad he knew how to keep a secret.<br \/> <br \/><hr>  <br \/>Author\u2019s Comments:  This chapter turned out to be longer than I expected, I have the next chapter done, which continues with events of Christmas Morning at Bri-tin.  I will post it later today.<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/109411.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<a target=\"_blank\"><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a><\/a><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/109181.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/108895.html","pubDate":"Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:49:19 GMT","title":"Another Gathering Update","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/108895.html","description":"Project took looker than I expected.  Next chapter will be posted on Saturday 1\/21\/2012.<br \/><br \/>Sorry about all the delays.  See you Saturday...<br \/><br \/>paeansong","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/108895.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/108656.html","pubDate":"Mon, 02 Jan 2012 22:32:34 GMT","title":"A note about The Gathering","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/108656.html","description":"I know you\u2019re waiting for the next chapter.  You probably think that I\u2019m stopping here like I\u2019ve tended to do every year.  Not this time.  I will be continuing this story.<br \/><br \/>I\u2019ve been called away on a short project. I didn\u2019t want you to have to constantly check looking for updates while I was away.  So, I\u2019m letting you know that I will resume posting on Saturday, January 14th.  <br \/><br \/>Sorry for the interruption.<br \/><br \/>Paeansong","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/108656.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/108530.html","pubDate":"Sat, 24 Dec 2011 08:20:45 GMT","title":"The Gathering, Chapter 67 - Christmas Morning 4 of 5","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/108530.html","description":"Title:                \tThe Gathering<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only (NC-17)<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tNone<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/><br \/>When Debbie and Carl have their first real date In QAF Episode 214, Carl showed Debbie pictures of his daughter, Vicki, who lives in Salt Lake City, and his son, Carl Jr., who was in the Air Force.  I kept waiting for an episode where Carl\u2019s family would actually appear.  It never happened, so here\u2019s my version of what happened when Carl\u2019s adult children and their families come to Pittsburgh to meet Debbie and the gang.   This is the first Christmas after Brian and Justin legalized their relationship, and they are now living in New York City. Ben and Michael are estranged\u2026with Ben and Hunter living in an apartment and Michael living alone in the house.  This story was intended to be a standalone story.  This is just a little holiday fluff, but it takes me a while to tell a simple story, so I will update frequently.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.<br \/><br \/>Lois, Kathy, and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Gathering&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s Comments :  I don\u2019t think I\u2019ll be able to get another chapter posted before Christmas, so let me take a moment and wish everyone Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.  Just so you know, I\u2019m going to continuing this story until I\u2019m sent off on assignment.  At the moment, nothing is scheduled, so cross your fingers. (smile)  Here is next installment of one chapter. Enjoy!<br \/><br \/><br \/>Chapter 67 \u2013 Christmas Morning, Part 4 of 5<br \/>Christmas Day, December 25th<br \/><br \/><br \/><i> At Michael\u2019s House <\/i><br \/><br \/>Michael managed to get everyone settled down at the kitchen table.  <br \/><br \/>Juice and cereal were agreed upon for the morning\u2019s breakfast.<br \/><br \/>JR and Hunter made sure it was the world\u2019s fastest breakfast in history.  They were the first ones to finish eating, and the first to scurry towards the Christmas tree.  <br \/><br \/>JR easily spotted the presents under the tree.  These were the easiest for her to reach.  Still she waited for Hunter to help her handle them.  <br \/><br \/>Ben and Michael allowed JR and Hunter to clutch each of the packages and attempt to guess their contents.  That was as far as the pair could go, for Ben had laid down that law that nothing was to be opened until Lindsay and Melanie arrived.  <br \/><br \/>Ben and Michael cleared off the table and loaded the dishwasher.  But they kept an eye on their kids just to be sure that no packages were \u201caccidentally\u201d opened.<br \/><br \/>Then the door bell rang.  <br \/><br \/>Hunter and JR tried to race each other to see who could get to the door first.  JR won the race because Ben picked her up as he went to see who was actually at their door.  <br \/><br \/>Lindsay and Melanie had finally arrived.  Even Hunter was glad to see them.  Now, the official opening of the Christmas presents could begin.<br \/> <br \/>\u201cCan I fix you breakfast?\u201d Michael offered.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI could sure use a bite,\u201d Lindsay said, but she looked at the waiting faces.  \u201cOn second thought, a glass of juice would hold me until the presents are opened.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Melanie decided to join Lindsay in a glass of juice.   \u201cDebbie and Carl where just getting ready to fix breakfast, when they got a call to go watch their grandkids open their Christmas gifts.  We got your call right afterwards.  We didn\u2019t take time to prepare a proper breakfast, but we came right over here instead.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt\u2019s Christmas.  I\u2019ll make you a more substantial breakfast\u2026once JR opens her presents,\u201d Michael assured the women.<br \/><br \/>Lindsay and Melanie nodded their agreement.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Once Lindsay and Melanie had finished their juice, Hunter assumed directorial duties.  With his usual attitude, he directed them to just the right chairs in the living room, so they wouldn\u2019t miss any of the package opening adventure to come.<br \/><br \/>Michael and Ben sat on cushions on the floor.<br \/><br \/>Hunter helped JR to look over her presents.  Then he helped her decide which one to open first.  <br \/><br \/>Obviously, she selected the biggest one.<br \/><br \/>JR gave Hunter that certain look that showed she needed help.  <br \/><br \/>Hunter proved to be the world\u2019s best big brother, as he helped her tear into her first present.<br \/><br \/>Then Melanie and Michael slid closer to help with the opening of the remaining packages.<br \/><br \/>JR was fascinated by the games and toys, but her new doll was definitely the biggest hit of all. <br \/><br \/>Then JR insisted that it was time for Michael to open his presents.<br \/><br \/>Michael repeated the ritual of checking all the packages with his name on them.  He was thrilled with all his gifts.  But his best present was the simple fact that Ben and Hunter were there to share Christmas morning with him and JR.  Christmas morning seemed to be filled with family.<br \/><br \/>Hunter was the next to open his packages to the usual oohs and aahs.  He found the special electronics gadgets he was wishing for from Santa.  <br \/><br \/>Then, Hunter and JR handed Ben his first package.  <br \/><br \/>After Ben opened it, he was surprised to find that there were other packages here with his name on them among the mix of presents under the tree.  He opened each gift and showed them to everyone before he replaced it under the tree.<br \/><br \/>Hunter had one more package for Michael that he\u2019d hidden towards the back under the tree.  He decided now was the perfect time to give him that gift.<br \/><br \/>Michael quickly tore the wrapping paper from the package with the help of JR.  To Michael\u2019s surprise, it was the sweatshirt he\u2019d wanted from the Big Q.  The one showing Superman carrying the Christmas tree\u2026the one he\u2019d been talked out of by Gretchen, who demanded he choose one with more glitter.  <br \/><br \/>Michael was touched to have this special sweatshirt with one of his favorite superheroes. \u201cI think I\u2019ll wear this to dinner at Brian\u2019s.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAre you sure?\u201d Lindsay asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI thought we were dressing up for dinner,\u201d Melanie added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019re only going out to the mansion for dinner,\u201d Hunter reminded everyone.  \u201cBut no one said there was a dress code.  Of course, knowing the blond, I can promise you no one will be dressed up.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou know, Brian loves an excuse to dress in one of his designer suits.  What makes you think that Justin will overrule that?\u201d Lindsay argued.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBrian may wear a suit, but I bet you Justin and Gus will be dress casually,\u201d Melanie suggested.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis is still a family dinner,\u201d Ben reminded them with a laugh.  \u201cAnd this family has never stood on formalities.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>\u201cI can\u2019t believe Brian agreed to this,\u201d Michael said.  \u201cHe\u2019s not real big on Christmas.  And did you see him playing with the trains with Gus?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cGus and Justin have probably coaxed even Brian to accept Christmas.  You have to admit they seemed quite happy the last time we saw them.\u201d Ben added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis family has grown over the years,\u201d Michael added.  \u201cWe put the star on top of the tree, like Uncle Vic would have wanted.  I miss him.  I wish he were here.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Melanie smiled.  \u201cI have to believe Vic wouldn\u2019t miss a gathering like this one\u2026not with all these new people.  I have to believe, he\u2019ll be spending Christmas with all of us, just like he always has.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>\u201cOh yes.  He\u2019ll definitely be here.\u201d Lindsay reassured them.<br \/><br \/>\u201cVic was special,\u201d Ben added. \u201cHe would have been the one doing most of the cooking for Christmas.  And he would have loved getting to know Philip and CJ and their families.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd now, Philip and CJ and their families are part of us,\u201d Lindsay said with some caution as she looked over at Michael.  <br \/><br \/>Michael nodded.  \u201cEven if Philip and CJ are a little weird\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBelieve me.  Every family is entitled to a few weird members.  Remember my sister, Lynette?\u201d Lindsay added.<br \/><br \/>Everyone laughed.  Then there was a bit of reminiscing about the past between Melanie, Lindsay, and Michael, while Hunter and Ben kept looking at each other and laughing at what was being said.  <br \/><br \/>Even though JR might not have understood everything, she managed to laugh too.<br \/><br \/>Ben looked down and saw that JR had climbed into his lap and was now making herself quite comfortable.   \u201cYou know last night was really interesting,\u201d he began as he looked down at JR getting settled.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat happened?  Were you uncomfortable on the couch?\u201d Concern rose in Michael\u2019s voice.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNo.  Not at all.  Remember, we selected this couch for its comfort.  But, it\u2019s a good thing I was here, sleeping on the couch, or I would have missed all the excitement last night.\u201d Ben continued.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat excitement?\u201d Hunter was curious even though he was supposed to be above interest in such things.  But this was Ben, and he didn\u2019t gossip.  So, anything he had to say was going to be fascinating and probably important.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou see\u2026I was awakened last night when Santa Claus and his elf dropped by to deliver presents.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou were?\u201d JR looked up into Ben\u2019s eyes.  She had to hear more about this.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThey came in with lots of presents.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDid they have their hot chocolate and cookies?\u201d Hunter asked already caught up in the telling.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAbsolutely!  I couldn\u2019t let them go off without hot chocolate and cookies.  After all, they had a lot of homes to visit, and they had a long way to travel back to the North Pole.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo, you actually saw Santa Claus?\u201d Hunter was now forced to ask, shaking his head.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI sure did.\u201d  Ben remarked wistfully.  \u201cYou know when I was a little kid, I used to try to stay up late on Christmas Eve to wait for Santa Claus, but I always fell asleep.  And by the time I woke up it was already Christmas morning.  I always missed seeing him.  This time Santa\u2019s arrival woke me up.  I even heard footsteps and the twinkling of bells.  It\u2019s like I\u2019ve been waiting my whole life for that one moment\u2026a chance to actually see Santa Claus.  It was like an early Christmas present.\u201d<br \/><br \/>JR was excited by Ben\u2019s news.  Ben had seen Santa Claus and his elf.  She didn\u2019t understand too much at almost three years old.  But she understood that when she got older, she knew she too would wait up one night to try to see Santa Claus, just like Ben used to do.  And one day she would see Santa\u2026just like Ben.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s really quite a story,\u201d Melanie said.  \u201cWhen I was younger I didn\u2019t understand all the fuss about Christmas. We only celebrated Hannukah.  But since I\u2019ve been in Pittsburgh Christmas tradition seems more real.  Now we celebrate both.  Gus always gets lots of gifts.  But I like the tree and the music and all.  Lindsay and I have managed to integrate Christmas with my Jewish traditions.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cChristmas is about family and getting together,\u201d Lindsay assured her, \u201cAnd this year, the word family has new meaning.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Now that the presents were opened, Michael felt it was important to fix Lindsay and Melanie some toast.   He opened a jar of special Christmas jam that Ben and Hunter had purchased.  It was supposed to be the for the family Christmas breakfast that never happened.<br \/><br \/>Michael was determined that tomorrow morning they would have that special breakfast.<br \/><br \/>Lindsay and Melanie savored the taste of jam with their toast.  Once again, the talk continued about Christmases past.  Especially, holiday stories of Brian, Michael, Ted, and Emmett when Debbie and Vic were around.<br \/><br \/> Lindsay\u2019s phone rang and conversation halted while she answered.  <br \/><br \/>As it turned out, the call was from Brian, who suggested she and Melanie come out to Bri-tin.  Gus was awake and would soon be ready to open his presents.<br \/><br \/>Lindsay and Melanie finished their light breakfast.<br \/><br \/>Melanie looked at her daughter, \u201cWouldn\u2019t you like to go see Gus open his presents?\u201d<br \/><br \/>JR\u2019s response was to make herself and her new favorite doll more comfortable in Ben\u2019s lap.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Ben said, \u201cWe\u2019ll see that JR makes it out there.  We\u2019re going to be leaving soon ourselves.  Brian and Justin might need our help\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>Lindsay and Melanie decided to leave JR where she was.  This year JR was more interested in her presents than the boxes they came in.  Next year, she would be interested in the presents that Gus received too.<br \/><br \/>One more round of hugs and \u201cMerry Christmas\u201d to everyone before the women left, knowing that Ben, Hunter, and Michael would soon arrive at Bri-tin with their daughter.  <br \/> <br \/>As they got in the car, Lindsay and Melanie were ready for the next step in their Christmas adventure.  <br \/><br \/>Christmas dinner this afternoon\u2026something told them there were going to be stories to tell. <br \/><br \/><br \/><i>At Ted and Blake\u2019s Apartment<\/i><br \/><br \/>Late Christmas Eve night, after their turn as Santa and his Trusty Elf, Calvin and Trace stopped by to tell Ted and Blake about all that had happened at Carl\u2019s Old House, which included running out of the house to the thunder of footsteps on the stairs.<br \/><br \/>Likewise Ted and Blake filled Calvin and Trace in on what happened at Michael\u2019s house.  There was laughter as they told about the unexpected encounter with Ben.  <br \/><br \/>They all spent a good portion of the night laughing and talking over drinks well into the early morning hours.  <br \/><br \/>When Blake noticed the lateness of the hour, he invited Calvin and Trace to stay overnight and sleep on the pull out sofa bed in the living room.   <br \/><br \/>Calvin and Trace quickly accepted, borrowing pajamas before finally sliding into bed.  It was quite late when they all finally got to sleep.<br \/><br \/>However, time waits for no one.  The rising of the sun signaled the arrival of Christmas morning.<br \/><br \/>Calvin and Trace were content to linger in bed and watch sunlight gradually fill the room.  The idea of just languishing in bed was very enticing. <br \/><br \/>However, it was not to be, for there was a morning knock on the door, which brought this point sharply home. <br \/><br \/>Trace tried to ignore the sound and slid down under the covers.  \u201cWho could that be?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Calvin rubbed his eyes.  \u201cObviously Santa Claus\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou\u2019re kidding?  Not at this hour\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMaybe he didn\u2019t like the way we impersonated him last night.  And this is our penance, an early morning wake up call.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI can hear you in there,\u201d a voice said from the other side of the door.  \u201cAre you going to let us in?\u201d<br \/><br \/>By this time, Blake appeared in the living room wearing a robe.  \u201cWho can that be?\u201d  <br \/><br \/>Ted, also wearing a robe, smiled as he passed his houseguests. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you answer the door?\u201d <br \/><br \/>His guests assumed that was a rhetorical question.  They merely slid further under the covers.<br \/><br \/>Ted finally opened the door.  To his surprise, he found Emmett and Drew standing there.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat took you so long?\u201d Emmett complained as he entered.  \u201cI was just about to use my key.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut I persuaded him to be patient,\u201d Drew wanted to make clear.  \u201cAfter all it\u2019s Christmas.  These things take time.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd you came over to watch us open our presents?\u201d Blake teased. \u201cHow sweet\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t be ridiculous!  We came over for breakfast.\u201d  At this point, Drew noticed two lumps hiding under the covers in the living room.  \u201cBut we didn\u2019t realize you had company.  We should have called first.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNonsense\u2026\u201d Ted said with a grin.<br \/><br \/> \u201cWell, Drewsie and I can simply go to The Diner for breakfast.  We didn\u2019t mean to interrupt your holiday fun.\u201d Emmett started nudging Drew back towards the door.<br \/><br \/>Calvin decided that was his cue to sit up.  \u201cMerry Christmas!\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d Emmett asked, startled.  He looked at the lump beside Calvin.  \u201cI sure hope that\u2019s Trace beside you, or you\u2019re going to have a lot of explaining to do.\u201d<br \/><br \/>That was his cue.  Trace sat up.  \u201cMerry Christmas!  And, thanks for looking out for me.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Emmett and Drew started to laugh before making themselves comfortable on the stools at counter that separated the living room from the kitchen.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo, what\u2019s for breakfast?\u201d Emmett asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDidn\u2019t you have breakfast with Debbie?\u201d Calvin asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe all greeted each other this morning, and Debbie was about to fix breakfast.  Then everyone disappeared suddenly.  Debbie and Carl went to watch his grandkids open their presents over something called chocolate chip pancakes.  And Lindsay and Melanie went over to Michael\u2019s to watch JR open her gifts.  So you see, Drewsie and I are quite alone\u2026not to mention starving.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cSo, we decided to come here,\u201d Drew added. \u201cHoping you wouldn\u2019t turn away two hungry travelers\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt being Christmas and all\u2026\u201d Emmett wanted to make a point.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell Em, my kitchen is yours.\u201d Ted enjoyed this moment.  \u201cBlake and I will accept whatever you decide to prepare for breakfast.  Thank you.  This is a really neat Christmas treat!\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cBut Teddy\u2026\u201d Emmett started to argue, but no one was listening.<br \/><br \/>Then Calvin interrupted.  \u201cGive me a moment to grab a shower, Em, and I\u2019ll give you a hand with breakfast.  The two of us together should be able to whip up something interesting.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou and me in the kitchen?  That should work.  We\u2019ll whip up something tasty.  Maybe something with a southern touch.\u201d Emmett gushed, all ready starting to consider.  \u201cWe\u2019ll come up with an array of tastes for this Christmas morning.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cLimited only by what we find in their refrigerator and pantry,\u201d Calvin added with a laugh.  \u201cThis is going to be a challenge.\u201d<br \/><br \/>While Calvin was taking a shower, Emmett made a mental inventory of what was in Ted and Blake\u2019s refrigerator.  Then he moved to survey the contents of the pantry.<br \/><br \/>From experience, Drew knew, to stay out of the kitchen.  He chose instead to relax and listen to Christmas music.  <br \/><br \/>A few minutes later, a fully dressed Trace joined him.<br \/><br \/>Calvin was the next to arrive.  He and Emmett caucused about the breakfast menu and decisions were made.<br \/><br \/>Ted and Blake were the last to arrive.  They made a few steps in the direction of their kitchen only to be shooed away by Calvin and Emmett.<br \/><br \/>In the meantime, the couch was stripped and returned to its folded state.  And, in no time the living room was back to its pristine condition.<br \/><br \/>Ted and Blake joined Trace and Drew in the living room.  As the aromas from the kitchen drifted their way, all four of them speculated about what delicacies might appear for their special Christmas Breakfast. <br \/><br \/>  ***<br \/>Meanwhile in the kitchen, Emmett and Calvin had put their heads together.  Obviously, the kitchen was Blake\u2019s domain, for they found apples, bananas, and fresh melon in the refrigerator.  <br \/><br \/>They also found bacon and eggs along with an assortment of cheeses.  Emmett decided this was probably Ted\u2019s contribution.  <br \/><br \/>But then Calvin found something even more interesting.  He found several containers of refrigerated dinner rolls.  \u201cI\u2019ve got an idea.  Breakfast needs to be interesting but fast.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019d have to agree.  There are four hungry beings in the other room.  What did you have in mind?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Calvin held up several slices of Brie.  \u201cI\u2019ve got this.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Emmett put the bacon to good use.  \u201cMe too.  I\u2019ve got an idea.\u201d<br \/><br \/>They each made their separate special concoctions and slipped them into the oven.  Then they proceeded to cut up the fruit and ensure the coffee was properly percolating.  <br \/><br \/>Calvin had one more idea, which he whispered to Emmett.  They found milk, eggs and cheese, mushrooms, green onions, and garlic.  These ingredients were mixed together and placed in the oven.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis is just a snack,\u201d Emmett said, leaning across the kitchen counter.  \u201cWe\u2019ll be having dinner at Brian\u2019s before you know it.\u201d<br \/><br \/>The tummies of four hungry persons growled in unison.  The aroma of the food was making them hungrier.    <br \/><br \/>Within a few minutes, Calvin asked, \u201cIsn\u2019t anyone going to set the table?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Ted and Blake sprung into action with Drew and Trace helping.  They formed an assembly line.  In no time an elegant breakfast table was set, complete with a festive tablecloth, silverware, fine china, and napkins.  It made a perfect backdrop for the food that was brought to the tacle a veritable feast.<br \/><br \/>There were Maple Bacon Breakfast Rolls, all buttery with bacon bits crumbled on top.  Then the fruit assortment followed.  Finally, the Crescent Wrapped Brie was presented to the oohs and aahs of everyone.  One more thing was removed from the oven\u2026something called a Baked Omelet, which was the final surprise.  <br \/><br \/>Emmett cut the omelet into sections like a pie to make it easy for everyone to be served.<br \/><br \/>Once again, Calvin and Emmett had outdone themselves.  Everyone commented on what a wonderful Christmas breakfast surprise it was.<br \/><br \/>Emmett had found a bottle of champagne in the refrigerator and made Mimosas for a festive touch.  After all, it was Christmas morning.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI was only planning on cereal this morning,\u201d Ted pointed out as he accepted his slice of wrapped Brie.  \u201cThis is sooooooooo much better.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI was only planning on juice,\u201d Blake added as poured coffee for everyone and passed around the Mimosas. <br \/><br \/>\u201cMerry Christmas,\u201d Emmett said as he and Calvin joined everyone at the table.  <br \/><br \/>They all knew this was going to be the best Christmas ever.<br \/><br \/><hr><br \/>Author\u2019s Comments:  The recipes for Crescent Wrapped Brie and Maple-Bacon Breakfast Rolls can be found at <a target='_blank' href='http:\/\/www.pillsbury.com' rel='nofollow'>http:\/\/www.pillsbury.com<\/a>.  I was watching one of the cooking shows to come up with idea of the baked omelet.  Here is one of the recipes I found from a web search:<br \/><a target='_blank' href='http:\/\/allrecipes.com\/Recipe\/Baked-Omelet\/Detail.aspx' rel='nofollow'>http:\/\/allrecipes.com\/Recipe\/Baked-Omelet\/Detail.aspx<\/a><br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/109181.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<a target=\"_blank\"><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a><\/a><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/108530.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/108177.html","pubDate":"Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:18:21 GMT","title":"The Gathering, Chapter 66 - Christmas Morning 3 of 5","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/108177.html","description":"Title:                \tThe Gathering<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only (NC-17)<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tNone<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/><br \/>When Debbie and Carl have their first real date In QAF Episode 214, Carl showed Debbie pictures of his daughter, Vicki, who lives in Salt Lake City, and his son, Carl Jr., who was in the Air Force.  I kept waiting for an episode where Carl\u2019s family would actually appear.  It never happened, so here\u2019s my version of what happened when Carl\u2019s adult children and their families come to Pittsburgh to meet Debbie and the gang.   This is the first Christmas after Brian and Justin legalized their relationship, and they are now living in New York City. Ben and Michael are estranged\u2026with Ben and Hunter living in an apartment and Michael living alone in the house.  This story was intended to be a standalone story.  This is just a little holiday fluff, but it takes me a while to tell a simple story, so I will update frequently.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.<br \/><br \/>Lois, Kathy, and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Gathering&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s Comments:  It\u2019s Wednesday.  Here is your next installment of one chapter.  Enjoy!  The next chapter should be up on Saturday, which is Christmas Eve.  And Thanks for all the comments.<br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 66 \u2013 Christmas Morning, Part 3 of 5<br \/>Christmas Day, December 25th<br \/><br \/><br \/><br \/><i> At Carl\u2019s Old House <\/i><br \/><br \/>Philip and Vicki could hear CJ telling the kids to be quiet.  Yeah, like that was going to happen.  The next thing they knew, six children pounced on their bed.  Quick greetings of \u201cMerry Christmas\u201d followed by a chorus of, \u201cCan we please open our presents now?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Philip and Vicki shared hugs all around.  Then Philip felt the need to call out.  \u201cCJ, can you come here for a minute?\u201d  All the Munchkins on the bed snickered for they knew, by now, that any time their respective father and uncle got together things were just going to be funny. <br \/><br \/>CJ grabbed his robe from the foot of his bed and stormed into the other bedroom.  \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d He froze as he looked at the array of kids on the bed.  \u201cWhat are all of you doing out of bed?\u201d he asked just as Elise, wearing her robe, joined him.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAt Ease, CJ!  You\u2019ve been over-ruled.  It\u2019s clearly time to open presents.\u201d Philip insisted much to the pleasure of everyone.<br \/><br \/>CJ tried to show disappointment, but he couldn\u2019t hide a laugh.  \u201cI figured as much.  That\u2019s why I called Dad and Debbie and invited them over for breakfast and to watch everyone open their presents.\u201d  He leaned over and kissed Elise, before turning to Philip with a satisfied grin. <br \/><br \/>\u201cDad and Debbie are on their way?\u201d Vicki asked in horror.  \u201cWe have to get everyone dressed before they arrive.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Suddenly all the kids volunteered to help each other find their clothes.  They each wanted to be the first ones downstairs.  In a flash they disappeared from the room.<br \/><br \/>Elise and Vicki looked at each other with that knowing expression of mothers.  The one which said, <i> I don\u2019t even want to think about what they\u2019ll put on<\/i>.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>CJ recognized the looks exchanged between Vicki and Elise.  \u201cWe better go help.\u201d He was certain the kids needed some supervision.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBefore you do,\u201d Philip gently touched his arm.  \u201cVicki and I wanted to wish you and Elise, \u201cMerry Christmas.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cPhil, I don\u2019t believe you!\u201d CJ began to complain.  \u201cYou slowed down the entire routine of the household \u2013 with everything that we have to do this morning \u2013 just so you could wish me a Merry Christmas? \u201c <br \/><br \/>When Philip and Vicki frowned at him, CJ couldn\u2019t resist laughing.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t pay attention to him,\u201d Elise insisted as she and CJ presented their own chorus of Christmas wishes.<br \/><br \/>\u201cReally Phil, I have more Christmas spirit than you realize.  Now that we\u2019re BFFs you\u2019re going to have to learn about my softer side.\u201d CJ added with another laugh.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd just think I was going to share my news with you.  But your attitude, Major Horvath, leaves much to be desired,\u201d Philip added a pout.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay, Okay.  I\u2019ll work on doing better,\u201d CJ apologized.  \u201cNow what are you holding back?  You have to tell me everything.\u201d He sounded more like one of the kids than the Air Force Major he actually was.<br \/><br \/>Just then, the doorbell rang.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cSaved by the bell\u2026\u201d Philip snickered.  \u201cIt looks like I\u2019ll have to tell you later,\u201d he added his own evil grin to make a point.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019ll get it,\u201d Mark called out as he started running down the hall only partially dressed.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNot a chance!\u201d CJ stepped out into the hall to block his nephew\u2019s path.  \u201cI\u2019ll get the door.  You guys finish getting dressed.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt looks like we have company,\u201d Vicki said hurriedly.  \u201cPhilip, grab your robe.  Keep Dad and Debbie company, while Elise and I get the kids into respectable clothes.  Hurry up.  You have to rescue CJ.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cRescue CJ?  You\u2019ve got to be kidding.\u201c  Philip argued standing firm and crossing his arms. \u201cNow why would I do that?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Elise scowled at him.  Vicky did too.<br \/><br \/>Philip caved at the pressure from the two women.  \u201cOkay. Okay.  I\u2019m on my way.  CJ and I will keep them company.\u201d He said as hurried out of the room.<br \/><br \/>***<br \/>CJ opened the door with Christmas greetings for Debbie and Carl, who still wore their Christmas hats with an ornament dangling from each one.  Otherwise they were dressed casually.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMerry Christmas!\u201d Debbie said, giving him a hug.  \u201cAnd, you have no idea how much we wanted to be here to watch the kids open their gifts.  I know there will be a bigger gift exchange at Brian\u2019s later, but it\u2019s still fucking fun to see them discover what Santa brought them here\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou have to forgive Debbie.\u201d  Carl said, reaching out to hug CJ in the process. \u201cShe thinks Christmas is for children.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cChildren of all ages,\u201d Debbie corrected.<br \/><br \/>Philip entered the living room, expressing his own Christmas greetings.  <br \/><br \/>Debbie and Carl returned his Christmas cheers with hugs.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe hurried over when we received your call.\u201d Carl looked around.  \u201cDid we get you out of bed?\u201d<br \/><br \/>CJ and Philip each looked at their attire.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cNo, No.\u201d Philip assured him.  \u201cThe kids have been awake for hours.  They were trying to figure out how to get to their gifts.  Obviously, figuring that Vicki and I were a softer touch then CJ, they just pounced on us.  With six Munchkins in bed with you, it takes a little longer to get up and start functioning.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cElise and Vicki are helping the kids get dressed.  Everyone should be down soon.\u201d CJ added.<br \/><br \/> \u201cAnd we...\u201d Philip wrapped his arm around CJ before he continued, \u201cDidn\u2019t want to leave you all alone.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cGo get dressed,\u201d Carl insisted.  \u201cDebbie and I will be fine.  We\u2019ll keep an eye on all the presents and make sure no one tampers with them.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Trey, Ricky, and Mark made their usual racket as they ran down the stairs and rushed over to hug Debbie and Carl.  Christmas wishes were exchanged.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNow that the first wave of kids is here,\u201d Philip motioned to CJ. \u201cLet\u2019s go get dressed.\u201d  He then turned to the kids.  \u201cNo peeking at the presents!\u201d  He added a stern look and a shake of his finger, just for good measure.  Then, he and Philip rushed up the stairs.<br \/><br \/>Once the sound of Philip and CJ\u2019s footsteps had quieted down, Trey, Mark, and Ricky sprang into action. <br \/><br \/>\u201cGrandpa, I\u2019m glad you\u2019re here,\u201d Trey began. \u201cWe need to talk to you about something.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou three want to talk to me.  I guess we need to be alone, huh?\u201d Carl looked at his grandsons.  \u201cI understand.  Guy talk?\u201d He glanced back at Debbie.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhy are you looking at me?  I\u2019m not going anywhere.  I know all about guy talk.  And I can keep a secret, if that\u2019s what you\u2019re worried about.\u201d Debbie wanted to make her position clear.<br \/><br \/>Mark, Trey, and Ricky weren\u2019t really sure about this.<br \/><br \/> \u201cWe\u2019ll move over to the couch,\u201d Carl suggested.  \u201cWe can ignore Debbie.  You three can just talk to me.\u201d He put one hand behind his back and secretly crossed his fingers before continuing.  \u201cAnd if Debbie hears anything, I\u2019m sure she won\u2019t say a word.\u201d  He looked over at her with a scowl.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOh, all right.  My lips are sealed,\u201d Debbie said, making the lips sealing motion made famous by one Ted Schmidt when he found himself in similar circumstances.<br \/><br \/>Carl settled on the couch, and his three grandsons joined him.  Although they all tried to talk at once, Carl was able to sift through all the details.  With his unique detective skills called into play, he was able to figure out what the problem was.  <br \/><br \/>It seemed that Trey, Mark, and Ricky had captured a picture of Santa Claus and his elf last night.   The guys had been proud of their accomplishment when they took the picture.  But now, in the quiet light of morning, they weren\u2019t as confident about what they\u2019d done.<br \/><br \/>Carl slipped further into detective mode and asked to see the evidence.  <br \/><br \/>Trey reached into his pocket and handed him the small digital camera.<br \/><br \/>Carl took a look at the picture and immediately stated to laugh.  Then he took the picture over to show Debbie, who joined his laughter as she looked at the grainy picture.<br \/><br \/>Mark, Trey, and Ricky looked confused. <br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat do we do now?\u201d Trey asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe saw them.  Santa and his elf brought us presents and everything.  There really is a Santa Claus!\u201d Ricky added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe were told if you see Santa,\u201d Mark said mournfully, \u201cAll your presents will disappear.  But it looks like all our presents are still here.\u201d  He breathed a sigh of relief.  \u201cNow, what do we do?\u201d<br \/><br \/>While Carl was considering the matter, Debbie had the solution.  \u201cThere\u2019s only one thing to do in a case like this.\u201d  All eyes turned in her direction.  \u201cYou should bring this picture with you to our family Christmas dinner.  Let everyone see how cagey you were to capture a picture of Santa Claus and his elf.\u201d<br \/><br \/>For some reason, Mark, Trey, and Ricky liked this idea.  They didn\u2019t have to keep the secret.  And, they would get to keep their presents too.  Christmas was turning out better than they hoped.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI heard you guys got new Christmas sweatshirts,\u201d Debbie reminded them.  \u201cAre you going to wear them to dinner?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s a great idea,\u201d Mark chimed in.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019ll all be wearing sparkles.\u201d Trey added. \u201cGretchen will like that!\u201d And a happy Gretchen meant that she didn\u2019t cause any trouble for him.  Trey liked this idea a lot.<br \/><br \/>Mark, Trey, and Ricky looked first at each other and then at their grandfather and Debbie; their unity pact was formed.  <br \/><br \/>A few minutes later, Kerry and Shannon arrived in the living room and greeted Carl and Debbie with hugs and Christmas greetings.  Then they eased over to look at all the presents.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019re going to wear our new Christmas sweatshirts to dinner,\u201d Mark announced to his sisters.<br \/><br \/>Kerry and Shannon liked the idea enough to clap about it.<br \/><br \/>During the clapping, Vicki and Elise arrived with Gretchen.  <br \/><br \/>Gretchen heard the clapping and decided to join in the excitement with her own claps.    She didn\u2019t need to know the actual reason for the clapping.   For her the reason didn\u2019t matter.  She just was glad for a reason to clap and make noise.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat\u2019s everyone clapping about?\u201d Elise asked as she caught up with her daughter.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019ve decided to wear our Christmas sweatshirts to dinner,\u201d Trey announced.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut what about your suit?\u201d Vicki asked Mark.<br \/><br \/>Mark\u2019s expression dropped.<br \/><br \/>\u201cA fucking suit?\u201d Debbie asked incredulously.  \u201cNo way!  We\u2019re not that formal.  It\u2019s Christmas.  We\u2019re going to be together.  What you wear won\u2019t matter.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019re family\u2026\u201d Carl reminded everyone.<br \/><br \/>Mark looked at his mother with a pleading expression.  \u201cDebbie said it was okay\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>Elise interrupted.  \u201cYou guys have been looking for a reason to wear those sweatshirts ever since you bought them home.  This will be perfect.  And we\u2019ll take lots of pictures.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cPerfect\u2026\u201d Mark said with joy.<br \/><br \/>Vicki still questioned. \u201cI still don\u2019t know about this\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>While Vicki was still pondering, CJ arrived in the living room.  He interrupted all discussion with an announcement.  \u201cOkay you guys, let\u2019s line up.  We have presents to open.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Philip came in just behind him and heard the command.  He couldn\u2019t resist.  \u201cYou didn\u2019t just say. <i>Let\u2019s line up, <\/i> did you?  You\u2019ve really been in the military too long.  Is that how you do it at your house on Christmas morning?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYes, of course....\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell forget that!\u201d Philip ordered.  \u201cEveryone stake out a territory.\u201d <br \/><br \/>The kids all scrambled for space of their own.  Mark, Trey, and Ricky went for the bean bag chairs.  Gretchen settled down near Debbie and Carl.  Vicki and Elise stepped back out of the way and found a spot for themselves on the floor near Kerry and Shannon. <br \/><br \/>Philip continued.  \u201cHere\u2019s how it\u2019s going to be done.  CJ and I will get everything distributed.  Once all the presents are handed out, we can all open them at the same time.\u201d  He glared over at CJ to see if there was going to be any argument.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay.  Okay.  I\u2019m not sure about this.  But okay,\u201d CJ agreed as he and Philip moved toward the tree. \u201cWe\u2019ll do this your chaotic way,\u201d he added.  \u201cBut if my kids have nightmares\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe won\u2019t, Dad,\u201d Trey assured him, all ready for the excitement to come.<br \/><br \/>And then it started.  The tree lights were turned on.  The Christmas music was added.  <br \/><br \/>CJ and Philip started grabbing presents from under the tree and made sure each was given to the right person.<br \/><br \/>The kids were all excited.  So were the adults. <br \/><br \/>While the presents were being distributed, everyone was looking at their stack of presents and trying to guess what was inside each package.  They read all the little cards on top saying who the presents were from.  The ones in the Santa Claus wrapping paper warranted special attention \u2013 for those were the ones from Santa himself \u2013 everyone knew that.  And, the kids couldn\u2019t wait to open them.<br \/><br \/>Debbie and Carl were caught up in the suspense as much as the grandkids.<br \/><br \/>All the under-the-tree-presents for the kids were distributed. Eventually, the only things that remained under the tree were the presents with the adults\u2019 names on them.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay, CJ give them the signal.\u201d Philip insisted.<br \/><br \/>CJ simply clapped once.  \u201cOkay, everyone dig in!\u201d  <br \/><br \/>And six pairs of hands, each using different opening techniques, dived into opening their packages.   Vicki and Elise decided to hang around in case any of the kids needed a hand, but their own presents could wait until later when things had settled down a bit.<br \/><br \/>Once all the presents were opened, the kids passed their presents back and forth so that they could see each other\u2019s gifts.   Everyone oohed and aahed.  Wrapping paper was scattered everywhere.<br \/><br \/>CJ went into the kitchen and found a trash bag to dispose of the first round of torn wrapping paper.  <br \/><br \/>Carl and Debbie made themselves useful by adding batteries properly to the numerous electronic toys requiring them.  Everyone checked to be sure each battery was inserted correctly.<br \/><br \/>Elise and Vicki surveyed the chaos in the living.    They exchanged looks between them as they shook their heads and laughed.<br \/><br \/>A little while later Vicki said, \u201cWere going to start breakfast.\u201d <br \/><br \/>Elise immediately stood up to join her.  \u201cWe really need to do that.\u201d<br \/><br \/>The kids were so engrossed with their presents, no one paid any attention to Elise and Vicki\u2019s announcement and their subsequent movement towards kitchen.<br \/><br \/>Vicki stuck her head back in the living room, \u201cDad, you and Debbie are joining us for chocolate chip pancakes, right?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe wouldn\u2019t miss it,\u201d Debbie confirmed as she glanced over at Carl.  <br \/><br \/>Carl was trapped in the middle of a group of grandkids and unable to respond.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cDo you need any help?\u201dDebbie asked<br \/><br \/>\u201cI think we can handle things,\u201d Elise assured Debbie. \u201cJust stay where you are and enjoy the kids and their presents.\u201d<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/108530.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<a target=\"_blank\"><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a><\/a><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/108177.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/107790.html","pubDate":"Sun, 18 Dec 2011 04:47:40 GMT","title":"The Gathering, Chapter 65 - Christmas Morning 2 of 5","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/107790.html","description":"Title:                \tThe Gathering<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only (NC-17)<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tNone<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/><br \/>When Debbie and Carl have their first real date In QAF Episode 214, Carl showed Debbie pictures of his daughter, Vicki, who lives in Salt Lake City, and his son, Carl Jr., who was in the Air Force.  I kept waiting for an episode where Carl\u2019s family would actually appear.  It never happened, so here\u2019s my version of what happened when Carl\u2019s adult children and their families come to Pittsburgh to meet Debbie and the gang.   This is the first Christmas after Brian and Justin legalized their relationship, and they are now living in New York City. Ben and Michael are estranged\u2026with Ben and Hunter living in an apartment and Michael living alone in the house.  This story was intended to be a standalone story.  This is just a little holiday fluff, but it takes me a while to tell a simple story, so I will update frequently.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.<br \/><br \/>Lois, Kathy, and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Gathering&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s Comments:  Okay, I had a few moments available, so I wanted to share one more chapter with you.  Your next update will be on Wednesday as usual.  Here is your next installment of one chapter.  Enjoy!<br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 65 \u2013 Christmas Morning, Part 2 of 5<br \/>December 25th<br \/><br \/><br \/><br \/><i> And At Bri-tin<\/i> <br \/><br \/>On Christmas morning, Gus was the first one to wake up at the mansion.  He looked out his window and made sure the sun was shining.  The sun needed to be shining for it to be actually Christmas morning.  How many times had he given Nicky the warnings about beginning special days like birthdays and Christmas before the sun was shining?  He\u2019d been careful to issue stern warnings, including about the possibilities of presents disappearing if the day was started too early.<br \/><br \/>But He\u2019d looked out his window, and there was the unmistakable sun.  Everything was going to be okay.   Then he had a big decision to make.  He needed to figure out what to do first:  whether to have the thrill of waking up the entire household, OR to sneak downstairs and check to see if Santa left him any presents.  <br \/><br \/>After a few minutes of pondering, he\u2019d made his decision.  He put on his slippers and quietly tiptoed downstairs.<br \/><br \/>Reaching the living room, he immediately noticed the cookies and cider were gone.  This was a good sign.  Santa Claus had been here.<br \/><br \/>Gus also noticed the plastic containers with the apples and carrots were also gone.  He smiled to himself for this proved Santa had definitely been here during the night.  Santa must have been in a bit of a hurry.  After all, he could have simply stopped to feed the reindeer and left the empty containers.  But, the fact that the containers were gone too meant that Santa had been in a hurry to leave.<br \/><br \/>Next step, check for presents!  <br \/><br \/>Gus tiptoed over towards the tree and he noticed the new stack of presents located across the train tracks.  Those definitely weren\u2019t there when he went to bed.  Yep, presents!  <br \/><br \/>He had to take a moment to do a happy dance, complete with arm pumps.  Even his Auntie Em would have been impressed by his impromptu dance moves.  <br \/><br \/>Unknown to Gus, during his dance moment, Thomas just happened to be on his way into the living room.  He stopped to watch Gus\u2019 unique dance moves.  He couldn\u2019t resist a smile as he pulled out his cellphone to snap a video to show to Teres.  She had to see this.<br \/><br \/>Still unaware that he had company, Gus turned his attention to the situation of the presents.  He realized that Santa must have tried to put the presents under the tree, but they wouldn\u2019t fit because of the space taken up by trains.  So, putting the presents across the tracks was a good choice.  He could easily reach everything.  He couldn\u2019t wait to tear into the presents.<br \/><br \/>Yep, Gus sure couldn\u2019t miss the big stack.    \u201cWhat else did Santa leave?\u201d he wondered to himself.   <br \/><br \/>Before Gus could move around to see, Thomas cleared his throat to announce his presence in the living room.  \u201cMerry Christmas, Gus!\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gus was surprised to find anyone else up, but he ran over to give Thomas a hug.  \u201cMerry Christmas, Thomas!\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou\u2019re up early.  Where is everyone?\u201d  Thomas asked with a devilish smile, for he could guess the answer to that question.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThey\u2019re still asleep.  I just wanted to check.  You know, see if Santa had been here.  See if there are presents.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd is everything okay?\u201d Thomas thought he\u2019d better get Gus\u2019 take on things.<br \/><br \/>Gus was now beaming with joy. \u201cSanta was here last night!\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cOf course, Santa was here last night.  You\u2019ve been a good little boy, haven\u2019t you?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, most of the time\u2026\u201d Gus admitted with a sigh.  \u201cWhat are you doing up?\u201d he finally asked Thomas, \u201cAnd where\u2019s Teres?  Are you going to be here when I open my presents?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cTeres is still asleep. I have a few things I needed to do this morning.  But you call us when you\u2019re ready to open your presents, and I promise, we\u2019ll be here.\u201d  Thomas started to put on the jacket he was carrying over his arm.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhere are you going?\u201dGus asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m on my way to the stables,\u201d Thomas announced with a grin.  \u201cWould you like to join me?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gus flopped down on the edge of the oversized ottoman.  \u201cWhy are you going out to the stables?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI thought I heard some strange sounds during the night.  It\u2019s probably nothing, but I thought I should check it out.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWait!  Wait!  I want to go too.\u201d  Gus grabbed the Afghan off the back of the sofa and wrapped himself securely in it.  \u201cI\u2019m ready now.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay, but you stay behind me.  I still have to find out what\u2019s going on.\u201d Thomas instructed.<br \/><br \/>Gus made the usual assurances he\u2019d do exactly as he was told.  He reached for Thomas\u2019 hand.  And together, in the early morning air, they walked the short distance to the stables.<br \/><br \/>Thomas made Gus wait outside while he went inside the stables to check things out.  <br \/><br \/>A few minutes later, a smiling Thomas returned to Gus\u2019 side, shaking his head.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d Gus asked with real concern in his voice.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThere\u2019s something in the stables you have to see.  But, you might want to go wake everyone else up first.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNo. No.  I\u2019m already here.  I want to see it.  With you,\u201d Gus added in the determined way of almost seven year olds.<br \/><br \/>Thomas paused a moment as if making a decision.  Then he finally decided.  \u201cOkay, but just remember I\u2019m here, so you don\u2019t have to be frightened,\u201d he reassured Gus.  \u201cAnd you have to be real quiet.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gus nodded okay as he slid his little hand back into Thomas\u2019 hand.  He tried to keep the Afghan around himself to stay warm as he walked the few steps beside Thomas. Gus tiptoed to stable door.<br \/><br \/>Once inside the door, Gus smelled a familiar smell.  But, this smell had never been in these stables before.  The stables had always been empty.  What could it be?  He tiptoed in a little further.  And then he saw them.  \u201cHorses!\u201d he said in a booming voice. <br \/><br \/>Suddenly, Thomas\u2019 hand went over Gus\u2019 mouth.  Thomas lifted Gus into his arms and carried him outside of the stables before putting him back down on the ground.   At this point, a smiling Thomas made sure the stable door was closed too.  \u201cI thought you were going to be quiet?\u201d he whispered in Gus\u2019 ear.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThomas, there are horses in there!\u201d Gus found the need to repeat, now in a whisper. \u201cLots of horses!\u201d he repeated, just for good measure.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI know.  I saw them.  And they saw you too.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat are they doing in our stables?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAt this point, Gus, your guess is as good as mine,\u201d Thomas had a bewildered expression on his face.  \u201cThey weren\u2019t here last night when we went to bed, but they\u2019re definitely here now.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDo you think Santa left them?\u201d Gus asked in a hopeful whisper.  After all, this was his deepest wish.  He\u2019d wished for horses in the stable and now they were here.   Suddenly, wondering what was in the stack of presents was no longer important.  There were horses in the stables!<br \/><br \/>\u201cI think we should go back to the house,\u201d Thomas said, trying to hide his smile.  \u201cWe need to go talk to your dad and Justin about this.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gus decided Thomas was probably right.  But he wanted to go back into the stables and make sure the horses were still there.  He didn\u2019t want them to go anywhere before his dad and Justin could investigate this for themselves and explain what was going on.  <br \/><br \/>Thomas wasn\u2019t sure what Gus was going to do, and he didn\u2019t want to take any chances.  So he, once again, made sure the Afghan was wrapped around Gus.  Then he lifted Gus into his arms and scurried back into the house while carrying him.  <br \/><br \/>Gus had questions all the way back to the house.  Questions, that Thomas tried to ignore since he was moving swiftly carrying a wiggling child.<br \/><br \/>Once inside the main house, Thomas helped to detangle Gus from the Afghan and dropped him at the base of the stairs. <br \/><br \/>Gus quickly scampered upstairs while Thomas neatly folded the Afghan and replaced it on the back of the sofa.  <br \/><br \/>Thomas laughed as he could hear Gus\u2019 clarion call from upper level waking everyone up.<br \/><br \/>***<br \/>Gus headed first to the guest room to wake up Daphne.  \u201cMerry Christmas!\u201d he shouted. \u201cIt\u2019s time to wake up!\u201d<br \/><br \/>Daphne sat up in bed, startled.  \u201cWhat?  What\u2019s going up?\u201d <br \/><br \/>Before Daphne could get a reasonable answer, Gus had disappeared, but she could hear him now knocking on Brian and Justin\u2019s door.  She slowly grabbed her robe to follow him.<br \/><br \/>Gus took a look at his dad with is head tucked under a pillow, and he decided to focus all his attention on Justin.  \u201cJus, wake up.  There\u2019s something in the stables!\u201d he announced to a yawning Justin.<br \/><br \/>Justin began to sit up as he tried unsuccessfully to nudge Brian awake.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cMerry Christmas, Gus!\u201d Justin started to become awake.  \u201cNow, what were you babbling about?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gus climbed in Justin\u2019s arms.  \u201cJus, we have to go to the stables.\u201d<br \/><br \/>By this time, Daphne had reached the side of the bed.  She focused her attention on Brian.  \u201cMove over,\u201d she nudged Brian over toward the center of the bed.  \u201cI need some room,\u201d she added as she slid on the bed.<br \/><br \/>Brian groaned and tried to ignore her by nestling further under his pillows.  \u201cDon\u2019t I get a Merry Christmas from anyone?\u201d he complained.  \u201cAnd what\u2019s all this noise about the stables?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThere are horses in the stables! \u201c Gus proclaimed.  \u201cWe need to go see!\u201d <br \/><br \/>Brian was now fully awake.  He quickly realized he was sandwiched between everyone.  He scowled at Daphne. \u201cOkay, let\u2019s get up, get dressed, and eat breakfast.  Then we can go see what\u2019s in the stables.\u201d <br \/><br \/>Gus was immediately scurried over to Brian\u2019s side of the bed. \u201cNo. No.  That\u2019ll be too late.  We have to go now!\u201d <br \/><br \/>Daphne wanted to help.  \u201cHave you been downstairs?  Did you check things out?  Are there presents?\u201d she asked, remembering it was Christmas morning and a reminder might shift Gus\u2019 attention to presents rather than his concerns about the stables. <br \/><br \/>A distracted Gus quickly said, \u201cYes. Yes.  Of course, there are presents.  I didn\u2019t have time to check them out or anything because Thomas took me into the stables.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian instantly sat up.  \u201cYou and Thomas together?\u201d He knew this could only mean trouble.  Then, he lifted an eyebrow and looked at Justin. \u201cDo you know anything about this?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cHow could I?  I just woke up, just like you.\u201d Justin argued.  \u201cWe might as well bundle up and check things out,\u201d he started to reach for his robe.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cI have a better idea.\u201d  Brian reached across Daphne for his cellphone.  He then glared at her and asked, \u201cAnd why are you in my bed?\u201d <br \/><br \/>Daphne didn\u2019t think an answer was necessary.  So she simply smiled and said, \u201cMerry Christmas.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian rolled his eyes in response.  Then, he looked at Gus and Justin and smiled, as he picked up his cellphone and dialed.  \u201cHorses in the stables?  You\u2019ve got to be kidding.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSanta must have left them,\u201d Gus went on to explain to Daphne and Justin, since Brian was otherwise engaged on the cellphone.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDid you ask Santa to bring you horses?\u201d Daphne whispered to Gus.<br \/><br \/>Justin sat back for he knew everyone had heard Gus constantly profess that there should be horses in the stables at Bri-tin.  But Gus seemed okay when Brian explained why horses weren\u2019t a good idea.  He never expected Gus to go one step further and appeal to Santa Claus.  Now horses seemed to have magically appeared.  Horses in the stable.  Justin sure hoped Brian had an explanation for all this.<br \/><br \/>Gus nodded.  \u201cI asked when we went to Santa Land.\u201d He explained to Daphne.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou never said anything,\u201d Daphne commented.  \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you tell me?\u201d she asked.  \u201cI thought you were waiting for your Dad to get you the horses.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cHe said they weren\u2019t a good idea.  I know he was right,\u201d Gus mumbled softly.  \u201cBut something told me Santa might have an idea.\u201d  He went on to explain.  \u201cAnd Santa came through!  There are horses in the stables! I saw them.  Come on.  You have to see them!\u201d<br \/><br \/>At that point, Brian finally hung up.  \u201cWell, let\u2019s get dressed.  Then we can see what Santa was up to last night.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gus and Daphne scampered away to get dressed.  <br \/><br \/>Once they were alone in their bed, Brian turned to Justin.  \u201cOkay, Sunshine.  What exactly have you been up to?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cFunny, I was going to ask you the same question.\u201d Justin insisted.  \u201cBut if you\u2019re questioning me, you don\u2019t know any more than I do, huh?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cGus is really excited right now.  But I want you to know if this is one of your schemes, I\u2019m going to find out about it.  And then, you\u2019ll be relegated to a couple of turns in the downstairs hot tub for his one.  And your wrinkled skin may not save you this time.\u201dBrian said with an amused laugh.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t look at me.  When you signed up the guys for Santa and Elf duties, you gave them really clear instructions didn\u2019t you?  You didn\u2019t suggest to any of them to add anything to our stables as part of their scripts, did you?\u201d  Justin had to ask.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSunshine, do I have to remind you that I\u2019m a professional; I know how to properly stage an event.  And I can assure you this wasn\u2019t part of my plans.\u201d  Brian ran his hands through his tasseled hair.  \u201cAlthough, I have to admit, it\u2019s a great stunt.  This has got to be one for the record books.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>Brian paused for a moment to consider.  \u201cYou know with all these strange sorts of unexplained things happening here, maybe we\u2019d better call everyone and cancel Christmas dinner.  You know\u2026for their own safety.\u201d   Brian thought he might have discovered a new strategy to win his running argument with Justin.<br \/><br \/>He thought that only until Justin set him straight once again.  \u201cBrian, we\u2019re having Christmas dinner.\u201d He gently kissed Brian.  \u201cNow, can we get into the shower before Daphne and Gus come back in here?\u201d  <br \/><br \/>Justin got up and pulled the still complaining Brian behind him. <br \/><br \/>\u201cLet me make one more phone call.  Then I\u2019m all yours.\u201d Brian said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou already made a phone call earlier.  Who are you calling now?\u201d Justin asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNever mind, Sunshine\u2026\u201d Brian said reaching for the phone again.  \u201cI\u2019ll only be a minute and I\u2019ll catch up with you.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t take too long.  You know, I hate to shower alone.\u201dJustin added with a wiggle of his hips as headed into the shower.<br \/><br \/>Brian made his phone call short and sweet.<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/108177.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<a target=\"_blank\"><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a><\/a><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/107790.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/107569.html","pubDate":"Sun, 18 Dec 2011 00:01:30 GMT","title":"The Gathering, Chapter 64 - Christmas Morning 1 of 5","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/107569.html","description":"Title:                \tThe Gathering<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only (NC-17)<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tNone<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/><br \/>When Debbie and Carl have their first real date In QAF Episode 214, Carl showed Debbie pictures of his daughter, Vicki, who lives in Salt Lake City, and his son, Carl Jr., who was in the Air Force.  I kept waiting for an episode where Carl\u2019s family would actually appear.  It never happened, so here\u2019s my version of what happened when Carl\u2019s adult children and their families come to Pittsburgh to meet Debbie and the gang.   This is the first Christmas after Brian and Justin legalized their relationship, and they are now living in New York City. Ben and Michael are estranged\u2026with Ben and Hunter living in an apartment and Michael living alone in the house.  This story was intended to be a standalone story.  This is just a little holiday fluff, but it takes me a while to tell a simple story, so I will update frequently.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.<br \/><br \/>Lois, Kathy, and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Gathering&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s comments:  This chapter begins Christmas Day.  There are a lot of places and a lot of people to cover before everyone gathers at Bri-tin, and I promise we will get there. (smile)  Here is your next installment of one chapter.  Enjoy!<br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 64 \u2013 Christmas Morning, Part 1 of 5 <br \/>Christmas Day<br \/><br \/><br \/><br \/><i> At Carl\u2019s Old House <\/i><br \/><br \/>It was early morning as Philip reached over to grab his ringing phone.  He looked at the caller ID and couldn\u2019t suppress the smile that slipped pass his lips.  He yawned and stretched just for good measure before answering.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMerry Christmas, Mac,\u201d Philip said with a measure of good cheer.  \u201cWhat are you doing up this early?\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cMerry Christmas to you too,\u201d Mac said with a laugh.  \u201cAnd don\u2019t act as if you weren\u2019t expecting my call.  Did I wake you?\u201d he asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNot really.  When you called, I was listening to six Munchkins, all trying to convince each other to be quiet.  When we both know they\u2019ve been in the room waking each other up.   Vicki and I were waiting to see how long it\u2019ll take before they come in to get us up, or try to sneak downstairs without us to check things out.  You see, late last night, CJ caught a couple of them trying to get a look at Santa.\u201d Philip started laughing.  \u201cCJ sternly ordered them all back to bed.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI see CJ is still the drill sergeant, as always.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWait until I tell CJ you demoted him from Major down to a Sergeant\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNo\u2026no\u2026don\u2019t do that.  It was just an expression,\u201d Mac tried to claim in his own defense; he so hated it when Philip got like this.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, maybe I won\u2019t mention it,\u201d Philip teased, \u201cBut only if you tell me you\u2019re on your way here.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s blackmail, and you\u2019re supposed to be a duly appointed officer of the court.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNever mind about the court.  What about Christmas?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Mac laughed.  \u201cLaurie and I are fine here in New York City.  In fact, we were planning a leisurely day.  We really don\u2019t want to intrude on a family gathering.  After all, it\u2019s Christmas and you and Vicki have been looking forward to being with everyone on Christmas ever since you left Salt Lake City.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Vicki grew tired of the discussion, so she took the phone.  She could imagine what had been said.   \u201cYou\u2019re family too!  And don\u2019t you forget it!  We all want you here!\u201d she insisted before handing the phone back to Philip.<br \/><br \/>\u201cGee, Vicki was sure pushy,\u201d Mac couldn\u2019t resist an opportunity to complain, \u201cNot a Merry Christmas among her tirade.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat goes to show you.  If you want a Merry Christmas from Vicki, you\u2019re going to have to show up in person to receive it\u2026with Laurie in tow, I might add.  Besides, wouldn\u2019t you like to meet the people you\u2019ve investigated?\u201d Philip asked, as he looked over at Vicki to check her silent reaction.<br \/><br \/>Vicki raised her eyebrows but said nothing to interrupt.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou\u2019re not supposed to mention that,\u201d Mac reminded him.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut Mac, they are all so much more than you know.  I really want you to meet them.  Just dress casually and be prepared to spend time with lots of people\u2026.including all three of your god kids, who can\u2019t wait to see you.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAll right, Philip.  If it\u2019s important to you, Laurie and I can get a flight, which will get us to Pittsburgh about 1:30 pm.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cPerfect, we\u2019ll be there to meet you.  Email me your flight information.  Be prepared to be loved within an inch of your life,\u201d Philip said with a wicked grin as he thought of Debbie and her hugs.<br \/><br \/>Once again, Vicki nudged her husband and took the phone.  \u201cIt\u2019s been ages since you\u2019ve seen Dad, and you know how fond he is of you.  You have to meet Debbie and everyone else.  Christmas is a time for family, so figure out how to get here!\u201d<br \/><br \/>Philip regained his cellphone.  \u201cSee, I told you,\u201d he said in parting to Mac. \u201cWe\u2019ll see you later.\u201d<br \/><br \/>And before he forgot, Philip sent a text message to Brian that there would be two more people for Christmas dinner.<br \/><br \/>***<br \/><br \/><i> In New York City <\/i><br \/><br \/>Mac laughed.  \u201cOkay.   Laurie and I will be there.\u201d  And as he closed his cellphone, Mac was already looking forward to later this afternoon.<br \/><br \/>Laurie looked at the expression on her husband\u2019s face and simply shook her head.  \u201cYou\u2019re such a soft touch,\u201d she leaned over to kiss him gently, \u201cMerry Christmas!\u201d she couldn\u2019t resist adding. \u201cSo, I guess we have a more interesting Christmas to look forward to after all.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Mac wrapped his arms around his wife.  \u201cHaving us take this trip was a wonderful idea.  I\u2019ve enjoyed every minute.  I was even looking forward to a quiet Christmas dinner with you.  But\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut from what I heard of the conversation, you let Philip peak your curiosity.  There\u2019s a reason you\u2019re a private investigator.  What did he use this time?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou know me.  I\u2019m helpless when both Vicki and Philip gang up,\u201d Mac tried to claim in his own defense.  \u201cThey pulled the <i> we\u2019re family too card<\/i>.   I was powerless to resist.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAh huh.  And what else?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou see, back in the beginning when Philip mentioned this little trip Vicki had conned him into, I did a little checking.  Laurie, Philip is my best friend.  Once he told me CJ was also going to be involved, I wanted to make sure Philip wasn\u2019t caught off-guard by any surprises.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s because you and Philip take such good care of each other,\u201d Laurie said in the knowing way of wives.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo, I did some research.  My findings were fascinating.  But Philip just told me the people are more interesting than even we suspected.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd now you can\u2019t wait to meet them.  I understand.  Okay, give!  Now, you have to share all your findings with me.  You wouldn\u2019t want your wife caught any more off guard than your best friend, now would you?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Mac let out a deep sigh.  \u201cI could tell you my findings are confidential.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m your wife and a surgeon,\u201d she reminded him, \u201cI have all sorts of ways of making you talk.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cFortunately, we have a lot of time,\u201d he said with a laugh, \u201cWhere do you want me to begin?\u201d He sighed before he began, \u201cOnce upon a time\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s a good beginning,\u201d she snuggled in for a long story.<br \/><br \/>Mac tried to recite from memory all the details about this eclectic group of people, beginning with Carl and Debbie and their two year engagement and an infamous bike ride.  Then, after searching through the files on his Blackberry, he added in the comments about Emmett and Drew, Ted and Blake, Michael and Ben and Hunter.  He did one final bit of scanning before he concluded with details about Lindsay and Melanie and their kids.  He saved the relationship of Brian and Justin for last.<br \/><br \/>Then Mac filled Laurie in on the additional information Philip had texted to him since he\u2019d been in Pittsburgh.  By the time he finished, Laurie was thoroughly amused and looking forward to meeting these interesting people too.  She didn\u2019t mind, at all, that she and Mac wouldn\u2019t be alone this Christmas, even though that\u2019s what they\u2019d originally planned.<br \/><br \/><br \/>***<br \/><br \/><i> At Debbie\u2019s <\/i><br \/><br \/>By the time Debbie and Carl strolled downstairs on Christmas morning, the entire household was already up.  Both Carl and Debbie wore red Christmas hats with white trim, and hanging from each hat was a small colorful Christmas ball.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMerry Christmas!\u201d Carl and Debbie said in unison.<br \/><br \/>Melanie and Lindsay, Emmett and Drew, were already in the kitchen.  And with the Merry Christmas wish they all began hugging Debbie and Carl and each other.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI had to get up early,\u201d Debbie began, \u201cI have a few things to take care of before we leave for Brian and Sunshine\u2019s.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI know,\u201d Emmett joined the conversation, \u201cIt\u2019s hard to believe we\u2019re all going to be there.  This will be a new Christmas tradition.\u201d  Then Emmett looked over at Melanie and Lindsay.  \u201cIt\u2019s early.  Why are you two dressed?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cLindsay and I have lots of places to go before we settle at Brian\u2019s,\u201d Melanie explained.  \u201cFirst, we have to go to Michael\u2019s or maybe to Ben\u2019s.  Anyway, we agreed to come over and watch Jenny open her presents this morning.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019re waiting for a call with final instructions; then, we\u2019re on our way,\u201d Lindsay reiterated.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cIsn\u2019t it going to be a little tricky, watching both Jenny and Gus open their presents at the same time?\u201d Drew had to ask, being the master strategist and trouble-maker.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019ve considered the problem,\u201d Melanie interrupted. \u201cWe\u2019ll let Jenny open her presents first, then we\u2019ll head out to the mansion and watch Gus open his afterwards.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI only hope Brian can restrain Gus long enough for us to get out there,\u201d Lindsay added.  \u201cI know Gus has a lot of people to help him open gifts, but we want to be there too.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Melanie said.  \u201cIf we miss anything, believe me, Gus will be glad to fill us in.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt\u2019s challenging, isn\u2019t it, to be in two places at once,\u201d Emmett said offering his support for their dilemma.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut definitely worth it!\u201d Debbie added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis is such a special Christmas\u2026definitely worth it,\u201d Carl said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAre you going over to watch your grandkids open their presents?\u201d Drew asked Carl.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI would love to, but I\u2019m sure at this hour of the morning, all their presents are already opened.  I\u2019m sure they were opened against the morning backdrop of Elise\u2019s chocolate chip pancakes,\u201d Carl said with a laugh.  \u201cDebbie and I were planning to stop by before we head out to Brian\u2019s.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut what about all the presents here?\u201d Drew asked.  \u201cI\u2019m awful curious about what\u2019s in all those packages.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd you know Debbie isn\u2019t going to be able to stand not knowing either.\u201d Emmett added as he reached over and hugged her.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd why should I wait?  All these fucking weeks of anticipation.  All these weeks of shopping.  I already know what\u2019s inside those fucking packages,\u201d Debbie proclaimed as she started to move in the direction of the tree.  \u201cIts\u2019 the ones with my name on them I want to investigate.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cHold it!\u201d Carl interrupted her.  \u201cBefore you tear into things, let\u2019s at least share Christmas breakfast together.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s perfect,\u201d Drew said.  Then he turned to Melanie and Lindsay, \u201cYou have time, don\u2019t you?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe just have to wait for our phone call,\u201d Lindsay said. <br \/><br \/>As if on cue, the phone rang.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cIt looks like we\u2019ll have to take a rain-check on breakfast,\u201d Melanie said as Carl answered the phone.<br \/><br \/>***<br \/><br \/><i> And at Michael\u2019s <\/i><br \/><br \/>As usual, Ben was the first one up.  He tiptoed upstairs to take a shower.  As he walked pass JR\u2019s door, she called out to him.<br \/><br \/>Ben quietly entered the room.  \u201cMerry Christmas, JR,\u201d he said with a smile.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou\u2019re here,\u201d she gave him a hug.  \u201cMerry Christmas\u201d she tried to say.  \u201cPresents!\u201d she managed to say quite clearly.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo, you want to open your presents, huh?\u201d <br \/><br \/>JR merely nodded with enthusiasm.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cThen we better go wake everyone else up, don\u2019t you think?\u201d Ben innocently asked as he lifted JR out of her bed and helped her go to the bathroom.<br \/><br \/>JR\u2019s next stop was Hunter\u2019s room.  For some reason, she was giggling as she pounced on her brother.<br \/><br \/>\u201cGo back to bed, JR, \u201cHunter mumbled as he tried to slide down under the covers.  <br \/><br \/>By this time, Ben had reached Hunter\u2019s bedroom door.  \u201cWhat kind of a response is that on Christmas morning?\u201d he asked.  \u201cMerry Christmas!\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMerry Christmas?\u201d Hunter questioned.  \u201cIs it here already?\u201d<br \/><br \/>JR answered the question for him by tickling him fully awake.  \u201cPresents!\u201d she said to make her point clearly.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay.  I get it, JR.  You wanted to open your presents,\u201d Hunter reached out to give his sister a Debbie style hug.<br \/><br \/>The hug caused JR to giggle and squeal.  She made enough noise to bring Michael out of his bedroom to see what was going on.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat are you all doing?\u201d Michael asked scratching his head, with his hair going in all different directions at the same time.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMerry Christmas, Michael,\u201d Ben said quietly.  \u201cIt\u2019s a good thing you\u2019re up.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cJR is ready to open her presents,\u201d Hunter decided to fill in before nodding toward JR beside him.  \u201cWe all might as well get ready.  For there will be no sleep for anyone until she can get into her presents.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI have to agree,\u201d Michael said with a smile.  \u201cWhy don\u2019t we at least get dressed?  I\u2019ll call Lindsay and Melanie.  They should be here by the time we\u2019re downstairs.  They wanted to be here when JR opened her presents.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cOne glass of juice and some cereal...then we\u2019ll see what Santa Claus left us,\u201d Ben said.  And for once everyone agreed.<br \/><br \/>Michael scurried back to his room to make that important phone call.<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/107790.html%22\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<a target=\"_blank\"><br \/><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a><\/a><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/107569.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/107265.html","pubDate":"Wed, 14 Dec 2011 04:25:11 GMT","title":"The Gathering, Chapter 63 - All Through The Night","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/107265.html","description":"Title:                \tThe Gathering<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only (NC-17)<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tNone<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/><br \/>When Debbie and Carl have their first real date In QAF Episode 214, Carl showed Debbie pictures of his daughter, Vicki, who lives in Salt Lake City, and his son, Carl Jr., who was in the Air Force.  I kept waiting for an episode where Carl\u2019s family would actually appear.  It never happened, so here\u2019s my version of what happened when Carl\u2019s adult children and their families come to Pittsburgh to meet Debbie and the gang.   This is the first Christmas after Brian and Justin legalized their relationship, and they are now living in New York City. Ben and Michael are estranged\u2026with Ben and Hunter living in an apartment and Michael living alone in the house.  This story was intended to be a standalone story.  This is just a little holiday fluff, but it takes me a while to tell a simple story, so I will update frequently.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.<br \/><br \/>Lois, Kathy, and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Gathering&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s Comments:  I know that everyone is tired of Christmas Eve, so this is you last Christmas Eve chapter. (smile)  I will update again on Saturday.  Here is your next installment of one chapter.  Enjoy!<br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 63 \u2013 All Through The Night<br \/>Late Christmas Eve Night, December 24th<br \/><br \/><i> Michael\u2019s Living Room\u2026<\/i><br \/><br \/>A few hours later, a sleeping Ben was awakened to the gentle tinkle of bells and the sound of footsteps on the porch.  His first reaction was <i>Santa?<\/i> until the calm voice of reason set in.  He shook his head and tried to return to reality\u2026but not before he checked the time to see it was now almost midnight.<br \/><br \/>He was no longer sure what things were his imagination and what was real, so he decided to take a look outside to get his bearings.  He wrapped himself in a blanket and went to the window to see what was happening outside.<br \/><br \/>While Ben was peeping out the window, the front door slowly opened.  <br \/><br \/>Someone had a key.<br \/><br \/>Ben realized he was in a precarious position.  He needed to protect the household without sounding the alarm to the rest of the house until he had more information.  But, he couldn\u2019t help wondering, who with a key would be arriving unannounced at this hour of the night.  Surprise, unannounced arrivals were Michael\u2019s domain.  But, since he was upstairs asleep, this couldn\u2019t be him. <br \/><br \/>In his own defense, Ben moved to a corner of the room and began to remove the shade from one of the lamps.  It wasn\u2019t a much of a weapon, but with his personal strength, it could work.  Not a great solution, but it was the best he could think of at the moment.  <br \/><br \/>And he let out a calming breath and waited.<br \/><br \/>Much to his surprise, two shadowy figures entered the house.  He noticed their arms were full.  How did they ever manage to open the door?  Ben observed further.  They each carried a box that seemed to be filled with something.  Traces of white flashed in the darkness.  \u2018What on earth was going on?\u2019 Ben wondered.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhere is the light switch?\u201d one of them asked the other.<br \/><br \/>\u201cHow should I know?  Try the wall over there,\u201d the second figure suggested.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThen, I guess it\u2019s a good thing we brought these flashlights.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Ben listened from his hidden spot in the corner.  \u2018I don\u2019t believe these guys,\u2019 he thought to himself, shaking his head.<br \/><br \/>The two figures lowered their boxes to the floor.  They used their flashlights to locate a lamp in the room, and turned on a small light.<br \/><br \/>Ben slowly returned the lamp, he was holding, to the table and replaced the lampshade.  He slowly figured out who these two intruders were as he began to recognize their voices.  Of course, knowing who they were was not going to explain why they were here in the house at this hour.<br \/><br \/>\u201cLet me start filling the stockings,\u201d the figure in the Santa suit said as he moved his box across the room toward the mantel.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd I\u2019m supposed to arrange these presents under the tree,\u201d the one in the Elf outfit said as he moved in that direction.<br \/><br \/>Ben had been quiet as long as he could.  \u201cWhat are you two doing here?\u201d he asked as he turned on a light that completely lit the room.  <br \/><br \/>Ben came face-to-face with Ted as Santa and his Trusty Elf Blake.<br \/><br \/>Santa and his elf each clutched their chests in shock to find Ben standing there.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBen, you can\u2019t scare people like that.  I didn\u2019t know you were going to be here,\u201d Ted as Santa proclaimed, adding, \u201cHo\u2026Ho\u2026Ho\u201d for good measure once he finally found his voice.<br \/><br \/>\u201cTed, what do you think you\u2019re doing?\u201d Ben had to ask.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOh that\u2019s right,\u201d Blake now found his voice too.  \u201cNobody told you about Brian\u2019s brilliant plan.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBrian\u2019s plan?  What are you talking about?\u201d Ben asked with some confusion.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou see, we\u2019re Santa and his Elf,\u201d Ted began to explain the obvious as he pointed to himself and then to his companion.<br \/><br \/>Ben laughed, \u201cI can see that.  Nice outfits, by the way.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cLook Ben, we\u2019d love to sit and chat, but my elf and I have a lot of work to do,\u201d Ted as Santa tried to explain.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI know you\u2019re good at multi-tasking, this being Christmas Eve and such,\u201d Ben remarked as he started to chuckle.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI have stockings to stuff,\u201d Ted as Santa protested.  \u201cSo I need to get busy.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, since you\u2019re leaving presents, I don\u2019t want to interfere,\u201d Ben said, as he walked over to grab his pants.  He was silent as he put them on and made his way into the kitchen, for he\u2019d decided to leave Santa and his elf to their work.<br \/><br \/>Santa filled the stockings while his elf arranged the packages under the tree.<br \/><br \/>By the time Santa and the elf were done, Ben returned to the living room bearing a tray with cups of hot chocolate and a plate of cookies.<br \/><br \/>Ted as Santa and his Trusty Elf Blake couldn\u2019t resist as the aroma of chocolate filled the room.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI realize you have other places to go, but maybe you\u2019ll pause for just a moment, to enjoy the hot chocolate and cookies that JR left for you,\u201d Ben said with a wicked grin. \u201cI bet you\u2019re weary from all your traveling in the cold tonight,\u201d he added for good measure.<br \/><br \/>Ted as Santa accepted one cup of hot chocolate while the Trusty Elf Blake reached for the other one.  The two men warmed their hands on their cups.  Then they accepted cookies from Ben.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNow, explain to me what\u2019s really going on?\u201d Ben asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis was Brian\u2019s idea,\u201d Ted began in his own defense.  \u201cHe\u2019s been really weird this entire holiday,\u201d he added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMichael\u2019s already mentioned the same thing,\u201d Ben said smiling.  \u201cSo what did Brian do now?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBrian trapped Blake and me in his media room, at the mansion, a few days ago when we all decorated cookies out at the mansion.  Then he insisted we put on these outfits. He forced us to pose in them so Justin could draw us.  Then Brian forced us to wear them when we delivered gifts to the Vic Grassi House,\u201d Ted continued.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI knew you were going, but no one said anything about costumes.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBrian is never one to reveal any more details than necessary\u2026you know that?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Ben nodded.<br \/><br \/>Ted continued, \u201cThen, Brian had this weird idea that little kids will try to sneak a peek at Santa when he\u2019s delivering gifts.  So, Blake and I were to dress appropriately, so the kids wouldn\u2019t be disappointed.  Brian\u2019s plan didn\u2019t account for any adults disrupting our mission.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI see.  JR asked me to stay.  So, I\u2019m sleeping on the sofa,\u201d Ben said with a smile, \u201cAnd in the morning I\u2019ll be able to tell her all about my encounter with Santa Claus.  This is going to be one for the record books.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd be sure to include Santa\u2019s trusty elf in that story,\u201d Blake said, pointing to himself.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI can probably do that,\u201d Ben agreed with a playful smile.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, my trusty elf and I have more presents to deliver, so we\u2019d better go.  Be sure to get a good night\u2019s rest.  Santa\u2019s heard you have a big family gathering to handle on Christmas Day,\u201d Ted as Santa said as he placed his empty cup on the table.<br \/><br \/>There was a jingling of bells and one more \u201cHo\u2026Ho\u2026Ho\u201d, and Santa and his trusty elf disappeared into the night.<br \/><br \/>Ben took a moment to look at the overstuffed stockings now hanging from the mantel and the large stash of presents under the tree all wrapped in distinctive Santa Claus wrapping paper.  He was glad that he\u2019d agreed to stay over.  For if he and Hunter had gone back to their apartment, he would have missed the entire Santa and elf encounter.  <br \/><br \/>He couldn\u2019t wait until the morning when he would get to watch JR try to handle the opening of all her presents.  This would be the first Christmas when the presents would be more interesting than the boxes.  This was going to be fun to watch.  <br \/><br \/>He was also glad that he had witnessed the visit from Santa.  This was something he\u2019d been waiting a life time to see.  He was definitely going to have a great story to tell JR in the morning.<br \/><br \/>Ben smiled to himself as he removed his pants and settled back down on the sofa for the remainder of his Christmas Eve slumber.<br \/><br \/>***<br \/><br \/><i>At Carl\u2019s old house\u2026<\/i><br \/><br \/>Meanwhile across town, in Carl\u2019s old house, another interesting sight was playing out.<br \/><br \/>There was the same jingle of Christmas bells and the sound of footsteps on the porch.  Calvin as Santa, accompanied by his Trusty Elf Trace, used a key to enter the house.  The pair used small flashlights to find their way around the living room.<br \/><br \/>Then, Trusty Elf Trace took in all the Christmas decorations in the room, as the light from his flashlight bounced off their surfaces.<br \/><br \/>Santa was most focused on his particular duties, as he looked at the array of ten stockings hung on the mantel.  He shook his head and realized that it was going to be a long night.<br \/><br \/>Trusty Elf Trace put down his box and began to arrange the presents under the tree.  To add a touch of festivity to the task, he managed to light the Christmas tree.  \u201cThat\u2019s better,\u201d he mumbled.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThe lighted tree wasn\u2019t in our script,\u201d Calvin as Santa pointed out.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou can\u2019t expect Brian to think of everything.  Sometimes, you just have to improvise.\u201d Trusty Elf Trace said with a grin.  \u201cDon\u2019t worry as soon as we\u2019re finished, we\u2019ll turn everything off.  Do you need some help over there?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNo, I\u2019m making progress.  I\u2019ve stuffed all the presents in the stockings.  Now I just have to be sure that I get these envelopes into the right stocking.  Thank goodness each of the stockings has a name on it.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat\u2019s with the envelopes?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBrian mentioned something about special notes from Santa.  I must admit I\u2019m curious what these notes say.  Unfortunately, it would be in poor taste to steam the envelopes open to find out what the messages are.  And there just isn\u2019t time.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI have a feeling the kids will bring their notes with them to dinner, so we\u2019ll know all there is to know.  Patience is called for here.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cGood point.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThey left us cookies and milk,\u201d the trusty elf said, holding up the plate.<br \/><br \/>\u201cA few cookies and milk shouldn\u2019t add too much weight,\u201d Santa said, touching his padding and adding a \u201cHo\u2026Ho\u2026Ho\u201d.  We should still be able to fit back in the sleigh.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>Santa and his Trusty Elf enjoyed their snack.<br \/><br \/>They took a step back and admired their work.  They nodded to each other, indicating a job well-done.  Then they heard footsteps overhead.  Someone was up and moving about.  They needed to make a quick exit.<br \/><br \/>Trusty Elf Trace turned off the lights of the Christmas tree and turned on their flashlights as they headed for the door.  <br \/><br \/>Just as they were about to leave, they heard footsteps on the stairs.  Then the click of a camera went off just before Santa and his elf went out the door.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cDid you see him?\u201d Ricky whispered to Trey.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOf course, I saw him,\u201d Trey confirmed, \u201cI think we got the picture.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAre our presents still there?\u201d Mark asked as he joined them. \u201cI heard that sometimes the presents disappear if anyone actually sees Santa.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Trey, Ricky and Mark tiptoed down into the living room.  They noticed the area under the tree was now filled with presents, and all the stockings were stuffed with presents too.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay, you guys,\u201d CJ\u2019s stern voice said from the top of the stairs. \u201cWhatever you think you\u2019re doing down there\u2026leave it alone.  It\u2019s time to go back to bed.  And, you need to actually go to sleep this time.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe saw Santa,\u201d Ricky said as he headed up the stairs followed by his co-conspirators, Mark and Trey.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOf course, you did.\u201d CJ said from the top of the stairs with a touch of humor in his voice. \u201cIsn\u2019t that interesting?\u201d he tried to add a touch of disbelief to his voice for good measure.<br \/><br \/>\u201cHe left us presents,\u201d Mark wanted to add.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s great,\u201d CJ said with a laugh.  \u201cAnd no, you can\u2019t open them now.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Three groans were uttered in unison.<br \/><br \/>\u201cCome back to bed.  Get some sleep.  We\u2019ll all find out together in the morning, what Santa Claus left for us,\u201d CJ insisted.  \u201cCome on up here.  Now!\u201d<br \/><br \/>Mark, Trey, and Ricky hid the camera behind them as they climbed the rest of the stairs.  They were going to have something to show everyone in the morning.  After all, they were smarter than average kids when it came to seeing Santa.  They had proof.<br \/><br \/>And with that knowledge the three conspirators quickly got back into their sleeping bags without further protests.<br \/><br \/>***<br \/><br \/><i> And At Bri-tin\u2026<\/i><br \/><br \/>All was quiet at Bri-tin.  Brian, Justin, Gus, and Daphne were asleep upstairs.<br \/><br \/>Downstairs, a figure in a red cap used a small flashlight to make his way around the room.  He tried to find a spot near the tree that was not occupied by a complex railway system.  He let his flashlight travel over the entire setup.  He shook his head.  Now, where was he supposed to put all the presents?  <br \/>After a moment of careful thought, he decided to spread out the array of packages wrapped in Santa Claus wrapping paper.  He positioned the packages across the tracks.  That way everyone would find their presents easily.  <br \/><br \/>Then the red-capped figure used his flashlight to move over to the mantel over the fireplace.  Here he found stockings with a series of names:  Brian, Justin, Gus, Daphne, Thomas, and Teres.  He made sure the stockings were all stuffed with gifts too.<br \/><br \/>With these tasks completed, the lone figure made one more check.  Once he was satisfied, he uttered softly, \u201cHo\u2026Ho\u2026Ho\u201d.<br \/><br \/>The red-capped figure smiled to himself as he sat in the comfortable chair and enjoyed the cookies and cider which had been left for him by Gus.  <br \/><br \/>Then he found the plastic container of apples and carrots and took everything with him out to the feed reindeer, leaving by the back door.  He paused a moment to give the reindeer their treats while they stood patiently just outside the stables.    <br \/><br \/>And then with another \u201cHo\u2026Ho\u2026Ho\u201d and a jingle of bells, the red capped figure and the reindeer departed.<br \/><br \/>Just a touch of Christmas Eve magic\u2026<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/107569.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<a target=\"_blank\"><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a><\/a><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/107265.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/107259.html","pubDate":"Sat, 10 Dec 2011 06:08:39 GMT","title":"The Gathering, Chapter 62 - And At Michael's House","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/107259.html","description":"Title:                \tThe Gathering<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only (NC-17)<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tNone<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/><br \/>When Debbie and Carl have their first real date In QAF Episode 214, Carl showed Debbie pictures of his daughter, Vicki, who lives in Salt Lake City, and his son, Carl Jr., who was in the Air Force.  I kept waiting for an episode where Carl\u2019s family would actually appear.  It never happened, so here\u2019s my version of what happened when Carl\u2019s adult children and their families come to Pittsburgh to meet Debbie and the gang.   This is the first Christmas after Brian and Justin legalized their relationship, and they are now living in New York City. Ben and Michael are estranged\u2026with Ben and Hunter living in an apartment and Michael living alone in the house.  This story was intended to be a standalone story.  This is just a little holiday fluff, but it takes me a while to tell a simple story, so I will update frequently.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.<br \/><br \/>Lois, Kathy, and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Gathering&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s Comments:  I\u2019m not really happy about the rate of my updates. I\u2019m working hard to post more often, but I\u2019m not there yet. (smile)  In the meantime, here is your next installment of one chapter.  Enjoy! <br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 62 \u2013 And At Michael\u2019s House<br \/>Christmas Eve Night, December 24th<br \/><br \/><br \/>It was an interesting night at Michael\u2019s House too.<br \/><br \/>Michael had followed in the Novotny tradition and cheerfully decorated the living room area with extensive garland and lights.  The tree glistened with its multi-colored ball and lights, and there was the traditional star at the top of the tree.  The mantle where the stockings were hung was also decorated in garlands and lights.  Michael and JR had discussed every detail, including the placements of each piece of the decorations.   Hunter had simply been content to supervise and make his usual comments.<br \/><br \/>Since they were all gathered in the living room, all the Christmas lights were on.   And like every other house in Pittsburgh, this one also had soft Christmas Carols playing in the background.<br \/><br \/>Christmas was in the air.  Everyone could feel it.  The Novotny-Buckner family was spending a moment together before everyone scattered off to their own separate homes.<br \/><br \/>Jenny Rebecca had experienced an eventful day.  Now, she had chosen to make herself comfortable in Ben\u2019s arms.  She was already dressed in her pajamas and like every kid at bedtime on Christmas Eve\u2026was looking for an excuse not to go to bed.  <br \/><br \/>At the moment, being deep in conversation with Ben had been the first reason to stay up.  <br \/><br \/>Then Michael gave her a second reason with the suggestion for hot chocolate before bedtime.<br \/><br \/>A few minutes later, Hunter joined Michael in the kitchen. <br \/><br \/>\u201cSomething\u2019s on your mind,\u201d Hunter said.  It wasn\u2019t a question.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cYou mean besides trying to figure out how to get JR to go to bed?\u201d Michael teased.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBesides that\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cCarl\u2019s grandkids are great.  I\u2019m fond of Elise and Vicki.  But CJ and Philip are different,\u201d Michael said with a shrug.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat do you mean by different?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThey settled in quickly.  They got used to all of us without batting an eye, and you know we usually take some getting use to.  Now, they think they\u2019re all family.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThey are family!  Thinking you belong to this family sort of makes you a part of it,\u201d Hunter asserted. \u201cAs long as Debbie and Carl are together, CJ and Philip and their families are part of us,\u201d he felt the need to explain, \u201cAnd you can\u2019t argue they are in love with Debbie.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMa has this habit of opening her arms to strangers.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI take it you\u2019re thinking about Justin?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt happens with everyone, but Justin is just a prime example.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cLucky for us all!  The world would be so cold without her pulling us all into the family.  We all know, no matter where we are, we have a family to come back to.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd things are pretty good in this family, aren\u2019t they?  You don\u2019t see any reason for anything to change, do you?\u201d  Michael asked in an almost pleading voice.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThings are always changing.  Brian and Justin are in New York.  Melanie and Lindsay and the kids live in Toronto.  But they always come back here\u2026to us\u2026to family, so we can drive each other nuts.  It goes with the family-territory.  I read about it in psych class.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat are they teaching you at that school?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Hunter shrugged.  \u201cStuff\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s obvious\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd this holiday season, our family has grown by leaps and bounds.   Because we all love Carl.  And he\u2019s very much a part of this family.   And now so are his kids and grandkids too.  Why does that bother you so much?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Michael sighed.  \u201cSometimes, I just wonder about family.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAre you thinking about Grandfather?\u201d Hunter asked as he settled on one of the stools in the kitchen.  \u201cI know this is your first Christmas with him too.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYeah, I was just thinking, after all this time, it\u2019s really nice to have a dad to talk to.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI know you and Grandfather have spent a lot of time together talking.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Michael nodded as he gathered the milk from the refrigerator and set it heating on the stove.  \u201cI also wonder about me and Ben?  I wonder if he still thinks of me as family.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Hunter walked over and peeked into the living room.  He gestured for Michael to come over and take a look.  Both of them watched the animated discussion going on between Jenny Rebecca and Ben.  <br \/><br \/>Hunter felt what they\u2019d just seen should answer all questions.  But he knew he was dealing with Michael, so things couldn\u2019t be that easy.  \u201cYou, Ben, me, and JR are family.  We don\u2019t all live together, but this holiday we\u2019re all here together now.  You and JR even have stockings hung at our apartment,\u201d Hunter added with a laugh.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAh yes, thanks to the supervision of JR,\u201d Michael said with a laugh.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Ben and I have stockings hung here at the house.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Michael tried to interrupt, but Hunter continued on to make his point.  \u201cAnd JR explained to Santa\u2019s elf about both places.  We\u2019re family, Michael.  Ever since you and Ben adopted me and gave me a family to belong to.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAdopting you was one of the best things me and Ben did.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI can tell something is bothering you.  You probably don\u2019t want to talk about it with me.  And that\u2019s okay,\u201d Hunter stood up and took a breath.  \u201cBut don\u2019t make yourself miserable.  Maybe you should talk to Ben.  I\u2019m going in to annoy JR,\u201d Hunter added with a wicked grin.  He even rubbed his hands together enthusiastically, just for good measure.<br \/><br \/>Shortly after Hunter left, Ben entered the kitchen.  \u201cDo you need some help with the hot chocolate?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI think I\u2019ve got it,\u201d Michael said.  \u201cYour hot chocolate has always been best.  You\u2019re definitely the cook in this family,\u201d he added with a smile.  \u201cI\u2019m just slowly heating the milk.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNo problem.  You seem awfully quiet.  Is everything okay?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMe and Hunter were just talking about family,\u201d Michael explained.<br \/><br \/>\u201cA worthy topic since the size of our little family has definitely grown.  I bet you\u2019re remembering back to the days, when it was just you and Brian and Ted and Emmett,\u201d Ben laughed.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cI remember when it was just me and Ma and Uncle Vic\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat must have been something special.   And now, you also have Daniel.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cHunter was just reminding me that this is the first Christmas I\u2019ll celebrate with Dad.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd you gained these other pesky relatives because of Carl,\u201d Ben began to tease, \u201cAnd from what I\u2019ve seen of Vicki, Philip, CJ, Elise and all their kids\u2026they see themselves as part of our little family now. \u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut new family members seem to come in with new ideas\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s to be expected.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd they seem so ready to change things.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cCJ and Philip are really competitive with each other.  Who ever heard of a cookie decorating contest?\u201d Ben suggested. \u201cFortunately, Molly got them out of that one by suggesting a tie.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Michael laughed.  \u201cOh yeah\u2026I forgot about that.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo what were you thinking about then?\u201d Ben walked over to check the milk.  \u201cIt looks like the milk is ready.  It\u2019s time to add the chocolate.  And do you have whipped cream or marshmallows?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019ve got both,\u201d Michael said, \u201cAnd sprinkles too.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cOh, this is going to be perfect!\u201d Ben said, before returning to his original question as he moved around the kitchen gathering and mixing stuff.  \u201cI can tell something is on your mind.  Don\u2019t tell me you\u2019re thinking about the conversation we had earlier this evening about Carl and Debbie getting married?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019ve been thinking about it.\u201d  Then Michael got this strange expression on his face. Even though he was thinking about Debbie and Carl getting married, he wasn\u2019t ready to talk about it yet.  In fact, he had more pressing issues on his mind.   \u201cBen, we\u2019re still family aren\u2019t we?\u201d he finally had to ask.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOf course, we are.  Our living arrangements couldn\u2019t change that.  We just have things to work through\u2026you and me.  But we\u2019ll always be a family with Hunter and JR.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt has been great having you here.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhy thank you, Michael.  It feels good being here.\u201d Ben said before shrugging.  \u201cLook Hunter and JR are waiting for their hot chocolate.  We can talk later if you want to.   We all need a good night\u2019s rest.  Dinner at Brian and Justin\u2019s is definitely going to be interesting.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Michael laughed.  \u201cThat\u2019s for sure.  I can\u2019t believe Brian would go for this.  In fact, Brian\u2019s been acting strange this entire holiday so far.  He\u2019s close to CJ and Philip\u2026even though we know that he hates straight people.  We also know how he feels about Christmas\u2026yet he seems to be having a good time.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s one way to put it.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut then, maybe he\u2019s decided to be a real father and is going out of his way for Gus.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>\u201cGus seems to be having a good time with all his new playmates,\u201d Ben mentioned with a laugh. \u201cAnd Debbie did say it was Brian\u2019s idea for us to have dinner there.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cI wonder what Boy Wonder had to do to get Brian to decide to do it.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou can\u2019t hold Justin responsible for everything that Brian does,\u201d Ben said with a smile. \u201cRemember decorating the cookies.  If I remember correctly, that was Brian\u2019s idea too.  Justin seemed as surprised as the rest of us.  I think you tend to forget that Brian is pretty much his own person.  He\u2019s no longer the kid you remember at fourteen.  Now he\u2019s an adult at 36 years old.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Michael shook his head, for he didn\u2019t believe that for one second.  In his mind, Brian was still Brian.  He hadn\u2019t really changed.  And Michael had a long history to refer to, stretching back over 20 years\u2026right up to the present.  The strange things Brian\u2019s been doing lately\u2026getting into the Christmas spirit\u2026decorating cookies\u2026playing with trains with Gus\u2026were probably done, so Brian didn\u2019t have to argue with Justin.  Or, at least that\u2019s how Michael tried to explain it to himself.<br \/><br \/>But still, the things that everyone said during that drink at Woody\u2019s still made Michael restless.  As Michael carried the tray into the living room, his mind was still recalling his discussion with the gang.  <br \/><br \/><i>Beginning of Flashback\u2026<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut Ma wanted to support me.  She wanted to support the fact I couldn\u2019t get married in this country,\u201d Michael reminded everyone.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut now you CAN get married in this country,\u201d Philip reminded him. \u201cIf you wanted to\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou and Ben are already married,\u201d Daniel said quietly.  \u201cYou still have a few things to work out, but you have to admit Ben is still part of the family.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThings are better between us,\u201d Michael said quietly. \u201cBut he hasn\u2019t said anything about us getting back together.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut he hasn\u2019t gone anywhere either,\u201d Calvin said. \u201cHe\u2019s hanging right here with all of us for this holiday just like he always does.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo there\u2019s hope,\u201d Ted said, wrapping his arms around Blake.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSee?\u201d Daniel asked, gently nudging Michael to get him to see the good points of his life.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBen\u2019s probably waiting for you to do something special,\u201d Justin suggested easily. <br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Michael innocently asked.  He sighed deeply, especially when he realized who was talking.  He definitely couldn\u2019t believe he was listening to Justin.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSince, as you say, Debbie hasn\u2019t married Carl because of her desire to support you\u2026\u201d Justin said with a wicked smile, \u201cMaybe you should be the one to gently suggest that now would be a good time for a wedding.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian decided to step in here. \u201cThink about it, Mikey\u2026\u201d he said cautiously.  \u201cThis would be a big step.  You know how Debbie feels about marriage.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDo you honestly think she doesn\u2019t want to marry Carl?\u201d Ted asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou could do something special for her,\u201d Daniel said. He then paused to let that thought sink in.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYeah, I guess\u2026.\u201d Michael mumbled.  \u201cBut she could have gotten married if she wanted to.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNot if she did all this for you\u2026\u201d Justin said softly.  \u201cNow you can give her permission to be happy with Carl.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd it might also show Ben that you\u2019re changing\u2026\u201d Ted added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThe wedding would be a great idea since we\u2019re all here together,\u201d CJ added. <br \/><br \/>End of Flashback\u2026<\/i><br \/><br \/>Later, Michael and Daniel had gone for a short walk to talk some more about Debbie and Carl getting married.  It was clear his dad agreed with the others.  But Daniel had made it clear that it was Michael\u2019s decision.  And, he should do what he thought was right.  <br \/><br \/>Michael wished he could have gotten Brian alone.  Brian would have told him what was right.  But Brian had been rather busy tonight.  He could have talked this over with Ben, but something told Michael that Ben was the wrong person to discuss this with tonight.  So, Michael had just decided to stop talking and just sleep on the whole idea.  He felt sleeping on things on Christmas Eve would give him a much clearer picture in the morning.  After all, tomorrow was Christmas.  Clearly a magical time as any child can tell you.<br \/><br \/>Michael took a few steps into the living room. \u201cHot chocolate\u2026\u201d he announced.<br \/><br \/>And Jenny pulled Hunter over in the direction of the cups.  She wanted to make sure she had lots of marshmallows and sprinkles in her hot chocolate because she said it looked like Christmas.<br \/><br \/>Hunter ignored the cautioning look from Ben, as he went directly for the whipped cream.  \u201cIt\u2019s Christmas Eve,\u201d he reminded everyone.<br \/><br \/>After her cup of hot chocolate, Jenny no longer put up any resistance as Ben, Hunter, and Michael tucked her in.  Of course, be clear, it did take all three of them to finally get her tucked into bed.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd when you wake up in the morning, Santa Claus will have been here,\u201d Hunter reminded her.<br \/><br \/>With Jenny Rebecca in bed, Hunter and Ben were getting ready to leave.  But Jenny had one more request of her own.  She asked that Hunter and Ben spend the night.<br \/><br \/>For just a moment, Ben was speechless.  It had been a long time since he\u2019d spent a night under the roof of this house.  He clearly had his own doubts and reservations.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhy don\u2019t you stay here?\u201d Michael sheepishly suggested.  \u201cYou know that JR is going to go looking for you as soon as she wakes up.  She\u2019s going to want to show you everything that Santa left her.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat sounds like a good idea,\u201d Hunter agreed as he gently nudged Ben.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI suppose I could bunk on the sofa.  After all, it\u2019s only for one night,\u201d Ben said softly. \u201cAnd just so a little someone doesn\u2019t find another excuse to get out of bed,\u201d he said with a laugh as he leaned down to kiss JR goodnight.  \u201cMichael and I will be sure to leave the cookies and hot chocolate for Santa.\u201d<br \/><br \/>JR smiled and clapped as she turned over for sleep.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s the holiday spirit,\u201d Hunter chimed in before he said goodnight and headed to his room, leaving Ben and Michael alone together.<br \/><br \/>Michael located pillows, sheets, and blankets for Ben.<br \/><br \/>And as promised, Michael and Ben set out the cookies and hot chocolate for Santa.<br \/><br \/>\u201cRemember how we had to explain about the cookies for Santa to Hunter when he first came to live with us?\u201d Michael asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut now he gets it,\u201d Ben said with a laugh, \u201cAnd he\u2019s good at making sure that JR understands all the family Christmas traditions.\u201d<br \/><br \/>And as Michael headed upstairs to his own room alone, he tried to reassure himself that Christmas was a magical time.  He sighed as he considered that at least, for tonight, Ben was back home\u2026or at least back in the house.  <br \/><br \/>At least part of his Christmas wish had come true.<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/107265.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<a target=\"_blank\"><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a><\/a><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/107259.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/106839.html","pubDate":"Wed, 07 Dec 2011 04:25:24 GMT","title":"The Gathering, Chapter 61 - And At Bri-tin","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/106839.html","description":"Title:                \tThe Gathering<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only (NC-17)<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tNone<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/><br \/>When Debbie and Carl have their first real date In QAF Episode 214, Carl showed Debbie pictures of his daughter, Vicki, who lives in Salt Lake City, and his son, Carl Jr., who was in the Air Force.  I kept waiting for an episode where Carl\u2019s family would actually appear.  It never happened, so here\u2019s my version of what happened when Carl\u2019s adult children and their families come to Pittsburgh to meet Debbie and the gang.   This is the first Christmas after Brian and Justin legalized their relationship, and they are now living in New York City. Ben and Michael are estranged\u2026with Ben and Hunter living in an apartment and Michael living alone in the house.  This story was intended to be a standalone story.  This is just a little holiday fluff, but it takes me a while to tell a simple story, so I will update frequently.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.<br \/><br \/>Lois, Kathy, and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Gathering&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s Comments:  Thanks everyone for the comments.  I really like comments. (smile)  Here is your next installment of one chapter.  I will update again on Saturday.  Enjoy!<br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 61 \u2013 And At Bri-tin<br \/>Christmas Eve Night, December 24th<br \/><br \/><br \/>The SUV bearing Brian, Justin, Daphne, and Gus was heading toward Bri-tin.  For part of the trip, Gus continued to pester Justin about what story he planned to tell tonight.  <br \/><br \/>Daphne and Brian were amused at Gus\u2019 persistence.  For both of them tried to remind Gus that once Justin made up his mind, he really didn\u2019t budge.  <br \/><br \/>Both Daphne and Brian had been privy, over the years, to Justin\u2019s stubborn streak.  They couldn\u2019t believe Gus thought he could wear Justin down.  Either of them could have told Gus his efforts would be futile.  But it was Christmas Eve, and they decided to let him find out the truth of himself.<br \/><br \/>Finally, Gus sighed with defeat, as he quietly settled down for the remainder of the ride home. <br \/><br \/>For a while, Gus and Daphne talked about all the things they needed to do before Gus went to bed, including leaving the treats for Santa.<br \/><br \/>Gus didn\u2019t seem to be the only one feeling some anxiety during the ride back to Bri-tin.  <br \/><br \/>This was evident when Brian made one more attempt to pose his ever-present question to Justin.  \u201cAre you sure we\u2019re going to have dinner tomorrow?\u201d  <br \/><br \/>Justin couldn\u2019t contain his continual amusement as he considered the antics of father and son, who each thought they could wear him down or change his mind.    <br \/><br \/>Justin knew Gus\u2019 frustration would be only momentary.   In the end, Gus would be all right.  <br \/>But, Brian was another matter.  For the millionth time, Justin wanted to make things clear to his partner.  \u201cEven if everyone is not speaking to each other\u2026we\u2019ll still be having Christmas dinner tomorrow.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhy is he still so doubtful?\u201d Daphne asked Justin, at this point trying to pretend Brian wasn\u2019t in the car.  \u201cDid something happen when you delivered the presents and the cookies?  I knew I should have gone along.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Justin shook his head as he proceeded to fill Daphne in on the events at the Vic Grassi House.  <br \/>And, Brian couldn\u2019t hold out any longer, so he told her what transpired at the Rehab Center.<br \/><br \/>Through the telling, Daphne couldn\u2019t stop laughing.<br \/><br \/>Then Justin swore Daphne to secrecy, before sharing only some of the events during their celebratory drink at Woody\u2019s. <br \/><br \/>\u201cBut CJ and Philip are set on the idea of Carl and Debbie getting married over the holidays since the entire family is together.  And, I think you know how Michael and Ben feel about this,\u201d Justin added.<br \/><br \/>Daphne remembered the discussion in Debbie\u2019s living room earlier this evening, as tempers started to flare.  \u201cI don\u2019t understand their objection,\u201d she said thoughtfully.  \u201cAt the moment, Michael and Ben are married to each other.  What\u2019s the problem?  Debbie\u2019s reason for putting off her marriage to Carl to support the issue of gay marriage for her son doesn\u2019t seem as relevant now as it once was.   Things have started to change.  Or, are we simply dealing with Michael being Michael and his resistance to any change?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThere is that,\u201d Justin said with some hesitation as he smiled a wicked grin.  \u201cBut Michael is chewing over a suggestion that he should be the one to bring the matter up to Debbie during dinner tomorrow.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cJustin, what makes you think Michael will do that?\u201d  Daphne couldn\u2019t believe her ears.  \u201cYou didn\u2019t see how upset he was when the subject came up in earlier in the evening.\u201d <br \/><br \/>Brian smiled.  \u201cYou see, my partner is an evil genius in his own right.  He planted a little seed for Mikey to consider.  Justin turned the whole thing into an issue about Mikey.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cOh, come on,\u201d Daphne shook her head.  \u201cMichael will never fall for any suggestions from Justin.  He\u2019s spent a life-time wishing Justin would simply disappear.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian continued with a knowing grin. \u201cBut Mikey has Daniel now.  I suspect Daniel might have made the same suggestions Justin did, or at least Daniel might have encouraged the same proposition.  Suddenly, Michael won\u2019t be able to ignore the idea.\u201d  He now looked at his partner.  \u201cYou know, your strategy just might work?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI guess, we\u2019ll find out tomorrow,\u201d Justin said with a shrug.  Then he smiled a wicked grin.  \u201cAnd in order to find out what happens in this little drama\u2026\u201d He now turned to glare at Brian for good measure, \u201cChristmas dinner needs to happen\u2026no matter what.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Daphne looked from Brian to Justin and back again.  Whatever happened tomorrow at dinner\u2026she could easily see that this was one of the sneakier plots the pair had come up with.  In fact, something told her there was more to the story then had been revealed, but she would wait until she and Justin were alone for all the gory details.<br \/><br \/>Daphne took a deep breath, \u201cSo, I should prepare for a holiday wedding?\u201d  For she knew even Michael would eventually be powerless against the combined efforts of her two best friends. \u201cThis should be interesting\u2026especially when Big Bad Brian steps in.  He\u2019ll be the usual voice of reason to move things along.  However, this wedding will definitely be on short notice.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m sure Em can handle the short notice,\u201d Justin reminded her.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd, what makes you think I\u2019m going to get involved?\u201d Brian turned to Daphne to pose his question.<br \/><br \/>\u201cExperience\u2026\u201d  Daphne pointed out with her usual attitude.<br \/><br \/>\u201cObviously, I have no power.\u201d  Brian began to pout.  \u201cYou\u2019re still here, aren\u2019t you?  And, when did you say you were leaving?\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m staying until New Years\u2026get used to it Brian!\u201d <br \/><br \/>At this point, Justin jumped in.  \u201cIf you two don\u2019t behave yourselves, neither of you will hear the special story I\u2019m reading to Gus tonight.\u201d<br \/><br \/>With that threat, Brian and Daphne pouted in their respective seats.  Neither said another word until they reached the driveway at Bri-tin.<br \/><br \/> \u201cYou still have your unique knack of pissing off everyone.\u201d Brian enjoyed, reminding his partner.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat can I say?  It\u2019s a gift!\u201d Justin said with a smile and a shrug of his shoulders.<br \/> <br \/>As the car pulled into the driveway, everyone paused a moment.  Things had changed in the time since they\u2019d left the mansion earlier.  The exterior of the house looked the same as it always did with its usual external lighting. However now, strings of multi-colored Christmas lights now framed the house and the garage.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI see Thomas has been busy,\u201d Brian grumbled, \u201cHe and I really do need to have a long talk.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou leave Thomas alone,\u201d Daphne insisted, taking a position as Thomas\u2019 protector.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis is great!\u201d Gus said with joy and surprise as noticed the changes.  \u201cNow I know it\u2019s really Christmas!\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI guess I should be content that no reindeer are on the roof,\u201d Brian said with a sigh as he silently reflected on Debbie\u2019s usual holiday decorations.<br \/><br \/>Justin swiped Brian on the arm, just for good measure, as he huffed his response.  \u201cThomas and I know how to show restraint with our designs,\u201d he added an additional gesture with his hands to prove the point.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m glad you told me,\u201d Brian felt the need to add. \u201cBecause judging by our living room, I can never be quite sure.  And I still haven\u2019t recovered from the long evening we all spent trying to bring your under-the-tree-train-vision to light.  Maybe I shouldn\u2019t be too hard on Thomas.  He probably got the decorations up rather efficiently, without a certain demanding blond artist, supervising his work.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAre you finished?\u201d Justin asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cProbably.  For the moment.\u201d Brian replied with a wicked grin.<br \/><br \/>Brian casually waved to Thomas as they exited the car.  <br \/><br \/>Although everyone took a few moments to enjoy the decorative lighting, it didn\u2019t take long for them to eventually pass-through the archway and enter the house through the front door.  <br \/><br \/>Once inside the house, they settled to relax in the living room.<br \/><br \/>Gus turned on the Christmas tree.  \u201cTomorrow is Christmas!\u201d  He, once again, reminded everyone before settling down near his dad in one of the oversized chairs.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNo matter what happens tomorrow\u2026this has to be one of the most interesting holidays I can ever remember,\u201d Daphne had to acknowledge as she curled up in the other chair. \u201cAnd there\u2019s still more to come.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cPatience\u2026\u201d Justin reminded everyone.<br \/><br \/>Daphne, Brian, and Gus were chatting easily.  But a few moments later, Daphne looked around and noticed that someone had disappeared.  \u201cNow, where did Justin wander off to?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Brian said, \u201cTrust me, he hasn\u2019t gone far.  However, I can understand your concern.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI think he went into his studio,\u201d Gus said quietly.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat doesn\u2019t make me feel any better,\u201d Brian reached out to clutch Gus\u2019s little hand.  Memories of the past events flooded his memory.  He waited to see if everything would suddenly go dark.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou can stop speculating,\u201d Justin quietly returned to the living room.  \u201cI just had to get my book, so I could read the story to Gus,\u201d he knew that would get a rise out of Gus.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou had the book in your studio all this time?\u201d Gus asked. \u201cAnd I never saw it?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt was carefully hidden,\u201d Justin added just for good measure.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cNot fair, Jus!\u201d <br \/><br \/>Justin grinned.  \u201cNow I\u2019m ready, so Gus, once you\u2019re in your pajamas, I have a story with your name on it.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Those were the magic words.  Gus began moving towards the steps.<br \/><br \/>Justin had a wicked expression as he calmly said, \u201cOf course, before you turn in for the night, you must remember to set out the cookies and cider for Santa.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cEspecially since we went to all the trouble to remind him where we are this year,\u201d Daphne added with a smile as she stood up.  \u201cI would usually suggest you might want to leave a little hay out for the reindeer\u2026but that would definitely make Justin sneeze all night with his allergies.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNot something I want to endure tonight!\u201d Brian said emphatically. \u201cI have other plans for Justin\u2026especially if I\u2019m supposed to endure a family gathering here tomorrow.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gus ignored his father and turned to Justin, \u201cWhat do you suggest we leave for the reindeer instead?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI was thinking about carrots and apples,\u201d Justin said.  \u201cI\u2019m not allergic to that.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gus wrapped his arms around Justin\u2019s waist.  \u201cI love you, Jus.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI love you too, Gus.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cLet me help you,\u201d Brian offered, realizing he needed to find the holiday spirit\u2026no matter how he actually felt\u2026for he really didn\u2019t want to spoil things for Gus.  <br \/><br \/>Gus and Brian pulled the carrots and apples from the refrigerator, and cut them into large pieces that were just the right size to feed to the reindeer.  While Justin and Daphne set up the container of cookies and a mug of cider for Santa.  <br \/><br \/>They even managed to put everything into small plastic containers\u2026just in case Santa was pressed for time and had to carry the treats with him\u2026after he left the presents that everyone was expecting.<br \/><br \/>With these tasks all done, Gus scampered in the direction of the stairs, followed by Brian, who thought he\u2019d offer to help Gus get in his pajamas.  <br \/><br \/>In no time, Gus was ready for bed.  \u201cJus\u2026I\u2019m ready,\u201d he called out from the top of the stairs.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m on my way,\u201d Justin responded.<br \/><br \/>A few minutes later, Daphne also entered Gus\u2019 room carrying one cookie and a glass of milk for Gus. \u201cDon\u2019t worry\u2026I got these from the kitchen\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gus was now relieved as he hugged Daphne and said thanks.  For just a second, he thought that she might have stolen a cookie from the container they\u2019d prepared for Santa\u2026and that wouldn\u2019t be good\u2026it might reduce the number of presents that Santa left.<br \/><br \/>Now all the contingencies had been taken care of.  Brian and Daphne settled down at the foot of Gus\u2019 bed to listen.<br \/><br \/>Justin settled down beside Gus, giving him a final hug before he began.<br \/><br \/>Justin was now ready.  \u201cThe Christmas Horse\u2026\u201d he began reading from a book with beautiful illustrations.  <br \/><br \/>The story was of a little boy who had lots of adventures on his Christmas horse.  Justin had created the story with its illustrations as an extra gift for Gus.<br \/><br \/>And Gus was thrilled to get this present on Christmas Eve.  Of course, there would be no falling asleep in the middle of the story, for Gus didn\u2019t want to miss any of Justin\u2019s illustrations or any details of the story either.<br \/><br \/>When Justin had finished reading the story, he tucked the book into bed with Gus.<br \/><br \/>Brian, Justin, and Daphne all wished Gus pleasant dreams on this Christmas Eve Night.  They would see him in the morning when it will be officially Christmas.<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/107259.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<a target=\"_blank\"><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a><\/a><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/106839.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/106677.html","pubDate":"Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:58:36 GMT","title":"The Gathering, Chapter 60 - At Carl's Old House","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/106677.html","description":"Title:                \tThe Gathering<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only (NC-17)<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tNone<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/><br \/>When Debbie and Carl have their first real date In QAF Episode 214, Carl showed Debbie pictures of his daughter, Vicki, who lives in Salt Lake City, and his son, Carl Jr., who was in the Air Force.  I kept waiting for an episode where Carl\u2019s family would actually appear.  It never happened, so here\u2019s my version of what happened when Carl\u2019s adult children and their families come to Pittsburgh to meet Debbie and the gang.   This is the first Christmas after Brian and Justin legalized their relationship, and they are now living in New York City. Ben and Michael are estranged\u2026with Ben and Hunter living in an apartment and Michael living alone in the house.  This story was intended to be a standalone story.  This is just a little holiday fluff, but it takes me a while to tell a simple story, so I will update frequently.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.<br \/><br \/>Lois, Kathy, and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Gathering&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/><br \/>Author's Comments:  We are continuing where we left off with Christmas Eve.  Here is your initial update of one chapter.  I promise you, more to come.<br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 60 \u2013 At Carl\u2019s Old House<br \/>Christmas Eve Night, December 24th   <br \/><br \/><br \/>On the drive from Debbie\u2019s to Carl\u2019s Old House, the kids in the SUV talked among themselves. <br \/><br \/>They speculated about what would happen tonight.  After all, this was the night of Christmas Eve - a time when Santa Claus delivered all those presents they\u2019d been hoping for.  But that was hours away - sometime after they were asleep.  <br \/><br \/>So, their thoughts moved with a new swiftness to wonder what story Philip was going to read them tonight.  And all six children were discussing the possibilities of that.<br \/><br \/>While the kids were having their private conversations in the back of the SUV, Philip and CJ were doing their own speculation in the front seat.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI wonder what our wives have been up to,\u201d CJ mumbled to Philip.<br \/> <br \/>\u201cElise said something about making Sauerbraten.  She must have enlisted Vicki\u2019s help,\u201d Philip added.  \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be too concerned.\u201d<br \/><br \/>CJ shook his head.   \u201cI don\u2019t know about the kids, but I\u2019m really looking forward to Christmas tomorrow.  Judging by how interesting our visit here in Pittsburgh has been so far, I can hardly wait for Christmas dinner.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMe too\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAre you going to call Mac and Laurie when we get back to the house?\u201d CJ asked with renewed enthusiasm.  \u201cDo you think they\u2019ll want to join us for dinner?\u201d <br \/><br \/>Philip found the question amusing.  \u201cMac originally told me that Laurie purchased some kind of holiday package.  So, they might have a full day of celebrations scheduled for tomorrow in New York City.  Their jobs keep them so busy; they rarely get a chance to spend time alone together.  They might just want to celebrate alone tomorrow - especially when you consider our invitation to come here will be on such short notice.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI realize New York City is a wonderful place to be for the holidays, but I\u2019m hoping they decide to come here.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Philip looked at CJ and started laughing.  \u201cAre you now?  Don\u2019t tell me you miss Mac?  Or, are you still hoping for another suitor for Vicki?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t be ridiculous!  Now that you and I are BFF, you can forget all about that old stuff,\u201d CJ was quick to point out because a part of him was savoring the idea that on future holidays, he was guaranteed to have Philip to torture.  Who knew a simple agreement would hold so much promise?<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou can stop looking so smug,\u201d Philip was quick to reply as he wondered what was really going through CJ\u2019s mind.  \u201cEven if Mac and Laurie have special plans for Christmas, maybe they\u2019ll decide, at least, to come here the day after Christmas.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, we won\u2019t know until you ask them, now will we?\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cTrue\u2026\u201d Philip paused a moment.  \u201cBut we also need to bounce the idea off our wives before we do anything.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019d considered that,\u201d CJ admitted, \u201cBut something tells me, they\u2019ll be as excited by the prospect as we are.  It was really nice of Brian and Justin to extend an invitation to two total strangers.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Philip smiled.  \u201cJust think, this time last week, we were all strangers too.  But look at us now!  Debbie has totally embraced us\u2026and so has almost everyone else.\u201d<br \/><br \/>While CJ and Philip were thinking about this, the SUV pulled up in front of the house and parked.    They turned around and nudged the kids.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay Munchkins,\u201d Philip began, \u201cTime to wake up.  We have to go inside.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Mark yawned.  \u201cDad, we\u2019re not asleep,\u201d he said taking a stretch.<br \/>  <br \/>CJ tickled Gretchen under her chin since she was within his reach.  \u201cWhere your Christmas Eve story waits,\u201d he added a laugh, just for good measure, while he nodded at Philip.<br \/><br \/>Those words jostled the kids to full attention.  They started filing out of the car and into the house. <br \/><br \/>Elise opened the door, so the kids could enter the house. \u201cDa seid ihr ja\u2026 (Translation: There you are\u2026).\u201d  She was greeted with hugs as if they had been gone for days instead of only a few hours.  <br \/><br \/>While these greeting were being exchanged, Vicki strolled into the living room from the kitchen.  She lit the Christmas tree and started the soft music as she passed by.  \u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019re all back.  I want to hear everything that happened!  Everything!  So, don\u2019t leave out any details\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>At this point, the kids were still giggling when CJ and Philip had arrived to receive their hugs from their wives.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m surprised you two missed all the events.  What have you been up to?\u201d Philip asked just before he took a deep breath.  \u201cSomething smells wonderful!\u201d<br \/><br \/>CJ looked lovingly at his wife. \u201cI have to agree.  I know that aroma.  You\u2019ve been baking.\u201d <br \/><br \/>Elise smiled, leaning her head on CJ\u2019s shoulder.  \u201cVicki and I decided we wanted to share some of our usual Christmas traditions together.\u201d<br \/> <br \/>\u201cWe baked a few things\u2026\u201d Vicki added.  \u201cBut you won\u2019t find out anything until tomorrow.  It\u2019s going to be a surprise.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cTomorrow is too far away,\u201d Philip pouted, sounding more like one of the kids rather than the adult he was supposed to be.  He watched the faces of the Munchkins as they tried to show their support, chiming in to show that they agreed tomorrow was too long to wait.<br \/><br \/>Even CJ joined.  \u201cWhat are you planning with all these surprises?\u201d He looked directly at his wife.  \u201cElise, it\u2019s not like you to plan holiday surprises without telling me about them first.\u201d <br \/><br \/>Vicki started laughing.  \u201cEven though we\u2019re invited to Brian\u2019s for Christmas dinner tomorrow, we may still need a few morsels here to get our day started.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou mean, like in the morning when everyone tries to open the presents Santa will have dropped off\u2026especially now that the kids have filled him in on their updated location.\u201d Philip added.  He watched their faces light up at the proposition.  <br \/><br \/>The kids quickly settled down in their bean bag chairs to listen while the adults continued to paint verbal pictures of the things to come.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd we may need a few things to eat Christmas night too.  Especially, as we curl up here in this very room to relive our Christmas experiences at the mansion.\u201d Elise added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cJust look at the things that have happened so far\u2026\u201d Vicki paused for effect as she looked for a place to make herself comfortable.  The couch seemed like the perfect place, and she curled up on one end.  Within a few seconds, Elise joined her by curling up on the other end.<br \/><br \/>Philip settled in one of the chairs, with CJ making himself comfortable on the arm of the same chair.<br \/><br \/>Vicki waited for everyone to get settled before she continued \u201cSo tell me, what happened at Debbie\u2019s?\u201d<br \/><br \/>And Elise asked, \u201cDid you get all the presents wrapped and delivered?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Philip and CJ looked around the room at all the eager little faces watching them.  They were still surprised to find the kids were still there.  They\u2019d expected them to have scampered off to play games by themselves.  Yet here they all were, nestled in the living room, carefully listening to their parents\u2019 conversations.<br \/><br \/>Philip relaxed.  \u201cThe presents were all wrapped.  We needed a little help from Daphne, Daniel, and Emmett to handle the intricate bows\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cComplete with Neon Teddy Bears,\u201d CJ chimed in while glaring at Elise.  \u201cI see your handiwork there, Elise.\u201d  Then he turned to his daughter, wiggling a finger at her lovingly.  \u201cAnd you too, Gretchen.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gretchen suddenly became shy and tried to hide her face behind Trey\u2019s shoulder.<br \/><br \/>Shannon saw this and decided it was her cue.  \u201cDad didn\u2019t know what they were,\u201d she added laughing.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut we knew!\u201d Kerry wanted to quickly add.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Gretchen had to tell everyone else,\u201d Mark laughed as he remembered the moment.<br \/><br \/> \u201cThe bears were a great touch.  You should have seen the faces of the men as their eyes honed in on the bright pink and bright purple ones,\u201d Philip added.  \u201cWhat on earth made you decide to sneak them into our bags?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Elise shrugged.  \u201cGretchen and I thought they would be an interesting touch\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou and Gretchen were right about that.\u201d Philip then relayed, in-detail, the things that happened at the Vic Grassi House\u2026from the early skepticism of the Christmas cynics to the appearance of the decorated cookies, to the distribution of presents, each bearing the unique little bears.<br \/><br \/>Everyone was laughing upon hearing the stories.<br \/><br \/>CJ didn\u2019t want to be outdone, so he proceeded to tell everyone what had happened at the surprise visit they made to the Rehab Center.  \u201cBrian and Trace set the tone with the Christmas music.\u201d  He then described the arrival of the cookies.  Before continuing, he paused for a moment and took a breath.  \u201cBut the highlight of the evening was Trace, reciting from memory, <i>The Night Before Christmas <\/i>.  Of course, everyone chimed in, and there were the usual arguments about the names of Santa\u2019s reindeer and their order.\u201d<br \/><br \/>As CJ was talking, Elise watched the expressions of confusion play out across Ricky and Trey\u2019s faces.  \u201c<i>Als der Nickolaus Kam<\/i> \u201d she said softly.<br \/><br \/>Trey laughed.  \u201cOh, I know that one!\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI heard there\u2019s always been controversy about who wrote the poem,\u201d Philip said, adding a note of information to the discussion. \u201cIt\u2019s been hotly debated for years.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cClement Clark Moore wrote it,\u201d Vicki said definitively.<br \/><br \/>\u201cHere we go. Leave it to your Uncle Phil to start a legal debate,\u201d CJ whispered as an aside to the kids, who all started to snicker.  They were becoming quite used to the banter between their father and uncle. <br \/><br \/>\u201cThere have even been court challenges about who wrote it\u2026Clement Moore or Henry Livingston,\u201d Philip revealed. <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd then, it was recently translated into German by Erich Kaestner\u2026but he left out a few lines and made some changes\u2026\u201d Elise enjoyed adding her own bit of information to the controversy.<br \/><br \/> \u201cWhich should make for an interesting adventure tomorrow...\u201d CJ started laughing.  \u201cTrace has been drafted for an encore performance.  Poor Trace will be reciting from memory, and you just know that everyone will try to help him.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBrian speculated our kids knew the poem in both English and German\u2026but no one said anything about the there being two versions, or about the two versions not matching,\u201d Philip\u2019s mind envisioned the chaos that could ensue tomorrow.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSomething is often lost in translation,\u201d Vicki said in a slightly serious tone.<br \/><br \/>Elise started laughing.  \u201cThey didn\u2019t have Philip around.  They could have used his language skills.  He would have done a perfect translation between English and German\u2026like with his stories. \u201c<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd speaking of the stories.\u201d Philip wanted to mention.  \u201cI was just thinking.  Maybe we should skip our usual reading and check out the two language versions of <i> The Night Before Christmas<\/i>.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Six little voices erupted in protest.  Then to punctuate their protest, six little people started climbing over him, each showing the intensity of their feelings as they tickled him.<br \/><br \/>CJ wisely moved out of their way.  He was content to laugh at the situation, rather than lifting a finger to help.  No surprises there.<br \/><br \/>As the kids attack eventually caused Philip to slide down to the floor, Elise and Vicki finally stepped in to rescue him.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay\u2026Okay,\u201d Philip said in defeat.  \u201cI get it.  How could I have made such a mistake?\u201d<br \/><br \/>At this point the kids were pleased Philip now understood things better.  Seeing that he understood gave them the incentive to leave the adults alone.  The kids finally headed upstairs laughing.<br \/><br \/>Once the kids were gone, Vicki innocently asked, \u201cWhat else happened?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIsn\u2019t that enough?\u201d CJ asked.  <br \/><br \/>CJ and Philip then exchanged wicked glances of understanding between them.  For there were certain details they were going to omit about the evening\u2019s telling...like the fact that they were Pittsburgh\u2019s newest gay couple.  There was no need to mention that at all.  Too much to explain.<br \/><br \/>Vicki and Elise recognized the looks between the two men, but still they waited to hear whatever was to come next.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe all stopped for a celebratory drink after our visits to the Vic Grassi House and the Rehab Center.  Then, we all returned to Debbie\u2019s.\u201d CJ settled back on the arm of the chair as if nothing had previously happened.  \u201cWhere the kids were all in the kitchen, helping to prepare the various elements of tomorrow\u2019s dinner.\u201d<br \/><br \/> \u201cI can\u2019t imagine what we\u2019ll be having for dinner tomorrow.\u201d Philip laughed as he resettled in the chair too.  \u201cEmmett was supervising.  He even put JR and Gretchen to work.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI have no idea exactly what\u2019s on the menu for tomorrow.  I can tell you that Gretchen and JR were snapping green beans,\u201d CJ filled in.<br \/><br \/>\u201cEveryone was put to work,\u201d Philip added.  \u201cStirring and mixing secret ingredients and rolling out dough.  They were all so focused on their assigned tasks; we almost didn\u2019t want to interrupt to bring them home.  But then they all fell asleep quickly in the car\u2026probably with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThe kids obviously got their second wind by the time they got here,\u201d CJ smiled a wicked smile, \u201cBecause they knew Phil had a story for them tonight.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI should have known they wouldn\u2019t simply come home and fall asleep early in anticipation of Christmas.\u201d Philip said, shaking his head.<br \/><br \/>Vicki came over and gently sat on Philip\u2019s lap.  \u201cThey\u2019re going to have to wait a little longer,\u201d she leaned up to kiss Philip on his cheek.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd why is that?\u201d Philip asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe still have a little bit of cleaning up left to do in the kitchen,\u201d Vicki added. \u201cJust so you know, Elise and I want to hear tonight\u2019s story too.  And if you\u2019ll give us a hand, we might be able to find some cookies and hot chocolate to go with that story.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019ll work\u2026\u201d CJ said as if he were in charge.  \u201cAnd we need to talk to you about something while we\u2019re working.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Elise and Vicki couldn\u2019t wait to hear what was on CJ\u2019s mind.<br \/><br \/>The four of them headed for the kitchen.  They were a well-ordered team as they completed the final stages of the minor kitchen clean up and loading the dishwasher.<br \/><br \/>Philip and CJ casually explained about Mac and Laurie being in New York City to celebrate the Christmas holidays.  Philip explained that when he mentioned this fact to Brian and Justin\u2026they wanted to invite Laurie and Mac to join the family for Christmas dinner.<br \/><br \/>Elise got excited. \u201cWow, we haven\u2019t seen Mac and Laurie since we were in college.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe usually try to spend the holidays with them whenever we can,\u201d Vicki added. \u201cDo you think they have special plans?\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cWe easily have room for them here since the kids, for some reason, prefer to sleep in their sleeping bags instead of in the great beds Carl bought.\u201d Philip smiled.   \u201c And I have to admit, it might be fun to have them here for Christmas.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cEspecially, if things go the way I suspect they will during dinner,\u201d CJ smiled wickedly.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat is he talking about?\u201d Elise asked Philip, clearly deciding she\u2019d get a more coherent answer from her brother-in-law then from her husband.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThere may be a few surprises in store during dinner,\u201d Philip said, glaring over at CJ.  \u201cBut we can discuss that later.  For now, we need to make a decision about Mac and Laurie.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Philip looked around at the faces in the room.  The answer to his question was so obvious. <br \/><br \/>Philip pulled out his cellphone and made the call.  He only got to say hello to Mac, and then he completely lost control of his cellphone as CJ, Vicki, and Elise\u2026all tried to talk to Mac and Laurie at the same time.  <br \/><br \/>Philip finally put the call on speaker, so everyone could talk at once.  Mac did the same on his end.<br \/><br \/>At last Philip was able to make the proposition to Mac and Laurie to join them for Christmas.  And the others joined in to encourage the couple to accept.<br \/><br \/>CJ even tried to smooth things over so the couple wouldn\u2019t feel pressured.  He offered the suggestion that if things didn\u2019t work out for Christmas\u2026maybe they\u2019d come the day after and spend the remainder of the holidays with them.<br \/><br \/>Laurie said they would call back; they needed to check on a few things before giving their answer.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWait until Mark and the twins find out their Uncle Mac and Aunt Laurie are coming.\u201d Vicki mumbled as they hung up, \u201cThey\u2019re going to be so thrilled.  This is going to be like an extra Christmas bonus.  Dad will be excited to see Mac and Laurie too.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cLet\u2019s not get too excited,\u201d Philip cautioned, \u201cNew York City is still several hours away.  Arrangements are going to be difficult at best.  Let\u2019s just be patient until they call back.\u201d  He said this all calmly, even though he too was hoping Mac and Laurie would join them for Christmas.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhile we\u2019re waiting,\u201d CJ volunteered, \u201cI\u2019ll go help everyone get ready.  I\u2019m sure by the time you finish your story\u2026\u201d He paused for effect. \u201cMac and Laurie will have news for us.\u201d<br \/>  <br \/>\u201cLet me give you a hand,\u201d Elise said joining him.<br \/><br \/>Vicki nodded in Philip\u2019s direction. \u201cAnd I\u2019ll prepare the hot chocolate\u2026\u201d she added with a big smile. <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd, don\u2019t forget to help Philip figure out the proper Christmas Eve story.\u201d CJ reminded them.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI still think <i>The Night Before Christmas<\/i> was a perfect choice.  I have no idea why the Munchkins didn\u2019t agree with me.  Now, I guess now I have to do a bit of research before story-time.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo we\u2019ll leave you two to the tasks-at-hand,\u201d Elise said as she touched Philip\u2019s cheek.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd, we\u2019ll see you upstairs,\u201d CJ pulled his wife along.<br \/><br \/>***<br \/>By the time Elise and CJ had supervised getting the kids into their pajamas and dealt with an interesting attempt by Shannon and Kerry to help Gretchen with her bubble bath, all six kids could hear the footsteps of Philip and Vicki on the steps.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s got to be Uncle Philip,\u201d Trey was quick to announce.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd we have to get into our sleeping bags,\u201d Ricky wanted to remind everyone as he reached down to take Gretchen\u2019s hand to help her along.<br \/><br \/>Gretchen still couldn\u2019t quite maneuver into her sleeping bag without help, so she looked at Trey with her usual sad expression.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay, Gretchen, I\u2019ll help you,\u201d Trey said with a sigh as he helped Gretchen to settle down beside him in her sleeping bag.  He even fluffed his sister\u2019s pillow, so she would have nothing to complain about.<br \/><br \/>Elise and CJ smiled knowingly at each other as they watched their kids.  They too had heard the footsteps on the stairs.   They spent a few quick moments in final bathroom clean up before joining the kids.<br \/><br \/>Vicki and Philip entered the \u201cstory room\u201d carrying a tray with the promised hot chocolate and cookies, which were quickly distributed to everyone.<br \/><br \/>Elise settled on one of the lower bunks with her quilt, and Vicki curled up on the opposite lower bunk.  <br \/><br \/>CJ took up his usual position beside Philip.  \u201cAnd the story for tonight is?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Philip shook his head as he finished the final morsels of his cookie, \u201cOkay, tonight\u2019s story is, <i> Der Weihnachtsbaum\u2026The Christmas Tree <\/i>\u2026\u201d <br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/106839.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<a target=\"_blank\"><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a><\/a><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/106677.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/106283.html","pubDate":"Mon, 28 Nov 2011 06:37:11 GMT","title":"It's the Holidays!  Updates to The Gathering will be here soon!","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/106283.html","description":"Hi Everyone,<br \/><br \/>I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving.  Now that it's over...we're clearly into the Holiday Season.  That means it's time for updates to \"The Gathering\".  <br \/><br \/>I just wanted to give a \"heads up\" that new chapters are coming within a few days.  It's been a while, so I have to figure out how to post chapters again.  I estimate I will begin posting chapters no later than December 3rd.<br \/><br \/>I hope you like the way this story unfolds...<br \/><br \/>paeansong","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/106283.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/105957.html","pubDate":"Tue, 22 Feb 2011 05:05:34 GMT","title":"An Update","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/105957.html","description":"I haven't updated in a while, so I just wanted to touch base.  <br \/><br \/>I also wanted everyone to know I'm still writing. (smile)<br \/><br \/>I worked on my usual update to \"The Gathering\", but then had no internet access to post it during the holidays.  somehow a Christmas story after Valentine's Day, just didn't work for mel.  Just so you know, I'm starting to write the long awaited Christmas dinner at Bri-tin.  I keep saying, \"Just a few more chapters and this story should be done.\"  Unfortunately, when you seem to be writing an epic, that is rarely the case.  <br \/><br \/>I've also been pulling out my research for \"And So Moving Forward, Part 2.\"  So, new chapters on this story too will forthcoming.<br \/><br \/>Finally, from time to time, I scribbled a new chapter, here and there, on Thorne III.  <br \/><br \/>Hopefully, in the next few months my schedule will settle down.  I ask you to bear with me with my flaky work schedule.  <br \/><br \/>New chapters are definitely on the way...","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/105957.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/105708.html","pubDate":"Sun, 19 Sep 2010 00:28:47 GMT","title":"The Thorne Saga II, A Visit To Britin, Chapter 72 - Good Night, Sweet Dreams","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/105708.html","description":"Title:                Thorne Saga II \u2013 A Visit To Bri-tin<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tFluffy Crackfic! Over The Top Characters<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/>This is a sequel to The Thorne Saga, Brian and Justin have formed a legal union and are sort-of-living in New York City more than a year after the events in episode 513.  For his birthday, Justin received a six week old Chinese Shar Pei puppy, named Thorne Silvestri Taylor-Kinney, as a present.  Now Thorne and his humans are on their way to Bri-tin.  I should warn you that this is obviously a parallel universe\u2026for there are still strange elements in the air, which seem to be causing the characters, to continue their over-the-top behaviors.  Brian, once again, wants to blame everything on Justin.  You\u2019ll have to judge for yourself.  I will be posting almost daily.<br \/>I hope you like this story.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended<br \/><br \/>Lois and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Thorne+Saga+II&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 72 \u2013 Good Night, Sweet Dreams<br \/>(Day 6) Saturday Night at Bri-tin.<br \/><br \/>Everyone was exhausted by the time the two cars\u2026one driven by Jennifer and the SUV driven by Brian\u2026returned to Bri-tin.    <br \/><br \/>Except that Gus, Nicky, and Thorne were ready for their shower.  So, Gus and Nicky enjoyed their quick shower together with Thorne.  Each of them was wrapped in heated fluffy towels\u2026 ready for Paul and Jason to dry them off.  Even Thorne didn\u2019t mind the extra hands attending him\u2026since Justin had gotten drenched in the course of the showers.<br \/><br \/>Fran and Katie offered to help with the drying duties, but Nicky made it clear that was not an option.  Thorne as usual watched the discussion between Nicky and his two grandmothers with some measure of interest, but since he was warm and toasty\u2026he could afford to be patient while Nicky laid down the law. <br \/><br \/>In spite of Nicky\u2019s protest about the shower and drying off, he was willing, and even a bit excited, to have his Granny Fran and Granny Katie and Granny Jenn tuck him into bed with Gus and Thorne.  <br \/><br \/>Molly too joined in this night-time ritual of saying goodnight to the kids and Thorne, before everyone finally said goodnight and settled into their rooms for the night.<br \/><br \/>Once the kids were settled, Jason and Paul rejoined Brian and Justin downstairs for one final nightcap.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis has been a great visit,\u201d Jason said laughing.  \u201cAnd I\u2019m sure our moms would agree.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt has been a real adventure,\u201d Paul sighed. \u201cBut the best part is that Mom and Nicky have agreed to return home with us.  We\u2019ll get back to Cincinnati, and things will get back to normal.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhatever normal is in your household,\u201d Brian said with a smirk, just barely loud enough to be heard.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI heard that!\u201d Paul said quickly.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe won\u2019t get too complacent, because you\u2019ll be in town before we know it.  Just what we need to add a touch of chaos to our quiet existence,\u201d Jason said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s true.  Just let me do this quick trip to Milan, and before you know it, we\u2019ll all be in Cincinnati together for the gallery opening,\u201d Brian said<br \/><br \/>\u201cThe entire city has been buzzing about the opening of the new gallery wing,\u201d Paul added, \u201cEveryone can\u2019t wait to explore the new wing.  They also can\u2019t wait to see Justin\u2019s paintings.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m waiting to see them myself,\u201d Brian mentioned, hoping to garner sympathy.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo you haven\u2019t seen them either,\u201d Jason laughed.  \u201cWhat\u2019s the hold up?  You live with the artist.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI have to wait like everyone else.  Our resident artistic genius likes to make everyone wait until the exhibit.  Something about his paintings being seen in the proper setting,\u201d Brian explained, \u201cBeing his partner doesn\u2019t seem to give me any advantage.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Jason sighed.  \u201cSo, you have to be Gus and Nicky to see Justin\u2019s work-in-progress.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI guess so,\u201d Justin shrugged. \u201cSomething to look forward to.\u201d <br \/><br \/>Paul interrupted.  \u201cNo, you just want to torture us.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat too\u2026\u201d Justin laughed.<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt won\u2019t be long now,\u201d Jason pointed out.  \u201cAnd I can hardly wait.  <br \/><br \/>Everyone finished their nightcap and slowly made their way upstairs.<br \/><br \/>Paul and Jason waived goodnight as they entered their room.<br \/><br \/>Brian and Justin headed towards their bedroom.<br \/><br \/>Once there, Brian motioned Justin in the direction of their bathroom. \u201cI know that you\u2019re tired, but we might as well head for the Jacuzzi\u2026especially after Thorne pinned me down in all those contorted positions during dinner.  I\u2019ve think I\u2019ve got muscle cramps everywhere.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cHe\u2019s getting really good pinning you down, isn\u2019t he?\u201d Justin asked laughing.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd you\u2019re not helping!  I haven\u2019t forgotten who called me come into the kitchen just before dinner.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne was looking for you\u2026that wasn\u2019t my fault.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cUh huh?\u201d Brian said as he stepped into the swirling waters.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo because Thorne needed you...we\u2019re getting in the hot tub for one of our talks?  Shouldn\u2019t you be having this particular talk with Thorne?\u201d Justin took Brian\u2019s hand and stepped in the Jacuzzi with him. <br \/><br \/>\u201cVery funny\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>They both settled down in the swirling waters to relax a moment with Justin\u2019s back, as usual, snuggled against Brian\u2019s chest.  Brian wrapped his arms around him.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, you\u2019ve had all day to think about it\u2026have you figured out why we\u2019re in here?\u201d  <br \/><br \/>\u201cNot really\u2026will you fill me in\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYes, and don\u2019t try to pass it off so lightly.  You\u2019re in a lot of trouble.  We should be holding this discussion downstairs, so you\u2019d get the full sense of how much trouble you\u2019re in.  We\u2019re only using the upstairs Jacuzzi because it\u2019s easier. \u201d<br \/><br \/>Justin laughed.  \u201cEasier for whom?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNever mind.  Just pretend we\u2019re downstairs\u2026.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Justin was silent for a moment.  <br \/><br \/>Brian waited as long as tolerable.  \u201cSo what did you see?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m working on imagining things\u2026.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian couldn\u2019t contain himself any longer.  \u201cSunshine, what on earth possessed you to suggest shooting Thorne\u2019s commercial with the kids here at the house?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cOh, that\u2026\u201d Justin easily brushed Brian\u2019s complaint aside.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd I can\u2019t believe that I agreed to it.  All those people should have never been here at the house.   And then to finish off the day with Spyder, Maria, and Cristina joining us at Debbie\u2019s for dinner.  Both of those ideas were insane!  And you talked me into it.  I\u2019m definitely losing my touch,\u201d Brian was now shaking his head.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNo, you aren\u2019t losing your touch.  Both of those decisions were pure genius,\u201d Justin insisted as he leaned back to kiss Brian.  \u201cOnce you see the finished commercial, you\u2019ll know it was right decision.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou\u2019d better hope that Tam does a spectacular job of editing.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m not worried.  I\u2019m sure Tam will show Thorne at his best.  Thorne gave him enough footage for a full length movie.  I can just see it all now\u2026 \u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t even suggest Thorne in a movie. After this trip to Europe, Thorne\u2019s starring days will be over.  Then he just goes back to being a pampered little puppy.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe can only hope.  But you have to admit he is cute\u2026.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Before Brian could say any more, Justin lifted his hand to complain about the wrinkling\u2026and Brian decided he\u2019d clearly made his points for the night.  Nothing could be gained by a wrinkled Justin, especially when Brian had other plans for him.  <br \/><br \/>The two of them exited the Jacuzzi and wrapped themselves in their own heated fluffy towels and robes and settled in their bedroom.  <br \/><br \/>The morning was going to come too soon.  But not before Brian and Justin spent the right amount of time getting re-acquainted with each other.  After all, Brian felt he was entitled to several long overdue blowjobs, and Justin used the last of his energy to comply.  <br \/><br \/>Ah, but blowjobs, as is often the case, always leads to so much more.<br \/><br \/>***<br \/><br \/>The Next Morning<br \/>(Day 7) Sunday Morning at Bri-tin<br \/><br \/><br \/>After another breakfast of special Mickey Mouse Pancakes made by Justin, everyone started their day of relaxation with Gus and Nicky curled up with Justin to read the funnies.   <br \/><br \/>Thorne complained about being left out of this momentous new activity.  So, Brian picked him up and settled him in Nicky\u2019s lap.  Then Brian crawled in behind Justin to see what was happening in the world of the funnies. <br \/><br \/>The moms and Molly were reading the more serious parts of the paper together. <br \/><br \/>Paul snickered, \u201cSince Brian\u2019s coming to Cincinnati, I assume he and Nicky will forego their usual planning session just before we leave?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNicky already knows about our visit to see you in a few weeks\u2026right Nicky?\u201d Brian wondered what Nicky\u2019s expression was at that moment\u2026until he saw Nicky nod enthusiastically.   \u201cI don\u2019t think we need to caucus about it,\u201d he slyly added.<br \/><br \/>Jennifer looked at both kids and Thorne together.  \u201cI think Nicky is too busy to plan anything with you, Brian.  I think you may be on your own.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI have to agree,\u201d Katie said with a laugh.<br \/><br \/>\u201cHowever, once Thorne decides to scampers back to Brian\u2026that\u2019s when all the trouble will start all over again.  Jason, we just have to keep an eye on things.\u201d Paul insisted.<br \/><br \/>Jason leaned over to Katie, \u201cKeeping an eye on Nicky has never worked before.  And I\u2019m not taking the blame for anything that happens between Brian and Nicky.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat you mean is Paul can\u2019t wait to be in charge of things again,\u201d Fran said shaking her head.<br \/><br \/>\u201cRight now he\u2019s delusional.  Let\u2019s see how long it last,\u201d Jason said as if talking to Fran alone.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou do realize that I can hear every word you two are saying?\u201d Paul felt the need to point out.  \u201cAnd I\u2019m going to remember every word.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Fran ignored her son\u2019s comment.  \u201cJennifer, when you and Molly come to for the opening, you\u2019ll stay with me.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019d like that,\u201d Jennifer said as she looked to Molly for confirmation.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe promise to even leave Jennifer enough time to pay attention to you,\u201d Katie added laughing.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat won\u2019t be necessary\u2026\u201d Molly assured her with a huff.<br \/><br \/>***<br \/><br \/>Teres prepared an early dinner of chicken and vegetables.  Nicky and Gus filled Teres and Thomas in on what happened at the family dinner the night before, causing them to laugh.<br \/><br \/>Everyone finally handled their last minute packing.   <br \/><br \/>Jennifer and Molly said their goodbyes to everyone, including Thorne.  Jennifer wanted to get Molly home to do a few things before she returned to school in the morning.<br \/><br \/>Brian ordered a limousine to take Paul, Jason, Nicky, Fran, and Katie to the airport.  After one final round of hugs, they were almost ready to leave.   <br \/><br \/>With almost being the operative word because there was the usual love-fest between Nicky and Justin.  Then Nicky had to talk to Brian about something important.<br \/><br \/>Everyone held their breath to see what was going to happy.  But after a whisper session between Brian and Nicky which no one was privy to, Nicky happily scampered into the limo with his dads without complaint.  And Paul and Jason both breathed a sigh of relief.<br \/><br \/>Thorne had his usual romp before joining everyone in the SUV.  Brian, Justin, Gus, and Thorne settled down for the ride.  <br \/><br \/>Brian placed a final call to Spyder, Maria, and Cristina to let them know they were on their way to pick them.  <br \/><br \/><br \/>Enroute to Debbie\u2019s, Brian had a long talk with Gus to explain that he would be out of town of a few weeks, so it would be a few weeks before he could pick him up for another visit in Pittsburgh.  Gus seemed okay with the news as he heard once again that Brian and Thorne were going to Europe.  <br \/><br \/>Gus seemed like his usual self as he hugged Brian and Justin goodbye.  He had a special goodbye hug for Thorne, as Gus discussed Thorne\u2019s upcoming trip with him.  <br \/><br \/>Then, Gus waived a final goodbye as he joined his mothers at Debbie\u2019s.<br \/><br \/>Then Brian, Justin, and Thorne were off to pick up the last three passengers for the trip to the airport.  <br \/><br \/>Mark Quinn, the president of Liberty Air made sure his private jet was waiting for them all, and five people and one wrinkled puppy quickly boarded their flight.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMark\u2019s still trying to curry your favor,\u201d Brian leaned down and kissed Justin. \u201cHe just can\u2019t wait for us to shoot those Liberty Air commercials while we\u2019re in Europe.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDo you think he\u2019s going to join us?\u201d Spyder asked.  \u201cHe seemed pretty interested in Thorne.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI would think he\u2019d have more important things to do\u2026like running the airline,\u201d Brian said, \u201cHopefully, he\u2019ll leave his commercials to me like always.  He\u2019s already given us his suggestions when we were in his office.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cHe was pretty clear about what he had in mind,\u201d Cristina added. \u201cAnd, Maria and I will be there in Milan, just in case you need our help.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI think you two have helped enough,\u201d Brian reminded sarcastically.  \u201cNow we\u2019ll return to New York and things will get back to normal\u2026with me in charge of things like always.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBrian, I know how you feel about being in charge\u2026\u201d Spyder said with a serious tone.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cThere\u2019s obviously some point you\u2019re trying to make,\u201d Brian grimaced, already certain he didn\u2019t want to hear the answer.  He reluctantly allowed his eyes to meet Spyder\u2019s.<br \/><br \/>\u201cEven at seven weeks old, I think Thorne\u2019s in charge of things now\u2026\u201dSpyder insisted with a wicked laugh.<br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/105708.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/105379.html","pubDate":"Sun, 19 Sep 2010 00:26:26 GMT","title":"The Thorne Saga II, A Visit To Britin, Chapter 71 - It's Time To Say Goodbye","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/105379.html","description":"Title:                Thorne Saga II \u2013 A Visit To Bri-tin<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tFluffy Crackfic! Over The Top Characters<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/>This is a sequel to The Thorne Saga, Brian and Justin have formed a legal union and are sort-of-living in New York City more than a year after the events in episode 513.  For his birthday, Justin received a six week old Chinese Shar Pei puppy, named Thorne Silvestri Taylor-Kinney, as a present.  Now Thorne and his humans are on their way to Bri-tin.  I should warn you that this is obviously a parallel universe\u2026for there are still strange elements in the air, which seem to be causing the characters, to continue their over-the-top behaviors.  Brian, once again, wants to blame everything on Justin.  You\u2019ll have to judge for yourself.  I will be posting almost daily.<br \/>I hope you like this story.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended<br \/><br \/>Lois and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Thorne+Saga+II&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s Comment:  Here is your next installment of two chapters.  Enjoy!<br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 71 \u2013 It\u2019s Time To Say Goodbye<br \/>(Day 6)  Just after dinner at Debbie\u2019s<br \/><br \/><br \/>After desserts were consumed, everyone pitched in to clear the tables.<br \/><br \/>Gus, Nicky, and Jenny were able to coax Thorne off of Brian\u2019s feet.  So, Brian was able to supervise Hunter, Ben, and Drew in the breakdown of the tables.  Paul and Jason managed to make comments during the operation rather than be useful.  <br \/><br \/>Emmett and Calvin supervised the loading of the dishwasher, while Debbie made sure the few left-overs of food and desserts were properly stored.  Then a bidding war occurred for the packages of leftovers to take home.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnother interesting family dinner,\u201d Carl leaned in to wrap his arms around Debbie.  \u201cYou\u2019ve really outdone yourself this time.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNow Carl, this was just a typical family dinner,\u201d Debbie said with a smile as she turned to kiss him gently.  \u201cOur little family just keeps on growing\u2026\u201d she added with a laugh.  \u201cI do wish Danny had been here.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cHe was definitely here in spirit.  And something tells me, you and Jennifer are going to get a kick out of filling him in on all the details about the dinner he missed.\u201d Carl laughed. \u201cAlthough, I think Michael will try to get to him first.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMichael?\u201d  Debbie asked with surprise.<br \/><br \/>Emmett stopped what he was during to join in the conversation.  Of course, this was Emmett, so he really didn\u2019t need an invitation.  \u201cMichael\u2019s still isn\u2019t real happy about the dessert-stunt that Spyder pulled.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>\u201cI have to admit Spyder\u2019s maneuver had a certain degree of elegance to it,\u201d Carl confirmed.  \u201cAnd it worked brilliantly.  Even Melanie was impressed, although she\u2019ll probably never admit it.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou know what\u2019s funny?\u201d Emmett continued.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat?\u201d Carl asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSpyder didn\u2019t seem to gloat like the rest of us would have.  He just took it in stride.  Like he just thought things were handled in the most efficient way.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou mean like Mr.-I-don\u2019t-want-to-get- involved would have handled things,\u201d Debbie added with one of her characteristic laughs.  <br \/><br \/>Carl had to stop and think for a moment. \u201cOh, you mean Brian\u2026\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cYeah, like that\u2026\u201d Emmett agreed. \u201cSpyder seems to fit right in with Brian and Justin.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s true\u2026\u201d Carl agreed.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Melanie can relax, knowing Cristina and Maria are making Brian\u2019s life difficult whenever they\u2019re in New York City.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd they seem to be so fucking good at it,\u201d Debbie added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou know, Brian would never have complained about it\u2026if it wasn\u2019t true,\u201d Carl added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut no matter how much Brian may protest, you can see how fond they all are of each other,\u201d Emmett reminded everyone.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDoes it make you feel a little better about Justin being in New York?\u201d Carl moved closer to hug Debbie once again.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSunshine has friends who will look out for him.  Brian finally came to his senses and joined Sunshine there.  And now they have Thorne\u2026\u201d Debbie commented with a sigh.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou mean the little starlet?\u201d Emmett couldn\u2019t resist.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne just seems to fit right in with them too.  He\u2019s attached to both Brian and Sunshine and Gus and Nicky too.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne fits right in because he thinks he\u2019s in charge,\u201d Emmett wanted to add. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to hear how the obedience training sessions go for Thorne.  I\u2019m sure it will be a case of who\u2019s training whom.\u201d<br \/><br \/>That statement caused Carl and Debbie to visual those upcoming training sessions\u2026and they burst out laughing.<br \/><br \/>***<br \/><br \/>Everyone else had settled in the living room and were easily chatting.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis has been a wonderful visit, hasn\u2019t it?\u201d Fran asked Katie.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI agree.  And we still have fun ahead for us when we get home.  We get to fill Gabrielle in on everything that happened here.  That\u2019s going to extend the fun of this visit,\u201d Katie added.<br \/><br \/>Paul overheard the comment.  \u201cSo, you\u2019re going to tell Gabrielle all about this visit?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe have to,\u201d Fran said, \u201cShe\u2019s been waiting ever since we left for details.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhich means we\u2019re going to have to bribe my sister for information?\u201d Paul complained to Jason.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI don\u2019t know, Paul,\u201d Jason interrupted, shaking his head.  \u201cGabrielle wasn\u2019t very forthcoming with information before we left.  She told us that Mom and Nicky were together.  Then, she was too busy laughing at our predicament to give us any other details.  Something tells me she\u2019ll just become a co-conspirator with our moms\u2026just like Cristina, Spyder, and Maria.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou\u2019re lucky,\u201d Justin said with a laugh.  \u201cAt least your sister will pay attention to you.  You see Molly has ignored me completely ever since she and Brian started their date at the beginning of the weekend.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Molly rolled her eyes.  \u201cMom was supposed to be chaperoning\u2026when she can pry herself away from her co-conspirators.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd such wonderful co-conspirators they are too\u2026\u201d Jennifer added with a smile.  <br \/><br \/>Calvin wrapped his arms around Molly\u2019s shoulder.  \u201cThe weekend is almost over.  Things should return to normal pretty soon.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cExactly,\u201d Justin said, snuggling close to Brian.  \u201cTomorrow we\u2019ll be heading back to New York.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhere you\u2019re going to have to get used to the oversized suite we now have,\u201d Brian teased.  He then reached down and scratched Thorne behind his ear.  \u201cYou\u2019ve got quite an adjustment too.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Thorne merely stared up at Brian and then twisted his head to the side in confusion.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYour suite was big enough for all us,\u201d Fran said laughing, \u201cIt\u2019s almost as big as the mansion.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne is just going to have to rough it there like the rest of us,\u201d Justin said with a laugh. \u201cHopefully, we\u2019ll find a new place to live soon.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut with the new suite and limousines\u2026we can limp along for a little while,\u201d Brian said. <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Thorne still has to get used to being fed by other hands,\u201d Ted enjoyed pointing out, \u201cWhich should be interesting! Thorne may go on a hunger strike.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne is Justin\u2019s puppy.  He has Justin\u2019s appetite.  Trust me, Thorne will not starve to death.  Of course, if you\u2019re truly worried, Theodore, you can come to New York with us.  I\u2019m sure Thorne will let you ride with us\u2026knowing you\u2019re going to feed him.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Thorne realized he was being discussed and came over to stand near Ted for one of his customary staring matches.    This time, just for good measure, he sat down across from Ted while he stared.  He waited patiently.<br \/><br \/>Ted couldn\u2019t take the pressure.  He slowly reached over toward Thorne.  The wrinkles shifted as Thorne started to slowly crawl forward.  Thorne patiently lingered, waiting to be petted.  <br \/><br \/>And when Ted finally petted Thorne\u2026Thorne submitted to only five seconds of attention from Ted.  Then he scampered back to Gus, Nicky, and Jenny.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI knew he would do that,\u201d Ted complained.  \u201cThorne\u2019s channeling Brian again.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou know, Ted, if you want to spend more time with Thorne,\u201d Justin said with a wicked smile. \u201cYou can come back to New York with us.  He\u2019s going to be lonely with Gus and Nicky not being there.  He won\u2019t have anyone to sleep with.  This may be the chance you\u2019ve been waiting for\u2026the chance to get closer to him.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Ted shook his head.  \u201cI don\u2019t know\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Ted, you have a little time to make your decision.  You have until Thorne and I return from to Europe.  Spyder will be going with us, so I\u2019m sure this will give Cristina an excuse to finally return to Milan where she belongs.  Then she and Spyder will make sure that Thorne\u2019s as spoiled as usual.  It will be after our return that Thorne is going to really need you.\u201d Brian explained.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhy are you going to Europe?\u201d Lindsay asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe only shot one of the three commercials we needed to shoot.\u201d Brian said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut the most important one!\u201d Maria chimed in.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOf course, you would say that\u2026since it was your sunglasses\u2019 commercial.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd we needed Gus and Nicky to star in it too,\u201d Cristina added. \u201cThat made it perfect.  It wouldn\u2019t have been as cute with other actors playing the kids\u2019 role.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBecause Thorne wasn\u2019t going to play like that with anyone else,\u201d Paul chimed in.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne\u2019s being the little star with cast approval seemed to have worked,\u201d Cristina added, \u201cIt was a good thing you listened, Brian.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian was about to start sparring with Cristina over that comment, but he changed his mind.  He simply pretended that she never spoke. <br \/><br \/>\u201cFortunately, the remaining commercials should be easier to shoot,\u201d Brian laughed, \u201cEspecially with Spyder around. I noticed how well Thorne takes direction from him.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne and I understand each other,\u201d Spyder said with a smile.  \u201cBut let\u2019s not rush off to Milan.  I just got back from Paris,\u201d Spyder complained.  \u201cI need time to catch up on a few things before you and Taylor press any new schemes to return me to Europe.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian and Justin smiled at each other.  Spyder loved to complain about leaving New York, but they knew he would be there for Thorne\u2026whether he\u2019d caught up on things or not.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNow, if I can only get Rudolpho to find things for Cristina to do here in New York while I\u2019m visiting in Milan\u2026things will be perfect,\u201d Brian said wistfully.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDo you really think that\u2019s going to happen?\u201d Maria asked as she glared at Brian in disbelief.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDream on, Brian.\u201d Cristina snickered before he could answer.  \u201cWhen did you say you were going to Milan?  I just want to adjust my New York schedule to be home when you\u2019re there.  It would be rude of me to do otherwise.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNo it wouldn\u2019t.  I don\u2019t want you to go to a lot of trouble for me,\u201d Brian added, \u201cRemind me to talk to Eyeconics when we get back to New York.  Maybe Kellie or Susan can help keep you here while I\u2019m there.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDream on, Brian\u2026\u201d Cristina said smugly.<br \/><br \/> \u201cIs Justin going to Europe with you?\u201d Melanie asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNot this time.  I really have a lot of last minute things to do for my shows.\u201d Justin said.<br \/> <br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d Lindsay chimed in, remembering what she\u2019d read from her clipping services.  \u201cYou really have a busy schedule ahead of you with Cincinnati and New York shows coming so close together.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Justin simply nodded.<br \/><br \/>Brian leaned over to kiss Justin.  \u201cMy own little painting genius\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd what are you going to do with Thorne during these shows\u2026pray tell?\u201d Ted asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBy then Thorne will have been through his obedience classes, so I\u2019m sure that he\u2019ll just lie quietly under my paintings at the shows and watch the crowds,\u201d Justin suggested with a serious tone.<br \/><br \/>At that point everyone erupted in laughter.  Nobody believed what Justin had just rattled off.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat?\u201d Justin turned to ask innocently.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSweetheart, I know that you\u2019re attached to Thorne,\u201d Jennifer now entered the conversation as the required voice of reason, \u201cBut can you really picture what you just described?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cRemember, Shar Peis are bred to be guard dogs,\u201d Molly reminded everyone. \u201cCan\u2019t you just see Thorne in a room full of strangers?  Can\u2019t you see him guarding your painting?  Barking at anyone who got to close\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis would definitely interfere with your sales,\u201d Blake added.<br \/><br \/>Justin sighed.  \u201cMaybe you have a point\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhich is why Thorne will be staying with Thomas and Teres,\u201d Brian shook his head at his partner.  \u201cWhat were you thinking, Sunshine?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne likes Thomas and Teres,\u201d Gus confirmed.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSomeone probably already used to Thorne\u2019s eccentric ways.  Oh yeah, he\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Melanie agreed.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI can\u2019t believe Thorne\u2019s going to accompany Brian,\u201d Lindsay asked again, \u201cAnd without Justin.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Thorne once again moved over and settled on Brian\u2019s feet.   <br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne and Brian will be okay together\u2026just look at them.\u201d Justin added as he reached down to pet Thorne.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBelieve me.  Everyone in Milan will be glad to see Thorne,\u201d Cristina added.  \u201cThey couldn\u2019t believe I was taking him to a new home in New York.  Now they\u2019ll be able to see how well he\u2019s doing and how much he\u2019s grown.\u201d <br \/><br \/>At this point, Justin noticed that Gus and Nicky were starting to look tired.  He remembered how long and exciting the day had been, so he gently suggested that it was time to leave.<br \/><br \/>Several other people started to yawn as they stood up and stretched too.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cIt\u2019s been a long day for everyone,\u201d Brian agreed.  \u201cThorne seems to be the only one still ready to play\u2026but then he\u2019s only ready to play with Theodore, so that can\u2019t require too much energy.\u201d <br \/><br \/>Ted rolled his eyes as he received a supportive hug from Blake.  \u201cI think we should get ready to go as well.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian was about to say something, but Ted interrupted him.  Then Ted looked over at Spyder, Cristina, and Maria.  \u201cLet me get Thorne\u2019s car seat out of my car\u2026and I\u2019ll give you a lift back to your hotel.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThanks, Ted,\u201d Spyder said, \u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019re too far away...are we?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSpyder may be able to maneuver in the big capitals of the world,\u201d Cristina began.  \u201cBut bring him to small town America, and he loses all sense of direction.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cLeave Spyder alone,\u201d Maria insisted as she slid closer to Spyder.  \u201cHe hasn\u2019t complained too much\u2026don\u2019t do anything to get him started on small town America.  Only 24 more hours and we\u2019ll all be back in New York City.  Then Spyder can return to being alone.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Spyder nodded.  \u201cOne can only hope Cristina is finished with her schemes.   Now can she behave herself for this short 24 hours of time?\u201d  Spyder glanced in Cristina\u2019s direction.  <br \/><br \/>Cristina didn\u2019t say anything, but Spyder could see the wheels turning in her mind. <br \/><br \/>Then it was time for hugs and kisses of goodbye were said all around.  The treasured left-overs were distributed.<br \/><br \/>At this point, the group started to disperse.  <br \/><br \/>Ted and Brian transferred Thorne\u2019s car seat to the SUV.  Thorne was given one more romp with Cristina and Spyder and then secured in the car.  Gus, Nicky, and Molly were the next to join Thorne, followed by Paul and Jason.  <br \/><br \/>Brian leaned over to kiss Lindsay goodbye before he got behind the wheel of the SUV.  \u201cDon\u2019t worry, we\u2019ll get Gus back here tomorrow afternoon.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Jennifer loaded her car with Katie and Fran.  They said their final goodbyes to everyone.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou\u2019ll have to come back soon,\u201d Debbie said as she was closing their car door.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cThis has been a great visit,\u201d Katie confirmed through an opened window, \u201cSee you next time\u2026\u201d she looked over at Fran for agreement.<br \/><br \/>Carl and Debbie waved their final goodbyes and the car departed. \u201cNext time!\u201d she said to Carl with a laugh.<br \/><br \/>Jenny decided that since Thorne and her other playmates were now gone, she was going to focus her attention on Hunter and Ben.    This meant she was going home with them to spend the night, because no one could pry her arms from the death grip she had on Hunter\u2019s neck.  <br \/><br \/>Michael laughed as he joined them in saying goodbye.<br \/><br \/>Trace looked at Calvin.  \u201cAren\u2019t you glad we postponed our romantic getaway?  We would have missed all this excitement.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Calvin smiled as he wrapped his arms around Trace.  \u201cNot to mention the wonderful food.  I really do like being a member of this family.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI have to admit,\u201d Drew said with his arms wrapped around Emmett, \u201cAnother interesting family dinner for the record books!\u201d<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/105708.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<a target=\"_blank\"><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a><\/a><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/105379.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/105126.html","pubDate":"Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:45:23 GMT","title":"The Thorne Saga II, A Visit To Britin, Chapter 70 - Let's Eat, Part VI","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/105126.html","description":"Title:                Thorne Saga II \u2013 A Visit To Bri-tin<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tFluffy Crackfic! Over The Top Characters<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/>This is a sequel to The Thorne Saga, Brian and Justin have formed a legal union and are sort-of-living in New York City more than a year after the events in episode 513.  For his birthday, Justin received a six week old Chinese Shar Pei puppy, named Thorne Silvestri Taylor-Kinney, as a present.  Now Thorne and his humans are on their way to Bri-tin.  I should warn you that this is obviously a parallel universe\u2026for there are still strange elements in the air, which seem to be causing the characters, to continue their over-the-top behaviors.  Brian, once again, wants to blame everything on Justin.  You\u2019ll have to judge for yourself.  I will be posting almost daily.<br \/>I hope you like this story.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended<br \/><br \/>Lois and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Thorne+Saga+II&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s Comment:  Here is your next installment of one chapter.  Enjoy!<br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 70 \u2013 Let\u2019s Eat, Part VI<br \/>(Day 6) Dinner continues at Debbie\u2019s<br \/><br \/><br \/>Debbie, Jennifer, Katie, Fran, and Maria were still talking in the kitchen.  <br \/><br \/>Spyder arrived back at Debbie\u2019s.  He carried Thorne into the kitchen through the back door.  Cristina followed behind them.  <br \/><br \/>Cristina asked Debbie for a bottle of water.  Thorne was lowered down to the floor, and once again, The Moms and Maria watched Spyder and Cristina carryout the ritual of providing water-by-hand for Thorne.<br \/><br \/>After Thorne had quenched his thirst, he scampered back to the dinner table in search of Gus and Nicky.<br \/><br \/>Spyder and Cristina lingered in the kitchen for a few moments longer.<br \/><br \/>Maria looked up from arranging desserts on small platters, \u201cAre you ready to do battle?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Cristina looked over at Spyder.  \u201cI think so\u2026.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Spyder, however, seemed to be deep in thought.  He was totally focused on Maria elegantly arranging the various desserts.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMaria has decided to join our cause,\u201d Katie revealed to Cristina with a wicked grin.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOf course, we had to give her first peek at the desserts,\u201d Jennifer said with a smile.<br \/><br \/>\u201cA worthy price to pay,\u201d Maria raised a plate of Cannoli to eye level for Cristina to see. \u201cBelissimo!\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDesserts were always your downfall\u2026\u201d Cristina added.  \u201cAre you really going to help Spyder and me?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou and I always stick together.\u201d   Maria then smiled over at Jennifer, Fran, Katie, and Debbie just for good measure.<br \/><br \/>The Moms smiled back at Maria letting her know their conspiracy pact was strong.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, let\u2019s get on with desserts,\u201d Debbie suggested.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNot so fast\u2026\u201d Spyder gently touched Debbie\u2019s arm to get her attention.<br \/><br \/>Cristina heard this and turned toward him.  \u201cYou\u2019re up to something\u2026what are you thinking?\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cI want to put an end to this battle,\u201d Spyder said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou\u2019re not planning on wiggling out?\u201d Cristina asked with some concern in her voice.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI have a better idea.  I just need you and Maria to help me.\u201d Spyder said softly.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat evil plan do you have in mind?\u201d Maria stopped what she was doing.  \u201cWhatever it is count me in.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI agree that The Moms shouldn\u2019t have to reveal anything more,\u201d Spyder said pensively. \u201cBut we need a way to shut down the rest of the characters in this drama.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>\u201cSpyder, tell me what you\u2019re thinking.\u201d Cristina demanded to know.<br \/><br \/>Spyder ignored her for the moment.  \u201cJennifer, of all the desserts, which do you think that Brian, Taylor, Gus, and Nicky would like best?\u201d <br \/><br \/>Debbie decided she should answer instead.  \u201cThat\u2019s fucking easy,\u201d she added with a laugh, \u201cYou see, it doesn\u2019t matter what you put on the plates for Brian and the kids, they\u2019re going to consume whatever Sunshine has on his plate.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI seem to remember something like that happening at his birthday party,\u201d Maria said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo I guess then, I need one assorted plate of desserts\u2026\u201d Spyder specified and then paused. \u201cAnd you better give me four spoons\u2026\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat are you up to?\u201d  Cristina asked again.  She liked to be in control, and as usual, Spyder was being uncooperative.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou know me\u2026\u201d Spyder smiled his usual wicked smile. \u201cI like peaceful surrenders.  Disruptions at the dinner table are bad for the digestion.  Remember, I grew up in Paris.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMaria and I are Italian.  A good battle at dinner\u2026especially at a family dinner is expected.  It sets up the mood for the wine and drunkenness to follow,\u201d Cristina added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut, we\u2019re not in Italy,\u201d Maria said with sigh.  \u201cI like Spyder\u2019s way better.  If he\u2019s wrong, you can always wage war with Melanie later.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cGood point!  Okay, Spyder, what do you want us to do?\u201d Cristina asked again.<br \/><br \/>Spyder whispered his idea to her as they were washing their hands.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s a perfect idea,\u201d Cristina agreed.<br \/><br \/>A few minutes later, Spyder casually strolled into the dining room.  \u201cI see that everyone is here,\u201d he said calmly.  \u201cGus\u2026Nicky\u2026I need you to taste this for me and let me know what you think.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Cristina held out a spoonful of gelato for each of kids to taste.  <br \/><br \/>To everyone else at the table the gesture seemed familiar.  For it was just like Gus and Nicky extending spoons out to Thorne during his feeding time.<br \/><br \/>Gus and Nicky smiled and said it was good.  They grabbed spoonful of gelato and fed some to Justin.<br \/><br \/>Justin licked his lips for good measure.  \u201cThat\u2019s very good!\u201d<br \/><br \/>Justin held up a spoonful for Brian, who immediately cringed as he considered the calories.  But, with all eyes on him, he knew better than to discuss them now.   \u201cExcellent!\u201d he finally said instead, making Gus and Nicky very happy.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s good to know,\u201d Spyder said innocently.  <br \/><br \/>Maria handed Justin the little plate of assorted desserts. <br \/> <br \/>\u201cHere\u2019s your dessert.  Dig in\u2026\u201d Spyder said with joy.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019ll go get our desserts\u2026the ones for you, Maria, and me,\u201d Cristina said sweetly.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat about the rest of us?\u201d Calvin was quick to ask.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019ve been waiting to get our hands on those desserts ever since they arrived?\u201d Michael pointed out.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI can imagine.\u201d Maria laughed.  \u201cThey\u2019re wonderful desserts.  The Moms and I were just discussing that a few minutes ago.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Michael started to whine.  He could already tell that something wasn\u2019t quite right.  \u201cWhat is there to talk about?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Cristina fed Spyder a spoonful of gelato, essentially silencing him for the moment and giving herself a chance to take over the discussion.  \u201cYou see, Spyder was raised in Paris.  And he said the desserts could not be served while there was discord at the table.  Brian, Justin, and the kids are on our side\u2026hence they have desserts.  The rest of you have to change your attitude.\u201d  She enjoyed her own spoonful of gelato.  \u201cThe Moms have agreed to hold up dessert until some sort of an agreement can be been reached.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMom can\u2019t do that!\u201d Michael protested again.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m afraid that she can,\u201d Ben pointed out.  \u201cAnd in retrospect, I\u2019m beginning to think that Spyder may have a good point.  Continual badgering of Jennifer, Debbie, Katie, and Fran may be counter-productive.  Besides Jenny and I are more curious about those wonderful desserts.  Aren\u2019t we?\u201d he asked Jenny, who was now nodding in his arms. <br \/><br \/>As Ben agreed, a plate of gelato and two spoons appeared next.  \u201cThanks,\u201d he said as he dug in and enjoyed a spoonful.  Then he handed the spoon to Jenny, who began to enjoy Ben\u2019s dessert until hers could be delivered a few seconds later.<br \/><br \/>Molly, Calvin, and Trace were the next to surrender.  Jennifer and Debbie appeared with their gelato and sealed the delivery with a kiss on their cheek.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOh hell!\u201d Hunter complained.  \u201cThis is bribery.  Can\u2019t you do something about his, Carl?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Carl stood up and gave Debbie a kiss and received a plate of gelato.  \u201cSorry, kid.  I have my priorities in order.\u201d  He sat down and began to enjoy his dessert.  \u201cThis is a case where surrender is the best strategy.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Emmett, Drew, Blake and Ted were the next to surrender and received their gelatos.<br \/><br \/>Ted looked over at Melanie.  \u201cYou didn\u2019t really expect us to hold out, did you?  This is sweet surrender, and I\u2019m definitely in favor of it!\u201d he added.  Ted watched the looks of horror on Lindsay and Melanie\u2019s faces as they watched Justin and the kids enjoying their desserts.<br \/><br \/>\u201cGus\u2026\u201d Lindsay pleaded as the fact sank in that her own son was a traitor.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m busy, Mom,\u201d Gus said with a mouthful of gelato.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis is all your doing, Brian,\u201d Melanie fired off in his direction.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat did I do?\u201d Brian innocently asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cA little cooperation from you, and I know, Debbie and Jennifer might have caved,\u201d Melanie insisted.  \u201cThen Fran and Katie would have gone along with them and told us everything.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI don\u2019t think you can blame Brian.  Mom and Fran can hold out until the bitter end,\u201d Jason said resolutely.  \u201cWe\u2019ve seen them do it\u2026 lots of times.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>Then, Jason turned to Paul. \u201cWell\u2026\u201d he waited with folded arms for his partner to answer.<br \/><br \/>Paul stared at Jason for a moment.  \u201cAll right, Mom\u2026 Jason and I give in.  You can keep your secrets.\u201d <br \/><br \/>Katie and Fran brought desserts to Paul and Jason and gave them each a kiss.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis means,\u201d Michael said sadly, \u201cWe\u2019re never going to know what they did?\u201d <br \/><br \/>Ted smiled.  \u201cNo, but we\u2019ll have this delicious gelato...a suitable consolation, I\u2019d say.\u201d  He couldn\u2019t hold back a laugh.  \u201cCome on Michael\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat\u2019s it going to be Melanie?\u201d Brian had to ask as he savored the moment.<br \/><br \/>Lindsay looked at Melanie pleadingly.  <br \/><br \/>Melanie couldn\u2019t stand the pressure.  \u201cOh, for heaven\u2019s sake!  I can\u2019t stand against all of you.  All right, Cristina, I concede.  No more pressure on Jennifer, Debbie, Fran, and Katie about their Girls\u2019 Night Out.  You win this one\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cPerfecto!\u201d Cristina said.  She leaned down and whispered to Spyder, \u201cI\u2019m glad you were on our side.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnytime,\u201d Spyder said.  \u201cLet\u2019s go help bring in the rest of the platters of dessert.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cRest of the platters of dessert?\u201d Lindsay asked with great interest.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThese were just samples,\u201d Maria said over her shoulder as she was heading to the kitchen. <br \/><br \/> \u201cJust something to whet your appetite,\u201d Spyder said as he left the room.  <br \/><br \/>Maria and Cristina followed him the few steps into the kitchen.  So did Katie, Jennifer, and Fran.<br \/><br \/>Spyder returned moments later with two platters of desserts.  \u201cThese, however, are the real deal.\u201d  He carefully placed the two varieties of Cannoli in front of Debbie and Carl.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou all know how Debbie feels about Cannoli,\u201d Carl said with a laugh, \u201cIf you\u2019re going to concede you might want to do it quickly.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI have the Crostatas,\u201d Maria announced as she entered with another platter, \u201cThese are Cristina\u2019s favorite, so I thought I better carry them in personally.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Cristina glared at her sister.  \u201cSo that\u2019s why you suggested that I carry the platter of Zuccotto?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAt least I knew all of desserts would arrive at the table safely,\u201d Maria said easily.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe figured you were going to need a few more plates and spoons,\u201d Fran suggested as she and Katie entered with these additional items.<br \/><br \/>Jennifer was the last to arrive back at the table with the gelato.  \u201cI think some of you are waiting for more of this.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>And just as she looked down at her feet she found Thorne looking up at her lovingly.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou can\u2019t have any of this,\u201d Jennifer said with sadly.  <br \/><br \/>Thorne scampered back to sulk on Brian\u2019s feet.  Every wrinkle on Thorne\u2019s face reconfigured to show his sadness.<br \/><br \/>Brian dipped his finger in the gelato on his plate and smeared gelato around Thorne\u2019s lips, allowing him to have a taste of  the dessert.<br \/><br \/>\u201cEven Thorne\u2019s joining in,\u201d Paul shook his head.<br \/><br \/> And Michael and Melanie and Hunter, the few remaining holdouts, finally conceded.  Plates, spoons, and desserts were finally passed in their direction.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhen I see Dad, I\u2019m going to tell him how you three used his desserts,\u201d Michael threatened as he enjoyed a mouthful of Cannoli.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cYou be sure to do that, Michael\u2026\u201d Spyder was unconcerned.<br \/><br \/>Debbie couldn\u2019t resist.  \u201cDanny will totally agree with what Spyder did\u2026once he hears ALL the facts,\u201d she added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou know, Cristina,\u201d Melanie said once she\u2019d served herself an assortment of desserts, \u201cYou, Spyder, and Maria are going to make interesting additions to this family.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThank you, Melanie,\u201d Cristina answered for everyone.<br \/><br \/>Everyone laughed and nodded at the remark as they continued to enjoy their desserts.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Sunshine and Brian are going to have to bring you to family dinners more often,\u201d Debbie insisted.<br \/><br \/>And Thorne couldn\u2019t agree more.  A contented Thorne was still licking the gelato off his lips as he made himself comfortable on Brian\u2019s feet once again.<br \/><br \/>Brian looked under the table then up at Justin.  The expression on his face caused Gus and Nicky to laugh and then look under the table as well.<br \/><br \/>Justin didn\u2019t have to look.  He knew that Thorne has settled in his favorite spot.  <br \/><br \/>Justin smiled as he thought about the question earlier\u2026about Thorne being confused about to whom he belonged.  He thought of Thorne and Brian together and knew that would never happen.  For even at a family dinner, only Thorne could pin Brian down to one spot.  All was right with Thorne and his little world within this family.  <br \/>  <br \/>Justin smiled and accepted another spoonful of dessert\u2026this time from Nicky.  <br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/105379.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<\/a><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/105126.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/104832.html","pubDate":"Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:43:52 GMT","title":"The Thorne Saga II, A Visit To Britin, Chapter 69 - Let's Eat, Part V","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/104832.html","description":"Title:                Thorne Saga II \u2013 A Visit To Bri-tin<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tFluffy Crackfic! Over The Top Characters<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/>This is a sequel to The Thorne Saga, Brian and Justin have formed a legal union and are sort-of-living in New York City more than a year after the events in episode 513.  For his birthday, Justin received a six week old Chinese Shar Pei puppy, named Thorne Silvestri Taylor-Kinney, as a present.  Now Thorne and his humans are on their way to Bri-tin.  I should warn you that this is obviously a parallel universe\u2026for there are still strange elements in the air, which seem to be causing the characters, to continue their over-the-top behaviors.  Brian, once again, wants to blame everything on Justin.  You\u2019ll have to judge for yourself.  I will be posting almost daily.<br \/>I hope you like this story.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended<br \/><br \/>Lois and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Thorne+Saga+II&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s Comment:  Thanks to Aschicca for the beta on the Italian.  Sorry for the posting delay. Yep, I got called away on an assignment again.   Let me try once again to get back on track.  <br \/>(smile)  Here is your next installment of one chapter.  Enjoy!<br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 69 \u2013 Let\u2019s Eat, Part V<br \/>(Day 6) Dinner at Debbie\u2019s Continues<br \/><br \/><br \/>Spyder attempted to bring some order this raucous group.  \u201cOkay, we all need a brief recess to give tempers a chance to cool.  Emmett suggested that we clear the tables. I think that\u2019s a good idea.  Thorne could also use a break.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Lindsay had to agree.  \u201cI\u2019m sure that Jenny would like to be released from that prison of her high chair.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Michael reached out to take his daughter his arms.<br \/><br \/>Debbie stood up and started for the kitchen.  \u201cAnd, I need to check out those boxes from Castore\u2019s.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019ll help you\u2026\u201d Jennifer volunteered.<br \/><br \/>Surprisingly, Fran and Katie also followed Jennifer into the kitchen.  <br \/><br \/>Katie whispered to Fran while they were walking.   \u201cI have to know what\u2019s in those boxes.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cThey have to be great delicacies,\u201d Fran whispered back, \u201cI can hardly wait.\u201d<br \/><br \/>The four women were laughing and talking on their short trek into the kitchen.   For some reason, the four of them found their new state of affairs quite funny.   They were overwhelmed by the prospect of a protectress as well as rampant curiosity about those boxes that had just arrived.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSee, there they go again,\u201d Molly complained from her spot at the dinner table.  \u201cWhat can the four of them find to talk about again?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAt least this time it\u2019s understandable,\u201d Calvin enjoyed watching Molly try to cope with the idea of Jennifer\u2019s having this separate life.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYes, those Castore\u2019s boxes must definitely be involved,\u201d Trace quickly added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd let\u2019s face it\u2026 my Mom has been out of control,\u201d Paul said, \u201cStarting with\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian interrupted, \u201cPaul, we\u2019re not going there\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSorry\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>Jason shook his head.  \u201cPaul may not say it,\u201d he added with a laugh, \u201cBut we all know it.  Our mothers just behave strangely once they all get together.\u201d<br \/><br \/>***<br \/><br \/>\u201cCome here, Thorne,\u201d Justin said quietly.  <br \/><br \/>A very enthusiastic Thorne immediately scampered over between Brian and Justin.  <br \/><br \/>Gus and Nicky saw this as their invitation to scoot down on the floor and play with Thorne\u2026a fact which made Thorne very happy.  For, he greeted the kids like the separation had been days instead of the few hours dinner had required.<br \/><br \/>A few minutes later, Cristina stood up.  \u201cOkay, Thorne, let\u2019s give you a bit of attention.\u201d <br \/><br \/>Spyder automatically stood up with her, and Justin handed them the leash as they both walked by.<br \/><br \/>The sound of the leash definitely got Thorne\u2019s attention.  He was ready to follow Spyder and Cristina anywhere. <br \/><br \/>\u201cAren\u2019t you afraid Thorne\u2019s going to be confused about to whom he belongs?\u201d Blake asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou don\u2019t understand,\u201d Justin said easily.  \u201cHe\u2019s always going to be bonded with Spyder and Cristina\u2026just as he\u2019s bonded with Gus and Nicky.  And, he\u2019s doing his best to become friends to everyone else here.  Of course, he\u2019s still a puppy.  So, there will be a few miss-steps along the way.\u201d   <br \/><br \/>\u201cBelieve it or not,\u201d Brian began in a sing-song tone.  \u201cThorne is rather secure about his place in the world.  He\u2019s already figured out where to go to get his drama queen-in-training needs met,\u201d he added, \u201cThat would be to Justin.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cBrian, is this necessary?\u201d Justin asked.<br \/><br \/>Brian continued as if he hadn\u2019t been interrupted. \u201cBut when it comes to getting attention or getting his basic needs met, Thorne is content to let the rest of us serve him.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Cristina is probably one of the first people he remembers,\u201d Maria added, \u201cSince she used to play with him even before his eyes were opened.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cPlus, Spyder and Thorne are old friends,\u201d Brian added, \u201cWhich will be a good thing when we get back to New York and need his help.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Thorne has to begin his obedience training\u2026\u201d Justin added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cObedience training\u2026for Thorne?\u201d Ted challenged.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cIsn\u2019t he a little young?\u201d Blake asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThe puppy books say that training should begin early because Shar Peis tend to be a bit stubborn and are often difficult to train,\u201d Molly wanted to inform everyone.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAlthough, he does seem smart enough to understand the <i> sit command <\/i>,\u201d Carl observed. <br \/><br \/>\u201cCarl, he obeys the sit command because in his limited one week experience, someone usually cuddles him right after it\u2019s given,\u201d Brian said cautiously.  \u201cBelieve me. Thorne definitely has a stubborn streak.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s why he was in bed with Dad\u2026\u201d Gus said innocently.<br \/><br \/>Calvin decided he had just heard earthshaking news.  \u201cSo, Brian had Thorne in bed with him, huh?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cRemind me not to bring you and Nicky along to dinner next time\u2026\u201d Brian tried to say with a scowl as he looked at his son.<br \/><br \/>Gus was not particularly intimidated by Brian\u2019s scowl as the rest of the family might have been.  He simply smiled up at his Dad and returned to the conversation. <br \/><br \/>\u201cWhere was Justin?\u201d Trace asked with some concern. \u201cDon\u2019t tell me Brian\u2019s replaced him already?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian interrupted again. \u201cBefore you two start all sorts of weird rumors\u2026\u201d <br \/><br \/>Ben and Drew chose that moment to walk back to the table after overhearing everything.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cOh, you can trust us to keep your secrets,\u201d Ben said with a wicked grin.<br \/> <br \/>\u201cThere are no secrets in this family,\u201d Drew said as he settled into his seat.  \u201cYou just heard Lindsay and Melanie make that point to Cristina.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAs I was asking\u2026\u201d Trace began again, \u201cGus, where was Justin?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Gus looked confused by the question, so he first looked up at his Dad for answers.<br \/><br \/>Brian smiled and gently touched Gus\u2019s face to reassure him.<br \/><br \/>\u201cJus was in bed too,\u201d Gus said easily, but clearly thinking where else would Justin be.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne wouldn\u2019t play with us,\u201d Nicky recounted.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI guess not,\u201d Trace said with a smile. \u201cIf Brian was available\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>That piece of news got everyone\u2019s attention.    Everyone laughed.  Then, all eyes were now on Brian and Justin.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat was Thorne doing in bed with you two?\u201d Lindsay asked with renewed interest.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNow see what you started?\u201d Brian said as he looked directly at Gus and Nicky.  <br \/><br \/>The kids thought that this was the perfect time to attempt to hide behind Justin, even if they couldn\u2019t stop laughing.<br \/><br \/>Brian sighed deeply.  \u201cJust for the record\u2026You see it was like this\u2026I got up in the middle of the night to let Thorne go to the bathroom,\u201d he began to explain in his own defense.   He couldn\u2019t believe he had to explain what went on his own house\u2026but he was explaining.  \u201cGus and Nicky were sound asleep.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Everyone nodded as if this piece of information was reasonable.<br \/><br \/>Brian continued, \u201cAfterwards, Thorne was ready to play.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Justin stepped in here.  \u201cRather than have Thorne wake up the kids, Brian brought him back into our room where he settled down quite comfortably in bed with us and immediately went back to sleep.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe missed him,\u201d Nicky explained sadly as he seemed to remember the moment. \u201cBut he wouldn\u2019t play with us.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhen Gus and Nicky woke up and found Thorne missing from their bed, they came looking for him.  They couldn\u2019t believe he was nestled in bed with us,\u201d Justin added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Thorne was not about to move, until he was ready,\u201d Brian added.  \u201cI told you Thorne was stubborn.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cOnce Brian got out of bed\u2026Thorne\u2019s warm nest was disturbed.  He was then ready to play,\u201d Justin explained. \u201cSo, he happily disappeared with Gus and Nicky.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo, where does Thorne sleep now?\u201d Maria asked with a wicked grin, for she was completely sure of the answer.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWith me and Nicky,\u201d Gus said with a measure of pride.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNo surprises there!\u201d  Ben added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI can\u2019t believe that Brian allowed Thorne in his bed,\u201d Michael said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt seems like it was only for a moment,\u201d Ben assured Michael.  \u201cIn fact, it actually sounded like an emergency situation.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s one way of looking at it,\u201d Melanie said in complete disbelief, \u201cIf you didn\u2019t know any better\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNo wonder, Thorne thinks he\u2019s in charge,\u201d Ted pointed out, \u201cSharing Brian\u2019s bed is a big deal.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cTheodore!\u201d Brian complained.<br \/><br \/>\u201cJust wait until news reaches Liberty Avenue that Brian shared his bed with this new young stud-muffin named Thorne,\u201d Calvin pointed out.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWait until they hear, this new stud-muffin has blond hair and blue eyes,\u201d Trace added to continue the taunt.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut your reputation will be safe because we won\u2019t mention the wrinkles,\u201d Blake added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s enough!\u201d  Brian insisted sternly as if he still had some leverage with this family.  He couldn\u2019t believe how a quiet family dinner had just spiraled out of control.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI want you to notice that Jason and I had nothing to do with these new rumors about to circulate,\u201d Paul said with a smile.<br \/><br \/>\u201cFor once\u2026.\u201d Brian said as he glared at both Paul and Jason.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m going to see if I can help in the kitchen,\u201d Maria suggested with a laugh as she left Brian trying to handle the group at the table. <br \/><br \/>***<br \/><br \/>Maria walked into the kitchen with a worried expression on her face.  <i>\u201cDevo parlarti,\u201d<\/i>  she said quietly as she entered the kitchen.  <i>(Translation:  I need to talk to you.)<\/i><br \/><br \/>\u201cOf course, dear,\u201d Jennifer said easily in response as if she understood Italian.  In truth, she understood the tone of voice and the body language\u2026not necessarily the precise words\u2026like any other mother would.<br \/><br \/>\u201cGirl Talk\u2026\u201d Debbie mumbled with some excitement.  \u201cMy favorite\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cShould we go and get Lindsay and Melanie?\u201d Katie asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAbsolutely not!\u201d Maria confirmed with a scowl.  This time she spoke in English, so there would be no mistake or confusion.<br \/><br \/>Maria\u2019s reaction caused the four women to laugh.<br \/><br \/><i>\u201cSo cosa hai fatto ieri sera.\u201d<\/i>  Maria said with a laugh.   <i> (Translation: I know what you did last night.)<\/i><br \/><br \/>\u201cYou do?\u201d Debbie was now concerned.  This time she didn\u2019t bother to translate, but Maria had her full attention.<br \/><br \/><i>\u201cSi \u00e8 andato a vedere la Divina esibirsi la scorsa notte\u2026\u201d<\/i>   This was clearly not a question, for Maria was certain of what she knew.   <i> (Translation: You went to see Divina perform last night...) <\/i><br \/><br \/>Jennifer, Katie, and Fran may not have known Italian, but they understood that they were in a lot of trouble.  They each quickly found seats in the kitchen to listen in on the dialogue between Maria and Debbie going on in Italian.<br \/><br \/>Debbie would have turned around and translated for everyone, but discussing things with Maria seemed like the bigger priority.<br \/><br \/>Maria continued, \u201cBut you don\u2019t want the others to know\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/><i>\u201cCome lo sapete?\u201d <\/i> Debbie asked and she couldn\u2019t wait to hear the answer.   <i>(Translation:  How do you know?)<\/i><br \/><br \/><i>\u201cHo sentito tutti in auto discuterne.  Non aveva senso finche\u2019 Michael non ha parlato di Divina.  Li ho capito tutto\u2026quando e arrivato il dessert.\"<\/i>  Maria said with a smile.  <br \/><i>(Translation:   I overheard everyone in the car discussing it.  It didn\u2019t mean anything until Michael explained about Divina.  That\u2019s when I figured it all out\u2026when the desserts arrived.)<\/i><br \/><br \/>Debbie\u2019s concern was now evident.  \u201cAre you going to tell them?\u201d she asked in English.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cNo way!  Unless you want me to\u2026\u201d Maria said sheepishly.  \u201cI just wanted you to know\u2026that I knew.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Debbie took a moment to bring everyone else up to date.  Jennifer, Katie, and Fran seemed initially concerned.  But knowing that Maria was not going to betray their secret made them feel better.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBesides\u2026 somehow you four have managed to get my sister completely riled up.  Watching her defend you against Melanie and the others is going to be fun to watch.  Trust me.  I wouldn\u2019t dream of interfering.  In fact, I might join Cristina and Spyder for the defense.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt\u2019s nice to have you on our side,\u201d Jennifer said with a smile as she hugged Maria.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOur sons just like to know everything and be in control.  I love it that your sister has them completely off-balance,\u201d Fran said with a laugh.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd I like the idea of keeping this our little secret,\u201d Katie added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo now that we\u2019re co-conspirators,\u201d Maria continued with a wicked smile, \u201cDo you suppose you could give me a peek at what\u2019s in all those boxes that just arrived?  I don\u2019t know if anyone told you, but I have a legendary sweet tooth.  Cristina may be the family expert on Puttanesca, but the Italian desserts are my specialty.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat seems like a fair payment for keeping our secret,\u201d Katie said with a smile.  <br \/><br \/>The boxes emblazoned with Castore\u2019s were removed from the refrigerator one at a time\u2026and Maria began her visual inventory.  <br \/><br \/>Box number one was opened. <br \/><br \/>Maria entered into ecstasy.  \u201cAssorted flavors of gelato.  Enough to fulfill the ice cream fantasies of an entire battalion.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Katie interrupted, \u201cWhen we had dessert, Jennifer convinced us to add a touch of gelato on the side.  It made a tasty addition,\u201d she gushed.<br \/><br \/>At that moment a second box was opened.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOh I recognize those,\u201d Maria said laughing.  \u201c<i>Zuccotto<\/i>\u2026look at how the little cakes are filled with mousse.  At home, they\u2019re all sorts of variations on this recipe.  Sometimes the cake is soaked in rum\u2026other times the filling has almonds and hazelnuts.  \u201d<br \/><br \/>Fran looked over at the delicacies.  \u201cWe didn\u2019t try those\u2026not that it mattered.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNo, we were pretty focused on the Cannoli,\u201d Katie said with a laugh.<br \/><br \/>\u201cCannoli is Debbie\u2019s particular weakness,\u201d Jennifer explained.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI see\u2026\u201d Maria said as she opened the third box.  \u201cThat would explain this\u2026\u201d she added as she angled the box for all to see.<br \/><br \/>Debbie leaned over. \u201c<i>Cannoli Di Cioccolata<\/i>\u2026I don\u2019t think I need to translate that,\u201d she said to the others looking in the box. \u201cOne of my favorites.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Jennifer watched Maria open another box.  \u201cDanny knows you so well.  He knew you would never be content with one flavor of Cannoli...\u201d  <br \/><br \/>And, sure enough, the next box contained regular Cannoli in its own special box.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOnly two more boxes left,\u201d Maria said with a sigh.   \u201cI wonder what could be inside, for already this dessert display is enough to make an Italian weep for joy.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cOr anyone else, Italian or otherwise,\u201d Katie wanted to add as she wiped a tear from her eye.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd in the final box,\u201d Maria continued, \u201c<i>Crostata di Mele<\/i>\u2026.look at the golden color of the apples\u2026  This is one of Cristina\u2019s favorite.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019ll be sure to serve it to our protectress\u2026we\u2019ll just make that her special treat,\u201d Fran said with a laugh.<br \/><br \/>Maria nodded.  \u201cWe just need to wait for Spyder and Cristina return with Thorne.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cThe coffee that Emmett started before we shooed him out of the kitchen is ready too,\u201d Debbie said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI think he was trying to get a look at the desserts,\u201d Fran added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut we caught him just in time,\u201d Jennifer agreed.  \u201cCan you imagine what would have happened if he\u2019d seen all this?\u201d<br \/><br \/>There was a moment of silence as everyone envisioned the moment.  Then, the five women shared a laugh.<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/105126.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<\/a><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/104832.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/104510.html","pubDate":"Sat, 26 Jun 2010 03:38:09 GMT","title":"The Thorne Saga II, A Visit To Britin, Chapter 68 - Let's Eat, Part IV","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/104510.html","description":"Title:                Thorne Saga II \u2013 A Visit To Bri-tin<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tFluffy Crackfic! Over The Top Characters<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/>This is a sequel to The Thorne Saga, Brian and Justin have formed a legal union and are sort-of-living in New York City more than a year after the events in episode 513.  For his birthday, Justin received a six week old Chinese Shar Pei puppy, named Thorne Silvestri Taylor-Kinney, as a present.  Now Thorne and his humans are on their way to Bri-tin.  I should warn you that this is obviously a parallel universe\u2026for there are still strange elements in the air, which seem to be causing the characters, to continue their over-the-top behaviors.  Brian, once again, wants to blame everything on Justin.  You\u2019ll have to judge for yourself.  I will be posting almost daily.<br \/>I hope you like this story.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended<br \/><br \/>Lois and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Thorne+Saga+II&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s Comments:  Although, I would like to update more frequently, it looks like I'm only going to be able to update this story on the weekends.  Here is your next installment of one chapter.  Enjoy!<br \/><hr><br \/><br \/><br \/>Chapter 68 \u2013 Let\u2019s Eat IV<br \/>(Day 6)  Dinner At Debbie\u2019s Continues<br \/><br \/><br \/><br \/>As the door opened, a delivery person froze where he was standing.  He took one look at Thorne, with his guarding stance, and became speechless.<br \/><br \/>Even though Thorne was small and had wrinkles, his stance made it perfectly clear that he was not one to be tampered with. <br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne\u2026sit,\u201d Justin commanded from a distance.<br \/><br \/>Thorne immediately obeyed and then looked around for a pair of loving arms to cuddle him.  <br \/><br \/>Spyder reached down to pick Thorne up and to cuddle him, thus relieving Thorne from his momentary guard duties.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cYou are such a fierce protector,\u201d Spyder whispered to the relaxed puppy now in his arms.<br \/><br \/>Thorne made himself comfortable in these familiar arms.<br \/><br \/>The delivery person started to breathe and regain his voice.  \u201cHi\u2026well\u2026where to begin\u2026I\u2019m looking for Debbie or Carl\u2026\u201d he said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m Carl.  You have to excuse our newest family member,\u201d he looked over at Thorne, \u201cHe still has a few control issues to work out,\u201d he added with a laugh.  \u201cBut then, he\u2019s just a puppy.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s a relief\u2026he looks fierce\u2026I guess it\u2019s the wrinkles,\u201d the delivery guy said with a smile.<br \/><br \/>\u201cHe\u2019s a Chinese Shar Pei,\u201d Spyder said as he silenced Cristina with a glare, for he knew she was about to make her usual complaint about Americans only seeing Thorne\u2019s wrinkles instead of how cute he was. <br \/><br \/>\u201cOh\u2026well\u2026where are my manners\u2026.my name is Nick Castore.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cCastore\u2026as in the restaurant?\u201d Carl immediately asked.<br \/><br \/>Nick nodded.  \u201cAnd, I heard there was a family dinner in progress here.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cAbsolutely!\u201d  Carl confirmed.  He then stepped aside to allow Nick to peek inside and see the assorted people gathered at the irregularly shaped table.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s quite a crowd\u2026\u201d Nick said with a laugh.  \u201cJust like our family dinners!\u201d <br \/><br \/>Nick reached beside himself on the porch and grabbed a stack of clearly identifiable boxes, which bore the name <i>Castore\u2019s <\/i>emblazoned on them.  \u201cThen\u2026these are for you\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cTreasures\u2026to be sure,\u201d Carl said as he looked back over his shoulder to see if anyone at the table ordered anything from Castore\u2019s.  \u201cSo, which one of you ordered these?\u201d he asked to the table in general.<br \/><br \/>Everyone was shaking their heads no.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut, it seems we didn\u2019t order anything\u2026\u201d Carl finally confirmed.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cThat may be true\u2026but these are definitely for you,\u201d Nick explained. \u201cI have my instructions\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cCarl, what\u2019s going on?\u201d Debbie called out.<br \/><br \/>Drew and Ben came to the front door to investigate while Carl went back to bring Debbie up-to-date.<br \/><br \/>Nick handed over his treasures to Drew and Ben as he re-introduced himself.   \u201cI\u2019m Nick\u2026Nick Castore.   I\u2019m one of the waiters at the restaurant.  Divina made me promise to make this delivery\u2026personally,\u201d he explained.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cDivina?\u201d Carl said, still sort of confused by things.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDivina said his family was a sight to behold,\u201d Nick said as he looked at the people gathered in the room again.  Then he laughed.  \u201cI\u2019m glad that I didn\u2019t miss seeing this.\u201d   He then looked over at Thorne. \u201cBut Divina didn\u2019t say anything about you.\u201d  Then he laughed.   \u201cAnd wait until I tell my Dad about your wrinkled puppy guardian.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Thorne realized he was being discussed and looked over at Nick, who was still smiling.<br \/><br \/>Once Nick had handed over his entire stack of boxes, he reached into his shirt pocket and retrieved a small envelope.  \u201cI almost forgot\u2026Divina said to give you this.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDivina?\u201d Carl said with a laugh as he accepted the envelope.<br \/><br \/>Nick simply nodded as he waved his goodbyes.  <br \/><br \/>Drew and Ben took the boxes into the kitchen.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, that\u2019s a fucking surprise,\u201d Debbie said.  \u201cWhat\u2019s Danny up to now?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Carl returned to the table and handed her the note.  Debbie insisted that he read it aloud.<br \/><br \/><i><br \/>Debbie and Carl,<br \/><br \/>I heard there\u2019s a big family dinner tonight.  Unfortunately, I\u2019m working, so I can\u2019t get away to join you.<br \/><br \/>I\u2019m sure after last night\u2019s\u2026Girls\u2019 Night Out\u2026Debbie didn\u2019t have a chance to make one of her usual scrumptious desserts, so I hope these will do as a substitute. <br \/><br \/>See you soon\u2026 <br \/><br \/>Love,<br \/>Divina <\/i><br \/><br \/>Carl handed the note to Debbie and gave her one of his piecing looks. \u201cSo, even Daniel knows what you were up to last night?\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cCarl, save the scolding for later,\u201d Jennifer suggested.  \u201cWe have desserts from Castore\u2019s.  It would be rude to be arguing in the proximity of such tasty morsels.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI have to agree with Jennifer,\u201d Debbie said quickly.<br \/><br \/>Emmett picked up that line of thinking.  \u201cMaybe we should clear the table.  I\u2019ll put on some coffee, while we try to figure out what to do with whatever\u2019s in those boxes.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cCastore\u2019s has wonderful desserts,\u201d Katie quietly gushed to Fran, \u201cWhat do you think will be inside those boxes?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Unfortunately, this little conversation was overheard by Jason.  \u201cMom, you live in Cincinnati.  What do you know about the desserts from Castore\u2019s?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI understand that they have world famous desserts,\u201d Katie responded with a look of concern on her face.  \u201cIsn\u2019t that right, Fran?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s what it says in all the tour guidebooks,\u201d Justin confirmed with a secret smile, guessing The Moms were in a bit of trouble. <br \/><br \/>\u201cYou know I heard that too,\u201d Fran said with a smile.<br \/><br \/>Paul and Jason were now on alert.   <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd when did you two have time to read tour guidebooks?\u201d Paul asked with a focused expression.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m sure I\u2019d like to hear the answer to that question myself\u2026\u201d Jason added.<br \/><br \/>Everyone else at the dinner table also fell silent to wait for the answer to that very loaded question.<br \/><br \/>Before any of The Moms could answer, Cristina interrupted.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s fair to question your mothers,\u201d Cristina chimed in, rising to Fran and Katie\u2019s defense.<br \/><br \/>\u201cEspecially with these wonderful desserts,\u201d Debbie added her voice to the chorus.  \u201cYou know they\u2019re my greatest weakness.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI wonder what Daniel sent us,\u201d Jennifer said. \u201cDo you think it\u2019s Cannoli?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI wonder what flavor,\u201d Fran whispered to Katie.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, Danny does know all my weaknesses,\u201d Debbie added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s because he\u2019s known you since high school,\u201d Ben reminded her. <br \/><br \/>\u201cEven I can\u2019t argue with that.  Daniel frequently has decadent desserts delivered, here to the house, just to get a rise out of Debbie\u2026because he knows that she can\u2019t resist them,\u201d Carl informed everyone with a laugh.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWho is Divina?\u201d Maria innocently asked.<br \/><br \/>Michael saw the opportunity to jump in here.  \u201cSurely you\u2019ve heard of the World Famous Divina Devore?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cOf course,\u201d Spyder interrupted.  \u201cShe\u2019s a legend.  I\u2019ve seen her perform many times in Paris.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMy parents took us to see her\u2026but that was a few years ago,\u201d Cristina added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOnce the gowns and the wigs come off,\u201d Michael continued, \u201cYou have my Dad, Daniel Devore.  He and Ma were high school sweethearts before he went off to seek fame on the stage.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMichael and his father were only recently reunited,\u201d Debbie said softly.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s some story,\u201d Spyder said.  \u201cBrian never mentioned it.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBecause when we\u2019re in New York, I\u2019m too busy fending off the trouble you and Cristina cause me,\u201d Brian said in his own defense. \u201cBut now you know\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s really quite a story\u2026and Michael\u2026your Dad,\u201d Paul said with a smile. \u201cThat\u2019s great!\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt\u2019s nice having a Dad,\u201d Michael said.  \u201cAnd it\u2019s great that he sent dessert!\u201d<br \/><br \/>Melanie was on this.  \u201cJason\u2026Paul\u2026if we get this table cleared,\u201d she continued, \u201cI\u2019m sure that over coffee and dessert, certain mothers may be more inclined to provide the information we seek.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIf not,\u201d Lindsay wanted to make clear, \u201cMel, can always resume her torture tactics.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNow, I can see why Brian is the way he is,\u201d Cristina said to Maria.<br \/><br \/>\u201cHow do you mean?\u201d Maria innocently asked, even though she knew the conversation was about to get interesting.<br \/><br \/>Spyder looked at Cristina and knew there was no stopping her.  She was wound up at this point.<br \/><br \/>\u201cFran, Katie, Debbie and Jennifer are such lovely women.  They seemed to have had a lovely evening,\u201d Cristina began.  \u201cBut everyone can\u2019t allow these wonderful mothers to have a few secrets.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cBut, you don\u2019t understand,\u201d Lindsay chimed in.  \u201cThere are no secrets in this family.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDebbie and Jennifer especially, would never allow it,\u201d Melanie added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cUsually, Brian would be the one demanding answers,\u201d Michael wanted to add.  \u201cHe would be the one leading this interrogation.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>\u201cThen, if Brian isn\u2019t questioning,\u201d Cristina continued, \u201cShouldn\u2019t the rest of you let their evening remain a mystery?  Do you think it\u2019s fair for all of you to gang up on the four defenseless women?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cCristina, you don\u2019t know how tough these women are?\u201d Hunter was quick to point out.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThey seem so defenseless,\u201d Cristina continued.  \u201cAnd if all you guys and even Melanie and Lindsay are going to be the grand inquisitors, someone needs to defend them.\u201d  She paused for a moment.  When no one volunteered she continued, \u201cWell, Brian?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cOh no you don\u2019t!  Justin and I are staying out of this free-for-all,\u201d Brian protested with a laugh.  \u201cOf course, if you want to defend The Moms\u2026you go right ahead.  In fact, I think that\u2019s the perfect solution.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThen that\u2019s what we\u2019ll do,\u201d Cristina volunteered.  \u201cSpyder and I will represent the defense.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat?\u201d  Spyder looked up at her.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019re going to do this together,\u201d Cristina insisted.<br \/><br \/>Spyder just nodded while Justin and Maria couldn\u2019t resist laughing.  Once again, Cristina had pulled Spyder into another one of her schemes.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Cristina said to The Moms.  \u201cThe rest of your secret will be safe,\u201d she assured them.  \u201cUnless, of course, you decide you want to share certain things with everyone.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cHow can you get involved?\u201d Melanie challenged.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cI know that we\u2019re guests\u2026\u201d Cristina tried to say meekly. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t want to intrude in a family matter.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMelanie, I don\u2019t know how to tell you this.  But, from the look on Mother Taylor\u2019s face, I would say that her champions\u2026Lord help us\u2026have just been granted full-family status,\u201d Brian enjoyed pointing out.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cOf course, they\u2019re family!\u201d Debbie quickly added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMa!\u201d  Michael immediately began to protest.<br \/><br \/>Jenny merely looked at the faces around the table and, once again, started clapping.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, I think that settles it,\u201d Justin confirmed. <br \/><br \/>\u201cMafiosa protectress,\u201d Brian said with a laugh.<br \/><br \/>\u201cLet\u2019s not be rude,\u201d Cristina protested.  \u201cMafiosa is only a legend.\u201d  Then she considered for a moment.  \u201cBut, if the word will strike fear in the heart of my opponent, I\u2019m sure that Spyder and I can live with that.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cShe\u2019s on a roll now, isn\u2019t she?\u201d Spyder asked in a whisper to Maria.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBig Time!\u201d  Maria whispered back.  \u201cOf all of us, she\u2019s the most like father.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Spyder could only groan.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd father is?\u201d Melanie asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOh please,\u201d Brian said, \u201cYou have to let me explain this to the dragon\u2026to Mel.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cGo ahead,\u201d Justin said, looking down at a curious Gus and Nicky.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMaria and Cristina\u2019s father is Rudolpho Silvestri\u2026international financier with business interest on four continents.  He meddles in everything.  His mind ever sleeps.  He\u2019s always ready to transact a deal.  He drives a hard bargain\u2026and he lives to be in control of things by any means necessary,\u201d Brian paused for a moment for effect.  \u201cAnd Cristina\u2026is just like him.  I know.   I constantly have to deal with her since she refuses to stay in Milan.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cBut we\u2019ve agreed to bury the stiletto between us, haven\u2019t we?\u201d Cristina asked with a wicked grin.<br \/><br \/>\u201cFor whatever good it\u2019s done\u2026,\u201d Brian mumbled.   Then he looked down beside him.  \u201cBut I should warn you that Justin, Gus, and Nicky are quite fond of her\u2026and it looks like she\u2019s gaining allies every moment,\u201d he added as he glanced over at the faces of each of The Moms.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNow that we have that out of the way,\u201d Cristina said with some satisfaction. \u201cIf Katie, Fran, Jennifer, and Debbie don\u2019t want to share anymore details about their Girls\u2019 Night Out\u2026I think we have to respect that and allow them their secrets.\u201d<br \/><br \/>There was a moment of silence.<br \/><br \/>Then the table erupted in chaos with protests from almost all direction at the same time.<br \/><br \/>Brian and Justin just sat back and smiled at each other, satisfied things were about to get interesting.<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/104832.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<\/a><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/104510.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/104443.html","pubDate":"Sun, 20 Jun 2010 06:02:59 GMT","title":"The Thorne Saga II, A Visit To Britin, Chapter 67 - Let's Eat, Part III","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/104443.html","description":"Title:                Thorne Saga II \u2013 A Visit To Bri-tin<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tFluffy Crackfic! Over The Top Characters<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/>This is a sequel to The Thorne Saga, Brian and Justin have formed a legal union and are sort-of-living in New York City more than a year after the events in episode 513.  For his birthday, Justin received a six week old Chinese Shar Pei puppy, named Thorne Silvestri Taylor-Kinney, as a present.  Now Thorne and his humans are on their way to Bri-tin.  I should warn you that this is obviously a parallel universe\u2026for there are still strange elements in the air, which seem to be causing the characters, to continue their over-the-top behaviors.  Brian, once again, wants to blame everything on Justin.  You\u2019ll have to judge for yourself.  I will be posting almost daily.<br \/>I hope you like this story.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended<br \/><br \/>Lois and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Thorne+Saga+II&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s comments:  Thanks again, Aschicca for your help with Italian.  Here is your next installment of one chapter.   Enjoy!<br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 67 \u2013 Let\u2019s Eat, Part III<br \/>(Day 6) Dinner At Debbie\u2019s<br \/><br \/><br \/>There was another lull in the general conversation, so people got up to refill their plates for seconds.  As everyone returned to the table, Jason appeared to start mumbling to himself.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Jason?\u201d Spyder innocently asked as Jason took his seat.<br \/><br \/> \u201cThere was a slight argument at breakfast the other morning,\u201d Jason began pensively.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAn argument?\u201d Lindsay asked with renewed interest, \u201cThat\u2019s really unusual.  Brian doesn\u2019t usually allow anyone to argue,\u201d she said with a laugh.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, you see, Brian was part of the argument,\u201d Jason said easily.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd who was he arguing with, pray tell,\u201d Ted asked with renewed interest.<br \/><br \/>\u201cGus and Nicky\u2026\u201d Jason quickly replied.<br \/><br \/>All eyes were suddenly focused on the kids\u2019 side of the table.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhere was Justin?\u201d  Lindsay asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cJustin had to take Thorne to see his attorney\u2026something about notarized puppy paw prints,\u201d Jason added in a distracted manner. \u201cBut you\u2019ve already heard that story\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>There was a pause as everybody nodded that they\u2019d already heard the story about Thorne at the attorney\u2019s office.  <br \/><br \/>One look at Brian\u2019s expression let everyone know this was not the time to re-address this point when there was another even more disturbing point of family gossip on the table being discussed.  Surprisingly, everyone stayed focused on the issue at hand\u2026the argument between Brian, Gus, and Nicky.<br \/><br \/>\u201cJason, is this really necessary?\u201d Brian asked.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cSomething tells me this is important\u2026\u201d Calvin pointed out.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI think I have to agree,\u201d Trace added.<br \/><br \/>Both Calvin and Trace earned their usual glare from Brian.<br \/><br \/>\u201cPaul\u2026Katie\u2026can\u2019t you do something with Jason?\u201d Brian now asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m sure you don\u2019t expect me to intervene,\u201d Katie said definitively.  \u201cEspecially, when I\u2019m curious to find out what happened\u2026aren\u2019t you Fran?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI wouldn\u2019t miss it\u2026\u201d Fran replied.<br \/><br \/>\u201cGus and Nicky arguing with Brian\u2026oh yes\u2026you must continue,\u201d Jennifer insisted. \u201cThis is too good to miss\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMother Taylor\u2026\u201d Brian tried to protest.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019re all ears,\u201d Ted pointed out.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBy all means, please continue,\u201d Blake requested.  \u201cI don\u2019t want to miss a word.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cJason, as usual, is blowing things way out of proportion,\u201d Brian tried to say in his own defense. <br \/><br \/>\u201cYou see, Brian fixed Gus and Nicky a morning snack,\u201d Jason continued.<br \/><br \/>\u201cGreen apples and peanut butter,\u201d Gus chimed in.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYour favorite, isn\u2019t it Nicky?\u201d Paul asked.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cYumm,\u201d Nicky quickly added.<br \/><br \/>Everyone was now hanging on Jason\u2019s every word.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cBut, when Brian suggested that he fix breakfast\u2026that\u2019s when it all started,\u201d Jason said, and then he paused for effect.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Drew asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cGus and Nicky started arguing with Brian,\u201d Jason said calmly, \u201cThe kids said that Brian couldn\u2019t cook.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>Jason gestured with his hands to show the hopelessness of the situation.   <br \/><br \/>Everyone at the table couldn\u2019t contain themselves.  They all burst out laughing.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWho cooks at the mansion?\u201d Trace innocently asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat would be Teres,\u201d Jason added gleefully with his hands over his heart, \u201cAnd, she\u2019s banned Brian from her kitchen.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cJason, you\u2019re enjoying this way too much\u2026\u201d Justin tried to intervene in Brian\u2019s defense.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m just relaying the facts,\u201d Jason added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOf course, Brian can cook\u2026\u201d Michael said, rising to his best friend\u2019s defense.<br \/><br \/>\u201cIf Michael says it\u2019s so\u2026it must be true,\u201d Emmett tried to contend.  \u201cAlthough, I don\u2019t think any of us have ever witnessed it,\u201d he added after some thought.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSome friends you are\u2026\u201d Brian complained as he scowled at Michael and Emmett.<br \/>  <br \/>\u201cWait a minute.  You remember all those modern appliances in the loft,\u201d Ted reminded everyone. <br \/><br \/>\u201cWhich never got used until Sunshine moved in\u2026\u201d Debbie added.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat?\u201d Carl asked as he tried to put the pieces of this conversation together.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSunshine is the one who cooked there.  And I remember Sunshine and Vic,\u201d she began, and then she became wistful.  She looked at Maria, Spyder, and Cristina. \u201cVic was my brother.  When he was alive, he and Justin used to be in the kitchen here together all the time.  They came up with all kinds of recipes.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI started to teach Justin and Molly how to cook when they were little,\u201d Jennifer revealed. \u201cJustin was as intense about cooking as he is about his art\u2026Molly really just liked to play in the batter,\u201d she added with a laugh.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMom!\u201d Molly immediately started to complain. \u201cWas that necessary?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSee, these are the same things that Gus and Nicky said,\u201d Jason, once again, pointed out as he regained control of the conversation.  \u201cBrian had a kitchen at the loft, but Justin was the only one who ever used it.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian had to mount his own defense, since it was obvious that no one else was going to rally to help him.  \u201cLindsay\u2026Michael\u2026you remember eating at the loft, don\u2019t you?\u201d he was almost pleading.<br \/><br \/>Both of them took a moment to consider the question.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe would always eat carryout at the loft,\u201d Michael said after thinking about it for a while.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI remember the carryout too.  But I also remember the bowls of cereal,\u201d Lindsay added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cCereal doesn\u2019t count, Dad,\u201d Gus chimed in.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou already made that quite clear,\u201d Brian tried to scowl, even if secretly he tried to hide a smile.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, I guess that settles it,\u201d Jason said with a sigh.  \u201cAfter all, Michael and Lindsay knew Brian before there was Justin\u2026even if Gus and Nicky believe that there was never such a thing.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Ben asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, according to Gus and Nicky,\u201d and Jason took great pains to explain this point, \u201cBased on their limited experience\u2026there was no Brian before Justin came along.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut, Brian had to exist before Justin came along!  Brian is my best friend!  Since we were fourteen!\u201d Michael argued.<br \/><br \/>Gus and Nicky looked at Michael with total confusion\u2026as if they couldn\u2019t understand the point that he was trying to make.<br \/><br \/>Michael didn\u2019t appreciate their confusion.<br \/><br \/>Everyone else thought it was funny that such a major family tenet was considered unimportant by persons so little.  Things look very different when you\u2019re only four and six years old.<br \/><br \/> Then Jason thought for a bit.  He didn\u2019t want to be unfair.  \u201cWait a minute, Ted\u2026you knew Brian in college with Lindsay and Paul\u2026surely he cooked back in those days\u2026tell us about it\u2026\u201d he insisted.<br \/><br \/>\u201cTheodore, be careful what you say\u2026\u201d Brian cautioned.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBrian, make up your mind.  One minute, you tell him to speak up\u2026the next minute you tell him to be careful what he says.  How is Ted ever going to ever get it right?\u201dBlake challenged.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThank you, Blake,\u201d Ted said, smiling at his partner, \u201cBut, I think I can handle this one.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou can?\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cTrust me\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI can hardly wait to hear this,\u201d Brian quipped.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBrian was on the soccer team, so he didn\u2019t really have to cook.  The school always made sure that the team members were fed.  But Brian used to be the Master of the Sandwich,\u201d Ted proceeded.  \u201cBrian always made the best Tuna sandwiches.  That\u2019s how I got addicted to them.\u201d  He made sure this information hung in the air.  <br \/><br \/>Michael chimed in here.  \u201cI remember!  Then, when Brian struggled to buy his loft, he ate so much Tuna fish that he swore he never wanted to see it again.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d Lindsay said.  \u201cI remember those days too.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo you see, Gus and Nicky, there you have it.  Brian can indeed cook!\u201d Ted confirmed.<br \/><br \/>\u201cObjection!\u201d Melanie said.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cThat was great evidence,\u201d Brian argued.  \u201cHow can you have an objection?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cA sandwich isn\u2019t cooking,\u201d Melanie continued to challenge.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSure it is\u2026\u201d Justin tried to argue. \u201cA great sandwich takes great skill\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>Everyone else took a moment to consider the point.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNow that Melanie has mentioned it,\u201d Paul intervened.  \u201cI\u2019m afraid I have to agree with her.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t you think you\u2019re being a bit strict,\u201d Ben tried to say in Brian\u2019s defense.<br \/><br \/> \u201cOf course not,\u201d Melanie continued as she smiled at Gus and Nicky.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay\u2026okay\u2026Debbie and Michael and Vic took such good care of me as I was growing up.  They made sure that I didn\u2019t starve.  You have to admit no one cooks better than Debbie,\u201d Brian said, and everyone quickly agreed with him.<br \/><br \/><i>\u201cDebbie, questa Puttanesca \u00e8 deliziosa,\u201d <\/i>Cristina echoed. <br \/><i>(Translation:  \u201cDebbie, this Puttanesca is delicious.\u201d)<\/i><br \/><br \/><i>\u201cCristina non sa cucinare,\u201d <\/i> Maria whispered.  <br \/><i>(Translation:  \u201cCristina can\u2019t cook.\u201d)<\/i><br \/><br \/>\u201cI can cook!\u201d Cristina protested first in English\u2026then in Italian.   <i>\u201cSo cucinare!\u201d <\/i>  She wanted to make sure this proclamation didn\u2019t get lost in translation. <br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat about you Spyder?\u201d Maria couldn\u2019t resist asking.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI went to school in Paris,\u201d Spyder explained, \u201cI have culinary skills!\u201d<br \/><br \/>At that point the discussion deteriorated to a discussion of everyone\u2019s cooking skills or lack thereof.  The discussion may have changed, but Brian glared over at Jason.  And Jason knew that at some point, Brian was going to get him back for all this.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI wish that I\u2019d known how much fun you all were,\u201d Fran said.  \u201cI would have invited myself for a visit ages ago.  Maybe, I would have even kidnapped Nicky much sooner.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou and Katie are welcome anytime,\u201d Jennifer said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd bring Lee with you next time,\u201d Justin said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNeither of you are helping\u2026\u201d Paul began. \u201cKidnapping Nicky is what set all this in motion.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cPaul, we don\u2019t have time for this now,\u201d Brian said sternly. \u201cRemember, you promised no drama queen moments\u2026I have enough to deal with thanks to Jason.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>\u201cSorry\u2026\u201d Paul quickly said as he tried to hide a smile.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s better.\u201d Brian responded with a smile, always glad to be back in control of things.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo Fran and Katie, what else have you been up to since you\u2019ve been in town?\u201d Melanie easily asked. She thought that by nonchalantly asking the question, one of the Moms would let something slip about their Girl\u2019s Night Out.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMelanie, there are children present,\u201d Jennifer said.  \u201cI\u2019m surprised that you\u2019d bring up such things now.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI can tell you this much\u2026\u201d Fran began, \u201cWe had a lovely afternoon shopping at the Mall.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe each got new outfits,\u201d Katie added joyfully.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhich were just perfect for our evening,\u201d Jennifer added with a mysterious tone to her voice.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThanks to Wyatt\u2019s help,\u201d Debbie added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo, this must have been a really big evening, wasn\u2019t it?\u201d Drew asked.  \u201cIf Emmett got Wyatt involved.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis was family.  Since I couldn\u2019t handle things personally, Wyatt was the next best choice,\u201d Emmett said in his own defense.  And, that was all that he was going to say.  He hoped someone would quickly change the subject.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo Emmett, you must know a lot more than you\u2019re telling,\u201d Calvin pointed out.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019ve been sworn to secrecy,\u201d Emmett said. \u201cYou know our Southern Traditions,\u201d he reminded Calvin since they were both from the same hometown of Hazlehurst, Mississippi. \u201cMy lips are sealed\u2026why don\u2019t you ask Justin?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMe?\u201d Justin said with complete innocence, and this time the innocence was real.  \u201cI was painting in my studio.  I know nothing!\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMy guess is Paul and Jason are also as much in the dark as Justin,\u201d Carl said.  \u201cSo my advanced police tactics would prove useless on them.  That sort of narrows the field doesn\u2019t it?\u201d  Carl looked over at Molly and then at Brian.  \u201cMolly\u2026Brian\u2026is there anything that you want to tell us?\u201d  <br \/><br \/>\u201cI don\u2019t know anything.  Mom\u2019s already said my ears were too innocent for the details,\u201d Molly enjoyed relaying.<br \/><br \/>\u201cGee, Carl, you\u2019ve had access to Debbie all day, and you\u2019ve failed to get any details from her.  I\u2019m beginning to question your effectiveness as a detective,\u201d Melanie complained with dripping sarcasm. \u201cMaybe your female television counterparts with the perfect hair and the spike heels have the right idea.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThere\u2019s no need to be insulting!\u201d Carl said.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cI don\u2019t know, Carl.  Didn\u2019t you find out anything?\u201d Hunter now asked. \u201cDidn\u2019t you gather any clues?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cOf course, I gathered enough evidence not to issue an APB?\u201d Carl pointed out.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAPB?\u201d Cristina asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAll Points Bulletin,\u201d Hunter clarified, \u201cWhere Carl would have had every police officer in Pittsburgh looking for Debbie, Jennifer, Katie, and Fran.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cOh, I see\u2026\u201d Cristina said with a smile. <br \/><br \/>\u201cI, at least, talked to Brian and found out they were moving around in limousines,\u201d Carl said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhich only means that Brian knows more than he\u2019s telling,\u201d Lindsay said. <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd he probably had a hand in arranging things,\u201d Trace added.<br \/><br \/>Everyone fell silent and looked at Brian.  <br \/><br \/>Brian tried to look innocent as he said nothing.<br \/><br \/>The silence was broken as Gus looked up at Brian and simply asked, \u201cDad?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian began to feel some relief as Justin leaned over and whispered something to Gus and Nicky, which made them laugh.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI can\u2019t believe that you\u2019re all doing this grand inquisition in front of the kids,\u201d Jennifer said as she looked over at her laughing darlings.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMom, I have to tell you, Gus and Nicky have decided they aren\u2019t going anywhere,\u201d Justin added smiling.<br \/><br \/>To prove his point, Gus climbed into Justin\u2019s lap and made himself comfortable.  And Nicky climbed into Brian\u2019s lap.  Both kids may have been tired, but they weren\u2019t going to miss a word.  This was a family discussion, and they were going to be a part of this.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo what do we know so far?\u201d Melanie said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe know that Brian and Emmett are involved.  We know Fran, Katie, Jennifer, and Debbie started out at the Mall.\u201d Blake repeated.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cWe know they consulted with Wyatt, meaning the evening was big\u2026really big,\u201d Drew added.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd they rode in limousines,\u201d Calvin confirmed.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd they didn\u2019t come home last night,\u201d Lindsay added.  \u201cSo, where did they stay?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cLet\u2019s keep gathering the clues,\u201d Carl suggested.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe stayed at the Liberty Inn\u2026if you must know,\u201d Jennifer said <br \/><br \/>\u201cWe had a suite,\u201d Katie added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou should all leave this alone.  The Moms were entitled to some fun.  We all had fun last evening, didn\u2019t we?\u201d Brian asked with a satisfied smile. <br \/><br \/>\u201cI sure did,\u201d Drew said, \u201cEmmett and I went swimming with everyone out at the mansion.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou should see Thorne swimming,\u201d Molly added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne seems awful little to be swimming,\u201d Debbie said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cHe only swims with Justin,\u201d Gus wanted to fill everyone in on the facts.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOtherwise, he just sits on the side and complains,\u201d Paul added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI can\u2019t believe that he likes to play in the water,\u201d Cristina said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cHe likes the heated fluffy towel that comes after the water,\u201d Jason said, \u201cHe\u2019s not fooling anyone.\u201d<br \/><br \/>As this discussion was going on at the table, the door bell rang.  <br \/><br \/>Thorne became animated.  He was now up from his resting place.  And he was unhappy enough, that Cristina and Spyder tried to calm him down.<br \/><br \/>Debbie looked around the table.  \u201cWell, everyone seems to be here,\u201d she said. \u201cSo, I wonder who that could be?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cEveryone, hold your thoughts.  Remember where we are,\u201d Carl said.  \u201cThis interrogation isn\u2019t over yet.\u201d  He then got up from the table to answer the door.  <br \/><br \/>Thorne followed Carl to the door and took up his defensive stance.    <br \/><br \/>Spyder and Cristina followed Thorne to the door and waited to see what was going to happen.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019ve seen that stance before,\u201d Ted reminded everyone.  \u201cThis is definitely not good.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cShar Peis are bred to be guard dogs,\u201d Molly reminded him.  \u201cHe\u2019s just doing what comes naturally.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI feel sorry for whoever is on the other side of that door,\u201d Ted added.  \u201cFor they have no idea what little terror is waiting for them.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne has been quiet all during dinner,\u201d Justin reminded everyone.  <br \/><br \/>Ted looked over at the now on-guard Thorne .  \u201cWell he\u2019s not quiet now!\u201d<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/104510.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<\/a><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/104443.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/104118.html","pubDate":"Mon, 14 Jun 2010 05:18:06 GMT","title":"The Thorne Saga II, A Visit To Britin, Chapter 66 - Let's Eat, Part II","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/104118.html","description":"Title:                Thorne Saga II \u2013 A Visit To Bri-tin<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tFluffy Crackfic! Over The Top Characters<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/>This is a sequel to The Thorne Saga, Brian and Justin have formed a legal union and are sort-of-living in New York City more than a year after the events in episode 513.  For his birthday, Justin received a six week old Chinese Shar Pei puppy, named Thorne Silvestri Taylor-Kinney, as a present.  Now Thorne and his humans are on their way to Bri-tin.  I should warn you that this is obviously a parallel universe\u2026for there are still strange elements in the air, which seem to be causing the characters, to continue their over-the-top behaviors.  Brian, once again, wants to blame everything on Justin.  You\u2019ll have to judge for yourself.  I will be posting almost daily.<br \/>I hope you like this story.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended<br \/><br \/>Lois and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Thorne+Saga+II&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s Comments:   Sorry to be so late posting this chapter.  I want to thank Aschicca for he help with the Italian.  Here is your next installment of one chapter.  Enjoy!  <br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 66 \u2013 Let\u2019s Eat, Part II<br \/>(Day 6) At Debbie\u2019s<br \/><br \/><br \/><br \/>One by one, everyone passed into the kitchen to fix themselves a plate, which included pasta, Puttanesca, salad, and garlic bread.  Then, everyone began to find a space to settle down to eat at the very irregularly shaped table.  With this number of people, this seemed to be the best solution.  <br \/><br \/>As usual, Justin fixed a plate for Gus and Nicky and got them settled.  Justin smiled as he watched Thorne and Brian together\u2026stuck at a kitchen chair \u2026with Thorne very comfortable on Brian\u2019s feet.  Thorne did not seem inclined to budge as the family just moved around them.<br \/><br \/>Eventually, Brian managed to take Thorne out for a quick run in the backyard.   <br \/><br \/>As Brian and Thorne returned inside, they were greeted by Cristina.<br \/><br \/><i>\u201cVieni qui, Thorne\u2026\u201d <\/i> Cristina said as she crouched down to talk softly to Thorne. <br \/><i>(Translation: \u201cCome here, Thorne\u2026\u201d)<\/i>      <br \/><br \/>Thorne walked over and stood beside Cristina.  <br \/><br \/>This allowed Brian time to fix his plate and to finally take his place at the table.  <br \/><br \/>And then, surprisingly, Thorne decided to settle down at the table at a space between Cristina and Spyder.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cI didn\u2019t know that Thorne understood Italian,\u201d Blake said to Ted as they were taking their places at the table.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAt this point in Thorne\u2019s life, he\u2019s probably spent more time hearing Italian than English,\u201d Ted said with a laugh.  \u201cSo Thorne is probably bilingual\u2026\u201d he added as if it would be perfectly natural.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhich means that Thorne and Debbie should be able to understand each other,\u201d Maria added with a smile as she turned to Debbie and asked,  <i>\u201cCom \u00e8 il tuo italiano, Debbie?\u201d <br \/>(Translation: \u201cHow is your Italian, Debbie?\u201d)  <\/i>   <br \/><br \/><i>\u201cThorne sa parlare in italiano meglio di me,\u201d<\/i>  Debbie responded with a laugh. <i>(Translation: \u201cThorne probably speaks Italian better than I do.\u201d)<\/i> <br \/><br \/><i>\u201cMa, Thorne non lo sa parlare.\u201d<\/i>  Spyder said, \u201cAlthough he thinks he can.\u201d  <i>(Translation: \u201cBut, Thorne can\u2019t speak Italian.\u201d)<\/i> <br \/><br \/>During this whole exchange, Justin was translating softly for Gus and Nicky, who couldn\u2019t stop laughing.  They also managed to remove slices of garlic bread from Justin\u2019s plate while he wasn\u2019t looking.<br \/><br \/>\u201cTed, do you know what\u2019s going on?\u201d Blake asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou know that my Italian sucks,\u201d Ted said, \u201cBut from what Justin is telling Gus and Nicky, it has something to do with Thorne speaking Italian.  And if that happens, I\u2019m out of here!\u201d  Ted was thinking that things with Thorne were already weird enough.  A talking Thorne\u2026one who channeled Brian\u2026either in English or Italian\u2026would be too much to bear.<br \/><br \/>***<br \/><br \/>Trace and Calvin had decided to sit near Molly and Hunter.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay, we arrived late, but you two always know everything,\u201d Calvin began, \u201cSo, we\u2019re going to sit down here with you.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt\u2019s always the perfect vantage point,\u201d Trace added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou\u2019re in for a treat,\u201d Molly whispered.  \u201cYou only missed the introductions.  So, here\u2019s a quick rundown,\u201d she said with glee.  \u201cKatie is Jason\u2019s Mom, and Fran is Paul\u2019s Mom.\u201d  She nodded in the direction of these two women. \u201cThere is a big mystery because Debbie and Mom disappeared yesterday with Fran and Katie for a Girl\u2019s Night Out, and no one\u2019s been able to get any details.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Carl should start his interrogation at any moment during dinner when they least expect it,\u201d Hunter added for dramatic effect.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI think I get the picture,\u201d Calvin said with a smile. \u201cAnd just think, we were going away for a quiet romantic trip.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI told you it wouldn\u2019t compare with the intrigue of a family dinner,\u201d Trace added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThe guy rattling off in Italian is Spyder.  He somehow got mixed up with Brian and Justin,\u201d Hunter said.<br \/><br \/>Spyder heard this remark and smiled.  \u201cActually, Taylor and I work on stuff together\u2026whenever he manages to stay in New York long enough that is.  But now that I\u2019ve met everyone, I\u2019m beginning to better understand why he\u2019s gone so much.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Spyder worked on the script for Thorne\u2019s commercials,\u201d Molly added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cEmmett told us that Thorne was going to be in a commercial,\u201d Trace pointed out.  \u201cHow did it go, Brian?\u201d he called down toward the other end of the table.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI can\u2019t believe that someone is actually asking for my opinion about something,\u201d Brian sulked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cIs there a better source?\u201d Calvin innocently asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThe commercial was shot at the mansion,\u201d Lindsay volunteered without giving Brian any further chance to say anything. \u201cAnd Gus and Nicky were in it too,\u201d she added.<br \/><br \/>At which point, Brian simply threw up his hands.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s sure news,\u201d Calvin laughed.  \u201cHow did you two arrange that?\u201d he targeted his question directly at the now laughing Gus and Nicky.<br \/><br \/>Paul decided this was his cue to explain.  \u201cIt was obvious that Thorne was going to be one of those temperamental stars\u2026you know the kind\u2026they have to have script approval\u2026they have to have cast approval.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Everyone started to laugh as they each generated their own images of a demanding and difficult Thorne, standing toe-to-toe with some director, when he can barely stand on all fours, demanding actors and a script of his choosing.  Oh yeah, this was all Thorne\u2019s doing!<br \/><br \/>\u201cWait a minute,\u201d Maria felt the need to step in.  \u201cMy mother simply asked Brian for a commercial with Thorne wearing our sunglasses,\u201d she said in Thorne\u2019s defense.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cCalvin\u2026Trace\u2026\u201d Lindsay continued.  \u201cMaria and Cristina\u2019s family makes those fabulous Belluss Occhiali Sunglasses.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Thorne has been wearing them because of his blue eyes\u2026which you haven\u2019t had a chance to notice yet,\u201d Cristina added.  \u201cBut, they\u2019re very sensitive to light.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne is a very fortunate puppy, indeed, to wear designer sunglasses,\u201d Emmett volunteered, hoping that everyone else would see the humor in it all.<br \/><br \/>\u201cGus and Nicky have their very own designer sunglasses now too\u2026.\u201d Lindsay added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSpyder and Valerie wrote the script\u2026\u201d Ted added again. <br \/><br \/>\u201cSo, Thorne is a fucking star now\u2026along with my babies?\u201d Debbie repeated as she looked lovingly over at Gus and Nicky.<br \/><br \/>Gus and Nicky each threw a kiss back at Debbie.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd we missed all this?\u201d Calvin said, looking over at Molly for confirmation.  <br \/><br \/>Molly felt a simple nod and smirk was all that was necessary.<br \/><br \/>\u201cPaul and I were in the commercial too,\u201d Jason pointed out.  \u201cIt was fun\u2026.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd we\u2019ve already announced our retirement from acting,\u201d Paul confirmed, again, looking at his partner.<br \/><br \/>Gus and Nicky looked at each other and snickered.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDamn! Brian, we need to come work for you,\u201d Calvin professed.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWorking with Brian isn\u2019t all it\u2019s cracked up to be,\u201d Drew chimed in, \u201cBelieve me, I know from first-hand experience.  Brian will have you stripped down to your civvies with the cameras rolling,\u201d he added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cFor which, you were paid were fucking fortune,\u201d Brian cut in.<br \/><br \/>\u201cLet\u2019s not get bogged down in those little details,\u201d Drew continued with a wicked smile as he took another bite of his Puttanesca.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWill you all fucking watch your mouths?\u201d Debbie interrupted.  \u201cMy little darlings are here.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Once again, Gus and Nicky looked at Brian and Justin and snickered, and Jenny started to clap.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWait a minute,\u201d Michael interrupted.  \u201cWhat have you done to my daughter?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Melanie let out a deep sigh before she began.  \u201cYour best-friend and his entourage have completely captivated our daughter.  She and Thorne are now buddies.  You know what that could mean?\u201d she asked, and then let the question hang in the air, so as not to give little minds\u2026any ideas.  She then waited for Michael\u2019s reaction as the possibilities sank in.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI don\u2019t want to think about it\u2026\u201d Michael said, shaking his head.  He then lowered his head into his hands.  He was beginning to understand why Brian used to get headaches at family dinners.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAre you all right?\u201d  Ben gently asked.  Michael could only nod.     <br \/><br \/>\u201cOh, and by the way,\u201d Melanie decided to continue, not wanting to miss an opportunity to torture Michael even further, \u201cOur daughter has inherited the Novotny Hugging Gene\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat!\u201d Michael asked with some confusion.<br \/>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <br \/>\u201cAnd she\u2019s really good at using it too,\u201d Hunter chimed in from the far end of the table.  \u201cLindsay and Melanie already had to rescue me.   Now, we all have to keep an eye on both Jenny and Debbie.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNow, what\u2019s that supposed to mean?\u201d Debbie asked with her hands on her hips.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDebbie, I\u2019m not sure you want to know,\u201d Ben said quietly.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThe only one who Jenny is gentle with\u2026seems to be Thorne,\u201d Melanie added.  \u201cGo figure!\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt\u2019s because she and Thorne are close to the same size.  It\u2019s like Gus and Nicky,\u201d Emmett added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo Brian, don\u2019t you think it\u2019s interesting that Justin\u2019s puppy has blond hair and blue eyes like Justin?\u201d Trace asked.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cBut Brian, the wrinkles\u2026.\u201d Calvin added sarcastically.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat is the problem with you Americans?\u201d Cristina complained.  \u201cCan\u2019t you all see how cute Thorne is?  He\u2019ll grow out of his wrinkles as he gets bigger.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Thorne\u2019s going to be really big,\u201d Molly added, \u201cSo, you have to make friends with him while he\u2019s still a puppy.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhich is precisely why Thorne is here for dinner tonight\u2026\u201d Debbie reminded everyone. <br \/><br \/>\u201cFortunately, Thorne is smart enough to not pay any attention to any of you,\u201d Brian said, \u201cWe still have to work on this Cristina-thing that he has\u2026\u201d he added in a whisper.<br \/><br \/>Cristina was about to fire back\u2026but a look from Spyder made her reconsider.<br \/><br \/>\u201cPaul and Jason have been filling us in on the rules that Thorne has laid down for your household,\u201d Lindsay said smiling.<br \/><br \/>\u201cLindsay, your dinner is getting cold\u2026\u201d Brian pointed out with a glare.<br \/><br \/>Jennifer found the conversation a little too amusing for Brian\u2019s comfort.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMother Taylor, this is all your doing,\u201d Brian complained.<br \/><br \/>When Jennifer looked at Brian with a look of innocence\u2026a look that Brian had seen many times on Justin\u2019s face\u2026and he just lost it.  \u201cMother Taylor, didn\u2019t you tell me, I had to carry Thorne around in his carrier because he was unstable on all four paws?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIn his Armani carrier\u2026why yes\u2026and it appears you\u2019ve done a good job.  Look at how you\u2019ve bonded with Thorne,\u201d Jennifer said in that motherly <i>aw shucks <\/i> tone.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd\u2026he\u2019s just a baby, Dad,\u201d Gus chimed in, supporting Jennifer.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhich is obviously why he sleeps with you and Nicky too,\u201d Brian decided to point out, looking down with a loving glare at his son and godson.<br \/><br \/>Nicky and Gus simply nodded, causing Brian to reconsider whatever point he was planning to make.<br \/><br \/>\u201cIf I didn\u2019t know better, I\u2019d think that Cristina picked out Thorne because she knew that he was going to be a little trouble-maker,\u201d Brian said, sending a glare in Cristina\u2019s direction.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBrian, you have no idea how carefully Cristina studied the puppies in the litter.  She wanted to be sure she picked out the perfect one for Justin.  She spent weeks watching them and playing with them.  Her artist eye saw everything,\u201d Maria wanted to add.  \u201cShe made a good choice.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou see, Cristina flew all the way from Italy with Thorne,\u201d Emmett explained to everyone else at the table, \u201cThorne was a surprise for Justin at his birthday party last week.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Everyone simply shook their head acknowledging this fact.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Thorne had to make a grand entrance...\u201d Spyder said laughing.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWorthy of a drama queen,\u201d Emmett added, \u201cIt sort of brought everything to a halt during the party.  Thorne became the center of attention.  And Brian has had to deal with wrinkles ever since.\u201d  For some reason he derived a great deal of pleasure, relating his portion of the story.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Gus and Nicky and Thorne have been inseparable,\u201d Justin added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cJustin even moved his birthday celebration into the suite so Gus and Nicky could be in their pajamas and still watch the presents being opened.  And Thorne could also watch everything,\u201d Maria revealed.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo, it was a birthday party that almost turned into a slumber party,\u201d Cristina added. <br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s quite a story,\u201d Ben said.  \u201cI had a wonderful birthday party here with all the family last week too\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBen and Justin have the same birthday,\u201d Hunter wanted to explain to those who didn\u2019t know.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut next year, Brian, Sunshine will bring his little bubble butt back here, where he belongs, for his birthday celebration, is that clear?\u201d Debbie said, shaking her finger at Brian, as if everything was his fault.  Then she paused.  \u201cAnd his friends,\u201d she said looking at Spyder, Cristina, and Maria.  \u201cAnd his family,\u201d looking at Katie and Fran, \u201cWill just have to come here to celebrate with us?\u201d  <br \/><br \/>Everyone simply smiled back at Debbie\u2026knowing it would be better not to argue.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou hear that, Sunshine!  Next year, don\u2019t ask for a quiet romantic dinner on your birthday,\u201d Brian said sarcastically.  \u201cWe have to get our romance in now\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>Justin was already laughing so hard he couldn\u2019t form a remark.<br \/><br \/>Brian then leaned across to reach Justin, squishing Gus and Nicky between them.  Brian and Justin started kissing each other\u2026immediately drawing comments from everyone.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOh God, they\u2019ve started,\u201d Debbie complained before she started laughing.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMom, can\u2019t you make them stop?\u201d Michael whined.  \u201cI\u2019m trying to eat here.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd there are innocent kids trapped between them,\u201d Melanie complained. <br \/><br \/>\u201cGus and Nicky will be scarred for life,\u201d Lindsay added.<br \/><br \/>Paul leaned back in his chair to watch the antics of the people at the table. \u201cYou two have got to be kidding,\u201d Paul chimed in.  \u201cLook at them.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>\u201cGus and Nicky have never been happier,\u201d Jason added. \u201cThey are sooooo used to this\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>Fran, once again, looked over at Katie and whispered, \u201cCraziness\u2026just like I told you.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd this goes on all the time?\u201d Katie asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou\u2019ve seen for yourself\u2026\u201d Fran reminded her.<br \/><br \/>Ted looked over at Spyder, Cristina, and Maria, who were all laughing along with the rest of the family.   They were obviously quite used to Brian and Justin\u2026just like everyone else.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat sure worked up an appetite,\u201d Brian said, when he and Justin broke apart.  <br \/><br \/>He and Justin went back to innocently eating as if nothing had happened\u2026except Justin noticed, at this point, that he had a lot less garlic bread on his plate than he previously remembered. <br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/104443.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<\/a> <br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/104118.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/103813.html","pubDate":"Mon, 07 Jun 2010 18:34:39 GMT","title":"The Thorne Saga II, A Visit To Britin, Chapter 65 - Let's Eat, Part I","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/103813.html","description":"Title:                Thorne Saga II \u2013 A Visit To Bri-tin<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tFluffy Crackfic! Over The Top Characters<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/>This is a sequel to The Thorne Saga, Brian and Justin have formed a legal union and are sort-of-living in New York City more than a year after the events in episode 513.  For his birthday, Justin received a six week old Chinese Shar Pei puppy, named Thorne Silvestri Taylor-Kinney, as a present.  Now Thorne and his humans are on their way to Bri-tin.  I should warn you that this is obviously a parallel universe\u2026for there are still strange elements in the air, which seem to be causing the characters, to continue their over-the-top behaviors.  Brian, once again, wants to blame everything on Justin.  You\u2019ll have to judge for yourself.  I will be posting almost daily.<br \/>I hope you like this story.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended<br \/><br \/>Lois and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Thorne+Saga+II&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s Comments:  I just wanted to let you know that the next chapter won\u2019t be posted until the weekend.  Here is your next installment of one chapter.   Enjoy!<br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 65 \u2013 Let\u2019s Eat, Part I<br \/>(Day 6)  Various Locations At Debbie\u2019s<br \/><br \/><br \/>Justin, Spyder, and Cristina had managed to take Thorne for a romp in Debbie\u2019s back yard.  Thorne was content.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI love your family,\u201d Cristina said to Justin as they were walking back towards the front of the house, \u201cEspecially\u2026Debbie.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cEven if she did disappear before we had a chance to test out her Italian,\u201d Spyder said with a laugh. <br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t worry.  The evening is still young.  She\u2019ll be waiting for us when we get back,\u201d Justin assured them.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThe rest of your family is interesting too,\u201d Spyder added.  \u201cIt must have been great having them all around you as you were growing up.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMom and Molly\u2026yes,\u201d Justin clarified, \u201cThe rest of them, only since I was seventeen.  But we\u2019re a family never-the-less.  I can\u2019t imagine my life without any of them.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe should get back inside,\u201d Cristina suggested as she reached down to pet Thorne.  \u201cHe must be really hungry by now.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAs long as Thorne has attention\u2026he\u2019ll willingly wait for food,\u201d Spyder pointed out.  \u201cSo far, he hasn\u2019t complained once.  He\u2019s even tried to get along with Ted.\u201d <br \/><br \/>Spyder reached over to scratch behind Thorne\u2019s ear.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne and Ted will find their stride\u2026unfortunately, it will probably be more like Brian and Ted,\u201d Justin said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt just goes to show you that Brian can\u2019t get along with anybody,\u201d Cristina couldn\u2019t resist commenting as she as picked up Thorne and rubbed noses with him.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI knew you couldn\u2019t resist making comments like that.  Here we\u2019re with Brian\u2019s family\u2026about to eat the Puttanesca that you love\u2026and you can\u2019t behave yourself\u2026can you?   That is precisely why Taylor and I thought you should come with us to walk Thorne,\u201d Spyder said with a smile.<br \/><br \/>Cristina stuck her tongue out at Spyder.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhy do I even bother?\u201d Spyder asked.  Then he thought about it for a moment.  \u201cBecause we\u2019re in small town America\u2026my least favorite place in the world\u2026and like Brian\u2026I\u2019m edgy.  So, think about that\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAll right\u2026I\u2019ll try to stay out of trouble,\u201d Cristina said reluctantly...even if no one believed her ability to make it stick.  \u201cThen, someone has to do something about Brian.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Spyder looked over helplessly at Justin.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay\u2026okay\u2026with all the people here\u2026I can assure you\u2026Brian will be too busy to engage in his usual war games with you,\u201d Justin said as he started to bite his lower lip.  He hoped what he just said was true, for Brian could be so unpredictable.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell then\u2026that\u2019s all settled,\u201d Spyder said, hoping for the best.  \u201cLet\u2019s go get Thorne fed.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019ll stop by the car and pick up the food and the spoons before we go inside,\u201d Justin said.  He started to fish out the keys for the SUV.    <br \/><br \/>They all stopped at the SUV to pick up the bag containing Thorne\u2019s food and the necessary spoons.<br \/><br \/>Cristina handed Thorne to Spyder as they returned inside Debbie\u2019s living room.  Thorne didn\u2019t complain about the change in handlers one bit.  Why should he?  He was very used to being held in Spyder\u2019s arms.<br \/><br \/>Cristina went over to the pallet on the living room and started talking to Gus and Nicky.  Molly and Jenny were carefully listening too.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cIt\u2019s time to feed Thorne,\u201d Cristina said easily. \u201cJustin will meet us in the kitchen with the gourmet puppy food and the spoons,\u201d she explained as she held out her hands.<br \/><br \/>Gus and Nicky eagerly took her hands to help themselves stand up.  <br \/><br \/>Jenny wanted to go too.  Melanie and Lindsay tried to coax her to come to them.  Obviously, this was never going to work.  Instead, Jenny climbed into Molly\u2019s arms.  Molly began talking quietly to her.  <br \/><br \/>Jenny was definitely preferred listening to Molly and ignoring her mothers.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t worry,\u201d Molly said to Lindsay and Melanie, \u201cShe\u2019ll be okay.  She\u2019ll be far enough away so she won\u2019t bother Thorne.  She\u2019ll just watch.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd I\u2019ll go along to help,\u201d Jason said.  \u201cFortunately, Paul\u2019s busy setting up.  He\u2019s the one who becomes a drama queen whenever he watches the kids feed Thorne.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cEveryone forgets how good Gus and Nicky are at their job,\u201d Ted pointed out.  He looked over at Thorne nestled in Spyder arms.  \u201cJust look how Thorne has thrived this last week.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMeaning, he\u2019s totally spoiled,\u201d Melanie confirmed.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat about says it all,\u201d Maria agreed.<br \/><br \/>***<br \/><i>And In the Kitchen\u2026<\/i><br \/><br \/>Debbie looked up and sighed as she noticed a new collection of people were approaching her kitchen. <br \/><br \/>Spyder arrived first and gently lowered Thorne to the floor.  <br \/><br \/>Thorne immediately scampered over to Debbie and rubbed against her leg.    He patiently waited for her attention. <br \/><br \/>Debbie reached down and rubbed Thorne\u2019s tummy.  Thorne began to feel all warm inside until his tummy started to rumble.  That rumble was just loud enough to be heard.<br \/><br \/>\u201cListen to that!  It\u2019s really time for Thorne to eat,\u201d Spyder said with a laugh.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd, just like Justin, his tummy makes sure we all know,\u201d Jennifer said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, let me wash my hands and I\u2019ll get you get you a bowl,\u201d Debbie suggested. <br \/><br \/>\u201cDeb, a bowl will be unnecessary,\u201d Jason was quick to point out, as caught up with everyone in the kitchen.  He was just a few paces behind Molly, Jenny, Cristina, Gus, and Nicky.  <br \/><br \/>Jason then motioned toward Gus and Nicky.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cBefore you, stand the best hand-feeders in the world.  In fact\u2026they\u2019re the only ones that Thorne has ever known,\u201d Jason added with a laugh.  \u201cJust give them a little room, and you\u2019ll see the mini-masters at work.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWait until you see this\u2026\u201d Fran couldn\u2019t resist saying.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI have to agree,\u201d Katie added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThey\u2019re really quite good,\u201d Jennifer added.<br \/><br \/>Justin handed the spoons to Gus and Nicky.   <br \/><br \/>Thorne knew what was about to happen.  He was ready.  And, for him, the rest of the room receded and the other people in the room disappeared.<br \/><br \/>Justin opened the can of gourmet puppy food and handed it to Gus and Nicky.  They dipped their spoons into the can and held the spoons of puppy food out to Thorne.  Thorne as usual, moved from spoon to spoon enjoying his long overdue meal.  As any spoon was empty\u2026Gus or Nicky quickly refilled it until the can of gourmet puppy had disappeared inside the tummy of one wrinkled little puppy.<br \/><br \/>When Thorne was full, Cristina reached for some water.  <br \/><br \/>Once again, Spyder poured water into the palm of her hand, and Thorne drank from her hands.  <br \/><br \/>Finally, from sheer contentment, Thorne dropped down on his full tummy in the middle of the kitchen floor.  Thorne then looked around.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat\u2019s he looking for?\u201d Debbie asked.<br \/><br \/>Justin shook his head and simply called out, \u201cBrian, can you come here?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian casually entered the kitchen.  \u201cWhat is it, Sunshine?\u201d was all he got a chance to ask\u2026because Thorne walked over and dropped down on top of Brian\u2019s feet.   <br \/><br \/>Thorne made himself particularly comfortable, causing everyone else in the room to laugh.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNow how am I supposed to move?\u201d Brian asked, looking down at Thorne.<br \/><br \/>Thorne seemed to pay no attention to his question.<br \/><br \/>At that moment the door bell rang.  <br \/><br \/>Since, Lindsay and Melanie were still in the living room, they answered the door.   <br \/><br \/>Brian simply lowered himself into one of the available kitchen chairs.  <br \/><br \/>Justin couldn\u2019t avoid a smile as he looked at Thorne and Brian together.<br \/><br \/>But, Brian wasn\u2019t finished complaining.  \u201cIt\u2019s a good thing that I was finished supervising,\u201d he wanted to make sure that everyone heard.  \u201cAt least everything is all set up for dinner.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI better go check on that,\u201d Debbie said, \u201cAnd, I\u2019ll go to see who just arrived.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIsn\u2019t everyone is all accounted for except for Michael and Ben?\u201d  Emmett asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWith this family you\u2019ll never know who may actually show up,\u201d Debbie said.  <br \/><br \/>At that moment, Michael and Ben made their way into the kitchen.  <br \/><br \/>Michael took one look at the mass on wrinkles on Brian\u2019s feet and rolled his eyes.  But, he made no attempt to approach.  He gave the puppy and his best friend a wide berth.  He simply waved to his best friend.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMichael!\u201d Debbie said, reaching out to give her son a hug.<br \/><br \/>\u201cShush, Mom\u2026\u201d Michael said, bringing his finger up to his lips.  \u201cWe have to be quiet.  Thorne doesn\u2019t like loud noises.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cHow very Zen-like\u2026\u201d Ben said with a smile as he leaned down to kiss Debbie on her cheek.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd what do you know about Thorne\u2019s likes and dislikes?\u201d Debbie asked Michael with her hands on her hips.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne and I are acquainted,\u201d Michael said with a smug expression, \u201cAren\u2019t we Thorne?\u201d he asked from safe distance.<br \/><br \/>Thorne stared in Michael\u2019s direction without moving.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI had no idea,\u201d Ben said with a smile as he looked over at Brian.<br \/><br \/>Introductions of Fran and Katie, along with Cristina and Spyder, were made to Michael and Ben.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cWell Jason, I see you\u2019re here too,\u201d Michael said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd, since my Mom is here, you have to be nice to me,\u201d Jason said as he hugged Katie. <br \/><br \/>\u201cNot much chance of that happening,\u201d Michael replied with a grunt.  Then Michael saw Jenny and tried to reach out to her.  \u201cHow\u2019s my little Honeybun?\u201d he asked, causing the little girl to giggle.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cLeave Jenny alone,\u201d Jason couldn\u2019t resist. \u201cCan\u2019t you see she\u2019s busy watching Thorne?\u201d<br \/><br \/>A few minutes later, Debbie whispered something to Gus and Nicky.  They disappeared into the living room to make the announcement that dinner was ready.<br \/><br \/>Debbie issued the same announcement to those in the kitchen.  <br \/><br \/>From all directions everyone started to move\u2026first either upstairs or into the kitchen to wash their hands\u2026.then to take a look at the much expanded, very irregularly-shaped dining table.<br \/><br \/>\u201cFix a plate and grab a seat,\u201d Debbie instructed.  \u201cI think that will be the easiest way.\u201d<br \/><br \/>People began to gather and fix their plates.  As this process was underway, the door bell rang again.  <br \/><br \/>This time, Carl was closest to the door, so he answered it.  <br \/><br \/>Standing before him were two very harried people\u2026Calvin and Trace.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cIt took us a while to decide about dinner,\u201d Trace said.  \u201cCalvin had some stupid idea about taking a romantic trip,\u201d he said, smiling over at his partner.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cOnce Trace heard about dinner.  And, Em told me about Brian and Justin being in town.  And then we talked to Blake\u2026\u201d Calvin added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhere would we be without the family grapevine?\u201d Brian mumbled.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe decided that romance could wait,\u201d Trace said with a sheepish look over at Calvin, \u201cThat is if we\u2019re still invited to dinner.  You know how much I love Puttanesca?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, come on it,\u201d Carl said laughing.  \u201cHunter, grab a couple more chairs from upstairs.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cLet me give you a hand, Hunter,\u201d Calvin offered as they went to get additional chairs.<br \/><br \/>\u201cRomance can wait?\u201d Brian said, \u201cThese two are a disgrace to queens everywhere!  Have you ever heard such nonsense, Thorne?\u201d  <br \/><br \/>This little discussion between Brian and Thorne was observed by everyone as two additional places were set at the table.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Brian, I see that you found someone to actually fall at your feet,\u201d Trace said with a satisfied laugh.  \u201cEven if he has wrinkles\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt\u2019s a Chinese Shar Pei,\u201d Molly was quick to point out.  \u201cHe\u2019s only a few weeks old, and he\u2019s supposed to have wrinkles.  His name is Thorne.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis is Justin\u2019s puppy, and for some reason, that I can\u2019t figure out, he enjoys pinning me down,\u201d Brian said.<br \/><br \/>At that point Calvin and Hunter returned with the additional chairs.<br \/><br \/>Calvin couldn\u2019t resist making a comment.  \u201cIt\u2019s only been a week.  I can\u2019t believe that Justin\u2019s got the puppy trained so quickly.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou don\u2019t really think Brian\u2019s lost control of things, do you?\u201d Trace innocently asked Blake, as most people started moving toward the table.<br \/><br \/>Justin, Gus, and Nicky couldn\u2019t stop laughing at the expression on Brian\u2019s face.<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/104118.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<\/a><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/103813.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/103559.html","pubDate":"Thu, 03 Jun 2010 22:49:33 GMT","title":"The Thorne Saga II, A Visit To Britin, Chapter 64 - Refreshments Anyone?","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/103559.html","description":"Title:                Thorne Saga II \u2013 A Visit To Bri-tin<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tFluffy Crackfic! Over The Top Characters<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/>This is a sequel to The Thorne Saga, Brian and Justin have formed a legal union and are sort-of-living in New York City more than a year after the events in episode 513.  For his birthday, Justin received a six week old Chinese Shar Pei puppy, named Thorne Silvestri Taylor-Kinney, as a present.  Now Thorne and his humans are on their way to Bri-tin.  I should warn you that this is obviously a parallel universe\u2026for there are still strange elements in the air, which seem to be causing the characters, to continue their over-the-top behaviors.  Brian, once again, wants to blame everything on Justin.  You\u2019ll have to judge for yourself.  I will be posting almost daily.<br \/>I hope you like this story.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended<br \/><br \/>Lois and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Thorne+Saga+II&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/><br \/><br \/>Chapter 64 \u2013 Refreshments Anyone?<br \/>(Day 6)  Debbie\u2019s House<br \/><br \/><br \/>Molly and Hunter came into the living room bringing assorted sodas, water, and beer for everyone.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cSo, they booted you out of the kitchen too?\u201d Drew asked with a laugh.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNot exactly,\u201d Hunter tried to say with some dignity.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cPretty much,\u201d Molly corrected.  \u201cI haven\u2019t figured out what The Moms could have left to say to each other.  They\u2019ve been together almost the entire time.  But they still made it clear that Hunter and I were in the way in the kitchen.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI understand your confusion, Molly,\u201d Paul answered.  \u201cMy mother and Katie talk all the time when we\u2019re at home.  They frequently send us out of the room there too.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cUnfortunately, it doesn\u2019t seem to keep either Mom or Fran out of trouble,\u201d Jason volunteered, \u201cAs you can see.\u201d  He then looked at Paul for confirmation.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut Nicky\u2019s kidnapping is something new,\u201d Paul wanted to add even if no one paid any attention.  \u201cI just hope Mom isn\u2019t starting something new\u2026\u201d he added.<br \/><br \/>Hunter decided to once again seize the conversation.  \u201cSo, we wanted to deliver refreshments and to round up volunteers to set up tables.  There is going to be a full house.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cJust the way you like it,\u201d Ted couldn\u2019t resist teasing.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019ll like things better once dinner begins,\u201d Hunter fired back.  \u201cMichael and Ben should be here any minute\u2026they called and said they\u2019re on their way.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian noticed that Gus, Nicky, and Jenny were intensely watching as Spyder and Cristina were giving Thorne water.  Spyder was pouring the water into Cristina\u2019s cupped hands, much as he\u2019d done out at the mansion, and Thorne was happily lapping it up.  They were more careful not to spill anything on the floor at Debbie\u2019s.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cBrian, someone needs to take Thorne out for a run,\u201d Spyder suggested.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd he needs to be fed too,\u201d Cristina added. \u201cHe\u2019s had a really hard day.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cOf course, you\u2019re worried about Thorne.  Have you considered the hard day that I\u2019ve had?\u201d Brian asked, reaching in his pocket for the keys.  He was always hoping for sympathy, but as always to no avail.<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt never crossed my mind,\u201d Cristina replied.<br \/><br \/>Melanie looked at Maria during this exchange and laughed.  \u201cI think I see what you mean,\u201d Melanie said.<br \/><br \/>Brian glared at Cristina as he handed the keys and the leash to Justin.   <br \/><br \/>Thorne immediately recognized the leash as his clarion call and scampered over toward Brian and Justin.<br \/><br \/>\u201cHere, you take him,\u201d Brian said.  \u201cI\u2019m going to help set up.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIf you want, Cristina and I will go with you,\u201d Spyder volunteered, \u201cMaybe help with Thorne.\u201d <br \/><br \/>Justin accepted Spyder\u2019s offer with a smile, for he realized that if Cristina was with him, then she and Brian couldn\u2019t get into any more clashes when he wasn\u2019t there to referee.  And Spyder would be a big help with Thorne, who would take any opportunity to be a handful.<br \/><br \/>Thorne was unaware of all these thoughts as he was ultimately led outside for a romp with some of his favorite people.<br \/><br \/>Hunter smiled a very satisfied smile as this little group was leaving, for Brian would be left unguarded.  <br \/><br \/>So, Hunter seized the moment to move over to sit down next to his hero.  \u201cI see you finally decided to come to your senses and dish the bleached blond\u2026\u201d Hunter said as he rested his head on Brian\u2019s shoulder.<br \/><br \/>\u201cIn your dreams, kid,\u201d Brian mumbled, trying to gently pluck at the intruding head on his shoulder.<br \/><br \/>Molly quickly rose to Brian\u2019s defense.  \u201cAnd Hunter, didn\u2019t you notice that Brian now has two very demanding blondes in his life?  You did take a close look at Thorne didn\u2019t you?  Did you see the blue eyes, the blond coloring?  Don\u2019t let the wrinkles fool you\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut both of them are gone\u2026leaving Brian totally defenseless,\u201d Hunter quipped with his usual attitude and a wicked grin.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI wouldn\u2019t say defenseless\u2026\u201d Molly now stood directly over Hunter and gave him the evil eye.  \u201cAnd, didn\u2019t you say something about setting up tables?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Hunter couldn\u2019t take the pressure.  He decided his most prudent move was to turn aside.<br \/><br \/>Brian stood up and gave Molly an unexpected kiss on the cheek as he passed by.<br \/><br \/>Molly now beamed as she glared at Hunter\u2026without any further words being spoken.<br \/><br \/>Paul and Jason looked at each other and smiled knowingly, for it was well known that Molly was Brian\u2019s protector.  And she was not about to let Hunter intrude on her territory.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo, while I have a moment,\u201d Brian said with a wicked grin as he looked down at Hunter. \u201cLet me see if I can supervise this table set up.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSupervise?  Your <i>help<\/i> is all that\u2019s required,\u201d Hunter tried to make absolutely clear.  \u201cI said nothing about supervising.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cHunter, you should have known better than to ask Brian to simply <i>help<\/i> at anything,\u201d Melanie chimed in.   \u201cI\u2019m not sure he even knows the meaning of the word.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAre you saying that he has to be in charge\u2026\u201d Maria innocently asked. \u201cJust like Cristina?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat just about sums it up,\u201d Ted confirmed quickly.<br \/><br \/>\u201cTheodore, how did you get in this conversation,\u201d Brian challenged.<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt was an open discussion, and you\u2019ve often said, I need to speak up more,\u201d Ted said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cGood for you, Ted,\u201d Blake said, wanting to be a supportive partner.  Then he quickly realized that it was time to change the topic of conversation before Brian had a chance to come back with some clever retort.  \u201cSo, how was the shoot for the commercial?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYes, tell us about the commercial,\u201d Lindsay asked. <br \/><br \/>\u201cGus and Nicky and Thorne are naturals when they play together before the cameras,\u201d Paul said quickly.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThey looked pretty much the same way they do when they play together without the cameras,\u201d Jason confirmed laughing, \u201cBut they did take direction very well.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo, did you bring a rough cut of the commercial with you?\u201d Lindsay asked.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThere was so much footage shot both inside and outside\u2026they didn\u2019t even have time to do a rough edit.  But don\u2019t worry, Tam and his crew will edit everything.  They should have the edited version available by sometime next week,\u201d Ted volunteered.<br \/><br \/>\u201cA lot of cameras were at the mansion,\u201d Molly said as she sat down next to Blake, \u201cI was hoping there would have been some little walk-on role for me.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMaybe next time, Molly,\u201d Maria said with a laugh, \u201cI saw the shots of you and Cristina that Spyder took at the studio.  I\u2019m going to remember both of you when we consider future commercials.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cReally?\u201d  Molly asked hopefully as she looked up at Brian.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAbsolutely!\u201d  Maria confirmed.<br \/><br \/>Brian just shook his head at the prospect that Rudolpho Silvestri would think up new commercial ideas before going off to some meeting in Switzerland\u2026and now Molly and Cristina might be at the center of these new schemes.  <br \/><br \/>Brian could feel a headache coming on just thinking about it.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWait a minute,\u201d Lindsay said, trying to bring about a pause in the conversation.  \u201cWhat is this about shooting out at the mansion?  I would have asked to tag along if I\u2019d known that.\u201d  There was a touch of sadness now in her voice.  \u201cI thought you were shooting at some studio.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNo, we shot at the house,\u201d Brian said simply without further explanation.<br \/><br \/>\u201cShooting at the house was Justin\u2019s idea,\u201d Jason said.  \u201cHe thought that Thorne and kids would be happiest there.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWho wouldn\u2019t be happy at <i>that<\/i> house?\u201d Melanie added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt was a last minute change of venue,\u201d Paul said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Gus, Nicky, and Thorne looked adorable in their Italian designer sunglasses,\u201d Jason added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat designer sunglasses?\u201d Lindsay again asked with renewed interest.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMy family makes Belluss Occhiali Sunglasses,\u201d Maria said modestly. <br \/><br \/>\u201cThose expensive Italian sunglasses\u2026the ones in all the fashion magazines?\u201d Lindsay asked.<br \/><br \/>Maria simply nodded.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSomehow, I knew you\u2019d know all about anything expensive and in fashion,\u201d Melanie said with a laugh.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMy mother wanted Brian to make a commercial with Thorne wearing our sunglasses,\u201d she added with a laugh.  \u201cThorne has always worn a pair from our children\u2019s line\u2026because his blue eyes are really sensitive to light.  I picked out pairs for Gus and Nicky too.  They wore them in the commercial,\u201d she explained.  \u201cThis is going to be great for our sales campaign.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe like them,\u201d Gus volunteered as he joined in the conversation.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Gus and Nicky looked very cute in them too,\u201d Molly added.  \u201cAlmost as cute as Thorne\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>Everyone envisioned the image and had to smile.<br \/><br \/>\u201cPaul and Jason were in the commercial too,\u201d Ted volunteered.  \u201cBut they didn\u2019t have sunglasses,\u201d he felt he should add.  \u201cHowever, Valerie and Spyder had to write lines just for them to say.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Jason and I are retiring from acting after only one commercial,\u201d Paul said, glaring at this partner\u2026just to be sure there was no misunderstanding.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay, let\u2019s go get the tables set up,\u201d Brian insisted.<br \/><br \/>At this point, Carl, Brian, Jason, Paul, Blake, Drew, and Hunter headed upstairs to gather the other additional tables and chairs needed to set up for dinner.<br \/><br \/>Lindsay and Melanie took Jenny upstairs to change her.  <br \/><br \/>Molly now scooted down on the floor to keep Gus and Nicky\u2019s company while they waited for Jenny and Thorne\u2019s return.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cYou still have to feed Thorne,\u201d Molly reminded the kids.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMaybe they\u2019re going to give Brian and Justin their first lesson,\u201d Emmett said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSomehow, I can\u2019t picture them feeding Thorne,\u201d Molly said, \u201cIt\u2019s always been Gus and Nicky doing it.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYeah, but Brian used to give Thorne his bottle when he was carrying him around,\u201d Emmett reflected on the time a week ago when he witnessed it all.  \u201cThorne was all helpless\u2026Brian had to carry Thorne in an Armani carrier across his chest because Thorne was a little unstable on his own paws.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat seems like so long ago,\u201d Maria said wistfully.  \u201cWhen Thorne was this ordinary, helpless little puppy.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou mean before Brian and Justin turned him into this demanding little tyrant in need of constant attention?\u201d Jason asked laughing.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut you have to admit, Thorne seems to be thriving.  He\u2019s only seven weeks old.  He showers with Gus and Nicky\u2026\u201d Molly began.<br \/><br \/>Jason felt the need to relay a few facts.  \u201cBut he needs a heated, fluffy towel waiting for him when he steps out of the shower.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Molly tried to ignore Jason as she continued, \u201cHe swims with Justin\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd only Justin, and Thorne wants a heated, fluffy towel waiting when he steps out of the pool,\u201d Jason added.<br \/><br \/>Molly now glared at Jason again.<br \/><br \/>\u201cHe\u2019s protective of Brian and barks if anyone gets to close,\u201d Ted pointed out.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t feel bad, Ted.  He barked at Paul and me and we\u2019d just dried him off,\u201d Jason reminded him.  \u201cFortunately, Thorne has a short memory.  He still lets us pet and cuddle with him.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cHe is only six\u2026wait a minute\u2026make that seven weeks old,\u201d Maria reminded Ted.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne will be a wonderful puppy as soon as he stops channeling Brian,\u201d Ted said emphatically.  \u201cJust a little more time with Justin in New York should do the trick.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThen Gus and Nicky better teach Justin how to feed Thorne,\u201d Emmett wanted to repeat.  \u201cAfter all, Thorne has been used to expert hand-feeding.  He has standards!\u201d<br \/><br \/>Emmett looked over at Molly and noticed that she looked distracted.  \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m still trying to figure out what Mom and Debbie and Fran and Katie can find to talk about.  They\u2019re still in the kitchen together,\u201d Molly said.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMaybe they\u2019re reliving their Girls\u2019 Night Out,\u201d Lindsay cooed. \u201cIt must have been exciting.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI don\u2019t know.  Whatever they did\u2026must have been something else.  Mom said something about my innocent ears shouldn\u2019t hear about it,\u201d Molly revealed.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m sure Jennifer was just teasing you,\u201d Jason tried to be reassuring.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDid your Mom give you any more information?\u201d Molly asked Jason.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAre you kidding?\u201d Jason chimed in.  \u201cWith everything going on at the house today\u2026all the people\u2026believe it or not, even you have more information than I do.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Ted looked at Emmett and noticed that he looked like the cat that swallowed the proverbial canary.  \u201cEm\u2026mett\u2026is there something you\u2019d like to tell us?\u201d Ted had to ask.<br \/><br \/>Emmett sat there blushing\u2026but couldn\u2019t say a word.<br \/><br \/>When they came back downstairs, Melanie was carrying Jenny, and Lindsay was carrying a comforter to be placed in the floor area were the kids were playing.  Gus, Nicky, and Molly made themselves comfortable and Jenny was perfectly happy to crawl into Molly\u2019s lap.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat did we miss?\u201d Lindsay asked.  \u201cI see we can\u2019t leave the room for even a minute.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cEvents just keep on moving right along,\u201d Melanie quipped.<br \/><br \/>\u201cTed was trying to get Emmett to tell us about The Moms...Girls\u2019 Night Out,\u201d Jason explained.<br \/><br \/>\u201cEm\u2026mett\u2026have you been holding out on us?\u201d Lindsay asked.<br \/><br \/>Emmett tried his best to simply smile without saying a word\u2026but his expression, as usual, spoke volumes.<br \/><br \/>Melanie took one look at Emmett.  \u201cI see this is a job for professionals,\u201d she said, as she got up to come across the room to face Emmett squarely.<br \/><br \/>Emmett began to squirm under this intense scrutiny.  \u201cNow Teddy, you\u2019re jumping to conclusions,\u201d he tried to protest as he began to scratch nervously behind his own ear.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cEm\u2026mett,\u201d Melanie began sweetly.  \u201cCarl hasn\u2019t been able to get Debbie to spill a word.  You, on the other hand, never miss a thing.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhy Melanie, I\u2019m flattered that you think\u2026\u201d Emmett said uncomfortably.<br \/><br \/>\u201cStop bullshitting, Emmett, it\u2019s time for you to come clean,\u201d Melanie said as she moved even closer.  \u201cFor example, where did you disappear to this morning?\u201d The two of them were now practically nose-to-nose.<br \/><br \/>Emmett looked at all the faces in the room.  There was no Drew to help.  Emmett was clearly outnumbered by a group of hostile inquisitors.  \u201cI\u2019m going to check to see if the guys need any additional help setting things up,\u201d he said as he quickly exited the room.<br \/><br \/>Melanie returned to her seat beside Lindsay on the sofa.  \u201cHe knows something.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt must really be interesting\u2026if the Gossip Queen of Liberty Avenue won\u2019t discuss it,\u201d Ted said, allowing his imagination to wonder.  \u201cWe\u2019re definitely going to have to get to the bottom of this\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWait until I talk to my mother\u2026\u201d Jason said as he began to contemplate the possibilities.<br \/><br \/>***<br \/>Emmett by passed the table setup operation and scuttled directly into the kitchen.  He only hoped no one was following behind him.<br \/><br \/>Jennifer, Katie, Fran and Debbie were talking as they were cutting up some final veggies for a salad.  They looked up when Emmett approached.<br \/><br \/>\u201cEmmett!\u201d they all said in unison.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat are you doing back here?\u201d Debbie asked with her hands on her hips.<br \/><br \/>\u201cLook Deb, I know you sent Drewsie and me into the living room, but the questions have already started.  I didn\u2019t want to give anything away.  I\u2019m hiding out here in the kitchen with you.\u201d  Emmett revealed.  \u201cFor my own safety\u2026.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cEm, honey, it\u2019s not like you to hide from a group of queens,\u201d Debbie said laughing.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThe queens I could probably handle,\u201d Emmett explained, \u201cIt\u2019s the dykes\u2026Lindsay and Melanie\u2026who can be relentless.  I felt like I was in the grand inquisition.  No wonder Melanie wins so many cases,\u201d he added.  \u201cAnd Teddy already suspects that I know something.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThen you were absolutely right to come back to us for safety,\u201d Katie said, as she wrapped her arms around Emmett.  She attempted to give him momentary comfort from his ordeal.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAbsolutely\u2026\u201d Fran agree as she joined Katie in the hug.<br \/><br \/>Debbie shook her head as she witnessed this display of affection.  She couldn\u2019t believed Fran and Katie fell for the fragile <i>Emmett-in-distress act<\/i>.  \u201cBut Em\u2026what about your reputation?\u201d  This was too much.  Katie and Fran might not have understood, but this was definitely over the top behavior from Emmett, and Debbie wanted Emmett to know that she wasn\u2019t fooled.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOnce you tell everyone the story of the last evening during dinner, my reputation will be restored.  You have to know that everyone is dying for details,\u201d Emmett said.  \u201cIt\u2019s a juicy story! And you have the best audience possible.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat\u2019s probably true\u2026\u201d Jennifer agreed.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd if we don\u2019t tell them\u2026you know they\u2019ll pester us until we do,\u201d Fran added.  \u201cOur sons can be such relentless drama queens.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo, can I go back in there and let it casually slip that ALL will be revealed during dinner?\u201d Emmett now asked with a pleading expression.<br \/><br \/>Katie and Fran were looking at each other.  Debbie and Jennifer were doing the same.<br \/><br \/>Emmett patiently waited for their answer.<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/103813.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<\/a><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/103559.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/103229.html","pubDate":"Sun, 30 May 2010 22:49:58 GMT","title":"The Thorne Saga II, A Visit To Britin, Chapter 63, Buona Sera, Debbie","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/103229.html","description":"Title:                Thorne Saga II \u2013 A Visit To Bri-tin<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tFluffy Crackfic! Over The Top Characters<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/>This is a sequel to The Thorne Saga, Brian and Justin have formed a legal union and are sort-of-living in New York City more than a year after the events in episode 513.  For his birthday, Justin received a six week old Chinese Shar Pei puppy, named Thorne Silvestri Taylor-Kinney, as a present.  Now Thorne and his humans are on their way to Bri-tin.  I should warn you that this is obviously a parallel universe\u2026for there are still strange elements in the air, which seem to be causing the characters, to continue their over-the-top behaviors.  Brian, once again, wants to blame everything on Justin.  You\u2019ll have to judge for yourself.  I will be posting almost daily.<br \/>I hope you like this story.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended<br \/><br \/>Lois and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Thorne+Saga+II&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s Comments:  Thanks for all the great comments.  I know that you\u2019re waiting for dinner, but it\u2019s going to take me a few chapters to get there.  I hope you\u2019ll be patient with me.  Here is your next installment of one chapter.  Enjoy!<br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 63 - Buona Sera, Debbie<br \/>(Day 6) Debbie\u2019s Front Door<br \/><br \/><br \/>And then the front door swung open into the living room, and a cluster of people tried to enter\u2026all at once\u2026led by Brian, who immediately called out, \u201cOkay, I\u2019m here.  Let the evening\u2019s festivities began!\u201d  He stopped to inhale.  And, the aroma of garlic, onions, tomatoes and spices filled the air.  \u201cSomething smells great!\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt always smells great whenever Debbie cooks,\u201d Justin said as he walked up beside Brian, while carrying a contented Thorne in his arms. <br \/><br \/>Gus and Nicky, to no one\u2019s surprise, squeezed between Brian and Justin, making their way inside.  Before any more people could get by, Brian stretched his lean body diagonally across the door frame, essentially blocking all entrance.<br \/><br \/>From the far corner of the room, Jenny Rebecca started to make a beeline for the front door.  <br \/><br \/>All eyes were fixed on Jenny, and her eyes were fixed on Thorne.<br \/><br \/>\u201cHi, Jenny\u2026\u201d Justin said, causing only a slight smile from the little girl, who continued her forward movement toward Thorne with her chubby arms now extended. <br \/><br \/>Thorne assumed he was the object of Jenny\u2019s attention, and he tried to stretch his wrinkled head to more easily connect with her approaching, outstretched arms.  He could almost anticipate those upcoming cuddles, which he knew had to be just for him. <br \/><br \/>Justin continued to hold on to Thorne, but he lowered him just enough so that Jenny and Thorne could make contact.  <br \/><br \/>Thorne first tried to partially snuggle into Jenny\u2019s arms without complaint.  Then, he turned and reached up, licking Jenny\u2019s cheek...much to the toddler\u2019s delight.  Justin held onto Thorne just to be on the safe side.<br \/><br \/>As Jenny squealed, Gus and Nicky turned to make sure Thorne and Jenny were okay.  They, then, added just the right amount of additional attention necessary to make Thorne\u2019s little world seem perfect.  <br \/><br \/>At this point, Thorne squirmed to be released, and Justin obliged.  <br \/><br \/>Gus, Nicky, Jenny, and Thorne scampered off and settled themselves on the far side of the living room.  They found a comfortable spot on the floor, near one of the comfortable side-chairs.  The four friends were now happily re-united.<br \/><br \/>Lindsay and Melanie looked at each other, shaking their heads. \u201cDo you see this?\u201d Melanie complained.<br \/><br \/>Lindsay moved over near the door to hug Justin.  She was just about to ask where everyone else was, when she noticed all the people trapped behind Brian.  She could see that Brian was the access problem.  <br \/>  <br \/>Before Lindsay could say anything, she found Melanie now standing in front of Brian, poking her finger in his chest.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cThings were so peaceful, before you arrived,\u201d Melanie wanted to make perfectly clear.  \u201cNow look, what you\u2019ve done\u2026\u201d she pointed across the room to Thorne and the kids. <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Justin, you\u2019re not helping\u2026\u201d Lindsay added.<br \/><br \/>Justin assumed his usual expression of pure innocence\u2026and then turned to glare at Brian.<br \/><br \/>Justin\u2019s expression prompted Brian to retort, \u201cWell, Sunshine, I see that you haven\u2019t lost your touch.  Look at all the confusion you\u2019ve created\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>At which point Jennifer called out from her position towards the rear of the group, \u201cBrian, will you move out the way, so that we can get in?  Where are your manners?  We have guests with us.  This is really unacceptable!\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian once again became obstinate and refused to move, but he did turn around in the direction of Jennifer\u2019s voice,   \u201cNow, now, Mother Taylor, who would those guests be?\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m sure Jennifer meant me,\u201d Cristina called out, in her own defense.  She was still standing somewhere behind Jennifer.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDid you hear something?\u201d Brian asked Justin with a wicked grin on his face.  <br \/><br \/>At this point, Debbie and Carl came into the living room from the kitchen to check on all the commotion coming from their front door.<br \/><br \/>\u201cSunshine!\u201d  Debbie gave Justin a hug.  She tried to ignore Brian, as Gus and Nicky ran back across the living room to give her hugs.  \u201cAnd it\u2019s so good to see my babies,\u201d she added with her arms wrapped around them.<br \/><br \/>Gus and Nicky were quick to give hugs and receive their ticklehugs from Carl and Debbie, but then they quickly scampered back to play with Thorne and Jenny.<br \/><br \/>Then Debbie looked around and asked, \u201cOkay, where are they? Where are your guests? And I know I heard Jennifer\u2019s voice\u2026but I don\u2019t see her anywhere.  And where are Katie and Fran?\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian grinned.  \u201cPatience, Deb, with a crowd this large it\u2019s going to take a while for everyone to get inside.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cWill you move out of the fucking way?\u201d Debbie said, trying to nudge Brian out of his entrenched position at the doorway. <br \/><br \/> \u201cPatience, Deb\u2026\u201d Brian said, carefully drawing out the words to add to Debbie\u2019s anxiety.   Maria and Spyder are here somewhere\u2026and with them\u2026\u201d  Brian found the need to take a deep sigh, \u201cLord, help us\u2026is Cristina.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThey\u2019re Italian right?\u201d Debbie wanted to confirm.<br \/><br \/>\u201cCristina and Maria are Italian.  Spyder is American, but he\u2019s fluent in Italian too.  Deb, please, try to be patient.  I promise you they won\u2019t forget their Italian in the time it takes for them to finally get inside.\u201d  Brian savored this moment of complete control, for he knew it wasn\u2019t going to last.<br \/> <br \/>\u201cCome on, asshole...introduce us!\u201d  Debbie insisted.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou might as well introduce them, Brian.  You know we won\u2019t have a moment of peace until you do,\u201d Carl was the calm voice of reason, \u201cI must admit\u2026 I\u2019ve heard so much about these friends of yours, I\u2019m looking forward to meeting them myself.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Brian sighed deeply.  \u201cWell, Carl, since you insist\u2026\u201d  Brian reached to rear of the group and pulled Spyder, Cristina, and Maria arrived beside him. He finally introduced the trio to Debbie and Carl.  \u201cDeb, try to be nice to them.  Give them time to get use to you.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Debbie became excited as Cristina simply said, <i>\u201cBuona sera, Debbie\u201d.<\/i> <br \/><br \/>Debbie became flustered as she hugged Cristina, Maria, and Spyder in turn.  Surprisingly, she couldn\u2019t utter a word.<br \/><br \/>Brian smiled as he contemplated a silent Debbie, \u201cDon\u2019t worry, if you forget your Italian, Deb, at least two of them speak perfect English.  I still have my doubts about Cristina.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t worry, Debbie, it\u2019s good to meet you.  Taylor talks about you all the time,\u201d Spyder said with a smile. \u201cAnd, I\u2019ll translate for Cristina, if necessary.\u201d  Spyder and Debbie exchanged another hug.<br \/><br \/>As Brian was making these introductions\u2026Molly chose now to finally push her way inside, pulling Jason and Paul along with her.<br \/> <br \/>\u201cThank you, Molly\u2026\u201d Jason said breathlessly, \u201cInside at last!\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIf you hadn\u2019t made that grand push, I\u2019m not sure we\u2019d have ever gotten in,\u201d Paul commented as he reached out to give Debbie a hug.  Jason joined him in the hug, figuring it was safest to avoid being crushed by Debbie, for they\u2019d gained a lot of experience over the years in dealing with her.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut where are Jennifer, Katie, and Fran?\u201d Debbie asked with genuine concern.<br \/><br \/> \u201cThey were just here\u2026right behind us,\u201d Paul said, \u201cHow can this happen?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cPaul, will you calm down,\u201d Brian insisted with a wicked grin as he finally made way for the Jennifer, Katie, and Fran to enter inside.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou and I need to have a long talk later,\u201d Jennifer glared at Brian and huffed as she passed by him.  Once inside, she made a show of adjusting her clothes from the ordeal.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI don\u2019t know what\u2019s got into him\u2026\u201d Katie added as she passed by.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBrian, you need a nap\u2026\u201d Fran added with a smile.<br \/><br \/>Then, Debbie turned back and gave Brian a swipe\u2026just for good measure.<br \/><br \/>Brian tried to ignore Debbie, but he looked at Katie, Fran, and Jennifer, shaking his head.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay, Debbie, you wanted us here\u2026,\u201d Jennifer said easily, \u201cSo, here we are.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Debbie hugged Jennifer, Katie, and Fran.  \u201cOh, I\u2019m so glad you\u2019re here.  Now, I know I\u2019m fucking safe,\u201d she added as she cast a wary glance back at Carl.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNow, what\u2019s that suppose to mean?\u201d   Carl asked.  He was beginning to realize that he would never understand women.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNever mind,\u201d Debbie said, as she paused long enough to introduce Fran and Katie to Carl.  \u201cYou\u2019ll have to talk to them later,\u201d she said, shooing them forward.  \u201cWe have important things to do right now.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Jennifer decided that was her cue.  \u201cAbsolutely!  We\u2019ll give you hand in the kitchen.  Something smells wonderful!\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSounds like a conspiracy,\u201d Paul commented as the four women continued talking to each other. <br \/><br \/>The women ignored everyone else in the room as they proceeded in the direction of the kitchen.  <br \/><br \/>Ted was the last one to arrive at the front door\u2026and by the time he arrived, he was not alone.  It had taken so long for everyone to enter, Blake had arrived and now stood beside him.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI see that you made it,\u201d Ted couldn\u2019t resist commenting.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd, the first challenge, I see, is getting inside.\u201d Blake laughed. \u201cWhat did you do to Brian this time?\u201d<br \/><br \/> Before Ted could answer that question, Brian had noticed who was standing before him and once again blocked entry.  \u201cHold it, Theodore\u2026 I need to be sure our invitation included you.  How are you Blake?  I\u2019m Sorry that you\u2019re in the middle of this\u2026\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cBrian, move your arm,\u201d Justin insisted. \u201cYou know that Ted and Blake are invited.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cOf course, they\u2019re invited,\u201d Carl tried to confirm. \u201cI heard Debbie talking to Blake\u2026and before you get started\u2026you should know that Hunter\u2019s already here in the kitchen.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Paul and Jason immediately glanced over at Molly to judge her reaction. <br \/><br \/>\u201cThings just got interesting!\u201d Molly said with a big smile.  She headed for the kitchen, waving goodbye as she passed by Brian and Justin.<br \/><br \/>Maria and Cristina made themselves comfortable on the sofa and began talking with Lindsay, who introduced them to Melanie.<br \/><br \/>\u201cRumor has it that you and Brian can\u2019t resist arguing,\u201d Melanie said to Cristina.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI\u2019m really quite fond of him, but arguing somehow always seems unavoidable,\u201d Cristina confirmed with a smile.<br \/><br \/>\u201cI have a feeling, we\u2019re kindred spirits,\u201d Melanie said with a laugh. <br \/><br \/>\u201cAlthough, I\u2019ve been in love with Justin for a long time,\u201d Cristina added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cFortunately, things with Justin are much easier,\u201d Maria agreed.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd you have to admit, Justin and Thorne were just made for each other,\u201d Cristina said with a satisfied grin. <br \/><br \/>\u201cSo I\u2019ve heard,\u201d Melanie had to agree.<br \/><br \/>Blake finally inched Ted further into the room.  <br \/><br \/>Blake could see where the kids were playing with a puppy he\u2019d never seen before, and his interest was piqued. \u201cIsn\u2019t he cute?\u201d Blake said, as he tried to get Ted to move over for a closer look.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cSomeone who can see how cute Thorne is,\u201d Cristina noted as she was introduced to Blake.<br \/><br \/>Ted and Thorne simply continued to stare at each other, as Blake got down on the floor.  Gus and Nicky were quick to help Blake get better acquainted with the puppy.<br \/><br \/>\u201cHis name is Thorne,\u201d Gus was quick to point out.<br \/><br \/>\u201cHe\u2019s adorable,\u201d Blake said, as Thorne licked his cheek.  \u201cCome a little closer, Ted.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cGo ahead, Ted.  You know, Thorne likes to be cuddled,\u201d Maria reminded him.  \u201cThis is your chance.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne and I have an understanding,\u201d Ted tried to argue.<br \/><br \/>Emmett overheard that last comment, as he and Drew were coming into the living room to greet everyone.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cTeddy, you\u2019re going to have to work harder on that understanding,\u201d Emmett pointed out.   \u201cMolly already told us that Thorne is going to be really big.  If you keep this understanding\u2026instead of getting close to him...it\u2019s going to be too late.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Ted looked over at Thorne.  \u201cWe\u2019re okay\u2026.aren\u2019t we Thorne?\u201d  He asked from a distance.<br \/><br \/>Thorne took a moment to stare in Ted\u2019s direction with his blue eyes.<br \/><br \/>Drew took this moment to reach down and petted a very contented Thorne.<br \/><br \/>\u201cMy goodness,\u201d Emmett said, \u201cLook at everyone who\u2019s here...\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDebbie just booted us out of the kitchen\u2026\u201d Drew added.  He wanted to garner any sympathy if any was available.  Surprisingly, no one paid any attention to him.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNicky, wouldn\u2019t you like to spend some time with your Dad and me,\u201d Paul asked as he sat on the floor near Carl. <br \/><br \/>\u201cThorne needs me,\u201d Nicky quickly replied.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cOf course,\u201d Jason said. \u201cPaul, why did you even ask?  If we\u2019re lucky Nicky will get on the plane with us to go home\u2026but only after he\u2019s made his usual outrageous deal with Brian\u2026until then, we don\u2019t exist.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd this is the way it always is?\u201d Spyder asked, after listening to the exchange between fathers and son.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAlways\u2026.\u201d Jason said with quiet acceptance.<br \/><br \/>\u201cWelcome to my world,\u201d Paul said. \u201cOnly this trip, I have to figure out how to get both Nicky\u2026AND my wayward mother\u2026 on a plane back to Cincinnati,\u201d he reminded everyone.<br \/><br \/>\u201cPaul, we\u2019ll worry about that later!\u201d Brian said laughing, \u201cI\u2019m sure, we\u2019ll have enough other things to worry about...the evening is still young\u2026\u201d  <br \/><br \/>Brian\u2019s smile turned wicked as he looked first at Justin and then at the assorted people gathered around the room.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAre things spinning out of control already?\u201d Justin asked his partner with a note of sarcasm.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNot a chance, Sunshine\u2026.\u201d Brian leaned down to kiss the top of Justin\u2019s head.<br \/><br \/>In the midst of the confusion and chaos, Ted introduced Drew and Spyder.  <br \/><br \/>Nicky and Thorne ventured over closer to with Drew, Emmett, and Spyder.<br \/><br \/>Spyder immediately remembered that Drew was a famous football star as well as Emmett\u2019s partner.  Spyder couldn\u2019t resist a smile as he considered that if Drew and Emmett were together, the chance of a duel on the Field of Mars was greatly reduced.  So, he reached down and tempted fate by pulling Thorne and Nicky into his arms.<br \/><br \/>Gus and Jenny came over too, and Spyder found himself suddenly surrounded by three kids and one contented puppy.<br \/><br \/>Emmett looked and Spyder and laughed.  \u201cWelcome to family dinner!\u201d <br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/103559.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<a target=\"_blank\"><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a><\/a><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/103229.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/103109.html","pubDate":"Fri, 28 May 2010 02:43:38 GMT","title":"The Thorne Saga II, A Visit To Britin, Chapter 62 - Anticipation","author":"paeansong","link":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/103109.html","description":"Title:                Thorne Saga II \u2013 A Visit To Bri-tin<br \/>Rating:\t\tAdults Only<br \/>Characters: \tBrian, Justin, and other canon characters<br \/>Genre:\t\tFanfiction, Humor<br \/>Warnings:\tFluffy Crackfic! Over The Top Characters<br \/>Timeline: \tFuture \u2013 More than 1 year after episode 513<br \/><br \/><center> Summary <\/center>\t<br \/>This is a sequel to The Thorne Saga, Brian and Justin have formed a legal union and are sort-of-living in New York City more than a year after the events in episode 513.  For his birthday, Justin received a six week old Chinese Shar Pei puppy, named Thorne Silvestri Taylor-Kinney, as a present.  Now Thorne and his humans are on their way to Bri-tin.  I should warn you that this is obviously a parallel universe\u2026for there are still strange elements in the air, which seem to be causing the characters, to continue their over-the-top behaviors.  Brian, once again, wants to blame everything on Justin.  You\u2019ll have to judge for yourself.  I will be posting almost daily.<br \/>I hope you like this story.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Disclaimer:  All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended<br \/><br \/>Lois and Shadownyc\u2026thanks for the beta\u2026you\u2019re the greatest!<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livejournal.com\/tools\/memories.bml?user=paeansong&amp;keyword=The+Thorne+Saga+II&amp;filter=all\" target=\"_blank\">Previous Chapters<\/a><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/><br \/>Author\u2019s Comments:  I know we left Brian and everyone waiting on the porch at Debbie\u2019s, but I thought that they could wait just a little longer.  We needed to catch up, for just a moment, on what\u2019s going on inside Debbie\u2019s just before the <i>great arrival <\/i>.  So, here is your long awaited, next installment of one chapter.  <br \/><hr><br \/><br \/>Chapter 62 \u2013 Anticipation<br \/>Evening (day 6) Inside Debbie\u2019s Living Room and Kitchen<br \/><br \/><br \/>Lindsay and Melanie were in the living room at Debbie\u2019s playing with Jenny Rebecca.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis has been one our strangest visits ever,\u201d Lindsay shook her head.  \u201cDeb wasn\u2019t here when we arrived, and Carl still hasn\u2019t found out what she did on her Night Out.  And now, Debbie seems to be hiding out in the kitchen cooking something wonderful.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou got that right,\u201d Melanie confirmed.  \u201cAnd now, we\u2019re having a commanded family-dinner, so I guess Debbie plans to reveal everything to us all at the same time.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Lindsay sighed as she envisioned the moment.  \u201cI can see it all now.  Jennifer, Fran, and Katie here for moral support\u2026and the rest of the family here largely to clap at just the right moments\u2026we\u2019ll be the perfect audience.  I see what you mean.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIt\u2019s going to be something\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSpeaking of that audience, Maria and Cristina are coming over too.   But they\u2019re really clients of Brian\u2019s firm, so we have to be careful and not embarrass him like we usually do.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cLindsay, if these people have dealt with Brian for any length of time, there is no way we can embarrass him.  Besides, aren\u2019t they the ones who brought Justin\u2019s puppy all the way from Italy?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cPuppy\u2026\u201d Jenny Rebecca repeated quietly before she went back to playing.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYeah\u2026but that\u2019s different.  They just love Justin\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSort of the way we all do,\u201d Melanie was quick to agree. \u201cI like these women already.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI should warn you, Cristina has a somewhat contentious relationship with Brian.  They argue all the time.  Maria spends a lot of time trying to keep peace between her sister and Brian.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cIn other words they love Justin, but they put up with Brian because he comes as part of the package.  This all sounds very familiar.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat pretty much sums things up,\u201d Lindsay confirmed as she leaned over to give her partner a kiss.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThis is going to be an interesting evening as we watch Brian try to handle all of us.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMelanie, what are you planning?\u201d Lindsay started to bite on her lower lip, wondering what plots her partner was hatching.<br \/><br \/>Jenny Rebecca chose that moment to begin her climb into Carl\u2019s favorite chair.  The chair was rather high for the chubby, almost-three-year-old, with her dark hair and impish eyes.  In the midst of the struggle with her chubby arms and legs, a pair of loving hands grabbed her.<br \/><br \/>For Hunter had just entered the living room.  \u201cHere, short-stuff,\u201d he said laughing as he walked up behind Jenny.  He lifted her into the air, causing the little girl to giggle.  He then gave her an extra toss just for good measure.  \u201cCarl is right behind me,\u201d he now whispered, \u201cSo aiming for that particular chair is a bad idea.\u201d  <br \/><br \/>As Hunter lowered Jenny down into his arms, Jenny decided she was quite comfortable.  And, now was perfect moment to squeeze her brother in a full hug.<br \/><br \/>Hunter let out a loud squeal, full of dramatics, as he staggered, with Jenny still attached to him, over to the sofa in playful distress.  He pretended to call out for help, much to the delight of the little one. <br \/><br \/>Lindsay and Melanie decided not to take any chances and immediately rushed to Hunter\u2019s aid.  <br \/><br \/>Melanie started tugging at Jenny\u2019s plump little arms.<br \/><br \/>Lindsay started talking to her daughter.  \u201cJenny, you can\u2019t hold Hunter in that death-grip!  He has to breathe, Sweetie!\u201d she quickly said to her daughter.  Then she looked apologetically at Hunter.  \u201cI\u2019m so sorry, Hunter.  She just started doing that\u2026before she just used to grab onto things,\u201d she added with some distress.  Then she burst into the laughter she could no longer contain.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThe Novotny Hugging Gene\u2026\u201d Melanie said with a nod.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThe Novotny Hugging Gene? Ah\u2026so, this is all Michael\u2019s fault,\u201d Hunter added with a wicked grin.<br \/><br \/>Carl walked in on the tail end of this conversation.  \u201cWhat\u2019s this about the Novotny Hugging Gene?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cJenny inherited it,\u201d Hunter said, matter-of-factly, as he started to tickle his sister\u2026now that she had been encouraged to simple settle down quietly in his lap.  She looked up at him with an impish twinkle in her eyes, and he had to wonder what she planning next.<br \/><br \/><br \/>\u201cSo, it\u2019s hereditary?  What do you know?  Have we told modern science? \u201d Carl had to ask with a laugh, as he flopped down, in his now available, favorite chair.  \u201cAnd, from this day forth, we have to keep an eye on Jenny as well as Debbie.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cStarting now,\u201d Hunter said as he stood up.  \u201cHere, Carl, you better take her.  I have to have help set up.\u201d He gently handed Jenny over to Carl. \u201cI hear we have guests coming here for dinner\u2026along with Molly.\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cI see, Emmett told you about Molly being out at the mansion, overnight, while Jennifer and Debbie had their Girls\u2019 Night Out with Paul and Jason\u2019s moms,\u201d Carl was now shaking his head.  \u201cI\u2019m still trying to figure out what four women managed to do all evening.  After all, this is Pittsburgh...\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cNow, you sound like Brian,\u201d Melanie reminded him.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou mean Debbie hasn\u2019t filled you in yet.  I thought she would have told you by now,\u201d Lindsay suggested.  \u201cEspecially, with the all the private time that you two have had.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWe\u2019ve had more important things to do during our private time,\u201d Carl was quick to point out \u201cBesides, I\u2019m trying to show her what a patient partner I can be.  But if she doesn\u2019t tell me soon, I may have to take her down to the station and interrogate her properly!  However, I\u2019m not worried.  Paul and Jason are on their way here too.  I have the feeling they haven\u2019t had time to find out any more information than I have.  So, I\u2019m going to have lots of allies as we try to find out what happened last night while these women were out of our sight.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cCarl, you obviously have forgotten what\u2019s it\u2019s like to deal with Paul and Jason.\u201d Melanie began laughing.  \u201cI wouldn\u2019t expect too much help there,\u201d she added.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cIt won\u2019t matter.  After all, Justin and Brian are on their way here too.  I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll help you get to the bottom of things.\u201d Lindsay added. <br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd Debbie has never been know keep a secret for long,\u201d Melanie added.  \u201cShe\u2019s probably just busting to tell us everything.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cMaybe she\u2019s just waiting for us to ask\u2026\u201d Hunter suggested.  \u201cWhere is she?  Let\u2019s get her in here talking\u2026\u201d he started moving in the direction of the kitchen.<br \/><br \/>Carl held up his hand.  \u201cNot a good idea!\u201d  <br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d Hunter asked Carl as he made a face at Jenny.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDebbie\u2019s in the kitchen having a war council with Drew.  At the moment, she\u2019s still trying to talk her way out of that note she left for Drew,\u201d Carl enjoyed relating.  \u201cAnd I\u2019m sure the fact that Nicky is on his way is just going to start things up again.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut I thought that Drew understood about Emmett and Nicky,\u201d Melanie said, trying to put all the pieces of this perpetual family drama into place.  She looked to Lindsay for help.<br \/><br \/>\u201cYes, but you see, I heard that Spyder\u2019s in town.  And at Justin\u2019s birthday party, Nicky was having too much fun with Spyder that Emmett challenged Spyder a duel on the Field of Mars\u2026you know the one in Paris,\u201d Lindsay relayed with a certain satisfaction\u2026since Emmett wasn\u2019t here to speak for himself, and this was information she felt Carl, Hunter, and Melanie needed know to be prepared for anything that might happen this evening. \u201cBrian got them to call a truce when we were in New York, but now they\u2019re here in Pittsburgh\u2026\u201d <br \/><br \/>\u201cI see family dinners continue to be as interesting as ever,\u201d Hunter said with his usual attitude. \u201cWell, let me get the circus-arena\u2026I\u2019m sorry\u2026.the tables\u2026.set up.  Let the fireworks begin!  I can see that Brian is going to need my support as usual.\u201d  He added wicked grin.<br \/><br \/>\u201cHunter, I\u2019m sure you heard that Justin got a puppy for his birthday,\u201d Carl added.  \u201cDebbie invited this very spoiled puppy to join us for dinner.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cPuppy\u2026.\u201d Jenny immediately said and then quickly repeated again, \u201cPuppy\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYes, Michael told me about the puppy.  He said it has wrinkles,\u201d Hunter added.<br \/><br \/>\u201cAh yes, the puppy,\u201d Lindsay interrupted.  \u201cHis name is Thorne, and he belongs to Justin.\u201d<br \/><br \/>Melanie felt the need to cut in here. \u201cHowever, when Gus and Nicky and Jenny are around, they are his new playmates.  Thorne has also designated himself as Brian\u2019s great protector.  Go figure!\u201d  Melanie shook her head.  \u201cI don\u2019t understand it, but I\u2019m sure you can get the details from Ted.  He seems to have some sort of first-hand experience encountering the protective side of Thorne.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cSo no flirting with Brian,\u201d Lindsay reiterated just in case Hunter missed Melanie\u2019s point.<br \/><br \/>Hunter merely rolled his eyes.  \u201cI can\u2019t stay here gabbing with you.  I have work to do\u2026\u201d <br \/><br \/>***<br \/><br \/>Hunter headed for the kitchen just in time to walk in on a discussion between Emmett, Drew, and Debbie.    He staked out a corner to watch the action.<br \/><br \/>\u201cNow my favorite Stud-muffin,\u201d Debbie said as she gently touched her painted fingers to Drew\u2019s cheek.  \u201cThere are going to be a lot of people here.  I only need you and Em to protect me until Katie, Fran, and Jennifer get here.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThen what\u2019s going to happen?\u201d Drew casually folded his arms and leaned against the wall.  He looked first at Debbie and then looked over at Emmett. He smiled at Hunter as he waited for Debbie to answer.<br \/><br \/>\u201cDon\u2019t look at me!\u201d Emmett insisted.  \u201cI\u2019m just an innocent bystander.  All I did was let Debbie know that Teddy and a lot of strange people were out at the mansion...because I heard that Thorne was the star of a commercial along with Gus and Nicky.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cDo we have to mention Nicky?\u201d Drew couldn\u2019t resist as he glared directly at Debbie. \u201cI can\u2019t believe you expect me to protect you after what you did?\u201d he added with one of his usual attempts at a scowl\u2026the one he usually saved for intimidating the opposing team on the football field on Sundays.  Somehow, he doubted the scowl had the same effect on Debbie, but it was still worth a try. <br \/><br \/>\u201cNow Drew\u2026we\u2019ve already discussed this.  It was just a momentary misunderstanding.  I just wanted you to go out to the mansion and retrieve Emmett.\u201d  Debbie tried to say in her own defense.  She realized that she was on really thin ice here, and her feet were definitely slipping fast.  \u201cOtherwise, you and I both know that Emmett would have been enticed to spend the night out there.  Emmett would have worked his fingers to the fucking bone,\u201d she tried to continue. \u201cAnd, Emmett and Nicky may have spent the night together\u2026\u201d<br \/><br \/>Emmett couldn\u2019t resist.  He had to step in here.  \u201cSo, let me see if I have this straight?  Deb, you wrote that note for Drewsie, so he would come out the mansion and rescue me from the clutches of Teres, Brian, and Justin.  You were concerned about me being overworked?  And you merely used Nicky as an excuse?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat sounds reasonable, don\u2019t you think?  I\u2019m sure that Carl would even agree those would be justifiable circumstances,\u201d Debbie fired back.  \u201cAnd Melanie could probably defend me in court with the fucking evidence.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cYou\u2019re clutching at straws, Debbie,\u201d Drew was quick to fire back. \u201cBut, since you did invite me to stay for Puttanesca and to watch the fireworks as all these people try to fit into your house here\u2026maybe I\u2019ll save my punishment of you until a later time.  Sometime when you least expect it\u2026and after everyone else has finished with you tonight.  Because something tells me you\u2019re going to have your hands full.\u201d  Drew leaned down and put his arms around a newly concerned Debbie, who was starting to bite her lower lip as she contemplated what she was being told.<br \/><br \/>\u201cLook on the bright side of things,\u201d Emmett chimed in.  \u201cYou did convince Brian to bring his houseguests, and I heard you say that you\u2019re going to get a chance to practice your Italian.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd I\u2019m looking forward to this,\u201d Debbie quickly confirmed.  \u201cHave either of you met Brian and Sunshine\u2019s friends from New York?\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI met them at Justin\u2019s birthday party.  Maria is the quiet one, who has to act as referee because when Cristina and Brian get together\u2026it\u2019s like Melanie and Brian being together.  But, I\u2019ll let you see for yourself,\u201d Emmet said laughing. \u201cAnyway, Teddy will be here soon, and I can\u2019t wait to hear about the commercial.  Thorne is only six weeks old, and he\u2019s a star already.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cWhat else would you expect living in the world of Brian Kinney?\u201d Debbie asked mindlessly.<br \/><br \/>\u201cBut Thorne is Justin\u2019s puppy,\u201d Emmett corrected.<br \/><br \/>\u201cThat may be a fact on paper\u2026but at the moment, Thorne thinks, he belongs to Gus and Nicky,\u201d Drew corrected.  \u201cI\u2019ve seen them\u2026Thorne and the kids together. You\u2019ve never seen Gus and Nicky feed Thorne\u2026I\u2019m still trying to recover from that experience.  And, Brian and Justin think everything is perfectly normal.  It just goes to show, how they\u2019ve lost all control of the situation.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cJust get ready,\u201d Emmett said as he hugged Drew.  \u201cThey are all going to be here any minute.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAt least, you have enough food to feed an army,\u201d Hunter said, finally making his presence generally known.  \u201cI have a lot of work to do.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cAnd, an army is what is about to descend on this house,\u201d Emmett pointed out. \u201cSo, I guess I should get to work on that salad.  Okay, Drew, you\u2019re now my assistant.\u201d<br \/><br \/>\u201cI just love a bossy bottom\u2026.\u201d Drew said, leaning over to kiss Emmett.<br \/><br \/>\u201cOkay, you two.  This is my kitchen.  There will be none of that in here!\u201d  Debbie protested.  <br \/><br \/>Carl chose that moment to walk into the kitchen.  He walked up behind Debbie and hugged her from behind, wrapping his arms tightly around her.  He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek.<br \/><br \/>\u201cCarl!\u201d Debbie shrieked.  <br \/><br \/>\u201cAh, Debbie\u2026.\u201d Drew began and gave her that look.  His expression alone was enough to remind Debbie of what she\u2019d just said. <br \/><br \/>\u201cWell, there are always fucking exceptions!\u201d Debbie quickly pointed out as she turned to wrap her arms around Carl.<br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/103229.html\" target=\"_blank\">Next Chapter<a target=\"_blank\"><br \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a><\/a><\/a>","comments":"https:\/\/paeansong.livejournal.com\/103109.html?view=comments#comments"}]}}