MY GIRL
Part 4

Six Months Later:

The sound of a baby wailing brought Justin out of his slumber. He groaned. The clock showed the time as 3 am.

“Brian?...She’s up. Is it your turn or mine?” Justin asked sleepily, his arm slipping around his lover’s waist.

Brian yawned. “I woke up last night.”

Justin groaned. He got off the bed and slipped on a pair of shorts before making his way to his daughter’s room. He had moved his art supplies to their storage room. Scooping the crying infant into his arms, he kissed her forehead.

“What’s the matter, sweetie?” he asked softly, drying at her tears with his lips. “Is daddy’s little girl hungry?” He smelled her bum as he walked down the stairs to the kitchen to heat up her milk. He was relieved that she didn’t need a change. Six months and he still wasn’t used to changing diapers.

“Don’t cry baby.” Justin begged as he rocked her in his arms. His head felt as though it was going to explode any second. He put the bottle into the warmer and prayed it would heat up quickly. “Let’s see what’s on TV.” He turned on the TV, and cradled her in his arms. The cries softened then she erupted into more bellows.

“Jesus Christ James!” Justin sighed. Only when he was really frustrated he called her James. He made sure the milk was warm before giving it to her. She immediately shut up. And he thanked God for small mercies. He sat on the sofa with the TV on mute and watched his daughter drink her milk.

She was gorgeous, no one could doubt that. She had the face of an angel, but the disposition of the devil. Brian had told him, “This kid is definitely yours!” Her hair was a thick mass of curly blonde hair. Her long, thick eyelashes framed the bluest of blue eyes. Her mouth was just like Justin’s too, pouty and pink. When she was upset, her mouth was the first thing to show it…just before she let out her roar. She even had his pug nose. And she was fat. Justin thought his arms were going to fall out soon.
Justin loved little James Bella Sid Taylor more than he ever imagined he would.

And he had Brian to thank for her crazy name. Imagine…he had a daughter called Sid. At the hospital, the night his little angel came to earth and his guardian angel left, Justin had left it up to Brian to take care of everything as he had been a mess. And so Brian had taken that opportunity to name the baby Sid. Justin still found it hard to forgive him. To make matters worse, Brian continuously called the baby Sid when Justin was around just to annoy him!

He watched Bella, the bottle in her mouth, her arms searching mid-air for anything to grab on to. She finally settled on Justin’s outstretched finger. “Your mommy would have loved you so much…” Justin told her softly. He felt the tears prick at his eyes but fought them away. He couldn’t believe how much he missed Jaime. A part of his life felt so empty now.

“She had curly hair, just like you. And she loved to scream at me…just like you…” Justin kissed her tiny finger. Bella gurgled and kicked her feet. Justin knew he loved this little girl in a way he didn’t even realize he could love someone. He knew he would give his life up for her, no questions asked. She was his life…his world…his everything.

Justin had finally gotten Bella to fall asleep when the phone rang and woke her up. Her little mouth opened and a loud roar came out. Groaning, Justin picked up the baby and cradled the phone under his chin. “This had better be important, Michel!” Justin grumbled into the phone after checking the caller id.

“Well aren’t we in a foul mood today.” Michel Pires asked. He was Justin’s store manager. Originally from France, Michel was extremely thin with spiky black hair and features to die for. He was simply gorgeous and outrageously gay. But Justin trusted him and depended on him. And Brian hated him…mainly because Michel hated Brian. It was amusing, the love/hate relationship they had.

“When you have a kid, give me a lecture. Now what the fuck do you want?” Justin was in a nasty mood. Bella was getting heavier by the second and still crying. He tried rocking her back and forth.

“Well look at that. That prick you’re with is rubbing off on you!” Michel said. “Hi darlink! Gimme a sec. The slave driver’s on the phone!”

Justin sighed as he listened to Michel talk to the customer. “I don’t have all day, Mich. And Bella’s acting up.”

“Oh, how’s mon petit ange? Give her a kiss for me. Any way, what time are you meeting me later?”

“What? Meeting you?”

“Don’t tell me you forgot about New York already?”

Justin groaned. “Fuck! Is it this weekend?” Justin had promised an art colleague he’d be in New York this weekend to lend support at his first show. Plus, some of Justin’s older art pieces were being displayed.

“Oui! What are you going to do?”

Justin thought about it for a couple seconds. “There’s nothing I can do. Brian will be home this weekend hopefully…I’ll see you soon.” He hung up and kissed the top of Bella’s head. “Looks like you’ll be spending your first weekend without daddy.”

“I am so fucking exhausted.” Brian said the minute he walked through the bedroom door. Justin was on the bed reading, Bella asleep next to him. He motioned to Brian to talk softer.

“Hi, baby.” Brian bent and kissed Justin full on the lips. “How was your day?”

Justin watched him unbutton his shirt. “Not so good. I have some bad news.”

Brian looked up at the ceiling and let out a weary breath. “Let’s hear it.”

“I have to go to New York this weekend.”

Brian groaned. “Tell me you’re fucking joking.”

Justin got off the bed and walked over to where his lover was standing. Slipping his arms around Brian’s waist, he covered a bare nipple with his mouth. “I wish I was. I’m so sorry…but I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

Brian raced a hand through his hair. “So I get the brat for two days? Oh God. You really have a lot of making up to do.”

Justin laughed and looked up. Brian leaned down and kissed the tip of his nose. “When are you leaving?”

“Michel got us a 7 am flight.”

“Typical. Need me to drop you off?”

“Nope. He’s picking me up.”

Brian kissed him. “I have an idea then. Why don’t you get naked…and into the shower? You can start making it up to me from now…”

Justin grinned. He walked towards the bathroom, his t-shirt over his head and on the floor in seconds. His pants came next.
He turned around to give Brian a naughty smile. “So are you coming or what?”

“Not yet…but I will be soon.” Brian joked before following Justin into the bathroom.

Brian was surprised to find himself up and about by 9 the next morning. Bella was in her playpen, talking to her stuffed pig, Hugo quietly. She was content, having been fed and played with by Brian already. Taking the opportunity to do some work while she was quiet, Brian found himself annoyed when the doorbell rang an hour later. But he was a pleasantly surprised to see Mikey standing on his steps, a wrapped box in his hands.

“Mikey!” Brian hugged him. “I didn’t realize you and Paul were back in town?”

Mikey took of his sunglasses as he walked up the steps. “We got bored of Europe and a little homesick I guess.” Brian raised his eyebrows.

“So where is she?” Mikey asked anxiously. “Ma says she’s the cutest little thing! This is for her. It’s just clothes.”

Brian put the box on the kitchen table and went to stand next to the playpen, watching as Bella tried to eat her plastic rattle. He lifted her into his arms. She was only in her diaper, hating to wear too much clothes.

“Say hi to Uncle Mikey, Bella.”  Mikey thought he was going to die of shock as he listened to Brian speak baby-language. “Awww….take that out of your mouth young lady. You’re too young to be putting things in there.” He grinned at her and she broke into a huge smile. She dropped the rattle and her hands slapped at his face. Brian turned to Mikey. “Cat got your tongue?”

Mikey snapped close his mouth. “I’m just a little shocked, that’s all.”

“Why?” Brian asked coldly.

“Well…you’ve been surprising me a lot lately.”

Mikey watched Brian fight with the baby to remove her finger from his ear. “What the fuck are you going on about? Bella, stop that.”

Mikey shook his head and smiled. “Nothing.  She’s adorable…looks just like Justin. Speak of the devil, where is he?’

Brian kissed Bella’s chubby cheek. “He’s in New York.”

“How is he…since Jaime…?”

Brian shrugged. “He’s doing better…but he still hurts a lot…”

“Did he stop crying all the time?”

“He only cries when he thinks I’m asleep…” Brian bit his lip. He hated that there was nothing he could do to take away his boy’s pain. What bothered him more than anything though was that Justin hadn’t been given much time to grieve for his best friend, having to take care of his new daughter.

“I’m sorry…” Mikey touched Brian’s shoulder.

“Yea…so how was your trip? Are you back for good?” Brian changed the topic.

“Yea… Do you smell something funny?”

Brian sniffed. “Oh fuck, that’s disgusting Bella!”

Mikey laughed and followed Brian up the steps to the bathroom. Brian held her in one arm and put the Euro bathtub to full. He thought he might as well give her a bath. Laying her on the table, he opened the diaper and had to move away from the stench.

Mikey coughed. “What do you guys feed this kid?”

Bella laughed and kicked her legs around. “Show Uncle Mikey what a good girl you are and stay still. Let daddy clean you up.”
She gave Brian a toothless smile and calmed down. Brian wiped her baby butt clean and put her in her white tub. She loved water. Brian made sure her yellow duck was in there as he let her frolic to her heart’s delight. He stood next to the tub and motioned for Mikey to do the same.

“I don’t know…but it’s so weird seeing you like this Brian.” Mikey said softly.

Brian’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“Well…you shocked us all when you went and sold your loft to buy this place-“

“I needed more space.” Brian said simply.

“Yea, but…and then you still being with Justin…”

Brian moved the duck around in the warm water. “Justin’s my partner. Where else would he be but with me? Besides, it’s not any of your goddamn business. I don’t give you any shit about your doctor.”

Mikey poured warm water on Bella’s tummy. She watched him suspiciously then looked at Brian. When she was satisfied Brian didn’t mind, she went back to splashing around in the water.

“I didn’t mean anything by it, Brian. It’s just…”

”What?”

“Do you know what the hell you’re doing? I mean…moving in here with Justin was one thing, but do you really want the responsibility of another baby now in your life? For Christ’s sake, she’s not even yours!”

Bella stopped what she was doing and stared at Brian. He was glaring at Mikey. “Grow up, Mikey. You’re still so fucking immature, it’s unbelievable. And do me a favour, don’t fucking insult me or my daughter again. And as for Justin, he’s not my boy toy or my live-in-lover anymore. He’s my partner. He’s the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. If you can’t understand that, then I’m sorry.”

“Brian, I didn’t mean it that way.”

“Sure.” Brian said coldly. Bella splashed water on his face, turning his attention. He broke into smiles and splashed her back. “Want daddy to play with you?” Brian squeaked her duck and she laughed, reaching for the toy.

Mikey rolled up his shirt and got his hands into the water. He found a boat on the counter. “Here comes the boat Bella. Toot-toot!” Bella started screaming. Mikey looked at Brian. “Oh God, I’m sorry.”

Brian laughed and lifted the wet baby into his arms. “It’s ok, love. Did mean Uncle Mikey scare you?”  She stopped crying and rubbed at her eyes with her tiny hands. He leaned forward and kissed Mikey’s cheek. “Don’t worry about it. Now…we’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”

“Brian? Did I wake you?”

Brian yawned and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. “Hey. What time is it?”

“Late. I just got in… And I missed you guys so...”

Brian could hear Justin’s little whimper on the other end of the line just before he broke into tears. “Are you crying, Justin?”

“I’m such a big baby! But it feels so weird…being away from her.” Justin said through his tears.

Brian smiled into the receiver. “She misses you too…if it’s any consolation.” Justin laughed. “But not as much as I miss you.” Brian said quietly.

Justin broke into more tears then. “Justin? Stop crying. I lied. We don’t miss you at all.”

Brian heard Justin laugh which was followed by hiccups. “Shut up. You miss me like crazy! Is she behaving? Did you feed her? She’s not crying too much is she?”

“Stop worrying. She’s like a little angel.”

“Yea right!”

“Ok, so I lied again. She gave me hell today.”

Justin laughed. “What happened?”

“I thought we were taking a nap. When I wake up, the little monster is at the edge of the bed, trying to crawl down. I nearly got a heart attack!”

“Yea, she’s a fast little bugger!”

“And she poured her cereal all over us this morning. To get her to sleep tonight, I had to sing to her a couple times. Don’t even ask me what the fuck I was singing. I have absolutely no idea.”

Justin laughed. “So how was your day otherwise?”

“Good…Mikey’s back in town.”

“Yea?”

“For good this time too.”

“That’s great! Deb will be thrilled.”

“Bella hates him. Every time he got too close to her, she started crying.” Brian heard a little cry then.

“The devil’s up. You better go and see what’s wrong. Give her a kiss for me, ok? I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Brian sat up. “Will do! Get some sleep, ok Justin?”

“I will. Love you.”

“Love you too.”

Justin walked into the bedroom and was surprised to see so many lights on. Dropping his suitcase on the floor lightly, he walked across to the bed. What he saw there brought tears to his eyes. Brian was bare-chested and asleep on the bed. Bella was on his chest, her little arms moving around her, struggling to break free. She was awake but couldn’t move because Brian’s arm had her strapped to him. When she saw Justin, she smiled and started fidgeting, her arms hitting at Brian’s chest. Brian groaned and opened his eyes. He saw Justin, the tears glistening in his lover’s eyes.

“Hey.” Brian said softly. “You’re back.”

“Hey yourself.” Justin plopped himself on the bed. Bella crawled on top of his chest. Brian leaned down and kissed him soundly. “Hmmm…you taste so fucking good.” Justin muttered.

Brian slipped his arm around his lover’s waist. “Later. Your daughter looks slightly pissed that you’re ignoring her.” Justin laughed when he noticed the look he was getting from Bella. He hugged her to him.

“Give daddy a kiss. I missed you so much, princess. Did you miss daddy?” Bella tugged on his hair and tried to put his nose in her mouth.

Brian looked at them and couldn’t be happier. He hadn’t lied to Mikey earlier when he had said he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Justin. He loved his blonde partner to distraction. He loved going to sleep next to Justin but had to admit, waking up with the blonde clinging to him was even better. One thing he knew for sure: He couldn’t see his life without him. Justin had become his life….his world…his everything.

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