FIC: Never Did Run Smooth - Part II (B/J, QaF, Gus POV)

[freakykat]

banner by qafmaniac

Title: Never Did Run Smooth (Gus series, 2/3)
Author: freakykat
Time Frame: post 513 - future fic
Series/Sequel: Gus series/Sequel to By any other name
Summary: The kids put their plan into action
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Humorous, slight angst, some cursing
Notes: Thanks to wouldbedorothy for beta-reading. Always the best! So I did this because many of you wanted to see more of this universe. So here it is. I enjoyed it!
Disclaimer: I own none of this - they belong to Showtime, Cowlip and others. I only play with them a little. Once I'm done, I'll dust them off and give them back.

By Any Other Name

Never Did Run Smooth : Part I



Never Did Run Smooth - Part II

The course of true love never did run smooth -- William Shakespeare

No matter how many times I walk down Liberty Avenue, it never ceases to amaze me how one street could be so noisy and bright and just plain insane. Al pulls at my hand, pointing to a busload of our trans family that are pulling away from the curb. They wave as we pass, a couple of them calling us by name, and we laugh together, waving back. I love it here. Sometimes, I wish we still lived in the loft like we did when I was younger.

After Al was born, the Dads had moved to the house, and I remember being mad. I loved the loft - it was home - and Debbie tried to explain that they had to. Something to do with Alex and Dad being able to be her Dad, so I figured it was probably worth it. And then when Mom died… well, I guess I ended up being glad they had.

I still miss it and the fun to be had in the city, though. Not that we aren’t here practically every day, but it’s totally different. I wave a hand at Darren as we pass him on the street, and he smiles, waving and throwing kisses at Al. She laughs as she opens the door to the diner, and a wave of scents and warmth hits me. I can smell today’s special -- Sloppy Joe’s -- and when we step inside, the world becomes colors, lights, laughter and talking. It’s like coming home.

“You think Nana will be able to help?”

“I hope so, Al. ‘Cause, otherwise, we’re screwed.”

I glance around and sigh deeply. The diner is full - not surprising for lunchtime on a Friday in the summer - and it’s going to be a bitch getting a minute with Grandma Deb. There’s no room to sit except for the counter, and we start in that direction when I hear our names. I turn and see Auntie Em and Uncle Ted at one of the corner booths, motioning to us. I point them out and Al runs, squealing “Auntie Emmy!” all the way. She tackles him and they fall into their normal, inexplicable chatter. Dad calls it Gay Sanskrit and marvels at how Al manages to keep up. I’m telling you… a 30-year-old fag hag in that girl. It’s so freaking weird.

I sit next to Uncle Ted and turn to greet him when the expression on his face stops me. “Christ, Uncle Teddy, you look fucking miserable.”

Auntie Em covers Al’s ears and scolds me. “The language, please.” I suppress a grin when Al rolls her eyes. In our family, she’s had the chance to hear worse. I give him my best “Brian Taylor-Kinney thinks you’re a fucking loon” impression and turn back to Uncle Ted.

“What’s going on? You and Blake off again?” Seriously, those two need to quit it with the on-again/off-again. They’re getting as bad as Dad and DJ in their long-dead youthful years… though I guess not so much.

Auntie Em snorts. “No. The lovebirds are nesting happily, for the time being.” He ignores the glare Uncle Ted gives him and leans in to whisper. “Apparently, your dear old dad is being quite the tyrant.”

“Oh. Right.” I pat Uncle Ted on the shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

He grabs my arm, gripping, as he plunges into the details of days spent avoiding Dad at all costs. About how Dad was being intolerable, demanding perfection (not that that was new, but apparently his scare tactics were getting over the top), screaming at all the departments, and even had Cynthia running for the hills. I whimper and pry Uncle Ted’s hand off me. It seems Dad had thrown a paperweight at him that morning, which was not received kindly. “It could have killed me, Gus. Your father is losing it.”

“Well, Dad doesn’t usually get violent. What did you do?”

“Nothing.”

We all stare at him silently.

He raises his hands in defense. “Nothing! Justin called and asked to speak to your Dad. The new receptionist gave me the call because Brian was in a meeting. I told Justin that and joked he’d probably be worn out afterwards, you know…” He makes a motion with his hands that I hope Alex can’t interpret.

I hear the thud of Auntie Em’s head as it hits the table. Yeah. I couldn’t agree more. Sometimes Uncle Ted has no people skills whatsoever. “Uncle Teddy…”

“What?! We joke like that all the time. Justin should know by now… Anyway, Brian came back from the meeting. I told him that Justin had called, but when Brian reached him, he was upset and hung up.” Uncle Ted sighs, glancing at me. “Brian asked what happened and I told him. That was when he threw the paperweight and told me to get the fu-heck out. I think I may be fired.”

I roll my eyes at that. Dad fires Uncle Ted every day. Of course, he usually doesn’t fuck up this badly. “He’ll get over it. Just avoid him for another day or so. Everything will be fine soon.”

Uncle Ted snorts, aiming a disbelieving look my way, and mumbles something I can’t quite hear. I figure I don’t want to know.

“It’s okay, Uncle Teddy.” Al’s hand reaches over the table, patting Uncle Ted’s gently, her face schooled into a look of understanding. “Gus is going to fix it.”

I choke on the water I’m swallowing, glaring at her through a fit of coughing. “Alex!”

She blinks at me, eyebrows raised in surprise. “What?”

I glance between Uncle Ted and Auntie Em, managing what I hope is a rueful “silly child, isn’t she?” smile before I glare at Alex again. She only smiles back, sunshine and light just like DJ, and I sigh because I’m just as much a sucker for that as Dad is. “We don’t know if I can fix it,” I say lamely. I can see Uncle Ted brighten at my side and glance at him. “Uncle Teddy, don’t get your hopes up. I mean - I don’t even know what I’m doing yet.”

“Does it involve locking them in a closet together? They could never resist being that close to each other and not end up…” Uncle Ted’s eyes flick to Alex, who looks at him with an innocent smile. “Well, you know.”

I stare at him. “That was Alex’s suggestion.”

“I told you it would work, Gus,” she states from her seat and nods sagely at Auntie Em. “Daddy said he can’t help himself with Dad.” I can see the other two stifle a laugh. They look at her with amusement. Well, it’s not like she’s lying.

Most of the time, they couldn’t help themselves at all. Like that one time I walked into the kitchen and got an eyeful - I shudder. I swear those two are a pair of freaking nymphos.

I sigh. I actually miss that.

I also know that it won’t solve whatever the hell is going on with them right now.

“Look, if that was the answer, then this wouldn’t have gone on this long. No. They need something else.” I look at the curious faces staring at me and shrug. “And I still don’t know what that is.”

“Like sex toys?”

“Uncle Ted!”

“Ew.” Alex covers her ears and I want to do the same, because really… I don’t need to think about it.

“Teddy, don’t traumatize the child!” Auntie Em reproaches, patting Alex’s back as he does. It’s not like Alex isn’t aware of certain things about…life. But she is still only seven. What she knows, which is probably more than even I realize, is set in a place of innocence. No need to make her grow up any faster.

“I’m sorry, sweetie.” Uncle Ted smiles at Alex, winking when she glares at him. “It’s just… well, it’s them, you know? They went through fucking - you didn’t hear that Alex - hell to get here. It makes us nervous and just a little bit sad to see them like this.”

Auntie Em nods. “They’re the ideal, you know?” He shrugs at my incredulous look. “It’s what people strive to be. Loving and committed but, you know, not like your parents… Oh well, okay, maybe like your parents, but not like ours.”

“Oh shit. Please don’t ever say that to Dad. Please.” I clasp my hands together. Uncle Ted laughs, slides one arm over my shoulder, and hugs me to his side.

“We promise.” He kisses my temple, releasing me, and asks, “So, what’s the plan?”

“Can’t say. I need to talk to Deb. Then I’ll know how to go about this.”

“Why Deb?”

Alex rolls her eyes. “Hello. Nana Deb knows everything.”

“No.”

I let my head fall on the table. “Come on, Gammy! Please!” The name I used for her as a kid slips out in my frustration, and I glance up to see her face soften. I nudge Alex and she joins in.

“Nana, please.” She blinks clear blue eyes up at her. Yeah, that kid can work it. “We just need a little help.”

“Okay, okay.” She flops down across from us, throwing her pad onto the table. “Shit. It’s like looking at midget versions of your fathers.”

“Nana. The correct term is dwarf. They don‘t like the word midget.”

Grandma Deb stared at Alex. “No shit. Really?”

“Yep.”

“How the hell do you know that?”

“I was watching this thing with Dad -”

“Ladies. Can we get back to the topic at hand, please?” I nod at Grandma Deb and she sighs, eyeing me as she fidgets with the menu on the table. “Go ahead, Gammy. Please.”

She laughs a little, one hand reaching over to stroke my face, before she says, “You’re a manipulative little asshole, you know that? This is a really old issue, Gus. Something that happened when you were still practically a baby.”

“That could be anything. They’ve led a very interesting life.”

She smiles, almost to herself, and nods. “Ain’t that the fucking truth?” Her face registers shock and she pats Alex’s hand. “You didn’t hear that, baby.” Alex shakes her head but says nothing, so Grandma Deb continues. “Okay. Some damn idiot at the party started questioning Brian about his ‘lifestyle’ and if he still -” She glances at Alex and then back at me, making a face. I nod that I understand and ignore the way Alex glowers at us. She hates being left out.

“Got it.”

“Right. So, Brian refuses to answer any questions and just said, rightly so, that it’s between him and Justin. I guess Justin was getting frustrated and blurted out that he had no idea himself because they never talked about it. Brian started to walk away, Justin followed, and they started screaming at each other in the hallway. Something about Brian’s - um…well, you know. And then I guess Brian mentioned he wasn’t the one that always left, saying something about Ethan, and slammed out the door.” She shrugs when she’s done. “That’s it, kiddo. I was in shock because those things happened ages ago, and I thought they’d hashed it out.”

I stare at her, slamming my hands on the table. “Who the fuck is Ethan?” DJ was - no way. I can’t even believe that Dad would be… I mean, I know that they used to and that it was okay but this is different. They’re married now. This means they were lying to each other and they never… My head starts to hurt and I want to cry. This is not happening. My parents are crazy about each other. Alex looks at me, and her lower lip trembles just a little at my reaction. She knows I’m upset.

Grandma Deb stares in surprise, grabs one of my hands, and I can see she’s trying not to laugh. “Ethan. You never heard of Ethan? The violin player…” She lets the sentence trail off.

Something clicks in my mind. Wait…Ethan?

“The fiddler? I thought his name was Ian.”

She laughs. “According to your father, yes. His real name is Ethan Gold.”

“Oh!” Alex exclaims, and we turn to look at her. “Dad hates that guy. He came on once when we were painting in his studio and he almost broke the radio. I asked him who that was, and he told me it was someone that made him do something stupid once.”

I smile at that. “I guess so. But Uncle Ben told me he thought that the Ian - Ethan - whatever thing had ended up being a good thing.” I look back at Grandma Deb. “That’s what this is about?”

She nods. “As far as I know. They’re freaking out, Gus. They’re married. Married.”

Alex and I roll our eyes. Seriously, it’s not like they haven’t acted that way for years, and I say exactly that.

Grandma Deb smiles her knowing “you’re still so young” smile she gives me sometimes and pats my cheek. “Yes, but now they’re afraid they’re going to fu- screw it all up. Baby, your Dads are not the best in the communication department sometimes. I mean, believe me, they’re better than they used to be…”

“But they still got a long way to go,” I say. That’s for sure. It’s time to do something about this. “Thanks, Gammy.” I lean over and kiss her cheek, sliding out of the booth. Alex throws her arms around Grandma Deb’s neck and thanks her. She kisses her soundly and then gets up to hug me.

“You want my suggestion, Gus?” She whispers in my ear and I nod. “Talk to Brian.”

Kinnetik is the scariest place in the world to be. There’s always a million and one people scrambling around, lots of noise and yelling, mostly from Dad . Fax machines whirring, phones ringing, employees running to meet deadlines. It’s hectic and insane and so fucking frantic that I want to run from the building, from all the creative energy that jumps at you. I don’t think I could ever be that driven, that focused. I take after DJ. Creativity at my own pace.

I guide Alex towards Dad’s office and wave at Cynthia as we walk past her. Her face brightens up when she sees us and motions that we should go in. Probably figures we’ll keep him distracted enough that she can breathe for a second. I can’t say I blame her. I know how Dad gets when he’s in one of his moods. I knock on the door and, when Dad turns to look, Alex and I flash him our biggest grins.

He can’t help but grin back and waves us in. Alex runs to him and he scoops her up, kissing her cheek repeatedly. “Hello, Jitterbug.”

“Hi, Daddy.” She wraps her arms around his neck and squeezes tightly. The small smile that Dad gives me is at least a happy one. He reaches for me with his free arm and hugs me to him.

“Hi, Dad.”

He pulls back and glances at both of us. “What do I owe this surprise visit to?”

He sets Alex down and she places her hands on her hips. “We think you and Dad need to stop fighting, Daddy.”

“Al.” I groan into my hand. This is not the way to approach the subject. I look up at Dad, whose face shows something akin to amusement, and sigh. Good. That’s good. He glances back and forth between us.

“You do?”

“Well, yeah.” I sit down on the new leather sofa and Alex sits comfortably in my lap. We’re a team. The Taylor- Kinney kids… stubborn, smart, and some other adjective I can’t think of. A force to be reckoned with. That’s us. “Sit down, Dad.”

He does that eyebrow thing of his, but takes a seat on the table - which I know cost a fortune ‘cause he’d talked about it enough - and leans forward, hands clasped loosely together.

“Okay, Dad, listen.” I glance at him and ask, “Are you listening?”

He smirks at me and nods. “I’m listening.”

Okay, here it goes. “Whatever it is, Dad, that you and DJ are fighting about, it’s - how do I put this delicately?”

“Stupid,” Alex provides helpfully.

“That’s it.” I nod, smile at her in thanks, and look back at Dad. “It’s stupid. Ian, Dad? You’re mad about something that happened like a decade ago?”

“Debbie has a big mouth.” Dad runs one hand through his hair and shakes his head. “I swear, I’m going to superglue it shut one of these days.”

“That’s not nice, Daddy. Nana was only trying to help.”

He pats Alex’s knee, winking at her. “Sorry about that, Jitterbug. I was only kidding. Kind of.” He watches us both as he says, “I don’t want you guys to worry about any of this, okay? Your Dad and I are fine.”

“Really. ‘Cause the week not speaking says differently.”

Dad sighs. “It’s our issues, Gus. Doesn’t concern you or your sister.”

I snort. “Um… actually, yeah, it does.”

I receive his patented stare. “No. Neither one of you should worry about this.”

“We’re family, Daddy. What happens to one of us, happens to all of us.”

Alex can be quite the perceptive little co-conspirator.

“She’s right. What happens with you and DJ affects me and Al. We live in the house, too.” I gently push Alex off my lap to sit next to me and lean forward. “I get that you’re a little freaked out.” I meet his eyes. “I don’t think you’re going to fuck it up.”

His expression softens and he touches my cheek. “Watch the language, Sonnyboy.”

I smile at him. “Alex didn’t hear that, did you, Al?”

“Hear what?”

“See?” I shrug as I glance over at Al. “Dad, I know this isn’t our business. Not really. And I know you and DJ will get past it, but maybe this time you could do something more.”

“Uh-huh. And what could that be?”

“I don’t know, maybe, talk to him.”

Dad’s eyebrow raises again, and I wonder what he’s about to say, but I interrupt. “Dad, sometimes we need to hear it. It’s just the way it is. And aren‘t you always the one that says the hardest things we have to do are the most important?”

“Yeah, Daddy. And, if it’s important, you just do it.”

There’s this little smile twitching on his lips, and he glances between me and Alex, sighs and rubs his face with one hand. “What exactly am I supposed to say?”

“I love you.”

“He knows that, Gus.” Dad eyes me when I stare at him. “He better damn well know it.” When neither Alex nor I say anything, he throws his hands in the air. “I married the little sh-”

“Daddy!”

“Well, I did.”

“Why?” It‘s a question I always wanted to ask just to see what he would say. “You were together for 15 years. It wasn’t necessary. I know you said it was because of Alex, and the whole name thing, but that was the excuse, not the reason.”

Dad looks at me thoughtfully. “You’re too smart for your own good.” He sighs, runs a hand over his already disheveled hair.

“It’s the Taylor-Kinney genes.” I’m not going to push him for an answer. I already know it. But, seeing as this is Dad - he surprises me.

“I was ready.”

There. Three words. One simple statement.

Dad had been ready.

“And your father knows that,” he says before I can comment.

“Maybe you need to remind him.”

It’s the best suggestion I can give him.

He stares at me for a long time before speaking again. “Maybe I do.”

I give him a quick hug and motion to Alex. He stands and Alex hugs his knees as he bends to place a kiss on her head. “Bye, Daddy.”

I hold out my hand and she grasps it as we make our way out. At the door, she turns suddenly, face lighting up. “Oh! And don’t forget the chocolate and flowers, Daddy!”

He stares at her as I bust out laughing.

“That’s it. No more Julia Roberts movies for you…”

Part III