“Draco, you wanna watch something else?” Scott asked hopefully, as they were on their fifth viewing of some little kid movie Taylor’s mother had given him.
“No,” Draco shook his head as he climbed up onto the couch and sat next to Scott.
“You wanna play a game?”
“No.”
“You wanna color?”
“No.”
“What do you wanna do?”
“Watch movie!” Draco grinned.
Just then the doorbell rang.
“Stay here...don’t move. I’ll be right back,” Scott instructed before standing up and making his way to the door.
When he opened it up, Keith was standing there, looking serious and nervous.
“Hi...” Scott greeted in surprise.
“Hey...can we talk?” Keith questioned tensely.
“Yeah, I guess,” Scott gestured for his brother to come in. “I have to put the baby ato bed...just have a seat. I’ll be right back.”
Scott returned to the living room to find all of Draco’s toys on the floor, the baby in the middle of the mess giggling happily.
“Draco James...did you make this mess?” Scott asked seriously.
Draco replied with a broad grin and a loud giggle.
“Not funny, young man...we have to clean all this up and then go to bed.”
“No bed...toys!”
“No toys, yes bed. Now come on, let’s pick up our mess.”
Draco stuck out his lower lip in a pout but did as he was told.
“No bed...” the baby tried once more, but Scott’s stern look told him he had already lost the battle.
Carefully, Scott picked up the little boy and carried him into his room.
“Alright, kid...sweet dreams,” Scott smiled, putting the baby into his crib.
“Kiss hug!” Draco held his arms out to Scott, leaning on the rails.
“How could I forget?” Scott picked the little one back up.
Draco hugged Scott around the neck and him a kiss on the lips.
“Love you Scott.”
“Aw I love you too bud,” Scott felt his heart melt, then kissed the baby again before setting him back down.
He turned off the light and slightly shut the door, leaving it open just enough that he could hear if Draco cried.
“He’s not yours is he?” Keith asked cautiously when Scott returned to the kitchen.
“No...Taylor’s. But I love him like he was mine, help take care of him.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Fine...I’m getting better.”
“Good. That’s good.”
“I know you didn’t come here just to see how I was doing...let’s get to the point.”
“I’m sorry, first off, for never being around. Dad wouldn’t let me, and that’s the only reason that I stayed away...cause I wanted to be there for you...I really did. And I’m sorry that you walked in on what you did last night...I had no idea that you’d be there, and that’s not how I wanted you to find out.”
“Why’d you leave?”
“I was shocked...I never imagined you’d be there...I was embarrassed...again, that’s not how I wanted you find out. I couldn’t face you.”
“Why’d you leave Landon there?”
“I wanted to be alone. You guys are all his friends...I figured he’d be okay.”
“He and I got into it at dinner...he tried to tell me that you never told him you had a brother,” Scott informed the other man.
“He wasn’t lying. When dad kicked me out, I left Keith Lowman and everything associated to that life behind. I changed my name to KC Graham–mom’s maiden name. I never talked to anyone about dad or you...”
“Nice....I appreciate it...do you know how often I’ve thought about you since you left?” Scott felt his anger and hurt rising. “Do you know how many times I wanted to talk to you or have you around and you weren’t there? And you just decided to erase me from you memory? Just because dad pissed you off, you pretended we didn’t exist anymore?”
“Scott, I’m sorry, okay? Dad threw me out because I was gay. He said he didn’t want me around you, so I blocked you out. It hurt that I couldn’t be around you...it hurt even more that dad could just throw me away. I had to deal somehow and the only time I didn’t hurt was when I didn’t think about you or him,” Keith explained, trying to justify his actions.
“Dad wouldn’t throw you out because you were gay, Keith...I’ve done a lot of stupid things and never, not once, has he even threatened to throw me out.”
“I was involved in a lot of anti-hate, liberal, gay rights groups, and I went to demonstrations and I got arrested a few times, and he didn’t agree with my cause, and he didn’t agree with my lifestyle, so he got fed up and threw me out.”
“You got arrested a few times, and you blame him for getting pissed off? Jesus Christ, Keith, what were you arrested for? Lemme guess–cause you’re gay. The whole police force made the decision to arrest the gays for being gay.”
“No. A few peaceful demonstrations and rallies got out of hand and I deserved every arrest that I was taken in for. But he shouldn’t have given up on me!”
“Whatever...I don’t really feel like having you around right now...after all, you’re having a conversation with someone who doesn’t exist in this life,” Scott glared. “Get out.”
“Scott, come on...”
“Get out. NOW.”
Keith gave his brother a sad look, then left.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” Scott burst into Taylor’s room, Draco on his hip, early Saturday morning.
“Thanks,” Taylor sat up groggily.
“So...it’s your day...whatcha wanna do?” Scott sat down on the side of the bed and set Draco down.
“Um...my parents offered to take us all out to dinner, so that’ll probably be nice to do.”
“Okay...who’s all comin’?”
“Well, me, you, Draco, obviously. Hayden and Brook...I wanted Landon to come but he’s still doing the whole ‘I need time to myself’ thing...”
“Why don’t you just stop by to say Happy Birthday to him and see what happens. I doubt he’ll be pissed off at you for thinking about him.”
“You think?...I did get him a present...”
“Yeah, go for it...and if he doesn’t come to dinner, he doesn’t come,” Scott shrugged.
The phone range and Taylor grabbed the cordless from her nightstand.
“Hello?” she answered.
“Happy Birthday,” Brooklynn chirped on the other end of the line.
“You live....it’s amazing. I haven’t heard from ya in a couple days, how you been?” Taylor smiled.
“Better than I’ve been in a long time, but I don’t wanna talk about it on the phone...what are we doin for your birthday?”
“Mom and dad are taking us all out to dinner. Mummy said seven sharp at her place....can you and Hayden make it?”
“Course we can! Can I come over early though, cause we’ve gotta talk...Taylor, I’m so happy. I’m like, cheesy retarded happy.”
“I can tell...why don’t you come over around four and we’ll just get ready together.”
“Sounds good. Hayden’s at work, but he wanted me to tell you Happy Birthday, lots of love, hugs and kisses, see you tonight.”
Taylor laughed. “I’ll see you later.”
“You gonna go see Landon?” Scott asked as soon as she had hung up the phone.
“Yeah, why?”
“I was gonna see if I could come with you...you know, if you don’t mind. I owe him an apology.”
“That’s very big of you, Scott...and of course you can come,” she kissed him on the cheek.
“Kiss kiss!” Draco crawled into his mother’s lap.
“Come here you...” she put her arms around him and kissed his cheek. “My precious...”
“Love you mommy,” Draco told Taylor as he clung to her neck.
“Love you too little one.”
And again the phone rang.
“I”ll get it,” Scott grabbed the cordless and answered, “Hello?”
“I’ll be right back,” Taylor whispered, picking up the baby and carrying him into his nursery.
“What should we wear today?” she smiled as she laid her son down on his changing table, then went to his closet to find him an outfit.
“Here we go...khakis and your little black turtleneck,” she brought the decided articles over and dressed Draco.
“Hey Taylor, “ Scott joined her as she was combing the baby’s hair. “You’re on your own with Landon this afternoon. That was my dad on the phone. Said he needed to talk to me.”
“Alrighty,” Taylor smiled as she picked her son up. “Whatcha think, Scott...how’s he look?”
“He’s the cutest damn thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
“Yeah...but I swear he looks more like S.A.M a little more everyday. Look at the grey eyes and that thick hair.”
“He’s got a lot of you, too, though. Either way, he’s still the cutest damn thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
Taylor grinned. “When are you leaving?”
“Bout an hour or so.”
“Can you keep an eye on him while I grab a shower real fast?”
“No problem,” Scott nodded and with his good arm took the baby from his friend.
A few hours later, Scott was gone and Taylor and Draco were ready for their day.
“Whatcha think, babe? Mummy look okay?” Taylor gave herself a once over in the mirror.
She was wearing a pair of baggy black hipster cords with a black baby-tee. Her hair was down and she had only put on minimal make-up–black liner, mascara and silver eye shadow.
“Pity!” Draco clapped his approval.
“Thanks, precious,” she smiled at her son. “Now we call to see if Landon’s home, and if he is, we’re off like a herd of turtles.”