Brian’s fingers tussled through his hair while he looked out the window. His aunt’s Roberta and Grace played with Jared out in the sand. The couple’s home rested right on the beach, every day Jared would be outside playing in the waves. Brian sighed to himself as he thought back to the conversation he and Jared had that morning.

“Did you know a boy in my class has two dads?” Jared spoke quietly looking over his cereal bowl, gazing right into his dads startled brown eyes.

“No buddy I didn’t.” Brian replied turning his attention back to his breakfast.

“Do I have two daddies?” Jared pondered out loud, taking another bite of his cereal before pushing the nearly empty bowl away.

“No buddy why would you think that?” Brian wondered, standing from his chair and grabbing the discarded bowls, cleaning them. He wouldn’t want to leave his aunts house a mess. That was just his excuse though; he couldn’t look Jared in the eye.

“Well Kevin’s daddies hold hands and I saw you and Zacky doing it too.” Jared spoke waking around the island in the middle of the room, hopping up on the counter across from his dad.

“It’s not what you think little man.” Brian tried but Jared wouldn’t hear those lies.

“Kevin said that his daddies kiss too and I saw Zack kissing you in your room the night before we left.” Jared mumbled looking down bashfully when his dad glanced at him.

“What did you see? What did you hear Jared?” Brian asked a little too sternly.

“Nothing! I just walked up to the door, I was going to say goodnight but when I opened the door he was sitting on you and you guys were kissing.” Jared defended himself. Brian let out a loud sign and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“And how does that make you feel?” Brian leaned back against the counter looking down at his feet.

“Happy.” Jared said quietly, Brian looked up in surprise.

“Why does that make you happy?” Brian asked stepping up to his son and hugged him.

“Because, Kevin’s daddies love each other so that means you love Zack too right? You’re not lonely anymore, I can tell.” Jared spoke into his dads shoulder. Brian pulled back with tears rimming his eyes.

“As long as I have you I am happy buddy.” Brian sniffled and smiled down at his son.

“But you want Zacky too right daddy?” Jared asked innocently fiddling with his fingers.
“I do, but I can’t be with him.” Brian mumbled thinking that his son would not hear the last part.

“Why not?” With frowned brows Jared jumped down to the ground.

“It’s complicated bud, me and Zacky feel like its better if we are not together right now.” Brian closed his eyes to keep the tears from falling.

“But you want to be. Isn’t that enough?” Jared walked over to the dining table and sat down again. Brian followed suit and sat across from him.

“It’s not that easy buddy. Some people are against two boys being together.” Brian folded his hands together on the table preparing to go into a long description when his son asked ‘why.’ “Well years ago people thought it was going against god for two boys or girls to be together. As time went by more people were accepting but there were those who refused. Now days they have groups supporting gay relationships and people are more accepting but that doesn’t stop others from picking on gays’ children because of their parent’s preferences.”

“Are you gay daddy?” Jared tapped his fingers on the table impatiently.

“Yeah buddy I’m gay.” Why was that so hard to admit to a six year old? Brian let out a deep sign, well now it was out in the open. He couldn’t take it back.

“You said people pick on kids because of their parents being gay? Is that why you can’t be with Zacky? Are you afraid?” Jared pondered.

“Yeah buddy I am afraid what people will do when you get older because of me. Your dad has made some choices in life that some people don’t like and I don’t want you paying for them.” Brian leaned back in his chair.

“I want you to be with Zack daddy. I want you to be happy.” Jared smiled across the table at his dad.

“You have no idea what that would get you into once you get older buddy.” Brian mumbled.

“But I’m like you dad. I can get through anything.”

Thinking back on that situation now, Brian had a hard time believing that his son was so understanding of his sexuality. Yeah he doesn’t really understand what that could entitle for him as he grows up but he wanted his dad happy. Brian wanted to be happy but he was still scared about what would happen to Jared once he hit high school. He had heard a few stories about kids being bullied because of their parent’s sexual preferences.

Brian made his way down to the beach to meet up with his aunt’s and son. When Roberta took Jared into the water Brian decided to talk to Grace. “How do you guys do it? You have teenagers in school; don’t they get picked on because you are two women raising kids?”

“Brian in these times yeah kids are getting picked on in the school systems but that happens for many reasons. Kids just like to bully others but you would be surprised at how accepting some of them can be. Yeah its hard thinking that what makes you happy can affect your kids but all you can do is sit back and help them through what ever life throws at them.” Grace spoke quietly.

“But I can prevent it if I stay away from men until he’s out of school.” Brian stated leaning back in the sand. It was a really warm day but with many kids being in school the beach was near empty.

“Brian you know he wants you to be happy and that doesn’t entitle you being alone. If kids pick on him go knock down some parents doors or better yet help him make friends that way when people but him he has someone to rely on that is his own age. Take him to group sessions for the young. Many schools host those things so kids can make friends. Brian all you can do is support him, I know it fucking sucks not being able to do more but he’s a strong kid just like his dad.” Grace smiled down at her nephew by marriage.

“But what if he hates me for it later on?” Brian closed his eyes and placed his hands behind his head, adoring the hot sun against his skin.

“Brian he loves you and he supports you even at this age. He will probably throw some punches if kids talk shit about his dad when he’s a teen.” Grace chuckled, whacking her nephew in the stomach playfully. Brian made an ‘oof’ noise but otherwise smiled.

Back home Zack sat looking at the computer screen. He had talked to both Jimmy and Johnny about Brian’s situation with is father and both agreed that what was going on was illegal. Zack’s brother had caught back up with them both after realizing that they were Zack’s high school buddies. They all joked around about Matty following them around as teens. Zack had contacted a lawyer and had him look into what was going on. A week later she called back wanting to meet with Zack, during that time the woman looked over the contracts and told him that there was no way out of his contract unless he went to court. Knowing that Dirty Visual uses the same initial contract with every employee she informed Zack that Brian Sr. has no right’s to pay off the company to keep Brian if he didn’t sign another contract three years after his initial. Brian had been out of contract for a long time, but the company pretended that he was still legally bound.

Walking form the room Zack sighed to himself. He felt all the fight leave him. As he drove home many thoughts swarmed through his head. He knew Brian would be relieved to find out the news but he would still refuse to be with Zack because his contract isn’t up. He couldn’t pay for a whole hearing so he was pretty much screwed. Zack was so distracted by his thoughts that he didn’t see the truck through the intersection as he drove strait, he only felt the impact.