“I got a call from Jared’s teacher today.” Brian and Zack were walking side by side down one of the isles. To their left were all sorts of giant wild cat habitats.

“Oh yeah; what did he want?” Zack raised a brow. ‘This should be good.’

“Well he told me to start off with that Jared was late; that’s a no brainier the dumb ass. Then he proceeded to inform me that the tips of my son’s hair were an inappropriate color for students. After words he went into a long rant about how disrespectful you are and how you are no longer welcome in his classroom. That was followed by a lecture about me letting my kid fall into the hands of such an ‘invalid’ person. He then proceeded to tell me that he things you and Jared have an unnatural relationship. I informed him of the situation this morning but stayed on that one point. He told me how you seem possessive over Jared and how he thinks I should invest in better friends.” With each thing Brian named off his smile became bigger and bigger. “Care to tell me your side of the story? There is no need but I just want to see why he stated that last bit.”

“Well I informed him of why Jared was late and he asked why you didn’t bring him. I had to let him know that you were headed to work and all of that. He told me pretty much that it is your job to bring him to school and I went into a long rant. In there I told him the reason why you were at my house was that Jared fell asleep and you put us to bed. That got me a nice reaming and he was going to say something about legalities so I said something along the lines of that when kids have nightmares they sleep in their parents beds so he couldn’t arrest me for it. He made it a point that I wasn’t Jared’s parent so I had no standing with my previous comment.” Zack looked over to see Brian giving him a thoughtful look. “That got me set off on how I helped you while I was living with you guys and he mentioned something about how I had said that I previously lived with you. He made a douched comment as to why I don’t anymore and I happily filled him in on how active I have been in Jared’s life even not living with you. He took that in the wrong way and now I apparently have an unnatural relationship with your boy.”

“My boy huh?” That caught Zack’s attention his eyes snapped up to meet Brian’s. “From what I heard you consider him yours too. And that did not come from the asshole my son calls a teacher.”

A blush lit up Zack’s cheeks at the same time as Brian entwined their fingers while they walked. “I was angered Brian I said a lot of shit.”

“Don’t take it back; you saying that meant the world to him. He came home so happy and told me all about what you had said about how you should be considered a parent in the school boards eyes. He’s been beaming all night.” Brian stopped walking and turned to Zack. “He wants to be yours just as much as you want him to be Zack. He has never been this attached to anyone I have ever met before. He loves you.”

“You know I love him Brian. I just wish I could be more active in his life you know? I know you and I aren’t anything legally binding but if something happens where you are concerned I want to be able to take care of him for you and not get reamed for it.” Zack looked up into Brian’s eyes.

“You want to be his dad in the eyes of everyone else. That way no one could criticize the way you are with him. You don’t just want to be seen to everyone as his dad’s boyfriend.” Brian whispered inching closer to Zack. Their lips were nearly touching when Zack spoke.

“Yes.” Zack was the one to close the space between them; letting his lips encase Brian’s top lip. Brian gently sucked in one of Zack’s cold lip rings; letting his tongue caress it so it would become warm. Meting half way Brian turned his head to deepen the kiss just as Zack parted his lips for entrance. When they pulled apart both men were panting for air.

“He already considers you a father figure Zack and you look to him as a son. You guys have had all this time to bond lately and I’m really happy about that but at the same time that scares me.” They found a small café inside the Zoo to order coffee from. When they had their orders they sat at a table.

“Why does it scare you?” Zack wondered holding his hand out for Brian to take across the table. Both men smiled when their fingers entwined.

“I’m afraid of you getting close to him then realizing that you don’t want us. Or of you leaving again if something bad happens; it broke his heart the last time you left. Now that you guys have bonded so much I would hate to see what it would do to him now.” Brian took a sip of his hot coffee, never taking his eyes off of Zack’s.

“I have no intention on leaving Brian. I knew I would come back to you in the end, why do you think I left Nix with you? So if I chickened out I would have to go back and get him eventually. I am so sorry for hurting you two. Brian I love you guys and I want to be every bit as important to both of you as I was back then. I want to be the best friend, the lover and the father figure. I fucked up and I know that; I should have called or come around to at least spend time with him. I won’t make the mistake of leaving again.” Zack tried to convince his boyfriend.

“What if you fall out of love with me Zack? Years from now you wont want to be tied down by another mans child.” Brian looked serious and that’s the part that scared Zack the most.

“If you and I ever split up I would ask you to see him. If by some chance that we did fall out of love I would still keep in contact with him somehow. Brian I’m the type of person that once you become a big part of my life, of me, I won’t give you up.” Zack’s fingers swirled gently against the back of Brian’s hand.

“And we begin to slowly rebuild.” Brian spoke softly in a rhetorical sentence. All of the sudden he let out a deep chuckle.

“What’s so funny?” Zack wondered placing his hand in Brian’s.

“You do kiss on the second- first date.” Both men burst out laughing.

Brian and Zack slowly made their way around the park and had diner at the Rainforest café just talking and enjoying each others company. When it was time to go Brian drove Zack home and walked him up to his door. They stood outside in the porch light for a few minutes before speaking.

“Why do I feel like a kid taking home their first date?” Brian teetered back and forward on the heel of his foot.

“Why do I feel like a girl who just went on her first date?” Zack wondered pulling Brian to him by his belt loops.

“Is your heart racing?” Zack nodded; Brian leaned forward so their lips were almost touching. “Do you feel like you don’t want this night to end?” Again Zack nodded looking up into Brian’s eyes. “Do you feel nervous that my lips are so close to yours?”

“Yes.” Zack let out a gentle breath; the warmth caused Brian to shiver.

“Do you want me to kiss you as bad as I want to?” Again his words were a whisper.

“Yes,” Brian’s lips pressed snugly against Zack’s. The shorter man wrapped his arms around Brian’s neck, bringing him in closer. They deepened the kiss by letting their tongues mingle together. Brian nibbled on Zack’s bottom lip and in turn let the younger man suck gently on his tongue. They teased one another with their tongues for a few minutes before Zack pulled away. “Good night.”

“Good night baby.” With one last peck Zack turned around and opened the door.

“Sleep well.” Zack slowly backed inside.

“You too.” Pulling Brian to him once more by his belt loop Zack pecked his lips. “I love you.”

“And I love you.” A perfect end to a perfect night.

-A little extra side for you all-

The next morning Brian got Jared ready for school a little early. The little boy had been excited the whole night. The first thing Brian did was take Jared to the bathroom and find his spray in colors; he spiked Jared’s hair just like Zack had the other morning. This time though instead of using just green he put in every color Jared wanted. Instead if it being just the tips Brian went down a little bit further and got the roots too in some areas. It looked pretty bad ass when he was done; especially when he painted the tips black. When he showed the little boy Jared just stared at his hair with wide eyes; not really believing that his dad was cool enough to do what he had done.

“You like it?” Brian asked with a raised brow and a half smirk.

“Yes!” Jared screeched throwing himself at his father in a big hug.

Brian quickly packed his and Jared’s lunch and put on his work uniform. He locked up the house and buckled Jared into his seat. He even went as far as bringing Blotie with him so Jared could share him at share and tell. When they arrived at school Brian let Jared carry the puppy as they made their way to the classroom. Many of the mothers dropping off their children said a quiet hi to Brian. Most of them were parents from the birthday party. Some of the moms even gave Jared thumbs up for his cool hair and puppy.

Mr. Kale’s eyes widened when they stepped through the door. Brian had somehow accidentally forgotten that the stout man doesn’t like pets in his classroom. ‘Whoops.’

“Mr. Haner, how are you today?” Mr. Kale asked shaking Brian’s hand; looking up into Brian’s eyes as he spoke.

“I am fine Stewart. I just figured I would stop by today and let Jared share Blotie as his show and tell.” Mr. Kale gave Brian an odd look. “Share and tell, show and tell what ever you guys call in now days. That won’t be a problem will it?”

Mr. Kale slowly shook his head all the while eying Jared’s hair. “No, No it will not Brian.” The older man spoke the last word so quietly it was a whisper.

“Good. By the way while sitting in bed last night,” Brian paused just long enough to see that familiar sparkle in Mr. Kale’s eyes. “I looked over the school dress code and there is no where in it that says my boy can’t color his hair.”

“It is harmful to the child.” Mr. Kale spoke in an even tone.

“Something you spray in his hair that washes out later that day is not harmful to him.” Brian stated. “I make sure things are safe before they are allowed in my home; including the people who enter it.”

“I beg to differ on that. That one boy you let move in with you doesn’t seam too good for the Jared.” Mr. Kale was looking out at the group of children; he pinpointed where Jared was.

“And why not? Zack is always around and helping me take care of my son. He is like a father to my boy and Jared treats him as such. I can assure you Mr. Kale my boyfriend is perfectly safe for my son to be around.” Brian smirked when the old mans eyes widened at the word boyfriend.

“Do you know what the boy does for a living?” Mr. Kale leaned in towards Brian and whispered.

“He is currently unemployed.” Brian stated with his arms crossed glaring daggers in to the old man.

“He is not.” He leaned in closer; Brian got a whiff of aftershave and pizza. “He works for a porn industry.”

“And how would you know this? What is your source?” Brian began to panic; what if Mr. Kale had seen a video of he and Zack together? What if they took Jared away from him for previously being in porn?

“Well I was on the internet the other day and I accidentally clicked a link. And what would you know; his face appeared on the screen so I clicked it. Come to find out it was a video of him and another boy. But he seamed to be violated; they were real rough.” Brian’s heart nearly stopped. Did Johnny lie to him about Zack not fucking anyone else since he got back on set of Dirty Visual? “Go to a site called flash bash and you can see for your self.”

Brian breathed a sigh of relief. So he didn’t know about Dirty Visual. But something was bothering him. Mr. Kale had seen his boyfriend at his weakest. He had seen Zack being beaten and pleasured at the same time. This man could see them and so could thousands of other men. “I already know of my boyfriends past work experiences. I would appreciate it if you kept your nose out of our business.”

Brian stuck around while Jared showed off Blotie but soon left. While in the car he made a phone call telling the person of his concerns. “I’ll see what I can do for you Brian.” “

“Thank you Pauline.”