Part 1

[this has been written for a while but I couldn’t think of a name, more to come! WARNING: This is a story about gay men and adorable little girls :) Enjoy, May<3]

Soft feet padded down the hall, seemingly soundless as they made their way into the bedroom.

He was still blissfully asleep when the ground beneath him started to shake and rumble.  In his mind an earthquake had begun.  He struggled to consiousness only to be meet with reality.

“GOOD MOOOORRRNNNINGGGGG UNCKY WES!!!!!!” 

Wes looked blearily at his niece, who was still bouncing up and down on his bed. 

“Morning Mary Anne, why are you up so early?”

“I’m just sooooo EXCITED!”  The little girl replied. 

Oh yes, today is the day she starts ‘Young Artists,’ the summer art program for 3 to 6 year olds. 

“Ok baby, but you know it’s not for another,” he glanced at his bedside clock to read it was only 4:30 am.  Wes groaned, “for another five hours.”

“But I can’t sleep anymoooore.” The 4 year old whined. “Puweeez, Uncky.  Get up and pway wif me.”  She pulled out all the tricks.  Holding his face in her tiny paws, giving those puppy-dog eyes.  Even over working the baby talk. 

‘This girl could get anything she wanted out of me’ Wes thought to himself, knowing just how tightly his niece had him wrapped around that bitty finger.

He had gotten custody of his Mary Anne when she was 18 months old.  Her ‘sperm donner’ was a dead beat and her mother couldn’t hold a job to save her life.  She just loved to party too much to make it to a steady paying job every morning and take care of a baby.  That was his sister, always worried about the next thrill and where to get more fun. 

He honestly didn’t know he had a niece until his sister showed up with social services to ask him to take the baby. 

Wes took one look into those small sleepy hazel eyes and his heart was lost.  He took the full custody and never looked back.

---

At 9 AM he started to get the small child ready, combing her hair and trying his best to put it up in a pony for her.  He may be gay but his hair styling skills sucked.

Wes marched a bouncing tot to the car and strapped her into her car set.  The whole while attempting to answer every question she threw at him.

“What will we get to do?” Mary Anne asked for the hundrendth time.

“Art, Sweetie.”

“I know that, but will we get to use clay!? You never let me play wif clay at home!”  She started bouncing again with this new thought.

The excited queations and the possiblities continued the entire way to the building hosting the program.  When they stopped Wes honestly thought Mary Anne would bust through her straps and dash like a mad woman to the entrance.

They entered the building and signed in at the front desk.  The building was really nice and Wes had a few doubts on whether the owners knew what they had in store.  Children can always be counted on to make a mess. Specially when handling paints and such.

The room they went to was covered from top to bottom in sheets and tarps.  There were miniature esales set all around as well as small tables and chairs.  

“Well I gotta give them credit.” Wes mumbled to himself.

A woman with reddish brown hair and vivid blue eyes approached quickly to greet them.  She seemed familiar to Wes but he couldn’t place her.

“Welcome to Young Artists! My name is June. Are you here to make a master piece?” The woman bent to asked Mary Anne. The name not sounding familiar, Wes brushed off the feeling.

“Yes!”

“It’s all I’ve heard about for days.” Wes stated, chuckling softly.  His Mary Anne cannot contain herself.  He could feel her vibrating with excitment.

“Well ok then, let’s go get started.  If you would come with me, we’ll get signed up and then started creating!”

The little girl squealed, pulled Wes behind her as she quickly followed June. 

When they were all signed up, they woman settled them at a table and started to point out where suplies were located.

“And don’t worry about any messes, we are ready for them.”  She said with a twinkle in her eyes.

“Yeah, I see that.  When I saw how nice the building was I started to wonder if the owner new what they had in store.” Wes laughed.

“Yes, well it took a lot of planning and pleading to get this to happen. The owner being my brother helped a little too.” June winked and we both laughed.

“Uncky Wes, why are you talking to the wady like that? I thought you said you liked other mens more then wadies.”  Wes blushed a little, not thinking his niece would state that so bluntly.  He should have expected it thought, she is a very honest little girl.

Wes cleared his throat and tried to explain, “I don’t feel the need to hide things from her, but sometimes it tends to bit me in the rear.”  He looked at the lady appologetically. “And I was just being friendly Sweety, just because I like to date men instead of women doesn’t mean I’m not friends with ladies.”

“It’s ok.” June laughed, “one, I am a teacher so I’m used to the blunt honesty and two, my brother is gay.  So you are covered on both counts.”

Relieved, Wes, along with June and the other teachers got started on helping their young minds create their master pieces.

About an hour into the creation process, a man dressed in black slacks and a blue button up shirt opened at the collar and rolled to his elbows, walked into the room. 

  When Wes spotted the tall man with red brown hair and vivid blue eyes, he thought he’d forgotten how to breathe.

Justin. 

He wanted to hide.  From helping out his niece, Wes was a mess.  He had blue paint on his check, puprle on his neck and a clay hand print on his forearm.  His clothes also did not fair too well.  Not to mention their poor quality in the first place.  Wes dressed down for this obviously not want his or Mary Annes good clothing to be ruined. 

June walked up to Justin quickly and gave him a hug and peck on the check.  When she turned to show him around Wes then understood why he recognized her.  They looked almost identical, besides the obvious that is. 

His eyes followed the two around the room, trying to think of what to do before their tour came to the table he and Mary Anne resided.  Should he hurry up and leave? No that was too cowardly, and his niece would pitch a fit.  That was sure to draw his attention.

“And these little artists are scuplting.”  June stated as she approached their table.  Wes looked away quickly, hoping Justin wouldn’t recognize him.

“Wes?”

He did.

Part 2

[This is the second part of Baggage, if you have not notice it is a short story so only about one or two more after this.  Enjoy! May<3]

Wes cleared his throat, “J-Justin, Hey!”

Justin was looking at him oddly, but Wes knew it was mostly likely his messy appearance and clothing.

“Oh, you two know each other?” June asked, catching sight of another teacher struggling with four upset children. “Wow, small word! Well, Brother, I need to help out a teacher, be right back.”

And just like that, Wes was left staring at the man he left behind almost 3 years ago. They had just started casually dating when Mary Anne came into Wes’ life. He knew they might have had something great, but they weren’t in a relationship yet. It was far to new to even think of introducing a baby into the mix.

Wes loved Mary Anne, but he will always regret not seeing where a relationship with Justin would lead.

“So…you’re a teacher now?” Justin asked, still looking oddly at him, speaking coolly indifferent. Almost as if they were acquaintances from years ago.

“Umm, no. I’m -” Wes was interrupted by a familiar wail.

“Unnnnkkyyy Weeeeeesss,” Mary Anne flew into his arms as he crouched down to her.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” Wes rubbed her back softly as she hiccuped in her distress.

“H-he, he smoosheded it!” She wailed once more.

“Who did sweetie? And what did they smoosh?”

“T-that, that meany head! H-e,” she stopped to point out the offender, a small little boy who looked about ready to cry himself, “He ruined my culpter!”

“I’m sure it was an accident baby.”

Mary Anne continued to ball her eyes out against Wes’ shoulder. He expertly bounced and shh’d her has he stood again. Looks like last nights lack of sleep has caught up with her. Wes saw that Justin was still watching, he almost forgot he was there, almost.

“I’m here with someone.” He stated finishing his comment from earlier, smiling as Mary Anne sniffled. Now he can a snot to his list of substances on his clothing.

Justin looked at him curiously then at Mary Anne.

“Would you like to lay her down in my office for a while?”

“That would be really good, I don’t think she will let me leave yet, but she really needs a n-a-p. Thanks.”

Justin lead the way down the hall and into one of the elevators. We stopped at the top floor and went down another corridor, stopping at two expensive looking doors.

Justin breezed in without pause so Wes followed, carrying the now dead weight of his niece. Taking in the large executive office, Wes moved to the seating area and laid his girl on to the sofa gently, taking extra care not to wake her. Goodness knows she is a terror if woken when still tired. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her tiny ear, Wes stood to face the other man.

Wes took a deep breath, “Justin-”

“So how’s life?” Justin asked nonchalantly, sitting in his chair behind the desk.

He started shuffling through papers like he didn’t care for an answer, which couldn’t be further from the truth. Justin really liked Wes, he was drawn in by the ‘boy-next-door’ charm he gave off. Of course the visual aspect helped a lot as well. With the golden straw colored hair and thickly lashed hazel eyes and tan skin, Wes made an amazing looking man.

He had honestly thought they had something special, Justin thought he had found the right one this time. It seemed Wes did not feel the same though, breaking things off between them without even a reason.

“Justin.” Wes repeated firmly. “We need to talk,” he finished.

“I thought I was.”

“Not casual greetings, I mean,” Wes took another deep breath, biting his lip in a nervous fashion, “I mean about us.” He glanced lovingly at the sleeping girl.

“I’m guessing there’s more to it then you let on?”

“A bit.” Wes felt incredibly nervous for some reason. Would this make Justin hate him? Would Justin want to try again? Wes stopped his thoughts as best as he could, not wanting to dwell or get his hopes up.

“If you feel you must, take a seat.” Justin waved to the guest chair residing in front of his desk.

Wes swallowed roughly as he took a seat. It didn’t seem like Justin even cared for a reason. He probably moved on, who would pine over a guy you just started seeing when he left with no real explanation? Plenty of fish in the sea as they say.

“Mary Anne is mine.” Wes started with the easiest topic, waiting on his feelings and thoughts for as long as possible.

Justin gave him a confused look.

“Yours? I heard her call you ‘Unky’.”

Wes grinned at his Mary Anne’s term coming from this man’s mouth. Something about a handsome man in professional clothing speaking ‘baby talk’ had Wes’ heart reacting oddly.

Wes steeled himself, knowing this story would be hard coming out, and probably result in nothing but the releasing of that grain of doubt in his head that said he had done the wrong thing.

“Yes, I’m technically her Uncle. Mary Anne is my sister’s kid, but now she belongs to me. I am her guardian legally.”

Wes looked into Justin’s beautiful blues, now for the hard part.

Feelings.

“My sister came to me with her 18 month old daughter about two and a half years ago. I couldn’t let her be taken into foster care.”

He saw the realization in Justin’s eyes when the timeline clicked into place, and nodded his head.

“I really though we had something, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask you to take on that kind of baggage with a new relationship. And to be honest, knowing my struggle with raising her at first, the responsibility, I’m not sure we could’ve survived the stress.”

‘There,’ Wes thought, ‘Its off my chest.’

Justin stared at Wes for what felt like hours, then stood and calmly walked to the door.

Is he leaving?

Part 3

[Here you go guys! Thank you all for being patient while I geeked out on Vampire diaries :P I’m not super happy with this one, its just not coming out the way it plays in my head, but oh well i guess…Its a short one, but I wanted to put the ‘date’ in another part to make it an even 4 lol sorry….I might add a ahem dirty part if you all approve.  Let me know your thoughts …on everything! Oh and I’ve decided on Matt Davis as Justin :) Blame The Vamp Diaries marathon and convention ;P but I think he is fitting! Enjoy, May<3]

              Justin stood from his desk moving slowly to the door.

What was he to think? To feel? In a way he understood Wes’ reasons for what he did, but Justin still couldn’t help but feel angry.

            Who was Wes to decide something like this, something that should involve all parties, by himself?  Justin didn’t know what would have happened had Wes informed him of all this, but he still should have been told. 

            Justin reached the door, closing it firmly and locking it softly.  He didn’t know why he felt the need to lock it as well.  He didn’t want to be interrupted now that everything was coming out.

            When he turned and strolled back to Wes, passed the still sleeping girl, Justin noticed the slight look of relief in the other man.  His shoulders lost some tension it seemed. 

What, did he think Justin would leave? 

Not when he finally had the chance to settle things.

            He stood in front of Wes, crossing his arms as he tried to speak his mind.

            “I’m not going to lie to you, Wes, I’m pretty pi-” Justin looked towards the young sleeper, “I’m pretty upset.”  Justin corrected.

            “I thought I felt something different with you, but the way you left meant I was the only one feeling it.”

            Wes felt his heart sinking. Justin was using past tense.  Does that mean he doesn’t feel anything anymore?

            “But I did too, Justin!?  I swear it.  My biggest regret is never seeing where our relationship would lead.”

            Wes looked to the man standing, arms crossed almost as if shielding himself, begging him to understand.

            Justin gave a large sigh of frustration and maybe a little relief.

            “Let me show you.”  He said, unsure of where he was going with this but still feeling it was right.

            “Show me?”

            What did Justin mean by that? He didn’t need to see how mad Justin was.  It hurts enough to simply hear that he might have been wrong.

            “I’ll show you I can be good enough, that I can be ok with it.”  Once again Justin looked to the girl.  She was a cutie that was for sure.  He wondered what Wes would think if he told him how he really felt about children.

            “One date, we can go to the park or somewhere she can join us.”  Justin closed the distance between them, looking deep into Wes’ eyes.  He needed to say yes.  It was all Justin could do not to beg out loud.

As he grew near, Wes nervously licked his lips, drawing Justin’s eyes to them. He couldn’t resist.  He leaned in slowly, giving Wes time to withdraw.  When he saw no resistance, Justin softly brushed his lips across Wes’ plump ones. 

“Go out with me.” Justin whispered.

 He held his breath, praying Wes would give it a try.  He didn’t know why but even knowing, or just thinking, that Wes didn’t feel the same, Justin still felt his heart beat pick up when he saw Wes in the event room. 

                        ‘One date,’ Wes thought, ‘he still wants me after all I did?’

            “Of course.”  Wes couldn’t stop his grin.  He might actually get the man he’d been longing for years now. 

            Wes knew it wasn’t a done deal, this would be a trial.  To see if they still had chemistry and if the addition of a child would change things.  But they were both willing to try, and that was good enough to please him.

---

            Wes was nervous.  He never expected to be doing this with Justin again let alone so soon after finally seeing him.  What if he didn’t feel it anymore but Wes did? Would Justin like his Mary Anne? Did he even like children? Not everyone does.

            Thoughts plagued him constantly until the moment came. 

Wes had Mary Anne in her nicest summer dress and shoes. A yellow cotton dress with white, pink and purple flowers printed on it with white sandals that had a flower above the toes. 

Wes, however, changed his clothing three times and still did not feel he had it right. Justin was a business man, would he be dressed casual or in his dress clothes like work?  Did he like designer clothes?  Would he detest the fact Wes had nothing designer? 

They had to make a good impression on him.  It didn’t matter that Justin had asked for the chance to prove himself, Wes knew he was also showing Justin they were worth it.

            He took a deep breath.  Wes knew this wasn’t their first date but it still had that feel.  And in a way it was because Wes knew having Mary Anne had changed him at least a little.  He was a parent now.  Would Justin still like the new him? Was there too much change to salvage things?

            ‘Just stop it, Wes. You are being ridiculous! He obviously wants to try again so there must be some feelings for you in him.’ Wes told himself.

            He pulled on a light blue polo shirt, nice yet still a bit casual, then his best kakis.  Making his hair look presentable, Wes took a few calming breaths.

            “Unky? You ’kay?” His sweet asked.

            Wes looked into those hazel eyes and saw the love she held for him.  She was always going to be there.  If things with Justin didn’t pan out he would still have Mary Anne.  He may regret the loss of his budding relationship with Justin, but he would never regret his decision to take his beautiful little girl into his life.

            Wes gave her a loving smile, “yes baby I’m fine.  Are you ready?”

            “Yes, we awe going on a date!”  She bounced, giggling, showing her excitement.

            Wes laughed along as well, feeling the excitement and happiness seeping into him from her addicting joy.  This was going to be good.  They were going to have a great time getting to know each other once more.  And if by any chance the still had it, well then Wes’ was more than ready to follow through this time around, to explore the possibility of ‘them.’

[Check out Justin –> Yum ^.^]

Part 4

[FINALLY! Enjoy <3]

Justin arrived at Wes’ door five minutes early. He was nervous, first date jitters in a way, but mostly because he knew today was important. Justin hoped what he had planned was perfect for tonight.

He took a deep calming breath and knocked on the door. Not even a second after he finished, Justin heard a loud squealing and what sounded like a tiny elephant running inside. A moment later the door opened to reveal a sexy looking Wes’ with a shy smile, and a bouncing Mary Anne just behind him.

“Sorry.” Wes said quietly, “Would you like to come in for a minute?”

Justin nodded and entered when Wes moved to the side. He could tell Mary Anne was ready to burst, so he leaned down to her.

“Why hello miss, how are you this evening?” Her look quickly turned shy as she dropped her gaze, only glancing up at him through her lashes.

“Good.” She said quietly.

Justin pulled the hand from behind his back, presenting her with a little white flower. “This is for you, are you ready for our date tonight?”

Her eyes grew large, and a squeal started to work its way out once more. She jumped up and down and then into his arms for a quick hug before she snatched the flower and ran to Wes.

“Unky LOOK!” the little girl thrust the flower towards her Uncle presenting it even though Wes had been watching the whole time. “Dustin got me a fwower!” She brought it to her tiny nose and inhaled like it was her last breath of fresh air.

“I see sweetie! Wasn’t that nice of him, lets go put it in some water and the put it in your room?”

Justin watched them walk into what looked like the kitchen with a small smile on his face. This was going to be fun it seemed.

“Dustin, where are we going on our date!?” Mary Anne asked excitedly as soon as they started driving.

“It’s a surprise so you’ll have to wait and see.” Justin smiled back at her. To Wes’ awe, she did. He had never seen his niece wait so patiently. She talked and gave guesses but she was on her best behavior and never fussed.

---

Wes knew Justin had chosen well the minute Mary Anne saw the ferris wheel. She gave a squeal of delight as she recognized what it was.

“It’s just like on tbee, Unky!” She was already bouncing, excite to experience what she had only ever seen cartoon character’s do. Wes had yet to have a chance to bring her, hoping to at some point because of all the fun memories he had from childhood spent at a Fair.

Wes turned to Justin as he parked the car and gave him his best smile, and a wink. “Good choice, we better watch it though or she might bounce into outer space, let alone if she gets to try and cotton c-a-n-d-y.”

They both laughed joyously as Wes pulled Mary Anne from the car, grasping her hand firmly before she could take off.

They spent many hours at the Fair, Wes and Justin each taking turns with Mary Anne on the two person rides. She seemed to be very fond of Justin already. He did not even need to bribe her with delicious pink cotton candy, but she gladly took the offer anyway. They ate corn dogs and Wes got Justin to try funnel cake. Wes still couldn’t believe he never had it before, but part of him wondered if it was just an excuse to get Wes to feed him some off of his plate. Wes did not mind either way.

They took one last trip around the Ferris wheel, Mary Anne snuggled up right in between them, Justin’s arm slung across the back to rest gently on Wes’ shoulder. He could not help the feel that came over him at that moment. Wes felt complete, a unit, a family. It seemed silly, knowing it was only their ‘first date,’ but the feeling was still there.

By then end of the night, Wes had three stuffed animals, one from each of them for his sweetie and one for Wes himself, from Justin. Mary Anne started to slow and wine a bit, singling a tired little girl. Wes looked to his full hands, about to ask Justin if he would mind holding them, when Mary Anne turned to Justin with he arms up. Justin reach down with ease and swung the little one up into his arms. Her head rested on his shoulder, and her eye slowly closed as she feel asleep.

The sight before him made his heart melt. The man of his dreams and his baby. He did feel a small kernel of jealous at the two. His baby no longer need only him, and he had to admit, shamefully, that he wished he could be in her place. Shaking it off, he knew it was a beautiful site. In his mind, his biggest fear had been relieved.

Justin looked to him with a small smile and held out his hand to the other man. Wes took it gladly and they walked to the car as one.

---

Justin carried the sleeping child as Wes lead the way to her room. He set the sleeping beauty down gently, only earning a slight grumble as she was moved. He couldn’t help but smile slightly at her cuteness.

As they walked out of the room, closing the door softly, Wes turned to Justin. “Would you like to stay for a drink or something?”

“Sure.” Justin wasn’t going to turn down alone time with this man.

Wes poured two glasses of wine and they settled down onto the sofa. Wes angled his body slightly, causing his knee to graze Justin’s thigh tauntingly.

After a while of just idol chatting, Justin cleared his throat, “So I do have a confession to make.”

“Do you now?” Wes looked to Justin, confused. This was straying a little from there previous conversation on gardens. What does he not like flowers?

“Yes, about kids.”

‘Oh no,’ Wes thought, ‘he hates them, this is the sorry but a rug-rat isn’t in my plans for the future talk.’ The one he had been hoping to avoid years ago.

Wes’ gulped a little, “And?”

“Well I don’t want you to think I am basing my decisions on this, but I have always wanted them. Ever since I was a child myself, then when I found out I was gay, I thought I’d never be a father. Adoption was always possible yeah, but I just got it into my head it would never happen for me.”

“You-you like them?” Wes couldn’t believe his ears. If this was true then…

Justin nodded as if he knew Wes’ thought process.

“I just want you to know that about me, and I also want you to know, that even with our past, I am still willing to make this work, make us work. If you are that is.”

Wes hesitantly shook his head yes, “But what if we are too different now?”

Instead of answering, Justin kissed Wes softly at first, almost testing. When Wes let out a breathy moan, he increased the pressure. Nipping lightly at the other man’s lip, Justin deepened the kiss, tongue sliding into the warm cavern. Justin groaned, reveling in the feel of Wes. He could spend eternity like this, with these lips on his.

Justin laid down gently pulling Wes on top of him. Done in heat of the moment, Justin quickly changed his mind as desire shot through him. Now was not the time or place for this. Soon, very soon, Justin hopped they could continue, but right now they were too new, still getting used to the idea of ‘them.’ not to mention the sleeping child only a closed door away.

He pulled Wes head away, kissing his lips softly one last time. Wes sighed and opened his eye to gaze down at the man he thought he would never get another chance with.

“I take it you are not worried about any changes that may have happened in our time apart?” Wes ask, resting his head on Justin’s chest as their breathing eased, and returned to normal.

“I’ll take it all, every change, baggage included.” Justin smile softly, kissing Wes forehead lightly as they snuggled into the couch.

THE END

[Well that is it folks, the end to my short story, I hope you all liked it.  it isnt as detailed and amazing as I wanted, but I struggled for weeks with getting anything written down.  so the fact i was able to upload is relief to me.  I decided on riley from twilght: eclipse movie, Xavier Samuel, good? Hope you liked it and let me know your thoughts! Love hearing them :) May<3]