dreamlikenewyork | "Think we're in for a big surprise!"

Entry tags:

"Think we're in for a big surprise!"

Who: Kyan Wilson and Trey Wilson
What: Big News!
Where: Chester-Wilson Home, NYC
When: After this

Kyan's day had been stupidly busy and it was hard to keep his head in the game, all things considered. He smashed out a training session with Sawyer, had meetings his manager and Caden, did a radio interview and somehow managed to discreetly dodge questions about Justin, and still did the grocery shopping so they didn't run out of toilet paper and put a load of laundry on when he got home. He even managed to duck home before lunch when Reecy decided she needed an impromptu stress relief session and he realised if she was going to be that horny for the entire pregnancy, he was going to need to invest in Red Bull shares.

Once he sat down at the kitchen table to wait for the kettle to boil and the laundry to finish, it hit him again how incredible his and Reecy's surprise was. It was a lot to process because he and Reecy had talked about this stuff a lot before they even decided to get married. She had been honest with him that she didn't want to ever face another pregnancy. She had been planning on trying to adopt herself, a child that really needed the help and that would be harder to place because of their challenges. It had been something he had been all-in with her on and they decided to do it together. Having biological children hadn't been an important factor for him. He would never want the love of his life to go through something so distressing if she couldn't face it. But this was 100% a surprise and not at all planned. It was a lot to process because his main priority was protecting Reecy and making sure she was okay with all this while they adjusted to the life curveball but he was glad she was okay with him telling Trey. He never wanted to keep anymore secrets from his twin when he had to hide the reality that their mom asked him to help her with assisted dying.

He grabbed his phone so he could shoot Trey a text. He would be lying that, despite the fact it was a lot to process and it would take some time to get used to the news, he was freaking over the moon and wanted to tell Trey as soon as possible.

Hey bud, when do u think u'll be home from work 2night? Really need to talk to you about sumthing

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Trey was dozing on and off in his bed and heard his phone vibrate on the nightstand with an incoming message. He carefully checked the notification on the screen, waiting to see if the light from it would feel like a laser in his eyes but it was tolerable again, which was a good sign. He decided to throw caution to the wind and sit up on the side of the bed for a bit, making sure his head didn't make him immediately vomit again. The dreaded burden of being a migraine sufferer. His head was still sore but nothing like it had been. He was a little lightheaded when he first sat but his head calibrated with the rest of him okay and didn't turn into another wave of full-blown vertigo. So far, so good.

He shoved his phone into the pocket of his trackpants that he had been sleeping and shuffled out of his bedroom and up the hall, rubbing his eyes and giving his nuts and absentminded scratch. "M'here. Not at work," he mumbled, coming into the kitchen to find Kyan. "What's up? Everything okay? Shit, can't do these lights," he whimpered at the fluoros, shielding his eyes with his hand.

Kyan jumped with a fright when he heard Trey's voice, pushing out of his seat so he could flick the kitchen lights off. "Trey! Jeez, I didn't know you were here. You've been here the whole time? You look terrible, bud. You want a cuppa? Toast? Let's go sit in the living room, there's just a bit of natural light in there." He put his hand on Trey's back shoulder and guided him back up the hall to the large living room. Even when Kyan and Reecy got married, Trey stayed living with them. They just went all-in together on a larger place ideally located close to the Broadway theatre and Mark's law firm highrise. It was an easy walk when the weather was friendly. It suited Reecy too because Justin would often come to her for big sisterly love and support, and she always wanted to be a safe place for him. They might not be siblings by blood but they were in every other way. He led Trey to the sofa so he could sit with his back to the window and then drew the curtains closed save for a strip of light so the room was in total darkness. If Trey was at least up on his feet, he was probably tolerating a little light that he couldn't when a migraine was in full swing. "You look atrocious, bro. When did this one hit? I could've swore I heard you leaving for work this morning. What do you need, dude?"

"I did. Got about fifteen minutes into a case conference before it felt like someone was slicing my head with a chainsaw and I was barfing into a trashcan. Ash brought me home. I barfed again in his car. I was going to call you but I know you had a pile of shit to do today. It's okay, Ash stayed until I crashed. No, no tea, no nothing. Not yet. My gut's still feeling really dodgy." Trey nursed his stomach through his tank top and laid down on the sofa. He still wasn't quite through it. He felt like he could sleep for a month but at least the auras were gone and the horrible wooziness where it felt like his legs were disconnected from the rest of him. "It's okay, dude. You're giving me a stressed face. It's been awhile since I had one. What did you need to talk about? Your text sounded like it's something important. Talk to me. I'm okay horizontal. I think my ego's more bruised than anything. Not a good look to ralph in front of a big client. Just came on real fucking quick."

"Shit, dude. That fucking blows. Pun not intended." Kyan grabbed the trashcan from by the window and left it near Trey just in case. He was still struggling and until he got through the symptoms, they could flare back up - and quickly - at any moment. He also bounded to the kitchen to get a bottle of chilled Gatorade for him to sip it. It was all he could ever keep down until the nausea disappeared. When he came back, he shifted Trey's feet so he could join him on the sofa and settled them into his lap so Trey could stay lying down.

He noted with much curiosity Ash's intervention. "So, Ash, huh? His name seems to be coming up a lot. Anything you want to tell me, bro?" he teased but mostly only because Ash was exceptionally hot and Trey had a crush on him when he initially scored his internship with Mark's law firm and Ash hadn't long commenced as a junior partner. Ash had been engaged to Gabe at the time but since then, they had broken up because Gabe took a job in Boston. They stayed good friends, though, which was always nice to see when people you cared about broke up. "It's nothing that can't wait until your head isn't so sore. Promise. Actually, while I think about it, when are you due to fly out to Oz? Ree and I were thinking of coming too. She wants to see Justin and be on hand to help the Campbells with everything."

While Trey carefully sipped some of the Gatorade to make sure it would stay down, he was giving his twin a Look, even if it was weak. "Dude. He's practically my boss. I'm friggin' mortified. Even if he's seen me with migraines, I've never hurled in front of him like that before. It wasn't just one of those subtle pukes either. Like, this one was coming from my soul or some shit. But I know, I'm preaching to the choir, Mr Shameful Shitter. It's not 'cause I'm hot for Ash, though."

"Umm. Crap, the flight shit's on my phone. It's next Monday. Ash and I are both going. Don't say a word." He got his phone out of his pocket and once the face recognition unlocked it, he gave it to Kyan. "In my Gmail app, it's all in a flagged email. Justin seeing Reecy would help him a lot. He's not coping well. Some of his friends are thinking of going too but don't quote me on that. Mark says there's plenty of room. On the DL, Justin and Sash have purchased an investment house in Sydney. It's a fucking mansion. Paris and Michael are there, so is Ari and Justin's uncle, Chance. There'd be no problems with you staying there with us. Ky, can you do me a huge favour and get me another pack of my meds from my room? I don't think I've knocked it out yet."

Kyan absolutely empathised with Trey's embarrassment. He had definitely been more the more shy and modest of the two. Kyan embarrassed easily, didn't like being the centre of attention (yet still managed to get a Broadway lead), and was very modest about things like bodily functions. In any relationship he had, it was a hurdle he had to conquer once things got more domesticated. It was free range with him and Reecy now they were married, they'd pretty much been through all that gross stuff together but what this told him was that Trey absolutely still had a crush on Ash and was definitely hot for him, despite the denials. Kyan was his twin, he knew Trey better than he knew himself most days. "Yeah, and? You can date co-workers if you declare the conflict of interest, right? Why not just ask him out?"

He took a screenshot of the flight details in Trey's email and texted it to himself. "Actually, now that you mention it, I'm pretty sure Justin told Ree before the accident that he and Sash had been looking for places to buy in Sydney while they were over there. It makes sense, he's always loved it there. It's his second home. You said something about Sam being ill too. Is that strictly confidential? We were just concerned it was something serious." He stood to go get Trey's med but paused for a moment before exiting the room. "Ari and Chance. That's not going to be a bit awkward, seeing as you two dated for a bit but it got logistically complicated? Hold that thought, I'll get your meds."

"Oh, shit--" Kyan was barely out of the room when Trey realised his gut still wasn't holding up so well and he had to quickly snatch up the trashcan. It was more like an aftershock than anything else and as soon as he was sick again, he did feel a little better. "Ugh," he mumbled to himself, trying to see if there were tissues in easy reach anywhere but still holding onto the trashcan in case there was more to come. "Ky, I need some tissues or something too!" he called out weakly, still feeling like a bit of an epic fail today. He probably should just write it off, crawl back into bed and try again tomorrow. How could Kyan look at him and think it was remotely a good idea for him to ask Ash, a veritable sex god, out on a date? He wasn't sure he'd be able to look him in the face again.

Edited 2022-04-29 07:50 (UTC)

"It's okay, bud. I've got it." Kyan hurried back and grabbed the box of tissues from the bookcase across the room, going back over so he could help Trey, who was battling through some post-puke dry heaves. He took the trashcan to hold for him so he had free hands for the medication and Kleenex, then plucked a handful of tissues from the box to press into Trey's hand. "Do you need to go back to bed or is this more feeling like aftermath? We can talk when you're feeling better." Trey had always been a high-achiever and had been getting migraines since high school striving for straight As. Kyan had helped him through many, so he knew what Trey needed but it could only ever be a matter of waiting them out until he started to come through the attack. He went back through to the kitchen and got an icepack out of the freezer and wrapped it in a teatowel for Trey to put around the back of his neck.

"I'll just see how this goes." Once Trey wiped his mouth, he had the follow-up dose of nasal spray which had proven to be a Godsend when he was prescribed it. There was a time there when he was trying to get through law school that he kept getting hit with such bad migraines, he'd had to go to hospital because he was dehydrated from being sick so much. It was hard because it was before Kyan moved to New York and he always struggled being ill away from his twin. They both did. When Kyan moved here after their mom passed, they got a place together and Kyan was there for him every time a migraine took him out. He was glad that could still be a thing and he was glad Reecy had been happy for him to keep living with them after she and Ky got hitched. Trey adored his sister-in-law. She and Kyan might be very different but they were definitely soul mates and made for each other. He hoped to find that himself some day but a few false starts, the hope wasn't really in his favour.

He laid down again, the icepack feeling glorious wrapped around the nape of his neck. "I feel a bit better now, actually. Just totally wiped out. What did you want to talk about? Are you sure everything's okay? Or was it just the going to Aus thing?"

Kyan sat in the armchair next to the sofa, rubbing Trey's shoulder. "Just rest, buddy. We both know you're not through it if you're still being sick. I'm here if you need anything, though, so don't try to tough it out. Was there anything that could've triggered it? You usually at least get the auras to warn you." He gave a little wave of his fingers but was holding Trey's drink for him to help him sip it while he was lying down if he needed to. "Aus was kind of stemming from the other thing. Would you and Ash be cool if we came along? We're not going to stick our noses into the Campbell business or anything but Ree's always been there for Justin. Everyone's feeling helpless not being there. Everything's okay here, though. Everything's good..."

Trey was about to answer that he hadn't really been able to identify any specific triggers of his current migraine when suddenly, his eye widened and he propped himself up on his elbow to be able to see Kyan better where he was sitting. "Holy fuck, is Reec preggers? Am I gonna be an uncle? That's it, isn't it? There's something about you, I can tell." Then he stopped, doubting his wild guess and flopped gingerly back against the sofa cushion. "Shit. You're asking me to move out, aren't you? You're ready to just be a married couple in your own space." Ever the lawyer, he was always trying to think a few steps ahead to assess what could be going on in a situation.

Kyan really shouldn't be surprised Trey tapped into his twintuition here and freaking nailed it, but he was. Trey knew everything of his and Reecy's marriage, though. He knew after traumatic experience with pregnancy, abortion, and miscarriage in the past and that Reecy had been pursuing adoption of a child with special needs. She wanted to help a kid who had been through trauma and give them a better life. Kyan was happy to join her on that journey. He had never made any decisions about wanting kids of his own and he realised if it was something he would do with Reecy once he fell head-over for her, it didn't need to be a biological child. It would always be about love, not blood. He gaped at Trey, blinking and couldn't find words immediately. "Holy fuck, how did you guess that?!" he squeaked and then broke into a grin, nodding. "We're having a baby! But fuck, T, no! We don't want you moving out. We want you here. Jeezus. You're staying, you're part of the furniture but oh my god, I'm going to be a daddy! You're going to be an uncle! Sorry, sorry! I'm trying not to talk to loud."

"What! Oh my fucking god, Ky!" Trey made the error of trying to reflexively shoot up into a sitting position at how over the moon he was at the news but it was a big mistake. Thankfully, he didn't throw up again but it was a close call. He ended up hanging over the trashcan hugging it through a few waves of heavy dry-heaving but he'd already succeeded in emptying himself. He was still so freaking excited, though. He reached over and grabbed his twin's knee, giving it a squeeze. "Ky, I'm so fucking over the moon for you, buddy. I get it, it wasn't in the plan and it's probably a huge deal of a surprise for you guys, but holy fucking shitballs, you're gonna be a dad! I'm gonna be an uncle. Dude, I'm gonna be the best uncle, I swear to god. Shit, if I could stop feeling so pukey, I'd hug you like nuts right now. You okay? Is Reec? This is so awesome! Mom would be--"

And that would never not be a difficult subject to stumble on, especially when navigating through life's biggest and most significant moments. He got teary and choked up, still clutching onto Kyan's knee. "She would've been the best grandma," he added in a hoarse whisper.

This was the part Kyan had been worried about. He hadn't let himself think on it because he knew he would end up crying and struggling to stop when he wanted Reecy to be able to have the complete over the moon ecstatic moment of finding out they were having a baby before they came back down to earth and the grief of missing his mom trickled in. But he knew that would come with Trey and as soon as it was there, and he was sure Trey wasn't going to throw up again, he shifted from the armchair to kneel by Trey on the sofa and they embraced. "I know, buddy. I know. We're fucking ecstatic but there's a lot to think about and it's not as simply as just being happy. We're happy, we're so happy and I can't believe I'm going to be a dad! But Reecy's trauma meant she didn't want to do this and... I miss Mom so fucking much. I never got to the point I'd think I'd have these life moments, let alone that she wouldn't be here for them with us. That really fucking hurts and it's stirring a bit up but we don't have to do this bit now. Not while you're head's hurting." He clung to his twin in the hug. "Fucking shit, T, I'm really going to be a daddy. What if I screw this up? This wasn't in the plan."

"You? Screw up being a dad? No fucking way, Ky. That's so impossible. It's not in your DNA to fail something like this. I know our own father was a cunt but Mom was the most incredible parent to both of us and you'll learn everything from her. You were always the most like her. You have a huge fucking heart and you've always looked after me whenever I've needed it. You've cared for Reec from day one once you guys edged out of the friend's zone. You're gonna be perfect, dude. Beyond perfect. And she'll be the most incredible mom. Look at how Justin, Fin, and all their friends adore her. This couldn't happen to two more perfect people made for parenthood. I'm sure it won't be easy an it'll be a rollercoaster by Mom will be watching you every step of the way. I know she will." Trey gave his brother a kiss on the cheek but went right back to hugging him. "I miss her too but we knew the big moments would always be hard. You're just doing better reaching them than I am. Some days, I wake up and it still feels like she should be here. You have to go through those crap moments of clarity when you remember she's gone and she's not coming back. Don't let how much this hurts missing her impact on celebrating the news and being over the moon about it, though. She told you that's not what she wanted."

Kyan sat on the floor beside the sofa, leaning back against it, and once they released the hug, he took his twin's hand to hold. "It doesn't feel real. Like, seriously, my mind is blown. When she told me she thought she might be pregnant, the only thing stopping me completely panicking was I knew if I did, I'd freak Ree out and that's the last thing she needs. I've never been pregnant but she has and it was horrible for her both times. She had an abortion the first time that had complications. Then she got pregnant with Jude and they were having twins. She lost them both and the miscarriage was bad. She never wanted to be pregnant again. Birth control epically failed us. Now she is and..." He trailed off, scrunching his nose up a little and shoving his other hand under his t-shirt to rub his stomach. "Shit, dude, I think I'm tapping into your upset gut. I really with Mom was here to just jump up and down with excitement and give me a hug. I'd give anything to just have a few more moments with her. You're right, though. She talked about this stuff at the end and told me that she'll still be with us. It's just... to think about it, our baby's not going to have a grandma. But they'll get two pretty damn amazing granddads in Walker and Sawyer."

"Stress has never been your friend, dude. Make yourself a cup of that herbal shit that's in the cupboard. I don't even know what it is. Reec keeps it here for when Justin's over. It's supposed to calm you down, right? Can't blame you for stressing out, though. This is freaking huge. But it's an awesome huge. I'm gonna be an uncle! I'd be doing a damn victory lap around the block right now if I could sit without my gut trying to bungee jump out my mouth at the slightest movement." Trey messed up Kyan's hair affectionately, enjoying the time with his twin. "Mom might not be able to be here for all that, Ky, but I am. I'm with you ever step of the fucking way. I wouldn't miss any of it. I don't have any mom mojo but I've got twin mojo to the max. Your baby has a grandma. And you'll make sure they know it. There'll be so much love for that little nugget in all our extended adopted family. It's not all about blood, we know that. You guys were thinking of adopting, so you know it too. There'll be tough times when you miss Mom, I know. But any time you do, I'm here. We can cry it out together, now you showed me it's okay to do that. There'll be way more happy tears than sad, though."

Kyan patted Trey's arm and pushed up off the floor. "Tea sounds like a good idea. And I'm getting you a Pedialyte freezer pop or something, even if you don't have much of it." He found some spearmint and liquorice teabags in the pantry that he was pretty sure Reecy kept there for Justin, if the uses listed on the back of the pack were anything to go by. It said it could help an upset stomach and anxiety, so that was good enough for him. He came back with his tea and handed Trey a cherry electrolyte freezer pop. Their mom had been a nurse and would always ply them with this stuff when they were sick. It was second nature to keep them in the freezer now, especially with Trey's migraines. Kyan was just glad they weren't as severe as the ones that hit Sasha. He sat on the floor by the sofa again, relieved to have the closeness of his twin at the moment. "We're not going to tell anyone straight away. At least, not anyone beyond you, Winston, Walker, Sawyer, Fin, and possibly Justin when we get to Sydney. Ree just wants to see how he is first. After her miscarriages and all, I think we need a bit of time to get used to the news and what that means for us. But mostly what it means for Ree. I mean, she's over the moon, we both are. I don't think the reality's quite hit yet. She's going to have a lot of fear going through the pregnancy that it all might happen again. She was told it could when she lost the twins. Maybe that's why I'm stressing. She'll be okay to fly, right?"

Trey inspected the end of the freezer pop warily, not sure he wanted to risk putting it in his mouth but he did with some reluctance. "I think the flying thing is only an issue in the third trimester. But her dad's a doctor, dude. He'll make sure she's as safe and well as she can be. Oh my god, Walker and Sawyer are both so totally going to cry. You have to film their reactions. I want to see." He put his hand on his brother's shoulder. "Listen, you guys are allowed to take as long as you need to process all this and get used to it. Like, this is one of the biggest life things ever. If there's a risk there, of course you need to sit with this and understand what it means for you guys. Then when you do announce it, everyone will be over the freaking moon because you couldn't get two better people to be parents to this tiny little... wait, how far along is she? It's okay to be scared, Ky. I'm here, okay? Even useless like this, I'm still here for both of you. You're her husband and fuck yes, this will be stressful but we're a family and we've all got your back every step of the way. I know you, you're going to stress. She's the love of your life and now she's pregnant with your baby. Your baby, Ky. You're going to be a dad, damn..." He smiled, giving his twin a fond nudge.

Kyan put his mug down and held up his hands. "It's no secret I have absolutely no clue about any of this stuff. Even when I was engaged to Autumn, we didn't really discuss kids save for the fact we'd probably think about it one day. Then with Ree, we thought we'd go the adoption route. She was honest and up front with me when we realised we had mutual feelings for each other that after the trauma of her previous pregnancies and the medical complications, she didn't want to get pregnant again. So, I'm feeling kinda guilty that I've accidentally gotten her pregnant. But it's okay. We've got a lot to hash out and talk about. I don't want to be that clueless bastard, you know? I want to support her fully and know everything, every step of the way. It's just..." He puffed out his cheeks and exhaled deeply. "A lot. It's a lot. I think that's why my stomach's hurting, I'm nervous and terrified all at the same time. Excited but what if something happens? What if she has complications again? I don't want her hurt. She's my world. I just want to make sure everything's as safe as it can be and-- oh, god, I'm going throw up too." He jumped up and bolted for the bathroom.

"Ky? Dude, do you--" But Kyan was already making the stumbling dash for the bathroom across the hall. Trey scrunched his face up with very empathetic sympathy like only and identical twin could have. Kyan was gone for a good few minutes and when he came back, he was dishevelled and sweaty, definitely looking like Trey was feeling. He scrutinised him when he came back wiping his face and mouth with one of their hand towels. "Are you sure it's me you're going out in sympathy for, bud? Sure it's not your preggers wife? I mean, you're a total simp for other people, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if you got morning sickness too. I mean, it would be as funny as fuck but no one would be surprised. You're the most attentive husband a chick could ever ask for. She even said so in your vows. Unless you're just in delayed freak-out mode getting the news that you suck a pulling out," he teased now he was feeling a bit better, smirking at his twin and offering him his half-eaten electrolyte freezer pop.

Kyan flopped into one of the recliner chairs and declined the freezer pop with a wave of his hand, scrunching his nose up. "It's not that but don't jinx me. Are you sure yours is definitely a migraine and not a virus of some sort? I'm just stressing out. It's not a bad stress. It's just wanting to protect my wife and realising that if everything goes smoothly, in about eight months, we're going to have this new tiny person we have to take care of and raise. I've never done that before. What if I'm not automatically an excellent dad? I want to be. I want to get everything right. But that time between now and then, I'm worried about Ree. The miscarriage she had was really traumatic. She was quite far along and it caused all sorts of problems for her. What even happens with high-risk pregnancy? Will she be okay to work? I should start to Google some of this stuff so I know. It's my job to know." He took his phone out of his pocket but as soon as he did, he realised he didn't even know what he should be looking up. Reecy wasn't very far along and he didn't know the specific complications she had with the previous pregnancies. "Am I making your head worse? Sorry. I'm trying not to freak out, it's just not really working."

Trey had rolled onto his side so he could see his twin better, examining him to try to figure out what was going on. Sure, Ky was one of the most epic stressheads in the history of the universe and worried about everyone he loved. That was just the INFP personality type in him. Trey had always been the extrovert but Kyan was the epitome of the sensitive and empathic mediator so he shouldered other people's troubles more than he realised. It wasn't a surprise the shock of hearing he was going to be a dad was setting in and his overthinking brain was going into overdrive. Still, his overthinking anxiety didn't usually make him barf. But it wasn't exactly small news either. It was HUGE and Trey wouldn't spite him a bit of freaking out until he settled into the idea and excitement took over. Probably after Walker, Reecy's doctor dad, reassured them Reecy and baby would be safe and as well as could be. "Did you guys both get food poisoning last week together? Like, sure it was food poisoning now? Ky, if anyone can do this, bud, it's you. You know Mom's gonna be watching over you doing a happy dance up there. Probably right alongside Reecy's other dad. Your kiddo'll have some pretty damn awesome guardian angels watching over them and cheering them on. But don't Google. Google MD isn't going to help you with that stress. Leave it to the real expert, your father-in-law, who has a real MD." He snatched Kyan's phone off him and shoved it under his butt. "I'll fart on your hand if you try to get it out. You're not making my head worse, you're making your brain worse. Just chill, enjoy the moment."

Edited 2022-06-23 17:31 (UTC)

"Dude, shut up. Stop pulling the piss. It was food poisoning from bad Chinese food." Kyan snatched a couple of tissues from a nearby box, balled them up and threw them at his brother. He wouldn't risk throwing a cushion. If he got Trey in the head, they could have another abrupt epic puke session on their hands. He relinquished his phone with a snort and flopped back into the chair, rubbing his stomach which was still flip-flopping with anxiety. There was definite excitement there too, though. "Damn, I just keep thinking about Reecy being a mommy. She's wanted it so badly but not like this. But I know she'll be perfect at it. Beyond perfect. I still look at her every single day and wonder how the fuck I got so lucky that she fell for me. It wasn't like our initial, um, connection back in Colorado was me being chivalrous and sexy. It was epic fail and it still turned into something because she's just the most caring sweetheart ever. She's going to worry she'll put the baby at risk and I don't know how to convince her any risk is worth it for her to have a chance at what she's made for. I just want to promise I'll protect her and it'll be okay but how can I know that? She might miscarry again and it could be dangerous for her."

"Damn, I wish I could get a bit of 'connection' with someone lately. Not that I wanna knock anyone up. Pretty sure surprise up-the-duffery isn't something that will ever be on my menu so you have to carry that torch for the both of us, dude. Do you think it's possible my migraines have flared up because I desperately need a good fuck? I think there could be onto something there. You don't get them and you've been getting solidly laid on the regular for years now." Trey smiled listening to his twin wax lyrical about his beautiful pregnant wife. Kyan was so made for this life. It looked good on him, even through the stress of the enormity of the sudden news. "Then just keep reminding her as much as she needs until you convince her, bud. She trusts you, you're her soul mate. She tells me that all the time. She trusts you to protect her and she had almost sworn on love for good when all your connecting happened in Colorado. You've got this. Crap, I think I really need to take a leak. Can you help me get to the bathroom in case I'm too dizzy to get up again? My head's still woozy."

Kyan was about to have another drink before he snorted in amusement at Trey's comments. "Knowing you, I'd say there's a huge chance. Normally, you have a history of barely going a day or two without a good fuck, maybe the pressures all built up in your head rather than your pants. I'm curious as to why, though. You were never averted to leaning on the convenience of Grindr or a good gay bar over the years. We've got plenty of queer friends I'm sure wouldn't mind having some fun. Which tells me there's a reason you've been abstaining. The reason doesn't happen to be tall, dark, handsome and extremely hot in an Armani suit, does it? Because it's never been like you not to flirt with someone you've got the hots for either." He got up and put the drink aside so he could help Trey navigate to the bathroom for a wiz. "Just let me take your weight and guide you, you keep your eyes closed them, it might stop some of the dizziness. I'm kinda glad this happened after we got married. I think it would've totally freaked her out after and maybe put an end to things. She's my world, I can't imagine life without her now. Anything before her doesn't matter, there weren't a lot of happy memories."

Trey followed Kyan's guidance, keeping his eyes mostly shut and letting him take his weight. They took small, slow steps and he held firmly onto Kyan's arm when the wooziness made itself known. Even just a few steps from the couch, he needed to pause for a few moments, not sure if the headspin would keep getting worse and make him sick again. Kyan stopped with him, rubbing his back while they waited. "I guess seeing how happy you and Reec are, you make it look good. I miss that. It's been ages since things ended with Brendan. Ari and I kinda talked about taking it further than a few hookups but it was obvious both working for Justin, it would get too complicated if Justin ever had another serious episode that could be legally complex. Wouldn't be fair to him. Then he started dating Justin's new uncle and he sounds really happy too. It's feeling a bit like everyone around me is happily connected and as much as I love some awesome hot sex, I miss the other shit that comes with a relationship too. I want something more than surface level. Just don't know where the hell to start to find it. I can't freaking date my boss. If it was complicated with Ari, it'd be ten times more with Ash. We'd have to declare it with HR and it could cause all sorts of conflicts of interest. Plus - the biggie - he's not interested. I'd know if he was." He gave Ky's arm a squeeze to indicate he was ready to keep moving because if he didn't, he was going to pee himself. "You guys are never losing each other. You're made for each other. This is just, like, not even the icing on the cake. You were already settled and happy. It's the cherry. It's not a bun in the oven, it's the cherry on top of a pretty awesome proverbial sundae you guys made together. You're really gonna be a dad, Ky! Holy shitballs. You made a person."

"Dude, never in the history of knowing Justin has his legal affairs not been complex. His dad's one of the best attornies in the business. He's got it in hand. If anything happened to spark between you and Ash, it wouldn't affect how Justin's managed. Actually, knowing you as I do and how much you look up to Ash, I'd say it'd probably give Justin as strong a legal team as ever because you're both fucking bulldogs in the courtroom and I'd say that'd make for some hot chemistry in other places too. The complicated thing with Ari was he works with Justin every day, he's a clinical carer. How Justin's mental health is managed involves him, so how Justin survives involves him. It doesn't involve you or Ash. And anyway, Justin'd probably want to bitchslap you for leaning on him as an excuse not to at least put the feelers out with your crush. This is Justin, we're talking about." They made it to the bathroom and Kyan pushed the door open and went to turn the light on, but thought otherwise. He helped Trey to the toilet and waited until he was steady enough to stand by himself. Shit. I made a person. I really made a person! How the fuck did I make a person?"

Trey snorted and looked over his shoulder at his brother. "Oh, c'mon, you're the married straight one and you need me to tell you how babies are made, bro?" he joked but he still found Kyan's bewilderment that he got his wife pregnant pretty sweet. He hurried to get himself out of his trackpants and boxers before he didn't something even more unfabulous like pee himself and braced his other hand on the wall to take his weight while he relieved himself with a deep sigh. "Happened to spark between us? Ky, I'm not going to marry him or anything. I would literally screw him if the offer was on the table, and fuck knows I've had enough sex dreams about him, but that's all we're talking here. Anything else is just too complicated. I get what you're saying but he's far too much of a professional to date a colleague, let alone one his junior. I'm sure if Justin has any opinion whatsoever on it, it'd just be for a brief hookup and a cheers for the good time. Which is probably all Mark would think on the matter too. I know you work with your wife and you technically started dating when you were co-stars but it's different in showbiz. We're hardly dealing with the same level of ethical standards, are we? Your off-stage sexual chemistry helps your on-stage chemistry. There's no one in a courtroom thinking about Ash and me dirty dancing halfnaked on a dancefloor, is there? You're the romantic one here, not me. Crush?" he scoffed with another snort. "It's not a crush. I literally just think his cock and ass look hot in tight pants. That's it."

"Oh, I've seen some of your clients and some of them have definitely fantasised about you and Ash dirty dancing. A lot of them do actually know you're my twin, you know. The only question is, who's Baby?" Kyan asked, smirking as he leaned against the doorframe to wait for Trey. He could see Trey had it bad and it was amusing he was trying to fight it so hard. "You know what they say about those who protest too hard, right? Okay, so hypothetically, if the opportunity to fuck him arose, would you even take it or would you be so busy protesting that you have a crush and that it would apparently send the entirety of Campbell Page & Waterston crumbling to its foundations because two of their attorneys happened to hookup? All I'm saying is that you have plenty of evidence that it's possible to be romantically involved with a work colleague. Sure, you have a fuckton of ethical and moral obligation in what you guys do but you're also consenting adults capable of discretion. If it's not a crush and you just want to fuck him, why not do it and get it out of your system? Then you can maybe open yourself up to dating someone else if they come along. I just gotta ask, though... has Justin ever told you he doesn't want you dating people connected to him?"

Trey let go of the wall just long enough to flip his twin off. Then he finished up but when he was tucking himself back into his sweatpants and flushing, he was his by a wave of dizziness that had him stumbling to sit on the now closed toilet lid where he had to sit and try to analyse if he was going to barf or not. "Ky," he whimpered, blindly feeling for the wall to try to get the room to stop spinning and putting his hand over his eyes. He was tired of feeling so shit and really needed to get back to work, which he couldn't do as long as something as basic as going for a piss was still making him woozy and nauseous. The head pain was still there, even if it wasn't as intense now, so it was hard to gauge how much longer he would be out of action. "I'm not protesting, I'm just--" He cut himself off with a heave, putting his hand over his mouth while trying to get his woozy aching brain to navigate how to get off the toilet quick enough without falling on his ass and smashing his head on something, which would be severely counterproductive to, well, everything.

Considering this was exactly why Kyan was still here, he swooped in and grabbed the small plastic trash can from under the sink and plucked the plastic liner out of it that had a few toilet rolls and some makeup things of Reecy's in it. He got it into Trey's lap and made sure he had a hold of it. "It's okay, buddy, just stay put. Wait for it to pass. I'm just going to text Walker and see if he can drop around later to check you over. It's been awhile since you've been this bad, you might need an adjustment on your meds." He stayed crouched beside Trey with a hand on his back but fished his phone out of the pocket of his jeans to shoot a text to his father-in-law. It had been handy marrying someone whose dad was a general practitioner, though it was going to be tough sitting on his and Reecy's news if Walker did come around. They were going to have dinner at Walker, Sawyer and Fin's place tomorrow for the big reveal. "You've not developed an allergy to dating, have you? Imagine being allergic to dating and booze. Or maybe you're going out in sympathy for me going out in sympathy for Reec," he teased, only to lighten things a little because Trey was back to looking downright miserable and Kyan was worried about him. If Trey wasn't feeling the banter, it could be a sign he definitely needed Walker's medical intervention.

"Be grateful I'm too busy hurling to think of an excellent comeback right now." Trey had his arms wrapped around the rim of the trashcan and his head resting on his forearm so his face could stay buried in it. He really needed to start turning a corner or he wouldn't be in top form to fly out to Australia. His timing was absolutely up the shit. "Walker doesn't need to be bothered by this shit. He's a busy dude. Just need more sleep. Then maybe my brain'll remember how the fuck to be a brain and not an agonising fuckass. Hang on, why the hell would Justin have ever told me he didn't want me dating people connected to him? Did he tell you that? Holy shit, he wants to give me the boot, doesn't he? He doesn't think I'm doing near as good a job on his professional affairs as Ash did before he leveled-up, does he? I need to get my ass back to work. I can't afford to be slacking off right now. If I lose Justin's caseload, it's a slippery slope right out of the fucking firm altogether. I love this fucking job, I don't want to lose it. What the hell have I done to piss Justin off? Last we spoke before the accident, he was asking for my advice on whether I thought the movie contract was worth taking the leap of faith in his career. He was sitting on a fucking beach in the middle of the camping trip and still cared about my opinion. Did I say something wrong? Shit, my head is killing me."

Kyan pocketed his phone after sending Walker the text, then went and filled the glass by the sink with some water, bringing it back to Trey. "Jesus, no. Your attorney brain is nearly giving me a migraine and I don't even get them. How do you go from zero to Justin wants to destroy you all the while with your head in a puke bucket? Justin hasn't said a word. I was just asking if he implied something to you that he didn't want you dating people he's connected to. You've self-sabotaged every relationship with a person he's linked to. Brendan, Ari, now Ash. Or are you just bugged out by commitment? It's not as scary as it sounds, you know. In fact, it's fucking amazing. And no, long-term relationships or marriage do not ruin your sex life. Reec and I are better than ever. Actually, her pregnancy hormones are wearing me out but that's another story entirely. I just don't see the problem with you and Ash going on a couple of dates together. You're both allowed a private life away from work and knowing how much the two of you are workaholics, fuck knows you both need one." His phone beeped with an incoming text message and he checked it again while he waited for Trey to be ready to take some water. "Walker's going to come by in a couple of hours. He wants us to try the temperature therapy in the meantime and to try to get electrolytes into you. I also don't get why you're worried about bothering him with this shit. He's a doctor, sick shit is literally what he gets paid to do. So, broth, Gatorade, or another attempt at a freezer pop?"

Edited 2022-08-31 16:21 (UTC)

Trey lifted his head from the bucket. "Oh. Well, in that case, no. He hasn't said anything like that. Actually, he's probably my easiest client to deal with so I don't know why I'm doing this. It's not self-sabotage... is it?" He took the glass and rinsed his mouth out before taking a few sips to drink. He knew how important fluids were when he was like this but it was always an easier said than done thing. He had medication that was supposed to ease the sickness but it wasn't doing its job this time. Probably wasn't a bad idea to get Walker to check him over. "How am I supposed to think about this shit when my brain is aching so much? Fuck. Do you mean that thing where I stick my feet in warm water and put ice on my neck? Maybe it's worth a shot. It can't hurt. But I'm not bugged out by commitment. It's not that. I like dating. Shit with Bren ended because our schedules were so whacked out, it was near impossible. Most of his work was in the evening and night, mine was long days. Look, I just don't wanna complicate things for Mark or Justin. Ash and I work really well together managing Justin's legal stuff so Mark can keep the emotional distance he needs. What if we give it a shot and we're terrible together, it all goes to shit, then we can't work together anymore? Do you see what I'm getting at here? Like, look how bad shit went with you and Autumn when it ended. It was messy and you got really hurt. It took a lot of time for you to forgive her. There's no way he's going to be interested anyway. It's strictly professional with us. We've never socialised away from work. He's probably not even over his broken engagement. They were together a long time. Shit, let me just sip Gatorade. Anything more than that is going to be epic fail."

Nodding, Kyan went over to the bathtub and popped the plug in so he could start running the hot water. He held his hand under the tap to wait for the right water temperature. "Yeah, that. You can come sit on the side of the tub with your feet in the warm water and I'll get some ice for your neck. It worked for you sometimes when you were in college. We just need to try to stop you being sick or it'll be a trip to the ER. You're stressed out too, so that hasn't helped. You don't need to worry about Justin. He's not got it in for you. We don't even have to talk about Ash. Let's just get these lights down and get your feet into the tub. You can sit quietly for a bit and see if it helps, yeah? All I'm saying is, it's okay to open yourself up a bit and think outside the box. That's what happened with me and I found the love of my life. Autumn and I really, really aren't a good example here, bud. She hurt me because she didn't consider me or my feelings while she chased fame. It's a different situation and we're fine now. We're good friends, all old water under the bridge. It doesn't always have to be bad when it doesn't work out. Look at Reecy and Jude, Justin and Will, hell, aren't Ash and Gabe still friends? Trey, dude, they broke up ages ago. You're reaching. C'mon, I'll help you to the bath. Just take it slow, bring your bucket. I'll rinse it out for you."

"I don't know for sure. Ash never talks about Gabe. Justin mentioned him here and there before the accident because he still gets therapy off Gabe, even if it's over Zoom. Justin was the one who said in passing once that Gabe and Ash were over for good. It wasn't a trial separation or anything. Neither of them thought they could make long-distance work. Justin only mentioned it because he said something like therapy on Zoom was fine but he could never date anyone like that. Sometimes, my meetings with Justin are just random hangouts or chats. He doesn't always want to talk about legal shit. It's... you're right, he and I have a unique working relationship. Maybe that's part of why I'm doing... whatever this is you think I'm doing. Self-sabotage?" Trey just softly snorted at that but even that hurt his head. Nevertheless, he wasn't convinced of Kyan's deductions. Thinking too hard on it meant opening himself up to things that really shouldn't be analysed when he was wiped out with a killer migraine. He stood carefully and slowly this time, letting Kyan lead him completely with the help of a secure arm around his waist. Times like this, he knew their mom would be so proud of them for taking care of each other unconditionally like they promised her they would. Soon, he was sat on the edge of the bath with his feet in the warm water and the clean, disinfected bucket beside him while Kyan went to get an icepack from the freezer. The way he was feeling, he wasn't convinced anything would help but he was willing to give it a shot until Walker arrived and gave him something stronger to help.

"There's also the fact you're fond of Justin and have a soft spot for him, so it's inevitable you're upset about his and Sash's accident. Even if it doesn't feel like it, you're probably internalizing stress about that and facing the trip to Australia to help. You don't always know how to deal with your emotions, bud. You never have. I'm not really surprised your migraines are rearing their ugly head again at the moment. I think you need to talk to Walker about your meds, what else he could suggest to help. I'm not saying you self-sabotage deliberately. All I'm saying is that you don't always know how to deal with shit when it feels out of your control and like it or not, we can't really control who we have feelings for." Kyan watched Trey closely, holding him carefully because he could feel Trey was woozy and not all that steady on his feet. Once he got back from the kitchen with one of the large icepacks they kept on hand for inevitable dancing injuries he or Reecy sometimes got as a hazard of the job, Trey was sitting hunched over on the edge of the bath, his arms folded over his knees and his head buried in them. He wrapped a teatowel around the icepack and gentle eased it onto the nape of Trey's neck, holding it in place. "I'm really sorry you're feeling so unwell, buddy. I can feel how much pain you're in. If I could take it away for you, I would. Is there anything else I can do?"

Trey closed his eyes behind his arm when he felt the icepack hit his neck. It felt really fucking good, whether this remedy ultimately did anything to help or not. "You're already doing it, Ky. Of course you are. You always do. Times like this, I wonder if I'm too much of a pain in the ass sometimes to be raining on your married parade. Sure you don't want me to move out and give you guys space? You know I wouldn't be offended or take it personally. You've got a kid on the way now and all. I just want you to know, it's okay if you wanna start that dialogue and shit. Same goes for Reece. I know she would never come between the whole twin thing but I don't want her to feel like has to put up with me if she really wants it to be just you guys to have some time together before the baby comes. Holy shit, I can't fucking believe you're gonna be a dad, buddy. Like, legit a dad." He was over the moon but it was so surreal to think about. His twin was leaving him in the dust on the whole life milestones thing. He was quiet for a bit, letting the temperature therapy do its thing but also because chats with his brother like this always made him think a lot about things he might otherwise bury his head in the sand about. "There's always this worry deep down about Justin that I might one day give him some sort of legal guidance or advice and it leads to him getting hurt or harmed. I couldn't live with myself if that happened. Never said that aloud before, never even knew if it was something I should say. I don't wanna tempt fate, you know? But times like this, the poor kid seems so much fragile and vulnerable. One of the reasons we're going over is because Ash and I need to make sure Justin's will is current and to figure out if Sash has one. Eighteen and needing to talk about wills because the chance this could have a tragic outcome is very real. Notarising Justin's will was one of the first jobs I did as his attorney and it was full-on."

Edited 2022-11-27 10:04 (UTC)

"Stop being dumb, T. You'd know we'd say if that's what we wanted or needed. Ree married me knowing I'm a twin and we come as a package deal. I know not all twins have that relationship but we do and we always have. Ree and I aren't just any married couple either. We were friends, then best friends, before even realising we loved each other. Which means we covered a lot of stuff we set in our relationship boundaries well before we took the plunge. Part of that was the fact I'm a twin and will always be a twin, no matter where my life with Ree takes me. A life that will always include you. You're going to be out baby's only biological uncle and we want you as close for that as possible. I've got your back with all your insecurities and doubts one everything, bud, but this is one area you don't ever need to have any. This being a dad thing, there's no fucking way in hell I can do it without your help." The next thing Trey said was so fucking heavy, Kyan had to pause and take a deep breath to even let it sink in. "Fuck, that's... awful. Too fucking young. With Justin, I don't think any of us want to contemplate that tragic outcome ever becoming real but you have to. It the most raw and detailed way, so of course it's going to be traumatic for you too. Justin's estate would be so heartbreakingly complicated too. I know his charity stuff would be significant, before even thinking about his family. But Mark oversees most of Justin's stuff, though, doesn't he? Has he ever asked you to do anything legally without Mark rubberstamping it?"

"Biological, sure, but I'll be sharing the honour with Justin and Winston, both of who will totally out-cool-uncle me in every way, shape, and form. Not that I'm complaining because you couldn't get two more awesome dudes to share the title with. But okay, I'll quit existential crisis until I'm at least feeling well enough to let the fact that the best twin in the entire universe is going to be a daddy. It's not intentional self-deprecation. I just want to remind you guys every now and then that it's okay if you decide you want any of that. I can get a place nearby, it's no big deal." Trey looked down at his toes in warm water through his knees. It was starting to dawn on him how stressed he had been about Justin's situation, and wanting to step up for Mark in any way his boss needed him. Which meant stepping up for Ash, who was Mark's right-hand man at the firm. "A couple of times. When Mark was sick and another time when I suspect Mark fell off the wagon again but Justin never said so specifically. It wasn't about Mark not being capable. It was about Justin trying to convince himself he can cope without his dad when he really doesn't want to face anything without him. He doesn't want his dad to suffer at all. And despite all that, Mark has nothing to do with Justin's will. How could any parent face being the executor of this child's will?"

Kyan listened to Trey's clarification but shrugged. "It's a big deal to me, which means it's a big deal to Reecy. For sure, I'd tell you. But there's nothing to tell and there never will be. Even if you start dating someone again and want to move in with them, I don't want you to move far away. I want you around. You saw how shit both of us were trying to live apart when I had to stay home with Mom and you needed to be at college. It's just... that was fucking terrible and I don't want to do that ever again. Besides, you're a fucking workaholic and hardly ever here, so how is it even a thing? It's cool that we can hang out so easily when we do get a bit of free time together. Even if our baby had a whole production line of aunts and uncles at the ready, I still want you to be a big part of their lives first and foremost. I want them to be making posts on their Instagram when they grow up about how much they love hanging out with their super cool Uncle Trey." Yeah, he had thought about this stuff even in the very short time he and Reecy got the surprise they were expecting. "An eighteen year old having a will. Fucking hell. It never fails to hit like a kick in the gut spelling stuff like that out. It's bad enough thinking about but knowing you have to go to Australia to make sure the will is in place in case anything awful happens is so much worse. It's no wonder you're so stressed, buddy. You need to figure out how to tackle this so it doesn't keep making you sick. Meaning, it's a team effort with you and Ash, whether you want him to let him see you sick or not. He's not going to think it makes you incapable of anything."

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"Think we're in for a big surprise!"

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