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| Pancakes & Heaven By Cheryl |
| Pairing: Brian/Justin, Rating: G Spoilers: none Warnings: deals with death of a child Summary:Justin helps Noel deal with his sister's death Notes: Thanks to Hannahkelli for being such a wonderful writer, and letting me use her story Little Girl Lost Web Site: none Where to archive besides here: Just let me know Disclaimer: Noel and Hallie belong to HannahKelli, only the Chief Angel Cook is mine. |
| They had pancakes for breakfast every Saturday. On Sundays it was french toast, Noel's favorite breakfast. But this was Saturday, and it was pancakes, Hallie's favorite. Justin would make them into animal shapes and use blueberries or chocolate chips for eyes, sliced strawberries for mouths, and even mango slices for tiger stripes. Brian ate Justin's creations, causing Hallie and Noel to break up laughing at the faces he would make growling like the bear or roaring like the lion he was eating. But this Saturday was different. Hallie won't be here to laugh with her brother at Papa's antics, or fight over the last piece of bacon. Justin stood at the kitchen counter mixing the batter. He'd done it so often, he really didn't have to think about it. Today he wanted to think about it because the house was too quiet. Noel had the television on, but was just sitting on the sofa. Justin missed his kid's friendly fighting and shouts as they cheered their favorite cartoon heros. He wished he had to yell into the family room to tell the twins to 'quiet down', knowing it would last only a minute. When breakfast was ready, Justin called for Noel to get Papa, and come and eat. "I don't want anything," he said sadly. "It's pancakes. I made a giraffe especially for you." "No!" he yelled, as tears fell from his eyes and down his cheeks. "That's Hallie's breakfast and she's not here. I don't want pancakes ever again." Justin walked over to his son and knealt down so he could look into the sad brown eyes. "Hey, Kiddo. What do you think Hallie's doing right now?" Noel shrugged, a confused look on his face. Justin picked the boy up, walked into the breakfast room and sat down, holding Noel on his lap. "Do you know that for years and years, every Saturday morning all the angels in heaven ate scrambled eggs and sausage? Do you think your sister would like that?" "She hates sausage, Dad. You know that," he said as he shook his head and wrinkled his Justin-like nose. Justin smiled, seeing Brian standing in the doorway. He continued. "I bet Hallie went to the Chief Angel Cook and said, 'Look, Mr. Angel, I have to have pancakes for breakfast. My brother and I have pancakes every Saturday.' Then she'd take that one lock of hair and twist it around her finger and stare at the Chief Angel Cook like she did to Papa when she wanted something really bad." Justin glanced at Brian and winked. Brian's mouth was open as if to say something, but he just smiled and shook his head as a tear formed in the corner of his eye. He remembered all the times he's given in to that innocent look. "Innocent! Yeah, right. Just like her father,' he thought. "Once the Chief Angel Chef saw that look, he decided that from now on there would be pancakes for breakfast every Saturday. So Hallie's sitting at the big table in heaven with all the other angels and on her plate is a pancake in the shape of a teddy bear with two choolate chip eyes, covered in blueberry syrup, waiting for you to start eating, too." Noel looked at his dad thoughtfully. "Do we have any blueberry syrup?" Justin kissed his son on the head and sat him in the chair. While Justin was getting the syrup from the cabinet, Brian walked into the kitchen and put his arms around his lover, his partner. "God, Justin, I love you so much. That was amazing the way you talked to Noel." Leaning back into Brian's arms, Justin let himself feel the warmth and love surrounding him. There would always be a saddness in the empty space Hallie's death had left in their family, but her memory would fill their hearts. |