V ans, where's your better half?" Aiden asked. He
was sitting on the bleachers that had been put up
for the annual Pride Parade. Vancouver's parade was
usually more than three hours long, Aiden knew to
stake out his claim on relatively comfortable seating
early. Liam had disappeared in an attempt to get them
a cold bottle of water and he was waiting somewhat
impatiently. He smiled at Shay who was sitting in his
stroller. He had a stuffed version of Dawg in his hand.
"She's in the parade." Vanessa tried to sound
upbeat. "On that damn motorcycle of hers."
"Ahh, yes, the famous Dykes on bikes." Aiden
grinned. "Rosie going topless?"
"I don't know."
"Why aren't you with her? I mean, isn't your
place to be with your hubby?"
Vanessa thought for a moment. "Yes it is." She
picked Shay up out of his stroller and handed him to
Aiden. "Here you go daddy." She picked up the
276 Magical Moonlight
stuffed kitten. "And here's Dawg 2" she snickered. "I
still can't believe we have a kitten at the house."
"Have fun." Aiden waved. "Wave at mommy,
Boyo. She's going to show her tits to the world. It's an
annual ritual that all lesbians do."
Vanessa rolled her eyes heavenward, but said
nothing as she went to find Rosalie.
"Shay, how cool." Liam had found his way back
to Aiden.
"Li." Shay held out his stuffed version of his Wah
cat. "Doug." And instantly the stuffed cat was a real
one, purring loudly.
"Shit." Aiden mumbled trying to shield his son
from prying eyes. "Do something Boyo."
"Uh Shay, that was really cool. But parades aren't
a great place for Wah cats. Dawg should stay at home,
just like Ty does."
Two pairs of innocent looking eyes looked back
at Liam. One pair green with gold flecks much like his
father's and one pair gold with green flecks. "K."
Shay said. He put his nose on Dawg's and whispered
something to the cat. The cat appeared to answer him
back and then a small pink tongue appeared to lick the
end of his boy's nose, a small pop was heard, and
Shay was once again holding the stuffed version.
Aiden looked at the stuffed cat with suspicion.
"Liam, did he just talk to Dawg and did the damn cat
answer back?"
"Uh, looked that way." Liam said, also eyeing the
stuffed version with suspicion. "Uh Aiden, how come
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this toy has the exact same eyes as Dawg? Where did
you find it?"
"I didn't get it for him. I thought you got it for
him." Aiden was poking the stuffed cat with his
finger.
"Da, no poking." Shay pulled his toy away.
"Doug hates poking." He bent down and kissed where
Aiden had poked. "All better."
"Please, please tell me it's a toy." Aiden asked no
one in particular.
Liam giggled and patted Aiden on the arm. "Hey
good one Shay, can I see Dawg?"
"No." The boy cuddled his toy. "Shay loves you."
He batted his eyelashes, making Liam giggle.
A roar of motorcycle motors moved into their
hearing and soon all three, or is that four of them,
were enthralled with the intricate movements of the
Dykes on Bikes as they roared up and down, around in
circles and generally performed for the audience. "Ma,
Mamma, tits." Shay yelled out, waving Dawg.
Liam glared at Aiden who snickered. But he said
nothing as they watched the parade.
Shay stood on his father's knees, content that his
father would hold him steady and safe. No one moved
in front of them, thanks to a bit of Wahjee influence,
so their view was unobstructed of the parade and its
participants. When the PFLAG contingent rounded the
corner. Liam kissed Aiden and ran out to join his
mother.
"Da, Uncle Danny." Shay pointed to the well
disguised Daniel dressed in full drag. "Looks funny."
278 Magical Moonlight
He said as he waved his hand and Daniel, still in drag,
looked decidedly like himself. There was no chance
he wouldn't be recognized by any and all who saw
him.
To make things worse, the unsuspecting Daniel
ran up to one of the parade watchers and kissed him
thoroughly, before laughing and running back. "Shit,
Danny is going to be pissed." Aiden mumbled, though
he couldn't help but grin. His son was definitely
interesting to be around.
Lisa laughed and continued to parade with her
son. She hadn't noticed any difference, because she
had always seen him as he really was. Liam had
noticed immediately what had happened. He
continued to grin and snicker for the rest of the
parade. It was a great day.
Later, when the parade was over, Liam joined
Aiden and his son in the park. Shay was content to sit
in his stroller holding tight to his toy while watching
all the action. The giant sized Inuksuk that faced
English Bay fascinated him. There would be stories
told later about how the Inuksuk seemed to form a
face that smiled with benevolence at the happy crowd
of parade watchers. Shay was content once the spirit
of the living rock had smiled at him.
Liam pushed the stroller and Aiden walked beside
him. They stopped and chatted with friends and Aiden
bought Liam a hot dog. Shay didn't want one for
which Aiden was grateful, Vanessa would have killed
him.
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They found Daniel sitting at a picnic table
surrounded by his mother and other PFLAG ladies. He
looked miserable. "What's up Danny?" Aiden asked.
"Hey Aiden." Daniel looked at Liam and Shay,
but didn't acknowledge them. "I want to go home and
change but I can't get away from them." He nodded at
the women who were all talking at once.
"You look kind of cute." Liam said. "Stick
around dressed like that. There's going to be a dance
later."
"Fuck off." Daniel growled.
"Watch your language Danny, Shay is here."
Aiden drawled. "Pretty brave of you coming out like
you did."
"What are you talking about?" Daniel asked,
looking from Aiden to Liam. "I'm not out at work."
"You are now. I mean kissing your boss kind of
did it for you." Liam snickered. "Talk about cool."
"He won't know who kissed him." Daniel
sneered. Liam pissed him off. "Hey, the kid is
sleeping on that toy. He reached forward to take the
toy cat away from Shay. "Holy shit, the thing bit me."
He shook his hand, staring at his finger.
"Good one Danny." Liam laughed. "A biting toy
cat." He reached down and tucked the kitten in closer
to Shay and folded a light blanket around them.
"Every kid should have one."
"I'm telling you, it bit me." Daniel looked at his
finger, but Aiden had removed the small spot of
blood. "I know it did."
280 Magical Moonlight
"Daniel, Daniel." He turned to see who was
calling him. It was Susan from work.
"Fuck." He whispered, looking around to see if
there was any way he could hide.
"Hi Daniel. You look pretty good dressed like
that." She gushed. "Boy, was the boss surprised when
you kissed him." She giggled. "I hope he liked it."
Daniel buried his head in his hands. But then
looked up surprised when Susan grabbed one of his
hands and pulled him to his feet. "Come on Danny,
let's get something to eat. I should be so lucky to look
as good as you do in a dress." She looked around,
spotting Lisa with a camera. "Is that your mom? You
look like her, can she take our picture?"
Before Daniel could say anything, he found
himself posing with Susan, Liam and Aiden; his
mother beaming like she'd won the lottery.
Later that night, Aiden and Liam walked down a
crowded Davie Street. The street has been closed off
earlier to traffic and was filled with vendors under
white tents happy to sell everything from food to
plastic rainbow hued beads. Music filled the air and
people were dancing in the street in front of
Celebrities. "I don't think I want to stay much longer."
Liam began. "But you stay and have a good time."
"Too much excitement for you, magic boy?"
Aiden twirled Liam around to the sound of the music.
"You dance funny." Liam laughed.
"Perhaps." Aiden hunched down to kiss the man
he knew he loved, not that he'd admit it. "But right
now I want to dance funny with you."
ER Bryant 281
"Me?" Liam asked, but he could see the truth in
Aiden's eyes and his heart filled with joy. The night
was filled with the magic and excitement of gay men
and women heady with the day. He let himself be
swept up in Aiden's arms as they swayed and moved
to the music. Liam threw up a handful of his sparkling
electric puffs to crown the both of them, for they were
truly kings tonight.
It was one of those special nights when dark
shadows could be forgotten, when red eyed strangers
glaring from deep recesses of mist filled alleys could
be ignored and dismissed as tricks of the mind.
Liam and Aiden both knew that they were living a
dream that could be turned into a nightmare at a
moments notice. But with Davie Street surrounded by
music and filled with goodwill and love, it was easy to
forget for a moment or two.
Unaware that they were covered in a web of
protectiveness, the two men danced as if it were only
the two of them alone on the noisy street.
Perched on a ledge that was sheltered by three
well placed and rather ornate black cast iron flower
pots filled with red geraniums, it was Davie Street
after all, sat Ty, ends tucked in, ears alert and
listening, eyes, round, missing nothing. A beautiful
picture if someone should glance up. But what was
unusual, was sitting tall and regal, most definitely a
tad royally, was a larger than life turquoise and white
cat, his eyes golden with violet sparks, his lips curved
in a definite smile while he directed the protection
spell he held in place around two dancing men. There
282 Magical Moonlight
was a certain satisfaction in the smile, for the two men
had been bound together from the time of their births,
though others had done their damndest to keep them
apart.
"The master and his prince dance well together."
Ty ventured, not sure of his place when Regis, the
high king of all Wah cats, showed himself in person,
rather than the toy version who watched over his red
haired charge.
"As twin flames should." Regis acknowledged,
his head nodding in satisfaction. His tail flicked and
another hidden in black shadow vanished. "The dark
forces are out in strength tonight." He sighed. "I
suppose it was inevitable, happiness causes them
pain."
"And the child?" Ty asked, not sure if he should
remind the high king of Aiden's kit.
"The child is well guarded tonight, as he is for all
nights. My daughter sees to that." A brief glare from
gold and violet eyes told Ty he'd over stepped his
bounds.
"Your Highness." Ty bowed his head in apology.
He looked up, not surprised that the high king had
vanished. He was being tested. It was up to him to
guard the two lost in each other as they danced.
