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| Part 3 Dedicated to Katie... She wanted to see more of the family. Also to Lois!! She is the most amazing person in the world!!! |
| ~Ring, Ring~ J: Taylor. B: You sound so professional. **chuckles** J: Have to. I’m expecting Mike to call. B: Mike? Should I be jealous? J: Oh yes. Very jealous. Since the last time I saw you, I’ve gotten into old, fat gallery owners. B: **laughs** J: So, what are you calling for? B: I can’t call my baby just to say hello? J: You can. But you never do. B: What are you doing next weekend? J: Painting, probably. B: Come with me to visit my son. J: In Connecticut? Since when are you going to Connecticut next weekend? B: Since I closed a huge deal this morning and decided that I deserved a holiday. J: So you’re just taking a weekend? B: No. But I’m only spending a weekend with Linds and Mel. I was thinking that I need to do a little traveling. Perhaps to another country? And then I remembered someone telling me that Canada is just gorgeous in the summer. J: You’re coming to visit me!?! B: That was the plan. Unless you don’t want me to. J: Yes! Yes! I want you to!! B: Good. I’ll have Cynthia book you a flight to Connecticut and then we’ll fly back to Toronto together. J: Ok. B: Hate to cut this call short, baby, but I have to be in a meeting in five minutes. J: Call me tonight? B: Same time as always. J: Love you. B: Love you, too. ~Click~ Justin sat staring at his phone, unsure of what had just happened. He and Brian had been trying for over a month to figure out how they were going to make their relationship work when they both had different lives, in two different countries. Justin had been seriously considering packing up and moving out to L.A., figuring that he could work just about anywhere, but Brian didn’t want to discuss that. He was thrilled that Brian would be coming to visit. He figured that if things were good between them during the visit, he would broach the subject of moving. He knew that Brian wanted to be with him, but he also refused to let Justin jeopardize his career. *** ~Ring, Ring~ B: Kinney here. L: Hey, Bri. B: He, Linds, what’s up? L: I just got your message. Gus will be so excited that you’re coming to visit. B: Well, I miss my son. Justin’s going to come, too. L: Reeeeeally? B: Don’t give me that tone, Linds. I didn’t want to tell you anything about me and Justin because we’re just seeing where it’s going to go. L: Well, one of you is going to have to go somewhere. You can’t have a decent relationship when you live so far apart. B: I know. **sighs** L: Have you two talked about it? B: I try not to. L: Why not? B: I can’t move. And I don’t want to ask him to move. L: He would, you know. An artist can work from anywhere. B: I know… L: Scares the shit out of you to be close with him again, eh? B: Linds, I don’t want to talk about it. L: Alright, alright. B: I’ll call you when my plane lands. L: See you next weekend, Bri. B: You too, Linds. Give Gus a kiss for me. L: Will do. ~Click~ Brian sat down at his desk, having been pacing the room as he and Lindsay discussed Justin, and looked at the picture on his desk. Before leaving Pittsburgh, after Vic’s funeral, he had taken a picture of Justin and framed it. Justin didn’t know what he’d done with the picture and he wanted to keep it that way. He thought back to all the ups and downs their relationship had gone through while they were still in Pittsburgh. He didn’t want Justin to uproot his life, a life he had been building for five years, just to have that happen again. *** Arriving in Connecticut Justin walked out of the terminal and found Brian waiting for him with a big smile on his face, obviously excited to see him. Justin ran to Brian, dropped his bags, and threw his arms around him. “I missed you!” He exclaimed. The feel of Brian’s arms around him was the greatest comfort he had experienced since the last time he and Brian were together. “I missed you, too, baby.” Brian pulled his head back, not loosening his hold on Justin’s body, and kissed him. “Mmmm, you taste better than anything.” “You, too.” Justin smiled. “Are Linds and Mel picking us up?” “Nope.” Brian shook his head. “I rented a car. It’s outside.” “How long have you been here?” Justin asked raising an eyebrow. Brian certainly didn’t look like he had just gotten off a plane and had rushed to rent a car. “Three hours, give or take.” Brian shrugged. “I could have gotten a cab, Bri.” Justin reminded his lover. “I wanted to be here when you got here, ok?” Brian looked a little uncomfortable and Justin took his hand. “Let’s go see your son.” “He’s going to be thrilled to see you.” Brian said with a smile. “I guess both the Kinney boys find it hard to forget you.” “Where’s all this sweetness coming from, Bri?” “I just missed you, ok?” Again, he looked uncomfortable. Justin decided to leave Brian’s actions alone. *** “Daddy!” Gus exclaimed running to his father and jumping into his arms. “I missed you SO much!” “I missed you too, Gus!” Brian hugged his son tight, he had missed him and was thrilled to be back with him. “I have so much to tell you, Daddy! And I have to show you my room. And the new baseball glove Mama got me.” Gus was talking a mile a minute and trying to lead Brian to his bedroom. “Wait one minute, Gus.” Brian said. “You remember Justin, right?” Gus’s eyes lit up and he turned to Justin. “Jus!” Gus let go of Brian’s hand and launched himself into Justin’s arms. “This day is better than Christmas!” Justin hugged Gus tight, finally feeling comfortable with the young boy again. “It’s good to see you, Gus.” Justin smiled. “I still have your painting on my wall. Daddy’s never seen it. I wanted to show him that too.” Gus took hold of Justin’s hand and captured Brian’s in the other. “I have SO much stuff to show you guys!” When the three of them arrived at Gus’s bedroom, Justin nearly fell over. There, above Gus’s bed, hung the painting that Justin had sent him at Christmas. The painting was of Gus sitting in Brian’s lap… it was beautiful and love seemed to shimmer from their eyes. “Daddy! Look!” Gus pointed to the painting, which Brian was already staring at. “That was my Christmas present from Justin.” “Justin…” Brian turned to the young man standing next to him. “When did you paint that?” “Lindsay sent me a picture at the end of last summer… I started it then.” Justin looked away, slightly embarrassed that Brian was seeing the painting. He had known, when he sent it to Gus, that Brian would see it eventually. He had just never imagined that he and Brian would be together when it happened. “Justin, it’s…” Brian looked back at the painting with tears glistening in his eyes. “It’s so beautiful.” He took Justin’s hand. “You are so incredibly talented.” “Thank you, Brian.” Justin smiled gently and then looked down at Gus. “I think your daddy likes it.” “Good!” Gus smiled and launched himself into his father’s arms again. “Daddy?” “Yes, Gus?” “Are you and Justin gunna get married like Mommy and Mama?” Gus asked. Brian chuckled and looked over at Justin. “Would you like to field this one?” “I don’t know the answer.” Justin said hoarsely. Seeing Brian’s reaction to the painting had gotten to him and he was feeling emotional. Realizing that he didn’t know what was going to happen when Brian finished his holidays really got to him and he had to stop himself from crying. “Neither do I.” Brian admitted, keeping eye contact with Justin. “I remember when you used to kiss all the time. And then Daddy moved away and you never kissed anymore.” Gus said. “How do you remember that Gus? That was a long time ago.” Justin said. “I dunno. I just remember.” Gus shrugged and jumped down from his Daddy’s arms and looked up and the two men in his bedroom. “I think you should get married. Then I could have two moms and two dads.” Brian and Justin looked at each other, unsure of what the other was thinking. *** “So, Justin,” Lindsay began at dinner that night, “how’s the stuff for your show coming along?” “Oh, I’m almost completely done. Two or three more pieces and I’m all set.” Justin was excited and proud of his success. “When is your show?” Melanie asked, taking a sip of her wine. “They’re shooting for just after Christmas.” Justin said with a smile. “And you’re already done?” Lindsay was surprised. “So, will you be going back to work?” “I don’t know.” Justin shrugged, glancing at Brian. “I haven’t made any decisions yet.” “Can you afford not to?” Melanie, ever the practical one, asked. “Yeah. I inherited some money when I turned 21 and I have a healthy savings account. I’m set up for quite a while.” Justin smiled. “Hopefully, I’ll sell some of my stuff for big bucks.” “You will.” Brian said softly, glancing up from under lowered lashes, in a very un-Brian-like move. Justin moved his hand over to Brian’s and they clasped. “When did this happen?” Melanie asked, seeing them holding hands. “Pittsburgh.” Lindsay whispered, smiling at seeing the interaction. “Are they…?” “I don’t know.” Lindsay shrugged. “We can hear you, you know?” Brian asked with annoyance, Lindsay and Melanie’s whispering having ruined his moment with Justin. “And we can answer questions for ourselves.” “When’s the commitment ceremony?” Melanie asked, posing a challenge. “Mature, Mel.” Brian shook his head and knocked back his wine. When he looked back at the table, everyone was staring at him, including Justin. “What does it matter to you? When it happens, you won’t be invited anyways.” “Brian!” Lindsay shrieked. “Bri…” Justin stood and walked from the table. “What the fuck did I do this time?” Brian stood up and followed Justin out onto the porch. “Justin.” “I don’t know whether to be happy or upset.” Justin turned and looked Brian in the eye. “It’s like our relationship is some big fucking state secret and you won’t talk to me or anyone else about what’s going to happen in the future.” “Justin…” “What do you want from us, Brian?” Justin asked. “Don’t think about it, just tell me.” “I want to be with you. Beyond that, I don’t know.” Brian felt cornered and he knew he was going to get his back up. “Do you want me with you? In LA?” Justin leaned back and raised an eyebrow. “Yes. But Justin, you have a life in…” Justin’s lips on his own silenced Brian. When Justin pulled away, Brian spoke again. “Are you sure?” “I’m an artist, Brian. I can work anywhere.” Justin smiled. “Now let’s can the drama and go back inside.” “Don’t let Mel bring up commitment ceremonies again, ok?” Brian slipped an arm around Justin’s waist. “The subject bothers me.” “Ok, baby.” Justin tiled his head up for a kiss and Brian didn’t disappoint. *** After spending the entire weekend taking Gus out and having a great time, it was time for Brian and Justin to leave for the airport. Gus walked into the room and saw the bags. “Is it time for you guys to go already?” He asked, slightly whimpering. “Yeah, Buddy, but we’ll be back soon.” Brian knelt as his son hurried over to him. “I don’t want you to leave, Daddy!” Gus started to cry a little more. “I want you and Justin to stay forever.” Brian tried to hold back his own emotion and just held his son. “Maybe your moms will let you come visit this summer, Gus.” Brian said. “Mommy? Mama? Can I go visit Daddy for the summer?” Gus looked up at his mom with tears in his eyes, a hopeful expression on his face. “We’ll talk about it.” Melanie said with a gentle smile. She sometimes resented Gus’s adoration for Brian, but understood that a young boy needed his father. “Will you phone me soon, Daddy?” Gus asked, turning back to his father. “I’ll phone you as soon as I get to Toronto.” Brian promised. “Ok, Daddy. I love you.” Gus hugged his father tight one more time before turning to Justin. “Make sure Daddy remembers to call, k?” “Of course, Gus.” Justin knelt and hugged the young boy. “And think about getting married, k? I’d like you to be my daddy too.” Gus whispered, sounding much older than his eight years. Justin smiled gently and stood. Brian and Justin both hugged Lindsay and Melanie, kissing their cheeks before they lifted their bags and left the house. Once their bags were stashed in the trunk and they were on the road, Justin reached over and took Brian’s hand. “Gus told me to think about marrying you.” Justin smiled. “He said he’d like me to be his daddy too.” He began getting a little choked up. “He said that?” Brian was more than a little surprised. “He whispered it when he hugged me.” Justin nodded. “I wish that I could be near him.” Brian admitted. “The hardest thing about being in Los Angeles is being away from Gus and you.” “Well, you won’t have to be away from me anymore.” Justin reminded him. Brian, now reminded that when he went back to L.A., he wouldn’t be living alone anymore. “I think that maybe we need to buy a house.” Brian said unexpectedly. Until that moment, he hadn’t even thought of moving out of his apartment. But now, upon considering it, he knew that they would need more space. He would need his own office that he could escape to and work, Justin would need a studio space to paint in, and Gus would need his own bedroom for when he came to visit. “Really?” “Yeah.” Brian nodded, still shocked by his own idea. “Well, ok.” Justin smiled widely. Brian stayed silent for the rest of the trip to the airport, thinking about his decision to put down actual roots in L.A. Buying a home was a big deal, and he knew that as soon as it was done, he and Justin would have a lot to deal with. Justin sat and stared out the window, wondering what it would be like when he and Brian started their life together in Los Angeles. He knew that Brian was serious about their relationship when he suggested they buy a house together. What would happen next? NEXT |