“Hey, Sonny Boy.” Brian said as he lifted his son into his arms. “Don’t you look ultra cute today.” Gus was dressed in a pair of white corduroy overalls and a red t-shirt.
“Dadda! You cute too!” Gus exclaimed, giggling as his father nuzzled his neck.
“You ready to go to the zoo?”
“Zoo! Zoo!” Gus chanted, bouncing in his father’s arms.
“And then we’re gunna go over to Justin’s for dinner!” Gus’s eyes lit up at the mention of Justin’s name. Excepting his parents, Justin was his favorite person.
“Justin’s?” Melanie raised an eyebrow. “Are you two…?”
“Friends? Yes, we’re friends.” Brian said, purposely ignoring what he knew she was implying. He figured that everyone would automatically assume that it was more with Justin.
“Hmm…” Melanie hummed, trying to decide whether Brian was being honest or sneaky. “Linds, Brian is taking Gus to Justin’s for dinner.” She said as her wife walked down the stairs.
“Oh, that’s good.” Lindsay said calmly. “Gus loves going to Justin’s, don’t you Gus?”
“Jus'n!” Gus exclaimed.
“See?” Lindsay winked at Melanie before turning back to Brian to kiss him and Gus goodbye. “Have him back by 8?”
“Yes, mom.” Brian grabbed Gus’s bag and left the house.
“What do you think is going on with them?” Melanie asked as soon as the door was closed. Lindsay smiled.
“They’re friends.”
“That’s what he said!” Melanie exclaimed. “How long do you think it’ll be before they fuck?”
“Must you be so vulgar?” Lindsay asked before answering the question. “I doubt it’ll be any time soon. Brian is very serious about his rules about not having sex with his friends. Look at him and Michael. They’ve been friends forever and it’s never happened.”
“But with Justin it’s different!” Melanie was not usually the type to gossip, especially not when it came to Brian, but this was a special situation.
“I know.” Lindsay said as she walked to the kitchen.
“What aren’t you telling me?” Melanie asked as she nipped at her wife’s heels.
“Well, all I know is what I’m guessing.” Lindsay turned and smiled broadly, finally getting into the gossiping spirit. “But I know that they’re both working hard to get their lives on track, and this time it’s not about the other person directly.”
“How is that a good thing?” Melanie asked.
“When they’re both ready, it’ll just happen. I know the feelings are still there, they just have to be ready and trust each other again. Being friends will build that trust.” Lindsay explained. Melanie sat down and thought about the situation as Lindsay brewed some tea.
***
“Oh, hi Michael.” Justin said when he saw his partner in comics on the other side of the door. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to know if you’ve seen Brian recently.” Michael said as he walked into the apartment uninvited. He walked into the living room and took a seat on the couch.
“He was by here this morning.” Justin said carefully.
“What, are you two back together or something?” Michael whipped his head around to face Justin.
“No. We’re trying the friends thing.” Justin sat down in the armchair. He wasn’t sure how to get Michael to leave.
“How long before you’re fuck buddies again?” Michael demanded. Justin didn’t like what he saw in Michael’s eyes.
“Never. Now, Michael, you need to go. I’m having people over for dinner tonight and I need to start cooking.” Justin stood and Michael followed suit.
“Who are you having over? Brian?” Michael asked as he was ushered towards the door.
“Yes. As a matter of fact, he’s bringing Gus over for a visit tonight.” Justin said tightly. “Goodnight, Michael.” He closed the door before Michael could speak again and breathed a sigh of relief.
***
“Are you ready to go see Justin, Gus?” Brian asked as he strapped his son into the car seat.
“Jus'n! Jus'n!” Gus started chanting as he pounded his fists in the air.
“You’re excited!” Brian smiled and kissed his son before walking around the other side of the car and strapping himself in.
On the drive over to Justin’s place, he wondered where he and Justin were going. He knew that, on his end anyway, all of the feelings were still there. He wasn’t sure if Justin still felt it, and was too afraid to ask.
“Dadda!! Awe we thewe yet?” Gus piped up from the backseat interrupting Brian’s thoughts.
“Soon, Sonny Boy.” Brian smiled. He loved the fact that Gus was so fond of Justin. Most of his friends scared the little boy to death, especially Michael. Gus cried whenever Michael was in the same room as him. Brian was never sure why.
When he got to Justin’s apartment, Brian unstrapped Gus from the car seat and carried him inside. Justin buzzed him in immediately. Upon hearing Justin’s voice over the intercom, Gus began to bounce and squeal in excitement.
“Hi.” Justin smiled, waiting at the open door when Brian and his young son arrived.
“Jus'n!” Gus dove out of his father’s arms and would have fallen if not for Justin’s quick reflexes. Justin caught the young boy and carried him inside.
“Hi, Bri.” Justin smiled. “Come on in. Dinner is almost ready.”
“Dinnew?” Gus asked, making a funny face that looked excited.
“Justin cooked us dinner, Gus. Isn’t that nice?” Brian took Gus from Justin’s arms and sat down at the kitchen table.
“Yeah! Nice!” Gus giggled.
~ Later that night ~
Gus was asleep in the bedroom. Brian and Justin had gotten caught up in conversation and Gus, tired of playing, had kissed each man goodnight and put himself to bed. Brian had called Lindsay and sweet talked her into letting him keep Gus for the night.
“Would you like some wine?” Justin offered.
“How did you buy wine?” Brian raised an eyebrow teasingly.
“Emmett brought it over as a housewarming gift.” Justin chuckled. “I can pour us some if you’d like.”
“That sounds good.” Brian couldn’t believe how comfortable he was sitting down with Justin and having a quiet evening in. It wasn’t something that he was used to and normally he would have been climbing the walls by now.
“Here you go.” Justin returned and handed Brian a wine glass. During the exchange, their fingers brushed and they looked up at each other suddenly. For several long minutes after that, the two sat in silence.
“This is weird.” Justin finally said, breaking the excruciating silence.
“What is?”
“Us. Being friends.” The younger man shrugged. “Without it being about fucking.”
“Justin, I don’t want you to think I’m your friend because I wanna sleep with you.” Brian had a strange, almost vulnerable look in his eyes.
“I don’t. I never did.” Justin smiled, trying his hardest to take that strange emotion from Brian’s eyes. It worked. Seeing Justin smile his patent “Sunshine” smile, brought a smile to Brian’s lips as well.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” Justin replied, sipping his wine.
“What happened with Ethan?” Brian felt awful when he suddenly saw Justin stiffen. He reached his hand out and pressed it to the younger man’s arm, in hopes of soothing him.
“Are you sure you want to know?” Justin’s voice was shaky.
“Yes.” Brian replied, though he wasn’t really sure. He was actually terrified of knowing the answer.
“He hit me.” Justin finally met Brian’s eyes and could see the instant rage that began to boil there.
“I’ll fucking kill that little---’’
Justin cut Brian off. “So I left him. He only hit me once and then I left.” Justin saw pride swell in Brian’s eyes.
“I’m proud of you, Justin. You are one strong fucking kid.” Brian reached out and touched Justin’s cheek.
“I’m the most mature person you know.” Justin teased, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh, I forgot.” Brian laughed and the seriousness of the conversation died. They were in teasing mode now, and that tended to lighten the conversation for the rest of the day.
***
~One Month Later~
“Justin! Get your ass in gear!” Brian called. He was sitting on Justin’s couch waiting for the younger man to be ready to go. The two of them were taking Gus to a Children’s Theatre production of Snow White that afternoon.
“Just a minute!” Justin called.
“Gus will be waiting and he’ll think his Dadda forgot about him.” Brian grumbled. In reality, he knew that Gus wouldn’t be happy if Justin didn’t join them. Over the last month, Brian and Justin had taken Gus to some interesting children’s activity every Sunday.
“I’m ready!” Justin announced, entering the living room.
“You look exactly the same as when I got here a half hour ago.” Brian grumbled. “What the hell did you have to do?”
“For your information, I had to wash my face and brush my teeth and style my hair and change my outfit.” Justin stuck out his tongue. “You know, you were a lot more attentive when we were together.”
“That’s cuz I paid close attention to how many articles of clothing I had to remove at the end of the night. Don’t have to do that anymore.” Brian teased.
The pair had been dancing around the sex issue all month. They saw each other on a fairly regular basis. Usually in the evenings, they would get together at Justin’s for dinner, or go to the diner and meet with the guys. After dinner, they always found something to do, but they never ended up in bed.
Justin knew that everyone was speculating what was going on with the two of them and the truth was that Justin had no idea himself. He had never figured Brian for a just friends kind of guy, with anyone other than Micheal, that is. However, now the two of them were just that, platonic friends.
Brian was just as confused as Justin. He knew that neither of them were ready to, or even wanted to, fall back into their old routine. They were still feeling each other out and getting to know the other thoroughly. Brian was beginning to wonder if they were headed toward being more than friends, but he couldn’t really be sure.
“Stop trying to trick me into saying I want to get you in my pants and let’s go get your son.” Justin teased with a wink and they were off.
***
“Justin’s coming with him again today?” Melanie asked.
“Yup. As usual.” Lindsay tried to hide the smile that was waiting on her lips. She couldn’t have been more thrilled with how things were going with Brian and Justin.
“Are they back together yet?”
“Nope. Just friends.”
“What are you hiding?” Melanie asked with narrowed brows.
“Nothing.” Lindsay’s voice was a little bit too airy.
“Spill.”
“There’s nothing to tell but my suspicions.” Lindsay continued, “I know that they aren’t sleeping together. I’d know if they were. I can just tell with them. All I know is that Brian is content. Finally. And Justin is really happy too.”
“So why aren’t they moving it along? Liberty is buzzing with speculation.” Melanie said. “They aren’t even together and they’re Pittsburgh’s gay Cinderella and Prince Charming.”
“They need to take it at their own pace.” Lindsay shrugged. “If they rush it, they’ll just fall into the old make up break up pattern.”
“I’m sick of waiting.” Melanie grumbled. Lindsay grinned.
“We all are. Trust me.” Lindsay got a strange glint in her eyes and Melanie knew that she was plotting.
***
~Two Weeks Later~
Brian slid the door to the loft open, expecting Justin to be there. They were planning on going out to a new restaurant that Brian was doing a campaign for. Instead, he found Michea.
“Hey, Mikey. Long time, no see.”
“Yah.” Michael grumbled. “You’ve been busy.”
“Yes, I have.” Brian gestured for Michael to come in. He was hoping that his friend was over whatever it was that had caused them to argue last time.
“Justin’s not here?”
“No. But he’ll be here soon. We’re going out for dinner. You’re welcome to join us.” Brian offered, hoping that Michael would decline.
“I’m going to Woody’s with Ted and Emmett.” Michael said. “We’ve been missing you around the clubs.”
“How is everyone down at Babylon?”
“Liberty Avenue is all abuzz with rumors about you and the former King Of Babylon.” Micheal’s voice dripped with venom at the mention of Justin. Brian was sure he wasn’t going to like whatever Michael was going to say next, so he tried to lighten the conversation.
“Anything juicy?”
“Just that everyone sees you two together. At the diner. Out with Gus. Out at fancy restaurants.” Michael was standing stock still and staring Brian in the eyes.
“We’re friends.” Brian shrugged. “We have a good time and good conversation.”
“When did that little twink become worth talking to?” Michael demanded.
“Don’t push it, Michael. If someone was saying shit like this about you, I’d defend you. It’s the same when it comes to Justin.” Brian threatened.
“So that’s how it’s going to be now? Picking some trick over your friends!” Michael’s eyes were blazing and you could have cut the tension in the room with a knife.
“Justin is more my friend than you are. He actually likes to talk about what’s going on in my life.” Brian couldn’t believe that he was yelling at Michael the way he was.
“Don’t pretend like it was Justin’s amazing conversational skills that attracted you!”
“He’s the whole package. I became friends with him because I like him as a person. I became friends with you because you were pathetic and I felt sorry for you!” Brian exploded, suddenly fearing that he had gone too far and that his friendship with Michael was over.
“The whole package! Right! A smooth bubble butt and a nice cock!” Michael looked angry.
Brian pulled back, swung, and knocked Michael clear on his ass. He had never hit one of his friends, ever. He had promised himself when he was very young that he would never hit anyone out of anger, and he had just broken his promise.
“You broke my fucking nose, Brian!” Michael spat.
“Get out, Michael. Just get the fuck out.” Brian said, defeated, as he stumbled to his bedroom and laid down.
“Bri!” He heard Justin calling. And then, “Oh my god, Michael! Are you okay?” He shook his head and he knew he had finally done it. He had become Jack Kinney. And now there was no way that he could ever be with Justin again.
***
“Are you going to say anything?” Justin asked. He and Brian had been sitting on the couch staring at each other for over 20 minutes, since Justin had shipped Michael off and dragged Brian out of bed.
“What is there to say?” Brian asked. “I hit him. I got angry and I hit him.”
“What did he do?”
“What do you mean, what did he do?”
“Exactly that. What did he do?” Justin started tapping his foot.
“He just said some really stupid shit. There was no reason to hit him.” Brian’s voice lacked any emotion at all.
“Brian, don’t hand me that shit. I know you better than that. You wouldn’t have hit him if he didn’t provoke you.” Justin was trying to pull it out of him, but he still wasn’t sure whether he wanted to know the answer.
“He said that you were just a stupid twink with a smooth ass and a nice cock and that I’m only friends with you because I want to fuck you.” Brian grumbled, avoiding Justin’s eyes.
“You defended me.”
“And myself. Michael thinks he knows me so fucking well. It pisses me off. He thinks I’m still the person I was when I was sixteen, for Christ sakes!” Brian was starting to get angry again and started pacing.
“I understand.” Justin said softly.
“Is he okay?”
“He has a bloody nose and a black eye. Nothing broken.” Justin stood and walked over to Brian. When Justin touched his arm, Brian flinched. “You’re not your father, Brian.”
Brian was about to exclaim that he wasn’t thinking that, but he knew that Justin knew better. He simply nodded and went back to the couch.
“Look at everything you’ve done, Brian! You’re successful in business, you’re an excellent father, you have an extended family that loves you, you quit the drinking and you quit the tricking. You’re a grown up now.” Justin took Brian’s hand.
“Thank you for being here, Justin.” Brian turned and let Justin embrace him, feeling safe and comfortable in those arms.
“Anytime.” Justin whispered. “Just say the word.”
***
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