Meant to Be

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The weekend seemed to fly by, making room for all of Justin's things, unpacking…then making some more room. Brian was shocked at all the shit that Justin had accumulated in his short eighteen years. But the blond was quick to point out that he'd only brought some of his stuff, leaving the rest of it behind at his parent's house. This astounded Brian further.

"Justin, do you really need all these t-shirts?"

"Of course. See, those are for hanging out, at home…and those, those are for sleeping…and that pile's for going out, like, you know, everyday kinda stuff…and those, those are for going out with you, when I wanna look good."

Nodding, trying to take it all in, and at the same time trying his best not to tell Justin that really, all the fucking t-shirts looked the same…Brian smiled, took a deep breath and knew that the fun was just beginning.

Later, after dinner the boys relaxed on the couch, flipping channels, not finding anything worth watching on TV.

"Do you start your actual classes tomorrow or just the pre-good stuff, boring kinda shit?"

Smiling, loving the way Brian put things so delicately…NOT…Justin replied, "No classes, just meet the teachers, find your way around, get a feel for the place kinda day. But I'm sure that that's exactly what you meant, isn't it?"

"Yeah, right," Brian grinned.

Pushing up from the couch, using his lover as an aid for which he received a disgruntled, "Hey," Justin moved toward the bedroom, stripping off his clothes along the way.

"What'cha doin?" Brian asked, his eyes following the blond's movements.

"Nothing, just getting comfortable." Justin turned, his eyes sparkling all the way across the room as he peeled off his pants, leaving him standing in nothing but a pair of skimpy black briefs.

"Mmm, you do look comfortable…buuuttt," the older man said with a drawn out sigh as he stood up, shutting off the TV then moving toward his lover. "I think that maybe I can get you even more comfortable. For instance," he purred, running his hand over Justin's growing erection, giving a firm squeeze and receiving a soft moan in response. "I can help you get rid of this. That should definitely make you more comfortable. What'dya think?"

"I think…" Justin gasped as his lover's fingers drifted inside his underwear, teasingly gliding up and down his length. "I-I think yes. Fuck, yes."

"Hmph, that's exactly what I had in mind."

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"Brian…Brian…Briaannnn…Bri…"

"Up here."

"Oh, sorry," Justin blushed, having rushed into the loft excitedly, calling out his lover's name…several…several times.

Brian just laughed, shaking his head. "So, how was school?"

"God, it was so great…the teachers were amazing…their work…you know, the samples they showed us to give us an idea of our first assignments…well, they were incredible…and the classrooms…shit, they're so fucking big…and all the students…God, I didn't realize that there'd be so many in one class…oh, and the cafeteria, mmm, I had this amazing thing for lunch…I'm not even sure…"

Brian just stood, opened mouth, eyes wide, his own lungs aching for Justin's, surely desperate for a breath…but he didn't have the heart to stop the blond. The enthusiasm pouring from him so raw and…amusing…that Brian couldn't help it when he burst out laughing.

"…and shit, when I found out that…" Justin finally paused, taking in a deep breath, then a few more short ones as his brows furrowed. "Hey, what the fuck's so funny?"

"Nothing…nothing," Brian answered, trying to regain his composure while thinking that his lover looked incredibly adorable with his lips all pouty. He couldn't help but reach out, pulling the slim body against his. "I'm glad you had such a great day."

"I did, I really did," Justin beamed.

"Good, now, how 'bout we go out for dinner, celebrate?"

"Really? That sounds so great."

"Just let me change and then I'll be ready."

"'Kay, oh, and I wanna change my t-shirt. This one's just for school," the blond said, digging through his drawer.

And Brian nodded, turning away as he muttered, "They all fucking look the same, but whatever…"

"I heard that."

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"Mmm, this is the best lasagna I've ever had. And the garlic bread…it's great."

"Good. A toast," Brian said, raising his glass of wine, waiting as Justin did the same. "To a great year ahead…in school…"

Justin smiled.

"…in business…"

Justin nodded in Brian's direction.

"…and in love…"

Justin blushed, his eyes flickering downward then back up again shyly.

Clinking their glasses together then taking a sip they finished their meal, stealing longing glances and whispering heartfelt words throughout, making it a perfect end to a perfect day.

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"Hurry up, Mel, they're gonna be here any minute."

"And you think I give a shit about this, why?"

"Come on, don't you care that finally, Brian's happy. I know, I know…" the blonde said, catching the evil glare from her wife, but still. "Mel, sweetheart, I wish you two would try, just a little harder…"

"I do try, it's him. He's such an asshole and…" But the unconvincing stare of Lindsay's blue eyes let her know just what she thought of the way she tried. Throwing her hands up in the air, Mel gave in. "Fine, fine, I'll be nice. But I'm telling you this, if this…what's his name…Justin, turns out to be a jerk, I'm done."

"From what I gather he's anything but."

"And who told you that? Brian?" Mel snorted, not ready to believe anything that came out of that man's mouth.

"No, Debbie and Emmett. They said he was beautiful and nice and…"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah…I'll believe it when I see it. The guy takes off to Europe for the whole fucking summer, not giving one shit about his son possibly missing him, but hey, what Brian wants…" And the woman's voice trailed off as she walked into the kitchen, leaving her wife's sad eyes following her.

Lindsay sighed heavily, wondering if her partner and her son's father would ever get along. She felt bad, keeping the truth from her wife about where Brian had spent most of the summer, but she'd made a promise to keep the information to herself, and she never broke a promise…especially to Brian.

She wondered if the young man that had seemed to cast a glow of renewed interest in life on Brian was really all that the others had made him out to be. Hopefully for Brian's sake he was. Because she feared that the man wouldn't be able to handle another major setback or disappointment. She knew how close he was to the edge when he'd decided to take his little break, even if no one else did…and she prayed that Justin was the something that Brian needed to keep him safe.

Just then the doorbell rang and Lindsay jumped as Mel huffed by her, unnerved by her wife's blatant excitement.

"Now, Mel…"

"I know, smile, be nice and don't kick Brian in the balls," Melanie droned off as Lindsay shot her a final glare before heading for the front door.

"Brian," the blonde woman beamed, opening the door and moving aside.

"Hey, Linds." Leaning down, Brian brushed a kiss against his friend's cheek then moved inside. "Lindsay Peterson, Justin Taylor."

And the woman almost gasped out loud as Brian tugged a lithe, incredibly breathtaking, angelic blond young…quite young…man in behind him.

"Nice to meet you," Justin said, offering his hand and smiling when Lindsay took it between both of hers in a warm embrace.

"Well, it's wonderful to finally meet you, Justin. I have to say that everything I've heard about you is true. You're positively darling."

"Linds," Brian warned.

"I just mean that, well, you're so beautiful and polite and…"

"Young," came Mel's voice.

Grimacing, Brian said, "And this is Lindsay's husband, Melanie."

"Nice to meet you, Melanie," Justin offered, feeling the woman's firm handshake, already getting a sense of why Brian didn't like this dark-haired, obviously domineering woman. She was in a way a feminine…and he used the term rather lightly…version of Brian. Not that Brian acted harsh toward him, not at all. But he'd seen the way he spoke towards other people, or the way he liked things a certain way…usually his way…and he got the feeling that Melanie was the same.

Moving into the living room, Brian took a seat on the couch, pulling Justin down beside him. "So, where's my son?"

"OUR son," Mel returned.

"Fine, whatever, where's, Gus?"

"He'll be up in a few minutes from his nap. Why don't we get to know your…" Lindsay stopped, not sure exactly what to call Justin. Knowing Brian's past history and ideas on relationships, she was a little apprehensive to say the wrong thing.

"Boyfriend? Lover?" Brian offered.

Smiling, the blonde nodded, noticing the way Brian's hand took hold of Justin's and gave a gentle squeeze. "Right, so, where are you going to school, Justin?"

"I've just started at PIFA."

"Ohhh, you're an artist," the woman exclaimed.

"Yeah, well, I hope to be one when I graduate."

"You shouldn't look at it that way, Justin. You already ARE an artist. It's a part of who you are. School helps you develop your skills, figure out how to use them better."

Beaming brightly, Justin said, "I've never thought of it that way. Thank you."

"Lindsay's an artist, too. She runs a gallery over on Freeman."

"Wow, that's amazing. I'd love to see some of your work," Justin said enthusiastically.

"And I'd love to see yours."

"Maybe, if you don't mind, I could bounce some ideas off of you, you know, for the assignments they've given us," Justin asked rather shyly.

"Sure, I don't mind at all."

Instantly Justin felt like all his worries about Lindsay, who he knew was an important part of his lover's life, were unfounded. She was sweet and giving and warm. Even Melanie seemed to have calmed down now and she was smiling. Just one more to go and…

"Oh, Gus is up," Lindsay said, jumping up at the sound of her son's cry as he woke from his nap. "He seems to be going through something now…always waking up crying. I'll be right back."

And the three other adults watched as she left the room, heading upstairs.

"Brian tells me that you're a lawyer. That's a very difficult profession. Takes a lot of integrity if done right, which, from what I understand, you do."

"Thank you, I try," Melanie said with an uncertain smile, wondering just what Brian had said about her. Obviously it hadn't been all bad.

"Look who's here..."

"Daddy!"

"Hey, Sonny Boy," Brian called out as a raring almost three year old barreled into his arms, burying his little face in his chest.

"Mist you, Daddy. Mist you lots."

"I missed you too, Gus. Did you have a good trip?"

"I wennona airplane t'flrda," the little boy said proudly.

Nodding, Brian replied, "I know. Did you fly it?"

Laughing, Gus said, a silly grin mimicking his father's plastered across his beautiful face, "No, Daddy, I sit and watch out d'win-o"

"Oh, I get it. Hey, I want you to meet someone," Brian said, noticing the way his son's eyes kept shifting over to Justin curiously.

"Who dat?"

"This is Justin. He lives with Daddy. He's special, just like you."

Nodding, understanding the importance of the pretty man if he was special to his daddy just like Gus was. The little boy reached out, his perfect fingers brushing across Justin's cheek and he said, "Hi."

"Hi, Gus. You know if you want, we can draw an airplane and put you up in the pilot's seat so you can pretend like you really did fly the plane."

"Weally?" the boy asked, excited.

"Yep. You wanna show me where you keep your paper and crayons?"

"Sure, come on."

Gus jumped off of his father's lap, taking the pretty blond man's hand, pulling him toward the dinning room table where he'd left his stuff.

Slightly amazed by the effect that Justin had on Gus, the other's watched as the boys settled in and began to draw.

"Well I think he's got a fan already," Lindsay said, referring to their son and Justin.

"He's got more than one," Brian stated softly, smiling as his lover's eyes met his from across the room.

Lindsay breathed a sigh of relief.

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"God, Gus is so beautiful, he looks just like you."

Nodding, Brian smiled.

"And he's so smart. He knew exactly where the cockpit went and the wings…and he even came up with a name for the airplane."

The older man 'hmphed,' as he listened.

"Oh, and I think that he liked me…at least I hope he did. I hope I get to see him again soon."

Justin's enthusiasm was heartwarming.

Smoothing the younger man's bangs off his forehead, Brian's hand moved across the golden head, wrapping around the back, pulling him closer.

"Brian, do you think he liked me? And Lindsay and Melanie?"

Meeting Justin's eyes Brian saw the man's longing to be accepted by his son and friends and he smiled. "I think they loved you."

Justin beamed and Brian whispered, "Sunshine."

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