Taking Orders

The fire was lit. Spring was in the air but the guys had not yet turned off the heating element in their fake fireplace. They were enjoying that warmth during a pre-Easter cool spell while they sat watching the flames darting to and fro. It would have been a perfect evening for them to sit in quiet contentment and just enjoy each other's company. It didn't happen.

"Easter is just around the corner, Brian," Justin began.

"And I hope you're not going to bring up the subject of last Easter, Baby," Brian replied. "Last Easter is history, Sweetheart."

"History has a way of repeating itself, Bri," Justin reasoned. "That's what somebody smart once said. Naturally, I am not going to complain because you ate the chocolate bunny that I got for Gus last year. Fortunately I found out about that in time to replace it in Gus' Easter basket so there was no harm done."

"The devil made me do it," Brian laughed. "But I got religion since then so it won't happen again. And if I recall correctly, you helped me eat that chocolate bunny, my sweet and sweets-loving, never-do-anything-wrong twink."

"One little ear," Justin pointed out, "And only after I knew I had to get a new one for Gus."

"OK, Baby," Brian conceded. "I'll try to control myself this year. I don't think you'll have any problem."

"It just can't happen this year, Bri," Justin informed him. "It just can't. That's why I'm warning you in advance. This year I'm having Gus's chocolate rabbit specially made. It's going to be playing a violin. If 'anything' should happen to that rabbit, I won't be able to replace it in time. Just so you know."

"I'm surprised you don't just keep it at the candy store until Easter," Brian groused good-naturedly, "Since you obviously don't trust my self-discipline."

"I did think of that, Honey," Justin told him, "But it would be way more convenient to pick it up a couple of days early. And I don't doubt your self-discipline at all. It's just that maybe I don't trust you."

"Isn't love supposed to be based on trust?" Brian wanted to know.

"Cut it out, Brian," Justin demanded. "I love you and you know it. I trust you and you know it. Chocolate is just a separate case. So cut it out."

"You getting one of those violin-playing rabbits for Ethan too?" Brian wanted to know.

"I thought about it," Justin answered, "But Eth is having a bit of a weight problem right now so I figured I better not."

"The fiddler is getting fat," Brian echoed. "He always did look a little chunky to me. Bet you're glad you picked me instead of him."

"Now who's bringing up history?" It was Justin's turn to grouse. "And anyhow, I didn't pick you over him or anybody else. I just picked you. There was never anybody else, and there never will be, unless maybe you try to eat Gus' bunny again this year. But if you really want to know, I am very glad I picked you, as if you didn't already know that."

Justin snuggled up closer to Brian as a signal that the discussion was over, at least temporarily. And so silence ensued for a while.

"Actually, Brian Honey," Justin finally broke the silence. "I'm going to stop at the candy store tomorrow so I'm taking orders. If there's anything special you'd like, I can order it for you. I'm getting fruit and nut eggs for your mother and my mother and …."

"Naw," Brian cut in. "I better follow Ethan's example. If I want any chocolate over the holiday, I can just finish up that candy you gave me for Valentine's Day."

"You ought to have some fresh stuff for Easter, Bri," Justin protested. "Easter is special and I want you to have something special."

"Baby, that stuff you got me on Valentine's Day was special," Brian assured him, "And I didn't really eat all that much of it. We don't want it to go bad."

"I think I should order you a chocolate nougat egg, maybe just small or medium," Justin went on as if Brian hadn't said anything at all.

"You know, Baby," Brian tried again. "All this talk about chocolate is getting to me. Where is that Valentine's Day candy anyhow? I think I could handle a piece or two of that."

"I don't know, Honey," Justin looked thoughtful. "I don't recall seeing it around lately."

"Me neither," Brian agreed. "I can't believe it's all gone."

"Well maybe it is," Justin posited. "We've had a lot of company since Valentine's day. Maybe it is gone."

"I don't remember all that much company, Kiddo," Brian replied. "Johnny was here a couple of times, and Ethan. Aha, that may be why Ethan's having a weight problem?"

"Maybe," Justin conceded.

"Which leaves just one question left, Baby," Brian laughed. "Why aren't you having a weight problem? You are a kind of chocoholic too, and I have a nagging suspicion that you know exactly where my Valentine candy went."

"Isn't love supposed to be based on trust, Brian?" Justin wanted to know. "You aren't acting like you trust me."

"Well I do love you," Brian laughed at him, "And I trust you to eat any chocolate that's lying around, at least if it isn't playing a violin. So when you're ordering tomorrow order me anything you'd like to finish up for me, and get the large size too. I'm worth it."

"You are worth it," Justin enthused. "I sometimes can't believe how smart I was to find you. I think the extra-large chocolate nougat egg would be the best thing for you, if you don't mind if maybe I put on a little weight myself."

"You won't," Brian assured him. "Though I'd love you just as much if you did. But you could have at least saved me one last piece from my Valentine's Day candy. I feel like chocolate right now."

"Well," Justin told him. "It just so happens that I have part of a chocolate nougat egg available. I bought a small one yesterday just to make sure it was something you'd like. Wanna split what's left?"

"Can't, Baby," Brian laughed as he threw both arms around the kid. "Actually, I found that egg remnant before you got home and it's gone. Hope you're not mad. You know sometimes I can't control myself."

"Like now?" Justin whispered.

"Like now," Brian affirmed.

It was quite a while before Justin actually completed the evening's discussion.

"You know what, Bri?" he told the guy he loved more than anything else in the world. "If you want to eat Gus' rabbit, eat it. You can eat the damn violin too if you want to."

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