Seperation

The fake fireplace was ablaze. Brian and Justin were together on the floor in front of the couch but they were not cuddled up together. There was actually conflict in progress. "You are going, Brian," Justin was insisting, "And that's all there is to it."

"Damn Cynthia for telling you," Brian groused, "She's supposed to work for me, not be a traitor." "Brian," Justin pleaded, "Please listen to reason. You have to go. Cynthia didn't tell me until I asked. It was in the newspaper that your agency was in the running for that account. It will be the biggest account you have. You've got to go after it and I mean you personally. You are the brains of that outfit."

"And you're exhibiting at the Institute the same three days I'll have to be in New York. I want to be here with you. You are more important to me than business," Brian countered.

Then they both thought of the same thing and they both smiled as they read each other's minds. "It is kind of funny," Justin recalled, "You didn't always think that. We were arguing the other sides last time this came up." "Yeah," Brian agreed, "And I went off to Chicago on business, and you went off to snowboard in Vermont by yourself - and pretty soon you were out of my life and it could have been forever."

"Do you really think it could have been forever?" Justin asked. "I don't now, but I think I did then." Brian told him. "I did too," Justin admitted, "But it's not the same now."

"What's so different?" Brian wanted to know, "Except maybe that you're a mature twenty now - no longer a naïve teen-ager." "We're different, Brian. I know you love me now. I did not know that then. Maybe I should have but I didn't," Justin reasoned, "And you didn't go out of your way to let me know either. And maybe you don't remember the first time I ever exhibited after we met - at the Gay and Lesbian Center - and you said you wouldn't come."

"I did come though, and I was nice to you too," Brian defended himself. "Only after Linz made you come," Justin laughed, "And I don't know what you did there but you scared my mother out of her wits." "Jeez, Sunshine," Brian complained, "You remember everything, don't you?" "Young people have good memories," Justin explained.

"This will be the first time we have been separated since we got back together," Brian reminded Justin. "I know that. I don't like it either," Justin said, "And if I weren't exhibiting, I'd drop everything and go to New York with you, but you know I can't do that."

"But I can stay home with you," Brian explained. "No you can't," Justin insisted, "But I thought you just might try that. That's why I called Cynthia when I saw the article in the paper. She tried to do what you wanted, but you know that I can be pretty persistent. She thinks that you need to go, Brian, and so do I."

"You really want me to go?" Brian seemed surprised, "I hope you'll miss me if I do." "Brian, you are beginning to actually irritate me," Justin was smiling when he said that, "You know I'll miss you, but why wouldn't someone who loves you want you to do what's best for you?"

"Well then why don't I want to go?" Brian asked. "Because you don't really love yourself yet, Brian," Justin replied, "But don't worry. That's one of my projects." "I always worry about your projects," Brian told him.

"But you will go?" Justin stood his ground. "If you want me to go, I'll go," Brian gave in, "But I'll miss you and I will not enjoy myself." "Sounds good to me," Justin crowed, "But it would be all right for you to enjoy yourself a little bit." Then they cuddled up and watched the fire for a while.

The subject was dropped for the rest of that evening, but Brian was secretly pleased about Justin's insistence that he go to New York. He had no doubt that Justin loved him, but he could still be surprised at how much. Justin was pleased that Brian loved him enough to want to stay home with him for the exhibition, even if that would not have been the wise course to take. So it was a happy duo sitting on the floor of the loft.

The subject did arise the next evening though. "Was Cynthia surprised that you decided to go to New York?" Justin asked Brian. "She was glad I decided to go, Sunshine," Brian said, "But I don't think she was surprised. I think she has more confidence in you than she has in me. Sometime soon I'm going to absolutely refuse to do something you two want me to do, just to show you both that I do have a mind of my own."

"If that's what you really want to do," Justin teased, "I hope you'll do that. You know I will be very happy to see you happy." "You're just trying to take all the pleasure out of it for me, aren't you?" Brian complained. "I would never try to do anything like that," Justin pouted, "But I can't help it if that's how it turns out." "I'm not the only one who can be irritating," Brian remarked as he leaned over and kissed Justin. Justin couldn't let him get away with that so he kissed Brian twice.

"I'm really going to miss you, Baby," Brian told him. "And I'm going to miss you terribly, and I'm sorry you will miss my exhibition," Justin said, "But it will help to know that you are missing me too." There were some other things that Brian could have told Justin but he decided to wait until certain arrangements were made. He and Cynthia had their own plot moving ahead.

The next evening Justin sensed that Brian was a little more chipper about their impending three-day separation. "You are going to miss me when you're in New York?" he wondered to Brian. "Yeah," Brian answered, "But you were right. I do have to go."

"You're acting a lot differently tonight, Brian. I'm getting a little suspicious," Justin told him, "Is there something I ought to know?"

"Well, Kiddo," Brian smirked, "That's having the shoe on the other foot for a change, I guess. Actually I do have to ask you for your permission for something." "Brian, you do not need my permission for anything," Justin responded.

"Yes I do, Honey," Brian told him, "The Institute told Cynthia that we had to have your permission to exhibit your work in our office for the two weeks after your exhibition. It's OK with them but you have to give permission too. It will be good for you. Some important people will see your stuff."

" I don't think I'm quite ready for that yet, Brian," Justin protested, "It may be too soon." "Cynthia and I want you to grant permission, Sunshine." Brian repeated. "You sound like you are prepared to use force," Justin smiled at Brian. "I am always prepared to use force, Babe," Brian agreed "But not for this. I want you to allow us to show your stuff because I want to do it."

"Well," Justin wiggled, "I'll give you that permission because I want you to see my exhibition." "That's not good enough," Brian demanded. "Not because you want me to see your exhibition but because I want you to let us."

"OK," Justin gave in "But I don't get it. I don't know why you're being so mean about it." "I'm sorry if you think I'm being mean, Baby. I'm not. I could never be mean to you. But I won't need to see your exhibit at my office. I'm going to see it at the Institute. They agreed to leave the exhibit up an extra day for us, not for the public, just for us. Cynthia is setting up a private party. I'll be home that morning and just about everybody we asked is coming. And we do not need your permission for that but I do hope you'll come."

"Brian," Justin told him, "You really must be an important guy in this town." Brian answered, "Well I am not without influence in this town if I choose to use it. Actually we've done some pro bono work for your Institute in the past and I think they'd like us to do more."

"And why didn't you ever tell me that till now?" Justin quizzed him. "Because you're so talented I knew a lot of good things would come your way over there, and, knowing you, I figured you'd suspect I was pulling some strings," Brian admitted. "I hope you never did?" Justin remarked tentatively. "No," Brian said, "I never did. I knew you wanted to make it all on your own. But maybe I would have if it were necessary, because you're the most important thing in this town to me."

"You are getting really good with slick answers, Mr. Kinney," Justin told him. "I'm in advertising, Mr. Taylor," Brian responded, "What would you expect?"

"This whole business is working out really well, Sweetheart," Justin said, "I'm almost glad you're going away for three days. I think it has actually brought us closer together." "I guess it's all right with me if you want to be glad that I'll be gone for three days," Brian answered, "But I hope it won't get to be a habit for you." "Don't worry, Baby," Justin reassured him.

"Isn't it about time for us to start getting ready for your trip?" Justin suggested. "Oh, I can pack over the weekend. I don't have to leave till Monday morning," Brian told him. "Brian," Justin asked, "Are you missing my point again?" "Not at all," Brian grinned.

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