Some New Ideas

 

The cold weather outside made the heat coming from the fake fireplace more welcome than usual as the residents of the loft settled themselves into position to enjoy watching the flames as well as feeling the gentle warmth emanating therefrom.

"That was a good idea you had, Brian," Justin said. "We got a head start on Christmas already. It was a busy couple of days but it's a job well done – and we did a good job of it too. The guys were actually thrilled."

"Well, you're too soft, Baby," Brian told him. "I thought Abelard was going to want to bring a bigger bunch of OSU guys here this year to get you to help them with their Christmas shopping so I just thought I'd call him and tell him he had to come earlier this year so we wouldn't be so rushed. And he did. There were thirteen of them this year though. Don't you think we need to put a limit on the number? It's getting bigger every Christmas."

"It was only three more than last year, Bri," Justin replied, "And Jason went along and helped too. Jason is a good shopper, Bri – really good."

"Lucky Brandon," Brian grinned. "Bet he's happy that Jason is such a good shopper…. But maybe Jason's a bit lucky too."

"Yeah, they're both lucky," Justin agreed, "But they're not as lucky as I am."

"As lucky as we are," Brian laughed. "They're not as lucky as we are, Baby….We, that should be…. And, by the way, can I ask just what you were prepared to do if I didn't say that, Sweetheart?"

"You'll never know," Justin smiled. "And that may be a very good thing too. Well, anyway, I guess now we'll have extra time to do our other Christmas stuff. We shouldn't be rushed at all. There's just the decorating and Gus' party…."

"You know what, Baby," Brian broke in, "Can I tell you an idea I have? You know what I'd like to do maybe. I think I'd like to have an open house here during the holidays for the staff at Kinnetics. You know all of them but most of them have never been to the loft. I'll have it catered though. I don't want to throw extra work at you. You do too much already."

"You don't think I could do it, do you, Kinney?" Justin seemed to complain. "Well I can. No caterers. Justin the caterer will handle the whole thing. I'll work with Cynthia and I'll get Malcolm and Hunter and Jason, and maybe Johnny if we need him, to help out for the event – and I can assure you of complete elegance. I'll bet Ethan and Tom will come and play too. Your staff will be really impressed. I'll see to that."

"I guess I should have known," Brian laughed, "Do-it-all Justin. And just what will I have to do to help prepare for this budding extravaganza?".

"I love you, Brian," Justin told him. "Just remember how much I love you - and then stay out of our way, and be sure to be here for the party. That will be a big help."

"Seems like I'm really useful around here," Brian gibed.

"Yeah, you are," Justin responded, cuddling himself into Brian's body. "You have no idea."

But actually Brian did have an idea – or maybe several ideas – as the loft lapsed into silence for a considerable period before the conversation resumed.

"Hey, Honey," Brian resumed in due time. "Another idea. Maybe you'd want to have your friends from school over during the holidays?" Brian suggested. "I know some of them but not all of them. I don't really know that crazy dame that always advises you about relationships. Maybe I should get to know her. And if we have your gang the day after the Kinnetics crowd, they can eat the left-overs."

"Not a chance, Brian my love," Justin quickly decided. "No way. I'm pretty sure I don't want you to meet all my friends from school - and I certainly don't want you to ever meet Drusilla. No way I want you to know as much about relationships as I do. It might just put me at a competitive disadvantage."

"And you sure wouldn't want that, would you?" Brian laughed. "No competitive disadvantages for Justin Taylor. And Drusilla is not her name either – in case you think I didn't know that."

"What you don't know won't hurt me, Kinney," Justin nuzzled his nose against Brian's cheek, effectively stifling any response.

It was Justin who spoke again, after just a few quiet minutes. "Know what, Kinney? I'm getting the idea that you're beginning to love Christmas," he told Brian, "Or maybe you always loved Christmas and never showed it?"

"Nah," Brian squeezed him just a little. "It's you I love, Baby – and everything that you love – like Christmas."

"You're trying to make me cry, Brian Kinney," Justin whispered to him, tears already glistening in his eyes. "Well it won't work either. I'm way too tough for that."

"Yeah, you are, Kiddo, but you can't blame me for trying to get a little competitive advantage every once in a while," Brian smiled at him. "I guess you don't much like the idea of that?"

"Gee whiz, Bri," Justin told him. "I wasn't complaining. I don't mind you trying for a competitive advantage at all. I might even like it."

It was getting harder to keep this discussion going as another pause occurred at this point. The guys didn't seem to mind the delay though.

"OK, Baby," Brian resumed the chat eventually. "I have one more idea. I think we should have one other holiday party while we're doing so much partying this year. We should have all the friends and relatives over. Some of them will be here for Gus' party but not all of them. And I'm pulling rank on you for this one. If we do this, it's being catered. You're gonna be a guest at this one - and so are all the other poor guys who always get roped into helping you on this stuff. How many do I get Cynthia to tell the caterer?"

"We'd have to make a list, Bri," Justin decided. "Deb and Carl, Vic, Mikey and Ben, Ted and Emmett,…."

"Daphne and Andrew," Brian chimed in. "Ethan and Tom, Drusilla,…"

"Cut it out, Kinney," Justin cut him off good-naturedly. "I think you are having too good of a time – and it's not even Christmas yet. Not that I don't want you to have a good time. It's not that at all but I'm getting tired of talking about all these parties. They're all gonna be great and we're gonna enjoy them all and all that stuff but, I'm just tired of talking about it right now. Let's continue this discussion tomorrow. We have time."

"That, Baby," Brian told him, "Just might be the best idea of the entire evening."


 

Return to Fireside Chats