Christmas Plans

So it was a little early - but the outside light was already fading into deep twilight and the fireplace was already flickering away. The loft was showing some early signs of holiday decoration. Brian was sitting alone in front of the fireplace. Justin was working industriously at his desk.

“Hey, Taylor,” Brian called out with some urgency. “How come I have to sit in front of this stupid fireplace all by myself? It’s like really your fireplace anyhow and I only sit here cause you like it – and here I am and there you are. Did I do something?”

“Well you didn’t write any of the Christmas cards - like you never do,” Justin responded. “And you came home a couple of hours early and then you expect me to stop writing ‘our’ Christmas cards – including your old business cards. too Gee whiz, Kinney, I try to get this stuff done when you aren’t here and then you come home early and expect me to …”

Justin sidled himself into his customary place on the floor next to a smiling Brian as he “complained” about the disturbance of his work schedule. Brian wrapped his arm around the new arrival and all seemed peaceful in the loft. But that wasn’t necessarily so.

“I guess we could do the business holiday cards at the office, Baby,” Brian reasoned, “but I kind of like the personal touch – even if they are really business contacts – and I think the clients appreciate the personal touch too.”

“Well, maybe, if you really wanted them to be all that personal,” Justin supposed, “maybe you could write some of them …”

“So you could tell me how much better you are at writing cards than I am,” Brian argued. “I don’t think so, Baby. And if the cards are so important right this minute, you seemed happy enough to quit the cards and come over here …”

“I had to, Brian,” Justin answered. “You like - commanded me to come over here - and right away too – so what was I supposed to do …”

“Geez, Sweetheart,” Brian marveled. “You really do do everything I tell you – and also what I don’t tell you too - if it suits you, that is. Wonder what would happen if I ordered you to go back right now and finish the cards …”

“I suppose I’d meekly obey, BK – like always,” Justin smirked. “But I don’t think that’s about to happen…”

And Justin had predicted correctly. It did not happen. What did happen was a considerable lull in the conversation – which in this particular case – ended the debated issue.

“Well I’m glad Abelard and that gang have come and gone for another holiday season,” Brian broke the extended silence. “I like him and all but it tires me out – watching you do all that shopping. I warned Abe that you’re getting too old for all that aggravation so that one of these years …”

“Not likely, Kinney,” Justin laughed at him. “As you should have noticed, I’m training some younger guys. Jason and Malcolm love it – and so does Hunter – and Mikey ….”

“Mikey is a younger guy? Brian wondered. “Mikey is older than me…”

”Not very much older, Kinney,” Justin parried, “And age is a matter of attitude too – and Mikey is young at heart.”

“Geez, JT,” Brian squeezed the twink ever so slightly. “You are kind of snippy tonight.”

“Sorry, Sir,” Justin apologized without much sincerity as he plopped his head onto Brian’s shoulder. “I’ll try to be better behaved – I promise.”

“And I’ll try to give you an opportunity to be better behaved too,” Brian promised back. “I’ll try to think of something …”

It was just a little while before the conversation continued – but it did continue.

“Did you get Cheryl to the airport, Bri?” Justin asked after the hiatus was over.

“Actually, Linz took her out,” Brian told him. “You know how I never do anything I can get somebody else to do. But. yeah, Cheryl’s on her way and the Nutcracker adventure is over – for this year at least.”

“You enjoyed it, Brian Kinney,” Justin insisted. “You did – and I know you did.”

“Well if I did,” Brian conceded, “It was because I decided to take Gus along. He really loved it. He may turn out to be gay yet. Well - we can forget about Nutcracker now but I bet he’ll want to go again next year.”

“Well maybe not like – forget exactly - yet, Honey,” Justin informed him. “Gus liked Nutcracker so well that he wants some Nutcracker decorations …”

“You’re going to do the loft up as the Snow Kingdom, Twink?” Brian seemed to hope not. “Maybe I wish you hadn’t even decided to take Gus to Nutcracker in the first place. I thought it was a dumb idea. Seems there’s no bad thing you can’t make worse…”

“It would serve you right if you had to live for a couple of weeks in the Snow Kingdom, Kinney,” Justin laughed at him, “But actually the Snow Kingdom is going to be over at Linz’. Linz and Mel have some really good ideas and Emmett is gonna help – and Malcolm. And yeah, I’m going to help too – but I’m not in charge – and you aren’t going to complain about me helping either, Sweetheart. There are still some people in the world who actually want to do some stuff for themselves – and some who really do want to help.”

“Well I think I’ve decided not to help, Kiddo,” Brian suggested. “I really feel over-worked at Christmas – not that I don’t enjoy the season pretty much. Could you guys get all that Nutcracker stuff done without me, Sweetheart?”

“I guess we could, Honey,” Justin allowed. “We could all work twice as hard and twice as long. Yeah, I guess we could get it done without you if we had to. You won’t even have to come over while we’re setting the stuff up.”

“So I’m not wanted over there at all…” Brian pouted. “Guess I can see how much I’m needed. But you all know that I’m always available – whenever I’m needed.”

“Yeah, Sweetheart,” Justin told him. “We know that – but I’m glad you reminded me anyhow. I think I forgot to tell you before. Gus liked Nutcracker so much that we thought you’d want to take him to the performing arts high school day after tomorrow. They’re doing Amahl and the Night Visitors – that Gian-Carlo Menotti Christmas opera. We thought he was too young for that but he sat all through Nutcracker and Amahl is shorter than that – and Hunter has a small part too - as a shepherd – so we figured you’d want to take Gus – cause you’re always available when you’re needed. Gus is all excited. There’ll be five or six of us others who will be glad to go along – if you need us.”

“And when were you planning to let me in on this operatic excursion, Baby?” Brian seemed bemused.

“Well I guess I had to tell you like – tonight,” Justin replied. “But we only arranged for the tickets this morning – so we weren’t like – keeping any secrets or anything …”

“And I guess you planned this whole business tonight – in every detail - to trap me into – like – asking for it,” Brian accused the kid.

“Yep,” Justin confessed. “From the very beginning – when I decided to have you come home from the office two hours early …”

The guys just sat there in silence for a little while till Justin cuddled up to Brian and told him:

“I’m sorry, Brian … You know how I am about Christmas … Maybe a little bit over enthusiastic. I don’t want to ruin your Christmas, Honey… I really don’t …”

“And you couldn’t ever do that either, JT,” Brian assured him, brushing the kid’s hair with his hand. “You are Christmas for me – not just in December though - 365 days a year.”

“What about leap year?” Justin asked, rubbing his head against Brian’s cheek. “This is leap year, you know.”

“You always have to have the last word, don’t you, Twink,” Brian grinned at him. “Well not this time, Kiddo. I hereby command you to go back to your desk and finish those Christmas cards – if you can drag yourself away, that is …”

“They’re already finished, BK,” Justin grinned back at him. “I was just finishing the last one when you came in …”

“Just as well,” Brian gave up, unwittingly getting the last word as he wrapped both of his arms around his very favorite twink.

And it was just as well too.
 

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