Christmas Problems

It was a rare occurrence during the holiday season for the guys to be able to spend time in front of their fireplace – but occasionally they were able to find some time though – and so it was on one cold evening in mid-December.

“I shouldn’t be sitting here at all, Kiddo,” Brian was saying. “I haven’t even started my Christmas shopping yet. It was better when Abelard and his army arrived every year and you took them all shopping. It was wild but I got my stuff bought then too….”

“And you complained every year about them coming, Kinney,” Justin laughed. “That’s probably why they all quit coming. You didn’t like it then and you don’t like it now – you are just impossible to please….”

“Oh no you don’t. You’re not blaming me cause they quit coming,” Brian objected. “It’s all your own fault. You trained them so well about shopping that you made yourself obsolete - and that’s why they don’t come anymore….”

“So I’m obsolete, am I?” Justin grinned at him. “Still young but sadly obsolete…..”

“Well I guess you’re not completely obsolete, Baby,” Brian conceded. “I can think of a few things you’re still good for. And I think you are gonna have to help me with my shopping too. Christmas is getting close. I should have started earlier but you’ve kept me so busy – operas, ballets, skating, parties, and all kinds of crap….”

“So now you’re blaming me because you haven’t done any Christmas shopping – and all I’ve been doing is making sure you have fun,” Justin was still laughing. “Why not blame Cynthia? She used to do a good bit of your shopping for you…..”

“Well the part that she does is done, Taylor,” Brian admitted. “She even has it wrapped. All that stuff’s at the office. But the part I do myself – that’s what isn’t done …..”

“Brian,” Justin told him, “for the past several years, I – Justin Taylor – have done all the shopping that you do yourself – and – since I do it - it’s all done too. Maybe not wrapped yet – but all in the storage room - waiting to be wrapped. Maybe you’d like to wrap it yourself when you get time. Or – if you need help, I could go bring it up and we could do the wrapping now….”

“Geez, Twink,” Brian complained. “Talk about romantic. We get like – one night this week when we can sit in front of our fireplace – and you decide you want to wrap Christmas gifts. Geez. That’s really romantic….”

“Well it’s all your stuff, Bri,” Justin reasoned. “So if you want to wrap them some other time, you can do that whenever you want to – like – when I’m not around – so we won’t have to miss out on any romantic interludes….”

“Now you’re just trying to get out of wrapping the gifts, Twink,” Brian replied. “Talk about lazy - trying to stick the whole job onto me…..”

“So you want me to wrap them, do you?” Justin laughed. “I thought you would – since you always do. April Fool. They’re already beautifully wrapped and ready to go. I should point out though that there’s nothing for me among them …..”

“Which would be your major interest of course, Sweetheart. Well you’ll be getting some stuff – a lot of stuff actually – really nice stuff too,” Brian laughed. “Do you think I’d let you get your own gifts, Sweetheart? I know how to do Christmas shopping. I’m as smart as Abelard. And don’t you think I’d wanna pick your stuff out myself – you being somebody really special? Cynthia got all your stuff and it’s safely locked up at the office where you can’t snoop…..”

“Well if Cynthia picked my gifts, Kinney,” Justin gibed. “I know I’ll like them …..”

“But she didn’t, Twink,” Brian corrected him. “You weren’t listening. Me and Brandon and Ted – they wanted me to help them - so we went out together one long lunch hour and decided what to get for you and Jason and Blake. Cynthia just went out and bought the stuff we picked for you. Is that satisfactory?”

“Yeah, Kinney,” Justin grinned, “quite satisfactory - till me and Jason and Blake all show up at the same party in the same orange and yellow sweaters …..”

Now there was an unexplained pause in the conversation at this point – maybe because Brian wondered how Justin knew about the orange and yellow sweaters – but one could hope there was a better reason. Maybe to give Justin a chance to show why he wasn’t completely obsolete. But that is mere speculation.

What ended the pause – with timing not particularly satisfactory to either of the pausers - was the blaze of lights from the Christmas decorations which suddenly came on – courtesy of a timer Justin was trying out.

“That timer was a good idea, Baby,” Brian said but did not mean. “I vote to get rid of it. But the decorations are spectacular. The best we’ve ever had. Of course you always have a lot of help….”

“The real secret is in the help I don’t get, Bri,” Justin told him. “And that’s your invaluable contribution. Gus wanted stars and candles so we worked from there. It did work out well….”

“And we’re all ready for Gus’ party, Babe?” Brian asked. “I think that’s the high point of Gus’ holiday. I want it to be perfect – which is why I don’t help all that much….”

“We’re as ready as we can be, Mr. Kinney,” Justin informed him. “Malcolm will play Santa Claus to give you more time with the kids. Jason and Brandon will like –direct the games - I told Emmett he couldn’t wear his silver Santa Claus suit that he uses at the Center – cause two Santas would confuse the kids – like one Santa in a silver suit wouldn’t be confusing enough. Dave has sent presents for all the kids so we’ll have them in addition to the ones we got ourselves - Johnny and Peter are gonna make sure the food is served etc. – I invited Rex’ mother when she called to thank us for taking him to the Skate With Santa – he loved it - she said he’s still talking about it – and he sleeps with the little silver Penguin you bought him under his pillow. Yep, I think everything is covered - but I better tell you one more thing, Bri…..”

“You don’t have to, Baby,” Brian smiled at him. “I already know. I met Mikey for lunch at the diner and he told me. Martha will be in town and Debbie has invited herself and Martha to Gus’ party. Mikey is gonna try to talk them out of coming in holiday costume….”

“Yeah,” Justin replied, “he told me that too - but I don’t know about anybody ever talking Debbie out of anything – and I think Martha is probably worse. We’ll just have to be ready for whatever happens….”

“Well - in the true spirit of Christmas,” Brian pontificated, “I’m sure everything will go just beautifully….”

“Well I’m surprised to hear you being that optimistic, Brian,” Justin reacted with surprise. “It’s not like you - even given your jovial holiday mood…..”

“Well if worst comes to worst, Sweetheart,” Brian told him. “I can enjoy watching you stew…..”

“Thanks, Kinney,” Justin retaliated in kind, “and if I catch you watching me stew at Gus’ party – I’ll be sure to invite Debbie to your big open house here on the 27th – and I’ll talk Martha into staying over too – in case she’s planning to leave before that …..”

“You do and I’ll ….” Brian began to launch a threat.

“Now, now, Honey,” Justin stopped him. “Remember your Christmas spirit – your holiday mood – the new compassionate Brian Kinney …..”

“You are so full of it, Taylor,” Brian had to laugh. “And obsolete too. I wonder why I even keep you around.”

Justin then cuddled himself closer to Brian as a kind of response and almost certainly would have convinced Brian that he was not at all obsolete – if Brian hadn’t already been quite certain of that on his own.
 

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