Listen to Your Heart

Part 20

Author’s note: Thanks to everyone who sent such nice feedback during this story. It’s a lot more fun to write when you know people are reading! Thanks to Doll for being a good friend and the whole Tribe Gang! You guys rock! My next plot bunny is brewing!

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Brian and Justin entered Debbie’s house only to be greeted by a small whirlwind throwing himself at Brian’s legs; “Daddy! I missed you!”

“I missed you too Sonny Boy,” Brian returned running a gentle hand over Gus’ hair, “I wish I could pick you up, but Daddy’s got a bad arm.”

“Again?” Gus asked in a petulant tone making everyone laugh because he sounded so much like his father.

Justin squatted down; “hey Gus. Remember me?”

“Justin!” Gus threw himself into Justin’s arms. Justin picked up the little boy squeezing him tightly.

He set Gus down and the little boy pulled away and turned to look at Lindsay; “go ahead sweetheart. Just like I showed you.”

Gus nodded and turned back to Justin shyly. <“I love you,”> he said in perfect sign language.

Justin sniffed back a tear reaching down to hug Gus again; “Oh Gus, I love you too. Thank you, that was perfect.”

Lindsay walked over to give Justin a peck on the cheek and take Gus so he could greet everyone else; <“he’s been learning to sign with the rest of us.”>

Justin and Brian moved into the house and made the rounds greeting everyone, pausing to gush over baby Jenny (well Justin gushed). Justin was touched that everyone was able to sign with him, no matter how stilted and slow going it was.

The door opened again and in rushed Molly who immediately threw herself on her brother; <“oh, it’s so good to see you. Are you OK? Mom said you heard thunder. Have you heard anything else?”>

Justin laughed at his sister; “slow down Mollusk, I can barely keep up here.”

Before he could say anything else Hannah came in demanding immediate hugs from he and Brian followed by Jennifer and much to Justin and Brian’s surprise a tall, dark-haired man that they had already met earlier that same day.

<“Justin!”> Jennifer took her son into her arms holding on tight then pulling away to sign; <“are you all right?”> She turned to Brian; <“how about you? Are you OK? Shouldn’t you be sitting down and resting?”> She moved to propel Brian over to a chair pushing him down gently.

Debbie walked out of the kitchen; <“hey Jen,”> she greeted her friend, <“thanks for taking care of that,”> she pointed to Brian, <“I was just about to do the same thing.”>

<“Christ, that’s all I need. Two mothers.”> Brian groaned, secretly loving the attention.

Justin was still staring at the man who had come in with his mother then started to speak, but Debbie interrupted before he could get his words out; <“hey Jen, who’s your friend?”>

“Yeah Mom,” Justin finally spoke, “why in the hell did you bring my ear doctor to Deb’s for dinner?” He didn’t sound angry just very confused.

Everyone stared at Jennifer who was blushing profusely; <“oh, I’m sorry, how rude of me. Everyone, this is Brad Jennings. Brad, this is Debbie and her friend Carl...” Jennifer led him around the room continuing the introductions as Brad politely greeted everyone.

“Mother?” Justin asked when they finally got around to them.

“Let me Jennifer;” Brad answered for her, <“Justin, your mother called for a consultation with me when she found out that you had been referred to me. She just wanted to talk about your condition and ask some questions.”> He reached for Jennifer’s hand and she took it; <“anyway one thing led to another and I asked her to dinner. We‘ve been seeing each other ever since.”>

Brian and Justin exchanged looks. They had just been talking in the car about how much they liked Justin’s new doctor and how hot they thought he was. Now it was Justin’s turn to blush, “wow, um that’s great. I’m really happy for you mom.”

<“I hope it won’t affect your feelings about me being your doctor Justin. If it makes you feel weird I can recommend someone else.”>

“No, no that’s OK Dr. Jennings.”>

<“Call me Brad please.”>

“OK Brad. I don’t want a new doctor. Brian and I were just talking about you on the way over. How nice you were to us and how you seem to really know what you are talking about.”

<“Well thank you Justin. I look forward to getting to know both of you better.”>

“Come on everyone! Dinner’s on!” Deb yelled from the kitchen.

Dinner was a noisy yet cozy affair, made all the more interesting by everyone’s effort to keep Justin included by using sign language. Molly ended up interpreting a lot in order to keep the conversation moving.

Toward the end of the meal Debbie turned to face Brad; “so what does it mean that Sunshine heard thunder the other night?”

“Ma!” Michael pleaded, “leave the poor man alone. He’s not at work.”

“It’s OK Michael,” Brad replied, “your mother is obviously just concerned about Justin’s condition. With his permission I’ll explain to you what I told he and Brian earlier today,” Brad looked to Justin who was watching Molly sign.

Justin nodded in agreement, “that’s fine, you can tell them. Saves Brian and I from having to do it.”

Brad looked around the table; “well as I told Justin, it is very encouraging that he heard the thunder. He actually can hear other loud noises and even raised voices just a little. We conducted a hearing test today and his hearing has improved.”

“That’s wonderful sweetie!” Gushed Emmett.

“However, it’s not a guarantee that his hearing will return fully. Unfortunately it’s not something we can predict. The ears are very delicate and he may not get better. On the other hand I have seen it happen.”

Silence hung around the table for a moment until Brian finally spoke; “well if anyone can beat the odds I guess it would be Sunshine,” Molly interpreted and Justin smiled as Brian pulled Justin in for a quick kiss.

“Thanks,” Justin responded. The two exchanged looks and Justin rose from the table and left the kitchen.

“Now, “ Brian addressed everyone as he stood up from the table as well, “I believe it’s time for presents.”

“Presents?” Lindsay asked, “It’s not anyone’s birthday is it?”

“You didn’t think that Justin and I would go off to California and not come home bearing gifts did you? Deb leave that shit and come out here with us,” Brian called to his foster mother who was busy clearing the table.

They all moved to the living room and found seats as Justin came into the house bearing two huge shopping bags. Brian relaxed back on the couch as Justin played Santa Clause handing out gifts to their “family.” When they were done Debbie jumped back up to clear the rest of the dishes and get dessert ready.

“Hold on Deb,” Brian called to her. “I’ve got one more gift to give,” he reached inside his shirt pocket pulling out a black velvet box and handing it to his lover; <“for Justin,”> he signed himself, not wanting an interpreter to speak for him at this moment.

Debbie sat down with a thud in the chair and the room grew quiet as all eyes were on Justin and his gift. “What is this Brian?” Justin asked, his fingers trembling slightly.

<“Open it and see Sunshine.”>

Justin opened the box and peered inside; “Oh God,” he whispered as his eyes darted back up to Brian’s.

<I do you know,> signed Brian.

“I love you too;” Justin spoke through his tears as he pulled Brian to him for a passionate kiss.

Jennifer got up and touched Justin’s shoulder; <“honey can we see what it is?”>

Justin nodded and handed his mother the box, moving his eyes back to his lover.

Jennifer looked inside and gasped as she turned it around and showed it to everyone else. Nestled in the black velvet was a pendant that hung from a braided black leather cord. The pendant was a small platinum hand with the thumb, forefinger and pinky fingers up in the traditional one-handed sign for ‘I love you‘. In the palm of the hand were Brian and Justin’s birthstones side by side.

Everyone started talking at once as the necklace was passed around the room, but Brian and Justin didn’t notice. All they could see was each other.

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Two weeks later

Justin sat in front of the loft windows painting. He had his first watercolor class today and was working on his assignment. He stopped for a moment to stare out the window and finger the pendant that now hung at his throat at all times. He smiled when he heard the muffled sound of the loft door sliding open. His hearing had been getting slightly better every day, though he still could not hear regular speech.

Brian leaned over Justin’s shoulder and planted a kiss on his cheek; <“hello dear,”> he signed as he moved around in front of him, <“how was your first day back at school?”>

“It went really well,” Justin replied as he moved to clean up his supplies, “my interpreter was great and none of the teacher’s seemed to mind. It was nice of Hannah to recommend her.”

<“I’m glad it’s working out,”> Brian pulled Justin to him, <“I missed you today. All I could think about was this,”> he reached down and grabbed the bulge in Justin’s pants.

“Well Mr. Kinney I suppose we better do something about that,” Justin purred in his sexiest voice while he gently undid Brian’s sling and then removed his shirt, all the while maneuvering them both towards the bed.

They managed to get the rest of their clothes off in between heated kisses and Justin finally ended up straddling Brian’s waist in the only position that was really comfortable for Brian while he was still healing. Justin moved to prepare Brian’s cock, but Brian grabbed his hand and took the condom from him; “what?” Justin asked his lover in confusion.

<“When I said all I could think about today was your cock, I meant it Justin. I want you inside me,” > he picked the condom back up from where he had set it on his chest and opened it, rolling it down onto Justin’s firm cock.

“Oh Yeah,” Justin grinned as he pulled Brian’s legs high up around his waist and used the lube to prepare he and his lover. It wasn’t often that Brian wanted to bottom, but when he did Justin never argued. He prepared Brian gently with his fingers, then slowly pushed inside, giving Brian some time to adjust. When Brian tightened his muscles to signal Justin to move the younger man began to thrust in and out with a slow, teasing glide.

He loved the way Brian’s face twisted in pleasure, especially when he hit that special spot inside his lover. Brian grasped his hip with his right hand encouraging him to speed up the pace and Justin was happy to oblige.

Justin bent forward to capture Brian’s mouth in a passionate kiss, slowing down his rhythm just a bit. “Oh God, don’t stop Sunshine. Harder please, harder,” Brian couldn’t even think he was so aroused.

“I won’t stop Brian, I couldn’t if I wanted too,” Justin replied into Brian’s ear with a soft grunt as he sped up his pace and began pounding Brian’s prostate mercilessly.

Suddenly Justin and Brian went completely still at the exact same time as they stared at one another in shock; “Justin? Did you hear me?” Brian asked tentatively.

Justin could only nod as the tears sprang to his eyes; “yes. Oh God Brian, I can hear you. Fuck! I can hear you!” His words came out half sob, half laughter.

Brian held Justin’s face as he kissed him tenderly letting his own tears fall unabashedly down his face, “I’m so happy for you baby.”

They parted as they shared another meaningful look, then both started to laugh at the absurdity of the situation. “It’s pretty appropriate if you think about it,” Justin gasped, “that I would regain my hearing during sex with you.”

“I always knew I had a special talent,” replied Brian, “I guess you’ll have to put that in the next issue of RAGE. His powers of sexual healing.”

Justin snorted another laugh causing Brian to gasp as he moved inside him, “I guess we should call Brad,” Justin said as he began to pull out of his lover.

“Wait,” Brian held him in place, “we’ll see him at your mom’s for dinner tonight remember? We’ll tell him then,” Brian pulled Justin in for another kiss, “beside, my powers only work if we both cum.”

“In that case we better continue,” Justin replied, beginning to pick up the pace again.

“Please do,” answered Brian.

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Afterward they lay in each other’s arms trying to grasp that it was really over and Justin could hear again; “I can’t believe this is happening,” Justin spoke quietly. “Just like that. God I can’t wait to tell Mom and Molly, they’ll be so excited!”

“Yes they will,” Brian replied sitting up, pulling Justin with him. Justin...” he started, but didn’t finish.

“Brian, what is it?” Justin asked as he stroked Brian’s hair back behind his ear.

Brian reached up and fingered Justin’s pendant; “I still have never really said the words have I?”

“Brian, you’ve said it more ways than I can even count.”

Brian took a deep breath; “Fuck it. I love you Justin Taylor. I love you more than I ever thought possible and I want you to be with me for the rest of our lives,” Brian finished his speech and waited for the world to explode.

Justin gazed at Brian for a moment; “well you didn’t burst into flames.”

“Twat.”

“For the record I love you too, and I want to be with you always.”

“Well that settles it; we’re officially lesbians now.”

“Not lesbians asshole, just in love,” a nip on the neck as hands and lips travel south.

“Same difference Sunshine,” gasped out as a warm mouth engulfs his cock.

“Hardly,” smirking smile, then warm mouth back on cock.

And that’s the way it was.

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