* Polish *

Justin looked at himself in the mirror and smiled. He knew he looked good. When Brian had lost his smile when he'd told him that he couldn't go out the next night, he had quickly suggested Monday night and explained that he needed to be at the gallery all weekend when Brian had lost his smile.

He had also sighed with relief when Brian's smile had returned and he had agreed. Now here it was, Monday night, and he was wondering if he was doing the right thing. He was still unsure of what he was doing where Brian was concerned. Nervously, he looked at the clock and saw that Brian was due within the next fifteen minutes.

Almost as if he had wished him there, there was a knock on his door which caused Justin to jump. Laughing at himself, he peeked through the peep hole and on verifying that it was Brian, opened the door.

As soon as the door opened, Brian brought his hand from behind his back and smiled at the surprise that was written all over Justin's face. Handing the dozen yellow roses edged with red over to Justin, he continued to smile as he watched the surprise being replaced by happiness.

Justin couldn't believe that not only were he and Brian going on a date but that Brian had also brought him roses. Smelling the flowers, he backed away from the door. "Come on in while I find something to put these in."

Brian walked in and looked around. This was the first time he had been to Justin's apartment and while it was laid out like most apartments, it was not decorated as such. The dining area was set up with an easel and pottery wheel. Shelves had been added to the wall in which several statues and vases sat in various stages of completion.

The living room was done tastefully but in bold colors. Instead of artwork on the walls, there were more shelves covered with things he had collected and photos. Brian was pleased to see several of Gus. Looking through the doorway, he noticed that Justin's bedroom was done very simplistically and that the computer he had bought him years ago was sitting on a desk with several additions added to it.

"You have a nice place here." Brian said as he watched Justin place the roses on the coffee table.

Justin shrugged. "It's a little small but it'll do for now. I'm actually thinking of buying a house or something."

Brian nodded and smiled as Justin straightened up, moved the vase a little to the left, then looked at him satisfied. "You ready to go?"

"Absolutely." Brian said, walking to the door and holding it open for Justin.

Justin couldn't keep the smile from his face as he walked through the door, or the thought of how different Brian seemed to be.

Down at the vette, Brian once again opened the door for Justin. "Great car, when did you get it?"

Brian got in on his side and started driving before he answered. "Thanks. I got it a few months after coming back from Scotland."

Justin looked a little confused. "You never told me."

Brian realized what he'd said, but decided that he was going to be honest. "It wasn't the trip where I was with you."

Justin said "Oh" Then what Brian said fully sunk in. "When did you come back over?"

Justin wasn't sure if he really wanted to know but felt that somehow it was important for him to know.

Brian took a deep breath as well. "Right after you got back from Spain. I was going to surprise you."

Justin felt his heart drop as he realized just when that was. "Then you knew about Quinn before I told you."

Brian nodded. "Yes, I saw you two together. You looked…happy and in love. I decided to go back home instead of seeing you."

Justin began to feel uncomfortable. Brian felt it and turned to look at Justin. "Justin, we've both grown up some and met other people. It's also all in the past and will remain there if we let it. We're different people now, lets let the people we are now get to know each other."

Justin looked at Brian, not sure what to expect, but not what he saw. Brian wasn't being sarcastic, belittling, or angry. He wasn't out to teach Justin another lesson. He saw a little bit of hurt at the memory, but he also saw the honesty in what Brian had said.

"Wow Brian. You really did grow up didn't you?" Justin shook his head in wonderment.

Brian smiled then began to chuckle. "Yeah, I did. And the sad part is, you're still probably the most mature person I know next to Ben."

Justin remembered the time he had told Brian that and laughed with him, the tension leaving with the laughter.

"So where are we going on this date?" Justin asked looking around but not seeing anything that looked like a restaurant, and also glad to see nothing like the baths or Babylon around.

Brian smiled. "It's this restaurant that opened a few months ago. It's called "The Veranda".

Just about that time, Brian pulled into the driveway of a large Victorian mansion. "Oh Brian, it's beautiful!"

Justin looked at the softly lit wooden structure. It was painted white but the gingerbread was painted in shades of blue, lavender with accents of mint green. The roof shingles were of slate in matching colors. The large wrap-around porch was obviously where the restaurant got its name from.

The large oak tree on the side of the house lent to it its old time charm and Justin was mesmerized. So much so that he didn't realize that Brian had gotten out of the car until he opened Justin's door.

Justin turned and smiled at Brian. Brian held out his hand to Justin and his smiled turned into one of his beaming sunshine smiles that had grabbed hold of Brian's heart from the beginning. Hand in hand they walked up the drive. Brian could have done valet parking but knew that the artist in Justin would appreciate the beauty of the walk.

As they reached the stairs leading up to the veranda, Justin noticed the people sitting at tea tables and in other Victorian outdoor furniture. A waiter came out to refresh drinks and to take orders of those without drinks who were waiting for their names to be called to go inside. As they approached the front doors, they were opened by a man wearing a tuxedo and greeted. "Welcome to The Veranda gentlemen. Sonja will be right with you."

Brian and Justin moved farther into the foyer, where they were greeted by an elegantly dressed young lady who seemed to be waiting for them. With a smile she greeted them. "Good Evening Gentlemen. Could I get the name of your party please?"

"Kinney" Brian said.

"Yes, Mister Kinney, party of two. If you'll follow me please." She said, picking up her long skirt and walking up the stairs.

Brian and Justin looked at each other and smiled as they followed the lady up the stairs while still holding hands.

Upon reaching the landing, she took them into what had once been the ballroom. Walking into it, they noticed that all the tables were small and set for two. All had lit candles and were spread out far enough that any conversations would be intimate.  The center of the room was left open and there were a few couples dancing to the musicians that were playing in the orchestra gallery.

Leading them over to a table by a window, she waited until they were seated. Brian once again surprised Justin by pulling out his seat for him. Justin sat down. While he loved that Brian was doing all of the romantic motions for him, he wasn't so sure that he liked it. It just didn't seem right to him. It went against everything that Brian had ever told him he believed in.

Brian sat down and saw the serious and slightly confused look on Justin's face. He wanted to ask what the matter was, but the hostess started talking.

"Your waiter this evening will be Matt and he'll be right with you." She then smiled and left. Brian and Justin smiled back and watched her leave.

Brian looked at Justin. "What's the matter? You don't like the table?"

Justin smiled slightly. "No, the table is fine. It's just…well…it's you. I know you said you've grown up and all, but well, I guess I'm just having a hard time believing the new you. Everything you've done tonight is against what you've ever told me you didn't do. So I'm just wondering why?"

Brian smiled understanding Justin's confusion. "Well, I guess I'm trying a little too hard to make our first date something you'll remember. After all, you know what they say about first impressions."

Justin nodded his understanding and smiled back. "You didn't have to try so hard. Tell me Brian, if you hadn't known how much I used to wish we'd do some of these things, would you have even asked me out?"

Brian's smile got bigger. "Oh definitely. Although I might not have brought us here. I probably would have saved it for a special occasion and I probably wouldn't have bought you flowers or held your door open or your chair. But I still would have taken you to a nice restaurant followed by a nice stroll in the park or something."

Justin laughed. "Well, that would still have been romantic and not nearly as confusing as this."

Brian joined in the laughter and would have said something, but Matt, their waiter appeared to tell them the specials, hand out the menus, and take their drink orders.

Brian and Justin looked over their menus in silence but they both had smiles on their faces over the situation. Matt returned with their drinks and took their orders. Taking a sip of his drink, Brian looked out at the dance floor. Setting down his glass, he cleared his throat and stood. "Would you like to dance?"

Justin looked up in surprise and set his glass down as he looked at Brian's outstretched hand. Smiling, he stood and took Brian's hand as he led him out onto the dance floor.  As they started to slowly move to the music, the couples already there, paused to look. A couple of them left the floor, but most resumed dancing themselves.

Justin looked up into Brian's face and smiled. "I thought you were going to quit trying so hard to impress me?"

Brian smiled back down at Justin and shrugged. "I am. I just felt like dancing. Besides, we're here, why waste the chance to shock the heteros."

Justin laughed. "You're right."

They continued to dance for a couple of more songs, and were surprised when they stopped that the dance floor had become slightly fuller, and that they weren't the only same sex couple on the floor. As they were leaving for their table, they saw a lesbian couple and a couple of older men.

As soon as they sat down, the waiter brought them their appetizer. Through it and their dinner, they talked. Mainly it was about their jobs. Brian had gone from junior partner to full partner in just over a year, and was trying to decide if he was going to try to buy out his partner, or open his own agency.

Justin told Brian how much he enjoyed working at the gallery, but if his artwork continued to do as good as it was, he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to continue to work there. As it was, he already had several commissions to do, as well as a few other projects he was working on.

After dinner, they danced a couple of more times, paid their bill, and went downstairs, where they were shown the cigar lounge where they could get a good cigar, smoke it, and have a brandy. Opting to skip this, they walked out onto the veranda and followed it to the side of the house where they found a patio with more people dancing to music being played by a quartet. Walking among the dancers until they got to the center, they joined in. Neither one noticed the violinist hesitate in his playing, or his eyes as he followed their movements.

When the quartet broke for a break, Brian and Justin still holding hands strolled among the gardens, quietly talking at times, at others, just enjoying each other's presence, and the beauty of their surroundings.

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Ethan watched the two men walk off. Neither one had even noticed him. While he didn't care about Brian, he was a little hurt that Justin hadn't. It was just more proof that the connection he had though he had with Justin once, had never really existed. He continued to watch them for awhile until they moved out of sight.

Looking around, he knew that his break would be over soon but figured that he still had time. Walking as casually as he could, he walked in the direction that Brian and Justin had gone. He wasn't happy that Justin was back with Brian but he knew that eventually he would make his way back to him. Coming to the hedge where they had disappeared he looked around to see if he could find them. What he saw was the ease they seemed to have with each other. Then he saw Justin lean his head against Brian's shoulder, and Brian looked down at Justin with such love, that it made his heart ache. He knew then that his hopes of coming back to Pittsburgh and wooing Justin back were just dreams. He knew as soon as he saw the look on Brian's face that Justin would never be his again, if he ever really had been.

It was time to forget about what might have been and to move on. Sighing, he went back to where he had left his violin, sat down his drink, and got ready to join the quartet again.

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Justin couldn't get over the fact that Brian had gone to all this trouble just for him. The restaurant was amazing and one of the most romantic places he'd ever been to. Justin sighed and without thinking leaned his head against Brian's shoulder.

Brian looked down at Justin's head resting on his shoulder and smiled. He knew he had gone overboard in trying to show Justin he had changed and could be romantic just like Justin had always wanted him to be. What he didn't think was that Justin would call him on it, but he knew that Justin also appreciated it.

Brian spotted an unoccupied secluded bench and moved to claim it. For awhile they sat, contented. Justin raised his head to thank Brian for such a beautiful and romantic evening, but before he could say anything Brian bent down and silenced him with a gentle kiss. When Brian came back up, he studied Justin's face, and leaned back down for another one when he saw the request in Justin's face. The kiss started out slow and gentle as did the next one. The one after that became a little more intense, as did the others that followed.

When Brian broke off the kiss the next time, Justin was all prepared to follow Brian somewhere for a blowjob or a quick fuck like they used to do.

Brian stood up and held out his hand to Justin. "Come on. It's getting a little late. I should be getting you home."

Justin's mouth dropped open as he tried to take in what Brian had said. He definitely hadn't been prepared for that. Closing him mouth when he saw Brian's amused look, he nodded his head and quietly followed Brian to the car.

The ride back to Justin's place was done in silence, each man deep in their own thoughts. Brian parked the car determined to finish out the night as planned regardless of the hard on he couldn't seem to get rid of after kissing Justin. Getting out of the car, walking around and opening Justin's door, he couldn't help but notice that Justin too had not been left unaffected.

The ride up to Justin's apartment was done in a little more comfort as soon as Brian reached over and took a hold of Justin's hand. When the doors opened, Brian walked Justin to his door, bent down and kissed him a gentle kiss and said. "I know I went a little overboard tonight but I hope you'll be willing to go out on another date with me. I promise not to make it romantic."

Justin smiled and unlocked his door. "Of course, how about breakfast in the morning?"

Brian smiled, glad that Justin wanted to give them a chance. "Ok, do you want me to pick you up? Where would you like to go?"

Justin's smile got bigger as he opened his door. "I thought I'd fix it for you here. In the morning."

Slowly he walked backwards into his apartment using the fact that he had never let go of Brian's hand to pull him in after him.

"Justin…"Brian almost moaned. "This wasn't what I had in mind. I thought we'd take it slowly."

Justin walked up until his body was pressed against Brian's, reached behind him and gave the door a push to shut it. "Brian, while we've both done some growing up and changed, we're not strangers. We've had a relationship once already and while we're seeing about trying again, one thing hasn't changed at all between us."

Brian knew what Justin was saying and smiled. He liked this side of Justin and was willing to see how far he would take it. "And what would that be?"

Justin smiled. "This." He said. He rubbed Brian's hard on with his body as he licked the pulse beating at the base of his throat, causing his cock to jump.

Brian's breath caught. "True but…"

Justin shut Brian up with a kiss. When he broke it off, he said. "Yes, but we're not strangers. We are, however, adults, and I know that I'm not a trick."

Brian looked into Justin's face, searching for what, he wasn't quite sure of, but what he did see was enough. With a groan, he gave in and wrapped Justin in his arms and kissed him.

Justin knew he had gotten to Brian, but Brian wasn't moving fast enough for him. He'd been hard since the restaurant and he wanted Brian, and he wanted him now. Brian stood still as Justin removed his tie and shirt, and then his own, kissing him when he could. As soon as the shirts were gone, they both began to run their hands over each others chests, tweaking hard nipples in their explorations.

Justin groaned and began nibbling, licking, and kissing Brian's chest, and while he did so, he also made quick work of Brian's belt and slacks. Dropping to his knees, Justin pushed them down and off before he took Brian's cock in his mouth. As he applied pressure only on the head of Brian's cock, he quickly opened his own pants to release his own hard on.

Brian looked down and watched the blond head take him more fully in as he pumped himself, and groaned. Reaching down, he pulled at Justin until he stood up. As soon as his mouth was within reach Brian claimed it for a deep kiss, tasting himself in Justin's mouth.

Breaking off the kiss Brian returned the favor and pulled Justin's pants down and off as he sucked, licked and nipped on Justin's hard on.

Justin felt his orgasm approaching and backed away from Brian. Groaning at the picture of Brian kneeling there, eyes glazed with lust, and his lips parted from where he had just removed his cock. Justin bent down and kissed Brian again, before taking his hand and pulling him to his feet to lead him into the bedroom.

Drawing Brian to the bed, he pushed him down on it and climbed up to straddle his thighs, bringing their cocks together when he leaned down for a kiss. As they kissed, their hands went back to exploring each other. Then both groaned when Justin moved causing their cocks to rub against each other.

Breaking off the kiss, Justin studied Brian's face intently. Finally he asked. "So, are you still the consummate top?"

Brian looked at Justin and hoped that he understood what he was saying. "Pretty much but there are always exceptions."

Justin nodded, indeed understanding what Brian was saying. Reaching over, he grabbed a condom and lube from his bedside table. Tearing it open, he sat back, never breaking eye contact with Brian.

Brian's eyes widened in surprise as Justin slipped the condom onto his cock. Justin laughed. "What? You thought I was going to fuck you?"

Brian nodded his head. "Well, I am. Just not right now. Now, I want to feel you inside me. Be easy though." He said as he leaned down for a quick kiss. "It's been awhile."

Brian smiled as he realized what Justin had said. Pulling him down for a harder kiss, Brian rolled them over and began to prepare Justin. ""It'll be like the first time." Brian said after breaking off the kiss and sitting back.

Justin began pushing back against Brian's fingers. "Brian enough! Now fuck me!"

Brian laughed as he lifted Justin's legs to his shoulders. "A bit anxious aren't we?"

Justin growled. "I've been hard since dinner. What do you think?"

Brian leaned forward and kissed Justin. "I think we need to take care of this problem right now."

Slowly he began to push into Justin, pausing when Justin hissed at the pain. "Jesus you're tight. Relax."

Justin nodded and released his breath. Brian slowly pushed in some more and then bent down to kiss Justin, swallowing his gasp when he slammed the rest of the way in. Brian didn't move, letting Justin adjust, but also so he could revel in being inside Justin once again.

Justin opened his eyes and looked at Brian. Brian had closed his eyes as well, but opened them when he felt Justin's stare. Leaning his forehead against Justin's, he whispered. "You ready?"

Justin nodded and smiled. "Most definitely."

Brian smiled back and began to move in a slow, agonizing pace to draw out the moment. If Brian hadn't been firmly embedded in Justin when he laughed, he would have been pushed out. "Brian, we have all night. We can go slower later, for now, I need to get off, so fuck me!"

Brian laughed as well. "Alright, just remember you asked for it when you can't sit down tomorrow."

Brian immediately picked up the pace and Justin matched him thrust for thrust, until they were both panting from the exertion and need. When Brian bent for another kiss, Justin moaned at the added pressure on his cock. "Cumming!"

As soon as Justin said that, Brian felt the warm gush between them and the tightening around his cock. With another thrust and a grunt, Brian came as well, collapsing on top of Justin when it was over.

Justin's legs had slipped off of Brian's shoulders when he'd collapsed on top of him, and he wrapped his arms tightly around Brian to hold him. After a few moments Brian slipped out of Justin, and with a sigh, he rolled off of him. Justin got up and went into the bathroom, coming out with a couple of washcloths.

Brian watched Justin wash his belly and chest. As he got to the bed, he dropped the one he was using and climbed back into the bed where he began to clean Brian off. As he washed, he bent down and kissed every spot gently. When Brian moaned, Justin looked up and smiled before he continued his ministrations. When he was finished with Brian's chest and stomach, he looked up at Brian. "Roll over."

Brian looked at Justin and rolled over. Justin laid down on top of Brian and began to kiss, lick, and nipple Brian's shoulders and back, working his way down. By the time he reached the small of Brian's back, Justin was hard again and so was Brian. Leaning fully on Brian's back again, Justin allowed Brian' to feel his hard on slide into the crack of his ass. "My turn, but first, I'm going to rim you good."

Brian groaned, and as soon as Justin was off of him, he got up on his knees to make it easier for Justin without him saying a word. Looking behind him, he smiled. "Please be gentle. It's been awhile."

Justin laughed. "Are you kidding? I'm going to fuck you into the mattress, that way we'll both have to sit gingerly tomorrow."

Brian's laugh was quickly cut off as Justin spread the cheeks of his ass and began the rim job that he had promised.

Brian couldn't believe how wonderful Justin's tongue felt, and was soon pushing back against Justin's face trying to get more of him inside.

Justin felt Brian move and knew that he had started to stroke himself. He heard Brian groan when Justin stopped what he was doing. "Don't touch yourself. If you do, I'm going to stop and not give you any relief."

Brian removed his hand and then placed both of them over his head, grabbing the spindles of the headboard. When Justin began rimming him again, he sighed with relief but was soon panting with the need for release. "God, Justin, fuck me already!"

Brian felt Justin's smile against his ass. "What did you say?"

Brian groaned. "Justin, please."

Justin couldn't get the smile off his face and reached for the condom and lube. He almost laughed when he heard Brian groan when he ripped open the condom wrapper, but didn't. Instead he quickly slipped it on and slicked it up before moving into position. "Is this what you want Brian?" Justin whispered and he place the head of his cock at Brian's hole, pushing just enough to add pressure but not enough to penetrate.

Brian groaned again. "Yes!" and pushed back against Justin, allowing him to push through the tight ring.

Justin groaned along with Brian at the sudden move. Slowly he began to push farther into Brian, and once he was fully in, stopped to allow Brian to adjust. Brian, however, would have none of that and tightened his walls around Justin's cock, causing him to moan from the pressure. Justin slapped Brian on the ass. "Stop that or you'll make me cum and I don't want to yet."

Brian looked over his shoulder and smiled. "What, you thought just because you were on top, you had all the control?"

Justin smiled back at Brian. "Are you kidding?" Justin began to do a small rocking motion, just barely moving but causing little waves of pleasure to radiate through them. "I know that if it's done right, both the top and bottom can have equal control."

Brian nodded and then quickly threw his head back and gasped as Justin suddenly pulled out and slammed back in. "We both have control in which to pleasure each other. You taught me that a long time ago."

Justin began to alter his movements between long and deep and short and shallow. Within moments, they were both panting, needing to cum. Justin reached around and began to stroke Brian's cock. In seconds, Brian threw back his head, reached around to grab Justin's ass and shot his load.

Justin felt Brian's walls tighten around him and as they pulsed, he shot, filling the condom. With a final gasp, he collapsed on top of Brian, who fell to the bed. When Justin started to roll off, Brian stopped him with his hand and he stopped. When Justin's cock finally softened enough to slide out on its own, Brian finally let Justin roll to his side.

Looking over at Justin he couldn't help but grin. "That was fan-fucking-tastic."

Justin grinned back at Brian. "It sure was."

Brian rolled onto his side and pulled Justin to him. It would be one of many times during the night that one or the other fucked each other before they fell asleep in the early morning hours.

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Justin woke up to the feeling of being stared at. Opening his eyes, he saw Brian staring down at him. "Good Morning."

Brian smiled down at Justin, reached over and pushed some hair away from Justin's face and said. "Good Morning."

Brian bent down and placed a tender kiss on Justin's still swollen lips. "I'm ready for my breakfast."

Justin laughed, "Ok, but let's have our first course in the shower. We reek."

Brian laughed and got up out of the bed to follow Justin into the shower. After taking care of each others morning wood, they finished cleaning each other up and got out. Justin grabbed his robe. "I'm sorry I don't have a robe to offer you. Of course I won't complain if you decide to stay in a towel or better yet, in nothing at all."

Brian smiled at Justin. "Well, don't you think I should have the same view?"

Justin smiled back. "Of course but since I'm going to be doing the cooking, I think I need to protect my body just a bit in case of accidents. So you'll just have to wait until I get finished before I join you."

Brian looked over at the clock and sighed. "You know, I just realized what time it is. I have to be in the office in an hour and I don't have a change of clothes with me. Can we meet for lunch instead? Or even dinner?"

Justin smiled. "Lunch is good. Meet you at the diner?"

Brian walked over and kissed him as he buttoned his shirt. "Definitely. 1:00?"

Justin took over buttoning Brian's shirt. "One is fine."

Justin watched Brian gather up the rest of his clothes and then walked him to the door. Right before he walked out, he bent for another kiss. "Later."

Justin smiled. "Later."

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Justin walked into the diner a little after one o'clock, a little out of breath. Sitting down at the booth where Brian was waiting, he let out a sigh and smiled. "Sorry I'm late. I had a client that just wouldn't go away."

Brian smiled. "Welcome to the real world Sunshine."

Justin sighed. "I know and usually I don't mind but this was a pretentious wannabe that did nothing but criticize every piece we currently have. I mean, this blowhard came in, looked around for only a minute and started complaining. He then began to tell us some of the artists we should be carrying. I took him back into the private showroom and showed him some of the artists that he had suggested. He shut up, looked at what we had, then started talking about certain periods that he was looking for from each artists which we weren't carrying. The thing is, he was talking rubbish, he didn't have a clue.

Brian nodded. He understood exactly what Justin meant. "I know, I have quite a few clients that are the same way. In the end, they finally end up going with our concepts, but claim that that's what they had in mind the whole time."

About that time, the waitress came over to take their orders. Debbie had the evening shift so they were spared having to go through her third degree. Just as their orders arrived, Michael came rushing into the dinner, saw them and flounced into the seat next to Brian.  "Oh man what a day this has been." Signaling the waitress, he shouted. "I'll have my usual!"

Brian looked at Justin and shrugged. "What's the matter Mikey? They kill off another superhero?"

"Smartass. No, but the way my day has been, that may still happen." Michael sighed. "We overslept this morning, so that by the time I got to the store, my delivery had already been there, and since I wasn't there, left. I called so they came back since they hadn't gone too far away. When I finally got to opening the boxes, the order was only half right. I just got off the phone with the warehouse to get the problem fixed. Oh! And some kid tried to shoplift.

The waitress sat down Michael's order just as Ted and Emmett joined them. Sliding in next to Justin, they effectively trapped him there.

"So what's going on fellas? Emmett asked and the signaled the waitress over.

Michael around a mouth full of food said. "Nothing much."

Brian shook his head. "Just grabbing some lunch like everyone else."

Justin smiled when Brian looked over at him and continued to eat. "What's going on with you guys?"

Emmett and Ted proceeded to tell how their day had gone so far, and chatted about gossip and such for the rest of the meal. Finishing up his meal, Justin looked at his watch and sighed. "Well, it's been fun but I've got to get back to work. I have a client coming in half and hour."

Ted and Emmett stumbled out of their seats to let Justin out. As he climbed out of the booth, he looked over and said. "Later."

Brian smiled. "See you tonight?"

Justin shook his head sadly. "Can't. The boss wants me to wine and dine some artist and their agent. He's trying to talk them into doing a show with us. How about tomorrow night?"

Brian was disappointed but understood. "Tomorrow night is good. Pick you up around seven?"

Justin smiled. "Seven is good. Later."

Brian smiled back. "Later" and watched as Justin left, ignoring the stares that he was getting from Michael, Ted, and Emmett.

"Well boys, I've got to get back to the office as well and be fabulous. I have a presentation in an hour. Woody's tonight?" Brian asked waiting for Michael to move so he could get out.

"What? Brian! You can't just talk to just about going out and then act like we didn't hear anything. What are you doing?" Michael said exasperated.

Brian looked at Ted, Emmett, and finally Michael. "Get up Michael. What is going on between Justin and I is no one's business but our own. If and when we're ready to tell you anything, we will. Until then stay out of it." Brian said seriously as he got out of the seat once Michael had moved. "That means all of you and anyone you decide needs to know about what you think you know."

"Brian!" Michael whined as he watched Brian walk to the door and out of it without turning around.

Michael looked down at Ted and Emmett and plopped back down into his seat. "I can't believe he said that to us. We're his friends. What do you think is going on?"

Ted and Emmett looked at each other and then at Michael. Ted opened his mouth but shut it without saying anything. Emmett however was another matter. "I think that Brian and Justin are trying to see if there is still anything there between then. Especially now that they have both grown up and are on more of an equal footing. And you know what? I think that even after all these years, those two still love each other."

Michael shook his head. "I can't believe it, not after the way Justin hurt Brian last time. Maybe I better talk to him."

Emmett sighed. "Michael. Stay out of it. Brian hurt Justin too. You just don't and have never wanted to see that. If you had stayed out of it last time, things might have been different now. Maybe Justin wouldn't have felt abandoned and alone and run off to Europe with that boy. And maybe Brian wouldn't have been so depressed and sad. Let them have this time in which to find out if they can make it work this time."

Michael looked as if he was going to argue but then shut his mouth and sighed. "Alright. I'll leave them alone for now, but if I see anything that is going to hurt Brian again, I can't promise not to say something then."

Ted sighed. "Michael, don't you get it? You say that if you see something that is going to hurt Brian, you're going to tell him. Well think about it 'best friend', who's the one who is really doing the hurting? Justin doing something that Brian doesn't know about, or more than likely does know but isn't acknowledging, or you getting in his face and telling him?"

Michael looked down at his now empty plate and sighed. "I …I never looked at it that way. I never meant to hurt him. I'll…I'll stay out of it this time."  

Ted and Emmett both sighed in relief and hoped that Michael would actually keep his promise to stay out of it.

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Over the next three weeks, Brian and Justin were seen together quite often, and when they would leave, they left together without having paid any attention to any of the potential tricks that had tried to get their attention. When they weren't out, they would stay at one or the other's place, just having a nice quiet evening at home.

On one of those nights, Brian was over at Justin's. They had had dinner and had finally settled down to relax with a movie. Justin was nestled in Brian's arms contentedly. He couldn't believe how well things were going between him and Brian. Brian had changed so much, but then again, so had he. He truly felt like an equal now and he knew it was because of these changes. Of course their relationship was still fairly new, but he had hopes that this time they would make it.

Brian heard Justin sigh in contentment and knew exactly how he felt. Things were going so well between them, and he just knew that this time they were going to make it. Without really thinking it through he said. "Justin, move in with me. I hate not having you near me every night."

Justin sat up and turned to face Brian in surprise. "What?! Brian…I…I…" Justin couldn't believe that Brian had asked him to move in. "No. It's too soon."

All Brian heard was Justin say no. Standing up, he looked at Justin, embarrassment quickly turning to anger. "Fine, Sorry I asked. I thought we had something, but I guess I was wrong. Good thing we found out now before we invested too much time into our so called relationship. I won't bother you again."

Justin watched in shock as Brian slammed out the door without a backward glance. What had just happened? One moment they were sitting contentedly together and the next Brian was slamming out the door. Jumping to his feet, Justin rushed toward the door and took the stairs in hope of reaching Brian. Rushing out the main door of the apartment building, he yelled. "Brian! Brian wait!"

But all he saw was the tail lights of Brian's vette as he sped off. Justin sighed. "Shit. Now what." Slowly he turned around and went back to his apartment. Once inside, he tried to call Brian. First he tried his cell but Brian refused to answer it. Next he called Brian's loft and left a message for him to call him, telling him that they needed to talk about what had happened. Once that was done, Justin knew the only thing he could do was to wait until Brian felt like talking. Walking into the kitchen, he fixed himself a stiff drink, turned off the TV and the lights, and made his way into the bedroom where he downed his drink and stared at the ceiling until finally in the early hours of the morning he fell into a fitful sleep.

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