* Glitter and Shine *

Justin looked up at the clock on the wall and sighed. It had been three days since Brian had stormed out of his apartment and he had yet to hear from him. He knew that Brian had thrown a drama queen fit, but surely by now he was over it. So here he was, sitting at this desk mopping, and trying to decide if he should call Brian. Sighing again, Justin rose from his desk and went to send Rebecca to lunch.

Justin had been alone in the gallery for about fifteen minutes when he picked up the phone, only to set it down again without dialing. Feeling slightly frustrated at his lack of action, he thought once again at how he wished he knew what was going on with Brian, but for once it seemed that the family was staying out of it.

Just as soon as he picked up the phone to once again call Brian, someone walked in. Putting the phone down, Justin walked over to the lone figure. "Hello, my name is Justin. Are you looking for something in particular, or can I show you around the gallery?"

Justin tried to keep the surprise and emotion from his face as the man turned to face him. However, he couldn't keep the smile on his face.

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Brian sat at his desk staring at the layouts in front of him, but not really seeing them. Instead he was visualizing the night of his and Justin's fight. He realized that he had over reacted and wasn't sure what to do about it. Then again, he did. Getting up from his desk, he sighed grabbing his coat and walked out the door. "Cynthia, if anyone comes looking for me; I'm unavailable and can't be reached. Reschedule all the appointments that I have for the rest of the day. I'll be back maybe later this afternoon, but definitely tomorrow."

Cynthia nodded and smiled at his retreating back. Whatever had been bugging him the past couple of days was about to be fixed.

Brian began going over all the things he could say to Justin as soon as he got in his car, and by the time he reached the gallery, was prepared for what he had come to view as one of the biggest campaigns of his life.

Walking through the front door and into the foyer, he stopped when he heard Justin say, "What are you doing here?"

He was about to reply when someone else spoke. He quickly realized that Justin was talking to someone else and who that someone else was. He decided to stay where he was to give them some privacy, but to also be there if Justin should need him.

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"Hello Justin." Craig said.

"What are you doing here?" Justin asked.

Craig ignored Justin's question and looked around. "Are any of these yours? I read in the paper the review on your show. I understand it went pretty good."

"Oh come on Dad. That was a month ago." Justin said sarcastically. "You didn't just happen to read the review. Mom probably cut it out and showed it to you."

Craig looked down then back up at Justin. "Actually it was Molly. She's very proud of her big brother. She even showed me the program from your show. So how did it go?"

Justin snorted. "What do you care?"

Craig sighed. "I've always cared Justin."

Justin laughed. "Oh really! Is that why you kicked me out when I refused to go back in the closet? Is that why you were never at the hospital when I was bashed? Why you suddenly cut off my tuition? How even after I came to you, showed you how well I was doing, you still refused unless I changed my mind and became what you wanted me to be? Yeah, you cared a lot didn't you."

"Justin." Craig sighed. "I did those things for your own good."

"My own good? I don't think so." Justin said. "You did them for you. It was your way in which to try and control me. To get me to do the things you wanted me to do and you know it."

Craig came up to Justin and put a hand on his shoulder. "Justin, I was trying to prevent you from making terrible mistakes. Look at the man you've become. You're running a gallery, not quite the business I was hoping you'd run but you're still running it, and at the same time indulging yourself in your drawings. And while I still don't approve of your choice in sexual partners, I'm glad that over the past couple of years you have learned to be discreet about it. Thank goodness you got over that arrogant self-centered pervert."

Justin was furious. He couldn't believe his father and quickly shook off his hand. "You are unbelievable. For almost three years you have avoid, ignored, and screwed me every chance you get and now that I'm showing signs of being a success, you show up claiming all the credit and expect me to forget all that? Well I'm sorry, it doesn't work that way. You did nothing. It's not because of you but because of that man you call a pervert that I'm the man I am. He's the one that took me in when you threw me out. He's the one who encouraged me to follow my dreams of being an artist."

Craig opened his mouth but Justin stopped him. "No Dad! It's my turn to have my say and your damn well going to be a man and stand there and listen."

Craig stuck his hands in his coat pockets and nodded, looking very grim faced.

Justin continued. "That man was at the hospital every single night. I never knew it until mom let it slip. Then when I got out it was he who took care of me. He's the one who was up nights holding me when the nightmares came. He's the one who tried to help me get my memory back, not you. And yes, before you say anything, he broke my heart. But in doing so, he broke his own. He pushed me away, pushed me toward someone he thought I wanted, who could give me what I thought I wanted. You want to know how much he loved me Dad? I'll tell you. Even after I left him for Ethan, he continued to pay for PIFA. That's how much Dad. He never abandoned me."

Justin took a deep breath. "And while I regret having left him, it was probably the best thing I ever could have done. I didn't love Ethan, but I went to Europe with him, and because of that, I got the greatest chance of my life. You didn't get me into Edinburgh. I did. I got in all on my own due to my talent. It was my talent that got me a full scholarship. Do you know that when Brian found out that I had dropped out of PIFA and was going to go to Edinburgh, he flew all the way over there to make sure that I was okay and helped me get situated when all he wanted to do was ask me to come home. He loved me enough to put my needs above his desires. So who sounds self-centered now Dad?"

Craig shifted uncomfortably as Justin continued. "As for my being discreet, it's kind of hard not to be when you're not even in the country. I bet you loved that. You were able to totally forget that you had a gay son for almost 2 years."

Justin moved closer to Craig and got in his face so that there was no mistaking what he was about to say. "About my running of this gallery and indulging myself in my drawings, let me tell you something. My indulgences have earned me more money in one showing then I could possibly make in six months in just about any business job I would have been placed in coming out of Dartmouth. I'm good Dad, and one day everyone is going to know who Justin Taylor is and want one of my pieces. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."

Justin turned and walked away from Craig. When he reached the reception desk he turned and saw Craig just about to step into the foyer. "Oh and by the way Dad, just so you know, I never stopped loving Brian and he never stopped loving me. We both just needed to grow up a little. Since I've been home, we've been talking and dating. While he doesn't believe in marriage, I hope that one day he will ask me, or accept, when I ask him to be life-partners. So Dad, you decide now. Are you willing to try and accept me and in doing so Brian? Or are you going back to acting as if I don't exist until I see things your way?"

Craig turned, shocked by Justin's revelation that he was back with Brian and that he was planning on spending the rest of his life with him. Craig straightened up and looked indignantly at Justin. "Let me know when you come to your senses about that asshole. Maybe then we can try to work on getting back to the relationship we once had."

Justin returned Craig's look. "If I were you, I'd look at the man you've become. Goodbye Craig. Please don't bother coming in again. You see, my father died a few years ago and I've been doing very well without him. And I'm really not looking to replace him anytime soon."

Craig searched Justin's face and saw that he was totally serious and walked out the door into the foyer.

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Craig walked through the foyer and out the door. He didn't see the figure standing to the side as he was too busy thinking over his meeting with Justin. He couldn't believe the way it had gone. He had thought two years away from Pittsburgh and its bad influences would have helped him, but it hadn't.

He didn't even know he was being followed out the door until he was suddenly spun around and a fist connected with his face. Looking up from where he was laying on the ground, he saw who hit him. "What the…"

Brian looked angrily down at the man he had just punched. "Leave Justin alone. You have hurt him more than anyone and he doesn't need it, or you."

Without another word, Brian stepped over Craig and back through the doors into the foyer once more. Pausing, he watched Justin for a few minutes to see how he was.

Justin was standing behind the reception desk working at the computer there. Brian could tell that he was angry from the way he was typing and the set of his mouth. Other then that nothing else was given away. Straightening his coat and tie, Brian entered the gallery.

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Justin looked up and sighed when he saw Brian. While he knew they needed to talk, him coming in right after his father was just not a good time. His emotions were high and he wasn't sure if he could remain calm enough during their talk.

Brian heard Justin sigh. "Justin, I don't want you to say anything until I finish. If you stop me I might not say what I need to. Okay?"

Justin nodded but Brian could see the nervousness and worry in his eyes as well as sadness.

Brian took a deep breath and then let it out. "I'm sorry for the way I acted the other night. I heard you say no and took it as you rejecting me. I didn't really listen to the rest of what you had to say. It's just that I'm still fairly new to revealing my feelings much less even admitting them to anyone, even less so myself, and me asking you to move in was like opening myself up. I've never come right out and asked someone to move in with me."

Brian saw Justin's confused look. "Justin, did I ever ask you to move in with me? Think about it."

Justin did think about it and realized that Brian never had asked him. "What about Tristan?"

Brian shrugged his shoulders. "I did ask him, but it was in an off-handed way, and well…I…I didn't care about him like I did you."

Justin nodded his understanding. "And now?"

Brian walked closer to Justin. "Now, I realize that I overreacted and that I still want us to work. I'm willing to wait until you're ready."

Justin let out a sigh of relief and walked around the counter and into Brian's arms. "I'm glad you feel that way because I want us to work as well."

Brian sighed as he wrapped his arms around Justin and bent down to place a kiss on his upturned face. "What time do you get off? Want to go get some dinner?"

Justin laughed. "Definitely, I get off at six."

Brian nodded, "Okay, I'll be here to pick you up then."

Justin sighed as Brian kissed him again. Just when things were starting to heat up they heard someone clear their throat. Breaking slowly apart, they both turned to see a grinning Rebecca. "Sorry to interrupt, but I'm back and Justin you have a client due in about fifteen minutes."

Justin sighed and leaned his head against Brian's chest. "Shit. See you at six?"

Brian laughed. "Yeah, see you at six."

With a quick kiss, Brian left and let Justin get back to work. Justin watched Brian walk out the door and decided that the day had just definitely gotten better, and was looking forward to the make-up sex that he was sure to happen later tonight.

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A Month Later

Justin was excited and couldn't wait to tell Brian his news, but wasn't sure how he would take it. He hoped that when the shock wore off, he'd see it for what it was. An offer, a chance, a decision, a reply, and investment in the future.

When the knock on the door came, Justin answered it, almost bouncing with excitement and nervous energy. "Hi."

Brian laughed. "Hi."

Bending down, he kissed Justin before walking through the door. "What's got you so excited?"

Justin took Brian's hand and led him over to the couch. "Well, I bought something today and I'm really excited about it."

Brian sat down and waited for Justin to tell him his news. "Well, what did you buy, let me see it."

Justin sat down too. "Well… I bought a loft."

Brian tried to keep the smile on his face and be excited for Justin, but was having a hard time doing it. He had thought that over the past month, that he and Justin were moving closer together, and that Justin would soon be moving him with him. He guessed he was wrong. "You bought a loft?"

Justin nodded, smiling brighter. "Yes I did. However, I want it to be surprise when you see it, so I want you to let me blindfold you until we get there. Do you think you can do that?"

Brian, still not happy, nodded his head. "Okay."

Once they got down to the car, Justin blindfolded Brian. He couldn't stop smiling. He knew that Brian was disappointed and that he took this to mean that Justin wouldn't be moving in with him any time soon.

As they drove, Brian thought about Justin and his relationship, trying to figure out what was going wrong. When they got to where Justin's place was, he waited for Justin to help him out. Justin made a big to do over punching in the access code to the building. "Well, I'm glad to see, or should I say hear, that at least it's a secure building."

Justin laughed. "Oh it's that all right. Come on, this way to the elevator."

Brian listened as Justin closed the elevator gates and became curious. They sounded a lot like the gates to his elevator. "So what kind of loft is this Sunshine? One you're going to use for work?"

Justin smiled even though Brian couldn't see him. "Well, that will be one of the things I'll use it for."

Brian sighed. "You're not going to give me anymore clues are you."

Justin laughed. "We're almost there. You'll see it in just a minute."

Just then the elevator stopped and Justin opened the gates. "Come on, this way."

Justin lead Brian over to the door of the loft and stopped him so he could unlock and open the door. One he had it open, he left it open and pulled Brian into the center of the empty room. Reaching up, he untied the blindfold and removed it from Brian's eyes.

Brian blinked a couple of times before his eyes were able to focus clearly on his surroundings. Looking around he noticed the similarities to his loft before he had had it decorated. "Justin? What's going on?"

Justin smiled. "Well, I thought about the times before when we've lived together in your loft, and while I love the loft, it's really not big enough. It's also yours regardless of the fact that you want it to be ours. So, I bought this one. It's the one directly below yours. I though we could convert the two lofts if your willing, into a duplex kind of place that would then be ours. If you're willing that is."

Brian listened to what Justin was saying and smiled. "Well, I don't know. Just what did you have in mind?"

Justin laughed. He knew then that Brian understood what he had said. "Well, I thought that we could cut away a portion of the ceiling here. That way we could look down onto this floor. This one would be our main living area and over here we could put two bedrooms with the bath. One would be for company and the other one could be for Gus.  Then over by the windows I'd set up a little studio for me. We'd take out your kitchen and put it down here. Upstairs the bedroom would stay the same as would the bathroom and with the diminished space, we'd leave the rest for a small sitting area and an office for you. What do you think?"

Justin watched Brian nervously as he took in Justin's suggestions for the two lofts. "It sounds like a lot of work and money."

Justin nodded. "Yes, but with both of us working, I think we can do it."

Brian nodded and walked over to where Justin was standing. "It also sounds like if we do this, we're in it for the long haul. Are we in it for the long haul?"

Justin licked his lips nervously. "I…I'd like us to be."

Brian smiled and took Justin's face in his hands. "I think I'd like that too."

Justin couldn't keep his sunshine smile from breaking out as Brian bent down to kiss him.  

"So Sunshine, how about we christen your new place before it becomes our new place?" Brian said arching an eyebrow.

Justin smiled and pulled back from Brian. "I was hoping you would feel that way."

Justin walked over to the kitchen and around the island only to come back pulling several cushions. When he saw Brian's look he laughed. "You didn't really think I was going to do it right on the hard floor when it was so easy to have comfort readily available did you?"

Brian laughed as he walked over to the door and closed it before turning back to where Justin was setting up the cushions by the windows. "I guess not."

When Justin straightened up, Brian kissed him again and started to remove Justin's shirt, and he began doing the same to Brian. As they broke apart, they each reached for the other's pants and quickly undid them. Shoving their own pants down and off, they fell on their knees as they resumed kissing. Within moments they were laying down and Brian was reaching for his jeans to retrieve the condom and lube. Leaning down, he kissed Justin again before tearing open the condom and rolling it into place on Justin's cock. When he saw Justin's look, he smiled. "Well, it is your place."

Justin laughed and took the lube from Brian's hand. As he began to prepare Brian, he leaned forward. "Not for long. Then it will be our place."

Placing his cock at Brian's entrance he began to push inside and with a final thrust home said. "Our home."

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Over the next few months, Brian lived with Justin while their lofts were being worked on. While it wasn't always easy they managed not to kill each other in the tight cramped space. When the construction was finally complete, it was with giddy relief as they walked through the door of their new home.

That night, as the two men sat together on the couch watching a movie, Brian got up and climbed the stairs to their bedroom. Justin watched him go in confusion but figured that Brian probably just want to take another look. After all, he had done much the same thing several times since they had moved back in, and together they had christened every room of their new home.

When Brian rejoined him on the couch, he didn't think anything of it until Brian got up again. "Brian? What's the matter? Do you want to go out? We can go to Woody's or Babylon if you'd like."

Brian sighed. He knew that it was time but couldn't help his nervousness. Sitting down on the couch beside Justin, he turned to face him and said. "Justin, I…Listen, you know my thoughts on marriage and romance. And while I'm working on the romance, my thoughts of marriage haven't changed any." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a gold band with criss-cross etchings into it. "Justin, would you be my life-partner?"

Justin stared from Brian to the ring and back again. "Brian? I…I"

Brian watched Justin as his eyes filled with tears. "Justin. I know I've never said the words but I…"

Justin placed a hand on Brian's mouth. "I know and you don't have to say them for me."

Brian removed Justin's hand. "I know but I want to. Justin, Sunshine, I love you. I can't imagine my life without you in it, and I don't want to try. So I'm going to ask you once again. Will you be my life-partner?"

Justin couldn't believe it. He studied Brian's face intently and then smiled. "Yes…yes!"

Brian caught Justin has he threw himself at him and laughed with relief. Kissing a soggy Justin, he pushed him back and took his hand, slowly sliding the ring into place and kissing it before looking up at Justin's happy face. "By the way, Happy Anniversary."

Justin's eyes widened at Brian's words. "You…you remember?"

Brian nodded. "Yes, I remember. This is the night that you came back into my life. The night of our first official date and I think this is a night worth celebrating because you have been able to put up with me for a whole year."

Justin laughed. "Yes I have, but in the same instance, you have put up with me for a whole year as well. So what would you like to do to celebrate?"

Brian pulled Justin into his arms. "Anything you want to do."

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Twenty Years Later

Brian was retiring. He had notified the board and was now ready to sit back and enjoy the success that he had earned. Twenty years of moving up the corporate ladder, buying out his partner and making his agency one of the biggest and best on the east coast. He was retaining the company, but had created a board of directors in which to run the business. He would be kept up to date on what was going on, but that was it. No more running after accounts, no more daily grind.

At the insistence of his family, on the night of his final day, there was to be a party. Walking through the door of his and Justin's home, he had to laugh when he saw the party layout and Emmett walking toward him in a muumuu. "What is this?!"

Justin walked out wearing a pair of white linen pants and a bright Hawaiian shirt. "Well, if I recall rightly at one point you said that we'd all retire to Palm Springs, wear muumuus and drink mimosas."

Emmett stepped forward and handed Brian a mimosa. "Welcome to Palm Springs!"

Brian took a sip of the drink as Justin took Brian's briefcase. "Is this all you brought home from the office?"

Brian pulled Justin to him and kissed him soundly. "Well, there are a couple of boxes in the car but those can wait."

Justin hugged Brian tightly and took the drink from his hand. "Good. You need to go change. Our guest will be here in an hour."

Brian walked toward the stairs laughing. "Yes dear." He said in a falsetto voice.

Justin and Emmett laughed right along with him as they finished up the final touches for the party.

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The party was in full swing, and everybody was congratulating Brian on his retirement. Justin looked around at the colorful guest. Everyone had taken the invitation to heart and were dressed in Hawaiian shirts and muumuus. Looking over to where Brian was standing, he couldn't help but smile. Justin knew that Brian would refuse to wear a Hawaiian shirt so he had gotten him a white linen suit and a bright red shirt. He looked relaxed and happy. He couldn't believe that it had been twenty years.

Brian turned and met Justin's stare, and at his nod, met him at the foot of the stairs. "So Sunshine, want to sneak away from the party with the guest of honor?"

Justin laughed. "Definitely."

Justin grabbed Brian's hand and led him up the stairs to their bedroom. When they reached the bedroom Justin pushed Brian down onto the bed, but instead of pouncing on him like Brian was expecting, Justin sat down on the bed beside him. "Brian, I wanted to congratulate you privately. That's why no one said anything when we left, and no, I don't mean a quick blowjob either."

Justin looked down nervously. "Brian, as hard as it seems, we've been together twenty years to the day and while we've had our good and bad moments, the good has far outweighed the bad. I love you, more now then I ever have."

Justin reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring that matched the one he had never removed from his hand since Brian had placed it there. "I figured if you were willing, maybe you'd wear this."

Brian looked down at the ring in Justin's hand and then back up. Running a hand down the side if Justin's face, he cupped his chin. "Justin, I love you too. I can't believe that you have put up with me all these years. This is definitely an accomplishment worth celebrating."

Brian held out his hand so that Justin could put the ring on his finger. Once the ring was in place Brian intertwined his fingers with Justin's. "I can't believe it took you twenty years to do this. I thought for sure you would have done it for our second anniversary."

Justin laughed. "I did."

"What!?" Brian asked surprised. "Then why didn't you give it to me?"

Justin cocked his head to the side as he thought about how to answer that. "After I got it, I had every intention of giving it to you, but then I realized that the timing wasn't right. We were still working things out, and even though we were together, you still had a problem with being labeled domesticated. To lose you title of Stud of Liberty Ave. even though you had changed, you still had it in your mind that even though we were in a relationship, if you wore a ring, it would be the final lock to your freedom.

Brian started to refute it, but Justin stopped him. "Brian, think about it, can you honestly tell me that you would have really worn it if I had given it to you back then?"

Brian thought about Justin's answer and shook his head no. "You're right. I wouldn't have. So why now?"

Justin smiled and leaned over to kiss Brian. "Well, to be honest, I put it away and forgot about it. Whenever I remembered it, the times just never felt right. Then when you decided to retire, I suddenly realized that we'd been together for twenty years and knew that no matter what, that if you weren't ready now, you never would be."

Brian shook his head. "Sunshine, what did I ever do to deserve you."

Justin pulled Brian up and kissed him. "Brian, don't you know yet? You didn't do anything but finally allowed yourself to be loved the way you were always meant to be."

Brian bent down to kiss Justin again but when he tried to make it more intense Justin pulled away from him, took his hand and led him back to the party. "Come on, we still have guest to entertain."

Brian and Justin walked hand in hand back to where their friends and family were waiting for them. At first no one noticed that Brian was also wearing a ring and when they did, no one made a big deal out of it, as it was Brian after all, except for Deb who walked over, gave them both a hug and whispered in Brian's ear. "I'm happy for you kiddo."

Brian smirked. "Leave it to you to call a 52 year old man, kiddo."

Justin laughed. "53"

Brian sighed. "Fine, 53 but I haven't been a kid in a long time."

Debbie laughed. "Honey, you'll always be kiddo to me."

Debbie moved off and the party continued. As they watched everyone enjoyed themselves, Brian took a quiet moment and leaned over. "So Sunshine, what are we going to do when you retire."

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