Even Now

The reopening of Babylon was now being touted as the black tie, gay social event of the year. Members of the media, as well as civil rights organizations who had followed, and denounced the public gay bashing at Pittsburgh's first gay prom two years ago were already expressing interest in attending. Brian's guest list was growing faster than he had anticipated. There was only so much room in the club. Someone was going to be left out. First on the list to go were the Hollywood stars who's publicists saw this as an opportunity for their clients to cash in on the "Brokeback Mountain" craze by being seen at Pittsburgh's hottest gay nightspot. Brian was determined that Babylon would not turn into another "Studio 54" where the freaks came to mingle. Babylon always was, and always would be an upscale gay cruising bar where hot young men could find the fuck of their dreams.

Of course Pittsburgh's A-list of gay businessmen would have to be invited, including Ted's old nemesis Garth Racine. Brian finished Garth's handwritten invitation, and passed it over to Gus. The youngster folded it exactly as his father had shown him, and stuffed it into its accompanying addressed envelope. One postage stamp in the upper right-hand corner, and the completed invitation was then placed into a pile of others that were ready to be mailed.

"Pop, did I sleep all the time when I was a baby?" Gus asked.

"Pretty much. That's what babies do." Brian selected another name from the list on his laptop screen.

"Mommy Mel feeds the baby with her tits. Is that how I ate?" Gus asked.

"First of all we don't call them tits." Brian corrected his son.

"That's what you call them." Gus reminded him.

"They're only called tits when they are not feeding babies. When they're feeding babies they're called breasts." Brian made the distinction. "And yes that's how your mom fed you."

"Gross." Gus frowned, and resumed folding his invitations. "Pop."

"Yeah?"

"What do they do when they're not feeding babies?"

"Who?" Brian scribbled his signature.

"The breasts…er…tits. What do women do with them when they're not feeding babies?"

"Nothing, they just dress them up, and wear them like decorations." Brian said.

"Decorations, what do they put on them?" Gus asked.

Brian passed his son another finished invitation. "Here, stuff your envelopes Gus." he said.

Gus dismissed his former questioning, and briefly returned to the task at hand. "Pop, can I ask you something?" he began again.

"Uh huh." Brian continued to scan his list.

"Can a guy have more than one boyfriend?" Gus asked.

"Sure, a guy can have as many boyfriends as he wants." Brian said.

"What about you, would you like another boyfriend?" Gus inquired.

"That depends. Who did you have in mind?" Brian smiled.

"What about Tony?"

"Tony?" Brian looked up from his computer screen.

"He's handsome, he has a big car, and he's nice." Gus made his pitch.

"What about Justin?" Brian asked.

Gus thought for a moment. "Both of you could have two boyfriends!" he smiled.

"I don't think that would be such a good idea. Justin might not want two boyfriends." Brian said.

"You could ask him." Gus suggested.

"No, I don't think we should." Brian rejected the idea, and returned to his list.

"Why not? Are you scared? I could ask him for you…" Gus offered.

Again Brian looked up from his computer screen. "Gus this has nothing to do with being scared. Justin doesn't want two boyfriends, he only wants to be with me." he said.

"How do you know if you don't ask him?" Gus insisted.

"Gus, Justin and I are adults. You are a child, and children don't have any say in who adults choose to be with….." Brian attempted to explain to his son.

"That's not what you said. You said I could be with Justin because Justin is your boyfriend. Mom let me stay with Tony when she went with mommy Mel to have the baby, so Tony can be your boyfriend too." Gus continued to present his argument.

"Gus, this conversation is over. Now drop the subject, and let's finish our work. Do you understand me?" Brian gently laid down the law.

"Yeah." Gus grumbled.

Brian proceeded to write out another invitation. What the hell had gotten into Gus? What was with his sudden obsession with Tony? Could it be that perhaps Brian's son was indeed gay like his father, and Gus was experiencing his first crush? Like father like son, Brian had to admit that the boy certainly had good taste.

"Pop."

"What is it Gus?"

"Maybe if Justin saw Tony he would want you both." Gus continued his argument.

Brian once again turned, and look at his son. Damn it, how dare the little shit willfully disobey him! The enraged father was about to act on his temper when his computer screen clicked onto the next page. The first name at the top of the new list was Anthony Massey.

It's been said that newborn babies come into the world with the capacity for seeing things that adults aren't aware of. That innate inner wisdom cultivated through touch, eye contact, tone of voice, and body gestures slowly dissipates in a modern culture that bombards children with formal education. Brian always knew that Gus was a wise old soul, eons beyond his tender years. Could it be that during the brief time that he had spent with Tony the intuitive lad had picked up on the connection between the two men? Could it be that Gus somehow knows that even now, when Brian is laying alone in his bed at night, or holding Justin in his arms he can still smell the scent of Tony's hair? Is it so obvious that Brian can't forget the sound of Tony's moans, or the feel of Tony's yielding body lowering down onto his cock? Even now, with his commitment firmly to Justin, Brian still longed for the man who called him Precious. Dear god, he loved them both. Would things ever be right again? If Gus could already see, then how long would it be before Justin picked up on the heartbreaking charade?

Mercifully the loft's doorbell began to ring. Brian hurried to answer it, and was relieved when Lindsey stepped through the door. "I'm sorry I'm late. I didn't think you'd mind. I hope you guys got everything done." she said.

"We're done." Brian was grateful for the interruption. "How's Mel, and JR?" he asked.

"They're both fine. I can't believe how big she's grown in just two weeks?" Lindsey beamed.

"Mel, or the baby?" Brian attempted levity.

"Both." Lindsey laughed.

Gus took one last look at his handiwork as Lindsey, and Brian chatted briefly about Jenny Rebecca. All of the invitations were sealed, and stamped except for the last one that Brian had written. Gus took the nameless invitation, as well as a blank envelope, and shoved them in his back pocket. "Are you ready to go Gus?" Lindsey called over to him.

"Yep, I'm ready." Gus said.

*************************************

NEXT WEEK: Pilgrimage, pt 1

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