Unexpected Proposals
Brian sat at his desk, silently thinking as he stared at a photo of him and Justin at Babylon on Justin's 21st birthday. Five years seemed so long to Brian. For the last five years he's lusted after and loved Justin, and still did to this day. Daea was two now, and a joyful addition to the growing family.
Justin and Daphne had grown apart, but Daphne still visited with Daea when she could, or, as Brian would say behind her back, when she felt like it. Brian didn't like Daphne anymore. She would go out and have fun, while Justin stayed home to take care of their child. Justin gave up his free time to love and care for Daea.
Michael and David, along with Melanie and Lindsay, had their Commitment Ceremonies together. At the ceremony, Brian had known that Justin wanted he and Brian to have one as well, but Justin had never brought it up.
This was what Brian was considering as he sat in his office staring at the photograph on his desk. Could he make such a commitment? Was he ready for it? He was 33 years old. God, he felt so old, at least when Justin wasn't around, he did.
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No, Brian never felt old around Justin and little Daea. They were his bundles of joy and energy, always keeping him on his toes. This morning had been no different. While Justin was getting ready for work at the diner, Daea was toddling along after her 'Papa Brian'. He grinned as she toddled between his legs. He scooped her up and gave her a big, smacking kiss on the cheek.
"Well good morning, Button." He purred, rubbing his nose to hers.
Daea giggled and kissed his cheek. "Hiya!" she piped up.
"C'mere, Baby Girl." Justin said, taking Daea from Brian so he could get ready for work. "Time to go see Nana Debbie."
Daea's eyes lit up. She loved her Nana Dee, as she called her. Brian grinned, watching the child bounce happily as she helped her daddy get her toys together.
"See you later, Baby." Brian murmured against Justin's lips as he kissed him good-bye. He looked back towards his two loves and left the loft for work.
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Brian was surprised when his boss, Ryder, told him that there was an opening in the arts department at the office. He'd asked Brian to see if Justin would be interested in working there. Ryder had seen Justin's work before, Brian had a sketch that Justin did of Gus and Daea playing together framed in his office. The two talked for the entire day about what the expectations of the job would be, and what benefits Justin would get, now that he had a child to consider.
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As Brian headed to Debbie's to pick up Daea after work, his thoughts drifted back to the ceremony he and Justin had attended. The more he thought about it, the more the idea appealed to him. He'd have to sit and talk to Michael, David, Lindsay and Mel about this, and probably Debbie and Jennifer too.
When Brian arrived at Debbie's, he walked in without knocking, as usual.
"Christ, Brian. When are you gonna learn to knock?" Debbie scolded him.
"Never?" he answered with a smirk, kissing her cheek. "How ya doing, Deb?"
"No complaint's yet, Honey." She smiled, patting his cheek. "Daea's napping up in Michael's room."
Brian nodded and sat beside Jennifer, leaning over to kiss her cheek. Jennifer smiled and patted his cheek as well.
"So what are you two lovely ladies gossiping about today?" he questioned.
"The usual, Brian." Debbie grinned. "How happy we are for our gay sons, what we should have for dinner, how much it sucks to be old."
This got a chuckle out of Brian and Jennifer. When the chuckles died out, they heard a tiny voice from the stairs.
"Papa Bwian?" Daea squeaked, peeking down at them.
"Hey, Button." Brian smiled.
Brian watched as Daea carefully made her way down the stairs, one at a time, before reaching the bottom. Once on solid ground, she made a beeline for Brian and latched onto a leg.
"Papa!!" she squeaked happily.
Brian chuckled and leaned over, detaching her from his leg and setting her on his lap.
"Ready to get daddy, Baby?" he asked his daughter.
"Yeah!! Get daddy!!", she giggled, bouncing on his lap.
"Go give your grandmothers a kiss then." Brian set her on the floor.
"Her stuff is up in Michael's room." Debbie said, getting a hug from Daea.
Brian nodded and headed upstairs and gathered up just what he needed to take home, putting the rest in Michael's old trunk for the next time she came to visit. Coming downstairs, he scooped up Daea, getting a loud giggle from her.
"Have a nice day ladies and if you need to Deb, give me a call. Any time." He said, laying a hand on her shoulder.
"I know. Thanks, Baby." She patted his hand, giving him a sad smile.
He leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek, heading out to the jeep with Daea.
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As they drove, Brian thought about their recent loss. Vic had died last month, his body finally giving out on its battle with AIDS. Everyone was there when he passed on. He'd been sitting up in bed, Debbie holding his hand. He'd looked to the group, smiling when his eyes finally came to rest on Gus and Daea in the arms of their fathers.
Brian remembered Vic giving each baby a kiss on the cheek before his eyes closed, his last breath coming out as a soft sigh. Everyone took his passing hard, but not as hard as Debbie. She had been caring for him for 12 long years. Michael and David had tried to convince Debbie to move in with them, that they had the space, but she'd refused. She wanted to stay in her home.
Jennifer spent most of her time with Debbie, keeping her company, talking about what's new in her life, what's going on with Brian and Justin. Debbie loved Jennifer's company, they had a common bond; both were the mothers of gay sons.
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When Justin walked out from the diner after his shift, he saw Brian waiting in the jeep with Daea in her car seat.
"Daddy!!" Daea squealed in delight at seeing her father.
"Hey, Baby. I missed you," said Justin, kissing her cheek before joining Brian in the front. "I missed you too." He purred, leaning over to give Brian a tender kiss.
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As they drove home, Daea babbled happily in the back to her fathers. Justin smiled and talked back to Daea, not understanding everything she's saying. Once home, they noticed that Daea was quiet. Peeking over their seats, they see her dead asleep in her car seat. Brian carefully unbuckled her and cradled her to his chest. With Justin at his side, the two took the stairs up to the loft.
While Justin set the alarm, Brian changed Daea into her jammies and put her to bed. As he watched her sleep, he felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist from behind. He smiled and leaned back into the embrace.
"Coming to bed?" Justin murmured against the back of Brian's neck, placing a soft kiss there.
"In a minute, Baby. Go warm the sheets for me." Brian felt another kiss before the warm body against him slid away.
True to his word, Brian soon joined Justin in bed.
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Justin moaned softly as Brian slid into him again, his fingers laced with Brian's, pinned to the bed. Justin's legs tightened a bit more around Brian's waist. He felt Brian's lips trail kisses up his throat until he claimed Justin's lips in a very passionate kiss, his tongue gliding along Justin's.
Brian thrusted harder into Justin, the two were so close to cumming when Daea woke up, crying loudly. With a slightly annoyed groan, Brian rolled off Justin and onto his back, watching his lover get up, pulling his robe on and going to the crib just outside their room.
"Shhh, Button. It's only a bad dream." Justin cooed to his daughter, rubbing her back.
"Bring her to bed, Justin. She can sleep with us tonight." Brian told him, pulling his boxers on.
He took Daea from Justin so he could dress. Once both were settled, Brian placed Daea between the two of them, rubbing her back in soothing circles in hopes that it would put her back to sleep. Soon, all three were sound asleep.
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Justin sat awake that Saturday morning, watching Brian and Daea sleep. The night before she had woken up crying from a nightmare towards the end of the best damn sex he'd had in months.
Now, he gazed at the two, Brian with Daea stretched out on his chest, her head tucked under Brian's chin, his arm draped across her waist. But, to Justin, the most beautiful thing was that they were holding hands. He had to do it. It was just too good a thing to pass up. He grabbed his sketchpad and started to sketch.
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Brian woke up slightly; he turned his head a bit to see Justin sketching away. He knew Justin was sketching him and the baby.
"Don't move, Brian. And close your eyes." Justin playfully scolded him, not looking up.
Brian smirked and turned his head back, closing his eyes and relaxing. He must have fallen back asleep, because the next thing he was aware of was Justin brushing a kiss against his lips.
"I'm done, Brian." He murmured into his lips.
Daea lifted her head, blinking sleepily at her kissing fathers. Brian felt her stir and turned his head. He offered her a smile.
"Hey there, Button." Brian whispered.
"Hi." Daea squeaked, yawning softly.
"Sleep good, baby?" Justin asked, smoothing her hair back.
"Yeah." Daea yawned again, laying her head back on Brian's chest.
"C'mere." Justin lifted Daea from Brian's arms, settling her against his chest. "Let's go make breakfast for Papa." Justin kissed her cheek, heading to the kitchen with her.
Brian watched them go. He stretched lazily before getting out of bed and padding to the bathroom for a shower. When he came out, he found Justin and Daea at the kitchen table. Justin was sharing his pancakes with Daea, making her giggle when he kissed away the syrup from her chin.
Brian walked over and kissed the top of Justin's head. He ruffled up Daea's hair and went to the kitchen to get his own breakfast, joining them with a muffin and a cup of coffee.
"Come here, Justin." Brian motioned for Justin to lean over.
Justin leans over and squeaked when Brian kissed him, his tongue brushing against his lips. After a few moments, Brian pulled back and brushed his fingers against Justin's cheek.
"You had syrup on your lips." Brian smirked.
Justin laughed and kissed Brian's cheek. Brian watched the two as he nursed his coffee. It was now or never.
"Justin, when you're done. Put her in her playpen and meet me in the bedroom," Brian said, taking the muffin with him to the bedroom.
Justin arched a brow, wondering what was going on. He turned back to Daea and finished feeding her. He left her in the highchair as he washed the dishes and put them in the rack to dry. Then, picking Daea up, he put her in her playpen and went up the steps to the bedroom.
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He found Brian stretched out in bed, sitting up against the headboard. Brian held his arms out and Justin knew what he wanted. He climbed into bed and snuggled his back against Brian's chest as Brian's arms wrapped around his waist, holding him close. Brian held up a black velvet box in front of Justin.
"For you." He murmured in his ear.
Justin took the box and opened it. Inside was a sterling silver ring with a sapphire in the shape of a heart, surrounded by diamonds. He read the note in the lid of the box.
'To my love of 5 wonderful years, marry me?'
Justin looked up at Brian, tears in his eyes. Brian smiled nervously to him.
With a soft whisper, Justin answered him with a "Yes."
Brian kissed his lips and nudged Justin's head back forward to watch as he took the ring from the box and slipped it onto Justin's finger.
"How about we have our ceremony on the anniversary of the day we met, Justin? Sound like a plan to you?" Brian nuzzled his ear.
"Yeah, sounds perfect, Brian." Justin couldn't help the tears as he spoke. "I love you, Brian."
"I love you too, Justin. Forever." Brian murmured against his ear.
The two shared a delicate kiss, sealing their silent vows forever.