Alternate Universe
January 2024
Brian awoke with a start. He could have sworn he cried out but since his Sunshine was peacefully sleeping beside him, he knew his cries were a part of his dream. Normally Justin could sleep through just about anything but he was usually in tune with Brian’s moods.
Brian's ego allowed him a brief smirk, for a fifty something year old man, he still was able to fuck his lover into unconsciousness.
He decided to take his musings out of their bedroom; his sanctuary.
The conjoined cottages were quiet. Very quiet. Even the dogs were fast asleep huddled together in a huge heap on their cushions in their corner of the sun porch. Most times the dogs slept in the Wendy house where they could be on alert and patrol the lane and surrounding grounds as they saw fit. It must be a very cold night.
Brian stared out of the windows for a moment before getting himself a small snifter of brandy. He needed a little “Dutch” courage before exploring his dream. Nightmare. He softly padded back into the porch then took a seat on a chaise. The porch was warm, thanks to John’s engineering but a little shiver ran up Brian’s spine as he recalled his dream.
The loft bed, rumpled; pillows and sheets everywhere. They had obviously fucked but Brian was alone. His heart ached with a deep hurt he had rarely ever felt even in the bad old days when he was a bastard to almost everyone.
Brian took a sip, allowing the rich amber fluid to slowly slide down his throat.
Justin was gone. Whatever years they had together meant nothing. Justin had to leave, to find out what it meant to be Justin and not the other half of Brian and Justin. On some level Brian understood. Didn’t he urge Justin to finish his education and he supported Justin when he went to New York to hone his craft and make the right contacts.
But this dream was different. There was a finality to it. Justin was gone and most likely was never coming back to Pittsburgh, to home, to him.
Brian let out a heart wrenching gasp then downed the rest of the brandy in one gulp when he caught his breath, choking and coughing as he did.
“Brian?” a soft voice came from the doorway of the porch. Brian’s throat hurt too much to make a reply. Justin quickly traversed the porch to be at his side. The dogs raised their collective heads waiting for a sign that they were needed.
“Bri, what is it?” Justin asked as he sat beside him. Brian shook his head, still unable to speak.
Justin took the snifter out of Brian’s hand and shoved it under the chaise. Then he wrapped his arms around his trembling lover. “What is it?” Justin repeated. “What happened?”
“Nightmare,” was all that Brian could get out.
“Can you tell me about it?” Justin gently asked. There were feelings, even after all their years together that Brian still had difficulty sharing. Brian nodded into the hollow of Justin’s shoulder. Justin quietly waited until Brian was ready.
It seemed like an eternity before Brian spoke.
“You left me.”
“What? Never!”
“You did. It was about five years after we met. You had an opportunity to go to New York.”
“But I did that and I came back,” Justin insisted.
“This was different. We made love all night long then you left.” Brian felt like his chest was going to break. “You never came back.”
Justin strengthened his grip around Brian, proving that he was there and never letting go.
“That never happened. It will never happen. I will never leave you,” Justin spat out as he took Brian’s face in his hands for a fierce kiss that left them both breathless.
Justin got up off the chaise, grabbing Brian’s hand then marching them both back into their room. Justin made love to Brian proving by sheer will and ferocity that Brian’s nightmare would never come true.
Because in this universe that ending never happened.
-end-
Cold!
January 2024
“Crap! Crap! Crap!” Tom grumbled as he scrambled from his truck into the warmth of his house. It had begun snowing again and he wasn’t looking forward to shoveling. As Tom took off his gloves and parka, shaking off the snow, he realized the house wasn’t all that warm.
“No, no, no; please no,” he whined as he flipped on the cellar light switch. Taking the flashlight they kept hanging on a peg by the door, Tom descended into the dimly lit cellar.
“Damn it, this is not happening.” As Tom stared at the cold furnace he realized that he was blessed with a lot of knowledge and was very good at doing many things, but repairing a furnace wasn’t in his repertoire. He began to pray that they could get the thing working before the pipes froze.
Tom trudged up the stairs deciding who he should call for help. With that done, he began to light fires in each fireplace. Fortunately he and Todd had more than enough firewood available and kept it close to their back door.
“Babe?” Tom heard after a while as he added another log to the fire in the main and largest fireplace in the living room of their tollhouse.
“In here,” Tom called out as he used the poker to maneuver the log in place.
“Look who’s here. John pulled up as I got here,” Todd said as he sidled up to his partner to give him a kiss. “Cold,” Todd commented as he realized Tom’s lips were cold in spite of the fire. Tom nodded as he peered over Todd’s shoulder to see John standing there. Tom gave Todd another peck as he extended his hand toward John.
“The furnace isn’t working,” Tom stated. “And I’ve had enough experience with frostbite to last me a lifetime.”
“I’m sure it won’t come to that,” John assured his friend. “Flashlight in the same place?” John asked as he headed for the cellar.
“Yes,” Tom confirmed. “I’ll put the kettle on,” he said as he followed. Todd hung up his coat then went to join John in the cellar.
“Is it serious?” Todd asked. He and John were used to working in all sorts of weather but a cold house was not how Todd wanted to end his day.
“I don’t think so. I know it was serviced a few months ago,” John mumbled as he poked around. Todd felt a little useless so he headed for the stairs.
“Shout if you needed anything,” Todd said as he ascended the stairs.
“Uh huh,” John grunted, totally consumed with the job at hand.
About an hour later the boys felt the sweet vibrations of the furnace once more kick into life.
“Yes,” Tom and Todd shouted with fists in the air from the comfort of the living room which was pleasantly warmed by a roaring fire. They greeted John as he emerged from the cellar with a hot cup of coffee.
“Thank you,” John said as he blew on his cold hands then warmed them from the mug in his hands before gingerly taking a sip.
“So what was it?” Todd asked.
“Nothing serious but obviously effective enough. A spider must have crawled into the wiring and made a nest. The debris left behind was just enough to inhibit the connections. I cleaned it out; it’ll be fine now,” John proclaimed.
“Thank you,” Todd said.
“And the spider?” Tom asked.
“Long gone, and her babies too,” John explained.
“Well that’s good,” Tom said for lack of anything better to say except for thanking John profusely for coming to their aid. “Would you like to stay for dinner?”
“Another time,” John said. “I think I better get home before I become a more permanent guest,” John said as he peered out the window. The snow was coming down heavier. “I’ll be all right,” he said when faced with two sets of concerned eyes.
“Call us when you get home,” Tom asked. John smiled fondly at the man as he nodded.
“The furnace won’t come on too frequently until the fires die down but as soon as they do the furnace will do its job. But you call me if you have any more trouble,” John insisted.
Todd and Tom promised as they watched their friend and savior trudge through the snow into his Navigator then drive away.
“That was close,” Todd murmured as he went into the kitchen. The guys were trying to figure out what to do about dinner.
“Soup and grilled cheese sandwiches?” Tom suggested. It was quick, easy and comforting. Todd nodded. “Good, it’ll help to warm us up.”
“And I’ll warm us up later,” Todd suggested with a waggle of his eyebrows making Tom blush. “I better check on the fire in our room,” Todd added with a smile as he leaned suggestively into Tom. Tom chuckled as he gently pushed Todd away so that he could get dinner started.
Tom stood at the stove stirring the soup and flipping the sandwiches. He thought about the changes that had touched his life and how they had warmed him. As Todd snaked his arms around his mate, Tom knew deep down that he would never be cold again.
-end-