It Can Happen to Anyone of Us

Justin slid the loft door open and saw Brian sitting on the sofa.

"Hey", Justin said and walked over to the sofa to give Brian a kiss.

"Hey."

Justin started to babble about his day like he always did and didn't notice how quiet Brian was.

Brian couldn't concentrate on anything Justin was saying.  

"Justin", Brian tried but that went to deaf ears.

"Justin", Brian tried again and this time he was able to catch Justin's attention. Justin looked at Brian and didn't like what he saw.

"Brian, what's wrong? Is it Gus? Is he hurt? Or is it the girls?" Justin started panicking.

"Calm down, everybody's fine", Brian assured.

Justin gave a deep sigh. "Good. So what is it? You're not being yourself. Tell me, please."

Brian got up from the sofa and extended his hand to Justin. "Would you come to the roof with me? Please?"

Justin had never seen Brian like that before. "Brian, you're scaring me."

"There's nothing to worry about, I promise."

"Okay", Justin said and took the offered hand.

They climbed to the roof in silence. When they were on the roof, Brian took a deep breath. 'God, I must be losing my mind', Brian thought.

"So what now?" Justin asked, still worried.

"I need to talk to you. Let's sit over there."

They sat on the parapet wall facing each other. Brian took Justin's hands into his and looked him in the eye.  "Justin, I…" Brian dropped his gaze onto his hands. Justin waited patiently because he knew this was something important.  'Why is this so fucking hard? I had prepared a great speech but there's no way I'm going through with it. So, I guess it's time for plan B: just ask. Okay, here goes nothing', Brian thought. Brian looked Justin in the eye again. "Justin, will you marry me?"

'Did he just…? No, I must be losing it… What is happening in here? Why is he staring at me? Like he's waiting for something. Fuck, he really did ask!' Justin thought.  

Brian was getting anxious and afraid. 'Doesn't he want me anymore?'  He dropped his gaze 'cause he couldn't look at Justin anymore. Justin didn't realize it himself, but he was crying. Justin came out of his shock and he thought that he saw a hint of fear in Brian's eyes. 'Fuck, have I been thinking my answer a bit too long?'

"Yes", Justin said and Brian raised his head.  "Yes, of course I'll marry you", Justin said smiling.

Brian sighed with relief and wiped Justin's tears away and pulled him into a tender kiss.  "Damn, you had me worried there for a minute."

"Come on, you didn't really think I'd say no, did you?"

"Well it did take you a long time to answer."

"I needed time to recover from the shock, you know. I didn't have to think about my answer."

"You didn't?"

"No."

Brian pulled Justin into his lap and they kissed passionately. When they broke the kiss, both of them had wide smiles on their faces.

"You're grinning like an idiot", Brian said.

"So are you."

"Oh. Well I guess it's okay then."

"Umm… Brian?"

"Yeah?"

"I think you forgot something."

"I did?"

Justin didn't say anything; he just wiggled his left hand fingers before Brian's face.  "Fuck! They're in the loft. You made me so nervous that I forgot them there."

"You? Nervous? Well I guess there's a first time for everything", Justin grinned.

"Yeah well… Can we get up; my ass is freezing?"

"Well my ass is perfectly fine."

"That's because you're sitting on my lap."

"And what a fine lap it is", Justin smiled.

"Flattery doesn't help my ass. Now, get up", Brian said and gave Justin's butt a light slap.

"Hey! You keep that up, I may have to reconsider."  Brian raised a brow.  "Okay okay", Justin said and got up and helped Brian up too.

Justin pulled Brian closer to his body. "I can warm up your butt", Justin said while sliding his hands on the forenamed butt.

"Oh you can? Is that a promise?"

"Definitely", Justin said and put his head on Brian's chest.

They stood there for a couple of minutes, and then Justin spoke.

"Brian?"

"Yeah?"

"Could we go back inside?"

"Why?"

"Well it's kinda cold in here."

"Okay and what's the real reason?"

"What do you mean?"

"I know you — you're dying to see the rings."

"Yeah well that too."

"I knew that; you're with me only for my money", Brian said dramatically.

"Brian, you know that's not true."

"I know, I was just kidding."

"Besides I sold one of my paintings today for a very nice price."

"Oh you did, that's great!"

"Well I did tell you about it when I came home", Justin pointed out.

"Oh yeah, you'll have to repeat all of that 'cause I didn't hear a word you were saying then."

"Oh, and why's that?" Justin asked innocently.

Brian closed his eyes and sighed deeply. "Because I was nervous, okay. Can we drop this subject now?"

"Sure. Come on, let's go inside."

Justin almost hopped his way back to the loft.

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"Where are they?"

Brian smiled at Justin's enthusiasm. "In the bedroom."

Justin looked a bit suspiciously at Brian. "Are they really there or is this just a way to get me to bed?"

"I don't think I need to resign myself to plotting to get you to bed."

"I guess you're right. So where are they?"

"Patience is a virtue, you know."

"Fuck with patience; I wanna see them!"

"Okay, sit on the bed", Brian said and went to the nightstand drawer.

"Have they been there long?"

"Just for a few days."

"Damn, I should be more curious", Justin grinned.

"I think you're way too curious already."

Justin was sitting cross-legged on the bed and Brian joined him with a velvet dark blue jewelry box.

"So here they are. Wanna open?"

Justin took the box but didn't open it.

"They won't bite", Brian said.

Justin gave Brian a smile and opened the box. "Oh Brian, these are so beautiful!"

Justin looked at the rings in awe. "Are these silver?"

Brian just looked at Justin like he had grown a second head.

"Oh of course these aren't silver; Brian Kinney doesn't do silver", Justin said. "So I guess it leaves platinum — am I right?"

"Yes."

"Christ, these must have cost a fortune!"

"Yeah well, quality costs."

"You know, I would've been very happy with silver rings."

"Well I wouldn't have. Besides, I don't need to buy another set for the actual ceremony."

"Oh, so you were just practical?"

"Not exactly, I really wanted these rings."

"Are these… wait, did you say ceremony?"

"Yeah. You don't wanna have a ceremony?"

"Of course I want but I know you don't actually love those kinds of things. I mean I don't need a ceremony."

"You think I would survive Lindz and Deb's wrath if I didn't go through with a ceremony? I really don't wanna find out. Besides I think I can handle one ceremony in my lifetime."

"Thanks Brian." Brian just shrugged.

"Are these Claddagh rings?"

"Yeah, you've heard about them?"

"Sure, I haven't been kept wrapped in cotton wool all my life."

"You remember how they work, so to speak?"

"No but I hope you do."

"Well I wouldn't be a true Irishman if I didn't", Brian said grinning.

"So, are you gonna tell me?"

"Sure. If you wear the ring on your right hand and the crown turned inwards, your heart is yet unoccupied."

"Doesn't sound right for me."

"Well, if you wear the ring on your right hand, crown turned outwards, that shows a special commitment to someone."

"That one I like. How about putting the finishing touches to it? Was it just that you take the ring from your right hand and move it to the left one, the crown outwards?"

"Yep."

"So what does that actually mean — besides the marriage thing?"

"I think the direct quote was 'let our love and friendship reign forever — never to be separated'".

Justin looked lovingly at Brian. "Perfect."

Brian smiled and took the smaller ring from the box and slipped it on to Justin's right hand ring finger — crown outwards naturally.  Justin returned the favor by slipping the ring on to Brian's finger.   They stared at the rings for a minute and then shared a tender kiss.  Brian pulled himself farther on the bed so that he could lay his head on the pillow. "Come here."

Justin did as ordered: he put his head on Brian's chest and relaxed.  He stared at his ring for a while and then closed his eyes feeling Brian playing with his hair.

"Brian?"

"Mmm?"

"Why now?"

"Well I thought it was about time already. Besides I'm old and not getting any younger so I figured that if we were married, it would be easier for me to keep you here."

"First of all, you are NOT old, you're 35 — that's not old. And second, I'm not going anywhere.  I'm staying right here — with or without rings."

Brian was silent.

"Brian, are you okay? What are you thinking about?"

"I was just wondering if I could get a full refund for the rings."

Justin chuckled and slapped Brian's arm. "Fuck off!"

"If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen", Brian said smirking. "Besides, they were custom-made so I'm sure they won't take them back."

"Good."

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Brian and Justin weren't actually sleeping, just relaxing and enjoying each other's company. Then the phone rang.

"I can't believe this", Justin sighed.

"Wanna guess? I'm sure it's Mikey."

"Why do you say that?"

"He has some strange ability to call on the most inconvenient times."

"You got that right. I'll answer."

Justin got to the phone. "Hello? … Oh hi Michael."

Brian gave Justin a satisfied grin.

"No, you didn't interrupt anything. … We're fine; same old same old.  … So how are you guys? … Great. … Well we'll see then. … I guess you wanna talk to Brian? …  I'll give it to him. Bye!"

Justin gave the phone to Brian. "It's Michael", Justin said. Brian just rolled his eyes.

"Hi Mikey. … No he isn't; he went into the kitchen. … Yeah, work is fine. … You are, that's great.  When? … So you won't be here on the 24th? … No reason, I was just wondering. … So I guess we'll see then. But Mikey, you guys can't overnight here. What do you mean you wouldn't be able to sleep? … Okay, give me a call when you know your schedule.  … Yeah.  … Bye!"

Brian walked into the kitchen where Justin was making something.  "You know, Michael still thinks we don't do anything else than fuck all day long", Justin said.

"Do we do anything else?"

Justin gave him a look.

"Come on, he's just jealous. Besides, he doesn't need to know everything — our private time doesn't concern him."

"I guess you're right. I'm sure he would feel different if he saw us in our everyday life. I must say I prefer him living in Canada though."

"I can relate to you — I mean I love Mikey but sometimes he's just too much to handle. I can't understand how Ben does it."

"Me neither."

"So what are you actually doing?"

"I know you don't cook but I think you should've learned by now how cooking looks like."

Brian smirked. "I thought we could've gone out for dinner. To celebrate, you know."

"Celebrate what?"

Brian took Justin's right hand and brought it up to Justin's eye level.

"Oh yeah, that. Must have slipped out of my mind", Justin said grinning.

"Brat."

"I'm not really in a mood to go out. Can we stay home tonight?"

"Sure, but don't forget I offered."

"I won't. So did you tell Michael?"

"Tell him what?"

Justin put out his tongue.

Brian smiled. "No I didn't. It would've given him a heart attack and he was alone so I didn't want to take any risks."

"So can I tell people about this?"

"Are you going to have a press conference?" Brian smirked.

"Well, I was thinking more like Daphne. Shit, I was supposed to meet her tonight. I have to call her."

"I guess Daphne is okay. You know, if you tell Emmett, you don't need to tell anybody else."

"Are you referring that Em would tell someone?"

"Try everyone."

"Well, I'll call Daph." "Hi Daph. … Look, I have to cancel tonight, something came up. … Yeah, everything's fine. … He hasn't done anything." Justin rolled his eyes at Brian. "I don't wanna talk about it on the phone. … I promise I'll tell you everything tomorrow, okay? … Yeah, I'm sure. … Bye!"

"She thinks I did something?" Brian asked.

"Yeah well, she tends to be a little overprotective sometimes. She loves you dearly, but if you ever hurt me, she'll have your balls. And not in a good way."

"Ouch. I have to be careful then."

"I would suggest that", Justin grinned. "So, you're hungry?"

"For food? Not exactly. Something else? Definitely."

Justin licked his lips. "Yeah?"

"Oh yeah", Brian said and pulled Justin towards their bedroom.

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