Entwined

Two weeks had passed since Brian and Justin's "home evening" and they seemed stronger than ever. For a few days Justin had been worried about the inscription but then he had forgotten all about it and figured Brian hadn't found it.

Brian and Justin spend more and more time together. And not always in bed. They also did other things together; they went bowling, swimming, visited art galleries and had dinners in various restaurants. Brian was a little surprised that he actually enjoyed going to dinners with Justin. Brian Kinney on a date - well that's new! However there was one place Brian couldn't stand - even with Justin: the grocery store. Brian couldn't understand why people would voluntarily go to a super market to buy food. Super markets were definitely on Brian's 'most hated things' -list; just an hour with a bunch of happy hetero families with their screaming brats was enough to set Brian off. He would much rather go to some little boutiques to buy the stuff or even better - just order in some dinner. Although, Brian enjoyed watching Justin making dinner for them, so he went along with it. After a few stops at the super market, Justin noticed that the shopping trip was like some sort of inhuman torture for Brian. Justin tried to reason Brian with the fact that he could spend hours in some designer boutique choosing just the perfect outfit and that was kind of the same thing with groceries. Brian wasn't really convinced about that so Justin suggested that Brian would wait in the car the next time. Brian was more than relieved to hear that.

At the loft

Although Brian and Justin loved spending time together, they also had their separate lives and responsibilities to consider. One night Justin had to study and he decided it would be better if he did that at home 'cause he knew that Brian would be a big distraction for him. Not that he'd mind the distraction, but he really needed to study. So Brian was left in his loft all by himself and he didn't know what to do. 'Christ, like I haven't spent time here alone before. Why is this so hard all of a sudden? This place feels so fucking empty, like it's missing something. Or someone. The loft is missing Justin. Fuck, I'M missing Justin! How did he get inside my head so bad?'

Brian thought that if he couldn't be with Justin, at least he could watch his drawings. He took "Adam's Adventures" from the shelf and plopped down on the sofa and started leafing through it. Brian enjoyed looking at Justin's art - it was captivating in some way. Sure Justin was technically talented but there was also something else, something almost spiritual in his works. In a way, you could sense that he had put his heart in them.

Brian spent a while looking at the pictures and was about to put the book back in the shelf when he saw something. There was some writing. Brian knew immediately that it was Justin's inscription. Brian didn't remember Justin saying anything about it. 'When did he write that? Well, that's not the point', Brian thought. He was very curious what Justin had written so he started reading. The inscription said:

When Irish eyes are smiling,

sure it's like a morning spring.

In the lilt of Irish laughter,

you can hear the angels sing.

When Irish hearts are happy,

all the world seems bright and gay.

And when Irish eyes are smiling,

sure they steal your heart away.

Love Justin

Brian was smiling and his heart filled with love that came through the words. Justin might not have said the words, but Brian knew 'cause he felt the same way. Until now Brian wasn't sure about Justin's feelings but now he didn't have any doubts. All Brian wanted to do was to go over to Justin's and be with him but he knew he couldn't. Justin had a big exam the next day and Brian didn't want to disturb him. Brian would have to wait until the next evening.

Brian read the inscription again and he just had to touch the words with his fingers - like he would've been closer to Justin that way. Brian sat on the sofa for a long time just looking at the words and thinking. All of a sudden Brian felt something wet on his cheek. A single tear rolled down his cheek. A tear of joy and happiness. Brian was overwhelmed with his feelings: he had never felt anything like this before and he was a bit unsure if he was ready for something as big as this. Sure he wanted to be with Justin but what if Justin wanted more than he could offer? 'Well, I guess it's worth the risk anyway', Brian thought.

The following evening at Justin's and Daphne's

Justin was reading a book when there was a knock on the door. He went to open the door and was surprised to see Brian standing there.

"Hey."

"Hey. Did we have plans?" Justin asked.

"No, are you busy?"

"No, come in."

Brian gave Justin a kiss on his way inside. Justin was a bit worried 'cause Brian didn't seem like himself - he looked apathetic in some way.

"Is Daphne home?"

"No, she's with her boyfriend. She'll be late."

"Good, I wanna talk with you."

"Brian, you're scaring me. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. Can we sit down?"

"Sure."

Brian and Justin sat down on the couch so that they were facing each other. Brian was nervous as hell. He didn't know where to start and he was just fidgeting with his fingers. Justin got more worried by the second.

"Brian…?" Justin asked almost whispering.

"I found the book." Brian said bluntly.

Justin felt like his heart stopped at those words. He knew exactly what book Brian was referring to. 'Oh my God. It was too much. He's going to leave me now. God, I'm gonna die', Justin thought.

"Brian, I…"

"No please Justin, let me talk." Brian looked so serious that Justin could only nod in response. Actually, he couldn't have spoken anyway 'cause he was on the verge of tears. He could feel them burning behind his eyes.

"Justin, I… Fuck, I'm so bad with these things." Brian sighed. "I really liked that inscription you wrote for me."

'Huh?' Justin didn't know what to think.

Brian gave a deep sigh and took Justin's hands in his own. "No one has ever done or said anything like that to me before. Thank you. I just wish I could do something as momentous for you too."

Justin was stunned. Tears were running down his face and he just stared at Brian.

"Justin…?" Brian was getting nervous.

"So you're not going to leave me?" Justin managed to say.

This time it was Brian's turn to look perplexed. "Leave you? What on earth gave you that idea?"

"I just thought that…"

"That's the problem: you think too much." Brian said smiling slightly. Then he turned serious again. "Look Justin, I want to be with you. Now even more than before. I'm not going to let you go. Okay?"

"Okay." Justin said smiling his sunshine smile.

Brian wiped away Justin's tears and pulled him closer for a kiss. The kiss was long and full of love and it sent shivers down both Brian's and Justin's spines. Justin could feel the tears threating to fall again but this time they were tears of happiness.

When they broke the kiss, they just looked deep into each other's eyes and smiled. Justin pulled Brian's body to him and wrapped his arms tightly around him. Brian did the same. Brian had never felt so loved before in his life and he felt a tear gliding down his cheek.

They were locked in each other's arms for awhile but then Justin untangled himself and got up from the couch. Brian gave Justin a questioning look when Justin extended his hand to Brian.

"I want to go to my room."

"Justin, I don't think I can…"

Justin smiled. "I just wanna sleep with you. I mean sleep sleep."

"Oh." Brian said, took Justin's hand and followed him to his room.

They climbed on the bed and like so many times before, Brian spooned himself around Justin and kissed Justin's neck lightly. Justin entwined their fingers and held on tight. In minutes, they were asleep.

When Daphne came home, the apartment was quiet. 'I guess Justin is sleeping already.' Daphne decided to check on him anyway. She went quietly to Justin's door and peeked inside. She stopped on her tracks; the sight wasn't exactly what she was expecting - Brian and Justin sleeping on Justin's bed, fully clothed. 'God, could they look more adorable? They look so in love', Daphne sighed. She took the blanket from the chair and carefully covered Brian and Justin with it. At the door she just had to turn to look at them again and all she could think was: 'Picture perfect.'

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(When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, lyrics by Chauncey Olcott & Geo Graff Jr)