Someone pounding on the front door startled Lindsay awake. She roused up and looked at the clock. Rolling her eyes, she pulled on her housecoat and slid her feet into her slippers. She glanced over at Melanie. The woman could sleep through Armageddon. Lindsay thought. “This had better be damned good.” She said under her breath as she walked down the stairs. From the landing, Lindsay could just make out the outline of someone. She rubbed her eyes, ran a hand through her hair and continued toward the door. She couldn’t even imagine who would be at their door at 2:15 in the morning. “Brian?” She said in disbelief when she pushed back the curtain. He motioned for her to open the door. “What on earth are you doing here? It’s only 2:15. You’re lucky you didn’t wake up Gus.” “I know.” Brian conceded. “I know, but I needed to see you. Can you wake up Melanie?” “Are you crazy?” “It’s important.” “All right.” Lindsay said motioning him into the house before ascending back up the stairs. -- Jennifer Taylor popped awake at the sound of a car pulling into the driveway of her townhouse. She sat up and listened. Just as she was about to lay back down convinced it was only her imagination, the doorbell rang. “Who on earth?” She thought as she pulled herself out of bed. “Mommy, who’s at the door?” Molly asked groggily. “Nobody, go back to bed, sweetie.” Molly nodded and closed her bedroom door. Jennifer walked down the stairs slowly. She saw the outline of what could be a man. That’s all I need. She thought. Craig here at this hour. Steeling herself for the confrontation she knew they would inevitably have. She pulled back the curtain and could not believe her eyes. “Brian? What on earth?” She said when she opened the door. “Mrs. Taylor.” Brian began. “I know that you’ve been having problems with your ex-husband, and I wanted to help you.” “How do you know that?” “That’s not important.” Brian shook his head. “The important thing is for you to keep your daughter.” He pulled a slip of paper from his jacket pocket. “This is the phone number of one of the finest custody lawyers on the east coast. He has agreed to take your case and can almost guarantee that you will keep Molly.” “When did you talk to this lawyer?” Jennifer asked astonished. “About 20 minutes ago.” Brian said sheepishly. “He wasn’t very happy about being woke up at this hour, but once I told him your story, he said he’d be happy to represent you.” Jennifer took the slip of paper from Brian’s hand. “Brian, I don’t know what to say.” “You don’t have to say anything.” Brian said smiling. “I’m not really doing this for you. I’m doing it for me.” With that he left an amazed and shocked Jennifer Taylor standing at her doorstep. She watched as he walked quickly back to his Jeep and got in. He even gave her a little wave before pulling out into the street and disappearing into the night. -- Justin sat watching the television without really seeing it. He had no real place to go for Christmas, so he decided to stick around the dorm until it was time to his mom’s for dinner. He looked at the clock on the VCR and saw that it was nearly 3:30. He should be sleeping. Finally deciding that he didn’t really need a Turbo Cooker, Justin flipped off the TV and turned to go back to his room. Justin stopped mid stride and stared at the image before him. Brian was standing at the door to the lounge. He was totally disheveled and looked like he hadn’t slept in days. “Brian?” Justin said shocked. “Hey.” Brian breathed. “How are you?” “Fine.” Justin said automatically. “What are you doing here?” “I needed to see you.” Brian said. “I know that a lot would have to happen before we could even think of getting back together. I mean, apologies would have to be made and accepted.” Brian began to pace. “Forgiveness would have to be sought and received. Trust has to be rebuilt on both sides, but I was wondering if . . .” He stopped pacing and looked up at Justin tears welling in his eyes. “. . . if there is anyway we can skip all that and you could be kissing me right now.” “Brian?” “I love you, Justin.” Brian said. “I have since the first time I laid eyes on you.” Justin’s mouth gaped. “I thought that what I was doing, pushing you away, was the right thing, but it can’t be.” Brian bit his bottom lip. “Nothing that is really right should hurt as much as not having you in my life does.” “Oh, Brian.” Justin ran to Brian threw his arms around the older man’s neck and pressed his lips to Brian’s. “Oh God. Oh God.” He said between kisses. “I have missed you so much.” “I’ve missed you, too, Sunshine.” He pulled the teen to him and held him tightly. “Come home?” As answer, Justin threw himself into Brian’s arms. “What are we waiting for?” -- Justin woke slowly with the sudden urge to cry. It was all a dream. He thought. A fucking useless. . . All thought evaporated as he looked around him. He was in Brian’s loft, in Brian’s bed. And all around him were roses. Dozens and Dozens of roses were placed around the room and as he looked around, Justin saw that they were all around the loft as well. He smiled and breathed in their wonderful scent. “You’re up.” Justin looked up to see Brian entering the bedroom with a tray full of food. “Figured you’d be hungry.” “Where’d all this come from?” Justin said pointing toward the roses. “The flower fairy?” Brian said teasingly. “Actually, I owe Cynthia the credit for this one. I called her last night before I came to see you and she told me I was nuts for trying to find so many roses that early on Christmas day, then together we cleaned out every rose from every possible source in the city.” Justin gave Brian one of his mega watt smiles. “We hit every supermarket, convenience store, and 24-hour discount department store in Pittsburgh. You’d be surprised just how many there are.” Justin chuckled. “Why?” “It was your birthday.” Brian began. “I was on my way home from work and I walked past this street vendor. I even had a bouquet of roses in my hand, but then I just put them back. I forgot for a split second that I was Brian – fucking – Kinney and I don’t do things like that.” He took a deep breath then let it out slowly. “I regretted it every day after you left. It was all you wanted. Some small token of affection that might have made you want to stay and I just couldn’t do it. I hope this makes up for it.” “Who are you and what have you done with the real Brian Kinney?” Justin asked holding Brian’s face between his hands. “This. . . ‘I’ am the real Brian Kinney.” Brian explained smiling. “What the others see is what they want to believe me to be. They think I’m an asshole who can never change, so I was giving them what they wanted.” He put his hands over Justin’s pulling them to his lips. “Well, no more. They’ll just have to deal with all their own problems themselves and leave me the hell out of it.” “Sounds good to me.” Justin said smiling. He pulled Brian to him kissing the older man passionately. Brian responded in kind opening his mouth to deepen the kiss. Brian pulled away for a second as he reached for something on the floor near the foot of the bed. Before Justin knew what was going on, a cascade of roses petals flowed down from a basket in Brian’s hand. Justin found himself bathed in their silkiness. “You deserve a bed of roses.” Brian breathed in the teen’s ear. “You deserve it all.” “And am I getting it all?” Justin asked seriously. “You’d better believe it, Sunshine.” -- Lindsay groaned when she felt someone bouncing on the bed. He rose up to find Gus sitting on the end of the bed. He was all smiles. “Presit, Mommy.” He said. “That’s right, baby.” Lindsay said nudging Melanie to wake her. “It is time for presents, huh?” “Sanna at door.” Gus said pointing toward the stairs. “Santa’s at the door?” Gus nodded enthusiastically. “What’s he talking about?” Melanie asked rolling over. “Beats me.” Lindsay said with a shrug. Someone knocked on the door. Lindsay looked at the clock. It was nearly 7:30. “Who the hell is that?” Melanie grumbled. “Sanna!” Gus repeated. “Right.” After pulling on robes, Melanie and Lindsay descended the stairs with Gus in tow. The knocking came once more. “Coming.” Lindsay called. She could just make out what appeared to be the outline of two people. “Oh my God.” She said as she pushed the curtain aside. “What?” Melanie asked pushing passed Lindsay. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” She said as she opened the door. “Merry Christmas!” Santa Brian and Elf Justin said at the same time. “Where on earth did you get those costumes?” Melanie asked. “I have connections.” Brian said with a twinkle in his eye. “Hey there Sonny Boy.” Brian took Gus from Lindsay and carried him into the living room. “Dadda, Sanna?” Gus asked. “No, Sonny Boy, Dadda isn’t Sanna.” Brian explained. “I’m just a helper.” “Hepper?” “That’s right, Sonny Boy.” Satisfied, Gus demanded he be let down. He made a beeline straight to the presents as fast as only a toddler could. Brian laughed as his Sonny Boy started pulling all the presents toward him. “Mine.” He said gleefully. “Not quite, Junior.” Melanie said and pulled him into her lap as he giggled. “Who’s going to play Santa?” Lindsay asked. “Well, I am kinda dressed for the part.” Brian said. Lindsay smiled and kissed him on the cheek as he waded into the presents ready to get Christmas rolling. -- Just before noon, Brian pulled into the driveway of Jennifer Taylor’s townhouse once again. Justin got out first. He motioned for Brian to follow him and biting his lip Brian got out and followed his lover to the door. “Justin.” Jennifer said as she opened the door. “You’re early. And, Brian? What’s going on?” “We’re going to Deb’s for dinner.” Justin said matter of factly. “We want you and Molly to come with us.” “Justin, what is going on with you and Brian?” Jennifer clarified. “Well, Mrs. Taylor, I wanted to declare my love for your son in front of God and everyone and Justin thought you should be there.” “You’re doing what?” “I love Justin, Mrs. Taylor.” Brian stated. “We are getting back together and thought you should know and be there when we tell the others.” Jennifer was speechless. She simply went back inside to get her coat and collect Molly. Her mind was running a mile a minute, but she couldn’t even voice all the questions she wanted to ask. “Justin!” Molly shouted and launched herself at her brother nearly knocking him down. “Hey Mollusk.” Justin said. “You’re going to have to stop doing that. You’re too big for me to catch anymore.” She just giggled and looked over at Brian. “Hi.” She said shyly. “Hi, Molly.” Brian said smiling. “Want to go to Debbie’s house and eat ‘till we pop.” Molly giggled. “We aren’t really going to pop, are we?” “You never know.” Brian laughed. “Food is Debbie’s favorite past time, you know.” -- It was nearly 1:00 and Debbie had called the loft several times. When she got the answering machine again, she hung up the phone without bothering to leave a massage. “Problem, Sis?” Vic called from the living room. “I can’t get a hold of Brian.” She said concerned. “I’ve been trying his loft since just before twelve.” Vic looked up from the TV where Ralphie was battling to get his beloved Red Ryder BB gun. “You don’t think he’s done something rash, do you?” “No, Sis, I don’t think he did anything rash.” Vic said. “He’s probably just passed out cold after drinking, drugging, and fucking all night.” Vic shrugged. “It’s Brian, Sis.” “It just has me worried is all.” She bit her bottom lip. “You think I should go over there?” “No, I think you should come in here and watch the rest of the movie with me and not worry so much.” Begrudgingly, Deb walked into the living room and sat down next to Vic. She was certain that something was wrong. The other guests would be arriving in about an hour and a half. Maybe she could talk Michael into going and checking on Brian. She nodded her head. That was what she’d do. She then turned to the TV and actually started paying attention to the movie Vic was completely engrossed in. -- Brian pulled his Jeep up in front of the Novotny home. He felt like he’d already been here 2 or 3 times in the last few hours, but that had only been in his ‘dream’. He smiled to himself and shook his head. Justin looked at him and smiled back. “What?” “Nothing.” He said. “Ready?” “You’d better believe it.” You could have heard a pin drop when Brian and Justin walked through the front door of the Novotny house with Jennifer and Molly right behind them. All conversation ceased. All eyes turned toward them. Lindsay and Melanie, who had been sworn to secrecy, simply sat with huge smiles on their faces. “Hey, Kiddo. Sunshine.” Debbie called. “Merry Christmas.” “Well, come on in.” Vic said ushering everyone inside. “Dinner’ll be ready in 20 minutes.” “So, what’s new?” Ted asked causing everyone to chuckle. “This is a true Christmas miracle.” Emmett said dabbing at his eyes. Brian rolled his eyes. “Not quite, Em.” He smiled. “But, I did come to some important conclusions last night.” He turned and kissed Justin tenderly. “I am completely and totally in love with you, Justin Taylor. And, before you all start placing bets on how long we’ll last,” his gaze squarely on Ted, “I wanted everyone to know that I intend for it to last for a long, long time.” He lifted Justin face and looked deeply into his eyes. “I love you, Baby.” “I love you, too.” Justin returned as a blush spread to his cheeks and tears welled in his eyes. “Well, hot damn!” Vic squealed happily. “Congratulations!” Jennifer smiled as her son was completely swept away by his first and, dare she say, only love. She said a silent prayer for him not to get hurt again before heading into the kitchen for dinner. -- Later that evening as Brian dozed with Justin wrapped tightly around him, he smiled to himself. If this is what the spirits had been trying to accomplish, then he was happy to oblige them. For the first time in a very long time, he’d gotten exactly what he wanted for Christmas. The End.