Days of Wine and Roses Part 6 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "FUCK YOU IRISH" Justin roared. The door to the art department slammed for the tenth time that day. An echoing slam could be heard down the hallway from Brian's new office. Cynthia winced. This was getting old fast. She gritted her teeth and continued to work on the letters that were being sent to each of their clients, both past and present. The past few weeks had been hell for her. When Brian and Justin had walked in that fateful Monday morning the only unusual thing was that they were walking in together. Everyone in the office was well aware that they were a couple. For some reason the two of them were under the delusion that no one knew. But for heaven's sake it had been four years and the interaction between the two of them, the amazing oneness couldn't be ignored. ONE MONTH AGO She didn't think anything of it until she noticed the two of them in Marty Ryder's office without Marty Ryder. They were both sitting on the couch in the office and she could tell they were arguing. "Irish, it's your office. Make it look like you." "Sunshine, my old office is just fine." "No it isn't, you are the one who is going to be doing Marty's work, so you need this office. It's expected." "Well not by me. He was your uncle. You take his office." "Brian I don't want this office, I don't want to do Marty's job, I don't want to do any job here." "Taylor-Kinney Advertising that's the name of the company and that means Taylor is expected to do some of the damn work." "Why can't we do like we were doing even last week for gawd's sake? It didn't bother you for the last four years that I wasn't working for the company." "But you did Justin, you worked with me every day. Only you did it when I got home. Now you can come into the office like a big boy and work just like daddy." "You don't have to be a bitch Irish." Justin looked at him his blue eyes swimming with unshed tears of frustration. Brian tried to hold out but faced with those eyes, he didn't stand a chance and he was beginning to suspect Justin knew it. A tear spilled over and rolled down the pale cheek. "Fuck" Brian thought he got up and slammed the office door shut but not before he caught site of Cynthia looking in, her eyes round with worry. He went over to the sofa and sat down gathering his tearful lover in his arms and kissing his forehead. He wiped the tear-stained face with his thumbs and kissed him again. "It's our first day as business partners Jus. Why are we arguing? Justin sniffed and looked into Brian's eyes "I don't know Brian, I'm just a little moody lately. I know we're partners and I don't mind if you insist on changing the company name. But I really want it to be Kinney Taylor not the other way around or better yet just Kinney. I can be your silent partner." "You silent, never." Brian teased. "Will you feel better about it if I take this office?" Justin nodded. "yeah" I won" he thought. "It would make me feel so much better knowing you had an office that suited you. I could decorate it if you like." "Justin we discussed this - no money is spent in the company other than what we both earn." He looked around. "The office will do just fine until later. I'll decorate it when I can afford it." "I could do just half." Justin started. "Justin, NO" "What about fresh paint and some of my pictures for the walls. The pictures I've done just for you." Brian looked around again. "Fresh paint and nothing else." Justin kissed him, letting his tongue snake into Brian's mouth. "Can I use that rug my Grandma left me? It would look nice on the hardwood that I'm sure is under this tacky carpet." "Who leaves someone an old rug?" Brian asked. He couldn't imagine his own grandmother leaving him a piece of her carpet. "It's kind of neat Aubusson rug. You'll love the pinks and purples in the deep green background. I was thinking of doing your walls a deep dove gray. I could have some inset display units for your awards. I'll leave lots of room to add more to them." He looked at Brian for approval "You can buy new furniture when you think you can afford to. I'll just do these couple of things and maybe update your bathroom. It looks so seventies it's pathetic." He had brightened up considerable. "Fresh paint and stuff in the bathroom is just a minor little thing Brian if that's ok with you." "How expensive can new paint and some bathroom work be?" he wondered to himself. He might as well let Justin have some fun. "You do what you want with the paint and stuff Sunshine. I'll buy the furniture when I think it's needed. But I really do think you need an office. You'll be overseeing the art and graphics department and you need to have a base of operation." "I'd like to keep the department pretty much as it is Irish, but I will oversee it and of course I'll help out where I can. You know that." Justin looked off into the distance. It had been a fun ride but a bumpy one to get the two of them this far. And Brian didn't know the half of it. Justin had been kept busy for the past three years since the two of them had returned from Seattle. First he had to once again strong arm his Uncle Marty into letting Brian develop his abilities and then watch him like a hawk to make sure that Brian was getting the same kind of treatment every other employee got. If it wasn't one thing it was another. His parents must have dragged every 'eligible' front line queer in to the Pitts at least once if not twice. He ran out of excuses and had to endure horrendously long and boring dinners with men who didn't interest him in the least. He usually tried to bring Brian with him. It provided some comedy relief watching Brian go into jealousy mode with who ever the blind date was. Not to mention the look on blind date guys face when he picked him up with Brian along. But after a period of time even Brian finally figured out that he was in love with one man and one man only. Finally figured out that he wouldn't trick with these guys and he finally figured out that he always came home early. His mother and father were if nothing else tenacious and continued to send guys his way until last month when he finally was able to make his Mother see that he wasn't interested nor had he been for four years. Brian seemed to find it funny each time he had to endure another of these dates. Justin gave himself a mental shake to wipe the memories of his dates from his mind. But he started to smile at the one good thing about the 'dates'. The hot Brian sex when he got home. It was like Brian had to mark his territory before the date and after and Justin wasn't going to argue. "I know that smile Sunshine, you're thinking about sex." Brian said. "I'm thinking that I'm glad I don't have to do anymore damn blind dates." He grinned at Brian "and about sex." "That was the best part of your mommies date nights." "It sure was. I wonder what she would think if I told her that she was ultimately responsible for some of the best sex we've ever had." "Maybe we should send her a card?" Brian teased. "Some flowers, some wine, let her know that even though we're a couple you still are interested in one of her Country Club Clones." "The sex was good Irish, but not that good. No more date nights set up by my mother." Brian got up from the sofa and began to pace the large corner office. He sat at the desk and flipped through the client list that had been placed on the desk. "Justin, have you noticed that most of our clients are selling products for the over forty crowd? I suppose that was what your Uncle was comfortable with. I'd like to change our image as well as our name." He sat and wrote a short list. "These companies all need a new look. All of them could benefit from a younger market approach." He indicated two on the list. "These two especially could go after the gay market." The next couple of hours were spent mapping out strategies for their company. They both agreed that the Ryder Agency needed a face-lift as far as company image was concerned but they also realized that they needed to project a positive and reliable front to the established clients, some of whom might be concerned with the takeover by two under thirty young men. Cynthia was aware that could be problem when on her desk were two memos. One from Justin announcing the change in company name to Kinney Taylor Advertising and one from Brian announcing the change in company name to Taylor Kinney Advertising. After listening to the two of them for almost two hours that morning she decided to make an executive decision and folded up the two memos, putting them both in her bottom drawer. The first person to pass her desk she asked to pull one of the folded memos out. That's how all the stationary and the sign on the door became Kinney Taylor Advertising. Brian continued with business as usual using his old office while Justin had the new one painted. He paid no attention to the numerous contractors who passed his office. His philosophy was what he didn't know couldn't hurt him. He suspected that Justin was doing more than he should but it was something that made his partner happy so he let him continue without interference. 2 Weeks Later Justin was heading down the hallway in the now redecorated Kinney Taylor Advertising offices. His painting of Brian's new office had extended itself down the hall and into the foyer. Then Cynthia wanted new paint for her office the one that had previously been Brian's and the grumblings from the rest of the staff had led to repainting in their offices, new carpet followed. He looked around in satisfaction. He was amazed at how the old staid family business had been revitalized with the addition of a little paint and carpet. He was specially pleased with Brian's office. The deep burgundy on the walls had let the colors in his Grandmothers Aubusson carpet leap out. He had the insurance papers for the carpet go to him personally; he didn't need Brian to have a fit over the value of the antique. Brian's door was closed but he knew he wasn't meeting with any clients yet today so he knocked and walked in. Brian was behind his desk standing looking out the window. From what Justin could see his face was clouded with anger, Michael was standing in front of Brian's desk. Justin thought that Michael looked like he'd been crying. He walked up to Brian and kissed his cheek. "Hey Irish, missed you this morning." Brian had already left when Justin finished his work out in the dojo. He looked at Michael. "Hey Mickey, how's it going in the land of Mighty Mouse and all his super hero friends?" Brian looked down at him reproachfully, but he said nothing. "Brian, why do you let him talk to me like that? We've been best friends since we were fourteen." He looked at Justin. "Very best friends, best friends who shared everything, we even had --- " "That's enough Mikey, Justin doesn't need to hear all of our 'childhood' stories." Brian put his arm around Justin's shoulder in a proprietary way. "Even childhood friends have to realize that we all grow up sometime. We grow up and become different people, grown up people. We meet others and we fall in love and move on with out lives." "But what about us?" Michael's voice rose in a whine. "There is no 'us' that way Mikey and you know, you've always known it. What happened when we were fifteen was experimentation only. A right of passage." Justin listened closely, Brian rarely let him see this part of his life. The time he shared with his childhood friend. He'd obviously walked into something here. He felt a stir of jealousy, but quickly suppressed it. Brian was his partner not the partner of the pathetic whiner standing at the desk. "Look Irish, I obviously am interrupting the two of you. I'll be in the studio when you're done with your very best friend." He kissed Brian goodbye, but this time it was no peck on the cheek, his lips crushed Brian's, his tongue snaking into his lover's mouth savoring the taste of Brian's early morning latte. He was marking his territory in the only way he could at the moment. He broke off the kiss, Brian gasped, the front of his trousers suspiciously tented. "Later Irish" he whispered. He turned to look at Michael, his eyes speaking volumes to the miserable looking man holding onto Brian's desk for support. "You have a good day 'Mickey'. Lines had clearly been drawn in the sand whether Brian realized it or not. Justin had marked him as his and Michael wasn't sure he had the balls to cross that line. But he had to try, it was his last chance. Every day Brian was more and more involved with this Country Club brat. Now they owned the company where they worked. Justin had taken over Brian's life, Michael was sure that Brian was innocent and didn't realize that by working together and living in the same building and Michael suspected that they actually lived together in the same apartment, though he never had one hundred percent confirmation on that. Neither man said a word on that subject. "Brian, it's my birthday, you missed it last year. Please come with us to Babylon to celebrate it." He looked at Brian, his eyes full of emotion. Brian once again turned his back. He didn't want to encourage Michael who lately had become more and more fixated on what they had once shared darn near fifteen years ago. He still couldn't clearly remember it. It had only been that one time. He'd stolen half a bottle of Jim Beam from his father who had been passed out on the living room floor. He'd taken it to Michael's house. Debbie had been in New York visiting her brother and he was supposed to sleep over with Michael to keep him company. The two of them drank the whiskey and watched Patrick Swazey in Dirty Dancing rewinding the hot scenes and watching them again and again. They had been pretty drunk, two kids drinking on an empty stomach, drunk and horny watching the muscles ripple of good old Patrick until finally the horniness had taken over and with the help of some baby oil, Brian had fucked Michael. He had barely cum when he realized it had been a bad idea. Michael had begun whispering how much he loved him, how he'd always loved him and how now they were 'real' boyfriends. To this day he felt nausea when ever he smelled any baby products. He would have to find a line of designer stuff for Lindsey's baby, something that had a different smell. Convince her it was the leading edge for muncher babies. Hey he was ad man extraordinaire, shouldn't be hard to do. He turned around to face Michael, still smiling from his last thought, not realizing that Michael was reading something else in the smile. "I'll see what Justin's doing that night Mikey, I won't make any promises." "Are you that whipped that you have to ask the 'little woman' before you can go have a couple of drinks with your friend?" he sneered. "For fuck sake, you're Brian Kinney; you never asked anyone in your life if you could go out to the clubs." "Maybe you haven't noticed Mikey." Brian spoke slow and deliberately. "But for the past few years I have hardly ever been to Babylon and only once in a while go to Woody's. Justin and I have been boyfriends for a lot longer than you and the gang realize. We felt it was our business and not for general publication on Liberty Avenue." He looked hard at his old friend. "You and I will always be friends, we share a long history together, but 'best' friends, well I guess Justin is mine and I'm his. And we include each other in things we do and that includes going to Babylon with an old friend to celebrate his birthday." Michael looked down at his feet. "I'm sorry Brian, I know you and Justin are partners now, you made that clear a few weeks ago. I know I don't have the kind of money Justin has, so I can't compete with him there. I just wanted us to have some fun like we used to." Brian sighed and rolled his eyes. "Fuck" he said under his breath. "You win Mikey, we'll go to Babylon on Saturday." Michael looked up, his eyes bright. "Kewel" he said "I'll get some stuff from Anita and we can relive our youth." "Don't bother for me Mikey, I haven't done E or anything stronger than a hit of smoke for at least four years." He laughed "It would probably lay me out cold now, it's definitely an acquired habit." Michael started to walk out the door; he stood there for a moment looking at Brian, wishing he could return to the times when Brian would kiss him freely. "See you Saturday Brian. We could meet at Woody's at nine and hit Babylon after." He grinned happy once again, happier still when he saw Justin a few feet away coming toward the office and knew that he'd heard him arranging his 'date' with Brian. Justin passed him heading back to Brian. "Asshole" he said to himself shaking his head. He knocked and walked back into the office. Brian was at his desk flipping through the first proofs for their add with the condom guys. He looked up when he heard Justin. "Back again so soon Sunshine." He smiled and moved his chair back knowing that Justin would be in his lap soon. "You must have just passed Mikey." "Yep, just passed him alright" Justin moved to straddle Brian's legs leaning his head on the strong shoulder and letting the long arms wrap around him. "Mmmmmm" he purred. "The best part about working together is the 'hug' breaks" He kissed his lover, enjoying the hardness growing in Brian's lap. "And the kisses aren't bad either." "Boy are you a slut. Why didn't you tell me before I gave you that ring?" Brian teased as he returned Justin's kiss with fervor. He let his hand move down the blondes back until he reached the waist of his trousers. He began to pull the soft blue cashmere sweater up, wanting Justin naked. His favorite way to have him was naked on the desk, legs up, and eyes slits of pleasure a Cheshire cat grin in place while he slowly moved in and out enjoying the soft sounds of passion fulfilled that Justin made. Justin raised his arms; he knew what was about to follow. Mikey can go fuck himself he thought, Brian is mine and I know how to push all the right buttons to keep him that way. Cynthia, hearing familiar sounds coming from Brian's office, hit the button that electronically controlled the locking system on his door. Her men needed their privacy. She had no problem getting Brian's approval on this little toy; he'd been interrupted when he was with Justin one to many times. Afterwards, Justin sat curled up in Brian's lap, his naked body warm from their exertions. He snuggled in closer and Brian smiled, he loved it when Justin wanted to melt their bodies together. "Irish, where you taking Michael on your 'date'?" he asked, his voice smooth controlling his jealousy. "Sunshine, light of my life, man of my dreams, my cute little love bunny," Brian smirked, tongue in cheek. "You are my date, my one and only date for the rest of our lives. Who's Michael?" Justin giggled at Brian's foolishness. "Won't work Irish, I heard the little rat." "See you Saturday Brian" he said in a falsetto imitation of Michael's voice. "Is my little snookums jealous?" Brian asked peppering kisses on Justin's pouty lips. "Up yours Irish" but he giggled. He loved it when Brian was silly. "Not today Sunshine." Brian grinned down at him. "If you're a good boy, maybe tomorrow." "You are soooo not amusing Irish." Justin said. "Tell me about you going to Woody's and Babylon with your very best friend." "You my pet are my very best friend." He kissed Justin again. "Saturday is Mikey's birthday and he wants us to go and celebrate with him and the gang." He looked into Justin's blue eyes, his own pleading for understanding. Justin melted under the gaze of gold-flecked hazel delights. "We haven't been out dancing in ages. It should be fun Irish." He pulled his lovers head down and kissed him gently. "Don't ever stay away from having fun with your friends Irish, I'm your lover not your jailer." Brian's cock began to stir again. Justin wiggled teasing it with the plump globes of his ass. "You have an appointment in half an hour. Lets try out the new shower" ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Saturday morning: "Mom, I'm busy tonight." Justin paced the floor of the loft wrapped only in a small towel. "No Brian's busy too. Yes it would be wonderful for us both to join you and Dad and the Clayton's but we have plans." He paused. "I know Mr. Clayton is an old family friend, but it can't be helped." He looked over at Brian who was stretched out on the sofa watching Justin with amusement. "Of for gawd sake don't cry, I'll come but Brian is not going to be there. He has a commitment he can't break." His eyes flashed sparks. "You might consider giving us more than six hours notice. We do have a life Mother." He waited. "Right, I'm sure I know what to wear, I have been to the Club on a Saturday night before Mother. Bye" he hung up the phone carefully resisting the urge to hurl it across the loft. Brian started "Jus - "Don't even start Irish, I'm queer what can I say, my mother still rules me." He looked at Brian. "I'm sorry, I won't be able to go tonight, maybe I can meet you there after I can escape from the Club. Consider yourself lucky that you managed to get out of this boring dinner." Brian had a giant grin on his face. "Hey, Sunshine, I didn't say a word" he protested. "oooph" Justin had launched himself over the back of the sofa and now straddled Brian's hips. "Roll over Irish," he demanded as he felt for the lube and condoms hidden in a pocket of a throw pillow. "Haven't you ever heard of foreplay Sunshine?" Brian said as he rolled over putting his ass obligingly in the air. Justin was on his knees between Brian's legs, he bent over and nipped him gently on one cheek, then ran his tongue over the mark to sooth it. "I'll give you lots of foreplay Irish" he said as he snapped the lube open with one thumb. He let his tongue run down the crack until it reached Brian's hole, smiling to himself when Brian let out his breath that he'd been unconsciously holding. He blew on the exposed button watching it quiver with each puff of air. He reached down holding Brian's balls together in his hand then tugging downward Brian's murmurs quickly turned to groans of pleasure. "Now, don't wait, I want it now and hard" "Such a demanding Irishman" Justin whispered. He put on the condom and applied lube, he placed his cock at the tight entrance. Brian loved it when he entered with his cock and didn't use any fingers first. He let Brian have a few moments to adjust then began the steady rhythm they had developed together. He allowed the pleasure to build until the pulsing of the velvet passage told him it was time with mingled cries of love they both came. Justin let himself drape over Brian's back, still inside while he caught his breath. "Love you Brian, you know I love you" he said softly Brian cradled his head on a pillow, enjoying the feeling of his lover warm and sweaty on his back, his cock softening inside him. When Justin called him Brian, he still got that little unexplained rush deep inside. "I love you Jus, you make me happy." "Mmmmmm" Justin purred. He hated to let Brian go alone with Michael tonight, something wasn't right and he wasn't sure what it was. He felt uneasy. He pushed his thoughts aside and snuggled in closer to Brian. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "Hey Mikey, where's Ted and Emmett?" Brian asked when he sat on the stool beside his friend in Woody's. "Where's your little Country Club Boy?" Michael countered. "Justin will be along later, he had to go visit with his mommy." Brian looked around "the guys are late." "They aren't coming." Michael twirled his finger around "Happy Birthday to me." "Want some cheese with that whine?" Brian asked. He turned to the bartender and signaled for a beer and one for Michael. "Have a beer and let's play some pool. I haven't beaten your ass at pool for a long time." Two hours and five beers, two rye chasers and one smoke later, Brian was feeling no pain as Michael helped him out the door of Woody's on the way to Babylon. Brian had been enjoying his visit with his friend, the two of the reminiscing about their high school days He never noticed that Michael wasn't drinking, but instead had made sure that Brian's glass was never empty. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ While Brian and Michael lurched down Liberty on the way to Babylon Justin was trying to extract himself from the clutches of Mr. Clayton's son, the real reason why his mother had insisted he attend this dinner. He was being polite but his patience was wearing thin. If the guy didn't get the hint soon he'd see an up front and personal Tae Kwon Do demonstration. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Brian felt himself sway to the beat of the music in Babylon, the room a swirl of colors and bodies. He knew he was drunk, but for some reason couldn't refuse the drink Michael handed to him, swilling the cold frosty beer down almost in one swallow. He was amazingly thirsty. His felt like he done E but he knew he hadn't. He looked a Michael suspiciously. No, Mikey wouldn't slip him anything, they were buds. He moved down to the dance floor, his head swimming, Michael was in front of him. "Hey Mikey, where'd you go?" he put his hands on Michael's shoulders, and made an attempt to dance. He watched Mikey, put a small white pill on the end of his tongue then move in for a kiss. He felt the pill slide down his throat. "Mikey, that's a bad boy, Brian doesn't do that anymore." He shook his head. "Justin doesn't like Brian to do drugs and Brian loves Justin so he tries to always be a good boy." He swayed to the music some more though the sound appeared far away almost like in a tunnel. Michael handed him another cold beer and Brian obligingly drank it. His eyes were beginning to roll back into his head then forward again while he attempted to focus. "Time to go home Brian." He heard Michael say from far away. "Sunshine is coming" he slurred "Wait for my Sunshine, my darling Sunshine" he tried to sing unsuccessfully. Brian felt himself half carried out to the car waiting by the curb. His snapped back when he was unceremoniously thrust into the passenger seat. "Gentle Mikey, be gentle, no marks for Sunshine to worry about." Michael was driving down the road toward the loft; Brian slumped in the seat next to him. "I love him Mikey, truly, madly deeply, just like we said we would someday. We'd find our Patrick, I found my Patrick Mikey, and he's blonde and is an amazing kisser. He makes me smile Mikey." He turned to his friend. Trying to be serious. "I think I'm going to ask him to marry me." He turned back. "Yep that's what I'm going to do we'll walk down the aisle like a fairy tale romance." He giggled "pun intended Mikey, pun intended." The next thing Brian knew he was being hoisted up to the loft, the elevator a small closed cage taking him up into the sky. He was surprised when it turned out to be the door to the loft. He fumbled for the key, taking two tries to punch in the alarm code. "Honey, I'm home" he called his feet pulling him toward the bedroom. Michael closed the door behind him. He followed Brian into the bedroom looking down at the tall man sprawled across the bed, his eyes shut already passed out. Michael looked around to assure himself that Justin wasn't there. He undid Brian's pants and pulled them down toward his knees. The limp cock splayed on his groin. He wanted Brian, he was going to have him tonight. It was his birthday for fuck sake and he deserved to have what should have been his. He knelt beside Brian and took the cock in his mouth. "Jussssn, I love you baby," Brian slurred, his fingers found Michael's hair holding his head in place. "can't do it nite babe, tooo fuckn drunk," his voice trailed off. Michael continued to work on the limp cock. "Come on Brian, get hard, you can do it. Please," Michael pleaded. Justin had heard the loft door shut. He was in his bedroom changing to go to Babylon. He heard two sets of footsteps cross the hardwood. He pulled on his pants and walked quietly up the steps of their connecting stairway. He stood and watched Michael take Brian's pants off. He heard Brian's words and he heard Michaels. He padded over until he was standing behind Michael. He gently removed Brian's fingers from the back of Michael's head. Michael continued to bob unsuccessfully up and down on Brian's cock. "Come on Brian" he muttered over and over to himself when he came up for air. He let his own fingers move through the thick thatch of hair. Michael groaned thinking it was Brian. When he was on an upstroke and the limp cock fell once again out of his mouth Justin used the opportunity to pull on the thatch of hair with all of his strength and training. He lifted up so fast that Michael had no time to do anything other than gasp in pain. He pulled him back and Michael landed on his ass on the floor. Justin continued to drag him out of the room thumping him down the three steps to the main loft floor but not before whispering in his ear. "One word out of you, one fucking word and I'll hand you your scalp in a bag." He dragged him over to the door, tears streaming down Michael's face, his hands clutching at Justin's hand, trying to relieve the pressure on his hair. Justin opened the door pushing him out with his foot. Michael's head hit the gate of the elevator. "Don't ever, and I mean ever, let me see you alone with Brian again. See him at the diner, see him in the street, see him when we visit Deb and Vic, but never ever let me see you alone with him or you'll be able to find a job singing falsetto on karaoke night at Woodys." He looked down at the piece of misery sprawled in the landing. "You have a good night now Mickey." He turned and walked back into the loft slamming the door shut. "Jussn, that you, watcha doin?" Brian tried not to successfully to sit up. "Putting the garbage out Irish, just putting out the trash." Justin walked back into the bedroom. "Well, Irish, you've been reliving your 'golden' years I see." He quickly and expertly stripped off Brian's clothes. Brian did his best to help, but really, his bones were like limp spaghetti so he was no help what so ever. He brought in some bottles of water, cold from the fridge and put them on the table beside Brian then rolled him under the heavy duvet. He checked the security camera to make sure that Michael had left the building then locked up turning off the lights before crawling in beside the semi conscious form of the man he loved. He smiled when a silky auburn head moved under his arm until it was nestled against his chest. He let his fingers trace circles on Brian's back content to hold him. He was almost asleep when, "Jus, are you sleeping?" "Mmmm" "I think I'm drunk or something" "Mmmmm" "Jus?" "shhhhh, go to sleep Brian, you'll be better in the morning" "Jus" "yes Brian" "I love it when you call me Brian" "I love you Brian" "Jus" "mmmmmm" "Will you marry me?" Brian barely got the words out when he began to quietly snore. Justin lay there in the dark, eyes wide in shock replaying the rather odd conversation over and over.