VERY IMPORTANT
Whatever is underlined is something that it’s being said, but not out loud.
Whatever is underlined plus in italics is something that it’s being said in both forms.
Whatever is in bold letters is written down.
Justin entered the diner to get a coffee for him and a cookie for Eric who had been asking for one. He was paying for everything when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and opened his eyes wide.
“Ethan.” Justin said.
Ethan smiled and nodded.
“How are you, love?” Ethan asked.
“I’m great. ” Justin said.
“And who might this be?” Ethan asked as he looked at Eric.
“This is Eric. It’s a long story. ” Justin said.
“Can you sit down for a while?” Ethan asked.
Justin looked at his watch and nodded. He had a few minutes to spare. Justin told Ethan how he had gotten to be a father and started to tell him about Brian, but Ethan interrupted and began talking about himself. For the rest of the time, Ethan monopolized the conversation. Justin was amused to see that Ethan never changed.
“I have to go to the restroom. Can you watch him a minute? ” Justin asked.
“Sure. No problem.” Ethan told him.
Justin got up and went to the restroom. Eric smiled at Ethan before he moved forward to grab the chain that Ethan had and in the process knocked over Justin’s soda.
“Look at what you did.” Ethan hissed.
Eric’s lip quivered at the tone that Ethan had used.
“You made a fucking mess.” Ethan told him.
Eric sat back and started crying. Ethan rolled his eyes as he tried to clean up the mess.
“What’s going on?” Michael asked.
“Unk Mike.” Eric said and raised his tiny arms to be picked up.
“What happen?” Michael asked picking Eric up.
“We had a little accident that’s all.” Ethan told him smiling.
Michael looked at Ethan not sure what to say. He wondered where the hell Justin was. He stayed with Eric until Justin came back.
“Hey.” Michael said.
Justin smiled and sat down again next to Michael. Eric went with his father and then looked back at Ethan and actually glared at the man. Michael raised a brow and wondered what had happened. He decided to stay and see what was going on. Ethan was furious that they were being interrupted.
“This is an old friend, Ethan. He used to work at the center. He used to take sign language because of his sister. ” Justin said to Michael.
Michael turned to look at the man and nodded.
“I’m Michael, a good friend of Justin.” Michael said.
Ethan smiled.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Ethan told him.
Justin smiled.
“After a while we started dating. ” Justin said laughing a little.
Ethan smiled smugly at Michael.
“What happened, if you don’t mind me asking?” Michael asked.
“We broke up after I moved away.” Ethan said. “I hated it. I missed him so much.”
Michael nodded, not liking it one bit. He could see Ethan was still interested in the blond. Justin looked at the time and frowned.
“I have to go. ” Justin said.
Michael moved out of the booth. Justin got up and put Eric in his stroller. He took out a piece of paper and wrote something down. Ethan took it and smiled and then told Justin his phone number.
“I would love to see you again. ” Justin told him. “We can talk about old times. Just tag message me and I will be able to answer you back. ”
Ethan nodded happily. Justin left and Michael watched Ethan smirking at him. He didn’t like the Ethan guy one bit. He had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.
***
Michael entered the loft after Brian opened the door. He looked around and covered his mouth as he looked around.
“What the hell happened here?” Michael asked.
“He’s evil.” Brian said pointing at Eric who was currently sleeping on the duvet on the floor. “He made this mess. I can’t control him. One minute he is sitting down, the next he is running then he is hungry. Then he is there and then he disappears and then he wants a toy and then another. How does Justin do this?” Brian asked.
Michael shook his head and laughed. He closed the door and looked at the kitchen.
“Wow.” Michael said. “What happen to having a tidy…”
“Don’t say anything.” Brian told him rubbing his temples. “He is trying to kill me.”
“He’s just two years old.” Michael said. “Wow. When does Justin gets here?” Michael asked.
“Two more days.” Brian said.
“Do you think it worked?” Michael asked.
Brian shrugged.
“I don’t really care, but I want it to. For him. He wants this so badly.” Brian said sadly. “He wants to hear Eric. I want him to be able to.”
Michael nodded and smiled.
“Tell you what. I’ll help you to clean some of this mess up.” Michael said.
Brian nodded and while they talked about Justin and the operation, they picked up the mess. They talked about Ethan when Michael brought it up and found out that Justin had already told Brian about it. Brian wondered if there was something more behind Michael’s words about Ethan, but shrugged it off.
“This looks better.” Michael said smiling.
Brian nodded and sat down on the stool.
“Although, I think it was for nothing.” Michael said and pointed at Eric.
Brian turned around to see Eric with his head lifted up and looking at them. Brian could have sworn that Eric was smirking.
“Don’t ever have children.” Brian said.
“You don’t mean that.” Michael said.
Brian picked Eric up and received a kiss on the cheek from the little blond.
“No, I don’t.” Brian said smiling foolishly.
***
Justin stayed still as the doctor checked him. He was hoping to hear good news. The key words being ‘hear the good news’. The operation had been done quickly and now he had to wait and see what happened. He had gotten a little infection in his right ear, but it looked like it was nothing major.
“When am I going to be able to hear?” Justin asked.
The doctor frowned.
“I’m supposed to be hearing by now.” Justin said sadly. “Oh my god.”
“Justin.” Doctor Henry said, putting his hand on Justin’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. You could start hearing two days from now, maybe one, maybe an hour from now. Relax. Your ears are full of fluids still and you did have an infection. Just let it heal.”
Justin nodded and bit his lower lip to stop the tears from coming. He wasn’t going to let it bring him down. All he could do now was wait.
***
Brian had Gus and Eric with him when he went to pick Justin up from the hospital. It had been a whole week and Justin hadn’t wanted to see anyone or talk to anyone. Brian had no idea if the operation had worked or not, but now he was going to find out.
“Dada.” Eric said pointing at Justin as they entered the room.
“Hey, Jussy.” Gus said running over to Justin and hugging the blond’s leg.
Justin picked Gus up and smiled at the boy.
“Hey, Gussy.”
Brian arched a brow not sure if Justin was answering Gus or just saying hey.
“So?” Brian asked once Justin was looking at him.
“So?” Justin asked.
“Justin, just tell me.” Brian said.
Justin walked closer to Brian and Eric while he held Gus. Brian leaned over and kissed Justin’s cheek before he moved his mouth over Justin’s ear.
“I love you.” Brian whispered.
Justin smiled and a tear fell down.
“I really like the sound of that.” Justin said smiling.
Brian smiled from ear to ear.
“Oh, baby.” Brian said and kissed him.
“I can’t breathe.” Gus protested as he was crushed between Brian and Justin.
“Sorry.” Brian said pulling back.
Brian put Eric down and then took Gus and put him on the floor too.
“Excuse me a second, boys.” Brian said.
Brian took Justin in his arms and hugged him tightly as he kissed him.
“Kissy, kissy.” Eric sing sang.
“Yuck. I’m never kissing anyone.” Gus declared.
Justin laughed and pulled away from Brian. Brian could see how happy Justin was.
“I can hear, Brian.” Justin said.
“I’m so happy for you, baby.” Brian told him.
“I want to go home.” Justin said. “I want to see everyone. I want to hear them.”
“Me too.” Gus said. “I want to go home and play with my new guitar.”
Justin looked from Gus to Brian.
“It’s a long story.” Brian said smirking.
Justin shook his head, but smiled nonetheless.
“I hungy.” Eric said.
“Pick me up.” Gus said looking at Brian. “I don’t want to walk.”
“Up, up, up.” Eric started to chant.
“Can we go to Chuck E. Cheese?” Gus asked.
“Dada, me up!” Eric said impatiently seeing how Brian had already picked Gus up.
Justin smiled and took Eric in his arms. Justin looked at Brian and smiled.
“Me wan bwig rat, yummy.” Eric said putting his head on Justin’s shoulder.
“He likes the mouse.” Brian said looking at Eric. “I hope that’s what he is talking about.”
Justin smiled.
“Well, go to there tomorrow.” Brian told them.
Gus pouted.
“But I wanted today.” Gus protested.
Brian moved to take Justin’s bag. Justin smiled widely. He loved every minute of it. Hearing Eric and Gus talking a mile per minute was amazing. Hearing Brian had been fantastic. He couldn’t wait to hear everyone else and everything else around him.
***
On the way over to the loft, Justin sent his father a message to his cell, one to Ethan and another to Hunter. He wanted to have his friends with him. Even thought he wouldn’t be able to hear Hunter because his friend didn’t talk, but he wanted to share with Hunter. At first he hadn’t been sure, but Hunter had told him that he had been happy for him and that he wanted to know what happened.
“We are here.” Brian said.
Justin smiled happily. They went up to the loft and pretty soon everyone was getting there and bringing stuff to either drink or eat.
“Baby!” Emmett said coming into the loft.
Justin smiled hearing Emmett’s voice for the first time.
“You can hear me?” Emmett asked in between doubt and happiness.
Justin nodded and Emmett hugged him tightly.
“I’m happy for you, Justin.” Ted said. “I’m glad it all went okay.”
Justin smiled and nodded.
“Come on in.” Justin said ecstatic.
Ted and Emmett went into the kitchen where Brian was feeding the boys. Ted gave him a bottle of wine and Emmett had brought a pie.
“The phone is ringing.” Justin pointed out.
Justin smiled. He was so happy that he could hear himself talk. Brian smiled and, giving Emmett Eric’s plate, he went to answer the phone.
“Linds and Mel are on their way.” Brian announced.
There was a knock on the door and Justin ran to answer it.
“He’s very happy.” Emmett said as he helped Brian.
Brian looked at Justin and smiled.
***
Ethan knocked on the door and a blonde woman answered.
“Hi. I’m Ethan. I’m a friend of Justin.”
“Come on in. I’m Lindsay.” She said smiling.
Ethan nodded and went inside. He saw Justin talking to his father animatedly and they were both smiling. Ethan walked over to Justin and tapped him on the shoulder.
“Ethan.” Justin said smiling.
“Hey.” Ethan said.
“I can hear you.” Justin told him and laughed.
“God, Justin, I’m so happy to hear that.” Ethan told him.
Justin smiled and hugged him.
“Come on. Let me show you my friends.” Justin said and left with Ethan.
Craig watched his son go and smiled. Brian came and stood next to Craig. He arched a brow asking Craig a silent question.
“I’m not here to cause problems.” Craig said. “You were right. I was wrong.”
Brian nodded.
“So, that’s your son.” Craig said nodding towards Gus and Eric.
Brian nodded.
“He looks just like you.” Craig said.
“Yeah, he does.” Brian said.
“Everything okay here?” Jennifer asked.
“Don’t worry Jen.” Brian said putting his arm on her shoulders. “I don’t think we are going to be ripping each other’s throats out.”
Jen smiled a little and hoped they didn’t. Craig took a deep breath and hoped his son would trust him again. He was really trying this time around.
***
“Do you remember the time you and my sister got detention?” Ethan asked.
“And you helped Elaine and me get out of the classroom through the window when Mr. Johnson fell asleep.” Justin said laughing.
Hunter and Emmett laughed with them.
“I’m going to go get something to drink.” Hunter said.
Justin nodded and watched him go.
“Oh, I have a surprise for you.” Emmett said.
“You do?” Justin asked.
Emmett nodded.
“Wait here.” Emmett said.
“I can show you everyone else now. Sorry, about Emmett. He likes to talk.” Justin said. “He’s really great.”
Ethan smiled.
“That’s okay, I’m having fun.” Ethan told him.
Justin smiled widely. Ethan looked at him and knew he wanted to be with Justin. He was going to make sure that Justin knew that. They could be boyfriends again.
“Oh, you have to meet Brian.” Justin said. “Come…”
Justin stopped talking and turned around to look at Emmett as the music started playing. Emmett smiled and walked over to Justin.
“This is what you were dancing to, the first time you and Brian danced.” Emmett said and then pushed Justin towards the clear space in the living room.
Brian came and grabbed him by the waist.
“Bri.” Justin said with teary eyes.
“Smile, baby. I want to dance.” Brian told him as they started to move slowly.
Justin hugged him tight. They kissed a few times before Justin just rested his head on Brian’s shoulder. He was so happy. Everyone else was watching them dance with big smiles on their faces.
“Who is that?” Ethan asked Emmett.
“That’s Brian. His husband…practically.” Emmett said laughing. “They look so beautiful, don’t they?”
“Justin is married?” Ethan asked shocked.
“Well, not yet. But I think Brian is going to ask him soon.”
Ethan frowned at the couple dancing in front of everyone. He had to do something. He couldn’t lose Justin all over again. Michael was staring at Ethan and frowning.
“What’s wrong?” Ben asked.
“Nothing good.” Michael said. “That Ethan guy is not good news.”
“You are reading too much into things.” Ben told him.
From afar Hunter had been ‘listening to’ Michael and Brian talk, knowing how to read someone’s lip had his advantages. He looked at Ethan and knew that Michael was right. He just stared at Ethan for a long time and then smiled. A plan had formed in his head. It was going to be perfect.
“I want to dance too.” Gus said looking at Justin.
Justin smiled and started dancing with Gus. Brian smiled and let them dance. Melanie and Lindsey started dancing and so did Emmett as he pulled Vic with him.
“Hey.” Michael said to Brian as they stood side by side.
“Is it me or is he looking at my partner like he wants to eat him?” Brian asked Michael, with a nod towards Ethan, as he put his arm around his best friend’s shoulder.
Michael took a deep breath and felt relieved. Brian was not stupid and he had known what was going on the moment Ethan set eyes on Justin. Brian was going to keep an eye on Ethan because there was no way that anyone was going to steal his blond away.