Brian walked up the hill into the old house. He opened the door slowly and went in. He could hear laughter coming from the living room. Slowly he walked up to the people that were there. “Isn’t this just perfect?” Brian asked. Chris was standing there a little taken aback. They looked at James who was about to put the star in the Christmas tree but had stopped to look at Brian. “You lied.” Brian hissed. “I can explain!” Chris shouted. James looked at Brian in shock as Brian raised the gun towards him. Chris looked at where he had hanged his jacket and his gun. He tried reaching for it but Brian took the shot. “No!” Chris yelled and shot back. *** “No!” Brian gasped. “Brian? Brain, are you okay?” Justin asked moving next to him. Brian looked at Justin and nodded. “What’s wrong?” Justin asked. “It’s nothing, just memories from the past.” Brian told him. “Tell me about it.” Justin said. “No.” Brian said shaking his head. Justin took a deep breath and nodded. He went back to lying next to Brian. “Justin, what are you doing here?” Brian asked. “What do you mean, Brian?” Justin asked sitting up again. “Why do you want to be with a man like me?” Brian asked a little sad. Justin caressed Brian’s face. “I have no clue, except that I can’t walk away from you.” Justin whispered. “I tried when you left for the bathroom, when you fell asleep and I am trying right now as we speak, but I can’t leave. I don’t want to.” Brian smiled and put his arm around Justin. “You are a fool.” Brian said. “I’m a happy fool.” Justin murmured. Brian kissed him on the forehead and went back to sleep hoping he wouldn’t remember anymore. Justin waited until Brian had fallen asleep before he got up. He moved away as he dialed Emmett’s number. “Hey, baby.” Emmett said smiling. “Emm, I’m going to stay with Brian today.” Justin whispered. “Oh honey, you guys are getting serious.” Emmett said happily. Justin smiled. “I guess we are.” Justin said. “Is everything okay? You don’t sound so happy.” Emmett asked worried. “Oh, I’m okay. I’m just a little tired.” Justin told him. “Well, tell Brian to take it easy on you.” Emmett told him laughing. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” “Okay.” Justin agreed. Justin hung up the phone and went back to bed. He rested his head on Brian’s chest and went to sleep. Brian opened his eyes looked at Justin and smiled before he closed his eyes again relieved Justin hadn’t found the strength to leave him. *** Justin put his fork down when he was done and looked at Michael who was staring at him. “What?” Justin asked. Michael shrugged. “Justin, where is that boyfriend of yours?” Vic asked. “Debbie told me you were going to be bringing him around.” “He caught a cold. He says he is sorry.” Justin said. Emmett looked at him and wondered what was wrong. He could see that Justin was worried. “Poor thing.” Debbie said. “I have some soup from yesterday. Let me get it ready so you can give it to him.” “Debbie, you don’t have to.” Justin said. “Nonsense, he is part of the family now, Sunshine.” Debbie assured him. Justin smiled a little. “So what does he do?” Vic asked. “Business.” Justin said after a while. “He is in business.” “What kind of business?” Lindsey asked. Justin licked his lips. “I don’t know real well. Something about how much value something can have.” Justin told them. “Like an appraiser?” Ted asked. “I hear they make good money.” Justin smiled and nodded. “When are we going to meet this guy?” Melanie asked. “Yeah, they are going to make their best efforts to turn you guys into a lesbian couple.” Michael said sarcastically. Ben laughed and moved closer to Michael. Justin looked at Ben and wondered when Michael had stopped pushing the teenager away. He looked back at Michael who wore a little smile when he looked at Ben. Justin knew that his friend was falling for the kid. “Shut the fuck up, Michael.” Melanie told him. Lindsey rolled her eyes. “Ben, it’s time for you to go to bed.” Debbie shouted to the teenager. “It’s not twelve yet, Deb.” Ben pleaded. “Let’s go. I want to go to Babylon.” Michael said grabbing Ben’s hand. “Michael!” Debbie yelled. “What? We are just going to go dancing.” Michael said smirking. “I promise he will be ready for school tomorrow morning.” Ben was able to grab his jacket as Michael pulled him out of the house. “He is going to hurt that kid.” Melanie said. “He is not.” Justin said. “Michael has a heart. He might be falling in love.” “With a high school kid?” Ted asked. “Michael? Slut of Liberty Avenue? What have you been sniffing?” Justin smirked. “Oh, it could happen.” Emmett said. “After all he did go to New York to get him.” Everyone turned to look at him. “Oops! I wasn’t supposed to say that.” Emmett said looking a little guilty. “I thought Ben came back all by himself. Didn’t he?” Lindsey asked. “No wonder Michael called me to ask me if Ben could stay here.” Debbie murmured. “Still, I think it’s wrong.” Melanie said. “Only time can tell.” Vic told them. “Here you go.” Debbie said to Justin. “Thanks.” Justin said as he got up. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” They said goodbye to him and kept talking about Michael and Ben. When Justin had reached the end of the steps a hand stopped him. Justin turned around and smiled. “Vic, you scared me.” Justin told him. “What’s wrong?” Vic asked. “It’s nothing. I’m just tired with school and work.” Justin said quickly. “So in three more months when you and Emm graduate you will be back to your cheery self.” Vic said raising a brow. Justin opened his mouth to say something but shook his head instead. “I’m okay, Vic.” Justin told him. “You don’t look okay.” Vic pointed out. Justin tried to give him one of his best smiles but failed. “Justin, you can tell me what’s going on.” Vic told him putting his hands on Justin’s shoulder. “Just let me handle it. If things get worse I promise I will come and talk to you.” Justin promised him. Vic nodded and kissed him on the forehead. “You are like a son to me, Justin.” Vic told him. Justin smiled. “Take care.” Vic said. “I will.” Justin assured him. Justin turned around and walked away. He looked at the bowl in his hands and smiled. Justin had an excuse to go see Brian. *** Justin watched Brian eating the soup and smiled. He had been a little worried when Brian had caught a cold after getting shot. But now it looked like Brian was looking much better. “You could at least pretend you like it or say ‘thank you, Justin, for taking care of me’.” Justin mocked. “I already thanked you.” Brian told him. “When?” Justin asked taken aback. “When I didn’t shoot you for making me eat this.” Brian said. Justin laughed. “I didn’t hold a gun to your head.” Justin pointed out. “You threatened me with withholding sex.” Brian said. “Oh yeah, I guess that’s a pretty good weapon. Although with time, you will see that I could never do that. I can’t resist your charms.” Justin said wiggling his eyes at Brian. Brian looked at him and smiled. “You mean my cock, baby?” Brian asked with a smirk. Justin laughed. “Here, I don’t want anymore.” Brian said pushing the bowl towards Justin. “Why is it always so dark in here?” Justin asked. “That way whoever wants to kill me can’t see where I am hiding.” Brian told him. “Stop joking.” Justin said smirking. “Who is joking?” Brian asked. Justin looked away and swallowed. Brian walked around the island and hugged Justin from behind. “I’m sorry.” Brian whispered. “I’m scared, Brian.” Justin told him. “I know.” Brian said. “You promised me.” Justin said accusingly and pulled back. “What?” Brian asked confused. “You said…you said that nobody was going to take you away from me.” Justin whimpered as his eyes became watery. Brian stood there looking at the floor his tongue pressing the inside of his cheek and his mind drawing a blank. He didn’t know what to do. “Brian.” Justin barely said. “Who is Chris?” Brian looked up at Justin in astonishment. “You talk in your sleep.” Justin muttered. “Fuck!” Brian hissed. “Brian, please, it’s obviously eating at you. Just fucking tell me who he is.” Justing begged. “He’s nobody.” Brian told him angrily. “Brian, don’t push me away. I just want to help you.” Justin explained. “You can’t help me.” Brian yelled. “Okay, okay. Let’s not fight. I don’t want to fight with you.” Justin said walking up to Brian. Brian hugged Justin and they stayed like that for a long time. “I have to go. It’s getting late.” Justin said. “No.” Brian told him. “Stay.” Justin smiled and nodded.