"This is suicide," Ted walked with Emmett into the gym. "Wouldn’t we have time for this later?"

"Not... if we want to be our absolute perfect selves for the party." Emmett beamed. "We’ll jazzercise, we’ll go back get our facial, put on our most fabulous new clothes and join the party."

"Look who’s here," Ben was with Michael by the bikes.

"Looks like you two had the same idea as us," Ted smiled.

"I called Brian," Michael said. "Left a message...." 

Ted sighed. "I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t show up. He really looked like shit yesterday."

"Brian... has a lot on his mind lately," Michael got off the cycle, walking with the three of them to the weights. "You know how he can get."

Ted sat down on the weight bench. "I don’t know." he said. "This just seemed like more." 

"You know.... you should really learn not to talk about somebody behind their back, Theodore." Brian dropped his bag by the weights. "Could come back to bite you in the ass."

"And we wouldn’t want that now, would we?" Michael laughed. He looked over at Brian. "Where have you been this morning? I left you a message." 

"Busy, Mikey." Brian said. "I’ve been busy. I had a meeting." 

Ted looked confused. "I thought you cancelled your....."

"I had... a meeting" Brian stressed. "End of fucking story. Now somebody spot me." The men all exchanged glances. "Is somebody going to spot me or not. 

"I’ve got it," Ben made his way over to Brian, Michael watching. A feeling of sudden dread washing over him. 

"What is it sweetie?" Emmett asked. "You have that... somewhat unattractive thing going on with your face."

"Something isn’t right" Michael said plainly. "I didn’t see it before, but I see it now. Something... something really isn’t right."

"What do you think it is?" Ted asked. "You don’t.... you don’t think he’s sick again, do you?"

Michael swallowed. "I don’t know" he replied. "I don’t want to think so but...."

"Let’s not jump to any conclusions, Michael" Emmett said. "It could be... nothing." 

"And it could be what we all think it is," Michael said. "You can’t tell me that you’re not thinking the same exact thing." He looked at Ted and then Emmett, who both nodded slowly.

"So what do we do?" Ted asked. "Confront him?" 

"And scare him away?" Emmett said. "That is not a very good idea." 

"We have to leave him alone," Michael said. "He has to tell us on his own time." 

"That went over well last time." Ted pointed out.

"We have to, Teddy." Michael sighed. "We have to do this for him. It’s Gus’ birthday. His son is coming home today. Let him have today. He needs that."

>>>>>>

The pounding on the dorm room door grew louder and louder. "Give me a minute!" Daphne yelled, rolling out of bed and sauntering to the door. Her things were sprawled all over the floor in an attempt to pack them before graduation. She swung it open. "Oh my God!" she smiled

"Surprise?" Justin smiled as Daphne flung herself into his arms. 

"What are you doing here?" Daphne asked. "When did you get in?"

"Visiting you, and about an hour ago." he laughed. 

"Well... how long are you staying?" Daphne asked. "When are you going back?"

"I’m not" Justin smiled. "I’m not going back." He sat on the edge of Daphne’s bed. "I’m staying."

"In Pittsburgh?" 

"Yeah, in Pittsburgh." Justin paused. "I’ve been thinking about it and... New York is nice. Busier than... any city in the world. And my work... they love my work. But... something’s missing. My life was missing." Justin paused. "I know... this is gonna sound corny but.... I missed Brian. I know he would come almost every weekend but that wasn’t enough. And with Gus coming in today for his party... I said fuck my opening, I’m going home. To my family. To Brian. To.... what I always dreamed of having...a family with him, a family of our own."

"Woah..." Daphne stopped him. "Are you serious? You can’t just.... drop that on him like this." 

"I wasn’t planning on it," Justin assured her. "I just... I want to see him, surprise him." 

Daphne laughed. "Well he’ll sure be surprised to see you. Are you going to the loft or.... straight to the party?"

"To the party," Justin said. "But I’m gonna need your help."

Daphne nodded. "Anything." she said "Just name it."