Taking a step into the kitchen, the first thing Brian noticed was Justin's back to him.  

"Hey."  He called out softly.

Justin stood up off the bar stool.  "You hungry?"

"No." 

"I love you." Justin blurted, heading to the sofa.

Brian followed.  Not sure what to say.  "I-" 

"You don't have to say it back.  I just wanted you to know.  That I do."  The blonde half smiled, taking a seat.

"Justin...I-"  Brian stopped trying to find the words.  "I need you to know that I..."

"Brian.  I get it.  I don't totally understand why you did this.  But I get it."  Justin nodded.  "You didn't want to tell me about your daughter.  This family."

"It's-"

The artist continued as if he didn't hear Brian.  "So I'm here.  Letting you know that I'm...I'm not going anywhere."

"Justin, it wasn't about that."  God Brian really wanted to go pour himself a drink, but he knew now was probably not the time.  "It was about you."

Justin snorted at that.

"It's true." Brian took Justin's hand into his.  "Fuck!  Justin you have a life.  You finally have a life that doesn't involve me in any way.  You did that on your own."

"What if I don't want my life without you in it?  Did you think of that?" The blonde asked honestly.

The older man cleared his throat.  "You have friends.  You were being who you were born to be.  An artist.  A real artist in New York.  You need that."

"What I need is for you to stop making excuses.  What I need is for you to realize that your bullshit, your cliffs, they don't work on me.  When are you going to realize that I love you?  That I truly and deeply love you?"  Justin felt himself start to tear up.

Brian sat numb.  

"I need you to love me.  I need you to stop thinking that my life is so much better when you're not in it."  Justin felt like he was begging, but he needed to get through to the older man.

Brian didn't know what to do.  What to say.  "I'm going to put Marissa on the sofa and then I'm going to bed."  

Closing his eyes, Justin nodded.  "I guess I'll just go then."  

"Look, Justin, I'm not going to beg you to stay.  But stop being a fucking princess and lay down with me."  Brian threw over his shoulder.

The artist half smiled and stood up as Brian made his way down the stairs with Marissa in his arms.  

Justin pulled a blanket over her before following the taller man into the bedroom.  He watched in fascination as Brian pulled his shirt over his head, and slid out of his jeans and briefs.  

The blonde followed suit and climbed in next to Brian.  He was just starting to drift off when he felt the brunettes arm go around his waste.  He sighed almost in relief, it wasn't much.  But it was a start proving that maybe all hope wasn't lost.