Brian looked up when he heard the soft knock at his door. Cynthia walked in carrying a large bouquet of roses arranged in a beautiful crystal vase. He arched his eyebrow. "What's this?" He asked. "They're roses." Cynthia quipped. "Don't be a smart ass." Brian growled. "Who're they from?" "I'm sure I don't know." Cynthia said feigning shock. "You know I would never read a personal, none-of-my-business card that was meant for you." "Mmhmm." Brian was unconvinced. He snatched the card from within the roses and sat back in his chair. He read it and then smiled. Realizing that his assistant was still standing in front of his desk he returned to his usual surly self. "Anything else?" He asked. "Uh, no." Cynthia replied his words breaking her out of the trance she'd been in. "I'll just get back to work." She added as she started toward the door. "That'd be a first." Brian muttered earning him a glare from Cynthia as she closed his office door. Brian looked back at the roses and smiled again. He looked at the card in his hand. He opened the envelope and read the card once again. Ridiculously Romantic. Love, J. "Little shit." Brian muttered as he tucked the card into in inner coat pocket. He went back to work in a much better mood with thoughts of just how he'd get back at his 'little boy', when he got home. -- Justin hurried to the market after his last class knowing he only had a few hours until Brian got home. He wanted everything to be perfect. Justin knew that Brian didn't put much stock in holidays, but he still wanted to celebrate Valentine's Day in a special way. It was their first as an official couple and Justin was determined to get Brian in the spirit. He hurried up the stairs to the loft. He took his present for Brian and tucked it away in the bedroom before going into the kitchen to start dinner. As he was seasoning the steaks, the phone rang. "Hello." "Nice flowers, Smartass." Brian teased and Justin could hear the smile on his face. "I thought you might enjoy them." Justin teased back. "Well, Cynthia really 'enjoyed' bringing them into me." Brian chuckled. "You know how she enjoys ragging on me for anything and everything." "Not too bad, I hope." Justin said picturing Cynthia with tongue in cheek sniping at her boss. "I think I'll live." Brian quipped. "You trying to butter me up for some reason? What did you do to the loft?" "Nothing." Justin said. "It's February 14th, brainiack. You know, Valentine's Day." "And?" Brian said intentionally baited the younger man. "Well, I've always heard that you're supposed to treat the one's you love special on Valentine's Day." Justin explained. "I plan to treat you extra special." "Oh, really?" "Mmmhmm." Justin purred. "How so?" "It's a surprise." Justin said. "You'll just have to wait 'til you get home." "Not even a hint?" "Nope." "Asshole." "Yep." "Have I told you today how much I love you?" "A few dozen times, yeah. Love you, too." "Later." "Later." Brian hung up and Justin realized that he had a big stupid grin on his face as he went back to preparing dinner. -- Brian was dog-tired from a very long day at work. And, although he was looking forward to Justin's surprise, he hoped he wouldn't fall asleep right in the middle of it. He rubbed his neck and stretched as he exited his Jeep. He opted to ride the elevator instead of climbing the stairs. When Brian got to his floor, he could hear the sound of music coming from the loft. It was loud, but not obnoxious like some of the music Justin sometimes listened to. He pulled the door opened and was overwhelmed by the smell of cooking food. His stomach rumbled and his mouth began to water. He suddenly realized as he looked at his watch that he hadn't eaten for about 10 hours. He didn't see Justin right away. The teen was sitting in front of a muted TV. Justin was totally immersed in some magazine. Brian walked over to the couch, but when Justin made no indication that he had heard him, Brian cleared his throat. "Justin." He said. Justin looked up quickly then looked at his watch. "Shit" He whispered and darted into the kitchen. "Don't be burned. Don't be burned. Don't be burned." He chanted as he opened the oven door to check the broiler. Brian watched in mild amusement as Justin flitted around the kitchen. Justin pulled the broiling pan from the oven and breathed a sigh of relief. "Whew." He said. "Almost toasted them." "What the hell were you reading?" "Article on heredity." Justin said calmly. He pulled plates out of the cabinets and utensils from the draw below them. He set them on the bar and checked something in a pot on the stove. Brian took the plates et al and went to set the table. He wasn't exactly surprised to find candles waiting to be lit next to a lovely floral centerpiece. "Table looks great. Food smells great." Brian said then looked up at Justin. "You look great. Must be my lucky day." Justin smiled. "Well, play your cards right, and you will get even luckier tonight." Brian smiled. "So, what was so fascinating about that article?" "Lots of stuff." Justin said. "Did you know that sometimes a recessive gene can become dominate in just 3 generations? And that color blindness and hypertension come from the mother's side of the family." Brian watched as his young lover never missed a beat with setting up the meal as he spoke. "Why were you reading that?" "Found the magazine at PT and started reading it there." Justin said as he spooned vegetables into a serving bowl. "Miguel told me to take it with me. It's fascinating. Guess I got caught up in it. This was supposed to be on the table when you got here." "No problem." Brian said and continued to set the table with glasses and napkins. He was all at once struck by the domesticality of the whole thing. He smiled to himself and grabbed the serving bowl. He set it on the table as Justin brought over the steaks. "This looks delicious, Justin. So, am I officially your Valentine." "Always." Brian caught Justin's wrist and pulled the younger man to him as he was turning back to the kitchen to get the wine. Brian pulled Justin toward him and kissed him firmly on the lips. "Hungry?" Justin asked when they parted. "Oh yeah." Brian purred close to Justin's ear. "But, not for food." "Food first." Justin said. "You'll just have to wait for your dessert like a good boy." "Whoever said I was a good boy?" Brian said as Justin dodged him and took wine to the table. "Later, Baby." Justin said. "Go wash up for dinner." Brian growled, but couldn't keep up the façade for long. He was absolutely starving and as Justin had said, he'd have to wait for his dessert. He climbed the steps to the bedroom and walked into the bathroom. -- Justin put was putting the finishing touches on the table when Brian returned. He's changed his clothes as well as washing up and had that just-rolled-out-of-bed look that suited him so well. Justin smiled as Brian walked up behind him, put his arms around the younger man's waist. Justin chuckled when Brian licked his ear, and pushed him away playfully. Brian laughed out loud and went to sit down at the opposite end of the table. "If this taste as good as it smells, I may just have to marry you." Brian teased. Justin stuck his tongue out at Brian. "Well, they say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach." "I thought it was through his cock?" Justin quipped and Brian snorted a laugh. "Well then, I am a taken man at both ends then." Brian took a bite of steak. "Mmmmm. That is good. Now, about this surprise of yours?" "Eat." Justin admonished. "No surprises on an empty stomach." Brian just shook his head and continued eating. Dinner was always catch up time for the two men. Brian had Justin laughing at the latest bullshit that was going on in his office and Justin gave Brian the run down on his physical therapy and his lunch with his mother. Jennifer Taylor may not have been pleased with Brian's relationship with Justin, but she had learned to live with it. She had stopped bad mouthing the man to her son and had even come over to the loft on several occasions. Of course, her first visit to the loft catching Brian undressed had ensured that she always called first. Deciding that surprise visits were never a good idea. When they were finished, Brian helped Justin clear the table and load the dishwasher. They collapsed together on the couch. Brian had already been sleepy and was now nearly lethargic. He yawned and Justin looked up at him. "Maybe we should save the surprise and all till tomorrow." He offered. "No way." Brian countered. "I want my surprise and my dessert." Justin chuckled. "Now, you sound like Gus." Brian stuck his tongue out at Justin making the teen laugh harder. "Okay, okay surprise first." Brian nodded and watched as Justin hurried into the bedroom. He came back carrying a shopping bag. Brian watched with some amusement as Justin went to great lengths to keep its contents a secret. With Justin's back to Brian he set up something in front of the TV. Brian sat up straighter as Justin unveiled his surprise. There on Justin's old easel was a sketch. A recent sketch. Brian looked at Justin and smiled. "You drew that?" He asked. Justin nodded. "When?" "Yesterday morning." Justin explained. "After PT. I got back here and felt really good about my hand. I mean, I've been doing really well in PT lately and my hand seemed to want to do what I wanted it to do, so I gave it a shot." "It's beautiful, Baby." "Well, it isn't perfect, but I can draw again." Justin smiled and Brian heart skipped a beat. Standing before him was the young man he knew from before the attack. It was an amazing transformation. "What about the IFA?" Brian asked. "That's the best part." Justin's smile widened. "I spoke to admissions and they told me that my admission would still be good this coming fall. Isn't that great." "How'd you swing that?" "Well, the president of the institute is making an exception for me because of the attack." "But, why?" "Wait, I'll get the letter." Justin said and pulled an envelope from his backpack." He handed it to Brian. "Here." "Wow, this is amazing." Brian said a little skeptical. "This isn't pity is it?" "No, I talked to the assistant dean." Justin prattled on. "He said that considering my talent he could easily save my spot. Isn't that great." "Yeah." Brian said. "It's terrific." He paused. "Now, about my dessert? Do we have to warm it up?" Justin smiled and straddled Brian's lap. "No, I think it'll warm up all by itself." "I think you're right." Brian said and scooped Justin up in his arms. "Put me down." Justin squealed laughing. "Not on your life." Brian said and hurried up the stairs to the bedroom. "You know what?" Brian asked as he laid Justin down on the bed and covered him with his own body. "What?" Justin asked smiling up at Brian. "This Valentine stuff isn't all that bad." "Really?" "Just as long as you promise to be by Valentine forever." "Forever." Justin repeated. The End.