Six months had turned into eight. Eight months had turned into eleven. And soon, it would end, and he would return to Pittsburgh. He had just received word that the final cuts were being made and his art knowledge would no longer be needed on a daily basis. Brian had asked Justin to move in with him just before he had left the Pitts, but the timing, as usual, had been off. Justin had so wanted to just tell Brett to shove off, and move in with Brian; however, he knew that Brian would never respect him if he didn’t make a go of it. So, he had packed his bags and got on the plane that cold, Saturday morning- leaving Brian asleep on his bed. It had taken three attempts for Justin to open and quietly close the loft’s door. That was the last time Justin had seen Brian. They had talked a few times, but Justin could feel Brian pulling away. Justin huffed a laugh at that. Brian was so predictable. He thought Justin should be out being the best homosexual he could be. He had never understood that Brian was what Justin wanted, that all else paled in comparison. Justin knew that without Brian his art wasn’t as good, his smile wasn’t as bright, and his life just wasn’t as happy as it could be. He needed Brian. That was why he wasn’t telling anyone that he was returning- he’d gone so far as to ask Brett not to tell Michael. Goodness knew that Michael couldn’t keep a secret if you paid him. With one last glance around Brett’s guest house, he firmly closed the door and locked it. Walking to the cab, he tossed his things in the back seat and told the driver, ‘The airport.” The flight was, for once, on time. He grabbed his belongings as soon as they were visible on the conveyor belt at the baggage claim. Hailing a cab, he was headed to Tremont in no time at all. It was much to his disappointment that he quickly realized Brian wasn’t home. Using his key, he entered and dropped his things in the bedroom. He quickly locked the door, set the alarm, and was on his way to Woody’s. Brian wasn’t at Woody’s, either. So, Justin took off for Babylon. He scanned the dancing crowd from the catwalk, but couldn’t locate Brian. Where in the world, thought Justin, could Brian be? And then he saw him. There, amongst the throngs of scantily clad men, was Brian. Dancing. With Emmett. Dancing with Emmett. Brian was dancing with Emmett. Justin’s mind couldn’t quite grasp the concept. He was sure, in the five years that he had known Brian, he had never once danced with Emmett. Brian had danced with him. He had danced with Mikey…even Ben once or twice. And, goodness knows, countless tricks to lure them in. But he never had danced with Emmett- or Ted for that matter. But sure enough, Brian was currently slightly bopping to the techno beat; Emmett was in front of him, hands in the air, shaking his tail feathers. Justin walked slowly down the stairs and headed over to Brian and Emmett; the crowd parting as he progressed. Emmett saw him first and drew him into a tight hug- a lingering hug. One that Brian would have normally, Justin thought, stopped. Only, he didn’t stop. He let Emmett just hug him tightly and closely. When Emmett seemed to have got that out of his system and had let him go, he looked to Brian, who smirked at him, but then, instead of kissing him soundly, Brian merely bumped shoulders with him. And even stranger to Justin, he began dancing with Emmett again. Emmett tugged him closer and urged him to dance with them. Justin internally shrugged off his feelings of misgivings and began to sway to the beat. Hours and more than a few shots later, Justin and Emmett watched Brian head into the infamous backroom. Justin was trying really hard not to take it personally, but it wasn’t really working. In fact, he was starting to get really pissed off. Hell, he hadn’t seen the man in eleven months and it seemed that Brian preferred some stranger… Justin was pulled from his musings when he realized that Emmett had walked away…and was, unbelievably, walking into the backroom. The fuck? Justin had had enough of this. He threw back the rest of his Chivas and walked out of Babylon. It was hours later that he heard the metal door open. To his disbelief, he heard Brian whispering to someone about not waking him up. Justin leaned over the side of the bed and peered into the living room. There, with his arms around Emmett’s shoulders, was Brian. He wasn’t overly drunk. He wasn’t overly high, but there he was with his arms around Emmett. Justin had had enough. “What the fuck?” Justin stated as he walked into the open living area. “Thought you were sleeping,” Brian mumbled from within Emmett’s embrace. “Yeah, well, I’m not,” Justin responded, annoyance in his voice. “Justin,” Emmett began, but stopped after seeing the glare Justin was giving him. “You should be,” Brian told him. “So, are you going to tell me what all this is about?” Justin asked, his hand pointing at Brian and Emmett. “All about?” Brian asked. “Yes, all about- the dancing together at Babylon. Standing here together in this embrace…” Brian and Emmett looked at each other and burst out laughing. “Sunshine, are you jealous?” Brian asked in his typical supercilious way. It was the wrong thing to say. Justin glared at them both, gathered his jacket and wallet, and walked out of the loft. “Well,” Emmett said, “That didn’t go as planned.” “How the hell was I supposed to know he’d be back tonight? Michael said that Brett told him it would be tomorrow.” “Yeah, well, Brett, Michael, and you were wrong. And I think he’s pissed.” “Thanks, Captain Obvious.” “Anytime,” Emmett said as he walked out of the loft with a wave. Brian, the next day, found his young lover at his mother’s home. “Mother Taylor,” he greeted Jennifer Taylor. “Brian,” she responded before opening the door and ushering him in. “He’s upstairs.” “Thanks,” Brian responded. Brian knocked once on the door and walked in. Justin was on the bed listening to music. Brian quickly rubbed the back of Justin’s leg to get his attention. “I’m not in the mood, Brian.” “You’re always in the mood, just like me.” Brian smirked. Justin didn’t. “Fine, have it your way. Michael learned from Brett that you were coming home. Only, we thought it was today, not last night. Emmett and I were in the middle of planning your welcome home party. We had to finish the plans. So, in my infinite wisdom, I told him to meet me in the backroom since you had unexpectedly shown up. When we came back, you were gone. I fucked up. Okay?” Justin began to laugh. “So, ummm, you aren’t having an affair with Emmett?” Brian snorted. “Well, he does have a great ass.” Justin informed him with a smirk. “YOU have a great ass,” Brian retorted as he pulled Justin to him. Justin gave him a high wattage smile as they leaned in to kiss. Soon, Brian was pulling on Justin’s clothes and Justin was returning the favor. Nips, kisses, and licks were passing feverishly over both bodies. Justin started to flip onto his stomach, but Brian halted him. Justin gave him an odd look and raised an eyebrow in a pure Kinney fashion. Brian simply handed him the lube and condom and returned the arched eyebrow. Justin had a brief look of surprise on his face before he pushed Brian onto his back and began to prepare him. Later, Justin started to say something when Brian stopped him and simply said, “I just thought it would be hot to be fucked while your mother was downstairs.” Justin snorted; he understood Brian-speak. “So, when’s my party…”