Lois, thank you for the beta...you are the greatest!
Chapter 21 – Let Us Not Forget, Part 1 Sunday Morning In Cincinnati…(Day 42) “What are you doing up so early?” Brian asked once he rolled over and found the space next to him partially empty. “Of course, now that you are up, come back to bed, I have definite plans for you,” he said, gently tugging on Justin. “Brian,” Justin complained, “Let me finish this; then you can have your way with me.” “Finish what?” Brian finally asked, trying to really open one eye. “What’s a laptop doing in our bed? That has got to be a violation of one of those new rules we agreed to. If I were more awake I would remember,” he continued to protest. “What are you doing?” “We don’t have any new rules,” Justin laughed, “And I’m sending off emails and a few pictures of Nicky’s birthday party to Em, to Mel and Linds, and to Spyder. I’m almost done…then I have plans for you as well.” “Oh…” Justin finished transmitting the last email. The laptop was quickly closed and placed aside. Brian went to reach out for Justin, but once again his arms reached for air. “Where did you go?” Brian mumbled, just about to sit up, when he felt his cock and balls being administered to by Justin’s talented mouth. “Oh…there…well…” he smiled. Justin used his tongue to make the slow wet circles that made Brian start to thrust in turn. Justin smiled too as he felt Brian slide easily against his lips and tongue to aim for the back of his throat. Brian reached for Justin’s hair and entwined his fingers within the blond strands for leverage as he groaned and writhed. Finally, Justin carried them both over the edge, lost in the moment, as Brian shot down the back of Justin’s throat. With practiced surety, Justin swallowed Brian’s seed and licked him clean, and then he carefully slid up the long graceful lines of Brian’s body to kiss him and to allow Brian to taste himself on the swollen lips of his lover. Brian savored the taste and the kiss, allowing it to be gentle at first. But kissing Justin was something that Brian loved to do, and this moment was no exception, and Brian surrendered to the pleasure, allowing the kiss to become passionate. When the need for air caused them to momentarily break apart, the pair merely inhaled the needed breath of life and returned to kissing one another. Brian could feel Justin’s renewed hardness twitch between them. Brian wanted to trap that hardness between them, as he wanted to allow his own now hardening cock to plow into Justin. So Brian reached for the lube. He applied it skillfully to stretch and prepare Justin. With his usual flair, Brian ripped open the packet to skillfully apply the condom to his own cock. Once everything was in place and Justin’s legs were gently placed on his shoulders, Brian began the slow, purposeful pushes into his favorite place. And the pushes were met with thrusts, and the slow lingering dance of tender familiarity was allowed to slowly build to its inevitable conclusion. They both slowly tumbled over the edge together, with Brian releasing into condom and Justin releasing in the tight spaces between them. And Brian finally just collapsed on top of Justin, and they both lay there joined and stuck together, with their arms wrapped around each other. Eventually Brian will get up and remove condom and tie it off and dispose of it. Eventually he will bring back a damp cloth to Justin to allow him to clean himself before they spoon together. Eventually they will shower and dress and release the lock on the bedroom door…eventually…but not just yet. For this moment they will just lie there and remember how good it feels to be together, and remember to tell each other how much they love each other…without anyone saying a word. *** A Little While Later… After reminding each other what was truly important, Brian and Justin eventually showered and dressed. They released the lock on their bedroom door. Justin began the task of packing while Brian tried to search his email, hoping for something from Ted or Cynthia to give him some clue about the reasons for the New York meetings with Liberty Air and Eyeconics. But there was nothing. Brian finally closed the laptop in frustration. He would just have to deal with things when he reached New York. Knowing that he and Justin would be going to New York together had somehow made everything ok…Brian tried to tell himself. Brian tried to forget his phone call of few days ago with Rudolpho Silvestri. Beginning of Flashback “I’m meeting with Susan and Kellie at the beginning of the week. I have no idea what that’s all about. You wouldn’t want to enlighten me would you?” Brian asked. “No. No. It’s a surprise. My lips are sealed,” Rudolpho said slyly. “Why does that not give me a warm feeling?” Brian commented with a laugh. “You have to trust me, Brian. You have to forget the old me. I’m new and improved. Justin has changed me. I have to be on my best behavior now. I’m running out of friends to act as intermediaries,” Rudolpho teased. End of Flashback Brian’s reflections were quickly dismissed. There was the knock on the door, the turning of the knob, the immediate patter of two pairs of little feet, and the appearance of two small pajama clad munchkins on the foot of their bed. Brian and Justin looked at each other and smiled. “You’re dressed,” Nicky complained, immediately climbing into Justin’s arms. “You noticed,” Brian teased. Nicky looked up at Justin with these sad eyes, “But I don’t want you to go home. I want you to stay here with me.” “My sentiments exactly,” Paul echoed, coming in from the hallway. “You’re not helping,” Brian pointed out sternly, “Knowing you, you probably put him up to this.” “Me? How can you…” Paul tried to protest, feigning innocence. “Forget it, Paul.” Brian said, “C’mon here, Nicky.” Nicky released his grip on Justin and willingly went to Brian. “How about this?” Brian began. “How about if you come to visit Justin and Gus and me at our house one weekend? Now how does that sound?” Nicky seemed to brighten a bit. Brian continued, “Of course, Paul will have to send one of his favorite Armani shirts for you to wear while you paint,” he said and then waited for the reaction. “You mean one of my old sweatshirts?” Paul attempted to quickly clarify, for he felt about his designer shirts the same way that Brian did, so he quickly wanted to set the record straight, “I think that can easily be arranged.” “No. No. Maybe I’d better let Gus explain the Taylor Artistic Universe to you so you will understand,” Brian smirked, knowing he was about to enjoy the next few minutes. “Gus, tell your Uncle Paul, what Justin wears when he paints?” “One of dad’s shirts. He gets paint all over it,” Gus said with a laugh. “Jus is messy when he paints.” “And what do you wear when you paint?” Brian continued his line of questioning. “One of dad’s shirts…just like Justin…I’m messy when I paint too.” “You probably need to talk with Lindsay; she’s not very happy with Justin about this little technique that Gus seemed to have copied either,” Brian pointed out with a laugh. “I’ve tried to explain to everyone that it’s hard to be both neat and creative at the same time. I don’t know why you two have such a hard time with this concept?” Justin tried to explain in his own defense. “Gheez, it’s only a shirt.” “A very expensive shirt,” Brian added, “But I’ve gotten over that. You will too Paul, trust me. I just wanted to prepare you.” Once again, he laughed, looking over at Paul. Brian now wrapped his arms around Nicky snuggly and placed him on his lap. “So Nicky would it make you happy if you could come to visit Justin and Gus and me?” Brian asked, looking Nicky directly in his eyes and smiling. Nicky looked back in Brian’s eyes and smiled too, nodding yes. “That’s good, because I think you should come and visit us next weekend,” Brian casually said with a smile. “Yeah!” Nicky said, immediately starting to bounce in Brian’s arms. “What?” Paul asked in total shock, looking over at Brian, who now had this innocent smirk on his face. Justin and Gus just sat there laughing. “Really Daddy?” Nicky asked, leaning over and hugging Paul. Nicky hugged Brian again and then Justin, but he didn’t wait for an answer. “I’m going to tell Dad,” Nicky said, running from the room with Gus following behind. “Now, why did you do that?” Paul said sternly. “Do what?” Brian innocently asked. “My partner is going to have a hectic painting schedule this week. He dropped everything and gave you almost a week out of his life when you needed him. I need you and Jason to reciprocate and come to the house this weekend with Nicky to make things easier for him. It’s as simple as that.” “Brian,” Justin started to protest, “I can manage. That isn’t really necessary.” “Yes it is, Sunshine,” Brian said in that certain tone that let Justin know that Brian wanted no argument. “It would really help,” Justin finally admitted. “I just didn’t know how to ask.” “We’ll be there,” Paul simply said, cutting a look at a smiling Brian. A confused Jason entered the room followed by a skipping Nicky and Gus. “What is this that I hear about us going to Pittsburgh?” “Well, West Virginia actually,” Justin corrected with a laugh. “Brian has just pointed out that we’re needed at the mansion next weekend. So it appears that we…you, Nicky, and I…are going to visit Brian and Justin and Gus next weekend. Oh yes, and I have to sacrifice one of my Armani shirts for Nicky to paint in. I thought you told me painters wear smocks and berets. I’ve read nowhere that they paint in Armani shirts,” Paul complained. “Well, now that that’s settled,” Justin said with a smile. “C’mon Gus, let’s see what I can do about getting you packed, and Nicky let’s get some clothes on you.” Justin, Gus, and Nicky left Brian, Paul and Jason in the guest room. “You two have something that you want to say,” Brian said sternly before either of them could start to say anything. “I would be careful if I were you. I haven’t made an issue with Justin yet of how much you took advantage of him with regard to planning Nicky’s party. I haven’t really brought it up, but I haven’t forgotten it either. Just think how I could spin this? If you two would like my continued cooperation, I suggest that you think very carefully before you say anything.” “You’re a bastard,” Paul began, “But you know, you’re absolutely right.” “It’s part of my charm,” Brian quipped. “We’ll be there, Brian,” Jason said with a smile, “I’m really excited about it, and so is Nicky.” “Besides Nicky and Gus need a play date. Lindsay and Melanie will be in town so you can talk with them about your dilemma about another kid. It really is a win-win all around. Oh, and don’t forget the Armani shirt for Nicky,” he insisted. Paul and Jason smiled at each other and just shook their heads. *** As Brian and Paul were in the process of moving the luggage to the front door, surprisingly the doorbell rang. “I wonder who that is,” Jason asked as he opened to the door. Katie and Lee and Fran and Gabrielle and Ryan and kids stopped by to say goodbye to Brian and Gus and Justin on their way to mass. Fran and Katie wanted to say a special thank you to Justin for everything he had done for the party. Gabrielle swore that it was the social event of the season. She teased that the opening of the gallery wing was going to have to work really hard to surpass Nicky’s birthday celebration. Paul and Jason filled the family in on the fact that they would be visiting Brian and Justin next weekend. The family thought that was an excellent idea. For too long, Paul and Jason had relied on Brian and Justin to do the traveling in the relationship. The family had secretly thought that Paul and Jason had been a bit selfish, but they didn’t want to say anything. They tried to chalk it up to Nicky being so small and fragile. Fran and Katie were especially glad to see that things were changing. Paul and Jason had additional news for the family that they forgotten to tell them because of all that was going on with Nicky’s birthday. “Ok quiet down. I have an announcement to make,” Paul insisted, and everyone fell silent. “Ever since Justin arrived, I’ve had to listen to you bitch about the fact that Jason and I didn’t get enough tickets to the gala opening of the new wing of the gallery. Well, that situation has been remedied. Now you all have less than three months to solve your tux and gown problems…not to mention our babysitting issues…because I got tickets for everyone,” he said with a sweeping hand motion. There was stunned silence. At first, no one said anything. Then everyone tried to talk at once. Then everyone clapped at once. There were hugs and kisses all around. “So,” Paul continued, “Now, that I know that you’re all such art aficionados, this problem won’t happen in the future...I promise you,” he emphasized with a laugh. Everybody smiled at him. Katie and Fran gave him a kiss on the cheek at the same time. “Gabrielle, you and Ryan are going too,” Jason quietly said, “So we have to come up with a creative solution about babysitting problems.” “Don’t worry about it,” Gabrielle said joyously, “We’ll take care of it.” She leaned in to give Jason a kiss. “Thank you. I can’t believe that Ryan and I get to go. This is a formal affair too, isn’t it? That means I have to go shopping.” “Me too, so it seems,” Ryan added. Finally the family turned their attention back to Brian and Justin. “Have a safe trip, and we’ll all see you all in a few months, if not before,” Fran said. “We’re really excited about the opening. You have no idea how happy we are, now that we have tickets.” “You take care and have a safe trip,” Katie said, kissing Brian and Justin and Gus. Fran and Katie had packed a tin of cupcakes for Gus to take to back to Melanie and Lindsay. A second little package had been packed for Justin to take on the plane as well. The very happy Dunbar and Smith family members left for mass. Shortly thereafter, the limo arrived to take Brian, Justin, and Gus to the airport. Cynthia had arranged for a limo because she figured that it was too emotional for Gus and Nicky to have to say goodbye to each other in an airport. Everyone said their goodbyes. Gus and Nicky were looking forward to seeing each other next weekend. So were Brian and Paul…Jason and Justin. Life had suddenly gotten interesting for everyone.