"... Hmm, hmm, you're my dream come true, my one and only you... Hmm, hmm..."

The turntable was softly playing in the room and Brian was humming with it.

"Dad, I've been calling you for awhile now. I guess I should've known you're engrossed in your treasure yet again." Gus said, sitting on the chair facing the one Brian was on. 

Brian was startled a little but glanced up and smiled at his only son who had grown to be just like his dada. A heartbreaker. He chuckled softly.

"Well, I didn't know you're coming early. You know I love to leaf through this everyday. My one true love, my only treasure." He said a little melancholic, gently running the pad of his thumb on a particular picture smiling lovingly at it.

It's been 27 years since that fateful procedure was done to his loving and gorgeous husband. And as fateful and critical as it was, Justin, his brave, young husband, had successfully pushed through it.

He remembered how they were all anxiously waiting in the room for nearly twelve hours. Brian was so close to climbing the walls from being scared, nervous, anxious and every thing else. He remembered how Jen was trying to tell him to eat, but he just couldn't. That day went with a blur. He couldn't remember more, but the feelings and sometimes the unfeeling due to his numbing, which still lingered days after.

But around 9 pm, Dr. Morgan came and the good doctor, as suspicious Brian was for his real feelings for Justin, forgot everything as he was hugged by him whispering in his ear, "He did it, that brave little fucker just did it, Brian."

Brian was too elated to even contemplate his actions but he clung to Dr. Morgan tightly as he heard their families buzzing with happiness around them.

He shed some tears, he wasn't ashamed to admit it. He was just too happy, too relieved and too thankful to the power up there who gave this new life to his husband.

They were allowed to visit Justin's room after couple of hours but they were advised to do it quickly and go home to get some rest for themselves.

Brian, of course, wouldn't hear any of it. He begged, begged, for them to let him stay and he'd promised to be silent, be not a nuisance or be a statue, or anything they wanted him to be. In the end, they didn't have the heart to say no to Brian and let him stay by Justin's side.

He still could remember the first time Justin opened his eyes. It was the next morning and the doctors were there and he was being shove to the far corner of the room. Well, that was better than the other side of the door.

He couldn't see anything because the doctors were scattered throughout his bed. All he could hear was Dr. Morgan's voice repeatedly saying, "Justin, open your eyes. Yes, open it. Come on, Justin, I know you can do it."

Then he heard it. That voice, as hoarse as it was, he still could recognize it in a million years after.

"Br-Bria-Briann..."

He heard a whimper, he knew it came from his own mouth.  He knew he was crying but he also knew he couldn't go to Justin just yet, without the go signal from the doctor.

"Whe- where is... Bri.. Brian?"

He slid down the wall and put his face on his hands. God, Justin! His husband's first thoughts upon waking from this nightmare was him. This overwhelming thoughts was too much and he felt his chest was about to explode.

A hand in his shoulder startled him. When he looked up, with all the tears in his eyes, he saw it was Dr. Morgan. He said Justin wanted to see Brian. He also said that it was better to give the patient what they thought could calm their mind and emotions and so they could examine them afterwards without interruptions.

Brian stood abruptly, and walked the short distance from where he was to Justin's bed. Justin saw him when he was near and a smile ghosted on his lips and reached up to hold Brian's hand, who clutched on it immediately.

"Brian, you're here." He whispered still looking a bit dazed.

"Yeah, baby, I'm here. I'm not going to leave your side. I promise you that." He said crouching a little to kiss Justin's hand. "I love you." A tear slid down his eyes again.

"I love you, Brian.... Don't cry, okay?"

He nodded and chuckled softly kissing his hand again. "Let the doctors here check you, okay? I'll be just right over..." He pointed to one corner, "...there."

"Okay."

Then Brian leaned down to kiss his husband's lips and straightened to walk back to his corner. Dr. Morgan sent him a grateful smile and Brian just nodded, he was actually the grateful one for all the good doctor's help.

Justin's progress was truly remarkable. Even Dr. Morgan had told Brian that they never had a patient who was this determined to persevere. It was as if Justin was more motivated to get through this than any other patient they had in the past.

Brian knew how stubborn his husband could be. If he put his mind into it, he always got what he wanted and Brian shared this to Dr. Morgan who was in agreement with him. The good doctor also said that being in love and hoping to have a long future with their loved ones was one heck of a motivation. And he said, he was glad Brian was in Justin's life when this thing happened. It was obvious that Brian was a huge part of Justin's fighting spirit kicking up big time.

He was in chemo and radiation for six weeks and his progression was surprisingly great and had been released from the facility just after eight weeks. They said it took most patients three months and a half to be given the go and one patient was in for more than five. That made both of them so happy and so they bid the whole staff with a warming goodbye and a heartfelt thank you.

They stayed in Akron for a week, then in Cleveland for another week. After that they went home to Pittsburgh with a little surprise from their family waiting at their loft. Jess came back with them, but not because she thought Justin needed her to be there but she genuinely loved to live in the city.

Justin was surprisingly very complying. Dr. Morgan advised him to take it easy and not to do some strenuous activities, and that he shouldn't be so stubborn thinking he could go back to where it was immediately. He should give his body and mind a little rest and just bring on a gradual increase in his everyday life that his body could endure.

The three month follow up check up was really good and the doctor advised him to just eat right, exercise regularly and avoid the bad habits like drinking, smoking and the use of recreational drugs. In short, live a clean life, and Brian encouraged themselves to do just that. He wasn't keen on keeping Justin alive just for him dying from lung cancer like his dad in few years.

On their fifth month, they both decided to look for that dream house, and in just under a month, their agent found the one that was perfect for them.

It was a manor, with five bedrooms and five bathrooms, with a study and a big sunroom that Justin could convert into a studio. His hand wasn't 100 percent still, not even in fifties but it was improving a lot. He told Brian that he was thinking of going back to the art school again, where he already started in Cleveland for three semesters after his first operation. He needed to stop though after his first battle with cancer. 

After his first chemotherapy, he just couldn't deal with the tremors on his right hand and couldn't draw anything decent in few months. When he did again, it took him days to finish even f a simple drawing that he could easily do in one hour before the bashing. And it frustrated him to no end, and thus, stopped going to school at all.

Brian agreed and that was what Justin did for two years afterward, finishing his art degree. He had done it with the help of his physical therapist who in the end restored around 90% of his hand motor skills. Justin was back with his sketch book all the time like he used to when he was seventeen. And that made Brian's heart skipped a beat.

They moved to their manor, that Justin funnily named 'Britin', just after seven months from Justin's procedure. They had one room for Gus and Brian hired a live in caretaker, Mrs. Cariso, a forty three year old widow, native of Pittsburgh.

They also had Mr. Alfonso and his young son, Joseph, to take care of their two acres of land surrounding the manor. They also took care of their two stallions, Azure and Ace.

Brian went back to work before the one month mark of their return to Pittsburgh. But it was obvious he was cutting his hours down to a more acceptable one. When Justin asked him about it, he just told his husband, that at some point in life you just realize what your priorities should be. And Brian knew money was important but being home and spending extra time with him and Gus would be more paramount to his existence.

Of course, it wouldn't be Brian's life if there weren't enough angst in it, too. Michael seemed to be angry all time since Brian and Justin came back. Michael tried to talk to him  several times but Brian soon stopped taking his call because it always came down to Michael being an asshole. Brian called him on it every time he did it, but with him, it only fell on deaf ears.

Lindsay, was another story too. She wasn't as blatantly obvious at first as Michael was, but she was just as bad, even more. He also didn't forget about the parting words she had for Justin before they went to Ohio.

Lindsay unleashed her inner demons one at a time and the next one was always crueler than the one before. Brian thought if it wasn't for Mel, he was sure as hell going to court with Lindsay regarding Gus' affairs.

Unlike Michael, who received them coldly from their return, Lindsay seemed to be the opposite. Brian remembered how she was cooing and all teary eyed when Justin and him came to visit the munchers on their second day in Pittsburgh. They were there for Gus actually, but of course they didn't tell the munchers that.

But then she heard about the house, and up to this day, Brian didn't know how she came to know about it. She came to his office and tried to pry some news but he wasn't relenting.

He just said, "Whatever you heard, from whomever it was, don't believe anything a non-reliable source will tell you."

He saw her bounced in delight, but it was just so minutely that you wouldn't notice if you really don't know her.

"Ah, well, you know, Gus and I will always be here for you. I know we are your priorities above all others and I want you to know that you are ours. Always. Just tell us and we'll be there for you. Anytime." She said the last word so meaningfully and giving him an eye. Brian was so taken aback but chose not to be so obvious.

"Are you and Melanie, okay?" Instead of freaking out, he asked.

She looked down and twined her hands together on her lap in a Waspish kind of way.

"Well, Mel, will never be Gus' father, Brian. You are. Every child has the right to be with their parents, that is us for Gus. Think how we can make him happy, make his dream come true. His mother, father, a sibling maybe, it will be perfect." She had this patronizing smile on her face, as if she was presenting him her ad campaign for a heterosexual life with her.

It made his head spin and Brian hadn't had the chance to even retaliate or gave her his piece of mind. It was just so sudden, and seemed so out of nowhere.

He realized she was still talking and without giving any negative response to her, it fueled her overflowing imagination to the point it was cemented in a span of 30 seconds. In a minute, he bet she already had her white dress picked and the kind of mansion she wanted.

Then she was beaming, standing up, shouldering her bag and came to him and kissed the side of his lips. He was too stunned to even blink, he was Brian Kinney for fuck sake but he just couldn't make his body move or react. He was frozen on his seat.

Then she was gone. Shit!

He tried to stay away from Lindsay after that. She was freaking him out and all the things that he wanted to confront her just went to the back burner. He couldn't deal with a crazy and delusional lesbian. He thought she would cool down after a while.

He started to learn how to maneuver to the munchers and get Gus without Lindsay in the house. She was calling incessantly trying to get him to visit 'her and Gus' or pestering him to have a day out with just the three of them.

Brian didn't want to have any ruffles with Lindsay, honestly, mainly because she had the hold for Gus. He knew Melanie would be just as happy to learn he was banned from seeing his son. He didn't tell Justin about this, god, his husband had just came out from a life threatening sickness. 

He couldn't start a war with Lindsay when it would be Gus and Justin, who in the end, would be the ones hurt. And so he just skirt around her and pretended he was dumb not to know what she was hinting at. Though, she was blatantly flirting and drooling on the phone that made Brian's skin itch. She came to his office a couple of times but as efficient as Cynthia was, she just didn't have a chance.

The next time he saw Lindsay was on the day their invite to a housewarming was sent. The celebration would be on the coming Saturday's lunch and it would extend to a pool party until after dinner time. Emmet was catering the whole event and it was all specified on the invite.

The invite was sent on Wednesday morning and Lindsay came to yell at him by 12:30. She barged in with Cynthia on tow who was flushed with anger. 

He told her it was okay and it made Lindsay smiled smugly at her saying condescendingly, "See, he is always available to me. Get it through your head that I am Gus' mother. Brian's only child."

Cynthia clenched her jaw and turned to walk out the door but Brian stopped her.

"Sorry, Cyn. Let me be the one to apologize for my son's mother's rudeness."

Lindsay audibly gasped and clutched her hands dramatically on her breasts. "Brian!"

Cynthia just nodded and smiled at him then continued walking.

"Brian, why did you have to say that? She will think so little of me now. She is a bitch, Brian! She always intercepted me coming in. She should know who I am!" She said steamily sitting on the sofa crossing her legs in a demure way.

Brian's resolve was thinning out and was so sick of her attention seeking attitude. He needed to be straight with her and damned with the consequences. Her delusions should be stopped and he was stopping it now. He'd just have to ready a lawyer and tell Justin of this insanity.

"You are my friend, Linds, and Cynthia or anyone of my employees don't have to know you or your importance to me. It is irrelevant." He said coolly.

She tilted her head up a bit, "It is relevant, Brian. I need them to know who I am. I need them to respect me."

"Respect you, yes. As they all should to every human being. But you are not anything or anyone here for them to single out and bow down to. You are my friend, just like Emmett, Michael and Blake and even Melanie. Now Eric and Ted are another story. They are employees here and Ted is their CFO."

"How can you just label me among Emmett and Blake?! I am Gus' mother, your only child! Sooner or later Gus will want to have a family and you know better than to disappoint your son! You know it, and it's better for your employees here to know where I stand in your life." She said with her put upon face.

"Where do you think you stand in my life, Linds?"

"Brian, you know where I stand. You know my significance and importance in your life. What do you think you will do when your son wants us to be family? Do you have a heart to tell him no? Can you break your son's heart when he wants for you and me be truly his mom and dad?"

"I tell my son the truth. The truth that his father is gay and is married to another man already and I never intend to change my status or even changing my husband. Not even to my son's wishes, Lindsay."

"How can you say that? You'd crush your son's heart. He will never forgive you, Brian. He will know you've chosen someone over him. He will despise you!" She was standing now and walking near his desk.

"No, Lindsay. I will make sure my son will understand. He will understand his dad is gay and married to Justin and his mom is lesbian married to his mama Mel. Children are the most understanding, given the right explanations, are faster to comprehend than most adults are. Its better living in honesty than to start making him believe something that wasn't even possible."

"Why it is so impossible for us to be family? You are already married, you have known how to be in a relationship now. I've never thought it was possible, but here you are- a married man- and you're not that bad to be one either.This can be like a preparatory phase for you, and now you are ready to have your own true family."

"What?" Brian chortled. This was crazy and Brian was beginning to lose his mind too. His friend was certainly becoming delusional.

"Don't you dare laugh at me or you'd be sorry. You better start dissolving anything that you needed to in preparation of Gus' wishes."

"Gus' wishes or his mummy's wishes? Do I need to point it out that you have a wife at home, Lindsay? A wife and another daughter. You'd just, what, take off with me and ride on our white horses to the sunsets?"

"Mel, will understand. She too will be thinking about it if JR would want her real family. She will understand, I promise you that."

"Yeah, right. Melanie marrying and having a lot of monkey sex with Michael. She truly will want that." He scoffed unkindly, this was getting ridiculous.

"Then I don't care. She can go wherever she wants and do whatever she likes. But Gus certainly needs his mom and dad. It is his right to have that, Brian."

"Well, if Melanie means so little to you, it's not really my business to interfere but yours and hers. But I have to let you know that Justin is my husband today, tomorrow, the next year, the next decades and next millennium. He will always be my husband, the other half of me, who owns me and who I demand my employees' respect. No one will be replacing his place in my life, not even if my son demands for it. Never!"

"He is sick, Brian. He already had cancer twice! He can't give you any children. He is young, who told you he won't have another fiddler? Then what will you do, huh?"

"Then I will fight for him. Make him fall in love with me again. I'm never letting him go again, Lindsay. This time, it's for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. Until death do us part. I said that on our wedding day, we both promised that to each other and we don't intend on backing on it. Now, do you remember when you said that to your wife? Was that all a lie? I don't really like Mel but I sure never wished for her to be treated like this, much less from her wife of eight years."

"You will regret this Brian. I promise you that. And by the way, I saw the mansion. It looks okay, just make sure it is only in Kinney's name."

Now, this was just too funny to even get mad. "It is in Kinney's name. Brian and Justin Kinney. He petitioned to change his surname three months ago and it was granted last month. The fucking manor is even named by Justin, we call it Britin." He laughed shaking his head as if remembering the exact conversation.

Lindsay was fuming and smacked her palms on the desk leaning toward him. "You will be sorry for this, Brian. I swear you'll regret this. I don't have to tell you that you are going to stay away from my house. You are never going to see your son until you will wise up and do what we should've done."

"And what is that, Lindsay, to live a lie? To live in fantasy? To live in a life where I'd be miserable for the rest of my life? Is that it? You are taking my son away because I don't want to ruin Gus' life? Or yours and mine? What is happening to you?"

"I am perfectly fine, Brian. We will be perfectly fine. We already tried to be together before and it was amazing. You just have to let Justin go."

"No, we didn't try to be together. We were never a part of a couple. We were friends who experimented with each other, and that was all there was. I never led you to believe that there was more. I never."

"Well, then. You just lost a son, Brian. It shouldn't be this hard for you to choose, it is only between you marrying me and we'll live in our manor or you'd lose your son. Goodbye, Brian."

He went to take Justin from school that day and brought him to a cafe house near PIFA. He told him everything about what had happened in his office with Lindsay and Justin wanted to march down to muncherville but Brian told him not to. They should be doing something to solve this not to make it worse. Justin agreed and they both cooled down and went home to their new house.

They decided Brian should talk to Mel and they'd make their legal actions from there after they saw her reaction to this.

He called Mel at her office the next morning and as he expected she was shouting at him for being insensitive and irresponsible to Gus. Brian anticipated this would be Lindsay's first course of action.

"What did she tell you, Mel?"

"Well, asshole, Linds was crying her eyes out the whole night. She said Gus just wanted to have some time with you but you are too busy with your work and Justin to even spare Gus a little time. I even reason out that maybe Justin wasn't feeling all too well but she said Justin was just fine but you both wanted to be left alone."

"Did you ask Gus if he tried to contact me and I said I didn't have the time?"

"Well, I didn't- but he seems fine this morning. I didn't hear him saying anything about you turning him down for wanting to hang out with you."

"Because it didn't happen, Mel. It wasn't what happened yesterday. Uh, listen, can we have  this talk in person? If you are free for lunch I can meet you any place you want."

She was a little subdued but she answered, "Okay, I'll meet you at one in Subway near my building. Is that okay?"

"Yeah."

And they met. Brian started to tell her what was happening since a few weeks ago when she unknowingly found out about the house in West Virginia. He told her about her advances and Mel was listening too avidly.

He related what had transcribed in his office the other day, leaving some personal issues between Lindsay and Melanie out. It wasn't his business anyway. He also had their conversation yesterday recorded in his phone but chose not to tell Mel about it. He would use it as his last resort. 

But until then, he'd just keep it a secret. Linds was still a friend, just like Mikey was. It must be hard for his two friends to see him become this good partner and husband to Justin. It was something his two friends hadn't even considered a possibility for him. 

Then, all of a sudden, they witnessed that he could be one. That had gotten them insane thinking it should have been them he was supposed to be committed with.

He knew they loved him for so long, it just that, he didn't love them the way they wanted him to. Even if Justin didn't come into his life, he never would've been with either of them. He wouldn't be with anyone, really, if it wasn't Justin.

Mel must've sorted it out with Lindsay because the next day, Friday, Mel called him and invited him and Justin to have dinner at their house that night.

They accepted and when they arrived, Lindsay was so apologetic and talked to both of them and said she didn't know what came over her to be thinking like that. Both Justin and Brian were skeptical but they accepted her apology and tried to have a nice night with Gus.

They all came to their manor the next day, even Michael, who was scowling most of the time. Lindsay's move was so calculated, and Brian thought, that was what he liked and at least appreciated with Mikey. What you see is what you get from him. You just need to look at his face and you know what he was feeling.

But Lindsay was the total polar opposite. She knew how to maneuver and make you think she was truly fine and apologetic, but Brian knew better. She would strike again, he knew that. And she'd do it when you least expected it.

For the mean time, he'd enjoy what he had in front of him. He'd also made sure to let Gus know that he and Justin would be available anytime to him. He could always go to them and tell them what he wanted or if something was bothering him.

The celebration was a success, Michael didn't try to say something that could throw him out of their house. He was scowling and giving Brian or Justin a glare or two when they gave their guests the tour for their house, but that was it.

Lindsay, on the other hand, was basking in everything she was seeing inside the house. She was even giving Mrs. Cariso orders as if she was the lady of the house. Brian could see the green monsters trying to escape while on the tour. She was gaping with envy when she saw Justin's studio that Brian really went all out for.

Gus was over the moon with his room and he went over to hug his dad and his Jus to say thank you and that it was really great. They didn't let anyone see the master bedroom and most of them didn't have any problems with it.

Weeks and months passed and Brian was working his butt off real hard and Justin was finishing his semester and doing his physical therapy almost every day. 

When their anniversary month came, they announced at Debbie's dinner that they would be gone for a month to have a vacation.

Mixed reactions met their announcement and they truly expected them. Michael just clenched his jaws and was silent for the whole evening and Lindsay was subtlety trying to pry for information.

"Oh, where will the Kinneys be tanning their asses now?" Emmett was clapping like he always did.

"Italy. We planned to spend our honeymoon there last year but there wasn't enough time. And so, Brian, arranged it for this year. It will be a dream come true to me." Justin excitedly said oblivious to the death glare of Michael and Lindsay's green eyed monsters.

"I'm sure it is. But is it really necessary to be gone for a month long? How about your businesses Brian? How about, Gus? On second thought, you know, it will be great for Gus to know other countries' cultures and architectures. Wouldn't you like to go to Italy, Gus?" Lindsay sweetly turned to his son.

"Nah. Dad already told me about this vacation and how it is important to him and Jus. It's their anniversary vacation, for god sake, mom. How would you think I will fit in? I don't want to spoil their time together." Gus, his almost ten years old son, maturely took on his mom.

"Honey, you will not spoil it. Of course, I'll be with you. You just can't go outside the country without your mother."

Mel snorted and sarcastically said, "Of course, why  don't we just all go with Brian and Justin on their anniversary vacation? You know, Ted and Blake can choose the house for our stay and Eric can check the tourist spots and maybe Emmett can share the room with Justin because of course, you will be sharing Brian's room!" She was shouting at the end of her dialogue.

"Mel! What are you doing? Gus is here and he can hear everything you say!" Lindsay looked appalled.

"Gus is not stupid, Lindsay. You are blatantly using him to insinuate yourself on Brian's life. I guess, I should have known you will not surrender so easily. I never see you stooping this low, Linds. And it is so piteous to witness it." She stood up and kissed both Brian and Justin on their cheeks and asked Gus if he wanted to go home with her, which he agreed.

The dinner that night was disastrous to say the least. But Brian and Justin weren't going to dwell on something that they both couldn't control. They just make sure to call Gus and know he was at least doing all right.

The vacation was such a surreal time for them and it made them feel more closer to each other and appreciated what they both had. This trip was also the time they had done the final step to fully commit to each other.

He knew even just after he got married to Justin, that he still appreciated men's gorgeous bodies and asses. He occasionally liked to stare at them, but the urgency of pounding his cock in just anyone's ass, it hadn't been there since he'd gotten back with Justin.

After his surgery, and when they were back in Pittsburgh, Brian asked Justin if he'd want to try barebacking. Justin almost fainted when he learned Brian was seriously considering doing it raw with him.

He confessed to not tricking since October that year and they got married on the first week of March. He had been in the facility for two months and had been in Pittsburgh for nearly two weeks. Brian was already monogamous for eight months.

Justin, his level headed Justin, told him that he would love for them to do it raw. It was like the ultimate commitment they could give to each other after being married, but he wouldn't want them to just jump on it without thinking too hard.

He said that it was best to wait. He wanted Brian to know that whatever he'd decided, it wouldn't change anything.

Brian agreed in the end, he even appreciated the sentiments. It wasn't as if Justin didn't trust him, it was only a testament that his husband accepted him for who he was.

They waited for another year, and when Brian broached the subject again, he could see and feel the happiness radiate from Justin. He was so happy, too, he'd never ever thought that going monogamous would make him feel like that, but it did.

They had their first raw sex in Milan, Italy. It was the first morning of their first anniversary vacation. They arrived late at night and was so tired and sleepy that they just kissed and spooned to sleep.

Brian woke up the next morning with a hot wet tongue on his ass, lapping at it ardently and Brian was moaning and growling in a record time. When Justin sucked on his balls and stuck two fingers in his ass, Brian couldn't help but beg to his husband to just fuck him already.

Justin didn't comply. Instead he ran his tongue up tracing the veins on his cock to the tip and sucked on the pre-cum bubbling on it. He then proceeded to deep throat him, bobbing his head up and down.

Brian's eyes rolled to the back of his head arching his back thrusting his groin to Justin's mouth hitting the back of it with the tip of his cock. He was deliriously thrashing and fisting the sheets moaning like an animal in heat. 

He was so close to flipping Justin on his back and Brian would just Impale himself on his husband's cock. But then Justin held his thighs up exposing his hole. He positioned himself between it, spitting on his hand coating his cock with it and plunged in Brian's ass in one smooth motion.

Brian could still feel up to this very day the feeling and the sensation of being fucked raw for the first time. It was something that he never had before in his life. It was heavenly and euphoric and terrifyingly great. 

When Justin rammed in him so fast and so hard, kissing his mouth while growling into it, Brian thought he'd lost his mind. Then he felt it. He felt that hot sticky liquid coating his inside, it was running out of his asshole to the bed sheet. Holy fuck, and he hadn't even had cum yet. 

Justin stiffened on top of him for a while, then he slowly pulled out, cupping his hands on Brian's ass coating it with his cum that was still running out. He then palmed Brian's cock, who was incoherently moaning again, lubing it with his cum. 

And in seconds, Justin was impaling himself on his cock and rode Brian like he never had before. It was too much. He was sure he had passed out even just a second or two when he finally spilled his cum inside Justin's ass.

Goodness gracious, he wouldn't trade that for anything in the world.

Their last night in Italy, they promised to each other that they would always make this month their yearly celebration. A celebration for life, love and happiness. 

However life would treat them in years to come, they would always save this month to be just together, just the two of them, in another country. They had promised this the night before his procedure, too, and they both vowed to keep it always possible.

Michael was starting to distance himself from Brian and Justin especially after they came back from Italy.

Ted confessed to Brian, months after their return from vacation, that he was with Michael one night and had enough to drink. Michael just started to tell him things that was just too personal.

He told Brian he wouldn't tell him a thing if he thought Brian didn't deserve to know. But Brian was also getting frustrated and a little hurt by this unreasonable treatment from his best friend.

Ted told him that Michael admitted to always being in love with Brian. It never went away even though he was married to Ben. He was threatened by Justin's position in Brian's life ten years ago but he wasn't really scared of it because he knew Brian would come to his senses and dump the little stalker in one way or another. And he was right. He said he expected it too.

When Justin was gone, Michael said Brian seemed to be okay and he even went on with his life just how it was supposed to be, drinking, drugging and tricking. He never mentioned Justin's name and never hooked up with the same guy twice again.

Michael was back to his dreamland thinking Brian and him would really be ending up together in Palm Spring when they retired, Brian had promised him that.

Six years past, his trysts with Justin was long forgotten and Brian seemed to be forgetting the twink too. Michael was so confident nothing would shake Brian and Michael's plan of growing old together. Not when they were both single and on the way to that retirement.

When Justin returned, he didn't see any positive reactions from Brian and Justin seemed to be not interested with Brian this time around. But he said he should've known better because he knew the twink always worked when nobody noticed it.

He said he knew he must've blackmailed Brian or used his ass to get to him again because Brian obviously wasn't interested in anyone anymore. The suspicion started when he 'thought' he saw Justin in Brian's Vette one morning. He wasn't really sure because Brian drove fast but he had this gut feeling that it was Justin.

He started looking for small clues and unfortunately he saw it was Brian who he noticed looking at Justin longer than he should have. While Justin was still remained unaffected by Brian.

That was what made Michael see red and a lot of green. Because he was sure Justin was doing some voodoo on Brian to make him smitten with Justin. Or that Justin had some sort of things to blackmail him.

It didn't make sense, said Ted, but it was what Michael believed to be the reason of him being with Justin. He wouldn't accept any reasons, even Ted had tried, but he still believed to this day that Brian was doing this out of coercion.

Michael also admitted to Ted that he had searched Brian's personal documents at the loft and tried to see if he could find something that could point to him why Brian had been acting so crazy. But Brian had found him going through his papers and got really angry with him.

He said, he couldn't believe Brian to just throw what they always promised each other since they were fourteen. But Brian was in deep trouble already because Justin was sick and the twink had forced him to get married.

Though, he thought if Justin wouldn't survive the surgery, Brian would be free again to be with him. But Justin made it, and Brian was still acting like he wanted to stay married to him. He didn't even spend some time with Michael since they were back in Pittsburgh. 

And that's why he was drinking because he knew Justin had his hold firmly on Brian's neck and he didn't know how to save his best friend anymore when said best friend was so brainwashed with the cancer shit and dying.

Then he was invited to the housewarming celebration and his head exploded when he saw the mansion Brian bought for Justin. It should be his, it should be him and Brian living in that monstrosity of a house, not Justin.

He couldn't take it anymore when he saw Brian pretending to be happy and ignoring Michael who he was supposed to be with, who he had promised a life with.

And so he distanced himself, letting Brian realize what it would feel like not being in Michael's constant company. He was sure Brian would run to him and forget about his farce of a marriage.

But it was already more than a year, and Brian and Justin just came back from their Italy vacation. Michael was furious to even sit for awhile on their first Sunday dinner with Deb since they arrived. It was an awkward moment to see Michael fuming and literally spitting fire through his nose in his every breath. Brian and Justin actually hadn't really analyzed it too much. They guessed, it became the norm to them.

In summer, they made their promise to Gus a reality by telling him he would be the one choosing their ten days vacation. He was so ecstatic and had chosen to go to Disney world. 

Brian wanted to disagree but Justin already enthusiastically agreed with Gus and even suggested they should ask Mel to let Jenny come with them. Gus was jumping up and down and Brian realized that he would always want to see that smile on both his husband and son's faces.

When they asked Mel, she was choked by the suggestion and was misty eyed when she looked at them. She agreed immediately and called Jenny to let her know that she was going with Brian, Justin and Gus to Disney world in a week from that day. She was shrieking in delight and was hugging Brian and Justin and ran upstairs to her room to call her best friend.

Lindsay was wisely not giving her two cents. It was just so Mel wouldn't throw a tantrum again, and honestly, they were both walking on a thin line these past few months. Their relationship was on edge and anything could be a trigger for it to finally crumble down. 

Lindsay, as much as she wanted to be with Brian, she also couldn't live without Mel. She was mostly the one who was keeping this family in decent clothes, a table full of food and the roof on their heads. Until Brian could be that to her and Gus, she couldn't just let Mel go.

Four days before their vacation, Michael came barging in to Brian's office shouting about how Brian didn't have the right to just swoop in and take his daughter anywhere he fancied to.

So, in the end, the trip to Disney world was canceled because Michael threw a tantrum, feeling like Brian and Justin were taking the opportunity from him to go with his daughter for her first time in Disney.

Jenny was crying day and night but Michael wouldn't hear any of it. Mel tried to explain to Michael that he and Jenny could always go anytime he was financially ready. In the meantime, they could just let her be with his brother, Brian and Justin to enjoy her summer.

Michael didn't agree and threatened to sue her if she would insist. Brian had tried too, but their discussion would always veer to its original problem, Brian abandoning their promised.

"For fuck sake, Michael, I was fourteen at that time and was constantly abused by my father. I never intended to be in a relationship  whatsoever. Even me telling you about retiring in our old age, it wasn't as if I proposed to you that we should be together romantically. 

"It was about two old queens, waiting for their time to leave this world. Two old queens who were best of friends, who didn't want to die alone. You can't just hold my immature idea against me. And you shouldn't punish Jenny for something she wasn't even part of."

But, of course, Michael's stubbornness was far more important than Jenny's feelings. He ended up promising her to go next summer.

Debbie was so crushed for his two boys. She didn't want them treating each other like they were strangers, but goodness, she didn't have that much energy like she used to have. She had tried to reason out with Michael but he just turned around and left her house.

They ended up going to California. They stayed in LA and San Francisco for the duration of ten days. They actually had fun and visited Disneyland and many museums. The three of them enjoyed snorkeling and scuba diving lessons to actually diving. They also visited some underwater park.

Before Christmas came, Mel and Linds, announced that they had finally broken up. They just couldn't patch whatever rumple they were in. They sold the house and divided everything equally. They both found a two bedroom apartment and started living their lives separately.

Lindsay was trying to milk the situation by making Brian involved but then he stood his ground and laid his rules to her. He told her as Gus' father, he was responsible for Gus' well being but certainly not Lindsay's. 

And as to offer his assistance, he told her he'd pay half the rent's payment and would shop for Gus personally for anything he needed from clothes to his school needs. He'd have a delivery for some groceries every couple of weeks.

Lindsay was insisting that it was so unfair and so heartless of him to do that. She said she couldn't afford paying half of the rent and didn't have a decent job in so long. Telling him that Brian should at least house them in a four bedroom house and provide for them like the father he was.

Brian made it clear to her that he was taking care of Gus and only Gus. He advised Lindsay to start looking for a job that would help her pay her bills.

She was so furious and threatened to take Gus away. He said, he'd see her in court if that's what she wants.

It was a long struggled tug of war Brian had been in with Lindsay. She almost sued Brian seeking the help of her parents, but then Gus threatened to tell the judge that she was crazy and had been blackmailing his dad into marrying her.

In all this, Lindsay forgot that her son wasn't just a five year old child but was now eleven years old. He could fully understand what was going around him and he knew what his mother was trying to do.

That had stopped her from suing and began to at least redeem himself to Gus. Though, she continued to flash her green eyed monster especially when Brian and Justin would have relationship milestones. Like in the following week, the married couple was embarking on their yet another anniversary travel for a month to Switzerland.

When Justin graduated from PIFA, Brian had gifted him with a Mercedes Benz AMG GLS. It was a SUV that suited his need in hauling his art stuffs and canvasses. Justin was granted a driver's license just a few months before his graduation for not having an epileptic seizure for nearly three years.

They talked to Mel in summer, and this time they made sure not to let Jenny heard them, asking about visiting Disney world again. Gus wanted to go but the adults were not so sure if Jenny wouldn't be going with her father. If they would go they wanted to at least make sure Jenny was going too, even if it wasn't with them. They wouldn't want her to feel bad about not being able to go.

She said she'd try to talk to Michael, who now almost had no contact with Brian, to see if he'd be able to bring Jenny as he promised.

Few days later, Mel told them to go ahead with their vacation to Disney because Michael was bringing her in few weeks. She said Michael had already told Jenny of their coming father/daughter Disney adventure.

Brian, Justin and Gus had finally gone to Disney and it wasn't only the boy who had a lot of fun but the adults too.

Then summer gave way to fall and the school year had begun, but Michael hadn't been able to fulfill his promise to Jenny. It was disheartening to witness her looking dejected. Michael got into his 'point the blame to Brian and Justin' when Mel and Debbie called him out on backing out of his promise to her.

He got on with Brian being insensitive and tried to make him look bad in his daughter's eyes. How he wasn't loaded with money to just drop everything and go for a vacation. Mel had shouted back telling him that he shouldn't have promised her if he intended not to follow through or better yet think about Jenny for once and not just himself all the time.

That got another rift from the almost crumbling family's relationship. But Debbie stomped her feet down and told each and everyone of them that this family had been together for too long and had been through a lot already. They had always found a way to patch things up in the past and they would just continue doing so.

Three years from Justin's successful procedure, he started to have a small showing of his arts in a small various galleries. It started with Sydney Bloom just after Justin's graduation. Sydney contacted him because he saw the exhibit at PIFA for the graduating students.

He said it was Justin's work who had captured his attention and now he was asking if he had other work that he could see. He was interested in including him on his 'Featuring New Artists' that would run on Summer.

Sydney was so impressed with his work especially after knowing what he'd been through for the past years. In the end, he selected six canvasses to show with three new artists in the month of August.

That had gotten the attention of another manager of small gallery, but this time it was located in New York. They wanted six canvasses too to be shown in the month of December. And it was a domino effect since then.

On their fourth year anniversary that they spent in Australia and New Zealand, Brian had another gift for Justin that had changed their lives forever.

On their last night in Auckland, Brian handed his husband a parcel with a pink bow. Justin was laughing and told him that he didn't need another car and Brian should just keep the money for his new Armani collection.

Brian was looking at him with this intense gaze that somehow made Justin's heart race in just a matter of seconds.

"Open it. It's not a car. It's far more valuable than that." Brian told him leading them to the bed to sit on the foot of it.

Justin's hands shook a little. He didn't know what he'd find in that parcel and hoping it wouldn't be anything bad. Well, Brian told him it was valuable than his Benz. He bought him another house, maybe? But they didn't need a new one. He loved what he had now, they loved Britin.

When he opened it, it was an appointment to a clinic. He felt the air had been knocked out of his body and he was gasping just after few seconds. Brian was on him and telling him what the appointment really was and stopped panicking because he was freaking Brian out.

"Wha-what?" Justin breathlessly asked.

"I said, it is a fertility clinic. It's been four years, and you already graduated, have a career... So... I thought, it's the right time to have a.... baby?" Brian was looking at him hopefully. Justin's heart was leaping and he felt so happy. 

"This for real?" He asked, voice and face in pure ecstasy.

Brian nodded and hugged his husband kissing his temple lovingly. "You're already thirty, don't you think you're ready to get pregnant?"

Justin pushed him lightly and chortled, "Brian!" Then he wrapped his arms on Brian's waist. "I can't believe this. We really are going to have a baby!"

Brian nodded his head. "Yeah, we need to choose the surrogate though. I had narrowed it down to blondes, blue eyes with artistic talents."

"Are you serious?"

He nodded again, "One girl is a ballet dancer, another is a sculptor, I think we have a photographer, a romance novel writer and a student in astrophysics. Ages from 25 to 29."

"Oh my god, this is the best gift ever." Justin got teary eyed and Brian kissed him on his lips.

"Are you ready to be papa?" That made Justin cry even more. He nodded his head enthusiastically to answer Brian.

"Thank you, Brian. Thank you so much."

"I love you, baby."

They made the appointment after coming back to Pittsburgh. And after a few weeks, they chose Elise, the photographer, to be their surrogate. She was 27 and had been living a healthy lifestyle since college. She was witty too that made Justin missing his long lost best friend, Daphne.

The good news that Elise was on the way, came just after three weeks of the in vitro procedure. They had it on the first week of July and by the end of the month, Elise was already pregnant. It amazed them to know that they could even select a specific gender for their baby.

They broke the news about the addition to their family over the end of summer. They were just from a week vacation to Indianapolis, Indiana. Yeah, it was Gus' idea to go to a car racing competition because at 13, he already knew what he wanted to be when he got older, to be a car racer.

They told Gus while they were in Indiana and the kid was happy to know that he'd have another sibling, and this time, the baby was blood related too. Brian made sure to explain though, blood related or not, if they were parented by him and Justin, his mom or by his mama Mel, they would still be Gus' siblings.

Gus was old enough to understand it and they went back to Pittsburgh to break the news to the remaining cast of the gang.

Of course, as expected, it was met with mixed reactions. Ted, Blake, Eric, Cam-Eric's partner for two years-, Emmett, Mel, Jess, Debbie and Vic were all happy to receive the news. Debbie flew out of her chair and hug both Justin and Brian giving them a loving kiss on their heads.

Even Danny, Lindsay's boyfriend for three months, congratulated them for their good news. Michael looked like he was ran over by a twelve wheeler truck. He could almost see the formation of tears in his eyes. Justin, somehow, knew what was going on in his head. 

He knew Michael just didn't or couldn't move on from his childhood fantasy, and Justin could just imagine himself loving Brian that long, fantasizing about him, then all of a sudden someone swooped in and took Brian away.

He would despise that person too. And Michael had been honest with his true feelings against him since the start.

Lindsay though, was his biggest shocked. He had never thought she could be this cruel. Her hostility came out after his birthday dinner at Debbie's over four years ago, when Brian admitted to all about their relationship status. They all had witnessed him asking Justin for another chance, asking Justin to marry him.

It was like, Brian had opened the Pandora's box, and she just realized that her dream to be with her one true love could somehow come true.

Then she saw how Brian became this ideal boyfriend/husband-Brian, and she just couldn't help visualizing herself and him in a loving marriage with Gus and maybe another on the way.

The images were too good that she became desperate to make it come true, which in the end, cost her her marriage and Brian.

Now, her face was flushing and was glaring daggers at Jess, who was sitting on Brian's other side happily talking to Justin that she had to lean a little bit to Brian to hear her cousin better.

"Did you fuck her?"

Everyone had gone quiet and Mel called her name in between clenched teeth but it was ignored by Lindsay.

"Answer me, Brian! Did you fuck her?"

"Lindsay, what are you talking about?" Brian asked in irritation. He knew this would happen but he was still hoping to be wrong, even just this once.

"Her?!" She yelled pointing her fork at Jess who  flinched and had her eyes bugged out from shock. "Did you fuck to impregnate her? Did she and Justin force you to do this with her?"

Brian was so mad he narrowed his eyes at her. "She has a name, Lindsay. She is Jessica. And what is it to you if I fucked her again and again until she gets pregnant? Do I need to get your permission for me to stick my dick in another pussy?"

"Brian! The children!" Melanie hissed. Then Vic stood up to take Gus, who was already on a verge of tears, and Jenny who tightly clutched on Vic's hand.

"Lindsay, honey, stop this nonsense. You are with Danny and you two are great together. Don't do this, honey." Debbie told her in a soothing mothering voice, trying to calm her down.

"I'm afraid, we can't share good news like this again at this table, Debbie. It would always end up this way. I don't know why we can't all just move on and be happy with our lives. We can't pass through this shit and we would just go round and round in circles if you'd always react like a jilted wife, Lindsay." Brian was flushing too. He was too tired of this shit.

"I'm the mother of your child! Your only child!"

"But you are not my wife. You never were, never will be. I'll be having another child, mine and Justin's. And you just have to deal with that."

Danny shifted in his seat, looking uncomfortable and upset. "Brian, you don't have to be so crass--"

"So, now what? Those two are sharing your bed? It must be true that being a slut runs in the blood."

Brian dropped his utensils on his plate clanking it loudly then looked at Lindsay straight in her eyes.

"You don't get to insult my family, especially my husband. I don't care what you think, or what you do with your life, but just get the hell away from my family. For your information, Jess isn't our surrogate. And even if she is, or even if I fucked her, it is none of your fucking business. Get a grip, Linds."

So, the night was ruined yet again. But everyone seemed to be immune already and just moved on after that evening.

Elise was due on the second week of April and Brian and Justin convinced her to live with them at the manor when she was in her last trimester.

They also had their anniversary vacation on the whole month of March to South Africa. Though, their vacation had cost them thousands of dollars on phone bills alone, it was all worth it.

Bianca Isabelle Kinney was born on April 17, 2014. "Brian, are you sure she is biologically yours? She looks just like her papa." Emmett summed up what she exactly looked like. She only had a shade darker than Justin's blond hair.

She became the light and heart of Brian and Justin's little family, even Gus adored her very much. As she grew older both fathers tried to have the best time with both their children and they became even closer.

Brian was at the point in his life where he couldn't ask for more. He constantly found himself thinking of what he had done in his life to be given such a great gift. To deserve such a beautiful life.

Justin was his anchor, his beacon of hope, his heart and soul. He was simply his life. Justin was both his strength and his weakness, and praise to the one who gave human life, he had given them years and years of happiness together. Even after what had happened with Justin and his bouts against cancers, it was a life anyone could ever ask.

Bianca coming into their lives just solidified what had already been a great marriage. They maintained their own privacy and never let hectic schedules hinder their lives.

He and Justin still had their yearly month long vacation. At first, they were so hesitant to be away from Bianca and contemplated to skip it for few years. But then, Brian told Justin that they had promised themselves they'd do it every single year.

They talked to Jess and Emmett about this and they had all decided that Justin and Brian should just go ahead with their plan. They came to the conclusion that Justin should seek his mom and his sister's help. It was a great way for them to be with the baby and this way, they could kill two birds in one stone. Then both Jess and Em would stay at Britin with Nana Jen, Molly and the nanny to help with the care of the ten month old Bianca.

After that year, it became like a tradition that Nana Jen and Molly would visit for a month while the couple were going on their vacations. Jess and Emmett were always there to help them.

When Bianca was six, Molly got married to a French guy she met while vacationing in Paris. She moved to France after the wedding and Jen was convinced by both Brian and Justin to stay with them back in Pittsburgh.

Michael found a new partner, both in business and personal, when he was 44. The guy was named, Tony, an entrepreneur who wanted to invest with Michael. They met in a comic convention that spring and obviously hit it off right from the beginning.

Unfortunately, the relationship only lasted for over a year and Tony moved to another state. After couple of years, he started seeing Dr. David again, who came to his store after just few weeks of moving back from Oregon.

He was in his late fifties and had been retired from his profession for a year already. Michael kind of settled with him just for the sake of companionship. He had moved in to David's house after a few months of seeing each other.

Emmett, had a serious relationship once, meaning he had been with the same man for over a month. He was with a German named, Klaus, who was a client for his still booming party planning business.

They were together for almost three years and for Emmett's standard, it was already his forever. Unfortunately, Klaus' mom, who had  Alzheimer's, needed his only son in Munich. They separated on good terms, it just wasn't meant to be, according to Emmett himself.

Drew hadn't contacted Emmett even once. Even Emmett didn't think he was ever coming back, not when Drew had officially announced his relationship to an actor, Matt Baker, just a few years after Bianca was born.

Ted and Blake got married when Bianca was only four years old. She was their flower girl and Michael had attended with his new or not so new beau David. It was their first time to go out publicly together. Debbie's blood pressure got a little bit high when she found out his son was back with his arrogant chiropractor.

The newly wedded couple had lived contentedly. Blake continued to be a drug counselor and volunteered to numerous other non profit organizations that helped people who weren't able to fight the battle against drugs and alcohol.

Eric was married to his long time partner, Oliver. The ending of his five years relationship with Cam had made him miserable for a while. Justin became his confidante and you could even call them 'best friends'. His feelings for his boss had long been buried deep down in his heart. He understood that some things in life were just not meant to be and he was okay with it.

He met his husband in one of Kinnetik's functions and Oliver was a guest that time. He gave Eric his phone number but he didn't call. He thought Eric wasn't interested, but the fact was, he was still hurting over Cam. It was only five months since the breakup.

After seven months, they literally bumped in a restaurant downtown, and Eric was kind of moving on already and they agreed to see each other. They dated for four years and got married just after Bianca turned 7. Of course, she was their flower girl. 

They adopted a four year old little girl, Lauren, after two years of being married.

Mel was living with her long time partner, Cassandra, too. They shared one son, Isaac, which Cassie carried for them. She was seven years younger than her but she was already forty when she delivered their son. It was the time when Gus was entering his freshman year in college.

Jess was also married to Harvey, the son of the owner of Woody's. They met, of course, in Woody's in one of the gangs' outings. It was the time when Elise was pregnant with Bianca and Jess thought Harvey was gay, bar tending one of the gayest bar in the country.

Harvey thought, too, that she was a dyke and just looked from a far appreciating her beauty. Then he overheard her and Justin talking while ordering drinks for their table. He heard Justin said to her, "Jess, you should give him a second date. How can you know him better with only one date?" Harvey felt like he just won a lottery and he started to court her.

They dated for three years and got married just a year before Ted and Blake. They didn't produce any offspring though until after four years of marriage. They have two sons, Kiefer and Kieran who were only 11 months apart, almost like a twin.

Through all this, Brian was euphoric and felt so blessed with everything that he had. It didn't mean, that he and Justin were spared with some heartaches of their own, though. They were in fact, only humans, and inevitably took a left turn in one time or another.

Brian started cutting down his hours at the office since Justin's operation. He wanted to spend some time with Justin and it made him feel better to give his husband a ride to and from his classes.

But as years went by, and with the increasing demand of his work, sometimes, he couldn't just avoid the stress his work brings.

Brian never claimed to be a saint. And in all the years he was with Justin, he couldn't say he hadn't been tempted to trick, because he had. 

On one occasion, he was even this close to sticking his dick in a hot twenty year old Latino while on a two day business trip to Texas. His sheathed cock was already lubed and the guy's hot ass was up on air in his bed, on all fours, begging Brian to fuck him hard and fast.

He believed he was experiencing a mid-life crisis when he almost fucked that guy. He had just turned 45 and Bianca was only over three years old. They had this routine at home for a while now, like waking up at six with no sex, waking up to Bianca's wailing, making breakfast every other day, or settling the kid down and dressed her up for the day.

He'd go to work, go home and had dinner with his husband. Reading his baby her bedtime stories, making sure she's asleep, then he'd have a passionate love makings with Justin.

He loved his life, god knows he loved his family and everything in it. But sometimes, or maybe it had always been there at the back of his mind, he'd missed just being not on schedule and just be his wild self.

And so, for a number of years, he looked-yes- but hadn't even thought of tricking. Even when he had thought of it in very few occasions, like the one in Texas, it wasn't because he wasn't satisfied with Justin anymore. Because, god knows he was, he really, really was, but it was something that was burning at the back of his mind.

He was kind of feeling so low about himself for a while when he realized he was soon to be 45. He had this unsettling feeling that he really couldn't explain kept gnawing in his gut.

All of a sudden, he felt a little suffocated, a little monotonous and he didn't like the extra lines on his face that he saw on the mirror.

When the trip came, he looked forward for a bit of fun, not that he couldn't have fun in Pittsburgh, because they go out sometimes too. He already planned going out to a bar or club in Texas as soon as he stepped into the VIP lounge at the airport.

After his presentation and wowing his clients with his brilliance, it left him feeling bold and insouciant. He went out looking for that bit of fun that he was craving.

He ended up in one of the few gay clubs in Houston, basking in all the appreciative glances and blatant advances, eyeing the hottest ones he saw. It really made him feel good about himself and got a little nostalgic too.

A hot, young Latino, with olive skin and chiseled jaw approached him and asked him for a dance. The excitement was overwhelming and Brian found himself groping and grinding the guy on the dance floor.

They were necking and dry humping for the duration of two songs, then Latino boy asked if he was interested in finishing it in bed. Brian grabbed him and drove them to his hotel.

They were onto each other as soon as the elevator door closed and Brian was so out of it that he hadn't even realized he was kissing back when the guy went for his mouth.

They were out of their clothes just seconds after his hotel door was shut. Brian, high with pheromones, was sucking the guy's tongue while backing him to the bed.

When the guy's legs hit the bed, he held on to Brian and they both fell to the comfortable mattress without taking their mouths off of each other. Brian gripped on to the guy's hair mapping every crevice inside his mouth, enjoying the appreciative moans and the demand to fuck his ass already.

He flipped Latino boy on his stomach, searching his wallet for the packet of lube and condom. It was so ironic that Justin was the one insisted that they both had to have an emergency supply.

He squirted a dollop of lubricant on to his two fingers and shove it to the guy's quirking hole. Latino settled himself in all four, rocking his body in rhythm with Brian fingering him.

He was telling him that he was ready and demanded to shove his cock inside. He was moaning, "God, you're so good... Fuck my tight ass, come on..."

Brian donned the condom on his cock and coated it with lube. He positioned himself to the guy's ass holding his sheathed cock with his right hand and just placed his left one on the guy's lower back.

He was about to plunge in when the ring on his left hand caught the light. It was like, the light sparked from it, had sliced into his consciousness. In a matter of seconds, lust turned to guilt, as excitement turned to desolation.

"... I will always love you, Brian..."

An image of beaming Justin had flashed inside his head. The looked in his eyes, so open, so trusting and loving.

He was whacked upside down by the reality of what he had done. His heart was clenching and gripping with regret and despair. He felt his blood run cold.

The guy was complaining and was looking back at him when he didn't move after a while. "Come on, man. Don't do this epiphany shit when you are just about a second away from fucking me. This is cruel...."

Cruel? What was cruel was doing this to the man he loved, the only man he had ever loved. Who was now at home taking care of their little girl without any complaints while he was here...god, dear god, what had he done?

Minutes passed and he was still looking at his ring sitting with his soft but still sheathed dick. The guy turned on the bed facing him and nudged him with his knee.

"Shit, man. I know you are married, I saw your ring when you drank the beer at the bar. I don't care if you are, we are just having a little fun, is all. So, come on... I'm still so horny."

Brian looked up to him with guilt written all over his face. He swallowed the lump in his throat and said, "You better go now..."

"What?!" Latino sat abruptly looking incredulous. "I can't believe this shit! Look, why don't we just continue what we already started. You obviously intended to cheat on your spouse when you were sex hunting at the club earlier. You already did it--"

"I said get out." He said with more conviction, but honestly, he knew what the guy said was right. He was right to point out to him that he was obviously on prowl that night. He was looking for his prey in the club and was obviously intending to have anonymous sex with anyone. 

He was about to ruin a beautiful marriage to a beautiful man, and just for what? A few hours of pleasure? The much needed boost for his self confidence, that at 45, he could still attract younger studs to his bed? It was so petty and superficial that made him sick to his stomach.  

The sad thing was, as he realized his stupid slip-up, Justin would still be forgiving. He'd be hurting, that's for sure, but Brian always knew that Justin understood him like no one else can. He'd know the real reason behind his actions, he always did. 

But it didn't mean his husband wouldn't be heartbroken about it, and that was what Brian regretted the most. He didn't know what came over him to even contemplate cheating on Justin. Whatever his reasons were, whether he fucked the guy or not, it really didn't matter, he was still going to hurt his husband. He was still going to lose his trust.

He was jolted back from his inner turmoil by the slamming of the door. He was still looking at his ring for a while more before standing up to use the shower. He scrubbed his skin like he wanted it to fall off his body and he threw up a bit after realizing he had been sucking the guy's mouth since they rode the elevator.

He couldn't really think straight, and all he wanted to do was to go home to Justin.

He called the airline after showering and rescheduled his flight for that night instead of the next afternoon.

He got into Pittsburgh by three in the morning and he was entering their lawn before four. He parked his car in his usual spot and just sat there with the engine off.

He couldn't get the courage to get in his home and face his husband of eight years just to tell him he had broken his trust in him. He couldn't bear to see the pain in Justin's eyes when he would tell him what he had done. 

And it was all because of some stupid low self esteem rooted from a few lines on his fucking face and that nostalgic shit that had been cooping up in his fucking mind. Nothing was worth more than his family, nothing was worth more than Justin.

He was startled when the passenger door was opened and Justin sat beside him and closed the door. He was looking worriedly at him but Brian refused to take his eyes off from staring at the darkness in front of him.

"Brian..." Justin's voice was shaky, "You are scaring me, Brian. Please, tell me what happened."

Brian bit the inside of his cheeks as he was trying not to let his tears out.

"Hey, if this is about the account, it's okay, you know. There are still plenty of opportunities coming in. Brian... Please."

He couldn't take it anymore and he shook his head with tears running down his face. He wiped it on his sleeve and Justin was stroking his back lovingly.

"Brian..."

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Justin. I'm really sorry." He finally said, putting his head on his arms that was gripping the steering wheel. "I'm so sorry."

"Brian?" He tentatively asked, he knew Justin would draw his conclusion to his break down in seconds. "Wha-- ? Oh, god..." His voice had cracked. "....no." He whispered, voice full of pain and it was like a dagger stabbing straight to Brian's heart.

"I'm sorry." That was all he could think of saying to his crying husband. What else could he possibly have said to him than sorry? Even a million sorry wasn't enough, he knew that.

They sat there, letting their tears run down their faces and contained themselves a little. It was Justin, the stronger of the two, who had broken the silence.

"We should get inside. You need to sleep. We can talk again later today or tonight, okay?" He said softly to Brian and turned to open the door. Brian reached for his hand, Justin stopped and turned to him with questioning and painful eyes.

"I love you." He whispered. 

Justin stared at him for few seconds, nodded his head and murmured a soft, "Yeah, I know."

Brian went inside their home after half an hour more of sitting in his car. When he came inside their bedroom, Justin wasn't there. He went down to the kitchen, living room and to his studio, but Justin wasn't in any of them.

He began to panic, but when he went up the stairs again, he immediately knew where Justin would be in, Bianca's room.

He gently opened the door and what he saw just broke his heart into pieces. Bianca was lying on top of Justin's chest, both were sleeping soundly. Bianca was sucking on her thumb while drooling on her papa's shirt.

He could see the tension lines on Justin's face that he'd never seen since they were married. It tugged on his heart knowing it was him who put it on there.

He left the room with heavy heart and went to their bedroom to try to get some sleep. He thought he'd just closed his eyes when his little darling came in to the room and lying her small body on top of his chest.

When he opened an eye to peek at her, she was looking at his stubble and trying to feel them on her fingertips. Brian stared at his baby girl, who had blonde hair and blue eyes. His chest felt that familiar warmth that she always brings to him and Justin.

Justin.

"Hey, baby girl, did you miss, daddy?" He asked softly because she was still concentrating on sticking her little fingers on his chin.

She looked up and lit up when she saw him awake. "Daddy!" She scoot forward to kiss his lips. "I so missed you, daddy."

"I missed you, too, sweetheart."

"Papa misses you, too. We watched Yellow Summarin last night." Brian bit his lower lip. Justin always watched The Yellow Submarine with Brian even when he was only seventeen. He even told him once that it was their movie.

"I love papa so much, you know. Just like I love you, too, so much."

She was innocently nodding her head. "And Gussy, too."

"Yeah, and Gus, too. The three of you are daddy's whole world."

When they went down to kitchen, Justin was flipping the pancakes. He greeted them with a warm smile and Brian went to hug him from behind and kissed his cheek. Justin gently tapped his arm that was on his waist to acknowledge him.

They sat down to eat and Justin was a little attentive to Bianca. He noticed that his husband just ate half of his pancakes, which he normally had two servings every day.

"What are your plans today?" He asked Justin who was refilling Bianca's milk.

He looked up to him and kind of mentally searching his head. He shook it a little and said, "Tanya is coming at eight to bring Bianca to her ballet class. Em called last night and said he has his rare off day today asking for his favorite niece even for just a few hours after her class." He wiped a spill of maple syrup on the table.

"Aside from going to the local store down the road, I'd be in my studio the whole day."

Tanya was Bianca's nanny, working everyday except on Sunday, from eight to four.

Brian nodded his head, "I need to go to the office this morning, and maybe we can..." He paused to glance on his daughter. "...talk tonight?"

Justin froze up from cutting Bianca's pancake. He got visibly tense but nodded his head without looking at Brian. "Okay." He whispered.

Brian went up to take a shower and get dressed for his work. When he went down, Justin was talking to Tanya instructing her about Emmett's request. Bianca was doing her pirouette move trying not to fall down. 

She was so adorable donned in her pink tutu dress, with her hair up in a bun. Brian swooped her up in his arms and kissed her cheeks. She was giggling and talking a mile a minute.

Justin saw them all to the door, giving Bianca a kiss to her nose and pecked Brian on his lips. He waved a little to them when they were in their cars but closed the door even before Brian could back off from his parking spot, which Justin never did before.

It was killing Brian to see Justin trying his best to act as normal as he could in front of their daughter, when in fact, he was so crushed inside.

Brian promised himself to make it up to his husband. He would die trying to win Justin's trust back. He'd prove to him that he would always be the love of Brian's life.

He went to Kinnetik and gave the contract to Cynthia. She was kind of taken aback seeing him when she thought his flight wouldn't be leaving until after lunch that day. It was specifically Brian's request.

She wisely didn't ask him about it and just updated her boss about some things that had happened the other day.

Brian tried to clear his head and concentrated on his work the whole two hours he was in his office. But he was really distracted to the point he wasn't even seeing the letters he was reading. Everything was just messed up and Brian didn't even know how to begin to fix it.

He decided to just go home and maybe he could talk to Justin. They were both miserable and it was killing them inside.

When he opened their door, he was so sure that his husband would be in his studio as he told him earlier. So, he went up to their room and changed into his white tee and jeans.

He went straight to the studio to find his husband, but when he knocked, no one had come to open the door. He turned the knob and found it was unlocked, but Justin wasn't in there.

He thought that Justin must be still in the store just a few miles away and proceeded to go to the living room and maybe take a shot or two of beam. But as he came closer to their living room, he heard a faint sound coming from the media room.

He veered his way to the media room that was on the end of the hallway. The sound was the piano that Justin owned given by their friends for his 30th birthday.

The door was almost closed but you could still peep in it. When he did, he found his husband playing the keys and singing softly.

//... For it's true, you are my destiny
When you hold my hand, I understand the magic that you do, You're my dream come true
My one and only you...//

Brian was listening to Justin, looking through the narrow opening of the door. But then Justin started to choke up as he was singing the song.

Brian's eyes started to sting and he leaned his head on the door frame as his strength was leaving him.

Justin ended his song sobbing onto his hands as Brian moved inside the room and sat beside his husband hugging him tightly in his arms.

They both cried for the pain in their hearts. Both knew that this was going to cause a crack in their marriage. A crack that if not handled right would continue to get deeper until the whole thing would just crumble down on their feet.

They both wouldn't want that to happen. That was why they were so terrified and aching for what this might bring to their family in the future.

"I'm so sorry, Justin. I know it's not enough but I am truly sorry. I will not justify what I did because I know it won't change a thing. But, baby, I want you to know that it wasn't because of you. I swear, Justin." Brian said to his husband after they cried for some time. He pulled away to look at him in the eyes, they wanted them to talk about this. He was desperate for them to sort his mistake out. 

"I'm scared, Brian. I'm scared what this could do to our family. I don't want to lose you and Bianca. I don't think that I can survive that--" he said wiping his eyes as fresh tears were rolling on his face.

"We won't let that happen. I love you and Bianca and nothing in this world can ever change that. Nothing. I am really sorry for what I had done. I know it's not easy for you to trust me again, but, Justin, I am begging you-- to please believe me that this wasn't because I don't love you anymore or I wanted out of our marriage. That would never happen. Do you understand?"

Justin nodded his head and hugged Brian tightly. "Yeah, I understand. I won't let that happen, too. You and Bianca are my reasons for living, I don't want to live without the two of you, Brian."

They stayed holding each other after that and when Justin's stomach rumbled, they prepared a lunch and ate together in their media room watching some old movies.

Bianca and Tanya came after three in the afternoon and found his daddies napping on the sofa hugging each other. 

When the time they were all settled to retire for the night, Brian led his husband to their bed and started to make love to him. Justin was responding just like he always did when Brian initiated an intimate moments with him.

But after Brian prepared him, lifting the back of his thighs in preparation for his penetration, Justin turned to his bedside table and opened the drawer. He blindly searched for something inside and handed it to Brian after finding it.

Brian was so thrown by seeing the thing that Justin was handing him. It was a pack of condom. He stared down to his husband's face and saw a flicker of sadness in his eyes. God, they had been doing it raw for seven years and he ruined it in just a snap of fingers.

But he couldn't turn back time even how much he wanted to, they just have to move on from there. They have to move on and try to put back the pieces that he had broken. He wouldn't let it tear his family apart.

It was a few moments before he took the condom from Justin's hand. He didn't fuck the guy the other night, though he had kissed him but he stopped before he could penetrate him. 

In his mind, there wasn't really any difference if he had or hadn't stuck his dick in the guy's ass, he still cheated. He still had another man's hands touching his body, another man's tongue inside his mouth, and he brought another man to his bed with all the intention of fucking him six ways from Sunday.

He opened the condom by his teeth and he put it on his dick lathering some lubricant on it. All the while, Justin was just observing him quietly. And he rested his hands on Brian's biceps as he pushed his sheath cock in him.

It felt a little different yet still the same. It was just too long that they had been doing it without any barriers between them, but for Brian it was still Justin and for Justin it was still his Brian. 

They might not have that extra hot sensation when his bare dick met the hot linings of Justin's ass. But it was still them, and they always made each love making a special one for them. It would always be like that, regardless if it was bareback or not.

Brian spared Justin the details of his slip up. Justin didn't ask for it. Brian noticed though as days and weeks had passed, that Justin always telling him that he'd always be the most gorgeous man for him. A few wrinkle lines and gray hairs wouldn't change what he felt since he was seventeen.

For Brian, he'd taken it as Justin's way of saying 'I'd still love you even if you are old and gray. You'd still be beautiful to me.'

And that was the most important, right? The opinion of the only man that mattered, and not of those who only wanted a piece of Brian Kinney.

They both had tried to move on from that painful phase of their relationship and somehow Brian did his best to win back his husband's trust. He knew Justin had forgiven him, and he was so thankful for that, but he wanted his trust back.

That was about the time when Gus went to live with them. It was before his 17th birthday and came to Britin on Saturday morning with a split lip. He said he had a huge fight with his mom's boyfriend, Owen. Brian's mind just flipped off and drove off to Lindsay's apartment.

Lindsay was on to him as soon as he entered her door. She was yelling how Gus was adapting Brian's rude behaviors and that the kid shouldn't be tolerated to runaway whenever there was a misunderstanding.

Brian was so mad that he wanted to slap Lindsay for her to wake up from her madness. "Your boy toy hit my son, your son! Why are you shouting at me and not to Owen? You are crazy for letting anyone hit my kid, Lindsay. If you will just sit and let it happen, well, I won't. Where is he? Where is Owen?"

Owen, at that exact moment, came in from the front door with two six packs of beer in both his hands. He threw the cans on the sofa and rushed to Brian pushing him on his chest that made him stumbled back a little.

Brian pushed back and Owen started his tirade about Gus. Brian was steaming and he couldn't help but threw a punch at the guy's mouth after calling his son some awful names. Owen retaliated with his own punch that hit Brian on his left jaw.

That was the time when Justin came barging in and went straight to Brian. He helped him stand up and pushed his husband away from Owen. Brian couldn't believe Lindsay just stood there and didn't even react when her boyfriend was cursing Gus.

"Tell that little shit not to come back here if he will continue being stupid. He should know how to--" Owen started to say but Brian cut him off.

"Don't worry your sorry ass, you leech, my son is not coming back to this smelly dump. We are not stepping on your doorstep ever again."

"Brian, you can't take my son just like that! You have no right. It's your fault he has grown to be so rude and irresponsible!"

"I have no right to take my son from you? But your leech boyfriend has the right to hit him? You are crazy, Lindsay. You two better not try to come near my son. I'm going to Melanie now, I'm telling her to file for child abuse and domestic violence against you and your leech."

"Don't you dare bring Melanie into this! She doesn't have the right either. I'm Gus' mother!"

"Then act like one. But until then, you stay away from him."

Brian and Justin went directly to Melanie from Lindsay's apartment. She came with them to see Gus for herself and went ballistic when she saw him with the split lip. 

She went to Lindsay after and told her that she would be filing a case against Lindsay and Owen if she would continue to harass Gus from living with his dads. And Gus was almost 17, in a year, he had the right to choose where and whom he wanted to live with. She was hundred percent sure, it wasn't with his mom.

And as months progressed, with the four of them living in the house, Brian finally felt that Justin was finally moving on from the predicament that they had for a while. They both tried to get passed through that difficult time and had succeeded.

Lindsay was boycotting them all and didn't attend any family events, not until six months later. Vic had died from the complication of his sickness. He had been living with AIDS for so long that one of his medicine had affected his liver and that caused most of his major organs to collapse.

It was a sad day for their whole family to be burying their father figure to rest. But in some way, it was a relief for them all to know that Vic was now without pain. He had suffered too much already and the family just wanted him to be free of that.

Lindsay started to come over and they had known that she broke up with Owen a couple of months ago. He was now in jail for attempted murder filed by one of his friends that he intentionally hit with his car.

When it was time for Justin and Brian's yearly honeymoon vacation, Brian surprised his husband with their Greece destination. 

He said that when they were there on their honeymoon before, they hadn't explored the country that much. He said he wanted them to check Mykonos, Athens, Crete and of course Lesbo. He said he also wanted to be in Santorini where they had their first love making as a married men.

Justin knew that Brian just wanted him to know that he'd been so remorseful about what happened almost a year ago. Justin was truly beyond it, because somehow, he understood where his husband was coming from.

He was kind of transported back to when he first saw Brian. He was this no regret, no apologies, stud of Liberty avenue, who was so promiscuous and fucked his tricks only once.

Now, he was this responsible and loving father to Gus and Bianca and a great husband to him. It was crazy if you really think about it.

Brian handed him a laboratory result their first night in Santorini and Justin didn't say a word to him. He just slowly removed his clothing and walk nakedly to his gasping husband to remove his shirt and boxers off of him.

It was his way of accepting Brian's apology, his regret of betraying Justin's trust, and his promise of love to him. That was what matters to Justin, as long as Brian still loved him, they would always find a way to reconcile. 

Humans bound to commit mistakes, that was inevitable, he too had cheated on Brian their first two years together. Brian took him back when he came to Pittsburgh after he ran away for six years.

Lindsay, got married once, too. His name was Warren, a salesman in Big Q. He was 39 years old, eight years younger than Lindsay. They went to Vegas to have fun but ended up being married after a night of debauchery.

Warren was an extreme womanizer. Lindsay hadn't even attended Gus' high school graduation because she was arrested for aggravated assault of one of Warren's mistresses. Lindsay apparently, followed her husband one night when he went to one of his girlfriends.

She came back the next day and threatened the girl, who was only twenty two years old. She said, Lindsay came with an empty bottle of champagne, broke the bottom half of the bottle on her wall, then pointed the sharp edges at her.

Well, since the death of her mother, that was only few months before her marriage to Warren, Lindsay had lived the life of a princess. She received half the net worth of her parents' fortune a month after the reading of her will. It was 50-50 with her sister.

She immediately resigned from her work as a hotel receptionist and sold her small apartment. She bought a bigger one, with four bedrooms and a studio and a pool. She called Gus and asked him to live with her again, but he refused.

She met Warren after that and accidentally got married. The Union of the two wasn't as accidental as everyone wanted to believe it to be, according to the residence gossip queen, Emmett.

She was married to Warren until she was 52. He divorced her and even got half of her fortune, the one she inherited from her parents.

After the divorce, she needed to sell the house and bought a smaller one with only three bedrooms, but it was still on a street where only above average people could afford to live.

Years had passed, Gus graduated from college and Brian was so ecstatic that he bought his first born a Porsche 718 Boxster. It was so great to know that his son had shared his passion in advertising and had been interning for Kinnetik in the last three years.

Brian was fully intending to let him take his seat in few years. He was already 51 and wanted to retire before he hit 60. If he was being honest, he already wanted to retire in three years. He wanted to be with his husband, every minute and every second of his day.

A few months after Gus' graduation, Debbie got sick and contacted pneumonia. Her illness had escalated from there and she was just too weak and too old to fight it. In just a few months, she passed away peacefully. It was another desolation to their family and it was so hard to bid their last farewell to their adoptive matriarch.

Brian's wished was granted though, when after three years, Gus took over Kinnetik and became the CEO. At the age of 25, he and Ted felt that Gus was ready for it, and Brian thought that it was a perfect time too. 

He gave his good news to his son on the night before he got married to his long time girlfriend, Mia. Gus had already moved out from Britin just a month ago after buying his own house for his soon to be family. 

He was so happy to know that his dad had trusted him with Kinnetik. It was overwhelming actually, because he knew how much the business meant to his father. He vowed to himself that he'd never let his dad down. He'd continue to make it big and maybe make it even better in coming years.

His mother attended the wedding with her much, much younger boyfriend, Cedric. He was  only three years older than Gus. Cedric, though, was a motorcycle enthusiast who was currently out of a job since he got together with Lindsay. He was so busy riding his bike. She proudly said that they were already 13 months together.

Lindsay wasn't living in her suburban three bedroom house anymore, instead was now living with Cedric in a smaller apartment. She just couldn't afford the bills and expenses that she sold almost everything she owned. Lindsay was now even working as an insurance agent but it was still hard for her to meet their needs because Cedric's bike always needed some thing or another.

She was asking Gus for handouts and he was always giving it her. Then she would call again after two weeks to ask for more. In the beginning, he was kind of feeling sorry for his mother. After his wedding, he once refused to give her anything because he had just given the down payment for his new house and was swamped with a mortgage. She got hysterical and called him an ingrate.

Then she came to his office again the next day saying she really needed the money because Cedric's bike needed some screw or something like that. She also said that Gus was now the CEO of Kinnetik, a few thousand wouldn't be that much of a problem. Brian was on his way to Ted's office to finalize his last accounts and heard her shouting at Gus. That made his head explode and was in her face defending his son.

"You don't even give a thought that you are embarrassing your son in his own office? Why are you asking Gus for help with your bloodsucker's bike? Why can't he find work like normal people do so he can support you and his lazy ass? You have no shame, Lindsay. Your son is working so hard while you let your leech lounge in your house, then ask your son to support his sorry ass." 

"You are one to talk. Didn't you have your own boy toy and a leech lounging in your mansion?"

"Justin is not my boy toy. He is my husband for 16 fucking years. He is not a leech because he is painting and still selling even if it was hard for him to move his hand. I can't say that much about your toy. I can't even think why he can't work when he is perfectly capable of it."

"He can't because he is practicing!"

"Well, then." He turned to Gus who was holding his head in his hands. "Gus, she's your mother. It's up to you if you are going to support her leech of a boyfriend or not. It's your own goddamn money. Be wise, son."

Brian left Gus' office and headed to Ted's. It turned out, Gus hadn't given his mother money since that day. She was incessantly calling to his new house and even went there to shout at Mia when she couldn't find Gus.

Cedric called him the next day at his office and Gus threatened them to get a temporary restraining order if they wouldn't leave him and his family alone. Then, he found his car vandalized and slashed, one evening in the back parking lot. Gus cried upon seeing his dad's gift to him three years ago, totally wrecked. 

The police arrested Cedric because it was clear on the camera that he was the one who trashed his vehicle. Lindsay, slapped him across the face when he refused to withdraw the lawsuit. She told him he didn't deserve to call her his mother, if he would act so ungrateful toward her.

That was the last he heard from his mother. But his auntie Em said, she was living with her sister in New Jersey because she got into so much debt when she paid the fifteen thousand dollar bail for Cedric. 

When Lindsay was so broke and couldn't even bring decent food to their table, Cedric packed his bag and rode his bike away from her. Leaving her devastated, broke and full of debt.

Brian had officially retired and enjoyed his days of being a free man. Well, not really a free man, because there was no way he'd divorce his 42 years old husband, who would forever be the love of his life.

James Brennan Kinney was born just after eleven months from his parents wedding day. The day JB came into their lives was like  deja vu when Bianca was born 12 years ago.

When Brian had carried the baby in his arms for the first time, he felt the same euphoria he had when he held Bianca the first time. He looked at his husband, who was at his side, kissing him on his head. 

It was amazing to think that he was still in love with Justin for 26 years now. And with their family growing, Brian knew he couldn't ask for anything more.

Before they left the hospital, he playfully told Gus that he was really named after Justin and Brian, hence the initial JB. Gus just answered his father with a pat on the back saying a little mysteriously, "You'll never know... grandpa."

Unfortunately, just after few months of his grandson's birth, Blake got seriously ill. He had a hepatic failure after he and Ted were married for eight years. It was so sudden that Blake died just after two months of being hospitalized with complications to his liver. He was only 53 years old.

Blake's death shook Brian more than he was willing to admit. Especially since Justin's 40th birthday, his husband's right hand motor skills had deteriorated. It started from cramping, then shaking uncontrollably for less than 30 seconds.

The first time Brian witnessed it, they just came out of a grocery store and Justin was drinking water from a bottle.

His hand tremors, dropping the bottle to the ground, while his face had contorted in pain. Brian got freaked out and drove them directly to Justin's doctor. Dr. Landry, had agreed to meet them after two hours of waiting.

On that impromptu checked up, Brian wasn't pleased to learn that Justin had the cramps and tremors for more than a month now. Brian went ballistic upon hearing that.

The doctor gave him an appointment for MRI and full body checked up. The result was another scar tissue around his original brain injury. The doctor recommended a laser surgery.

In three days, Justin was on the operating table once again and Brian was in the waiting room sitting far away from his friends and family. Bianca was at home with her Nana.

He was praying for Justin's safety and it terrified Brian that Justin wasn't the 26 years old guy anymore when he had his procedure before. Age really was a great factor for ones surgical success, and even his little twink was aging, too.

He didn't talk, move or dare to go anywhere until after four hours, Dr. Landry came congratulating Brian for his husband's successful operation.

But from then on, Justin's hand motor skills didn't really fully return,not even 50%. Justin was still painting though, but it took him weeks to finish a single work. It didn't discourage his husband, hence, he'd possessed more patience than he had in his entire life.

Bianca grew up to be the version of a tall Justin. She got her dad's height and his wit too. She continued to be her parents' joy and happiness and it would never change even if she would find her way in the world. She would always be their little Bianca.

After Brian's retirement, he fully gave his time to his husband and daughter. He would laze around the bed with Justin until noon, especially if it was weekdays, and Bianca was at school.

They'd have a blanket spread in their backyard and just basking in the spring weather around them, lying side by side with his blond-not-so-twink-anymore-husband.

The three of them went to Iceland that summer and Japan on winter. Bianca was over the moon with her out of the country experience and was so excited to do it the next year. She was loving the idea that her dad was jobless and could travel anytime they want. 

It wasn't as if her dad was hard to tear from his work before, because they had traveled regularly in the past years. She had been traveling with her parents since the time she could remember.

Her first memory of her travels was to Italy with her parents and Gus. Her brother had requested it for his 18th birthday and she remembered riding the canoe. But if she looked on their family albums, it wasn't her first time going out of the country.

Last year, her parents brought her to Amsterdam and it was a crazy experience. Her friend Amy was so jealous.

Her dad and papa would go on to their anniversary month long vacation in spring, and they said they'd be going to Bali, Indonesia and maybe Malaysia, too. But they promised her to bring her to anywhere she wanted for two weeks in summer.

She was used to her parents being away for a month and she was kind of happy too that she got two very in love dads. She understood that her papa had some head trauma or something, and he was even operated two years ago.

Her dad said it was actually her papa's 5th brain surgery and that she needed to pray for him. She got scared but her dad said not to, because papa was a one stubborn man.

Then he was okay, he came back from the hospital, though, his hand needed more exercises, but her papa was home and still handsome. Yeah, that was what she heard from the mothers of her classmates when they would have parent meetings. 

Seeing her papa painting again, although, not fast like before, it made her really happy. Her dad was home all the time, too, and was always following her papa, until her papa shouted that he was okay.

That was kind of funny, because her dad would follow her papa even to the bathroom. The crazy thing was, they were hugging and kissing even more than they did before, and they were hugging and kissing a lot before. 

But, that was okay. Her best friend, Amy, said that she was lucky to have loving parents because hers were divorced and her dad was married three times already.

Then, after awhile, her dad said he was retiring. They went to his office to attend his party with so many people invited. At first, she didn't understand it, but Gus told her that it was like dad being jobless because Gus was taking their dad's work.

And it became more happier in their home. She always heard her papa now saying, "Brian, you're insatiable. To think you are in your 50's, you shouldn't have that kind of appetite still."

Bianca was confused. Her dad wasn't really a big eater, but her papa was always saying that when they were kissing on the sofa or even in the kitchen. One time, she saw them kissing on the stairs. And not to mention those times she found them kissing while lying on a blanket under their maple tree, and the swimming pool too. Okay, she saw her parents kissing everywhere, and like, all the time too.

But, it really didn't matter. She had  superb parents and she was glad that she was their little girl, and that made her the luckiest girl in the whole wide world.

Brian and Justin spent their 16 year anniversary in Bali and Malaysia. Brian was so careful though and he made sure every pill his husband needed were packed. He even had the certificate from Dr. Landry indicating Justin was safe to travel. The operation was almost two years ago, but it still shook Brian to the bone.

Justin was a bit pissed with his husband. He was so overly cautious. Somehow, he understood him. How many times would Brian have to experience waiting in a room while his head was being opened. And so, he let Brian get away with being overly clinging to him.

He had experienced it too, being freaked out, when Brian was diagnosed with diabetes five years ago. It must be all the lattes and sugar he put in his coffee. He was on his medication since then, but Justin was so scared that time, he still was.

When Blake died, he knew Brian was internally freaking out. Justin did, too. For how many times he had escaped death, he didn't know if he'd still be lucky the next time. And with Justin, everything always had a next time.

Ted was devastated after his husband's passing. But if he had few good things he had in life, surely his best friend, Emmett, was one of them. They were still inseparable. And after Ted was alone for almost two years, he let Emmett move into his house and be his roommate. 

He retired two years behind Brian's retirement and he was already sixty. He just felt it was time.

Jen passed away just before Ted finally retired. Molly came from France and Justin was in a funk for a while.

Not long after Jen's passing, David died from a heart attack. They all went to attend his funeral even though they really didn't see much of Michael since Debbie died. David made him sell his comic book store a year from their reunification and they were living in a suburban area of Pittsburgh.

Michael had his own circle of friends now and he didn't even set his foot on Liberty avenue anymore. They once saw him driving a luxurious Lamborghini and hadn't even waved at them when they were practically in his face.

Well, it didn't matter now though. As Michael was moving out of David's mansion and moving in to a small apartment. After the reading of David's will, he found out he didn't leave anything to him. Not the house, or any of his numerous vehicles, not even his rest house in the country. He only left him ten thousand dollars and left everything to his only son, Hank, and Hank's three children.

Michael was devastated and threatened to sue. When he confronted a lawyer, he said, Michael didn't have any rights to claim any of David's assets because they weren't married. It was also specified on the will that Michael was only entitled for ten thousand dollars.

Michael didn't have any choice but to move out and took the money from the attorney. He didn't know how he'd support himself now that he was 56 years old. He hadn't even worked for almost a decade now and didn't know what work he'd be able to do.

Ten years with David and he only got ten fucking thousand dollars!

The remaining cast of their gang, Brian, Justin, Ted, Emmett, Eric, Oliver, Jess and her family, Mel and her family, with Gus and his family, and Bianca, had all still continued being in a tight friendship. They still had their weekly dinners and they sometimes hung out at the beach once in a while.

It was amazing to witness their children interact and grow together. It was also amazing to be in a company of people who were with you, beside you, through thick and thin. 

Their friendship was tested by time, place and circumstances, but they were all still there- hanging on together. Somehow, it was calming to think that even if you would be gone in any moment, you'd be content to know your loved ones wouldn't be alone.

Brian couldn't be more happier with the time he had with his friends and family. He couldn't be more happier with the chance he had with his loving husband, Justin. 

It would make him much, much, happier if they had their 50th anniversary though. But what he had with Justin, as short as it was for them to be together in this lifetime, was more than what he had bargained for.

Twenty one years. Justin survived for twenty one years since his procedure when he was only 26 years old. His husband had a total of five brain surgeries in his short life of 47 years.

They had five years of being together after his retirement, and it was one of the best decisions he had ever made. When Justin had his 46th birthday, he had his first seizure after so long of not having it.

He called the ambulance and Brian was so terrified that he was almost thrown out of the hospital for fighting with the nurse. He just had a bad feeling about this, but he still let himself hope.

Turned out, Justin had a tumor again on the same side of his brain. Brian was aggravated because Justin just had his yearly check up five months ago. How come the doctor didn't find it then. Dr. Ong, the oncologist, said, the tumor was the kind that was rapidly growing and rapidly spreading too.

He had given them an option of removing it, but could possibly leave Justin in a vegetable state, or they could just wait out until Justin's body could endure and fight it.

"What are the chances for me if I'd choose the operation?"

"I'll tell you honestly, Mr. Kinney, it was less than 25%. You've been through five brain surgeries and now, your body was too vulnerable and a lot weaker for another one. Say that you get through it, I'm afraid that it can't endure much of the chemo and radiation treatment. But of course, it is just an option, the decision will always be yours, Mr. Kinney."

"How much time?" It pained Brian to ask but he needed to know. He was holding his husband's hand tightly like he wouldn't want to let go. And he never did.

"Without surgery, I'd say about six months, maybe less. It is spreading rapidly."

So, they decided not to have the surgery. Brian had cried for the rest of the night while Justin lovingly rubbed his back, whispering his love, and promises to his husband.

They stayed at the hospital for two nights. Luckily, when the seizure happened, Bianca was at Gus' house baby sitting her nephew. Brian called her to stay with her brother until they would take her back.

Gus and Bianca got alarmed and asked what had happened. Brian told them that Justin got nauseous that afternoon and the doctor said he contacted a stomach virus.

He hoped his children would believe him, but when they arrived at the house the next morning, they saw Justin was doing okay. A little bit paler than usual, but he was okay. And so, they both had thought it was really stomach virus.

They opted not to tell anyone, even Jess. The first thing they did, was to travel to Paris and visited Justin's sister Molly and her family. Brian, Justin and Bianca was there for two weeks and they made sure to spend time with Molly especially her two twins.

When they were back to Pittsburgh, they had a big pool party inviting all their friends and families. They were curious to know why the sudden party by the Kinneys, but they only told them that it was so long ago that they had a pool party. It was just time for another one.

They went to Greece for their anniversary, and lived in paradise for a month. They went on reliving their honeymoon and their second time there when they started doing it raw again.

The island, especially Santorini, became so much as part of their life. It was just too painful to even contemplate that this would be their last one together in this place. Brian cried on Justin's neck that evening while watching the sunset together.

Later that evening, Brian played their song, and took his husband in his arms and swayed them along with it.

//Only you can make the darkness bright
Only you and you alone
Can thrill me like you do
And fill my heart with love for only you//

The vacation seemed to lighten up Justin and even Brian. But people could see how one never went anywhere without the other. They had always been the shadow of the other, but this time around, it was as if they were both afraid to be away from each other. It was so obvious especially with Brian.

They were behaving like teenagers, too. With Brian being 58, it was rather adorable to see. Brian would feed Justin regardless where they were. They'd tickle each other like they were both twelve years old.

They had a simple yet so memorable birthday party for Bianca. Justin gave his baby girl a painting of the four of them, Brian, Justin, Gus and Bianca. 

There weren't any dry eyes at that moment, it was as if they all felt something or another when Justin and Brian hugged their daughter. Justin was murmuring in her ears that she was his most precious gift and to always remember that papa would always love her.

The painting was the last one that Justin made.

They also made sure to always attend the weekly dinners with their friends. Then, in August, they invited them for another pool party. It was actually the six month mark for Justin and they were both thankful that he was still well.

Thanksgiving and Christmas were held at the Kinney's. Their friends were so hoping for that, because it was still the biggest house among them. They all loved the idea where they could freely walk around without banging their heads on the other people's elbows.

Justin was obviously getting thinner though and seemed to be weaker too. Gus was always asking him if he was okay, but he would just smile and hug him, then squishing the four year old JB to his chest.

On January, Justin started to deteriorate faster. He couldn't stand for a long time anymore and they decided to tell their kids about the real situation of their papa. 

Gus and Bianca were sitting silently in the living room, as if they had a feeling that this family meeting was not a good one.

Honestly, Gus was feeling it in his gut for sometime now. But he couldn't really pinpoint what was happening, he just felt that there was.

Bianca was with Justin everyday and if there were physical changes from him, she wasn't really able to notice it. But over the past weeks, her papa was always tired and always confined to his room with her dad. They never left the house after Christmas.

When Justin and Brian came to the living room, Gus gasped at Justin's physical appearance. He turned to Bianca and told her, "I thought you said papa was doing okay, Binks? He doesn't look okay." He stood and looked his dad straight in his eyes. "What's going on, dad? What's wrong with papa?"

Brian was gesturing for him to calm down while he guided Justin to a chair. He was heaving by the time he sat down. Bianca was softly sobbing, it was from feeling the tension exuded from her brother who was already on the verge of tears himself.

Gus couldn't believe his eyes. He just saw Justin last Christmas, and though, he was a little thinner and paler, but he wasn't like this. Now, he looked sick, very, very, sick. 

Bianca called him after New Years, telling him their parents were cooped up in their room for few days now. He asked her if they were alright and she just answered that they seemed to be just fine. Though papa was always tired, she said.

He asked his dad, too, he said they were just feeling the cold of the winter and not to worry too much.

But now, oh god. Gus took his sister's hand and went to hug Justin who smiled at them lovingly. Gus and Bianca, and even Brian, was crying while hugging their papa. Gus was on the floor in front of Justin, Bianca was on her papa's side with Brian on the other.

Gus, his 30 year old son, was crying like he was five again. He was repeatedly saying, "Please be okay, please tell us you're okay, papa, please, tell us you are okay."

Justin hugged his children back. Shushing them and wiping their tears with his shaky thumb. He rubbed their backs and softly smiling to them as if telling his children it would be alright.

Bianca was just sobbing loudly closing her eyes tightly. No, she wouldn't think about it. Her papa was okay. He was fine. He was still young, he should be fine.

Brian tearfully hugged his family from Justin's side, kissing him on his cheek telling him they all love him.

Justin finally cried. His brave husband who fought all these impossible battles with only courage, determination and love for his husband and children as his weapon. His Justin who he loved from this earth to the life hereafter.

"Gus, Bianca, listen to papa. Hey..." He slightly tilted their chins up. "In life, we all go through ups and downs, happiness and sadness, love and heartaches, success and failure, it's all part of life. It doesn't matter if we don't get what we want, what matters most is we have what we need. And we have all that we need, and some more. I got you, Gus, Binks, and you, Brian. I've had the family and love and happiness any man could ask for.

"If I'm going, it doesn't matter. I know I'll live forever in your hearts as you are all going to be in my heart, always, wherever I may be. I'm happy to go knowing that I have a very loving and very strong son, daughter and husband that I'll leave behind. I know I'll always be with each and every one of you, every single day.

"Gus, I ask you, as father to his son, please take care of Bianca and Brian. Your father may not appreciate this, but he is not what he used to be. He is 59. Please, Gus, if I'm not here, you and Bianca, please take care of Brian for me. Promise me that, Gus."

Gus couldn't even find his voice to answer, instead, he took Justin's hand and kissed it while nodding his head repeatedly. He was sobbing so hard as Bianca and Brian did. They were all huddled together in one chair, getting strength from each other.

Justin explained to them what was his real condition and somewhat a victory of beating the six months mark. It was already the eleventh month. He also apologized to his children for not being truthful about it, they just didn't want them to worry too much.

The next day, Brian called all their friends to their home. Like Gus' reaction, all of them were shocked and worried upon seeing Justin sitting on a chair. Brian didn't make their guests wait for too long and started to tell them about Justin's condition.

Their friends were all tearing up. Justin was always the baby of their bunch whatever their age would be. In the end, Justin asked them not to be so sad. That he'd be with every memories he made with each and everyone of their friends.

In a week, Justin couldn't even sit anymore. Dr. Ong facilitated a house medical care and recommended a home care nurse. Brian hired four of them to be on 24/7 around Justin. He sat by his side and slept beside his husband whispering sweet nothings.

On Valentine's Day, Justin was already being helped to breathe by an oxygen tank. He was mostly unconscious all day, but Brian gave his husband a single red rose and a triple layer diamond encrusted ring.

He put the ring on Justin's right ring finger and kissed his hand, whispering, "I give you this ring, my love, as an assurance that when we meet each other again, that will become your wedding ring there. I'm not sure if god will give us a ring, so just to be sure, you'll bring it with you and I'll bring mine when it's my time. They said, diamond will last forever." He kissed Justin's ring.

"We'll get married there in wherever we will go after this life, Justin. We'll get married, I'll marry you, again and again and again." Then he kissed his husband on his cool lips. Feeling that it was chapped, he reached for the lip balm and rubbed some on Justin's lips.

Two days later, Brian was sitting beside Justin's bed. Gus and Bianca were playing scrabble on the sofa near the door, while Emmett and Ted were in the kitchen preparing lunch. Eric called a while ago saying that he'd come to visit later in the afternoon. Jess and Mel were coming in the evening. 

Brian felt his husband was squeezing his hand that he was holding. Justin hadn't been able to respond to anything anymore. But then, he was opening his eyes as Brian looked up to see his face.

When their eyes met, Justin gave him a small smile and Brian felt like crying. "Bri--Brian... Hey."

"Hey, baby. Hey, I love you. I love you so much." Brian couldn't resist to say it to Justin. It had already been a week since he had seen any reactions from him. Most of the days, he was just blinking his eyes for few times, then he'd close it again.

Justin was nodding as Brian lovingly caressing his cheek. "I know.... I love... You too...Brian... Always."

Brian kissed his lips, then kissing his hand resting it on his chest afterwards, letting Justin feel his heartbeat.

"Bri-- please... the... Song.... Our song... Play." Brian looked up at Gus who was now hovering together with his sister on the foot of the bed. Gus nodded and went to the turntable and play his parents' favorite song.

The song started to softly fill the room and they saw Justin smile a bit.

//For it's true, you are my destiny
When you hold my hand
I understand the magic that you do
You're my dream come true
My one and only you//

"You gave... Me... A ring... To take... to... Heaven."

Brian didn't expect Justin to hear him on Valentine's Day, but now he guessed, he did and it made his heart soar so high.

"Yeah, I have mine, too, see?" He lifted his right hand near his husband's face. "Don't lose yours, okay? Promise me, baby."

He smiled again, "Promise... Tell... Gus and... Binks that... Papa loves... Them."

Justin was breathing heavily and Brian heard his children crying together but he couldn't take his eyes off of his husband. "I will, Justin. We love you, baby. Gus, Bianca and I, love you so much. I will see you again, okay? I Promise you that we will be seeing each other again."

He nodded as he closed his eyes so slowly that it stabbed Brian's heart.

"I....wait... For... You... My... Husband."

"Yes, yes, wait for me. I'll be with you. I love you, Justin. I love you so, so, so much."

"...love... You... B..."

Brian felt it more than saw it. He knew when his husband took his last breath. It hurt so much. He thought, he had been preparing himself for this, but there was no way he could prepare for this kind of pain.

His children ran to their papa's side while the nurse was declaring what Brian already know.

"God... god... Oh my god. Justin--" he whispered still holding his husband's hand to his heart. 

Brian hadn't had many memories from that time. Gus told him that he had passed out before Emmett and Ted came rushing to the door.

In the end, just like Justin had told them, he'd be with them everyday of their lives. Justin was everywhere Brian would set his eyes on. He was in every beat of his heart and in every air that he breath.

Brian and Bianca continued to live at Britin and tried to fill the emptiness Justin had left them. Most of the time, Brian got through his days just fine, but when the time he retired at night he always end up crying for his only love.

***

"Dad, I'm not early. I'm on time. You just lost track of time, again. Come on, you'll be late for your appointment." Gus said standing up, heading to help his dad to put his 'treasure' onto its shelf. He turned off the turntable then guiding him to collect his things.

Brian always brought a book to his appointment and Gus wouldn't want his dad to miss it just because he forgot.

The said 'Treasure' was a scrapbook made by Bianca on their parents anniversary. It was only three weeks after their papa's death. He didn't know how she managed to do it for that very short amount of time, but she did an amazing job. Maybe it was her way of coping for her loss.

"Bianca called you this morning?" He asked while walking with his son to his car.

"Yes. She just reminded me. Like I can forget. Wait-- here." He guided him to the passenger seat. "You okay?"

Brian nodded and smiled at his son. His father was unusually quiet on their way to the dialysis center. Brian was having dialysis for over two years and doing it three times a week now. His kidneys had been damaged by his diabetes and he also had pneumonia last three months and was hospitalized for two weeks. Now, they said his heart might be affected too. 

Gus saw his dad rolling the big diamond ring on his right finger and had a somewhat soft smile on his face while looking on nothing specific ahead. 

He felt a cold air running down his spine and Gus felt his heart constricted with the realization hitting him square on his gut.

When Gus came to the clinic after two hours to take him back home, Brian requested to be driven to the memorial site where Justin was buried, where Brian was going to lay in for eternity, beside his husband.

Brian sat there for about an hour and Gus could see his lips moving as if talking to Justin, well, maybe his dad was really talking to his papa.

Brian was rolling the ring all the way to Britin and still remained silent. When he parked, Gus held his dad's arm and asked him, "Are you okay, dad?"

Brian looked at him intently, and smiled at him. "I love you, son. Remember that, okay?"

It felt like a dagger had stabbed him in his chest but he smiled at his dad and nodded. "I love you, too, dad. I'll come with JB and Julianna tomorrow, is that okay with you?"

Brian beamed at his son and got out of the car. Bianca was opening the main door of the house to their father and waved at him. He waved back and blew her a kiss.

Brian passed away in his sleep just four days after that day. Bianca found her father not responding when she was waking him up that morning.

It was really painful to bury your parents. Justin died just six years ago and his dad was already 65 but it was way too soon that it hurts so much. But as Bianca and Gus looked at the expanse of Britin's ground from their parents' balcony room, somehow, they were happy to know that their dads were back into each other's arms.

Maybe they were already exchanging vows in heaven and had gotten married already as their dad promised their papa. Surely, they'd be happy to be together again and this time there would be no ending.

They knew their dads were also thrilled for their honeymoon to be spent up there in the clouds or something like that. 

//Only you can make all this change in me
For it's true, you are my destiny
When you hold my hand
I understand the magic that you do
You're my dream come true
My one and only you//

The song was drifting softly from the room and various memories had been flashing through their minds. Memories that their parents had shared throughout the 30 years of knowing and loving each other. 

The siblings held onto each other as they bid their fathers  Best Wishes up in heaven.