When Justin reviewed his notes over this year, he was surprised by how few memories there were.  It seemed that he'd been busy with PIFA at the time and not paying attention to what was happening with the gang.  He remembered vaguely something about Ted and porn but guess he hadn't paid much attention.

This time because he'd avoided the bashing and remembered most of the classes having already taken them he was doing surprisingly well.  He'd even decided to take on-line classes in business hoping to do much better.  In fact, things were going much better on all fronts this time around.

His only problem this time around was with Michael.  Michael who thought he knew Brian better than anyone.  Michael who made it plain to Justin that he would never be enough for Brian, that he was nothing more than the trick that stayed too long.

It was easy enough to stay out of Michael's way this time since he had never lived with Deb.  Actually from the very beginning Brian didn't seem to depend on Michael as much as he had before.  It sometimes bothered Justin but he was only too happy with how things were going that he didn't question it.

Brian was busy setting up Kinnetik, so when he asked Justin if he wanted to go to Babylon, Justin didn't think too much about it.  The gang was there except for Michael, who Justin didn't miss.

Suddenly Ted called out, "Hey, Michael!  Over here."

Justin almost choked on his drink when he saw who Michael was with.  He'd lost track of when Ben has shown up.

Michael seemed reluctant to join them but join them he did.  "Ben, this is Ted, Emmett, and Brian."

"Nice to meet you," Ben smiled and shook hands with Brian.  Now that Justin knew what to look for he could see the look of recognition between the two men.

"I thought you were doing inventory?"  Brian asked Michael.

"I was," Michael responded, though Justin thought he wasn't being completely honest.

"You look familiar.  Did you go to Penn?"  Ted wanted to know.

"Uh, Yale, undergrad, uh, then Iowa for the creative writing program."

Ted shook his head, still trying to place where he knew Ben.

"Ben wrote a book 'Are You One Too'."  Michael offered.  "Only it's spelled out R U 1 2."  He wrote the letters in the air.

Ted snapped his fingers.  "Yeah, that's where I recognize you from. I saw your interview in the Advocate.  I ran right out and bought it."

"Oh really, so you were the one?"  Ben joked.

"Come on.  You got great reviews.  You were so honest, so forthright, so ... revealing," Ted started out gushing, but then he seemed to be putting two and two together and stopped himself from saying more for which Ben looked grateful.

"Yeah, that's what writers do.  We cut ourselves open and bleed all over the page."

Then Michael dragged Ben off to dance.

Justin didn't bother to point out how HOT Ben was and as it turned out he didn't have to.  Emmett did.

"He's alright," Brian said and Justin would have thought that Brian didn't care except he knew the history Brian and Ben shared.

"Looks, brains.  He's a nice guy too, except for one thing," Ted said.  "He's positive."

Later that night, Justin and Brian were going at it hot and heavy.   He knew how lucky he was that he and Brian were not positive but sometimes he still wondered how it would feel to do it raw.  But he didn't say anything, he didn't like being called a stupid twat.

"Justin," Brian said getting his attention.  "I know what you're thinking."

Justin froze underneath Brian.

"You're so transparent.  You're thinking about how because Ben is positive, he and Michael will have to be careful."

Justin nodded.

"And you're wondering how it would feel for me to cum in your nice tight ass."

Justin swallowed and nodded again.

"I wonder that too.  But I'm not going to risk it.  I want you safe and I want you around for a long, long time."

Justin couldn't help but smile, happy to know that Brian cared.

A couple of days later Brian came home with Gus.  Justin ushered them both next store so he could show Brian the work he'd done on the second bedroom for Gus.  Brian loved it and as they sat on the floor playing with Gus he went on about how Lindsay had planned a party for her parents and they'd called up saying they weren't coming.

Thinking back Justin remembered that Lindsay's parents had shown up after someone had spiked the punch and everyone was pretty much high and making out practically naked.

"Why don't we skip the party and stay here with Gus, he can even spend the night?"

As it turned out they were able to keep Gus for several days.  What with Brian working from home and Daphne being around when Justin had school watching Gus was no problem.

Several days later Justin ran into Vic at the pharmacy while getting his allergy medicine.  This was not the happy Vic that Justin remembered.

"Hey, Vic."

"Justin, isn't it?"  Vic brightened up.  "It's been a while."  He reached for his wallet to pay for his meds.

The pharmacist shook his head.  "No charge."

Vic stood there in shock.  It usually cost him a fortune for his meds which was why he lived with his sister.

"New policy," The pharmacist said before going back to get Justin's prescription for his allergy.

Justin had always found it easy to talk with Vic, so he and Vic chatted like magpies as he walked back to Deb's house.  Vic invited Justin in for something cool to drink, which Justin gladly excepted.  They no sooner stepped in when they heard cursing and slamming of cabinet doors coming from the kitchen.

"I think you'd better go," Vic said wearily.

"Tell you what, why don't you come with me?"  Justin suggested.  It felt like high time that Vic got away from this house.

They ended up stopping at Woody's.  Vic evidently felt at ease with Justin.  He had all these pent-up feelings that he couldn't talk to anyone about, but something about Justin made it easier.

"Don't get me wrong, I love Deb to death.  She's seen me at my worst and was always there for me.  But lately...," Vic shook his head. "She makes me feel like she wishes I weren't around to remind her.  She actually said she wished Michael wasn't gay."

Vic sounded so forlorn and Justin wasn't sure what to say.  He knew he could say she'd get over it and mean it, but he couldn't.  Then he saw Ben walking in without Michael. 

"Hey, Ben."  he called and when Ben looked his way and came over but didn't seem to recognize him, "I'm Justin.  We met at Babylon.  I'm a friend of Brian's."   

"Oh right, Michael's friend."

"Yeah, we live together."

"I thought Emmett was Michael's roommate?"

"He is.  I live with Brian."

Ben looked surprised.  "Michael said his best friend lived in a loft but he never mentioned you."

"I'll bet," Justin muttered then offered him a beer when he remembered his manners.  "Oh, by the way this is Victor Grassi.  Michael's uncle.  Vic, this is Ben.  Michael's boyfriend."

"Michael's uncle?  He's never mentioned you.  Are you visiting?"

"I live with his mother."

"Well you don't have to worry about it.  Michael said he can't deal with me having AIDs."

Ben started to walk away, but Justin stopped him before he got too far.  "I was wondering if you were positive when you and Brian got together at the White Party?"

"You know about that?  Did Brian tell you?"

"I'm a Wasp.  I couldn't help notice the spark between the two of you when you shook hands.  Brian never could resist a hot guy, so I put two and two together and asked."

Looking back on it, Justin didn't know that much about Michael and Ben's relationship.  Brian didn't talk to him that much that he could remember about them.  He'd been so busy with his life that he hadn't delved into Brian's friends' lives.  Frankly, right now, he didn't want to know.  All he knew was that Michael adopted whoever he was with’s lead.  Michael had pulled too many things that Justin would never trust him again.  But did that mean that Ben needed to suffer?

The waiter set a bottle of beer in front of Ben and he picked it up.  "In answer to your question.  No.  It was a couple of years later.  I thought I was in a monogamous relationship and it turns out I wasn't."

Vic with a sad look on his face reached over and patted Ben's hand.  "I know just what you mean.  That's how it happened to me."

Ben looked at Vic in surprise.

"Vic's positive too," Justin said gently.  He could see the anger come onto Ben's face.

"He never mentioned a word about that." Ben fiddled with a napkin.  "Umm, if you don't mind my asking, how long have you been...?"

"Sometimes it seems like forever.  Actually, Michael had just gotten his first job with the Big Q."

The two men seemed to have a lot in common and Justin was beginning to get bored.  Then Daphne showed up.  She was jumping up and down with excitement.

"Hey, Daph.  What are you doing here?"  Justin asked.

"I've been invited to my first party.  You've got to come with me," she squealed pounding on his arm.

"Let me check with Brian and see if we have any plans," Justin said.  Something about this party worried at Justin's memory.

Daphne pouted.  "It's only for college kids."

"Ah, college parties.  Those were the day," Vic stated.  "I remember when I went to culinary school in New York.  The good old days."

"You're a chef?"  asked Ben.

"Was," confirmed Vic with a sigh.  "Those days are behind me now."

Unable to get a hold of Brian on his cell, Justin remembered his manners.  "Daphne, Vic Grassi, Michael's uncle and Ben a college professor.  This is Daphne, my best friend."

Arms wrapped around Justin's waist and a familiar scent floated to his nostrils as lips kissed his neck.  Turning in those arms Justin asked.  "Brian?  How did you find me?"

Brian jerked his head toward the door where Michael stood glaring, his arms folded across his chest.  He leaned forward to murmur in Justin's ear, "Evidently you are cheating on me with the Professor.  Since I needed to see you anyway, I decided to let Mikey lead me to you."

Justin looked up at Brian and noticed the twinkle in his eyes.  Brian sat down next to Vic and ordered another round of drinks while Daphne nudged Justin. 

"Hey, Vic.  Emmett's been trying to get in touch with you.  He's left a couple of messages with Deb."

Vic looked surprised.  "I never got them."

"Ah, Brian.  Daphne wants me to go with her to a frat party," Justin said distracting Brian.

"Justin, you're a big boy.  If you want to go...go." 

"I just wanted to make sure you didn't have any plans," Justin pouted.

Brian thought about that then asked, "When is it?"

Daphne happily told him dancing on tiptoe.

"No can do, Sunshine.  That's the day we have..." 

Justin squealed.  "You've decided to have the grand opening!"

Brian smiled widely.  "We figured there was no point in delaying."  He looked at Vic and Ben.  "Cynthia's handling invitations, so if you contact her with your information that would help.  Ben and Vic, as long as you're both here I have a proposition that you both might be interested in.  We'll need to talk with Justin's lawyer if you've got the time?"  He turned to say something to Michael only to find him gone.  "Oh, well, I can always give him his invite later."

Justin bit his tongue.  He was going to ask Brian if it was wise to do that.

"So, Daphne, would you rather got to a frat party, or to a grand opening that is white tie?"

Justin hadn't wanted people to know about his sudden change of wealth, so he was uneasy about this little get together.  He should have known that Brian wouldn't let him down.

They all pulled up to the estate where Ben and Vic were introduced to Marcus and shown into his study.  Brian sat in one of the large leather chairs while Justin sat on the arm.  Ben and Vic shared the dark leather sofa, while Marcus pulled open the small refrigerator and asked everyone's preference.  Since he was expecting the company, he had a platter of finger foods set on the coffee table.

"Brian, I thought Mel was your attorney?"  Vic asked.

"I use her for personal things.  Marcus is our business attorney," Brian informs him.  "I've decided to start my own ad agency."

Justin swelled with pride at Brian's use of our.

"Ad agency?  Michael didn't tell us you were starting your own business!"  Vic exclaimed, shocked.  Michael was always quoting Brian, complaining about Brian, or expounding on what Brian did or didn't do.  His not mentioning Brian going out on his own was strange.

Brian shook his head sadly.  "When I told him, he said I would be a fool to leave Ryder and go out on my own."

Vic sighed.  "What does he know?  I'm happy for you.  Is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Funny you should ask," Emmett said as he entered the room.  "Brian has graciously hired me to cater his open house and I'd like you to assist me, Vic."

"Me?  I'm an old man."  Vic shook his head.

"From what I've heard you were a top chef," Emmett retaliated.

"What would Deb tell you?"  Justin asked knowing pretty much that Deb would insist that Vic was too sick to do such a thing.

Vic thought that too.  "Fuck her.  She's been downright nasty to me ever since she found out that Ben here was wanting to date her precious son.  I just wish I had somewhere else to live."

"So, you'll do it?"  Emmett was delighted.  "You'll help me with the catering?"

"Hell yes," Vic responded.

Marcus had a thoughtful look upon his face as he brought out a folder from his filing cabinet and handed sheets to Brian, Ben and Vic.  "In the meantime, could you look over these contracts?"

"The thing is, one of the firms I've managed to line up is Remsen Pharmaceutical.  They are working on a new drug for AIDs.  I'd like to hire you both as consultants."

Ben and Vic exchanged glances.

 "Just how can we help?"  Vic asked.

"You both have this disease.  You can help by giving opinions on what works and what things don't work," Justin said.

"Look the contract over.  Talk with your lawyers then get back to us, we'd like to work with you," Brian suggested.

Everyone shook hands and started to leave.

"Mr. Grassi?"  Marcus spoke for the first time.  "Are you serious about wanting to move?"

Vic froze.  "Oh, that was just talk."

"Come with me.  I want to show you something," Marcus insisted.  He led the whole group out of the house and to the two-story garage behind his home.  They went inside past the two cars.  One a small sports car, the other a limousine. 

Justin wasn't sure why they were following.  He knew that the main house had been his Uncle George's and that it had been left to Marcus. Reaching the top of the stairs, Marcus pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the door and ushered them in.  "This used to be my place.  Here is a half bath, then there are two-bedroom, washer and dryer, a great room, along with a kitchen dining area."  He led them to a set of double doors that led out to a deck.  The place was fully furnished.

Vic and Emmett explored the kitchen, while the rest checked out the fireplace in the living area, then decided to check out the bedrooms.  The larger of the two had two closets and an en suite.

"This place is great, but there's no way I could afford it," Vic said.

Marcus laughed.  "I should have made myself clearer.  Now that I live in a big house, this place is empty and I admit to getting lonely.  I was hoping you wouldn't mind moving in.  If what Brian's told me is true, it would be nice to have someone who cooks."

Justin couldn't be happier.  Yet another thing changed on this timeline that had to be better than what had happened last time.