A/N: I wrote "Love That Never Dies" a few weeks ago, then decided later that there should be some lead in 'prequel' chapters, so I've been working on them with my trusted beta reader, JustBeAQueen.

Some folks think that Brian would have never talked to Justin once the blond moved to NY. While it might be true that Brian might never initiate the call, I can see his friends encouraging him to reconnect with his former fiancé. These prequels (Chapters 1-3) suppose that exact fact. Hope you enjoy!

Justin has been in New York for two weeks. He's talked to his mom and Deb about every other day, but he still hasn't talked to Brian. He knows that it's not like Brian to call and, frankly, he wasn't expecting it. He knows him and how he is. He'll wait for Justin to initiate the call. Justin misses him terribly, but can't bring himself to call Brian.

Brian is lonely now that Justin has moved away and he's looking for people to spend time with. Michael is spending a lot of time with Ben and Hunter. Lindsay, Mel and the kids have moved away. Brian hangs with Ted and Emmett at Woody's and Babylon. He thinks about visiting Ted, but realizes that not only would he feel like a third wheel since Blake moved in with him, but this is still Ted we're talking about here, so, yeah, not gonna happen. When he ends up at Emmett's for the 2nd evening in a week, Emmett decides that it's time to reconnect Brian with his out of town boyfriend. When Brian's not paying attention, Emmett gets the cordless phone and the piece of paper with Justin's phone number on it. He dials.

"Hey, sweetie! It's Emmett. How are you?" He then turns to Brian. "How's New York?" Brian locks eyes with him, which quickly narrow.

"Oh, OK. So, she's a good roomie, then? Good. Well, it's a start, right? Hey, Brian's here. Would you like to talk to him? Sure. I'll put him on." Emmett smiles smugly and hands Brian the phone. Brian scowls at being tricked into this.

BRIAN'S POV

That asshole, Emmett. If I wanted to talk to Justin, I would have called him myself. I don't need this. I'm trying to let Justin make a clean break and make a life for himself in New York. Oh, well, I guess I should say something now that the phone has been forced into my hand.

"Hey." Really eloquent.

"Hi, Brian. How are you?" Dammit! His voice coming through the phone makes my heart jump. Can't let on, though. Have to stay on top of things.

"I'm super. How are you?"

"Well, I have a mattress to sleep on at Shelby's. I just got a part time job working at an art supply store." I know that Justin is trying to sound positive, but I can hear some sadness in his voice. Of course, I don't know if he misses me. Damn, I realize how much I miss him. Must remain positive.

"A job is good. That'll help with your part of the rent, right?"

"Yeah, yeah. It's good." I can hear him sigh. I want to reach out and hold him right now. He says, "I miss you, Brian."

OK. There it is. He does miss me. After all he and I have been through, would it be so terrible for me to admit I miss him, too? I suppose it'd be OK.

"Yeah, me, too." That's all I can manage at this point. I have to close myself off into Michael's old bedroom so I can continue this conversation without Emmett eavesdropping. "There's nobody to dance with at Babylon that's as good as you."

I hear a soft chuckle on the other end of the phone, and then he says, "I'm sure you can still find plenty of guys, on the dance floor and other areas." He's testing me. He wants me to admit to tricking with other guys. The truth is I haven't really been doing that. There have been some men who've dropped to their knees for me, but nothing beyond that.

"Yeah, well you know. How about you? Hitting all the dance clubs, I'm sure." I'm joking with him. I'm pretty sure this isn't the case, but I figure if he's testing me, I'll throw it back at him.

"Not enough money for that." He's sighing again. Damn, I hate when he does that.

"If you need some dough, I can send a…"

"No. I don't want your money."

Ever the proud Justin. I knew he'd turn me down, but I have to offer. With my business as good as it is, it'd be so easy to send him a few hundred or more. I have to change the subject. "So, no clubs. What do you do for fun?"

"Most evenings I'm making sketches, coming up with concepts for future paintings. And I like talking to Shelby, my roommate. She's great. Sometimes we'll go get a beer." As he's talking, I'm getting hard. How does he do this to me? I find that just thinking of him gets me that way. There have been evenings when all I have to do is that, combined with a little self massage, to get me off. Why the hell am I wasting that time alone when I can share?

"How'd you like a little phone sex?"

"What?" I caught him off-guard with that one. Heh, heh.

"You know. Like we'd do sometimes when you were in L.A.. A little dirty talk…"

"Now?"

"Not now, my eager one. I'm at Emmett's on Michael's old bed. I'm not interested in doing it here. I'll tell ya what, I'll phone you tonight around 10 o'clock. Be sure to have lube, any accessories and a towel handy."

I can hear him chuckle into the phone. He sighs again. Then he says the sweetest thing, "Hell, Brian if you said two more sentences right now, I'd … need a towel." Then he makes this most delicious little growl. "The sound of your voice does it for me." Damn, now I'm even harder. I can't wait until 10 o'clock. I know I'm moaning a little, but I can't help it. Have to say something to make it stop. "Make it 9 o'clock." I hang up the phone, say goodbye to Emmett and rush home. Nine o'clock will be coming and, inevitably, so will I.