I do not own the characters to "Queer As Folk". They are owned by Showtime and Cowlip.

This AU story supposes that Brian comes to his senses about his feelings about Justin before he does in the actual series. It takes up where Justin is ending his trip to L.A.

Brian goes to visit Justin in Hollywood in a surprise visit on a Thursday afternoon. He phones Justin when his taxi is pulling up to Brett's house. Justin answers, "Hello."

"Hey, I'm here in L.A., in fact, I'm in Brent's driveway. Are you home?"

"Oh, my gosh, Brian! What a surprise! Yeah, I'm home. Just give me a minute and I'll meet you by the front door. Have the butler let you in. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"OK. Great." Brian could tell that Justin was genuinely surprised, which is what he was hoping for, but there was also an element of his hiding something, which was not pleasing to him.

Brian rings the bell and, Toby, the butler, answers. Brian says, "I'm here to visit Justin Taylor. He knows that I'm here."

"Very good, sir. I'm Toby, and you are….?"

"Brian Kinney." He sets down his bag.

"Of course, Mr. Kinney. Will you be staying for a while?"

"For the weekend, if it's OK with Justin."

"Very good. "

"Is Brett here?"

"He's in the study."

"I'd just like to say 'Hello'."

"I'll get him. Wait here, please."

Toby scoots out of the room and two minutes later Brett enters the room. He's surprised and pleased to see Brian. "Brian Kinney! The original Rage. Glad to see you."

Brian shakes his hand. "Great to be here. I'm surprising Justin with a visit. I hope you don't mind if I stay for a couple of days."

"No, not at all. I'd like some of the folks working on the movie to meet you – you being the inspiration and all."

Brian shrugs. "Sure, that'd be great. 'Creating' Rage was all Justin and Michael, though."

"Justin has been great to work with. Does he know you're here? I think he had a visitor today already."

Brian's heart sinks a little, but he puts on his front. "I just phoned him. He'll be right out."

As if on cue, Justin emerges from the back of the house. "Brian!"

They embrace, kiss and hug. Brett smiles at the two.

Brian has needed to be with Justin for weeks now and is so happy to be holding him again. "I'll be here until Monday night. Can you stand having me around?"

"I think I can handle it." Justin says with a big grin on his face. "I missed you."

Footsteps are heard from down the hall. Connor James enters the room from the same direction that Justin came from.

Brett introduces Connor, "Brian Kinney, this is Connor James. He'll be playing Rage in the movie. Connor, Brian here was the inspiration for the character. You'll be playing him."

Brian shakes Connor's hand. "You'll be playing Rage, not me. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm a fan of your movies."

Connor reciprocates, "I'm a fan of yours. And I'm a big fan of Justin." He gives Justin a one-armed hug and a light kiss on the cheek. Justin just smiles and allows the kiss. Brian reads that there's a little more than just a friendship going on here and his jealousy peaks a little. He suppresses showing it, though.

Justin offers, "Connor will be great playing the part. You should see him in his costume."

This is another sentence that slightly enrages Brian. The thought of this young hunk in shiny blue spandex, and Justin looking at him appreciatively, is bothering him. He can't let on, though, "I'm sure." He says smiling.

Connor says, "Well, it was nice meeting you, Brian. We'll have to get together to discuss the character of Rage. Justin, we'll talk later." He gives Justin a quick kiss on the cheek, and does the same to Brett. He waves and leaves.

"Come on back to the guest house. Isn't Brett's house beautiful?" Justin asks.

"It's amazing." Brian says, still wondering about Connor's relationship with his young love.

Brent says, "It was nice seeing you again. Make yourself at home. Toby will get you whatever you need."

Brian says, "I have everything I need right here." As he hugs and kisses Justin. He also sniffs him a little along his neck. He pauses for a second in his own thoughts.

Brett exits and Justin leads Brian by the hand to the guest house.

"Here we are. Home, sweet Hollywood home."

Brian looks at the ample guest house. He notices the slightly rumpled sheets on the bed. He inquires, "So, how was he?"

Justin looks puzzled, "How was who?"

"Oh, come on. Connor and you were fucking in here when I called."

Justin closes his eyes and lowers his head, "How did you know?"

"I can smell him on you. You know… that thing we do?"

"He doesn't mean anything to me. But, hey, I got to screw a movie star!" He is purposely acting flip about it.

"I can't tell you what to do." Brian is sitting on the bed now. He is looking wistfully at Justin.

Justin goes up to him to put his hands behind his neck. "You mean more to me than any casual fuck, you know that."

Brian puts his hands around Justin's waist and stares intently into his eyes. They kiss. Brian says, "You didn't kiss him, did you?"

"No. I followed the rules."

"So, this was the only time?"

"Well, we'd flirted before and I gave him a blow job at his place a couple of weeks ago. He's very sexy. But today was going to be the only time, for real."

Brian hugs Justin and whispers in his ear. "I want to talk to you about this. It's why I came out here." He pulls back. "Little did I know I'd find you humping a movie star." Justin starts to speak to protest, but Brian puts his finger over Justin's lips. "I have wanted to ask you this for a while." He sighs and bites his lip. "I want you and I to be exclusive to each other. I want to be the only one who has you. And you for me. I know I've said that monogamy is impossible, but I've changed my mind and I want to give it a go with you. If you'll agree."

Justin is taken aback. To hear this speech from Brian is amazing to him. What's the world coming to? "You're serious?"

Brian replies, "As serious as I've ever been. I need you to be mine and mine alone. Justin, I love you."

Justin gasps slightly and looks into his partner's eyes, "I love you, too." They embrace, following with a passionate kiss. "You never cease to surprise me. Why… are you saying this now?"

"I've missed you so much. I hate being away from you and not knowing what you're doing. I kept imagining you with various guys and the more I thought about it, the more it upset me. I can't keep on being this way. And, I'm tired of tricking when you're not around. I just don't want it anymore."

"I never thought I'd hear you say that you want to be mine alone or that you love me. I've wanted to hear those things for so long."

"I know. I'm sorry it took so long for me to say." They kiss again.

"Well, now that you've said it, would you like to show me?" Justin inquires.

"I would enjoy nothing more."

Justin smiles and heads to the shower. He silently knows that he has to wash off the Connor 'smell' before being with Brian. Brian joins him in the shower, but they save their lovemaking for the bed. They spend the rest of the day there, locked in each other's arms.

Later that weekend…

Justin offers, "I'm going to tell Brent that I'm going to be going back to Pittsburgh for a week for a break. I've earned it."

"Are you sure? I don't want you to jeopardize…"

"I'm sure. I know enough to know how these projects drag on. One week off isn't going to kill the project. I'm just assistant art director."

"And a damn good one, I'm sure."

"Storyboards are my life." Justin says.

"How's your hand been holding out?"

"I have to take breaks now and then, but, overall, OK."

Brian kisses the palm of Justin's right hand. "I'll be happy to have you home for a few days. Everyone will be thrilled to see you. You can fill Mikey in on the movie details."

"Yeah, that'll be great, but not as great as being with you. … Tell me again."

"What?"

"You know. Say it again." Justin begs.

Brian is being purposefully evasive. "What?"

Justin sighs and then prompts his partner, "I love you, Brian."

"I love you, too."

Before they leave L.A., though, Brett tells them that the plug has been pulled from the movie project. So, when Justin packs he packs ALL of his things to return to Pittsburgh. He's disappointed, of course, that the movie is done. Brian is sorry, too, but glad that this means that Justin can come back for good. Justin realizes that this is really the opportunity to start a new life with Brian back home. Now that Brian has taken the next step by requesting monogamy and admitting his love, Justin is filled with hope for their future.