Justin got off the plane in Pittsburgh and went to the baggage claim. There he saw his sister, who looked worn out and older than her years. Justin hugged her and didn't let her go while they walked towards the turnstile.
"How was your flight?"
"It felt longer than it was. I just wanted to get here."
"I know what you mean. I got here about an hour before you arrived. I couldn't wait at home any longer."
"How is she?"
"She's tough, but there's only so much fight against this beast."
"When did she find out?"
"She woke up the other day with double vision. I drove her to the emergency room and they took her in immediately. That's when I knew how serious it was." Justin stepped back and looked directly at his sister. "They took me back and showed me her scans. They told me and her right then and there that the tumor was too large and entangled there was no way to remove it." Molly started to cry and Justin pulled her in close as the alarm for the baggage claim went off. "She just nodded and accepted it. I held her hand and cried. What are we going to do without her?"
Justin tightened his hold and whispered in her ear, "We will survive and we will have each other."
"What about when you leave again?"
"We will figure it out."
Brian, Michael, and Ben sat in the living room of the Novotny-Bruckner house drinking wine. "Who would have thought?" Brian asked out into the air.
"That we would have kids and be okay parents," Michael joked.
Ben kissed Michael's hand he was holding, "Great parents. Brian, I never would have thought you would find your identity as a father, but you have come into your own."
Brian laughed. "I know right? Speaking of parenting, how's that other kid of your's?"
"Hunter is doing great. His job in Philly is keeping him busy. He loves working for the paper there. We make sure to print his articles every time he's published."
"From turning tricks to spinning words." Brian cheers'd the men on the couch and started to get up.
"You have no idea how many times today I wanted to call Gus 'Brian.' I wonder if Lindsey notices it too. He's so much like you." Michael followed Brian to the door with Ben right behind.
"Well, it's been…you know. I'll see you tomorrow." Brian kissed Michael and hugged Ben. Ben and Brian have become very close over the years and Brian couldn't see a life without Michael and Ben together. Ben hasn't been in the hospital much, so Brian hopes he will be around a lot longer than what people expect.
Brian walked to his car on the damp, cold night and looked back on the house that contained most of his 'family.'
Justin woke up after a long night of sitting by his mother's bedside. His back creaked as he untangled himself from the chair that his sister must have put in her bedroom. Tucker walked in with coffee in his hand. Justin never thought that this relationship would last, but since they first met, Tucker surprised him. He was kind and amazing with his mom. He treated Justin like an equal instead of a kid. When Tucker and Jennifer got married 8 years ago, Tucker asked Justin to be his best man and Molly was the maid of honor.
Tucker sat on the bed next to Jennifer and kissed her forehead. "Thank you for coming so quickly. I know how busy you can be."
"I would have dropped anything to be here for her. You know that. I'm sorry you have to go through this as well."
Tucker looked up with smile. "She has the best 10 years of my life. I wouldn't change that for anything even if I knew the future."
Jennifer laughed under her breath. "I know I wouldn't change it either."
Justin leaned over to the bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Rule number one: Never ask me how I'm feeling. Rule number two: Don't treat me like a child. And rule number three: don't sit with me all day, both of us will get bored and we don't want that." Jennifer smiled and leaned over to Tucker who bent down to kiss her like it was the last time.
"What do you want me to do, if you don't want me to sit here with you?" Justin asked after the lovers moment was over.
"Go out. You haven't been here for years. I'm sure there are people that would love to see you."
"Okay." Looking at Tucker seriously. "I'm going to shower then go out. I'll be back for dinner. If you need me for anything text, call, send a carrier pigeon, anything."
Jennifer looked sternly at her son, "Go."
Michael was at Red Cape Comics to open the store. He likes to open the store in the morning to open the boxes with the new comics. He leaves before lunch when the clerk, Jonathan, he hired a few years back, comes in to work. Michael unlocks the gate, then the door, and tosses the keys on the counter. He turns on all the lights and starts to put the money into the register when there is a knock at the door.
"Knock, knock. I thought I'd stop by and see how the place is doing." Justin leans in and smiles those megawatt teeth.
"OH MY GOD! What are you doing here? Why didn't anyone tell me? You look great! When did you get into town? How long are you here for?" Michael rushed over and hugged the blonde man.
"I got in last night. You're the first to know outside of my family. I don't know when I'm leaving. What were the other questions?" Justin laughs.
Michael pulls out of the hug and takes a look at the man he hasn't seen in a long time. And Michael couldn't help, but think, Justin is a man now. "Why are you in town?"
Justin's face turned grim, "My mother's sick. They found a brain tumor and she doesn't have a lot of time left. I decided to come and spend the last of her time here."
Michael hugged Justin again, but this time it was a hug filled with tender and care. He knew Jennifer and couldn't imagine his life without his mother in it.
"You haven't told Brian?"
"No. I didn't have any time to think. I got a phone call from Molly and then I hopped on the next flight."
"I'm so sorry. I'm happy you're here even if it is under terrible circumstances."
"I'm happy to be back. I felt like I was missing something for a while now and being back has really helped."
"Since we are finally in person, let's talk Rage."
Justin laughed and took out the pencil he always carries with him.
Gus was spending his morning with Brian and J.R. was out with Ben on campus. Gus was excited to spend time with his day. He's been in town for two weeks, but it was never enough time to be around his father.
"What do you think of this one?" Brian said turning to his son with gorgeous Armani button-up in his hand.
"Dad, I'm too young to have a suit."
"You are never to young to enjoy designer labels. Besides, I need to educate you before you get on the wrong path."
"Let's make a deal. We leave to go eat lunch now and you can buy me a suit when I finally stop growing."
"Deal because I'm starving. Where do you want to go?"
"Michael's? He said he going to make pasta since Ben will be on campus. Also, Deb will be there and I haven't seen her that much this visit."
"You really miss your grandma that much?"
"Yeah. She always slips me a five." Gus started laughing.
"Okay. Let's go."
Michael and Justin sat at the dining room table. Michael kept going back and forth between making lunch and working with Justin. It felt like old times again. Michael was filling in Justin on how J.R. was doing in school.
"So, why haven't you asked about Brian?" Michael looked at Justin questioningly.
"I don't know what to ask about. I don't want to know if he's found someone else, or if he's miserable, or if he's just the same. I don't know how I would be able to handle any information about him." Justin looked at his hands and the feeling of Brian's body under them came into his mind.
"Understandable. Onto the other kids. Hunter is still in Philly working for G Philly, the gay section of the news. He writes with such beauty, Ben is so proud." Michael beamed while thinking of his son.
"I try to read his articles whenever I can. His words just pop off the page. I try to follow everyone's progress, but it's hard at times." Justin drew another version of Rage where he and JT were going to vacation on a world that was suddenly taken over by reformists.
"How have you been? I've been trying to find your new artworks online, but there doesn't seem to be as many."
Justin paused and closed his eyes. "I don't feel inspired to paint anymore. It's difficult for me to think of something new. I've been in the same place and in a rut for too long. I need change."
"Do you think being home will help?"
"It already feels different here. I feel like the air is cleaner here."
"I don't know about that." Michael gets up to strain the pasta. "Sometimes going home is all you need to find yourself again."
"Thanks. I really needed to here that." Justin gets up and goes to the bathroom to wash his hands before dinner. As he closes the door behind him, he hears the front door open and a voice that he's missed for far too long.
Brian and Gus enter the house with a laugh. "You will never be allowed to drive my car," Brian jokes with Gus.
Michael looks at Brian with shock on his face. "What are you doing here?" He asks interrupting their conversation.
"Gus said you were cooking lunch and that Deb was coming over later. He wanted to see her. What's going on?" Brian looked at Michael full of questions. That's when he saw the drawings on the table. Rage. JT. Brian picked up a drawing and looked around the room when his eyes stopped on the one person he longed to see for many years.
"Hello," was all Justin could manage to get out before Brian was to him in three steps with his mouth on his. Justin melted under the kiss. Brian was kissing him like there was no one else in the room, including his son. Justin and Brian kissed like they were giving each other life.
Brian pulled away and put his forehead on Justin. Justin and Brian smiled at each other. Their moment was over when a young voice asked in a whisper to Michael, "Who's that?"
Brian turned from Justin with his hand in his and looked at his son. "Gus, this is Justin. Justin, you remember Gus."
"The last time I saw you, you were 4 or 5." Justin looked over and was surprised at the young man who he remembers as a child.
"Justin was there when you were born. He even helped to name you." Brian smiled and looked at Justin as if he was the only person in the world.
"I've heard of you from my moms, but not much." Gus went towards Justin and shook his hand.
"I've heard a lot about you from Michael. He's been catching me up. He's a proud uncle."
Michael looked at the situation and decided it was time to announce lunch.
