The next morning I awoke to him looking at me. He whispered in a rough voice, "Good morning, Sunshine."

I kissed him. "Good morning."

"Did you sleep all right?"

"Yes. The best sleep I've gotten in a while. Of course, we were pretty exhausted." He pulled me to him and I rested my head on his shoulder. I ran my hands over the sheets. "I love this bed."

"Then you should stay more often. I'll give you a key so you can let yourself in when you want to."

I leaned up on one elbow and looked at him questioningly. I couldn't believe that he was giving me access to his private domain. The whole idea of, what should I call it, dating, was pretty incredible from the night before … now he was letting me in – in more than one way. "A key to the loft?"

He smirked and reached for a cigarette from the nightstand. "No, the place up the street." He lit the cigarette and chuckled. "Yes, here."

"Thanks."

"Good. You should get some of your stuff from Deb's so you can be comfortable when you spend the night here."

We went back to the hospital and sat with the gang. Michael regained consciousness while we were in the waiting room. Ben called us in and Brian went up to Michael and held his hand. "How are you doing, Mikey? You had us all scared there, pal."

"I feel like a truck hit me. Other than that, I'm OK."

Brian placed a gentle kiss on Michael's lips. "I love you. Always have. Always will."

"I love you, too, Brian." He saw me standing behind Brian. "Hey, Justin. Did you come out OK?"

"Yes, Michael. I'm fine." I said. "I'm glad you're going to be all right." He nodded.

Brian stood up and put his arm around me. He kissed me on the cheek. I leaned my head against his shoulder.

Michael watched Brian's actions and gave us a look. He'd never seen Brian affectionate with anyone. "What's going on with you two?"

I looked at Brian, but elected to not say anything. 'Mikey' was his buddy since childhood. I decided to let Brian say what he wanted to.

Brian gave me a knowing look. "I've given Justin a key to my place. We'll be spending more time together."

"No shit." Michael was surprised.

I turned to Brian and smiled. He pulled me to him and kissed me. Then he said, "Yeah, we're going to make a go of it. Right, Sunshine?"

I just nodded, still being reticent about speaking.

Michael said, "It's not like you, Brian. Letting someone spend more than one night with you is unbelievable!"

I finally had the guts to speak up. "Brian and I agreed we don't want to go through life alone, so we're going to be, uh, dating … boyfriends …?" I searched for the right word that wouldn't offend Brian's sensibilities.

Brian offered a description, "A regular thing." I smiled and he kissed me.

The nurse came into the room to take vitals, so Brian and I excused ourselves to the doorway of the room across the hall for a few minutes.

I said. "I'm sure Michael is surprised that you and I are together."

Brian shrugged. "He'll have to get used to it."

A handsome male nurse walked down the hallway and his eyes roamed Brian the whole time. Brian returned his glance with a half-smile.

After the nurse walked past, I said, "He's hot."

Brian gave a dismissive look. "Had him. He's the guy I was fucking when Ted woke up from his coma years ago."

I smiled. How could I think there was a hot guy in Pittsburgh that Brian hadn't been with? "I remember you guys telling me about that." I looked at him thoughtfully. "Because I was going to say, if you wanted to go after him…"

He glanced at the disappearing figure. "Nope. No repeats." He looked back at me. "Except you." Then he moved toward me. "Besides, there's this smokin' hot guy that I can have any time."

"Lucky guy." We kissed passionately. I had something I wanted to talk about and this seemed the right time. "I just want to tell you that I'm not going to be going after any other guys. It's just you for me. But I can't expect you to do the same, considering your history."

"No, if we're going to do this, let's do this." He sighed. "I'm not going to be making promises, because I don't want to make any I can't keep, but I will say that I will do my damndest to be yours alone." He looked away. "I just can't promise that if I'm away on a three day business trip to Chicago and some guy at a bar offers…"

"I understand."

"Not that I'll be looking for it."

"It's fine."

The next Sunday, Michael had just gotten out of the hospital, so Deb's dinner was also a welcome home party for him. I had spent the night at Brian's, so we arrived together.

Michael was reclined on the couch, looking pretty good, considering all he'd been through. He brightened as we entered. "Hey, guys. How are you?"

"Great, Mikey. How are you feeling? Ready to hit the club tonight?" Brian asked as he sat next to him.

Michael laughed a little and then held his side. "It hurts to laugh. Knock it off."

Emmett and Ted were there, as well as Carl and Ben. Deb was buzzing about in the kitchen. Lindsay and Mel brought the kids. We all talked a little while and then I helped Carl set the table. Everyone gathered around and Brian made sure I had a spot next to him at the table.

Deb stood up. "Here's a toast to my son, Michael. It was a shitty thing to have happened to you, but I'm glad, as I'm sure we all are, that you're OK. Here's to Michael." We all raised a glass and drank. Then, Deb spoke again. She asked the same question every week. "Anybody else have any news to share?"

Michael looked at Brian and me. "Guys … Brian … tell everyone your news."

Brian looked indignantly at him. "Whatever do you mean, Mikey?"

"C'mon. About you and Justin…?"

Emmett looked at us, wide eyed. "Do tell."

Ted echoed the sentiment. "Yes, Brian, speak up."

Brian cleared his throat and looked at me. I shrugged. He looked back at the table full of attentive faces. "Justin and I are an item." There was surprise among the group.

Michael rolled his eyes. "That's it?"

I spoke up. "He gave me a key to his place. We're going to be seeing each other."

Emmett said, "That's great, you guys!"

Lindsay and Mel echoed similar sentiments, as well as Ben, Deb and Carl.

Ted, ever the skeptic, said, "And we're talking a personal relationship, not a professional one, right?"

Brian snarked, "Yes, Theodore, a personal one." I snickered a little. Brian turned to me and planted a big, hot kiss on my lips.

Gus jumped up and said, "Yay, Daddy and Jus'n!" He clapped his hands and ran over to where we were sitting. We both hugged him. He looked at us and asked, "Are you going to get married like my mommies?"

Brian grinned, "One thing at a time, buddy."

I said, "Maybe someday. Would you like that?"

He hugged me. "Yes, Jus'n. I want you to be my daddy, too."

I was overcome with emotion. The little guy had grabbed my heart as much as his father had. "I love you, Gus."

He buried his face in my neck. "'Love you, too, Jus'n."

Deb started to cry. Emmett was getting misty. I couldn't stop hugging Gus. Brian smiled warmly at the two of us. I felt like we were almost a family, in our own fashion.

Lindsay stood up and looked at us with a somber expression. She said, "This might not be the best time, but, Mel and I have an announcement, too. We can't put it off, I'm sorry. With all of the hate crimes and the hostile environment towards gays here in Pittsburgh, we've decided to move. We're going to take our family to Toronto."

The picture of my new family was shattered. I went from a great high to an incredible low. Gus was going to be taken away from me, from us. Everyone else in the room, including Brian, was amazed at the news. We all talked for quite some time, but the girls were firm. They were moving to the gay friendly city of Toronto. Having been subjected to prejudice and then being in the bombing, I understood their motivations.

Brian was silent on the way back to his place that night. I'd packed a bag after he asked me to stay with him again that night. Once we got to his place he stripped down to a robe and sat with a scotch in his hand.

I put on some sweatpants and sat next to him. "We'll still be able to visit Gus in Toronto. I'll go with you. It'll be OK."

"I don't want him growing up not knowing who his father is."

"I'll make scrapbooks and take photos. I'll set up e-mail accounts. There's this new ways of connecting via webcam over the Internet. Kevin in the art department was talking about it. We'll talk to Gus in a live video chat maybe once a week or so. He won't forget you."

Brian looked at me and gave a half-hearted smile. "It's no wonder Gus loves you."

I smiled at him and we kissed. He stopped short of telling me that he loved me, but I could see the light shining in his eyes. My eyes shone with the same light. He silently led me to the bed. We made love and slept, holding each other close.

I spent a lot of nights at Brian's, usually Friday through Sunday. We weren't really into a routine, though. There were always new things to do or try: backroom encounters at Babylon, a steam room tryst with some guy giving us both blow jobs at once, a hotel room with a hot tub for two. It was sexual pleasure like I'd never experienced before.

Brian was good about avoiding sex with other guys. Other than some oral play with another guy when we were together, I never saw him approach anyone else. He'd say "Not interested" to scores of guys every time we were out.

One day we were at Woody's with friends. Ted was there with Blake, who he'd hooked up with again after a ski trip. On the same trip, Emmett reconnected with an old flame, Cal, from Mississippi. They were both cohabitating with their new partners. It was good for Brian and me because, with his buddies in monogamous relationships, there weren't giving us (him) crap about ours.

On this particular night I walked up behind two queens who were talking about Brian.

"I hear he's dating that blond twink and won't fuck anyone else."

"That blond must have his balls in a vise. They're practically married."

My blood boiled. Those cunty queers had no idea what they were talking about. I had to do something. I stepped in front of them, much to their surprise. They gave me phony grins. I said, "I'll have you know that this blond doesn't tell Brian what to do. And, for your information, he gets some every night of the week and twice a day on weekends." I looked one of them. "When's the last time you got laid?"

He sputtered, "It was, well, a few days ago."

"Uh huh. And you?" I asked the other.

"It's been a while."

His buddy snickered. "He hasn't gotten any in at least two months."

I sneered at them. "For me, it was around three this afternoon, and I'm sure, if he doesn't nail me in the bathroom later, we'll go back to his place and fuck all night and in every imaginable position." I grabbed their crotches. "I suck, I fuck, I fulfill his every fantasy, as he does mine." I squeezed, putting their balls in a vise. "Don't pity him." They nodded intently. I released my grip and returned to Brian's side. He'd caught the last of my conversation with the boys.

"Nicely done, Taylor."

"Any time, Kinney. Anytime, anywhere…"

He made sure we were in full view of the pair of them. He licked me from my chest, up my neck and latched onto my ear. Then he spun me around and pushed his crotch to my butt. "You bet your ass it'll be all night." His hands slid from the back of my jeans to the front. I gasped and leaned back to kiss him again. Our observing pair had had enough of a display and they made a quick exit. Brian snorted a laugh, as did I.

Ted said, "Why is being steady with a guy so tough for queers to understand?"

Brian observed, "It's not because we're queer, it's because we're men. Men are always looking for the next best thing to fuck."

Emmett hugged Cal. "I, for one, could not be happier with my only guy." They kissed.

"Just make sure it stays that way, Em." Brian gave him a sideways glance. "No trips to see Dijon, like the mustard."

"Brian! That was years ago." Emmett remembered full well that while he was dating Ted he'd had a brief affair with Dijon, a sexy male flight attendant. Brian had told me about it.

Cal looked at Emmett questioningly. "Dijon?"

Ted jumped in to save his old friend Emmett. "Don't worry about it, Cal. When Emmett and I were first dating, it was still an open relationship. That's all." Blake looked from Ted to Emmett.

Brian smirked, "Yeah, OK."

I tapped him on the arm. "Shut up. Em's different now with Cal."

"Thank you, sugar." Emmett glared at Brian, and then smiled sweetly at Cal. "I love you, honey."

"I love you, too." Cal said.

Ted and Blake exchanged I love you's. I knew better than to say the words to Brian, though. He didn't believe in romantic love. I wasn't going to profess my love, leaving the words hanging in the air with no response. I just smiled at our happy friends.

Brian made a gag face. "C'mon, Justin. I believe we discussed something happening all night long?"

"Yes, I believe we did." I picked up on his cue and desire to leave. "Lead the way."

He put his arm around me and turned to our friends. "Goodnight gentlemen. I hope you all are very happy together."

Emmett smiled. "You, too, guys." Similar comments came from Ted, Blake and Cal.

Life went on for us. Lindsay and Mel moved to Toronto. Before she left, Lindsay saw to it that I had a gallery opening and it was well-received. Brian and I talked to Ted about Babylon and we decided to rebuild it – our 'fuck 'em all' monument to gay culture. Throw it in the face of those bent on destroying the gay community.

Kinnetik thrived, surpassing all expectations. Brian paid off the mortgage on the loft. I was promoted to Assistant Art Director when John left for a job in L.A.. Brian and I kept our work relationship professional. Other than a quick squeeze or kiss on the cheek, there were no public displays of affection. Well, I should mention there was this one time after Brian had been away for four days … heh, heh. Let's just say I'm glad there's a lock on that boiler room door. God, that was hot!

Eventually, somewhere about this time, I officially changed my address from Deb's to the loft. I was already spending most of my time with Brian, so it just made sense. I just announced one day that I was moving the last of my stuff. He said "OK." We packed up the last of my belongings and I moved in. It was just that simple.

We started a checking account into which we both put money. Any monthly payments we had were paid from that. I knew I wasn't putting as much into the kitty as Brian was, but it was important to me to feel that I was contributing.

And, speaking of living arrangements, my former roommate Andy called me and told me he got his own place. He'd given up hustling and was now working for group sales at the Pittsburgh Pirates ticket office. We didn't know whatever happened to JR, and, frankly, we didn't care.

About three months after Brian made our announcement about being together, I was out shopping with Emmett. We'd developed a close friendship and I've always found him to be a joy to be around. On that particular day, Brian had been out of town for a week and was due back that night, so I wanted to have something sexy to wear.

I came out of the dressing room wearing some cute boy shorts. I spun around for Em to see that EAT ME was written on the ass.

"Oh, honey. Brian will be all over you when you're wearing that! He'll be horny as hell by the time he gets home, anyway."

"Now, Emmett. Let us not assume that he hasn't gotten any while he was away."

"You two are monogamous, right?"

"I am. He isn't."

"Can't tame the beast, eh?"

"I'm not trying to. I love Brian and I'll do what I can to keep him. That means not forcing the wedge of fidelity in between us. I told him from the start he was going to be the only man I'm with, but that I didn't assume he'd be the same. Honestly, here in Pittsburgh, I'm pretty sure I'm the only one he fucks. Out of town is another matter."

"So, business trips mean extracurricular activity?"

"Sometimes. I guess. I don't ask. Occasionally he'll mention a hot guy he met, but doesn't tell me any details. That's OK." I picked up a shirt to look at it and sniffed the fabric. "It's going to sound crazy, but I can smell them on him when he gets back. Sometimes, I swear, I can imagine what the guy looked like just from the scent of him."

"My God. That'd piss me off, thinking of my man with someone else in a hotel room somewhere."

I shook my head. "After all of those years of hustling, I know how empty a stream of faceless encounters can be. I'm just hoping that, eventually, he'll grow tired of it." I returned the shirt to the rack.

"I suppose."

"And the more that I can do to satisfy him when he gets home, the better for me. Now, help me decide between the blue shorts and the grey ones."

"Blue, definitely."

A few months later I went to visit Daphne in New York for a week. When I returned, Brian picked me up from the airport. He gave me a big hug and a nice kiss. He asked, "How was your trip?"

"Great. Daphne's great. I had lunch with that writer from Art Forum magazine, Mr. Herbert. He gave me the cards of two art dealers. I contacted them and they're both interested in displaying one or two of my pieces."

"That's great, Justin. I always knew you'd be a big success." He kissed me again. "I have someplace I want to show you on the way home."

"OK? Where is it? What?" My curiosity was getting the better of me.

He smiled and said, "You'll have to wait, Sunshine."

While we drove I talked about New York. Brian listened attentively. The next thing I knew we were in front of Pittsburgh Perk.

"Are we stopping for coffee?"

"No, you'll see. C'mon, around back."

We walked to the back of the building and up some external stairs that led to the second floor. Brian had a key and opened the door. "Welcome to your new studio, Mr. Taylor."

I walked in and looked around open mouthed and amazed. There were huge skylights, a work table, slop sink, easels and a large shelf unit stocked with supplies. There was a grey couch near the window and a couple of folding chairs. All of the walls were painted white and you could still smell the paint.

"Brian, this is amazing! This is for me? Wasn't this an apartment?"

"Yes, I bought the building about a month ago and had all of the inside walls torn down, except for the bathroom, of course. There's a full bath with a big tub. I figured we'd keep the kitchen so you can feed the bottomless pit known as your stomach. The skylights went in this week."

Janice came up the stairs and knocked on the door frame. She was wearing clothes dotted with white paint. "Hey, Justin. Do you love it?"

"Janice, hi. I take it you helped with this."

Brian put his arm around her. "She's been great. My professional un-decorator. She saw to the renovations, actually and, as you can see, painted everything white."

"So, you like it?" She asked.

"It's a wonderful space. I can't believe you guys did this!"

Brian and Janice smiled at each other. She said, "I'm just finishing now, so we timed that right. I'll take off now and leave you two. Goodbye."

We said our goodbyes. She winked at me and ran down the stairs. I stood looking at Brian. "You're fucking unbelievable."

"I wanted you to get out of that old boiler room and into the light."

I hugged him and we kissed. I shook my head. "How many buildings do you own now?"

"Let's see. The loft, Kinnetik, Babylon and now the Pittsburgh Perk slash Taylor Studio."

"You are quite the real estate magnate."

"Yes. As a matter of fact, Ted has told me that I should consider forming a corporation as a holding company with all of the buildings as assets." He took a second and held my hands. "I've decided to make it a partnership." I looked at him questioningly. "I want us to be partners, Justin."

I was surprised. "Partners?"

"Yes, for the corporation and to protect us legally. If anything would happen to me, you'd be protected." He smiled. "And I can be half owner of all of the great paintings you'll be doing here, so I can get a return on my investment."

"I don't know what to say."

"Yes?"

"Yes!"

Over the next few weeks we signed what seemed like hundreds of pieces of paper, combining all of our assets. We also made out wills and medical power of attorneys. We were tied together.