Brian, Hubie (the judge who the mob has been trying to bribe or blackmail into obtaining convictions for its enemies and acquittals for its members), Billy (his 18-year-old hustler boyfriend, who, as it turns out, works for the mob), and I drive to where the Loading Dock (the bar in front of Mary's restaurant) used to be. To me, it seems like just a few days ago that Brian and I came here with Stephen (the first person we met in Boystown, who used to own the Abbott Hotel and who flirted with me shamelessly, mostly to nettle Brian) and Dennis (his younger, hipper, kind, and slightly silly boyfriend, who, strangely enough, had a "thing" for blonds). That night, Brian had decked a scary-looking bear who wouldn't take no for an answer. Unfortunately, Brian's chivalric behavior had earned him bruised ribs and a bruised jaw, but I had rewarded him with incredible mirror sex later that night, and we'd spent the next day in bed. When we weren't fucking, I was drawing Brian in various poses. That next night, we met the 16-year-old hustlers (Gabe, Raf, Nevan, Dan, and Sam) for whom Mary was mother hen.

As we pull up to the curb in front of where the Loading Dock used to be, I note that the bar is now called the 'Cell Block.' I wonder if Mary's restaurant is still at the back of the building. I also wonder, not for the first time since I'd woken up in the present, where the hustlers are and if they are well. I hope Mary knows.

Once Brian turns the car off, I step out and look down Halsted, remembering the walk to the Loading Dock, holding hands with Brian, and the incredible sex we'd had before that in C-Street's back room. Brian must be remembering, too, because he comes up behind me, slides his arms around my waist, and nuzzles my neck. Then, to my great astonishment, Brian says, his voice soft and husky with emotion, "Are you crazy? Why the hell would I want anyone here when I have you? I've never seen anyone as beautiful, and no one has ever made me want the way you do."

I turn, still very much in Brian's arms, and look into his eyes. He's smiling, and his eyes are bright, but they glisten with tears that Brian is no doubt struggling to keep from falling. I reply just as softly, just as huskily, "I can't tell you how happy you just made me. I want so much for you to want only me."

"There's no question that I do, Sunshine."

At that, I attack Brian's lips, his mouth, kissing him passionately, my own eyes filled with tears that threaten to fall. Brian, I observe with a painful twinge in my heart, kisses me back desperately, holding me so tight that it hurts a little, as though he hadn't seen me for years. Twelve years to be exact.

Our bittersweet reverie is broken when Billy snaps, in a voice containing both amusement and annoyance, "We'll never get anything done if you two stop to make out everywhere we go."

Brian chuckles, and I blush. We separate, but Brian takes my hand in his and leads me to the back of the building. Hubie and Billy follow. We walk past the side door, where we'd unwittingly been witness to the first segment of the Sam, Dan, and Nevan show, and past the place Brian had offered to be "my whore," fell to his knees, and sucked me off, to the door in the back. Brian must have been having the same thoughts because he squeezes my hand a little tighter.

To our surprise, Mary's restaurant is still there, and it's open. I smile at Brian. Maybe she'll be able to tell us where Dennis and Stephen are, if they still live. She was, after all, like a mother to Dennis.

We walk in quickly, an air of eager anticipation surrounding us, but stop dead in our tracks when we see the sign next to the kitchen, which used to read "Mary's Restaurant," but now reads, "The Halsted Diner." The rich brown tables and chairs that used to be here are gone, replaced with shining white booths and a long gleaming white counter with blue stools. A couple of waitresses in pink uniforms walk around delivering food and refreshing coffee cups, and the place is filled to capacity with businessmen having late lunches and families, early dinners. Crushed, but unsure where to go from here, we sit down at the only available booth.

*************

That morning, as Brian had asked, the hustlers come to the hotel. We had already packed our two small bags. When we had tried to pay for the room, Stephen had refused to take our money. Now Dennis and Stephen are both in the lobby, waiting to say good bye. Dennis hugs the hustlers and both Brian and I, although Brian is a bit uncomfortable during his hug, standing there woodenly, but then patting his back a little. Unexpectedly, Stephen hugs me, too, as Brian, glowering, watches. When I realize this, I pull away and shake my head. Maybe that wasn't such a surprise after all. Stephen grins broadly and pats Brian on the shoulder. Then he says good bye to the hustlers, shaking hands and ruffling hair. Just as we turn to leave, Dennis pulls me aside and gives me a small freestanding mirror. He smiles and says suggestively, "Travel size."

I laugh and blush. Then I follow everyone out the door. We take the Red Line back to Roosevelt and walk to the part of the river bank adjacent to the train tracks to wait for the 9:25 train. I'd purchased more maps, so I sit on the grass and begin studying them. I hadn't had much time this morning to plan, since Brian and I had been tripping (talking and fucking) until dawn. Then, feeling pretty wretched, we took a long hot shower and fell into bed. Dennis came in to wake us at 8am, bringing a breakfast tray. We'd eaten, showered again, and dressed, and, a few minutes later, the hustlers had arrived.

When I look up, I notice that Sam is stretched out on the grass, leaning back on his elbows, Dan is watching for the train, Gabe is standing reading a book, from the looks of it, the same book from the day before, Raf behind him, his arms around his waist and his head on Gabe's shoulder, and Nevan and Brian are sitting next to each other on the grass near me. The last observation is the strangest. Nevan and Brian, being outsiders by choice, are the least likely to be socializing, let alone with each other. In fact, after last night, I'd expected Nevan to be colder toward both Brian and I.

When Brian notices that I'm looking at him, he smiles, almost imperceptibly, and asks coolly, "So what's the plan?"

I smile back and reply, "Looks like we'll need to get off at St. Louis and switch trains. That should be a 6-hour trip."

Brian nods.

I smile brightly. "But…a couple miles before the train pulls into the station, there is a huge park, Forest Park. We could stay there for the night if you all want. There's a lake with two small islands in the middle and a boat house and, on the other side, there are restaurants, an art museum, and even a zoo!"

Brian teases, "Ooo! A zoo!" In a mock shy voice, he asks, "Will you hold my hand and buy me peanuts to feed the elephants?" Then he drawls, "I could call you, 'Daddy'; that'd be a little perverted, but, as always, I'm game."

I sigh, roll my eyes, and say, "Shut up, you!"

Nevan is nearly rolling with laughter.

Suddenly, Dan calls out, "The train!"

Brian, Nevan, and I all jump up. Sam follows, but more slowly. The train only pulled out of Union Station a couple minutes ago, so it's not moving too fast yet. We wait until we see two open cars at the end and then trot beside the train. Brian throws both our bags on, and everyone else follows suit. I jump right away (wanting to avoid, at all costs, what happened the first time, that is, waiting too long and then not being able to keep up). I'm still not very agile though, and I go rolling to the other side (thankfully, at an angle, so I don't roll out), hitting the far wall with an "Ooph." Brian is right behind me, but, of course, he manages to stop his forward momentum. I'm a little jealous of his agility, but I'm a little relieved that he doesn't go careening into me (he's taller and heavier, even in his current younger state).

Sam and then Dan follow. Once Nevan sees that Dan is alright ("Awww!"), he jumps on. Gabe, clearly nervous about the prospect of jumping onto a moving train, pales and balks, but, after Raf encourages him, he manages it.

That just leaves Raf. The train has started to pick up speed, so he huffs and puffs, pumping his legs hard to catch up. Brian and Nevan look at each other, as though communicating wordlessly, and then both head to the edge, leaning down and stretching out their arms. They each grab one of Raf's arms and actually lift him up and into the car.

Raf exclaims, "Wow! Thanks guys!" and then falls onto his back, trying to catch his breath.

I crawl into Brian's lap, and he slides his arms around my waist.

Gabe must have been very worried and now equally relieved because he does something I've yet to see him do, that is, make the first move with Raf, crawling over to him, laying his head on Raf's chest, and looking up at him sweetly. Raf's smile is as bright as the sun.