12/2/07 – The new home

Two and a half weeks later, Mel and Lindsay and the kids rolled up into the driveway of a duplex not far from their old house in Pittsburgh. It was a few blocks over from Michael and Ben's home, too. Lindsay was taken by how beautiful the place was. There was a sign out front that said FOR SALE OR RENT. Brian had seen to Lindsay and Mel's furniture being moved in and hired men to put everything where he and Mel agreed it should go. He hadn't had much time to spend with Justin because he'd been seeing to all the details of the new home.

Jennifer pulled up in front of the place with Justin and Ava in the car. Brian had told Justin about renting the place for Lindsay and Mel and the kids.

Justin got Ava out of her car seat and Jennifer took her. She said, "Let's go see the nice new house, OK, Ava?"

Justin stood in the driveway with Brian. "So, you've rented half of this place, or all of it? I don't understand."

Brian said, "Actually, we haven't told Lindsay yet, but Mel and I are pooling our resources and we're buying it."

"That's great. Are you going to rent out the other half to someone then?"

"Actually, Justin, I'm moving in. It's a way for me to be close to Gus. I'll have my own place, but, one connecting door and we're all together."

"What about the loft?"

"Your mom and I listed it yesterday." Justin gave him a sideways glance. He'd heard that before. "For real this time!" Brian said with a laugh. "Come on in and look around."

They entered Brian's half of the duplex. Justin was taken by how modern and beautiful it was. There were marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a walk-in shower off of the master suite. There was a lot that reminded Justin of the loft. But there was something different. It was warmer, homier than the loft. There were carpeted areas. It was kid-friendly with no sharp corners visible. Brian was obviously figuring on JR being safe anywhere in the place. Gus was almost seven now, so not much to worry about here, but JR was still a little young.

Justin saw that a second bedroom contained nothing but a crib and a simple rocking chair. Brian explained, "When you and Ava are over, if she gets sleepy, I wanted her to have a place to sack out."

"Thank you, Brian. That's very thoughtful."

Brian had taken the liberty of ordering dinner to be delivered. Everyone stayed for dinner. The dining room table was set up on Lindsay and Mel's half of the duplex. Chairs were pulled from other rooms and they all sat, laughed and talked.

Mel chuckled, "I think this is the only thing that Brian and I have agreed on 100%."

Justin smiled, "A moment in history, right, Lindsay?"

Lindsay nodded. "You guys used to scare me when you'd make plans, like when I was going to marry that Frenchman, Guy. But, this … this is your finest work yet. Good job, guys."

"Thanks." Brian said. "Here's hoping for many years with a happy family and good health."

They all toasted and the party continued a while longer. Eventually, Ava got sleepy and Justin brought her upstairs to the crib and got her to sleep.

Brian watched as Justin put Ava in her crib. As he left the room Brian reached to embrace him. They kissed and smiled at each other. Brian put his arm around Justin's shoulders and they walked into the master suite. Justin planned on spending the night.

"So, she's down for the night?" Brian asked.

"Yes, I think so, for now. If she wakes up, I'll take care of her."

"You're a great dad. She's lucky to have you."

"Thanks. It's tough doing it alone." Justin sighed.

Brian curled his lip into his mouth as he smiled. He paused, and then said, "Then don't. Let me do it with you."

"Huh?"

"Now that Mel and I bought this duplex and I have all of this room, there's enough room for you and Ava to move in, if you'd like."

Justin looked at him skeptically. "You don't want to be living with a baby in the house."

"Don't assume that you know what I want." He paused. "If I didn't want kids around, I wouldn't have gone in on this place with Mel. Gus and JR are right next door, and let's face it, will be over here all of the time." He smiled. "I'll finally be able to get to spend time with my son on a daily basis."

Justin looked into Brian's eyes, "I know that you've wanted to spend more time with Gus."

"The other thing that I want is to be able to see you every day, too. And Ava… she's … she's wonderful. She's a reflection of you." He looked sincerely at Justin. "I've never raised a kid, but I'd like to do that with you."

"What about babysitting? When I'm with my mom I have her and my sister…"

"Mel and Linds are talking about having a nanny or sitter come in a few times a week. We can pay part of her salary to watch Ava, too."

"It's such a big change, Brian. Are you really ready for all of this? Going from being by yourself to being in a house full of kids … with a family?"

"A family…" Brian sighed. "You know what? That sounds so good. Yes, Justin, I'm ready for it, if that family includes you, and Ava."

"… and Gus and J.R…."

"All of it." Brian stood with his arms out to his sides. He pulled Justin up close to him so he could put his arms around him. "Let's do this together. Be with me every day." He whispered in his ear. "And every night." He kissed his neck.

"Mmmm. You are very convincing." They kissed. Then Justin pulled back to look at his lover again. "God, Brian. It'd be great to be able to be here with you, living together." He took a few seconds and then nodded at Brian. "I'm ready, if you are."

Brian nodded back. "Yes."

They hugged again. Justin held his hand so it caressed the side of Brian's face, "I love you."

Brian surprised Justin by his next admission. "Don't expect me to say this often or ever again, but … I love you, too." They kissed and hugged each other tightly.

Justin was so overwhelmed with his feelings, he knew he was crying through their kissing, but he couldn't stop. Apparently Brian didn't care because he didn't break from the kiss. Little did he know that Brian was filled with the same feelings as Justin, but he had years of practice to hide his emotions; but that didn't mean he didn't have them, that he didn't feel them.

There seemed to be new passion in every kiss from Justin. Brian, with his eyes closed, remembered the look of unadulterated surprise that Justin had just had on his face. Brian wondered why the fuck he had waited so long to admit his feelings out loud. He thought about how much time he had wasted when he could have been with Justin, and only Justin. For a brief moment, the fear and annoyance at being monogamous crept in, but when he compared their handful of sexual encounters over the last couple of months with the several he had had over the last few years without Justin… well, there was no comparison. He deepened the kiss, pouring all his unspoken emotions into it, letting Justin feel how he felt using the best way he knew how to communicate.

Justin couldn't believe that Brian was actually ready. Then when Brian seemed to pull Justin closer and pour all his energy and want and need into their kiss, Justin understood. His heart leaped in his chest as another tear streamed down his face. God, how long had he waited for this? It is so worth it, so worth everything. He sent a silent thank you to the heavens, to Stuart, who loved him so well while they were together. Their time together wasn't nearly long enough. But Justin knew Stuart would understand how happy he was to finally have his first love, his first lover be all his.

Brian pulled away to say something else. He cupped Justin's cheeks and gently smiled while kissing his tears away. "There's something else I want to ask you. Mel and I are technically renting this house while the owners get it set up for a real estate sale. When we're going to apply for the mortgage, Mel and I were going to co-sign. Actually, I'd be co-signing with the 'partnership of Peterson-Marcus'. I was wondering if you'd be interested in going in on it with us. Not that we need the money, but I thought you might like to own part of the property."

"That'd be great, Brian. I've been looking to invest in real estate anyway, so I already have money set aside for just that." Justin was happy that Brian asked him to be part of the investment.

"Well, then, we should form a partnership to keep everything legal, don't you think?"

"Do you mean…?"

"Justin, be my partner, my legal domestic partner. Spend the rest of your life with me."

"Oh, my God. I … I'm surprised that you'd ask me. You never cease to amaze me."

"So, what do you say?"

"Yes. Yes, I'll be your legal partner. I can't think of anything that'd make me happier."