Brian rolled his lips into his mouth, as he contemplated how he should answer. In the moment, telling Justin the truth seemed to be the only real option. In the moment, it had seemed right. The question was, now what?

He set his jaw and nodded. Softly, he said, "Yes, you."

Justin shook his head in disbelief. He trusted this man implicitly, though he had no idea why. His impulse was to believe him, but how was such a thing possible?

He asked, his voice tremulous, "Was I in love with you?" Justin couldn't see how he wouldn't be, but he needed to hear Brian confirm it.

Brian looked down and took a deep breath. That question shouldn't make him feel so desolate. But it just reminded him of his responses to Justin's declarations.

He lifted his head until his eyes met Justin's. He stated simply, "Yes."

Justin furrowed his brow and asked no one in particular, "How could I not remember something like that? I don't understand…"

He paused for a minute, but then glared at Brian angrily. "If you knew me, if we knew each other, how could you not tell me? I mean, especially if we were in love. The thought of other people knowing more about my life than I do drives me crazy!"

Suddenly, Brian interjected, "Wait!"

Justin looked up in surprise.

Brian replied, "What would you have had me do? These memories don't just involve events, but feelings. How was I supposed to tell you what we shared when you might have had no feelings for me or, at least, not the same ones? Wouldn't that just put extra pressure on you? The more I told you, the guiltier you would feel for not being able to remember (not feeling for me the way 'you should'), which might actually have the effect of blocking you more. Making you less likely to remember."

Justin stared at Brian for a long moment, but then admitted softly, "I hadn't thought of that. I'm sorry."

Brian snapped, "Don't apologize. My motives weren't all that pure."

Justin's eyes widened, and he froze, waiting for Brian to explain.

Brian confessed hesitantly, "I had hoped to (sigh)…I don't know…make a different impression on you. Put our relationship on a new track."

Justin smiled. "Well, if trying to date me was your nefarious plot, I think I can forgive you. I've had a wonderful time so far…"

Brian smiled in spite of himself, but then sighed. "I think we should just let our fate run its course."

Justin stared at Brian in confusion. "I'm not sure I understand."

Brian explained, "Last night, I saw you long before you saw me. I wanted to approach you, but I didn't."

A little hurt, Justin inquired, "Why not?"

Brian could see the pain in Justin's sparkling blue eyes ("How could they still shine like that when he was upset?")

He chuckled. "It's not that I didn't want to, Kitten. I'll admit that I was a little worried you would go home with someone else (he smirked) if only because you didn't see me. But what I wanted most of all was reassurance that we were, are, meant to be together. I've been wondering if you might not be better off with someone else…"

Appalled, Justin looked at Brian sharply. In an accusing tone, he asked, "How can you think that?"

Brian smiled and shook his head. He whispered, "If you knew everything, you might not be so sure."

Justin just shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Whatever I don't know wouldn't change my mind. I don't know how I know, but I am as certain of that as I am of my own name."

Brian looked down and blinked a few times. He wasn't sure he believed Justin, but just hearing the words made his heart swell with happiness. (Brian was making himself a little sick; his thoughts were especially lesbianic these days)

"But against all odds, you picked me out of a crowd, even though I was in a dark alley and you could barely see me. You dreamed of a man very like me every night for weeks. It seems that your subconscious remembers me, since you also knew my name without my telling you."

"What?"

Brian nodded. "Last night, when you were cumming, you cried out my name, but I hadn't told you what it was yet."

"I did?"

"Yup."

Brian added, "You already know everything you need to know. I have to believe that you'll remember on your own."

Justin didn't say a word. He just looked at the floor.

Brian inquired, "Do you trust me?"

Justin looked up, paused, and then nodded.

"Then, why don't we just continue as we were before? Let fate decide what you remember and when."

Justin smiled. He said brightly, "Ok. We'll let fate decide."

Brian cautioned, "But that means not talking about it with anyone else."

Justin laughed. "I know…that would be cheating now, wouldn't it?"