Epilogue
Friday evening, six weeks later, in the middle of December
An unusually excited Emmett had just left after helping him get dressed when Justin heard someone knocking. Emmett probably forgot something, he thought as he walked across the loft.
Daphne had made plans with him almost a week ago, asking him to keep the evening free so that the two of them could do a dinner and movie evening. But Brian had called in the afternoon, insisting that he cancel all his plans. Some visuals for a presentation had apparently gone terribly wrong, and they had to redo it over the weekend. The artwork had to be worked on first thing Saturday morning, so the shoot was happening Friday evening and apparently they were several models short. Brian had asked – well, more like ordered – that Justin step in. Luckily, Daphne had been incredibly understanding about cancelling.
Brian must be really tense about the shoot, Justin thought. He had actually sent Emmett over, outfit in hand, to make sure that Justin was 'appropriately' dressed. Well, any shoot that required background extras to be dressed in tuxedos must be pretty damn fancy, he figured as he opened the door.
"Mom, Mollusk…this is a surprise. Come on in, you two."
"Sweetheart, you look…beautiful."
Justin watched in surprise as his mother got all teary-eyed.
"Hey, mom, why are you crying?"
"I'm not…it's just, you look beautiful sweetheart. I…I haven't seen you for a while…"
"Wow…this place is awesome!" Molly was across the room in an instant.
"Mom, are you feeling ok? You saw me on Tuesday when I came over for lunch. Molly, don't touch anything, ok?"
"I know, I know…I just haven't seen you all dressed up for so long." At least Jennifer had stopped sniffling.
"Right…what are you doing here, anyway? I spoke to you less than an hour ago."
"Is it a bad time? Is Brian here? Were you about to leave?"
"Brian's not here yet…I just finished getting dressed."
"Oh, well, I had to pick something up for Molly and…oh what the hell. I knew you were getting all dressed up, so I wanted to come and see you before you left. Maybe take a picture?"
Justin stared at her, open mouthed. "You came here to take a picture…? Seriously? Mom, what on earth is going on?"
"Oh honey, nothing is wrong. It's just that I've barely seen you since you left home, and – "
"Mom, I'm not working anymore. Well, except for babysitting. I have a lot more time now."
"Molly, sweetheart, hurry up and come here before Justin has to leave. Now go and stand next to your brother."
"Mom, really, this is…" Justin rolled his eyes as Molly stood next to him, smiling brightly.
"Justin, will you smile? Please?"
Sighing in resignation, he smiled as Jennifer snapped some photos, then insisted that Molly take some of her and Justin, and even managed to set the timer and take a couple of the three of them together. Wow, she really went all the way.
"I was thinking, let's go shopping on Monday. You're starting college next month…you should spruce up your wardrobe."
"Can I come? Can I come?" Molly started tugging Jennifer's hand and she nodded in acquiescence.
Justin laughed. "Mom, I have enough clothes, really."
"Sweetheart, you're living here with Brian and he's paying for PIFA; he even paid for your hospital bill. I just don't want him to think that –"
"I told you, it's a loan. I'm going to pay him back once I graduate and start working. Besides, Brian's not like that, he doesn't count dollars and cents."
It was true. The money was a loan, and he was going to pay him back. Just like Brian's initial offer. And Brian really wasn't a dollars and cents person.
But the hospital bill, taking care of him, the insistence that he pay for everything…sure, he knew that Brian cared deeply for him – well, ok, Brian loved him, even though he didn't know it himself - but Justin was certain that some part of it also stemmed from the feeling of responsibility and guilt that Brian had, no matter how many times he assured Brian otherwise.
Justin must have told Brian a thousand times that if not for the fire, he'd probably have been hurt in some other manner or form, and what was important was that he managed to get away, and that the fire effectively got rid of Ethan and Joshua for good. But try and get Brian to accept his logic. It was probably easier to turn Emmett straight.
Justin was just relieved for now that they seemed to be making progress and finally moving forward from it, and he tried to pay attention to Jennifer, who was talking to him.
"- but still. We should be paying for your education, not him. But your father…anyway, never mind. You're my son, and I love you, and I couldn't be prouder of you and who you've become. I just want to do what I can, so stop arguing with me."
"I love you too, mom." Justin hugged her, and with his back to the door, he didn't hear or see it open quietly.
"They're getting all mushy." Molly stated, and Justin turned around to find Brian.
Brian was dressed in a suit – definitely not the one he left to work in – all black and he had a white silk scarf around his neck. Only the fact that both his mother and sister were in the room kept Justin from pouncing on the man. Brian looked smoking.
"Hey Molly. Mrs. Taylor. I didn't know you'd be dropping by."
"Mom wanted to –"
Jennifer quickly cut off whatever Molly was about to say, and judging from the little he heard, Justin was sure that had his sister been allowed to continue, his mother would have been extremely embarrassed. He would have been embarrassed as well.
"Brian, good evening. You're looking…good. I was in the neighbourhood, so I thought I'd drop in and say hello to Justin. We were just on our way out."
"Sweetheart, you…have fun at your…shoot, ok? Molly, come on, say good bye to Justin, we have to leave now…no no no, don't hug him, you'll ruin his tux! Molly…just, never mind, you'll see him on Monday."
Justin watched in amusement as his mother herded Molly out, bidding a hasty good night to Brian.
"You look hot. Is there a reason you're all dressed up?" Justin snaked his arms around Brian, kissing him deeply.
Brian was the one who eventually managed to tear himself away."Not too bad yourself, Sunshine. Now come on, I don't want you getting all messed up for the shoot. And I certainly don't want you getting late."
Justin sighed. "I suppose I'll have to wait till we get back home then…Emmett just left, by the way. And Daphne says you owe her."
Brian rolled his eyes. "I'll just bet. I heard you went to Lindsay's today; did anything else interesting?"
"Lindsay wanted me to babysit; said she had some errands…nothing else, really. Just lazed about, mostly."
"You're feeling ok, right? Tired? Does –"
Justin cut him off with another kiss.
"Brian, I'm fine. I've been fine for a while now. Really."
"You had some help in that department, if I recall correctly…have you given any more thought to Emily's offer?"
"Yeah…I'm still not sure if I should say ok, or just forget about it…what do you think I should?"
"I think that it's your decision, and you should do whatever you feel most comfortable with. I'm not going to tell you what to do Justin."
Justin glanced at Brian tentatively, and decided to press on with his next question.
"Bri, if I accept her offer and learn all this stuff…am I supposed to teach it to Gus when he's older? When he's sixteen?"
"You have any other children you want to be teaching instead?" Brian's tone was casual. Too casual. Justin grinned.
"You wouldn't mind?"
"Gus isn't even six, let alone sixteen. How about we cross that bridge when we come to it? Now can we please leave?"
"Right…how long is this shoot, anyway? And why are you all dressed up?"
"Client meeting. I'm dropping you first, and then heading for dinner."
He tried to mask his disappointment, and if Brian noticed anything, he didn't comment on it.
"Let's go…" Brian grinned at Justin. "Do I have to set the alarm, or will Mary Poppins be handling these minor details?"
Justin punched Brian lightly on his arms. "How many times do I have to tell you – I am not Mary fucking Poppins. Can you at least find someone a little more hip?"
"Sure. Sabrina the Teenage Witch?"
"And the same gender!"
Brian laughed, walking out of loft, and Justin followed, smiling and shaking his head at the same time.
It wouldn't hurt to be a teenage witch now and then, he thought, as the alarm set itself.
"The Marriott? Wow…this must be some fancy-ass shoot…Brian?"
"Hmmm? Just wait here a minute, ok? Don't go anywhere."
Justin rolled his eyes as he watched Brian walk up to the information desk. He couldn't see Brian's face, but the lady at desk was fawning. You should be so lucky, he thought, smiling to himself. Brian was back in less than two minutes.
"Why don't we get something to drink at the bar before I drop you?"
"Sure…won't I get late though?"
"Nah, we're early…I just checked. The…photographer's still setting up."
They walked to the bar, where the two of them enjoyed a round of drinks, before Brian phone started to ring.
"Hello…yeah…I'm at the bar…you're all ready?...yeah…ok…remember what I told you."
Justin looked at Brian curiously. "Who was that?"
"Cynthia. All is ready, it seems. C'mon, let's go."
"Cynthia's here? She comes for shoots?"
Brian sighed. "You really are one for questions, aren't you? Now remember Sunshine, smile for the camera ok?"
They were soon outside double doors that led to one of the halls (?), and Justin was surprised to hear music inside. He looked at Brian questioningly, but the taller man ignored him as he opened the door and, holding Justin's hand, led him inside.
"What the…"
Justin stood motionless at the entrance, staring at the room. Streamers, balloons , little twinkling lights…the room was decorated as if it were a prom…his prom, had he ever attended it. He remembered photographs from Daphne's evening at the prom looking exactly like this.
There was a dance floor, where Emmett was shimmying to the music. Daphne was there as well, dancing with Matt, her current boyfriend, dressed in a peach taffeta dress. Ted, in a tux himself, was doing the honours with Debbie, who glittered almost as brightly as the décor.
Lindsay (she had dressed in a violet dress; Justin remembered the conversation from Vic's birthday dinner) was speaking to Ben and Michael. Both men were dressed for the occasion.
He saw Melanie walking towards them, a drink in hand, and she winked at him as Justin caught her eye. He also registered Vic talking to Rodney, a man he had started dating recently, near the bar.
"Brian…I…"
"You're starting college next month. And no one should start college without attending their prom. A rite of passage, isn't that what they call it? Not exactly the biggest crowd, but…"
Try as he might, Justin couldn't stop the tears from springing to his eyes. Jennifer had known. Of course. That's why she had turned up at the loft, camera all ready. He squeezed Brian's hand.
"Thank you. Brian…this is…this is…perfect. The perfect prom…I…thank you."
"Don't thank me…I had very little to do with it…I just brought you here on time. All this," Brian gestured to the decorations, "is Daphne, Lindsay and Ben's handiwork. Blame them."
"I'm sure you had very little to do with it, except coming up with the idea." Justin leaned into Brian, kissing him.
"Cut it out Blondie, don't you get enough at home?"
Justin smiled, as he pulled away to look at Hunter.
"Speaking of home, how's life with the good professor and his wife?"
Hunter scowled at Brian. "They're making me study, study and study. Ugh."
Justin laughed. Michael and Hunter had both moved in with Ben, and Hunter was supposed to sit for the SATs, which he had never completed. After that, it would probably be college for him as well.
"Where's your date?" he asked.
"I'm thinking that you two might help get rid of that Matt dude…Daphne's kinda hot."
"Here's a heads up then; punch is going to get spiked later on, so you might want to make your move then."
"Brian!" Justin giggled, and he was relieved that the tears had disappeared. He was going to enjoy his prom dammit, not get all teary-eyed.
"You wouldn't!" Hunter was grinning.
"What? This is better than all the proms everyone in this room has ever attended. We're giving them a one they'll never want to forget. Now, Hunter, if you'll excuse us… "
Brian had shrugged out of his jacket, which he gave Hunter as he led Justin onto the middle of the dance floor, as the opening refrain from Ben E. King's Save the Last Dance for Me started playing.
Justin beamed, as Brian twirled his scarf around Justin's neck, swaying to the music.
"This is the best night of my life."
"Even if it's ridiculously romantic."
You can dance-every dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye, let him hold you tight
You can smile-every smile for the man
Who held your hand 'neath the candle light
But don't forget who's takin' you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin' save the last dance for me
Oh I know that the music's fine
Like sparklin' wine, go and have your fun
Laugh and sing, but while we're apart
Don't give your heart to anyone
But don't forget who's takin' you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin' save the last dance for me
Baby don't you know I love you so
Can't you feel it when we touch
I will never never let you go
I love you oh so much
You can dance, go and carry on
Till the night is gone
And it's time to go
If he asks if you're all alone
Can he take you home, you must tell him no
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darling, save the last dance for me
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darling, save the last dance for me
Save the last dance for me
Save the last dance for me...
It really was the best night of his life.
A/N:
At long last. It's finally over!
A humongous thank you to everyone who read and/or reviewed this story, and for those who put it on their favourite and/or alert list as well as everyone who sent PMs with all your theories of what might be going on.
Thank you, also, for somehow making it to the end of this crazy fic. :D
Love you all!
Justin would like to take this opportunity to specially thank Xrifree, Albiku and Reiselust161. If not for all of your requests, he's pretty sure that he'd have ended up dead.
And last but certainly not the least. Thanks are definitely not enough for Xrifree, who helped make sense of this story, encouraged me to actually write it, reviewed it, betaed it, answered my ten thousand ridiculous questions and helped unravel the plot. You rock!
I hope the ending is to your satisfaction ;)