A/N: Third time lucky. I've been having a few problems with this chapter ... mainly that no one's been able to read it. Then wouldn't let me log in so I couldn't fix it ... until now. :D

Thanks to the people who contacted me to let me know it wasn't working.

LIVE FROM THE COMMENTARY BOX

"So John, it's the moment we've all been talking about. One of the most hotly anticipated first NFL drafts in the history of the game, would you say that's right John?"

"I sure would Brad. The controversy surrounding this is more than any I've seen before."

"So I guess the question I have to ask would be; 'Brian Kinney, would you have him in your team'?"

"You know, Brad, I really think I would. You know the boy can play football, he's probably the best of all the potential new players this year."

"He didn't win the Heisman Trophy though, did he?"

"No, but everyone agreed that was an outrage caused by homophobic corporate America. I mean Kurt Baxley is a great player but Kinney gave him a lesson in playing Quarterback when the two came head to head last season. And Kinney won the ESPN fans vote every year for the Heisman Trophy and was won both the Walter Camp Award…"

"Aptly named."

"… and the Maxwell Award three times. He's the only player in History to have done that, Brad. He really is outstanding."

"Well that's not under debate. The question is, would having an openly gay player on the team cause issues in the changing rooms?"

"I don't see why it should. As long as he doesn't start chasing the other members of the team around the changing rooms I don't think it'll be a problem. Quite frankly, it's his ability on the field that matters not his sexual orientation."

"I have to say, I disagree. Having a gay player in the changing rooms could be incredible disruptive to a team. We all know how important it is for a team to all be on the same page and being gay immediately isolates you from the rest of the squad."

"I don't know, his college team didn't seem to have a problem with it. I'm sure the players will be able to adapt."

"Okay, so we begin and The San Diego Chargers have first pick."

"Yes, it was a very disappointing season for them last year."

"Absolutely and they could do with a new quarterback so the question is do they go for Kinney, Baxley or, well, if I were them I'd go for Foxx. Foxx is steady, will definitely do a good job but they won't need to pay a huge wage to keep it at the club."

"I agree. I don't think the Chargers will be looking at Kinney or Baxley. And, yes, it's Foxx that's been picked up there and that's a handsome wage as well. Okay, Steelers up next. The team from Pittsburgh never really recovering after the O'Malley injury left early on in the season."

"No. Now they could probably do with a new runner to replace Tonkin but if I were them, I might go for one of the big names and see if I could do a trade later on. Oh and there it is they've chosen Kinney. Brian Kinney has just been drafted in by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Well, I can't say I was expecting that. Though I guess it shows that the NFL have decided to overlook his sexuality."

"I'm going to throw this out there though Brad. Kinney does not look happy about that at all."

"Do you think he's not happy because of the quality of the team?"

"No it looks to me like it's the location of the team geographically rather than their location on the table."

"Well, I suppose after Miami, Pittsburgh would be a let down."

"I suppose so. Well, lets see who's up next. Looks like the Lions are going for Tony Lopez. I think that's a good choice for them."

"Yeah, predictable really. But that's another pick from the Miami University team."

"They have had three phenomenal seasons, though John."

"Absolutely, thanks in no small part to Lopez there."

::

"Welcome back, if you're just joining us the big news today was Brian Kinney drafted almost immediately into the Steelers with some annoyance, I think would be fair to say."

"Yes, not a happy man Brad."

"No, not at all. Baxley's still sitting in that room. It's not going so well for the Heisman Trophy winner."

"I think he'll get picked up by the Jets next. God knows, they need a decent quarterback this year."

"Mm-hmm. So we're expecting Baxley to go to the Jets and … well. I don't think anyone saw this one coming."

"The whole country has been stunned into silence. New York Jets have just signed Todd Anderson . Now Todd Anderson, I'm not saying he's not a good player. He's lighting fast and he's had two great seasons for The Fighting Irish but surely the Giants don't need anymore runners."

"No, but perhaps this is a tactical decision."

"What are you suggesting?"

"Just that perhaps that the Giants have chosen Anderson as a gamble to trade for Kinney later on."

"Are you suggesting the Giants are risking no quarterback to get Brian Kinney, instead of just going with Baxley?"

"It certainly seems that way."

"Well, if that is the case I've never seen anything like it."

"Mmm, Anderson would be a brilliant asset to the Steelers though."

"I can't deny that…. So that's the second shock this even ladies and gentleman, stay tuned in here, for more as the drafts continue."

::

"Well it's all over here at Lambeau Field. Kinney and the Steelers are already embarking on long talks with the New York Jets. At this rate it looks like the swap could be finalised by the end of the day."

"Yeah, Kinney really not happy about the Steelers is he?"

"Well, in an interview earlier he claimed, he had a lot of respect for the Steelers and their fans but that Pittsburgh held some bad childhood memories. What do you make of that John?"

"I think we're only just beginning to realise the complexity of that young man, still, I'd like to see him at the Jets linking up with Bradley Wilson and Carson Holt, that could be a pretty impressive combination."

"I don't doubt that. Okay, word from behind the scenes is that Brian Kinney will be making a transfer to the Jets, straight sway for Todd Anderson and that will be finalised in the next day or so. So Kinney now for the Jets, Anderson for the Steelers. And it's already shaping up to be a great season."

A LITTLE BIT OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER

Brian just grinned at Justin as the blonde legged it around their new fancy, two story penthouse apartment.

"And you're sure we can afford this?" He asked for the millionth time.

"Have you seen how much they're paying me a week," Brian smirked. "We can afford anything we want."

"I love you" Justin said sweetly, smiling at him before bouncing off to inspect another aspect of the home.

"Yeah, when I'm buying you stuff," Brian chuckled as the blonde whirled past again.

"No, I loved you when you were poor and pathetic too," he beamed, halting his excitable, whirlwind running to plant a sloppy kiss of Brian's cheek. "It's beautiful Brian," he smiled contentedly resting his head on his boyfriend's shoulder.

"You haven't seen the best bit yet," the taller man smiled wolfishly, grabbing Justin's arm and dragging him up the glass spiral staircase to the floor upstairs. Upstairs was just a room with a giant bed set on it's own platform like an alter.

"It's very you," Justin nodded approvingly. "I like the lights above the bed.

"I bought those especially," Brian smirked, "and this," he pointed to the far wall made only of windows that slanted back towards the room. "I figured this was enough light for your art."

"It's perfect," Justin nodded, falling onto the bed and looking up at the window-wall. "So," he smirked, "were you worried when you got drafted to the Steelers?"

"Don't bring that up," Brian sighed, falling onto the bed next to his lover. "I actually thought I was going to be back in that shithole whilst you were in New York chasing your dreams."

"Well, I'm glad it worked out like this," Justin sighed, reaching over and squeezing Brian's hand.

"Me too," Brian nodded.

"But you know we're still going to have to visit Debbie's some weekends, right?"

"Or she'll be on the phone shouting at us," Brian nodded. "And I've had to promise that we'll let Michael come to stay at some point."

"And there's Lindsey," Justin smiled. "She's not gonna let the father of her unborn child never see her again."

"Oh God, don't remind me about my future son or daughter," Brian pulled his hands down his face. "How did I ever let her talk me in to that?"

"I tried to talk you out of it," Justin reminded him in a sing-song voice, "but you insisted that it was a good idea."

"I was drunk. I think everything's a good idea when I'm drunk."

"I tried to talk you out of being drunk too," he smirked.

"Fuck off," Brian frowned, rolling on top of Justin and tickling his ribs mercilessly until Justin kicked him onto the floor.

"Shit," Brian muttered, "you're lucky you didn't injure me," he whined. "You'd have had a lot of Jets fans hunting you down in anger."

"Well I've warned you before that I cannot be held responsible for what happens to you when you tickle me."

Brian just raised an eyebrow and jumped to his feet, before holding out his arms and doing a bit of a twirl. "So, what do you say? Are we buying it?"

"Yes," Justin nodded, wrapping his arms around Brian's waist and going up on his tiptoes to rest his chin on the taller man's shoulder "we're buying it."

"That's good," Brian chuckled, "coz I've already put down the deposit."

Justin chuckled and nibbled lightly on his boyfriend's ear. "So, what happens next?"

"We check out the local gay bars?"

"Should you be careful, aren't the press gonna be hounding your ass?"

"The only person I want hounding my ass is you," Brian chuckled. "So, here's the deal, we go out and, by the time we get back, the removal men have moved all our stuff in."

"I like the way you think Mr Kinney."

::

"Brian, ESPN."

"Hey," he stopped, knowing that, unfortunately, interviews were a regular part of his life now.

"First off, great game."

"Thanks."

"Do you think a performance like that will silence the critics that suggest you shouldn't be allowed, or perhaps it's not appropriate for you, to play because of your sexuality?"

"My sexuality has absolutely nothing to do with the way I play. If the critics were really sports fans, they'd see that nothing matters out on that field except getting the ball to the end zone and having the eleven men best suited to that job, should be on the field."

"Well, you keep proving week-in, week-out that you're good enough to be there. Are you hoping to pave the way for a flurry of gay players in NFL?"

"Don't kid yourself," he checked the man's name tag, "Robert McCoy," he smirked. "I'm not the first gay player in NFL. I'm just the first one that's out, so, yeah, if my success gives other gay football players the confidence to be honest about who they are, then I think that's great."

"And what about the Jet's future? It's looking bright, isn't it?"

"Very," Brian nodded. "I think if we can get lucky with the transfers at the end of the season, we'd have the potential to start building a really great team for the future."

"Thanks very much, Brian."

"Thank you," Brian picked up his bag, ready to walk away quickly, but the journalist called his name. He stopped, plastered a smile on his face and turned around.

"I just want to apologise for the questions," the journalist said. "I wanted to focus on the game but the bosses said I had to ask."

"It's okay," Brian said honestly. "I'm used to it by now."

"Look, just know that, I don't care what you do it bed or who you do it with, you're still a hell of a football player."

Brian's mouth twisted up a little and he nodded slightly before saying, "you have no idea how sorry I am that you felt you had to say that." And with that, he turned away from the journalist and got in his car to go home.

::

"Brian, channel 5 news. Great game."

"Thanks."

"The Jets are looking better this year than last, do you think that this level of improvement is set to improve in the future?"

"Of course," Brian said confidently. "The coaching staff and the players here are always striving to better themselves and I think that's obvious to everyone watching, the team gels well and we're looking really good."

"Do you think that your sexuality ever puts you on the outside of the team bonding?"

"Of course not, the team look at me as a player and a person not a fag."

"Right, final question, is the super bowl calling?"

"You know it is."

"I saw your interview," as Brian came through the door the next day. He was tired from the plane journey home from the west coast but seeing Justin, covered in paint as he sweated over his latest master piece had cheered him up.

"Oh?"

"They've been replaying it on all the sports channels all morning," he said, turning his music down and flicking ESPN on. As though on cue, the interview was being played.

"See," Justin grinned. "I told you."

"Why the fuck are they replaying it? What did I say?"

"Nothing," Justin reassured him. "It's not what you said, it's how you said it."

"And how, pray tell, did I say it?" Brian asked, his words dripping in sarcasm.

"Angrily," Justin smirked. "Some ESPN journalist called Robert McCoy has been saying that journalism focused mainly on your sexuality is boring, repetitive and unimaginative. He's been fighting your corner all morning, reckon you should give him a call, you know, say thank you."

Brian nodded and watched his interview.

"Of course not," he was saying and Brian had to admit he did look totally fed-up, "the team look at me as a player and a person not a BLEEP."

Brian smirked as his mouth became suddenly pixelated.

"Did you say fag?" Justin asked knowingly.

"Mm," he nodded. "I guess I wasn't really thinking," he shrugged as the television cut to Robert McCoy, a journalist Brian was very familiar with. He was always waiting at the end of a game to hurl questions at him.

"I think that says it all," McCoy was saying. "Kinney's clearly fed-up of the constant questions. He's proved it time and time and time again that he's good enough to be here and that being gay isn't an issue. I think it's time to leave the guy alone."

"Have your say," the shows host suggested "we've got texts and emails coming in from people falling on both sides of the fence so far."

"But aren't they just the same tired old arguments," McCoy insisted. "Leave him alone and let him play football."

Brian turned to Justin who had an oddly proud expression on his face.

"What?" The taller man asked curiously.

"Look," Justin said, pointing at the screen. "You're really making a difference to fags everywhere."

"I don't think so," Brian chuckled. "But we both know nothing pisses of a straight person more than a successful fag."

"Mm-hmm, what do you say we go out and do a little celebrating?" Justin grinned.

"Excellent. There's a new restaurant in town, food only got one star," he smirked, running his hands up and down Justin's arms, "waiters got five."

Justin beamed up at his partner. "Sounds perfect."

"Great." Then he noticed the painting Justin was working on, "can you leave that?"

"Yeah," he insisted, turning around to view his future masterpiece. "I need this colour to dry first anyway."

"It looks amazing," Brian breathed, wrapping his arms around his partners waist. He was pretty sure his jacket would be covered in paint when he pulled away.

"You think so?"

Brian just nodded. Justin could feel the gesture as their faces rubbed together. "Exquisite," he whispered. "Now, you go and take a shower and I'll call Mr McCoy. I think he deserves my gratitude."

::

Justin was cooking when Brian got in.

"That looks delicious," he said, dropping his bag by the door, then walking closer to Justin, he added, "the food looks good too."

Justin smiled a little, before turning to look at his partner. "I saw your game, you were excellent."

"What the hell were you doing watching that?" Brian groaned, "you were supposed to be enjoying incredible success with your art show."

"I was," Justin beamed, "but in between bouts of unyielding admiration, I would sneak into a staff area, which had a small TV set up for your game."

"Mmm," Brian nodded, leaning forward and capturing the shorter man's lips with his own. They kissed languidly, before Brian finally pulled back and whispered, "I'm sorry I missed the opening."

"It doesn't matter," Justin insisted. "It couldn't be helped. I'll just tell my agent never to organise and opening on a weekend."

"Okay," Brian smiled. They kissed again, before Brian looked back to the food. "So, what's for dinner?"

"Cajun chicken, with rice and a mild pepper sauce."

"Sounds hot," Brian said, close to Justin's ear the 'H' sound tickling his neck and causing a shiver to run down his spine.

"Mm, it is," Justin nodded, his head falling back against Brian's collar bone for a second. He craned his neck so he could press and awkward kiss to Brian's jaw. "I was thinking after dinner, we could go to Rush, have a drink, have a dance … maybe have a boy," he smiled.

"If it's okay with you, I'd rather it were just me and you," Brian pressed his lips to Justin's, before going to empty his bag.

"You've been saying that a lot recently," Justin said. He couldn't help the tone of surprise that came with his words. Brian shrugged.

"Maybe I'm becoming a mature adult," he smirked.

"Uh-huh," Justin mumbled sarcastically. "Well, that's probably a good thing with a baby on the way."

"Don't," Brian said quickly, pulling out the stuff he to be washed. "Please, you'll make me feel older than I am."

"Well you are twenty…"

"Don't!"

"…eight."

Brian said nothing, he just scowled at Justin, his eyebrows furrowing so much, Justin couldn't actually see the taller man's eyes anymore. "I'm gonna start watch this," Brian said, pulling out the DVD of his game from the bag.

"I'll call you when dinner's ready."

"Well, be sure to shout loudly, I might not hear you with my advanced years," Brian muttered and Justin couldn't help but chuckle.

Final Chapter will be up tomorrow! =D

Thanks so much to everyone who's still reading this. I know it's been a very long journey!

xx