The moment of silence that followed after was deafening, and Brian swore that he could hear is ears ringing. His hands were beginning to sweat as he still hung onto Brock's in a tight grip beneath the table. And they waited. Waited for a word, waited for a reaction, and it felt like forever. His blue eyes melted into the ones that matched across the table, and he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in when his mother was the first to speak. "That's certainly not unexpected..." She began, putting her fork down and giving a small smile. "Not with the way you talked about Brock." She continued, pausing slightly, as if waiting for his father to jump in and say something. He didn't. "Brian, honey, all that matters is that you're happy... And by the looks of it, this young man makes you very happy." She gestured to Brock who still wasn't saying anything either.

Brian shook his head, "I just know how you guys can be... And I..." He didn't know what to say.

"We were both really nervous." Brock finally commented, entering the awkward atmosphere.

"That's completely understandable," His mother replied.

Another few moments of silence went by afterward, when Brian's dad had finally finished his food and looked up from his plate. "How long?" He inquired. And his voice was void of emotion, as well as his facial expression. He was a very hard to read man, and Brian could feel his heartbeat beginning to pick up pace again. He knew he wasn't out of the woods yet, figuratively speaking, and he knew with his father, he would never be. It was always going to be a problem, and he knew that since they were in public, his dad wouldn't cause a scene, but later, later he would face consequences.

"Since I moved to LA." Brian answered shortly, trying to focus on the movements of Brock running his thumb over the top of his hand to coax him. Of course he and Brock had been friends for a long time, but when Brian moved to California, that was when the real relationship began. That was when he really knew of his feelings for Brock. And he had sorted this all out before, but he hated the fact that he had to sit here and spill everything to his parents. "We plan on staying together for a long time, moving in with each other... And I knew I had to tell you guys." The Irishman continued, hoping every second that the tension would lighten up, or the awkward aura would just go away. It didn't. The rest of dinner was short, small talk about the weather or other things of that nature, and Brian knew that that wasn't good in even the slightest.

And the car ride home? It was completely and utterly quiet. Not a single word was said as Brock and Brian sat in the back seat, hands linked together between them. His mind got lost as he looked out the window, wondering just what this all meant. Whatever it was, he hoped that he would be able to get through it; he hoped that he and Brock would be able to get through it together. When they arrived back to the small house, the four of them headed inside. "You two get some rest now," Brian's mom interrupted the silence for what seemed like umpteenth time that night. "We'll have breakfast bright and early and find something to do, okay?" She kissed Brian on the cheek, whispering into his ear, "I'll talk to him." And Brian knew immediately that she was talking about his dad. He knew right then and there that this situation was entirely fucked. And he watched with tired eyes as his parents headed upstairs and into their room, shutting the door behind them.

He turned to Brock, noticing the man had been particularly quiet all night... But, he had a good reason to be. "Well, that could have gone better." He let out an exasperated sigh. "Let's go to bed." He suggested, pulling the older man up the stairs, to the room that belonged to them on this trip. With the door shut and locked behind them, both of them began to shrug out of their dress clothes and ready for bed. Once everything was as it should be, they climbed into bed, into each others arms, Brock resting with his head on his boyfriend's unkempt chest. The cool breeze blew in from the open window, and their breaths were gentle as Brian let his fingers play on the older man's body.

"Honestly," Brock spoke. "It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be."

"I guess you're right." Brian replied. "It definitely could have been worse." He was just glad that the confession was over, the confrontation was over... At least for now it was. He knew deep in the back of his mind that eventually he was going to have to deal with the aftermath of it all. But right now? He didn't care about any of that. His focus was on Brock; the man he loved with everything in his being, the man that he was doing all of this for. He focused in the gentleness of his breaths and the softness of his skin. "They're probably talking about us right now." He let out with a shake of his head, allowing his blue eyes to focus on the ceiling. It wasn't like him to worry like this. It was so out of character for himself that he wasn't even sure of anything.

Brock moved so that he was looking up at him through his lashes, before placing a small kiss in the crook of his neck. "Hey, it's done. Whatever happens now is beyond your control, okay? And I think you did an amazing job." He praised him and he praised him well, because Brian owned up to what he said he was going to. "Are you okay?" He continued to ask, his voice lowering, going sweet and soft for the Irishman holding him as it did time and time again whenever they talked late like this. It was always the late talks that were the most meaningful, at least, that's what Brock had concluded after all this time.

"For now? I guess so." Brian answered, finally meeting his boyfriend's gaze. His eyes were intense, dark, but showed the twinkle there that he always had loved and adored. And he kissed him with a fever that had been building all night. Their lips had been neglected, and when they had reunited in Utah with each other the previous day, the two never really got the chance to properly reacquaint with each other. It was like they could read each others mind, because when Brian pulled away and asked, "Do you want to?" All Brock had to do was nod before their lips crashed together once more. Slowly, they undressed each other, and what little clothing they did have on made its way to the bedroom floor.

It was quick, and it was needy, but it was everything they wanted in this moment. "Slow down," Brock's voice was barely above a whisper as he felt Brian's nimble fingers wrap around him. They were still rookies at this, so they fumbled around in the dark, getting to know each others bodies for only a second time since they'd been in a relationship. Under the covers, they were in their own world. Skin on skin, lips pressing sloppy kisses to wherever they could reach, and small sighs filled the air as each man continued their ministrations. And it was different than the first time, oh so different. It was soft and so euphoric, neither of them really wanting the pleasure, but just the reassurance of each other.

"Turn over," Brian instructed, and Brock obliged, rolling onto his stomach, the mattress hot against his flesh as he felt Brian lie on top of him. He felt him kiss his shoulder blade before pushing deep inside him, and Brian rocked gently as he listened to Brock's small whimpers here and there. His movements were slow, he wanted to make this last. Brock was already so close though, and he dug his fingers into the bed to hold on for just a little while longer. However, Brian reached for his hand, intertwining their fingers as they made love. "It's okay." His lips were in his ear, his voice velvet and smooth. That's when he felt Brock squeeze his hand as he came undone, sighing Brian's name over and over again, eyes shut tight. And when they were done? Silence lingered in the air, that is, until Brian found himself speaking. "If you could go away right now... Anywhere, where would you go?" His voice was hoarse from the night's events as he held Brock in his arms again.

The older man look up at him quizzically, a smile surfacing. "Well... I'm pretty happy here right now." His answer was simple but he knew there was deeper meaning to what his boyfriend was getting at, and it worried him. It wasn't like Brian to ask questions like that.

"Yeah, me too..." It was a sigh. "But haven't you ever like just wanted to go away somewhere, and stay there? And like, I don't know... Just never come back?"

"Brian." Brock's voice was serious. "I just want to be with you, alright? I love you."

"I know," He replied. "I just... I have a bad feeling something's going to happen."

"Like what?" The older man asked.

Another sigh, "I don't know..."

Brock chuckled, "So you want to run away?"

"Maybe," It was a laugh when it came out as well. This whole situation was complicated, messy, and Brian knew that. Hell, Brock even knew it. It was complex and disheveled but if he was being honest with himself, he wouldn't have it any other way. He knew if it was meant to be, it would be... And that was the kind of faith that the Irishman was relying on right now. He needed it, and he needed to be strong for both himself and for Brock. If they could get through this trip unscathed, then they could do anything.

Brock interrupted his train of thought, "Stop worrying and go to sleep, okay?"

Brian nodded, kissing his boyfriend's forehead. "Goodnight, Brocky."