A/N: Please do share your thoughts. Makes me smile!

What had Michael and Ben been doing while Daphne, Ted, Brian, and Justin had been battling Ethan and Rob and Emmett had been getting to know each other better? And in the biblical sense … Go Emmett! It's your birthday! It's your birthday!

When would Lindsay enter the fray?

Would Brian truly go through with his maybe promise to try couples counseling?

Would Brian go through with his absolute promise to use the double headed dildo?

What follows will answer these questions and more.

Let's start with the easy short answer questions.

The next morning, after Justin had finally fallen asleep, Brian got up. Super early. He knew Lindsay would be up with Gus, so he called her.

Lindsay: (whispering) Brian! Do you know what time it is?

Brian: Why does everyone keep asking me that? Yes, I know how to read a clock.

Lindsay: Most people don't call in the middle of the night or at the crack of dawn, Brian …

Brian: Whatever. Did I wake you up?

Lindsay: No … but …

Brian: But nothing. You're awake. I'm awake. I don't see a problem.

Lindsay: (sigh) What's going on?

Brian: I need you to recommend a therapist.

Lindsay: Wow! I'm impressed. So you're ready to dig down deep and do the emotional work that will make you a healthy, whole person?

Brian: Uh … No. A couples counselor.

Lindsay: (muttering under her breath) What is it about Justin?

Brian: Huh?

Lindsay: Oh nothing. Brian, why do you need a couples counselor? Are you and Justin okay? (now smiling)

Brian: Things happened. Whatever. So do you know anyone?

Lindsay: Oh … Michael was telling me that Justin cheated? Is that true? (more smiling) Is that even possible? I thought you two had had an open relationship until recently?

Brian: (deep sigh) I see there is some gatekeeping at work, here.

Lindsay: What?

Brian: Justin broke the rules. Big time.

Lindsay: Oh … I'm sorry Brian. Maybe you were right. Maybe he is too young to settle down.

Brian: (silence)

Lindsay: I heard he was a musician. Someone at school. Was it that violin player from Justin's birthday?

Brian: Yes.

Lindsay: Justin is at a different stage of his life. Maybe he should be with someone his own age. Someone with similar interests. I mean, what do you two have in common … besides sex?

Brian: So do you know anyone?

Lindsay: (sigh … fake cheeriness) Oh sure. Let me get my address book.

So the answer to the question of whether Brian serious about couples counseling … YES.

And the answer to the question about when Lindsay's entrance into the fray would occur ... right about … NOW.

Brian called the therapist's answering service, name-dropped Lindsay, in the hopes of getting an appointment quickly, and then returned to bed. But he didn't sleep. Lindsay's questions swirled around his head. Was Justin too young to settle down? Should he be with someone his own age? Did Brian and Justin share any interests beyond sex? If not, should Justin be with someone who did?

Next question

Michael was pretty upset. Neither Ben nor Brian would return any of his calls. Brian wouldn't even acknowledge his existence at Babylon, and Ben seemed to have disappeared off the face of the planet. Michael blamed Justin. All Michael had done was to try to protect his friend from Justin's lies and cheating ways. Since when was that a crime? Well, Michael was done being the good guy. He wasn't going to sit idly by while Justin hurt Brian. He'd seen Ethan a couple of times at Babylon. He intended to keep an eye out and then approach him the next time he came in. If Ethan wanted the twink back, he was going to help him.

Now as for Ben … he'd been taking a well-deserved time out. Lifting a lot of weights at the gym … and doing a lot of yoga and meditation in the park. He might also have indulged in a pint or three of Ben and Jerry's. Just when he felt ready to re-enter society, he happened to overhear this conversation (outside the diner). It was actually just half a conversation. Some hipster was on his cell, whisper shouting, "Look I have the recording of Justin and Brian and one of me and all the money you asked for. Now can you do it?"

That got Ben's attention. Surely there were a lot of Justins and Brians in Pittsburgh, but how many of them knew each other well enough to be on a recording together? Ben decided to wait until the hipster spoke again to see if he could get clarification.

"Okay. Good. Babylon at 9. I'll be there."

Ben could simply have told Brian or Justin what he'd heard and leave this situation to them, but he wasn't sure what this was about and sharing without sufficient information would be irresponsible. Brian had already acted rashly on false information, false information his ex-boyfriend Michael had provided, deeply wounding Justin in the process. No, Ben couldn't be responsible for a repeat of that. He needed to investigate further. So he, too, would be at Babylon at 9, on the lookout for this hipster.

So now we know what Ben and Michael have been doing. Ben joined Team Britin and Michael joined Team Justeth.

(Team Justeth … lmao)

The day had passed slowly for both Brian and Justin. Brian couldn't get Lindsay's voice out of his head, and he was uneasy about Ethan. He needed to know what Ethan was planning before Justin got hurt again. These worries made concentrating on work difficult. One piece of good news had reached him though. The therapist was willing to see them the next day (Friday at 6 pm). And the therapist shared a building with Gus's pediatrician, so Brian already knew where it was. But now he was worried about the therapy session, too.

Justin was also anxious, but his was a good anxiety. He was eagerly anticipating that night's planned sexual escapade. Justin knew the double dildo idea was probably stupid but this was the only way he could fuck Brian while being fucked by Brian, and he'd desired that more than anything since his 18th birthday. He thought it would take them into a whole new world of physical (and maybe even emotional) intimacy.

For both, time would not pass quickly enough.

Eventually, evening did arrive, bringing with it Daphne, who was at the loft to practice her litany against Brian.

Justin was not thrilled about this part of the counterattack, but he DID want to know what further mischief Ethan intended to cause. Brian, Justin, and Daphne were now in the living room. Brian and Daphne were sitting on the couch, and Justin was standing by the windows.

Daphne smiled. She had out a pad of paper and a pencil. "Okay, so what do I say?"

Brian sighed. Then he rolled his lips into his mouth and remembered all of the things Michael and Lindsay and Justin had said. He started to recount them. He carefully avoided Justin's eyes while he did so.

"First, tell Ethan what an asshole I am. Tell him that I tried to brush Justin off after popping his cherry and that I fucked, I don't know, at least a hundred other guys while we were together, sometimes in front of Justin. Tell him that Justin desperately wanted to be monogamous and for me to tell him I loved him for nearly the whole time we've been together, and that I agreed only after he got sick. Tell him that I dumped Justin like he was trash the second it looked like he'd been seeing Ethan again.

Next, tell him that Justin doesn't really love me. Tell him that Justin only thinks he does because I popped his cherry. Tell him that Justin feels he owes me something because helped him get over his social anxiety and because I've been paying his tuition, buying him expensive gifts, and paying all the bills.

Then, tell him that Justin probably really loves Ethan. As proof, tell him that Justin totally forgot I existed in the diner while Ethan played the song he'd written for Justin. Tell him that Justin was lying about Ethan's calling and didn't want me to hear the messages he left.

Finally, say we are mismatched. Tell him Justin and I have nothing in common but sex, that we're in different stages of life, and that I'm too old for him."

Daphne was concentrating, trying hard to write down everything Brian had said, which was a lot, so she wasn't paying attention to anything else.

Justin had been listening to Brian say all this with ever-increasing horror. When Brian had finished, he said, "Brian?"

Brian turned toward Justin. He breathed in and out slowly and endeavored to clear his eyes, his voice, his facial expression, and his body language of all emotion. He was stone. "Yes?"

Justin's eyes pleaded with Brian. "Brian, tell me you don't believe any of that."

Brian shrugged. "Well, some of that is fact."

"Like?"

"Well the number of tricks I've had in the past couple of years. When I said I would stop tricking. When I said the words. How I treated you after finding out that Ethan had your new number."

Justin sighed. "Yeah, but the rest is bullshit."

Brian didn't do or say anything.

Justin's eyes widened. He started to panic. "Brian, I'm not with you because of nostalgia from losing my virginity or because I feel like I owe you." He moved closer to Brian and then actually climbed into his lap, straddling him. "I love you. I've always loved you. And I always will." He nudged Brian's nose and kissed his lips tenderly. Brian swallowed hard and then slid his hands around Justin's neck, pulling him closer and kissing him roughly. Then he broke their kiss and leaned Justin's forehead against his own. His eyes still closed, he said softly, "But we don't really have any interests in common. You're just starting out. I'm settled in my career. I'm 12 years older than you. And always is a big word."

Justin whispered, "Look at me."

Brian opened his eyes.

"What brought this on? None of that matters. That's superficial crap. On paper, sure, maybe Ethan or someone like him is better for me, but I want YOU. You make me happy. You make me feel more EVERYTHING. Every experience, emotion, physical sensation. You heighten all of that. I wouldn't give that up, give you up, not for the world. You're my muse. Everything I am, everything I've done, everything I'll ever do is because you inspire me. You make me want to be better, more. So much more."

Daphne suddenly lifted up her head. Then she said cheerily, "Got it! Let's do this!"

Brian and Justin were kissing again. Neither heard her.