Chapter 3: Justin's Choice
"Hey, Sunshine," the man drawled. Justin stood transfixed, staring at the man whose body he knew literally from head to toe.
Justin continued to stare at the vision, not quite believing what he was seeing. His feet remained cemented to the spot as his "vision" slowly walked down the left spiral staircase to finally stand next to him. If he had any remaining doubts as to whether he was dreaming or not, they were suddenly and completely dispelled when Brian took hold of his chin with his free hand and tilted Justin's head toward his. Quickly closing the gap between them, Brian's lips tentatively touched his for a soft kiss. Pulling back just far enough to gaze into the sapphire blue eyes he loved so much, Brian swooped down again, this time for a more passionate kiss.
Justin sighed as the two of them began their well-known ritual. Sweeping his pink tongue gently across Brian's full, lower lip, he gained welcome access to his lover's mouth. Several seconds went by before the two of them stopped long enough to catch their breath. As Brian offered the rose to him, Justin took the flower and raised it to his nose to inhale the intriguing scent. It was almost as intoxicating as the man now holding Justin tightly in his arms.
Heart beating fast, Justin's curiosity won out temporarily over his passion. "Brian," he said breathlessly, pulling back just far enough to gaze into the hazel eyes, "What are you doing here? I don't understand." It was hard to focus on his thoughts, because his lover was too busy just then with his wandering hands that suddenly seemed to be everywhere on Justin's body.
"Brian," Justin persisted. "Tell me. What are you doing here?" Justin grabbed both of Brian's hands to try and end the delicious distraction his lover was currently causing to his concentration.
Brian sighed. He knew he owed Justin an explanation, even though right now he was more interested in getting reacquainted with his lover. But he knew Justin deserved to know what was going on. After all, the outcome of this surprise tonight rested solely with his partner.
"Okay, I'll tell you what's going on. As you've probably already figured out, I'm your "Mr. Miracle," Brian explained. "Your gallery rep was my co-conspirator in crime."
Justin stared at Brian before asking, "Ron was in on this? What exactly are you two up to?"
Smiling mysteriously, Brian answered, "What's it look like, Sunshine? You're being kidnapped so I can have my way with you." To emphasize his statement, Brian pulled Justin toward him, nipping his left ear, then licking the tender skin below the lobe. Shivering, Justin placed both of his hands around Brian's waist to steady himself, his heart continuing to beat rapidly.
Justin's eyes shone as he looked at the man he loved so much. "This is so unlike you, Bri. What has gotten into you, Mr. Kinney?"
"You've infected me, Taylor, with a sickness I can't find a cure for," Brian answered softly, his gaze never leaving his lover.
Justin couldn't help smiling at Brian's unabashed confession. "Well, Mr. Kinney, what are we going to do about it?" He emphasized his question with a tantalizing wiggle of his hips, which was met with an involuntary groan from his hazel-eyed captive.
Mesmerized, Brian stared into the twinkling, crystal blue eyes. "As much as I would like to take advantage of this situation right now, there's something important I have to discuss with you first."
Brian's sudden solemn statement made Justin apprehensive. The normally unflappable advertising CEO appeared unsure of himself, brushing his errant hair from his bangs in a nervous manner.
"Brian, what is it? You can tell me anything, you know," he assured his lover. "Tell me," he repeated, taking Brian's chin in his hand and tiling his face upward to look directly at him.
Brian finally let out a deep breath. "Baby, I didn't just come out here to whisk you away on a vacation," he confessed. "There's more to it than that." Baby. Justin had never heard Brian call him that. He decided he liked it, though. He looked at him intently, silently encouraging him to continue.
"We've tried to make a go of this, okay, I'll fucking say it, long distance relationship, for several months now. But all it's done is make me miserable. This flying back and forth bullshit when we just happen to have time has to stop."
For a few seconds, Justin was the insecure teenager he was when he first met Brian so long ago under that streetlamp. Without thinking, he blurted out, "What are you saying? You're not wanting to break up, are you?"
Brian quickly placed his hands on either side of Justin's face. "Fuck, no, Sunshine! How can you even think that? Are you still so unsure of us after all this time?"
Justin breathed a huge sigh of relief. "No, Brian, I guess not. I mean, I know we love each other. I just get afraid sometimes that something will go wrong to fuck it up, and you mean too much to me."
Brian smiled and gazed lovingly at his partner. "Me, too, Sunshine. That's why I decided to come up here and sweep you off your feet, so to speak. After, horizontal is my favorite position for you," he joked. He continued on a more serious note. "But it's just not a coincidence I decided to do this here in Vermont."
Justin looked questioningly at the face he knew so well. Could he mean? "What exactly are you saying, Brian?"
Brian brushed his thumb across Justin's full, pink lips. "Baby, I know we decided before you left for New York that we didn't need rings or vows to prove how much we love each other. But what if I WANT that? What if I've changed because I WANT to, not because I'm trying to act the way you think I should? Would it be so terrible if I decided I was finally tired of the "club boy" image and really wanted a serious relationship, instead, with the man I love? Being apart from you has finally brought me to my fucking senses," he finished lamely.
"Brian," Justin's head was spinning. Was it possible that Brian really DID want to change? "Are you saying what I think you're saying? That you actually WANT to get married after all?"
Brian continued to gaze intently at his lover. "I won't lie to you, Sunshine. I have always tried to tell you the truth, haven't I?" At Justin's affirmative nod, he continued. "I can't promise that I won't find other men attractive, or that I still won't want to fuck some guy here or there. But I CAN promise you that I won't fuck anyone in our bed any more. And I will always continue to come home to you no matter what I'm doing or where I'm at."
Looking at the crystal blue eyes of the man he loved so much, Brian took both of the smaller, pale hands in his. "I know it's asking a lot of you. I know it's fucking selfish of me, Sunshine. But I don't want us to live apart any longer. If Mohammed can't come to the mountain, maybe the mountain can come to Mohammed."
At Justin's quizzical look, Brian explained. "I never DID sell Britin, you know." Placing his fingers over Justin's lips to prevent the questions that would no doubt begin to spout from them, Brian continued. "Instead of selling it, I had one of the upstairs bedrooms remodeled into a studio for you. It's the room in the back corner that has floor-to-ceiling windows that you said would let in so much light in the mornings. You commented on how it had such perfect lighting to paint with, remember?"
Justin smiled. He couldn't believe Brian had remembered that off-handed comment Justin had made the night Brian had proposed to him, before excitedly showing him the rest of the house. "I remember, Brian. I remember EVERYTHING about that day. It was one of the happiest days of my life."
Brian returned the smile. "Mine, too. Really. I don't know what happened to fuck it all up afterward. I think I was actually afraid that I was changing, and that the real Brian Kinney would somehow get lost along the way. But you know what? I finally realized it was OKAY to change. Brandon's appearance at Babylon made me realize that I can't be the club dancing "stud" forever. After fucking practically every queer that has ever appeared within a 10-mile radius of Liberty Avenue, the "thrill of the hunt" isn't there anymore. No other man can compare to you, Sunshine. After I have gotten used to the best, the rest just can't compete. You complete me, Justin. In ways no one else can." Brian finished and looked down almost bashfully, tongue in cheek.
Justin continued to stare entranced at his lover. He couldn't believe these words were coming out of Brian's mouth.
After several seconds, Brian finally glanced up at Justin. "I spoke to Ron the other day when I arranged this trip for you, and he's confident that you have made enough of a mark on the "big, bad art world" that you can paint from anywhere, as long as you're available frequently for gallery showings in New York. I assured him that I would make sure that happens. I know how important your art is to you, and that you feel like you're contributing your share. I wouldn't want to have it any other way. So as MY wedding present to ME, I bought a private jet for Kinnetik. That way you can attend any gallery events whenever you need to, but you can come home to ME when you're done."
Justin was overwhelmed. His heart swelled as he realized what Brian had done for him. He couldn't speak. After several seconds, however, his lover said, "You're making me fucking nervous here, Sunshine. What I'm asking is if you really WILL marry me this time. I want everyone to know that you are MINE and I am YOURS. What do you say? Will you come back to Britin and be with me full time?"
Justin realized THIS was what his heart had been missing all these months. He could not be happy without Brian, his love and his inspiration, by his side. Eyes shining with unshed tears, Justin finally found his voice. "Yes, Brian. I want to come home. To you." His brilliant smile convinced Brian he was sure of his decision.
Brian's smile in return almost rivaled that of Justin's as he swept his lover into his arms in a tight embrace, peppering kisses on the blonde's face. Holding Justin's face in his hands, he pulled back enough to gaze into his eyes. "Well, in that case, I suggest you step into the cloakroom and put the suit jacket on that's hanging up in there. Get your ass in gear, Sunshine!" He gave Justin a firm push in the cloakroom's direction for emphasis.
"Whoa, wait, Brian……What are you doing? We need a license and, hell, a minister or justice of the peace, for that matter."
Brian smiled as he helped Justin don the black Armani jacket hanging alone in the cloakroom. "I checked the laws in Vermont. A marriage license is good for one year from issuance. That actually gives us six more months, but why take chances?
"But Brian, we still need a minister or justice of the peace or something….."
Looking like the proverbial cat that ate the canary, Brian called out, " Reverend?" A middle-aged, brown-haired lady wearing ministerial navy blue robes appeared seemingly out of nowhere from around the corner and smiled at Brian. "Justin, may I introduce Reverend Marshall from the Dorset Episcopal Church? She has agreed to officiate at our gay little nuptials tonight."
Justin rolled his eyes. "Pretty fucking sure of yourself, aren't you, Mr. Kinney? I can't believe you……Good thing I like the smug and arrogant types. But, Bri, I hate to disappoint you. And I'm sorry if you came out for nothing, Reverend. But if we're really going to go through with this, I want my family and our friends here. Otherwise, it just wouldn't be the same."
Just when Justin thought the night couldn't get any more astounding, suddenly he heard his name being excitedly called from the top of the landing. "Jus!" A lanky, brown-haired blur dressed in a tuxedo with matching vest bounded down the stairs and straight into Justin's outstretched arms.
"Gus! What are you doing here, buddy?" Justin scooped the boy up and cradled him in his arms.
Gus squirmed in Justin's arms as Brian explained. "I wouldn't want to get married without our ring bearer, right, Sonny Boy?" Looking at his son, Brian asked, "You didn't forget what your daddy needs for you to do, did you?"
Gus looked at his dad. "I carry the rings, right, Daddy? I'm a BIG boy!" He smiled brightly at his father.
Brian smiled lovingly at him. "That's right, Sonny Boy. When the minister here asks for the rings, you're supposed to bring them to her, okay? Can you do that?"
"I bring the rings – yeah! Gus brings the rings, Gus brings the rings," he sing-songed to no one in particular.
Justin gently placed Gus back on the ground, as Brian took his hand and pulled him patiently toward a set of closed, double doors nearby, following Reverend Marshall as she opened them. Looking inside, Justin was overwhelmed by the sight. White, wooden chairs had been placed on either side of the aisle that led up to a flower-adorned platform with a dais. Friends and family stood and turned to observe the two men now walking into the room. Justin quickly recognized his mom, sister, Debbie, and the rest of the Liberty Street gang among the visitors, along with his gallery manager, Ron.
Justin was stunned. Turning to Brian, he again smiled the brilliant smile he was known for. "I love you, Brian Kinney," he said in a choked voice. Brian returned his smile. "And I love you, Justin Taylor. Shall we do this?" He extended his hand outward as Justin reached out and clasped it firmly, nodding.
As soon as the Reverend reached the dais and stood to face them, the sounds of a small quartet playing the Christmas Canon could be heard. Justin and Brian walked hand in hand to the dais, standing as they faced the Reverend. Gus followed close behind until he reached the second row of chairs, where his moms, Lindsey and Mel, were waiting for him. As everyone took their seat, the Reverend began the ceremony.
"Honored guests, we are here this evening to witness the marriage of Justin Taylor and Brian Kinney." Turning to Brian, she asked, "Brian, will you take Justin Taylor to be your lawfully-wedded husband? Will you promise to honor and cherish him, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
Without hesitation, Brian looked into Justin's beautiful sky blue eyes before firmly replying, "I do," with a smile. Turning his attention back to the Reverend, Brian just missed the hand pump and silent exclamation of "Yes!" that Justin issued to the crowd as he turned briefly to face the audience with a huge smile on his face. The crowd tittered as Brian wondered what he had missed.
Justin quickly turned back to the Reverend as she repeated the same question to him. "Justin, will you take Brian Kinney to be your lawfully-wedded husband? Will you promise to honor and cherish him, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
Justin no longer tried to hide the tears that he was now shedding rather profusely as he solemnly but shakily replied, "I do," as he looked at the man he had loved for so long.
The Reverend smiled and looked at the audience as she asked, "May I have the rings, please?" Looking at the second row, she noticed belatedly that the ring bearer was suddenly missing from his second-row seat. Two moms looked rather embarrassed as Brian and Justin turned to silently ask them where their ring bearer had gone. As Lindsey pointed behind them, Brian noticed his son was demonstrating the short attention span typical of a five-year-old. He was skipping up and down the aisles, totally oblivious to his vital part in the ceremony.
"Psst! Sonny boy! Come to Daddy!" Brian whispered urgently to his son to no avail. Gus skipped down the aisle toward his father, but at the last moment he veered to the right with the intention of examining the silk trees in the corner adorned with the same white, twinkling lights that decorated the outside of the inn.
Brian groaned but couldn't help smiling a little at his son. He had about decided to leave his place temporarily so he could retrieve the rings when Justin called softly to Gus. "Gus! Look! Trade you for the rings!" Reaching into his pants pocket, Justin retrieved the small package of chocolate cookies he had placed there earlier from the plane and held them out to the child temptingly.
"Cookies!" Gus shrieked and ran toward the two men. Stretching his little hand out to reach for the cookies, Justin closed his hand quickly and calmly explained. "We need the rings first, Gus. Then you can have the cookies, okay?"
Gus reached into his pocket to pull out a small, maroon box. Handing it to Justin, he grabbed for the now-accessible package of cookies and ran back toward his mothers to proudly show them his prize.
Brian smiled at his lover as Justin opened the box and triumphantly handed it to the Reverend. How I love this man who loves my son, Brian thought.
The Reverend spoke to Brian as she placed the smaller of the two rings in Brian's hand. "Brian, please place the ring on Justin's left hand as you repeat after me. With this ring, I thee wed." After Brian confidently placed the ring on Justin's finger, the Reverend repeated the same instruction to Justin as he placed the larger platinum ring on Brian's hand. Justin's hands shook as he grasped the left hand of his lover and repeated the words. He couldn't believe after all they had been through that they were finally taking their marriage vows in front of their loved ones.
The Reverend raised her head and concluded the ceremony. "Now with the exchanging of vows and the giving of rings, and by the power invested in me by the State of Vermont, I hereby declare that Justin Taylor and Brian Kinney are legally wed. You may kiss your husband."
Turning to face each other for the first time as husbands, the two men smiled before falling into each other's arms for a passionate kiss.