8/8/07 – A night with the boys

Michael, Ben, Emmett, Ted and Blake were at a favorite Italian restaurant to celebrate Blake's birthday. They had invited Brian but he was, of course, fashionably late. He offered to buy a round of shots in Blake's honor, but was reminded that Ted and Blake didn't drink anymore. They all sat and talked. Michael and Ben had just heard from Hunter, who was off to college, so they were buzzing about how proud they were of 'their boy'. Michael also had the latest photos of Jenny Rebecca and was showing them off. Emmett was thinking of asking Cal to move in with him, so he was going over the pros and cons of that with Ted. Brian was bored with all of the domestic discussion and went off to shoot darts to entertain himself.

Michael could tell that Brian was feeling kind of left out. "How's it going, Brian?" Emmett sidled up to join the conversation.

"Peachy."

"How's Justin?" Emmett asked.

"I don't know. I saw him a few days ago. He was OK then. Well, sorta. Stuart sent him a letter posthumously."

"A letter? What did it say?" Michael asked.

"Basically, it said that Stuart was OK with Justin and me dating after his demise."

"Oh, that's so romantic and noble." Emmett put his hands over his mouth.

Michael was interested in Brian's rather aloof response. "How do you feel about that?"

"Why the fuck do people keep asking me how I feel about that?"

Emmett asked, "Who else asked you?"

"Justin. Then I ran into Deb at the Diner and she grilled me, too."

Michael said, "Seems like a fair question. Are you interested in dating Justin again? It's been months since Stuart passed. Maybe he's ready again."

"Six."

"What?"

"It's been six months since then. And Justin doesn't know exactly what he's ready for. Whatever it is, it's going to have to resemble monogamy and I know I'm not ready for that." Brian snipped.

Emmett was aghast. "Why not? You've always cared about Justin, why couldn't you …"

"That's not me. Just because all of you pathetic losers have paired up and become couples doesn't mean I have to." Brian got a look on his face like he'd eaten a bad grape.

"So, you're willing to lose him again for your fuck anything lifestyle? Didn't you learn your lesson the last time?" Michael asked.

Brian was mad at these questions at first, but then sobered slightly at the thought of Justin leaving again. "I … I don't want to lose the opportunity to see him again." Then the original Brian kicked in. "He's got such a great ass." He held his hands in front of him, grabbing an imaginary butt.

Emmett said, "Oh, my God, Brian!" He got disgusted and walked away.

Michael was concerned. "I remember what happened to you after Justin moved away. I'm the only one here who saw. The brooding, the drunken state most nights, getting high. You withdrew almost completely. I thought you were going to have to check into rehab." Brian made the 'you're crazy' face. Michael grabbed his arm and continued. "He's the only one you ever loved, you asshole. Don't blow it again. You should be able to work something out with Justin."

"I never loved him. Even if I did, he should accept me for who I am."

"He tried for five years to do that. He wants to feel like he's the only one for you. Don't you get that?"

"Whatever. Is this psychoanalysis session over, Doctor Mikey? Because I have to go." Brian retrieved his coat and finished his beer. He kissed Michael and blew out of the bar.

Brian's POV

Who are they to tell me what I should do?

He paused to light a cigarette. Two men walked past him holding hands. Brian looked inside the restaurant and saw Michael kissing Ben. Ted had his arm around Blake.

I would like to be with Justin again. I realize he's the only one to keep up with me, in life, in bed. I do care about him. Maybe I can work something out with him. Mikey's right, I don't want to lose him again.

End POV

Brian decided to try to reach an agreement with Justin.

8/10/07 – The Covenant, Part 2

A couple of days later Brian asked Justin to meet him at Woody's. It was bucket of beer night, so there were plenty of guys in the place. When Justin arrived, Brian was sitting at a table and some guy was trying to pick him up.

"Not interested." Brian said. The guy walked away as Justin sat down. Brian smiled and handed him a beer from the bucket. "Hey."

"Hey." They kissed. "He was kinda cute." Justin nodded in the direction of the guy walking away.

"Nah. Not my type."

Justin smiled. "So, you asked me out for a beer. I assume that you also want to talk about our … arrangement."

"Yeah. How come I feel like I'm negotiating an ad contract with a client?"

Justin smiled and shrugged. "What's your offer, Mr. Kinney?"

"Our last agreement was, if remember correctly, fuck once only, no names or numbers, kissing only each other, home by four."

"Three."

Brian smiled. "Right, three. Well, since we're not living together, and with Ava in the picture I don't see that on the immediate horizon, the whole home by three thing is off the table."

"I agree. I can't know when you get back to your loft." Justin said.

"So … there are no names or numbers. That's OK because I don't usually do that anyway."

"OK."

"Now as for the fucking around." Brian took a breath. "It's not like I can have you at home any night I want, because, let's face it, you'll only be available a couple of nights a week."

"Yeah. Maybe two or three. Depends on my mom and sister watching Ava."

"I think that it's only fair to go back to the have anyone you want, but only once rule."

"No deal."

"You do realize that I'm used to getting some action twenty or so times a month?"

"Let's do the math. That's about five times a week. If I'm with you twice a week and we do it twice each night, that's almost the same." Justin grinned.

Brian chuckled. "I don't know."

"How about this? Counteroffer… Once a week we mutually select a guy from Babylon or here and take him back to the loft and do a three way."

"Hmm."

"That's the best I've got." Justin took a swig of beer.

"Three ways or four ways?"

"OK. I can live with that."

"What if I want to go to the baths for some voyeuristic fun and some happy lad offers to suck me off?"

"Hand jobs only. That goes for the backroom of Babylon, too. If anyone is blowing you back there, it's me or a guy that we're sharing." Justin paused and looked intently at Brian. "I don't want you sticking your dick anywhere I can't see it."

"You can see your own ass? Very limber, Mr. Taylor."

"You know what I mean." Justin leaned forward and touched his forehead to Brian's.

Brian said softly, "That just leaves kissing only you."

"Yes, I believe it does."

"I think we have deal, Mr. Taylor." Brian put his hand behind Justin's head and pulled him in for a long passionate kiss.

As the kiss ended Justin asked, "Should we shake hands on the deal?"

"No. This is much better." They continued kissing.