Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade but Corcoran is mine.

A/N: One last chapter after this one. Enjoy.

Not looking away from the computer screen and the massive spreadsheet he was going over Bryan picked his phone up and flipped it open. Hello?

"Bryan?"

The voice on the other end was familiar and once Bryan managed to get past the depth of it, to remember the prepubescent squeak that had followed him for eleven years he knew exactly who it was. "Ian. What a surprise."

There was a laugh, deeper than he remembered and it was odd, to know how much of Ian's growing up he had missed after he had left the BBA. "Yeah. Tala gave me your phone number, said to call you if I ever ended up in this part of Germany."

Frowning Bryan pushed away from the desk, hand dropping to Corcoran's ears when the Great Danes head rested on his thigh. Ian had been the youngest of them at fifteen but his nineteenth birthday had come and gone last year, which begat the question, why the hell was he in Germany. I thought you would be in Russia by now, hitting up Kai for a corporate job.

"Umm, yeah. I would be but I suffered a relapse right before they were going to release me so they went to the Court and the BBA lawyers told them I was a threat to others unless I got another year of counseling. I sent Spencer back to Moscow. Him hanging around for me wasn't going to do either of us any good."

Bryan took his glasses off and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. He hadn't totally forgotten his friends after leaving the BBA but hadn't made any attempts to keep in contact with them wanting some time alone after all the years they had spent in close quarters.

"Shit Ian. You should have told Tala and I. We would have come back and helped you."

Spencer was going to call you but I told him not to. He was getting settled in with Kai, Rei and Li and last time I talked to Tala he said you were working for some rich family as an accountant. So, lunch? Id rather not eat alone; some people are giving me funny looks.

Squeezing his eyes closed Bryan stood. Of course people would be giving Ian funny looks. Some days it felt like everyone in town knew who he was; that they had all followed Beyblading simply because they lived in such close proximity to the Jurgen castle. Ian hadn't gotten as much publicity during Worlds, but his nose was enough to make anyone remember him. Course they are midget. Its your nose. Everyone stares. Give me half an hour to get into town.

Closing his phone Bryan pocketed it. "Fuck."

Bryan eased the silver Maserati into a parking spot outside the little cafe where Ian was lounging, duffle bag at his feet. Killing the engine he opened the door and slid out and relocked it before pocketing the keys, laughing at the awestruck expression on Ian's face. "Close your mouth munchkin, before you eat something with wings."

Ian picked his bag up and moved closer. "Holy shit! Are you telling me your employer just lets you take off with a car like this anytime you want? Is he senile or just an idiot?"

"Neither. You're looking pretty good for someone who just had a relapse."

Ian had grown, though he was still some what less than six feet tall. His features had sharpened and he had grown into his nose, though it was still his most eye-catching feature. The most worrisome thing though, was the sparkle in his eyes, part lust, part hero worship that three years apart hadn't managed to kill.

Bryan jerked his head towards the door to the cafe. "Food. I haven't eaten yet today." He held the door open for his friend and let Ian chose a table, not surprised that it was one near the big picture windows.

Kicking his bag under the table Ian took the seat opposite the one in the corner, knowing Bryan liked having something at his back most of the time. "Tala said you've been here for the last three years."

"Yeah. The original accountant of the family I'm working for was skimming funds for nearly six years. I got most of it straightened out and since then they've kept me hired on since. Easiest thing I've done, not to mention the fact they pay me well and I get to play with all these shiny toys."

Ian grinned and picked the menu up. "I always knew that about you Bry. No matter how hard you trained at the Abbey you would be lazy once we got out of there."

Bryan sighed in exasperation and flicked his balled up straw wrapper at his friend. "Fuck you Ian. I'm working for one of the most powerful families in international shipping and the country. I work with millions of dollars on a regular basis. I wouldn't call that lazy."

Their conversation broke off when the waitress appeared with their drinks and accepted their orders. Bryan popped the lid off his beer using the edge of the table and took a drink before rolling the bottle between his hands.

"Voltaire is dead."

Ian's eyes widened in shock, his mouth falling open and for a minute Bryan worried that he was going to start hyperventilating and pass out. He figured his reaction had been the same when Tala had called him a year ago to tell him that Voltaire had died only three years into his life sentence.

The day he found out he had gone to the tower and stayed up there for hours, trying to wrap his mind around the fact that the man who had controlled everything about his life for eleven years was dead.

Just as the sun had started sinking past the horizon Robert had come up with blankets, several pillows, sandwiches Gretchen had made and a bottle of cheap vodka, the kind Bryan preferred for shots, that burned like hell going down and tasted like paint thinner smelled.

Waking up the next morning to the chill air, hung-over and sore with Robert tucked against his side under the blankets had been a reminder that without Voltaire everything between them would have never happened. They had spent the rest of the day in their bed, nursing twin hangovers since Robert had kept up with him shot for shot.

"They didn't tell you?"

Ian shook his head. "No. They didn't let me take calls from any of the others. Probably were afraid it would set me back even further."

Their conversation lagged once their food arrived, mostly Ian chatting about what had happened in London after Bryan had left.

Dipping a potato in mustard Ian watched his friend. Bryan was sprawled back in his seat, still wearing his reading glasses, long fingers curled around the beer bottle, thumb stroking up and down the dark glass. He looked easy and relaxed like never before and Ian liked the way it looked on the older man.

Suddenly not interested in finishing his food in the face of Bryan's proximity Ian dropped his fork. "So, I was thinking about getting a room at the hotel and staying for a couple of days."

Bryan drained his beer and pushed the bottle away. The subtext behind Ian's words wasn't hard to miss. His friend was offering companionship, in a sexual manner, hoping for what had never been between them and never would.

He stood, pulling his wallet from his vest as he did. Withdrawing some money he tossed it on the table, eyes on his friend. "Ian, you're my brother. Nothing is going to happen. I have a partner."

Ian stared up at Bryan. "What about Kai?"

"Ian, not only is he with Tala but also Rei and Li and you know I've never liked sharing. And I have been here for two years. I moved on." Bryan squeezed the teen's shoulder as he passed, the only sympathy he could give.

Pushing open the small gate that lead to the lands surrounding the castle Robert stepped out, watching as Bryan tossed a tennis ball for Corcoran. His lover was agitated, as evidenced by the tightness of his shoulders and he couldn't help but wonder what had set him on edge. Bryan had been fine when he had left earlier that morning.

Corcoran dropped the ball at Bryan's feet and galloped past him, barking as he tried to jump up on Robert. Eyes not leaving Bryan who had turned to look at him Robert caught the dogs forelegs and pushed him down. "Bryan?"

Bryan rolled his shoulders and leaned down to pick up the ball. "Ian's in town."

Scratching at Cor's ears as the Great Dane leaned against his thigh Robert remembered Bryan's words from years ago during one of their chess games. "I see."

The Russian smirked as he moved to join his lover, one hand sliding down Cor's back. "He propositioned me. Go figure the one time I ask Tala to keep his mouth shut about my private life he takes that to mean he can't even tell Ian I have a lover."

"Yes well, while I cannot say I'm thrilled that he propositioned you, I must say that I understand his reasons, though I have my own."

Laughing Bryan leaned down to kiss Robert. "I've been a bad influence on you."