As Justin left his hotel about nine the next morning he should have been exhausted but instead he found himself elated from the events of the past twenty-four hours. He earned a hefty fee for his work and garnered much attention from the art faculty at Columbia; his admission was practically guaranteed. Then there was Brian; his boyfriend, his actual publicly declared boyfriend. The label sounded strange to Justin presumably since he had never had one before. He rolled the word around his brain a few times until it felt more real.

The cabbie dropped him off at the entrance to the Ritz and handed him his duffle bag. Justin texted Brian to let him know he was there. The plan was to have breakfast before heading to the airport together so Justin checked the directory and found the hotel restaurant. He spied Brian walk off the elevator and admired the man's strut. He just watched him for a minute before giving a little wave to draw his attention.

"Hey" he smiled as Brian approached.

"Hey, you hungry?" Brian asked.

"Uh huh, starved?" Justin answered, "Do you want to eat here? It's outrageously expensive"

"Don't worry, my treat" Brian added and escorted Justin to the hostess stand.

"Thanks but I made some serious money last night. I can pay for my own." Justin laughed uncomfortably.

"The offer wasn't meant to imply that you were incapable. You said you wanted to date, I like treating when I date, so get used to it" Brian argued, pulling Justin's chair out for him as the hostess escorted them to a table.

Justin laughed, "I'm not a woman, you know?" as he sank into the chair.

Now it was Brian's turn to laugh, "Yes I've been sprayed with your come and sucked your dick; I'm well aware." he said is a hushed whisper.

"Well you've never dated a man before and you still have a straight man attitude about the man paying all the time; we need to adjust your reality because we are both men in this relationship."

Relationship? Brian clinched his fists not ready for that word yet but staying mute on the matter. "I see your point. Tell you what, when we go out, I'll always get breakfast and you can always get lunch, deal?"

"What about dinners?" Justin laughed at the domesticity of pre-determining paying arrangements.

"Whoever last topped gets dinner…." Brian smiled amused at his own suggestion. Justin rolled his eyes knowing full well he wasn't likely to be paying for many meals.

"Fine" he smiled, "you win"

The waitress came and took their order and brought coffee for Brian. Justin watched sipping his milk as he poured six packets of sugar into the small tea-cup size mug.

"Is that really how you take your coffee?" Justin asked. "You never did it that way at home"

Brian smirked, "I think you will find zombie Brian didn't do a lot of things real Brian likes to do. Sugar is a vice; Lindsay would nag me about it so much I stopped drinking coffee the way I like it. Can you believe that?"

Justin nodded, "and now?"

"Now, I've made a commitment to myself. I am only doing what makes me happy with no apologies and no more fucking regrets. The only person I will ever make an exception for is Gus."

"What about me?" Justin asked a little hurt.

"What about you?" Brian said, unsure why Justin had a sullen face, "Being with you makes me happy, Making you happy; makes me happy. So I'd say you're in one of the better positions of my new life philosophy".

Justin lit up with a wide smile, "Making you happy; makes me happy too"

Brian relaxed at how easy it was to just be with Justin; they chatted through breakfast and continued their natural rapport on the way to the airport and while waiting for their plane. Brian took an earlier flight and gave up first class to be able to join Justin on his flight.

As they took their seats, Brian was disappointed that the plane was so much smaller than the flight to New York; way too small to attempt anything remotely adventurous. Justin noticed Brian's crestfallen expression as he stuck his laptop bag into the overhead bin. He laughed at little understanding perfectly what was on the man's mind, "Sorry" he offered simply, "looks like mile high club memberships aren't sold on this flight".

Brian shrugged as he squeezed into the window seat; while Justin took the aisle. Justin rested his hand on Brian's thigh and Brian placed his hand over Justin's but stopped short of lacing their fingers together. Brian initiated a G-rated discussion to keep his mind off of sex for the short flight asking Justin about Columbia and his favorite artists.

Brian sat back and listen to Justin excitedly talk about art and Columbia. He was amazed at the depth and passion Justin had for his craft and genuinely surprised to learn more on the thirty minute plane ride than over the years with Lindsay. The maturity and sophistication Justin showed all but erasing the tiny inkling of doubt Brian had about being with a man so much his junior. Justin was surely no average eighteen year old.

The parted ways in the airport, Brian's arms wrapped tightly around Justin as he offered him a farewell kiss. A few gawking strangers were met with a 'fuck off' expression from both handsome men.

"This weekend was amazing" Justin said planting one last kiss on Brian's lips.

Brian nodded, "Come over to the loft later; I want you to see it"

"I wish I could go with you now; my mom's expecting me for lunch" he pouted.

"I need to pick Gus up anyway. Are you going to tell her about us?" Brian asked "I need to give Linds a head's up before too many people know. The divorce will be final before Christmas. Would you mind if we waited?"

"…even Debbie" Justin added, "She'll be pissed if she thinks I'm lying to her. Plus I don't like the idea of being hidden or going back in the closet".

"Especially do not tell Debbie. She can't keep a secret to save her life" Brian said with a smile, "I'm not trying to hide you. I promise we can come clean to the family at Christmas. It's only two weeks"

Justin reluctantly agreed to not saying anything but refused to lie if asked directly. Brian thought that a reasonable compromise and they parted ways.

The days passed slowly for Justin. He was running out of excuses to tell Debbie where he was going and climbing out of Brian's warm bed every evening to return to his own twin bed at Debbie's was just cruel. Likewise, Brian had more than pushed the limits of believability for popping in to Debbie's and the woman was growing more than suspicious.

Three days before Christmas, Justin was sitting at the table with Vic and Debbie having breakfast when Brian popped over with Gus. "Gus wanted to see Grandma" he offered as they entered the house. A look of confusion on Gus's face more than giving Brian's flimsy lie away.

Debbie gave Vic a little eye roll and offered the boys plates of food. Gus claiming to have eaten at his mom's headed upstairs to play while Brian sat at the table. "OK spill it you two" Debbie commanded.

Brian shared a knowing look with Justin to confirm they agreed not to lie, he took Justin's hand over the table and confirmed what Debbie had already known.

"You are still a married man Brian Kinney and you, Justin, you have been lying to me since, since…..well how long exactly….?

"Just since New York" Justin said, "I'm sorry. We thought it best to wait until the divorce was final"

Debbie nodded, "and you Brian. You're old enough to know better than this."

"Debbie, the divorce is final as of today. That's why I came over; to tell Justin" he confessed, "I just told Lindsay when I picked up Gus. We are going to introduce Gus to the idea of Daddy's boyfriend and Mommy's girlfriend at the same time but Lindsay wants to come out to her parents first. I can't wait to hear that reaction"

"Lindsay's with Melanie still I take it?" she asked.

Brian nodded, "She wants to move in with her but we agreed it's too soon for Gus"

Brian let himself look at Justin for the first time since his announcement. "So you ready to come out again Sunshine? We might as well let this dysfunctional family in on our…..gulp…..relationship."

Justin leapt into Brian's lap and kissed him passionately in front of Vic and Debbie as a response.

"They're like fucking honeymooners" Debbie laughed.

Justin nibbled on Brian's earlobe as he whispered into his ear, "You've earned yourself an early Christmas present mister".

Brian's eyes arched and for the first time since his and Lindsay's separation he wished it wasn't his time with Gus. His cock stirred under Justin's weight and it didn't help that he was wiggling back and forth on his lap, grinding his ass into the growing bulge.

As Gus came plodding down the stairs, Brian practically jetted Justin off his lap. "Ok that's enough Sunshine" he said in one breath leaving Justin laughing as he tried to conceal his hard-on from Debbie and his son.

"Dad, I'm bored. Can we go somewhere?" Gus whined.

"Gus, don't whine." Brian corrected his son.

"Tell you what Gus" Debbie said, "How would you like to make Grandma's Christmas cookies with her?"

Gus nodded and Debbie looked at Brian and Justin desperate look, "Boys, why don't you leave Gus with me for a few hours and go finish your… shopping. I'm sure there is a large, sparkly gift you need to purchase for your favorite babysitter."

Brian looked torn between Gus and Justin, "I don't want to leave Gus; I don't get to spend that much time with him".

Gus looked at his dad with his bog hazel eyes, "Daddy, I want to stay with Grandma. I can have dinner with you and Justin tonight."

Brian looked both relieved and hurt at his son's nonchalant attitude, "No buddy, it will just be you and me tonight"

Gus looked confused, "But you're supposed to have dinner with your boyfriend cause that's what boyfriends do"

Brian stammered, "Gus, sweetie, who told you Justin was my boyfriend?"

Gus dismissed Brian's question again in favor of stirring the cookie dough Debbie was mixing but Brian persisted until Gus explained shaking his head and taking a taste of dough, "Mommy said that Justin was your friend and Justin's a boy, so he's a boyfriend, right?"

Justin giggled and waited for Brian to come to some semblance of a response to Gus's first grade logic. He made a mental note to buy Gus another present as a thanks for all he was innocently doing to help Brian's coming out process.

Brian stammered again finding himself in new fatherhood territory; he looked at Justin suppressing his amusement and determined he was absolutely no help. At a loss for what to say Brian just exclaimed, "So Justin, do you want to come to dinner with Gus and I?"

Justin nodded and smiled as Gus obliviously went back to making cookies with Debbie. With Gus's clear approval, Justin and Brian gathered their coats and snuck out for some boyfriend time.

They were tearing at each other's clothes by the time they reached the front door of the loft. Justin pushed him inside, eyes dark with lust. Brian didn't protest; he remembered only too well how Justin could play the dominant partner and he was in a mood to be manhandled.

Brian tugged his jacket and tie off quickly, letting them fall to the floor, but when he tried to finish unbuttoning his shirt, Justin slapped his hands away and took over the job. Another rough, quick push and he found himself pressed against the leather couch. Justin's fingers at his belt and fly, reaching inside to grasp Brian's cock and give it a few slow, cruelly teasing strokes.

Brian gasped. Justin laughed "turn around", spitting into his palm, "and hold on".

Brian braced himself against the furniture. He wasn't afraid; he knew he could trust Justin to be in control. He forced himself to relax but it still hurt as he slid inside him. Agony and ecstasy, pounding into him, splitting him open, grinding him down. Justin gripped the back of his neck, holding him down, fucking him slowly until he was adjusted and quickly picking up speed. Moving against him with such force the couch skidded across the floor. Brian was surprised that he loved it, this time he wanted it- and more. He wanted it to go on forever and let oblivion claim him.

Brian's arms started to ache from clinging to the couch, his cock hanging heavy and swollen between his thighs. Needing more contact, desperate to come, Brian reached down and stroked himself, letting himself go. Finally Justin bit down hard on Brian's earlobe and sped up his thrusts, grunting like an animal when he came. He went limp for a few seconds, resting his weight on Brian's back before finally returning to his senses.

He pulled out and removed the condom, leaving Brian speechless still clutching to the couch naked and spent.

"I hope you know that was your Christmas present Sunshine" Brian finally managed to say collapsing onto his bed.

"What?" Justin protested, "You loved it" he teased.

Brian shook his head, "I thought we were coming over here for you to give me my present"

"Oh yeah, that's right" Justin sighed as he moved down to take Brian's soft dick in his mouth. Before he could really get going a knock at the door interrupted them. Brian reluctantly left Justin to check on the door.

As he slid the door open just enough to see who it was, he cringed upon seeing Lindsay's face simply because of the awkwardness of it but let it go quickly upon reading her pained face. "Lindsay? What's wrong?"

He left the door open and grabbed a pair of pants to slip on. Lindsay came into the loft and burst into tears unable to get any words out to explain either her unexpected appearance or her crying fit. Brian's still guilty mind settled into the first plausible reasons for her distraught presence; Justin or Gus and he began a guessing game with Lindsay.

"Lindsay, tell me what the fuck is the matter. Are you upset Justin's here?"

Lindsay shook her head no.

"Is something the matter with Gus?"

"No…wait…you….have…Gus" Lindsay said between hyper vented breaths.

Brian explained Gus's whereabouts and grew tired of Lindsay's theatrics. "Lindsay just spill it already"

"My… parents ….hate…. me!" she finally cried, "They said I wasn't welcome anymore in their home because I'm gay"

Brian hugged his ex-wife and comforted her best he could listening to her ramblings about her parents rejection, "Lindsay, calm down. It's okay. Listen to me; are you listening?"

Lindsay nodded and tried to calm herself.

"You don't need them. You have me and Gus." Brian explained before adding, "…and Melanie" as an afterthought.

Lindsay shook her head, "I know".

"Now, you need to go home, take a bath, get dressed up, call your girlfriend and do whatever lesbians do when lesbians need to blow off some steam" Brian said as he coaxed her out the door. "Then tomorrow you and Melanie can come over for a late breakfast with Gus, Justin and me and we are going to make this little dysfunctional gay family of ours work because we need to show Gus how proud we are to be his parents and to be who we are regardless of what homophobic assholes think of us."

Lindsay smiled at Brian's rant, "You know, I think I like you better as my ex-husband" she joked.

He smiled catching the true meaning behind her words, "Yeah, I like me better as your ex-husband too."

Lindsay nodded and shouted a good-bye to Justin.

"Hey Lindsay" Brian called after her.

She turned to look at him, "I love you, you know. You'll always be family to me."

Lindsay put her hand to her heart, "I know love. Me too."

By the time Christmas day arrived, the official announcement to the family was highly anti-climactic. Debbie had seen to that and besides Michael's brooding; everyone welcomed Melanie and Justin as part of the new family dynamic.

They had finished opening presents and having their traditional Christmas lunch when there was a knock at the door.

Justin sprang up to answer it expecting his mother and sister but was surprised to find an older gentleman instead.

"Hello, can I help you?" he asked.

"I'm looking for Justin Taylor" the man explained, "I'm Rodney, my partner James Snyder, asked me to come deliver this" he added holding up a large package.

"Mr. Snyder?" Justin confirmed surprised but opening the door to usher the man in, "Is he all right?"

Rodney took off his hat and gloves and stomped his snow covered boots on the welcome mat. "I'm afraid James is in hospice. I brought him home to Pittsburgh last week. He doesn't have much longer"

Justin's eyes welled up at the thought of his favorite teacher succumbing to his illness. "I'm so sorry to hear that" he said, "Won't you sit down"

Upon hearing the news, the family quieted down and let Rodney explain his visit.

"James liked to collect works of unknown artists. He always joked that he was going to pay for his retirement by owning the first public offering of the next Picasso or Warhol" Rodney explained, "He bought this in New York"

Justin took the package and opened it; it was his Face of God painting. "Mr. Snyder bought this; for $3000?"

Rodney nodded yes, "He insisted I return it to you. He knew you didn't want to sell it"

"But why? I mean, why did he buy it in the first place"

Rodney continued, "For a few reasons. First, because he speaks very highly of your talent and he selfishly wanted to claim your first offering for his collection. Second, because he knew the high price would garner you the attention of the Columbia faculty and he wanted to make sure you would study there"

Justin was dumbstruck, "Why Columbia?"

"That was James. He always thinks he knows what's best. Says you belong at the center of the art world. That you're going to make a big splash. He made me promise that you would get in; with a full scholarship if you want it"

"Full Scholarship?" Justin repeated in disbelief.

"How can you promise that?" Debbie interrupted, not wanting Justin to get his hopes up.

Rodney smiled, "I'm sorry I should have explained. I'm the Dean."

Justin's eyes searched out Brian in the crowd of kisses and hugs being bestowed on him. He finally found him in the corner, staring at the painting of himself.

Justin pushed his way to Brian, grabbing on to him tightly and kissing him, relieved not to find coldness. "I can stay. I applied to PIFA"

Brian shook his head, "No Justin, we agreed. No sacrificing."

Brian wrapped his arms tightly around him and rested his chin on the top of his blonde hair. A heavy ache in his chest reminded him of why he stayed away so long in the first place. This was the feeling he hoped to avoid. Losing the man he loved was beyond comprehension.

Justin pulled back and looked at Brian, the Christmas lights reflecting on his skin. He looked ethereal. "Brian we agreed no sacrificing. What if I love you? What if I won't sacrifice you?"

Brian felt a weight lift just a little, "What do you mean if you love me?" he teased.

"I do. I love you. I don't want to let you go."

Brian kissed him again for his honesty, "I love you too Justin; don't worry, we'll figure it out"

A/N This is the last official chapter in the story. I will post an epilogue to wrap it all up and put a nice bow on it for you. Hope you enjoyed!