A/N: As much as I tried - this will not be the last chapter. Once I began writing it out, I realized it would be too much for one chapter. This chapter will be all about their much needed/anticipated reunion. The final chapter will be about providing closure for all of them. Thanks for reading and your support. It is much appreciated! :)

Chapter 29

Two Hours Later...

Craig grinned at the sight of Brian pacing nervously in the hallway next to Justin's room. The poor man's patience was evidently wearing very thin. Nearly an hour ago, Daphne and Jennifer had left the room, anxiously shouting for the doctor - that Justin was not only awake, but more alert than could be expected. Brian's visit had been waiting in the interim. The doctor had rushed in to check on Justin's current condition. His initial examination had been far too brief due to Justin falling back asleep so quickly, the bulk of the testing and questions had just been finished.

Brian's eyes immediately noticed Craig walking in his direction, his eyes worried as he watched his approach. He ran a hand through already disheveled hair, unable to remember a time he had been this anxious. The exam shouldn't take so long, he thought to himself. All of the things that could possibly be wrong continued to fill him with worry. He couldn't take much more of this. "Well... what's going on? Is Justin awake? Is he okay? Speaking?"

"Calm down, Brian." Craig continued to laugh at the state the normally composed Brian Kinney now made. Seeing Brian like this made him feel even the bigger fool. How could he have been so damned blind? He had explained his actions to Justin. Instantly, Justin had sputtered about in fury, righteous indignation released at how his father could have been so callous... not to mention oblivious to his own wants and needs. Had Justin been physically capable, he wasn't sure he wouldn't have pitched him headfirst from his room. "Justin won't want to see you like this-"

"See me like this." Brian immediately understood what that meant. "Okay, that means he is awake. Can I see him now?"

"If you don't, he'll probably manage to burst through his door."

Brian breathed a sigh of relief, for the first time in two years hope flared inside of him. "Thank you, Craig."

"No, Brian. Thank you." He patted Brian warmly on the back. "I don't know how, since you weren't here at the time, but, somehow I know you brought Justin back to us. That is a debt I can never repay."

"Having him back is all that I want." Brian pursed his lips before moving to the door... his hand slightly shaking as he reached to push it open. "Now, I just have to convince him of that."

Craig nodded, having no doubt Brian would succeed in that. "I wouldn't worry much about that. Justin knows how you feel; I'm sure of it. Now... quit wasting time, and tell him, not me."

That was all the encouragement he needed before pushing the door open and stepping inside the room, his eyes searching out the sight of the beautiful blond resting in the bed, blue eyes open and looking straight at him. Unable to help himself, he gasped at the sight of those eyes. It was one he had feared never to see again. "So... Sleeping Beauty has finally awoken."

Justin smiled tremulously. "Yeah. And... it didn't even require it to be from 'true love's kiss'."

"Well then, I guess I won't need to kiss you then..." Brian teased, knowing that was something he wanted very much to do; however, not quite yet. It was amazing, much due to the fact of who he was, but, right now, he just wanted to look at him. In fact, he thought he could look at him for a very long time. In any other circumstances he would be kissing the hell out of him right now. But... these were extraordinary circumstances.

"I guess if you don't want to kiss me..." Justin whispered back, his tone equally as playful, his eyes becoming brighter as he visually drank in who he perceived to be the most beautiful man in all of existence. His hand outstretching, Justin motioned to the chair next to his bed. "Sit down. I know it isn't the first time you've sat in that chair..."

Brian moved closer, his eyes hungry on every visible feature, a part of him having a difficult time grasping this was real. He had dreamt of this so many times... the reality of it was almost too good to be true. Taking the offered seat, Brian huskily answered, "I think we both know I want to kiss you; however, maybe we should talk first. I would imagine you have some questions..."

Justin nodded. He looked down, a frown marring his brow. "Dad told me about what Brandon told him to keep you away. I - I'm sorry that happened. I - I guess you were worried."

"More than you know, Sunshine." Brian's eyes were filled with the warmth that only profound relief could elicit. "I guess it was Brandon's last ditch effort to get you back. I'm sure he talked to you incessantly while you were in the coma."

"I don't remember any of that. Most of what I remember - if you can call it memories - are dreams, mostly voices. They all merge together and none of it makes any sense..."

"I see." Brian rolled his lips under, his eyes drawn to the monitors and devices still attached to his precious blond. "How long will you be attached to these machines?"

Justin crinkled his nose as he stared at the offending mechanical devices. "The feeding tubes come out in the morning. The doctor wants to make sure I can eat solid food, and keep it down. He doesn't foresee a problem; it's just a precaution. The monitors will probably come off yet tonight."

"That's great." Brian couldn't hold back the sigh of relief, his hand reaching out to capture Justin's hand in his own. He squeezed it gently, exhilarated at the feeling of the warmth he felt, as opposed to the last time he had held his hand. "It had to be unsettling to wake up attached to these machines."

"Yeah, it was." Justin shook his head, back and forth for a minute, still trying to piece together what he remembered, with all he had been told he had missed. "So much has happened since I've been out. My dad said it's been two years-"

Brian nodded. "A very long two years." Looking intently at the man that meant so much to him, Brian told him, "I want you to know that I was here every possible chance I could be - at least, up until the time I was asked to stay away. I didn't want to... but, I knew the time would come when I would be back for you. That time is finally here."

"Back for me?" Justin didn't dare hope the words meant what he most hoped for... he may have lost memory of most of the past two years, but, he did know of Brian's commitment issues previously. Surely, he hadn't changed that much.

"Yes, I never wanted to leave you here. If your father would have allowed it - I would have had you transferred to a facility in New York once I was drafted." At Justin's look of confusion, Brian continued, "I play for the Jets now. My season just ended. And... I am out as well. There's nothing holding us back now."

"Out? Seriously?" Justin was flabbergasted. He had thought it could happen one day... but, so soon? He couldn't believe it. "What made you come out?"

Brian laughed. "It wasn't for any normal reasons. My agent was pushing me to start dating, in the hopes I would find some pretty little trophy wife and settle into this picturesque life. I knew I had to come out; I couldn't focus with that constantly thrown at my head."

Justin's jaw dropped down, before incredulous laughter erupted from him. "That's funny. Actually really funny. I would have loved to have seen your face when your agent tried to push that. So, uhhh, is he still your agent?"

"Surprisingly, yes. He's damned good at what he does. I think he decided that I'm good press for all of the gay athletes that are now coming out. His personal poster child - so to speak. It's all a load of bullshit... but, this is the life I chose."

"I'm glad it's all working out for you, Brian. You have everything you always wanted. A professional football career... and no longer hiding who you are." Justin smiled at him brightly, he didn't have the words to express how happy he was for Brian - his hero, in actuality - his everything.

This was the hard part. The admission of feelings that he had never been good at; in fact, it had never been necessary. He'd never felt like this about anyone else. "Well... I don't have quite everything I want, but, I'm hoping I will soon."

"W-what more do you want?" Justin asked, unable to look away from the fervent yearning in Brian's eyes. Could it be true, he asked himself? Had Brian really came back because he wanted him?

"You, Justin. I want you... just as always."

Justin had to push for more. He knew it was there... finally, he could really feel it like never before. "J-just want me?"

"It stopped being just that a long time ago." Brian reached his other hand upward to stroke along Justin's head... even in this bed as he was, still having the softest and most beautiful hair he had ever touched. "You've been on my mind every day for the past two years - perhaps even longer than that if I were to be perfectly honest." Brian pulled back, standing to his feet, he ran a nervous hand through his hair, uncertain of how to speak these words that Justin so desperately needed to hear... and ones that were completely foreign in nature for him. "I had no idea this would be so fucking difficult..."

A soft sigh passed through Justin's lips. It was really happening. He knew it. At once, the memories of that last night they had together flooded over him. Brian had cared even then. It was only more pronounced now... perhaps even deeper. "How about if I go first... maybe that will help."

Brian turned to look at Justin, a quick nod his only answer. He watched him intently, not wanting to ruin what should be a special moment by saying something stupid. Thankfully, Justin began to rush on ahead.

"Being asleep for two years didn't lessen how I feel, or confuse me in any way. I'm told I was calling out for you in my sleep." Justin laughed ironically. "I don't doubt it. You were in so many of my dreams that I can't remember now." An intense, thoughtful look came over him, slowly he chose his words as to convey exactly how he felt. "It's so hard to explain how I know you were in them - it's just something I can feel. However, more than that, I know how I feel right now."

Swallowing with difficulty, Brian asked, "And... how do you feel?"

"I love you, Brian. I've loved you since high school. What started out as a crush turned into so much more as I got to know you better." Justin smiled dreamily at the man that would always be the definition of beauty, and perfection to him. Even though, he knew Brian was flawed, and was far from perfect - in his eyes, he was perfect for him. That was all that mattered. Shyly, he glanced down, then back up again. "I-I'm hoping that's what you wanted to hear..."

Moving next to Justin's side, Brian's hand reached out and brushed along his pale cheek, his eyes speaking the words he hoped he would be capable of effortlessly conveying. "Yes... exactly what I wanted to hear. I don't know how to say it, other than this - I don't want to go back to a life without you in it. I'll stay until you are fully convalesced. Then, I was hoping you would return with me to New York... and make a life with me there."

Justin felt his heart jumping in his chest. His dream was coming true... however, he wasn't going to let Brian get off quite that easily. "Sounds intriguing, Mr. Kinney. But... how about telling me why you want me with you?"

Brian shook his head, laughter escaping that reached directly into his heart. It was a sense of happiness he hadn't felt in years. "Still the tenacious little fucker. That hasn't, and probably won't ever change."

"Probably not." Justin pursed his lips. "Well... I'm waiting."

"Yes, we've both been waiting. It's time for that to end." Brian became serious in an instant, in the aftermath, he realized just how easy speaking the words had been. "I love you, Justin. I want us to have a life together. My only question is this - do you want that, too?"

Justin reached for Brian's hand, tugging him so he sat next to him on the bed, careful to keep the wires attached to him from tangling between them. "I want that more than anything. There's only one thing I want almost as much..."

Brian's eyes fell to Justin's lips, wondering if their minds were thinking alike. Huskily, he asked, "What might that be, Mr. Taylor?"

"Kiss me..." Justin whimpered in an almost pleading voice. Now that the most important matter had been resolved, all he wanted... needed, was to be in Brian's arms once again. "It's been so long-"

"Yeah..." Brian agreed raggedly. "Too fucking long." He moved in closer, careful not to place any of his weight on Justin's body, at this moment, only wanting that first exquisite kiss. The one that was the first taste after a long draught. That was exactly what this had been. Lightly, Brian laid his forehead against Justin's; he turned it side to side, his eyes remaining open as he looked into the ones that had haunted his dreams. "So fucking beautiful-" he rasped, lifting his head to just look at his revived blond, slowly brushing his lips over Justin's, a moan quickly escaping both of them.

Slowly, their mouths moved together. It was more than a kiss, it was a rediscovery... one that had been a long time in coming, and one that neither of them wanted to end. Justin growled his frustration at being unable to reach out to Brian, the attachments holding him back... but, each of them knowing that time was so close. Softly, their lips moved together, eyes slowly beginning to close as they each relished this kiss that one of them had formerly feared to be unattainable. Now, the future was ahead of them. It was a future that had never held more promise.

TBC

A/N: Again - there will be one more chapter. I am determined in holding myself to just one! I am going to update my other stories first; and then, I will be back with the conclusion to this story. Once more, thank you for reading! :)