I got this idea from a story that JustBeAQueen did called "Happy Homo Heaven". She wrote that Brian and Justin had been apart for 8 months without speaking, but they reunite after a night at Babylon. It's a great story, but I wanted to explore it more and make the 'reunification' take a little longer. Brian is always so guarded. I wanted to explore another possible conclusion; one where he wouldn't accept Justin back into his life so quickly.

This story takes place after the end of the series, about 1 year after Justin left for New York.

Hope you enjoy!

Brian is dancing at Babylon. He's there with 'the guys', but they are all hanging back at the bar. Brian still owns the place and it's fully rebuilt now. It has been open for months and is doing well. A full security system is in place and more precautions are made to, hopefully, prevent any more violence.

As Brian is dancing with no one in particular, many thoughts drift across his mind. He's got a lot to think about, some things he won't let jump into the forefront right now. He recalls everything that's happened in the last year: the aftermath of the bombing, his proposal(s) to Justin, how it felt when they decided that his young blond friend should move away to pursue his art in New York. He's been with other guys since then. At first, it was quite frequent, but, lately he was more interested in the drinking and dancing than any back room tricks. He aches for Justin; but, since they haven't spoken or written in a year, he knows that Justin has, indeed, moved on and is out of his life. Have to stop thinking about him.

As if in a dream, he feels someone move up behind him to dance, and that someone feels just like Justin. Same height... same exploratory hands… same electric charge as his body rubs grinds against me.

Brian stops for a minute, turns around and, with his eyes still closed, puts his hands at the other mans shoulders. The smell is the same, the feel of the shoulders. My mind is playing tricks on me. He opens his eyes and sees him. "Justin" he says out loud. Justin smiles at him with that radiant, sunshine smile. Brian puts his arms around him and holds him close. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in New York."

"I'm moving back, Brian. I'm coming back to Pittsburgh." He yells over the music.

Brian can't believe what he's hearing. He thought once Justin moved to New York he'd never see him again. The fact that they haven't spoken in a year only reinforced that with each passing month. Brian knows he needs to find out more, but this isn't the place.

"Let's go somewhere where we can talk, OK?"

"Sure."

As they walk towards Brian's office they cross the bar, where Michael, Emmett, Ted, Ben, Blake and Cal, Emmett's main squeeze for the past year, are standing. They all say their hellos to Justin. As he engages in happy talk, catching up with them, Brian can't help think how perfect Justin looks and how natural it is that he's there. As Brian turns to order them a couple of drinks, he sees Michael pull Justin aside for a private conversation. Brian sees Justin nod and smile. He can only try to imagine what they're talking about. They get their cell phones out like they're exchanging numbers.

Brian breaks up their little party… "Come on, we were going to talk, right, Justin?" …

"Yes. Where can we go? Don't say the back room." He says smiling.

"My office. I do own the place after all. This way."

Brian takes him by the hand and they walk up to his office. As soon as they get inside, Brian pulls him into his arms again and holds him. He feels so fucking good next to me. Brian kisses his cheek and then puts a quick kiss on Justin's soft lips. He can't risk any more contact at this point until he knows that the hell is going on.

"What are you doing here? You say you're moving back?" He asks.

"I have decided to move back to Pittsburgh. I've decided that me being in New York and you being in Pittsburg was counterproductive to my goals. I need to prioritize and concentrate on my art, and I can't do that alone, away from my friends and family, and, most definitely…you!"

"What about your being the next great artist? You haven't given up on that have you?"

"No. But I can create art here and my agent will sell it in New York or wherever it needs to go. I don't need to BE there in order to sell it. I've proven to myself that I can make it on my own; but I need to be where I'm happiest and most creative, and that's here… home… in Pittsburgh…. I've never done work as good as I did when I was here. You inspire me."

"I… don't know what to say."

"That's a first for you."

"What do you want from me?"

Justin moves towards Brian and puts his hands on the tall man's shoulders. "Say we can be together again."

Brian breaks away. "Christ, Justin, it's been a year and we haven't even spoken on the phone. You can't just jump back into your old life…. our old life. It just doesn't work that way."

Justin pauses and looks into Brian's face. It's guarded and scared. Justin was afraid this was the reaction he was going to get. He understands what Brian must be feeling, though. It HAS been a year.

Justin says, "I understand, Brian. It's been a long time. I can't expect too much. I was just hoping…"

"Yeah, well, sorry to fuck up your great reunification plans, but, I need time to process that you're even here."

"Tell you what… come to my mom's for dinner tomorrow and we can talk. I've moved all my stuff there. You can see some of my work that I've stored in her garage. Or, you can pick me up there and we can go wherever you like."

"I've talked to your mom a few times in the last year, to keep up on how you were doing."

Justin looks surprised and then smiles.

"Hey," Brian says defending himself. "I invested in your art career. I'm just making sure my investment is paying off. Thanks for paying back the loan, by the way."

"We had an agreement. You held up your end of the bargain …. I knew I had to hold up mine."

Brian nods. He sighs. Then he says, "OK. I'll see you at your mom's. Then we can go to Woody's or wherever and talk some more." He pauses again. "I don't mind catching up with you… I just can't dive right back in to the whole thing."

Justin takes a notepad from the desk and writes down his cell phone number. He hands it to Brian. He puts his hand on Brian's arm and strokes it a little. "Here's my cell number. I got a new number with a local area code when I moved back. As for us… we'll take it slow, then. That's fine. My mom and Molly will be glad to see you tomorrow. I'll call you to confirm. OK?"

"OK." Brian looks into Justin's bright blue eyes and smiles a little. "Ask her to make jambalaya." He remembers when Justin cooked for Brian the first time and they shared jambalaya from Jennifer's recipe.

Justin smiles. "I'll ask her. I'm sure I can help her whip some up. Maybe I'll make it tonight because it's..."

"… always better the second day." They say in unison, chuckling a little.

Brian pulls Justin towards him and hugs him again. "It really is great to see you again."

"It's great to be here." When Justin says 'here' he rubs Brian's back, emphasizing that he means there in Brian's arms.

Before ending their embrace, they share a tender, quick kiss.

"Later."

"Later."

Justin smiles and leaves Brian alone in his office. Brian considers what has just transpired. He can't believe that Justin is back and wants to pick up their relationship just as though the last 12 months had never happened. It's too much to process…especially just now. He'll have to see how things go in the next couple of days, for more than just the 'Justin factor'…

The next day they have jambalaya at Jennifer's townhouse. They have a friendly meal and share some laughs.

At one point, as Justin chats with his sister in the living room, Brian gets a few moments alone with Jennifer by helping with the dishes.

Brian asks, "So he's really back, huh? I'm surprised."

Jennifer says, "I'm not, really. He always felt that this was home. New York was good for his career, but it seemed to me from the start that he just felt it was a temporary thing he had to do before returning here. He missed you a lot, too."

Brian nods. "He never contacted me in any way, so I wasn't sure. He did send me a check for the remainder of the student loan, though, with interest. The note just said 'Thanks for everything.'" He pauses, leaning up against the kitchen counter. "It's great that he's back, but I'm still not sure about any future for us."

"You guys will work something out, I'm sure. The two of you have been through a lot together. There's no denying that you'll always be close in some way." She is hopeful that they'll get back together. Despite her initial reservations about Brian, she's come to realize that he's really good for Justin and a loving force in his life.

Justin joins them in the kitchen and then takes Brian to the garage to see some of the art now residing there. Brian is very impressed with his young friend's work. He has evolved and is doing great stuff. Even though Justin says he does his best work in Pittsburgh, there is a lot to be said for how he's improved his technique and honed himself as an artist in the last year. Justin tells him about a gallery opening at the Sidney Bloom gallery the following evening. Justin will have a couple of pieces on display and hopes to rub elbows with some art enthusiasts there to restart himself in the local art scene again.

Justin asks Brian, "So, were we going to Woody's or something?"

Brian shakes his head 'no'. "You know, I've got to get up early tomorrow for something. I don't want to get into it now, but I have to be up at, like, 6 am. So, we'll have to put off that drink at Woody's, OK?"

"Yeah, sure. Is everything OK?" Justin can sense that there's something on Brian's mind that he's not sharing. At first he thought it was just dealing with his own return from New York, but now he's thinking there's something else.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just need to do something tomorrow. I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it to the gallery. I'll talk to you tomorrow or the next day, OK?"

"Sure." He gives Brian a quick kiss. "Later."

"Later."

As Brian is leaving and driving home he thinks to himself that he can't tell Justin what's happening. Shit, what great timing on his part to return this week.

Brian found a lump on his outer thigh a few weeks ago. He was pretty freaked out that he had cancer again. Surgery for it is scheduled for tomorrow. The lump will be removed and then, hopefully, he'll find out that it's just a fatty lump or something. Christ, I've been through testicular cancer and now this. Michael will be taking him to the hospital tomorrow. The doctor insisted that Brian have someone drive him to and from, and Michael was the logical choice. Thank God for him. He's my rock. Brian realizes that he has to go home and try to get some sleep. Tomorrow's going to be a long day.

The next day, Michael picks Brian up at 6:30 am. They go to the hospital and Brian has a small tumor removed from the outside of his left thigh, near the knee. The doctor had told him that it was probably just a fatty tumor and not cancerous, but they wouldn't know until they removed it and tested it. The surgery is done within an hour and by 1 pm Michael is driving Brian back to the loft. The doctor's orders are that Brian rest as much as possible, keep his leg elevated and stay in bed except for bathroom breaks. Michael has figured on spending most of the day with the patient to assure that he follows those orders. Brian, of course, insists that he's OK and keeps trying to get up. They argue and Michael keeps forcing Brian back to, at least, his black leather recliner.

Later in the evening, around 6 pm, Michael looks at the time and realizes that he might not be able to make the parent's meeting for Hunter's swim team that evening. Michael had hoped that by this time Brian would be content to stay reclined, but he's being the impossible patient. He should have figured. This is the guy who had an impromptu dance party in his loft while he was recovering from a concussion. He's afraid that if he leaves him alone, Brian will go out to Woody's, or, worse yet, he'll find him on the dance floor at Babylon. He starts to think about who he can get to 'sit' for him. Emmett and Ted took off for the weekend with their respective boyfriends to some romantic bed & breakfast get away. Debbie is pulling double shifts at the diner and one of the waiters just quit recently, so she was out of the question. Then he remembers that he has Justin's new cell number. He calls.

"Hey, Justin, it's Michael."

"Hi. How are you? What's up?"

"Listen, I need you to do me a favor if you can. Can you come over to Brian's loft for a couple of hours tonight, like between 7 and 9? He had a medical procedure done today and he's supposed to stay in bed or reclined, but he keeps getting up and… you know… being Brian's usual defiant self. I want to go to a a parent's meeting for Hunter's swim team, but I can't leave here unless I know someone is watching the hard headed patient."

"Well, I can... um… sure. I was going to go to that gallery opening, but… if you need me to... What KIND of medical procedure?"

"I'll explain it all when you get here. If you've got someplace else to go, though…."

"No, it's OK. It's just for a couple of hours… I can still make part of the gallery opening. You said 7 o'clock, right?"

"Yeah. If you can."

"I'll be there. See you then."

Justin finds the key to the loft buried in the stuff he'd packed. He arrives at 7. When Michael hears the elevator he meets Justin in the hallway outside the loft and explains about the cancer scare and tumor removal. Justin is naturally concerned and just as scared as Michael is about what this could mean for Brian if it IS cancer.

They enter the loft to find Brian getting himself a bottled water from the fridge. He's wearing a t-shirt and cutoff sweatpants with a bandage on his leg. "Where you been, Mikey? Oh, Hi Justin."

Michael looks at Justin and says, "See?" He then turns to Brian and says "Bed or recliner, mister. Get your ass back there."

Brian scowls at him and returns to the recliner.

Michael nods towards Justin, "I asked our old friend here to keep an eye on you while I go to a parent's meeting. You are to listen to him and do as he says, you hear?"

"I don't need a fucking babysitter."

"Yeah, you do." Michael turns his attention to his blond friend, "Justin, his dressing is supposed to be changed at 8 o'clock. The stuff is in the bathroom. I'll be back around 9. I know you wanted to get to the gallery, so I'll do my best to be back here by then."

"OK. Don't worry."

"Great. Thanks."

Michael leaves and Justin pulls a chair up next to the recliner.

Brian didn't want Justin to know about his surgery. He thought that, if it was nothing, he'd never have to find out about it. If it was cancer, well, then maybe he could just push the young blond away enough that he wouldn't be hurt.

Justin, however, was glad that Michael called and that he could help their 'patient' this evening. He could always catch up with the folks at the gallery later. What was important to him now was to be with Brian when he needed him.

Brian asks, "What the fuck are you doing here, when you are supposed to be at the gallery?" He's doing his usual argumentative bad boy thing to keep Justin at arm's length.

"Don't pull that shit with me, mister. We've been through this before, remember? I didn't leave you then and I'm not leaving now, so you can just knock it off." Justin is too wise to the ways of his chestnut haired friend and isn't going to put up with any bullshit from him.

"Fine … whatever." Brian scoffs as he resigns himself to his fate of sitting in a chair and being babysat, like he's Gus for the weekend. "So, he told you about the…?" as he motions towards the bandage.

"Yes. He told me just as I got here tonight."

"That asshole. I didn't want anyone else to know."

"I'm sure you're going to be fine, Brian."

Justin turns on the TV and puts in a James Dean movie to entertain the patient. Brian is enjoying the movie and starts to lose his grumpy tone. They share a beer and make friendly comments while watching it. At eight o'clock Justin changes the dressing on the wound. He's patient and gentle and not at all squeamish about the process. When Justin returns from the bathroom to sit in his chair, Brian scoots over on the recliner and indicates to Justin that he's welcome to sit next to him. He obliges, and Brian holds him close while they watch the rest of the movie. He finds having Justin there to hold very reassuring. The younger man feels that his friend is drawing some strength from his being there.

Michael returns, as promised, at 9 and Justin goes to the gallery, promising to return later. He makes contact with the folks he wanted to talk to, goes to Jennifer's, quickly throws on some comfortable clothes that he can sleep in and takes off for the loft. At around 11 pm he relieves Michael again so he can go home to Ben and get some much needed rest. Brian is asleep in his bed and Justin lies down next to him in that familiar place again. As he puts his head on the pillow, Brian doesn't wake up but rolls over and puts an arm around him, almost instinctively. Justin is warmed by the embrace and quickly drifts off to sleep.