QAF Gift Exchange 2021
TO: Galesgal on Midnight Whispers/ johnnysbiotch / fandomoverload on AO3
FROM: wren_kt7oz
TITLE: Where You Are
GIFT REQUEST: crack, angst, hurt/comfort, Drama
NOTE: Set two years after the end of the series in a ‘verse which is pretty much canon compliant except that Justin did not leave for New York. He and Brian are together and living at the loft.
We Need a Plan
September 2007
When the final break up took place, it wasn’t in the privacy of the loft, or on the phone, or even at Kinnetik. It was in the diner. With most of Liberty Avenue present and while Deb was working.
Brian was slouched in the corner of their usual booth listening to Emmett ranting on about some asshole he’d taken home from Babylon the night before who’d left before daybreak taking Emmett’s favorite faux-fur jacket with him. Michael and Ben were doing their best to look sympathetic and non-judgmental while at the same time exuding a touch of smug “this is what you get for still catting around at your age” energy.
Deb didn’t even bother. She smacked Emmett on the head and was just launching into a lecture on how it was time that he grew up and got himself sorted out and stopped taking those kinds of risks when Justin came in.
He walked up to the booth and quietly, coldly, place a key on the table in front of Brian.
Brian said nothing, just looked up at him from under his eyelashes.
“I’ve got most of my stuff. When I’ve got an address I’ll let you know. You can get Cynthia to send the rest on to me.”
Brian just sucked his lips in and still said nothing.
Debbie, on the other hand, burst into speech. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing, Sunshine?”
Justin gave her a cool level look. “Just what you’ve all been telling me to do - I’m getting on with my life and taking advantage of all my opportunities.” He took a deep breath. “I have to go. I’ve got a plane to catch.”
Emmett attempted to get up but was blocked by Debbie who tried to reach out for Justin. He dodged, and said quietly. “I’ll see you all sometime, I guess.” One last long look at Brian. “So … goodbye. I guess it’s time I stopped being the twink who didn’t know when to leave.”
Then he was turning away and before anyone could react further he was out the door and into the cab that was waiting at the curb.
The general reaction when he was gone was entirely predictable. It could be summed up as “Brian, do something!”
All Brian did was to stand up and push his way out past both Emmett and Debbie. “I have to get to work.”
He moved to the door and Michael followed him. “Brian!”
Brian paused to look down at him. “What is it, Mikey?”
Michael seemed lost for words for a moment and then he said, “Are you going to be okay?”
Brian gave him a Kinney glare. “Bit fucking late to be thinking of that, isn’t it? You’ve all been telling him he should go ever since he got the offer from that gallery.”
“Brian, we just …”
“I’ll be fine, Mikey. You know me. I mean, I was going to get tired of being tied down eventually anyway, right?”
If Michael felt a twinge at having the words he’d spoken to Justin just a few days ago quoted back to him, he didn’t show it.
“Brian, we just want what’s best for both of you.”
Brian gave a wry sort-of-smile. “I know you do, Mikey. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Now I have to get going. Those millions don’t make themselves.”
He was off then, crossing the road and getting into the Corvette; it took off, roaring quickly down the street towards Kinnetik.
***
Back in the diner, the bees were buzzing frantically. Within the hour, most of gay Pittsburgh knew that the Stud of Liberty Avenue had just been publicly dumped by “the Little Twink that Could”.
While the texts flew, Deb elbowed Emmett across into Brian’s vacated seat and sat down. “Poor Sunshine. I wonder what the Asshole did this time?”
Ben said carefully, “It may be that Brian didn’t do anything. Perhaps Justin simply realized that the offer of a job at that gallery, plus studio space, plus the guarantee that they’d hang some of his work was just too good to refuse. I mean, Chicago might not be New York, but its art scene is a lot more developed than Pittsburgh’s.”
Deb bristled automatically in defense of her home town, but she had to acknowledge that Ben was right. The offer really had been a good one. Much too good to pass up for the patchwork of a relationship he had with Brian. “Poor Brian,” she said this time.
“I never thought he’d just leave,” said Michael. “I mean, sure, he’s ambitious … but to just walk out like it was nothing …”
“Maybe that’s the only way he could do it”, Emmett contributed. “And anyway, Brian didn’t act like he was surprised. Maybe they’d already talked about it and decided …”
“Well, one thing’s for sure. Brian’s going to need all his friends to be there for him. Whether the asshole wants to admit it or not, this is really going to hurt him.”
Deb stopped and glared around the table to make sure the three of them were getting the message. It was clear she was in a take no prisoners mood, so all three nodded. With a huff she levered herself to her feet and headed off to the kitchen for the neglected orders that had been piling up, all the while going over in her head the things she could do to help Brian.
Back at the table, the “boys” were also putting their heads together. “We should invite him to dinner,” Michael said.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Ben protested. In the face of Michael’s protest, he went on quickly. “It’s just … coming to our home, it might seem like flaunting our togetherness in his face.”
“Ben’s right,” Emmett nodded. “I’ll get him to come to Babylon with me tomorrow night. That should cheer him up. Why don’t you guys come too? I’ll drag Teddy along. It will be just like old times.”
All of them knew at heart that it wouldn’t be. But they couldn’t think of anything better, so they agreed to meet up at Woody’s at 10 the next night, in time for a drink before heading to Babylon.
*****
Meanwhile, at Kinnetik, Ted had of course already received texts from both Emmett and Michael filling him in on the morning’s drama. Unlike the others, however, he didn’t believe it was any of his business. So he was unprepared for Brian walking into his office, fixing him with a patented Kinney glare and saying, “Yes, he’s going to Chicago. No, I am not a fucking teary-eyed mess. No, I do not want it spread all round the office. Yes, that real estate deal we discussed is still going ahead. Yes, I will string you up by your balls from the top of the fucking Steel Building if you breathe a word, a single syllable, about that to anyone.”
A two beat pause. Then, in a manner so falsely pleasant it was terrifying, “Any questions?”
Ted shook his head. Brian gave him one last Kinney-glare, and walked out again.
Ted let his head sink down on the desk for a moment while his breathing returned to normal. Sometimes Brian really did scare him half to death.
*****
Some three hours later Brian got a text. He looked at it, grinned a little and responded, Tonight. 9.30. Have the lube handy.
*****
Flashback - 3 weeks
The little fucker was huffing at him again, turning a cold shoulder like he was all too fucking prone to do lately. He sighed and decided to try reasoning with him. “I just don’t think it’s worth the fucking aggravation.”
“Of course you don’t! It’s not your life they’re trying to run!”
“Oh, so you shipping out to Chicago and getting on with your life like a big brave gay man and leaving that “emotionally retarded asshole” behind has nothing to do with me.”
Justin flushed with remorse and turned to him. “No. Of course it does. It’s just …”
He broke off. They were fighting … again … over the family’s interference in their lives … again. He sighed. “I’m sorry, Brian. I know it affects you too.”
He moved towards his … lover … partner … ex-fiancé … all of the above, wordlessly wrapping his arms round the asshole’s slim waist.
Brian held him, resting his face for a moment on the fair hair.
Then, his voice determined, Justin straightened up. “We need a plan.”
“We’ve got a plan,” Brian reminded him. “You’re going to Chicago for the next twelve months, we’re going to buy that lakefront place in New Buffalo using the money we got selling Britin and we’re going to spend as much time there as we can.”
“But that won’t stop them, will it?” Justin said reasonably. “You know what they’re like. And when we’re apart it will be even easier. Especially if they get wind that we’re spending weekends together.”
“Speaking of which, I plan to take Fridays and Mondays as well at least once a month. I can fly into Chicago Thursday night and spend Friday and Monday drumming up some business there.”
“Got a good hotel in mind in Chicago?” Justin asked with a grin.
He was rewarded with the rasp of Brian’s tongue down his neck, but reluctantly he moved his head away.
“They’re still going to be on our case. ‘Oh, Brian, he’s still so young. You need to let him go to find his own way’.” His mimicry of Lindsay was absolutely spot on.
Brian chuffed a laugh. “Not to mention ‘What the fuck were you thinking selling Sunshine’s dream home right out from under him’.”
“Don’t forget the head slap that goes with that one,” Justin advised, effortlessly recognizing Debbie who had been outraged that they’d sold the house they’d both decided was too big, too far out of Pittsburgh to commute every day and had too many fucking bedrooms so everyone they knew had felt entitled to invite themselves out there for a weekend (or longer) all through the summer.
“So … we’ve got a perfectly good fucking plan. We just need to make sure they don’t fuck it up for us.”
“But that’s what I mean. They’ll keep interfering and … Brian the plain and simple truth is that we both let them influence us way way too much. We let them plant doubts where there shouldn’t be any and then either go along with whatever fucked up agenda they’ve come up with or ricochet off in the opposite direction just to show them we don’t care what they say.”
He met Brian’s eyes full on and was rewarded with the slight shrug that meant his lover agreed with him but didn’t want to admit it.
Brian gnawed at his lip. “So what do you suggest, Sunshine?”
Justin thought for a moment and then his eyes brightened.
“What if …”
*****
October 2007
“Well, I don’t know what else to do, Deb. I mean, he goes to Babylon. He has a few drinks, but he spends most of his time up in the office.”
“Well, we have to do fucking something. He must be missing that boy more than he wants anyone to know.”
Emmett shrugged. “I suppose he must be, but he’s not really around all that much. I mean, he’s spending most weekends out of Pittsburgh. Teddy says he’s working on a list of potential new clients in New York, but …”
“On the weekend?” Debbie interjected.
“Maybe he just wants to get away from here where the whole of gay Pittsburgh knows his business,” Ben put in mildly.
“Well, I worry about him,” Deb said unnecessarily. “I mean … anything could happen. Who’s looking out for him? What if he has some bad dope in some New York club? He shouldn’t be on his own.”
They all sighed.
“I know, Deb, but what can we do?”
“Well, he’d better be home for fucking Thanksgiving, that’s all.”
All the men exchanged glances. They were not confident that Brian would be in Pittsburgh for Thanksgiving, and they were rather afraid that they’d all cop the blame if he wasn’t.
*****
early November 2007
Text message
Today at 8.35 am
Just got word - the sale’s been finalized! You can tell your little builder buddy to get to work. With luck we can have it livable by Christmas.
Text message
Today at 9:10 am
Toby says he can start next week. The bathroom tiles came in yesterday, and the new splash backs are due on Friday.
Text message
Today at 10.43 am
Is Mommy still planning on visiting for Thanksgiving?
Text message
Today at 10.44 am
Yes. Are you still going to Toronto?
Text message
Today at 10.45 am
Yeah. Figure I need to have it out with the Munchers about Christmas in person.
Text message
Today at 10.52 am
Don’t forget the protective clothing. Mel is not going to be happy.
Text message
Today at 10.53 am
Yeah, well. Tough fucking shit. She agreed that I could have Gus for Christmas if she got to take him to Florida for the weeks he was supposed to be here in the summer.
Text message
Today at 11.01 am
You know she thought that meant you’d be in Toronto again for Christmas, like last year.
Text message
Today at 11.04 am
I don’t give a fuck what she thought. She agreed, and it got signed, sealed and registered with the fucking family court.
Text message
Today at 11.06 am
What are you going to tell her about where you’re taking him?
Text message
Today at 11.09 am
I’m not.
Text message
Today at 11.10 am
Brian everyone and his dog will tell her you’re not in Pittsburgh.
Text message
Today at 11.13 am
Fine, I’ll tell her I’m taking him to New York.
Text message
Today at 11.14 am
She’ll go ballistic.
Text message
Today at 11.17 am
IDGAF The fucking agreement doesn’t say I have to stay in Pittsburgh. Just that I have custody for the agreed period. In this case, 2 weeks from 12/23 to 1/6. As long as I get him back in time and don’t set up camp in the back room at Babylon, she doesn’t get a say in where we go or what we do.
Text message
Today at 11.20 am
You’re a brave man, Mr Kinney.
Text message
Today at 11.22 am
You’d better believe it. I might only have one ball but it’s still bigger than Melanie’s.
But maybe I’ll wear a protector.
*****
“What do you mean you’re not going to be in fucking Pittsburgh for Thanksgiving you little asshole?”
Brian gave her a cheesy grin. “I’m spending Thanksgiving with my Sonnyboy, making sure that he remembers that he was born in the good ol’ US of A.”
Taken aback, Deb could only say, “Well. Okay. All right then. As long as you’re with fucking family.”
Brian shuddered delicately. “Could we not mention any “family” that includes Mel and “fucking” in the same sentence in future?”
Later he reported by text that he’d finally found a way to shut Deb up.
*****
late November 2007
Text message
Today at 2.25 pm
So you got back to Pittsburgh in one piece then? Still have that famous ball I hope?
Text message
Today at 2.28 pm
Only just.
Text message
Today at 2.33 pm
I guess Mel wasn’t happy.
Text message
Today at 2.34 pm
Neither of them were happy. But the shrieks of Wicked Witch of the East were probably heard all the way to Aus.
Text message
Today at 2.36 pm
Did you tell them about NY or are you saving that one?
Text message
Today at 2.38 pm
Saving that one. Once they find out they’ll set the whole fucking Pittsburgh mob onto me and I can do without that.
Text message
Today at 2.39 pm
But you’ve checked with your lawyer, right?
Text message
Today at 2.43 pm
Yep. The one here and the one in Toronto. Both agreed that, no matter what the Munchers might think, the family court agreement that stipulated “custody arrangements assume that the child Gus Peterson will be looked after at the principal place of residence of the custodial parent” no longer applies.
Text message
Today at 2.45 pm
Oops. Guess they forgot that had to be changed to let them take Gus to Florida.
Text message
Today at 2.47 pm
I think Mel has conveniently fucking forgotten that it got taken out completely - for both parties - not just for her convenience.
Text message
Today at 2.51 pm
So no problems then?
Text message
Today at 2.53 pm
Legally, no.
She’s not happy. Linds isn’t happy. Tears. The whole “but we’ve always been together at fucking Christmas BS. But that’s too fucking bad.
I told them that if they wanted to contest it I’d take them to court and freeze all payments in the meantime. That fucking shut them up.
Text message
Today at 2.55 pm
You’ll be hearing Deb’s opinion no doubt. And Michael’s.
Text message
Today at 2.58 pm
Yeah, well, they can all go fuck themselves. I’m not just the fucking sperm donor any more. I’ve got rights. And Sonnyboy seems to like the idea of spending Christmas with his old man, so I don’t give a fuck.
Text message
Today at 3.01 pm
It’s going to be a great Christmas, Brian.
Text message
Today at 3.03 pm
Yeah, it will. If they ever get the fucking work finished on the house.
Text message
Today at 3.05 pm
We’re still going ahead with the other thing, right?
Text message
Today at 3.08 pm
You’d better fucking believe it, Sunshine. No escape this time.
*****
early December 2007
Text message
Today at 11:25 am
Toby called. They’ve finally, finally completed all the fucking tiling. The floors have been re-finished and the new central heating and hot water is all done. The new windows and the re-modelling of the basement will have to wait but at least we won’t freeze and we won’t have to look at those shitty 70s tiles everywhere.
Text message
Today at 11:28 am
About fucking time. My plane gets in at 3.30. I’ll get a taxi straight to the court house. Should be there by 4.30 at the latest.
Text message
Today at 11:30 am
See you there, then. LY.
Text message
Today at 11:33 am
Yeah, whatever. Just don’t leave me standing on the fucking steps.
*****
Mid December 2007
“So the girls are going to be bringing Gus down with them on the 23rd and they’ll all be staying with us till the girls fly back on 27th,” Michael stated, firm in his belief that this was the only logical solution to the whole problem. “We thought you could come and stay as well. You’d have to sleep …”
“Not happening, Mikey.”
“Brian, I know that you want to spend Christmas with Gus. But so do the girls. And this way …”
“Not. Happening.” Brian repeated.
“But the girls …”
“Should have thought of that before they insisted at the last minute that they just had to have Gus for those weeks in August to go to fucking Florida. They agreed then that I could have him for Christmas, and that’s what’s going to happen.”
“But the girls …”
Brian put a hand on Michael’s shoulder and said quietly, “Mikey, I don’t give a fuck about what the girls think or what they feel. Gus was told he was going to be coming to me in August. And then he wound up in fucking Florida. Now he’s been told he’s coming to me for Christmas and if you think I’m going to let him believe I’ve broken another promise to him you really really don’t fucking know me at all.”
Michael stared at him for a moment, then dropped his eyes.
When he raised them again to his meet his friend’s, they were clear and steady.
“You’re right. None of us have thought of it that way, but you’re right.” He took a deep breath, then said with a grin. “Okay. I’m going to tell Ma that’s what you’re thinking. She’ll agree that it’s Gus who’s important and Linds and Mel can try arguing with her.”
Brian laughed. “Zephyr to the rescue.”
“Damned right.”
A pause, then, “You will be coming for Christmas dinner, though, right?”
Brian gave him his tongue-in-cheek look. “My Christmas plans haven’t changed at all, Mikey.”
Michael maybe should have been more suspicious, but he was just so relieved that he had a way to paint Brian as the good guy in this whole mess that he took Brian’s words at face value.
“Great! I’ll tell Ma.”
*****
Text message
Today at 6.18 pm
So I’ve finally convinced the Munchers to let me pay for their fucking flights instead of driving down. They’ll be landing at 11.20 on 23rd. Mikey’s agreed to use one of Kinnetik’s four-wheel drives to get them around while they’re in Pittsburgh. It seats 6. So he’ll drive out to the airport with Deb and Ben. They’ll pick up the girls and JR and take them back to their place.
They think that I’ll be driving Gus back to mine, but we’ll actually be getting on the 12.30 plane to Chicago. Should be landing about 1.30 your time.
Thank the fuck the weather forecast is for clear fucking skies. If they’re right for once, by this time next week, you and me and Sonnyboy should be safely tucked up lakeside for Christmas. .
Text message
Today at 6.26 pm
Do you think we’ll still be able to hear the screams?
Text message
Today at 6.31 pm
Duh! Mel can out-shriek a fucking banshee.
Text message
Today at 6.32 pm
Well, the food’s all ordered and they’ll be delivering on 22nd. Mrs. Tuckett will be there and she’ll put it all away and give the place a final clean.
The tree will be delivered the same day. The decorations we bought last weekend are already there, just waiting to be put up. So we can do all that Christmas Eve. Gus will love it.
Text message
Today at 6.40 pm
Never mind the food, just make sure there’s plenty of alcohol. I’ve got a feeling we’ll both need it after we wrangle Sonnyboy into bed every night.
Text message
Today at 6.42 pm
Yeah, well. Just don’t want to have a hang over when he’s waking us up at 7 am every morning.
Text message
Today at 6.46 pm
Shit! Who the fuck thought this was going to be a good idea?
Text message
Today at 6.47 pm
Shut up! You’ll love it. And you’ll need to make the most of it because they’ll be out for your blood when you take Gus back on the 6th.
Text message
Today at 6.49 pm
Nah. I’ll turn up with the ring on my finger and they’ll be too busy freaking the fuck out over that.
Text message
Today at 6.52 pm
You’re still going to do that then? Start wearing it around them?
Text message
Today at 6.53 pm
We can’t keep hiding it forever, Sunshine. Besides, that was the whole point of inviting Momma Jenn for a weekend in Chicago before I have to take Gus back. So we can tell her in person and then hide behind her new grandson so she can’t get my remaining ball.
Text message
Today at 6.55 pm
Yeah. I know. It’s just … it’s been nice, y’know.
Text message
Today at 6.59 pm
It has. But we’ve got a lot of things sorted now. And we’ve got our nice little bolt hole that’s only got room enough for us and for Gus.
Text message
Today at 7.02 pm
When did you suddenly become little Mary Sunshine? You’re usually the doom and gloom part of the equation.
Text message
Today at 7.05 pm
Maybe when you finally made an honest man of me.
Text message
Today at 7.06 pm
You’ve always been an honest man, Brian. Too fucking honest sometimes.
Text message
Today at 7.07 pm
Yeah, well, fuck this introspective shit.
Anything else we need to organize?
Text message
Today at 7.09 pm
No. I think we’ve pretty much got everything covered.
I miss you.
Text message
Today at 7.11 pm
Yeah. I wish I could have gotten up there this weekend, but … I needed to do some stuff to throw them off the scent. Get a bed and stuff fixed up for Gus here. Put up some decorations, all that kind of shit that Deb’s been nagging me about for weeks.
Text message
Today at 7.15 pm
I know. Just …
Text message
Today at 7.18 pm
Yeah, Sunshine, I know. First weekend after we finally get hitched and I can’t even get there to see you.
I miss you too.
Now delete all this shit.
Text message
Today at 7.20 pm
I know.
Call me later?
Text message
Today at 7.20 pm
9.30 like always. Have the lube handy.
24th December
When they hammered on the door of the loft and Brian didn’t answer, Lindsay tried her key. It didn’t work.
Neither did Michael’s.
They called Brian. He didn’t answer right away but he did call back a little later.
“Yeah, Gus and I are queuing up right now to see the Big Guy.”
(This was true. Of course, New Buffalo being a pretty small place the queue wasn’t at the Mall, it was at the local Rotary fund-raiser and there were only about 6 kids in front of them.)
“Where are you? Why didn’t you tell us? We could bring JR.”
“Sorry, guys, we’re about to see Santa right now. By the time you get here, we’ll be off doing other stuff.”
(Also true, given that it was a 7 hour drive in good weather.)
“Get pictures!”
The line cut out.
They tried calling back with no luck.
Gus called them later to tell them all about what he’d said to Santa and about the neat little car he’d gotten from Santa’s elf. And how they had to get home so he could help decorate the tree. He’d been carefully coached and didn’t mention anything about how Justin had met him and Dad at the airport. Or the neat new house right on a lake that Dad had driven him and Justin to. Or the rings on Dad and Justin’s fingers. Or anything much at all really.
*****
Christmas Day
Deb was bustling around Michael’s kitchen Christmas morning when she heard the door bell ring. Assuming it was Brian, she jerked it open with one of her insulting greetings on her lips, only to find a courier on the doorstep. He was dressed like an elf and carrying a huge sack (and looking somewhat sheepish).
With the air of someone reciting a script that they found excruciatingly embarrassing, the elf said, “Santa found this sack hidden under the reindeer blankets in his sleigh when he got back to the North Pole so he sent me to deliver it.”
By this time Deb had been joined by Michael and JR who was enchanted by the elf, and fluttered her eyelashes at him. (As well as eyeing the sack of presents, of course.)
Bewildered, Deb accepted the sack, which was tied around the neck and had an envelope attached. JR insisted on having her photo taken with the elf, Ben tipped him generously, and then they all went inside to find out what it was all about.
It was of course, from Brian. The sack was full of gifts and inside the envelope was a note, and a couple of typed pages.
The note read:
Sorry, folks, but Sonnyboy and I have made other arrangements for Christmas. We’ll see you as agreed on Jan 6th. Enjoy the gifts and Happy Christmas!
PS. Mel, please find attached the legal advice I’ve received about this. They assure me that I’m well within my rights under the current custody agreement. If you’ve got any queries, please contact my lawyer.
PPS I’ll be screening my calls so don’t bother trying to burn up the phone lines.
Funnily enough, none of them took any notice of the last part, and kept trying to call both Brian’s cell and the loft landline. They also called Jenn, who knew nothing. And Emmett who was catering an elaborate Christmas dinner for some very wealthy patrons and had no time at all to talk to them. And Ted. Who explained that he was spending Christmas with his Mom, and no, he didn’t know where Brian was. (Which was true, although he could have had a pretty good guess. But he was fond of his balls and had no intention of putting them at risk from the Wrath of Kinney.)
It was Ben who finally called a halt, demanding that everyone stop fussing about Brian and concentrate on enjoying Christmas with the family that were together.
After a stunned moment or two, Michael backed him up and they somehow got Christmas more or less back on track.
Mel fumed, of course, and Lindsay sniffled, and Deb kept saying, “He could at least have fucking told us!”
But when she said that to Jenn on the phone, Jenn cut her off. “And what would you have done, then?” she asked.
“We would have told him that he had to come here, of course,” Deb responded. “Gus should be with his family at Christmas.”
“Gus is with his family. He’s with his father.”
“But …”
“Deb I am the last person to defend Brian Kinney but he and Justin are adults, they are entitled to their own lives and they split up because none of you could keep your noses out of their business. I’m assuming that Brian is determined to make sure that what you all want and think and believe he should do is not going to come between him and his son, like you came between him and my son.”
With something close to a sob, she ended the call. (In fact, Justin had already made it clear to his Mom that he was still seeing Brian and sworn her to secrecy. But not until after he’d left for Chicago. So in the first shock of his departure, Jenn had felt that all the so-called “family” were pretty much to blame for her son moving interstate, and deep in her heart that hadn’t really changed.)
Deb, for once, was actually silenced.
*****
In New Buffalo, however, the three “guys” were having a wonderful time. Gus especially.
He found it hilarious when Justin called Lindsay to “wish her Happy Christmas” so that her phone was busy when Dad called from the next room and they could just leave a quick voice message “so she knows you’re okay”.
Santa had brought lots of presents (certainly enough not to miss the ones that waited for them under Michael’s tree). The decorations were bright and cheerful, even if they were hung a little wonkily in some places. Justin explained that the turkey was small enough to cook easily, and what if the gravy and most of the sides had been pre-prepared at a small restaurant down the road so they just needed heating? They still tasted great.
Best of all, it was just the three of them. Mama Mel wasn’t there, glaring at Dad. Mommy Linds wasn’t there being all kind of fake sweetness to Justin. Grandma Deb wasn’t there criticizing everything. JR wasn’t there getting all the attention. It was just the three of them; and Gus thought it was a pretty great way to spend Christmas.
Even if he did have to put up with Dad and Justin making a lot of kissy faces and other soppy stuff. At least they were together, and they were all happy. And isn’t that what Christmas is meant to be about?
*****
End Notes: Prompt was for:
Brian and Justin fake a huge break up in front of everyone they think it's finally over when Justin leaves town. Brian and Justin are secretly together, and while everyone is trying to console them they are planning their first Christmas as newlyweds.
Hope this is something like what you wanted. And that I wasn’t too horrible to Mikey. I tried.
Author's note: Just a small update because I've come to realize that there is a New Buffalo in PA. That is most definitely not where Brian and Justin have bought their new house. Their New Buffalo is in MI on the shore of Lake Michigan, right around the lakeshore from Chicago (just over an hour's drive - 90 mins from O'Hare).
(The things you find out when you google research for a story. Honestly! I can also tell you that there is no residency requirement to get a marriage license in Chicago, but that both parties have to turn up at the court house to get it, and you can't get married till the next day. And that the population of New Buffalo is around 1,800 people.)
If you're interested, this is their new house. (It's currently on sale for around $2 million.) I have absolute faith that it is never going to be subject to either flooding or land erosion.
.