A series of vignettes based on prompts given to me by my betas (and others if they so choose) for our Wednesday Hump Day challenge. Each Wednesday we have decided to challenge each other with a set of prompts to make the week flow faster.

Everything was perfect.

Brian and I were finally together in New York, making both of our dreams come true. I was working from a spacious, comfortable studio in SoHo, and the first show of my return to the city was scheduled for the following weekend. Brian was out with a real estate broker, looking at potential office spaces for the soon-to-be New York expansion of Kinnetik. We had wedding rings on our fingers, having finally tied the knot a few years before, in front of all of our family and friends in Pittsburgh.

Our lives were full of new and exciting opportunities, both professionally and personally. I felt like everything was falling into place in a nice, neat, orderly fashion, one piece after another.

Then, I had the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And the puzzle that was my life -- so carefully and painstakingly assembled over the years -- was picked up and thrown to the ground, scattering the pieces everywhere.

And everything wasn’t so perfect anymore.

After years of no word from Brian, Justin receives a phone call that brings him back to his lover who needs his support more than ever. 

Justin and Brian surprise the family with big news on Christmas Eve. Standalone one shot.

No one had been more shocked than Brian when Melanie, of all people, had suggested that, since she didn't really celebrate Christmas, but J.R. was heading to Pittsburgh to be with her dads, perhaps Brian and Justin would rather come to Toronto to have a more subdued celebration with Lindsay and Gus.

"Lindsay never really gets to enjoy the decorations she puts up, since we're rushing around and then traveling during this time," Mel had explained. "I just thought it would be nice if you and Justin wanted to come to our place instead… You know, let Linds and Gus go all out, and then have a nice quiet holiday at home." 

"Quiet" was all Brian needed to hear before he agreed. 

***

Brian and Justin travel to Toronto to spend Christmas with a small part of their chosen family.

Summary: After a harrowing experience, it turns out to be the best Halloween of Justin's life. The timeline has changed, so please just go with the flow.

This silly idea has been circling around in my head since Halloween and demanded to be written, so I can actually sleep at night.

I am writing this story, my first attempt at fanfiction, to avenge my voice for I have used it too many times to shout at my screen every time CowLip managed to screw their own story. In my opinion, for this is what it is, just my opinion, CowLip came up with great characters but failed in their development. I can't deny that their work was avant garde but I always wondered what would have happened if Brian wasn't so afraid of showing emotions. I changed a lot of things because I want to give the basic story a twist of my own and I hope you will like it.

For one of the twists, I got loosely inspired by "Can I come back home to you" and "And now we start on married life" by SammyScaDoo

I don't like Michael and Lindsay. They are the embodiment of parasites and I make it a duty to verbally beat down the Michael and Lindsay in the real world. 

Some parts might remind you of something you have already read. As I can't remember every story I have ever read, and while I hope to limit myself to orginal ideas, apart from my disclosed inspiration, if I inadvertently borrow a storyline from anyone in the fandom, feel free to mentiion in the comments section and I'll make sure to give credit to the original author.

How will Mercury being in retrograde affect everyone? And what happens when secret plans are revealed?  

**Part of a series of the same name, being done through a series of one-shots, short stories and novelettes.**

As always, Lorie, thanks for being my sanity.

**COMPLETED**

HAPPY READING EVERYONE!