Lindsey Petersen-Marcus had finally had enough. After twenty years of being the proverbial punching bag, it was time to do what her heart had been telling her for many years. It was time to leave. She had endured her last critical remark and gesture from Melanie. For the first time ever-well almost ever- she felt like balling her fist and popping Melanie in the mouth. Brian often called her a yapping chihuahua and the description was certainly accurate. Lindsey would have killed for a muzzle a long time ago.

"Gus! Please, Gus hurry up," Lindsey said with tears in her eyes. There was no way she could stay in the house another minute.

There was no doubt that Mel would always have an issue with Brian Kinney. In all the years they'd been together- and for the two short times they weren't- Melanie constantly put little in mental plugs for Lindsey to break off her relationship with a man who was both her childhood friend and child's father. Of course that was the main source of contention for Melanie. She had wanted someone else, someone amenable to have be Gus' father. The fact that Lindsey disregarded (or flat out rejected) everyone (And who really wanted to have a baby with a man name Hiram anyway? And so what if it was Melanie's cousin, the answer was still no fucking way) she suggested which included an anonymous donor from the sperm bank. Every time there was an issue between the two of them, Melanie would always find some way to remind her of all her faults--the biggest one was having Brian Kinney's only child. Although she had a problem with Brian, she certainly didn't have any trouble using the money he sent. Part of it went into the college fund for Gus. It was not meant to be helping out Melanie's cousin, Rita but it was. How Melanie thought that Lindsey would never find out that over fifteen-thousand dollars was missing remained a mystery.  "Gus!"

For his part, Gus took on the sardonic smirk of his father. He had been through the histrionics of his two moms before and didn't believe for one second that his mom, Lindsey, was serious. Turning to his companion at the door looking on he said, "See ya later, J.R. I'm pretty sure it will only be a couple of hours."

The little girl laughed. "Are you going to try to work on them again, Gus?"

"What's the point? Do they ever listen to us anyway? Hopefully this will finish up relatively soon. I have a video game tournament scheduled for the weekend." Shaking his head, while looking down at the dark-haired girl, Gus sighed. If he didn't understand why his father would call their tantrums "Lesbianics" he certainly understood while standing there listening to yet another vase crash to the floor within the house.

"I really wish I was going with you," J.R.-whose real name is Jenny Rebecca- looked up at him. "I hate being here with her when she's in one of her moods. You think Mommy would let me go with you so that Mama can cool off?"

"Gus!"

He rolled his eyes again. God please... "No, J.R., I'd better talk to her alone this time. Besides since they're once again fighting about my dad, it's probably a given that if my mom scoops you up, this will take longer than it should for both of them to get some damn sense."

"Ooh you said a bad word," J.R. said laughing and Gus couldn't help but smile back. He really did love his little sister, although his mom explained to him they weren't really related.

At fifteen, Gus Peterson-Marcus had to have the weirdest family known on the planet. His mom was a lesbian and his father was gay. As if that wasn't enough, his other lesbian mother had a problem with the fact that he loved his father. From the bits and pieces he'd gathered over the years, Brian Kinney and Melanie Marcus- his mama- have never gotten along since the days when Mama met Mommy.  Yet both of his moms owe him for meeting each other in the first place and for the commitment ceremony he helped plan when Gus was newly born. Weird. Based on the argument, Gus could only gather that Mommy got meaner than cat piss--something Grandma Debbie always said his mother needed to become to back Mama up off of her case.

He heard his name being screeched again. And Lindsey Petersen never screeched. Bending on his knee to match J.R.'s height, he pulled her in for a tight hug. "Take care of you, Squirt."

"Take care of you too, Gussie." She pulled him tighter. She was the only one who called him that especially in times when she was sad.

"Hey...don't worry. I'll be back soon."

"Promise?"

Gus thought a minute. The one thing is father taught him from the time he was six was to never make a promise he couldn't keep. "I promise that I will do my best. Okay?"

She nodded her head understanding that it was all he could really promise her- and he was grateful for that. All the lessons he'd learned he taught her as well. As a result she was turning out to be a helluva soccer player and a Kinney by default. She wasn't shy about asking for what she wanted or about speaking her mind considering it was hers to speak. He would miss her- be it hours or days- but when he would be back was really up to their mothers. Lindsey was the calm one with the gentle voice until she had had enough. Melanie was always aggressive; always shouting when she wanted to get her point across. By the way Melanie was in the house yelling and the things coming out of her mouth, it was not going to be as easily resolved as it was just last year when his dad and Justin left. Before that, he couldn't remember when arguments like the one they were having had not happened.

With that thought, Gus left J.R. in the doorway, turned gave her one last smile and got in the car going God only knew where.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Whoa, Mr. Kinney, twice in the same month you decide to grace your club?"

Brian laughed. "Yeah, Tony it's shocking but let's just say I have a vested interest being here tonight."

Tony nodded. "Yeah, he looks well. New York seems to have been great for Mr. Taylor."

"It has been. He's been back a week and already has clients he has to see. The kid's a genius but we all saw that."

"To see what he was like after that awful incident and his hand trouble, then to see what he's become...it's nothing short of a miracle. I actually own quite a few of his pieces. My sister sent them to me down from Toronto after I asked her to attend his art show there. Cost me a pretty penny but they were worth it."

"Wow, Tony, I didn't know you were a collector. Maybe I'm paying you too much," Brian said laughing.

"Don't even think of cutting back on my salary," Tony said laughing. "No but seriously I own the security firm you use now. Working here helped me to buy it and as a result, I get to keep working here where I actually like most of the people and send the others on the assignments I don't want to do."

"I'm glad it all worked out for you and congratulations on buying the business. I knew Frank Murphy was looking to retire but had no idea he was selling."

"It was a spur of the moment thing. A couple of guys were interested but I was the only one with the ready cash so I bought it. Do you think Mr. Taylor is going to do a show here?"

"I don't know but anything is possible." Brian shrugged.

Brian looked down on the dance floor from the top of his kingdom. Everyone was dressed in white for last holiday of the summer but then every night at the club was like a holiday. After rebuilding, Brian intended for Babylon to be a constant party and on weekends where a holiday was attached it became a poor man's White party weekend. Brian hadn't gone to one for many years, business kept him too busy but he'd had his share of them long since. Babylon was the place where everything was always young and beautiful and none was more so to him than the bubble-butt blond in the center of dance floor sandwiched between two other men. The sight of Justin grinding his tight ass against the man behind him sensuously and bumping pelvises with the man in front of him reminded of Brian of a cobra mesmerizing its prey before striking. His hand tightened against his glass as he continued to watch the man in back bend his head in the crook of Justin's neck; caught the movement of the man's tongue sliding up to the hot spot behind his ear. Justin's eyes were closed, the subtle look of his enjoyment creasing his brow, mouth slightly opened as the tip of his tongue caressed his utterly suckable bottom lip.

Before Brian realized he had moved, he stood to the side of the writhing trio, his pulse throbbing to "Let the Music Use You Up" while remembering the feel of Justin's bare ass pressed against him as he took all of what Brian dished out and begged for more. The sight of Justin's hands gripping both men's heads as they assaulted his neck and groped, caused more images to assail Brian's brain. He heard the small moan and gasp emitting from Justin louder than the deafening music which spurred Brian to action.

Matching his rhythm to Justin's, he brought his arms down effectively separating the interlopers' lips from Sunshine. Moving his forearms further down steadily he broke their holds on the lithe body belonging to him...only him. Snaking his arms around his waist, Brian roughly pulled Justin's body into his own. The tell-tale flush of arousal graced Justin's features and Brian knew it had nothing to do with the other guys but him alone. He held Justin's gaze, silently ordering him not to look away while he locked Justin's hips in place as he performed his own pelvic assault. He leaned in catching Justin's full bottom lip between his teeth, sighing at the contact. Justin Taylor was like air- wanted and vital. The crisp, clean scent of Justin overpowered the usual stench of sweat, sex, cheap cologne and alcohol which usually assailed his nostrils on an event night. His hand eased its way up Justin's side, stopping briefly to pinch the nipple he used to wear an earring in. He relished the sharp intake of breath he heard as his hand continued its ascension to Sunshine's crown and glory. He gripped it firmly knowing it would arouse Justin further. The subtle flair of his nostrils told Brian what he needed- the smell of his aroused male was intoxicating. He could feel Justin's length against his own; knew he was leaking and it was making his own mouth water.

"They didn't do it for you huh, Sunshine?" Brian asked smugly.

"They were alright," Justin answered, a little smirk on his supple lips.

Brian folded his lips to hide his smile. "So how do you want to play this out, Justin?"

"What do you mean?"

"You want to set the boundaries now or wait until..."

"Until when?" Justin licked his lips while still keeping eye contact with him.

The sparkle in those blue eyes confirmed Justin was just as dangerous to his sanity as he had been fifteen years ago and even more sexy, although Brian wasn't sure how that was even possible. He had been like a can of soda to a man who had been on a diet of water his entire life. He was refreshing, sweet to taste and effervescent; the magnetism that first caught Brian's interest had only gotten stronger with time. Everything about Justin Taylor screamed sin- he was always Brian's 'apple'. "Until after I fuck you so hard you'll be afraid to sit, to stand or lay down for a week."

"Oh really?" Justin teased and taunted him, worrying his bottom lip in the process.

In response, Brian spanked his ass quick and heavy-handed before squeezing the cheeks hard, The startled reaction from Justin caused him to chuckle at another memory from the morning after they'd met. He caressed the sting through the thin white linen pants Justin wore. "Want to test me and find out, Sunshine?" Damn! He looks fucking hot in white. A cheeky devil wrapped up in angel wear. Brian was even more turned on by the idea of Justin's innocent look when he knew a completely different side of Justin. No one else knew the side of him which liked to be tied up and fucked roughly or the side of him that could get off just by giving a blow job without requiring anything other than a twist of his nipple; the man he could make love to one minute as a bossy bottom but who was a demanding dominant with everyone else but him. 

"What do you want, Brian?"

Brian thought about it. "Same rules as before but there's one other thing..."

"And that is?" Justin asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No one gets into this ass but me," Brian said, putting action to his words. "What do you want?"

Justin dropped his eyes momentarily as if debating with himself. Brian still held him close, waiting patiently for him to come to his own decision. They had separated all those years ago for the same reasons-for Justin to grow, to decide what he wanted and live with the results. It was what he wanted, what he needed and entering into this arrangement wasn't any different than that. "I want honesty. That's it. Full disclosure, no bullshit this time. No games or hiding what you think you know when you really don't but instead of asking..." Justin let his sentence trail off for a moment. "If you have a question about me and my life-ask. You think you can handle that, Brian?"

So that's what's been keeping him from me. He doesn't trust me. Brian's natural inclination was just to dodge the whole idea. If he didn't trust him by now after everything they had meant to each other than what the fuck were they doing? "Yes," he heard himself say instead. "I can handle that. You know that goes both ways, Justin."

"Really?" At Brian's slight nod, Justin released the breath he didn't realize he held. Brian Kinney does not do open book but for Justin it seems they both had some growing up to do and fleshing out to do. But if Brian was willing to try, why shouldn't he? With that realization, Justin relaxed a little. "Fine, Mr. Kinney. I'll give you what you're asking me for: three months to decide if what we had is still there or if not, if it can be remade into something real and better. And in return you give me complete honesty."

Brian brought Justin into his body and kissed him, greedily drinking from him, tongue-fucking him in the middle of the dance floor without a care of who knows or sees...sealing the deal their way- with fire, passion and promise. Justin Taylor was his and had always been. Anyone who said otherwise be damned.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Michael walked into Babylon almost stunned senseless by the crowd and sophisticated decor on the upper floor. He hadn't been in the club except twice since its grand re-opening ten years prior. He and Ben had decided to venture out for Labor Day since their schedules allowed for some party time and relaxation. He spotted two familiar figures over by the bar. Taking Ben's hand they made their way through the crowd of writhing bodies and loud music.

Patting his prey on the ass and deepening his naturally high voice he said, "Hey Nellie bottom, how about a little fisting in that nice tight ass?"

"What the hell kind of...Michael," Emmett practically squealed as he turned with his Cosmo in hand. "Hey ya, Sweetie. Hey Ben. What brings you two out of your love nest to mingle with us single boys?"

"We finally got a free moment. The last few years have been kind of crazy with Ben's book tour and Hunter going off to college then graduating. It's weird actually having my box of Captain Crunch and cookies still be where I left them."

"Yeah and now when he forgets where he put them he blames me," Ben interjected.

Michael tapped Ben on his shoulder. They were still newlyweds by all accounts from Debbie who saw them more than any of the others. Michael had been dividing his time between trips to Canada to see his daughter, Jenny Rebecca and touring with Ben whose book "The Gift Giver" had sparked international interests about an underground group of gay men seeking out HIV-positive men to infect them. Ben had been living with HIV for almost sixteen years and despite a few medical issues had managed to stay healthy and continued to show little effects of the virus.

"So where's Brian? I thought for sure he'd be in the middle of the party tonight?"

"He is," Emmett answered vaguely.

"Okay so I should say ‘hello' since I'm here, Em. Where is he?"

Ben and Emmett exchanged a brief look. Michael and Brian's friendship had drifted apart ten years ago and although they would always love each other, Brian had distanced himself allowing Michael to grow up and be the married man he was. Whereas Ben understood and was grateful, Michael had not. Friends since grade school it was difficult for him to process the different paths their lives had taken.

"There is something you should probably know before you see him, Mikey."

"What?" Michael shrugged. "He hasn't been hurt or lost his mind like he did when he tried scarfing when he turned thirty, has he?"

"He tried what?" Emmett asked.

"Scarf- you know what-never mind that," Michael said quickly. "So what has he been up to? Is he in the backroom which is why you don't want to tell me where he is?"

"Actually he isn't in the backroom," Emmett said, taking another sip of his Cosmo. "He's dancing."

"Well that's a good thing. It means life is still normal for Brian Kinney. No matter what happens keep dancing," Michael said chuckling remembering when he and Brian had that same conversation standing where they were by the bar.

"Baby, I think what Emmett is trying to tell you..."

Michael looked past Emmett staring at Brian who had stopped by the bar with a little blond tucked under his arm. Not just any blond- the blond who had changed everything about Brian Kinney. Michael's eyes widened in shock then narrowed in contemplation at the fact that Justin Taylor was back in town and attached to Brian again. The siamese twins born twelve years apart. Bullshit! "What the fuck's he doing back here?"

"Well honey, last I checked it was a free country and people could live and move where they want," Ben said.

 
"That's not what I meant and you know it, Ben."

"Well what exactly did you mean? And why does it matter what you meant?"

"I mean isn't he supposed to be in New York. Melanie said his career was doing really well. Why come back to the Pitts if he's such a success?"

Emmett cleared his throat. "Brian asked him back, Michael. For your information it was never really over between those two and if I have my way it never will be."

"What are you talking about, Emmett? We all had to pick up the pieces of Brian Kinney when Justin left. You saw him."

"No. What we saw was workaholic, fuckaholic Brian Kinney. Had you been around you would have seen a lot more," Emmett said holding up his hand at Michael's protest. "That wasn't a dig at your schedule but a lot has happened with Brian these past ten years. You didn't pick up a phone to call him and based on your reaction he hasn't called you. The bottom line is Justin and Brian make each other happy. Without each other they're fucking miserable. Justin is back at Brian's request. Anything else you want to know, you'll have to ask him yourself." He looked over at the two smiling into each others' faces, bodies so close a quarter could fit between them. "My God. Would you look at that? They look like sin and sex personified." Emmett couldn't help but smile. He looked back at Ben and Michael, the latter looking decidedly not happy.

"They always have. Babe come on, let's dance," Ben said throwing Emmett an ‘uh-oh' look. "That is why we came out tonight, isn't it?"

"Yeah...sure. See ya, Em." Michael and Ben headed off to the dance floor with Michael's head still at the bar with a vision he'd thought never to see again...Brian Kinney with Justin Taylor.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

To say Michael Novotny was not happy was the understatement of the fucking year. Admittedly, he and Brian had never fully resolved their issues from ten years ago in which they both were at fault. It was during the custody battle of his daughter, J.R., which in retrospect was fairly pointless since after the bombing of the club he stood in, Melanie and Lindsey had sought to move his daughter and Brian's son to Toronto, where they could grow up feeling loved and safe. The thing that hurt Michael was Brian had taken Lindsey's side when in reality the problems within her marriage to Melanie was her fault. There was never a good reason to be unfaithful but Brian had seen nothing wrong with what happened.  To him it wasn't any of his business and he'd advised Michael to mind his. When confronted about hiring an attorney, Michael had explained he was just trying to protect his rights when the truth was he was not happy being raised in  single parent home and thought he and Ben as a committed couple could do a better job.  So after hearing Lindsey's side, Brian had decided to hire a lawyer for her. Michael confronted him about it, accusing him of not taking his ‘best friend's' feelings into consideration in favor of Lindsey who he had known for a shorter time. Brian nonchalantly pointed out that Lindsey had a right to be there too since technically she was there from conception to birth and in actuality more than Michael; that he was being judgmental and sanctimonious. It wasn't until the hearing that he had learned Melanie had cheated on Lindz back in his David-Pre Ben days, when he had been basking in the glow of snobbery and high society. Still that didn't make up for them lying to him about who was going to care for their daughter.  What Michael had learned the hard way was that in a custody battle, no one stays clean- not even him and that was the harshest lesson of all. But that whole debacle was the least of his worries.

Justin Taylor was back...and at Brian's request.

Of all the people in the world, the one person Michael would never want Brian to hook up with is Justin Taylor. The cool blond trick had sunk his claws into Brian when he was just seventeen and apparently had not relinquished his hold on him. Okay, okay so they were pretty well matched- both beautiful, both brilliant in their own ways and both liked butt-fucking-either pitching or catching. Both were the bosses in the Backroom and their exploits at the former Liberty baths were legendary but that wasn't the point. The point was that Justin was a user who took from Brian and all he gave was heartbreak in return. He had admitted long ago that he was jealous of Justin but he also he didn't want to see Brian hurt. But admitting it was one thing, accepting it- another and no matter how out of touch they had been in recent years, Brian was still his best friend. It was his job to protect him the same way they always protected each other.

 
His mind flashed back to the Rage party fourteen years ago. He recalled the look on Brian's face when Justin walked out with his fiddler, leaving Brian standing there looking...broken. In all the years they'd known each other, he had never seen Brian look so dejected. Sure he'd found shirtless boy wonder number four-thousand-four-hundred-eighty-five and went back to being cock of the walk but Michael had seen the hurt. Later when Michael had voiced his opinion about Justin and the way he had treated Brian, he got punched in the eye. Admittedly, he deserved it for suggesting that Brian should have let Justin die when he'd gotten bashed. Although he didn't mean it the way it sounded, he meant the venom in every word. Michael was pissed off for Brian who apparently didn't have enough sense to be pissed off for himself.  Saying that was the only way to get a reaction out of Brian who insisted that Justin didn't do anything wrong. He didn't mean for everyone to get up in Brian's face about it but he said nothing about why they disagreed and neither did Michael. For them it was just another episode in the ‘Brian and Mikey Show' and it blew over with time but the fact still remained that Justin was responsible. Even years later when they called off the wedding by all accounts it was Justin's fault. 

Michael remembered walking into Brian's loft the day after the little asshole left for New York. It wasn't exactly a good time for Pittsburgh with the bombing that happened a few weeks prior but Michael had been worried anyway. It wasn't like Brian to sit at home working when there was drinking to be had and beautiful boys to do. So Michael had dragged him out to the very first place they danced in public...Babylon. As they danced around in the rubble Michael, who had spoken to Ted prior, had suggested he rebuild. At first it was a way to get his mind off the fact that Justin was gone and not coming back. Secondly, Babylon was the place where Brian Kinney could become Brian Kinney-Wonderfuck again. Michael had always thought that Brian and Babylon went together like Batman and the Bat-cave-one was incomplete without the other.  So Brian had reopened the club and rebuilt his life equipped with barb wires and fortified electric gates around his heart. Brian was once again as emotionally strong as he was physically- a strong tower who they could all go to whether in need or not. He had survived. Michael would be damned if he'd let Justin Taylor come in and destroy the house that Brian Kinney built....again.