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.

Brian may not be able to say "I love you" in words, but then again, as they say, actions speak much louder. Now if Justin can just learn to read them . . .

This story is dedicated to the show's creators, Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman, who were gracious enough to enthusiastically entertain my endless questions when I met them recently at a television festival in Austin. They insist that Brian and Justin were meant to be together; that they'd never imagined that Brian and Justin would stop seeing each other after Justin left Pittsburgh for NYC. I still think it wasn't that easy and perhaps took years, but I respect their vision and want to do honor to it with this little tale.

Gus needs help from his fathers.

A sequence of six drabbles exploring Brian's observations from break-up to make-up. The timeframe is late S2 to mid S3. 

When allergies strike…Brian turns sweet. Set sometime in season 5.