Okay, so I won’t piss on their wonderful evening....Brian made a real effort this time. This doesn’t mean he’s back in my good graces though.

Thank you for the fix! Too bad it ended so soon!

Great news about the loft; it should remain like it was so long ago: their nest.

Hi again! I really don't know how all the other reviewers manage to answer always so fast... It must be the different time zone. :-)

So, first, thanks for your flattering answer to my last review! I really love our little "conversations" and I'm not only looking forward to a new chapter but also to your answers on my reviews. As we both agreed before, I think we have a similar viewing of this characters and how they should behave or how they could have behaved in the show. And, I said it before, I love your story (although it was so hard for me to accept what Brian has done), I love your writing-style, I love how you characterize them, how you picture them... And now I know, why you wrote, that sometimes you've got the feeling I would know your story... So, Brian asks Justin on a date... :-) That's what I've suggested... I'm so glad, Brian did this and I think it's a right step for those two. And it's such a beautiful and cute scene you've created here. Would have loved to see this on screen! And there are many beautiful or cute moments in this chapter, I really love it. First, this scene between Brian and Ted, where Brian doesn't want to ask for advice but gets it nevertheless in his so typical own way. Great! Then, this kitchen-scene, where Brian asks Justin if he would join him in therapy and Justin just answers "okay" - it reminds me so much of that second proposal at Britin. Awesome! They're so cute together!

So, therapy seems to go well so far. And yeah, it makes perfect sense that Justin participates partially in the therapy. While first reading this chapter in the morning, I thought maybe Brian being so insecure and scared was a little bit out of character, but after reading the chapter for a second time, thinking about it, it does make sense. I mean, he really opens up for the first time in front of somebody, letting his walls completly down, being totally unprotected and vulnerable. Something he's always tried to avoid. And it makes also sense that he's still unsecure about Justin's feelings. After everything what happened with the bitch and the pathetic idiot, his trust-issues has to be even bigger. And just a few months ago, when they were arguing about living together, Justin's told him, that they could only be friends and that Brian had made sure that they couldn't be a happy kind of family. And even if Justin has told Brian that he had forgiven him, he needs to hear more. So, in my opinion, it was a very beautiful scene and Justin handled this again in a very mature and sensitive way.

So, at the age of 39 Brian finally has a date! Ah, I forgot, it's his second date. Hopefully, he won't fuck the waiter... :-) No, seriously, I would imagine this dinner to be a bit akward or something like that in the beginning, but maybe I'm wrong. I hope, they have a good time and get to a point where they're comfortable with one another - a bit like in this last scene in chapter 29 - they seem to be so much at peace and content to be sitting there together in front of this drawing. Again, looking forward to Sunday! Warmest regards!

So let me get this straight, now all of a sudden Justin understands why Brian betrayed him? That all the bullshit Brian put him through was an act of love? I can’t bite that line and this seriously takes the cake for me. I don’t care how much talking they do, I can’t imagine Justin understanding or thinking that what Brian did was in anyway positive. 

At this point I understand what your vision and overall message for the story is, but I am really having a hard time with how things are playing out. Not to worry I’m here to the end even though we don’t agree ;) 

Glad Ted and Blake could help Brian with his decision. Support of any kind goes a long way. I like how Lisa gave Justin just a nudge to let him know what Brian was feeling. That's all it took for Justin to realize that this time Brian needed to hear the words instead of Justin just assuming Brian knew.

Kinney got trapped by his desire to get them back to where once were. A Valentine Day date for dinner. Good for him. Ha!

May I ask you an honest question? At this point, are you reading this story because you're waiting for them to finally react in a way that would appeal to you or do you like punishing yourself by reading the chapters that show the characters in a way you don't agree with? ;)

NO, that honestly isn’t it....although I know that’s what it seems like lol. I’m reading from a realistic, logical point of view and in my understanding of how the world works the situation that they have created would be very unlikely to happen. I love a happy B/J ending as much as the next person, but I’m not one that wants the HEA in every instance. Even while watching the show there were points when I felt they were better off apart. Sometimes I just have to take off my fan goggles and realize that under certain circumstances it’s not healthy for them to be together......for me this is one of those times. 

Hi again! First of all, I've have to say, I was afraid of a much more worse storm. You're not as evil as I thought... :-) But, we're dealing here with Justin and I've given it some thought, Justin's never been the loud angry type. I thought about it and every time, Justin's left Brian, it was in a very quiet way. The most loud and angry Justin I remember was in the scene with the chicken soup. Brian is damned lucky to be loved so much and in this way! And in one of my earlier reviews I've asked about Justin's feelings. Through your amazing writing-style, you'd made it very clear here and for all of us not so much to read but to feel how deep Justin's love for Brian still is!

At the beginning of this chapter I was a little bit afraid of Brian doing it again. Deciding once again what would be best for Justin by avoiding the talk, by lying, by deciding for himself that Justin wouldn't need his bullshit. Did he not hear what Emmett said? Emmett has also told him "Go and get your sunshine"! But it seems, his guilt just runs too deep. Regarding therapy, I know, you've already told me twice that Brian apparently didn't discussed Justin and his guilt with the therapist, but I'd asked myself, what he'd discussed at all. Did he doubt so much about himself and his ability to be a good father after this kidnapping and the betrayal by his so called "best friends"? If he never mentioned his childhood, the way he was physically and mentally abused and how this influenced his ability to have a relationship and to feeling of not being worth loving and also his fears, which have caused him to decide against a family with Justin, and now also his guilt when realising how he had not only hurt Justin, but also Luke, Gus and himself with his decision, then there's much work left for therapy and I'm curious what will be discovered. So far, Justin only knows that Brian wanted him to have the posibility for a career but he didn't know about Brian's (crazy) fears about Justin turning somehow into Jack, maybe someday hating the situation he founds himself trapped in by Brian and his son.

I really love the way you let them finally talk, and how Brian is able to let his walls down, opens up and even having a little breakdown in front of Justin. And I love Justin even more for the way he is able to comfort Brian. We've never seen something like this in the show, and in my opinion, it was overdue. In the show, every time Justin tried to talk with Brian about their relationsship, Brian's walls get up and he told Justin about no locks being there, that he has to decide on his own and so on. It was never about compromises or about findig solutions together or fighting against demons together. Now, finally, they start to talk something through. That's great and I'm so glad, that Justin told Brian, that he wants them to move on together and to become the family they were alway meant to be.

For me, it also feels like an important breaking point. And it's amazing how you let them talk later about the painting and how you describe them sitting there together. Althought this is just the beginning and therapy will be hard for both of them, for me, the atmosphere which you created in this last scene, is somehow calm, relaxed, peaceful and full of love and hope. In my opinion, you've done an amazing job with this chapter. Warmest regards!

Therapy would really help.

I’m going to be honest, this is probably my least favorite chapter to date. I couldn’t stomach the way either one of them were acting here. Between Brian’s sob fest and Justin’s martyr campaign I don’t know which one was worse. Justin did make a good point when he told Brian why he was feeling so much pain. 

Beautiful chapter with a hard part, but the end is promising.

Well, Brian did deserve being sick. 

Family moments, good bad  or otherwise, that's what it's all about 

Brian needs to stop beating himself up about whether or not he's taking advantage of Justin.

Ah a good hangover! The kids are so much fun!