Many thanks to my beta, Zevgirl. Enjoy!

Brian rubbed his forehead tiredly in a futile attempt to assuage the dull pain behind his eyes. This past week had been frustrating due to a lost account, a major one. He thought the new campaign he had devised was brilliant, but the CEO of Highlight Cosmetics disagreed. A conservative woman, she had immediately vetoed Brian's ideas to give the advertising a sexual makeover and furthermore accused him of setting back women's rights by emphasizing sex.

"Women will never move forward if they are continually placed in the role of sex object. Cosmetics is about giving the woman confidence to fulfill her ambitions, not turning them into whores."

"Do you think women value sex any less than men?" Brian handed her a sheaf of papers. "Surveys show that women are becoming more aggressive about sex than ever before. Why try to hide it?"

He failed to persuade her and received a message the next day saying that Highlight had selected a different advertising company. The resulting irritation was enough that even Cynthia and Ted avoided him, knowing Brian's moods well enough to stay out of sight. On a better note, he had received word this morning that a bistro chain had signed a contract with Kinnetik. Unfortunately, the news arrived too late to abort his impending migraine.

Digging in his desk, he retrieved his prescription medication and downed two of the pills. It usually took about thirty minutes for the medicine to kick in, so he retired to the sofa in his office to lay down and close his eyes. Maybe he would leave early today, grab some Thai takeout on the way home, and surprise Justin with dinner and dessert. In bed, of course.

He was undressing his lover in his mind when his cell phone chirped in his pants pocket. The noise sparked a stab of pain in his head, and he hurried to dig it out and make it shut up.

"Kinney."

"Hi, Brian. Is this a bad time?"

Lindsay's voice instantly relaxed him. He still missed her. He managed to visit Toronto at least every few months, but it was not the same as having her in Pittsburgh. Given how well she and Mel were doing, however, he doubted she would ever move back.

"A migraine is always a bad time. What's up?"

"Oh, sorry. Would you like me to call back?" Always the polite, well-mannered lady.

"Fuck, no. Later, I hope to be in bed, naked and sweaty. You calling about Gus's visit?"

"Spare me the details, and yes, it's about his visit." There was a small pause, her voice breaking a little. "Actually, it's about more about him."

"Something wrong?" She wasn't going to keep him home, was she? Gus always came to visit for at least four weeks in summer. Brian had been looking forward to it for months. Justin was too, excited to be reunited with the boy he had once babysat and taught how to draw.

"Gus has been . . . having some problems since you saw him last. Well, actually, he's been having them this entire school year, but I didn't want to worry you. Since he's coming to visit, however, I figured I'd better warn you."

"What kind of problems, and why have you been keeping me in the dark, Linz?" Brian glared up at the ceiling. "Just because you moved to Canada, it doesn't make me any less his father."

"I know that, Brian." Her words were sharp, annoyed. "But you know how you get about stuff sometimes. We didn't want you to make things worse."

"Yeah, because that's exactly what I do. What the fuck is going on?"

"He's got a new group of friends this year, kids Mel and I haven't met. We think they're having a bad influence on him. He's become withdrawn, sulky, and rude. Spends nights out with his friends and comes home late. We've tried punishing him, but he keeps doing it."

"Are his grades suffering?"

"No, but you know how smart he is. He barely even has to study to ace his tests."

Brian smiled. Obviously, Gus had inherited Brian's intelligence. "So. What's the big deal? He's a teenager. We all go through the sullen phase where we believe we're better than anyone else, and parents are a drag."

"The problem is we found a roll of twenty dollar bills stashed away in a shoebox in his closet. Along with a sizable amount of coke."

Shit.

"Is he dealing?"

"We don't know, but we think so. When we confronted him, he just said he was experimenting with it, that's all. He claimed the money came from helping his friends with their schoolwork. Said he's tutoring them, but Mel thinks he's lying."

"Well, she's a lawyer, so she would know, wouldn't she?" Brian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "So what are you doing about it?"

"His school counselor suggested counseling, but he went into a rage when we mentioned it. He's so closed down around strangers, I doubt it would help. We're hoping that if we can get him away from his friends for a while, he might come to his senses. That's where you come in."

"Oh?"

"We want you to keep him for the whole summer, Brian. Help him find a job and keep him busy. Maybe some time with you and Justin would be more helpful than counseling."

Brian thought about it. His schedule was open this summer; he and Justin had made no plans to go anywhere. They had completed their move to the new house in Shadyside and fixed up a room for Gus. Both were looking forward to Gus's visit, so what was another two months? Of course, if Gus was being a difficult teenager, it might end up a grueling summer, but Brian still wanted to see him. Maybe he could accomplish what the lesbians could not.

"Okay." He sighed at the relieved thank-you gushing over the phone. "But if this doesn't work, you need to promise me you'll do whatever it takes to set him straight. Even fucking therapy."

"Deal."

By the time Brian arrived home, the headache was gone. Dropping his briefcase by the door, he headed to the kitchen to grab a bottled water. Taped to the refrigerator door were two letters, both from the same physician's office. Brian glanced at both while gulping half the bottle in one swig. The irritation that had followed him the entire day immediately vanished, replaced by an eagerness that many years ago, he would have described as pathetic. Setting the bottle back in the fridge, he went in search of Justin.

He found his lover in a spacious corner room overlooking the backyard. Several easels rested along the walls, interspaced between various shelves and tables. Justin currently occupied a large desk in front of the largest window, dressed only in loose gray yoga pants and wearing glasses. Brian leaned against the door jamb, admiring the flawless skin of Justin's back and the way his hair curled waywardly at the base of his neck.

When he finally stepped forward, the floor squeaked and Justin glanced over his shoulder.

"Hey."

Brian bent over, responding with a kiss that quickly deepened, unwilling to stop until he heard an appreciative moan. Pulling back, he took a look at what Justin was working on.

"Going with the new story line?"

Justin was the creator of Maddie, a comic strip centering on a gay couple who had adopted a girl named Maddie. Justin had been toying with the idea of adding a brother to the family.

"Yeah. Having a boy around will give me some new plots." Twisting his neck, Justin ran his tongue over the pulse at Brian's neck. "Do we have to talk about it right now though?"

Brian smiled. "Have something else in mind, do we?"

"Did you see the letters from Dr. Houghman?"

"Yep. Looks like we're still clean." Brian nuzzled Justin's hair with his lips. "Are we ready to celebrate?" He slid his hands down to Justin's ass. The thin, clingy pants hid nothing, which was exactly what Brian liked.

"I think we should talk first."

"I thought we already did."

A few months earlier, Brian had admitted that he had fucked no one except Justin since his return to Pittsburgh and Brian's life. To further add to Justin's shock, he had also stated he didn't care if they decided to be monogamous. They had both had blood drawn, and the letters clearly specified they were HIV negative.

"I want to talk again." Taking Brian's hand, Justin led him toward the living room, pulling him down to sit on the black leather sofa.

"If you prefer to keep our relationship open, I understand." At Justin's age, Brian would never have agreed to be monogamous. It was hardly fair to ask it of Justin now.

Justin punched his shoulder, frowning. "You know I don't!" Sighing, he removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I just want to be sure this is what you want. I was well aware of what I was getting into when I came back, Brian. I don't want or expect you to make any changes for me."

"I'm not making any changes for you," said Brian. Irritated, he ran his fingers through his hair, unknowingly setting it on end. "I already told you how I feel. I haven't been fucking around because I don't want to. Why settle for less when I already have more?"

Justin just looked at him, biting his lower lip. Anger welled up, burning like acid in Brian's stomach.

"You don't believe me."

"It's not that I don't believe you . . . ."

"Yes it is. You don't."

Brian stood, far too fast, and by the time he hit the front door, his headache was back, pounding relentlessly. He heard Justin calling after him, but he ignored it, cocooning himself in his BMW and escaping from self-doubt with a wounded squeal of tires.

He was well and truly inebriated hours later when he heard the knock on his office door. Lying on the chaise longue imported from Rome, he cradled a glass of scotch on his stomach while leaning his head back to watch Ted enter.

"Why, Theodore, did I call a meeting?"

Ted spared him a glare before sitting at Brian's desk and slowly swinging his feet up to rest on the desk.

"At ten at night? Even you don't enjoy torture that much."

"Ah. Justin called you."

"Justin called me."

"Well, you can take your feet off my desk, go home, and tell him I'm perfectly fine."

"Which is a lie, and he'll know it."

"Get your scummy shoes off my immaculate desk and hit the road, Theodore."

Ted did not even flinch, and Brian wished for the days when Ted would jump at the slightest grunt. Some things did not improve over time.

"What do you want?

"Just tell me Justin isn't leaving because if he is, I'm quitting here and now."

"What difference does it make? He's not your boss."

"No, but my boss is a sickly pile of vomit when he's not around. I don't think I can live through it again."

"We did just fine without Justin around."

"Are you kidding? It was like working with a robot using your skin as camouflage. Justin is good for you."

"Maybe I'm not good for him."

"What's going on, Brian?"

"Do you and Emmett fuck bareback?"

Well, times really had changed. Ted did not even blush.

"We didn't at first, but we do now. Then again, we're completely monogamous." Ted dropped his feet to floor, leaning forward with sudden interest. "Wait, what are you telling me here? Are you and Justin . . . ?"

"No, but I want to, and so does he."

"Even though that means . . . ."

"Fucking no one else? See Theodore? I can say it." Brian lifted his glass in salute and drained the contents. "Is it so hard to believe?"

"Of you? Mr. Anti-Marriage?"

"I'm still against marriage, and I still believe monogamy isn't for everyone. I think I've reached the point, however, where I see the benefits."

"Which are?"

"Fucking Justin raw."

Ted rubbed his forehead tiredly. "It is a benefit, but it's not why most people choose monogamy."

"I have no desire to fuck anyone else. What more reason do I need?"

"You've always enjoyed fucking any guy you chose. What changed?"

"Justin came home." Brian sat up in one smooth motion. "And no one has a better ass or can give a better blowjob than Justin."

Ted gave him a long look. "I have a feeling it involves much more than that."

"It does, but don't tell him."

Ted stood and walked around the desk to stand in front of Brian. Bending down, he squeezed Brian's shoulders.

"Go home and tell him what you just said, Brian. Justin is better company than scotch. Or me."

Brian could not argue with that.

Ted drove him home, since this was the very reason Justin had sent him after Brian. By then, Brian's level of stupor had lessened somewhat, but he still stumbled up the stairs, bumping his shoulder into the corner of a frame and barely saving it from a shattered death.

Justin was already in bed, lying with his back facing Brian's side. Kicking off his shoes and leaving his clothes in disarray on the floor, Brian slid in next to him. Edging as close as he could without actually touching Justin, he nestled his head next to blond hair and simply breathed in his lover's scent. Justin did not move, but Brian knew immediately he was awake. Each breath held a thousand words, almost vibrating in the air between.

Neither of them would apologize because sorries were bullshit, and regrets already littered their past. What Brian needed was a bridge.

"Lindsay called today."

"Something wrong with Gus?"

"She wants us to take him for the entire summer."

"You okay with that?"

"Of course. We may be in for some headaches however. Lindsay and Mel think he's dealing drugs."

That got a reaction. Justin turned around, his face shrouded in darkness.

"Seriously? What are they going to do?"

"Send him to me in the hopes we'll set him straight." Brian reached out to brush Justin's floppy bangs out of his eyes. "They think time away from his erstwhile friends might do the trick. What do you think of me hiring him for the summer?"

"That depends. If you're as hard on him as you are on everyone else, you might send him screaming back to Canada."

"If it straightens him out, sounds good to me. Perhaps a job will get his mind back on track."

Justin scooted closer, molding himself against Brian's body and slinging an arm over his waist. "We'll figure it out."

The warmth of Justin's body heated Brian's skin, sending a familiar buzz throughout his body. He slid a hand down Justin's back, cupping his ass and pulling him closer. The air thickened, snapping with intensity.

"I need you inside me, Brian, in whatever way you want it."

"There's only one way I want it." Brian slid his rapidly hardening erection against the silkiness of Justin's. "And I'm not afraid of the consequences."

"Fuck the consequences."

Words became lost and then no longer mattered as skin caressed skin, no barriers between them. Even as Brian entered Justin, losing control for one of the few times in his life, he knew their relationship had changed irrevocably. He would never again be able to settle for anything less than this, and most surprising of all, the thought did not scare him in the least.

Much later, they lay curled together, Brian's cock still nestled in the crack of Justin's ass, sticky with cum, but Brian was unwilling to move.

"That was . . . ." Brian's voice trailed off, chasing the impossibility of words to describe the best sex of his life.

"Yeah." He couldn't see Justin's face, but he could hear the cheek-to-cheek smile. "It really was." Justin stretched languorously. "You know what this means, right?"

"I do understand how monogamy works, Justin."

"No, that's not what I meant." Justin turned around, and Brian groaned at the loss of warm ass surrounding his cock. "Do you realize that for us, this is as close to marriage as we get?"

The thought had crossed Brian's mind hours ago in his office. For heterosexuals, marriage equaled monogamy, but he and Justin had rejected marriage years ago.

"Well, I guess you could consider tonight our wedding ceremony, then." The thought was oddly exhilarating. What better way to bind yourself to each other than sex? As far as Brian was concerned, it was infinitely better than a piece of paper.

"What about our honeymoon then?" Justin was nuzzling his neck, licking his way up Brian's Adam's apple.

"Let's have it right now." Leaning behind him, Brian grabbed the lube resting on the bedside table. "It's your turn to make your vow, Sunshine."

"I do," whispered Justin, pouring the lube over his fingers and then reaching around to prepare Brian.

There was something to be said for tradition, and even if they were exchanging sperm instead of rings, Brian felt this was one ceremony worth celebrating.