Rights of Passage

The Liberty Avenue Diner was all abuzz over the news of San Francisco's mayor disobeying the state order, and allowing gay couples to marry. The country it seemed was being bombarded with issues of same sex marriages, and Brian had taken to his soapbox in firm opposition. "It's like a man driving a mini-van, everyone knows that he's given up." Brian said.

"Why is it giving up when two people love each other, and want to form an official union? And what's wrong with mini-vans?" Lindsey asked.

"Marriage is the first bond of society." Michael added.

"Society? Who's society? Their society? We've already seen what breeders can do to a society. You've been listening to the professor too much." Brian scowled.

"Michael is right, marriage is the cornerstone of all civilizations." Ted added.

"Well now Mr. Civilization, I don't see you running to the alter." Brian mocked his friend.

"We might." Emmett came to Ted's rescue.

"And I for one would be happy to see the same rights offered to Emmett, and Ted that any hetero couple would have." Debbie added her two cents.

"I agree with Brian in some ways." Mel presented her case. "With the divorce rate topping sixty percent, it is safe to say that heteros have turned marriage into a travesty. Perhaps it's up to us to breathe life back into the bankrupted institution."

Justin sat quietly listening to the bantering back, and forth. Pros, and cons were weighed against each other as the right to marry debate raged on over servings of meatloaf specials, and lemon squares.

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"Brian."

"Humm?"

"Are you asleep?"

"I was."

"Would you marry me?"

"Why, are you pregnant?"

"Very funny. I'm serious. Could you see yourself married to me?"

"No. Now go to sleep."

"Why?"

"Because I'm tired, and we both have to get up early in the morning."

"I mean why wouldn't you marry me?"

Brian turned on the bedside light, and rolled over to meet his favorite blue eyes. Unfortunately those blue eyes were not accompanied by the usual Sunshine smile. Brian had seen that look on Justin's face only twice before. The first time was when Justin demanded to know why Brian had asked him to come, and live with him following the bashing. The second time was when Brian had been so deservedly chastised for being too stubborn to admit that he loved his baby, thus allowing Justin to move in with the fiddler. No, the look didn't appear often, but when it did Brian now knew that Justin meant business.

"Why wouldn't you marry me Brian?" Justin asked again.

In such delicate situations it's always prudent to begin by first trying the old standby, generic answer. "We don't need a marriage license to prove to everyone that we love each other." Brian said.

The expression on Justin's face didn't change.

Shit! How the hell was he going to get out of this one? "We already have a good thing going baby. Why mess it up?" Brian tried again.

"Brian, remember when I told my mother, and Debbie that I wasn't going to my prom?" Justin began.

"This has nothing to do with proms Justin."

"Let me finish." Justin continued. "Debbie told me that going to my prom was kind of like a right of passage, that it was my right as a young man, and that I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn't go. I also have a right to marry the man that I love Brian, and I know that I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn't marry you."

Brian reached over, and caressed the side of Justin's face. "Right of passage. Since when did I become a right of passage?" he asked.

"You were there for all the others."

"Yes, I was. Wasn't I?" Brian smiled, as he felt his resolve weakening.

"Marry me Brian."

"Justin....I..."

"Say yes."

"Yes."

"Really?" Justin's eyes lit up.

"Really." Brian smiled. "I promise I'll marry you on 30th birthday."

"30th birthday? Brian..........."

Brian didn't give Justin a chance to repute his answer. He hugged his baby tight, and gave him a long engagement kiss. "Whew!" Brian breathed a silent sigh of relief. Talk about your stay of execution.  Anything could happen in ten years.

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