The Grand Hotel

Brian's POV

The morning sun glistens softly across Justin's porcelain skin, making him appear to be almost angelic. I watch as his chest rises and falls. He snores quietly and I realize how much I missed that simple sound. Tenderly I brush my finger through his blonde hair and sigh out a breath of contentment. I know we have a long road ahead of us but this is just the beginning. It has to be.

Justin's eyes flutter open and he looks directly at me, smiling sheepishly. "Good morning." he says through a yawn as he stretches his arms.

"Good morning, Sunshine. Did you sleep well?"

He nods his head and then snuggles his body close to mine. He looks up at me questioningly and then wraps his arms around my back. "Is this okay?"

I raise my brow at him in a silent question. "Why wouldn't it be okay?" Then I suddenly remember our first time so many years ago. As wonderful and amazing as the sex was, the next morning I was so scared that I pushed him away. I chuckle to myself remembering it only lasted for about an hour until Justin, being as persistent as he is, knew exactly how to draw me back. I am so glad he did.

Justin shrugs his shoulder. "Don't know. I guess I got the feeling you might try to push me away after...well you know, after we fucked."

Part of me wants to be pissed off at his words, but I know I can't be because in the past it would have been true. I clear my throat. "No, I'm not going to do that."

He nods his head than sits up at the edge of the bed. He turns to me and I can see the love in his eyes. "Thank you."

Softly I place the palm of my hand on his chin and let my finger delicately brush his cheek. "For?" I ask quietly.

He lets out a low pitch chuckle and the sound is like music to my ears. He covers my hand with his. "For not pushing me away, and for helping me remember." Justin smiles at me mischievously then runs his hand across my dick. I gasp in surprise and feel my cock get instantly hard by his touch. He smirks playfully, then stands up and walks to bathroom.

I wait a couple moments before following him. Steam pours from the shower and I become even more aroused seeing his image through the glass. Stepping inside I wrap my arms around his waist and kiss his neck.

Justin turns around in my embrace and kisses me briefly on the lips. "I was wondering when you would join me."

I nod my head. "Mmm, I don't think I had much of a choice. You left me in an awkward situation."

He gives me one of his sunshine smiles and runs his hand down my chest until his fingers skillfully touch my cock. He tilts his head. "Is that so?"

Quickly I spin Justin around and press him firmly against the glass wall of the shower. A gasp escapes his lips as I swiftly sheath my cock and push inside him. Arching my back and sighing, I feel completely content. Justin grasps my hip with one hand placing his other hand on the glass and tilts his head back into my neck. The sounds of pure erotic pleasure that are pouring from him send shivers through my spine

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Daphne's POV

I press my ear against the door to make sure I'm not interrupting anything. I giggle to myself, wondering what it would be like to be a fly on the wall. The idea of Brian and Justin having sex has to be one of the hottest things I can think of. Damn! I try to shake the thoughts of my best friend and his lover fucking out of my head and then giggle again as I knock on the door.

I gasp in surprise when Brian answers the door stark naked. "It's kind of nice to know some things don't change." I say teasingly, letting my eyes scan his body for a moment.

Brian raises a brow and smirks. "Get a good enough look?"

I shrug my shoulders. "No, not really."

He huffs out a laugh. "Well, I can't blame you for looking. I'm still pretty hot for a dead guy."

I walk past Brian and into the room shaking my head. "And you're still fucking arrogant too."

He winks at me. "Would you really expect anything less? I'll go tell Justin you're here."

Just as Brian turns to get Justin he walks out of the Bathroom with a towel around his hips. I try not to intrude on their tender moment, but I can't help but take a quick peek at Justin placing his hand upon Brian's face and kissing him passionately.

Seeing them so affectionate with one another reminds me of all the wonderful times we had in this hotel and how alive and in love both of them were. I think of Lindsay and our wonderful friendship and how, when Justin found Brian, she really became my best friend and sweet Gus had been like a Godchild to me. I'll never forget how they all made Justin and I feel like family.

Just as soon as the pleasant thoughts come to me they flit away again and I am reminded of why we are here. I try to hold back my emotions as I clear my throat and put on my best smile.

Justin jumps back, startled. "Daphne! What are you doing in here?"

Brian snickers and playfully runs his fingers through Justin's hair. "I'm sure she's probably here so you two can go on your morning walk." He turns to look at me and I see the hope in his eyes.

I smile. "That was the plan."

Justin turns up his nose at me. "Walk? We used to take morning walks?"

I nod my head encouragingly. "Uh huh."

"Really?"

"Yes, once we get outside I think your artistic eye will understand why we used to take our morning walks."

He looks at me suspiciously then shrugs his shoulders with his nose still slightly scrunched up. "I don't have anything to wear."

Brian walks over to the dresser and opens a drawer. He takes out some clothes and hands them to Justin. Justin smiles. "You kept my clothes? But how?"

Brian shrugs his shoulders. "I wouldn't let anyone move anything in this room. Finally, they locked it up, so to speak."

Justin whispers. "Thank you." I can tell there is so much more to those simple words than the obvious. I wonder what exactly happened between them last night.

Justin kisses Brian tenderly then walks into the bathroom. I watch Brian for a moment and he has a far off distant look. He finally grabs a pair of sweat pants and pulling them on he walks toward me in a bit of a daze. He clears his throat. "Justin is slowly remembering the pleasant memories."

I sigh a breath of relief. "That's good."

He nods his head in agreement. "Yes, it is but soon he will remember the bad stuff and I'm worried about what that may do to him."

I place my hand on his arm feeling how torn he is about all of this. "We will all be here for him Brian, and for each other."

He closes his eyes and breathes deeply. "I know." He turns his head away and I know the discussion is over.

"I thought I would take him down to the stoops where he used to draw."

He turns around and the pain is very evident in is eyes. "I thought as much. I think it's a good idea, just be careful." He furrows his brows at me menacingly. "Both of you need to be safe." He swallows hard. "If for some reason you have to leave Justin, don't leave him alone. Make sure one of us is with him."

"I'll make sure he's safe, Brian."

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Michael's POV

"Hey, Brian,? I call to him from my spot behind the desk. I've been checking out the last of our regular guests all morning. Ben and I decided to take Brian's advice and have everyone leave. We told them all we are experiencing electrical problems and we needed to shut down for awhile. Of course we had to refund a lot of money but it's not as though we need it anyway.

I'm glad the lobby is empty now because I know my friend wouldn't have shown himself otherwise. "Hello," he responds.

"So, where's Justin?" I ask him, secretly happy to be able to talk with my friend without the younger man present.

Brian shrugs. "Oh, I'm not certain. He's around here somewhere. Probably with Daphne."

I eye him carefully. With everything that happened last night he seems so casual about Justin?s whereabouts. "Hey, is everything all right? You seem a little distracted."

"I'm fine, Mikey," he says to me with a familiar smirk. "Just happy to be with my best friend again."

I smile back at him. "I've really missed you, Brian. Ma kept insisting that you were still here, but you never turned up."

"It was a difficult time for me."

"Because of Justin?" I practically spit out, not bothering to hide my contempt. In my head I know none of it was his fault, but part of me thinks how Brian would still be alive if he never came along.

"Yes, because of him." Brian replies offhandedly. "Oh, Michael?"

"Yeah, Bri?"

"I need to take care of something, but if you see Justin will you have him meet me in my room?"

"Um, sure."

"Why don't you have him take the elevator. It will be faster. We really should start using that thing again."

My heart clenches. "The elevator? But?"

"Come on, Mikey. It works fine. There's no reason not to use it. That?s all ancient history."

He smiles at me and I smile back. "Uh, sure. I'll tell him."

"Thanks." He leans over to peck me on the lips. His lips are cold, which is strange, because while I know he's a ghost, they were warm when he kissed me last night.

"I'm glad you're here, Brian." I say as he pulls away. "I love you. Always have..." I pause and wait for his reply.

"Yeah, me too, Mikey. Me too." He turns and walks up the stairs as I frown at his back.

My attention is drawn away as a delivery man comes in with some items for the bar. The order is wrong and soon I forget how Brian did not finish our old affectionate, "always have, always will," saying.

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Justin's POV

Walking out of the hotel Daphne kisses me briefly on the cheek. When she pulls away I see sadness in her eyes. "I'm sorry Justin."

I look at her in confusion. "Why are you sorry?"

She takes a deep breath and then hands me a bottle of water and my inhaler. "You might need this, the hills are steep."

"Thank you. Now tell me why you're sorry."

She shakes her head. "I brought you here knowing your history. I just...I just hated seeing you so lost. I know you haven't remembered everything, but when I saw you with Brian again and how happy you are, I felt maybe I did the right thing bringing you back. I hope you're not mad at me."

I stand back and watch my best friend. "I don't understand what is going on here, but mad at you? No, not at all, I really love..." I feel my cheeks turn red. "I mean I really like Brian and I know we?ve been together before. I just wish I knew why I forgot someone like him."

She looks at me with concern. "Try not to rush your memories okay? I... I don't want to lose you again."

"Lose me?"

"Yeah." She clears her throat and takes in a deep breath, quickly she changes the subject and plasters on a smile. "Look out there Justin." She points to the valley below and all thoughts of our conversation escape me when I see the breathtaking view. The sky is open and blue with white puffy clouds and I can see hills in the valley from our mountain top.

"Fuck! This is beautiful Daphne." She smiles at me and wraps her arm around my waist holding me close as we begin to walk down the hill.

She chuckles. "One of the many reasons we stayed longer than expected."

I give her a sly look. "You mean other than Brian?"

She pats my arm. "Actually, there were many reasons why we stayed."

I eyes her suspiciously. "So, are you going to tell me the other reasons?"

"I will when we get down this fucking steep hill"

I laugh and take a sip of my water. "Okay, fair enough."

When we get to the end of the road I ask, "So where now?"

Without answering my question she leans her head on my shoulder for a moment I look down at her and she seems so content. It's been a long time since I've seen her look so peaceful. Am I that blind that I didn't see how unhappy and depressed my best friend was? Gently I caress her hair "You look happy."

She smiles at me brightly. "I am, now that I brought you home."

"I thought of this place as my home?"

She nods her head "We both did."

She draws back and takes hold of my hand. "Okay now we have some more downhill walking to do."

I gasp, "You've got to be fucking kidding me." I look at the steep hill we just walked from.

"I never took you for a wimp," she teases playfully.

We walk across the street and I notice a staircase that leads to a small park with grass, swings and a slide. As we travel further down the steps my memories begin to stir again. In my mind I can see Brian on one of the swings with Gus on his lap. Lindsay and Daphne are also swinging and they are all are laughing and joking with each other. I'm sitting under a tree with my sketchpad enjoying their candid moments as I try to capture it all on paper.

Brian lets Gus down to run, then walks over and sits down next to me. "You drawing pictures of my cock again sunshine?"

I laugh at his comment. "Not this time but maybe later." He smirks at me then kisses me on the nose.

I am drawn out of my thoughts when I hear Daphne calling my name.

"What?"

"Justin, wow, where did you go?"

I chuckle and feel a bit embarrassed. "I had a memory of Brian, you, Lindsay and Gus swinging. I was sitting over there sketching." I point to the spot under the tree."

"I always loved those kind of days. They were so fun and peaceful." She guides me through the park to another stairway. "This is it."

I look down at the stairs and notice on both sides and it's almost like stadium seats but made of rocks and cement. The cement stair benches are in a half circle. She walks me halfway down and then we sit.

"What is this place?"

"To you it was your solitude. You liked to come here and draw so you could watch the tourists and listen to music. She points to what looks like a saloon. That's the Spirit Room. It's a small bar, but every afternoon and evening it's hopping and the music is pretty good."

"I thought this was a ghost town." I study how populated the place looks.

"It was. This was an old copper mining town during the 1800s through 1929. It was filled with miners, smelter workers, freighters, gamblers, bootleggers, saloon keepers, prostitutes and preachers. In many ways it was it's own den of iniquity. Back in the 1950's only a few people remained and then in the 1960's this place became a safe haven for artists and it was slowly rebuilt to how it is now."

I gasp in false amazement, "Wow Daphne, you're just full of all sort of useless information." I smile at her playfully.

She pushes me with her shoulder. "I even have the S.A.T scores to prove I know all that useless information."

I chuckle lightly. "It is so cool that this is an artists community. No wonder I liked it here."

She nods her head. "You were in your element, that's for sure, and for the first time I was also in mine as well."

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Daphne's POV

He seems confused. "I know you like art but, no offense Daphne, your drawing is for shit."

I laugh. "You're right, but that's not what I meant. I was in my element in a different way."

"Okay, so tell me."

I clear my throat nervously. "Justin, you know how you always knew you were gay?"

"Yeah."

"I always knew I was different to."

He raises his brow. "You're a lesbian?"

I smile. "No, No I'm not but hmm, I wouldn't mind trying it." I giggle and he pushes my shoulder with his playfully.

"So are you going to tell me?"

"Yeah, it's just so weird retelling you this because I told you once before." I look down at the ground and feel the sadness in my eyes. "I have always seen things others could not, or knew things before they happened, except for once. There was one time I...I...fuck!" I run my fingers through my hair. "That was the night of the Murders. I mean I had a bad feeling, but nothing like that even crossed my mind" I feel my emotions begin to get the best of me and I lay my head in my hands and begin to sob.

I can feel Justin's hand gently rubbing circles on my back. "It's not your fault."

I look up at him and I feel my eyes burning. Tenderly he wipes my tears away. "Justin, I am so sorry. I was still learning about my spiritual gifts. I met a lady here in town who was a spiritualist and she taught me some things and I was starting to mingle with other people who had spiritual gifts. You and I were totally at harmony with who we were, and it was great you know? After...after everything that happened here and everything that happened to you, I made it my goal in life to study as much as I could about witchcraft, astral projection, speaking with spirits, and card reading. I soon realized that it all came very naturally to me."

Justin looks at me in complete shock. "Daphne, I had no idea you believed in and practiced those things. Why didn't you tell me? You know, after I forgot everything?"

I smile at him weakly. "I'm telling you now. If I told you after you forgot everything then I would have to tell you everything, and Justin, I knew you weren't ready to relive the past." I shake my head. "After the murders you were different too. You saw things, and you knew things on a spiritual level, but it seemed as though you were clueless about it. Like now, do you understand what I'm saying?"

He shakes his head and I clear my throat again. I point over to one of the buildings across the way where a lady in a corset and old fashioned, short, sheer dress stands tracing her hands over a man?s chest. "Do you see them?"

He looks at me like I am crazy. "How can you not see that. It's so..." He shudders, "it's so hetero and disgusting."

I laugh at his hetero phobia. "They're not there, Justin. I mean they are, but they're spirits. You see them so naturally and without any doubt, so you don't question that they are not really here, in this reality." He shakes his head in confusion. I point to the spirits around us. "I have to work hard to see them. I have to focus and concentrate, but for you it's like you live amongst them and you have never questioned that they were not there.

Justin furrows his brow. "You so lost me. I really don't understand any of this."

I swallow hard. "I'm sorry Justin, I think I said too much. I am so sorry, but you will remember. I know you will, because I see how happy you are now." I stand up and hold out my hand to him. "Come on, let me show you some of the galleries."

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Justin's POV

Daphne and I have finished our walk and I'm afraid I have more questions than answers, but I did have a few memories and they were happy ones. I really just want to find Brian and talk with him about everything.

We walk into the hotel lobby and I look over at Daphne and laugh. "I see you're doing the potty dance. You better run to the restroom before you burst."

She laughs with me for a moment, but I see her scanning the lobby to see if we're alone.

I roll my eyes at her. "Michael's right over there Daphne." I point to the man behind the desk. You won't be leaving me alone."

"Okay," she replies. "I'll be right back."

"Fuck, Daph, I don't need a babysitter." I grouse at her.

"Since when? I'm not going to face the wrath of Brian and leave you alone." she turns and smiles sweetly at me.

I stick my tongue out at her, but she just turns and flounces away.

When she's gone I go over to talk to Brian's friend. "What's up Michael?" I ask, trying to make conversation.

"Not much," he replies without much enthusiasm. One of these days I'll figure out why he seems to dislike me so much.

"Have you seen Brian?"

"He told me to tell you to meet him in his room as soon as you can."

I frown a bit. "Hmm, I wonder what the rush is? Has everything been okay here?"

Michael shrugs. "It's been pretty quiet. Anyway, it's Brian we're talking about here. Judging from your freshly fucked look this morning I wonder why he would want you to hurry up to his room?" He barely bothers to hide his sarcasm.

I feel myself turn bright red. "Well okay, thanks Michael," I reply as I turn to head up the main staircase. "Can you tell Daph where I went?"

"Yeah, sure." He turns his attention back to his work. "Oh, Justin?" He calls before I get up the second step.

"Yeah?"

"I almost forgot. He said to go ahead and use the elevator."

I stop and look at him. "But he told me when we arrived last night to never to use it."

Michael shrugs. "I know, but he told me this morning that since there's nothing wrong with it that we should start using it again."

I hesitate a little and then make my way over to where the elevator sits. To be honest, I?ve been wanting to study my painting closer ever since we got here. "Are you sure it's safe?" I call back to Michael.

"Yes," he answers, sounding a bit annoyed that I would ask. "We've always kept the maintenance up on it, Brian just kept us from ever using it."

"Okay, see ya." I lift up the gate and step inside. My painting is still hanging on the wall and on the other side of the car is a red cushioned bench done in velvet. I run my hand along the frame of the painting briefly and then sit on the bench.

The elevator starts it's slow assent and I close my eyes as a scene flashes in my mind. I'm on this same bench, but Brian is beneath me. His chestnut hair is plastered to his forehead with sweat and his hazel eyes are full of lust. Oh God, I can almost feel his dick in my ass and his strong hands on my hips as I ride him. The thrill that we could be caught by the staff or one of the guests only heightens my lust.

My eyes pop open again and I'm alone in the elevator. My cheeks feel heated and my cock is hard from what can only be a memory. I can't wait to tell Brian.

I stand up and move to the painting. Another rush of memory flows through me as I run my hand along the dusty frame again.

"Say cheese." says Daphne as she clicks several digital photos of us. We are all sitting in the parlor off the main lobby, posed in the Victorian outfits we're going to wear for the hotel's Halloween party. I'm going to paint a portrait of all of us to hang in the hotel.

"Daph, are you sure you don't want to be in the portrait?" Lindsay asks her from her spot next to me.

"Nah," answers Daph as she takes more photos. "I think it should be family only."

I start to protest that she is family, but Gus interrupts.

"Daddy, I want to go play," Gus wiggles from his spot on Brian's knee. "I don't like this suit. It itches me."

"Just a little bit longer, Sonny Boy," Brian replies patiently. "Justin needs lots of pictures so he can paint a nice portrait of us all."

"I don't want to wear this for Halloween," Gus whines. "I want to be Batman."

"Hey, now," Brian scolds. "Justin picked out these outfits so we could all match. You look very handsome."

"I think that's enough for now, Daph,"  I say as I break my pose and move around the front of the settee to kneel in front of Gus. "How about this, bud. How about Daddy and I take you out trick-or-treating early and you can be Batman. Then when it's time for the big party here you wear your suit, all right?"

The little boy's eyes light up as he smiles at me, "Yay! Can I go now?"

I laugh and nod at him as he jumps off Brian's knee and heads for the door.

"Wait," cries Lindsay as she picks up her heavy skirts and chases after him. "Let me take that suit off you before you ruin it."

Brian looks up at me. "Trick-or-treating, Sunshine? I don't remember signing up for that."

"Oh, come on old man, it will make you feel young again."

"You little twat!" he yells as he makes a grab for me. I run for the door with Brian hot on my heels. I can hear Daphne laughing at us all the way to the elevator.

I am torn from my latest recollection when the elevator lurches to a stop. Excited to share my two new memories with Brian I anxiously go to raise the gate, but instead of the hallway all I see is a wall. "Shit!" I exclaim looking up at the old fashioned dial. It's fucking stuck in between floors.

Suddenly the small overhead light goes out and I'm plunged into darkness.

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Brian's POV

I make my way downstairs to the lobby. There are other ways I could get there, but I'm preferring to seem as normal as possible for everyone's sake. "Hey, Mikey," I call to my friend.

"Hey," he replies with a smile as he looks up from sorting a large stack of mail.

Ben comes out from the office and gives Mikey a peck on the cheek. "Oh, hi Brian," he says when he sees me. "It's so strange seeing you around again."

"It's weird being seen around again." I reply with a smirk.

"Justin's on his way to your room." Mikey says as he opens another letter and places it on a pile.

"No, he's not," I reply. "I just came from there and I didn't pass him."

"He took the elevator."

My heart freezes and Ben stares at his husband in shock. "He did what?"  I ask slowly, barely able to get the words past the lump of fear in my throat.

Mikey looks at me. "What? When you came down earlier you asked me to send Justin up to your room when I saw him. You said for him to take the elevator and that we should start using it again, so that's what I did."

"Fuck, Michael! I never said that! It wasn't me!" I yell as I look over to where the elevator has sat untouched for years. Sure enough it's gone and as my eyes move up to the dial I see it has stopped between floors four and five. "Oh my God," I breathe as I turn and race up the stairs. I don't even notice that Ben and Michael are right behind me.

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Daphne's POV

When I come out of the restroom I can hear Brian screaming at Michael and my heart lurches when I realize what is going on. I watch as they run up the stairs. I quickly follow behind them, hoping we?re not too late, and that Justin is okay.

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