Arms of Destiny

Chapter 17
 

Six months later…

Justin was putting the finishing touches on dinner when the phone rang. Glancing at the clock, he realized it was probably Brian calling from the airport. He had been in LA for the last week signing on a new client and Justin had really missed him. It was the longest they had been apart since he moved back in six months ago. He raced to the phone, excited to hear the voice of the man he loved.

“Brian?” Justin answered.

“Hey, Sunshine. I am in the taxi now, just pulling out of the parking lot. I should be there in about twenty minutes. Did you miss me?” He asked teasingly, already knowing the answer. They had spoken on the phone every night before going to sleep. Justin had whined every time about how big and lonely the loft was without him.

“Not really. I barely noticed you were gone.” Justin joked, feeling giddy just knowing Brian was on his way home.

“Oh, well if that’s the case then maybe I’ll just turn around and get back on the plane. The weather in LA was great and I could use a little work on my tan.” Brian threatened, knowing he was just as anxious as Justin for their reunion. He had a surprise for his lover. It was something he had been wanting to give him for awhile, but needed to wait till the time was right. He felt that after everything they had been through in the last six months, the time had finally come. He couldn’t wait to see Justin’s reaction to his surprise. It was definitely going to show the younger man just how much he cared.

“Brian Kinney! Don’t you even think about it! You know damn well I have missed you every second you were gone!” Justin exclaimed.

“I know, but it’s always nice to hear.” Brian chuckled, enjoying the rise he was getting out of Justin.

“You’re a shit! I’ll see you when you get here.” Justin laughed. He couldn’t believe the changes Brian had gone through while he was away at Dartmouth. He had somehow become the perfect boyfriend and Justin thanked God everyday for that.

“See you soon, Sunshine.” Brian couldn’t help but smile as he disconnected the call. He couldn’t believe how far the two of them had come since Justin moved back to the Pitts. For the first time in his life, he could actually say that he was happy. It was a great feeling and he never wanted it to end. He sat back in his seat and let his mind wander back over to the last six months.

Brian was thrilled when Justin agreed to move in. Things were really good at first, but then the nightmares started coming back. Justin had tried to ignore the problem, swearing that he was okay, but Brian finally convinced him he needed to talk to someone. Justin relented, and began seeing a therapist.

After the first couple of weeks, Justin realized that instead of dealing with the rape, he had tried pushing it out of his mind as if it had never happened, causing him to relive it every night. Once he opened up about the incident and really talked about it, he seemed to make peace with what happened. It was a horrible experience, but it was a part of his past and he couldn’t just block it out. After a couple of heart wrenching sessions, Justin was finally able to move past that night and move forward towards his future.

During that time, Justin also managed to reconnect with everyone he left behind. Lindsay and Melanie were thrilled that he was back. Gus was a little harder to win over since he had only been a baby when Justin left, but just like his father, he couldn’t resist the blonde’s charm and they became fast friends. Ted and Emmett told him that Liberty Avenue hadn’t been the same since he left. Even Michael seemed genuinely happy to have him home. The family was finally back together. Brian couldn’t help the smile on his face and was surprised when the taxi pulled up outside the loft. He was so lost in thought he hadn’t noticed how close they were. He paid the driver and hurried inside, anxious to have Justin back in his arms.

Justin hung up the phone and ran around, trying to get everything ready for Brian’s arrival. Dinner was warming in the oven, the table was set for two with candles burning in the center. Soft music was playing in the background and the lights were turned down low. He wanted the evening to be special, to show Brian how much he loved him and missed him. Justin heard the elevator and raced to the door, sliding it open just as Brian raised the gate.

“Brian!” Justin exclaimed as he ran and threw his arms around him.

“Easy, Sunshine. I was only gone for a week.” Brian said, as he hugged Justin back with just as much force. It was a really long week.

“I know, I just missed you so much. Come on, dinner is waiting.” Justin said as he led Brian inside.

Brian took in the soft music and candles and couldn’t help but think that it was the perfect setting for what he had planned. He put his suitcase in the bedroom and shed his jacket before sitting at the table. He watched Justin serve the food, once again overcome with emotion by the love he had for him. He poured the wine and waited until Justin sat down before starting. Once they were both settled, they ate their dinner and talked about their week. After they finished, they worked together to clean up the dishes, stopping every few minutes to share a kiss, then took their wine and settled on the couch in each other’s arms.

“This is some homecoming. If I get this every time I go away, I might just have to take more business trips.” He joked, laughing at the look of horror on Justin’s face.

“I don’t think so! As a matter of fact, I don’t think it’s appropriate for the owner to go away to sign new accounts without his art director by his side.” Justin teased.

“I agree. Especially since the art director is actually part owner himself.” Brian stated, waiting for a reaction. He didn’t have long to wait.

“Brian? What are you talking about? I’m not part owner, Cynthia is.” Justin looked at Brian with confusion.

“That’s not exactly true. Look Justin, I owe my agency all to you. As hurt and angry as I was when you went away, I know now that it was the best thing for me. I would never have grown up if I wasn’t forced to get my act together. I always took my career seriously and I was damn good at it, but it wasn’t until I hit bottom that I realized I would never be able to branch out on my own until I got my life under control. I stopped tricking, doing drugs, and cut way back on my drinking, throwing all my time and energy into making my career even stronger. Once Ryder sold the agency, I knew it was time to move on. I was determined to have my own company and with all the contacts I had made, not to mention the money, I was well on my way.” Brian explained.

“I understand that, Brian, but it still doesn’t explain what you are talking about. I think it’s great that you grew up and made something for yourself, but what does that have to do with me?” Justin asked, trying to understand what Brian was saying.

Brian stood up and went to his briefcase, pulling out a large envelope. He made his way back and sat down, handing the envelope to Justin. “Go ahead, open it.”

Justin took the envelope and pulled out the papers inside. He was shocked by what he saw. Apparently, when Brian formed the agency, he listed three partners. Cynthia owned 20% with him and Brian each owning 40%. “How? Why?” Justin couldn’t seem to form a complete thought.

“I talked to Melanie before I did anything. I explained that I wanted you to be a partner even though I still hadn’t heard from you. I guess I was always hoping that you would find your way home to me. She helped with the legal end of it, signing as your legal counsel. I knew we would make a good team, and besides, the companies namesake should have some kind of controlling interest. Don’t you think?” Brian asked with a grin.

“Namesake?” Justin was still a little confused and more than overwhelmed by what he was hearing.

“Just In Time? Where do you think I came up with the name?” Brian waited for everything to sink in.

“Oh my God, Brian! You didn’t have to do this.”

“I know I didn’t have to, I wanted to. I wanted us to be equals if and when you came back. This is my gift to you for making me grow up and be a better person. Your love has made me see how empty my life was and for that I will be forever grateful.” Brian explained, looking into Justin’s eyes and seeing love reflected at him.

“What would you have done if I didn’t come back? If we didn’t find our way back to each other? You took a big chance giving me a part of your company.” Justin was still confused by what Brian had done, but it showed him the love that Brian had for him and his heart was singing with joy.

“I wasn’t taking a chance at all. If you didn’t come home, you would have eventually been tracked down and informed of what I had done. Then it would have been your choice as to what to do with your shares. I knew that there was no way you would ever do anything to hurt me, so I was never worried about you destroying what I had worked so hard to build. If anything, I thought that finding out what I had done would make you come home so you could see the changes I made and maybe want to try again. If not, then I was prepared to take back your shares and become the major stock holder. I had nothing to lose. You were already gone.” Brian stopped when his voice cracked. Talking about the possibility of Justin refusing to come back caused an emotion he never wanted to feel again.

“Brian, I don’t know what to say. I spent four years hating myself for leaving you and figuring that I lost you for good. Now I find out that you were here, waiting for me to come back. I don’t think I have ever loved you as much as I do right now.” Justin choked on a small sob that had escaped. He was so overwhelmed by the love Brian had for him. He knew he would never doubt it again.

“So does that mean you are accepting my gift to you?” Brian asked with a smile. He could see the happiness in Justin’s face and knew he was the one responsible for it. He wanted to spend his life making Justin as happy as he was at that moment.

“I guess you’re stuck with me, partner.” Justin replied, taking Brian in his arms.

“There is nothing that would make me happier, partner.” Brian whispered.

“Who knew that after meeting under a streetlamp on Liberty Avenue all those years ago, we would end up where we are right now?” Justin chuckled as he wiped away a stray tear.

“There was no where else we could end up, Justin. This is our destiny.” Brian replied.

“I love you, Brian.”

“Me too, Justin. Me too.”


The End
11/04/03

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