<hr>
They walked hand in hand to Adolpho's.  It is one of Justin's favorite restaurants to go to with his mom.  "I love this place.  I go here with my mom all the time.  Have you been here before?"
	
"A few times with the ladies who munch…and lunch."
	
Justin playfully nudged Brian.  Brian told the hostess that they were meeting someone here.  Justin asked Brian who, but then he saw his mother waving to them from a table near the windows.  Brian smiled as Justin's face lit up.  He was afraid that he would go through this whole day without seeing his mom.  He was having a great day with Brian, but this was a welcome surprise.
	
"Hi, Honey.  How are you?"
	
"Good, Mom.  How are you?"
	
"Happy to see both of you."
	
Brian leaned down to kiss Jennifer's cheek.  "Hi, Mrs. Taylor."
	
"Brian, call me Jennifer, please.  'Mrs. Taylor' isn't really accurate anymore, is it?"
	
"No, I guess not."
	
"Plus, since you and my son are together there is no need for such formalities.  You're like the son-in-law I never thought I'd have."
	
Justin and his mom traded stories about family, art and real estate.  Jennifer had some great stories about crazy homebuyers.  Brian watched the easy way that Jennifer and Justin communicated.  He was a little bit jealous, but mostly happy that not everyone had to endure what he did as a child.  Brian excused himself to use the bathroom, and because he knew that Justin was dying to tell his mother everything that had happened today.  
	
Justin practically exploded when Brian left.  "He said he loved me, Mom!  He finally said it!  It's fucking incredible!"
	
"Justin!"
	
"Sorry."  He looked around to see if someone heard him say "fucking", but no one was even paying attention to him and his mother.  "I have been noticing small changes lately.  Like risking his job to stand up to Stockwell, and giving up all of his possessions to pay for that TV ad.  But I had given up on hearing those words."
	
"I'm glad you're so happy, Sweetheart.  I have to say, I was surprised when he called me this morning to invite me to lunch.  I never really liked that he is so much older than you are, but somehow you make it work.  It seems that he is really serious about you two now.  He seems to have matured."
	
"Well, Brian just turned thirty-two, but sometimes I would swear he's only twenty mentally."
	
Justin felt a hand in his hair.  "How many times have I told you not to tell anyone my real age?  If anyone asks, I am twenty-five."  Brian pulled back Justin's head until he was looking down into Justin's blue eyes.  He kissed Justin.  "But I forgive you."
	
A few people had turned to look at the two men kissing.  Usually Liberty Avenue stayed on Liberty Avenue.  Most just smiled, but a few people looked disgustedly away.  Just for their benefit, Brian bent down again and gave Justin a deeper, more passionate kiss.  There were some audible sounds of disgust from the restaurant patrons.  When Brian stopped kissing Justin, he gave everyone that was staring a dirty look.  Brian looked to see if he had offending Jennifer, but she was smiling contentedly at them.  During the entire meal, Brian kept touching Justin in little ways under the table so the disgusted people could see.  Justin was a little uncomfortable at first, but then he started to enjoy the attention from Brian and the looks from everyone else.  
	
Jennifer, Brian and Justin continued to have pleasant conversation.  Justin's mom was a really nice woman who was just trying to stay a part of her grown son's life.  Brian surprised himself by actually enjoying her company.  She had a relaxed way of talking that made you want to talk to her for hours.  She would have made a great shrink.  
	
Jennifer had to pick up Molly from the library at 4:30, so they finally left Adolpho's a 4:15.  Jennifer insisted on paying and wouldn't take no for an answer.  Brian was in a great mood when they left.  It was only about an hour until he could surprise Justin at the loft.  He hoped everything was going well with Emmett.  Justin and Brian walked on Liberty Avenue holding hands and window-shopping.  Justin saw a gorgeous black suede jacket that he fell in love with at Armani.  Brian walked into the shop to look more closely at the jacket.  It was on clearance for $400.  Brian told Justin to try it on.  He had a feeling that Justin's blond hair and pale skin would look incredible against that black suede.  He was right.
	
A salesman came up behind Brian.  "Mr. Kinney, we haven't seen you in a while.  Been out of town, sir?"
	
"Yeah, out of town.  So, Kevin, can you arrange a better price on this?"
	
"For you?  I would let it go for $350."
	
"Sold.  I'll take it."  Brian handed Kevin his freshly paid off credit card.
	
Justin said, "Brian…?"
	
Kevin looked at Justin.  Brian said, "Wrap it, Kevin."
	
The salesman walked away with the jacket over his arm.  Justin looked at Brian and said, "You can't afford that!"
	
"Yes, I can.  I wouldn't have bought it if I couldn't, Justin.  Don't worry about it.  I'm not as poor as you think I am.  The severance package Vanguard offered me was very fair.  I paid off all of the $100,000 plus I am still getting a weekly check from Vanguard for $500.  It isn't as much as I was making before, but it is enough to let me keep my apartment, my shrink, and still buy you something special.  So just say thank you."
	
Justin smiled, "Thank you, Brian."
	
The salesman came back with the wrapped package and Brian's credit card.  "Have a good day, Mr. Kinney.  Come back soon now that you're back in town."
	
Brian smiled and led Justin out of the store.  Brian looked at his watch.  It was now 5:15-time to start back to the loft.  "It's almost time for your surprise.  Are you excited?"
	
"Yes!"  

Brian thought Justin would burst.  "Good."

***

Brian had Justin wait outside the loft door as Brian checked inside.  What he saw took his breath away.  Brian could only imagine Justin's face when he saw it.  He hung up Justin's new jacket in the bedroom closet and then went to call Justin inside.  "Close your eyes, Justin."  Brian covered Justin's eyes just in case he peeked.  He directed him to the bathroom and gave him the tux that Emmett had picked out for Justin to put on.  "Let me know when you're done getting dressed," Brian said and left Justin to get into his own tux.

Emmett had really outdone himself.  He had even added some furniture to Brian's lacking décor.  Brian's remaining tux was hanging near the bedroom entrance.  Since Brian's tux had been ruined at the prom, he had asked Emmett to pick up a tux for both of them.  Brian knew with Emmett's experience with clothing, he would be able to find something in Brian and Justin's size.  

Brian got quickly into his tux.  Then he entered the bathroom to see how Justin was getting along.  Justin was staring into the mirror.  He didn't even seem to see Brian come in.  Brian asked Justin, "You OK, Sunshine?"

Justin looked up from his reverie.  "Yeah," he replied quietly.

Brian came up behind Justin and kissed his neck gently.  "Is it bothering you to be in a tux again?"

"A little.  It bothers me more that I can't remember most of it.  I didn't remember that Emmett helped me get ready that night until I was getting dressed just now.  That's what I was thinking about when you came in.  I should thank him for helping me pick out that tux."

"He picked out this tux too.  I hired him to set up this whole thing."

Justin smiled wide.  "Emmett's a really great guy.  I'm glad he and Ted have worked things out."

"Mmmm.  Great," Brian said sarcastically.  "Let's go."  He took Justin's hand and led him outside the bathroom.  There were twinkling lights everywhere.  There were beautiful silk ivory draperies over all of the windows.  Almost everything in the room was ivory or twinkling.  There was a delicious smell coming from the kitchen, which almost never happened unless Justin was cooking something.  

"Something smells good," Justin said to Brian.

"Yeah, Emmett said Vic made some sort of fish.  I don't remember."  Justin smiled at Brian.  

He reached up to the taller man and said with a kiss, "Thank you, Brian.  It's beautiful."  Justin had a tear in his eye.  Brian kissed Justin fervently.
	
"It's all for you, Sunshine."  Brian led Justin over to the dinner table.  He pulled out Justin's chair for him to sit down.  "I'll be your waiter this evening, Mr. Taylor.  May I pour the wine?"
	
"That would be lovely."  Brian uncorked the bottle of cabernet sauvignon and poured a glass for him and Justin. 

Brian then raised his glass in toast.  "To you, Sunshine.  To survival."

Justin grinned and raised his glass to meet Brian's.  Brian then went to the kitchen to get the food.  Vic had put almost everything together for Brian.  He knew what a waste Brian was in the kitchen.  Without a family to teach him to cook, Brian had lived most of his life on takeout.  Brian was spooning the almond slivers and green beans onto the plates when Justin came up behind him.

"Do you need some help?"

"No, Vic set everything up.  I'm fine.  Just sit down and relax."  Brian felt Justin put his hands on Brian's hips from behind.

"You look amazing in this tux, Brian.  Though I have to confess that I can't wait to get it off of you later."

Brian laughed at Justin.  He would love nothing more than to strip down right now, but he wanted Justin to be properly nourished for the night he had planned.  Brian turned to Justin and said, "You look incredible too, Sunshine."  He kissed Justin overpoweringly.  "I promise you more of that later, but now I have to concentrate.  And I certainly can't do that with you standing there, distracting me."

"Let me help."

"OK.  Would you put the fish on the plates?"

"Sure."  Justin took a closer look at the dish Vic had prepared.  "It's oven-poached red snapper with spinach cream sauce.  Vic remembered that it's my favorite."  Justin deftly slid the red snapper onto the plates.  He was a lot more comfortable in a kitchen than Brian was.  His mother had taught him to make meals.  Brian remembered the jambalaya that Justin had made a few years ago.  He definitely had no complaints about Justin's culinary skills.  He had made them many good dinners in the loft.  Justin had rarely let Brian go to Babylon without a decent meal.
	
Brian carried both of the plates to the table as Justin followed him.  Brian thought it was time to jog some more of Justin's memories of the prom.  "What did you and Daphne have to eat at the prom?"
	
Justin thought for a minute.  "It was prime rib with carrots and mashed potatoes."  Justin smiled and said, "I remember that, unfortunately.  That prime rib mooed on the plate!"
	
"That's how you know it's good, Justin."
	
"Yuck!  Daphne and I made mooing noises the whole time.  The other people at the table were grossed out."
	
"And dessert?"
	
"Ice cream.  Nothing special."

"Sounds much like my prom.  Michael and I had chicken.  We picked the chicken up and made its little legs dance around the plate.  It was hilarious!  Of course, it helped that we had smoked a joint before we went in.  Made us have the munchies, even for that horrible food."

"Daphne and I had smoked too.  I forgot about that!"

"I'm glad you're remembering the fun you had."

"Yeah, it was a lot of fun.  I'm glad I went with Daphne.  We had been kind of drifting apart before then.  It gave us a chance to catch up."

"I like Daphne.  You should definitely hang out with her more.  You know, someone your own age, instead of me."

"I like hanging out with you.  And I see Daphne at least twice a week, sometimes three times.  We go out for lunch at least once a week."

"Do you ever talk about the prom?"

"We talk about it sometimes.  We've been talking about it lately because it's the same time of year.  I told her about your idea.  She thought it was very romantic.  You got her seal of approval."

"Good.  How's the food, Sunshine?"

"Very good.  Vic always does a great job."

Brian and Justin continued eating and talking.  Brian kept prying into Justin's memories of the prom.  He was sure that Justin knew exactly what he was doing, but he didn't seem to mind.  Brian was pretty careful to focus on the good times of the night.  

Finally they came to the moment when Brian came in.  Brian told Justin, "Actually, let me tell you what I remember.  I was sitting at home feeling sorry for myself, because I had just turned thirty.  Mikey had just talked some sense into me, so I decided to go to your prom.  I was listening to the oldies station while getting dressed.  I heard a song that I hadn't heard in a long time.  It was the song that we danced to at the prom.  I was listening to the lyrics, and I realized that the words were expressing exactly how I felt about you.  I went to the prom with a burnt CD of that song just in case the DJ didn't have it.  

"When I got there, I went straight for the DJ, avoiding you and Daphne.  He knew the song I was talking about, and he agreed to play it.  I told him I would be near the door waiting for him to give me the sign that the song was next.  He nodded and I went across the floor to you and Daphne.  You remember that, right?"

"Yeah, you looked so hot.  I was so floored that you had come.  I don't remember as much as I'd like to about the dance, but I remember you looking at me.  I remember some of the words.  I had no idea that you picked the song specifically.  You never told me that."

"That was my secret."  Brian stood up and took Justin's hand.  "Will you dance with me again?"

"Of course I will."

Brian hit play on the CD player.  The burnt CD that he had made two years ago started to play.  Brian sang along as he and Justin danced.  Brian's lips were right next to Justin's ear as he sang every word.

<center><i>You can dance every dance with the guy who gives you the eye, let him hold you tight
You can smile every smile for the man who held your hand beneath the pale moonlight
But don't forget who's taking you home and in whose arms you're going to be
So darlin', save the last dance for me mmmm

Oh, I know that the music's fine like sparkling wine go and have your fun
Laugh and sing but while we're apart don't give your heart to anyone
But don't forget who's taking you home and in whose arms you're going to be
So darlin', save the last dance for me mmmm

Baby don't you know I love you so
Can't you feel it when we touch
I will never let you go
I love you oh so much

You can dance go and carry on till the night is gone and it's time to go
If he asks if you're all alone can he take you home you must tell him no
'Cause don't forget who's taking you home and in whose arms you're going to be
So darlin', save the last dance for me</i></center>

Justin and Brian twirled and slow danced all over the loft.  They laughed and smiled.  Justin reveled in the fact that Brian loved him.  That he had loved him since the prom.  He understood now all of the reasons Brian had felt too inhibited to tell him straight out that he loved him.  The song was clearly Brian's first attempt at telling Justin exactly how he felt.  Then no sooner had he shared these feeling with Justin when Justin was bashed in the head for just that reason.  Chris Hobbes couldn't stand to see two men who loved each other.  Justin started to cry.

Brian stopped dancing.  They had been having such a good time, but now he was concerned that he had gone too far into Justin's memories.  "Are you OK?  I'm sorry.  I went too far."

"No, no, you didn't go too far," Justin sniffled.  "I never understood the song until now.  You loved me.  That was what you were trying to say.  It should have been a wonderful, amazing night, and it turned into the worst night of our lives.  I remember dancing with you, Brian.  Every second of it is back."  He clung to Brian and cried softly.  "You've loved me all this time.  I never would have doubted it if I had remembered that dance, those words you told me in that song."

The song finished as Justin clung to Brian.  Brian whispered the last few lines.

<center><i>'Cause don't forget who's taking you home and in whose arms you're going to be
So darlin', save the last dance for me mmmm

Save the last dance for me mmmm
Save the last dance for me</i></center>


Brian wordlessly carried Justin to the bedroom.  They made love deep into the night.