About two hours later, Brian felt a slight shaking of his shoulder.  He had dozed off a half hour or so after everyone left.

Brian bolted up in his chair, instantly alert, worried something had happened to Justin while he was asleep.  He looked to his side to see a just slightly startled eleven-year-old.

“Molly?  What are you doing here?”  He asked as he let out a relieved sigh.

“I asked my mom if I could come back to have some time with Justin by myself, but I really wanted to talk to you, so I had her drop me off.”

“What did you want to talk to me about?”  Brian asked, apprehensively.  He knew where Craig and Jennifer each stood in regards to his and Justin’s relationship.  Molly was a different story.  She had witnessed all the drama that went on between Justin and her parents and then more between her parents after he moved out.  She also got a front row seat to all of Justin’s early episodes after the bashing.  Brian was scared she hated him or worse, hated he and Justin both for what had happened to her family.

From the sound of his voice, Molly could tell what was going through his head and with a small chuckle and smile, she replied.

“Don’t worry, Brian.  I know Craig’s an asshole.  After he kicked Justin out I cried for three days.  Not just for what he did but because I realized what kind of person he was and it made me sick.  I’ve always loved Justin and I always will.  I am sad I haven’t been able to get to know you better.  All I ever heard was Craig’s bullshit, that you were older than Justin, that he loved you, and that you were gorgeous, or to quote Daphne, “to die for.”

Brian chuckled at the thought.  He always loved how much Daphne really liked him.  She had always rooted for he and Justin, even when his own friends doubted anything would ever develop between them.

“It turns out Daphne was right about your looks, obviously.  I know Justin loves you, that he always has, and from what I’ve seen tonight I know you love him too.  I didn’t expect to see you fall apart like that, but it made me feel better to see you show your emotions for my brother, but I want to hear those emotions from your own mouth.  I’ve heard Justin’s view, Daphne’s, my mother’s and even Craig’s fucked up version of events.  In fact, let’s just disregard him.  That leaves Justin, Daphne, and my mother.  I want to hear what YOU feel for my brother.”

Brian was taken aback by the bluntness of the young Taylor, but then remembered exactly who was speaking to him and no longer questioned it.  These Taylor offspring had a knack for being straightforward with their thoughts, regardless of whom they were addressing.  Brian smirked at the thought.  He loved that about Justin and was proud Molly had inherited the trait.

Molly looked expectantly directly into Brian’s eyes, awaiting an answer.  When he felt he had formed the right words in his head, Brian responded.

“I’ve always been an asshole.  I had tricks every night whom I would fuck once and then never see again and that was the way I wanted it.  I never believed in love or boyfriends.  I told Justin that after the first time we fucked.  Still, he came back for more again and again.  That was when I first noticed his tenacity and his stubbornness.  

That first night, as soon as I saw him I wanted him.  I could tell there was something different about him but at the time I couldn’t place it.  One thing I did know from the start was that I wanted to protect him.  He seemed so gentle and kind.  

So when all the shit with Craig happened, I felt this need to protect him and defend him.  I had never had that urge to guard someone with my life before.  Even when I was in high school and my friend Mikey would get bullied, I helped him out but I just did it pretty much to make him feel better.  

With Justin, I NEEDED to protect him.  I WANTED to protect him and keep him away from anything that could hurt him, which at the time was Craig.  Over time, I started to realize what that feeling I had first felt for him was, but I couldn’t admit it to myself.  

You see, when I was growing up, I had parents who both literally hated me and treated me like shit.  They would tell me they loved me whenever they were around their friends or anyone they were trying to impress, but then afterwards, they would beat the shit out of me.  It didn’t take long for me to conclude that love was bullshit, just a meaningless word.”

Brian paused at this point and smirked.  “Your brother changed all that.  You really have no idea how much determination and strength he has, Molly.  Anyway, as time went on, my feelings for him intensified to the point where I couldn’t deny them anymore.  Hence my unexpected arrival at his prom.”

Brian closed his eyes and let out a slow, shaky breath once again mentally returning to the beautiful night that ended so tragically.  He opened his eyes and continued.

“After the bashing, I blamed myself.  I kept thinking that if I had just stayed away then nothing would have happened.”

Molly chose this time to interject.

“Brian, Justin had problems with Chris Hobbs all year.  Hobbs just hated him.  He didn’t even play baseball, so you know he was planning on bashing Justin that night, regardless of whether or not you were there.  Although, it’s a good thing you were.  If you hadn’t called his name, the damage could have been a lot worse.  He could have even died.”

This time it was Brian’s turn to interject.

“You know, I blamed myself for the shit he went through with Hobbs at school too.  He would come to the Diner or the loft with new cuts and bruises or the time he had a burn on his hand and I would always see it as my fault.  Justin never saw it that way, but I always thought that if he never met me, he wouldn’t have been so open about who he was and he could have avoided all the shit he had to go through.”

“Brian!  You and I both know Justin.  We know how strong and confident he is.  He would still have had to deal with the same shit he did, only he wouldn’t have had you to lean on.”

Brian let a small smile escape at that comment.  He was then brought back to reality by Molly’s voice.

“Brian.  You still haven’t directly answered my question.  What exactly do you feel for Justin?  I don’t want you to hold anything back.  I want you to express every thought that pops into that beautiful head of yours.”

Brian took a second and then finally came clean.

“I love him.  I’ve never loved someone so much in my entire life and I’ve never once been IN LOVE with someone, but I can’t imagine ever being without him.  He’s become my entire life and I love that he has….He’s my world.”

Molly, plastered with the closest anyone could get to Justin’s ‘Sunshine smile’, had tears in her eyes.  In a small voice she responded, “That’s all I needed…and all I ever wanted to hear.”  She stayed for a little while longer and then got up to leave.  She surprised Brian when she went over to Brian and hugged Brian tightly.  “I love you, Brian,” she said.  “Watch over him.”

“I will.  Don’t worry about that.”  As she got to the door, Brian called to her.

“Hey, Molly.”  He waited for her to turn to face him.  “I love you too, Mol.”

Molly exited the room with a smile on her face, proud she was able to get the supposed man of steel to admit what she had known all along.