His lips were dry. His body hurt. The pillow underneath him wasn’t comfortable. The view from his hospital room was a six story parking structure next door. He watched as the wind blew leaves around in a circle on the roof.

Pushing on the morphine drip he slowly descended into a restless sleep….dreaming of blond hair, blue eyes, and a bright smile. He could feel smooth skin and taut muscles underneath his finger tips…almost taste the unique flavor of Justin.

He didn’t wake during the nurse’s routine vital check or dressing change. He was lost in the world of Sunshine.

Justin rolled over and pulled the pillow over his head. He was tired, hung over and the beautiful tropical view from the patio windows hurt his eyes. It was too bright and too warm even with the wind gently blowing through the curtains.

Suddenly he felt a pair of familiar lips across his back.

“Brian” he sighed.

“BRIAN?!” he heard in response.

Peeking from underneath the pillow he saw the angry face of Ethan.

“Where’s Brian? Why are you here?” Justin began to hyperventilate.

“Shhhh. It’s just a bad dream,” Brian whispered as Justin continued to thrash in his sleep.

He had adjusted his vocabulary involuntarily. It was simply a response to conditioning. Using such a simple word usually provoked a sexual response from Brian. It was Pavlovian. So Justin unconsciously began usually using the word’s synonym instead whenever Brian was around, especially after a particular embarrassing incident at his mother’s.

Brian walked into the loft witnessing a flying sketch pencil sailing across the room.

“This is so fucking HARD!” Justin shouted.

“I can show you hard, Sunshine.“ Brian smirked as he proceeded to pounce on a surprised Justin.

Two hours later Justin drifted off into a sated sleep.

It was a rarity to see that look in Brian’s eyes. Usually masked with indifference, it was those extremely exceptional moments that Brian’s feelings other than lust and desire were exposed. Justin didn’t have the heart to take it away.

Brian looked so much like Gus at that moment….anxious and hopeful. Justin could never say no to him. Even though the thing that put that look on Brian’s face was something he disliked with a passion.

“Alright, I’ll go to the Corvette accessories store with you,” Justin conceded as Brian broke out in a genuine smile.

She scanned the crowd as she walked into the auditorium. She continued to search in hope of catching a glimpse of him before it was her turn to walk across the stage.

“Doctor Daphne Elizabeth Chanders.”

The loudest applause and praise could be heard just to the right of the stage. Daphne looked up and spotted them.

Everyone was there…cheering her on. She discreetly waved at them as she accepted her diploma.

 “I’m proud of you,” Justin mouthed when she looked directly at him.

With tears in her eyes she blew him a kiss as she exited the stage. 

He didn’t know anything about art, but he was there to support Justin. Terrified someone was going to ask his opinion, he purposely didn’t stare too long at any particular painting. Then he turned the corner and was immediately drawn to one.

The colors and textures just mesmerized him. He felt comforted and optimistic.

“So Michael what do you think?” Brian asked him.

“It’s so beautiful. It gives me hope.”

Brian then pointed out the title discretely place on the side of the painting. Michael smiled when he saw the word ‘Hope’.

Maybe he knew something about art after all.

"I can’t believe you’re taking off."

"It’s not forever...just the next 7 years or so of my life."

Justin’s eyes popped out of his head.

"7 years?!"

"Sure. There’s medical school, then an internship, then my residency. Of course that’s if I don’t flunk out first."

"Are you sure you want to be a doctor?"

"Are you sure you want to be an artist?"

The determined look on Daphne’s face told him everything he needed to know.

"Maybe, you’ll find your own McDreamy..."

Another round of laughter began.

The results were in. Another loss...another set back.

"It isn’t right, it isn’t fair, it just is."

"And its that defeatist attitude that keeps allowing them to beat us."

Debbie hadn’t said a word. Too shocked by the outcome to comment. It made her question her faith in humanity....and in God. Love is love. It shouldn’t be defined or pigeon holed.

But looking around at her boys, she found renewed strength.

"So we continue to fight. Not allow them fucking bastards..." a sob escaped as her voice broke.

"We continue to fight," Michael replied as he held her.

Title: Comfort
Author's Note: Not beta'd
Condom: Jennifer

Debbie woke to find Emmett sitting in the kitchen surrounded by swatches.

"Em, it’s fucking three in the morning!"

"Creativity doesn’t punch a time clock."

"What the hell’s so urgent that you can’t wait until a decent hour?!"

Emmett looked up at Debbie with tired eyes.

"It’s times like these that I miss Vic the most."

Debbie’s heart broke a little.

"Maybe I could help."

Emmett sadly smiled. The anxiety, fear and uncertainty written all over his face.

"I know what you need."

Hours later they enjoyed warm homemade cinnamon rolls from Vic’s recipe.

"Thanks, little brother," Debbie sighed as they took their first bite.

"And without surgery?"

"They say my headaches will increase....my hand tremors will get worse."

Jennifer looked at her son with a heavy heart.

"What does Brian say?"

"He doesn’t know yet."

Jennifer took Justin’s hand.

"I just needed to talk to someone that doesn’t blame himself or want to fix everything," he explained with shaky breath.

"What are the risks?"

"Memory loss...decreased motor function...death."

Jennifer flinched.

"But I already suffer from the first two symptoms. The loss of my ability to create art would be death."

Jennifer stood and wrapped her arms around her son in comfort.

Title: Possession
Author's Note: Not beta'd
Condom: Jennifer

He was in the love. Looking through the window he knew it. It was fate.

"You belong with me," he whispered in awe.

Dying to touch the object of his affection, the desperate need to possess it, he became determined.

"And I will have you," he mumbled.

"Brian!"

The spell broken, he turned and looked at Justin. He didn’t feel guilty about his desire. Justin always knew and understood him.

"Are you going to buy the new Armani collection or just stare at it all day?"

With a gleam in his eye, Brian grabbed Justin’s hand and entered the store.

They couldn’t breathe. Red faced, sides clutched, and gasping for breath is how Brian found them.

“What’s so funny?”

“We thought up a new villain for Rage.” Michael finally explained.

“Yeah, he realizes that Rage’s power comes from his sexual prowess so he figures out a way to make Rage a virgin again and strip him of his power,” Justin replied.

They cast a look at one another and began laughing again.

“Rage gets rehymenated!” Michael exclaimed.

“Re-hymen-ated? What the fuck?!”

“Rehymenated!” They both replied with tears streaming down their faces.

Brian just shook his head and left the room.

“Why are you skipping health class?” Michael asked.

Hunter shrugged his shoulders.

“Not good enough, pal!” Ben replied.

Hunter looked back and forth between his parents and sighed.

“It’s boring. I already know about drugs and diseases. I know how to use condoms. I’ve actually had sex, which I serious doubt Ms. Place has. And that abstinence spiel they preach is a joke!”

Michael and Ben sat for a moment stunned.

“Unfortunately it a course requirement to graduate, so you can’t miss anymore classes,” Michael explained.

“Fine, but don’t be surprised if you get another call when I begin to participate in class.” Hunter stated with a wicked grin.

Title:  Time
Author:  Camlaw
Timeline:  Season 5 - the bombing
Condom:  Emmett

Ben always knew time was precious. Living with HIV taught him as much. He knew all too well the unpredictability of his disease and how quickly it could turn against him. But he took for granted that it was his time that was precious.

Disease or not, there were no guarantees that he would die first. A car accident, heart attack, even a bomb caused by crazy fundamentalists could kill them before the HIV. Tonight was proof of that. 

Holding Michael’s hand, Ben realized it was their time that was precious. He vowed never to take that for granted again.

"Are you and Brian practicing safe sex?" Daphne asked out of the blue.

Justin immediately stared at his best friend liked she’d grown a second head.

"Of course Daphne! What the fuck?"

"I’ve never seen you buy condoms," she explained as they continued to walk to their next class.

Justin shook his head in disbelief.

"That because Brian buys a particular brand by the truck load and refuses to use any other kind."

"Oh! But what about those times you’re not with Brian?"

Justin pulled several packets from his pockets.

"He never lets me leave home without them." Justin smirked.

It was a leisurely Sunday brunch at Michael’s. Brian would’ve been disturbed by the domesticity of it all had he not been busy fondling Justin under the table throughout the entire meal.

"Did you hear about Darren?" Emmett asked.

"What about him?" Michael responded .

"He got married last weekend in Vermont!"

"Really?! To who?"

"A cop!"

"Really?"

Brian rolled his eyes at the gossip as he rose from the table.

"When are you and Justin getting married, Brian?" Emmett asked jokingly.

"How do you know we're not already?"

Justin choked on his coffee as all eyes stared at him questioningly.

It had been a for shit morning. The copy wasn’t right, Cynthia was out sick and the temp sent to fill in couldn’t figure out how the phone system worked.

After his lunch meeting, Brian found a blue and green box sitting on office desk. Written on the side was the Vermont Teddy Bear logo. Inside he discovered a light colored bear wearing a paint splattered smock and beret. The note attached read, "Someone to keep you company."

Brian immediate grabbed the phone hitting the speed dial.

"So when did you start wearing a beret," Brian asked with a smile.

Title: Plans
Author: Camlaw
Timeline: Post 5-13
Condom: Michael

“Every time we planned a trip together, it went to shit,” Justin announced out of the blue.

 Brian arched his eyebrow in response.

“Do you realize we haven’t taken a trip together…EVER?”

“What brought this on?”

“Nothing.”

Brian knowingly stared at Justin.

“Well nothing really.”

Brian continued to stare.

“Michael and Ben are planning a trip for their first wedding anniversary.” Justin answered.

Brian sighed.

“To Vermont,” Justin added in a whisper.

They never talked about Vermont. Decidedly Brian headed to the bedroom.

“You got ten minutes to pack a bag,” Brain announced behind him.

“Why?”

“Road trip,” Brian smirked.

“It’s Raining Men,” Emmett exclaimed.

“Blame it on the Rain,” Michael replied.

“Singing in the Rain,” Ted offered.

Brian glanced at Ted. “Exactly how old are you, Theodore?”

“Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head,” Debbie answered.

“Don’t Rain on My Parade,” Emmett sighed. “Oh Barbra.”

“Purple Rain,” Michael stated.

“Red Rain,” Ben countered.

“Covered in Rain,” Justin responded.

“Rain, rain,” Emmett gushed. “I love Cher!”

Brian continued to stare outside the diner window. How this game began he didn’t know, but he was content to just sit and wait out the storm.