Emmett Honeycutt walked slowly into the diner and looked around. Only a few tables were empty, even at almost two am. He was about to take a seat near the door when he spotted a familiar figure slumped over a table in the back.

"What are you doing here alone in the middle of the night?" Emmett sat down across from the young man.

"Hey, Emmett," Justin didn’t look up. "I could ask you the same question."

"I just left Ted at the hospital," Emmett picked up a menu, "and I wasn’t ready to go home yet."

"What?" The blonde head popped up. "What’s wrong with Ted?"

"Nothing’s wrong with him, *physically*, that is." Emmett frowned. "We went to the hospital with Blake and--"

Justin had a blank look on his face. "Who’s Blake?"

"Didn’t you see that young guy talking to him earlier? I think you’d already left when Ted found him in the bathroom, passed out."

"What’ll you have, Emmett?" The tall brunette waitress stopped next to their table.

Emmett looked up. "Just a glass of water, Lorna."

Pausing before she walked away, she asked, "Anything else for you, Justin?"

"No, thanks." Justin handed over his empty plate.

When they were alone again, Justin asked, "Is Blake gonna be okay?"

"Who cares?" Emmett looked away, then glanced back. "I know that sounds harsh, but that guy is a total crystal freak. I told Ted he was wasting his time even worrying about him, but you know Teddy..."

Justin smiled at Emmett’s exaggerated grimace. "Isn’t that the guy who caused Ted’s coma?"

"Yes." Emmett nodded. His water arrived, along with another glass of water for Justin. "I don’t understand Ted sometimes, you know? He’s such a sweet guy, but he insists on wasting his time on a twink!"

"Hey! There’s nothing wrong with tw-- with younger guys."

Pausing, Emmett smiled. "I’m sorry, baby, but I honestly don’t think of you as a twink--" He laughed at Justin’s look of disbelief. "You know what I mean! You and Blake couldn’t be more different, despite the fact that you’re near the same age. You’re smart and sweet and good and... beautiful - all things that Blake most assuredly is not!"

"Beautiful?!" Justin laughed. "Emmett, did you call me beautiful?"

Emmett paused briefly for effect. "Honey, do you ever look in a mirror? Haven’t you noticed the way you’re stared at every time you walk into Babylon? You. Are. Fucking. Gorgeous." He sighed theatrically. "Yet another reason to be envious of Brian."

Justin looked down, sure that his face was turning red. His smile remained, however. Sensing his discomfort, Emmett changed the subject. "You never told me why *you’re* here, all by yourself. What happened to your lesser half?"

"If you’re talking about Brian," Justin looked up, "he went home hours ago. Alone."

Emmett examined the young man’s face. "I thought you two left together."

Justin shook his head. "I don’t know where he went - he just took off. I think Michael knew, but he wouldn’t tell me. I left right after, but I didn’t want to go home. I went to Woody’s for a while..."

"Couldn’t you decide who to go home with? And don’t tell me no one asked..."

"You don’t understand--"

"You’re right, Justin, I don’t understand how you can let Brian treat you like shit. You could have just about anyone you wanted, any *time* you wanted them, yet, here you sit, eating junk food with the biggest nelly queen in Pittsburgh."

"That’s not true." Justin smiled slyly. "I had a salad..."

Emmett laughed out loud and Justin joined in. "I forget sometimes what a great sense of humor you have." Reaching out, he patted the teenager on the hand. "No, Brian definitely doesn’t deserve you."

"Please don’t say anything bad about Brian." The smile disappeared from the baby face. "You know how I feel about him."

"Yes, I do, and I’m sorry. I’m not as old as Brian and Michael are - I still remember what it feels like to be young and in love..." Emmett hesitated, not sure if he should continue. Taking a deep breath, he started speaking again. "All I’m saying is this is the time of your life when you should be out there, having fun, not sitting by yourself, pining over a guy who doesn’t appreciate you."

Justin was quiet for a long minute. "I’m not alone. You’re here."

Light blue eyes gazed deeply into dark blue eyes. "What are you saying, Justin?"

Leaning forward, Justin ran his fingers lightly down his companion’s arm. "I’m saying you’re right, Emmett. I don’t want to go home alone tonight. How about you?"

A smile spread across the older man’s face. "Do you realize what you’re asking?" Justin remained silent, an unreadable look on is face. "Are you sure?"

"No," Justin giggled nervously, "but I’m asking anyway." Emmett didn’t answer and Justin continued, "You’ve never seemed like the kind of man who over-analyzes things..."

"Over-analyze? Me?" Emmett shrugged. "No. ‘Whatever feels good’, that’s my motto."

Grasping Emmett’s hand, Justin pulled it to his face. Slowly, he sucked the middle finger into his mouth, teasing it playfully with his tongue and teeth, before releasing it. "Can I come home with you? I can make you feel really good..."

#####

A few minutes later, they were walking through the front door of Emmett’s apartment. The walk over had been quiet - neither man said much, but it was a comfortable silence that surrounded them. Outside the diner, Justin had moved close to Emmett, looping a thumb in his belt loop and allowing the older man to wrap an arm around him.

"Would you like something to drink?" Emmett asked, as he turned on the lamp. "I think I have--"

Stepping forward, Justin pushed Emmett against the closed door and attacked his mouth. Emmett reciprocated enthusiastically, his hands moving down the young man’s back to his ass.

The kiss ended and they started stripping on their way to the bedroom. "Wait," Emmett requested, as he sat down on the bed and looked up. "Stand still for a minute so I can look at you." The young man complied. "Jesus, Justin, you *are* beautiful..."

"So are you," Justin breathed, as he moved over to kneel between Emmett’s legs. They took up where they left off at the front door, their tongues teasing each other. Justin broke the kiss, moving his mouth down Emmett’s neck to his chest. The older man lay back as Justin kissed and licked his way downward; he felt hot breath against his cock an instant before it was swallowed. Trying to entangle his hands in the short hair, he thrust into the talented mouth. A minute later he grabbed Justin’s shoulders, pulling him up to lie on top of him. Their mouths met again, their tongues dueling playfully. Pulling back slightly, Emmett whispered, "Ask me what I want, Justin."

Justin plunged his tongue into Emmett’s ear, then sucked on his ear lobe. "What do you want?"

"I want you to fuck me."

The blonde head jerked around so he could see the other man’s face. "I-I can’t..."

"You mean, you never have..." Emmett cupped Justin’s ass, crushing their groins together. "Haven’t you learned anything from Brian?"

Justin tried to wriggle away, but Emmett’s hold on him was secure. Without warning he used his long legs to flip them over so that Justin was lying on his back. Before the young man had time to react, Emmett shifted around so that his head was near Justin’s hardening cock. He ran his tongue along the shaft as he caressed his balls. Justin’s only answer was a loud moan, which encouraged Emmett to continue.

It only took a couple of minutes for Emmett to bring Justin to the edge of orgasm. He paused, moving up to kiss his lover yet again, careful to grasp the young man’s hands before he thought about touching himself. "What are you doing?" Justin’s voice sounded panicky. "Let me go."

"Okay." Emmett released Justin’s hands and sat up. "I released you - now it’s your turn to do something for me..."

Pausing, Justin spoke slowly. "I don’t know what to do - I’m afraid I’d hurt you."

Leaning forward, Emmett kissed the teenager one more time, then whispered into his ear, "You won’t hurt me, Justin. You promised to make me feel good." Moving quickly, he opened a drawer in the bedside table, fished out a condom and a tube and tossed them on the bed. Wordlessly, he knelt forward, resting his head on his forearm... and waited.

When he heard the unmistakable sound of the condom wrapper tearing, Emmett let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. A hand caressed his ass just before one slick finger slipped inside. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and forced himself to be patient.

It was less than a moment later when Justin’s slim fingers were replaced by his not-so-slim cock. Moving tentatively at first, he seemed to take encouragement from his the other man’s moans. Emmett raised his hips, encouraging his lover to increase the intensity of his thrusts. A hand sneaked around to grasp his cock, stroking it in perfect rhythm to their movements. This combination put Emmett into sensory overload, pushing him over the edge and triggering Justin’s orgasm.

Several minutes later, the two men lay sprawled together, still coming down from their mutual high. Neither of them had spoken but, once again, the silence was anything but awkward. "So... How was it?" Rolling over on his side, Justin leaned on his elbow and propped his head in his hand.

Reaching out his hand, Emmett trailed his fingertips across the young man’s chest. "It was *fabulous*! How was it for you?"

"Great," he laughed. "*I* was great, wasn’t I?"

"Yes, you were great." Emmett pulled Justin’s head down so their lips met yet again. There was no urgency this time - only satisfaction and contentment. When the kiss was over, Justin started crawling off the bed. "What are you doing?"

"I gotta go." The teenager started picking up clothes off the floor. "Debbie gets mad if I stay out all night without calling."

A minute later, Emmett was standing at his front door, dressed in a pink floral imitation-silk robe. Justin paused with his hand on the doorknob. "Y-you’re not going to mention this to anyone, are you?"

"If, by anyone, you mean *Brian*, the answer is no, I won’t say anything, although it would serve him right to know he’s not the only one who can play around."

Justin looked down. "I know what you think about him, but he’s not like that - not all the time, anyway." When Justin raised his head, Emmett thought he saw a tear in the corner of his eye. "I love him."

"I know you do, sweetie," Emmett replied, "and I promise you that he’ll never find out about tonight from me." He made a face. "You never know when Brian’s going to decide to get all jealous and possessive."

"Yeah." Justin grinned briefly, then looked serious. "Michael always says you shouldn’t have sex with your friends. We didn’t mess up our friendship, did we?"

"No, we didn’t mess anything up - I think we made it better."

"I’m glad, ‘cause I’ve always liked you. Even at the beginning, when Ted and Michael hated me--"

"Ted and Michael never hated you, Justin."

"Well, maybe they didn’t *hate* me, but they both wished I’d go away. You were the only one who was nice to me. I’ve always thought of you as my friend."

"Well, not only are we still friends, we’re very special friends now. I hope you know you can call me, even if you just need to talk, and come back anytime, Justin. You know you’re always welcome here, right?"

Nodding, Justin smiled mischievously. "Does that mean we might be able to do ‘this’ again?"

Emmett’s heart jumped at the idea of having this sexy young man in his bed again, but he forced his face to remain passive. "Maybe..."

Leaning forward, Justin kissed Emmett once more before turning and walking the two blocks to Debbie’s house.

Emmett stood in the doorway for several minutes, thinking about the young man who had just left. What would have happened if I’d seen him first? he wondered, not for the first time. Would he belong to me as completely as he does to Brian? How long is it going to take for him to grow up and realize that Brian is never going to be able to give him what he needs? Or will Brian finally grow up and realize that Justin is the best thing that’s ever happened to him?

Questions were still swirling around in Emmett’s head when he gave up and went to bed. The apartment hadn’t seemed this quiet since Michael had left. Closing his eyes, his mind started working out brilliant and imaginative ways of getting Justin back here, alone, again.