Blue? nah…

Green? maybe…

Gold? too tarty…

Brian dove back into his wardrobe and pulled yet another outfit out, tossing it onto the bed beside the seven that already resided there and surveyed his options.

Tonight was the night of the big Virgin Christmas party and he wanted to look his best. No, correction, he wanted to look the best. It was a point of honour for him to be the brightest, most glamorous shining star there.

The fact that it was being held at the Grovenor House Hotel meant that it was smart, smart, smart all the way and being smart called for party dresses, strappy, shimmering, sexy party dresses.

Finally narrowing it down to one of three choices Brian relocated them to the far side of the bed and went to have his shower.

He was just rinsing the shampoo from his hair and launching into the third verse of 'Nancy Boy' when the doorbell rang.

Cursing whoever it was, he turned off the water, tied a towel round his waist and made his way down the hallway to answer it.

'Why didn't you use your bloody key?' he demanded when he saw Stef standing there.

'Kinda had my hands full.' Stef grinned drawing a large bouquet of roses from behind his back.

'Ooooh for me?' Brian cooed grabbing the roses and burying his face in them, inhaling their potent fragrance.

'No, they're for Steve,' Stef replied squeezing past Brian so that he could actually enter his flat, 'of course they are for you you twat.'

'Thank you.' Brian angled his head up so that Stefan could kiss him.

'Anything for you my darling.'

'Awwllllll.'

'Ermm, Brian, much as I love the sight of you wandering around in nothing but a bath towel may I remind you that we are meant to be picking Steve up in an hour and you normally need that long just to do your make-up let alone get dressed as well.' Stefan sank down into one of Brian's armchairs, knowing that if this was only as far along as Brian had got he would be in for quite a wait.

'Yeah well I'm kinda running late. I couldn't decide what to wear.' Brian deposited the roses on top of Snuffles' hutch and went back into his bedroom to get the shortlist of contenders.

Sighing wearily Stefan got up out of the chair, picked up the roses and went in search of a vase.

'What is that anyway?' he inquired as Brian reappeared in the kitchen door.

'What's what?'

'That rodent in the front room.'

'That isn't a rodent,' Brian replied indignantly, 'that's 'Snuffles.'

'Snuffles?' Stef followed Brian back into the lounge, setting the roses down on the windowsill.

'Steve's Christmas present to Emily. We brought it the other day and then Em's Mum said that Steve could have her for the day so Stevie-baby lumbered me with babysitting the thing.' Brian explained holding up his three dresses for Stefan's perusal. 'Wha'd you reckon? The red or the black?'

'Huh? Oh, the purple.'

'The purple?' Brian held it up against him and frowned.

'Yep. It'll look stunning, trust me.'

'You're not just saying that to hurry me along?' Brian said suspiciously.

'No. You'll look wonderful, be the Belle of the ball.'

'Really?'

'Yes. Now go. Change.'

Smiling Brian flung the two rejected dresses down carelessly on the sofa and went back to the bedroom, finishing off his rendition of 'Nancy Boy' as he went.

'And Steve will love you in it…' Stef's voice floated down the hallway to him.

Brian grinned. 'That's the idea.' he shouted back.

Forty-five minutes later, Brian having achieved a personal best in the getting-ready-to-go-out stakes, he waltzed back into the front room, pinched the joint Stef had halfway to his lips and performed a dramatic twirl for him.

Stef whistled approvingly. 'Well I'd jump your bones.' He declared, indicating with his finger that Brian should go round again.

'Yeah but you always want to jump my bones. Besides you don't count.'

'I don't?' Stefan feigned hurt, 'how so?'

'Because you my dearest Steffie are gay.'

Stef was at a lose as to how to reply to this, Molko logical had struck again.

Requisitioning what was left of his joint, he dug in his trouser pocket and came up with a little baggie containing half a dozen tiny white pills, no bigger than a breath freshener.

'Ooooooh share.' Brian said excitedly, his eyes lighting up.

'But of course, what are friends for?'

'Erm, shagging, drinking and,' he held out his hand, 'free drugs!'

Thirty minutes later and only fifteen minutes later than they had agreed on, the cab pulled away from Steve's flat.

As they negotiated their way along the Bayswater Road and up towards Marble Arch, Brian noticed with glee that the cab driver seemed unable to stop himself from stealing glances at the trio in the back.

Well, Brian mused, they must appear a pretty odd bunch. Stefan in his tight black leathers and even tighter white tee-shirt, Steve immaculate as ever in a grey Armani suit and Brian himself resplendent in a ballerina length evening gown, the sight of Steve's jaw dropping when they had picked him up more than convincing him that Stefan had made the right choice when he had suggested the purple.

By now the effects of the little white pills Stefan had so graciously given him were beginning to take effect, he felt even better than he had when he first saw himself in the mirror that evening and anything that anyone said was now hilariously funny. Stefan was already well advanced onto 'inane giggling' mode, finding the pulsating festive lights that adorned Park Lane the most fascinating thing he had seen for years, doubling over and almost falling off his seat as he craned his neck to see them all.

Steve just gave them both a funny look, probably guessing, quite rightly, that they had made a head-start on him, Brian surmised.

Theatrically clutching onto both of his husbands legs as the cab swerved into the hotel forecourt, Brian took the proffered hand and allowed Steve to help him step out, keeping a friendly hold on his hand as Stef followed.

Maneuvering himself so that he was between the two men Steve held out his arms for them to take which they did laughing happily.

'My sweet prince.' Brian said with a giggle.

Steve rolled his eyes. Guess he doesn't like being compared to my drug habit, Brian mused.

'My gallant knight in shining armour?' he tried again.

This time Steve smiled his trademark killer smile which instantly made Brian go all tingly inside and he knew it wasn't due to the pill he had popped earlier.

'Right now ladies,' Steve addressed them as they walked up towards the impressive double doors, 'this is a classy establishment. I want no cat fights, no bitch slapping and definitely no dancing round your handbags.'

'Alright Beanie, anything for you.' Brian fluttered his eyelashes at the grinning Steve whilst Stef merely muttered 'spoilsport' under his breath.

Reaching the door, Steve nodded at the concierge as the door was held open for them.

'After you.' he disentangled himself from his companions and stepping back bowed deeply, allowing them to enter.