Disclaimer: Still don't own.
A/N: and the sadness must begin. Sorry this took so long, lots of homework and a few other things that I'm working on. And thank you to LostLadyKnight for betaing again.
Greg sat on the edge of his bed; the bed he'd shared with his lover for seven years now. Tears ran down his face as he watched Nick packed the rest of his belongings throwing clothing into a suitcase and fighting to fit it all into just one.
The silence was deafening.
"Why?" asked Greg, his voice quiet. It was late and Jason was sleeping across the hall. Nick looked over at him, his own face a reflection of sadness and regret. This wasn't what he had wanted it to be, but it was what seemed right.
"Because right now this isn't working. We're falling apart and I don't want it to get worse." Greg shook his head.
"Please, we can make this work. I want it to work," he was almost begging.
"So do I; but I can't stand our fighting, the fact that we argue about everything. I don't want to put Jason through that."
"And this is so much better?" asked Greg, raising his voice a little. The tension that preceded their all too common fights was there and Nick shook his head, trying to stay calm.
"This is exactly what I mean. I can hardly talk to you anymore without you yelling at me, and judging everything I say. You can't talk to me without getting angry. Seeing us apart is better for Jason then hearing us argue." Nick's voice grew louder to match Greg's.
"So you'd rather tear the family apart than work it out? You'd rather let us fall apart than make any sort of effort? That's just selfish, Nick." More anger came with the accusation, and the quiet sadness faded from Greg's voice.
"Don't blame this on me! You're the one who isn't trying. All you can do is yell at me, and I'm sick and tired of it!"
"So this is my fault?"
"Yes! I promised I would help you through this, that I would be there until the end, but I can't live like this!"
"Like what?"
"Like this! For two years we've done nothing but argue. You question everything I do, yell at me about everything. You aren't the man I fell in love with anymore."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"The Greg I knew was kind, fun loving, outgoing. The man you've become is so angry and stressed out; but only around me. Come on, Greg, what happened to us?"
"I don't know." There was a long tense pause as they both stood in the small room, facing each other. "I just don't know."
"Me neither. Look, I've got to go," said Nick, slamming the top of his suitcase closed.
"So you're just going to walk out on me; on us?" Greg's voice was sad and lost, as though he had admitted defeat.
"I'm sorry, but yes, I am." Nick's voice became quiet as well. There was a pause, broken by a sound from the door.
"Why were you yelling, Dad?" asked a small voice. Both men turned to see their son standing in the doorway. The young boy was now eight years old, with spiky black hair that never seemed to stay down.
"Jason, I'm sorry," said Nick, walking over to his son.
"Where are you going, Dad?" asked Jason as Nick scooped him up into his arms.
"I have to leave for a while."
"Why?" asked Jason.
"Because…I just have to."
"Are you going on a trip? Back to Texas to see Gramma and Grampa? Can I come with?"
"No. I'll still be here, but I won't be living here with you guys. And no, I need you to stay with Daddy-Greg."
"Dad is moving out, Jason. He's leaving us," said Greg, dropping back onto the bed.
"Don't you love Daddy-Greg?" Jason had taken to calling Greg 'Daddy-Greg' instead of mom. It had seemed right as the boy was growing up and had begun to understand the relationship his fathers had.
"Of course I do, it's just-"
"Than stay!" said the boy happily, as though that solved everything. "I don't want you to leave." Nick shook his head and placed Jason on the bed beside Greg.
"I can't. I have to go."
"But why?" asked Jason, his smile turning into a sad pout.
"Because…Greg and I…we're fighting."
"Then you need a time out." Nick smiled sadly.
"That's what it is. I'm taking a time out."
"Then you'll come back?"
"I don't know, Jason."
"Don't go. If you're not going to come back, I don't want you to go." Jason started to cry, reaching out to wrap his arms around Nick's neck and hold his father close.
"I don't want him to go either, Jason. But we'll be okay," said Greg, pulling Jason back and into his arms.
Nick whipped the tears from Jason's eyes as he turned to leave. He looked at Greg. Greg was looking down, not meeting Nick's gaze. Nick stepped towards his lover, and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Greggo. I love you, you know I do, but I have to go." Greg looked up, eyes moist, and face glistening with tears.
"Please," he whispered, "don't leave us." Nick kissed Greg's forehead, and turned away. He grabbed his suitcase off the bed and walked out the door towards his truck.
Greg listened as Nick's door was slammed shut. There was a moment of silence before the engine roared to life, and the truck sped away down the street.
"Alright, Jason. It's just you and me now. We're going to get through this," said Greg. Jason looked up at him, eyes full of tears, and shook his head.
"Will Dad come back?" he asked. Greg shook his head and picked his son up.
"I don't know. I hope he does, but I just don't know."
"I miss him."
"Me too. Now, back to bed with you. Let's go." Greg carried Jason down the hall and put him in the bed. He pulled the Spiderman blankets up around Jason and sat down beside his son.
"I'll take you to school in the morning, and pick you up, and then we can get some ice cream. Okay?"
"Daddy, ice cream won't make him come back." Greg nodded, tears stinging his eyes again. Jason was too smart to just let all this go and have something as big as Nick leaving covered up by ice cream.
"I know; but it will make me feel better. How about you?" Jason thought about it and then nodded. He reached out a small hand and put it on Greg's face.
"Don't cry, Daddy-Greg. It'll be okay."
"I love you so much."
"I love you too. We'll be okay."
"I hope so. I really hope so."
a/n: and I hope to have new stuff up soon. Please R&R.