tyler and josh were in the kitchen, doing their usual morning routine while watching cartoons on the television.
josh was making pancakes while tyler was busy at the coffee machine. he knew josh didn't like creamer or sugar in his coffee, so he was waiting for it to be finished. he walked over to josh, wrapping his arms around his waist and resting his head on his shoulder, watching him work. josh liked when tyler did small things like this, it made him feel loved and he couldn't thank tyler enough for that.
he finally knew what it was like to love someone, and it was one of the greatest experiences ever. it's even more amazing when that someone tells you every day and shows it in more ways possible.
"josh?" tyler asked, hiding his mouth in josh's shoulder.
"yeah?" josh asked, pouring more pancake batter in the skillet.
"i love you."
there it is.
josh couldn't stop the grin from breaking his features, nodding.
"i love you, too."
tyler kissed his cheek before grabbing his mug from the counter and waiting for josh to be done with the pancakes. when he was, he placed two fluffy pancakes on a plate and set them in front of tyler, along with the bottle of syrup.
"josh, i would've gotten them myself." tyler smiled.
"i know." josh shrugged, going back to the skillet to get his own.
"thanks, sweetie." tyler said, stopping josh in his tracks.
wait, what the fuck? sweetie?
tyler had never used that term before. or any, now that josh is thinking about it. holy shit, his heart was racing. he smiled at that, eyes searching the floor as he kept it in his mind.
sweetie.
would it be weird if he called tyler that, too? was it only tyler's thing?
sweetie.
"josh? are you gonna sit with me?" tyler asked, pancaked untouched except for the syrup dripping off of the sides.
"huh? oh, yeah. i'm coming." josh snapped out of his thoughts, grabbing his coffee and sitting down next to tyler.
what did sweetie mean? was it better than babe or honey? was it the same? was he supposed to say it back?
josh had no clue, he just hoped tyler didn't hate him for not saying it.
tyler was a sweetie.
/
josh was planting roses in the garden, mainly because they were his favorite flower and the sun was shining today. he was running out of seeds quickly, though, and we wondered when tyler was coming back with the rest of them.
the garden was growing, the sunflowers and petunias were beginning to bud.
josh was happy.
he heard the crunching of grass beneath footsteps behind him, turning around to see tyler with a couple packets of rose seeds. he looked up at his boyfriend, clad in a tank and black jeans.
"here you go, hon. sorry i took so long, the cashier was rosie from dance." tyler said, handing josh the packets.
hon.
a new one? josh couldn't keep up.
he was still unsure if he should say it back, would it be out of place?
"babe, did you hear me?" tyler asked.
josh silently gasped at the newerone. babe?what is tyler doing?
"y-yeah, sw...tyler. i did." josh was beginning to try it out, but he stopped himself. not this time.
"so what did i just say?" tyler smirked, raising his eyebrow at josh,
"you said the cashier had roses from france. thanks." josh gestured to the rose packets and turned back around, hiding his flushed face from tyler.
"uh huh. see you, josh." tyler went inside, shutting the sliding door and leaving josh to himself.
josh didn't know what to think, he was getting confused. he knew it wasn't a big deal to most, but it was to him. he's never been called those names before. he was new to this whole love thing, but tyler was taking it to another level. what, terms of endearment they called it?
josh didn't know.
/
tyler and josh were exhausted, collapsing on the bed after a long day at college.
josh didn't like having to wake up early, but he still enjoyed school since tyler was in most of his classes and he was majoring in music. same goes for tyler.
but they were invited to a frat party after classes by their friend brendon, tyler drinking maybe a littletoo much and josh cheering and yelling more than he should've. tyler's eyes were about to shut as he scooted closer to josh's body, josh throwing an arm around tyler's frame and pulling the blanket over them.
tyler relaxed, letting sleep take over.
"goodnight, sweetie." tyler said, closing his eyes.
"tyler, what does that mean?" josh asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
tyler's been saying stuff like that for days, something must be up.
"what do you mean?" tyler looked up at josh.
"like sweetie and babe. is that a bad thing?" josh asked.
"why would it be bad?" tyler had a small smile on his face. josh told him that he was new to this whole love thing, and he just remembered.
"i've never been called that before. i don't know." josh shrugged, his face getting hot with embarrassment. he knew it was a stupid question, dammit.
"no, it's a good thing. it's like a pet name. there's a lot, but i just like calling you sweetie." tyler shrugged too, snuggling into josh's chest again.
"oh."
tyler shut his eyes again. josh reached behind himself to turn off the light.
"goodnight, hon." josh said, celebrating his tiny victory for actually saying it back.
and tyler couldn't hide the smile plastered across his face.