Mark continued to hold Jeff tightly, long after he had cried himself to sleep. "We fucked up badly," he told Glenn. "That was a terrible fucking idea."

Glenn sighed. "He needed to know Matt was dead. Maybe we should have gone about it differently, but it's too late now. We're just going to have to help him deal with this as best we can."

Mark sighed. He knew Glenn was right, but that didn't really comfort him all that much. He was so afraid that Jeff had finally been pushed over the edge for good. "I love him Glenn," he confessed. "I can't lose him. I'd die without him."

"Well it's about time you admit that," Glenn said. He sat down next to Mark. "You're not going to lose him, because we're not going to let that happen. We're going to help him get through this, no matter what happens. Okay?"

"Jesus, since when have you had such a way with words?"

"Oh I've always had the way, I just never used to show it. I always fancied myself as the strong, silent type."

"What made you change?"

"Finding out my voice annoys you."

Mark let out a small chuckle. "You're an asshole, you know that?"

Glenn nodded. "Yup, I know," he admitted proudly. "And you're an idiot and Jeff loves you for whatever reason. I can't think of a good one, but the boy isn't playing with a full deck."

Mark growled. "Don't insult my Jeffey that way. You keep your damn mouth shut about him." He kissed the sleeping Jeff's cheek and then rested his face into his neck. "He's not crazy. He's just eccentric."

Glenn rolled his eyes. "Wow, I don't ever want to hear you talk like that again. It's one thing to love a man, but when you use that weird, mushy tone, it not only makes me want to throw up, but it's scarier than hell. I might actually have nightmares now."

"Oh fuck off and die," Mark muttered irritably. "Go bury Matt or something and be quiet. I'm going to let Jeff sleep a little bit more before I wake him up." And hopefully he didn't fucking get traumatized for life by this fucking incident, because I'm really going to lose him if he was.

XXXXXXXXXX

Jeff was at the burned down remains of his old house. He was down on the ground, and he was attempting to scoot away from Matt, who was advancing on him slowly. "Get away from me," he begged. "Please just leave me alone!"

"I can't Jeff," Matt said. "I have to drag you down to hell with me. It's the only way I can make sure you--"

"Hey! Get the hell away from him!"

Matt turned around and a fist was driven all the way through his stomach. Jeff let out a yell and closed his eyes as he flinched violently. He took several deep breaths before opening his eyes again. The bad Matt was down on the ground, obviously dead, and standing in his place was…well, it was Matt.

"Fucking bastard," Matt muttered. He kicked the evil version of himself right in the face. "That's what you get for killing me off and making me into a complete and total monster."

Jeff stared up at his older brother in shock. "Matty?"

Matt nodded and carefully helped Jeff up to his feet. "I'm sorry Jeff. I'm so sorry about everything. I let myself get turned into a monster and I deserved to die." He almost chuckled. "It wasn't until I died that I was me again."

"What?" Jeff was so confused. "Matty, why are you here? Are you really here? Is this real?"

"Technically no, because you're dreaming. But some people would say I'm really visiting you in your dreams. Or maybe your subconscious is just trying to tell you something that your conscious has yet to realize."

"And what's that?"

"That you need to move on with your life. I'm gone Jeff. There's nothing to be afraid of anymore. You need to find the strength to move on with your life. Mark needs you more than you know. He loves you and I know you two will be happy together."

"But…what about you?" Jeff asked pathetically. HIS Matt was standing in front of him now. The old Matt was back, and it was like the months of hell hadn't happened at all.

Matt smiled sadly. "I'll always be with you Jeff, in one way or another." He cupped Jeff's face in his hands and kissed his forehead. "It's time for you to wake up Jeffey."

"But--"

Jeff woke up before he could finish his protest. But for the first time in a long time, he hadn't woken up screaming. In fact, he woke up feeling absolutely calm and serene. An epiphany washed over him. The evil Matt was gone. He really was dead. And the memory of the good Matt would be with him forever. That Matt had loved him more than anything in the world.

"Jeff?" Mark said hesitantly. "Are you okay?"

Jeff rolled over and grinned for the first time in what felt like forever. "Yes," he replied honestly. "I'm okay."

Mark ran his thumb over the corner of his eye. "You've got a tear…"

"It's a good tear," Jeff assured him. "I'm okay." He kissed Mark softly. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Never leave me?"

"Never. Nobody could ever drag me away from you. I love you too much for that."

Jeff snuggled up closer to Mark. That was good. He wanted Mark to stay with him forever because he knew what Matt had said was true: Mark made him happy. And after everything that happened, happiness was something he really deserved to have for pretty much the rest of his life.