Take all the time lost, all the days that I cost. Take what I took and give it back to you. All this time we were waiting for each other. All this time, I was waiting for you. We got all these words, can't waste them on another. So I'm straight in a straight line, running back to you.
TYLER & JEREMY
They explained everything. Every part that they knew at least. They watched as her expression changed from apprehensive, to shocked, to skeptical, to blank.
"I think I'm just going to go to bed," she allowed. "I'll see you tomorrow?" Tyler snorted quickly.
"We're not going anywhere. Who knows if Damon is going to try and come back?" He regretted his words when Grace shuddered.
"Okay, well, there's the couch and guest room I suppose." She half waved before vanishing. Jeremy reached across the space between them as soon as she was gone and slapped the back of Tyler's head.
"Hey ouch," he protested, "what was that for?"
"Getting your neck snapped," Jeremy said, "I told you not to take on Damon." Tyler rolled his eyes quickly.
"You got your neck snapped too."
"I knew I'd come back."
"Well I didn't even die! He just momentarily stunned me." Jeremy hmpf'd before crossing his arms over his chest. "Jer," Tyler said, smiling slightly. Jeremy didn't acknowledge him. Tyler leaned closer. "Jer," he murmured again. Jeremy's gaze flickered to him and away. "Is this your twisted way of saying you were worried about me?"
"No," he lied, pouting. Tyler leaned forward and placed a feather light kiss on his lips.
"I was worried about you too." Jeremy smiled for a second before sobering his expression.
"You could have died," he protested.
"I'm not going to die any time soon," Tyler replied lightly, scooting closer again and laying a hand on Jeremy's knee. "I'm fine." Jeremy brushed him off and stood, pacing to a wall and leaning against it before crossing his arms.
"You didn't even think," he murmured, "you just went at him and didn't give a damn about the consequences." Tyler sighed and shook his head before standing.
"Jer," he tried again, "I am fine. I don't know what you're so upset about."
"You don't know what I'm upset about?" Jeremy demanded incredulously. Tyler lifted his shoulders helplessly.
"No?"
"Unbelievable," Jeremy huffed out. Tyler stepped closer and reached out, only to have his hands smacked away. "Don't touch me," he muttered, "I'm mad at you."
"Why?" Tyler demanded, eyebrows shooting up. "I didn't have a choice Jer."
"I don't care."
"Jeremy," Tyler said tightly, dropping his arms as his hands curled into fists, "you're being ridiculous."
Jeremy edged past him, walking into the living room. After a moment Tyler followed. "You can't just walk away in the middle of a fight."
"Well I can't talk to you right now," Jeremy said.
"Why not?"
"Cause I'm so fucking glad you're alive that I can't be angry."
"Well why are you angry?"
"Because you could have died and you don't even care!" Tyler took him by both arms.
"Jeremy," he said slowly, "I am fine."
"What if you hadn't been?" Jeremy questioned softly. That yanked Tyler to a stop. Jeremy pulled back and sat down as Tyler tried to figure out what to say.
"Jer," Tyler sighed, sitting down and looping his arm over Jeremy's shoulders. Jeremy leaned into him.
"What if you had died?" he breathed after another moment. "What if you left me?" Tyler yanked him closer.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't think. I knew he killed you and hurt Grace and I couldn't think. I lost it."
"Well you can't lose it," Jeremy muttered. "You can't leave me."
"I'm sorry," he said again, pressing a kiss to Jeremy's hair. They sat in silence for a long time before Tyler spoke again. "We are so weird."
"How so? Other than the obvious," Jeremy questioned, not moving.
"We had our first fight as a couple," Tyler said, stroking his back, "and it was because I died."
"It wasn't because you died," Jeremy said. Tyler raised an eyebrow but didn't press the situation. Instead he slid back, pulling Jeremy on top of him.
When Tyler woke up Jeremy was nowhere to be found and he panicked briefly before hearing him in the kitchen. He frowned. If Jeremy was up first something was wrong. He paced into the kitchen and wrapped Jeremy into a hug from behind. Jeremy shut the cupboard he'd been looking in and leaned back slightly.
"Good morning," he whispered.
"It will be," Tyler said, "when you tell me what's wrong."
"Nothing is wrong." Tyler nuzzled his neck before growling slightly.
"Just tell me," he repeated, punctuating each word with a kiss. Jeremy remained silent, his pulse picking up. Tyler spun him quickly before placing him on the counter. He stepped between Jeremy's legs. "Jeremy, just tell me."
"What makes you think something is wrong?" Jeremy huffed.
"You woke up before me and you're all flustered."
"Your snoring woke me up," Jeremy quipped, crossing his arms.
"Mmhmm." Tyler leaned forward, placing a hand on either side of Jeremy to hold him in place. "I'll get it out of you, better just tell me now."
"The only thing wrong is you insisting something is wrong."
"Mmhmm." Jeremy huffed and Tyler stared him down.
"Would you just leave it alone?"
"No. We fought and you're upset. I'm not leaving it alone."
"Tyler, you are driving me up the wall."
"Right back at you." There was a long beat of silence. "Will you just tell me what's wrong? Please Jer?" Jeremy visibly softened.
"You won't understand. You can't." Tyler leaned his forehead against Jeremy's.
"I'm begging here so stow the dog jokes and tell me what's going on." Jeremy sighed.
"Way to rain on my parade."
"Jeremy," Tyler muttered, a low growl sounding. He pulled back and walked out of the kitchen, trying to calm down. He paced the small dining room before going back to the kitchen doorway. "If you want to break up you should just tell me."
"What?" Jeremy demanded, sliding off the counter. "What are you talking about Ty?"
"Well what else would it be?"
"It's not that."
"Fuck's sakes Jer, just tell me!"
"I love you," Jeremy let out, paling slightly. "Okay? I'm in love with you." Tyler's jaw dropped open.
"I thought of you dead and I couldn't even stand it," Jeremy breathed. "As you'd put it, I lost it."
"Jer," Tyler said, stepping closer again. He couldn't find the words to say so he wrapped him carefully in his arms. Jeremy snuggled into him, feeling too vulnerable to do anything else. Tyler laughed once, stark relief washing through him. "I thought something was wrong," he murmured. He began stroking Jeremy's back gently. "I love you too," he finally whispered.
"How is that possible?" Jeremy questioned. Tyler pulled him back and looked at him for a long moment.
"How is it not?" He shook his head slowly. "I've been falling head over heels for so long now…what else could it be?" He stopped speaking for a moment to smile. "I love you," he repeated.
"Really?" Jeremy whispered.
"Yes," Tyler insisted, laughing quietly. Jeremy sighed happily, hugging him again.
"Who could have seen this coming?" he pondered aloud.
