"I know you said a dog."

"It was just a suggestion."

"I understand that," A pause. "But what are your feelings on this cat?"

Tweek looked at the cat they currently stood in front of, orange eyes bright and unlike anything Tweek has ever seen in a cat before.

"Do you forget my parents have a cat?"

"No, I know you like cats," Craig's voice was quiet, as if he didn't want this cat to be afraid of him. "But what about this cat?"

"Craig, if you really like this cat, then get it."

"But what if this cat doesn't want me?"

"Why don't you hold her and see how she reacts?"

Craig blinked, nodding as Tweek opened the cage.

"What do I do?"

"Oh my god, just hold your hand out!" Tweek laughed, grabbing Craig's hand and bringing it up so the cat could sniff his hand. They passed the little animal shelter on their way back from their lovely weekend at the Tucker cabin. After their morning on the lake, the couple spent the rest of the early morning and afternoon relaxing on the lake shore and discussing their next steps. It was clear they wanted to be together again, so they cleared that up quickly and clarified that yes-they were a couple (again). The rest of the weekend was spent exploring the area and doing things that they wouldn't get to do in the city, such as stargaze and go for walks in the nearby forest. The woods typically bother Tweek (not that he was afraid, he just has sensitive skin and there are so many plants that could irritate it), but his phone was filled to the brim with memorable photos and memories that he would hold onto forever.

"She licked me." Craig said between his teeth, Tweek snickering as he held his hand out to the cat. After a few sniffs, the cat licked his hand and butted her head gently against his hand before turning and doing the same to Craig.

"Licking is a sign of trust, ya know. She's marking you." Tweek explained, Craig's eyes widening a bit.

"So…did she pick me?"

With a roll of his eyes, Tweek let out a laugh as he dropped his head onto Craig's bicep.

"Yes Craig. She's yours."

He named her Maite.

"It means 'lady of the house' in Spanish" Craig explained as he walked into work with Clyde the next day…carrying Maite.

"You look like your mom right now, you know."

Craig paused, turning on his heel to look at Clyde. Maite sat comfortably across Craig's shoulders, making it obvious to Craig last night when they got home that she very much liked to be high up and close to Craig's neck.

"She's not in my bag." Craig said defensively, Clyde snickering as he rolled his eyes.

"Uh huh. Let's see what your sister says."

Swearing under his breath, Craig continued walking along with Clyde, pushing his sunglasses on top of his head as they entered the building. It didn't take long before on his front desk attendants said something.

"W-What the fuck is-is on your shoulders?"

"It's his new cat."

"Y-Y-You're a cat dad?"

"Why are you so surprised, Jimbo?" Craig said as he narrowed his eyes. Tricia covered her mouth, hiding her snickering as she stared at her brother. He heard it, of course, narrowing his eyes even more as he turned and looked at her. "What?"

"Say it, Tricia." Clyde whispered, Tricia finally letting out a laugh.

"You look like mom!"

"Oh, Dios mío!"

He tuned the laughter of his friends and sister out as he made his way to the elevator, scratching at Maite's head and listening to her purr as they made the thirty-two-floor ride together. As he reached his floor, Craig let out a sigh as he rounded the corner where Tweek's desk was, the blonde blinking as he looked up.

"You brought her here?"

"I didn't wanna leave her alone." Craig mumbled defensively, walking right into his office. Tweek smiled a bit to himself as he finished up the email he was typing. He figured by the way Craig was acting on the ride home yesterday that him getting a cat was a great choice, but in no way did he think that he'd grow so fond of the black cat in this way. Pushing back from his desk, Tweek grabbed his coffee mug and went to the end of the hall to get them both a cup, returning a few moments later to find Craig typing on his computer and with Maite exploring the office.

"If you want to bring her to work more then you should have some things in your office for her."

Craig looked up from his computer, leaning back in his chair as he accepted the cup of coffee.

"Like what?"

"Well," Tweek leaned on the edge of Craig's desk, sipping at his coffee a few times. "She'll probably scratch that couch unless you get her something of her own to scratch. Maybe a cat tree that has a built-in scratch post, so she has something to sit on as well. A bed wouldn't hurt either so she can sleep, that is if she doesn't decide the couch is her bed. A bag of treats for when she's good, which we both know she will be."

"If I give you my card, will you go out and get all that? I know I have some meetings today." Craig sighed out, running his fingers through his hair. It wasn't slicked back today like it usually would be, but Tweek didn't mind, really. But…he noticed something…something he doesn't know how he could've missed before.

"Sure," He tucked Craig's hair behind his ear, using his thumb to move his sideburn out of the way as he smiled softly. "If you tell me the story behind this tattoo first."

Tweek felt Craig's jaw clench under his thumb, noticing his eyes closing as he let out a huff of breath.

"…Damien has a matching one."

"Didn't heed those warnings about getting a tattoo with a lover, now did you?" Tweek teased, running his thumb over the snake that sat hidden. Craig smiled slightly at the comment, hand coming up and wrapping around Tweek's wrist.

"Guess not, huh?"

Tweek pressed a kiss to his forehead, Craig feeling him smile against his skin.

"Will Stan drive me to the store?"

"I can arrange that."

"First meeting is at ten." Tweek slid the list of meetings onto Craig's desk as he pulled away but yelped as he was tugged backwards.

"Where are you running off to so quickly?" Craig muttered, wrapping his arms around Tweek's middle as he fell onto his lap.

"You have a meeting to prepare for!" Tweek laughed, trying to squirm out of his boyfriend's grip. The thought hit Tweek fast, a grin crawling across his face as he remembered: Craig was his boyfriend again. It felt odd thinking about it in a way, but it was only because it was something he had to get used to again.

His boss was his boyfriend.

Said boyfriend also so happened to be one of-if not the richest-man in Manhattan.

Not that his social status mattered much, but Tweek still thinks the entire scenario is comical at times considering how he looked next to Craig.

He never told Craig, but he couldn't bring himself to look at the Met Gala images. Tricia showed him one, and after seeing himself next to Craig as a couple instead of the photoshoot they did ages ago for GQ…yeah, Tweek didn't like what he saw.

"They can wait. They're coming here anyways," Craig chuckled, kissing Tweek's cheek over and over. He could feel the man in his arms sink in on himself, Craig pausing as he hummed quietly between the two of them. "What's wrong, kitten?"

It's been a while since he's heard the nickname, but it made Tweek relax a bit.

"Nothing."

"You're lying." Craig whispered in a sing songy tone. Tweek let out a frustrated puff of air, pushing Craig's arms away as he stood.

"Nothing! It's just me being stupid!"

Craig blinked, quickly grabbing Tweek's hand before he could get too far away.

"Hey-hey whoa," He stood with Tweek's forward motion, the blonde turning and looking up at him. "Did…Did I do something-?"

"No. No, you did nothing wrong. I just…are you sure you want to date me?"

"What? Tweek, of course. I love you."

"…But are you sure?"

Craig blinked, looking at him with sad eyes.

"I-yes! Of course I'm sure!"

Tweek noticed the sad look in his eyes, swallowing hard before groaning.

"I'm just insecure now that we're back together, okay?!"

"Whoa-whoa about what?!"

"Craig, look at you and look at me! Guys like me don't get guys like you! I coped with everything that's happened over the past few months by eating! Classic Tweek, huh?! Can't stop eating!" Every word was angry, mean, and meant to hurt. Craig wasn't sure if Tweek was trying to hurt just himself or both of them, but for now?

It hurt both of them.

"Tweek," Craig lifted his chin up so he could look him in the eyes as he spoke. "Guys like me don't usually get second chances, but here you are. You're the best thing that's happened to me in a long time, and I don't know what you're talking about guys like you. What, beautiful guys? You're fucking beautiful and it bothers me sometimes that you don't see you the same way I see you!"

Craig could see Tweek's breath catch as the words left his mouth, green eyes wide as they search Craig's face up and down.

"You-" He let out a shaky breath, pressing a quick peck to Craig's lips before grabbing his wallet off the desk behind him. "You have a big meeting to prepare for." Tweek repeated, tossing Craig's wallet back to him with a small smile before rushing out with Craig's credit card in hand. Going to speak, Craig bit back the words threatening to tumble out as he watched his secretary rush off. A sigh passed his lips as he let his wallet flop back onto the desk, a small knock coming on the door startling him.

"Hey tiger."

It wasn't the blonde Craig was hoping for, but Bebe would always be a nice face to see.

"Hey."

"Ready for this meeting?"

"Not really."

Bebe rolled her eyes, folder in her hands moving to rest on her hips as she leaned against the door frame.

"You better get ready! This is a huge-"

"Yeah yeah, I got it. I'm the one that facilitated this shit, remember?"

Bebe smacked the folder down on Craig's desk as he sat, her eyes narrowing a bit as she smirked.

"And I'm the one that kept this deal alive while you were in rehab."

Craig chuckled quietly in his throat, leaning back in his chair as he rummaged around for a cigarette. As he found his lighter and flicked it to life, Maite jumped into his lap and curled up. It was a big meeting, yeah, but it was just like every other meeting to him.

"Touché, Stevens."

Tweek couldn't have been gone longer than an hour and a half.

At least it seemed that way.

When it comes to cats, Tweek is very particular.

One, he isn't sure what kind of food Maite would take to. Maybe she had a sensitive stomach! The shelter didn't mention anything like that, but sometimes these things appear after the fact. Two, maybe she wouldn't like the cat tree he picked out. It might be a weird texture for her. Three, what kind of treats would she enjoy? There were so many kinds and he wanted to make sure everything was perfect for this cat! He thankfully was able to carry everything up himself. Tweek wouldn't want Stan to have to go all the way up to the thirty-second floor just to have to walk back downstairs. Most of the items fit in a bag and he then set the bag on the cat tree (which wasn't that heavy). But, as the elevator doors opened on the thirty-second floor, Tweek heard a lot of voices.

"…What?" He whispered to himself, carrying the items to Craig's office. Pushing the door open, his eyes widened as he saw Clyde, Tricia, Jimmy, Token, Bebe, and Wendy all gathered around Craig's desk as he chugged from a bottle of tequila.

"GO GO GO!" They all chanted, Craig slamming the bottle and hand down onto his desk as he grinned wide.

"What the fuck is happening?!" Tweek yelled over them, everyone turning to look at the blonde.

"Tweek!" They all shouted, Craig stumbling out of his chair to rush over.

"Tweek! Tweek!" He reeked of tequila, but in an odd way, it smelt nice on Craig.

"What?! Are you-what is going on?!" Tweek gripped Craig's face in his hands, his skin hot under his hands.

"They-They fucking bought. They did it," He was breathless, as if he has been shouting in celebration for so long that his voice was giving up on him. "They DID IT!"

"Did what?! Bought what?!"

"Paris," Craig leaned his forhead against Tweek's. "Remember Paris."

Tweek's face flushed bright red.

"Right now?" He hissed between his teeth.

"Why did we go?"

"Wine! You-wine tasting!"

"That meeting was the brewery. They fucking wanted to brew our wine so bad."

Everything started to click into place, Tweek's eyes widening as his arms slowly dropped from Craig's face.

"How much?" He whispered, Craig's eyes lighting up. He just smiled. "Craig…how much?"

The others in the room started giggling in excitement as Tweek repeated the question, Craig wrapping his arms around Tweek's middle and lifting him up as he just held onto him.

"Five hundred."

Tweek's eyes widening slowly as his arms wrapped around Craig's shoulders.

"T…Thousand?"

It took one word for Tweek to nearly pass out.

"Higher."

"M-oh fuck-Craig-you-wh-MILLION?!"

"FIVE HUNDRED FUCKING MILLION DOLLARS!" Clyde shouted at the top of his lungs, Maite unphased on the couch she curled up on. The room exploded with cheers and excitement once more, Tweek's glasses pushing up as he buried his face in Craig's neck as he was spun around.

Tweek hated numbers, but he knew one thing: that's a lot of fucking money.

And Craig just secured the title of richest man in Manhattan.

The rest of the day was spent celebrating the huge contract deal, but there was something nagging Craig in the back of his head during all of that. As everyone said their goodbyes for the evening, Craig pressed a kiss to Tweek's lips as he went to leave with Bebe and Wendy, his secretary gasping in surprise as he hummed into the kiss. As he pulled back, Craig gave a small smile as he whispered between them: "Love you."

"I-" Tweek swallowed hard, pressing one more kiss to Craig's lips. "I love you, too."

"Yuck," Bebe gagged, tugging on Tweek's arm. Maite was going home with them for a bit since Craig had some odds and ends things to finish up around the office. "Let's go, lover boy." She laughed, Wendy rolling her eyes as they got on the elevator.

"Bye Craig! Congrats again!"

And, as the elevator doors shut, he was left with silence. It was nice.

He didn't call Stan to pick him up that night. Instead, he decided to walk to a building that was about ten blocks away.

Craig had a letter in his pocket, and it was important that this one was read out loud as well.

The lobby wasn't nearly as welcoming as his own, but it had its own class and elegance to it. He hasn't been here in a while, not that he had a reason to come here once he went to rehab. But that number twenty-six mocked him in a way in the elevator.

There was no guarantee that he would even be here.

But, thankfully, he could hear that voice as soon as the elevator doors opened.

"Oh, that's such a lovely celebration for something so big! I'm sure Craig was thrilled!"

He's talking to Tweek.

The fact that Tweek found a friend like Pip in this crazy, fucked up situation he put them in…it made Craig's heart soar. He was so thankful for that. Standing in the doorway of Damien's office, Pip looked out the window with a huge grin on his face. Craig could faintly hear Tweek on the other end, but he knocked lightly on the door.

He had to do this now, he couldn't wait anymore.

Turning, Pip's body stiffened as he made eye contact with Craig, his own eyes widening as he started to play with his hair.

"Um, listen Tweek, I hate to cut you short, but I really should be going. Damien just finished up with his meeting," Lying…didn't think he was capable of doing that. "Right…cheerio, love." Pip cleared his throat as he hung up, sitting up a little straighter against the window he leaned against.

"He's in a meeting, huh?"

"Yes," Pip fiddled with his hands. "If you're here for cocaine, Damien is a month clean."

Craig smiled a bit.

"I'm almost three months clean," He looked at his phone. "At least according to the little app I downloaded."

Smiling at the comment, Pip quickly put his walls back up as he realized he was being naïve around someone who has hurt him before.

"Well…why are you here then if not for that?"

"For you."

"For me?"

"Yeah," He rummaged around in his pocket until he found the envelope. "For you."

Pip stood up off the windowsill, walking a little closer as he saw his name scribbled in hasty black ink.

Except it didn't say Pip.

The envelope read Phillip.

"…Phillip."

Craig could hear the emotion in his voice, taking this moment to open it and look over his words before speaking.

"Dear Phillip,

Yes. Phillip. Not Pip. Not Frenchie. Phillip. My time in rehab has allowed me to reflect, and in that time, I started thinking about secondary school. It was weird seeing you at the Met Gala after all those years. When I learned who you had ended up marrying about five years ago, I couldn't help but feel a little jealous. How did you end up married before me? How did you win over Damien? What did you have that I didn't?

But then I thought a little harder in rehab.

You have kindness. You have a big heart. You have beautiful features, a willingness to learn from others, forgiveness, and so many other wonderful attributes that make you the perfect candidate to be Damien Thorn's one and only.

At first, it made me glad that I had tortured you in school. It made me feel better about the fact you got something I didn't. You of all people! But then…I realized we weren't that different. About six months after you two got married, I saw your face on the front of Vogue. But…it didn't look like you to me. You were thin, sickly even, and on the corner of 5th Avenue and West 58th near Central Park, I finally saw you as an equal.

I don't know why it took me so long to realize the error of my way. Clouded judgement, more than likely, since all I knew you as was the orphaned twelve-year-old or as Damien's. But after I realized you were suffering the same way my sister had in her early twenties…I wanted to take back every nasty thing I've ever thought, said, or did to you.

You make him so happy, and he clearly makes you happy. I never understood what that happiness could feel like until I met Tweek. Thank you for being kind to him. I'm afraid he's going to leave me after all of this. But I'm not thinking too much about that now. I'm thinking about you two shopping together, you two getting brunch and talking shit about Damien and I, because lord knows we deserve it," He paused, looking away from his note to finally look at Pip. Those big eyes of his were wet with tears, cheeks red as he hiccupped. "I'm sorry, Phillip. I'm sorry for everything I've done, and I hope you can find it in you to forgive me someday…hugs and kisses, Craig."

The addition of the 'hugs and kisses' made Pip let out a laugh. He hasn't signed off letters like that since secondary school, but the fact that Craig remembered that little detail…it meant a lot to him.

"Oh Craig," Pip rushed over and wrapped his arms around Craig's middle, Craig letting out a heavy sigh as he wrapped his arms around Pip. They stayed like that for a minute, Pip letting out years of pent up emotion into Craig's dress shirt. Craig didn't mind. "You-you have no idea how long I've wished to hear something like that from anybody." He cried, Craig's eyes squeezing shut as he held onto Pip a little tighter.

"I really am sorry, Phillip…I…have no excuse for my behavior when I was younger, but I can at least apologize for how bitter I was to you when you weren't even an active part of my life."

"Phillip…Phillip, oh God, Phillip! I-I've never heard you say my name before so many times!" The fact that Phillip was this emotional over Craig saying his name…maybe he didn't truly understand the gravity of Phillip's living situation growing up…

"Listen," He passed the note over to him, placing his hands on top of the one that now held the note. "Do what you wish with this note. It belongs to you now. I have to go…Tweek has my cat."

"Oh, that's right! He mentioned that on the phone. Maite, right? Little black kitty?"

Craig smiled, heart fluttering for some odd reason.

"That's her."

Phillip looked at the note in his hand, holding it close to his chest as he tugged Craig down to kiss his cheek.

"Thank you…get home safe."

Craig blushed as he rubbed his cheek, letting out a sheepish laugh as he smiled.

"You too, Phillip."

Turning on his heel, Craig looked at his feet as he walked to the elevator, fidgeting with his bag and tie as he waited for the elevator. Finally, the doors slid open with a quiet ding signaling the elevator's arrival. As he pressed the lobby button, a familiar figure slowly walked onto the elevator with him. He tried not to let the anxiety creep up his throat, but he couldn't help it. Looking to his left, Craig could make Damien out of the corner of his eye as the elevator slowly started its descent. Around floor fifteen, Damien hit the emergency stop button, Craig audibly gasping as the elevator lurched to a sudden stop.

What the fuck what the fuck what the fuck what the fuck whatthefuckwhatthefuckwhatthefu-

"…I heard you."

Craig's eyes widened as he looked straight ahead.

"I thought you were in a meeting."

"I was. I finished," A pause. "He's waited for that…for a really long time."

"I understand."

Damien looked at him out of the corner of his eye.

"You're tense," Craig nodded. "Why?"

"It's not rocket science, Damien."

"Do I scare you?"

"Not so much anymore," Craig felt his lips tug up slightly. "Not since I learned there are no demons in my closet anymore."

Damien let out a puff of breath from his nose, looking down at their feet.

"He still mentions you sometimes, by the way…my father."

Hmm.

"Why is that?"

"Just wonders how you are mostly…if you're seeing anyone…he knows you haven't dated much since me."

"Him and most of New York City…"

Damien looked at how Craig fidgeted with his bag strap. Silently reaching out, Damien let his fingers walk across Craig's palm, forcing him to release the grip he had on his bag. He could see Craig watching him out of the corner of his eyes, breath uneven as Damien knew this was something Craig wasn't expecting. Giving his hand a light squeeze, Damien let the knot their hands formed drop between them.

"Tweek…he's good for you, you know."

"Yeah…"

"Same way I think Phillip is good for me."

Craig blinked, finally turning his head slightly to look at Damien. His face was twisted up as he thought hard about what he wanted to say, Craig realizing that for once in his life, Damien Thorn didn't know what to say.

"What do you mean?"

"Phillip…he's my soulmate…I know that without a doubt. I don't…don't really have a way to explain it. I just know." Damien muttered, gripping onto Craig's hand a little more. Craig looked at their hands, years' worth of memories rushing back all at once. Damien's voice rung in his head.

"Just you wait. I'll be taller than you one day, Craig! Stronger, too!"

"You're…going away? To England?...Oh."

"You haven't changed much, Tucker…well, that's a lie…you've changed a lot."

"Best friend's forever. Right, dude? That's what these snakes mean."

"Just try it, Craig, it ain't gonna fucking kill you. It's just cocaine."

"Ever since your daddy gave you that job at his place you've fucking changed, dude! You're not the same person I fell in love with!"

"What do you mean you're going to rehab? What, you didn't like what we had? Didn't like what we shared all those fucking nights in my dorm room? Or what about those quick fucks in the back of your car?"

"I miss you."

Craig didn't realize he had slowly been leaning forward, face resting against Damien's neck as he tried to collect his thoughts and relax his racing heart. He could swear that in the silence of the elevator, Damien could hear his heartbeat.

Craig just hoped it wasn't too loud.

"You got better." Craig whispered finally. Damien found himself staring at the wall behind Craig's head, nodding slowly as his arms moved to hold onto his old friend.

"You did, too," Damien let his face drop against Craig's hair. "You did, too." He repeated a little softer. Swallowing hard, Craig managed to whisper the words that have been caught in his throat since this conversation started.

"I love him…and I haven't loved anyone since you."

Reaching behind Craig, Damien pressed the emergency button once more to release the locks. As the elevator counted down from fifteen, he knew he had to be quick.

"I know you do. I didn't love anyone since you…until Phillip."

"You know part of me will always love you…you know that don't you?"

Five.

"Of course, Craig."

Four.

"You look happy, Damien."

Three.

"I am happy. Are you happy?"

Two.

"Am I happy?"

"Yeah. Are you happy with him?"

One.

"…I didn't think I was capable of being this happy."

As the elevator reached the ground floor, the two men let go of one another as the door opened. The few scattered employees mumbled amongst themselves as they left the elevator together, Craig swearing he heard someone mention something about how close they were standing together. And as Craig left the building and gave Damien a nod of his head as his goodbye, he couldn't help but think about just how powerful they would've been if they had stayed together.

Powerful…but deadly to one another, was what the answer turned out to be.

That's okay.

Craig was still a powerful man.

He just had someone who wasn't afraid to knock him off his pedestal every now and then.

He admired that about his secretary.

NOTE: Hello hello!

I am still alive and still haunted by the fact this fic is NOT COMPLETED YET, but here is an update! I've had this chapter planned out since ~July~ just ask my friend Val like literally I woke up from the dead of night to send her the idea of Damien and Craig reconciling in the elevator after Craig apologizes to Pip after all these years.

But my internship is keeping me very busy (I work like 45-50 hours a week), I have a stress rash, and I'm thinking of applying for a job in Italy so I can live there for a year, so that's my brief life update!

Hope all is well and, if you enjoyed, any and all feedback is appreciated!

Until next time!