{Troy's POV}

(Sunday, July 16, 2023-7:30 am)

[Hayden & Troy's Apartment]

It's been a month and a half since the day Hayden, and I had a minor fight where he told me to back off and stop pushing him to talk to me about what he went through. Hayden went off to work, and I remained miserable the next few hours until Hayden came home and surprised me by saying that he did want my help in getting better. Later that night, Hayden and I sat down so he could tell me what torture he endured while captive. I entirely understood why Hayden was tired, injured, hungry, and thirsty upon returning, and why Hayden passed out. Hayden admitted that he had a feeling low and a little suicidal before that night. I guess my concern in telling him that Hayden needed to talk because it was destroying him got Hayden to understand he did need help but what shocked me is that he wanted mine and willing to speak about everything that night. We decided that it would be best for Hayden to talk with a professional to recover, and I would be with him every step of the way. The next day after all that, Hayden and I got on the computer to start looking for someone he could see. After a couple searches; we found a therapist ten minutes away who was able to take Hayden for an initial intake appointment on June 5th. We took advantage of that, and since; Hayden has been seen twice a week.

The first few appointments were difficult because Hayden had to talk about everything that was affecting him, and that included when the depression started in 2018 with everything that happened between his friend and parents. Each session was a different segment of his life and the things that he had trouble with. All of that took two weeks, but the therapist said she had a good idea of how to go about Hayden's healing process, and dealing with the PTSD. I had to admit that after this long; Hayden seems to be doing better. The sessions involved Hayden and me sitting on the couch, and they would pick a topic to talk about for that hour. After that; the therapist would begin offering suggestions on how Hayden could deal with it, or perhaps see it another way. And she gave me ideas to help too. This arrangement was working out; I loved seeing the smile on my husband's face. I enjoyed that Hayden didn't have as many nightmares anymore, and he was back to eating regularly. Hayden and I have even started doing intimate things again, not sex, but making out and a little foreplay at night. Hayden still worked at Barbarian Burger; his usual shifts. Today, I felt would be a good day because it was mine and Hayden's four-year anniversary together as lovers. I wasn't sure what we would do, but as long as I got to spend it with my husband; I didn't care.

Hayden was still sleeping in my arms, but I was awake and didn't want to disturb his slumber. I moved some of his auburn bangs out of his eyes and smiled. Hayden shifted a bit and snuggled in more as I chuckled a bit seeing him open his eyes slowly and yawn.

"Well, good morning," I greeted.

"Mmm, morning," Hayden replied softly.

"How did you sleep?" I wondered.

"I slept alright. You?" Hayden questioned.

"I sleep perfectly when I'm next to you," I said and caught Hayden burying his face to hide a dark blush on his cheeks. "Happy anniversary,"

"Happy anniversary," Hayden replied, though muffled.

"Shall we get up and start the day?" I asked. Hayden nodded as we climbed out of bed. "You go ahead and use the bathroom first," I watched Hayden leave the room as I got up and followed. By the time I reached the bathroom, Hayden was out. I went in to relieve myself, then exited and moved to the kitchen to see Hayden starting on breakfast. "I would have cooked, Love,"

"You always do," Hayden remarked as he continued cooking the eggs, bacon, and toast.

. . .

(8:20 am)

"That was excellent, Hayden. I forget you're such a good cook," I chuckled.

"Because you always insist on doing the cooking," Hayden giggled.

"I enjoy it. So, what would you like to do today, babe?" I questioned him.

"I don't know; I hadn't thought about it," Hayden smiled.

"Would you like to go to the park? The pier, I think there is a carnival this weekend. We can go to the movies? Out to lunch or dinner? Stay in and be lazy all day?" I offered.

"All of that kind'a sounds fun," Hayden admitted.

"Well, how about we do it all then? We'll hit the carnival at 9:30 am, then we can get lunch there. After, we can catch a movie at the cinema, dinner, then take a moonlight stroll through the park. Come home around 8:30, snuggle up in the bedroom, and maybe you let me show you how much I love you. I-If you're up for it?" I suggested the plan. Hayden blushed a little, and I had a feeling that he felt terrible because we hadn't had sex since like November. "Hey, it's okay,"

"I just feel like my scars are exposed, a-and I don't like people looking at them…I feel ugly," Hayden looked down.

"You shouldn't because I don't view scars as a mark to ruin how you look. I see those markings as a sign of your strength, and that you never gave up. A woman carries a baby for nine months and has stretch marks, but that shows the beauty she carried a new life and brought it into this world despite all the challenges a pregnant female faces. Hayden, I don't love you for your body; it's for your heart. I like what's inside, and any time that we've made love…I see your courage, bravery, intelligence, humor, smile, eyes, strength. The list goes on and on, Hayden. The bottom line; I only see you and how much I love you," I informed gently.

Hayden's lip quivered a bit, then he threw himself at me as I wrapped my arms around him. "And I love you, Troy. More than you'll ever know," Hayden snuggled into me as I smiled, knowing that he was trying not to cry.

"How about we go get ready for our day?" I told him. Hayden nodded as we cleaned up from breakfast, did the dishes, and then Hayden went to go take a shower. I would take one after him, and then we could head for the Pier Carnival.

. . .

{Normal POV}

(Later On-8:40 pm)

Finally, back at their apartment, Troy and Hayden had the best time together. Hayden and Troy attended the carnival on the Pier from 10:30 am to 3 pm and had lunch there as planned. After that, the two went for a movie at 4:30. By 7 pm, they went out for dinner and concluded the time out with a walk through the park. Hayden and Troy got to sit by the pond and enjoy the sunset on a bench, then walk around, hand in hand as it got darker. The two got dressed in something comfortable and were now relaxing on the couch all cuddled up with the TV on.

"What a fantastic day," Troy said.

"Always is," Hayden replied.

"How's work been for you?" Troy wondered.

"Nice. I gotta say I kind'a missed working there. I'd had that job since I was fifteen," Hayden informed.

"It's good to see you smiling and happy again," Troy looked down at Hayden.

"Well, it's thanks to you getting through my thick head that I needed to talk to start feeling better. I don't know what came over me, thinking I could do it alone when I hate being by myself," Hayden sighed a bit.

"Hey, we all need someone to knock some sense into us now and then. You needed it when we met, and that's how we became friends. It got us started on the road to where we are now, Love. I think you got scared I would see you differently if I knew what you'd been through. To be honest, Hayden, after your flashback episode last month…My mom said she'd seen that reaction before in abuse and rape victims. I was terrified that is why you'd been withdrawing from me so much, and I felt useless to help you," Troy closed his eyes.

"Y-You thought I was raped?" Hayden asked, surprised.

"You wouldn't let me make love to you, or see you with your clothes off. You freaked out in a flashback when I hugged you from behind…I denied the allegation, and I didn't want to believe that happened to you. Donovan came back to check on you, and he assured me that you weren't, just that you went through hell and it was up to you to tell me everything," Troy explained.

"No, I wasn't raped. The guards held me like that to tie me down to the chair," Hayden enlightened. "Either way…I guess maybe I did think you might see me differently knowing what I suffered, and how my body looked…"

"No, Love. And as I told you earlier; I love you for you, and nothing is ever going to change my feelings," Troy assured. Hayden nestled into his arms more.

"I know that now, and I won't forget again," Hayden smiled. "Anyway, thank you…for getting through to me, a second time. Helping me through all this; I honestly don't know where I'd be without you. Probably dead,"

"Well, we never have to find out because I'm not going anywhere," Troy chuckled, and the two shared a kiss.

"So, while we're on the subject of doing things together…I was wondering if we could talk about something else you mentioned a while back in at the end of April?" Hayden hoped.

"Sure, what was that, Love?" Troy asked.

"Um, when you said we could start a family?..." Hayden hinted. Troy blinked and looked at him again. "Can we still do that?"

"Would you like to?" Troy inquired.

"I mean, I do. I love kids, always wanted some of my own one day when I settled down. Now, I have," Hayden replied gently. "And I don't exactly have to worry about the military life keeping me from them…"

"That is true. Same for me," Troy agreed. "Well, how would like to go about doing this?"

"I guess we should look into everything and decide?" Hayden shrugged.

"We have surrogacy or adoption to choose from, and both have their lengthy processes to go through," Troy informed.

"Well, to be honest, Love…I believe we have to consider getting a house first, but I guess that can work into us doing adoption or surrogacy," Hayden reminded.

"Indeed, so do we want to look for a home or…?" Troy questioned.

"I think we should look into the steps for all. Getting a house, adoption, or surrogacy. We know two of them are long processes, but once we get the ball rolling for one of them; we'll have time to look for a home. I feel that one would take the least amount of time," Hayden suggested.

Troy nodded. "I like the way you're thinking. Alright, so tomorrow since you have work…Why don't I research some information and we can talk about it once you're back?" Troy looked at him.

"That works. I only work 10 am to 5 pm, so over dinner could be a good time," Hayden smiled.

"Then it's settled," Troy kissed his husband. Hayden and Troy stared at one another, Hayden beginning to blush as Troy leaned in and kissed him again, this time much deeper than the first. Now long after a few minutes; the two began making out, and Troy eased himself over Hayden, lightly pushing his husband down to the couch. The kiss broke, both panting a little. Hayden stared into his husband's eyes, cupping his cheeks a little.

"Make love to me, Troy…" Hayden said softly. Troy needed nothing else as he dove in again to capture his husband's lips and continue with the two of them making out.

. . .

An hour and forty-five minutes later; Hayden and Troy had finished for the second time and were utterly nude and relaxed in their bedroom. The two both got off with hand and blowjobs on the couch, then took the remainder of their love-making to the bedroom. Troy and Hayden did it just as if it were their first time, but made it last as it were their wedding night. Hayden and Troy had never felt better; it had been quite some time since their last session of sex. Either way, the two were more than satisfied now and enjoying the feeling from their orgasms while snuggling up together under the blankets.

"I love you," Hayden panted a little, closing his eyes.

"I love you too," Troy replied as they shared another kiss. The two drifted to sleep shortly after, smiling and happy that tomorrow they would be looking into buying a home, and starting a family of their own.