Though falling asleep had been easy enough, staying asleep was a whole other issue for Freddie. He tossed and turned, waking up every half hour until around two a.m. when he gave up. His mind wasn't settled enough to allow him a peaceful rest, and he knew exactly why that was.

The singer turned on his side to look at John. The younger man was still sleeping away, completely oblivious to the plight his friend was going through. Freddie felt an aching need to cradle the bassist, and he quickly got out of bed before his mind could supply him with any more images.

He threw on some clothes before going downstairs to fix himself a cup of coffee. He needed the warmth more than the caffeine, but wasn't in the mood for tea. He needed something bitter on his tongue to get his mind off of things. By the time his cup was full, Freddie knew there was only one thing that could clear his mind; he needed to work out his frustrations on the bench.

He turned around to head out to the studio barn when he caught something moving in the corner. His brows furrowed in confusion. "Hello?"

"I didn't mean to disturb you," came Paul's voice. He hadn't been around the day before, supposedly off doing something for management before coming back. Freddie figured the man must have just gotten in, seeing as Paul still had a jacket and shoes on.

"No, no. Nothing to disturb here. Just a bit of an overactive imagination at play. I can't sleep, so I've decided to write."

"Would you...mind if I joined you?" Paul walked forward out of the shadows of the room, finally revealing himself. Freddie raised a brow at the question. It was an odd request, but he'd heard odder.

"I don't see why not." His acceptance was more so from the fact that Paul was a grown man who could do whatever he wanted, and the studio not being Freddie's to control than it was from actually wanting Paul around. Freddie had been hoping for some privacy with his thoughts so he could think through them without a beautiful distraction sleeping right next to him. Oh well. It wasn't like Paul was going to figure out his secrets after a single writing session.

Paul perked up when he heard that, a large smile growing on his face. He nodded towards the door as if to hurry Freddie along. The singer had no idea why Paul was excited, but it was obvious he was. With a sigh, Freddie took a sip of his coffee and headed out towards the barn.

Only a few lights over the piano were turned on, making the room dim, and setting the tone of Freddie's process. Paul sat across the room in a plush chair not too far from the piano. Freddie ignored him for the sake of getting started. He picked up his lyric notes in one hand, setting them behind the keys so he could read them as he played. Freddie mentally snorted. As if he could forget the words that had been playing through his head every time he looked at John.

Freddie let his fingers lead him, bringing back the melody he had desperately clung to while John had rested in his arms. Even without words, the song reminded Freddie of the bassist's soft, gentle nature. Nothing could ever do John justice, but he was going to try.

He hummed first, getting the beats just right, before following it up with words. As he sang, occasionally pausing to replace or add words to the paper, he completely forgot about Paul. His focus was entirely on the feelings John brought about in him, feelings he hadn't even realized he had until he was utterly infatuated. They'd always been incredibly close, turning to each other for comfort and companionship before anyone else. That wasn't to say that they had blocked out Roger and Brian. On the contrary, Brian and Roger were usually the ones having endearing arguments while Freddie and John enjoyed the entertainment together. They were all always together, and Freddie enjoyed every moment of it. How deep his feelings were had only really become apparent when John had raced up the steps the day before and launched himself at him. In that moment, Freddie had only felt a deep concern, a pressing protectiveness, and an unbridled rage at whoever had hurt John. He felt a little foolish when he found out it had only been a nightmare, but the feelings didn't go away. Freddie had to wonder if they were always there. By the time he made his way back to the chorus of his new song, he realized that they had been.

Freddie mused that being in a romantic relationship with John wouldn't be that different from their current friendship. They'd always been touchy-feely with each other. Never enough to cuddle in bed like they had just earlier, but now that boundary was crossed and Freddie hoped there was no going back. Perhaps they'd spend more of their time staring at each other longingly in a way that would make Roger gag. Freddie would like that.

"That was beautiful." The voice jolted Freddie out of his thoughts abruptly, his hands pausing over the keys as his smile fell from his face. Oh yeah. He'd forgotten about Paul.

"Thank you," Freddie said, not paying him much mind as he reached for his pencil to finish writing the song. It had come together wonderfully. He couldn't wait to share it with his friends, especially John. It would be his way of making his feelings known without being too obvious about it.

Paul didn't just let the subject drop like Freddie had been hoping. Instead, he came over, put out his cigarette in the ashtray on top of the piano, and glanced at the piece of paper littered in writing. "Did you write that for someone?"

Freddie nodded. "A dear friend of mine." It was true. No matter if John rejected him or not, Freddie would keep him close. John was too much of a treasure to be left.

"If you say so," Paul commented. There was a look in his eyes that Freddie didn't like. He only had a split second to ponder what that look could mean before another pair of lips were on his. He was too shocked to respond at first, but that didn't keep Paul from clutching his face and moving his lips against Freddie's still ones. Only when Freddie felt Paul's lips part slightly did he roughly pull back, their breathing ragged.

"You misunderstand," Freddie breathed out, attempting to quickly settle his frazzled nerves.

Paul rolled his eyes. He'd witnessed Freddie making hungry eyes at plenty of men. He was sure the singer was at least somewhat interested. How could Freddie resist what was right in front of him? Paul doubted he could. "I know you, Freddie Mercury."

Freddie laughed, taking his thumb and wiping away any evidence of their kiss. "Is that what you think? Oh no. You only see what you want to see. If you knew me, you'd know that I particularly dislike others around my piano. Please leave."

"What? C'mon, Freddie. No one is around. There's nothing to be ashamed of," Paul pressed, leaning in for another kiss. This time Freddie was having none of it. He stood quickly and moved out of the way, causing Paul to stumble a little.

"Leave before I make you," Freddie warned. He wasn't exactly sure what he was going to do, but he knew it wasn't going to be pretty. He was better at hiding his anger than Roger was, but his patience only lasted so long. Paul was just about to argue again when a hesitant voice made them both freeze.

"Fred?" John stepped around the corner slowly, his eyes wider than usual. Freddie could see the panic in them and he mentally cursed himself. If Paul hadn't bothered him, he would have been back at John's side in bed already, song finished and mind relaxed. Anger bubbled inside of him again, and he took a moment to give Paul a deadly glare. 'Make him upset, and you die,' he said with his eyes.

"What are you doing awake, darling? You were perfectly asleep when I left you." They moved forward at the same time, meeting each other half way. John was relieved to see that Freddie was safe inside of the studio. When he'd woken up alone, he'd assumed he was sent back to Freddie's house that terrible day. Now that they were close enough, Freddie could see some redness in John's eyes.

"I could ask you the same thing," John muttered, his eyes briefly moving over Paul before returning to Freddie. His cheeks turned an endearing pink, and Freddie was upset that Paul was there to see it. John was incredibly shy, never one for enjoying being in the spotlight much. Freddie enjoyed it enough for the both of them, after all. Freddie could tell John was holding back because of the other man. It irked him to no end.

"I had that song stuck in my head. My brain wouldn't allow me a moment of peace until I saw to it that it was written. I'm all finished now, my dear. Time to go back to bed."

John nodded, but there were questions in his eyes. Freddie could tell John was suspicious if that was the entire story, but he wasn't about to bring anything up with Paul still around. Without caring if Paul could see (more like enjoying the fact that Paul had to witness it), Freddie wrapped an arm around John's shoulders and guided him out of the barn.

"Don't forget to turn off the lights," Freddie called over his shoulder.

Paul angrily kicked the wall once he was alone. Freddie was generous with his attention and affections with everyone but him. It wasn't fair, and it made no sense. Why would Freddie be more comfortable caring for an emotional wreck of a man like John when he could have Paul? Stable, steady Paul who was quite proud of his looks. His eyes flashed, and he turned back towards the piano to tear apart that ridiculous sheet of lyrics. There was nothing there. Freddie had swiped it at some point as if he had known that Paul was going to try and destroy his work.

"Bloody rotter," Paul muttered as he walked out of the building, turning off all of the lights, and locking up behind him. The moment with John kept repeating in his mind. Freddie had had his back towards Paul, but Paul didn't need to see his face to know the singer was giving John one of those soft, indulgent looks. Freddie always looked at John like that, as if he wanted to spoil the bassist to his heart's content. If only John were out of the picture, Paul was sure Freddie would be desperate enough to turn to him for attention. Paul grinned. Yes. All he needed to do was make John think Freddie hated him, then use John's upset emotions to his advantage to make the bassist leave Freddie alone. Freddie would then be heartbroken and looking for comfort. Paul would be there as a broad shoulder to cry on. Freddie needed someone to take care of him, not the other way around, though Paul wouldn't protest being spoiled either.

The closer they got to the bedroom, the cuddlier John became. By the time they reached the door, their arms were wrapped tightly around each other, and John was resting part of his weight against Freddie with his head on the older man's shoulder. Freddie smiled to himself, glad that Paul was out of the way so this side of John could come free.

"You left me alone," John whispered as Freddie started to change back into his pajamas. John's words from the day before came rushing back. Freddie remembered something about John saying he didn't have the chance to say goodbye. He felt like an idiot for leaving John when he felt vulnerable, but he hadn't wanted to ruin John's rest. He needed sleep so badly after his emotional day.

"I'm sorry, John. I thought you were too deeply asleep to notice my absence. I would have much rather had you with me, I promise." It was the truth. Freddie would have much preferred John's company in the barn over Paul's. He wouldn't have minded John hanging around his piano.

John blushed and curled up as he had back at Freddie's house, pushing himself against the headboard to take up the least amount of space possible. His eyes peeked up to watch Freddie change his shirt before quickly dropping again when Freddie began slipping off his pants. He couldn't recognize the feelings that were racing through his chest. There was a constant fear there that hadn't completely left since he'd suddenly appeared in the farmhouse, but the others were too foreign. All he knew was that the thought of Freddie leaving him made his stomach turn painfully. He felt ridiculous for his childish thoughts, but he couldn't help them.

"It's okay," John told him. He felt the bed dip in front of him, and looked up to see Freddie's smiling face. He couldn't help his own smile when he saw Freddie's overbite. The singer was on all fours in front of him, looking rather like a cat getting ready to pounce. Laughter tickled John's throat before it came tumbling out of his mouth. Freddie only smiled wider.

"It's not okay, but I'll make it up to you. We'll sleep in as long as you'd like, and then I have a surprise for you when we finally roll out of bed." Freddie held up the lyric sheet for a second before tucking it away behind his back. It was there and gone before John could read even a single word, and it only made him exceedingly curious. Both promises sounded wonderful, even if John wanted to hear what exactly Freddie had been up to so early in the morning right away. He could wait if it was as good as Freddie was making it out to be. How could it not be?

"Sing it to me. Just the melody," John insisted. "Please?"

Freddie smirked and shook his head, reaching over to place the sheet safely in the drawer in the nightstand. He knew John wouldn't try to peek at it. It wasn't in the bassist's nature. "Perhaps if you go back to sleep, I could hum a small part of it."

"I'm not laying down until you're laying down." John wasn't about to let Freddie creep out of his sight again.

"Of course, darling," Freddie obliged. He rolled over, turning off the bedside lamp, before climbing under the covers as he had before. John eased his body beneath the comforter with a sigh. It was much warmer in the bed than it had been walking outside in only his sleep clothes. Well, Freddie's sleep clothes.

They lay facing each other for a few silent moments, each on either end of the bed. A feeling passed between them as their eyes connected. They wasted no time moving closer to one another, John clinging to Freddie's shirt as he had wanted to do since he had found the singer in the studio, and Freddie wrapping his arms around the bassist tightly. They assured themselves that they weren't leaving. John closed his eyes in relief just as Freddie started humming. He recognized the melody as the one Freddie had been playing earlier when they were all in the studio. It was the perfect thing to send John back to sleep, and Freddie found that having John in his arms was enough to quiet his mind for the moment.