It'd been three years since Wade left. Three years since the broken wedding. Three years since Peter came home to a half-empty apartment. Three years of sleepless nights and random outbursts of tears. Three years of falling asleep on the couch because the bed was too empty. Three years for him to stop comparing everyone he meets to Wade. Three years for him to move on. Three years for him to find someone new.

Peter had gone on more dates than he could count, both with men and women, trying to find someone to take Wade's place. But no one ever could. That is, until he met Johnny, and he realized he'd been searching for something that wasn't there. He didn't need someone to take Wade's place, he needed someone that would help put those old feelings to rest. Peter had told Johnny towards the start of the relationship all about Wade and their life together. From what Wade looked like, to how he'd left Peter standing at the altar, saying that he was finally willing to give romance another chance, but that he'd like to take it slow. Johnny had quickly understood and always made sure Peter was comfortable. He was exactly what Peter needed. Peter decided he would never compare Johnny to Wade. And he didn't need to. They were completely different types of people, a change that Peter felt he really needed.

They'd only been dating for a couple of months, Johnny taking Peter to all different kinds of places, and Peter loving to try things he'd never dared to try before. He felt like he was starting to fall for Johnny, but there was still a big part of him that could not let go of Wade. Peter had a sharp reminder one chilly day in November, when Johnny took Peter to a certain taco restaurant that he had been avoiding the past three years. It was the restaurant at which he and Wade had met all those years ago.

"Hope you like Mexican," Johnny said as he opened the passenger door to his car to let Peter out in front of the restaurant.

Peter felt like he'd just been hit in the stomach by a heavyweight boxer.

"Uh, y-yeah. I used to love this place," he said, trying to sound nonchalant. "I haven't eaten here in a long time..."

"Perfect!"

They walked in and were seated quickly at a small booth towards the back near the to-go counter.

They had been there a while, and had already gotten their food when Johnny finally spoke up.

"Okay Pete, what's wrong?"

"What?" Peter tried. "Nothing's wrong." He looked back down, moving food around on the plate with his fork.

"Peter, we may have not been dating for very long, but I know when something's up. You've been quiet the whole time and now you're not eating. So, what gives?"

Of course this was the one detail he'd left out when he told Johnny the entire story of his and Wade's relationship. He'd said they met at a Mexican restaurant, but he never said which one. He never said it was this one.

However he had told him the date...

"W-what day is it?"

"It's Friday, why-"

"Uh, no...what is the date today?"

"It's the 20th, Pete. Why...oh shit..."

Johnny knew as soon as he saw Peter's face. Him being quiet and not eating, him asking about the date, him saying he hadn't eaten here in a long time, it was all coming together in Johnny's mind. Johnny felt so stupid. He should have remembered that this was the date that Peter had told him about. He sure could be a real hothead sometimes.

"Oh, Peter…I'm so sorry. I didn't even think…"

"It's okay," Peter said. "I'm okay, I promise. See?"

Peter faked a smile and took a big bite of his food. Unfortunately, like he'd imagined, the taste brought back memories he'd been trying to push down. Peter tried to calm himself. He didn't want Johnny to feel bad. It wasn't his fault that he hadn't told him about the restaurant. It wasn't his fault that Peter was feeling this way. It wasn't his fault that Wade left.

Peter sat up straight and put his fork down, staring right at Johnny.

"Listen. Please don't feel bad. It's my fault I didn't tell you about this place, and I'm sorry. I don't want this to ruin our evening. I know you are really trying and I really appreciate that. I'm trying too, but it's hard sometimes. Thank you for being so understanding." Peter put his hand on Johnny's and smiled his first genuine smile of the evening, and Johnny smiled back.

"You're welcome, Peter." Johnny intertwined their fingers and gave him a reassuring squeeze.

"Also, I'm sorry that all I ever seem to talk about is him. I'm sure you're sick and tired of hearing the name-"

Just then, a mysterious figure walked through the front door and towards the to-go counter in the back of the restaurant. He'd recognize that hoodie anywhere - he's worn it enough times. The figure's head was bowed, but Peter could still see the scarred skin shadowed by the hood that confirmed who it was.

"W-Wade?" Peter said, his voice going quiet.

He saw Johnny look behind him to see the same hooded figure walking past their table on the opposite side of the room. Time seemed to slow down for a second as the past three years finally caught back up to Peter. Johnny must have noticed, because the next thing Peter heard was, "Well, what are you waiting for? Go get him."

Peter tore his gaze away from the hooded figure and looked at Johnny.

"What?" Peter's eyes were watering.

"Listen Pete, these past few months have been really great. I think I've been good for you, and I know you've been good for me. And as much as I really do have feelings for you, I know you're not gonna ever be over him. Not until you get closure at least. So go get him. Punch him if you need to, but at least go and talk to him. If it doesn't work out, then you know where to find me, okay?"

A single tear fell down Peter's face.

"But-"

"Go."

Peter hesitated, but finally got up from the table, releasing Johnny's hand. He gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and turned around, ready to walk towards the to-go counter when he stopped dead still. Wade had been walking towards the front to leave when he'd glanced up and their eyes met.

And then Wade started running. Peter's brain didn't register what had just happened until Wade was out the door. He ran after the man, not letting him run out of his life again. Wade ran fast, but Peter was just a little faster that he caught up to the scarred man in no time. He grabbed his arm and pulled him into a nearby alley, pushing him up against a wall. Peter held his fist up throw a punch but he paused before his hand made contact with Wade's face.

"I should punch you after what you did to me," Peter spat.

"Do it. I deserve it," Wade's voice was broken and self deprecating, mixed with a hint of fear.

Peter pulled his arm back again, willing himself to just do it, to make himself feel better. But he knew he couldn't. Not when Wade was right here again, not trying to escape and sounding so hurt himself. Not when he saw the scars on his face, none of them full. Peter wondered what the rest of his body looked like. What had Wade been doing these past few years? Peter had never seen him without a heart on his face before. As he calmed himself down, he lowered his arm.

"You and I both know that I can't hit you, Wade." Peter's heart jumped at saying Wade's name to him again.

They were silent for a moment, neither saying anything until the silence was eating at Peter.

"Where have you been all this time?" he asked. He had so many other questions, but this one seemed impersonal enough to ask first.

"I haven't gone anywhere. I've been in the city." Wade sounded like he was unsure of his answer, but Peter knew he wasn't lying.

"You've been here, this whole time, and you haven't thought to reach out to me, at all? Do you know how many times I've called you? I've texted? How many times I searched for you in all of ou- your usual places?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't you answer me? Why didn't you call me back? Why have you avoided me for so long? Why did you leave?" Peter was crying by the time he asked the last question.

"I couldn't," Wade whispered. "I couldn't allow myself back into your life."

"And why is that?"

"Because you deserve so much better. You deserve someone that's good for you, someone without baggage. You don't deserve to deal with someone as fucked up as I am. I'd only bring you down. I'm no good for you."

Peter wasn't sure how to react. In a twisted sort of way, he was almost touched by the fact that Wade was trying to protect him. But also, he felt saddened by the fact that Wade thought so low of himself. And he was mad that Wade was so selfish in thinking he knew what was best for Peter, and that he thought it was for him to disappear from his life.

"You obviously don't know what's good for me then. Only I know what's good for me. You disappearing on me? That was not good for me. You not contacting me for three damn years? That sure wasn't fucking good for me. But our relationship? That was good for me. You were good for me. And I know I was good for you too. I wanted you as my boyfriend from the day we met. I wanted to marry you. I loved you, Wade. And I still do."

"I still love you too, Pete. But I'm so scared. I don't want to hurt you."

"Why don't you let me worry about myself, okay? And don't worry, you've already hurt me enough for a lifetime. There's no way you could ever top that." Peter's voice had that familiar hint of flirtiness that only Wade could really bring out.

Wade was silent, his face a mix of guilt and happiness at Peter's statement.

"Listen, why don't we go back to the apartment and figure this out? It's getting late and I don't want to continue this conversation in a dark alley."

"Sure. But what about Blondie in there? Won't he be missing you? Who is he anyway?"

"His name is Johnny. I met him a few months ago. We're been dating for a while. He was also good for me. But I'd be lying if I said that what I had with him was what I truly wanted. I've only just started to really let him in and I think I've even started to love him, but I can't be with him when I'm more in love with someone else. That wouldn't be good for any of us. Thankfully he understands. He was the one that told me to run after you."

"He sounds great...I hate him," Wade joked.

Peter laughed, a real, truly happy laugh.

"Come on," he said, and gestured for Wade to follow him.

"You still live here?"

"It's a good apartment..."

Peter's excuse was only half-assed. Wade gave him a look and he tried again.

"And...well I couldn't find it in me to give it up. If I'm honest, I always hoped you might come back one day. And I couldn't bear to see someone else live there when it held so many memories that I wasn't ready to let go of yet."

"…You're a fuckin' psychopath, you know that, Pete?"

"Shut up," Peter laughed. He might still be upset, but he knew that he could never be around Wade for very long without smiling. Even if it'd been three years.