Three more weeks had gone by since Matthew's miniature revelation. It had been a good week for both him and Berwald. He felt at peace with life, including the new life inside him. After forever being lost and forgotten, he found a place where he belonged and he was wanted. Life was good.

Until he knocked on the door of his lover's apartment, and another man answered for him.

"Hello." The light brown haired boy smiled. "Are you here for Berwald? He's in the bedroom right now. Do you want me to get him for you?"

Matthew's jaw dropped and he just stared. He'd seen that face before. In a photo. A photo he wanted to forget.

"Uh, hello..?" The boy said again, "Can I help you?"

Matthew was about to cry again when Berwald came out from the bedroom, on his way to the kitchen. He didn't look past him to see Matthew. And it didn't help that he was shirtless.

"Tino, get away fr'm my door. It's my job t' answ'r tha'."

"I was just trying to be helpful."

"Who is it?"

"Some guy. He isn't talking and it's creeping me out. Come rescue me, honey." Tino smiled in Berwald's direction.

"Don' call me tha'... Ya know I ha'e it.." Nonetheless, Berwald strode over to the door. He got a worried look on his face when he saw who it was. "Matthew..."

"Wh-... What the hell, Berwald?" Matthew said, voice cracking once again.

"Oh, so you know this guy?" Tino asked unhelpfully.

"Stay out o' this, Tino," Berwald said. "Matthew, I can expla'n..."

"Did you sleep over last night...? In the same bed..?" Matthew asked Tino, ignoring Berwald.

"Yeah. So?" Tino replied nonchalantly.

"You... You asshole, Berwald... You... I trusted you... I let myself love you.. My mistake." Matthew turned around and ran away. Berwald tried to follow, but Tino held him back, strong for his size and determined not to let him go.

"Tino, le' go. I need t' get Matthew."

"I don't want you too. We've barely had any time together."

"I don' want t' spend time wit' ya! I don' love ya anymore. Are ya listenin' this time?" Berwald was more than a little angry.

"That was a mean thing to say... I know you couldn't just stop loving me. Don't you remember our honeymoon? You didn't let go of me for a whole week. You loved me so much, Berwald..."

"An' about a month aft'r tha' I foun' out who ya really were. Ya cheat'd, and then ya tried t' play it like ya were just a victim."

"It wasn't playing. Denny really was manipulating me and making me doubt my true feelings and-"

"Manipulating my arse! 'F anyone's manipulative, it's ya. Even if ya weren't, it doesn't change the fac' tha' I don't love ya." Berwald snapped, furious.

"That's not true, Berwald. You stayed with me for two years after that. You have to love me still."

"It was out o' loyalty an' nothin' more. I figur'd I'd bett'r stay wit' th' person I married, wet'er or not it felt righ'. Ya just aren't who ya tried ta be, Tino. Ya aren't righ' fer me. Leave me 'lone."

"Berwald..." Tino pouted.

"I love Matthew. Alrigh'? I love 'im. More th'n words can say. I can tell it's fer real this time, too. Nothin' feels... forced, like it always did wit' ya.. I love 'im wit'out even tryin'... Tha's the way it should be..." Berwald had a pleading expression. He just wanted Tino to go and let him have his Matthew back.

Tino studied his face, visibly upset. "Can I change your mind..? Can I make you love me again..? I'll try and get over Denny... Please..?"

"No, Tino. It's ov'r between us. Fer forever. It 'as been fer a long time. No more comin' over wit'out warnin' and tryin' to sleep wit' me. Ya can't even sleep on my sofa anymore. Ya can't be trusted wit' anything. Yer just... not righ' fer me... Go away, Tino."

Berwald went inside and came back with Tino's things. He pushed the bag into Tino's arms, and shut the door.

-x-

It may continue.