A/N: I've got this great theory that R is basically a hormonal teenage girl when he first is...exhumed. Like, he cries at just about everything. I dunno, it fits in my mind. :-P But then again, I, a teenage girl, can be like that too.

I highly encourage reviews, just so you know. ;-)

Warm Bodies belongs to Isaac Marion.

Chapter 3: Tears

Music was a big part of the little household R, Julie, and Nora had. Julie's iPod was playing most of the time, and sometimes R would steal it and the headphones, and lie down and listen for a few hours. One afternoon when he was home alone, he heard a particular song he couldn't stop thinking about. It started with a soft acoustic guitar, and the opening lyric made it seem as if the song was very sad.

Love of mine, someday you will die...

That wasn't happy.

But I'll be close behind, I'll follow you into the dark.

Oh.

No blinding light, or tunnels to gates of white, just our hands clasped so tight, waiting for the hint of a spark.

R curled up, feeling that ache in his chest again. His whole body felt heavy.

If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied, illuminate the "no"s on their vacancy signs...if there's no one beside you when your soul embarks, then I'll follow you into the dark.

The song continued, and he found it had left such an impact on him, such an odd feeling in his chest, that he stumbled to put it on repeat.

Later that day, his mind trailed off to thoughts of death. What if Julie dies? What if she gets hurt out there? What if I'm all alone again? God, no. This is all because of that song. That wonderful song.

"R?" Nora noticed him, sitting on the couch with a sad look, staring into space. "Doing okay, honey?"

"Nora," he started, "What if Julie dies?"

"Well, we all will sometime," she replied.

"I know, but...what if she gets hurt by the boneys like her dad was? What if you both die? What if-"

"R, R," she stopped him. "Why are you thinking like this?"

"I-I don't k-know," he said, sucking in a wet breath. Oh, Lord, he's crying, Nora thought. "My eyes hurt. I h-hurt."

"Shh," Nora said. Oh, God, he's basically a fourteen year old girl. Is he always gonna be like this? No, Nora, she had to assure herself. He'll grow out of it. He just became a human three weeks ago.

Julie walked in on Nora rubbing R's back as he cried and raised an eyebrow. "Um," she began.

"R's learning about crying," her friend mouthed.

"Hey," Julie sat down by her boyfriend. "What's going on?" Nora quietly slipped off the couch.

"J-Julie..." he began, "Promise me you won't die." the blonde girl chuckled.

"Are you playing 'what if'? Like, thinking about all the bad things that could happen?"

"I-I guess..."

"What's up with that?"

"It's because of that song. O-on your iPod."

"Song?"

"'I Will Follow you Into the Dark'."

"Oh, that's a sweet song! The whole point is that true love never dies," she reached out to touch his cheek, caressing it with her thumb. "And it doesn't."

"It feels we-weird," he commented. "Crying."

She chuckled. "I know, it's awful. But sometimes it's good to cry. To let all those emotions out."

"I have too many emotions."

Now she really laughed. "I do, too. See, we work out well. We will." She laced her fingers with his, kissing his hand for reassurance. "I promise. No matter what happens. Okay?"

"O-okay." She snuggled into his chest, letting him cry into her hair for a little longer.

"Remember that time you sang Sinatra to me in the cemetery?"

"Oh, God," R chuckled now, the odd kind of laughter that comes after tears.

"That was so cute." They were quiet for another few moments, until Julie sang quietly, her voice muffled in R's chest.

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks, then I'll follow you into the dark.

He joined her as they repeated the last line. They meant what they sung.