Mitch frowned at the vase that was emitting a sweet, flowery smell. It was right in front of him and it made him feel as if it were mocking him, taunting him. His frown became a grimace, it was blocking his view of Jerome and Seto. Ty just had to get one of the curviest vases they had, didn't he? He couldn't have gone for a thin tall one, no he had to go for one that was wide at the bottom curving in and then out again to flare at the top to meet the beautiful white flower arrangement. Mitch huffed, but although he didn't want to admit it out loud the vase went with the flowers so well. Ty had picked a red vase that made the white flowers look even more white if that was even a thing. But what most annoyed Mitch was that he knew what the flowers meant. And while he could pick out meaning and symbolism he couldn't figure out why Ty had picked those specific flowers. Scratching his chin, a thought briefly crossed his mind, informing him that Ty wouldn't have known what the flowers would have meant anyway.

At one point when Mitch was ill, Ty brought some flowers in from the garden to cheer him up. The flowers he had picked were asphodels. A flower meaning 'my regrets follow you to the grave'. Upon seeing the flowers Mitch had paled and looked a Ty as if he were a demon. Ty had looked confused and had asked what the matter was. Upon telling Ty about the flowers meaning Ty had quickly asked what flower meant 'Get well', the answer being garlic. So Ty being Ty bought back a few garlic flowers. He had disappeared for a time before returning with a single stalk of 'Convallaria majalis' or as it's more commonly referred to Lily of the valley. Mitch had smiled and Ty had grinned before taking out a book about the flowers. Mitch laughed and they talked about the mess up for a couple of hours before Mitch had fallen asleep, the lily on his pillow.

The book had remained in Mitch's room after the incident, but even without a reference guide, Mitch could tell all the flowers meanings. He had read the book a thousand times, cover to cover, and had memorized all the flowers uses and meanings. Surveying the roses, lilies and chrysanthemums he felt a small bit of bile rising in his throat. He winced and began to list off the meanings in his head.

'White Stargazer Lilies; purity and sympathy. White chrysanthemums; loyalty and devoted love, but chrysanthemums in some European countries symbolize death. White roses; reverence, humility, innocence and youthfulness. Deep crimson roses; mean grief and sorrow. Ty included a single crimson rose, and the other roses blend in with the other white flowers making it look like there's only one rose, a single rose meant enduring love for the deceased. But that was only at funerals, though by the meanings behind the bouquet so far if seems like Ty made a funeral bouquet.'

A loud thump was heard from Mitch's side of the table. Mitch stood up and stalked out of the room, a slam could be heard from the back door. The rest of the group looked around at each other, shrugged and continued eating. But Ty got up and, taking Mitch's plate, followed Mitch outside.

Mitch groaned as he sat on the stone bench. He looked around at the surrounding plants he had tended to over the years. He closed his eyes and thought about the bouquet that sat in the house. He didn't even notice someone was next to him until he heard a soft thump of skin and fabric meeting flat stone. He opened his eyes and turned his head. Ty looked at the garden, staring straight ahead.

"What's wrong?", he questioned as his head turned to look at Mitch.

Mitch sighed and looked down at his feet, scuffing his shoes against the stones that made up the footpath.

"Why did you pick those flowers?", Mitch groaned into his hands as they came up to cover his face.

Ty looked at Mitch confused.

"I thought you or someone else gave them to me? I didn't pick them", Ty stated as he looked questioningly at Mitch.

Mitch's head snapped up at this.

"I mean; you know flowers better than anyone. I thought you could tell me what they meant, but when you left I thought the flowers were meant to be a secret gift that no one else was meant to know about", Ty said as he set the food down in between them.

"No, I didn't give you those flowers. Whoever gave it to you must have thought the combination looked nice", Mitch stated as he took the food and dug in.

"About the meanings, if you didn't give me the flowers then you must have stormed out because of the meanings. So what do they mean", Ty asked leaning into Mitch.

"Um, well, you see…", Mitch tried to speak, failing to communicate properly, what would he tell Ty? That the bouquet was pretty much a funeral bouquet?

"Ah, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to", Ty said hurriedly.

Ty stood up and walked to the flowers, bending down to sniff a late blooming Evening Primrose. Standing up again he looked back, Mitch was surprised and relieved to see he was smiling.

"I'll see you inside. Don't spend too much time out here, okay?", Ty said as he moved to the door.

"Whatever you say Ty", Mitch replied as the door shut.

-0/0/0-

Nice long chapter to make up for skipping a day. Hope you enjoyed it. Have a good morning, afternoon, evening or other.

Chaos xoxo