"okay hold up, so... so you light one candle every day, right?"

"right," joe confirms, holding the lighter to the wick of the candle, "and i think i'm technically supposed to go to some meeting or gathering or something but i haven't done that since i was still living with my parents."

"alright," patrick replies, watching as joe sets down the lighter and they both gaze across the candelabrum, "that's pretty neat."

"right?" joe sniffles, sick from the winter cold coming through, "you want some hot cocoa?"

"sure," replies patrick, taking a seat back on the couch. joe walks into the kitchen and starts boiling some water, "how is your mom doing? is she out of the hospital yet?"

"nope, the surgery went well but they want her to stay at least another day or two so they know she's recovering well," joe continues back to the living room where patrick is admiring the candles sitting on a beautiful blue and gold candle holder, "how are you doing?"

"i'm good," patrick replies simply, looking up at joe, he's about to say something back but joe beats him to it.

"i mean, really," joe takes a seat on the other end of the couch, "you're doing okay?"

patrick shrugs, searching joe's eyes for some sort of explanation but he has nothing but sincerity in those baby blues.

"i'm okay."

"i love you," joe says, almost in an empty manner and patrick's heart slowly sinks.

"i love you, too," he smiles softly, pulling joe into a deep hug, "you're so amazing."

joe smiles softly into patrick's shoulder before sighing softly. patrick strokes his short, soft hair and grins back.

"she'll be okay."