Scott's hand is limp, cold, and unfamiliar as Mitch entwines his fingers with it. He almost winces at the feeling. Scott's hands are always warm and inviting, Mitch can always count on his blonde haired boyfriend to take his smaller, colder hand and warm it almost instantly. But now, Scott just feels cold and empty. Through blurry eyes he looks up at his boyfriend, his eyes shut tightly and a scary looking cut on his forehead. He got the call almost an hour ago informing him of the bad news. He first thought it was Scott calling to apologize, to talk on the phone before seeing each other in person, but instead it was a police officer, telling him that there had been an accident and  he should come to the hospital as soon as he could.

The doctor said it wasn't Scott's fault, that the driver tried to run a red light and collided into Scott's side of the car. It was an accident, that's what everyone kept telling Mitch, but it certainly didn't feel that way to him. It was his fault, he was the one who yelled until Scott stormed out, he was the one who didn't stop him from leaving. It might as well have been him in the car who hit Scott. He chokes back a sob and squeezes Scott's hand a little tighter, hoping against all hope to force life back into him. He wants to forget the fight, but it keeps replaying in his mind, over and over again like a broken record.

-------

"Where is this even going Mitch?" Scott demands.

"What are you talking about?"

"We've been together for four years Mitch. Four. And don't get me wrong, they've been the best four years of my life, but I'm tired of waking up every morning and wondering when it's gonna end. I'm afraid that one day I'll wake up and you won't be there and then these last four years would have been for nothing." Scott's voice gives out as Mitch feels a flame strike up in him

"Do you really think I would do something like that? Am I that horrible of a person that you would even consider that to be something I would do?" Mitch yells. Scott is silent, looking down at his hands that now seem to be more interesting than the argument happening. The boys are in their room in their apartment, the one they moved in together to almost two years ago. Scott remembers that they argued over their bedding, him wanting blue and Mitch wanting red. They settled on white, because it made them feel like they were sleeping on a cloud. The whole thing seemed so ridiculous now.

"Mitch, everytime I bring up marriage or the future you run away. I know you know you do. How do you think that makes me feel? That you'd rather run away and do anything but marry me?"

"I do not run away!"

"Yes, you do!" Scott pleads. Mitch runs his hands through his hair, searching for an answer.

"Scott, look at my parents' marriage. It ended and it was terrible. Can you blame me for not wanting to go through that?"

Scott walks toward Mitch, reaching to take his hands, but Mitch pulls away. "I know it was hard for them, and for you. But god Mitch, that can't stop us from trying. I want to marry you. I want to be with you forever. Isn't that enough?"

"I just... I just need time, Scott!" Mitch snaps. Scott's expression firms, his eyes darker than Mitch has ever seen them.

"Fine," he mutters, reaching for his keys. "I'll give you some time."

Mitch watches Scott put on his shoes in disbelief. Scott's never been the one to leave during a fight, he's the patient one. Mitch's stomach flips when he wonders if he's finally worn out Scott's patience and pushed him away, but he can't stop him before Scott's out the door.

-------

"He's got a pretty bad concussion, a couple broken ribs and a small fracture in his left wrist," the doctor lists off, a big guy named John who looks like he could break Mitch with one touch, but is actually surprisingly gentle when he rests his hand on Mitch's shoulder. "He should be awake and well in the next few days, but sometimes these things can take time."

"He'll remember who I am, right?" Mitch asks softly. "I mean, he won't have any brain damage?"

"We'll have to take it day by day." The doctor confirms.

"Alright," Mitch murmurs, turning back to Scott. "Thanks." John squeezes his shoulder quickly before leaving the room, while Mitch is left in a silence that's only interrupted by Scott's heart monitor beeping.

Mitch waits a minute before carefully reaching his hand up and brushing through Scott's hair, gently pressing his lips to his cheek, somewhat afraid of hurting him even further. He looks so fragile, so breakable.

"I love you, Scott." he whispers. "Please, please wake up. I'm so sorry baby. I'm so so sorry." Mitch's voice dissolves into a sob, his head resting on the hard hospital bed as he tries to plea with anyone out there to make Scott wake up.

-------

"I'm Scott."

"I'm Mitch."

"Hi."

"Hi."

"I'm 8."

"I'm 7"

Mitch had just moved in to the house across the street from Scott's, their first encounter coming as Mitch's parents moved their things into the house while Mitch sat in the yard watching them. Scott wandered over to his new neighbor and sat down, the boys quickly chatting to each other.

"Do you miss your old home?"

"I miss my friends."

"I'll be your friend." Scott shrugs, "I bet we'll go to the same school and everything. We can even walk to the bus stop together."

"Okay," Mitch grins. Scott smiles too.

-------

Mitch's head snaps up when he hears a knock at the door. He didn't expect himself to fall asleep, but it had been a long night and it must have finally caught up to him. Now, early sunlight is filtering through the blinds of the hospital room, and Avi, Kevin, and Kirstie are standing at the door.

"Hey Mitchie." Kevin says gently. He stands up as they walk over to Scott's bed, exchanging a short hug with each of them. They all watch over Scott silently as Mitch rubs his eyes awake.

"What did the doctor say?" Kirstie asks finally.

"He has a concussion and some broken bones. The doctor said he should hopefully wake up in a couple of days." Mitch informs them

"Everything will be okay," Avi assures him, wrapping his arm around Mitch's shoulders. Mitch relaxes a bit with the touch, the company of his best friends making him feel a little less alone.

"What happened?" Kevin asks. "Why weren't you with him?"

Fresh tears spring to Mitch's eyes, and he swallows to keep them away. "We got into a fight."

"Why?" Kirstie asks.

"We were talking about his sister's wedding," Mitch begins, "and Scott said something about us getting married someday too, and... I don't know what happened."

"You freaked out." Kevin states. Mitch shoots him a glare. "Sorry," he says, raising his hands in surrender. "But we've heard this from Scott before. You know you want to marry him, Mitch."

"I don't know." Mitch begins to protest, but he stops himself. Maybe it's time to start opening himself up to the possibility. Some part of him has always known that he'll marry Scott, or at least be with him forever, it's just hard imagining that happening already. "I shouldn't have let him go." he whispers, tears finally spilling over onto his cheeks. Avi grips his shoulders tighter, letting Mitch bury his face in his shirt.

"Mitch, it's not your fault." Kirstie says. "It was an accident, you didn't know."

"I could have lost him. That argument could have been the last thing we said to each other." Mitch feels like he might get sick so he sits down.

"It wasn't, though," Avi tells him. "You can still make it right."

Mitch nods solemnly and looks at his sleeping boyfriend, knowing it'll be the first thing he does when he wakes up.

-------

Mitch has never been one for small cafe's, usually sticking to his regular Starbucks, but for whatever reason, he saw this place while walking down the street and he had to come in. Now he's nursing a cup of coffee and scrolling through his phone, enjoying the soft music and chatter of the other customers when he hears his name said above him.

"Mitch?" a familiar voice asks. Mitch looks up to see a tall boy standing over him, his blonde hair styled up. His eyes are blue and bright and beautiful and they look just like-

"Scott?" Mitch asks, his heart pounding for an unknown reason. The boy grins in agreement, perfect teeth on display to see. He's exactly as Mitch remembered him, but older, even more handsome now. Mitch stands up and hugs him, their arms wrapping around each other in a familiar way.

"Do you go to college here?" Scott asks.

"Yeah, you?" Mitch asks. Scott nods excitedly. Mitch notices how the rest of the coffee shop has seemed to disappear. All that matters right now is Scott, Scott, Scott. "Sit down," Mitch says, gesturing to the empty seat across from his.

"How long has it been?" Scott asks once he's seated.

Mitch thinks for a moment. "It's been five years since the divorce and we moved right after so... five years?"

"Feels like yesterday," Scott grins. Mitch agrees, it really was just the other day when they were thirteen and Mitch was moving away. He remembers crying when it came to say goodbye to Scott, how they promised they would keep in touch and how hard that had turned out to be. It had been about three years since the last time the two had talked on the phone.

"So what are you studying?" Mitch asks.

"Music. I'd like to teach it someday." Scott replies with a smile. Mitch nods, remembering how Scott had talked about wanting to be a teacher. "You?"

"Sound engineering." Mitch answers.

"Gave up that dream on being a soccer player?" Scott teases.

"We both know that was never gonna happen." Mitch laughs.

It felt nice being back with Scott, talking and laughing until late that evening. They fit together just like they always did when they were younger. Mitch is glowing by the time they say goodbye, his cheeks flushed and his heart feeling full to the point of bursting.

That weekend was when the boys went on their first date, out to dinner and then on a walk, autumn leaves crunching under their shoes as they walk back to their dorms. They're outside of Mitch's room prolonging their goodnight when Scott cups Mitch's face in his hands and kisses him slow and deep, like they'd missed out on so much more than five years apart.

-------

Scott's mom is here, her eyes filled with tears as she bends over her son, kissing his forehead and whispering to him. Mitch feels too guilty to watch, too responsible for Scott's state. Connie straightens up and wraps her arms around Mitch, rubbing his back as he lets out another sob.

"I'm sorry." He murmurs.

"Sweetie, it's not your fault," Connie replies. "No one blames you." Mitch sniffles and pulls away, remaining close to her. He's exhausted. He needs to shower and change and get some real food. He finally gives in to Connie's demands to go home, only when she promises to take his place by Scott's side for just a few hours and to give him a call the second he wakes up, if it happens.

A short while later, Mitch walks into the apartment, finding everything just the way he left it the night before. It's funny, but he somewhat expected everything to be different. Like Scott's things would just disappear. He passes through the living room into the kitchen, grabbing an orange and peeling it in silence. The smell of it reminds him of Scott. He eats one almost every morning, leaving his lips tasting sweet when Mitch kisses him. He chews slowly as he walks through the apartment. It's small, just enough room for the two of them, but it's cozy and charming, but most importantly, its home. He sees Scott everywhere he looks, his books on the coffee table, his shoes at the front door. It usually drives Mitch crazy how messy Scott can be, but now he sort of adores it. He walks into the bedroom and sits on the edge of the bed, but after a minute he finds it too hard to be in that room, so he walks back out to the living room and sits on the couch, sinking into the cushions and letting his eyes close.

-------

"Can we eat on the floor every night?" Mitch asks through a mouthful of pizza.

"No," Scott replies with a laugh. "Just until you finally pick out a real table you like." Mitch rolls his eyes and looks around their new apartment. Boxes of their things are scattered everywhere, waiting to be unpacked and placed into their new home.

"I love this place," Mitch says. "It just feels like us."

"I love that you love it." Scott grins.

"And I, love you." Mitch replies, crawling on his hands and knees over to Scott, puckering his lips until Scott kisses him.

"I love you too." Scott whispers when they pull apart. Mitch chuckles and snuggles into Scott's chest, the younger boy wrapping his arms around him.

"We're disgustingly cheesy, you know that?" Mitch asks.

"It's probably why Kirstie wanted me out of her place." Scott shrugs.

"Probably. But I don't care, Now I have you all to myself." Mitch smirks.

"You already did." Scott reminds him, planting a kiss in his hair. The boys continued to eat in comfortable silence, until a new thought entered Mitch's head.

"Hey Scott?"

"Yeah?"

"We don't have a bed yet. Where are we going to sleep?" Scott chuckles, kissing Mitch's head again and standing up.

"I have an idea." he replies. He disappears into the bedroom for a minute, returning with an armload of pillows and blankets. He drops them on the floor in front of Mitch, a grin spread across his face. "We'll make our own."

Later that night after the boys constructed a nest of pillows and snuck under the blankets, Mitch peels Scott's shirt over his head, explores his torso with his lips. He has every bump and curve of Scott memorized, and yet he's always amazed by how beautiful the boy is. Mitch peeks up at Scott as he combs his finger through his blonde hair.

"I love you, Scott." he whispers.

"I love you too, Mitch." Scott sighs back. Mitch crawls up and places his lips on Scott's

"I'll always love you." he murmurs against Scott's lips.

"Sounds good to me." Scott smiles, silencing him by flipped them over and devouring Mitch's lips.

-------

Mitch returns to the hospital the next day, after his, failed, attempt at sleeping through the night and getting a quick shower. He arrives at the hospital feeling slightly refreshed and wearing one of Scott's favorite sweaters. He and Connie talk about their night and exchange hugs before he relives her, taking his place next to Scott and settling in for the day. Another doctor comes in and explains to Mitch that Scott's condition is still stable. After he leaves, Mitch leans over and kisses Scott's forehead, followed by his nose, cheeks, and lips. He takes Scott's hand and brings his knuckles up to his mouth.

"Hi baby," He whispers, feeling a little crazy for talking to someone who can't hear him. "I'm right here, it's me. I wish you would wake up." He sits for a moment, just staring at Scott. "I really wish you would wake up sweetheart. I miss you and I have so much I want to say to you." He finds his words much easier now.

"I'm so sorry, Scott. I'm so sorry I yelled at you and let you leave and made you feel so unwanted. I went home and looked at all of our stuff and everything just felt so empty without you. I need you, Scott, and I know I've had my doubts about marriage, but two years ago I promised you I'd love you forever and I'm keeping that promise." He kisses the back of Scott's hand.

"I want to marry you Scott. I want to spend the rest of my days waking up next to you and calling you mine, and raising a family with you. Yeah, I said it, I want kids, Hoying." He chuckles to himself. "I'll marry you tomorrow if that's what you want, I swear. Just please, please wake up so I can marry you, okay?" Mitch half expects Scott to say something back, but he's only greeted with silence. He rests his head near Scott's, his eyes trained on him before he dozes off.

It's a few hours later when Mitch hears a rustling sound, feels something move underneath him. He opens his drowsy eyes to find his favorite bright blue ones staring back at him.

"Scott?" he mumbles, sitting up. "Scott, oh my god!" Mitch springs forward and wraps his arms around him, as carefully as he can, tucking his face into the crook of Scott's neck, tears dripping onto his hospital gown. Scott blinks back at him when he pulls away. "How are you feeling?" Mitch asks, pushing some of Scott's blonde hair out of his face.

"Mitch?" Scott mumbles weakly.

"Yeah baby, what is it?" Mitch asks.

"My head hurts." Mitch leans forward and kisses Scott's temple gently.

"I bet it does, you have a concussion. And a few broken ribs and a fractured wrist, so be careful, okay?" Scott grunts, turning to inspect his injuries. "Do you remember what happened?" Mitch asks.

"I was mad at you." Scott says, voice still raspy.

"Yeah, you had a right to be too," Mitch grins weakly. "I shouldn't have let you go though. I'm so sorry."

"No, I am. Mitch, we don't have to be married to be together. I love you and you love me, and that's enough, really. I just don't want to be without you." Mitch feels fresh tears about to spill from his eyes, he stands up to kiss Scott's lips gently, silencing him.

"Scott?" Mitch asks.

"Yeah?"

"Will you marry me?" Scott's brows furrow in confusion, his blue eyes focused on Mitch.

"But you said-"

"I was wrong. I was being scared and stupid. I want to marry you, of course I do. You're my entire world." Mitch catches Scott beginning to tear up. "So, will you marry me?" He asks again.

"Yes," Scott gasps, his perfect smiles shining and Mitch can't help himself from pressing their lips together again, kissing him until they're both out of breath.

"I love you," Scott whispers as they pull away.

"It's been too long since I've heard you say that." Mitch chuckles.

-------

One year later

"I do." Mitch says, his voice shaky and hands trembling. Scott reaches over and entwines his warmer fingers with Mitch's, calming him. Mitch can't see anything but Scott, can't hear anything the official is saying, all he knows is that he's minutes away from calling Scott his husband, he's so close he can almost taste the words on his lips. His eyes blink fast, attempting to stop the tears, and he can't help but giggle seeing Scott do the same thing. He lifts his finger and brushes a stray tear from Scott's cheek. And then the official says 'you may now kiss' and Scott's hands are cupping his face and his lips are molded to his, and it almost feels like their first kiss five years ago, just as perfect, and again Mitch is wondering why it took them so long to get here.