Warnings: None

Word Count: 1998

The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon as Jenna and Tyler dropped Josh off in front of his house. The world was quiet, save for the distant sound of cars rushing down the freeway on some early morning adventure. Josh had always preferred the world when it was quiet, it was one of the few times that he felt completely at peace, which was rare nowadays.

Tyler helped Josh get his stuff out of the trunk and carry it to the door. It wasn't like Josh had packed that much, but he was so tired and ready to flop down in bed with his family that he couldn't be bothered to make multiple trips between the car and the house.

"That everything?" Tyler asked, his voice quiet. He was just as tired as Josh was.

"Yeah," Josh muttered with a quick nod of his head.

Tyler nodded back at him in a similar fashion before holding his arms out. Josh walked forward and pulled Tyler into a hug, giving him a couple solid pats on the back. It felt weird to be going their separate ways after so many months on the road together, but all good things must come to an end.

"Say hi to the girls for me," Tyler smiled.

"I will. Take care of yourself while you're home."

"Same goes for you."

Tyler gave another small nod and walked back off towards the car where Jenna was waiting patiently. He hopped inside and waved to Josh through the passenger window as Jenna pulled out onto the street again. As much as he would miss Tyler and touring, it never quite came close to being home with his family away from the world's prying eyes.

Josh carried his things inside and set them neatly by the door, knowing that Y/N would more likely than not have a fit if he just left them haphazardly around. The house was quiet. Josh took a moment to take all of it in: the blankets tossed in a heap on the couch, a few plates stacked in the sink that Y/N had yet to clean, Y/D/N's toys spread carefully across the living room. They were little things, but they meant so much to Josh. All of them were signs of life, so unlike his pristine dressing rooms during tour.

He stood in the entryway of the house for longer than he'd like to admit, admiring the place he called home yet spent so little time in. The sun was still rising, just beginning to throw streaks of color across the clouds outside the window. Josh shook himself from his thoughts and headed towards the master bedroom. The door was already a crack open, so Josh slowly pushed it open and looked inside.

Y/N and Y/D/N were both in bed, tangled up in blankets. They weren't snuggled up together, but Y/D/N's hand was reached over so that she was touching her mom's arm, as if she was afraid she would leave if she wasn't connected to her in some way. The two of them looked so peaceful, and it made Josh a little sad that he wasn't home more often to see little moments like this. He especially hated that he left Y/N to take care of her daughter on her own so often.

Biologically, Y/D/N wasn't his daughter, but he treated her just like he would with his own daughter. Things with Y/N's ex had ended badly, so Y/N did everything in her power to make sure that he rarely had contact with his daughter. When Josh started dating Y/N, he knew that he wanted to do everything in his power to make sure that Y/D/N had a strong father figure in her life, even if they weren't related.

Josh's mind wandered back to the first night that he had met Y/D/N. He had known from the start that Y/N had a daughter, but it wasn't until they had been dating for nearly half a year that he finally had a chance to meet her. Y/N had opened the door, looking almost as nervous as when she had told him she had a daughter. She explained that Y/D/N was shy, and it might take her awhile to warm up to him. He had been patient, smiling and waving at her to show that he wasn't a threat as she hid behind her mom.

Y/D/N eventually warmed up to him enough to start holding her own conversation with him. She asked all the important questions: if he had a dog, how old he was, and what his favorite food was. Josh happily answered all of her questions, which seemed to make Y/N happy. He enjoyed seeing this different side of her, when she cared less about what others might think of her and more about making her daughter happy.

Josh had waited patiently while Y/N put her daughter to bed. She looked a bit exasperated when she walked back into the living room, explaining that putting her to bed was already enough of a struggle, but she had wanted to stay up to talk to Josh so badly that it had been ten times more difficult. Josh had held his arms out and Y/N had curled up into them, thanking him for being so sweet with her daughter. They had proceeded to watch a movie together, but Y/N was falling asleep within the first half hour.

For the first time in his life, Josh had felt what it would be like to have a family of his own, and he loved it. Seeing Y/N be so carefree and happy with her daughter had put an indescribable feeling inside of him. As he sat there with Y/N curled up and snoring lightly in his arms, he started to realize what that feeling was: love.

Y/D/N twitched a little, drawing Josh out of his thoughts. Sunlight was just beginning to spill in through the window, casting long shadows along the floor, just barely reaching the bed. The clock on Y/N's side of the bed read 5:15, it would be a few hours before either of them woke up.

Josh's mind began to wander again, and he immediately thought of the first time that he had introduced Y/N and Tyler to one another. It was shortly after Josh had met her daughter, and now he said that she should meet one of the most important people in his life. She had been nervous in the car, checking her face in the mirror every few minutes and fiddling with her shirt. Josh had told her a lot of stories about Tyler, and it was very apparent that she was wanting to make a good impression.

Tyler was already at the restaurant when they arrived, sitting on a little bench just inside. He pulled Josh into a hug immediately and then turned to Y/N, introducing himself quickly before pulling her into a hug as well. Josh noticed her visibly relax a little after that, and he soon realized that he had been nervous too.

Dinner went by smoothly, and by the time that Josh was paying the bill Tyler and Y/N were joking around like old friends. They sat at the table long past the time that their bill was paid, talking about all sorts of topics from the band to Y/N's daughter. Y/N eventually said they should get going since she didn't want to keep her babysitter waiting, and the two of them said goodbye to Tyler so that Josh could get her home. Y/N kept talking about how funny Tyler was and how she couldn't wait to get to know him better too. Josh felt that familiar indescribable feeling again, this time it was stronger than before.

Josh's mind continued to run through memories of the times he fell more in love with Y/N. This time it wandered to the first time that Y/N came to one of his shows. It was a small venue, and Josh had made sure to get her a spot near the front. They had been dating for close to a year at this point, and the only reason she hadn't come to a show earlier was because of poor timing and locations. When Josh told her that it had finally worked out, she was ecstatic.

Before the show, Josh's hands were clammier than usual. Tyler tried to calm him down, but nothing he said seemed to calm his nerves at all. He knew that having Y/N in the audience should calm him down, but it was having the opposite effect. Before he had a chance to rationalize the situation in his head, Tyler was telling him that it was time to go on.

Y/N was smiling widely as he took the stage and sat down behind his drums. He stole glances at her as Tyler spoke to the crowd and introduced the two of them. As soon as he started playing, the nerves began to dissipate and he became lost in what he was doing. Every time that he managed to sneak a look at Y/N, she was watching him in amazement. After the show ended, she ran up to him and told him how amazing he was and that he truly had talent. He pulled her into a hug and thanked her for coming, saying it meant the world to him. The feeling was back, and this time he knew there was no denying how he felt anymore.

"Josh?" Y/N called softly across the dark room, drawing Josh out of his own head. "Is that you?"

"Yeah," he answered quietly so as not to wake Y/D/N.

"You're home!"

Josh could just barely make out Y/N's smile in the dimly lit room. He walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge, near Y/N's knees.

"How was the flight?"

"We can talk about it later, you should try and sleep," Josh said, knowing that the day ahead would be busy for all of them.

"Why don't you lay down with me?"

"Ok."

Josh glanced at the clock as he shifted so that he was laying with Y/N. It was nearly 5:45, had he really been spacing out for that long? Y/N scooted towards the middle of the bed to make more room for him, causing Y/D/N to grumble and shift away from the two of them.

"She's slept in here almost every night since you left. I even gave her one of your shirts to sleep in since she missed you so bad. It's pretty cute. She's convinced it smells like you, but I think it just smells like laundry detergent."

"As long as she believes it," Josh smiled, wrapping his arms around Y/N's waist.

"Yeah."

Y/N closed her eyes and made herself comfortable again. Josh just laid there, appreciating the fact that he was finally home with the people that he loved most. It wouldn't be long before he was off again, halfway across the world playing shows. The feeling was back, and Josh knew that it was now or never.

"Hey, Y/N?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I tell you something?"

"Of course."

"I love you."

He heard Y/N's breathing catch for a second as she processed what he had said. Josh had wanted to tell her for months now, but he had been so busy with touring and being away from home that he hadn't found the right time.

"I love you too," she smiled, giving his arm a light squeeze.

Josh wrapped his arms a little more tightly around Y/N and whispered it again, as if to reassure himself.

"I love you."