((I also love angst. It sustains me. In this, Jay comes back but he doesn't remember who he is. He knows Tim, he know Brian, he remembers the Øperator but he doesn't really call himself Jay. His more...Skully now. And Tim doesn't know how to handle it.))

Tim was doing rounds in the forest when he saw someone laying on the ground. The figure pulled themself up, coughing loudly. They were obviously wearing a mask, but Tim knew. He knew who that was...

The person looked up, a skull-like mask masking their appearance. Tim would be stupid, which granted he had his moments, if he didn't recognize him. He had his jacket and hat...and his hair.
Holy shit, Tim thought to himself before rushing over and tackling the person in a hug. Which, granted, is terrifying for someone with amnesia...but, Tim missed him so much.

He pushed Tim away, pulling his mask up. Tim did the same, holding his breath. Jay looked confused, "Who...Who am I?" he asked Tim, "I know you...you're a friend. But...I don't know who I am." he said, obviously panicked.
Tim frowned. He hadn't expected Jay to...have so much memory loss, "What do you remember?" he asked.

Jay scratched his head, "Um...I remember you and Brian...I remember us getting stalked by that...that thing with no face...and..and getting shot." he said. "That thing...he spoke to me. He told me he would bring me back if I worked for him...I-I don't know what's going on..."
Tim smiled softly, "Your name is Jay Merrick." he said, "We can watch some of the tapes, they might help you regain your memory." he suggested.

Jay just nodded, "Um...until I know who I am..don't call me Jay. I'm not him...I don't want to steal his name. Just call me..." he looked at his mask, "Skully."
Tim nodded, helping him up, "Follow me, we have somewhere we stay...the Øperator lets us stay with him." he said, pulling his mask back on. Sure, Jay didn't remember who he was...but, he would. Tim knew he would.

Jay seemed so...different. Of course, he really wasn't Jay anymore. He was...Skully. He didn't even want to be called Jay.
Tim frowned under his mask. He wondered...would Jay ever be himself? Ever? Or would he not remember who he was for good?

Skully stopped. "Tim...were you and I in a relationship?" he asked. Tim blushed, "Y...Yeah. We were. Why?" he asked. Skully smiled, "I remember that...you really loved Jay, didn't you?" he asked. Tim nodded, "Yeah...still do." he said with a shy chuckle.
Skully smiled, taking Tim's hand and lacing their fingers together. "I remember...really loving you too." he said softly, "And loving everything about you."

Tim blushed and smiled, nodding. "I know. You...er, Jay told me every chance he could." he said. Skully smiled, blushing under his mask. Tim smiled, happy he at least remembered that.

Once they got to the mansion, Brian was first to get to see Skully. He grabbed him in a bone crushing hug and the smaller of the two hugged back just as hard. Tim smiled, happy they were all together again.
Brian smiled, pulling his hood off. "I can't believe you're back, Jay!" he said happily. Skully frowned, smiling sadly, "I'm not Jay...at least..not yet. I don't remember myself...until my memory comes back, I want to be called Skully." he said.

Brian nodded, smiling sadly. He understood...Jay was like them, but soon the Øperator would give him his memories back. He had to.
Tim showed Skully to his room, hanging out with him and telling him all about what Jay was like. It was weird, hearing what you were like...it was like hearing about someone completely different.
He was someone completely different. He was Skully, not Jay. Jay wasn't around. Suddenly, Skully looked at them, "Do me a favor, guys...please take care of yourselves. You're all I have left..." he said softly. The two agreed almost instantly.

As time passed, Tim and Skully begin to rekindle their old relationship. To be honest, Skully felt wrong about it...not that he didn't love Tim, he did. But he felt like he was stealing him from Jay. It would feel worse when Tim would slip and call him one of Jay's special nick-names...it just made him feel guilty.
Tim was having a hard time with it too. He wanted Jay...and there were times when Skully did something just like Jay would. But he knew he wasn't himself. And it hurt. And he would let the guilt that it was his fault that Jay was now Skully eat at him.

They argued more than once. But it always ended in crying and hugs. Mostly because Tim was afraid he would push him away again...he couldn't lose him again.

But this time was different.

Skully was easily angered...Tim was easily upset. And that was a bad mix.

They were fighting, like they had been more frequently, and both sighed. Skully hugged Tim, burying his face in his neck.
Tim chuckled, still mad, "I hate you so much." he said with a small smile. He didn't mean it, though...he was still hurt and angry.

Skully stepped back, "Wow, okay. Well, I'm not the one who tied me up and left me to ROT." he said, pulling his mask to the side.
Tim glared, "That's because you are the main reason I'm like this again, Jay!" he yelled.

There was a moment of silence with Skully glaring at Tim, "..." tears welled in the corners of his eyes. "...I'm not Jay..." he said softly before fully breaking down into tears. "I'M NOT JAY!!" he shouted, "How could you blame me for something I don't even remember doing?? I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO I AM!!"
Tim glared, not saying a word for what felt like an eternity.

He snatched up his mask, still glaring at Skully, "At least you know how I've been feeling these past years..." he said with a rough, almost saddened, voice.
He pulled on his mask, "...forget it, I'll leave you alone." he said. There were tears in his own eyes, hidden by the mask.

Skully had tears running down his cheeks, watching Tim leave him alone. "...I'm sorry." he said softly, pulling his mask back on. He didn't want Tim to leave...he knew this was hard on him too.

Brian had heard the yelling, going to investigate. Tim just shoved past him, not wanting to talk or see anyone right now.
He saw Skully standing there, in tears. "Hey...you okay?" he asked. Skully shook his head and wiped his eyes, "N-No, I messed it up again..."

Brian sat with him, listening to the whole story. He knew how to fix this...

Weeks passed. The two proxies said nothing to one another. They refused to do anything together or acknowledge what had happened. The ØPerator was honestly getting a little fed up.

Brian wanted to fix this and now. He wanted things back to the way they were. He grabbed Tim and dragged him to where Skully was sitting, "This is getting ridiculous." he said, "You two need to make up. Tim, how could you leave him like that? He told you he needed us. He told you he didn't want us to leave." he scolded.

Tim stared at him for a moment, looking down. "You know what? Fine, I'm not going anywhere acting like this." he said.
Skully pulled off his mask, looking at Tim with his big, blue puppy eyes, "...?"

Tim scratched the back on his neck, "I-" he looked up, "I'm sorry, for what I said about everything." he said, cheeks warming a bit.
Skully looked to the side, chuckling, "It's okay..I'm sorry too." he said, blushing a bit.

"I'm sorry for not remembering the pain I caused you.." he said, tears welling in his eyes, "...and for not knowing who I am." he squeaked out, shoulders shaking as he held back tears.
Tim pulled him into a hug, blushing more, "It's okay." Skully froze and blushed more, slowly hugging back.

Tim buried his face in his neck, "I swear I won't hurt your feelings again." he said.
Brian smiled and sighed, happy they worked it out. "Good. Now there won't be anymore awkward moments." he said, making the other two chuckle.

During this time, though, Slenderman really saw how much the memory loss tore Skully and Tim apart...so he finally made up his mind.
He came downstairs, "Tim, Skully...I need to have a word with you." he said.
The two broke from their hug, looking confused. Slender cleared his throat and spoke again, "After some thought...I have decided to give Jay his memories back. If...that is what you want." he said.

Tim and Skully looked at one another, both looking shocked. "You will be Skully when you need to, and Jay any other time." he said, "I want you both to be happy...it makes my job easier." he added with a chuckle.

Skully smiled, "I want my memories back...please. I want to remember it all." he said. Slender nodded, taking them to his office with Brian. After all, he was part of this too.
"Now, Tim, when Jay wakes up...he will need a lot of care. He will feel guilty...and he will be upset." he said.
Tim nodded, "Okay..." he said softly, holding Skully's hand. "And...will Skully still be around?" he asked.

Slender nodded, "Yes...much like Masky and Hoodie, he will protect Jay. He will come out when he is needed. And Jay will be able to let him in and out as he pleases." he said.
Skully nodded, "Like another personality...okay." he said.

Slender smiled, nodding and beginning the process. It took a good 10 to 15 minute before Jay sat up and looked around, obviously confused.

He looked at Tim, his eyes watering as he remembered it all. He remember being Skully...he remembered them fighting. He clung to him, crying into his shoulder.
Tim held him, close and tight. He missed him. He missed Jay so much. Slender smiled at them, nodding to Brian who joined the hug as well.

They all realized then that Slenderman wasn't a monster. He was...by definition, but he was more human then some people. And just for that, they all gained a little more respect for him.