A/N most of you know by now but I'm an Aussie and have no clue how college works and I've accidentally given America australia's seasonal pattern and holidays? It's the middle of the year and it's winter? I'm terrible soz

The weekend soon rolled around and John's nightmares hadn't ceased.
Saturday morning Alex woke in John's arms, he was already awake and was scrolling through snapchat stories. Alex had just begun to notice that John was always the first awake, odd.

He watched John's phone screen as Herc's story flashed up. A picture of Lafayette smiling at the 50s diner appeared, followed by a video of them running down the street screaming while Peggy chased them, still in her work uniform. Alex laughed a little and John noticed he was up.

"Good morning sunshine," John chuckled, clicking out of the string of stories he was watching and doing his streaks.
"Morning," Alex mumbled, kissing John's cheek lightly before snuggling back into his warm embrace.

John lifted one arm and snapped a photo of the two of them in bed together, quickly saving it and drawing an 's' over the photo, sending it to at least 16 people.
"I look terrible why'd you do that," Alex moaned, burying his face in John's chest.
"You look beautiful, as usual might I add," John replied smoothly, hugging him tighter. Alex hummed with a small laugh and hugged back. They lay like that for a while before John's phone began to quietly ring.

Angelica's caller ID flashed up, a picture of her squished up against a glass window appeared, making it look like she was trapped inside John's phone.
"Angie, morning!" John answered cheerfully, flipping the phone onto speaker.
"Morning John, are you with Alex?" Her voice buzzed through the phone.
"He sure is," Alex replied groggily into the phone, throwing his face back into John right after he had spoken.

"Hey! Would you guys wanna come out for lunch with us today? There's a new cafe called Cookies and Creamery I wanna' check out," Angie proposed. The boys shared a glance, Alex nodding and John shrugging.
"Sure, what time will you guys be there?" John replied.
"12, roughly," Angelica muttered half-heartedly.
"Cool, see you then!" John smiled, Alex mumbling a small 'bye angie' before Angelica hung up.

Alex groaned, snuggling into John again.
"What's up?" John laughed as Alex hid his face in his shirt.
"It's too cold." Alex mumbled like a rebellious 5 year old.
"Don't worry, we can bury you in jumpers and scarves," John laughed. Alex hummed in reply, grabbing the duvet and pulling it over their heads. Alex curled up against John underneath and left a light kiss on John's lips, completely cut off from the world, the only thing apparent to Alex being John's lips and his body heat radiating onto him.
John's arms slunk around Alex's waist and held him close. Alex was in his happy place, until John reached over and ripped off the duvet.

Alex yelped as the cold air outside the blanket crawled on his skin.
"JOHN!" He yelled, trying to tug the duvet back on.
"The shower's warmer," John persuaded. Alex considered this for a moment, before giving in and climbing out of bed. John followed and led him to the bathroom to freshen up.

---

Alex and John entered the cafe hand in hand, their noses pink from being out in the cold. Alex was covered in layers and layers of warm clothes while John only wore a long sleeved shirt, letterman jacket, jeans, converse and a beanie. Alex was thankful for the scarves wrapped around his neck not only for keeping him warm, but for hiding the cheeky hickeys John had been leaving every now and then.

The two of them greeted Angelica, Eliza and Hercules, sitting down at the table. Lafayette came over with a tray of hot chocolates & a bowl of marshmallows, setting it down on the table.
"Where's Peggy?" John asked, picking up a marshmallow and throwing it in his mouth.
"With Maria," Angelica sighed with a laugh, shaking her head. "Anyways, who's excited for winter break!"

A few whoops and hollers of excitement echoed around the table, followed by laughter, until they settled down. Alex however was not whooping, or hollering, or laughing, because he had completely forgotten winter break was a thing.
"John are you staying with us again?" Eliza asked, sipping her hot chocolate.
"If it's okay, I don't want to intrude-"
"No no, daddy loves you like one of his own John you're welcome any time," Eliza smiled, placing her warm mug down on the table.
"Well, guess what," Lafayette grinned with an adventurous spark in his eye. The other young adults leaned in intently. "Herc and I are going to France!"

The others gasped and awed as Hercules clapped excitedly.
"We're staying with Laf's grandma, she's the nicest little old lady I've ever met," Herc chuckled, leaning on the table with his arms crossed.
"For all of break?" John questioned.
"Er, 1 week," Laf nodded, sharing a look with Hercules, approved with a shrug.

"What about you Alex?" Eliza asked, meeting his eyes. Alex looked up at the ceiling, trying to find an excuse.
"Uh, I'll find my way around, y'know," he chuckled nervously, not fooling anyone.
"Babe don't you have anywhere to go?" John asked quietly, looking at him sympathetically.
"You should've told me!"

"He's staying with us," Angelica cut in.
"Wha- no Angie really," Aex tried to argue but she cut him off again.
"No, you are, don't argue." She finalised, leaning back in her chair triumphantly. Alex gave in with a sigh and turned back to his hot chocolate.
"Thank you," He smiled up from his drink.
"What are friends for?" Angelica laughed, winking at Alex.

---

That night Alex woke up as he was punched in the arm.
"Ah John! What the fu-" he began to groan, his eye sight still blurry from just waking up, but he shut up when he saw John.

He was glazed in sweat, a panicked expression stapled on his face as he thrashed around in the bed sheets.
"N-no! Stop!" He mumbled, clenching and unclenching his fists.
"John," Alex whispered, placing his hand on John's arm. "Hey,"
John relaxed at his touch, but it didn't last long because soon he was yelling at something to 'stop'.

Alex grabbed John and shook him.
"John! Wake up!"
Suddenly John's eyes shot open, he gasped and gripped the bed sheets. His eyes darted around the room until he saw Alex and then he dove into his embrace. Alex held him tightly while John sobbed into his shoulder.

"John, we need to seek help, this isn't getting any better," Alex muttered into John's hair. John didn't reply, instead his sniffles died down and he grew quiet. "Hey, do you wanna talk?"

"Alex, I didn't tell you, I didn't want you to know, b-but every night in those nightmares, my Dad kills you, and every night I watch you d-die, and I can't do it anymore!" John cried, his whole body shaking.

Alex sighed and pulled him into a tighter hug, rubbing his back soothingly.
"You should've told me,"