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***Sebastian's POV***

"Shhhhhh. I'm here baby. I'm right here." Soft, warm and masculine fingers run over my jawbone. My eyes flutter but, it is difficult to get them open.

"That's right, love. Open those ocean blues. Let me look into those beautiful eyes." Silk lips brush against my pink pout. My eyes roll behind my glistening lids.

"Mar" I cough. My throat is dry, feeling like sandpaper has scraped down the inside of my esophagus.

"Don't speak." Long fingers grip my chin. A straw is placed in my mouth. I greedily suck from the cup. The ice cold water stings as it washes down my throat.

Coughing, I sputter. I swallow the cold liquid and it makes me shiver.

"Come on sweet man. It's been so long. Just come back to me." The velvet tenor fills my chest with warmth.

My eyes open and I adjust to the scene before me.

He's not here.

Sadness washes over me. My heart aches and yearns for Mark.

"Don't cry Seb." Warm masculine fingers wipe my escaping pain away. I lean into the hand, seeking any kind of comfort.

"How are you feeling, babe? Don't cry. Please." Alex sounds just as exhausted as I feel.

"Throbbing head." I whisper. I keep those hands rested to my cheek.

I miss him so very much.

"You took a hard fall." Alex explains what I already knew.

"Two steps forward, one step back." Alex chuckles nervously. I stare at my friend.

"Hurts. Too much." I breathe deeply.

"Yeah, they said you would experience a headache."

"No." I move his hand to my chest, over my palpating heart. "Here. It hurts here."

"Babe, I know. I want to make it go away. I don't know how." Alex confesses in a tortuous whisper.

"Need him. Please. I will do anything." I plead.

"You're killing me Seb. Absolutely murdering me." Alex lays his head on my forehead.

"I would do anything to bring him to you. I would give anything for you. Anything." I feel the hot tears plopping down on my forehead. I reach up and cup Alex's neck.

I hold him tightly to me.

"I'm sorry." I blubber the words through my trembling lips.

"Shut that pretty face. You don't need to apologize. I love you Seb." Alex kisses my temple. His hand holds my wrist.

"He's awake." I hear the joyful sound of my Mama. I smile slightly at the happiness she voices.

"Hi, Ma. Didn't mean to scare you." My voice is so small, too fragile.

"Give an old woman a heart attack." Ma playfully scolds me.

"Sorry." I turn to look at her from under Alex' head.

"Alex, you are smothering him. Off now. Go on boy." Ma swats lightly at Alex' butt.

"Okay. Okay. Come get your love." Alex pries himself out of my grip but doesn't go far.

"My baby. I love you. Please don't scare me so badly. I thought I lost you." Ma sniffles over me.

"I'm right here." I promise.

"You just bought yourself a few more days here. Oh well. At least you're okay." Ma kisses my cheek.

"I am." I offer the small truth. Physically, I guess I will live.

"Thank God you didn't cut yourself. Mess up that pretty head of yours. What you mean by throwing yourself on the cement like that? Could of hurt yourself for real. Boy, you went down like a drunk man chasing a fly." Ma giggles and a slight chuckle leaves my lips.

"Yeah, couldn't see that far down. Figured I would get a closer view." I roll my eyes. She's a pure mess.

"What damage did I actually do?" I grit my teeth as I ask the question. Hopefully, I haven't actually set myself back too far.

"Nasty size lump and a few reset needles. They ran tests while you were out. No real harm done. You're a graceful fuck, thank God." Alex rubs my back and looks at me with a genuine grin.

"All those years on the Catwalk." I shrug my shoulders and rest my head further into the pillow.

Just then a nurse walks in. I turn and look. It's Gavin. I smile at the adorable man. I wave him over.

"I wanted to check on you Sebastian. I'm sorry." Gavin twiddles his thumbs and stares down at the ground.

"You did nothing wrong." I grab the boys hand and pull him towards me. He shuffles slowly and looks down on me.

"Gavin. Don't. Don't you dare blame yourself. It happens." I try to console the guy. He acts like he pushed me down.

Gavin nods slightly and bends down to hug me gently. I grab him tightly and hold him to my chest.

"Thanks." I whisper.

"For?" His voice is all muffled because I am holding his head to my chest like a toddler. My fingers run gingerly through his blonde hair.

"I needed a hug." I chuckle. I lift his head and bring his forehead to my lips.

"Anytime." Gavin whispers towards our chests.

"Stop suffocating the nurse." Alex grips Gavin's waist and pulls him away from me quickly. Gavin giggles and I watch Alex close his eyes.

Oh, yes. I ship them.

"Thank you Gavin for taking such good care of my best friend. I'm sure Mark will appreciate it too." Alex shoots me a look telling me to back the fuck off.

I chuckle.

"Who is Mark?" Gavin questions.

"Sebastian's soul mate. He's taken. One hundred and ten percent." Alex nods his head like he just announced some hidden secret.

I roll my damn eyes. He is so obtuse.

"Oh, yeah. I think I have heard about him. Good thing I don't have a crush on you, Sebastian." Gavin emphasizes the you.

I literally have to hold back the laughter.

"Why don't you take Alex down to the cafeteria and get me a muffin and some coffee." Taking a chapter from Mark's book of love, I decide these two need a small push.

Call me Cupid.

"Yes, sure." Gavin sways his hips as he marches in front of Alex. I don't miss the way Alex' head is bowed, eyes trained on that ass.

"Alex?" I call out.

Alex and Gavin both turn to look at me.

"Skip the muffin. I decided I want a cinnamon bun." I smirk.

"Got it." Alex throws me a thumbs up.

"And quit staring at Gavin's ass." I crack up laughing. Gavin goes cherry red and Alex throws me a bird.

"You're a dick." Alex glares at me.

"And you want to plow yours into my nurse." I bark back.

"We're going now." Alex yells. I watch as they head out of my room.

"Could you have been any more obvious?" Mama giggles.

"Nope." I pop the p.

"You're awful." Ma swats me lightly with a pillow.

"It was funny." I chuckle and throw her the pillow back.

"Hysterical, actually." Ma giggles again and I can't help but smile.

My actual nurse walks into the room, holding up a needle. I know the drill. I push my arm towards her, allowing her to sink the sharp metal into my port. She pulls slowly, filling three viles to the brim.

I thank her as she quietly makes her exit without saying a word.

"I'm going to be so glad when I am out of here." I huff out of annoyance.

"A couple more days." Mama pats my shoulder.

"We are going to have to get a place here, I guess." I sigh deeply, wanting nothing more than go back to Manhattan and search for Mark.

"Oh. That reminds me." Ma smiles angelic ally at me. "We aren't staying here. Alex has been in contact with a doctor at home. He is confident that you can be treated in New York. Once we leave here, everything is set up. We're flying home baby."

I swear to the angels, my heart just takes flight. I cannot wait to be surrounded by familiar faces and loved ones.

"Mama. That is the best news I have heard. Thank you."

Alex comes in, my nurse trailing behind him. Gavin's lip gloss is smeared, hair disheveled.

I smirk.

"Forget something?" I ask coyly.

"Did we?" Alex asks, perturbed.

"My coffee. Cinnamon bun. Or, were you too busy searching for Gavin's asshole through his throat?"

"Shit." Gavin whisper shouts. His face a blazing inferno of blush.

"Sorry." Alex winks.

"I want my fucking breakfast." I throw my hands up in the air.

"Calm down. I'm ordering you some now." Alex starts pecking at the screen on his phone.

"By the way, thank you." I call out.

Alex throws his hand in the air and brushes me off.

"Not for my nonexistent breakfast. For setting everything up, taking care of me and being my best friend." I clarify.

Alex turns with a shocked expression. This bitch. Like I never appreciated him.

"Close your mouth, boy. You're catching flies." Ma giggles.

"I'm sorry. I just. Can you say that again? I want to record it." Alex guffaws before coming over and hugging my shoulders.

"Is my breakfast ready? You worthless swine." I joke.

"There he is. He's back." Alex pushes my forehead, causing me to fall against my pillow.

"Seriously. Though. You are amazing." I get serious. He doesn't have to do everything he does. I mean, I do pay him. But, this goes far beyond the call of duty.

"Seb. You're my brother. I want to do these things for you. I want to see you get better. I want to see you find Mark." Alex leans down and kisses my forehead.

"You guys are making me cry." Gavin sniffles.

"Come over here. I want a hug." I open my arms for the cute boy.

Gavin runs to the opposite side of the bed from Alex. He scoots me over and climbs in with me, wrapping his arms around my waist. His head buries in my chest.

I wrap my arm around my favorite nurse, nestling him into my side.

Ma stands up and snaps a picture without giving us time to smile.

"Mama. I look hideous." I cover my face with a groan.

"Shut your handsome mouth." Ma walks over and slaps me gently on the head.

"So, when do we leave?" I ask excitedly.

"Two." Gavin holds up his two fingers. "Days."

"Hallelujah Jesus." I raise my hand in the air as a sign of worship.

"I'm going to miss you." Gavin whispers.

"No you won't." Alex smirks at my nurse.

"Yes. I. Will." Gavin shakes his head defiantly.

"No. You. Won't. You're coming home with us." Alex announces.

"Who do you think you are bossing Gavin Lincoln around?" Gavin stands up to his towering 5 foot six. He puts his hands on his hips and stares down my best friend.

Alex gets up and takes slow steps towards the boy. His height literally dwarfing the boy at six foot two.

Alex stops dead in front of Gavin with a predator's grin on his face.

"Your fucking Daddy. Don't test me." Alex sweeps down and lifts the boy up by his underarms. He holds him high above his own head before gently pulling the stunned nurse down and kissing the fucking breath right out of the guys mouth.

Gavin comes down slow, as if high off of the kiss. He nods against Alex' lips. When he pulls back he gives a beaming smile.

"Yes, Daddy." Gavin giggles and bends his head down to kiss Alex once again.

"Fuck that's sexy." I moan.

"Hell yeah it is." Ma sits in the corner fanning herself dramatically.

"Anymore questions, love?" Alex asks of the boy that is now wrapped around his waist.

"Yes." Gavin smirks.

"Hmmmm." Alex hums. He pushes Gavin's hair back and holds his head away from his face.

"Can I really call you Daddy?" Gavin winks at my best friend.

"Fuck yes." Alex smashes his lips on the boy and takes another large gulp of Gavin's air supply before finally letting the kid get a breath.