cheessssyyy - lack of coffee is slowly killing me - i'm turning into a walker. (and still recovering from Drunken Love. I already died a couple of times after that, so my 9 lives are almost up) 

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Scott sat on the terrace of some random hotel suite.  Two weeks goes by faster than you’d think. It was hard to alter things, especially when Mitch’s schedule was currently set in stone for the next couple of months, but things had been better. Communication was better, empathy was there, effort was put in. They both were really trying.

He knew it would be hard to keep this up, the constant traveling, the long hours alone, but he would do it because Mitch was worth it to him. He loved him with all of his heart and that was just the end of it. There wasn’t anyone else out there for him. And hell, if Beyonce’ and Jay-Z could do it then so could he.

So there he sat waiting, absolutely terrified to learn his fate. The decision was completely in Mitch’s hands. His entire future, his happiness rest on those designer-clad shoulders and he expected him back from his interview soon He wanted to drink himself into oblivion, the anticipation slowly killing him, but he just continued to sit there, staring out at the skyline of a city he couldn’t be bothered to remember the name of. It’s not like he’d be there long enough for it to matter anyway.  

He closed his eyes singing softly to himself, hoping to ease the fear gripping him, but that dark cloud still loomed over him, the what ifs weighing on his heart as they continued to fly through his mind.

Finally, and way too soon at the same time, he heard the door slide open behind him and he knew it was time.  Mitch looked impeccable as he moved around and pulled a chair over in front of him.

“How did it go?!” He forced out.

The brunette shrugged. “Same ol’ same ol’. Completely uninspired. Definitely not worth all of the time away from you.”

Scott looked in his eyes, afraid to ask the question, but also wanting to go ahead and get the heartbreak over with. He opened his mouth, but Mitch held out his hand. “Just wait. Come inside. I have some things I need to talk to you about first.”  

He took the offered hand with a bit of hesitation and followed him inside.  They ended up side by side on the plush couch, a couple of things spread out on the coffee table in front of them. Mitch simply picked up a familiar thick, black leatherbound book from the table and handed it to Scott.

He was a bit confused as he took it and opened it. He’d seen it a million times. It was Mitch’s planner, full of scribbles and times and appointments.  The confusion must have shown on his face.

“Look for next month.”

So he did. He flipped through and realized, with a huge amount of surprise, that it was empty, save a birthday scribble or two. There were white out marks all over, canceling out previous commitments. He flipped over and it was the same the month after that.

“I don’t understand.”

“I sat down with my manager. I’m at the point that I don’t need to be doing all of this promo. It’s not necessary. All of these little appearances and interviews and photoshoots are just useless filler.  So, we’re cutting it all out. I'm only doing what’s absolutely necessary, mostly award shows and such. It definitely wasn’t easy, took most of these past two weeks to figure it all out, but we made it work.”

“Really?”

He nodded with a small smile. “And..” he handed him a covered portfolio. “This is for you.”

Scott took it and opened it only to find a picture of…. dirt.

“You bought me a sandbox?”

“I bought you property to build your own studio on."

Blue eyes just stared at him, a bit unable to process due to shock.

“It's not far from home. You can choose everything, from the ground up. I want you make it exactly how you want it. I want you to have something just for you.”

“I can’t- I mean…  this is the most amazing gift. I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything. There’s more.”

“More? Mitch you didn’t have-”

“No. I know I didn’t have to do anything, but I 100% wanted to. Besides, most of this was in motion way before our fight anyway. It’s just a couple more things. I promise.”  He picked up another folder, stared at its cover. "I was going to wait until our anniversary in November, but under the circumstances.." he handed it over to Scott who tensed at his words.

He took this one and opened it, recognizing immediately but not quite understanding. It was a picture of the house he’d been drooling over for the past few months. It wasn’t that far from their current California home, but it was in such a beautiful neighborhood, gated and quiet. He’d seen them building it when they went to visit some of Mitch’s friends who lived nearby. Apparently it was being built by some big shot Hollywood director. He’d been in love with it the moment he set eyes on it and every time they visited Nick he would comment on how much he loved it. He flipped through the pictures, noting that the inside was just as beautiful as the outside.

“It’s yours.”

“WHAT?” He stared up at Mitch in disbelief.

“You always think I’m not really listening when you start getting all daydreamy and start talking about your dream house, and turning into a complete girl. You’ve been talking about it since we were kids.  You used to doodle it all the time in your notebook.  I’m not completely oblivious.  I don’t know how you didn’t figure it out. Keeping Nick’s mouth shut was a bit of a chore, but it’s always been yours. I started planning it awhile ago. You don’t have to keep it. If you don’t like it we can sell it and start over. You can make it exactly how you want.”

“Are you kidding me?! No. I… It’s perfect.”

He laughed. “If you want to keep it, you can do whatever you want with it. Decorate it yourself, hire someone, whatever. But ...there was one thing I added on for me, and now I’m really glad I did.”  He reached out to flip to the last couple of pictures.

“Is that a studio? In our house?!?!?!?!”

He nodded. “Everything is up to specs. When I start recording the next album I won’t even have to leave you to do it.” He chewed on his lip, swallowing hard enough Scott could see it. His voice got quiet. “That is, if you still want to be with me. You don’t have to, of course. All of it’s yours anyway, no matter what you decide. It was always yours.”

He wanted to cry. He was overwhelmed and so happy he could burst. It was too much and everything he’d ever dreamed of all at once. He’d been prepared to sacrifice his own wants and needs just to be with Mitch, but here he was offering quite the compromise.

“I mean, if you do...  I know tours are always hard for you, but maybe you could come for just part of it, you know whenever we decide when the next one will be. Or maybe I could do mini tours like spread it out. I don't know. I tried to think of other ways to help but-”

He cut him off, pressing his lips to his and the other man leaned into him, fingers sliding over Scott’s arms.

“Wait.” Mitch pulled back and Scott licked his lips with a nod. “There’s one more thing.”

The brunette produced a small red Cartier box from his pocket. “It’s not an engagement ring. I don’t deserve that yet... “

Scott took the offered box and opened it to find a gorgeous ring, simple and not too over the top. He wasn’t even sure he wanted to know how much it was worth.

“It’s a promise ring. My promise to you should you choose to stay with me. I promise I’ll be better, I promise to do everything in my power to make you happy. I promise to try my best to be the man you deserve. I promise to always put you first, to give you the things you need and not just the material ones. I promise never to neglect you again, to listen and not bulldoze over you. I promise that one day, when I’m worthy of you, I’m going to give you the most amazing, romantic proposal like you’ve always wanted and then hopefully the wedding of your dreams. I promise you…  that I’m yours, Scott Hoying. Do with me as you will.. I know I don't deserve you, but I swear I can change. If you choose to leave I can't make you stay, but... " He cut off, knowing he shouldn't guilt Scott into his decision. It already looked like he was trying to bribe him, but honestly everything except the schedule and the promise ring had already been in the works. He wasn't sure what to do or what to say to keep Scott in his life, but he prayed honesty was the best way to go. 

Scott was overwhelmed. It was really too perfect for words, but … words… those words had been too perfect for reality.

He took the ring from the box and slid it onto his own finger, not at all surprised when it fit perfectly. He turned to look at Mitch's face, feeling so incredibly lucky at that moment. “I could never leave you. I love you. I’m sorry I’ve hurt you and I’m sorry I lost your trust, but I also promise to be better. I promise to always look good so you always have arm candy.”

Mitch burst out laughing, eyes closing momentarily, but nodded. “I know you will.”

“I promise to never, ever betray you again. I promise to always kiss away the pain, to warm you when you’re cold. I promise… “ He took Mitch’s hand and pulled him over to straddle his lap. Mitch just grinned at him as he settled on his legs. “.. to always know…” he began to pepper his neck with kisses, stopping at a point just behind his ear that he knew was a sensitive spot for Mitch “just what to do to to make you come undone.” He let his teeth drag over it, tongue flicking out... and the tiny noise Mitch made let him know he was successful. “I promise I’ll always want you…” He slid his hands into the back pockets of Mitch's expensive designer jeans and lifted his hips, pulling the other man down into him, angled perfectly to show Mitch just what he did to him.

He himself let out a groan and he felt fingernails scratching at the back of his shirt. and pulled back to look into his eyes. "I promise to always be crazy in love with you. To always, always be completely obsessed with your lips." He kissed him again slow and sweet, feeling Mitch smile against him before he pulled away. “We are going to make it and we are going to be happy and stupid and weird and ... perfect and everyone in the world will learn to back the fu¢k off of my man because every time they see him they'll also see me." 

 Mitch smirked. "Promise?" 

Scott grinned and kissed his nose. "Promise."