I apologize for the extremely infrequent uploading in this book. I have to ask that you please do not leave comments to ask for updates. I appreciate you telling me that you are enjoying the book, and I am very glad that you want to read more of it. However, health issues prevent me from getting things done lately and people asking for updates makes me feel very guilty for not uploading, even though I can't do anything about it. I promise I'm doing the best I can at the moment, please just be patient with me. Please do not be mean to anyone who has left those comments, they probably didn't know better, just please try not to in the future.
Also you can completely disregard me saying we're getting to the end of this book before. We're nowhere close. I keep having too many ideas-

Roman, for the first time in what felt like forever, woke up in his bedroom feeling well-rested and excited for the day ahead. He got up and ready for the day quickly, all the while texting Virgil. They had both agreed on meeting up around lunchtime, and Roman was already planning out what they would do while they were together.

It really wasn't that long until Roman had to leave his house to get to Virgil's, but to him it felt like forever. It had been so long since the two of them had been together without anyone else around with them. When the time finally did arrive he quickly grabbed the basket he had packed for their date, rushing out of the door and starting in the direction of his boyfriends house. He made it in record time, knocking quickly and holding the hand with the basket behind his back.

The door opened almost immediately after he had knocked, as though Virgil had been waiting right behind the door for him to get there. Roman grinned upon seeing him, his free arm wrapping around him to pull him into a hug, one that was quickly returned. They pulled back only a moment later, Virgil glancing at Roman's hand behind his back and raising an eyebrow.

"Wow, I couldn't possibly have noticed that giant basket that is very clearly sticking out from behind you." Virgil remarked, making Roman frown and huff.

"Well you could have at least pretended not to see it!" He complained, although he laughed afterwards. "I didn't really expect it to stay hidden though, we still need to make it to the park after all. Are you ready to join me on the best picnic date you'll ever have?"

Virgil rolled his eyes, but still nodded and linked his arm with the one Roman extended to him, smile on his lips. Roman's lips also curled into a pleased grin, leading Virgil out of his house and closing the door behind him before starting on their way to the park.

"It's nice to be able to do this again," Virgil commented around halfway there, breaking the silence. He looked over at Roman fondly, receiving a look just as loving in return. "Thanks for planning another great date for us to go on."

"Nothing but the best for you, my love." His grin stretched even wider, glancing Virgil's way to catch the blush he knew would be there. Virgil just rolled his eyes again, not saying anything but leaning a little closer into Roman's side. Roman changed the subject after that, talking idly as they made their way to the park.

When they arrived at the park Roman pulled a blanket from out of the basket, laying it down gently on the ground. He sat down, pulling Virgil to sit directly beside of him. He began pulling food out of the basket shortly after being sure that Virgil was comfortable, setting things out around them. The foods he chose were, of course, mostly Virgil's favorites.

"You can never just go on a simple date, can you? Everything has to be extra." Virgil commented, rolling his eyes despite the smile and flush on his cheeks.

Roman threw an arm over his boyfriend to pull him even closer, smiling widely as he pressed a kiss to his forehead. "You love it."

"Most of the time," Virgil responded begrudgingly, still smiling and taking some of the food offered to him. Roman just watched him for a few moments. His smile faltered for only a moment as he thought about how much different it felt, being here now with Virgil than it felt when they were with Logan and Patton. Roman still felt weird and awkward around them after everything that happened. He hated feeling that way around his friends, and wished things could just go back to normal. That it was just him and Virgil again, and that they were all just friends.

It was a selfish thought, and he knew that. He felt guilty for thinking that way. He felt even more guilty when he thought about how they must be feeling right now. They both still had red tallies; tallies that Roman couldn't change. Surely that must be hard on them. This entire situation was hard on them all for so many different reasons, it was impossible to even list them all. Roman felt guilty for it, but really who could blame him for wanting things to be less difficult?

"Are you even going to eat any of this food that you brought?" Virgil questioned, turning his head so he was looking right at Roman. Roman snapped out of his thoughts, putting on another smile and nodding.

"Yeah, I am," He assured Virgil, reaching for a sandwich. "Just got distracted is all. You're so beautiful I could stare at you all day."

"Whatever," Virgil rolled his eyes again, taking another bite of his food to hide the smile that grew on his face, but Roman had caught it. He smiled a little more genuinely as well, pleased that he was able to make Virgil smile and keep him from noticing his actual conflicted thoughts.

"I mean it," Roman assured his boyfriend, only darkening the blush on his cheeks. Roman heard him mutter something like a thanks, but then quickly spoke up louder to change the subject before Roman could ask. Roman was soon distracted from his current dilemma, too caught up in enjoying the moment with his boyfriend.

****

"It's getting kinda late." Virgil mentioned as the two of them wandered around the park. They had finished eating some time ago, and had decided to take a walk around the park for a while. It was an obvious ploy to stay and spend more time together, which neither of them minded but it was getting pretty late. They had already circled around the park twice now, and although neither of them wanted to admit it they knew they should start heading back to their homes soon.

"Is it?" Roman questioned, not wanting to admit it knowing that they would likely part ways again. He felt Virgil's eyes on him and could already tell he was rolling his eyes at him.

"I know we were apart for a while, but you do realize we're going to see each other in the morning for school right? You don't have to look so depressed about going home." He commented, only making Roman frown more.

"Oh, come on. Don't tell me you aren't a little sad about the day ending either!" He shot back, making Virgil sighed and shrug.

"Well, if it's such a big deal then just stay over tonight then. We can go to school together, as long as our parents don't mind." He suggested, hiding a grin at the way Roman's face seemed to light up at the suggestion. Roman pulled his phone from his pocket quickly to shoot his parents a text, and soon enough the pair were making their way back to Virgil's house for the night.

"Is there ever a night where all four of us actually stay in our own homes? I feel like at least one of us is always at one of the other four's houses, if not all of us together." Virgil commented as they walked.

"Probably not," Roman agreed with a laugh. "Honestly, I bet Logan and Patton are also hanging out together still. I don't think that's a bad thing though. We're all just super close. And I mean..." Roman threw an arm around Virgil's shoulders, pulling him close as they walked. "How could I possibly resist more time to spend with my wonderful boyfriend?"

Virgil rolled his eyes at him and shoved him away jokingly as they arrived at his front door, Roman standing back as he opened it and led him inside. A thought struck Roman then, remembering Patton and Logan. He wondered if maybe Virgil didn't enjoy it being just the two of them on their date. He had seemed fine with it, but Roman was second guessing most things about his friends since it got so complicated in their group. The thought made him frown for a moment, and he felt a stabbing pain in his chest. He had finally felt comfortable spending time with his boyfriend again, had enjoyed their day together, but what if Virgil hadn't?

"Hey," Virgil snapped Roman out of his thoughts, raising an eyebrow at him. They were both in Virgil's room now, Virgil sitting comfortably on his bed while Roman stood awkwardly by. "Something wrong?"

"I-no, it's... I'm fine." Roman shook his head, flashing his boyfriend a smile. He decided to join him sitting down, deciding to sit in Virgil's lap, wrapping his arms around him and hoping to distract him.

"Seriously?" Virgil deadpanned, still staring at him and waiting for him to answer. "Come on, not talking about shit is what caused all of our problems before. Please just talk to me, so nothing escalates like that again."

Roman whined and hid his face in Virgil's shoulder. "It's really not that big of a deal. I promise."

"I will make you sleep in the floor tonight." Virgil threatened half-joking, causing Roman to whine again and hold Virgil tighter than before.

"No," he drawled out, wrapping his legs around Virgil too so it would be harder to get him off. "Don't do that!"

"Well then tell me what's bugging you, dumbass." He insisted, and Roman huffed.

"Fine." He said, sighing. He stayed still for a while, not saying anything. The silence lingered for a while, and it became clear that Roman wasn't planning on saying anything.

"Roman," Virgil hissed, making Roman wince.

"Okay, okay! It's just..." Roman sighed, lifting his head to turn away from Virgil. "I really, really love you, y'know?"

"Stop trying to avoid-" Virgil started but Roman cut him off by looking back at him.

"I'm not, I promise. I just wasn't finished." He started, and Virgil stopped talking to encourage him to go on. "I love you, and... it made me really happy to be able to go out with you today. It's just... I can't help but wonder if you... maybe weren't as happy with it? I mean, I know things are different now and I want you to be happy. I really do. So I was just worried that... you wished Logan and Patton could be here too. Not that-it's not a bad thing I was just worried that you might not want to spend time with... just me, anymore..."

By the time Roman finished ranting he was leaning back away from Virgil, still sitting on his lap but not wrapping his arms around him. He was fiddling with a pocket on his jeans, not facing Virgil. His cheeks were a dark red, and his eyes wet with unshed tears that he didn't want to be seen. Virgil took a moment to take in what he said, and then his arms were sliding around Roman's waist to pull him into a tight hug, head pressed into his chest as he held him tight.

"Roman, obviously I enjoy spending time alone with you. I get it, of course you'd still want time to hang out without anyone else around. I know it's... probably a little uncomfortable sometimes and I'm sorry if I made it seem like I was unhappy with you. Yeah, Patton and Logan make me happy to be around too, but that doesn't mean at all that I enjoy being with you any less." He explained, pulling his head back from his chest a little to look up at him. "I love you. That hasn't changed at all."

Roman managed to smile despite the tears that now slowly spilled over onto his cheeks, his arms going around Virgil as well. They were happier tears now, knowing that Virgil really did have fun on their date and that it wasn't just him who was happy to be alone together. He let go of Virgil briefly to swipe at his eyes, only to go right back around him to pull him into a long kiss that was happily returned.

Of course, there were still some things that were on Roman's mind. He still had worries, and he still felt confused and unsure about a lot of things. He still knew that things would be awkward around Logan and Patton despite the guilt that awkwardness he felt caused. Right here, though, alone with his boyfriend, kissing him until they were both breathless, Roman felt like he could ignore those worries. At least, he could ignore them for now.