Tw: abuse, language, crying, death.

Hey y'all. Sorry ive not updated. Ive not been doing too good mentally.

~back to the story~

Damien sighed as he hugged on Patton. They'd talked...a lot. Neither of them wanted to be in a relationship right then.

Patton was tired and wanted to focus on school. Damien was the same, since he was about to go off to college. Neither of them had time nor the will power for a serious relationship.

So... They parted ways. Damien went off to college in the state he lived in with Remy and Emile. Patton stayed behind and went to a local community college for culinary arts.

They never stopped talking, of course, not until they both found partners. No, they needed one another. Lovers or not, they were best friends.

Damien ended up with a sweet boy by the name of Andrew. They adopted two boys, Virgil, a newborn and Remus, a five year old. However, Andrew didn't have long to live. He had been chronically ill since he was a child. He left the world only two months after adopting the children with Damien. After his passing, Damien and Remy moved to Damien's home town, Emile moving with since him and Remy were married.

Patton got with an old bully of his, actually. He stayed in the home town, though he wished to leave. His name was Liam, and he was sweet.... At first. He gave Patton anything and everything he could want, luring him in.

He learned his lesson over time. Never trust someone who changes at the drop of a hat. Never stay with someone who hurts and abuses you. Not even if you have kids.

That was why Patton stayed. Roman and Logan were so important to him. If he stayed, Liam wouldn't dare hurt them. But if he left... Liam would find them. Hurt them. He was scared.

That's where Damien came back in. They hadn't spoken in a long time, and now they were. Two years after Andrew died, Damien reached out.

They were out for lunch on a weekday. No kids. No boyfriends. Just them.

Damien looked over Patton's face and his eyes widened. "Patton?" He asked. "Is... Is that a bruise?" He reached over and gently touched Patton's cheek, where a bit of the makeup had rubbed off.

"I-I'm ok," Patton whispered. "I will be. It's fine..." He brushed Damien's hand away. The kids were at school and both of them had a day off. He didn't need to worry about Liam hurting his boys.

Damien sighed. "Pat..." He mumbled. "Don't lie to me. Did Liam hurt you?" He was worried for his friend. "Does he hurt you?"

Patton looked down. "H-He loves me," he whispered. "I can't leave... He'd still have partial custody... He'll hurt Logan and Roman, De."

"No," Damien said gently. "No. Emile's a therapist and Remy is a lawyer. C'mon." He stood and helped Patton up. "Let's get you away from him. Please?" He noticed hesitation, and he hugged his best friend. "I don't want to lose you," he whispered.

The other whimpered as tears welled up in his eyes. "Ok," Patton whispered. "Ok... I-I'll report him..."

"Stay with me and the boys tonight," Damien whispered. "Please? I have a spare room for the three of you, or on the couch. I have a pull out one for movie nights."

Patton nodded. "Yeah," he whispered. "Ok. I wanna keep my sons safe..." He knew he couldn't stay with Liam anymore. He knew he needed to rum, and fast.

The two finished lunch and both went to pick up their sons. Damien's littlest was at daycare, Remus at school. Patton's boys were in school as well.

Patton got home with the boys and started packing.

"Where are we going, Papa?" Roman asked in his tiny little five year old voice.

"Yeah..." Logan said. He wasn't dumb. Even at nine, he knew something was up. "With father be joining us?"

Patton bit his lip. "No," he whispered. "No kiddo.... Ah... Your father is mean. I have to keep you safe. Ok?" He kissed both their heads as the front door opened. He paled. "Hide," he whispered. He pushed his sons into the bedroom closet.

Liam stormed in. "What was this message for?" He growled lowly. "My bitch ass husband will not take my sons!"

He flinched. "Liam I can't do this," Patton mumbled. "I can't. You say you won't hurt the boys but I know you will."

The man stormed over and shoved Patton to the ground. "Perhaps I should," he spat. "It'll teach you to try and leave. Where are they?"

He looked around, knowing the boys would be home. "Boys!" Liam yelled. "Come out!"

Roman was shaking as Logan held him. He had never heard his Father so angry as he was now. He looked at Logan with pleading eyes, but his big brother looked as if he'd already known all along that this would happen. That it was happening.