Fix Me (Alternative ending)

Chapter 119

"I've never been skiing," Remington says cheerfully, walking beside Andy through the snowy resort, dragging a suitcase along with him.

Andy stops to check his phone for the chalet name. "I know," he responds, "c'mon, it's just up here I think."

"It's so creepy," Remington says, looking around at the dark village and static ski lift ahead. "This is so exciting."

The brightness of his voice makes Andy smile as he walks, shivering from the icy, midnight chill. "You're gonna love it, I'm sure. Skiing is right up your street." He slows to let Remington catch up to him. "It's bloody cold."

Remington links their arms. "My hands are dead," he says, without caring too much about it. "How am I s'posed to know how to ski?"

Andy glances at him and shrugs. "I'll teach you. I reckon I'd be a great ski instructor."

"We'll see."

"Here we are. Chalet Sixteen." He begins towards a door, putting the bag in his hand down to type in the pin to unlock the building. Once it's open and the porch lights have come on, Andy steps in and Remington follows, closing the door behind them. They leave their shoes in the porch and go up the stairs into the living area, finding the light switch.

"Oh, it's nice," Remington observes, yawning. "I'm finding the bedroom."

"Come have something to eat before you go to bed."

"Mm, fine." He opens a door, says, "I'm fuckin' freezing."

Andy unzips the bag with food they bought after the flight, organising it in the fridge and the cupboards and filling the kettle. "Come 'ere and I'll warm you up. The hot water bottle's in one of the bags."

Remington accepts the offer, returning to his husband and hugging himself to the man. "What're you making?" He mumbles.

"Tea and toast. Where the hell are the mugs?" Andy opens a cupboard, discovering bowls.

"Up your arse, I don't know." He rests his forehead on Andy's shoulder and yawns. "What if I fall over?"

"On the skis?"

He hums.

"You'll be fine, sweetheart. Snow is soft. Are you warming up now?"

"Mm. Can't wait for bed."

The older smiles and sways slowly as he opens a bag of sliced bread, trying not to disturb the boy. He's quiet while he pours hot water into two mugs with teabags and spreads butter on the toast. When he's finished, Remington is almost asleep against him, so he strokes his hair and says quietly, "kitten, wake up."

Remington whines and lifts his head, eyes only half open. "Toast?"

"Toast," Andy confirms, "c'mon, sit down."

After the midnight snack, the two crawl into bed and Remington is flat out asleep within ten minutes, leg bent over Andy's waist, head delicate on his chest. Andy strokes his shoulder until he, too, is sleeping.

Remington wakes to Andy drawing on his stomach with a felt tip pen. He looks at the man and raises an eyebrow. "What are you doing?" He asks. "It tickles."

"Giving you a tattoo. It's a flower."

"Why?"

"Because I was bored and you're so beautiful when you sleep. There, done." He replaces the cap of the pen.

"I want pancakes," Remington announces, sitting up stretching. "And warm clothes." He yawns. "How did you draw on me without me waking up?"

Andy shrugs and smiles. "I think I saw a crepe place outside somewhere, d'you wanna try there?"