Even Now

Chapter 57: Quid-Pro-Quo - Part II

The song attached is from the album I listened to while writing this... the 'Stones are pretty good, y'all! And this one song I replayed constantly... damn, is it ever a beautiful song...

There's no third part, this is part 2 and the final part of this two-part chapter 😅 it was just so big I had to split it :')

On to the story... 

***

Completely immersed and enthralled by each other, on and on the two would converse, telling story after story from their pasts. Generally, what they discussed was lighthearted; at one point, Jerry almost rolled off the bed in a fit of laughter form an outlandish joke Layne had told.

Occasionally, a dark or heavy subject would be brought forward. Through those particularly painful or frustrating stories, the listening party would do just that: listen. They would offer each other sympathies, and support the teller however they could, even if they were at a loss for words.

It was easy to lose track of time. As was typical for the two whenever they were together, the whole world seemed to fade into a quiet static around them. It felt like it did when they had first gotten together, when all they had done was talk about anything and everything... now, there was nothing either felt they had to hide. There was no more 'love triangle' drama... they could be open about their feelings and intentions, neither putting any pressure on 'the future.'

They made love through conversation, completely open and vulnerable, the only view ahead of them being the other's loving gaze.

Layne didn't think he had ever loved Jerry more. Every day, their love for each other grew... but it was moments like this that strengthened everything they knew and loved about each other, took away all their doubts and fears...

Sadly, no matter how long you want these little moments to last, they cannot go on forever. And it wasn't anything sinister that interrupted them... no, it was just a tiny bit of scratching at the door, and a light, whiny mewling sound that followed.

Both Jerry and Layne turned their heads to look at the door, with Layne falling onto his back and elbows. "Of course."

"Aw," Jerry says, lightly patting Layne's shoulder a couple of times before he groggily sits up, rubbing his eyes. "They just want to say 'hello.'"

"Eh... I suppose that's allowed."

Jerry snickers at that. He then turns so that he's on the edge of the bed, leisurely standing and making his way to the bedroom door. He turns the handle, and almost immediately, Sadie and Yttik push their little heads through the crack in the door. Sadie nuzzles against Jerry's leg, and Yttik takes a few steps towards the foot of the bed, crouching before jumping up onto the comforter.

"Hey, buddy," Layne grins widely, outstretching his hand towards Yttik, who starts kneading the sheets beside him in preparation to cuddle in close.

Jerry bends down to pick Sadie up, cradling her in his arms. "Hi, sweetheart." Sadie begins to purr in response, as Jerry runs his index and middle finger down the space between her eyes. He carries Sadie over to Layne's side of the bed, sitting down on the edge.

"How are they so calm right now? They're usually so whiny and needy," Layne ponders aloud.

Jerry frowns, clearly disagreeing, yet keeping his silence on that opinion. "I don't know; maybe they just woke up from a nap, and this is their 'calm before the storm.'"

A thought then comes to Layne's mind, making him feel a small flash of worry. "Hey, did you feed them today?"

Jerry's quiet for a moment, mouth opening and closing before he commits to a slightly sure set of words: "I... I think I did."