Hide Your Heart

Morning After

Tommy drifted off after his all-night bout with nausea.  It was six and he had a major headache. He vaguely heard Paul asking him a question. "Hm?"

"Did you throw up all night?" 

"Hm huh."

"You're not getting out of bed today. Sleep."

Paul headed down to make coffee and eat a light breakfast. He made fresh bottles for the girls and laid out clean warm outfits. Paul had planned on looking for a Christmas tree later in the day. He changed his plans since Tommy couldn't go.

After eating and some light cleaning, Paul took a quick shower and fed the triplets. He dressed them all in red and white dresses with matching bows and red tights. Bundling them into the car, he left Tommy a note saying he'd be back later. His plan was to go get pictures taken of them. 

Gene had woken up to find Eric still out so he asked Paul if he could join him and bring the twins.

"Where's Eric?"

"Um, I don't know. He blew up at me and I haven't seen him since he left." "He thinks I'm cheating."

"Oh for heaven's sake. Tom opened up last night." "Finally."

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Tommy woke up later and found Paul's note. " I guess I'll go see if I can cook something then."

He slowly sat up before pulling himself up by the headboard. "Tom, let me help you." said Eric. 

After getting over the shock of finding Eric in the house, Tommy gratefully accepted the helping hand. He let Eric cook for him. They talked about a lot of things, Gene mostly. 

Tommy told Eric he was scared to have another baby since he had found out Aurora was deaf. "What if the next one's deaf too?"

"And? You'll love him or her just the same." "I don't want any more but Gene does." "Tom, what if I told you that Sarah called me out of the blue to see how I doing?"

Sarah, your ex? My hospital therapist?"

"Yeah."

"Are you seeing her again?"

"I want to take her to dinner but I don't know if I should. She's still married and I'm with Gene."

"But if you're still friends, then it should be okay."

"Tom, I'm with someone else. You don't just casually screw around with exes or -" Eric stopped as he realized what he had just said, "I wasn't implying anything."

"It's fine." "I got it." sighed Tommy. He let Eric out and shut the door.

Going back upstairs, he grabbed a bag and started throwing clothes in it. He thought it best if he stayed in a hotel a few nights while he sorted out a few things.

Just as he started writing Paul a note, the door opened again and Paul walked in. "Baby, I'm-""Where are you going?"

Tommy couldn't answer him.