Reality Is Stranger Than Fiction

Forest Fires (Brighton)

Okay, so granted, you may have forgotten about the jellybeans last night. In your defence, both of you were exhausted, and you only really remembered when you finally trudged back to Ford's room for the night after having been captured by the probability wizard and forced to play a psychotic version of Dungeons, Dungeons and More Dungeons.

Pushing open the door, your eyes catch on the small bag of jellybeans sitting on the couch. Ford was following in behind you shortly, so you carefully collected the bag and the cream and sat them down on the bed. Following this, you tugged off your jacket, shirt, and pants, changing into pyjamas quickly, and settling down on the bed.

Ford appeared in the doorway shortly, you watched him carefully as he gripped the door and slowly pushed it closed. His hands were shaking - scratch that, his whole body was shaking. You watched as he slumped against the door, sliding down to the floor, his legs no longer able to support himself. Quickly, you were off the couch and crouching in front of him.

"Ford? What's wrong?" you whispered, carefully sliding the glasses off of his face and setting them down on the table nearby.

He lets out a shaking sigh as he slumps forwards, resting his head on your shoulder.

"That wasn't meant to happen..."

"I know."

"It shouldn't have happened..."

"I know."

"I should've known better - I should have -"

"Ford, stop. Yes, it happened. Yes, it wasn't how you intended the day to go. But, we're alive, and that's what matters," you assure him, carefully helping him to stand up again.

"How do you continue to be so positive?" he questions, leaning against you as the two of you make your way over to the bed.

"Because if I turn negative, then he wins. I can't have that," you hum, brushing off the question as he slumps down on the bed.

"You're a better partner than I could have ever hoped for," he muses, offering you a weak smile as you roll your eyes to hide the blush on your cheeks.

"Come on, brainiac, let's get you out of that trenchcoat," you say, brushing off the compliment as you slide the jacket down his shoulders.

He nods his head, helping you to do so. While you hang up the coat, he removes his sweater and shirt, tossing them into the laundry basket nearby. Turning back around, you grab a shirt from the dresser, and settle down on the bed behind him.

"I have something I want to give you - I wanted to do it last night but we fell asleep too soon," you admit, gripping the top of the jellybean bag.

"What's that?" he hums, turning his head back to face you.

"Found these while I was getting groceries," you explain, setting the bag of chocolate jellybeans in his lap. The grin that stretches across his face could paint a thousand pictures of joy.

"How'd you even find these? I didn't think they made then!" he rambles, grinning at you with sparkles in his eyes. You wanted desperately to reach out and cup his jaw, to press your lips to his and feel his joy through the kiss. Yet, you held yourself back. He's your friend... that's all he'll ever be.

"Apparently they make them. It was the last one on the shelf and I thought you might like them," you lie, you'd found two bags. But he didn't have to know about the second until he ran out of these. A surprise (and also so he didn't eat them all at once).

"You buy me cream, jellybeans, new clothes, play DDD with Dipper and me, and somehow remain a positive beacon for me, yet I've done nothing for you. There has to be some way I can repay you," he asks, opening the bag of jellybeans, and offering you one.