𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚊𝚍 𝙱𝚘𝚢 (𝚋𝚡𝚋)

23.

a/n: emotional/happy chapter today

**
"What do you even like say..?" Shawn asks. "Like do I...Just start ranting or something?"

Jaxon looks away from the computer where they were beginning to research therapists. Jaxon pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "I mean...I think first you should establish why you decided to go."

"Establish? You mean tell her that after my mom died my dad became an abusive drunk and I had to raise myself."

Jaxon blinks at him a few times and nods. "Yeah, exactly."

Shawn lets out a breath and stands up from the couch. "I-I don't know if I can go through with this."

Jaxon stands as well, reaching out to grab his hands. "We can wait. We don't have to rush into it."

Shawn sighs and shakes his head. "I-...I don't know, Jaxon."

"That's okay," Jaxon tugs on his hands softly. "Just take a deep breath, okay?"

Shawn takes in a sharp breath, losing control of his breathing. "I-I don't know what to do."

"Okay...Okay," Jaxon nods. "Just breathe, babe. Okay? Just focus on your breathing."

Shawn nods his head back at Jaxon, taking in a few deep breaths. He furrows his brows as he lets a few tears fall from his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize, baby."

Shawn looks down at Jaxon's hands, guiding him to the couch to sit down. He lets go of Jaxon's hands and Shawn lays his head on his lap like the day before.

Jaxon looks down at him with a frown on his face. He brings his hands into Shawn's hair again. "It's okay, love."

"Can we talk about something else? Please?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"Our wedding," Shawn sniffles. "W-What do you have in mind?"

Jaxon furrows his brows for a second. "Oh, uh...Well, I'd want it to be small and personal. You and I aren't exactly the most attention-seeking people."

Shawn nods his head in agreement.

"I really like the muted colors, maybe that could be our color scheme. And I actually looked through that catalog my mom sent, and there are some really good suit alternatives I can choose from."

"Yeah?" Shawn responds with a wobbly voice.

"Yeah. I was thinking I'd wear white. I know we don't wanna do a traditional, heteronormative wedding, but I really think I wanna wear something white."

"What else?"

"I want us to both write our own vows. I think...I think I want that to be something we share between each other. And I wanna be able to say those things in front of our family."

Shawn takes in another sharp breath and lets out a sob. Jaxon shakes his head, rubbing his hand up and down his back. "It's okay, baby. Let it out...It's okay."

**
Jaxon was standing at the stovetop to prepare a late dinner for the two. Shawn had exhausted himself from crying and fell asleep.

Jaxon hears a knock on the door and walks over to see who it was. He swings the door open and smiles when he sees Kai and AJ. "Oh, hey guys."

Kai smiles, holding a freshly baked plate of cookies. "Hey! We heard about Shawn. Thought we'd show some love."

Jaxon smiles at them and steps out of the way for them to enter. "You guys didn't have to, that's super nice."

"Of course we did. Gotta remind him we're his family." AJ responds. He shuts the door behind him. "Is he sleeping?"

"In the shower. We took a pretty long nap."

Kai sets the plate of cookies down. They hear another knock on the door, but they don't wait for someone to answer. Gavin, Chantel, and Kirstin all walk into the apartment.

Gavin waves at Jaxon. "Hey. We come bearing gifts."

Kirstin was holding two bottles of wine, one white and one red. While Chantel was holding a plethora of movies for Shawn to choose from. Gavin had a box of popcorn and a pack of sodas.

"Oh, you guys. This is so sweet," Jaxon furrows his brows and looks around. "But...Who told you guys?"

Gavin shrugs his shoulders. "Well, Shawn texted me...Then I told Chantel who told Kirstin...Who told Kai...who told AJ."

Kai turns to Jaxon and smiles. "And now we're here!"

Shawn then appears in the kitchen, his hair still dripping wet from the shower. "Uh, what's going on?"

AJ turns around to face him and smiles. "Oh, nothing. We're just the cheer-up committee!"

Shawn furrows his brows and glances at Jaxon. "Uh-."

Jaxon throws his hands up in surrender. "It wasn't me, I swear."

Kai smiles at him as well. "We're just here to cheer you up. Remind you of all you have."

Shawn can feel his face getting warm and looks over at Gavin. Gavin makes eye contact and steps forward. "You're not alone in this world, anymore man. We all got your back."

Shawn nods his head a few times and brings his hands up to wipe his eyes. "Great, now I'm crying."

Chantel chuckles, "Well save your tears. I brought some tear-jerker movies!"

Kirstin holds up the wine bottles. "Yeah, and I brought wine so...Let's get this movie marathon started, yeah?"

Shawn smiles widely and nods. "Yeah, of course."

The group makes their way to the living room. Gavin goes into one of their closets to grab pillows and blankets for everyone.

Shawn looks down at Jaxon and smiles. "This is really nice."

Jaxon looks back up at him. "It is. Are you feeling any better?" He asks.

"Yeah, I'm getting there," Shawn leans down and kisses Jaxon a few times. "Promise."

"Alright, lovebirds. Bring your asses in here!" Gavin yells at the two. "The movie is starting!"

**