Caffeine Cold - Joe Trohman / Pete Wentz fanfic

6

It was raining and overcast the day of Tiffany's funeral. We stood at her graveside in a swathe of black clothing and umbrellas as a priest gave her funeral service, all of us still in such a state of shock that we couldn't say anything.

Bronx clung to Judai and as the casket with Tiffany's body was lowered, she turned her face away, unable to deal with the finality of it all.

We'd all noticed a change in Judai since the news of Tiffany's death. It's like she was there, but she wasn't. She hardly ate or slept, claiming she was working or helping with arrangements and lived on a diet of nicotine and caffeinated Coca Cola or Pepsi - whichever was at hand.

I listened to the conversation she was having with Bronx and my heart melted more for this beautiful woman than ever before. "Bronx, sweety, dad needs you and Saint by his side right now. You're all he has left of your mom. You need to help him through this."

"But Aunt Judai, if dad wasn't gone all the time, maybe mom wouldn't have been so unhappy."

"Sweety, sometimes people are just sad and don't think about anything but ending their own pain. This isn't anyone's fault."

Bronx nodded and hugged her once more before they walked over to Pete. I inched closer to hear that conversation too. She handed him a thick, black leather bound journal and said to him, "I know Tiff kept a journal. I got this one for you, when you feel low, write her a letter in here. Tell her about your day. The good and the bad. I'll help you, I have a digital journal I've been doing the same with since we heard."

Pete hugged her tightly and thanked her, then turned to the small group of us gathered at the graveside. "We will be having refreshments at our house if anyone would like to come through. I am appreciative of everything you've done to help make this process easier for myself and the boys."

With that, we all got into our cars, Judai coming with me in my Mercedes Benz. I broke the eery silence by asking if she was going to stay on at Pete's house, where she had been since we arrived, or if she'd like to come stay at mine. She asked if I wouldn't mind and of course I didn't. She said she would just pack an overnight bag for now and move out bit by bit. Bronx had become quite attached to her.

We stopped outside of Pete's house and before going in, I took her now bony hand in mine and started a speech I'd been preparing for her. "Judai, you need to start eating properly again. You're wasting away and I know this is a hard time for you, but if you want someone to help you through it, please let me. We've always been able to be open with one another and I want to be the one you turn to for comfort."

We shared our second ever kiss, this one more intense than the first one, "I know I need you right now baby. That's why I think it's a good idea for me to come home with you."

We walked into the house where a catering company had provided appetisers and some beverages. I got Judai a Pepsi and a plate of a little bit of everything I knew she liked. "Here honey, you need to eat something solid."

She nodded and did as I'd asked, always willing to listen and trust me. I had had years with this woman and all the signs of her having feelings for me were there. I needed to know for my sake. "Judai, when did you start falling for me?"

She looked into my eyes, "The day you got back from having your braces removed and you were smiling so widely because of how happy you were. The smile reached your eyes and made them sparkle. It was then I realised what a beautiful man you were, not just physically but on the inside too. You always took care of me and kept me safe. So, the answer is, I fell for you many, many years ago."

I wrapped her in a hug and whispered, "I wish I had had the guts to tell you what you meant to me back then. I just never wanted to lose you."

She kissed my shoulder, due to her height, "You'll never lose me Joe. Not unless you go after another woman. That would break me."

I sighed, "You are the only woman I want. Hell, we'll all hire you to handle our investments and you can tour with us. I want you around all the time just for the way you make me feel."

Pete walked up to us then, "Thank you guys. You've really been a big support during all of this madness. But I want you two to go home and spend some time together. If we need help, we'll call but Hayley's here so it should be fine."

Judai kissed Pete's cheek and he hugged her tightly and I have Pete a hug. We walked out of his house, hand in hand, desperate to get home and have a peaceful, stress free night.