What Happened in Between

Together

FOUR YEARS LATER

Mitch smiled when he crossed off the date. College is almost over for him and he is almost done with his major. He then sighed as he looked around his apartment. After his freshman year, he moved in with Travis. It was hard because Avi became sick. Kevin was the only one to help his husband around the house. Scott, Mitch, and Kirstin stopped by all the time to make sure that their dads were okay. Kevin is okay, but he looks so stressed out. He tells the kids it's because he's tired, but they know the truth. And Avi?

He looked like he was on the brink of death. The treatments he was supposed to be on ended up not working and now he has to have a stronger treatment. The only problem is that he needs a new kidney and if he doesn't get one, then he only has a month to live. Three weeks have already passed and if Avi doesn't get the kidney, he will have to go to hospice.

Mitch sighed to himself sadly as he allowed a tear to roll down his cheek. Scott and Kirstin took tests to see if they were matches. Unfortunately, they didn't and now the only one who could really save his father is him. He prayed everyday that he will be a match. Travis then walked in, hugging him from behind.

"Are you okay, baby?" Travis asked softly, kissing the back of Mitch's head. The younger one sighed as he shook his head. "Is it about your dad?"

"Y-ye-ea-ah," Mitch answered, turning around so that he can hug his boyfriend. Travis put his chin on Mitch's head, sighing sadly. "I w-wa-an-an-t to be a m-ma-at-tc-ch."

"I know, honey," Travis commented quietly, hugging Mitch tighter. The younger man felt safe in his arms. "Everything will be okay."

Mitch nodded as he sighed heavily. The past years were tough. He found at that his bullies in high school helped Carson and Charlotte with the kidnapping. They told Mitch's kidnappers where he was and how to get there. Charlotte then turned all of them in, earning them long years in prison. Everyone was surprised that she turned everyone in, but they were grateful.

The years were just tough. With Avi dying, it was harder for Mitch to focus on college. He prays every night for his dad to get healthy. He was in the middle of thinking about this that Travis had to kiss him to get his attention. Mitch nodded and noticed that Travis had the home phone in his hand.

"It's the doctor," Travis told him, putting his hand on it. Mitch took it from him gently, hoping for the best. "It sounds important."

Mitch nodded his head, putting the phone on his ear. He closed his eyes, hoping for the best.

"J-ju-us-st-t t-te-el-el-l me," Mitch begged quietly, hoping for the best. What the doctor said made him burst into tears and drop the phone. He buried his face into his hands, emotion taking over him.

"Babe, what's the matter?" Travis asked then widened his eyes. He knows what this is about. "Is it your dad?"

"Y-ye-ea-ah-h," Mitch replied, his tears taking over his speech. He then picked the phone, breathing heavily. "I-I'l-l be t-th-he-er-re-e in a f-fe-ew. Bye."

Travis then raised an eyebrow when Mitch began to smile as tears continued to roll down his cheeks. What happened?

"Is everything okay?" Travis asked hesitantly as he grabbed Mitch's hands. His boyfriend nodded happily as he took a shuddery breath. "Good news?"

"Yep," Mitch answered and breathed heavily. He then laughed and cleared his throat. "I-I'm-m a m-ma-at-tc-ch. My dad is g-go-oi-ing-g to be o-ok-ka-ay."

~~~

A week passed and the day of the surgery came. Mitch and Avi are sitting next to each other, praying that the other one will be okay. It was only them. Travis and Kevin are in the waiting rooms. Scott and Alex went up to Northern California to adopt another child and Kirstin and Ariana are in Florida to see some relatives. They wanted to come down to see Avi and Mitch before the surgeries, but father and son reassured them that everything will be okay.

"Mitch," Avi began, getting his son's attention. This was really hard to say. "I just realized this yesterday. The kidney will give me a longer life expectancy, but it won't be extremely long. The doctor told me that I'll be lucky if I live up to fifteen years. I was given about ten to fifteen years."

"S-so-o t-th-ha-at-t m-me-ea-an-s t-th-ha-at-t you will d-di-ie-e?" Mitch asked, his heart breaking. When Avi nodded, he broke down into tears. "Y-yo-ou-u a-ar-re-e g-go-oi-ing-g to l-li-iv-ve! Yo-ou-u got to!"

"Mitch," Avi replied quietly, wiping away the tears his son shed. Mitch looked up at him, not wanting to lose him. "Whatever happens, I'll be okay. The only thing I care about is tags I got to watch you grow up. I'm not living much longer, but your kidney will help me live. You're helping me survive longer, Mitchy. Everything will be okay."

~~~

Two months passed since the surgery and Mitch and Avi are healthy. Well, mostly healthy. Avi told Scott and Kirstin about his most recent health update and the family broke down in tears. After their cry session, they went to the beach since Avi would not be allows to go there much longer when he starts treatment.

The family stayed close together. Scott and Alex brought their children a lot and Kirstin and Ariana always talked about their adopted daughter Lilliana that they love dearly. Travis came a lot with Mitch, reassuring the dads that Mitch will be treated with respect and talked endlessly about getting married. Mitch always laughed when Travis did being up marriage because that is a running joke between them.

If only Mitch knew.

~~~

"Yo, Mitch," Kirstin yelled, getting her brother's attention. At ages twenty four and twenty two, the two still yelled at each other to get attention. "Come downstairs!"

"O-ok-ka-ay-y, Mrs. Gr-ra-an-de," Mitch replied, winking at his sister. She blushed happily at the name and then grabbed his hand. "W-wh-he-er-re are we g-go-oing-g?"

"Outside," Kirstin answered, taking her brother to the backdoor. She then opened the door, smiling more when Mitch gasped. She took a rose and gave it to him, rubbing his hand. "There's a surprise for you at the end."

Mitch nodded as Scott and Alex stood up from chairs, giving him roses. He then smiled at them and Ariana gave him a rose, hugging him slightly then let go when Kevin and Avi gave him the last two roses. Instead of them being red like the other ones though, they were white. Mitch raised an eyebrow and noticed Travis in a suit, smiling when he came up to him. Travis smiled back and brushed Mitch's hair off his forehead, kissing the scar lightly.

"Mitch," Travis began, smiling when Mitch nodded slightly. "I have been thinking about how to say this ever since you graduated high school. I could never find how to say the right words or how to deliver them. Scott helped me and hit me with a piece of paper whenever I made a mistake.

"Anyways, you are the sunshine after a rainy day. You are the first star of every night. You are the flower that blossoms first, showing your beauty to everyone who adores you. You my everything.

"You are my rock. You are the foundation of my very existence. You are the strongest person I know. You never gave and found ways to solve every problem. You are my little problem solver, my beautiful angel.

"Mitch?" Travis finished off, wiping the tears that ran down his boyfriend's face. He then went down on his knee, causing Mitch to release quiet sobs. "Will you make me the happiest man in the world by becoming my husband?"

Mitch nodded, unable to answer. He then took a deep breath, nodding even more. His siblings are crying loudly in the background while their husband and wife tried to keep them quiet, but they couldn't help but cry themselves at the sweet words Travis said.

"Y-ye-es-s!"

And then Travis slipped the ring on his finger, starting a new chapter in Mitch's life.

A/N: This chapter is bittersweet. Sorry about that, lol. The story is ending tomorrow.:( I can't believe all of this started because LittleCarokind and scottsxeyebrows wanted my one-shot to become a story. Now here we are with the last chapter and one of my most successful stories ever. I love you all so much.:)

-Maddie🐧🐧🐧