Haunted

Falling is Like This

"Maddox are you awake?" Justin shouted across the room.

"Yes, Dad," Maddox sighed and got to his feet. He and Justin had agreed to perform a few extra shows together in various cities since they would be on tour at the same time. It meant learning choreography for two shows, not just one, and rehearsals seemed to get longer every day. Both Justin and Maddox were perfectionists about their shows and working together meant a lot of late nights and practices.

No matter how late it was when Maddox got home, Brent was always waiting. They had a lot of sex, because they had gone so long without it, but some nights they just stayed up talking for hours. Maddox wasn't sure which he liked best. In a sad way, he even liked getting to be there when Brent had nightmares about the bus accident and having a chance to take care of Brent instead of having to let Brent take care of him. But no matter what they spent all night doing it meant Maddox had a really hard time staying awake during rehearsal.

"Boyfriend wearing you out?" Hunter handed Maddox an iced coffee.

"You have no idea, I love it," Maddox grinned. He'd moved his engagement ring to his right hand so he and Brent could keep it a secret for a little longer. It made him smile every time someone called Brent his boyfriend.

"I wish I did. I'd watch you two fuck."

"I'll send you our sex tape."

"Shut up, there's no sex tape," Eli rolled his eyes. "Hunter, I need you."

"You should meet Brent. Dinner, set something up," Maddox decided as Hunter followed Eli from the room. Hunter gave him a wink and Maddox turned to face his father.

Brent was asleep on the couch by the time Maddox got home that night. Maddox grinned and tried to be quiet as he found himself dinner and took it over to the couch. He kissed Brent lightly on the forehead and sat down.

"Hi baby."

"Hey," Maddox smiled at him. He wasn't sure there was anything more adorable than sleepy Brent. Unless it was sleepy Brent with a sleepy baby. Maddox pushed that thought away immediately. It was too weird.

"I tried to stay up," Brent mumbled. That was when Maddox saw the book on the floor next to him, like it had fallen there when Brent fell asleep.

"It's really late, it's okay. I love you."

"I love you too," Brent smiled and stretched a little.

"Go to bed, babe," Maddox rubbed Brent's leg. "I'll be up as soon as I finish eating."

"I'll wait," Brent insisted. He sat up and leaned his head on Maddox's shoulder where he fell asleep again.

As much as Maddox hated to wake him, he knew he needed a shower and he'd never make it through a full day of rehearsal the next day if he slept sitting up on the couch. Maddox kissed Brent's face until he woke up again and they could go upstairs to sleep.

"I want to do something special for your birthday," Brent said the next morning. He was still in bed, watching Maddox get dressed.

"Like what?"

"I don't know yet, but it's coming up and I feel like we should do something big. It will be 4 years since the day we met."

"I know," Maddox turned from the mirror to face him. He was turning 20 that year. "But next year is the big year."

"Next year we'll have to have a big party and get you really drunk and embarrass you," Brent rolled his eyes. "This year I want it to be about us."