Lams oneshots

Returning Home (C)

(A/N) Thank you to Qail_Feathers and MeganRylie55 for the request! (And allowing me to mash your requests! :^) I was ridiculously excited to write this)

Laurens released a shaky breath. Something about airplanes caused him to become aware of his heart in his chest and his brain in his head and the fact that technology can fail you.

Alexander placed a hand on his boyfriend's restless knee, looking up and offering a reassuring smile for his freckled mess to sink into. Thankfully, something about the smaller boy caused John to feel safer, more attuned to reality.

"I'm sure we're almost there," Alex reassured in a whisper, his voice hoarse from a two hour nap, "Try sleeping again?"

Laurens nodded, accepted Alex's other earbud, and cuddled into Alexander's chest.

About an hour later, he groggily rose his head just in time to hear a small gasp of wonder escape Alexander's lips.

"John," he whispered, "John, look. Bahn Ya." Alex began lightly hitting Laurens' leg.

John wrapped his arms around Alexander's neck, both boys watching out the window as the land grew larger.

"It's my island," Alex exclaimed in a hushed whisper, as if he was talking to no one in particular.

Mixed feelings were clambering through his body as the airplane descended. On one hand, he grew up here- all of his childhood memories and friends live on this island. On the other hand, how many treasured childhood landmarks were wiped from existence by that hurricane? How many small businesses can close in eight years?

Alexander squeezed John's hand as the captain reported their landing.

After going through airport security, Alex was practically bouncing on his toes, exhilaration dancing with the butterflies in his stomach. The two boys managed to hold down a taxi to bring them to Alex's hometown.

"To Charlestown!" They chimed, interlocking fingers.

"So, where to first on my tour?" John kept his head facing the window, as if he didn't want to miss a single detail about the town.

"Oh-oh gosh, I don't know?" Alexander let out a soft, nervous laugh, "There are so many places I want you to see!" He began to speak almost to himself, "It's been awhile, the house may not even be there, but there's no harm in seeing?" Alex nodding his head and providing the taxi driver with an address.

Once they arrived at the house, Alexander approached with caution, his mouth slightly parted and feeling as though he was about to wake up from a dream. His childhood home was still there. After all this time, it was miraculous. Sure, there were a few renovations like fresh paint and furniture on the porch that wasn't previously there, but that didn't fully matter to him.

John squeezed Alex's hand, pulling him out of his awestruck head, "Alex," he whispered.

"Hm?" Alexander blinked a few times, facing John and then following his pointer finger to a sign that read 'Open House'. He couldn't decide if luck was on his side or against him.

"We don't have to go in if you don't want to. You're probably feeling a lot right now, I just thought I'd point out the-"

"What better way to show you where I grew up?" Alexander interrupted, already pulling Laurens towards the open door.

They entered into, what seemed to be, a livingroom and dismissed the sales women, insisting that they'd approach her with any questions after looking around by themselves.

Alex walked with eager caution throughout the house, a melancholy gleam in his eyes as he told John stories of every room and pointed out every change. That is, except for his mother's bedroom. That was the one room Alex wasn't ready to face.