They all sat in the living room watching a movie intently. Connor smiled at the realisation that they were all sitting in the same places they did just a few years ago. Troye once again curled up next to Connor, their heart beats in sync.
Shaun chuckled to himself, "Just like old times, hey Con?" he asked the boy, who chuckled then as well seeing Troye now deeply asleep on his shoulder.
"Just like old times," Connor repeated as he looked to his boy with a loving gaze. "I will take him up," Connor said to the rest of the Mellets as he got up, picking up Troye who sighed sleepily as he wrapped his arms lazily around Connor's neck.
"Any heavier?" Shaun asked jokingly.
"Is that a trick question?" Connor retorted making the family laugh.
"Night boys," Laurelle said with a very soft and content smile.
"Night," Connor said back then walking up the stairs with Troye snuggled up in his strong arms.
Connor entered Troye's bedroom and laid the boy under the covers gently, Troye instantly falling back asleep when his head hit the pillow.
Connor remained standing beside the boy for a while then took another look around the room. He then noticed that Troye had some other things in his room that he didn't have back when Connor was still in Perth.
He noticed strings of Polaroids hung up and when he started looking at them from the one end they made him smile. The first ones were of his family, Zoe, Alfie, Louise and a few other people Connor did not recognise, but then as hus eyes trailed further down the string of photographs he noticed they were chronological order and he was going backwards.
His heart swelled. There hung multiple pictures of where Connor didn't know the picture was being taken, there were pictures of the two of them with friends and then of course ones of just the two of them. The last one of Connor with Troye was taken the day before he disappeared, while they were at the lake. They looked so happy, both wore bright smiles reaching their shining eyes.
He actually kept these.
Connor's eyes stung slightly with tears and then thought to the stack of Polaroids he had kept himself when he left. He knew where they were he just didn't show Troye because he had never thought about them till now, looking at all these ones, he thought Troye would have gotten rid of them.
Connor smile smiled sadly, yet at the same time it was a smile of relief. He found Troye again and despite all he did to him, Troye didn't push him away and gave him another chance.
Connor still wasn't that tired so he decided to put their clothes in the closet from their suitcases to save the trouble of him and Troye having to do it the next day. As Connor opened the door to the closet his heart swelled once again as he saw only one lonesome sweater hung up.
He kept that too.
It was the sweater Connor left for Troye. Connor tried to contain himself and not let his tears slip from his eyes. He ignored them and hung the clothes and folding the rest and when done he took his shirt off, leaving him in his sweatpants.
He got under the soft covers and then couldn't help it but let his tears fall; they were not sobs just two silent waterfalls running down his cheeks. He sniffled softly and then pulled the deep sleeping boy beside him into his arms. Troye remained asleep as Connor held him tightly to his chest, soaking his curls in tears. Connor placed a weak kiss to his curls and spoke in a low whisper, barely audible.
"I'm sorry I did that to you, I know you said you forgive me, I thought I had forgiven myself but that may take a bit longer. I'm sorry I made such an empty promise, this time I will not promise anything but my love for you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I hope you never think otherwise, goodnight my sweet angel."
