𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 • 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯

sixteen

It's been a few days since Grayson left home to stay at Ethan's house. He met his mom May Grant who welcomed him into their home with open arms. They get along very well, he bonds by teasing Ethan with her at every chance he can get. Today she pulled out an old photo album filled with pictures of Ethan as a baby, even after he whined to never speak to them again.

"Oh! Look at this one." May laughs pointing to a picture of Ethan in the bathtub as a toddler.

"Doesn't he just have the cutest wittle butt?" she squeals in baby voice.

"Yeah, the cutest butt." Grayson laughs, smirking at Ethan who sits across from them pouting with flush red cheeks.

"I like that one." Grayson points to a tiny picture of May holding Ethan's hand, he smiles inspecting the photo.

"Ms. Grant, I didn't know you had another kid." He says pointing out her baby bump.

"Oh..." She frowns and glances at Ethan who looks at her before walking to his room and slamming the door. Grayson stares off in confusion before she explains.

"You see... about five years after I had Ethan his dad wanted to be apart of our lives again. I hesitantly decided to try working things out with him, for the sake of Ethan. I wanted him to have his father in his life." She pauses and sighs before continuing.

"Well... his dad wasn't a great man. He had a temper, anger issues, he used to hit me and even once hit Ethan." Her voice cracks as her eyes get teary.

"Despite all of this, I got pregnant with his child and things were finally getting better. I thought he had finally changed but I was wrong. One day, a few months before the baby was born. He just snapped. He was in one of his moods and In heated anger, he pushed me." She explains wiping a tear from her cheek.

"I fell on my stomach. After that he left once again, I never wanted to see him again, or have him around Ethan and the new baby. Turns out, I didn't have to worry because a few weeks later I found out... I had miscarried it." She bites her lip trying to stifle a sob, her green eyes are now puffy as tears roll down her face.

"Ethan was never the same, Even though he was young, he witnessed everything. I wish he didn't, I wish I was stronger, I wish I pushed his dad out of our lives the first time he crossed the line but I didn't and it effected Ethan really badly."

"To be honest Grayson, I haven't seen him this happy In years. He completely changed once he met you, he used to be angry, he used to hurt himself, he used to fight with me, fight with others, but all of that stopped once you came around." She confesses with a hopeful smile.

"You're special, and your helping him change for the better. Thank you for that." She adds with a soft laugh before bringing Grayson into a hug, he wipes a few tears from his face and squeezes her tightly. "No need to thank me Ms. Grant."

"Ethan's helping me just as much as I'm helping him, I've honestly never felt this much love from anyone... not even my parents. I haven't gone through as much as he has, so having him be so caring, and gentle with me is honestly amazing." Grayson explains holding her hands in his.

"I'll do anything to see him smile, and to make him happy. I promise I'll try my hardest to keep him happy." He says with a bright smile.

They hug one last time before Grayson goes to look for Ethan in his room.

"E, you in there?" He lightly knocks on his door and listens. After hearing only a quiet sob he decides to push the door open.

Ethan lays on his bed with an old photo in his hand, once Grayson walks closer he realizes It's the same picture he and Ms. Grant were just looking at. The one of her with a small baby bump holding Ethan's hand. He stares at the picture crying softly with tear stained cheeks.

"Oh, Ethan." Grayson awes dropping down to hug him.

"It's okay E." He whispers rocking him in his arms. Ethan sniffles at his words and hugs him tightly, pulling Grayson on top of him. Grayson caresses his cheeks, while wiping his tears away.

"She told you everything didn't she?" Ethan states numbly.

"Yeah." Grayson nods with a frown.

"And you want to leave right? You don't like me anymore? You're scared of me now, aren't you?-" Ethan says as a tear rolls down his cheek.

"What? No." Grayson cuts him off cupping his cheeks and looking him in the eye.

"Never, I'll never leave you." He assures kissing him softly.

"You're too good for me Grayson. You deserve someone who doesn't have so much baggage. You deserve a normal guy who isn't so weak, someone who doesn't have to go to therapy or be doped up on meds to be a functioning fucking human being." Ethan grits his teeth in frustration.

"I don't deserve you." He repeats striking sadness through Grayson's heart.

"What are you taking about? You're everything I need. I don't ever want to be apart from you. You make me feel the happiest I've ever felt." Grayson declares pulling him close.

"Don't ever say those things again, because they're all lies. You're the strongest, kindest, and most fearless person I've ever met. You're special, you need to believe that." He explains, cuddling his head into Ethan's chest.

"I don't want anyone else but you, because... I love you." He adds.

"I love you too, Gray." Ethan says wiping his tears as Grayson connects their lips.

"I'm sorry for all of this, I just get emotional when I see this picture." Ethan apologizes and looks down at the picture in his hand.

"I think of what could've been if I was there for my mother, if I was stronger... but I was just a kid. I didn't know what to do, I wish I could've saved my unborn sibling. I wish I could've done something." He sighs.

"You did all you could do, you gave your mom enough love and memories for two children. You can't blame yourself for your dads mistakes." Grayson explains cupping his cheeks and trying his best to comfort him.

Ethan looks into his warm eyes and somehow feels like he could've been that unborn sibling. He loves him like family, he loves him like he's known him his whole life. He smiles and kisses him softly, Grayson lays his head back down on his chest and falls asleep with Ethan's arms wrapped around him.

—

Ethan sleeps like a baby after his emotional day, he puts on a strong front and hardly cries, he can't remember the last time he did, but somehow every time he does have a  good cry he seems to sleep so well. That's until he wakes up to his name being called, it's late in the night when he opens his eyes.

"Wh-What? I'm up what's wro-"

"Ethan."

He hears it again, coming from the familiar voice next to him. He turns over and looks down at Grayson who is still asleep.

"Ethan." He mumbles quietly making Ethan smile at the sight, he always talks in his sleep and usually what escapes his lips involve Ethan.

"Help." Grayson whispers furrowing his brows.

Ethan frowns at his words, He was dreaming about him but it was really a nightmare. Ethan stares at his sleeping face laying on his bicep.

"He won't leave me." Grayson mumbles shaking his head as a tear escapes from his closed eye.

"He won't leave me." Grayson repeats shaking slightly.

Ethan frowns before wiping the tears off his cheeks and hugging his arms around him tighter.

"I won't." Ethan assures kissing his head a few times and rocking him until he goes still, indicating he's back into a deep sleep, hopefully dreaming good dreams.

"I love you Grayson." Ethan says planting kisses down his neck. Grayson smiles warmly in response.

"I love you." Ethan repeats with a small smile looking down at his peaceful face.

"Goodnight."