Josh Dun x Reader

Cemetery Weather

Warnings: Angst, mentions of death

Word Count: 975

"I'm sorry, Mr. Dun. She didn't make it."

Josh felt his stomach drop straight down to his feet. The nurse wordlessly led him back to your room. He looked over you, taking in your appearance one last time: all the fine lines that come with age, the gray streaks in your hair that you had always hated, everything that he had loved about you.

He felt numb as he drove home, paying just enough attention to not hit anyone as he drove. This wasn't how things were supposed to happen. The two of you were supposed to grow old together, die together even. But some idiot had ruined all of that, taking you away from him far too soon. How would he tell your kids? They were going to be heartbroken. Kids weren't supposed to have to experience their parent dying.

The house was eerily quiet. He had always hated it like this, only the sounds from outside filled the house now. Even when the kids had moved out to start their own lives, he had always had you to keep him company. Now he had nothing.

Rage flowed through him, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails were leaving marks in his palms. He grabbed a plate and threw it against the wall, shattering it into bits and pieces that fell to the ground. Throwing things wouldn't solve anything and it certainly wouldn't bring you back to him, but for the time being it was the only thing that made him feel a little bit better.

"I don't know what I would do if anybody tried to take you away," Josh whispered, pulling you a little further into his chest.

"Nobody is going to take me away," you reassured him, wrapping your arms around him.

Josh leaned down so that his forehead was pressed to yours. You looked into his brown eyes that still managed to shine in the dark of your bedroom. The two of you had developed a bad habit of staying up far too late just talking about life now that you lived under the same roof, but you didn't mind the tired feeling in the morning. It served as a reminder of the night before.

"You're beautiful, did you know that?"

"I did, because you tell me every day."

Josh seemed pleased with that answer, his mouth curving into a smile before he leaned down and kissed you.

It had been a few years since you had been taken from him. Josh spent most of his days alone, playing his drums to try and mask the pain that still ate away at him. Some days were worse than others, those were the days when he barely got out of bed. Your kids were worried about him, but they knew there wasn't much that they could do. You had meant too much to him.

"I don't know why I breathe," Josh sighed, tossing his drumsticks to the ground.

He regretted not spending more time with you when he had the chance. All those years spent touring, thinking the two of you would have plenty of time in your old age to be together with no other worries. Even though he knew you never would have let you stop touring, he wished that he had gone against what you said and just come home to you.

"I would do anything," Josh said.

"I know you would, but touring the world and keeping the fans happy is what I need you to do right now," you answered.

One of your kids sprinted through the living room, followed closely by another one. You watched them carefully, making sure that they weren't getting in to too much trouble.

"The kids?" Josh asked.

You nodded. Your daughter came running up to you and launched herself into your lap.

"Dad!" she smiled, taking up the entire screen.

"Hi, darling," Josh smiled. "How are you?"

"I'm good. How is Uncle Tyler?"

"He's good. We just finished a performance so he's getting some rest and talking to Aunt Jenna."

Your daughter nodded and then ran off to find her siblings. In the next room, you could hear the faint sound of your kids talking about something or other.

"There's only a few weeks left until you come home," you smiled at him.

"I know, then we get an entire four months to just be together and not worry about anything else."

"I'm looking forward to it. The kids miss you, and so do I."

"I miss you too. Sometimes I wish we were still 28 and you would come on tour with us and get to see every show."

"I do too, but times change. Now we have three little blessings in our life."

"I can't argue with that."

The calm discussion that you had heard earlier had escalated into full on yelling. There was a brief moment of silence before one of the kids burst into tears.

"I better go deal with that. Get some rest and I'll talk to you soon."

"Good luck. I love you."

"I love you too."

You ended the call and walked into the next room to solve whatever dispute was happening.

Josh's time eventually came. He lived close to twenty-five years without you, each passing year hurting just a little less than the last. All of your kids came home to spend his final moments with him, an opportunity that they hadn't had with you.

He embraced death with open arms, knowing that it would finally take him back to you. It was a moment that he had been waiting for ever since the day that you left him.

"I will love you until we're buried," he whispered.

"I'll love you even past then," you answered.

Josh laced his fingers with yours and leaned down to kiss you.

"Promise?"

"I promise."