***COMPLETED*** Around the World and Back [A Patty Walters Story]

Chapter 25: "Welcome home, sweetie!"

Two weeks later...

"MOM!" I shouted as I walked into my house with my bags, Patty and Ronnie following behind me. "MOMMY! I'm home!"

Less than a minute later, my mom came rushing into the hallway and pulling me into a hug, not even giving me enough time to take my backpack off.

"Avery, I missed you so much!" She said as she hugged me tightly. "Welcome home, sweetie!"

She looked past me and saw Patty and Ronnie standing behind me.

"Oh, you brought friends!" She beamed as she hugged Patty and introduced herself to Ronnie. "I'm leaving for a business trip in a few hours, so you'll have to make dinner for yourself tonight."

We all talked for a few minutes before I lugged my stuff upstairs, the boys following me.

Patty dropped his stuff as soon as he got into my room and jumped on my bed, spreading out.

"Finally," he laughed. "Oh, this is so comfortable. I've been waiting so long to spread out like this."

I rolled my eyes and pointed over to the couch.

"That folds out into a futon, you can sleep there or there's a room down the hall," I said to Ronnie as I sat down on the edge of my bed. "Patty seems to have claimed my bed."

Ronnie laughed at me and set his stuff down before pulling out his phone.

"I'm gonna text Britt-"

"Wait," I said excitedly. "Let's surprise her!"

I laid back on the bed as I dialed her number. Patty started playing with my hair, which made me tired, but I needed to stay awake.

"Hello?" Britt answered. It sounded like she was in her car.

"Hey!!" I said cheerfully. "I'm home now! You wanna come hang out?"

I could hear The Maine playing in the background. She was obsessed with them and saw them nearly every day while visiting.

"Yeah," she said with a laugh. "I'll be right there."

"YAY!" I smiled, looking up at Patty and winking at him. "See you soon."

As soon as I stood up, I stepped over all the bags and walked over to my closet, opening up the door.

"You can hide in here," I said as I looked back at Ronnie. "And then pop out and scare the shit out of her."

"Okay," he laughed as he stood up. "You've got a huge ass closet."

A few minutes later, I heard Britt's car pull up, and I ushered him in the closet.

"Stay there until she gets in there," I whispered before I shut the door. "It'll be a few minutes."

Patty was still laying on my bed still, laying on his stomach as he watched me.

"Britt is gonna freak out," he laughed as he ran a hand through his hair. "I can't wait to see it."

I smirked as Britt came up the stairs and into my room, nearly tripping over Patty's bags.

"You called me here to hang out with Patty?" she laughed as she hugged me. "This was what you couldn't wait for me to see?"

"No! I mean," I laughed as I watched her sit down. "Maybe, I dunno, I thought you'd want to hang out with us!"

Suddenly, the closet door opened, and Ronnie peaked out.

"You don't want to hang out with me?" He laughed as she screamed and stood up, jumping into his arms. "That's what I thought!"

"RONNIE!" She yelled as she hugged her arms around him tightly. "Oh my god, I can't believe you actually stayed!"

He spun her around and set her down, tilting her chin up and kissing her.

"I told you I would stay," he whispered as he hugged her again. "I just had to see you again."

"I definitely think they've taken our place as cutest couple," I whispered to Patty as I reached up and kissed him. "What do you think?"

He placed a hand on the small of my back and kissed me back.

"Perhaps they have," he chuckled as he pressed his forehead against mine. "He likes her so much."

Britt decided to stay the night, and we ordered pizza from a vegan-friendly place for Patty.

"I'm taking something to wear," Britt said as she opened up my drawers, pulling out a t-shirt. "Is this yours or Patty's?"

I looked over at her, laughing.

"That's definitely Patty's," I said as I yawned. "My stuff's in the bottom drawer."

She rolled her eyes and put it back in the dresser, grabbing one of my shirts out of the bottom. After she changed, she came back to the futon and cuddled up next to Ronnie.

It was only a little after 11, but we were all exhausted.

Xoxox

"Patty," I frowned when I woke up and he was facing away from me. "You aren't cuddling me."

He groaned sleepily and rubbed his eyes, turning back to face me.

"This is the first night in months that I've been able to sleep comfortably without being crammed in a bunk," he muttered, his voice raspy. "I'm so comfortable right now.

"But I've gotten so used to you cuddling me," I pouted as I looked at him. "I can't sleep now."

He took my hand and held it, squeezing my fingers.

"You can hold my hand if that makes you feel better," he said softly, stroking my hand with his thumb. "But please let me have a few nights to spread out and be comfortable."

I held his hand close to my chest as I frowned again.

"But I'm so cold without you," I whined softly, pulling up the covers with my free hand. "When are you gonna cuddle me again?"

"Be quiet," Britt groaned tiredly as she buried her head in Ronnie's chest. "It's 3 a.m., and I'm trying to sleep."

Patty leaned up and kissed my head gently, moving a tad bit closer to me. It was only night one of being home, and I was already complaining.

"I will in a few hours, okay?" He said gently as he stroked my hair. "Go back to sleep, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

I kept a tight grip on his hand as I tried to get comfortable again. I felt safe on tour sleeping in Patty's arms every night, and I was scared when I woke up and he was away from me. But after he assured me that he wasn't leaving, I started to calm down.

"Hey," Britt whined quietly. "Why'd you move?" She groaned as she rolled over to face Ronnie again. "Come back."

"I'm right here," Ronnie said gently with a tired chuckle. "I just moved over. I forgot I can spread out now."

"I haven't seen you in over two weeks, so let me cuddle you," she huffed, pulling the blankets back over the two of them again. "How fucking rude."