Denial - a Breddy fanfic

120.

Everything moved relatively quickly after that, with Eddy just kind of staying more and more at Brett's house and bringing more and more of hiss stuff. Brett loved suddenly finding Eddy's hoodies among his laundry or his coffee mug suddenly clean back in the cupboard. It was nice going to bed with Eddy's arms snaking around his waist and a quick "I love you" before he nodded off, tired from whatever they had been up to that day. It was all Brett could ever wish for.

Today was his father's funeral, and the pair was getting into their dark suits. Brett didn't feel much, for the most part. He had shoved all his sadness into the bottom of his stomach and put a brave face on. Today he was to be strong for his mother.
"You okay?" Eddy asked just before they went out the door, placing his hand gently on Brett's arm. This almost pushed him over the edge. Almost. He cleared his throat.
"I'm alright, let's go. Mom's probably waiting."

Hours later, after the funeral and all that cale with it was over, Brett was exhausted. Emotionally exhausted, that was. To see his brother cry like that, to watch his mother break down, to see even Eddy fighting tears as an uncle read some words he had written about the man in the coffin. It almost pushed Brett over the edge. Almost. He had to be strong for his mother today.
"You okay?" Eddy asked as they entered their house, closing the door behind him. Brett nodded, knowing his voice would betray him if he spoke. He just wanted to go to bed and be done with the day.
"You sure?", Eddy's voice had a hint of worry seeping through that almost pushed Brett over the edge. Almost.
He nodded again, undoing his black tie. He was fine, absolutely fine.

"Bretty, love, I know it's a lie." Brett felt the sting of tears in his eyes, but quickly blinked them away.
It was when Eddy helped him with his tie he realized how much his hands were shaking.
"It's okay to not be fine, Brett. Let me help you." Suddenly, it wasn't almost over the edge anymore, and Brett broke down in a violent sob.
"I'm sorry, I...", he began, but was silenced by Eddy's strong arms around him. He hid his face in Eddy's shirt, and Eddy ignored how it grew a large wet spot from Brett's tears.
"It's okay, I promise. You're allowed to be sad", Eddy said softly, kissing the top of his fiancé's head. "Being sad when you lose someone is normal."

Once Brett had calmed down slightly, Eddy helped him out of his suit and into something more comfortable. Brett crawled into bed early and just laid there, unable to sleep but unable to get up either.
Eddy had decided to make some soup for them, to make both feel better. Brett's dad had been some kind of second dad for Eddy too, and he felt tears press on as he stirred the soup. He fought them, but they kept winning. He poured some soup into bowls for each of them and made sure to stop crying before bringing the souo up to Brett. This wasn't the time. Today, he would be strong for Brett.