Help Me (sequel to Save Me)

Chapter 18

Palaye Royale: We are beyond delighted to announce that every single show we previously cancelled due to Remington's mental health will be replaced by TWO shows in each of those cities! Venues and dates to be revealed in the text week. We love you, thankyou for being patient. Tickets will remain valid.

Remington Leith: AHHHHHHHH TOUR!!!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!! THANKYOU ALL SO FUCKING MUCH FOR GIVING ME LOVE AND SUPPORT AND FOR UNDERSTANDING AND WAITING AND NOW WE ARE BACK!

The brothers are so happy to tour again. They can't wait to finally interact with their fans again after such a long time. Remington is so excited about it, though isn't looking forward to being away from Andy for months. Black Veil Brides are busy in the studio and obviously Andy is needed for that, so he won't be able to go with Remington, no matter how much he wants to.

A month before tour starts, Remington has fully moved in with his lover. He has grown accustomed to the way Andy lives, just like how Andy has grown accustomed to the way Remington lives.

Sebastian is keeping his promise of getting help with his alcohol problem, and goes to rehab group sessions every two weeks. He's been sober for three weeks straight now, and his brothers couldn't be prouder.

Emerson is so much happier now that his best friend is okay, and getting the help he's been needing for so long. The drummer should have made him go to therapy the day he found out about Holly abusing him.

Remington talks to Abigail two times a week now, just keeping her updated on his life, his feelings, anything. Sometimes he goes to therapy and they just chat for a while, and sometimes Remington needs calming down, reassuring. Abigail is good at that; at making him feel alright after a hard day.

"I thought you were going to the studio today," Remington queries, coming up behind Andy, who is in the kitchen frying some bacon.

The man shakes his head. "I was, but Jake cancelled because Inna is sick, so we all decided to have a day off instead," he explains, cracking two eggs into a pan.

The younger hums, satisfied with how today is going, and lazily drapes his arms over Andy's shoulders. "So then I get you all day?"

Andy smiles, even though Remington can't see. "Yep," he replies, switching off the pans. "Grab me two plates, sweetheart."

"You got it," Remington says cheerfully, turning around an opening the cupboard. He never grows tired of being looked after like this, of having someone genuinely take care of him. Holly never took care of him like Andy does. Not ever. He holds the plates as Andy puts the bacon on eggs on them. "Look at you being a chef," he jokes, handing a plate to Andy and sitting down at the breakfast bar.

With a chuckle, Andy sits beside him. "What are you saying? I cook all the time," he defends, sprinkling salt onto the fried egg and handing the salt shaker to Remington.

"It depends what you count as cooking," the younger says, taking the shaker. "I'm pretty sure that making sandwiches isn't really cooking."

Andy acts offended, dramatically grabbing his heart and gasping. "But you love my sandwiches."

"That is true."

The men enjoy their breakfast while chatting, and come up with a plan for the rest of the day. Nothing. They're going to stay at home and do nothing, just because they can. Who doesn't enjoy a lazy day at home with their soulmate?

Remington loves how Andy's house is now their home. Every time the man says let's go home, or I'll be home soon, Remington can't help but to smile. It's so lovely to have a place to call home, to feel welcome and loved. Because with Holly, no matter how long he lived in that house, it never felt like his home. It always just felt like a house he was in. And by the end, it felt like a cage, or like four stone walls built to keep him in. That's what Holly did to him. She locked him away from everyone else, from having fun, from being happy.

The boy jumps at contact on his shoulder, blinking stiffly, and realises he zoned out like he sometimes does. "Oh, sorry," he mumbles.

"Let's go for a walk, princess," Andy suggests, taking Remington's hand to keep him from scratching. The man had got him a stress ball, but Remington isn't so keen on it, so instead, Andy encourages him to get out of the house for a bit when he starts scratching at his wrists. It seems to be helping.

The boy nods and stands up. "Why'd you call me princess?" He asks. "I like it, but why?" He gets his shoes on.

A soft smile is present on Andy's lips. "Because, princess, you're my princess." He opens the front door and lets Remington out first.

"So if I'm your princess then what are you?" They walk side by side down the road and towards the familiar footbath. "My king?"

Andy swings their hands by their legs. "That sounds perfect, princess."

The walk is peaceful, calm. Fresh air and the sound of birds chirping in the sky is just what Remington needed, and he didn't even realise it. How does Andy know him so well? "Sweetheart, what were you thinking about earlier?" Andy knows he needs to ask, because otherwise Remington won't talk about it, and that can end up with him crying in the bathroom in the middle of the night because something he thought he could handle on his own turned out to be too much for him to keep under control.

Remington sighs and watches a bird circle above them. "Holly," he replies, "my old house. You know, I never really understood how bad it was until I was out of it. That's weird, don't you think?" His hand is squeezed gently.

"I don't think it is, actually. It makes sense. You were in a horrible situation and wanted to convince yourself that it wasn't as bad as it really was."

The boy smiles. "I never looked at it like that."

Andy looks at the beautiful specimen beside him. "I don't think you give yourself enough credit for how strong you are." He pulls Remington down a pathway that leads to a stream.

"You sound like Abigail," Remington points out.

"She's right," the older man says, "here, sit." Remington does, sitting on a rock by the water. "You bring yourself down too much, darling, that's all I mean. It makes me sad when you talk badly about yourself." He sits next to his boyfriend. "Because you're so wonderful in so many ways and I don't think you see it, and that's such a shame." His hand is on the younger's knee, with Remington's hand on top.

Even though Abigail has said stuff like this to him before, it's different when Andy says it. "Why does it matter?" His eyes are on the water, trickling over the rocks and down the hillside.

"Because loving yourself is important, and I don't think you do love yourself."

There's no point in arguing about it, or pretending that he does love himself. Because Remington knows Andy is right. He doesn't love himself, not at all, and that's the problem. That's why he isn't happy.