Help Me (sequel to Save Me)

Chapter 78

Andy is coming home today, and Remington couldn't be more excited about it if he tried. In the morning, he dresses in tracksuits since he isn't going anywhere, and accepts a bowl of porridge (oatmeal) from Sebastian, mixing in a spoonful of honey and deciding to have it outside. He's joined by his brother, who puts a glass of orange juice down in front of him.

"I'm gonna miss you when you go," the younger says, swirling his spoon around in the bowl. "I don't know what I would've done without you." He covers his mouth with his hand as he eats; a habit he's developed in the last few months.

Sebastian hums. "I'll miss you, too. It's nice having you around."

The boy looks at a bird perched on the fence. "Can you give us some of your recipes?" His question makes Sebastian smile. It's good that Remington enjoys the food Sebastian makes him.

"Sure."

It's peaceful as they have breakfast, birds singing and the breeze gently dancing around them. Remington doesn't know exactly when Andy is getting back. He knows the flight was over night and he'll be back before midday, but other than that, he isn't sure.

He empties the dishwasher while Sebastian gathers all his things, and nearly faints with excitement when he sees Jake's car through the window. Remington dashes to the front door, throwing it open and grinning at the sight of his husband getting out the car. Despite how tired he is, Andy feels wide awake as soon as he sees the beautiful boy, and the first thing he notices is that he's no longer disappearing in his clothes. He looks healthy.

The man gets his things from the boot, waves goodbye to Jake, and drops his bags on the driveway. "Get over here," he demands, opening his arms wide and smiling.

Remington is so overwhelmed by having Andy hold him that he bursts into tears, digging his face into his lover's shoulder and gripping him tightly. "Oh my god," he breathes, laughing through his tears at the fact that he's crying. "I feel like I can breathe again." Those words are ironic, really, considering he's sobbing to the point of struggling to breathe properly.

"It's been a hell of a tour but I think the best thing about it is coming home to you," Andy says, pulling back and looking at Remington's face, damp with tears, and beautiful as ever.

The boy blushes, just like Andy knew he would. "Don't you leave me again or I will die."

Andy wipes Remington's cheeks with his fingers and kisses his head multiple times. "Don't you worry, princess, I'm gonna give you so many cuddles you'll be begging me to leave you alone." He turns to pick up his things, but Remington wraps his arms tight around him and doesn't let him go. "Oh sweetheart," he whispers, chin on the top of his head as he sends Sebastian, who's in the doorway, a smile.

"Good tour?" The older brother asks, coming to take Andy's things inside so Remington can have a good long hug.

Stroking Remington's hair, Andy nods. "Really good," he answers, "we had a million problems with the fucking bus and I nearly died one night when I hit my head on the stage, but part from that, it was really good." Remington's head shoots up at the mention of Andy nearly dying, and the man chuckles. "Don't give yourself whiplash," he teases, and Remington whines, head returning to where it previously was, safe against the older's chest.

Sebastian can't stop smiling at the adoration both men have for each other. "Tour buses can fuck themselves. Do you remember when our fucking generator broke, Remington?"

"Yes, it was horrible and cold and I think I cried in my bunk because I was too cold to sleep."

"It was horrible," Sebastian agrees, "did you really cry in your bunk?"

Remington nods. "Yep. Most nights on tour I did, Sebby, I just knew how to keep quiet." He exhales.

The guitarist is frowning now. "I'm so sorry it took us so long to figure out something was wrong."

"Sebby, it's fine. Don't feel bad about it. I should have said something and I didn't so technically it's my own fault anyway." The boy yawns as Andy and Sebastian exchange glances, and then he steps back from Andy, stretches, and takes the bags from his brother, who only got as far as picking them up. "Going to the loo," he says, "I'll keep the door open, don't worry."

With Remington inside, Sebastian decides it's best to explain to Andy what they've been doing to keep the singer's eating disorder under control. "He has set times for each meal," he begins, "the times are on the fridge. He won't eat anything with lots of bread and it's unusual for him to finish a meal. I got him in the habit of keeping the bathroom door open when he's in there so he's less likely to make himself sick, and if he's not feeling too good he likes to watch a movie and have some popcorn, but not sweet popcorn. He refuses to eat sweet popcorn."

"You're gonna have to text me all of this, It's going right through my brain and out the other side. I'll take care of him, Sebastian."

"I know you will. I'll send you all the things you need to know. He tends to be good at asking for help when he needs it, anyway, so just watch out for signs of the disorder getting bad. It escalates quickly sometimes, to the point of having to literally pull his hand's away from his mouth."

Sebastian hugs Remington goodbye and goes back to his house, and the lovers lie on the grass under the sun, happy to be with each other. Andy takes the younger's hand and kisses his knuckles. "Your new album is the best thing I've ever heard," he says, filling the silence. "I mean your voice, holy fuck, your fucking voice!"

The comment makes Remington giggle. Andy sounds like a hardcore fan. "Holy fuck is such a weird saying," the boy remarks, legs over Andy's.

"God, I missed you."