Searching For Time (book 2) ✔

An Idea

The pair spent the several hours after Carlos' revelation sitting together on the grass courtyard in a comfortable silence. The air was warm, there was a slight breeze, and the distant sound of chatting and a water fountain made a peaceful ambience.

The two sat together hand in hand with calm smiles on their faces. It felt like the hole that had grown in their hearts was filled once again by each other. Everything was starting to get better. Carlos had his head laying upon Harry's shoulder and the pirate took to stroking his love's snowy hair gently. This was what the two of them had missed most: not the crazy and energetic and heart-racing times but the moments where it was simply them. Together.

That was what was most important.

"Carlos?" Harry began, breaking the comfortable silence between them.

"Hmm?" Carlos replied softly.

"Do you think you can try to remember anything else? I mean, the hug triggered you into remembering us and I know the doc said that triggers, bad ones at least, should be avoided but if we exposed you to triggers then maybe you could regain your memories faster?" he proposed.

Carlos didn't speak for a while. Too many thoughts were running through his head. He desperately wanted to get his memories back. On one hand, right now he felt like a blank canvas that needed painting, but on the other hand he was afraid of what he would discover. What if being exposed to what made him lose his memory would cause something even worse to happen to him? What if being exposed meant gaining memories that otherwise may take years to recover?

"I think it's a smart idea. I only suggest that we start small first." he said.

Harry smiled before standing up and offering a hand to the younger. 

"Well then, let's get going. We should go and find everyone to tell them ya decision and I think people have spread the message to leave you alone." he added, looking around at the courtyard where people kept their distance. He grinned at the subordination of the prissy Auradon people. 

He really loved his hook.

"OK, let's go then." 

He accepted Harry's hand and they walked together back into the main building. Once they entered the large doors, however, Harry stopped.

"Do you know which way to go?" the icy eyed teen asked, "Because I don't and I don't see any bloody signs around here, ey?"

Carlos thought for a second then decided to follow his gut instinct.

"This way." he said and pointed down the left corridor. So they walked for several minutes, staying on the same floor the whole time, until they approached a single door at the end of the corridor. It was a deep brown with carvings around it. It looked very royal.

"Should we knock?" Carlos asked, turning his head to look at the pirate.

'My boyfriend.' he thought with a small smile.

"Knock? Nah, where's the fun in that, ey?" Harry replied before striding over to the door and opening it with no knock.

The door flung open and Carlos followed the older teen inside.

"It seems we're at the right place pup." Harry said, grabbing the younger's hand gently and bringing him over to the sitting area in the room.

It was a large sized office, with a large TV, sitting are, grand desk, wall length windows and several large bookcases. It was decorated with blue and gold finishes to represent the Auradon colours.

"Carlos! Harry!" Evie called from one of the plush couches. "You're here!"

"Yeah." Carlos said quietly. He was a little shook by the bluenette's sudden shout.

"Oh, sorry." she said after seeing Carlos' slightly widened eyes.

"It's OK, it isn't your fault."

Evie smiled at him and patted the empty seat next to her. He sat down and Harry sat next to him. Everyone was there and there were several mugs and a tray of snacks on the coffee table between them.

"Carlos. We were just discussing how we can help you further and came up with an idea. We thought that if we shared more memories with you then maybe you could vision in your head other similar memories as well." Ben began.

"Well, um, me and Harry had another idea." Carlos spoke nervously. Harry grasped one of his hands and gave it a small squeeze of reassurance.

"Wait," Mal began, "what's going on?" she asked looking at their joined hands.

"Well, princess, Carlos here remembered something earlier today." Harry explained with a smirk.

"Really? What?" asked Jay.

"This." said Carlos lifting up his and Harry's hands. His head was down and his hair fell across his face hiding his blush. Everyone gasped in delight and cheered.

"Oh, that's wonderful." gushed Evie. She was so happy for the both of them. It was sad to see Harry having to act so reserved and for Carlos to feel something was off between them.

"Aye, its' brilliant. Anyways, listen to his idea." he ordered and they fell quiet instantly.

"OK, um, well, I thought, maybe, well, it was similar to your idea. I thought I should try and expose myself to triggers that could help jolt my memory. And the triggers, well, they could be tangible, like places or things. Or, um, like memories. I think I want to try. Then I could get my memories back, well, sooner rather than later." he ended and took in a deep breath.

Harry rubbed his back soothingly and gave his love a kind and proud smile.

"So, what do you all think, ey? I think it's a good idea. It's his choice anyways. You all promised to help, aye?" he asked with a small glare in his cool eyes. They did promise.

Besides, Harry was right, it was Carlos' choice.