Fix Me (Alternative ending)

Chapter 41

Trigger warning : mentions of eating disorders, suicide, depression.

Oh no

Looking up from his new drawing, Remington grins. "Missed you," he says brightly, putting his sketchbook down and kneeling on the bed.

Andy happily picks the boy up. "Missed you too, kitty." He sits on the bed with his husband in his lap. "What've you been up to?"

"Drawing, mostly. I thought Emerson was coming."

"He's gettin' a drink from the vending machine." The man kisses the top of his head. "Your hair's getting real long."

Remington hums. "D'you like it?"

"Of course I do. Guess what?"

"What?"

"I learnt how to plait hair."

Remington laughs.

"So you better let me plait yours. You'd look so cute!" He takes one of the younger's hands. "You're doing so good in here, aren't you?"

"Hope so."

"You seem so much happier than when we were trying to recover at home. It's good to see you cheerful."

"How're you?"

Andy kisses his head again. "Not too bad, angel. I've been writing new songs for my next solo album."

Smiling, Remington turns around in his lover's lap, careful about not tangling the tube, and looks at Andy. "Are they going well?"

"Very well."

"D'you wanna feel my abs? They're coming back, finally."

Andy smiles. "Absolutely."

The younger, before leaning back and lifting his shirt, says, "don't laugh."

"Baby, why would I laugh?"

Remington shrugs, smiles, and lifts his shirt, which is a new one Andy bought for him a few days ago, with little cartoon kittens printed onto it.

Putting a hand to the boy's skin, Andy traces over his gentle muscles, smiling. "You're so damn perfect."

"Shut up," Remington pouts, dropping his shirt down when the door opens and looking at Emerson, who comes in. "Hi," he says, glancing at Andy, who turns the boy back round in his lap.

Emerson smiles but seems deep in thought. "Hi, Rem," he returns, "there's something I need to, uh, say to you."

Remington's eyes retreat into his lap, automatically anxious at those words. Used to be; Holly needing to say something to him would end up with him either crying or with new bruises. Or both.

"Nothing bad," the drummer quickly adds, "its kind of an apology on my end."

"An apology?"

Emerson nods. He looks at the oldest in the room for reassurance. "I know I've not been a great brother lately. I've been distancing myself and I know it's wrong."

Andy sends him a smile, encouraging him to continue.

"Truth is, I don't know how to be around you anymore. Not because you're doing something wrong, just because I can't adjust to how you're changing. I'm still clinging on to you being the Remington I knew years ago. And of course, you're not him anymore."

Remington knows his brother isn't trying to upset him but he can't help feeling like he's the one to blame.

"I miss the relationship we had."