No Better Version of Me Than When I'm With You

Chapter 11

Chuck was wheezing through his laughter, but no amount of coughing could stop either of them from laughing hysterically with each other. As he caught his breath, he saw his mom looking at them warmly, a smile of fondness and amusement pulling at her lips. "What?" He asked, still chuckling.

"Nothing, I just haven't seen you two do that for a long time."

"'Cause Thomas never comes home anymore!" Chuck said, "Not since you moved in with Newt."

"That was like, three years ago dude."

"Yeah, but it's still weird you don't live here anymore." Chuck shrugged, reaching for the bowl of mashed potatoes. They all dug into the food as his dad spoke up, passing the various dishes around until all of their plates were full.

"Everyone's gotta move out eventually, buddy. Thomas just got lucky in finding his best friend to live with rather than a stranger."

"Speaking of," His mom cut in, drawing Thomas' attention to the other side of the table. "How is Newt's mom?"

"She's doing okay, yeah." Thomas nodded. "He just got there a few days ago and I haven't really talked to him since, but it's a clean break and it'll heal easily, so they're all relieved about that."

"Me too. How awful is it that all she did was step wrong and bam! Down the front steps and suddenly she has bone bending ways a bone should never bend."

"Mom!" Chuck exclaimed with a huff of laughter.

"What? It's just the truth." She replied, voice light and amused.

"Thanks for dinner, this is really good." Thomas said suddenly, realizing with a flush of warmth that he'd nearly forgotten the sheer comfort that came with eating his mother's cooking.

"Oh, thank you sweetheart." She smiled at him, "You can take some leftovers home later, if you want. You and Newt are eating well enough, right? Not eating takeout five days a week and eating a vegetable now and then?"

"This is Newt we're talking about, or did you forget? With our garden and his cooking skills, we eat better than the average twenty-somethings."

"Oh the garden, I've been meaning to ask about that." Said his dad through a bite of green beans. "I know it got totaled by the rain, but how's it coming back?"

"Slow, but steady. I have specific instructions for how to take care of it while he's gone. Frypan's even joining in - it takes a village, right?" Thomas answered, chuckling.

"And how's work? You look tired."

"Gee, thanks, Mom." Thomas rolled his eyes lightheartedly. "I've been putting in more hours lately so we can wrap up this project, but by the time Newt gets back it should be just about done." What he didn't say was that he'd been restless in sleep lately. Not having Newt beside him allowed that fear - that guilt to snake through his veins like poison. It would never not remind him of the night he almost lost him.

You two are doing okay?" His mom pressed, only motherly concern in her voice. "Married life's harder than you thought, hm?" She teased lightly.

"No, actually it's easier than I ever expected." Thomas admitted. "It's just the same as living in that apartment with Newt, only now we share a house mortgage and bank statements and wear rings." He held up his hand and wiggled his ring finger, letting his wedding band glint in the warm dining room light. "But yeah, we're good. Wish he didn't have to leave for two weeks, the house feels kinda wrong without him." He said it as a lighthearted comment, but his parents shared a glance that Thomas didn't bother trying to parse out the meaning of.