Closer

129.

The nagging thought of having guilted Brett into thinking he loved him wouldn't let go as the night passed. His head was hurting, and he didn't dare move as Brett was sleeping soundly against his chest.

He was still considering how he could possibly fix this when he heard Elise's soft whimpers from her room. Appearently, Brett had heard too as his eyes fluttered open. He didn't realize Eddy was awake until he sat up.

"I'll go get her, you can sleep on if you want," Brett said softly, leaning down to kiss Eddy's forehead. Eddy sighed.

"I can't sleep anyway so if you... If it's okay for you if I... If you want to sleep..." Eddy stuttered before taking a deep breath and biting his lip. "Actually it's... It's probably better if you go. I'm sorry."

Brett let out a sigh and took Eddy's hand carefully, caressing the back of it with his thumb.
"Eddy mine..." Brett began, but Eddy just shook his head and pulled his hand away as tears started flowing again.

"Go take care of her, please," Eddy sniffled, pulling the duvet over his head as the cries from Elise's bedroom increased in volume. "I'm not important, she is. Please."

Eddy shook as Brett sighed and stood up from the bed, heading to Elise's room. It felt like he couldn't breathe.

He didn't move as he felt Brett sit back down on their bed with Elise still crying in his arms. Maybe if he just disappeared, Brett could be happy? Brett would find someone to raise Elise with, maybe even Leonora?

"Eddy?" Brett asked quietly, rocking Elise. The only reply he got was a quiet sniffle. Elise cried louder.

"Please trust me when I say I love you and that I want to be with you," Brett said quietly, trying shush Elise who wasn't having it. "I have nothing else to offer than my words."

Eddy sniffled quietly, sitting up slightly as he wiped his tears.
"I don't understand why you would love me, Brett. You'd be better off without me."

"I've never heard anything so stupid in my life," Brett muttered, pulling his legs up into the bed to sit more comfortably and to not have his back against Eddy. Elise was still crying. "I'm nothing without you, Eddy. I'd be a nobody with a stupid teaching job and a back desk second violin job in an orchestra somewhere. Instead, I get to have this amazing job with my best friend and the love of my life, and a perfect little family."

Eddy couldn't help but smile a bit at Brett's words. He wanted them to be true, even though it felt unreal. He wiped some tears.
"Don't be silly..." Eddy begun, trying to hold back the smile that was forming on his lips. "You'd lead the second violins, at least."

Brett turned to him with a raised eyebrow and Eddy snorted, still trying to wipe his tears and make them stop.

"God, you're so... Actually, you know what, those jokes might be the reason I leave you eventually," Brett joked back and Eddy put on a pout that Brett leaned over to kiss.

"Thought you said you love me," Eddy said, crawling closer to look at Elise who was finally settling down slightly. Brett sighed.

"Damn you got me, I'd endure the jokes to be with you," Brett sighed as Eddy wrapped his arms around him from behind.

"I'm sorry I freaked out," Eddy sighed, leaning his chin on Brett's shoulder. "I still kindof can't believe it, honestly, but... But I want to try to, if that's okay."

"Of course. I'll make you believe it if I have to, no worries."