Chapter Text
When Theo opens his eyes he’s not sure what he’s expecting. Flames? Darkness? A small hand plunging into his chest and ripping his heart out? What he sees isn’t anything he expected.
He finds himself in a spacious room, on the most comfortable bed he’s ever been on. There’s a weight on his chest, and he looks down to see the familiar dirty blonde mess of hair he’s come to love. Theo can’t resist bringing his hand up and curling his fingers into the locks.
The body on his chest stirs and then Liam’s blue eyes are blinking up at him. He smiles, leaning into the touch, “Theo.”
“Is this a dream?” Theo asks, unable to believe that this is where he’d end up after dying. Because he is dead. He knows it.
Liam frowns at him at first, “What are you…?” Then realization takes over and he’s pulling back and looking around the room. “Where are we?”
“I’m not sure,” Theo says, sitting up next to him. “I wasn’t sure if this was even real. I’m still not.”
Liam looks at him, concern etched on his face. He brings his hand up to Theo’s cheek, his voice firm as he speaks. “This is real. I’m real.”
“He’s not wrong,” a voice says from the doorway.
Theo growls and jumps up. He tries to show his claws but they won’t come out. “What the hell is this?”
The man grins over at him, “Heaven.”
Theo snorts, “Heaven? Yeah right.”
“I don’t think he’s lying,” Liam says, his voice filled with awe. “Are you God?”
The man smiles over at Liam, "I am God, but you can call me Chuck."
“Chuck?” Theo asks, “Seriously?”
Chucks shrugs, “It’s a lot less formal than God.”
“This can’t be real,” Theo says, “this is… I’m in hell and this is some hallucination.”
“What makes you say that Theo?” Chuck asks.
“Because if this is heaven I wouldn’t be here!”
Liam frowns, taking Theo’s hand in his own, “Theo…”
Theo shakes his head, “Don’t Liam. I can’t. This isn’t real. You’re not really here.”
Liam moves in front of him, taking Theo’s face in his hands. His eyes are bright and dangerous as he looks at Theo. “I am here. And so are you. And don’t for one second think that you don’t deserve to be here with me because you do.”
Theo wants to believe him. He’d told himself while he was dying that he’d see Liam again. He’d tried to believe it. The fact that after everything that he could be standing here with Liam in Heaven seems a little surreal.
“Okay,” Theo says, looking from Liam over to Chuck, “Say we are in Heaven. Do you always greet everyone that comes up here?”
“Oh no that would be impossible,” Chuck tells him. “In fact I rarely see anyone at all. I’ve been on a bit of a vacation you could say.”
“A vacation?”
“Oh yes,” Chuck says, looking almost wistful, “I spent a lot of time on Earth interacting with the humans and other creatures there. I learned a lot. More specifically that good and evil aren’t completely separate. There is a gray area. And that just because someone does bad things that doesn’t mean they can’t be good. That they don’t deserve a place up here.”
“So you’ve been on vacation,” Theo says, staring over at him. “On Earth. And you what? Just decided to let everything all go to hell?”
“It’s not my place to step in,” Chuck says, “Though I have when it’s really mattered.”
“Would you have let the darkness destroy the town and kill all those people?” Theo asks, pulling away from Liam so that he can face Chuck.
He’s battling with his thoughts right now. He’s always said he was an Atheist, but that was easier than accepting that there was a God out there that was willing to let so many horrible things happen, to him and everyone else. So to be standing here in Heaven and actually talking to God is a little too much. “Would you have let them all die if Liam and I hadn’t stepped in?” Theo feels a wave of nausea hit him. He’d think more about that happening despite the whole being dead thin, but he’s too busy panicking. “Wait, we did do it right? We stopped it?”
“Your friends and family are safe,” Chuck tells them, “and to answer your question I’m not sure what I would have done. I do know that I don’t like seeing entire cities destroyed like that. So maybe I would have. But I had to trust that you all would handle it. And you did!”
“At what cost?” Theo growls, “We’re dead and Liam’s family are mourning him.”
“You don’t think they’re mourning you too?” Chuck asks. “You don’t think you’ve touched any of their lives enough for them to be sad you’re gone? Well you’re wrong.”
Chuck snaps his fingers and then the world around Theo disappears. Suddenly he’s in the morgue. Derek is there, his shoulders shaking with sobs as he leans over Theo’s body. Next to him stands Corey. His shoulders are hunched and his eyes wet as he looks down at Theo.
“I should have told him,” Corey says, causing Derek to look over at him. “He was my friend but I don’t think he ever knew how much he meant to me.”
“I’m sure he knew,” Derek says, his voice raspy from all the crying.
Theo looks over to see Liam standing by where his parents, Mason, and Scott are standing around his body. Theo walks over, taking Liam’s hand in his own as he offers up silent support.
“They were so young,” Jenna says, “they still had so much left to give the world.”
“I know sweetheart,” David says, his words catching in his throat. The normally composed man looks like a mess. Theo can’t remember the last time he saw him out in something other than a button down. Yet here he is in a T-shirt and a pair of jeans.
“What is the point in this?” Theo asks, turning to Chuck.
As soon as he does the world around them vanishes again and they’re once again in the bedroom from before. Next to him Liam sobs, tucking his face into Theo’s neck. Theo puts an arm around his shoulders but keeps his eyes on Chuck.
“I wanted to show you that there are people that care about you,” Chuck says, “and give you proof that your sacrifice was warranted. So all is well.”
“All isn’t well if we’re dead,” Theo snaps.
Chuck tilts his head as he looks at Theo, “What if you didn’t have to be?”
“What?”
“You don’t have to be here,” Chuck tells him.
“What are you taking about?” Liam mutters.
“You can go home.”
“Don’t mess with us,” Theo grits out, angered at the possibility of Chuck giving them hope and taking it away. He can take it but Liam can’t.
“Oh I’m completely serious,” Chucks says. “Your sacrifice saved thousands of lives. Because of that I think you deserve a second chance.”
“Really?” Liam whispers.
“Really,” Chuck grins, “This place will be waiting for you, both of you. Hopefully many years from now.”
“Thank you,” Liam says.
Chuck smiles, “You can thank me by living out the rest of your lives safe and happy. Maybe put a ring on it, as they say.”
Theo watches the way Liam’s face heats up at that. “Hopefully someday.”
Theo makes himself look away from Liam. That someday is something for them to discuss somewhere else. For now, Theo had other things on his mind. “Send us home.”
“You got it,” Chuck says, “Good luck boys.”
The room shifts around Theo again and this time he has to close his eyes. When he opens them he’s staring up into a familiar pair of green eyes.
“Liam,” Theo whispers, needing to be sure he’s back here with him.
“I’m here,” Liam says, “I’m here. We’re back.”
There’s a series of shouts from the others in the room, and Theo can’t blame them. They had been staring down at two supposedly dead bodies and suddenly they’re awake and talking,
“We’re not zombies,” Theo groans, “Don’t shoot us.”
Derek let’s out a wet laugh and helps Theo sit up. Then he’s pulling Theo into a tight hug, “We thought we’d lost you.”
“You can’t get rid of me that easily,” Theo jokes. He looks over at where Liam is standing with his parents, Scott, and Mason. When his eyes land on Theo he’s stumbling across the room and pulling Theo into his arms. Theo goes willingly, letting Liam’s scent and touch wash over him. He never thought he’d have this again. Yet here he is.
“Thank god you’re alright,” Jenna says, walking over and wrapping both of them up into her arms.
Theo and Liam share a look before they start cracking up. Theo tucks his face against Liam’s chest and smiles, “You have no idea how true that is.”