Work Text:
The afternoon sun poured into Jim's bedroom and it felt as though he hadn't seen it shine in days, but he couldn't be sure. Between slipping in and out of consciousness and the way the medication made everything a little fuzzy, the passage of time had become a difficult concept for him to grasp.
With a pained groan, he sat back against the pillows as much as he could and rested his eyes as he listened to the birds singing outside the window. There wasn't much to think about these days, he'd dwelled on the past far more than he'd wanted to while staring at these four walls. The memories of what he'd seen others go through played at the forefront of his mind and he was surely driving himself mad as he wondered what his final days would be like in comparison. He knew they were coming, and there wasn't anything left to do but lay back and wait. Not that he was in proper form to do anything else, anyway - not anymore.
His eyes fluttered open when he could've sworn he felt the mattress dip beside him, he hadn't heard anyone come in but that didn't mean much nowadays. Curiously, he turned his head a little to the left and his breath caught in his throat at the sight of who was sitting next to him.
"Am I dreaming?"
"Does it matter?" The familiar, comforting voice asked.
Jim considered for a moment before shaking his head, "No, I don't suppose it does."
Because Freddie was there beside him, as warm and radiant as ever, and whatever this was, dream or not, Jim never wanted it to end.
"I've missed you so much," It was the only thing he could think of saying, the only thing he wanted to say after all these years.
"I've missed you too, my darling," Freddie smiled as he moved a little closer, his big brown eyes sparkling the way they always had, "But I'm here now. And you're still as gorgeous as ever."
Jim chuckled, feeling a little lighter in his presence, "I wouldn't say so these days. But then again, you've always been a flatterer."
Freddie reached out to him, his warm palm cupping his cheek gently. As he moved, Jim caught a glimpse of his gold wedding band, shining in the sunlight before feeling the cool metal against his skin.
His eyes welled up when he realized that Freddie was wearing it on the ring finger of his left hand, where it ought to have been all those years ago. "Your ring…"
"Hmm? Oh, yes, well, you are my husband. I've always wanted it on my left hand," He held his hand out in front of them to admire with a smile, "It looks rather good there, wouldn't you say?"
"It's perfect," Jim murmured. In reality, he’d kept Freddie's wedding band, worn it on his middle finger next to his own until only recently, when it became too uncomfortable for him to wear them at all.
"You kept it," Freddie said, glancing at the side table where the two bands were now placed, always within eyesight.
"I couldn't bear to part with it. It was like having a piece of you with me all the time."
“I am always with you, you know,” He settled with his head laying on Jim’s chest, the way he always had.
Jim knew - he knew - that Freddie wasn’t actually, physically there with him, but he felt the same warmth, the same comfort as when he had been. And for one moment, one beautiful, peaceful moment, they caught each other’s eye and it was like they were forty again, in their bed, at home in Garden Lodge and everything was okay.
However, there was a question that had been on his mind ever since Freddie appeared to him, and Jim had always trusted him to be honest, "Am I seeing you now because I'm dying?"
"Not right this moment,” Freddie squeezed his hand, “But yes, my darling, it is your time soon."
Something akin to relief washed over him, "When?”
He shrugged, “I don’t know, that’s not how time works for me anymore.”
“But, we'll be together again. Healthy." Jim had meant for it to come out as a question, but when the words fell from his mouth he knew them to be true.
Freddie grinned at him, "That's the idea, yes."
"We'll get to do all the things we never got the chance to?"
"And more."
“Can’t I just come with you now?” He said, only half-kidding.
“Not yet, love,” Freddie sympathized before teasing, “What was it that you always encouraged me to have? Some virtue of some sort, I’m sure.”
For the first time in far too long, Jim laughed, “I believe it was patience.”
Freddie snapped his fingers, “That’s the one - have a bit of patience, my dear, we have all of eternity to spend together.”
“I suppose I can do that. I’ve been waiting for you this long, what’s another little bit, hm?”
“That’s the spirit.”
They smiled, as easily wrapped up in each other as if no time apart had passed at all.
"I love you so much,” Jim found himself murmuring, “You're the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Every second I got to spend with you was worth it."
“I love you too, always,” Freddie brushed a kiss against his cheek, “Rest now, sweetheart, I know you’re tired. We’ll be seeing each other again before you know it.”
Jim let his eyes slip shut, the exhaustion of simply being awake catching up to him as he felt the sunshine on his face, somehow knowing that Freddie was right.