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Everything around them happening felt exhausting. Carlos had no energy or will left to even move one strand of hair but his feet did the job for him with a little help from TK when Gabriel came to pick them up from the scene. The scene that was their home, completely burnt down and nothing left of it except metal structure of the house.
In car, he leaned onto TK, letting his body warmth cover himself like blanket. His dad tried to ask questions, which felt too many at this point and he could only answer them with simple words like yes, no, okay sir...
Thankfully TK was there to help, he tried to answer most of them and occasionally rubbing Carlos’ hand with his fingers to comfort him and let him know he was there.
When they finally arrived at home, everything felt so familiar and weirdly comforting even by the look outside. He spent so much years here and now coming back to it when he didn’t have a home was actually better than spending days somewhere else. Owen wanted to host them but Andrea made sure Gabriel would take the boys home after everything and when she said something was happening, it was happening. No escape from that, and that was it.
She opened the door before they could knock, directly hugging his son while her hands rubbed his back comfortingly.
“Ah mi pobre bebé” she hugged him so tight that Carlos wanted to burst into tears right there at that moment “TK come here.” She extended one arm to reach him and let the boy hug herself from the other side. TK hugged her obediently and from how it looked, Carlos made sure he was as comfortable as himself and he was close to crying too.
Gabriel gave them an inviting back rub before he walked into the house, not making quite any eye contact with Andrea. Carlos sensed things were tense between them but he didn’t want to think about also that right now. All he could feel was a lump on his chest and throat that made him want to cry like there were no tomorrows. Maybe then the feeling would easen.
“Come on let’s get inside” Andrea held them both from shoulders and walked them inside, knowing they would need some help.
“You two sit here, and I’ll get you some tea so you’ll feel better. Okay?”
“Mama I think we need to get a shower first. I need to get rid of this smell.” He held his shirt like he was disgusted by it and couldn’t wait any second until he get rid of it.
“Okay” She clearly understood how hurt he looked so it was whatever he wanted. “Okay go upstairs and I’ll find you clean clothes.”
TK held his hand slightly from the fingers as Carlos led the way, not even a single word spoken yet they understood each other perfectly. Until they walked into Carlos’ old room.
“It’s way more cowboy than I expected.” TK giggled very weakly as he looked around the room, examining an old picture closely.
Carlos smiled for the first time after everything “Well you would be surprised to know I had horses and all the cowboy stuff growing up then.”
TK turned to him quickly with a surprised look on his face “You did!? I’m gonna need some proof of that.”
“Oh I’m sure my mom will handle it, she’ll make sure you hear all the stories about me.” He smiled fake annoyedly, shaking his head. “Come to shower with me?” He held his hand out to TK, which TK accepted quickly with a nod because god knows both of them would hate being alone even for a second at the moment. Loneliness would bring thoughts, and only thing Carlos could think about was what happened this night.
While they were showering, everything felt too much to Carlos. He started to think about how they lost everything they had, their house, their memories in that house, their savings, hell even their first photos hanging on the wall or on their nightstand...
Then a soft touch on his head, scrubbing the shampoo reminded him, perhaps not everything... They still had each other, TK was there for him, he would always be there for him. So tears escaped his eyes. Thanks to being in the shower, he had thought TK wouldn’t realise he was crying again.
Well, he was wrong...
TK turned him slowly, looking at his eyes and placing the softest kiss on his head while standing on the tip of his feet, his hands cupping his face.
“I’m here, I’ll be here as long as I’m alive and you want me.”
Carlos found the courage to open his eyes when he heard the words, meeting his eyes with TK’s equally wet eyes.
“I know, we lost our house... but you’re my home TK.” Which was enough, more than enough for Carlos. All he ever needed was there next to him and he was fine just like that. They were going to be fine...
Because shower took them longer than usual, Andrea knocked on the door and let them know she left the clothes outside so they could wear. Well... it turned out there were not so many clothes for them both at the house so all she could find was an old pair of pyjamas of Carlos’ and some oversized looking pyjamas which they thought probably was Gabriel’s.
So Carlos put on Gabriel’s and TK put on Carlos’ which fitted TK but Carlos was not that lucky that he had to roll his sleeves up a little.
“Babe you know how much I love tight clothes on your body but this look is something else.” He chuckled as he tried to help Carlos roll his sleeves, gaining a little playful slap on his shoulder from him.
“So would you propose I should look like a fifty year old suburban dad all the time?”
“I wouldn’t mind even a little bit if you will look this adorable all the time.” TK smiled, making his boyfriend smile as well.
“I see you two having fun, but someone get these off my hands please.” Andrea came into the room with heavy looking quilts and pillows and huffed loudly as Carlos took them.
“Mom do we really need this much quilts or duvets or whatever these are called?”
“It’s for floor bed silly. There is no way you two can fit on your small bed and we don’t want you to get back pain do we? So stop talking and spread these on the floor.” She cleared the area from any obstacles and ordered as Carlos tried to do his best, while TK was trying to attach pillowcases.
“Okay does it look good? I’m sleeping here.” Carlos laid on handmade bed to test it.
“Carlos no, you sleep on your bed and I will sleep here.” TK wanted to protest but Carlos wasn’t having none.
“You’re a guest here there’s no way I’m letting you sleep on the floor.” He shook his head, stopping TK before he could say something.
“But I never slept on one of these” TK pouted, looking like he really wanted to try.
“Well I need to be honest, it’s probably better than your old bed Carlitos. So let the boy sleep comfortably.” Andrea walked to the door. “Good night boys, I will prepare a strong breakfast for you tomorrow, you need it, especially you TK.” She checked them for one last time, her eyes saying more than her words and showing her love and affection for them.
“Soo, will you let me sleep here? If not it’s okay I will sleep on your old bed maybe I can smell you there.” TK seemed to have given up easily on floor bed when Andrea explained how it was better than the actual bed so Carlos quickly understood, all he was trying to do was to make Carlos sleep on whichever one was the comfortable bed.
“TK, I think it might be your only chance to try a floor bed. Come here.” He smiled slightly, moving to his old bed and letting TK get the bed. All the chevy making him forget the actual reason why they were here for a split second...
They settled in their beds, their faces turned to each other and Carlos turned off the nightlight after saying good night to each other.
For maybe what felt like a five minutes, Carlos was deep into thinking about the horrible night they had, TK shuffled and huffed loudly, making sure Carlos heard him.
“Carlos...”
“Yes babe?”
“I don’t think I can sleep without you.”
—————-
Andrea didn’t have the best night either. After hearing about her son and the fight she was already in with her husband because of his unacceptable decisions, she found herself hardly getting any sleep and waking up before even sun rose properly.
The sun was shining on the horizon lazily when she dragged herself out of the bed successfully without waking the snoring man in bed. She guessed the time as around 5 am and attempted to prepare some coffee before deciding to check the boys.
After all, they probably had one of the worst nights of their lives and her motherly instincts were unstoppable at this point. Before she even realised, she was walking up to their room. Cracking the door slightly ajar, she searched the room quickly.
The view in front of her was surprising yet not really unexpected.
TK and Carlos were both on Carlos’ small old bed, snuggled up together. Carlos’ chin was resting on top of TK’s head, their eyes closed blissfully as TK was resting against Carlos’ chest looking like he was sleeping on the clouds.
They both look tired, but comfortable or even still happy despite everything happened last night. They had lost everything maybe but not each other and they trusted only that, sleeping so peacefully between each others arms that it was maybe even comical.
Andrea closed the door back without making any noises, sweeping the tear on her cheek with one hand. She thought she couldn’t be happier for them, that they found each other and they would never lose each other ever again.