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With the long day behind you, Stan and yourself decided to retire to bed together. Hand in hand like love sick puppies still going on their first date. You would have told Stan the thought, but you were enjoying the warmth of his hand in yours too much to want to spoil it with mockery.
You part hands momentarily, but even that felt like too long as the pair of you took off your clothing. Not torn off in the excitement of a night of passion, instead you left your clothing in a pile on the floor, ready to be added to tomorrow's laundry.
Stan got into bed first, lifting the cover to let you follow him, which you did with little hesitation. You wrapped your arms around his waist as the pair of you got comfortable on the mattress. You peppered the back of his neck with kisses leading up to his cheek.
He sighed, letting himself melt into your embrace. A silent admission of trust, that he needn't hold up and barriers around you as he allowed you to shower him with affection.
You spent a few minutes kissing him up and down before he placed a hand on your face to push you back.
"Jeez, what's with you today?" He asked sarcastically.
"I just want to make sure that you know how much I love you" you replied innocently, placing a hand on his chest.
"You plan to keep me up at night with kisses to do that?" He asked, quirking up his eye brow.
"If that's what it takes to let you know how much I love you, than yes." You smirked, planting a kiss on his lips.
"Ugh, I knew I should have been careful when dating a sap like you." He groaned, but begrudgingly let you nuzzle up to his back.
"You looked really down today," you said after a beat. "I wanted to help cheer you up"
"Babe-" Stan cut himself off. "It's not that I don't trust you. I just-"
"You know, if you're having trouble I can help you right? I'm not as smart as Ford but a partner's job is to support one another in their time of need." You spoke gently into his ear. He gave a heavy sigh before speaking again. "It's been a month and we still haven't made any progress on the portal. It feels like I'm just hitting wall after wall."
"It's normal to struggle." You said.
"But if I don't get him back-"
"He didn't build that thing in a day Stan" your scratched his hair. "Taking some time to repair it without the instructions isn't going to be exactly easy."
"I feel like such a failure. Like, maybe if I had paid attention for once in school then maybe things could have been different." His voice was soft but shaking.
You frowned, pulling him closer to you so that he could feel your chest against his back. Your heart beats gently in tandem with his own as you let him vent his frustrations about his failures and inadequacies.
"I've just been on the run since then, and now I'm thrust into this, trying to understand something that I doubt anyone could." He sighed. "I wish I could see him. Even for a moment."
"What would you do?" You asked, rubbing gently against his scalp.
"I'd say I was sorry for always being a screw up. That I'd go back and kick myself in the head for not wanting him to go to his fancy school. To say that I'm sorry he didn't have a better brother." He was added under his breath.
"And you'll get your chance to say that you're sorry and prove that you're a good brother," you said. He grunted. "You're the most stubborn person I know. If anyone can make it work. It will be you. I know you won't give Up no matter how long it takes you to get him back. And I'll be here with it every step of the way." You added one final kiss to his neck for the night.
"But why?" He asked. Not rolling over.
"Because," you flicked his nose. "I love you. And if we were reversed I know you'd have done the same for me."
"Yeah. That sounds right." Stanley said calmly. "Thank you."
"Anytime my love. Any time" you said cuddling into his back, taking in his pine tree and cigar scent before closing your eyes for a well deserved rest. It was a good several minutes later, when you were sleeping soundly with your gentle snore filling the room, that Stanley finally spoke before closing his own eyes for the night. "I love you too."