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The alarm goes off.
Grabbing his phone and turning it off, Toby slithers out from under the covers, careful not to wake his husband, who still peacefully sleeps. His feet slide into his slippers, and the chilly air leads him to grab his robe for warmth. William stirs for a moment, making Toby hold his breath until the movement stops. He always felt guilty for waking Wil up with the early mornings being a teacher brought.
Making himself a warm cup of tea each day always made the mornings easier. Toby had never been a coffee drinker—no matter how much sugar and cream he put in, he couldn’t get past the taste—but his tea had the same effect. And so Toby does just that: putting some water in the tea kettle and resting it on the stovetop, making sure the burner is set to the right temperature.
Off to the side, he prepares his mug, a yellow one decorated with various bees. William had gotten it for him one Christmas, and now it’s the only one he will ever use, at least for his morning tea. He rests a fresh tea bag in the mug, and begins to sprinkle some sugar into the cup when he feels the warmth of arms wrap around him.
“Good morning, darling,” a deep voice whispers into his ear.
“You don’t have to be up this early, Wil; go back to sleep,” Toby almost begs in reply. He turns around to face the taller before returning the hug and burying his face in William’s chest: his favorite source of warmth.
“Mmm, true,” William starts, “but the bed is cold without you. How could I be warm in there while you’re out here?” He plants a soft kiss to the top of Toby’s head, and the two enjoy each other’s warmth for a while before they are interrupted by the whistle of the tea kettle.
Toby slinks out of the hug and walks toward the tea kettle, picking up his mug along the way. “Do you want me to make you something before I have to go?” he asks William. “Coffee, toast?” He pours the boiling water into the mug, and turns back to go sit at the kitchen table where William now resides, leaving his tea to steep.
Across the table, William’s hand reaches for Toby’s, and they lock together. “What if you… didn’t leave?” The suggestion is made almost as a playful secret, something only the two of them could know.
“Honey, you know I have to go to work. As much as I love you, those kids love me too, and they need me.” Toby answers honestly. He sees William’s face twist into a frown, one of disappointment but also of understanding. Then, a moment later, his eyes widen.
“But you haven’t missed a day yet this year,” William points out. “Surely you need a mental health day or something. You took them all the time back in high school.”
Toby hits him with a playful punch. “Yeah, ‘all the time’ almost kept me back a year.” He chuckles, thinking about the memories. “Plus, there’s no way I could call in now and have them find a sub before the start of school.” Toby stands up, walking over to the counter to grab his tea before returning to the kitchen chair.
“Don’t teachers call in sick in the morning often though? You could just-“
“I am not lying and calling in sick to stay home with you.” Toby rolls his eyes in false annoyance; now that he’s thinking about it, maybe missing one day to spend time with his favorite person couldn’t hurt.
“Well, guess I will then.” William pulls his phone out, dialing the school’s number and pressing the receiver to his ear. He gets through almost immediately.
“Wil, this isn’t going to work; we’re both on a first name basis with all the office staff.” Toby lunges towards the phone, but William leans away just out of his reach.
“Hi Sor!” he says into the phone, then covering the microphone and locking eyes with Toby. “That’s precisely why this is going to work.” Toby sits back, rolling his eyes.
“Yeah, Toby’s not going to be able to make it in today… yeah, he’s feeling a little under the weather… mhm… sorry for the late notice… bye!” William hangs up the phone and sets it down loudly on the table. He smirks. “See?”
“You are insufferable,” Toby jokes.
(On the other end of the phone line, Sor giggles, knowing exactly what’s going on. They aren’t going to snitch, though; Toby deserves the day off to spend with William. He has overworked himself for his kids, and everyone has noticed this fact.)
“Now come back to bed, please?” William begs, standing up and extending his arm to Toby.
“But my tea-” Toby whines.
“You can heat it up later, love.” William takes this chance to take hold of Toby’s arm and force him to stand, dragging them both to the bedroom. “I deserve cuddles now.”
“Okay, okay, fine .” Toby takes his robe and slippers off, littering them both on the ground before slipping under the covers with William. He snuggles closer to the taller, waiting for the inevitable: William’s arms wrapping around him, sealed with a gentle forehead kiss. “You’re lovey today,” he mentions. “Not that I’m complaining or anything, I actually really appreciate it but—”
“Shhhh.” Another kiss. “Can’t I just appreciate my husband in peace?” William takes one of his hands and searches for Toby’s under the blankets. Finding it quickly, he grabs it and squeezes it twice, waiting for Toby to reciprocate the motion. He does, and William sighs with content.
“No, actually, sorry honey.” Toby quietly laughs at his own joke, waiting for William to do the same. “Sometimes I can’t even believe you stuck with me,” he adds, admitting something that has been on his mind forever. “I was a greasy, short little band kid and you went, ‘yep, that’s my future husband.’”
“To be fair, you are still short and basically still a band kid.” William gestures to the piano that rests in the corner of their bedroom, littered with various pieces Toby had tried to learn but eventually gave up on. “I like being the taller one, anyway.”
“Hey!” Toby complains playfully. “At least I’m not 4’10 anymore. Leave my genetic shortness alone.” He makes a joking angry face, before breaking the seriousness and dissolving into giggles.
“Oh yeah, breaking 5 feet in your twenties is definitely an accomplishment,” William expresses sarcastically, before joining Toby in his fit of laughter.
Their laughters fit well together, like a melody with its well needed harmony. One sounds good on its own, but together their music is enough to silence every other thought. Toby realizes that William is the melody in his life: the beautiful line that needed to go along with his. They complete each other perfectly, filling out the symphony that is their love.
“God, I love you,” Toby says once the silence takes over.
“I love you more,” William fights back.
“Nope.”
“You’re wrong.”
“I’m not losing this.”
“Well I think you might be.”
“Nope. I love you most and that’s final.”
A comfortable silence settles in once more. Dorian jumps onto the bed and works his way into the space between the two. Toby’s face lights up.
“Hi Dori!” he says to the cat, petting Dorian gently, who responds by rubbing his face against Toby’s hand. “He’s so cuteee,” Toby gushes.
“Cuter than me?” William demands.
“Maybeeee…” Toby pauses for comedic effect. “Just kidding, nothing in this world could be cuter than you.”
“What about, 100 kittens snuggling in a big pile?” William offers.
“Okay, now that comes close.” Toby admits. He leans into William’s shoulder. “Now come on, enough sappy shit, let's put this day to good use and binge some Supernatural.”
“Ugh, fine,” William mutters happily, grabbing the remote from the bedside table.
This was how it was meant to be.