Chapter Text
Alan remained silent, knowing it wasn't really his place to comment. Jeff on the other hand….
"Are you sure? There is absolutely no rush." Alan leant against Jeffs shoulder in support, he could feel the nervous energy vibrating under Jeff’s skin.
"Yeah, we're good. Babes got me." Charlie reassured.
"I want it known I'm against this, you." Jeff said pointedly, staring straight at Babe. "I'm only allowing it because it's what Charlie wants."
Babe swallowed, both his saliva and his pride. "I know I fucked up. It won't happen again." He promised solemnly.
"It better not." Alan said sternly deciding this was an area he could speak on, to set a few things straight. Both Jeff and Charlie looked surprised he was speaking up and that saddened Alan somewhat.
"I expect a lot better from you Babe, and Charlie, even if down the line if you guys don't work out you will still have a place in this family. That will never change." It was something Alan had been thinking about since seeing the clothing pieces Jeff had taken. Alan worried that Jeff hadn't even thought to ask for help with Charlie; that essentially, he'd snuck around a place that should feel like home to the two young men by now. Alan had definitely noticed the surprise on both brother's face when the rest of the pack had turned up; Jeffs defensiveness aside Alan could tell they'd enjoyed that surprise. It was a conversation he'd make sure to revisit with Jeff later, right now it was important to make sure Charlie knew he had a home with them.
"You understand right Charlie? If somethings wrong, if you can't reach Jeff or if you just want a different opinion or someone to scold Babe, you call me." It was so important to Alan that his pack knew they could turn to him.
"I know Alan. Thank you." Charlie sounded so soft and slightly overwhelmed which Babe noticed and snuck an arm around his waist.
Alan turned his attention back to him. "Babe, I mean it, whatever happened can’t happen again. You talk, you solve, you take a break if needed but you don't just shove each other away."
"We know, that’s why we're going home tomorrow to spend some time sorting things out." Charlie said, needing to stop further criticism of his beloved.
"I know Alan, I'm going to do better." Babe assured the man who had every right to scold him. Alan relented then, nodding before deciding to move things along.
"Shall we call it a night then? You still need to take it easy after all Charlie." Charlie grumbled good naturally but allowed Babe to help him up and to the bedroom; leaving Jeff and Alan to clean up. Babe was quiet as he assisted Charlie in changing his clothes. Charlie snuck a kiss onto his nose when a fresh shirt was pulled over his head.
"Are you ok?"
Babe smiled lovingly at his puppy. "I'm just glad we have the family we have now.”
"Me too." Charlie could definitely agree with that even if he hadn’t quite worked out his place in all that yet.
Pulling back the covers Babe tugged Charlie in to bed with him.
"But I also can't wait to have you all to myself again." Babe admitted freely. Charlie chuckled and nudged Babe until he rolled over so Charlie could spoon him, a position which never failed to make Babe feel secure and loved.
Charlie pressed another kiss to Babe's neck.
"If this wasn't the bed I share with my brother, I would show you how much I still love you." Charlie promised, needing Babe to understand that he was still loved regardless of their argument.
"I don't need that to know you love me, and you may want to get a new shower if sharing is a problem."
Charlie's head knocked into the back of Babe's with a groan. "I did not need to hear that. Go to sleep."
Lightly laughing, Babe pressed back further into Charlie's chest. Charlie squeezing him tighter in response. Sleep came easily for everyone tonight and morning brought the foursome to a cafe for a quick breakfast before the couples would go their separate ways. The conversation was kept light and casual and all too soon for Jeff, he was hugging Charlie goodbye and following Alan's car to work at the garage, the bag of stolen goods sitting in his front seat to be returned. Though he did not leave without reminding Charlie he would have his phone on him at all times and to call if he was needed. Charlie and Babe travelled together; Charlie happily inhaling the familiar scents in the car. Babe driving one-handed; the other clasped around Charlie's to ground himself. There was a strange feeling of relief and dread they both felt when they finally arrived home. Babe was quick to grab Charlie's laptop bag; another reminder of him kicking his puppy out with nothing but the clothes on his back and the bag in his hand. Charlie just smiled at him and allowed the hand on his waist the whole way inside until Babe deposited him onto the couch.
"You know I'm not that sick anymore right." Charlie teased.
Babe placed the bag down on the kitchen counter and grabbed them both some water.
"I know you're better than you were but you're still not 100 percent. Besides I have a lot to make up for." Sitting the water on the coffee table Babe perched on the couch seat beside Charlie and collected his hands to tug Charlie to face him.
"Babe...” Charlie started.
"We told Jeff and Alan we'd talk. I promised myself I'd do this but I don't know where to start."
"How about I say I'm sorry first." Charlie cut in softly. "I'm really sorry I didn't call you to let you know I was running late and I'm sorry I didn't notice your calls. Please don't cry Babe!"
Charlie was horrified to see the silent tears running down Babe's cheeks.
"This is all going wrong, you have nothing to apologise for and I have everything! Why are you saying sorry!" Babe pulled Charlie's hands up to his lips and pressed a kiss to them.
"I'm the one who overreacted and took it out on you." Another kiss. "The moment I spoke I wanted to take everything back. I shut down when you walked out the door." Charlie freed a hand to try and wipe some tears away. "You have no idea how scared I was when the storm finally registered to me and you weren't outside. Why weren't you there!?" Sobbed Babe. Charlie firmly pulled Babe into his chest but there was no stopping the words now cascading forth from Babe.
"I spent so long driving around looking for you. I was so worried when I couldn't find you. You'd disappeared from my sight again.”
"I'm sorry. I wasn't…. It was long day.” Charlie carded his fingers through Babe's hair, his own tears falling. "I really wasn't thinking when I left, to be honest I don't even know how I contacted Jeff."
Babe struggled to compose himself at Charlie's admission, the things that could have happened weighed heavily on him.
"I shouldn't have said it. If I ever slip again don't listen to me. This is your home; you made this house a home for us. I don't have the right to take that away from you." Charlie looked so surprised at his words that it broke Babe's heart.
"I'll call Pete later and get the number for one of his lawyers.” Babe decided.
"What?" The abrupt conversation turn confused Charlie.
"I'll get your name put on the property deed.” He declared.
"What!?" This clarified nothing for Charlie
"That way you'll have a legal claim so you can never be kicked out. Should I do the beach house too?"
"Wait Babe stop for a second.” Charlie pleaded, trying to get his head around the situation.
"I should! Everything I have is yours Charlie. I mean that with my whole heart!"
"Wait, wait, wait. Ok Babe let's just pause for a moment. Just breathe and listen."
Babe stared at Charlie expectantly.
"I don't need material objects Babe; I just need you to talk to me. To let me talk like you’re doing now. You didn't even give me a chance to explain that evening." Charlie had promised Jeff he would talk to Babe but seeing his tear-stained cheeks on that gorgeous red face made him just want to gather him back up and wipe the slate clean.
"I know. I was stuck in a muddle mess of panic and paranoia.”
"I'd had a long day and all I wanted was to come home and crawl into your arms." Charlie admitted tearfully and finally broke down fully when Babe took the initiative to gather him into his arms.
"I fucked up, again, but I'm going to do better. I promise Charlie, I swear I'll do better." Three kisses punctured Babe's sentence.
The words dried up between them and they just sat together in silence; unsure of where to go next.
"I'm still going to call a lawyer." Babe said in a still serious but somewhat joking tone.
"Mama...” Charlie whined.
"I mean it Charlie, what’s mine is yours. I don’t want you to ever feel rejected by me again."
Charlie whined again and fell back onto the couch away from Babe.
"Aww is Papa sulking." Babe teased, the mood finally lightening as he’d hoped it would. He turned and made his way up the couch to hover over Charlie, sly grin on his face.
"Mama?" Charlie covered his face in an attempt to avoid the inevitable.
"Is Papa avoiding me? Mama has missed Papa sooo much.” Babe being cute deliberately was too much for Charlie and he locked his hands behind Babe's neck, dragging him down for a passionate kiss.
"Papa would never avoid Mama.” Just like that they were back on familiar ground in their relationship. Both knew they needed to talk more about what happened between them but they also needed this; to remind each other of the others touch. Their language had always been physical one. Babe showered Charlie's body with the attention he normally received from his adorable lover; determined to show his puppy how much he missed him. By the end he'd carried his boneless lover carefully up the stairs to the bed that had not seen a body in days. He ordered food for lunch and set an alarm for the delivery time before snuggling into Charlie's sleepy embrace.
At the garage Alan and Jeff were catching up on anything that required their immediate attention. Jeff had snuck everything back into places around the garage where their respective owners would find them. By mid-afternoon all the important stuff was done and Jeff was once again on the road, this time following Alan home. Jeff would never admit it out loud, but he was happy to be back at the over-the-top mansion his lover called a house. With a tired sigh, Jeff sunk down onto the couch in main living room, discarding his jacket beside him.
"Tired my love." Alan said as he leant over from behind Jeff. "We can go have a nap if you want"
"I kind of just want to sit for a minute or two." Was Jeffs quiet admission.
"I don't like you being this worn out." Alan added his own admission to the air. He came around the couch to sit beside Jeff, who promptly leaned into his side prompting an arm to settle over his shoulders.
"For family this is nothing."
"Speaking of that, can we talk?"
"Uh Oh. Sounds serious." Jeff shifted to give Alan his full attention.
"I'm just worried I promise.” Concern and sadness reached Jeffs ears.
"I'm ok. I'm sorry I haven't been as invested as I normally am but I really am just a little tired." Jeff reassured. Alan chuckled at that but persisted with his topic of choice and he groaned while trying to find the right words.
Finally, he settled on, "You do see us as family, right?"
That got Jeffs attention. "What do you mean? What’s brought this on?"
"It's just you didn't ask for help or for the things that would help. You and Charlie were both surprised when the others turned up. You both keep apologising for nothing. It just made me wonder if everything was ok between us." Alan was now staring down at his knee's where his hands rested. Jeff sighed before sliding of the couch and coming around to kneel at Alans feet. His hands found a home on Alan's, the picture presented to Alan being Jeff on his knees staring up at Alan who flushed bright red at how adorable Jeff looked.
"Alan, I know I love you. I know I love the guys, Babe sometimes included in that,” Alan snorted, "but Charlie and I didn't exactly have good role models for family behaviour, especially Charlie. I at least had him."
"Jeff..." Alan felt bad for bringing up old memories.
"We don't know how to be a family with other people. But we're trying I swear: We talk about it sometimes."
Alan captured Jeff in a hug. "You're doing fine. I just want you to rely on me, us, more in future."
"I can try." Jeff's voice was muffled from where his face was pressed into Alan's stomach. A kiss was pressed into the top of his head.
"That's all I ask." Alan stood suddenly, dislodging Jeff from between his legs. Before Jeff could ask what was wrong, he was scooped up into Alan's arms.
"Let’s go have that nap."