Chapter 27: Making a Home

Danial stood at the stove in their new home. Surrounded by boxes that had yet to be unpacked. It had only been 2 months since his lover had been released from the hospital. It was going to be another month before Jay would get his casts off. So, they were using this time to plan the wedding, as well as unpacking their stuff.

“Danny?!” A voice echoes through their home. The blonde turns to look at the entrance to the kitchen. 

“Kitchen!” Danial calls back, turning off the burner. “What’s wrong?” A sheepish, wobbly brunette limps into the room, looking around embarrassed. The shorter man realizes quickly what’s up. The nerd had lost his crutches again. He chuckles. “Lost something again?” He smirks smugly. 

“I- well- maybe?” Jay stutters, looking around, searching from his missing crutch. “I could have sworn I had it by our bed.” He mutters. 

Danial can’t contain his laugh as he walks over to the taller man, planting a sweet chaste kiss on his lips before walking off towards their bedroom. Quickly finding the missing item under the brunette’s side of the bed. With crutch in hand, he heads back down stairs, finding his lover sitting on the couch. 

“Fell under the bed again.” The blonde says, handing the crutch over. 

“Of course it did. Thank you, Danny.” Jay says with a sigh, ending with a loving smile, leaning forward to plant a chaste kiss on the blonde’s lips. “What do you wanna do today?” Danial helps him to his feet and leads him back into the kitchen. 

“I was thinking we could try and finish unpacking after I head down to the store to work on some orders. Do you want to come with me? I know Laura and Leor would like to see you.” The blonde asks, finishing making breakfast before plating it. 

Jay mulls over the idea. It had been a couple of days since he’s been out of the house. Actually, he hasn’t been out of the house since they moved in a few weeks ago. Sure, maybe his therapist didn’t approve of his avoidance method and maybe his friends were not so subtle in their methods of trying to push him out of the nest. Least he could always count on Danial to know his limits. 

“Umm, I don’t know-” The brunette starts before Danial continues. 

“It’s not a choice. You’re coming with me.” The blonde smirks, setting their plates down at the table. 

‘Okay, maybe I should have been more worried about Danny then the other’s forcing me out.’ Jay sighs, slumping as he sits down. 

“I-” 

“I know you’re scared, baby, but you can’t just hide away from the world. They’re gone, you’re safe, we’re safe. You don’t have to force yourself back into how you were before, but at least… at least get out. You can always come with me to the store on days you’re feeling up to it.” The blonde says softly, reaching across the table to hold his fiance's hand, his thumb rubbing soothing circles over the back of his hand. 

“You’re right… maybe just every once in a while?” Jay asks timidly, his emerald eyes looking up hesitantly. Danial smiles, blue eyes crinkling at the corners. 

“No one would think looking at you that you’re such a softy.” He chuckles, eating. 

Freckled cheeks turn a rosy hue as Jay hides behind his good hand, the blush traveling all the way up to his ears. 

Without saying another word, and still blushing, Jay rushes to finish eating before heading upstairs to take a shower and get dressed. Danial can’t help but laugh fondly as his lover disappears up the stairs. 

An hour later, the duo are in the car headed a couple blocks away to the Bennett Boutique. It was still early when they got there, the open sign already turned on to welcome any customers in. 

“Hey bossman!” Leor shouts from behind the counter, smiling brightly. “Oh hey Jay! It’s great to see you out and about!” 

“What the fuck you shouting for, dimpshit.” Danial growls, glaring at his invading employee who was now standing before them. 

“It’s okay, Danny, he’s just excited.” Jay says, trying to sooth his fiancé, before turning back toward the other blonde. “It’s nice to see you too, Leor.” He says with a smile. 

“So I’m taking it you came in today to help the bossman with the latest order?” Leor says, leading the pair to the back. Danial keeps his eyes on his injured partner to make sure he doesn't fall, helping him manage using just one crutch with his other arm broken. 

“We really should just get you a wheelchair ‘til your cast comes off.” Danial grumbles under his breath when they finally make it to the back room and Jay lands roughly in one of the office chairs by his workbench. 

“What was that, Danny?” The brunette asks, turning to look at his lover curiously. 

“Nothing, nerd. Ya, I didn’t give him a choice.” The bossy blonde says putting on his reading glasses before turning towards the manikin wearing a work-in-progress purple dress. “Now get your ass back to work so I can focus.” 

Leor gives a good natured laugh before nodding and heading back to his post. 

“Is there anything I can help you with, my love?” The brunette asks as he sets his crutch up against the workbench behind him. 

“Nope, just sit there and look pretty.” The blonde smirks wickedly when he turns to Jay, his smugness only growing upon seeing the love-sick look aimed his way. “Ya, ya.” He grumbles, getting back to work with a light blush. 

The rest of the morning is spent in sweet silence as the duo listen to customers come in from the comfort of the back room as Danial focuses on his project. Jay sits there watching him, in between using the blonde’s laptop to look-up universities to study at to get his medical degree. The brunette was still uncertain whether his dream was to be a doctor still, or if maybe he wanted to go down the same path his family has for generations, being a nurse. 

‘What to do, what to do… nurse or doctor?’ Jay thinks as he stares at the computer screen of his top two picked schools, one a 2 year and the other a 4 year. ‘What to do indeed.’