joshua tapped his foot nervously after he knocked on the door that belonged to what used to be his home.

the most beautiful boy answered it.

"h-hi," josh said shyly.

"h-hi," tyler responded, stepping outside and closing the door behind him. he and jenna had become pretty close, and she was watching ollie that night.

"s-so," josh said. "y-you ready?"

tyler nodded, following joshua to his car. josh opened his door for him, and he thanked him kindly.

"i-i like your hair," tyler said quietly. his voice had improved since last time they were together, but it was still incredibly strained. "the pink brings out your eyes."

"o-oh," josh said with a shy smile. "t-thank you."

the two drove in silence to the movie theater. they were going to be seeing 'la la land,' and tyler was nervous.

he had heard it was a romantic movie, and whenever they watched a romantic movie together, they'd end up making out in the car afterward.

and tyler just wasn't emotionally ready for that just quite yet.

"i've heard good things about this movie," josh said as they found their seats in the theater.

they were the only ones.

and last time they were alone in a movie theater, they were naked.

"m-me too," tyler nodded.

they took their seats, tyler sitting with his hands in his lap. joshua did the same. it was indescribable how terribly he wanted to put his arm around his husband.

but he didn't.

not just yet.

the lights dimmed and the boys just sat, not touching one another in any way, shape, or form.

but about half way in, tyler shifted just the tiniest bit closer to josh.

though they didn't touch.

but they were closer.

after the movie, josh said he had a surprise planned. he drove them to the boardwalk where he had set up a picnic, tyler smiling at the sight.

"it looks wonderful," he said.

josh smiled proudly at himself.

the two sat down across from each other, josh's heart sinking as tyler informed him he still couldn't have solid food due to his throat.

"oh, gosh, i didn't know. i'm so sorry," josh quickly apologized. "why don't we go to that smoothie place downtown?"

"no, it's ok. i like it here," tyler smiled shyly. "thank you for taking me out."

"it's really my pleasure," josh said. he wanted to ask a billion questions about what their future held, but he didn't.

he was no longer going to push tyler.

so they sat in silence for about twenty minutes.

"i-i guess i should take you home," josh said, breaking the silence. "don't wanna keep you out too late."

tyler nodded, following josh back to the car where he drove him back home.

he walked him up to the doorstep, tyler smiling at the kind act.

"i-i really enjoyed tonight," tyler said.

"m-me too," josh responded.

"i-i guess i'll um... i'll see you around," tyler said quietly.

"o-oh! y-yeah. i'll see you around," josh said, still used to following tyler inside after their dates.

"goodnight, joshua," tyler said, opening up the front door.

"g-goodnight," josh smiled slightly, waving a shy goodbye and turning around.

tyler closed the door, but reopened it when josh was halfway back to his car.

"j-josh?"

"yes?"

"u-um... w-will you call me?" tyler asked shyly.

josh smiled widely and nodded. "wouldn't have it any other way."

it felt like they were falling in love all over again.

just, this time, no car crash, no physical contact, and there was a baby involved.

huh.

funny how things change over time.