"Aren't you like... super confused?" Josh asked as he and Brendon crawled into bed later that night. "Confused?"
Josh sighed as he slid down further under the covers, scooting closer to Brendon because it was way too cold on his lonely side of the bed. He couldn't help but let his mind wander at how nice and warm it would be with that one more specific person here.

"Yeah like.. all these... feelings?" Josh chuckled. Even though he still got flustered quickly talking about it, he had decided to be full on honest with Brendon and himself.

Brendon laughed. "God, i love you. You're so cute when you're in love." Josh blushed profusely but shook his head as good as he could in the position he was laying. "I've always been in love. With you. The whole time."

"I know babe, i know. But that's like... love. Not the new smitten vibe you're radiating now."
Josh sighed because he knew Brendon was right.

"My head's just going 500 mph. So's my heart", Josh admitted. "I mean I can't deny that yeah, i'm definitely in love with Tyler but somehow during all of this I only started loving you more... And when i see you and Tyler everything just goes even faster and i just feel so much."

Brendon smiled softly as Josh just kept going. "I just... It's a lot? And i'm scared. I'm scared to disappoint you. Like, i don't want you to feel less loved or interesting or feel betrayed for one tiny second, and i'm just scared that exactly that will happen."

He stared at Brendon's face, slightly frustrated. "And i hate how i cannot read you, while you always so easily read me and i can't stand not knowing exactly what's going on in your head. You're so cool and calm about all of this while i'm freaking out Bren."

"Babe", Brendon started. "I've told you before I was scared too. It's complicated for all of us, but it's... okay? Right?"
Josh nodded, unable to stop his smile. "It is. It is... Just.. let me know what's going on there", he answered as he gently tapped between Brendon's eyebrows.

...
"I love you, I like Tyler, I love seeing you two together, I love being around you two together."
"You keep saying that but it makes me sad..."
"Sad?"
"It makes it sound like... You'd let me have another boyfriend because you love me. I don't want that. I don't want this if you don't want Tyler too, and i feel like you're hiding something about how you're feeling towards him."
Brendon didn't answer, just kept his eyes scanning Josh's face as he did before.

"And i feel like it can be two things. One; you for whatever reason don't want to show that you actually like him a lot more then you want us, me, to think. Two; you don't actually like him as much for yourself as we talked about. And you're just doing this to make me happy.
And i swear Brendon if it's the second then please tell me right now, because it'll kill me otherwise. Tell me either way."

Brendon was silent. For a while. Maybe, or no definitely, too long for Josh's liking and anxiety grabbed him by the throat. Oh god. What if it was true and Brendon didn't-.

"I love you Josh."
Josh swallowed, hard. "Fuck, Bren", he whispered in a desperate little whine."
"don't worry", Brendon answered, holding Josh's hand and squeezing it tightly. "Don't worry", he repeated. "I like Tyler. I like him. A lot. I'm just... careful. I want this all to go right, i'm honestly just really careful. And you're overthinking, which makes perfect sense, but... I like him, a lot, I wouldn't have kissed him if i didn't like him babe."

"You promise?"
"Promise."

"Okay... okay."
The last okay he whispered, before shuffling forward and pressing his lips to Brendon's. Apart from always loving to kiss his boyfriend, he now needed it more than ever. Josh just needed the reassurance, he needed to be babied, remembered that everything was going to be alright.

Brendon smiled into their kiss. He knew. "You're my baby okay? And nothing will change that. Not even if 'us three' does work out and Ty's really short and small and cute, you're still my baby, babe."
Josh couldn't help but chuckle, as did Brendon. "I don't mind sharing the petname 'baby' ", he whispered. Just so Brendon knew. "As long as i'm still yours too."

———

"Ty!"

"Eh hi?" the youngest chuckled.

"Friday, our place, yes?"

"Ofcourse", Tyler smiled to his phone screen, both Josh and Brendon staring back at him. Friday nights were still their standards, but with Tyler's new job the timing wasn't as standard anymore.

"If you want i could come over earlier? I'm free all day because it'll be my birthday."
Tyler saw two sets of eyes grow big, before they faced each other. "YES!" Josh smiled big, a white-teeth-smile that could be in any toothpaste commercial on tv. Brendon pouted.
"Brendon is out all afternoon for work but please hang out with me?"

Tyler laughed and nodded. "If it doesn't make you too unhappy Brendon." Brendon's pout quickly changed into a smile.

"Oh, but no gifts okay? You don't need t-."
"Yes, gifts!" Josh gasped. "Bren, we need to think of a gift!"
Tyler watched their little conversation, trying to speak up but Josh has forgotten the phone for a second while talking to Brendon and all Tyler could see was a white ceiling. He could still hear them though.
"He just literally said no gifts, Josh." Brendon chuckled.
"Oh, who cares. We're gonna get him gift-."

"Oh. Hi." Josh chuckled as he held up the phone again and Tyler smiled and shook his head. "Hi."
"So, no gifts", Josh laughed as he was aware of the fact Tyler had heard all that. "Right."

———

"This is the best ever gift, Bren", Josh complimented themselves. "Hell yeah."
"We rock at this gift thing."

"When is the last time you gave me a gift?" Brendon then wondered, cheeky frown on his face. "I can't even remember you giving me anything", he huffed.
Josh grinned. "I could give you a lovely gift right now?" And as he said that his fingers already gripped the buckle of Brendon's belt. The older laughed, swatting Josh's hand away. "Tease", he huffed before kissing Josh briefly. "I'll see you later okay? Make sure you pack the thing nicely! I'll get back here as soon as i can."

Josh waved with a little smile, twirling their gift in his hands. Tyler would love it, he was sure. He quickly got up to wrap it, before the brunette would ring that doorbell.

——

"Birthday boy!" Josh exclaimed in excitement when he opened the door for Tyler. He pulled him in for a tight hug, fighting his urge to just kiss him as he wasn't sure that was his place just yet. "Happy birthday Ty", Josh added as he released the boy out of his grip. "You look so pretty."

"Thank you", Tyler answered, a flustered smile on his lips as he gazed from underneath his cap, watching Josh takes his picture. "For Brendon, is that okay?" the faded-pink haired asked. "He was bummed he wasn't here today."
Tyler cheeks turned a little pink. "sure", he nodded with the same smile.

Josh

It didn't take long for Brendon to reply, as both boys had only just made it into the kitchen.

Brendon
So very very cute 😍

Brendon
Tell him he looks cute 🥰
Have fun babies, i'll try to be home early

"Brendon thinks you look cute", Josh immediately shared. "Shut up", Tyler rolled his eyes but giggled. Josh shrugged. "It's true though."
Tyler tilted his head. "I'm literally in all black, old worn down hoodie, and now you guys think i look cute?"
"Hmm", Josh pretended to think as he sat down at the table, but after handing Tyler his Red Bull. "You're always cute."
"So sappy." Tyler answered with a smile, shaking his head.

"We do actually have a gift for you", Josh started as Tyler had his hand in a firm grip, concentrated on putting the white nailpolish on Josh's fingernail. "Really? Totally didn't see that coming", he chuckled before moving to the next finger. "But you'll get that once Brendon is home."

Josh observed his right hand as Tyler started on his left. "I like it. I'll do yours too."
So, once they hoped the polish was dry enough, Josh started doing Tyler's nails. Black.
"Like my soul", Tyler chuckled. "Pfff, as if." Josh snorted and Tyler shrugged. "Okay, well white it too bright for me then. It stands out too much, i don't like to stand out. Like you."
Josh huffed. "I don't like to either!"

Tyler frowned, seeing the polish smeared on his finger instead of nail with Josh's little outburst. "Says the one with the pink hair."
"Well-... okay." He thought about it, it seemed fair. "I kinda did that for the most cheesy obvious reason, as I was finally completely free from my family and i could finally express myself. Or well, that's what it felt like. Guess i just wanted to rebel or something. I mean, i liked it, but i'm letting it fade out now, i want to go back to my own hair. I'm okay with who i am now. I think." Josh rambled on, but Tyler payed attention to every word and nodded.

He smiled softly. "What's your natural hair like?"
Josh laughed, again messing up another nail on tyler's other hand. "A big mess of dark curls. Depending on how long i let it grow."

"I want to see that", Tyler decided before he pulled his hand back and watched his nails. Apart from the two times Josh went off, it actually was on pretty decent. "Thanks", he smiled, now checking Josh's. They were a lot neater, but that was okay. "It looks cute on you."
Josh nodded, he had never tried it before, but he liked it. "You think Brendon will like it?" Tyler askes as he layed down his hands onthevtable, right next to josh's.
Josh nodded. "I'm pretty sure he will. I think he wants black too."

"So, we probably still have an hour or so before Brendon gets here and we can do your gift, let's make brownies?"
Tyler laughed and nodded, knowing by now brownies and chocolatecake were Josh's all time favorites. "I have no idea how to, but something tells me you do." he pulled up the sleeves of his hoodie, ready to go to work.

Josh watched the black lines and marks on Tyler's skin appear. He loved them, and for whatever magical reason black ink had never looked so good on anyone's skin. On Tyler's it was just so... beautiful. He reminded himself to ask about them later.

"Can you get 4 eggs out of the fridge and the stick of butter?" Josh asked as he grabbed flour, sugar, salt and lots of chocolate himself, then grabbing the brownie tin and preheating the oven. He wasn't much of a cook, but baking... he was much better at baking. Sweet food was better than any other food anyway.

Tyler watched Josh getting most of the chocolate on a bowl above some boiling water, and he waited patently for instructions because he had no clue. He chuckled. "What?"
Tyler shrugged. "I never expected to spend any birthday like this, let alone that i'd actually love it."
Josh smiled as he gestured for Tyler to give him the bowl of flour. "Boring things aren't so boring if done with the right people, i guess."

And right that second, as Tyler stood there holding out the bowl of flour in both hands, nodding and smiling softly, the idea popped into Josh's brain and he took a breath of air and blew into the bowl of flour.
A big white cloud puffed up and Tyler yelped and squeezed his eyes shut as he got covered in the white dust. He quickly threw the bowl on the kitchen counter, "What the fuck, Josh!" he exclaimed in a big laugh. Head and chest covered in flour, he stood there for a second or two, stunned by the fact Josh just did that. "Oh my god!"
Josh tried to hold back his laugh but couldn't, laughing loud before suddenly seeing Tyler reach into the flour, grabbing a handfull. And he was too slow, so he had only turned around to run off when Tyler jumped on his back, immediatly in a tight grip. "No, no!" Josh laughed but it was too late and Tylers hand filled with flour popped open above his head.

Now both covered in flour Tyler jumped off Josh's back, both still laughing, trying to pat the flour out of their hair and clothes. Still smiling, Josh couldn't hold himself back as Tyler gazed up at him shaking his head, and without thinking he stepped forward, hands on both sides of Tylers face. And Josh kissed him. Just like that. He noticed the little gasp of surprise coming from he brunette, and he pulled back, being surprised himself.

Without saying anything they stepped back, Tyler chuckling softly, brushing some more flour out of Josh's hair. "Okay, so let's get those brownies in the oven and clean up this mess a bit", he gently nudged Tylers shoulder. And so they did, Josh measuring the flour again, mixing it all and putting it in the oven, while Tyler started cleaning the mess they made.

Far before they finished, but without them noticing, Brendon got home. He had been looking at them for a little bit before Josh turned towards the door. Brendon smiled as he stepped in, easily pulling the younger closer and kissing his boyfriend hello. "Hey babe."

Tyler had noticed now too, shyly watching them and drying his hands on the kitchen towel. It was right then when Brendon shifted his attention to Tyler, smile growing. "And hi to you too", he spoke softly as Tyler swallowed noticably as he looked up to Brendon standing in front of him, giving him the exact same treatment as Josh. Gently getting hold of the younger's chin Brendon pecked a kiss on Tyler's lips. Maybe short, definitely unexpected, but causing three hearts to do a happy skip.

"Happy birthday", Brendon continued as he pulled back, feeling josh's arms snake around his waist, as his own hand combed through Tyler's hair, causing a little poof of flour. "my boys look really messy", he mumbled. "And so does the kitchen", he added with a chuckle.

Josh chuckled to, watching Brendon's fingers in Tyler hair, still some flour falling down to his shoulders. "You're home early, we were cleaning up. We made you brownies."
Brendon raised his eyebrows. "You made me brownies?" Knowing very well Josh was the one with the sweet tooth, not Brendon. Josh chuckled. "Fine. We made me brownies. Us."

———

Eventually the kitchen was cleaned, and so were Josh and Tyler. Brendon made them chicken pesto pasta, and the brownie made up for a perfect birthday dessert, when josh put a little candle in Tyler's piece that's said '24'.

"Time for your gift", Brendon explained when he got up and nudged Josh's shoulder. Josh immediately jumped up, going to get the wrapped gift he'd been hiding.

"Happy birthday!" they spoke in unison and carefully Tyler took it from their hands. "You didn't have to", he nearly whispered as he slowly unwrapped the paper. "But we wanted to", Josh answered. "Because you deserve it", Brendon added.

"No way...
No way, guys! Are you-... "
Tyler's eyes grown so big, his jaw dropped as he twirled the ukulele in his hands, observing the front and back. "Oh", he nearly whimpered when he read the tiny little inscription on the back.
'happy birthday,
love,
J&B'
"Thank you."
A whisper.
"Thank you. Thank you so much. You guys have no idea how much this means to me, i'm.. I don't know what to say."

"You don't need to say anything. We're just happy you like it."

"I love it", he answered, nodding while hugging the uke close to his chest. "I love.. it. So much."
He stood up, placing the ukelele on the table before hugging both josh and brendon and kissing their cheeks. "Thank you."