Roman and Thomas began to hang out more with each other after meeting at the ball. The new friendship seemed to help Roman relax and concentrate on becoming better.

It was a very peaceful day when Thomas showed up at the apartment, knocking on the door as he played with the hem of his shirt. Patton smiled at Remus before standing to answer the door, "Oh, good morning Kiddo!" He moved back and allowed Thomas inside of the apartment, "Would you care to join us?" He gestured to the couple sitting on the couch, munching on pizza. "Oh, uh? Sure." Thomas walked over and said a small hello before sitting down on the floor as Patton went into the kitchen to grab another mug and poured Thomas some tea. "So what are we talking about?" "Oh just how busy is booming." Patton replied with a smile as he handed Thomas the mug before taking his and sitting in the recliner. "Happy Pappy's seem to be doing quite bad recently but I think it might be time to screw up the menu." Deceit hummed. "Happy Pappy's?" Thomas questioned before he frowned, "Didn't that place used to be called Lucky Spot?" Patton nearly spat out his tea, "Wait? Are you serious?" He set down his mug and looked around at the other three. "Roman didn't tell you?" Remus asked and watched as Patton shook his head no. "Roman had bought Lucky Spot to keep Virgil from going out of busy and once you came along, wanting a bakery, he began to work on the changes so you could have Happy Pappy's." Remus told him and then took a glup of his tea and relaxes against the couch. "I didn't know that." Patton gasped out, realizing that Roman had done much more than just provide him a place to live.
"So why have you come?" Deceit asked Thomas, a curious look gleamed in his eyes and Thomas looked at the floor, bashfully, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to find the words, "I um, I came to speak with R-roman..." He cleared his throat before looking up at the others. Patton let out a small squeal, "Ah! Thomas you're in love with Roman!" "Patton!" Thomas exclaimed nervously and looked around the apartment as if Roman had been in his room listening in on the conversation. "Calm down, Blushy, Roman isn't here. He's at his studio with Logan as they try to figure out how much money can be used to make it a bigger and better space." Remus smirked, he felt ecstatic that there was hope for Roman to move on from Virgil. Patton let out another excited squeal, wanting to know every detail of how Thomas came to realize that he had fallen for the painter.
It was late in the afternoon when Logan and Roman walked through the door of the apartment. They were surprisingly met with silence and Logan rolled his eyes, "They must have watched a bunch of movies before passing out." Roman gave a smile and closed the door, "Patton could use the extra sleep, I don't see a problem with it." "It'll ruin his sleep schedule if he continues to nap during the day." Logan said as he walked into the kitchen and grabbed a glass before asking Roman if he'd like any orange juice. Roman refused and walked into the living room and let out a small noise of surprise, "Oh, Thomas, greetings!" The taller man smiled warmly at his new friend, "I didn't know you were here." "Patton invited me but is it okay if we talk?" Thomas asked softly as he was nervous. Roman set his art bag down in the recliner and nodded his head, eyes filled with worry. Thomas moved a little closer to Roman as he tried to summon the courage to just tell him about his feelings. He messed with his shirt before looking up at Roman, "Roman, it's hard to find the words but I've been meaning to tell you this for a while now." Roman calmly waited for his friend to tell him whatever it was, it seemed important. Thomas unable to get out his words figured that action spoke louder and swiftly grabbed Roman's shirt and tugged him into a sloppy kiss. Roman jerked back quickly once his brain registered that Thomas had kissed him, "Thomas, what are you doing?" The man in question licked his lips slightly before sheepishly saying that he had fallen head over heels in love with Roman. Roman backed away from Thomas, "What?" His mouth agape with shock. He remembered their first conversation. Thomas had asked him if he would ever fall in love again and Roman had told him no, and now he felt betrayed. Thomas shifted quite uncomfortably as Roman seemed to just stare at him, figuring he was just in shock about the kiss. The room was filled with awkward tension before Roman composed himself and shook his head slowly, "I'm sorry Thomas, but I can't return your feelings. I love you but not romantically." He felt his own heart sink as he could see the crushing look on Thomas' face. "You don't even want to give us a try?" Thomas asked him quietly, looking up from the ugly carpet to meet Roman's gaze. "No, there is no us." Roman shook his head and cleared his throat awkwardly before he went to turn to his room when Thomas suddenly exclaimed, "Why not! Please, why can't you give me a chance?" "Thomas please, just let it go." Roman didn't face the man standing behind him. "No! I won't! I love you Roman! I will not just let it go!" Thomas' voice raised as he seemed to be getting emotional. Roman let out a small breath and just let Thomas rant.
"...why won't you love me...!?"
Annoyed with the question, Roman turned "Because I love Virgil!" His voice was loud and anger seeped into his eyes. "Virgil is dead!" Thomas shouted back before he could stop himself and everything fell into silence after a collective gasp. Every emotion drained from Roman's face as Thomas looked horrified with himself for blurting that out. He tried to apologize for it but it was far too late, the damage was done. Roman turned and kept silent as he left the apartment. He could have shouted back that Joan was dead as well but he didn't want to sink that low, he didn't want to drag Thomas down anymore then he already did to himself.
Roman placed his hands in his jean pockets as he walked down the sidewalk in a slow manner, nudging pass people that headed in the other direction. The day was sunny and everything see me to be super happy yet Roman couldn't care less. He felt completely shattered now; all of his work to become better just flushed down the drain like it didn't matter. He wiped the tears off his face as he stumbled into the cemetery and over to a grave that looked brand new.
Virgil Anx
2000-2026
Roman scoffed at the date, he made sure that it was wrong when they carved it into the marker. He sat down and brushed aside the fake flowers and placed down purple roses with one bright red one in the middle, "I'm so sorry Virgil, I'm sorry that I wasn't fast enough or gave you the proper time and care." He placed the flowers done and left a small kiss on the grave stone, "Don't worry, I'll be with you soon."