{ Miles POV }

The next few weeks were torture for me. Alex was using every opportunity he had to spend time with me and make sure I was okay while I watched him slowly deteriorate.

He was worrying me with his increasing alcohol intake and how many packs on cigarettes he's gone through. His weight has dropped and he hid behind a fake smile. I tried to keep an eye on him and make sure he had enough food every day.

I loved him so much and I hated seeing him in so much pain. What could have caused him all this pain?

He was at my apartment now, and it had been almost 4 weeks. He was sitting on my couch, a beer in his hand, a cig dangling from his lips. He had sunglasses on, his yellowish ones, and a tank top. His jeans were on and despite his efforts, I could see the dark circles under his sunken eyes.

I'd finally had enough when I came into the living room seeing that he'd hardly touched the food that I had made for him. I sat down on the couch.

"Alex," I started. He looked at me, smiling and outing out his cig.

"What's up, mate?" He asked. I bit my lip.

"Take the glasses off, Al." I said. He hesitantly took them off, slipping the arm into his shirt.

"I'm worried about you." I said, looking into his tired eyes.

" What?! Why are you worried about me? " his lips turned down in a frown and he stared into my eyes.

" Al...you're not eating, you're drinking constantly, you go through 1 and a half cigarette packs a day' why wouldn't I be worried about you?? " I took his hands in mine.

" Please. I'll do anything to make you eyed but just please start eating. Please stop drinking and smoking so much. I love you. " my voice cracked at the end and I stared into his eyes.

I could see him realizing exactly what was wrong. He knew that what he was doing was hurting both of us.

" Okay, " he whispered, " I promise I'll get better but you have ta help me okay? "

I nodded and hugged him close, " We'll start small. Just some fruit and broth ye? "

He gave me that cute nod and smile that threw my head into a spin.

"How about I cut up some fruit now? Does that sound nice? I've got strawberries, banana, I've got blueberries, Apple's. I could throw together a little bit of all of those, yeah?" I asked, giving him option. I saw a little hint of excitment in his eyes.

"Maybe a little more banana than the rest?" He asked. Al loved bananas.

"Of course, Al." I smiled and made my way to the kitchen, pulling out the supplies necessary. As I was cutting the fruit, and placing it in the bowl at the counter, I felt arms snake around my hips, and a chest meet my back.

"A-Al? W-what are you doing?" I asked, trying to maintain calm. " 'am huggin' yer. Is that okay?" He asked, confused.

"Sure it is." I responded.

I continued to chop up fruit as Alex's fingers messed with the clasp of my belt.

" stop it you git, " I said letting out a little giggle.

He chuckled and squeezed me tighter around my midsection. I squeaked and smacked his arm.

" Alex! " I laughed bumping my bum into him. He laughed as well and held me close.

" Gimme the bananas!! All the bananas!!! " he squealed.

I laughed uncontrollably handing him the bowl of fruit.

" Here now stop squeezin' me ya arse, " I said giggling.

He smiled, a genuinely happy smile. It was one that I hadn't seen in weeks. I smiled and we walked into the living room. We sat back down, watching the Tele. He looked at the bowl and tossed a few pieces of Banana in his mouth. He stuffed them in his cheeks and turned to me.

"Look Mi! 'Am a squirrel!" He said, his speech muffled by his stuffed cheeks. I laughed at him. The light returned to his eyes. He chewed as he laughed, gazing at my face.

"You wanna share?" He asked, holding up the bowl.

"I guess." I nodded. He moved the bowl as I tried to grab a strawberry.

"What do yer want?" He asked, trying to tame his smile.

"Al!" I whined, tried to reach over. He laughed and smacked my arm.

"What do yer want!" He repeated.

"Strawberry." I said, my own smile becoming apperant. He grabbed one, and started to bring it over, dodging my attempt to grab it, and trying to feed it to me.

I pouted and opened my mouth letting the man feed me. There was something so oddly intimate about this moment. I blushes as he popped the strawberry in my mouth letting his fingers linger at my lip as a chewed for a moment. He smiled and ate his banana happily.

" Al " I murmured. He looked towards me and smiled a bit.

" I'm glad you're happy, " I whispered leaning against him and smiling. His free arm wrapped around me pulling my closer as a soft blush covered my cheeks. I nuzzled more into him.

He was warm. I felt him rest his head on top of my own. I felt his jaw move as he chewed. Every once in a while he would hold a piece of fruit to my mouth, and I'd eat it happily. I couldn't help but look down at his lap. It looked so inviting as a seat.

I ignored that thought easily and placed my head a little more under his, resting my hand lightly on the side of his thigh, hoping that he would notice. I listened to his heart beat and his soft chuckle every time something funny would happen on the Tele.

I peeked up at his face watching him watch the screen with a little smile on his face. My lips curved up in a such a wide smile that I had to bite my lip so Alex wouldn't see. I looked down at Alex's hand wrapped around me stomach.

His fingers were curled in and he looked so relaxed. So calm. So happy. I honestly just wanted to grab his face and kiss him until I can't breath. He pulled me closer causing my heartbeat to spike. He looked down at me.

" You okay? " he asked, a worried expression on his face.

"Yeah. I'm alright." I said, nodding and placing my head back under his, enjoying the closeness between us. He set his head back into mine.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked quietly. To be honest, I was thinking of wanting to kiss him, probably shouldn't say that to him. I bit my lip.

"I'm trying to think of what could have made you like this." I said. I felt his thumb twitch a bit.

"Are you, now?" He asked.

"Yeah. I were just so worried. I don't know what happened. But you're okay now." I said, hoping that he wasn't getting nervous. Thats the last thing that he needed right now.

He nodded and looked away. Please don't be nervous. I took his free hand in mine and rubbed circles into his palm. He chuckled and placed a kiss on top of my head.

" Ya weirdo. " he murmured leaning against me. My heart pounded happily in my chest. His hand in mine just felt so right. God I love him.

" Are we gonna do another tour for Everything You've Come To Expect before we start on the new album? " I asked. He shrugged,

" Sure if the fans want it. " his smile sent butterflies through me.

All that time, traveling with Al. I couldn't wait. The time we spend singing on stage, almost kissing. We did once or twice. I lived for it. Our feelings were always heightened in the heat of the concert, adrenaline making us do so much more on stage. But most of all, I loved the Nappy Alex.

He always took a nap, before every single performance that he did. I loved how he'd close the door to our backstage green room, lock it, and then rest on the couch before we went on. I loved his little snores and how peaceful he looked. He had no nervous ticks, and all his troubles melted away in sleep. He was so innocent and then he got on stage, where, even I admit, he became dangerously seductive. His natural element made him so slick and confident. I loved the way the whole thing worked.

I looked back up at him just to catch him staring back down at me. His cheeks turned red and he looked quickly back at the tele. I giggled and stared at him until he peeked at me.

I looked away innocently, a wide grin spreading across my face. He giggled as well pulling his arm away from my body and standing up.

" I'm gonna go have a cig yeah? " he murmured. I frowned,

" No Al you've had like five today, " I whined standing up and taking his cigarette pack and putting it in my back pocket.

"Mi! I'm not quitting completely! I just want one more." He whined.

"You can come stand out there with me. You can smoke one too." He reasoned. I bit my lip, he was right. I could go for a cig. And he did eat practically all the fruit. I suppose one last one today wouldn't hurt.

"Just one, yeah? We wanna keep making progress." I said. I pulled two cigs from the pack, handing one to him. We stepped outside on the balcony and leant over the rail as we looked out upon the city. We lit our cigs and took slow puffs. The feeling of it dangling between my lips felt good, and the taste was brilliant.

I enjoyed a proper fag every once in a while. I gazed at Al, he seemed so relaxed, his eyes lightly squinted at the horizon. The sun was just beginning to set. We both placed our hands on the railings and I felt his pinky finger touch my own. We looked at eachorher and blushed, returning our gaze to the horizon.

I felt Al's hand lay over mine. I blushed intensely and looked down finishing the cigarette. I peeked up at him and he was looking out towards the horizon. I squeezed his hand just enjoying the bed of our day.

~ Co-written with IDEKTERBEAR ~