Short chapter because last chapter insinuated that josh would tell tyler a bedtime story and I didn't want to skip over that!

start song: pretty girl by clairo

"Goodnight." Ashley smiled, pressing a kiss to his temple before tip-toeing over to the opposite side of the basement where the air mattress was set-up. They'd had a long day, Tyler's energy hadn't really depleted since the morning, if anything after he'd spoken to Josh, he'd become more energized.

He just wanted to talk to him again and that had sent him deeper into little space throughout the day. All he could think about was Josh, he'd been in a good mood all day because of it.

It was only 9PM and he was exhausted and ready to go to bed but there was no way he was going to bed without talking to Josh first. He'd been anticipating a bedtime story all day long.

Tyler watched Ashley settle down across the room and he knew he'd have to wait for her to fall asleep before he called Josh. He wished he could have the lights on so he could facetime him properly but that wouldn't work well, Josh would barely be able to see him. So he figured he could just call him.

He stared at the ceiling for a little while, waiting until he could hear the familiar sound of Ashley snoring. She was usually out like a light once she laid down, he only had to wait 10 minutes before he started texting Josh.

hi josh, how was ur day?
sent 9:13

Hey sweetie, my day was good. Do you still want that bedtime story?
sent 9:14

maybe
sent 9:14

So yes?
sent 9:14

yes pleaseeee
sent 9:14

Very good manners, you're very sweet Tyler.
sent 9:15

thank u :)
sent 9:15

(:
sent 9:15

why is ur smiley face the wrong way?
sent  9:15

Can a smiley face be the wrong way?
sent 9:15

yes!!!
sent 9:16

(: Do you want me to call you?
sent 9:16

yess!!!!
sent 9:16

Tyler grabbed his headphones off of the floor and quickly slammed them into his phones headphone jack. He wasn't going to risk Ashley hearing them talk even if she was going to know about this eventually. He wanted to tell his friends in his own time.

Going into his contact list and pressing on Josh's name had never been so exciting. He tapped it multiple times until the phone call had finally gone through. Tyler tucked his ear buds into his ears.

"Hey baby-bee." Josh said once the connection picked up, his voice warm and soft over the phone. He'd been waiting to hear him all day, he was instantly soothed with comfort.

"Hi." Tyler whispered, careful not to be too loud. Ashley was sleeping down here with him tonight for comfort. He wasn't sure if it was for hers or for his.

"I wish I could see you." He really wanted to see Josh, there was something beyond calming about seeing him, it was comforting to know that he was real.

Josh hummed in agreement. "Me too, but it's okay. As long as we can talk right?"

"Mhm." Tyler curled in on himself, getting comfortable on the futon again. It creaked when he adjusted his weight. He pulled the spare duvet they'd lent him over himself, shivering just slightly.

"Did you have fun today?" Josh asked.

Tyler yawned, curling his toes and stretching his legs as he did so. "Soooooo much, I did lots of things today."

Josh chuckled on the other line, "Want to tell me about it?"

"Okay!" Tyler laughed and quickly slapped a hand over his mouth. He needed to be more quiet. He whispered. "After breakfast, I watched Disney movies and played and coloured and then Brendon and Ashy brought me skateboarding and I fell and gots a booboo! I'm okay though, it didn't hurt very bad."

"Are you sure you're okay pumpkin? Where did you get hurt?" Josh sounded worried and Tyler thought about it for a second and he blushed. Josh actually cared about him and he knew that he did but it made him feel all warm to have proof that he really did.

"My knee, it was all gross and It hurted really bad." Tyler said, poking said knee with a finger to make sure it was still there. It hadn't been very pleasant, he'd scraped himself up pretty bad. "It's all scratchy." He frowned.

"Do you have a bandaid over it? Was it disinfected?" Josh asked.

"Ashy put a three paw patrol bandaids on it." Tyler said in thought. She might've put even more than that because he kept picking them off which had almost earned him a timeout. He wasn't going to tell Josh that he had being naughty though.

Josh let out a relieved sigh. "That's good baby boy, on Monday i'll kiss it better and i'll bring you a little something for being a super brave big boy, okay?"

"I is brave?" He questioned, pushing his phone closer to his ear and hugging his stuffed animal closer to his chest. Internally excited that Josh was going to bring him something.

"You are very brave." Josh confirmed in a voice that made Tyler melt.

"You 's my favourite person." Tyler said in a hushed voice, scared that Ashley would wake up and hear him. "Don't tell anyone please." He his his face in his pillow.

"You're the sweetest little boy." Josh sighed contently, Tyler smiled even though Josh couldn't see him and rolled back onto his back. "And don't worry, you're my favourite person too. I like you sooooooo much."

"To the moon and back?" Tyler asked hopefully. His friends said they all loved him to the moon and back and even if Josh didn't love him, Tyler still wanted to be liked. He hoped that Josh liked him.

"Of course, maybe even further than that." Josh said easily. It was so natural for him to talk to Tyler and Tyler couldn't stop smiling. It was impossible. He almost couldn't believe that Josh liked him further then the moon and back. What was beyond the moon? Tyler didn't know. He yawned again and rolled onto his side, unable to stop moving.

"Do I gets a bedtime story now? I was so good today, promise." Tyler asked tiredly, he did want to sleep but he would never be able to if Josh didn't tell him a story, especially because he promised him that he would.

Josh huffed out a pleased sound on the other end of the line. "What kind of story do you want?"

"I dunno." Tyler frowned and tried to think of something, he hadn't heard enough bed time stories to know what he liked yet.

"How about I make one up right now?" Josh supplied.

"With your inagination?" Tyler replied curiously.

"Uh-huh, with my imagination. Just for you." Josh said calmly. His voice was so soft and light.

"Wow! Please please please, I wanna hear a story." Tyler said excitedly.

"Okay, okay i'll tell you one. " Josh paused for a moment. "So once upon a time a loooong time ago there was a very cute little boy—" Josh started, Tyler's cheeks hurt from how hard he was smiling.

"Like me!" Tyler whispered loudly, right into the speaker of his phone.

"Yes, just like you, pumpkin." Josh snorted. "And well, this little boy had a heart as pure as gold."

"Gold? mine is gold too?" Tyler asked, pinching the fabric of his shirt over his heart.

"Yes, bumble it might be, we can check later." Josh paused before continuing in a soft voice. "This little boy was the sweetest and he was very gentle, plus he had super powers!" Josh exclaimed dramatically, making Tyler happily giggle into the palm of his hand.

"What are they?" Tyler asked, he wished he was a superhero. He'd always wanted to be one when he was younger.

"He had the power of friendship and the power to fly. And he used his powers to keep all friendships together and happy. The boy's name was Golden boy." Josh said.

"Cuz his heart is golden?" Tyler guessed.

"You've got it little one. Because his heart was golden. He'd fly city to city and make sure all of the bestest friends would stay that way because he cared so so much about their friendships and wanted everyone to be happy."

"I wish i was him." Tyler said quietly. "Do you thinks he can come see me?" Maybe golden boy would make sure that he and Brendon, Ashley and Dallon would be best friends forever. He never wanted to lose them.

Josh seemed to take a moment to think before responding. "Do you want to know a secret baby boy?" He whispered even though he didn't need to.

Tyler nodded to himself and pulled his stuffed lion closer to his chest in a tight squeeze. "mhmm."

"Everyone has a little bit of gold in them, especially you." Josh said.

Tyler gasped. "Really?"

"Yeah, of course little one."

Tyler blushed and hugged his stuffed animal tighter, the tip of his thumb finding its way into his mouth. "My friends will be my friends forever?"

"Mhm yeah they will, as long as you all take good care of eachother." Josh supplied easily. Tyler wished that he could be with him right now, instead of just talking over the phone. It wasn't that he needed the physical contact but he wanted it.

"I take super goods care of them." Tyler smiled.

"I know you do." Josh said happily. "Do you want me to continue the story?" He asked carefully.

Tyler yawned and pulled the duvet up and over his head. "M'sleepy."

Josh laughed. "Well sleepy, maybe it's time for you to go to sleep."

Tyler giggled tiredly, completely exhausted. "I's Ty not sleepy, Joshie."

"Oh no, I definitely think you're more of a sleepy."

Tyler pouted as he sleepily began to suck on his thumb. He wanted his pacifier but it was all the way upstairs and he didn't wanna wake up Ashley. "Cans I be little? I don wanna be sleepy."

"Uh huh, you can be whatever you want to be baby bee." Josh assured him. "But right now I think it's time for you to sleep."

Tyler sucked on the tip of his thumb. "I wants to have dreams so you can be in them."

"I'll dream of you too then, that way we can be together."

"Otay." Tyler closed his eyes happily and placed his phone on his chest. "Please don go away Joshie."

Josh sighed contently. "Don't worry baby boy, i'll stay on the phone with you until you fall asleep. I promise."

"You're the bestest." Tyler murmured sleepily, cuddling up the his stuffed lion.

Tyler heard humming on the other line and he instantly relaxed happily, a small smile grazing his lips at the sound of Josh. He wanted to talk to him everyday and if he could he definitely would. If each night ended like this he would be a very happy boy.

Josh's humming was soothing to no end and it definitely made him just that much sleepier, he could barely open his eyes. It was nice to have someone to take care of him like this.

He loved that he could escape from reality for just a little while, he could forget about his parents and school and basketball and he could just relax. And gosh was Josh relaxing, Josh was everything he could ever want in a daddy and he hoped he knew that.

Eventually Tyler fell asleep, his thumb near his mouth and his stuffed animal tucked under his chin, Josh had ended up waiting until Tyler had stopped restlessly moving to hang up on him, not that he wanted to.

THIS IS SO SHORT compared to all the other chapter, forgive me hhh o but this also hit 100k WHICG IS SO INSANE HOLY FUCK. thank you guys so much

anyways, i have my last exam today and then i'm done school. So here's a little update!