random9erson This is for you

John pov~

I yawned, rolling over only to find Frances curled up beside me. Oh, ok. Moved her and her pillow, so I could reach over to Alex. He stirred and opened his eyes sleepily, blinking a few times.

"Morning." I smiled at him, the bags under his eyes had become paler because I'd convinced him to sleep reasonable amounts of time.

"No." He mumbled, rolling so his face was pressed into the pillow. "Make it night."

"I don't have superpowers Alex."

"But you do!"

"How's that?"

"You made me love you in record speed."

He pounced on me, smiling as he littered my face with kisses. I giggled and he sat up, taking Frances and placing her in his lap, gently waking her up.

The little girl opened one eye groggily then shut it firmly again.

"You need to wake up." I told her, picking her up carefully.

"Don't wanna."

"But you gotta."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"What I make French toast?"

"I'm awake!" She squealed, suddenly full of energy.

Alex laughed as our daughter scampered off to the kitchen. I chuckled and followed her, letting him wake up properly.

(Time skip unless y'all want a French-toast-making tutorial, which probably isn't why you're reading this story, so I'll continue)

The kids were ready for school so I took them outside, walking to the bus stop, as Phillip talked about what he'd last read.

"Why was pops so upset last night?" He asked, and I froze.

"I don't actually know." I replied honestly. "He'll tell us when he feels like it."

"Ok."

"Pops was upset? Why? When?" Frances butted in.

"It's ok sweetie, everything's fine." I ruffled her hair and had poured, trying to get it back into place.

I got on the bus and listened to people discuss trivial hinge around me, paying half attention to what was outside the window, and half attention to my kids. Just in case. I got them to their schools without any trouble and caught a bus to work. I went to my office and sat down at my desk, already bored out of my skull. Then I got a call from Alex.

"Hey Alex, I'm at work, is it urgent?" I whispered.

"C-can you p-please come h-home? I ne-need you."

"I'll see what I can do." I whispered, hanging up.

Alex seemed so sad, it broke my heart to hear him like that. What the hell happened? I got up and walked to my boss's office, hurrying down the hall. I knocked on the boss's door and he welcomed me in.

"Uhh, sir?"

"Yes?"

"Can I please... go home? My husband called me asking for me... and he seemed really panicked."

"Sure, make sure he's ok."

I nodded and hurried out, grabbing my bag and pulling on my coat. I waved bye to some of my colleagues and hopped on the first bus I saw that lead home.

I was barely present as the bus halted at my stop, brain going into autopilot as I ran to my house, pulling out my keys. I unlocked the door and stepped inside, taking off my coat and shoes out of habit, not because I cared about such trivial things right now.

I raced into my room and Alex was sitting on the bed, staring at his phone, despite its blank black screen. Tears were falling from his eyes but he either didn't notice or didn't care, cause he made no move to stop them from pooling around his chin and dripping off onto his trembling hands and phone. He looked up when he heard me come in, eyes red from crying, and he just looked so sad and... hollow. I'd seen that look on him once. When his cousin, Peter, died. Wait—

"Alex? What's up baby?" I moved over to him, wrapping my arms around his back that shook with sobs.

"H-h-he... h-he... I-I..." His eyes darted around, panicked like a cornered animal.

"Shh, it's ok, it's ok." I played with a strand of his hair, rubbing circles into his back in a soothing way.

"No it's not!" He wailed, waterfalls of tears pooling from his eyes. "I-I'll never be a-able to see h-h-him again and I... it's my fault!"

Be pressed his face in his already drenched hands, back shaking violently as choked sobs made their way out of his mouth. Oh god what happened.

"Alex? You need to tell me what's wrong if you want me to be able to help."

"You can't help! I don't know why I called! I just... need company now, just company now.."

"Can you at least tell me what happened?"

"James... J-James... he... I'm sorry, I can't I just... later?"

Wait, did James... die?

"Alex, is he dead?" I didn't know any other way to frame it that wouldn't seem like I was avoiding the real question.

He lifted his face from his hands and looked at me with those hollow eyes, before nodding. A whimper escaped his lips and tears started falling again, and he grabbed a pillow, pressing hi face into that.

"I-It's like P-Peter... he... it was a b-bridge." Oh god. My heart broke with the sadness and hopelessness in his voice as he explained through sobs.

"Shhh, it's ok Alex, just lie down." I pressed on his back gently, pulling the blankets over him. "Do you think you can sleep?"

He shook his head, pulling the blanket up to his nose, hands still trembling. I sighed and got up to get him something to eat, only for Alex to grab my wrist and look at me with pleading eyes, so I lay down next to him, comforting him as best I could.

I noticed his breaths slow and become more regular as he fell asleep. Once I knew he was fast asleep, I got up to get him some food. I made him his favorite coffee and some ramen, which he also loved. I put them on a tray and put it on the table by Alex's side of the bed.

I just want him to be happy, is that too much to ask?