Ryan laid on the couch with his fiancé cuddled in his arms. They shared gentle kisses while the tv played whatever show was on. It was only the sound of Ryan's phone that brought them out of their daze. Ryan answered the phone, stealing more kisses while he listened to whoever was on the other side.

Brendon felt Ryan tense and pull away. They both sat up fast as Ryan started getting excited, repeatedly thanking whoever was on the phone. He climbed off the couch, gleaming at a very confused Brendon. 

"This is amazing. I'll tell Jon. Thank you for this!" Ryan got off the phone and hurried to the bedroom. Brendon got up off the couch and slowly followed. Ryan was throwing a few things into a bag. It wouldn't take long to pack since he still hadn't unpacked from coming back from tour last week. 

"That was Pete. He said the Young Veins would be able to open for them on their tour." Ryan was pulling random things from his drawer. "The other opener just cancelled. Can you imagine the luck?" Ryan had the biggest smile on his face. "Jon and I need to go over Patrick's tonight and get everything set. They're leaving in a couple days, so I'll probably just crash at his place till then."

Brendon stood in the doorway, arms wrapped around himself for comfort. "Do you have to do this? I mean... you just got back," Brendon spoke so quietly Ryan almost didn't hear him."

"Babe, this is a huge opportunity. It'll open up doors for us. These aren't little venues with small crowds. These are sold out arenas across the country. I could write more music while we're on the road. Maybe finally release a full record. More tours."

"More tours?" Brendon repeated as he wrapped his arms tighter around himself. 

"Well, yeah. The fans will love it. I know we don't have many now, but after this, who knows? We could just blow up."

"Are you gonna be gone long?"

"Not sure yet, but if I know the guys at all, it'll be at least seven months."

"Seven months?"

"Yeah and who knows, we might be able to headline our own tour afterwards." Ryan was bouncing off the walls and didn't hear what Brendon had said. He calmed himself the best he could and faced his fiancé. 

Brendon had his head down. His knuckles where white from gripping himself too hard. His shoulders rose and fell quickly, in time with his heavy breathing.

"What'd you say?" Brendon snapped his head up and Ryan could see the tears in his eyes.

"What about me?" Brendon shouted, surprising Ryan. 

"What do you mean?" Ryan asked confused.

"You just come home from tour then run off at the first chance to leave again. What about me? What about us? Does this even mean anything to you anymore?" 

"Wait. I thought, I thought you supported me.."

"I did, do support you. I have for years. I watched you work so hard for this.." 

"And now's my chance," Ryan interrupted. "Why can't you be happy for me?"

"Ryan, I am happy for you. I'm just... not.. happy." Tears slowly rolled down Brendon's face. Ryan's heart ached at the sight. "I'm lonely without you. I do nothing here except go to work and miss you." Ryan went over to Brendon and took his hands in his own. 

"Come with me then." Brendon shook his head and looked down at their hands.

"We tried that before. Remember? I didn't work."

"We'll make it work. We'll find a way. Just tell me what to do." Brendon pulled his hands away from Ryan and looked up to meet his eyes. He was silently pleading for Ryan, willing him to hear the words he didn't want to say out loud. Ryan's eyes widen in realization.

"You..y-you want me to...choose," he said, hoping Brendon would tell him he read his expression wrong. Brendon dropped his head again, confirming what Ryan didn't want to hear.

"I can't keep waiting for you to come back just to leave again," Brendon chocked out. 

"Brendon... This could be my only chance for this. You know how much I want this." Brendon nodded and shut his eyes tightly.

"Okay," he said, barely stopping his voice from cracking. He looked down as he ran his fingers over the silver band on his ring finger. Slowly and painfully, he slid it off. 

"W-what are you doing?" Brendon stared at the metal between his fingers. "Brendon, put that back on." Ryan's voice began shaking in panic. Brendon couldn't look at Ryan or he knew he'd break. He held the ring out for Ryan to take. "No!" Ryan shook his head and took a step back. "That's yours. You promised you'd never take it off. Please, put it back on."

Brendon stared at the ring a little longer before placing the ring down on the dresser beside the door. His hand felt empty without his ring, but it was something he was going to have to get used to. 

"We can work this out. Please, Bren...I love you." Brendon could hear the desperation in his voice and it was hurting him more. 

"I can't keep waiting," he whispered and backed out of the room. His feet felt like lead, weighing him down, only making leaving even harder. Ryan quickly followed him. 

Before Ryan could reach him, Brendon locked himself in the bathroom. If Ryan made contact with him in any way, he wouldn't be able to go through with this. Ryan knocked on the door, trying to get Brendon to open up.

"Babe, come out. We need to talk about this. We can't just throw this... we can't just end us."  He waited for the response he was starting to believe would never come. He sat outside the door, trying to convince Brendon to come out.

His heard his phone ringing in the other room. He ran a hand through his hair as he got up. He knocked on the door. "Brendon, please. Just open the door." 

"Just leave already," Brendon cried. Ryan sighed and walked back to his room. He managed to pick up the phone before the call ended. 

"Hey Jon... Yeah, I heard... No. Yeah, I'm fine..." Ryan walked over to the dresser and picked up the engagement ring he'd given Brendon before he left for one of his first tours. That a few years ago already. 

He remembered how excited Brendon was. The man practically had the whole wedding planned by the time he'd gotten home. Ryan also remembered how upset he was when Ryan had to postpone the wedding. He'd been able to tour with another upcoming band. It was just a continuous cycle. Tour, home, tour, home. He was able to see Brendon every now and then while on the road. It was enough to keep them happy, or at least that's what he thought.

When he got back last week, they started planning again after Ryan said he didn't have to go on tour for a while. Brendon was over the moon when he talked about colors, flowers, themes. If he took this opportunity, he'll have to cancel their day all together. Ryan was snapped out of his thoughts as Jon yelled his name through the phone.

"Huh?... Yeah, sorry. Just distracted..." He rolled the ring in his fingers, thinking before answering Jon. "Yeah, yeah. I'll be there in a little bit," Ryan spoke quietly before hanging up the phone. 

Ryan tucked the ring in his pocket and packed the rest of his bag. Once he was done, he made his way to the front door, sparing a glance at the still closed bathroom door. When he opened the front door, he heard feet running across the hardwood floor. 

Ryan turned back to see Brendon, puffy eyed, standing at the entrance of the hallway. Brendon shook his head as new tears ran down his face. "Ryan," he breathed, the word full of pain, desperation, and love for the other. 

"I'm sorry," Ryan response in defeat before closing the door behind him. He didn't stop when he heard his ex-fiancé's cries. Ryan couldn't keep asking Brendon to wait for him anymore. His heart broke more with each step he took, but he didn't look back. He couldn't look back, so he just kept walking.