................flirting with anxiety.

[Roman's POV]

I panted, my breath practically all gone. Sweat trickled down my neck and onto my back, I held my position until the curtains closed. My arms finally flopped down, my hand finding Virgil's he looked up at my with a wide grin I was lucky enough to see so much of. He was semi-doubled over, his breath even shorter than mine. One hand was on his knee, another clutched in mine. His dark hair was stuck to his forehead,his eyes wide and gimmering- the exact same after all shows. We'd changed so much, together.

When I first met him, he was a shy enough person. He had to drink to talk to me properly for the first time. He only wore black, he stood hunched, he scratched his hand a lot, he used sarcasm as defense and he was always one to hold back words unless absolutely necessary.

Now, he was much more open, much more confident about himself and the world. He was so much happier and less anxious. He was mostly perfectly fine around fans and he believed in what he wanted to say. I'm so proud of him and just when I think I couldn't possibly fall for him anymore, I see him smile and I'm head over heels all over again.

'Time for the bow Ro.' He breathed out, finally standing straight,' I nodded. Joining fellow cast members. The crowd cheered and clapped as we all took a bow. I was proud of the musical too. It was finally the last show, ending in our home city. Tears formed in my eyes as I took a separate bow and pointed to my husband who took the bow for the music. The curtains closed for the final time and a flurry of tears came streaming down my face. The entire cast and crew, who I'd become incredibly close with, all came together in a group hug, just like we did every show except this was different. Almost everyone was crying, those who weren't were simply trying to stay strong and hide their tears.

'Thank you.' I whispered indirectly. It was to every single person who had helped us and made this show better with their presence and help.

'We love you Roman.' One of the cast members called out.

'I love all of you guys!' At this point everyone broke out into sobs. The group hug slowly split into people hugging the members they'd become closest to and spent the most time with, the actors they'd been paired up with, the crew the people had chatted with in the wings, or just people they've bonded with. I shared tears with nearly everyone, all of them drifting off to the dressing rooms afterwards.

Eventually, it was just Virgil and I.

'Your makeup's running.' I pointed up at his face. He chuckled lightly and reached up below his eyes, a dab of purple eyeshadow coming off.

'I can't believe you made my character have purple eyeshadow of all things. It takes me back to my emo phase.' He laughed.

'Oh, but my darling, it's not a phase, it's a lifestyle.' I slowly wandered over to him, throwing my arms over his shoulder and placing my forehead onto his, just like I did before our first show.

'I'm so glad I did this with you.' Virgil whispered.

~ It's flashback time! A year ago. ~

'Ro.........Ro!' Virgil hissed from behind me. He was in full makeup and costume and the show was about to begin.

'Princess? What's wrong? Are you okay?' I quickly stepped over to him.

'Just nerves...that's all, don't worry, I'll be okay.' He began back pacing and turning away. I pulled his wrist for him to come back to me.

'Hey, hey, hey, hey, talk to me...' I whispered to him, placing my arms around his shoulders.

'It's scary Ro. I've not done anything like this.....What if I mess up my lines? Or the choreography? Or I look stupid? What if they boo at me? What if they hate my character? Oh god princey, what if-'

'Virgil, listen to me,' I placed my forehead on his,' can you hear my breathing?'

'Yeah...' he whispered.

'Follow my breathing, okay? In...' I inhaled, my husband followed. 'And out...' I whispered as I exhaled. We continued for a few minutes.

'I'm good....I'm alright...' Virgil nodded.

'Yeah? Look, we're gonna go out there, our friends supporting us, and we're gonna rock it.'

'Okay.' He grinned. 'Yeah, let's do it.'

~~~

The curtains closed after the bow and I reached out to Virgil, pulling him into a hug.

'I'm so so so proud of you!' I grinned, kissing his cheeks and forehead.'

'Princey, I swear to god-' He giggled.

'You're so brave, princess.'

'Don't make it sound like I'm a kid getting shots.'

'Viiiiiiiiiirge~! You're amazing! I love youuuuu~!' I grinned, spinning him around.

'I love you too Roman.' He smiled.

~ Present ~

'I'm so glad I met you.' I smiled.

'DAD! PAPS!' We turned around and a small hurdle leapt into our arms.

'Hey Lucas! What're you doing back here?'

'Sorry, I'm just an amazing uncle!' Remus came strutting in, a little baby strapped onto his chest, Tiffany, his husband behind him holding the hands of two girls, Kami, their own daughter and Sam, mine and Virgil's eldest. The girls were similar heights, Kami being barely a hair taller. Kami has long blonde hair, below her shoulders and bright green eyes. Sam, on the other hand, has long curly hazelnut hair and piercing blue eyes.

'Sam! C'mere! Come away from the evil man!' Sam giggled, running into my arms as I crouched down.

'He isn't evil! He gave me a lollipop!' She grinned.

'Aww, I'm not evil.' Janus wiped away a fake tear.

'And I thought I was an actor,' I mumbled.

'Huh?'

'Nothing! So what did you guys think of the closing night?' I smiled at my kids.

'Dad was awesome!' Virgil ruffled our son's hair and picked him up, spinning him around. Lucas had short dark brown hair. He had grey eyes, odd but surprisingly fitting for him. They always had a glint of mischief like he was about to steal his sisters cookie or hide Tiffany's toys.

'Hel-heck yeah I was!' Virgil beamed at his son.

'He had super cool powers that went boom!'

'Boom!' The two grinned and laughed as they danced about the stage. The two girls went to play with Virgil and Janus took hold of the baby as he went to look over everyone.

'I'm proud of you Roman.' Remus placed a hand on my shoulder as we watched our husbands and children.

'You didn't turn out a druggie like dad expected when you got arrested.'

'And you aren't a male stripper or drag queen like mum expected when you came out.' I chuckled at the memory.

'We love parents stereotyping.' He nodded with a smile.

'We should invite them for our birthday or something.' He offered.

'Yeah. They might have not understood, but they're still good parents.'

'Paps! Uncle Janny offered to get us a macducks!'

'A McDonalds Lucas, a Mcdonalds.' Janus sighed.

'ROMAN! I GOT ALL THE KIDS! LET'S GO BEFORE JANUS CAN TAKE BACK HIS FREE FOOD OFFER!' Virgil bolted past me at a surely unsafe speed. He somehow obtained the chest baby carrier with Tiffany inside it and Sam was on his back. As he sped past, he grabbed Lucas' hand, Kami's in the other. I watched him run out the door before turning back to my brother and in-law.

Remus sighed, 'You arent seriously going to?'

'Sorry bro! Happy wife happy life!' I grinned before turning and bolting out the door.

I called after Virgil who simply turned slightly with another grin spread across his lips.

His near-black hair blew with the wind, the shines of purple coming back though under the street lamps. Above the still messed-up eyeshadow, his brown eyes gleamed with joy and ecstasy. Perhaps it was from the last show, or our friends and kids being there but maybe, just maybe, he was finally okay.

Sure, he has problems. Everyone does. But Virgil deserves more than just okay. He deserves the world and more. I'm so glad I get to live by someone so amazing. I'm so glad he's by my side.

I can't give him the world, but putting a smile on his face is good enough for me. 

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Only the epilouge left.......