(Pete's POV)

"I want to wear bright colors, dad." Bronx told me as I rummaged through his closet.

It was the fourth of July. And every year since Bronx was born, I would take him to see the fireworks. He was always more and more excited each year. I feared the year when he wouldn't want to go. When seeing fireworks with your dad wouldn't be cool anymore. Luckily that year hasn't come up yet.

"You don't want to wear black like me?"

"No daddy. You always wear black. I want to wear white."

"No. You're going to dirty yourself up too quickly."

"No I won't. I promise."

"Knock knock." Patrick called as he walked into Bronx's room. "Hey buddy, ready for those fireworks?" He nodded.

Patrick and I were complicated right now. We hadn't had sex in a little over a week. He'd been staying with his wife. Coming to my house around 9:00 am every morning and leaving around 5:00 pm. I was starting to feel like I was a job to him. Spending the day with me and then going home to his wife. I wonder if he had sex with her. I couldn't ask him. I didn't trust him.

"Bronx here wants to wear all white to the park this afternoon." I told him.

"Sounds like a great idea to me."

"See daddy! Patrick thinks its a good idea. Please! Please!" He jumped off of his bed to hug me. "You'll be the best daddy ever!"

"Thanks, Patrick." I muttered. "Here," I handed Bronx a white T-shirt with little soldier written in an off gray. Then I tossed him the pair of white cargo shorts. "Put on whatever sneakers and socks you want. I'm going to get dressed.

Bronx nodded and I left his room with Patrick traveling behind me. I was only wearing a pair of boxers. When I opened my closet I got the idea to wear a similar outfit to Bronx. That's still cool at his age, I think. Dressing like your dad. Well your dad dressing like you. I pulled out my rarely worn white skinny jeans and a white Gym Jones shirt I'd gotten from Andy.

"I wish I'd known we were going with the all white look." Patrick laughed.

I faked a laugh. "Father and son thing." He should know about that soon enough.

"I get it." He smiled. "This is more my style anyway." I looked over his beige pants, gray floral patterned shirt and teal cardigan. How no one could look at him and not think he was gay, I had no idea.

"Very much you." This laugh was more genuine. I sat on the edge of the bed and began lacing up my white sneakers. Patrick stared down at me for a few seconds before climbing onto my bed. He rested on his knees behind me.

"You know how much I love the forth of July." I felt his arms snake around my neck. "You know how much the summer time means to me." I just nodded against him.

Of course I knew what summer meant to him. We'd met in the summer. We'd shared our first kiss in that same summer. Even though nothing came of it, it was still our first. And then a year later, We'd went on our first date in the summer. A year later, on our anniversary, I took his virginity in the summer. A lot of summers and a stressful, open relationship later, we broke up in the summer. And then we were apart. But the band got back together. Patrick and I got back together. I even bottomed for the first the time. Want to take a guess on what season it was when we all met up again? Winter, actually. Kidding, it was in the summer. So obviously, summer was a really big season for Patrick. For all of us.

"I know what it means to you."

"I love you, Pete. I've always loved you." He buried his face in the crook of my neck.

"I-I know." But I still couldn't say it back. I stood up and his arms slipped away from me. "Let's get headed to that park."

I know he knew something was wrong. What I didn't know was why he doesn't mention it. Instead he got off of the bed and followed me into Bronx's room. Of course my son chose to wear a pair of red sneakers instead of his white ones. We headed to my car.

"Can you sit in the backseat with me, Patrick?" Bronx asked him.

"Of course."

I was stuck by myself in the front seat, while Bronx pestered Patrick with questions in the back. Innocent child questions. How old are you? Why do you like to sing? Why is your hair like that? How'd you get so small? Why are you so short? Am I your favorite person? Do you want to know who my favorite uncle is? Batman or Superman? Family guy or Spongebob? Are you gay? The normal child questi- wait what?!

"What?" I glanced at my son in the review mirror. He was staring at Patrick, waiting for his answer.

"I said is uncle Patrick gay?" Patrick made eyes contact with me through the mirror.

"Why would you ask that?" He shrugged. I parked the car near the park. We could walk the rest of the way. I opened Bronx's door and he bounded out, skipping towards the park. "Hold my hand, don't get too far away." He paused and waited for us.
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(Patrick's POV)

Bronx didn't think twice about asking me if I was gay. As soon as we hit the park gates, we let his hands go and he was gone. I loved walking with Pete and Bronx, each of us holding his hand and talking excitedly like a family. Sometimes I think what it would be like if I'd never married Elisa to spite Pete. Then Bronx would be like our son. What if I'd adopted him and married Pete? Then we'd be the perfect family. I was always thinking What if. That one was my favorite scenario. But now I'd never know.

Pete and I walked together deeper into the park. As we were walking, I began copying his movements. Left foot right foot. Left foot right foot. Swing arms lightly. Itch left elbow. Left foot. Right foot. Pete glanced over at me and smirked. I smirked back. Lifting my eyebrow in the same way. He laughed.

"What?"

"Are you playing the mirror game with me?"

"Maybe."

He laughed again. "You are adorable."
I smiled. It was the first compliment he'd given me in a while. He sat on the bench closest to us. I sat closely beside him. I knew I couldn't hold his hand or wrap my arms around him. We were in a public place. Anyone could be watching with their cameras ready to snap a picture that would no doubt end up in lots of magazines. I nudged him with my shoulder and he nudged me back. We made a game of that. It was as intimate as we were allowed to get.

"Patrick?" No. No. No. No. Please, no. "Is that you?"

I stood up and turned to face my wife. She and MJ were walking over to where Pete and I were. MJ looked like she'd rather be anywhere but here. Her long, dark hair was topped with a hat that hid the majority of her face. She was wearing a long, black sundress. Elisa was wearing a short, green sundress with shades. Pete stood up and glared at Megan. She didn't look at him. Her eyes stayed focused on the ground.

"I told you, you couldn't come." He growled at her.

"I know. I'm sorry. Elisa tricked me. She said we were- But actually- And i-i thought we'd leave before I saw-" I felt bad for her. The poor girl couldn't get a full sentence out. Elisa pulled her into this. MJ was clearly innocent.

"I don't want to hear it. You still shouldn't have come in. I'm trying to separate Bronx-"

"MJ!" I heard Bronx squealed. Three of us flinched. Elisa wasn't fazed. The blonde boy came bounding towards us. His arms latched around Megan. "I thought you couldn't come. Last week you said so."

"Change of plans." She hugged Bronx back and avoided Pete's glare.

"Mr. Wentz! Mr. Wentz." I glanced up at a thin man with two cameras. One around his neck and the other in his hands. Oh just what we needed. Photographers. I yanked Elisa's arm and pulled her a way. He hadn't noticed us. His eyes were on Pete. The public didn't know about Elisa's pregnancy yet. I wanted to keep it that way. "Can I get a picture?"

"Actually, we're sort of busy-"

"Just one quick one." He snapped and a few flashes erupted. Before Pete could comment, he was gone. I walked back over to the trio.

"Why the hell are you here?" I asked my wife.

"To see the fireworks. You said you were working."

"I said I was with Pete."

"Shouldn't that be working?"

"No." I said between clenched teeth. "It means I'm spending time with a friend."

"All your time. I was starting to think you took on a second job."

"Well now you know where I am. Leave."

Elisa and I weren't together not really. We lived together. We ate dinner together. That's it. I slept on the couch. She slept in the bed. We hadn't had sex since she returned. Neither have Pete and I. And to be honest, I missed waking up to morning sex with Pete. But I didn't want to push him. Elisa stood there staring at me. I was staring back. And I could feel Pete looking at us.

"I-I'm going to take Bronx to play." MJ offered.

"Why would you do that, if you were just leaving?" Pete said.

"Oh, right. I was." She let go of Bronx and smiled at him. "I have to get going. Don't forget to take lots of pictures okay?" Bronx nodded happily. "Go on." She pushed him and he took off running back to play. Megan stopped to look at Pete. "I'm really sorry." Her eyes were glossed over with unshed tears.

"Its okay." His face softened. "I didn't mean to be so rude."

"I really do want pictures, okay?" She smiled sadly. Pete nodded and she pulled him into an unsuspected hug. Then she turned and pulled Elisa away with her. Elisa looked to be in shock. She just let MJ drag her out of the park, staring at me with wide eyes.

"So you're still with her." Pete's voice was emotionless. I turned to look at him and his face was the same.

"No. I-"

"Why can't you stop lying?" He interrupted. "You do treat me as a job. Coming from 9 to 5. And then spending the nights with her. You're just playing with both of us. Just like before. Except this time I hope it backfires. I hope I'm all you can think about when you're with her-"

"You are all I think about! And I'm hardly ever with her, Pete. I promise."

"Because I'm not letting you touch me while you're still touching her." He sighed. "I doubted you'd ever leave her. A nagging voice in the back of my head kept telling me. But I was starting to ignore it. Letting all the doubt's slowly leave me."

"Pete, please listen to me-"

"But now, I'm done."

"What?"

"I don't want to be with you at all." My chest tightened painfully. He didn't mean that. "And I do mean that. If I had my way, I'd never have gotten involved with you. But if I had my way, I'd also have never left you for those few months. Then you wouldn't be married and we might be happy."

Did he want to be with me or not? I was so confused. "Pete-"

"I'm up and I'm down. I'm hot and I'm cold with you. And I can't be like this anymore. Decide who you want. Completely want. Until then, we're done."

"I can't just leave my pregnant wife!"

"The old Patrick would have. The old Patrick loved me enough to do anything. But I ruined him. I know I did. I wish I'd known and appreciated you when you actually loved me."

"I do love you. I cry everyday-"

"I wish I'd cared enough back then." I didn't know if he were still talking to me. He wasn't looking at me. "It's too late now." On cue, the first fireworks exploded into the sky. Making the ending of our argument ten times more dramatic. Bronx came dashing towards us. That kid never got tired of running.

"Daddy!" He was breathing heavily. "Did you see that?!"

"Yeah." Pete turned and smiled at him. Pulling him closer to the fireworks. Father away from me. I didn't follow them. I could tell he didn't want me to. So I watched them walk hand in hand a way from me.
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(Andy's POV)

We were finally getting a summer song! Even though summer was coming to a close soon. It'd be the hit for next summer though. The album was supposed to be released in the winter so that'd give people more time to start loving it. I'd been asking for a summer song since Save Rock and Roll. And since there was only really one important holiday in the summer, we were naming it that. The fourth of July.

Joe and I already had the hook down. "It was the fourth of July and you and I were fireworks that went off too soon. And I miss you in the June gloom too." I sang. Or something similar to that. It was about the fans. The fourth of July being the big break up... Hiatus. Basically I was trying to apologize to them for us trying to and Fall Out Boy way sooner than we should have. And telling them how we missed performing for them and meeting them when we were gone. See? Pete and Patrick weren't the only Artistic writers in the group.

"I said I'd never miss you, but I guess you never know. May the bridges I have burned light my way back home." Joe added.

I didn't need him to explain to me what it meant. It took the most convincing to get Joe back on board. But even though he swore he didn't miss being in a band, he missed being with us.

"I legit wrote an entire verse." Patrick informed us.

"That's no surprise. I mean, you've written a whole album before." Pete joked.

Pete and Patrick were in a weird place. At least it was weird to me. A few weeks ago I think they broke up. But they haven't been arguing or fighting or throwing jabs through the music. They've just... been awkward. Like trying to be too nice to each other. Never really engaging in actual conversations. But still speaking.

"Sing away, Pat." Joe tossed his pen at him.

"I'll be as honest as you let me. I miss your early morning company. If you get me. You were my favorite what if. You were my. Best I'll never know. Oh, I'm starting to forget just what summer ever meant to you." Pete's eyes darkened at that but he didn't let any emotions show.

"What did it ever mean to you?" He snapped. We all glanced at him wide eyed and he looked down.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean any of it. I just got too lonely. Lonely. Whoa. In between being young and being right. You were my Versailles at night."

"I like that." I smiled.

"Yeah?" He looked at Pete as he asked me. Just like he had during the sorry part.

"Yeah."

"I have some things written but it probably won't match with this song."

"Let's hear it, Wentz." I shrugged.

"My 9 to 5 is cutting open old scars. Again and again until I'm stuck in your head. Had my doubts, but I let them out. You are the drought. And I'm the holy water you have been without. And all my thoughts of you, they could heat or cool the room. No, don't tell me you've cried. Oh honey, you don't have to lie!" He lowered the sheet.

"There's more on the page!" Joe snatched it from him and ran across the room. Pete rushed for him but I grabbed him to stop him. Patrick stood there looking amused.

"Read it Joe. Hurry!" I called out.

"I wish I'd known how much you loved me. I wish I cared enough to know. I'm sorry every songs about you. The torture of small talk with someone you used to love!" He inhaled deeply after breathing so heavily. "Damn, that was deep, Pete."

"Asshole!" He tackled Joe playfully when I let him go. "There's a reason I didn't read it. Its... It sucks."

"Its perfect." Patrick whispered.