The smile on Tyler's face would not fall.

His husband was finally home for the first time in two years.

No more sleepless nights waiting to get a call that Josh was killed in action, no more coming home to an empty house, only love.

When Tyler picked Josh up at the airport, he had been expecting a huge reunion like you'd seen in the movies. He'd run into Josh's arms and jump into them, their lips connecting deeply as they exchanged their first I Love You's in two years.

But no.

Josh didn't really act even relatively excited to see Tyler.

"Joshua!" He exclaimed with a wide smile, hugging Josh tightly.

"Hello," Josh said awkwardly, weirdly hugging Tyler back.

The whole ride back, Tyler was driving. He kept reaching his hand over but Josh wouldn't hold it. He told Josh how much he missed him, asked him questions, told him he got even more handsome.

And all Josh did was look out the window.

It was now that night.

Tyler and Josh had eaten the fantastic meal Tyler had prepared in silence because Josh wouldn't talk to Tyler.

"I think I'm gonna take a shower," Tyler said. "Wanna join?" He grinned.

"No."

"O-oh," Tyler said. He had expected Josh to be eager to spend time with him, especially in the shower. "O-ok."

So he showered alone, his smile fading for the first time that day.

After he got out and got dressed, he met Josh on the couch.

He sat down next to him, Josh not even acknowledging him.

They watched a movie, Josh pulling his hand away when Tyler tried to hold it.

After it ended, the boys went to their bedroom.

Tyler stripped down to almost nothing, smiling widely as he got on the bed and held out Josh's favorite bottle of lube the boys used to use.

"I don't want to have sex with you," Josh said.

"O-oh," Tyler said, his smile melting away. "I-is there anything you wanna do with me?"

"Can you sleep on the couch?"

"W-What?"

"Can you sleep on the couch?" Josh repeated.

"I-I um... y-yeah, I-I can."

All of this was so unlike Josh.

He was always the happiest, kindest, more romantic and sweet person ever. And now he was the complete opposite.

"Are you gonna go...?" Josh asked a minute later when Tyler was still there.

Tyler nodded, getting up and taking a pillow with him to the couch, crying himself to sleep.

***

The next morning, Tyler woke up to see a note on the kitchen island.

'I am going out for coffee.

Please do not come.

I will be home later.'

Tyler didn't get it.

He just didn't get it.

Did Josh not understand that they had been apart for two years? That Tyler had to worry about his husband being alive for not one but two of his birthdays, not one but two anniversaries, not one but two Christmases, and every day in between?

The next two days, every time Tyler would do something, Josh would get all uncomfortable.

So he decided to just stop being around Josh.

He avoided him every chance he got.

He would make him dinner then leave before Josh got home, he'd sleep on the couch, he'd even lock himself in the bathroom until Josh was out of the next room he needed to be in.

This went on for two weeks.

Eventually, though, the boys ran into each other.

Literally.

The collided while turning a corner in the house.

"Where have you been?" Josh asked.

"Avoiding you," Tyler said.

"Why?"

"Because you hate me."

"What?"

"Everything I do, you don't like. You don't want to have anything to do with me. A-and even though it hurts more than anything, I stay away from you so you can be comfortable."

Josh was quiet for a minute.

"I love you," he eventually said.

"What?" Tyler asked quietly.

"I-I love you," Josh said. "I-I love you a lot, I-i just... i-i-its hard a-and-" Josh burst into tears.

"Baby," Tyler said, quickly wrapping his arms around Josh. "Baby, what's hard?"

"E-Everything," Josh sobbed.

Tyler then remembered something one of the counselors at his support group had said:

Josh's homecoming can be hard. Being away for so long and becoming so used to military life, he will have forgotten about communication and emotion.

This was good, though. Josh was crying and finally expressing some emotion. It would open up the doors to more emotions being expressed.

Tyler hugged him tightly as they sat on the couch together, running his fingers through Josh's hair calmingly and making sure he felt safe and secure.

The tears eventually stopped, and they were left in the quiet.

"I-I'm so sorry," Josh sniffled. "B-before I left I-i had promised t-to have an amazing homecoming b-but didn't even kiss you at the airport a-and didn't let you hold my hand and I-I'm the worst husband."

"You're not the worst husband," Tyler said softly, kissing Josh's forehead. "You just got home from being away from two years in a horrifying place. It's okay, I promise."

"I love you so much," Josh said softly. "A-and I missed you so much."

Tyler smiled softly. That's all he had been wanting to hear. "I love and missed you too."

"I-I really want t-to take you out somewhere," Josh said.

"You don't need to, Joshie. Just rest tonight."

Josh sighed. It was all catching up to him. He couldn't believe how he'd been treating Tyler.

"I-"

"I'm so glad you missed me," Tyler said. "Because I missed you a lot."

Josh nodded. "I kept your picture with me all the time."

Tyler smiled softly, gently taking Josh's hand in his own. Josh didn't pull away this time, thank God.

"I love you so much," Josh said. "A-and I'm ready to be a really good husband now."

Tyler blushed and smiled, kissing his lips gently. "I love you more. You're already the most amazing husband ever."