Josh groaned as he woke up yet again due to how hot and sweaty he was, throwing Tyler's leg off of him for what felt like the thousandth time.

"Babe," he said. "You've gotta get on your side of the bed."

"I just want some love and affection from my husband who I rarely get to see anymore while I'm sick," Tyler mumbled against Josh's chest, moving his leg back so it was over him.

Josh sighed. He couldn't argue with that. With his work he rarely got to see Tyler anymore, plus he was really sick and felt horrible, so the least he could do was let him snuggle with him.

"Okay," Josh sighed, rubbing Tyler's back gently.

He lied there, staring up at the ceiling.

"Are you still up?" He asked a while later.

"Yes," Tyler replied.

"Are you like... mad that I'm gone all the time?" Josh asked.

"I'm not mad because I understand why you're gone so much," Tyler explained softly. "I just... expected you to seem at least a little upset that you weren't going to be with me the majority of nights. Especially when we just got married a few months ago."

"I am upset I don't get to spend the majority of nights with you," Josh said.

"You never seem like it," Tyler said. "You just say 'bye ty' and walk out the door. Sometimes you don't even tell me when you're coming back. And you never even kiss me goodbye anymore, let alone say you love me."

Josh chewed on his lip. Tyler was right, he did do that.

"I'm sorry, baby," He said.

"I don't wanna hear it," Tyler said. He got on his side of the bed and turned so he was facing away from Josh, not touching us.

"Ty," Josh sighed, rolling over so he was back with his husband.

"What?" Tyler snapped.

"Look. Im sorry. Im sorry I'm being a bad husband and I'm sorry I'm making you feel like I don't love you. I love you more than anything, and I really am doing my best. I know you deserve more, and don't argue with me and say that you don't deserve more, because you do, but right now, this is all I can give you until I get everything with work figured out."

Tyler sighed, pulling the blankets over his head.

"That sounded like a bunch of excuses," Josh sighed as he realized how his statement sounded. "How about I take work off tomorrow so I can stay home and take care of you?"

Tyler shook his head. "Go back to sleep."

"I'm not going to sleep while we're in the middle of talking about something that's important to you," Josh said.

"It doesn't matter, Josh," Tyler said. "I shouldn't have said it. I'm sorry. Now go to sleep."

"Why're you sorry?" Josh asked.

"Because you're doing your best and that's all I can ask for. I shouldn't be criticizing it."

Josh thought for a moment. Was he really doing his best?

"Don't apologize, baby," Josh sighed. "I'm not... I'm not being the husband I promised I'd be. And that's all my fault, ok? So don't apologize. Now c'mere and let me give you some loving. I've got a lot to make up for."

Tyler sighed and turned so he was facing Josh, his husband moving him closer so he was in his arms.

"We should do something tomorrow," Josh said as he softly ran his fingers through Tyler's hair.

"You have a meeting in Cincinnati tomorrow," Tyler replied.

"I can cancel it," Josh said. "I'll just say I'm sick."

"You should go," Tyler answered.

"I'm gonna stay home," he said. "And we're gonna do something fun together."

"Like what?"

"I dunno," Josh hummed. "But something really fun."

Tyler nodded. "Goodnight."

"G'night," Josh said. "I love you."

That was the first time in a week Josh had said he loved him.

"I love you too," Tyler replied.

***

The next morning, Tyler woke up to the smell of blueberries. He went downstairs to see Josh cooking away, making blueberry pancakes, bacon, hash browns, eggs, and more. That's what Tyler always ate when he was sick, but the last few times, Josh hadn't been making it for him.

Tyler coughed, his lungs hurting.

"You're up," Josh said with a smile. He walked over to Tyler and kissed his forehead. "You're burning up, baby. Go lay back down."

"I'm fine," Tyler said weakly.

The whole day, Tyler felt like shit. He was so incredibly sick but refused to lay down and take a rest.

Finally, when they were getting into bed that night, Josh spoke up.

"Why didn't you lay down at all, baby?" Josh asked.

"Because you were actually with me," Tyler said. "I didn't want to spend the one day I get with you without you and doing something alone. I won't get another day like this in a really long time."

Josh sighed. He felt horrible for making Tyler feel like his days with him were so rare. But in reality, they were.

Before Josh could even respond, Tyler was asleep.

***

Tyler woke up the next morning, feeling much better. He went downstairs and made himself breakfast, Josh having already left for work.

Except, Josh entered their home a few minutes later.

"Hi baby," he smiled.

"Um... hi?"

"I thought I'd surprise you and stay home another day," Josh said. "Look, I brought flowers."

Tyler hummed and nodded. Josh wasn't quite expecting that... little of a reaction.

He just kind of stood there in the doorway for a while.

"I didn't mean to sound like I wasn't happy," Tyler said a few minutes later, realizing how he had sounded. "I-I'm Happy you're here. I just... I don't know."

"Tell me, baby," Josh said, wanting to hear what his husband was thinking.

Tyler shook his head.

Josh then understood.

Tyler felt like Josh was only staying home because he had to, not because he wanted to.

"I love you," Josh reminded him.

Tyler nodded. "I love you too."

Josh sighed, leaning against the counter as he looked at his husband. Even the way Tyler stood just made him look so... sad.

"Wanna watch a movie?" Josh asked.

"I have laundry to do," Tyler said quietly.

"I can do the laundry later. I haven't done any chores around the house in like... forever."

Tyler shrugged. "I-I can do it. It's no big deal."

"Ty..."

"I'm going grocery shopping as well," Tyler said. "What do you need from the store?"

"Can I come with you?" Josh asked.

"I-if you want," Tyler said.

***

They got to the grocery store, Josh asking Tyler to hold his hand the whole time. He knew physical touch made Tyler feel special sometimes, especially when Josh initiated it.

"We should make a cake," Josh said as they walked by the cake mixes.

"Why?" Tyler asked quietly.

"I dunno, it just sounds fun."

"You can if you want," Tyler said softly.

"Will you do it with me?" Josh asked.

"If you want," Tyler shrugged.

Josh then put a box in the cart.

***

That night, Tyler was doing the dishes for dinner and listening to music.

"Wanna make the cake?" Josh asked.

"H-huh? O-oh. Ok."

Josh got the ingredients out while Tyler mixed everything, the taller boy coming up behind him as he was stirring the batter and wrapping his arms around his waist.

Tyler sighed, melting into his husband's touch. He missed the feeling more than anything.

Josh kissed the top of Tyler's head as his husband's back pressed against his stomach. "I love you."

"I love you too," Tyler replied.

Slowly but surely, the boys went back to normal.

Josh started taking off work more so he could spend time with Tyler, and Tyler couldn't be more grateful.