"Hey, Josh," Kelly smiled as she opened the front door to see her son's boyfriend there.

"Hi," Josh grinned. "These are for you," he said, extending a bouquet of flowers to her.

"Oh, honey, you didn't have to do that," she said, accepting the flowers. "You're so sweet. Thanks for coming over. Come on in."

Josh nodded, following her inside to the kitchen.

They sat across from each other at the kitchen table after she had put the flowers in a vase and got Josh a glass of water.

"So I wanted to talk to you about Tyler," she said. "Obviously."

Josh nodded.

"I just wanted to kind of... give you some information on him. I'm sure you've noticed he's pretty sensitive. He doesn't like loud noises or being touched without warning."

Josh nodded. "I'm always careful with him and make sure I'm gentle."

"He appreciates that," she smiled. "He's told me so many times of how gentle you are with him and how safe he feels with you. Chris and I appreciate that, too. We've been worried he wouldn't be able to find someone who would take care of him like that, but he did, and we're forever grateful for you and how well you treat him. But what I mainly wanted to talk to you about is how you got this way."

Josh furrowed his eyebrows. Tyler was just... like this, wasn't he? He was just a sensitive person.

"Tyler's last relationship.. wasn't a good one, to say the least," Kelly said softly. "It was emotionally and physically abusive. He did a good job hiding the physical abuse from us, but we could sense the emotional trauma from a mile away."

This was all such a shock to Josh.

"His ex-boyfriend would hit him, push him, threaten him, he'd do anything and everything he could think of to manipulate Tyler. This caused him to enter a depression that he's still recovering from. He hasn't hurt himself in three months, which is a really big deal. But that doesn't mean we don't have to check on him and make sure he isn't lying."

Josh nodded.

"So just... don't be worried if you see some scars on him, okay?" Kelly asked, gently placing her hand on Josh's. "I assure you, he's doing better. He's just very sensitive now, and now you know why."

Josh nodded. "I-I understand."

"I hope this doesn't scare you away," she said. "He's nothing scary or anything like that. And he's absolutely obsessed with you. You're all he talks about, and you make him so excited. He's always running into my room asking me what he should wear for your next date. He loves you more than anything, and he's gotten so much better, just in the few months you've been dating, and you're the biggest factor that's helped him."

"I could never be scared away," Josh said. "I love him so much. All I want to do is take care of him and make him feel loved."

Kelly smiled, nodding her head. "Well, we're incredibly happy for you both. And if you ever need anything, call any of us and we'll be right there."

Josh smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Kelly."

"Josh?" He heard softly, looking up to see Tyler. "What're doing here?"

"Hey, Ty," he smiled, getting up and wrapping his arms around him. "I was just wondering if you maybe wanted to go out for dinner with me."

"C-can I go, momma?"

"Of course," Kelly said.

"O-okay," Tyler smiled shyly.

"Great," Josh grinned. "I was thinking maybe we could grab something and park up on Sunset Hill."

Tyler nodded. "O-Okay."

Josh was proud of himself for coming up with this date idea on the spot. This way he'd be able to talk to Tyler alone, with no one else around, about what he just learned.

So Tyler went upstairs and put on shoes, hugging his mom goodbye before heading to Josh's car.

"I'll meet you out there in a second, baby," Josh said. "I'm gonna fun to the bathroom."

Tyler nodded, making his way to Josh's Jeep.

In reality, he was going to talk to Kelly.

"Thank you for telling me," Josh said. "I'm going to check on him tonight. I'll be subtle."

Kelly smiled and nodded, hugging him tightly. "Thank you, sweetheart. You two have fun, ok?"

Josh nodded with a smile. "We will."

***

"So," Josh said as he and Tyler sat watching the sunset, eating their meals. "How are you?"

"I-I'm good," Tyler said, shrugging as he looked down at his spaghetti.

"I don't think I ever told you this," Josh said. "But I have an anxiety disorder."

"Really?" Tyler asked.

Josh nodded. "Yeah. It can be really hard sometimes. But you really help me with it, and I just wanted to tell you that if you're ever going through something and you need me to help you through it in any way, I will. I'm always here for you in whatever way you need me."

"My mom talked to you, didn't she?" Tyler asked softly.

"She uh... yeah, she did," Josh admitted.

Tyler nodded. "I kind of wanted to tell you myself, but i guess she thought I'd never get the confidence to tell you."

Josh was quiet.

"W-which she's probably right," Tyler said. "A-at least you know now."

Josh nodded. "Just call me if you ever need me to do something for you. I promise I'll be there as soon as I possibly can."

Tyler nodded, and Josh changed the subject, sensing Tyler felt uncomfortable.

***

Two weeks later, Josh got a call from Kelly.

"Hello?"

"H-hey, Josh," She said. "Tyler's having a bit of... a bit of a hard time right now and he keeps saying your name. Is there any way you could come over here and be with him?"

"O-oh, yeah, of course," Josh said, getting up and starting to go to his car. "Can I bring you guys anything?"

"I think we're good," she said. "Just um... just whenever you can get here soonest."

Josh arrived 10 minutes later, entering their home and going to Tyler's room, finding him sitting on his bed, his fingers buried in his hair.

He saw strands of Tyler's hair all over his boyfriend's bed, noticing several bald patches in his hair.

He was crying into Kelly's shoulder, her arms wrapped around him. "Sh sh shhh, honey, you're okay. You're okay. I've got you."

"Ty," Josh said softly, entering the room.

Tyler sat back, seeing Josh.

"Hey, baby," he said, walking towards him slowly with his hands out, so Tyler wouldn't be startled. "I'm here for you. It's okay. I'm right here."

Kelly stood up, Josh taking her place on his bed.

He gently pulled Tyler into his lap, allowing him to sob into his shoulder as he rubbed his back gently.

"It's okay, baby," Josh said softly. "It's okay. I've got you."

Kelly nodded at Josh as a silent 'thank you,' leaving the room and closing the door behind her.

She returned two hours later with two plates of dinner for the boys, finding Josh lying down in Tyler's bed with Tyler sleeping on top of him, clinging onto him for dear life.

Josh had his eyes shut softly as well, holding Tyler in his arms, all his focus being on making sure Tyler felt safe, even in his sleep.

Kelly exited the room, going back downstairs.

***

Tyler woke up three hours later, it being 11 at night.

"Hey, baby," Josh said softly, running his fingers through Tyler's hair gently.

"Josh..." he said softly.

"How are you feeling?"

Tyler shrugged, resting his head back on Joshua's chest.

"Are you hungry?" He asked. "You should eat something."

Tyler nodded, the boys walking downstairs hand in hand together.

Josh saw a note taped to the oven.

I went in around 8:00 and you were both asleep.

I kept your dinner in the oven to make sure it stayed warm. Be sure you both eat.

Wake me up if you need anything.

Thank you again, Josh, for coming over.

Love,
Kelly

The boys ate dinner, Tyler sitting in Josh's lap the whole time.

"S-Sorry for ruining your Friday night," Tyler said quietly.

"Hey, no," Josh said, shaking his eyes. "You didn't ruin anything. Anytime you need absolutely anything in the world, you just call me and I'll be right there. Always."

Tyler kissed Josh's lips softly. "I love you."

"I love you more," Josh said, pressing their foreheads together and kissing his lips deeply.

"O-one day, w-when we're married," Tyler said shyly. "I-I can help you when you get nervous a-and you can help me when I get sad a-and we won't even have to call each other because we'll live together."

"That's right," Josh said with a smile.

Tyler hadn't ever mentioned marriage before, since he was only 16 and Josh was 17, but he was so happy he just did, because he really thought Tyler was the one, too.

"A-and we'll get to spend the night in the same bed," Tyler said. "T-that'll be cool."

Josh nodded, looking at Tyler and admiring him.

Even with the bald patches and swollen red eyes and dark eye circles, he was still the most beautiful thing he'd ever laid eyes on.

Josh kissed his lips. "I should probably head home. My parents are probably worried."

"Y-you didn't tell your parents where you were??" Tyler asked.

Josh shook his head.

"O-oh, gosh," Tyler said. "I-if they get mad just tell them it was all me."

"They won't be mad, baby," Josh assured him. "They'll just be happy you feel better."

Tyler nodded, hugging Josh's neck tightly. "Thank you for being so amazing."

Josh smiled, kissing Tyler's nose. "I love you so much."

"I-I Love you too," Tyler blushed, smiling shyly. "M-maybe I can take y-you on a date some time."

Josh grinned. "I'd love that, baby."

They walked to the door together, Tyler giggling shyly as Josh pulled him into his arms and kissed him deeply.

"I'll call you tomorrow," Josh smiled.

Tyler nodded, kissing his nose.

He went upstairs after Josh had left, so incredibly excited to be with him, his smile widening as he got a text from Josh.

Love you, and can't wait to be with you forever and ever. You're beautiful and amazing and so sweet and kind and thoughtful and smart and the absolute light of my life.

He blushed shyly, unable to wait until tomorrow when he got to be back in Josh's arms.