All in the name of

8. Anchor me, anchor you

Eddy was all smiles as he walked out of the pub while he hung onto Brett's arm.

"Brett! I can't believe it! You remembered Keith! That's awesome!"

Brett smiled back.

"Thanks Eddy, I couldn't have done it without you."

"What are you talking about?"

Brett stopped walking and looked at Eddy.

"Are you kidding? You do realise all my recalled memories have been thanks to you?"

"Oh wow.. I didn't realise you haven't recalled anything without me.."

Brett wrapped his arm around Eddy.

"I might have to take you everywhere with me..!"

Eddy giggled.

"I wouldn't mind that at all."

Brett smiled.

"Eddy?"

"Yeah?"

"Would you come over to my place?"

"Aren't you staying at your mum's now?"

"No. I've since gone back to my own place."

"Oh."

"I won't.. y'know. Anything you don't want to, I won't. I swear."

Eddy smiled.

"I know."

"It's just that... I get kinda anxious on my own."

Eddy smiled.

"Of course I can come over."

"Thanks Eddy, I really appreciate this."

They picked up some takeaway for dinner and arrived at Brett's flat. It wasn't particularly spacious but much nicer than Eddy's dorm room which would've had his roommate back by now.

They sat on the couch and ate their food.

"Brett, do you remember you said you would organise our first date?"

"Did I? I'm sorry, it must be something I hadn't remembered yet."

"That's okay. We can plan something together. Or I could organise something. Either is fine."

Brett stopped eating. He started to poke his food around with his chopsticks.

"Brett? Are you okay?"

Brett looked up.

"Eddy, are you sure you're okay with this..? I'm barely a functioning adult, let alone boyfriend material"

"Hey don't worry about it Brett.. I'm happy being with you. And you're getting better by the day."

"I hope so..."

"It's not like you Brett."

Brett looked up. He was visibly shaken.

"I.. I don't know who I am Eddy.."

Eddy took Brett's takeaway container from his hands and put both his and Brett's aside on the coffee table. He then snuggled up to Brett, wrapping his arms around him.

"Brett, I didn't know much about you before you lost your memory.. but you were beaming with confidence and you just seemed to have everything worked out.. like have all the answers about life's difficult questions. I was the lost one y'know and you were the one that came to my rescue."

"You were? I was? I struggle to believe that, Eddy.. you're like my rock now. My anchor."

Eddy chuckled as he straightened out his arms to look at Brett.

"Yeah. It's like the roles kinda reversed."

Eddy smiled.

"Brett, you've remained so kind and thoughtful even without your memory. You're a nice guy. You're gonna be alright."

Brett finally showed a smile.

"Thanks Eddy"

They spent the rest of the night watching TV together, channel hopping as they talked about which shows Brett remembered watching or any memories that spouted in his head when Brett saw a certain scene.

A couple of hours later, Brett yawned.

"Eddy.. I'm getting tired."

Eddy turned off the TV and stood up.

"Okay, how about you get ready for bed while I quickly tidy up here before I get going."

Brett looked up from the sofa.

"You're.. leaving?"

Eddy turned towards Brett.

"Oh.. um.. I just assumed you only wanted me to keep you company till you go to bed"

"No.. Eddy, can you stay? Please?"

"Okay."

"..Really?"

Eddy smiled.

"Yeah of course I can. Don't worry."

"Thanks.. I get anxious when I wake up in the middle of the night.."

"Hey it's alright. I can sleep on your couch.."

Brett looked at Eddy anxiously again.

Eddy bit his lower lip.

"Sorry Brett, let me rephrase that. Where would you like me to sleep?"

".. with me?"

"Okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Sure. I just hope there's enough room though."

"Eddy, I've got a king size bed."

"You do !?"

Brett pointed to the adjoining door. Eddy opened it and peered inside.

"OMG look at that thing. It's huge. My dorm bed looks like a baby cot by comparison!! Man I'm so jealous...!"

By the time Eddy tidied up the living room and freshened up in the bathroom and stepped into the bedroom, Brett was already in bed dozing off. He actually looked like a baby in a cot what with all that space around him.

The next morning Eddy woke up to the aroma of coffee. He sat up in the enormous bed. He felt groggy. Brett had woken him up a few times in the middle of the night, jolting and sitting up in a panicky mood. Eddy had held him to comfort him and helped him go back to sleep again.

"Morning..."

Eddy staggered out of the bedroom and into the kitchen.  He knew he didn't look his best in the mornings but he was still too sleepy to care.

Brett smiled.

"Hi Eddy. Oh my, you're not a morning person, are you? Coffee?"

Eddy rubbed his eyes.

"No, most definitely not. Yes, please. I'd take it with an IV drip if I had the choice. Still so sleepy..."

Brett furrowed his brows.

"...I woke you up in the middle of the night, didn't I..? I'm sorry Eddy. How many times did it happen?"

"Three..? What, don't you remember?"

"No... I usually do, but last night I thought I had slept all through the night. I feel great."

Eddy smiled.

"Hey, I'm glad to hear that Brett."

Eddy meant that.  Even though he could barely keep his eyes open.