Forever

Chapter 25

A loud thud woke Dream up the next morning. He opened his eyes to find the bed next to him empty, and he pushed himself up and out of bed quickly. He grabbed a shirt, pulled it on, and then followed the noises towards the kitchen.

As he reached the doorway, his eyes scanned slowly over the mess that was spread across the counter. George was at the center of it, rummaging through a drawer with his back turned towards the doorway.

"What's going on in here?"

George stilled, and then turned in Dream's direction. Dream could tell immediately that something was off, but he hovered near the doorway as George motioned to the clutter of ingredients and utensils that littered the counter and said, "I wanted to make breakfast for you. You said that chocolate chip pancakes are your favorite, but I couldn't find chocolate chips. And now I can't find the stupid spatula."

He let out a frustrated sigh and turned back towards the drawer, pushing utensils around in his search for the spatula. And Dream now realized he was upset over not being able to complete a simple task like making breakfast.

Dream crossed the room in a few long strides, standing behind George and letting his arms circle around either side of him. He gently grabbed both of George's hands with his own, pulling him a step back from the drawer as he murmured, "just relax, George."

George leaned back into him, and Dream wrapped his arms around George's waist. He held him for a couple of seconds, and then guided George forward and pulled open one of the cabinets. Reaching past George, he pulled out a bag of chocolate chips and said, "chocolate chips are right here."

With his arms still around George's waist, he moved him over towards one of the far drawers. He pulled it open and reached all the way to the back for the spatula, "and you put the spatula in here because you said it got in the way in the other drawers."

He set the spatula down, and George turned in his arms to face him as he quietly muttered, "I'm sorry, Dream. I just wanted to do something for you because you're doing so much for me. It's just so frustrating. I keep trying but I just can't remember anything."

George tipped his head forward to rest his forehead against Dream's chest, and Dream ran slow fingers through his hair as he said, "you don't need to keep apologizing, George. I'm happy to help you whenever you need it."

George nodded, and then tilted his face back up towards Dream as he quietly responded, "I know that. But I know it's not easy for you, either. I see the way you look at me, and I don't want you to be sad because you miss the person I was before all this. I want you to be happy, Dream."

Guilt welled up somewhere deep in Dream's stomach at George's words, and he quietly asked, "is that what you think? That I'm not happy?"

George didn't answer, and Dream moved one hand to his face and let his thumb graze over his cheekbone. George turned into the touch as Dream said, "I've known many different versions of you, George. I've seen you at your worst, and I've seen you at your best, and I've seen everything in between. And through all of that, there has never been a point where I haven't been in love with you."

George's eyes drifted up to meet his gaze, and he quietly asked, "what about now? Do you still love me?"

Dream smiled, and then leaned down and pressed a light kiss to George's forehead as he murmured, "I do. I love you very much, George. The only reason I haven't said it is because I know you can't say it back right now, but that's okay with me."

George nodded slowly, but he still looked unsure as he asked, "and what if the memories don't come back? Will you still love me then?"

"Of course I will."