Forever

Chapter 26

"You're avoiding the question, Dream."

Dream was sitting on the couch beside George, gaze settled down and away from searching umber eyes. He was most definitely avoiding the question, he was actively avoiding every question George had asked since they had gotten back to the apartment. Because what George was asking was for Dream to unload years worth of trauma that George didn't even have the faintest memory of, and it was exactly what he had been avoiding for days now.

"I'm not avoiding anything," Dream muttered. It was a blatant lie, and George was perceptive enough to pick up on it with a roll of his eyes.

"You are," George urged, "what happened between Wilbur and me? You said you would tell me when we got back here."

Dream's eyes drifted up and over to where George was waiting for a response, brows knit together as he watched Dream closely.

A sigh pushed past Dream's lips, and he shook his head as he tried to gather his thoughts enough to form some type of answer. But he knew the only way to explain what had happened between George and Wilbur was to go all the way back to the beginning, back to Technoblade and Philza's supposed death. And he couldn't do that, not with George already being fragile and still in the process of healing.

"Wilbur and you...you just haven't always seen eye to eye," Dream tried, "there's been some disagreements involving Philza, and you've both made some bad choices when it comes to your...friendship."

He stumbled over the word friendship, and George's eyebrows rose. It was a sad excuse for an answer, and it gave absolutely none of the details that George was asking for.

George's eyes searched his face carefully, and he leaned back against the arm of the couch with a sigh as he said, "there's something you're not telling me."

Guilt welled up in Dream's chest, and he responded with a bit more honesty, "George, you have to understand. A lot has happened over the past couple of years, and in order for me to explain your connections to just about anyone, I'd have to go through each and every single thing that happened."

George didn't respond, and Dream added on, "your life hasn't been an easy one, I wouldn't lie about that. And there's a few things in there that I'm not too thrilled about having to relive myself."

At this, George nodded slowly, and his face softened into an understanding smile. But then his brow furrowed again, and he quietly asked, "if you won't tell me, how am I supposed to piece together all the pieces that I'm missing? I can't exactly ask Wilbur or anyone else, not when they're practically strangers to me. You're the only one I can ask, Dream. I trust you to tell me the truth, because I think I need to hear it if I want to get better."

Dream's chest tightened, he knew it was true. He just couldn't do it so soon, not when George was still struggling with things like the organization of their kitchen drawers.

He slid himself closer to George, moving his hands to gently lift George's legs and drape them over his lap. George smiled at this, and Dream smiled back as he answered, "I know, George. I just think it's too soon. I don't want to move too quickly and overwhelm you with everything at once. I'm only doing what I think is best for you."

George nodded, reaching a hesitant hand out towards Dream. Dream gave him a nod that said it was okay, and George hummed quietly as he slid his hand over Dream's shoulder and towards the nape of his neck. Playing with the curls that fell against the back of Dream's neck, George quietly asked, "you'll tell me eventually, right? About all of it?"

Dream hesitated, but he nodded because he knew he needed to. He couldn't keep George in the dark forever, not if he was going to have any chance of getting his memories back. He couldn't do it alone, and Dream was the only one who could give him the answers he was looking for.