Complement, page 29
part #3 of Connectivity Series
Nick tapped out a quick text to his parents and Ian and when Ash said he was ready, Nick cleaned him up and redressed him. He washed his hands and noticed Ash wouldn’t meet his eyes as they approached the door.
Nick gently stopped him with a hand on his shoulder and held his face softly between his hands. “Ash? You knew this was coming and you knew you’d need help. What’s going on that has you hiding from me?”
Ash closed his eyes and Nick knew he wanted to look away or shrug his shoulders, but he took a breath and murmured, “It’s just embarrassing, needing help with something as simple as going to the bathroom. No one has had to wipe my butt since I was in diapers. It’s the least sexy thing you should ever have to do for me.”
“Baby?” Nick replied softly. “I think it’s the other way around.” Ash blinked up at him, looking at him to explain. “The fact that you allow me into your personal space and into your most intimate and vulnerable moments, is the sexiest thing I can think of. You’re placing your insecurities and exposure into my hands and hoping like hell that I’m still going to love you. You’re showing me that even though it’s hard or awkward, you trust me. And that is sexy as hell.
“In the short time that we’ve been Connected, my heart has been feeling like the Grinch’s in the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Like my heart used to be whatever size it was, but since you’ve come into my life, I’ve wondered if it’s going to grow right out of my chest. I’m sure you’ve already doubled it at least, and by the time we die, you’ll have to be rolling me around like an oil drum because my heart will be too big to fit inside my body.” Ash snickered a little then winced at the movement. “My point is, because we need to get you back to bed, that there is absolutely nothing that could ever turn me off from loving every particle of your existence. You are, and will always be, the sexiest man alive in my eyes. Even more so because of how you let me in. I love you to bits and couldn’t be happier about taking care of you. In sickness and in health remember?”
“‘Till death do us part,” Ash whispered and Nick bent down to kiss him softly.
“Even after that,” Nick whispered against his lips. “‘Forever ain’t half the time’.”
Ash smiled and when Nick straightened up he reached for the door knob and opened it for Ash to lead off into the living room.
Rick was there and helped ease him down onto the recliner. Adam shoved a pillow under his knees and Cory gently curled the neck pillow around his neck. Josh draped a blanket over his lap and Stevie bustled in with Ash’s smoothie and flexible straw. She perched on the arm of the recliner and held the drink out for Ash.
“I have the macaroni in the oven and the rolls are all set. If you feel up to eating later everything will be soft and fairly mild. You need to take your meds before you nap again so let us know when you’re sleepy and we’ll get you sorted,” Stevie said to Ash. “Are you guys going to stay for dinner? There’s plenty,” she said to Rick and Adam.
“Yeah. We’ll stay for a while. We should get home to Miss Furbulous but she has lots of food and water and will be fine until tonight,” Adam replied, circling his arm behind Rick’s waist. “I just need to be here for a while longer to make sure Ashy is okay.”
Rick pressed a kiss to his head but nodded all the same.
“Good. You guys are family but I want to thank you again for all your help and for being here for Ash. You guys have been there for us so many times and we’re grateful to have you in our lives. You too.” Stevie indicated to Josh and Cory. “You came such a long way to be here with us and we’re so thankful. I hope to see you both around for many years to come.”
“Yeah, guys. Thanks a lot. You’ve been amazingly helpful and it’s been so great getting to know you. Maybe Nick and I can come out to visit you in Oregon over winter break or something. I’d love to see Oregon and,” Ash turned his attention to Nick, “maybe we can go to the beach?”
The three Oregonians laughed. “We call it the coast and it would probably be miserable in December. But, I’d love to take you, babe. I’ll go anywhere you want to go and I’d love to see some waves again. Maybe we can all rent an Airbnb for a few days, if Travis and his husband would be interested?” Nick said, looking at Cory.
“Sounds cool to me. We’ll talk to them when we get home,” Cory returned and Josh nodded along.
“Cool,” Ash replied. “I think I’m ready for those pills, though, and a nap sounds amazing.” He dropped his head back and closed his eyes.
Stevie patted his leg and left the room. Nick settled onto the sofa closest to Ash and carefully grabbed his hand over the armrest. Josh and Cory excused themselves to the bedroom and Rick and Adam retreated to the kitchen to check on dinner. “You just rest, love. Your mom will bring your pills and I’ll be right here holding your hand. You’ve been so amazing today and you’ve got to be exhausted. Can I get you anything? Are you warm enough?” Nick asked, looking at the magnificent boy next to him.
Ash mumbled out but didn’t open his eyes. “I’m perfect. I love you. Thank you.” And when Stevie returned with Ash’s meds, he swallowed them down without a sound and was out in minutes.
~
Dinner was a quiet affair as Ash slept. Stevie pulled out a folding table and they all sat around it with a movie playing on low in the background. The macaroni and cheese was heavenly and with the rolls and salad, Nick was ready to pass out from an emotionally and physically exhausting day.
Stevie had thought ahead and hadn’t wanted to be burdened down with dishes, so clean up was very easy as paper plates were thrown away and soda cans went into the recycling bin. They folded up the table and pulled out the bed and without disturbing Ash, they all said their goodbyes to Rick and Adam, who asked to be notified should anything change with Ash. They said they’d stop in over the weekend and left with quiet hugs.
Lights were turned down and Stevie discretely checked Ash’s drains, saying she would drain them early just so everyone could sleep a bit longer. Cory and Josh turned in for the night, telling Nick to wake them up if he needed anything, or needed help with Ash and with quiet thank you’s, they left Stevie and Nick to finish Ash’s routine.
Nick recorded the measurements and snagged a pair of jogging pants on his way past their room. He brushed his teeth and changed after flushing down the fluid from Ash’s drains and when he returned to the living room, Stevie hugged him tightly, thanking him and saying she’d be out again in a few hours to check on Ash and to give him his next round of meds.
Nick turned off the last of the lights, and as quietly as he could, he gently shoved Ash’s recliner as close as he could get it to the sofa. He used the couch cushions to fill in the gap between the bed and the chair and climbed in, pulling the covers up around him. He scooted as far as he could without falling out and reached over to grab Ash’s hand. He leaned over and kissed it gently, making sure to kiss his ring as well, then settled in, keeping Ash’s hand in his as he fell asleep almost instantly.
-XVII-
The next two days were a progression of Ash gradually feeling better and moving around more on his own. They all still helped with with most things: eating, drinking, going to the bathroom, anything that would require lifting his arms, and changing his clothes.
He was up and walking around and had a definite increase in energy and appetite. He’d gotten over Nick helping him in the bathroom and even appreciated the sponge bath he’d been given Sunday morning. But, by Sunday night, the night before Cory and Josh were planning to leave, he’d asked Nick to wash his hair in the bathroom sink.
They’d all gone for a short walk up and down the block just before dinner time to raise Ash’s heart rate and as Stevie cooked away in the kitchen, Josh and Cory perched on the ledge of the bathtub while Ash bent over the sink.
“So, Ash? I know you’re only seventeen and your birthday is in February, but have you guys talked at all about your wedding and what that will look like?” Cory asked as Nick poured a cup of warm water over Ash’s head to get his hair wet.
“Not really,” he replied in a muffled voice. Nick had draped a towel over his shoulders to keep him from getting wet but the towel kept getting in the sink.
“Sorry, babe, just a sec,” Nick interrupted. “Can one of you hold this towel in place? He can’t get wet, but it keeps slipping down and getting into the sink.”
Josh stood first and came over. “Sure.”
“Thanks. Okay, keep going babe,” Nick encouraged.
“Um, yeah. We’d only gotten engaged on Sunday—Hey! It’s our one week engage-a-versary, babe,” Ash said and everyone chuckled.
“I didn’t know that was a thing, love. Sorry I didn’t get you anything except a hair wash and sponge bath,” Nick replied.
Ash snickered. “Sponge bath. You can play my nurse anytime you want, babe,” he teased and Nick laughed as he scrubbed some shampoo into his honey-colored locks.
“This is going nowhere fast. So, to answer your question, Cory, no, we didn’t really have time to talk about much with Ash’s surgery coming up and everything last week,” Nick said while Ash giggled.
“I was just wondering if you guys would get married right away or wait a little while. Josh wanted to get married on his birthday, but after a lot of discussion,” Cory aimed a pointed look at Josh, “we settled for a week after instead. I wondered if you’d do the same.”
“Hmm,” Ash replied. “My birthday is on the ninth. We could get married on Valentine’s Day,” he suggested.
Nick poured fresh water over his head and rinsed several times. “I kinda like that idea. Valentine’s Day is always supposed to be about love and all that, so if we got married that day, we’d always have something romantic to look forward to and a reason to celebrate.”
“You think?” Nick helped Ash straighten up and Josh made sure he stayed dry. He snatched the extra towel he’d had waiting on the counter and gently towel-dried his hair. “You’d be willing to get married on Valentine’s Day?” Ash asked, sounding excited by the idea. He placed his hands on Nick’s hips and squeezed slightly.
Nick paused his ministrations and parted the towel so he could see Ash’s face. “I’d marry you right now with both of us in our sweatpants, if I could. The day doesn’t matter to me. Although, Valentine’s Day is awfully romantic.” He leaned in and pressed a kiss to Ash’s lips. “You want to do it? Get married on Valentine’s Day?”
Ash grinned. “It sounds perfect.”
“I agree,” Josh chimed in. “It’s close enough to your birthday and something you would celebrate romantically anyway, so why not? It’s so super cutsie, it fits you both perfectly.”
Ash giggled and bounced a little on his toes. “So? Valentine’s Day?”
“Sounds perfect,” Nick replied and Ash squealed.
“Everything okay?” Stevie called out and a moment later she appeared in the doorway with an oven mitt in her hand.
“We’re getting married on Valentine’s Day!” Ash squealed again and both Nick and Josh gave up trying to contain him.
“You are?” Stevie asked, looking to Nick for confirmation.
“We are. Just decided. Since he’ll be eighteen on the ninth, it fits perfectly. We’ll always have a reason to celebrate Valentine’s Day,” Nick said.
Stevie brought her hand up to her heart. “That’s the sweetest. You boys are all so damn cute. Valentine’s Day, really?”
Ash nodded excitedly and Stevie drew him in for a gentle hug.
“But the next question is, where?” Cory said, coming to stand right beside Josh.
“We got married at Cory’s childhood home. There’s this perfect little hill right next to it,” Josh commented. “We got married on top with the great view of the valley below. It was perfect for us.”
“You did?” Nick asked with a hint of sorrow in his voice. “I didn’t know that.” Cory and Josh both looked at him sympathetically. “We used to go up on that hill sometimes,” Nick remarked.
“It was the first place we ever kissed,” Cory said, wrapping his arm around Josh’s waist and looking up at him sweetly. “We’d only met the day before but it was so easy, you know? That perfect ease that comes with finding your Connection and true love? It was just there right from the start. We have a lot of great memories of that place.” He turned his attention back to everyone else. “Do you guys have someplace special that you go a lot? Or someplace that would be meaningful?”
“Or maybe you’d consider getting married in Oregon?” Josh asked next, looking between them. “Nick’s family is there and we’d all want to come. Of course we’d be there wherever you decided to do it, but I bet a lot of people from Oregon would want to be there too.”
Ash looked at Nick. “I guess I hadn’t thought about it much. We don’t really have a place like that, that’s special. We kind of got off to a slow start,” Ash said, dropping his eyes a bit.
Stevie made a sorrowful sound as Nick drew Ash’s eyes back up with a hand under his chin. “Ash, don’t. We got off to exactly the start that was right for us. I was injured for one thing. Yes, we may have had more bumps in our road when we started out, but so do a lot of people. What happened between us happened just the way it was supposed to. Not to mention the fact that we were both starting school only weeks after finding each other.
“Baby, we have more than what ninety-nine percent of most people have just by sharing our Connection. There is nothing to hang your head about or feel sorry for. I don’t want you feeling like anything is your fault in this because it’s not. Just the fact that you found me at all is a miracle. I was five hours away, for Pete’s sake.” Nick used the towel to dry a few beads of water that were running down Ash’s face, then ran it over his head once more. He pressed a kiss to Ash’s lips. “Please don’t compare our Connection or how it started to another couple. We don’t need to measure up to anyone but ourselves, okay?” Ash nodded. “Good. Now let’s get your shirt back on and we can go have dinner and talk about where we want to get married.”
Ash tried to smile but it wasn’t quite there. Nick helped him with his shirt then finger combed his hair the way he liked it. Everyone else headed off to the kitchen and when they were alone, Nick carefully walked Ash backward with his hands on his shoulders until his back was pressed up against the bathroom wall. Ash couldn’t do much since he couldn’t use his arms, but Nick bent down, knowing full well that his lips worked just fine.
“I love you,” Nick said just before he kissed his guy like they might never get another chance.
And when they finally emerged from the bathroom several minutes later, dinner was just being served.
~
“Do you think it’d be safe to drive to Oregon in February?” Cory asked as conversation returned to wedding locations.
Nick popped a bite of orange chicken into Ash’s mouth then skewered one for himself and chewed as Stevie answered.
“Not really, no. The passes would be unpredictable and the roads would probably be icy. It would have to be one of those things where you watch the weather right up until then decide on your route. Plus, driving will take a whole day all its own. Even if you guys took a week off school, that doesn’t leave much room for prep and fun. And how will you make any arrangements without being there to see everything or knowing what the food will be like?”
“I guess we should talk about how many people we want to invite,” Ash said and held his mouth open for a forkful of fried rice.
“Probably,” Nick returned. “Obviously my parents, who still don’t even know that we’re engaged, by the way, and my sister. I guess maybe my aunts and uncles and their kids, though, we’ve never been all that close. My grandparents would probably come if it was in Oregon, but I don’t think they’d travel since they’re both so old.”
“You still have grandparents?” Ash asked and Nick nodded.
“You do too, Ash,” Stevie reminded. “Just because my parents are awful and haven’t seen us since you started wearing boys clothes, doesn’t mean they aren’t still alive.”
“Might as well be dead,” Ash replied sourly. “Just because I didn’t fit into their perfect little princess mold didn’t mean they had to disown us.”
Stevie patted his shoulder. “They are extremely proper and anything that didn’t fit into their idealized world, just didn’t matter to them,” Stevie explained to everyone else. “They had the hardest time accepting Matt and I and what our Connection meant. I’m not really even sure if they just pretended it didn’t exist so they didn’t have to think about it. They were pretty standoffish parents from the beginning, though. Children were meant to be see and not heard and all that. My brother had the right idea and cut ties when he moved to New York after college. My mom and dad were stifling. I’m sure they still are and we’re better off without them in our lives. Trust me.”
“Still sucks. They used to send me Easter dresses with all this lace and ribbons and stuff. Um, no,” Ash said disgustedly, shivering with the thought. “They never thought I was good enough. They definitely don’t exist for me anymore so we don’t even need to worry about it.”
Nick kissed his shoulder. “Alright, so traveling is probably out. Which means we do it here. What day of the week is Valentine’s Day going to be on next year anyway? That might help us figure out what we’re up against with school and everything.”
Cory pulled out his phone. “Looks like it’s a Thursday, so it’ll be midweek for you guys.”
“We’d probably take the week off anyway, if we were going to be getting married,” Ash said after swallowing another bite of chicken. “Can you move my water closer, babe?” Nick moved the glass to the edge of the table and positioned the straw so Ash could drink. “Thanks.”
He was doing better with his arm movement, he just couldn’t reach for things or lift his arms higher than his waist. He got frustrated a lot and didn’t like asking for help all the time but had resigned himself to it for at least another few days. He’d told Nick that he wanted to try going to the bathroom alone on Monday. So, slowly he was starting to do more for himself, though, he would be limited on how much he could lift for a long time yet.
