Jimmy stretched and shook the shower water from his hair, releasing a groan. His muscles ached from the drumming he had finished up with mere hours before.

"Morning, Jam," a sleep-soft voice said from somewhere behind him.

Jimmy turned, smiling sweetly at the figure curled in his bed beneath mountains of sheets and thick, colorful, hand-quilted comforters.

"Good morning, beautiful," he cooed. "Sleep well?"

Brian sat up and nodded.

"Like a fucking log."

"That explains the snoring then," Jimmy teased. He laughed and winked when the younger man pouted.

"Shut up."

"Aw, I'm sorry. I never said it wasn't cute," Jimmy murmured. He kissed Brian's pillow-mussed brown hair and smiled lovingly.

Brian had to laugh, smelling the sex and berries that permeated the air; it brought back the memories of the previous nights' exploits between the husbands.

Jimmy inhaled deeply when he noticed the guitarist's expression; a seductive smirk spread across his lips.

"What happened last night, Jim?" Brian asked.

"Everything," the drummer replied with a chuckle, "You bought that berry lube from the sex shop in Laguna Hills and wanted to test it out. I think we got carried away…"

"Oh yeeeeeah," Brian said, smiling. "I kind of forgot about everything before that."

Jimmy laughed, sitting on the edge of their bed and opening his arms.

"You seemed pretty…caught up in it."

Instinctively, crawling into Jimmy's arms and having the drummer's lean biceps settle around him was a breeze. It seemed normal, as if they were born to do it.

Jimmy smiled as he nuzzled Brian's hair.

"You smell like sex," he pointed out, "and fruit." He nosed deeper into the locks with a cackle.

Brian snorted, bopping Jimmy on the nose with a sardonic mutter of, "Why thank you, Captain Points-Out-the-Obvious-a-Lot."

"Well, then here's another obvious point," Jimmy sniffed, as he rubbed his nose. "You're an asshole."

"Whelp! I'm sorry you married one then." Brian grinned.

"Aw." Jimmy returned the feline smile, rolling his eyes and running a hand through the dark hair nuzzled under his chin. "You know marrying you was the best thing I ever did and ever will do."

"And also," Brian said despite the pink deepening into red on his cheeks, "if it makes you feel any better, my ass hurts like a motherfucker."

Jimmy repressed a snicker, tracing his lips over Brian's temple.

"Oh, please," he sighed. "You know that just makes me feel bad…"

"It better," Brian said with a pout.

"It does, I promise. Want me to kiss your cute little butt 'til it feels better?" Jimmy's eyes sparkled softly with mischief, and he pecked the corner of Brian's mouth.

Brian glanced at the clock and said, "As much as I want you to, we've gotta meet Zack, Matt, and the girls soon. You know, at least for a bit."

"Yeah, you're right," Jimmy agreed. "I feel bad not visiting or talking to them as much when we aren't touring… Are we all gonna meet up somewhere?"

Brian stood from Jimmy's lap, allowing the sheets to bunch around his hips before falling completely away as he walked to their closet.

"I think we're going to Matt's house."

"Ah," Jimmy said, although he wasn't paying much attention anymore. All he could focus on was the curve of Brian's back and his rump, still a slight shade of pink; his gaze trailed hungrily over muscle, bronze curves, ink curling against skin without a single blemish…

"…You're staring again."

"And?" Jimmy asked, as he smirked and continued to eye Brian's backside.

"And I don't like it," Brian chuckled.

"Whyyy?" Jimmy whined, finally lifting his stare to meet Brian's own. His own gray-blue orbs were filled with the softness of shocked hurt.

"I'm not much to look at," Brian mumbled after a pause, changing quickly into jeans and one of the tight-fitting white v-necks that Jimmy adored on his figure.

"Are you kidding me?!" Jimmy wrapped his arms around Brian from behind and kissed his shoulder, murmuring softly into his ear; "You're beautiful…"

The air felt thick and hot to Brian, as though Jimmy's fingers were burning coals on his skin.

Jimmy kissed his earlobe and suckled it with gentle lips, whispering, "Beautiful… funny… witty… charming… talented… sexy… kind… perfect."

"Jam…"

"I'm serious, baby," Jimmy said sternly. "Me and so many horny, drooling teenage girls think you're too gorgeous to even be on this earth. Okay? And you always will be."

After several minutes of silence, Brian pulled free from the drummer's arms.

"I'll be downstairs. Get ready," he muttered, before turning and leaving, his forlorn gaze on the floor the entire way out.

"Brian - " Jimmy tried, but his husband had already disappeared into the hallway. The elder sighed and ran a hand through his hair, searching through the closet for a set of decent clothes. All the while, his mind wandered to Brian's inexplicable behavior, and his heart cracked just the slightest.

As he slunk down the staircase, Brian whispered to himself, "He'll never know…"

Jimmy bounded down the stairs moments later, once his hair was straightened and eyeliner drawn neatly around his eyes. He glanced at Brian, who was seated in the kitchen with his head down. He looked away and sighed at the feeling of Jimmy's gaze on him.

"Baby…" Jimmy said softly, taking a seat at the counter beside his husband. "I just wanna know what's wrong. Why're you suddenly so sad?"

"Nothing," Brian mumbled. "You won't get it."

"Please," Jimmy pleaded, his heart in his throat and several tiny fractures etched into its surface. He  hated seeing Brian in any kind of pain, especially when he couldn't help ease it.

The smile that curved Brian's lips was both heartbroken and heartbreaking.

"It's okay. We're gonna be late…"

"I don't care if we're late! I care about knowing what's wrong with you! Please, please tell me…" Jimmy's voice cracked and he swallowed hard.

"Jam. I'll tell you when I'm ready," Brian deadpanned. He grabbed his keys and walked outside their beautiful two-story home painted in soft shades of white, toward the BMW in the driveway.

Jimmy lowered his eyes and followed Brian out the door, suddenly feeling as though he had been punched in the stomach. He had never heard that mix of emotions in Brian's voice when the younger man spoke to him before; anger, sadness, hurt, exhaustion, annoyance…

Once they were settled in the car (Brian behind the wheel and Jimmy in the passenger-side seat), Brian sighed and looked at his lover with haunted eyes.

"I'm really sorry, Jam. I'm just not ready yet…"

Jimmy nodded and forced a weak smile as he said, "I'm sorry I made you angry. I just can't stand knowing you're upset… I didn't mean to make it even worse."

"It's not you, Jimmy," Brian assured. "It's my past."

"Your past?" Jimmy asked, feeling more curiosity flood into his veins. "Didn't you run away to somewhere after your mom, you know… started abusing drugs?"

"Jimmy… we have to go," Brian whispered after a moment.

"Right, right. Sorry." Jimmy waited as Brian backed out of their driveway and started down the street, picking with thoughtful eyes at a fray in his jeans.

The car eased to a stop in front of the Sanders' residence fifteen minutes later. Brian sat for a moment, staring up the pleasant brick home, before he sighed.

"Here we are."

Jimmy nodded and reached out to touch Brian's cheek. The skin was warm and delicate beneath his fingertips, and he pressed a tender kiss there.

"Thank you…"

"You're welcome." Brian smiled for what seemed like the first time in an hour, nuzzling into Jimmy's palm.

"Come on, Angel," Jimmy said. He slipped out of the car and went around to Brian's side, opening the door for his husband. He knew Brian was a hopeless romantic inside, and it delighted him to see the softer, sweeter side of Jimmy.

They walked to the house hand-in-hand once Brian had wrapped Jimmy into a hug and whispered his thanks. The sun shone between tiers of cloud, a crisp white orb, its light causing Brian's unblemished, smooth bronze skin to gleam beautifully.

"Brian! Jimmy!" a feminine voice called from somewhere inside the house, and moments later the door opened to reveal a short, beautiful blonde girl whose face was bright with a grin.

"Athina!" Brian squealed. He released Jimmy's hand in order to open his arms for his younger sister. She rushed into them and he hugged her tightly, nuzzling her hair. "It's been ages, sweetie."

A taller, darker-haired girl followed behind her moments later; Megan, Zacky's wife of two years. She smiled at the sight of the drummer and guitarist, waving excitedly.

"Hey, Megan," Brian greeted her as well. "How have my girls been?"

"Good. Zack and Matt are still working on setting up the Xbox and the stereo system," Megan said, rolling her eyes at the childishness of she and Athina's husbands.

"Men and their…games," Athina snorted.

Jimmy chuckled and squeezed both of them into one-armed hugs.

"We'll knock some sense into those hooligans," he promised with a chuckle. His grin broadened when Athina kissed his eyelid, her lips curved into a beatific smile. "You're such a sweetie. How did short-tempered Matt ever manage to get someone like you?"

"He's lucky he's cute and good in bed," she said, shrugging offhandedly.

Jimmy pulled a face and groaned in disgust. He loved Athina, she was his metaphorical baby sister, but her blatant sexuality was a bit unsettling at times.

"You love me," she laughed, as she slid from Jimmy's grasp and walked inside.

"Of course." Jimmy watched her go before turning to Brian. A soft, loving light lit his eyes at the sight of the guitarist smiling nostalgically. "Ready to go, baby?"

Brian extended a hand toward the door, his fingers curling around air.

"After you," he said with a grin.

"Prince Charming," Jimmy chuckled. He walked past him and grabbed his outstretched palm as he went, pulling Brian behind him. The slot of their fingers and the way Brian fell into perfect tandem alongside his husband made Jimmy's chest bubble with contentment.

He couldn't ask for a better life.