The rain that fell in the cemetery felt more like an early June rain than a late August rain. Still...none of it felt real. Charlie couldn't remember the last time he wore his black suit. Tristan's funeral? Fitz's funeral? He couldn't remember who had given the eulogy. All he could do was throw a rose on Hunter's coffin as it descended into the ground.

Then the world shook.

"Charlie?"

Charlie woke with a start, seated by Hunter's bed as he had been for the past three days. The only time he had left was for a couple of hours to take a shower and get some food. That's when he got the call from Tyler that Hunter had died. He had dropped everything and rushed to the hospital, making it in time for the doctor to report that Hunter was back. A miracle, the doctor said against his better judgement but Charlie knew exactly what it was: a warning. He wouldn't leave Hunter's side again until he woke up for good. The signs were good (once, he could swear that he heard Hunter mutter something about a rose while he slept) but it didn't matter how long it took. The first thing Hunter would see when he woke up was Charlie.

"Charlie?" the blue eyes that looked at him as he woke were familiar with a bittersweet comfort.

"Tom?"

"Tyler said that you were here." Tom looked at him expectantly then stood up from his crouched position and looked around the room awkwardly. "God, the last time I was in a hospital...I was siting where you are now. With you."

"The only difference is that I came back."

"I tried to. Eddy stopped... "

"Then you should never have left."

"That's not fair. I had to get back to Diego..."

"And look how well that turned out."

"Stop. Charlie. I'm here now. I fucked up. I love you. I don't think I ever stopped loving you."

"If that were true you wouldn't have left that night in the hospital. You would've stayed to tell me."

"Like you're doing for Hunter?"

"I don't know what I'm doing. I just know that he was always there for me, even when I said I didn't need him. He was there. He was there for me more than you ever were when we were together."

"I'm here now."

Charlie looked directly into the deep pools of blue in Tom's eyes. "Part of me always felt like I was waiting for you."

Tom took Charlie's hand. "Yeah?"

"I'm not waiting anymore." Hunter stirred slightly and Charlie rose to check on him. Tom sighed and headed for the door.

"Guess it's my turn to wait," Tom said   before he disappeared down the hall. Hunter murmured a bit and slowly opened his eyes

"Charlie?" he murmured.

"Hi," Charlie said, kissing Hunter's hand.

"Hi," Hunter smiled back.

###