Open my eyes...

[musical_rocker]

Who: Albert
When: Now
Where: Hospital.

It had been days since the accident, and the scruff of his face was proof of that. Albert had no idea people had been coming and going to visit him, nor did he know how long he'd been unconscious.

Slowly he opened his eyes, frowning against the light in the room as it hurt his eyes. At first the panic came as his hand moved to tug the breathing tube from his nose and he tried to get out of the bed. Alarm bells sounded and moments later a nurse came into the room and tried to calm him down. One nurse turned to two, and then a doctor. They could see he was confused and scared, his eyes wide as he tried to find something in the room that made sense. After an examination and questions, it came to light that he had some form of memory loss. Whether it was permanent or temporary they didn't know. Mostly time would tell.

With some of the tubes and wired removed from his body, Albert sat in the bed eating a fruit cup while staring at the tv. He'd flicked through the channels and was currently watching cartoons, he didn't know why he was watching them, but there was something familiar about them, something he knew but couldn't put his finger on. Every time the door to his room opened, Al looked towards it. The nurse told him they would contact his family, he'd just nodded unable to remember them.

Comments

[not_soperfect]

Mac had gone out for coffee and a cigarette, when he came back with coffee in hand, the hospital staff told him of the transpiring events. That Al had woken and seem to be alert with his surrounds. Heading into the room, Mac stood near the door, he didn’t have to be told what was going on. Didn’t have to hear it from Al he didn’t remember him. He…knew…the moment Al had to look at him with no recognition in his eyes, what was wrong.

Mac stood in the door way, his voice remained low as he spoke.

“They told me you had woken.”

[musical_rocker]

Noticing the door open, Albert turned his attention to the man standing there and frowned just a little bit as his eyes took him in. There was something but he didn't know what. Setting down his spoon and his fruit cup, Albert nodded his head as he turned off the Tv.

"I have, as you can see.." he paused a little, tilting his head ever so slightly and he couldn't help but smile as he shook his head, "I-I know you?"

[not_soperfect]

“Yeah. I guess, I’m family.”

He kept his voice even. His face blank from emotions. If he didn’t, Mac was certain he’d slide down the door jam and sit on the floor to cry. Having Al not recognize him and look at him as if he were a stranger hurt as much as the time Triton came to tell him what Al had done to hurt himself.

[musical_rocker]

"Do you want something to eat?"

Albert held another fruit cup out to him, his hands shaking as he did. Slowly his gaze lowered and he watched his hands, setting the items down on the table before him.

"They.. they say that I probably saved someone's life and.. did you know I have a twin sister? She doesn't look like me. Do I really have a sister? I don't know if people are lying to me."

[not_soperfect]

“No, thank you.” He declined the offer of the fruit cup and finally made a move into the room. Taking up the chair he had been using to sleep in and watch Al in, Mac let his gaze settle on Al. He was grateful for the moment Bella was taken home to Eban and Alba, he didn’t think the baby should be part of this yet.

“Yeah, you do have a twin sibling.
Do you remember anything?”

[musical_rocker]

Albert watched him as he came closer and he couldn't help but smile at the man as he came to sit near him. As unsure as he felt about things, he felt relaxed around this man.

His gaze lowered. "I..I remember... there's a big house..and smells. I think my mom used to kiss me goodnight, but she wasn't ever home much. I play music, and I like to sing. My dad sitting alone when mom wasn't home and he thought I was asleep, he looked do sad."

[not_soperfect]

“Looks like not all your memories have been taken away.”

For some reason that gave Mac some comfort. And the smile Al had given him, which meant that there was something in Al that remembered bits of their relationship.

[musical_rocker]

He hadn't noticed, but his hands had moved so his fingers would tease the place his wedding ring should be. "My mom cried thee day I got married," his voice was a whisper and he seemed like he wasn't even there. "He played the guitar," Albert said softly and closed his eyes, "I loved watching his hands as he played."

Was he getting things mixed up? He didn't know, but they were making some kind of sense to him.

[not_soperfect]

It was the only moment Mac allowed a flash of emotion to show on his features. The emotion was a mix him remembering too, showing too much of a personal emotion of love. He couldn’t hide the display of emotions crossing his features and didn’t want to.

Al, remembered he loved a man. It was going to be that much easier to hopefully tell him they were lovers.

“I did play, once upon a time. The ‘Lime in the coconut’ never sounded so bad.” Of course, his bad was still pretty good.

[musical_rocker]

He looked at him with a frown on his face for a very long time, his eyes watching the face before him. Albert didn't know what to say or think in that moment. While everything felt right about this man talking to him, something looked wrong.

"I'm not married to you," he whispered, but he sounded unsure. "I-I remember.. I remember the feel of my fingers in his hair, he-he's younger than you." Albert didn't mean to sound rude, but right now the things he could remember were from before that first painful kiss of another Fia had.

[not_soperfect]

The smile faded and so did the emotions. His face blanked over and Mac gave a brief nod of his head. For a moment he wondered if Eothian could help Al remember, then he realized Eothian no longer looked himself. For the first time he wished his twin had looked like his younger self.

“Do you remember anything else?” He needed to change the subject.

[musical_rocker]

Snuggling back against his pillow, Albert closed his eyes and frowned, trying so hard to remember something else. It was obvious from the look on his face how hard it was, but he wasn't going to be beaten. Not yet. Albert pushed his lips together, trying to remember something.

"Only a feeling," he said softly, his voice no more than a whisper, "Lips on mine, like my heart might explode."

[not_soperfect]

“We were always feelings, baby.”

He understood what Al meant. Al was the one who could make his body aroused with a single look. He understood a kiss could drive them both wild with desire and often did. Right then he so badly wanted to kiss Al but held back.

[musical_rocker]

"We didn't last..." Tears started to fall down his cheeks and Albert let out a shaking breath, "I remember the day he left..." Pressing his hands to his face, Albert let out a breath, "I lay on the couch crying, but he never came back.. He wanted someone else."

Finding his memories was almost like reliving them, he's living the feeling of the moment without knowing all the facts. "I can't live without him..." And with that he rolled onto his side, this back to Fia, curling up a little.

[not_soperfect]

Mac went to him. Pulling Al to face him and give him light, feathery, kisses.

“That’s our past, baby.” His mouth touched Al’s with each word. “We have our entire future ahead of us, you and me and ---“ He stopped himself from saying Bella. He didn’t’ want Al to have too much to know, it looked like he was having enough trouble with learning about them.

“I can’t live without you. I can’t. I love you, Al. I just ---I need you to come back to me.”

He pressed his mouth against Al.

[musical_rocker]

Each kiss sent a shock through him and he wanted to pull back, he wanted to push this man away. Something inside felt like betrayal, it felt like he was cheating on the person he loved.

The final press of their lips together, that felt different, and he felt himself relax and melt against it a little. Slowly his hand cam up to press against Mac's chest feeling his heart hammer below his touch. Finally Albert pulled back with a deep set frown on his face, "Do we have a pet called Moo?! No do I, or do you... do we.

[not_soperfect]

Mac rested his forehead against Al’s. His breathing heavy as he focused on the question, while every fibre wanted more than just a kiss from Al. He pulled back slightly blinking.

“No---“ He struggled to speak and spoke again. “Yes. Our baby has a little toy called Moo.”

[musical_rocker]

"We have a baby?" His face softened and he looked down, trying to remember something about their child, something, anything but that toy. His fingers flexed against Mac's chest, eyes searching for something.

"What do we call them.. what do I call you?" Names were something he was having trouble will, Albert called Brea, something else before.

[not_soperfect]

Mac spoke, softly, had Al remembered he’d know when Mac did speak it was the most he had ever hear from the usual monosyllabic child of Lir.

He told Al of his friend Jimmy who brought the baby to them. She had been fed whiskey off Jimmy’s finger and given a small toy cow from the tough man who knew nothing about babies. The baby was from one of the people Jimmy knew, the parents had died in a plane crash and as god parent Jimmy was now responsible for the well being of a two month old baby. He, in astute business deal knew babies and him did not mix.

Being careful not to use the name Audr, Mac, told the rest of the story,

“We were thinking of adopting her properly.” He went on, but his voice trailed off. “…except there was some personal problems in our life.” After that he remained quiet, wondering if their problems were over or just beginning.

Realizing Al had asked about names. He gave a reply to the question. “Ma---no, it’s Fia, that’s my name. That's the name you call me. Our baby’s name is Bella.”

[musical_rocker]

He listened carefully, his fingers teasing the spot his wedding ring should be but wasn't. He nodded his head, letting him know he was listening and trying to take the information in. And the whole time his eyes never left the face of the man before him, even though they grew a little weary from trying to remember everything that was his life.

"Personal problems?" His gaze lowered and it was obvious from the look on his face he was trying to remember. Sweat prickled his brow and he looked up once again, "It's why you changed..."

Once again he fell silent, his eyes sadly watching his hands as he let out a slow breath. "Izzy..."

[not_soperfect]

Mac reached out and brushed his fingertips across Al’s forehead. He didn't want to get into anything more about their personal life.

“You should get some rest. We can talk later.” His voice softened. “Do you want your parents to bring Izzy to see you?”

[musical_rocker]

The touch of his fingers and followed by his words made Albert panic. In a sudden movement he reached out to take hold of Fia's hand and held onto it as if his life depended on it.

"Don't leave..." There was something akin to begging in his voice, that and fear maybe. "Please."

[not_soperfect]

His heart constricted at the emotion in Al’s pleading. Mac placed a brief kiss on Al’s forehead and a linger one on his lips,

“Baby, it’ll be for a little while. I need to get cleaned up---“ His lowered to a whisper, “---and pick up the keys to our house.”

[musical_rocker]

Now that was something Albert didn't understand, "You left your keys at work? Maybe mine are here and you can take those instead?" He really didn't want him to go, not yet. Everything was too confusing and he didn't want to be left alone.

"Please stay," his voice was a whisper, "A-at least until I fall asleep!" For a moment he looked a little like the child he had once been, just scared to be left on his own.

[not_soperfect]

“Alright baby, I won’t go until you’re asleep.” Mac took hold of Al’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

“I’ll tell you about the house keys another time, when you’re feeling better.”

[musical_rocker]

He wanted to smile but he couldn't right now, there was a worry in his stomach, "You'll come back?" His voice was a whisper and the fear that was under it was huge, Albert was so scared that this man would go and not come back.

Bringing Fia's hand up to his cheek, Albert slowly turned on his side and closed his eyes, brushing his cheek against his hand.

[not_soperfect]

“I always come back to you, baby.” He lowered his head and briefly gave a kiss before pulling back.

Mac stayed, waiting for Al to sleep.

[musical_rocker]

He kept hold of Fia's hand, not wanting to let it go because there was something comforting about his touch, something deep inside that made him want to never let it go.

It took some time but Albert started to drift off, his hand loosening around Fia's.

[not_soperfect]

He didn't leave. Mac stayed for a good while after, just watching Al sleep. Then he knew it was time to see to his own needs and get some rest himself. Kissing Al lightly, Mac turned and headed out of the room.

He left a message with the nurses to say he'd be back during visiting hours.