Archive of Our Own ^beta

Never go alone .

That's what Liam, Scott, and every other pack member always say. Of course, they're usually the first ones to break that. Always with the excuse of keeping someone else safe. 

Theo supposes that's his excuse too. When he'd gotten whispers from Nolan about Monroe being back in town, Theo hadn't really stopped to think. He'd gone to the abandoned warehouse just to check things out and see if there was any truth to the rumor. He always planned to go to Liam and the rest of the pack once he found out for sure.

But of course, things never go how Theo plans them. It'd be funny if he wasn't currently staring down the barrel of a gun with Monroe on the other end. 

He sighs. "Fuck."

"Yes, Mr. Raeken, I'd say you are fucked," Monroe says. "But no need to worry. I'm sure no one will miss you. That's why they sent you, right? You're expendable."

The words don't sting as much as they might have in the past. Theo's long since gotten over his doubt about where he stands with the pack— with Liam especially. That's where his mind is right now. Even as he hears the shots go off, and feels the bullets tearing into his skin. He thinks of Liam— of all the things he should have told him, and now he never could.

Theo’s not sure what he’s expecting. Maybe an endless nothing, or to find himself back in that horrible nightmare with Tara— being tortured in an eternal loop. 

Instead, he finds himself standing in the middle of the preserve. Or, at least, he thinks it’s the preserve. It certainly looks like it. Granted, there could be several places that look like this. 

He’s not sure why he’s here. Or how . 

He’d been pretty sure he was dying. He’d felt the bullets going in, his heart slowing, and things got hazy. And then nothing. Until he found himself standing here.

He looks down at himself and frowns. There aren’t any holes in his shirt, and when he lifts it, his body isn’t covered in blood or holes. And his heart—

He stops. Listens. 

Nothing. No sound. No familiar beating against his ribcage. His heart isn’t beating.

“What the hell is this?” he mutters to himself as he tries not to panic. 

Liam. He needs Liam. Liam can help him understand what’s going on. If he can just find the road, then he can find his way home, and Liam can explain all this craziness away. Or at least ease some of the panic. 

He turns, preparing to start walking, only to find himself standing inside a house. He spins around, trying to take in his surroundings. It’s not the Geyer’s house. He knows that much. But the beige wallpaper in the hall looks a little familiar. He glances closer at one of the pictures on the wall and relaxes at the familiar face grinning back at him— a little younger but still recognizable. 

Mason. 

He’s at Mason’s house. But why and, more importantly, how? He’d been in the preserve moments before. 

“Mason! Where the hell is the popcorn?”

Liam . Theo would know that voice anywhere. He follows the sound of Liam’s voice until he finds himself standing in the kitchen. Liam’s back is to him as he looks through the cabinets.

“Liam,” Theo says. When Liam doesn’t turn, he frowns. “Liam.”

Nothing. No sign that Liam even heard him. Still, Theo tries not to panic yet. Liam could just be messing with him. It wouldn’t be the first time. Theo moves closer and stands in front of Liam, hands on his hips, and speaks louder this time.

“Liam.”

Liam sighs and turns away. “Mason!”

“What?” Mason says, voice exasperated as he peeks his head into the kitchen. “What is so important that you’re yelling loud enough for the neighbors to hear?”

“Popcorn,” Liam says. “I know you have it. You always do.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mason says. “There is no popcorn in this house.”

“Mason,” Liam whines. “Come on.”

“No,” Mason says, pointing a finger at him. “The last time we had popcorn, you and Theo spilled it everywhere when you started wrestling. We’re still finding kernels in the couch. Corey and I have banned it.”

“You can’t ban popcorn,” Liam says. “You love it too.”

“And I can have it,” Mason says. “Just not when you and Theo are here.”

Liam opens his mouth to argue, then frowns. “Speaking of Theo, where is he?”

“How should I know?” Mason asks him. “You’re the one that lives with him.”

“He was gone when I got up this morning,” Liam says. He doesn’t sound happy about it. “He left a note saying he’d meet me here later. But I haven’t heard from him all day.”

“So call him,” Corey says. “Tell him he better get here soon, or we’re starting without him.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Theo says.

Liam pulls out his phone and hits a few buttons before holding it to his ear. He walks out to the living room and falls back on the couch as he listens. Theo knows it has to be ringing. He feels his pockets, but there’s nothing there. 

And would there be? This isn’t his body. Theo knows that. If it was, the others would have seen him by now or heard him. But there hasn’t been the slightest hint of recognition from any of them. 

I’m dead , he thinks. 

A slightly hysterical laugh breaks its way out of his throat at the thought. He’s dead. There’s no other explanation for this. He’d been shot, found himself in the woods, and then appeared here at Mason’s as soon as he thought of finding Liam. 

And he has no way of communicating with him.

"He's not answering his phone," Liam mutters, looking down at his screen with a frown. "Or any of my texts."

"I'm sure he's fine, man," Mason says. "He's probably just busy."

"With who?" Liam says, a slight edge to his voice that, if Theo didn't know any better, he would say is jealousy. 

Mason and Corey share a look. "I'm sure his phone just died or something," Corey says gently.

"Maybe," Liam says, still not seeming convinced. "But it's not like him to miss pack night."

Theo sighs and leans forward, elbows resting on his knees. "I'm here, Liam," he says. "I'm right here."

"He could have forgot," Mason says.

Theo growls at the same time Liam does. "He wouldn't forget."

"Damn right, I wouldn’t," Theo mutters.

"We have pack night every Friday," Liam says. "He knows that." He looks out the window at the sound of tires on the pavement outside. They slow for a moment, and Theo jumps to his feet, moving to look out the window. A jet-black SUV is idling outside the house, and Theo knows— he knows that it's Monroe or the other hunters. 

"Shit," he says, glancing back at Liam. "Shit, shit, shit. Liam, I need you to hear me."

"What is it?" Mason asks. 

"Just a car," Liam says. "But not Theo's truck."

"Probably just someone lost," Mason suggests.

"Seriously?" Theo snaps. "You're supposed to be the smart one! It's hunters. You need to go!"

Liam shrugs, and Theo knows it’s in response to Mason, not him. "Maybe. I was just hoping it was Theo."

"Liam, I'm right here," Theo says, kneeling in front of him. "I'm here with you. I need you to hear me. Please." He reaches out for Liam's hand, but his hand glides right through. He groans. "Damn it."

Theo's head snaps up at the sound of tires peeling out on the pavement. Corey opens the curtains and looks out with a frown. 

"What is it?" Mason asks him.

"I don't know," Corey says. "Some SUV. It just sped away."

"And none of you think it's weird that an SUV was idling outside the house and sped away?" Theo questions. "How have you survived this long?"

"Maybe I should call Scott," Liam says. 

Theo claps his hands. "Yes, call Scott. Tell him about the car…"

"He might have heard from Theo," Liam says.

Theo puts his head in his hands. "Of all the times for you to worry about me, you choose this one."

"He is back in town," Corey says. "They could be hanging out."

"And he lost track of time," Mason says.

Theo wishes more than anything that's what happened. That he was with Scott and would be able to go home tonight to Liam and not here, a ghost with no way to communicate with his pack while his body rots somewhere. 

But there is some hope. If Scott finds out no one has been able to get in touch with him, surely he'll realize something is wrong.

Someone has to realize. 

His eyes widen as a thought occurs to him. 

Nolan. 

Nolan would know. He's the one who had told Theo about Monroe. If anyone would put two and two together, it's him. 

But how does he get the others to talk to Nolan?

"Hey, Scott," Liam says, snapping Theo out of his thoughts. "Yeah, yeah. Good to hear from you too. Actually, that's why I'm calling. You haven't heard from Theo, have you?" Liam frowns and looks at Mason and Corey, shaking his head. "No, he missed pack night, and I haven't been able to get a hold of him." There's silence as Liam listens to whatever Scott is saying, and Theo waits. He hates that his hearing isn’t as good as it was. "Yeah, I'm sure it's nothing. But if you hear from him, you'll let me know?"

Theo sighs. This was going to be a long night.

Theo follows Liam home that night. He rides silently in the passenger seat as Liam drives the familiar streets of Beacon Hills. He doesn't go straight home, though. He drives slowly through the town, his eyes scanning his surroundings. 

"Where are you, Theo?" he mutters.

Theo's sure if his heart was still beating in his chest, it would be aching right now. "I'm here, Liam," he whispers.

Liam shakes his head and wipes hastily at his eyes. Theo's own eyes widen. "I need you to be okay, you asshole," Liam whispers. "Wherever you are. Just be okay."

Theo closes his eyes. He wishes more than anything that he could promise Liam he would be. But he's long since passed that point. His body is rotting somewhere. His fate is sealed. But Liam's isn't. He still has a chance to survive this. If only Theo could get through to him.

He reaches out again, hoping if he focuses hard enough, he'll be able to make some sort of contact. But just like the last time, his hand falls right through. But unlike last time, Liam frowns, briefly looking down at his arm before shaking his head and looking away.

“You’re just imagining things,” he mutters to himself.

“No, you’re not,” Theo tells him. “It’s me, Liam. I’m here. I wish you could see that.”

Liam keeps driving, and Theo keeps watching him because that’s all he can do.

“Do you think birds know they’re birds?” 

Theo glances over at Liam. He’s sprawled across the grass in the backyard. His eyes are on the sky, and he glances at Theo, eyebrow raised. Theo snorts. “What the hell are you on about?”

“Birds,” Liam repeats. “Do you think they know they’re birds? Like, are they conscious of what they are and why they do things?”

“Like we are?” Theo questions. Liam nods. “I don’t know. If they are, then some of them are assholes.”

“What?”

“I mean, think about it,” Theo says. “Some birds just go around shitting on people’s cars and people themselves. If it’s an unconscious thing that birds just do, fine. But if they actually know they’re doing it? Yeah, they’re assholes.”

Liam throws his head back, laughing. Theo joins him. It’s hard not to. Especially since this whole conversation is ridiculous.

“What brought this on?” Theo asks him.

“I just— I don’t know,” Liam says. “They get to fly everywhere— see all these places. And I just didn’t know if they knew that not everyone or everything gets to do that.”

“Humans can fly and see places, too,” Theo reminds him.

“Yeah, in planes,” Liam says. “But not like, on our own. It must be nice.”

Theo nods and looks back to the sky, where a few birds are still flying overhead. “I was always jealous of them,” Theo admits. “That they can just fly away and leave anytime they want. There’s nothing holding them back.”

“You’ve thought of flying away?” 

“I used to,” Theo says, looking over at him again. “Back when things would get hard. I’d wish the Doctors had given me wings or something so I could just leave— run away. But now—”

“Now what?” Liam asks.

“It’s so bad,” Theo shrugs. “I guess this place has grown on me.”

“Just this place?” Liam teases.

Theo chuckles and nudges Liam’s leg with his foot. He keeps it there a moment, and Liam lets him. “No, Liam. Not just the place.”

Liam sleeps, and Theo watches. Or, he lays in the bed next to him, listening to the sounds of his heart beating, a loud comfort in the otherwise quiet room. A reminder that even though Theo might be dead, Liam’s still alive and breathing. He still has a chance to survive this. Theo’s going to make sure of that.

Liam wakes a little after nine. The sun shines brightly through the curtains, and he groans, turning away from the window and burying his face in his pillow.

“Theo,” he mutters.

Theo tenses, waiting. Can he see him? Does he know he’s here? But as fast as the hope comes, it’s slashed when Liam sits straight up in bed and looks around the room. He throws the covers off and jumps out of bed, running across the hall to Theo’s room. It’s empty, of course. It looks exactly the same as he left it yesterday— the bed hastily made and the note he left for Liam sitting on top of the covers.

Liam sighs and picks it up, his eyes scanning the words. “Where are you?”

He doesn’t put the note back. Instead, he goes back to his room and folds it, putting it into his wallet before walking into the bathroom. Theo doesn’t follow. Instead, he goes downstairs to the kitchen. David and Jenna are both at the stove. Jenna is cooking eggs and bacon while David works on the pancakes. It’s a sight that’s become all too familiar in the time Theo has lived here with Liam and his parents.

Theo sits at his usual spot at the table, watching them.

“I think he’s up,” Jenna says, nodding towards the stairs.

David nods. “Seems like it.”

“Oh, I do hope he heard from Theo,” Jenna says, sighing sadly. “He’s been so worried, and frankly, so am I. It’s not like him to just disappear like this.”

“Well, not anymore,” David says. “But when he first moved in…”

“He was afraid,” Jenna says. “You know that. He hadn’t had a real home in years. So, of course, it took some adjusting. But now? He wouldn’t just leave without telling someone.”

“I know,” David says. “Especially not Liam. Unless…”

“What?”

“You don’t think they had a fight, do you?” David asks her.

“Well, it wouldn’t be the first time,” Jenna says. “But Liam would have mentioned that.”

If only it were that simple. If only Theo had gotten into some stupid argument with Liam and stormed off like he used to. He’d come back with apology cookies or some stupid movie Liam’s been talking about watching, and things would be fine. They’d go back to normal.

But there’s no coming back from this. Not for him.

“At least he has you,” Theo says. “He’s going to need you more than you know.”

A few minutes later, Liam emerges from the bathroom and walks into the kitchen. His hair is still wet and sticking to his forehead. Jenna tuts and brushes it back from his face before nodding towards the table. “Breakfast is ready.”

“I’m not hungry,” Liam grumbles.

“Maybe not, but you need to eat,” Jenna says. “So, sit.”

Liam does as she asks and takes a seat at the table. He looks at the seat next to his— the one Theo would normally take— and sighs before looking back at his plate. Jenna’s put a small helping of eggs and bacon on there, along with a large pancake. 

“Still no word from Theo, then?” Jenna asks him.

Liam shakes his head. “No. And his phone is going straight to voicemail now.”

“He could have turned it off,” David says.

“I don’t think so,” Liam says. “It must have died. He wouldn’t have just turned it off without at least texting me back that he was alright.”

“You think something’s happened?” Jenna asks.

“I don’t know,” Liam mutters. He pushes around his eggs with his fork but makes no move to take a bite. “I have a really bad feeling, Mom. I need to find him.”

“Then we’ll go by the Sheriff’s station,” Jenna says. “File a missing person’s report.”

Liam nods. “Yeah, okay.”

“The more people looking, the more likely we are to find him,” David says.

“But what will you find?” Theo mutters. There’s no answer. He wasn’t expecting one. 

Theo rides next to Liam in the backseat of his Mom’s car as she drives them all to the Sheriff’s station. He knows he easily could have just appeared there, but he doesn’t. He’s trying to hold onto the small amounts of normalcy that he has. Even if there’s nothing normal about being dead and sitting next to the boy he loves as he goes to the police to report him missing.

Missing. Meaning there’s something to be found. Theo half wishes he could talk them out of it. He doesn’t want Liam or his parents to see whatever state his body must be in by now. He shudders at the thought and quickly pushes it away.

They need to know he’s dead. The sooner they do, the sooner they’ll realize they’re all in danger too, and can get prepared. 

Because he knows Monroe isn’t going to stop with just him. 

She’s out there somewhere biding her time, waiting for her next attack. Like hell is Theo going to let that happen.

“We need to talk to the Sheriff,” Jenna says, getting right to the point as soon as they enter the station. “Please.”

“We’re family friends,” David adds. “He’ll see us.”

“What should I tell him this is about?” the woman at the desk asks him.

“A kidnapping,” Liam says. “It’s urgent.”

The woman looks uncertain but gets to her feet and walks into the back of the station. Theo can see her talking to Sheriff Stilinski outside his office. She gestures to the front, and he looks over at them, frown in place. He raises his hand and waves them through. 

Jenna goes first, with David and Liam following closely behind her. Theo follows at a slower pace and spots Derek sitting at his desk outside the Sheriff’s office. He looks up as the group walks by and gets to his feet.

“Everything alright?” he asks them.

Liam shakes his head. “No, but you might be able to help.”

“Of course,” Derek says. 

He looks to the Sheriff, who shrugs. “I have a feeling we’ll need all the help we can get.”

“You don’t even know what we’re here for,” Liam points out.

“But you’re here,” the Sheriff says. “So it can’t be good.”

“It’s probably better if we explain somewhere more private,” Jenna says.

The Sheriff nods. “Of course. We can talk in my office.”

He waits until they’re all inside before closing the door and drawing the curtains. He sits on his desk and looks at the people across from him. “So, what exactly is going on? Janice said there was a kidnapping?”

“Kidnapping?” Derek questions. “Who?”

“Well, we don’t know for certain it was a kidnapping,” Jenna says. “But… Theo’s been missing since Friday. No one has been able to reach him, and now his phone is off and going straight to voicemail.”

“Something’s happened to him,” Liam says. He pulls his wallet out and takes out the note. His fingers brush across the paper before he hands it over to the Sheriff. “He left me this Friday morning. He was gone when I got up. He was supposed to meet me at Mason’s for pack night and never showed up. It’s not— he wouldn’t just disappear if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Unless someone made him,” Derek says, looking grimly down at the paper.

“You think he was coerced into writing this?” the Sheriff asks him.

Derek shakes his head. “Maybe not the note. Maybe he really did plan to meet up with Liam later, but something happened.”

“Something did happen,” Liam says. “I just don’t know what. But I do know we need to find him.”

“We will, kid,” the Sheriff assures him. “But, I need you to be prepared. We don’t know what’s happened. And…”

“He’s not dead,” Liam cuts in.

The Sheriff shares a look with Derek and Liam’s parents. Jenna rests a hand on his shoulder. “No one is saying he’s dead, Liam.”

“But that’s what he’s implying,” Liam says, glaring at the Sheriff. “Isn’t it?”

“It’s not looking good,” the Sheriff says slowly. “Especially since no one has reached out, asked for ransom, or anything of the sort, correct?”

“No,” Liam says. “But that doesn’t mean…”

“But it does,” Theo says. “I wish it didn’t, Liam, but it does.”

“We don’t know anything for certain right now,” Derek says. “And speculating isn’t going to help us.”

“Derek’s right,” the Sheriff says. “So, my question is this: do you want me to file an official report?”

Liam frowns. “What?”

“Do you think we’re dealing with something supernatural?” the Sheriff clarifies. 

“I don’t know,” Liam says. “I haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary.” He turns to Derek. “Have you?”

Derek shakes his head. “I haven’t. But I can ask around.”

“You do that,” the Sheriff says. “And I’ll run this like a normal investigation on my end, alright?”

Jenna nods. “Yes, of course. We appreciate any help at all.”

“I’d like to take a look at Theo’s room,” Derek says. “See if I can pick up on anything.”

“Sure,” David says. “Come by anytime.”

“Does Scott know?” the Sheriff asks them.

“I talked to him yesterday when I couldn’t get ahold of Theo,” Liam tells him. “He said he hadn’t heard from him.”

“I’ll reach out again,” Derek offers. “Get the rest of the pack involved and see if we can find his scent anywhere.”

“I’ll come too,” Liam offers.

Derek shakes his head. “No, Liam. You shouldn’t be out there.”

“Why not?” Liam questions. “Theo’s my— he’s my best friend. I want to help find him.”

“We need you at the house in case he comes back,” Derek tells him.

Liam pouts. They both know it’s more than that. Theo probably gets it more than Liam does. He knows there’s a chance they won’t find Theo alive, and he’s trying to spare Liam that. Especially since Liam is still in denial. But eventually, that’s going to all come crashing down. And if he saw Theo’s dead body…

They all know it wouldn’t go well.

Theo keeps his eyes on Liam. His hands are clenched at his sides. His head bowed as his parents finish talking to the Sheriff and Derek. He doesn’t speak as they leave the station and return to Jenna’s car. 

She drives them home, all of them silent. They don’t even turn on the radio. Theo hates it. He’s never been good with silence. But that’s all he’s finding lately. Soon, that’s all he’ll have. Because he knows that there’s no way this will last.

Eventually, he’ll have to move on and leave Liam. Where, he has no idea. And he’s in no rush to find out. He has more important things to worry about anyway. Like making sure Liam is safe.

Liam goes straight to his room when they get home. He closes the door and crawls under the covers, hiding from the world. Theo sits in the chair at the desk.

“I know you’re not happy,” he tells him. “But it’s for the best, Liam.”

No answer.

“You don’t need to see what they did to me,” Theo continues. “I don’t want you to see that. I just… I want you to be safe. Even if your stubborn ass seems to always run headfirst into danger.”

“I just want to find you,” Liam whispers, voice slightly muffled from the blankets. “I want to bring you home.”

Theo closes his eyes. He wants that more than anything. But he knows he’s not coming home. At least not the way Liam wants him to.

“I want you here with me,” Liam says. His head pops out from under the covers, and he sighs. “There’s so much I never told you, Theo.”

“I know,” Theo replies, despite knowing Liam won’t hear. “Me too.”

“But I’ll tell you when I get you back,” Liam promises. “When you’re back here with me, I won’t waste any more time. I promise. So you better be okay, damn it.”

The room is suddenly filled with the sound of sobs. Sobs Liam tries to muffle in his pillows until he can’t, and they force themselves out of his throat, loud and raw. Theo wishes he could go to him. That he could take him in his arms and tell him it would be okay. That he would be okay. But he can’t. 

All he can do is move to Liam’s side and sit with him in the darkness. He reaches out, his hand hovering over Liam’s shoulder, wishing more than anything that he could just touch him. He can’t, but he lets himself pretend. He sits with Liam as he cries. He might not know Theo is here, but Theo isn’t going to leave him. 

And if Theo bows his head and cries, too, no one will ever know. He cries for Liam, and he cries for himself. For all the things he’ll never get to do. Things he’ll never get to say to Liam where he can hear him. For the way he never got to hold his hand or kiss him or fall asleep with him in his arms. The way he never got to tell him how he loved him more than anything in this whole damn messed up world. 

Theo looks out the tiny window at the pavement as he moves past, slowly at first, then speeding up.

“You okay?” Liam asks him.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well, you’ve never flown before,” Liam points out. “No one would blame you for being afraid.”

“I don’t get scared, Liam,” Theo mutters. “Especially not of flying…”

At that moment, the plane jolts and starts to lift into the air. Theo’s hands shoot out, gripping the armrests tightly. Liam sighs and pries one of Theo’s hands away, taking it in his own. “It’s okay.”

“We’re really doing this,” Theo mutters. “We’re going to fly.”

“Well, technically, the plane is,” Liam says. “But yes, we’re going to fly.”

“Do you think this is how birds feel?” Theo asks him. “When they fly?”

“I imagine it’s a little more freeing,” Liam says. “They’re not in some hunk of metal.”

Theo looks out the window, his eyes taking in the ground as it gets farther and farther away, then the sky as they break into it. “Wow.”

“I know,” Liam says softly. “It’s pretty cool, huh?”

There’s another jolt from the plane, and Theo’s eyes widen, and he looks at Liam. “What…?”

“It’s alright,” Liam says. “Just some turbulence. Nothing to be worried about.”

“What are the chances of surviving if this thing crashed?” Theo asks him.

“It’s not going to crash,” Liam says gently.

“You don’t know that!”

“Theo,” Liam says, taking Theo’s hand and putting it on his chest, right over his heart. “It’s okay. You’re okay. I’ve got you. Just try to relax and focus on my breathing.”

“You’re avoiding the question,” Theo mutters, even as he tries his best to follow Liam’s instructions and focus on his breathing.

“You’re right,” Liam says. “I don’t know that for sure. But I do know one thing— I’m not going to let anything happen to you, alright?”

Theo nods. “Yeah, alright.”

He sits there, hand over Liam’s heart, letting the steady beating calm him. He’s trusted Liam with his life before. He’s always had his back, just like Theo had his, and always would.

Despite not wanting to, Theo does eventually leave Liam’s side. He tells himself he’ll be okay because he’s with his parents, but it’s not easy. Not knowing Monroe is out there somewhere. But he needs to know if there are any leads. 

So, he goes back to the station. The Sheriff is talking to Derek and Stiles inside his office when Theo appears there. They’re already in the middle of a conversation, and from the grim looks on their faces, it’s not a good one.

“We spent all night looking,” Derek tells him. “I thought I caught his scent once on the outskirts of town near some old warehouse, but it was faint and hard to catch under the scent of bleach.”

“Bleach?” The Sheriff questions.

“Yeah, it was strong even for me,” Stiles says. “Almost like someone was trying to cover up something.”

“You don’t think…”

“I don’t want to,” Derek says. “Theo’s my friend, and the thought of…” He shakes his head. “But I know Theo. He wouldn’t just disappear like this without telling someone, especially Liam. Not with how he feels about him.”

“Damn right, I wouldn’t,” Theo mutters.

“I don’t like this,” Stiles says. 

“Neither do I, Son,” the Sheriff says. “I might not have been Theo’s biggest fan when he came back to town, but the kid grew on me. If something did happen to him, we owe it to him and his family to find him.”

“And whoever did it,” Derek says. “We can’t let them get away with it.”

“Or hurt anyone else,” Stiles says.

“Finally, someone around here is talking sense,” Theo says.

“So what do we tell Liam?” Stiles asks them.

“Nothing yet,” Derek says. “Not until we have better answers. Without proof, I don’t think he’d believe it.”

“I agree,” the Sheriff says. 

Theo leaves them but doesn’t go straight back to Liam’s. Instead, he moves through the streets of the town. He’s not sure what he’s looking for. Some sign of the hunters, or even his body, maybe. Though it’s not like he could do anything if he found either. It’d just be something else he knew but couldn’t communicate with anyone else.

Eventually, he does go home. Liam’s in his room. He’s at his desk on his phone. At first, Theo thinks he’s just playing a game or messing around online, but then Liam sighs in frustration and throws the phone down. 

Theo glances down at the screen, surprised when he sees a picture of himself and Liam looking up at him. He looks closer to see it’s a Facebook post. 

Have You Seen Me?

Theo Raeken has been missing since Friday morning. His last known location was a warehouse on First Street. Please contact Liam Dunbar or the Beacon Hills Sheriff's Department with any information.

Theo closes his eyes and exhales slowly. He might not have working lungs, but somehow it feels like something is sitting on his chest, making it impossible to breathe. He takes a deep breath, then another until the weight lessens a bit, and looks at Liam again. He’s grabbed his phone and moved back to his bed, where he’s lying looking up at the ceiling. 

“I’m going to find you,” he whispers. “I swear it, Theo. I will.”

Theo sits next to him and leans back against the headboard. “I know you will.”

“Are you ever going to tell him?”

Theo tears his eyes away from where Liam is talking with Mason and Jenna to look at Scott. They’re all sitting in the backyard, celebrating the younger members of the pack’s graduation. Everyone’s been in good spirits, including Theo. 

Things have been good the last year. No hunters and supernatural attacks. Nothing to worry about except graduating. Something he never thought he’d be doing. Yet here he is. 

“Tell who what?” Theo asks him.

Scott arches an eyebrow. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. And who.”

He nods his head towards Liam, and Theo sighs. “What is there to tell?”

“Theo,” Scott says. “I think there’s a lot to tell. But one big thing in particular.”

Theo sighs. Scott’s right, of course. There is something big that’s been building between him and Liam. Something he’s been afraid to put a name to— afraid that if he does, it’ll make it more real and tangible and something he can lose. But whether he names it or not, it’s there. It’s always there. 

He loves Liam.

“I don’t know,” Theo says. “I don’t know how I’d do it. Or if he even—”

“He does,” Scott says. “Trust me.”

“How can you be sure?”

“Because I’ve seen how he looks at you,” Scott says. “It’s the same way you look at him when you think he’s not looking. Like he’s— well, everything.”

“He is,” Theo whispers.

“Then tell him that,” Scott says. “You both deserve to be happy, Theo. So tell him. Before it’s too late.”

Liam paces the floor of his bedroom. It’s now the third day since Theo disappeared— well, died, technically. But they don’t know that. Not yet, at least. But the pack is out searching the preserve for him. It won’t be long before someone finds something. Finds him. 

That is if Monroe left anything for them to find. But knowing her sadistic personality, she did. She’d want them all to suffer as much as possible. Granted, she’d also called him expendable and bleached the warehouse. So maybe she hadn’t thought him worth finding. 

“They should have called by now,” Liam mutters. He looks down at his phone and sighs. “Why haven’t they called?”

There’s no one else here—no one to really answer Liam. But Theo does anyway. Mostly to humor himself. “Maybe because they’re in the preserve, where we all know there is shitty signal, and they probably haven’t found anything yet.”

“I should call them,” Liam says, nodding to himself. “Yeah, just to check in.”

He hits a button and brings the phone to his ear. “Hey, Derek. Yeah. No, nothing’s wrong. I just wanted… Yeah, I know you said you’d call. I just got worried. Okay. Okay. Yeah, fine. Bye.”

He hangs up and tosses his phone on his bed. “Sit tight,” he mutters. “How am I supposed to just sit tight with Theo out there missing, possibly hurt?”

“Because it’s safer for you to be here,” Theo tells him.

Liam grabs his headphones from the table and puts them on. Theo winces as he hears the loud screeching coming through. If he can hear it, there’s no telling how loud it must be for Liam. But he’s always liked his music loud. He says it helps drown out the thoughts in his head. He certainly needs that right now.

A car door shuts outside, and Theo frowns. No one should be here right now. Jenna and David are both at work and not due back for another two hours at least. He walks to the window and looks out to see three figures creeping their way towards the door.

“Oh no,” Theo says. He glances back at Liam, still tapping his foot to the music, oblivious to what’s happening around him. 

“Liam!” He shouts, hoping just this once the universe will be on his side and Liam will hear him. “Liam, come on!

Music still blares from his headphones, and Theo groans, reaching for them. But his hands find nothing but air. He curses, his panic rising as he hears the hunters moving through the house downstairs. He can’t let them get to Liam. He can’t let them hurt him like they did him. Liam deserves better than that.

"Damn it, Liam!” He shouts. “The killer is here for you. I love you, and I don't want you to die!"  He tries reaching for the headphones again, surprised when he actually makes contact. He yanks them off Liam’s head and tosses them away. “Liam!”

Liam looks at him with wide eyes, and Theo knows he finally sees him. "Theo? What?" 

"There's no time to explain,” Theo tells him. “But I'm dead, and the killer is here for you." 

“No,” Liam says, shaking his head. “No, you can’t be dead. You’re right here.”

“And I’ve been here,” Theo says. “You just haven’t been able to see me. Until now.”

There’s a creak on the stairs, and Liam’s head snaps in that direction. "Who is it?" 

"Monroe," Theo says. "She’s back, and she got me." 

Not the whole story, but it’s enough for now.

"I'll kill her," Liam mutters. 

Theo reaches for his arm, surprised when he's able to make contact. But he doesn't question it. He uses the opportunity to pull Liam towards the window. "No, you need to leave. Get help." 

Liam turns his blazing blue eyes on him. "She killed you. She— she took you from me. She deserves to pay for that." 

Theo smiles sadly. "She will. But not if you're dead too. Please ."

"What about you?" Liam asks.

"What about me?"

 "You can't stay here," Liam says.

The footsteps are getting closer now, and Theo knows if he still had working organs, his heart would be racing. "I'm dead, Liam. She can't hurt me anymore."

"I can't leave you," Liam whispers, his voice breaking around the words. “I just got you back.”

"I'll be right behind you," Theo assures him. "Now, go. Please."

Liam crawls through the window and jumps down. Theo lingers for a moment, his eyes on the door. 

"Theo?" Liam hisses. "What are you doing?"

"Holding them off," Theo says. "Now, run. Find Scott. I'll be there when I can."

"But…"

"Go!"

Theo's surprised but grateful when Liam actually listens. He takes off running down the street on foot, and Theo can hear the beginnings of a phone call as Liam disappears from view.

"Scott, something’s happened. I need help."

Theo's attention shifts when he hears footsteps in the hall. The kind where someone is trying to be quiet but fails. 

The door opens slowly, and Theo stands frozen as Monroe walks in, knife in hand. Of course, she'd come for Liam with a knife. Less noise. Less risk of being caught. A growl rises in his throat at the thought of her even getting close to Liam with the blade.

Monroe looks around with a frown, obviously realizing Liam isn't here. Her eyes linger on the spot Theo is standing, and Theo feels a chill go through him at the slow smile that creeps across her face. Can she see him? 

No, she would have noticed right away. This is something else. 

"Looks like the little werewolf made a run for it," she says to the two men behind her. "I do love it when they run."

"But we don't know where he is," the taller of the men says. "He could be anywhere. And if he knows we are here…"

"He'd run right to his alpha," Monroe says. "Like a good little beta."

"And you're okay with that?"

Monroe shrugs and puts her knife in her belt. "It was always going to come down to Scott. Sure, I hoped to pick off the rest of the pack first. But at least we got one of them."

"Do you think they know?" the shorter man asks.

"Oh, I hope so," Monroe says. "It'll be so much more satisfying to gloat while killing them. Especially Liam."

Theo growls, his hands clenching at his sides. Monroe tilts her head. "Did you hear that?"

"It sounded like a growl," the tall one says. 

"But there's no one else here," the shorter man says.

"We're just wasting time," Monroe says. "If they know we're coming, we'll need a plan for our attack and to get their attention. Draw them out. And I know just how to do that."

Of course she does—that psycho. Theo doesn't linger much longer. He takes the same path Liam did out the window and heads for Scott's house, hoping that whatever made Liam able to see him wasn't just some fluke.

Of course, Theo finds himself at Scott’s before Liam gets there. He waits on the couch, watching as Scott paces back and forth, calling various members of the pack and telling them to meet at his house. He doesn’t see Theo, which is a little disappointing but not surprising. He just hopes that Liam still can when he gets here, and it’s not just a fluke.

LIam’s the first to arrive. He bangs on Scott’s door and then runs inside as soon as Scott has it open. “Liam, what…?”

“Is he here?” Liam asks him.

“Who?” Scott questions. 

“Theo!” Liam shouts. “Is Theo here?”

“Liam,” Scott says gently. “You just told me…”

“I know what I told you,” Liam says. “But I saw him, Scott.”

Theo waits in the room until Liam comes into view. He half expects Liam to look right through him like he has been and prepares himself for the disappointment. But then Liam’s shoulders relax, his face scrunches up, and the next moment, Liam is rushing towards him. 

This is when it’s all going to come crashing down. Liam’s going to barrel right through him. He might still be able to see him, but there’s no way he can touch him. But then his arms wrap around him, and Theo feels them. Not the warmth like he would have, but he can feel the strength there. The safety. His own eyes well up, and he hugs Liam back tightly, taking the chance while he has it.

“I was so worried,” Liam mumbles against his shoulder. “God, Theo, I am so sorry.”

“What for?” Theo asks him. He pulls back just enough to look at him. “It’s not like you’re the one that killed me.”

“But I knew something was wrong,” Liam says, voice breaking. “When you didn’t come home, and I couldn’t get ahold of you, I knew. I felt it.”

“I know,” Theo says. “I know you did. I’ve been here. God, Liam. I’ve been trying to get you to hear or see me for days. But it never worked.”

“Why does it now?” Liam ponders.

“I might have an idea,” Scott says.

Liam startles, as if only realizing that Scott is still here. He blushes a little, and Theo shakes his head, smiling fondly down at him before turning his attention to Scott. “What is it?”

“What was happening when Liam could start seeing you?” Scott asks him.

“The hunters were in the house,” Theo says. 

“And you were trying to warn him,” Scott guesses.

“Yeah, but they’d been close before,” Theo says. “Outside Mason’s house. I’d tried telling them then, but they couldn’t hear me.”

“But maybe Liam wasn’t directly in danger then,” Scott says. “Not like he was tonight.”

“So what? His fear made me able to see him?” Liam asks.

Scott looks between the two of them and shakes his head. “No, I don’t think it was fear.”

“Then what?” Liam asks him.

“Something stronger,” Scott says. “But I can’t be the one to tell you that.” 

He gives Theo a knowing look, and Theo averts his gaze. Scott sighs but doesn’t push. Liam, however, brushes his fingers against his as he softly whispers his name. “Theo?”

Theo looks down at him and smiles sadly. “Not now, Liam.”

“But what if…?”

Theo knows what he’s implying. What if he stops being able to see or hear him? What if there isn’t another chance? 

“Later,” he promises. “When all this is over.”

Liam frowns. “But— you’ll still be here?”

“I don’t know,” Theo says, deciding for honesty. “I’m still trying to figure this whole ghost thing out.”

“What exactly happened?” Liam asks him.

“Maybe we should wait for the others,” Theo says. “I don’t want to relive it more than I have to.”

“Of course,” Scott says gently.

It’s not long before the rest of the pack starts to show up. Theo waits in the kitchen with Liam, who refuses to leave his side for even a moment now that he can see him again. Not that Theo is in any hurry to get away. 

Once everyone has arrived, Scott peeks his head into the room. “Alright, everyone is here, I think.”

Liam looks at Theo. “Are you ready?”

“I guess so,” Theo says. “But we don’t even know if they’ll be able to see me. No one could until tonight.”

“It’s okay,” Liam says. “Even if they can’t, Scott and I can so we can communicate for you, alright?”

Theo nods. “Yeah, okay.”

Liam takes his hand and leads Theo across the hall to the living room. It’s fuller than Theo expected. Stiles is there with Derek and his dad, along with Jenna, David, Mason, Corey, Lydia, Malia, Melissa, and Chris.

“Theo!” Derek exclaims. “You’re— we thought—”

“I was dead?” Theo guesses. Derek nods. “Well, umm… I kind of am.”

“What?” Mason asks. “But you’re right here.”

“I guess I’m a ghost or something?” Theo says. “I’ve been here this whole time, but until tonight, no one could see me.”

“I know everyone has a lot of questions,” Scott interjects. “Myself included, but I think it would be better if we just got right to it and let Theo tell us what happened.”

Theo is acutely aware of all the eyes on him. He’s never been self-conscious, but this is something else. He’s going to have to relive his death for everyone. He feels a hand on his arm and looks over at Liam. 

“It’s okay,” Liam says. “Just talk to me.”

Theo nods and takes a deep breath. “Right. Umm… so, Thursday night, Nolan called me and gave me a heads-up that Monroe was back in town. So I went looking for her.”

“Why—” Stiles starts, but Scott hushes him, nodding at Theo to continue.

“I didn’t plan to confront her,” Theo says. “I just wanted proof that she was back, and then I was going to come to the rest of you. But then she found me and— she shot me. I don’t know how many times. I lost count. But then I came around, and I was in the preserve. I didn’t even realize I was dead at first. Not until I thought of how I needed to talk to Liam, and suddenly I was at Mason’s, and no one could see me.”

“Oh, Theo,” Jenna says. “This must have been so hard for you.”

“Yeah, it hasn’t been the easiest,” Theo says. “I just kept hoping you would hear me so I could warn you, but it never worked.”

“Until tonight,” Liam says.

“Yeah, I’m a little confused by that,” Stiles says. “Why can we all see you now?”

“I think it’s because of Liam,” Scott says.

“Liam?” David questions.

Scott nods. “Yeah. He was the first one that could see him. And I have a feeling we wouldn’t be able to if he wasn't here.”

“Like they’re linked somehow?” Lydia says.

“Well, they kind of are,” Derek says. “Liam was always your anchor, right?”

“So, what?” Liam asks. “I’m keeping him here?”

“Something like that,” Derek says.

“I don’t care what it is,” Theo says. “I’m just glad I can finally tell someone. It was getting annoying, basically talking to myself.”

Liam frowns. “I can’t believe you’ve been here this whole time.”

“Well, I couldn’t leave you in danger,” Theo says.

“Of course, you couldn’t,” Jenna says.

Theo frowns as he looks around the room. “Wait— where’s Nolan?”

“I tried calling him, but he didn’t answer,” Scott says. He doesn’t look happy about it. Theo gets it. The two have been getting close. 

“Has anyone heard from him?” Theo asks the group. They all look around the room at each other, shaking their heads. An uneasy feeling forms in Theo’s gut. “When was the last time someone talked to him?”

“Friday morning,” Scott says. “But he— he said he had something to take care of and would be gone a few days.”

“Did he say where he was going?” Theo asks him.

Scott shakes his head. “No, but he sounded nervous.”

“Shit,” Theo mutters.

“You don’t think he went after Monroe, do you?” Corey asks.

“I don’t know,” Theo says. “But I have a bad feeling.”

“We’ll find him,” Liam says. “And you.”

“I’m right here, Liam,” Theo says.

“You know what I mean,” Liam says.

“I know,” Theo says. “But I don’t want you to see me like that, Liam.”

“Well, too damn bad,” Liam says. “She already took you from me. She doesn’t get to keep you.”

“Liam…”

“I’m not letting her get away with this,” Liam says.

“She won’t,” Scott says. “But we have to be smart about this, Liam.”

Liam opens his mouth, but before he can speak, there’s a shattering of glass as something comes flying through. Theo acts, moving to shield Liam as everyone scatters away from the window. There’s the sound of tires peeling as a car speeds away, and Theo knows without a doubt if he looked, it would be a black SUV. But right now, his eyes are focused on the box on the floor.

There’s a strange feeling in his chest as he steps forward. 

“Theo,” Liam says, reaching out for his arm.

“It’s okay,” Theo says. “It can’t hurt me. I’m already dead, right?”

“He has a point,” Stiles says. “He is the safest bet of not getting blown up.”

“It’s not going to blow up, Stiles,” Derek says.

“You don’t know that,” Stiles argues.

“I don’t hear any ticking or anything,” Derek says. “And it smells…” his nose wrinkles, and his eyes widen, and he moves towards Theo as he starts to open the box. “Theo, wait!”

But it’s too late. Theo’s already torn open the box and is looking down inside. It’s not a bomb. It’s a heart.

“Oh my god,” Stiles says. “Is that?”

“It’s my heart,” Theo says. Or Tara’s heart, he supposes. But it had still been inside his chest. Until Monroe decided to cut it out of him and send it to his pack. To Liam. But maybe that’s what he deserved. After everything he did— to Tara especially— to have what he stole himself taken from him. 

Next to him, Liam growls, his eyes blazing yellow. “I’m going to kill her.”

He turns towards the door, and Theo reaches out, relieved when he can still touch him and grabs his arm to stop him. “Liam, no.”

“She tore out your heart, Theo,” Liam snaps. “She’s messing with us. And she’s not going to get away with it.”

“And she won’t,” Theo says. “But if you go running after her now without a plan, she could kill you too, and I am not going to let that happen, damn it.”

“He’s right, sweetheart,” Jenna says gently. “We have to be careful.”

“Careful?” Liam says. “ Careful ? She killed Theo! She still has his body and Nolan, for all we know. We can’t let her hurt anyone else.”

“And we won’t,” Derek says. “Trust me, Liam. I want her to pay as much as you do. But if we go running after her without a plan, we’ll be doing exactly what she wants.”

“It is probably a trap,” Stiles says. “If the note is anything to go by.”

“Note?” Liam asks. “What note?”

“The one nailed to the heart,” Stiles says.

He’s right. There is a note. Theo had been too focused on the bloody heart inside the box to focus on anything else. Everyone stares, but no one moves to touch it. Theo sighs and bends down, prying the nail from his heart, and picks up the note. 

“What’s it say?” Liam asks him.

If you want the rest of him and your little spy, meet me at the warehouse at midnight. Come alone. 

“Come alone,” Stiles mutters. “Of course, it says come alone.”

“Who’s it addressed to?” Scott asks him.

Theo looks at Liam, and he sighs. “Yeah, I figured as much.”

“No way,” Mason says. “No way are we sending Liam alone.”

“Of course, we’re not,” Scott says. “I’m going with him.”

“Scott…” Melissa starts, but Scott holds up his hand.

“I have to, Mom,” Scott says. “She can’t hurt anyone else.”

“She can’t know you’re there,” Liam says. “If she thinks I didn’t follow her orders or whatever, she could hurt Nolan.”

“About that,” Theo says. He holds up the note. “It’s addressed to Scott, too.”

“See?” Scott says. “She wants me there.”

“That’s not exactly a good thing, buddy,” Stiles points out.

“Maybe not,” Scott says. “But that's all we’ve got.”

“What happened to not running in without a plan?” Malia asks him.

“This is our plan,” Scott says. “Liam and I go. We get Theo’s body and Nolan, and then we get out of there.”

“You make it sound easy,” Lydia says. “But you know it won’t be.”

“I just don’t like the thought of you two going alone,” Chris says.

“They won’t be,” Theo says. “I’ll be there.”

“What?” Liam says. “No way!”

“What’s she going to do?” Theo asks him. “Kill me?”

“That’s not funny, Theo,” Liam says.

“I know,” Theo says. “Nothing about this is funny. But she can’t hurt me, Liam. Not anymore. And I’ll be there to make sure she doesn’t hurt you— either of you.”

Scott tilts his head. “Do you think you could make it to where she can’t see you?”

“I’m not sure,” Theo says. “Maybe. Why?”

Scott smiles. “Because that might be the distraction we need.”

A slow smile spreads across Theo’s face when he realizes what Scott is implying. “Well then, let’s test it.”

They spend the next hour working on Theo trying to control when he’s visible to the others in the room. At first, it doesn’t go well. The only time the others stop seeing him is when Liam leaves the room, but the moment he returns, they can see Theo again. Helpful to know, but not for tonight since Liam will be there.

“You just need to focus,” Liam tells him.

“I am focusing,” Theo bites out. 

“You’re not focused,” Liam says. “You’re getting frustrated.”

“Of course I’m frustrated!” Theo says. “It’s not as if there was a crash course on how to be a ghost.”

“I know, Theo,” Liam says calmly. “But you’ve been figuring it out so far. Like you can pick stuff up now, right?”

Theo sighs. He hates when Liam is right. “Right.”

“Okay, then you can do this too,” Liam says. 

“Yeah, because their lives kind of depend on it,” Stiles says. “But no pressure.”

Liam glares at him. “Not helping.”

But to Theo’s surprise, it actually does. The thought of Liam’s life depending on him being able to control his ghostly abilities was just the push he needed. He thinks hard and imagines himself becoming invisible, and there’s a series of gasps in the room.

“Wait, where’d he go?”

“Is he still here?”

“Theo?”

The last one is Liam. Theo reaches out for his hand, and Liam jumps, then grins. “You did it.”

“Seems like it,” Theo says.

“Okay, that’s a little weird,” Stiles says.

“A little,” Malia says. “It’s like there’s this creepy voice in the room, but we can’t see the owner.”

“Which is exactly what we need,” Scott says.

“Monroe’s ass is about to be haunted,” Stiles says.

“I wish I could see her face,” Mason says. “Are you sure we can’t go?”

“Positive,” Liam says. “You’re safer here.”

“You would be, too,” Theo points out.

“Yes, but she wants me there,” Liam says. “So I have to go.”

“I’d argue that’s more reason for you not to go,” Theo says. “ But I know I can’t talk you out of it.”

“Alright, can you make yourself visible again?” David asks. “Because this is a little weird.”

Liam squeezes his hand, and Theo focuses on him as he imagines himself becoming visible again. Liam grins up at him. “I think we got it.”

“So what now?” Melissa asks.

“Now, we wait,” Scott says. 

It’s a long wait, sitting in Scott’s living room, waiting the few hours for midnight to get here.

Eventually, David and Jenna go home to get some sleep. The others start to trail out after them, Melissa the last of them, going to stay with Chris for the night. She kisses Scott’s head, telling him to be careful and call her as soon as he can. Chris assures them he’ll have his phone on should they need him.

And then it’s just Scott, Liam, and Theo. Scott falls asleep in the recliner after setting an alarm, leaving Theo basically alone with Liam.

“It’s almost over,” Liam says, looking up at him.

Theo nods. “Almost.”

“Theo—”

“You should try to get some rest, too,” Theo tells him. “You’ll need it.”

Liam looks like he’s about to argue, but then he yawns. He sighs, rubbing a hand down his face, before looking back at Theo. “You’ll stay?”

Theo nods. “Yeah, Liam. I’ll stay.”

Liam nods to himself and, to Theo’s surprise, curls up against his side. Theo holds him, burying his nose in his hair, wishing more than anything he could feel his warmth seeping into him and smell his scent. He can’t, of course. But he still gets to hold him, even just this once. He’ll take what he can get. 

All too soon, Scott’s alarm goes off, waking both him and Liam. There’s only half an hour until midnight. Until they have to meet Monroe, and this all ends one way or another. 

He looks over at Liam as he puts his shoes on and types something on his phone, probably to his mom, and wishes more than anything he didn’t have to do this. That he could just go home. But he knows LIam. He’s not going to be talked out of it.

“We should get going,” Scott says.

Liam nods and pockets his phone. “Yeah, I’m ready.” He turns to Theo. “Theo?”

Theo shrugs. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”

He sits in the backseat as Scott drives them toward the warehouse. Scott and Liam talk in the front seat, going over the plan, but Theo barely hears the words. His eyes are focused outside on the town going by, knowing this might be the last time he sees it.

“Theo?”

Liam’s voice draws Theo out of his thoughts, and he looks up at him. “Yeah?”

“Okay?”

Theo somehow manages a smile, even if he feels far from okay. “Yeah, Liam.”

Liam narrows his eyes. “Bullshit.”

“Excuse me?”

“We both know you’re not,” Liam says. “I might not be able to hear your heartbeat, but I know you well enough by now to know when you’re lying.”

Theo sighs. “Okay, so I’m not okay. But I don’t see what good it does to admit it.”

Liam reaches back for Theo’s hand and squeezes. “I’m not okay either.”

Theo nods and returns the squeeze. Liam doesn’t drop his hand the whole rest of the drive to the warehouse. As Theo expected, there’s two black SUV’s parked out front when they arrive. Scott’s the first one out, and Theo knows he’s listening for a hint of what they can expect when they get inside. 

Liam gives Theo’s hand one final squeeze before dropping his hand and getting out of the car to join Scott— Theo following close behind.

“Anything?” Theo asks him.

“Four heartbeats,” Scott says. He frowns. “I can hear Nolan, but it’s faint.”

“He might be locked away somewhere,” Liam says.

“Maybe,” Scott says, but he doesn’t sound sure.

Liam glances down at his watch and sighs. “It’s almost midnight. We should go in.”

“I still don’t like this,” Theo says. “It feels like a trap.”

“Of course it’s a trap,” Scott says. “But we know it’s a trap.”

“Derek, Stiles, and Chris aren’t far,” Liam tells him. “Just a few blocks away.”

“How do you know that?” Theo questions.

“We’ve been texting,” Liam says.

“Did you really think they’d let us come without backup?” Scott asks him.

Theo laughs. “No, I guess not. This whole thing did feel a little off. So, I’m assuming there’s a signal?”

“Of course there is,” Liam says. 

Neither one elaborates as they head inside. Scott takes them down a long hall until they enter a big open room. It’s dark, and at first, Theo doesn’t see anyone. At least not until a light flicks on overhead. Monroe is there, standing with the two hunters from Liam’s room.

“Well, well,” Monroe says, looking between Liam and Scott with a smirk. “You actually showed up.”

“As if we had a choice,” Liam says.

“You have something we want,” Scott says. “And someone.”

“Of course,” Monroe says. She nods to the two hunters behind her, and they disappear into a room, coming back out dragging two zipped body bags. 

“No,” Scott whispers next to him. “What did you do?”

“Oh, no need to worry,” Monroe says. “One of them is alive, and as you saw earlier, one of them isn’t. But which one?”

“I can’t hear Nolan’s heart,” Liam mutters.

“Oh, you won’t,” Monroe says. “We stopped it temporarily.”

“You what?” Scott says, starting to step forward.

Monroe tuts and points her gun at him. “Now, now, Scott. Don’t be hasty.”

“Don’t be hasty?” Scott bites back. “You stopped Nolan’s heart. He doesn’t have much time…”

“You’re right,” Monroe says. “And that’s why you have to decide which one is him. But do it fast. The clock is ticking for poor Nolan.”

“How are we supposed to do that from all the way over here?” Liam asks her. He glances at Theo, and Theo nods, getting the hint.

He moves around Monroe towards the two body bags. The hunters have their backs to them, facing Scott and Liam, which gives him the perfect opportunity. He just has to be fast.

“Well, that’s something you two will just have to figure out,” Monroe says. “But you are on a timer. Be sure to choose carefully, though. You wouldn’t want to pick the wrong one.”

“What happens if we do?” Scott asks her.

“Oh, we’re going to shoot the one you don’t pick,” Monroe says. “If you choose correctly, you’re just shooting a dead body, but if you don’t…”

Liam growls. “It’s not just a dead body. That’s Theo, and you told me you’d give him back.”

“I did, yes,” Monroe says. “But I never said it’d be without a few pieces missing. As you well know. Or didn’t you enjoy my gift?”

“You sick, sadistic bitch!” Liam snaps. He goes to move towards her, and she raises her gun, aiming it right at his head. Scott reaches out for his arm.

“Liam, be careful,” Scot says quietly.

“But you heard her, Scott,” Liam says, not taking his eyes off Monroe. 

“I did,” Scott says. “And I don’t like it either, but we need to focus. For Nolan.”

Theo opens the first body bag and almost jumps back at the site of his gray and ashen skin— his own lifeless eyes looking back at him. Looking lower, he can still see his chest torn wide open, with no heart inside. He shudders and closes the bag as quickly and quietly as he can before moving to the next one. It has to be Nolan if Monroe is telling the truth. But she does like to play games. He opens it, just to be sure.

Nolan’s there— eyes closed and skin pale. Theo looks up at Liam and Scott and nods. “He’s in the one on the right.”

“Nolan’s in the one on the right,” Scott says. “Now get him out and bring him back.”

“Did I say I was going to bring him back?” Monroe asks him. “Oh no, that’s your job.”

Scott’s eyes widen, and she turns, raising her gun and pointing it toward Theo, or his body, at least. For a moment, Theo’s back here with his back against the wall, facing her down. She’s firing off shot after shot, and even as he tries to run, he can feel them tearing through his skin until he can’t run anymore and collapses to the floor. 

“Not today, you bitch,” Theo snarls. 

Monroe gasps and fumbles with her gun for a moment before pointing it right at him again. “You— you’re dead.”

“You’re right,” Theo says, rising to his feet. “I am. And you will be too, soon enough.”

“You can’t hurt me,” She says. “You’re not really here.”

Theo barely has to think, and he’s suddenly standing behind her. He leans in, speaking right in her ear. “But I am.”

She screams and stumbles back. Only getting as far as the bag containing Theo’s body. She turns towards it and looks back at him with a smirk. “Did I not mention I covered this in gasoline?”

She raises a lighter and flicks it. Theo barely registers the growl behind him before Liam charges forward and tackles Monroe to the ground. He raises a clawed hand and drives it down. She screams. 

“Liam!” Scott shouts. “Liam!”

Theo watches in slow motion as the lighter in Monroe’s hand lowers to the ground, finger still on the trigger, igniting the flame. Liam, however, doesn’t see it. He’s too focused on Monroe. 

Theo acts, rushing forward and pulling a snarling Liam back just as the ground around them erupts in flames, taking Monroe and Theo’s body with it. Theo appears at Scott’s side and helps him get Nolan away from the flames. 

Monroe’s screams echo around the warehouse, and Theo can only watch. Watch as she writhes and burns until the screams eventually stop. The other hunters are nowhere to be seen.

“It’s what she deserved,” Liam mutters, looking up at Theo. His face is covered in blood, and there’s blood dripping from his hands. “After what she did to you.”

Theo takes his face in his hands and rests his forehead against his, guilt swimming in his chest at the thought of Liam taking a life because of him. “Oh, Liam.”

“I don’t regret it,” Liam tells him.

He’s not sure if that makes it better or worse. 

He looks behind Liam at where Scott is holding Nolan, whispering softly to him. “How is he?”

“I got him back,” Scott says. “I got him back. You’re okay, Nolan. You’re okay.”

“Theo?” Nolan whispers, looking up at him with wide eyes. “I saw your body. I thought…”

“I am dead,” Theo says.

Nolan’s lip quivers for a moment before he starts crying. “I’m sorry. I tried to save you, and she found me. I never should have told you.”

“You did the right thing,” Theo tells him. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“It’s no one ‘s fault,” Scott says. He looks down at Nolan and brushes the hair back from his forehead. He stands and helps Nolan slowly to his feet.  “I need to get you to the hospital.”

Liam looks at Theo. “You’re still here.”

“I am,” Theo says. “I thought once we caught Monroe that maybe…”

“You’d move on,” Liam finishes.

Theo nods. “Yeah.”

“Maybe that’s not his only unfinished business,” Scott says, giving Liam a knowing look.

Liam blushes and clears his throat. “Can I— Can I talk to Theo? Alone?”

“Yeah, sure, man,” Scott says. He pats Liam on the back and smiles at Theo on his way by. “If I don’t see you again…”

“I know, Scott,” Theo says. “You just look out for him, okay?”

Scott nods. “I will.”

Theo watches as Scott helps Nolan out to his car and then turns to Liam. “Maybe we shouldn’t do this here.”

Liam nods. “Yeah, let’s go home.”

Theo takes his hand and smiles. “Yeah, home.”

To his surprise, not only does he appear back in Liam’s room, but Liam does as well. Liam looks around with wide eyes. “Woah.”

“I didn’t know that would work,” Theo says.

“Did you just teleport me back to my room?” Liam asks him.

“Seems like it,” Theo says.

“That’s awesome,” Liam laughs.

“I guess there is one perk to being a ghost,” Theo says.

Liam sombers. “Your body, Theo. I— I’m sorry.”

“It’s just a body,” Theo says. “It’s not like I’ll be needing it.”

“But we can’t give you a funeral now,” Liam whispers.

“You—” Theo moves towards him, taking him into his arms. There’s still drying blood caked on his hands, but Theo doesn’t care. All he cares about is the man in his arms. “It’s fine, Liam. You don’t have to—”

“But I want to,” Liam says. “You deserve a funeral, Theo.”

“If that’s what you want,” Theo says gently. “But I won’t be here for it.”

“Theo…”

“I'm dead, Liam,” Theo says. “We both know I can’t stay here.”

“But I don’t want you to go,” Liam says, tears starting to make their way down his cheeks.

“I don’t want to either,” Theo says, brushing the tears away with his thumbs. “If I could, I’d stay with you forever. But I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“Because you can’t live with a ghost, Liam,” Theo tells him. “It wouldn’t be fair to you. You deserve to have a normal life, Liam. To go out and live your life. Be happy.”

“You deserve that, too,” Liam says.

“I can’t have that,” Theo says. “But you can.”

“But I—” Liam stops, takes a deep breath, and looks at Theo with wide, wet, blue eyes. “I love you, Theo.”

“I love you, too,” Theo says. “So damn much. I wanted to tell you so many times.”

“Yeah, me too,” Liam says. “But I always thought we’d have more time.”

“The universe is a cruel bitch, huh?” Theo says.

“I— Theo— Can I—?”

“Yeah,” Theo says, leaning forward, knowing exactly what Liam wants. “Yeah, of course.”

Theo closes his eyes, preparing himself for the kiss he’s been longing for for years. But it never comes. He opens his eyes, expecting to see Liam’s blue eyes staring back at him, but he’s gone—Theo’s alone in a stark white room. 

He falls to his knees, fists clenched tightly against his eyes as he sobs. “Liam.”

***

Back in his room, Liam stands waiting.

He’s been waiting for this moment for years. To finally have Theo in his arms, to be kissing him. It’s everything he ever wanted, but not. Because where there should be warmth from Theo’s touch, there’s only a chill. But he savors it— knowing it’s all he has. He leans in closer and closer to Theo, eyes slipping closed and lips parting as they finally prepare to meet Theo’s.

Except the touch never comes. The coolness vanishes, and his eyes snap open, searching for Theo. He’s not there. The spot he stood is now empty. 

“Theo?” he whispers, looking around the room. “Theo?!”

There’s no answer, and Liam knows there’s not going to be. Theo is gone. And this time, he’s not coming back. 

But he still has to look. Has to be sure. He runs across the hall to Theo’s room, finding it empty and just as Theo left it. He searches the bathroom, the closets, and even his parent's room, before running down the stairs and searching there.

“Liam?” his mom questions. “Liam, sweetheart, what is it?”

“Theo!” Liam calls out, moving from the living room to the kitchen and then to the backyard. “THEO!”

“Liam!” his Dad says, grabbing his shoulder and turning him to face him.

Liam shakes his head and pushes past him back into the house. “Theo!”

“Liam, sweetheart,” his mother says. “Please.”

Liam stops, turning to face his parents with wide, panicked eyes. “I— Mom. Dad.”

“What is it?” his mother asks him. “Is Theo…?”

“He’s gone,” Liam says. His knees give out, and he falls forward, collapsing into his father’s arms as his tears start to fall. “He’s gone.”

“Oh, honey,” his mom says, wrapping her arms around him from behind and holding him tightly. “Sweetheart, we’re so sorry.”

“He was there,” Liam says. “He was there. I told him— I told him I loved him, and we were— I went to kiss him, and then just— he was gone. I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

He cries harder, not able to hold himself up anymore. Eventually, his parents help him to the couch, and he collapses onto it, keeping a tight hold on both of them. He’s afraid if he lets go, they’ll disappear too, vanishing forever, just like Theo did.

It’s not likely. He knows that. They’re still here. Still alive. But Theo had been too. He’d been alive one night, teasing him and making jokes, and the next day he’d been gone. Cruelly taken from him. 

He’s not sure how long he sits there, crying on the couch between his parents. But neither makes a move to get up. They just hold him, doing their best to comfort him.

“I loved him,” Liam whispers. “I loved him so much.”

“I know, Son,” his Dad says. “And he loved you too.”

“And he knows how much you loved him, Liam,” his mother says.

“Do you think—” Liam stops, swallows thickly, and looks at his parents. “Do you think he’s—”

The word okay hangs there. But it doesn’t feel right. How can he be okay when he’s dead? 

“I’m sure he’s at peace, Liam,” his mother says. 

“You gave him that,” his father says. 

He tries to believe them.

Eventually, Liam makes himself stand. He goes to his bathroom and strips off his dirty clothes, tossing them away, before turning on the water to the shower. His hands are still caked in blood. He’s surprised his parents didn’t ask. Probably didn’t need to. But he’s sure they have questions. Questions they’ll probably ask in the morning. 

He steps under the probably too-hot spray and just stands there, watching as the blood washes off his skin, turning the water red and then pink before moving down the drain. It takes more effort than he likes to grab the soap and scrub at his skin, but the thought of having any lingering trace of Monroe on him makes him sick.

He took a life. Or at least he played a part in it. He may not have dealt the final blow— the flames did that— but he still wanted her dead. He’d been prepared to kill her. Probably would have if Theo hadn’t pulled him away. 

The blood making its way down the drain is proof of that. Proof that he’d been ready to kill. And what does that make him? 

He sighs and rests his head against the wall. She deserved it. She’d killed Theo and had been prepared to kill Nolan. She would have kept killing if they didn’t stop her. And sure, part of him had been angry and wanted her to pay for what she did to Theo. For the way she’d killed him and then ripped the heart from his chest like he was nothing. But he’d also been protecting his pack and his family. He did the right thing. 

“I did the right thing,” he whispers.

He stands there under the water until it starts to turn cold. Only then does he turn it off. He grabs a towel and dries himself lazily before wrapping it around his waist and walking back into his room. His too empty, too quiet room. 

He throws on a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie— Theo’s hoodie and then crawls into bed. Theo’s scent washes over him, and he buries his head in the fabric, fresh sobs escaping his throat. He’s not sure he’ll ever stop crying. He doesn’t want to. Because the day he does is the day he’s stopped missing Theo. And he never will.

But Theo’s words linger in his mind. 

You can’t live with a ghost, Liam.

Be happy .

But how is Liam supposed to be happy when Theo is dead? How is he supposed to feel anything other than this all-consuming grief? He knows if given the choice, he would have gladly picked living with Theo’s ghost forever. It might not have been the healthiest choice. He knows that. But at least he’d still have Theo around.

But it’s a selfish thought. Theo deserved to move on. To have some peace. Liam just hopes that’s what he’s getting. He can’t think of anything else. 

His phone rings early the next morning, but he ignores it. He turns it off at the second phone call. He knows it’s probably Scott or Mason, but he doesn’t want to talk. Not now.

A knock sounds at his door, and he sighs, burying further under the covers. 

“Liam, sweetheart,” his mother says. “Lunch is ready.”

“I’m not hungry,” he mumbles.

“You didn’t eat breakfast,” his mom says gently. “You really should eat something.”

“No,” Liam says. “I— I don’t think I could keep it down.”

She’s quiet for a moment, and Liam knows she’s debating what to do next. Whether she could keep pressing or let him be. “What can I do, sweetheart?”

“Nothing,” Liam tells her. “I just want to be alone right now, Mom.”

She runs a hand through his hair and sighs. “Okay, Liam. But just know you don’t have to be. We’re all here for you.”

She leaves after that, closing the door behind her. Liam waits until her footsteps fade down the stairs before he lets out a broken sob. 

He doesn’t leave his room except to use the bathroom, and even then, he has to tear himself out of bed. He can hear his parents moving around downstairs and soon the smell of food as they make dinner. But he makes no move to get up. As expected, a knock sounds on the door.

Except it’s not his mom peeking her head in, it’s his dad. And he’s holding a plate in his hands. “Nothing fancy,” his dad says. “Just a grilled cheese.”

Liam’s about to refuse, but then his stomach gives a traitorous rumble, and he sighs, taking the plate from his dad. “Thanks, Dad.”

Instead of leaving, his dad sits on the edge of the bed. His hands are clasped on his lap in front of him as he sits there. “I’m not going to ask if you’re okay,” he says. “Because I know you’re not.”

Liam sighs and takes a bite of the grilled cheese so he doesn’t have to speak. He supposes it’s good, but he barely tastes it. 

“Theo… he was a complicated kid,” his dad says, and Liam snorts. Complicated was one word for it. “His life wasn’t the easiest, and I know he did some bad things, but he— he was a good man. He loved you, Liam. Anyone could see that. I know you loved him too, and you might have— you might have done some things because of that.”

And there it is. Liam sighs and puts the rest of his sandwich down. “Is this about the blood?”

“You had to know your mom, and I would notice,” his dad says. “It— was it hers?”

Liam nods. “Yes. I— you weren’t there, Dad. You don’t know what she planned to do to Theo. What she did to Nolan.”

“Maybe not all of it,” his dad says. “But Scott did tell us about what she did to Nolan. That she planned to burn Theo’s body. I have a feeling he left out some details, though. Especially pertaining to you.”

Of course he had.

“I’m not going to say I didn’t mean to,” Liam says. “I wanted her dead. She deserved it after what she did. And I did attack her. I probably would have—” he stops, inhales deeply, and meets his dad's gaze. “She’d poured gasoline on Theo’s body. She had a lighter and was going to set him on fire. I couldn’t let her. But she dropped the lighter anyway. I didn’t notice. But Theo did. He pulled me away. She got caught in the flames and burned with him.”

“I see.”

“Do you hate me?” Liam asks, his voice breaking. 

“Oh, Son,” his dad says, pulling him into his arms. “Of course, I don’t hate you. Your mother and I love you so much. And I’ll tell you something. Your mother might not have claws, but if she had been there, she probably would have gone after Monroe the same as you.”

“You think so?”

“You’ve never seen her in a fight, Son,” his dad says. “But I have. She can be pretty scary.”

Liam shudders. “I know that. I’ve seen her angry.”

“But you didn’t see her when we got home the night we found out Theo was dead,” his Dad says. “She was upset, yes, but she wanted to track Monroe down herself. I had to talk her down.”

Liam pulls back to look at him, eyes wide. “Really?”

“Really,” his mom says from the door. “We both love Theo, too, Liam. And knowing what that woman did to him…” She closes her eyes, and Liam watches as tears start to fall down her cheeks before she wipes them away. When her eyes open, there’s an anger there that would have Liam running if he thought it was directed at him. “I hope she suffered.”

“Jenna…”

“I mean it, David,” his mom says. “She took Theo from us, almost killed poor Nolan, and wanted to kill Liam. She was a monster.” She sits on Liam’s other side and cards a hand through his hair. “We’ll always love you and be on your side, Liam.”

“But I still killed someone,” Liam whispers.

“From the way you tell it, it was her own doing,” his Dad says. “She poured the gasoline and lit the flame, did she not?”

“Well, yeah, but—”

“You may have got your claws in her before that, but you’re not the one that dealt the final blow,” his mom says. “She did that, and she almost took you with her.”

Liam shudders. “I know. If Theo hadn’t been there…”

“But he was,” his mom says. “Thank God for that.”

“We owe him a lot,” his father adds.

“I think the biggest way to thank him right now would be to not let yourself waste away to nothing,” his mother says. “Don’t you?”

Liam groans. “Mom.”

“Finish your dinner,” his mom says. “We’ll see you in the morning for breakfast.” Liam opens his mouth to argue, but she holds her a finger. “We will see you downstairs, Liam.”

Liam sighs. “Yeah, fine.”

She kisses his cheek and then leaves the room, his dad following soon after. Liam sits there, staring down at the grilled cheese on his plate. It would be easy to toss it away. Part of him wants to. But he doesn’t. He picks it up and takes another bite, chewing slowly. He only manages about half of it before he has to put it aside. But it’s better than nothing. 

Then he goes to brush his teeth and crawls back under the covers. When he sleeps, he dreams of Theo. But not like he had seen him before. He’s in all white in a brightly lit room with white walls. There’s a young woman with him that looks vaguely familiar, but he can’t place her. She nods her head towards him, and Theo turns, looking surprised but pleased to see him.

“Liam.”

Liam starts to run to him, but every step he takes seems to put more distance between them. But Liam still keeps running, trying to reach him. Theo’s voice echoes around him, saying his name. But he’s nowhere to be seen.

Liam wakes to sunlight streaming into his room. The ache in his chest somehow worse after the dream. He sighs and debates just going back to bed, but decides against it. He knows his mom will be up here soon to drag him down for breakfast. She’d given him space, but she wasn’t going to allow him to wallow in his grief forever, as much as he might want to.

So he’ll humor her. He’ll shower and get dressed. He’ll eat his damn eggs, and then he’ll come back here. Out there, he’ll be fine and moving on, but here his heart will always ache for Theo.

He’s just finished getting dressed when the doorbell rings downstairs. He listens, unsurprised when he hears Scott’s voice greeting his parents. 

“He’s up in his room,” his mom says. “He should be awake and getting ready for breakfast.”

She says the last part a little louder, and Liam sighs.

Scott chuckles. “Yeah, he’s awake. Is it okay if I go up?”

She must nod because the next moment, Liam hears his footsteps on the stairs. Liam opens his door and then steps back next to his bed, arms crossed in front of him.

“Scott.”

“Good morning to you, too,” Scott says.

“Is it?” 

Scott sighs. “I would ask how you’re holding up, but I already got my answer.”

“How am I supposed to?” Liam asks him. “Theo’s dead, Scott. Am I supposed to be happy about that?”

“No, Liam, of course not,” Scott says. “You’re not the only one grieving, Liam. And that’s— that’s kind of why I’m here.”

“What do you mean?”

“We need to talk about the funeral,” Scott says.

“He didn’t want one,” Liam mutters.

“We have to do something, Liam,” Scott says. “He was our friend, and your— I know you loved him. We need to do this. So we all can grieve and…”

“And what?” Liam snaps. “Move on like it never happened? Like he never existed?”

“That’s not what I said,” Scott says slowly. “No one expects you to forget him, but you can’t— he wouldn’t want you to live like this.”

“You don’t know that.”

“But I do,” Scott says. “I know he loved you. And he’d want you to be happy and, yes, to eventually move on.”

“I’m not ready,” Liam says. He’s not sure he ever will be.

“And that’s okay,” Scott says. “Grief doesn’t have a set timeframe. But I do think we need to have a memorial.”

Liam sighs. He knows Scott is right. Theo might not have wanted a funeral, but they can’t just not do anything for him. He deserves better than that. Deserves to be remembered. “Yeah, okay. I think Mom has some pictures we can use.”

“Great,” Scott says. “I’ll just— I’ll go talk to her, then. But if you find any…”

“I’ll let you know,” Liam says.

Scott stops at the door, watching Liam with sad eyes, before moving across the room and pulling him into a tight hug. “I’m sorry, Liam. I— look, I know it’s not easy to lose someone you love so suddenly. I’m here if you need anything, okay?”

Liam smiles tightly. “Yeah, thanks, Scott.”

He knows everyone means well, but it’s hard to think of anything they could offer him apart from their words of sympathy and pitying looks. Liam doesn’t need any of that. What he needs is Theo, and he’s never getting him back.

“I miss you so much,” Liam whispers, fingers brushing against the picture on his dresser. It’s of Theo and him at his birthday party last year. Their arms are wrapped around each other’s shoulders as they beam up at the camera. “I just want you back.”

A bright, white light suddenly fills the room, and Liam jumps, bringing his hands up to shield his eyes.

“What the fuck?” 

The light disappears, and there, standing in the middle of his room, is the very person he’s been wanting to see. 

Theo.

“Hello, Liam.”

Liam looks at him, eyes wide in disbelief. There’s no way. No damn way. “Theo? Is that— it’s really you?”

“Yeah, it’s me, Liam,” Theo says, barely able to believe it himself.

“But I thought…” Liam swallows and shakes his head. “You disappeared, and we all thought you’d moved on.”

“That’s what I thought, too,” Theo says. “I wound up in this obnoxiously bright room, and Tara was there. But she was different— almost how she used to be. She said I had a choice. That I could move on and find some peace or—”

“Or what?”

“Or I could come back,” Theo says.

“You’re here,” Liam says. “So, that means…”

“I came back,” Theo says. “For you.”

“For me?”

“Yes, Liam. I chose you,” Theo says, stepping closer. “I will always choose you.”

A strangled noise tears its way from Liam's throat, and the next thing Theo knows, he finds himself stumbling back as Liam throws himself in Theo's arms. Theo's arms come up, wrapping around him and pulling him closer, and burying his face in Liam's neck. 

"I never thought I'd get to have this," Theo says, voice breaking as tears fall down his cheeks.

"It's okay," Liam tells him, carding a hand through his hair as the other rubs up and down his back. "You're okay. I'm here. I've got you."

Theo takes a deep breath, letting Liam's scent wash over him, calming him. "I love you."

Liam's heart remains steady, strong, and sure. He gently tugs on Theo's hair until he pulls back to look at him. When he does, Liam smiles and leans in, kissing him softly. 

"I love you," he murmurs against his lips.

Then they’re kissing again, pouring all the love and longing of the last few years into it. Never in his life did Theo ever think he’d be kissed like this. But here he is.

Liam pulls back suddenly, looking at him with wide eyes. “Wait.”

“What is it?” Theo asks him.

“Your body,” Liam says, eyes scanning him up and down. “It— I mean, it was on fire. How did— where did this one come from?”

“I’m really not sure,” Theo says. “I guess I got a brand new one when I came back.”

“Huh.”

“Is that okay?” Theo asks.

“Yeah, of course,” Liam says. His hands rub up and down Theo’s back, and he smiles. “I do kind of like this one.”

“Yeah, I’m growing to like it myself,” Theo says. 

One of Liam’s hands moves to his chest, right over his heart, and he closes his eyes. Theo knows what he’s doing. Listening to the steady beating of the heart inside his chest.

“I did miss this sound,” Liam says.

“It’s a new heart, Liam,” Theo reminds him.

Liam opens his eyes, meeting his. “Yeah, but it’s yours. I think it still loves the same, don’t you?”

“I don’t know about that,” Theo says. His hand covers Liam’s, and he smiles. “I think it might love you even more.”

“Is that possible?” Liam teases.

“I don’t know,” Theo says. “But I’m looking forward to finding out.”

“Yeah,” Liam says, leaning in and kissing him deeply as he walks him backward towards the bed. “Me too.”