length: 658 words
warnings: death of a loved one
requested: yes
notes: lgbt reader 🏳️🌈
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Your phone started ringing it's incessant tune and Colton moved to pass it to you. "It's your aunt."
"Just leave it," you smiled, too invested in your game of Scrabble and Colton declined the call.
The phone rang again. This time you took it from him, frowning. "Hey Aunt Lisa, is everything okay?"
"I'm very sorry, (y/n), Andrew passed away last night," she croaked into the phone, clearly overwhelmed with emotion.
"What? That's not possible. He was fine the last time we spoke," you whispered.
"He didn't tell you then. He always did try to protect you. (y/n) He has been very sick for a while now. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault. I think I just need some time to myself," you said quietly, voice cracking at the end, before hanging up abruptly.
You sat there, too shocked to move, but tears ran down your face nevertheless. Colton shifted over to you, taking your hands in his.
"Doll, what's wrong?" he caressed your hands.
"My grandfather, he, uh, passed away last night," you sobbed, the reality of it all catching up with you.
Colton removed his hands and wrapped them around you, pulling you to his chest. "I'm so sorry, baby. Do you want anything?" he stroked your hair and you sobbed harder, wetting his shirt.
You didn't respond and Colton sat with you for what felt like an eternity, holding you and brushing your hair. When you finally ceased crying, you looked up at him, grateful for his attempts to comfort you.
"He would've loved you," you spoke softly.
"I'm sorry I never got to meet him. Can you tell me about him? Only if you want to though," Colton replied, passing you a tissue.
"Well, he was the best." Colton smiled, encouraging you to continue. "When I was little he used to tell me the best stories about his childhood. He taught me how to ride a bike, how to bake. He was the first person I came out to and when my parents kicked me out because of it, he took me in. I mean he even payed for me to go to college. He was the best person I'd ever met, other than you," you dabbed at your tears.
"Well from what you've told me, it sounds like he really loved you too. And I think he wouldn't want you to be sad. Not to necessarily move on, but to keep living for him, remember him every single day and continue to make him proud," he murmured.
"You always say the right things," you gave him a sad smile. "He was like that too. Always knew what to say to make me feel better, how to motivate me, inspire me. He was truly incredible." Pausing to wipe your eyes, you remembered all the good memories. "We used to do this thing, every last Friday of the month after school we would make an apple tart together and eat that for dinner and then watch movies together. We would alternate between who got to choose. He would almost always choose The Mighty Ducks. He introduced me to hockey actually. When I told him that we were dating he was so happy. He said that I better not hurt you," you giggled slightly at that last part before you noticed Colton watching you intently. "What is is, babe?"
"It's just that it's the last Friday of this month so I can buy all the ingredients if you like and then we can celebrate this the same way you used to," he said nervously, unsure of how you would react."
"You're so lovely. That sounds perfect," you teared up again.
So that night you ate apple tart, watched The Mighty Ducks and told Colton all about your grandfather. You were going to live every moment in remembrance of him and Colton was going to be there the whole way.
