WHO:Blossom & Tyler WHEN: {backdated} Tyler's return WHERE: Blossom's home WHAT: Tyler's return to the OC WARNINGS: Shmoop STATUS: Complete
It was a little strange being back in the city. Spending months in the mountains, more or less on his own, had been peaceful and much needed, but Tyler had missed the business of the streets and human interaction. And most of all he had missed Blossom. He knew that he hadn't been the greatest boyfriend, having left so soon after inviting her to move in with him with hardly an explanation and with barely a phone call in the last few months. His service had been bad, but more than that, he had needed time to think about them. About how he would probably live forever now, and how Blossom would someday get old and die. About, how, unless she was willing to live with an eternity of bloodlust, he would eventually lose her.
But then, that was also a big part of the reason he came back. He'd missed her, and he eventually realized that if their time together was so short, then he'd had better make the most of it.
That didn't make this any easier. He'd left with just a duffle bag filled with clothes, and that's all he carried now, slung over one shoulder. He didn't know what to expect when he knocked on Blossomâs door, though he mostly expected her to slam the door in his face. He couldn't say he'd blame her if she did.
But he'd never know just standing here like a bitch. He took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.
Blossom wasnât sure where Buttercup was, but she was out and it was a night that her dad was out with some of his science researcher friends, so she was curled up on the sofa at home, book in hand and trying to focus on reading.
She wasnât expecting anyone, which made the knock a little startling, but she still figured it was probably someone from the neighbourhood needing something. Grabbing the shawl from the back of the sofa, pulling it over her shoulders since she was just lazing around in a tanktop and shorts, Blossom put her bookmark in place and padded towards the door, flicking on the hall lights as she went.
Opening the door to Tyler wasnât really what she expected, and her breath caught a little in her throat at the door just swung open, âHey,â it was the only word she could get out around the thump of her own heart. Her tummy still did that silly little swoop at the sight of him. Sheâd been understanding when heâd left, he needed to find out about himself, deal with what all happened, but it didnât make it hurt less, understanding didnât stop her missing him terribly all the time. âAre⌠Oh, um, do you want to come in?â She didnât know if she should hug him or not, if he should come out or if this was a porch conversation, was he staying? Was it just a brief visit? Had he decided to leave permanently? Had he met someone else?
Blossom needed to stop her brain for two seconds.
Tyler could feel his own heart catch when Blossom opened the door. Was it at all possible that sheâd somehow managed to become even more beautiful while heâd been away? He wouldnât have thought it, but that was certainly how it seemed.
She hadnât, at least, slammed the door in his face, which he was glad for. He still wasnât sure just how welcome he was, and he was really hoping someone else hadnât come around and swept her off her feet when heâd been away. He could have never asked her to wait until he came back - it wasnât fair to her and she deserved it if someone great had come along. But now he was wishing that he had asked.
âYeah, thanks,â he said, stepping into the house and glad that Blossom had invited him in without the awkward âyou need to invite me in before I can enterâ conversation. âI just got back into town,â he said, slipping his bag off his shoulder and leaving it by the front door. âI hope youâre not doing anything important.â
He just got back, and he was on her doorstep. Blossom just grinned brighter, feeling that little bubbling of warmth in her tummy again. âNothing really, just reading.â She was wasting away the night really, but at the very least she had something to focus on now.
âAre you hungry? Câmon sit down, can I get you something? Do you want to rest a little?â Because Blossom didnât know where heâd just gotten into town from, it couldâve been anywhere and he could be exhausted. And hungry and need to just rest a little.
She didnât hesitate to steer Tyler towards the kitchen, already planning something she could make to get him eating.
Tyler was about to protest the food - he didn't really need to eat solid food anymore - but Blossom was already leading him toward the kitchen and so he decided to let her do what she wanted. It wasn't like he couldn't eat food, and it did make him feel a little more human sometimes.
âAll I want right now is to see you,â he said mildly instead. âThough I wouldn't say no to eating with you. Iâve missed you.â
The admission that he just wanted to see her, that heâd missed her, pushed most of her reservations away and Blossom grinned brightly, pushing herself against Tyler in a tight hug in the middle of the kitchen. Sheâd missed him so much, not just the coupley things they did but just text messages here and there, hanging out, she really missed waking up with him. Even if they hadnât gotten to do it a lot.
âI missed you too.â Arms around Tylerâs shoulders, Blossom took a minute or two to just nuzzle against his throat.
Tyler wrapped his arms around her shoulders, being conscious enough of his enhanced strength to not hurt her but still holding her firmly against him. He buried his face in her hair, and took in the scent of her. He basked in the moment for a couple of minutes, before he smiled against her hair. âCan I take that to mean you havenât been swept off your feet by some other guy yet?â he asked, a playful note in his voice.
Blossom liked the pressure in the hug, not crushing but strong and present, enough to know she wasnât dreaming. She smiled a little into the hug at the comment too, âNo, no sweeping.â She really hadnât been all too interested in trying to get over Tyler. She might not have known if heâd be back or when, but she hadnât really tried to move on at all.
âI missed you too much to think about anyone else.â Because that little maybe hung around in her mind constantly. âI didnât know if youâd come back but I kept hoping.â She felt like maybe it was a good sign that heâd come back after just a couple months too.
âGood,â Tyler said. âI didnât do any sweeping myself,â he assured her, just in case she was wondering. âActually, I spent most of the time by myself. Thinking and trying to come to terms with how my dreams ended.â At least, he was pretty sure they ended. It wasnât the first time he died in the dreams, but this time did feel more final. âI donât know if I would have come back here if it wasnât for you though.â
The dreams had been terrible to Tyler, and she totally understood having to reconcile with dying, with potentially never dying again, and that would take a lot. Getting some distance to think on it, Blossom didnât hold it against him at all. Pressing a kiss to Tylerâs cheek, Blossom tugged Tyler into the kitchen, pushing him to the kitchen counter. âHow about some milkshakes then? French toast?â Something nice and simple.
The idea that he came back for her? Blossom couldnât keep the smile off her face. âBut youâre feeling better? You know, about the vampire-werewolf-hybrid thing?â
âThat all sounds perfect,â Tyler said, allowing Blossom to lead him to the kitchen. âYou do make the best french toast.â
He was silent for a moment as he thought about his answer. âHonestly, the hybrid thing is pretty cool. Iâve never felt so strong before, and I can control the transformations now so I donât have to turn if I donât want to.â Which of course he didnât. Since heâd become a hybrid he hadnât wolfed out once, and that suited him just fine. âThereâs some things that are a little harder to adjust to, but itâs not so bad.â Controlling his bloodlust wasnât much harder than controlling his anger, and heâd become pretty skilled at that. The hardest thing about being a vampire was the idea of Blossom growing old while Tyler never aged. At least, not unless Blossom became a vampire too, but he couldnât stomach the idea of her living with the bloodlust for the rest of her existence.
âPart of me leaving was to make sure I could control everything and that I wouldnât hurt anyone. But I think the dying got to me more. I always thought when I finally died for good it would, I donât know, mean something.â Or that heâd be old and grey.
Blossom instantly started getting things ready for eats and drinks, but made sure to pay attention to Tyler, in all honesty she was probably hyper focused on Tylerâs presence, making sure she hadnât just fallen asleep on the sofa and was fever dreaming it all. But Blossom was exceptionally understanding, and the dreams were difficult for some people, so she did her best to remain understanding. âIâm glad that you got some time to think on things, and you were right to take that. Thereâs always the risk here that something will happen, and you need to be sure of yourself to deal with that.â She wasnât overly worried about her own safety, her durability and powers came in handy for that. But she also didnât want to be a spot of guilt on Tylerâs conscience either.
With the supplies ready to get the French toast rustled up, and the milkshakes poured, Blossom settled one down for Tyler as she sipped her own. âItâs ⌠Itâs hard to say anything, because thereâs nothing that anyone can say thatâll make you feel better. I wish you hadnât had to die at all, and I hope you never need to worry about that ever again.â At least not in the dreams.
She was under impression it might be an impossibility in the real world now.
âMaybe not,â Tyler said, the corners of his lips quirking up. He took a sip from his milkshake. âBut right now is the best Iâve felt in months. It must be this milkshake. But it wasnât like much happened up there. Whatâs been happening here? Are you flying around saving the day yet?â When heâd left, Blossom had her pink laser vision from her dreams, but as far as he knew she hadnât had many other abilities from the dreams.
The best in months? That was heartwarming, really. She was just glad heâd felt sure enough to come back, home maybe?
âMy milkshake has that effect.â Not that sheâd be mentioning boys in her yard, nope. She didnât really want much more boys in her yard, just this one. âNot so much with the saving and fighting.â Sheâd moped for a while, then made some new friends and got back to school. But thankfully things had been quiet enough to let her adapt to her heartache.
âIâm flying and Iâm shooting lasers and I can now punch holes in things.â Because the super strength liked to make itâs appearance at unfortunate times. âDad had to replace the door on my car, but he was really okay about it.â Thankfully, since he now knew all about the dreams and powers, which made it easier to explain.
Tyler laughed. âYou know, when I first got my werewolf strength I broke one of the cafeteria tables. Nearly spilled my coffee all over my old roommate, Derek. And in the dreams I accidentally kicked a garbage can across the parking lot in front of the whole school.â Luckily, no one had asked him about it later. Maybe some of them thought that it came from all the football practice.â
He was a little sad that he hadnât been able to help Blossom through all that, but he knew that she had an understanding dad and that at least one of her sisters had gone through the same thing. âBut Iâve got to tell you, as great as your milkshake is, itâs not the reason I came here.â He stepped closer to her and put his hand on her hip. âIâm going to kiss you now.â It wasnât a question, not really, but he did look for an answer in her face.
Blossom giggled a little at the mental images Tyler left her with, she could imagine the outcome of tables breaking, since doors were very easy to rip off hinges it seemed. But the âwarningâ of an incoming kiss at least stopped the giggling, Blossom not interested in holding off or even discussing anything further anyway. Her arms were around his neck, welcoming any and all advances. Sheâd missed him far too much to even think about playing hard to get.
âYouâre definitely the only boy I want my milkshake to work on. Doubly so for kisses.â
Tyler kissed her, gently at first, then with more hunger. He drank in the scent of her, the taste of her, the feel of her in his arms. It was intoxicating, and he only broke off from the kiss when he could feel his more vampiric urges rising to the surface. He didnât pull far though, choosing instead to rest his forehead against hers.
âGood,â he said, grinning. âBecause yours is the only milkshake I want.â