patrick needed it especially. pete was always happy to do it.

patrick's day had been full of stress: watching the kids, work, waiting for pete to return home- it was all so much. the kids had refused to listen, kept getting into things, fighting one another... patrick could not do it. by the time the kids had gone down for a nap, patrick had ended up crying twice and pushing his work aside. again.

patrick sighed, leaning against pete as the music played softly in the locked bedroom.

pete had returned home to a completely distressed husband clearly on the verge of more tears. he felt awful for the man, so he suggested after dinner and the kids were put down, they do this; dance in the dim candlelight of the bedroom. it always helped de-stress after long days- for patrick especially.

"thank you..." patrick whispered, looking up slightly, offering a small smile. he seemed to be feeling a bit better now.

after cleaning up dinner and everything, pete had run off, setting up the room before patrick would come back. he had gotten out candles, putting them all around the room. he had soft music playing on the stereo. he had even dressed up, laying out patrick's favorite dress for these types of nights.

"of course, baby," pete said softly, kissing patrick's nose. he continued to sway with the small, chubby man, smiling down at him.

patrick had come back, gasping softly at the sudden mood change of their bedroom. his eyes stung with tears as he looked up at his husband. he covered his mouth slightly at the sight of the man before noticing the dress had been laid out on the bed for him.

"I love you so much." patrick whispered, scrunching up his nose as he always would when pete would kiss it.

pete helped him into the dress, watching as he twirled in it, showing it off for him. he smiled, seeing how happy simply wearing the dress made patrick.

"I love you so much too." pete chuckles, watching patrick scrunch his nose, reminding him further just how adorable the man is.

patrick hugged him tightly, hiding his blushing face in the chest of his husband. it made him so happy that pete even tried with setting the mood and dressing all fancy.

"I cannot express to you exactly how happy this makes me." patrick spoke quietly, voice raising just above a whisper. "how happy you make me... how easily you make my stress simply melt away."

pete smiled, hugging patrick back, starting to gently sway him.

"I'm glad I can do that for you, sweetheart." pete said softly, in the same tone as patrick.

"I live for these kinds of moments with you, peter."

"as do I, patrick." pete said, leaning down to give his husband a soft, gentle kiss.

as they each pull back from the short kiss, patrick returned his head to pete's chest- where it would stay for nearly the whole night. the two danced until their feet ached. until they were simply too tired to sway anymore.