hey lord, i'm tired.

This was all new to Diego but now he finally knew what it felt like to be in love and he knew that he wanted to hold on to it for as long as possible. He knew that nothing was guaranteed, just about anything could happen so he knew better than to take the time they had together for granted. It was strange to think that not too long ago they had been at the morgue possibly about to identify the body of Tommy’s sister but even though only a short time had passed since then the truth was that a lot had changed. “Why? It’s true,” Diego chuckled, nudging Tommy gently with his shoulder as the guy pushed him away. Tommy really was incredibly cute all the time but even more so when he blushed. As he spoke again, another laugh escaped Diego’s lips and he shook his head in amusement. “What can I say, I just love you,” he grinned. It felt so good being able to say those words and he knew that it was true. He had been teasing Tommy about his eyes in a way but they really did have a way of wrecking Diego and he knew that wasn’t going to change.

Diego had no idea what the future was going to hold but he knew that he wanted to spend as much time as he could with Tommy regardless of whether that was one mortal lifetime or an eternity. No amount of time with him would ever be enough but Diego knew that he would cherish whatever time they did have together. If Tommy chose to live a mortal lifetime then Diego would have given up his immortality for him if he could but that wasn’t an option so he knew that he would have to settle for just staying with Tommy for as long as he could instead. “It’s the truth. No amount of time with you will ever be enough so I’ll take what I can get,” Diego admitted before feeling his smile return as Tommy spoke again. “I love you too,” he said gently, knowing that he would never get tired of saying those words. “I’m going to hold you to that because I want that too,” he said, his smile widening as Tommy said that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with him so he was there with him until the end either way. That was what he wanted more than anything so it was good to know that Tommy did too. They hadn’t been together for that long but how he felt about Tommy was so strong and Diego knew that it was completely real.

“You know just how to make my heart melt, you know that,” Diego asked, leaning forward and pressing his lips gently against Tommy’s. “For what it’s worth I think about you all the time too. I hate it when I don’t get to see you,” he added. They spent the night together when they could but that wasn’t all the time and he couldn’t deny that it felt strange sleeping on his own now. “I really appreciate that, I don’t know what I would do without your support,” he admitted as he leaned into Tommy’s touch. He had grown so used to trying to do things on his own but he didn’t have to do that now and it was a relief to say the least.

“She does. If there’s anything I can do to help just say the word,” he nodded, knowing that he wouldn’t hesitate to do what he could to help the girl. He had felt so relieved that it wasn’t Teo but at the same time it had been a little bittersweet because it meant that it was someone else’s daughter or sister lying there and no one knew it just yet. Tommy’s question was enough to have Diego nodding. “Of course I would. I want you to find her just as much as you do,” he admitted, knowing that Tommy was probably more determined to find Teo than ever after the scare he’d had that day. “You don’t need to thank me, you’re my partner and I want to help you,” Diego assured him. Telling Tommy a little about what had happened, Diego shook his head as Tommy said that he was sorry. “It’s Ethan, Toni and the kids I feel sorry for, they’ve been through so much already.” Thankfully Ethan was going to be fine but it could have easily changed their whole lives if he’d died and come back. “It was. I wanted to help but I couldn’t. Ethan managed to get the boy out but they were on the upper floor when it collapsed and Ethan fell. Toni had to go in after him and pull him out, I couldn’t do anything,” he breathed. He had never hated feeling helpless but he had been treating the boy’s mother at the time and when Toni had decided to go in after Ethan Diego had known that it wouldn’t do any good for two of them to go in there so he’d had to leave his brother to it. “The three of you have definitely had it worse,” he said as he kissed the top of Tommy’s head gently. “He’ll be fine, we just need to keep an eye on him. If he dies and resurrects now at least he’ll be here so no one else will know but hopefully it won’t come to that.”

TOMAS SILVA

“You’re such a dork,” Diego teased, rolling his eyes playfully at his boyfriend. There were times when this all still felt so surreal, he had been in so many different relationships over the years while he was trying to come to terms with who he was and he had always tried to find that someone special but he had always found himself drawn to the wrong people. With Tommy he felt like he had finally managed to get it right and he was truly grateful that the guy had taken a chance on him. Diego would be the first to admit that it had taken him some time to work through everything that had happened with his ex but now he was embracing his relationship with Tommy and he had come to realise that this was what he should have had all along. Diego loved Tommy more than he had ever thought that he could love anyone and while he knew that he didn’t really have anything to compare it to since he hadn’t been in love before he still knew that what they had was the real thing and he knew that he wouldn’t give that up for anything in the world. Now whenever he thought about his future Tommy was right there with him and he knew that he wanted to make that happen. It had taken his parents a while to accept that Toni and Ethan were going to be spending the rest of their lives together and he knew that it might well take them some time to accept the same thing for him with Tommy but he was certain that they were going to love Tommy. He knew that deep down his parents had only ever wanted him to be happy and Tommy was the key to his happiness so he couldn’t want to introduce them even if it meant that Tommy would have to go through another interrogation.

For a moment Diego wondered whether Tommy would think it was cheesy when he’d said that no amount of time with him would ever be enough but the expression on his face didn’t give that impression and Diego couldn’t help but feel relief flood through him as Tommy smiled. Diego had never known that his feelings for someone else could ever be this strong but the truth was that for the first time he found himself wanting the life that his brother had with Ethan. Diego had never really seen himself as the kind of guy who would want to settle down but he couldn’t deny that the thought of building a life with Tommy had an appeal that he didn’t want to ignore. For the first time he found himself wondering what it might be like to get married and maybe start a family one day and Diego knew that the only person he wanted to do that with was Tommy. “I don’t know about that, the effect you have on me really isn’t fair,” Diego chuckled. No one had ever affected him the way that Tommy did and he was pretty sure that they never would. As Tommy mentioned transferring to become a paramedic, Diego couldn’t help but laugh. “As great as that would be I think you’d better stick with the day job,” he teased as he kissed the top of Tommy’s head gently. “You’re so good to me,” Diego said, a gentle smile forming on his face as Tommy said that being there for him meant a lot to him too. He really was lucky to have Tommy, of that he was certain.

“That sounds like a good idea, let’s do it,” Diego nodded as Tommy said that they could look through the missing person files and see if the girl was among them. It was a place to start at least and that was better than nothing. Diego’s heart ached for the girl, right now no one knew who she was or what family she had out there so he was determined to find out so that she could finally be laid to rest. It wasn’t just the girl in the morgue that Diego wanted to find closure for, he also wanted to find that for Tommy and Teo. Tommy had been dealing with all of this for such a long time and Diego was determined to make sure that he didn’t have to deal with it on his own any longer. “You’ve been there for me and now it’s my turn to be there for you,” Diego assured him. Diego had never been in a relationship like that before but he couldn’t deny that he felt like he’d finally found what he’d been looking for all along.

“It’s not that I froze, I was treating the woman who lost her husband and I couldn’t leave her,” Diego explained. “I’m pretty sure Cap would have fired me on the spot if I’d gone in there after Toni as well. He wasn’t happy about Toni going in there as it was but he didn’t want to lose Ethan either and I think he knew that Toni wasn’t going to leave his husband in there,” he added. Toni had had a good reason for going back in there even when the order to evacuate had been given but Diego was pretty sure that the leniency that had been afforded to his brother wouldn’t have been extended to him as well. “Hopefully not. It’s one thing to know that he’ll come back but just the thought about him having to die for that to happen makes me feel sick,” he admitted, knowing that it was even worse for Toni. Before Ethan came back into his life Toni had never talked about what it had been like for him during the war but after he finally opened up about that and revealed what had happened to Ethan so many things had made sense and Diego knew that he didn’t want them to have to go through that again. Taking a sip of his beer, Diego set it down on the table as Tommy said he had a question. “Hmm,” he murmured before feeling his breath catch in his throat as Tommy suggested they get a place together. “You really mean that?” he asked, needing to make sure before he got too excited but failing miserably. “I would love that baby,” he admitted. “To tell you the truth I’ve been thinking about that as well and I’ve started looking at places. We could go for an apartment or we could try and find a house we like,” he said, knowing that they both had decent paying jobs so they could make the latter work if they wanted to.

TOMAS SILVA

The whole day had been full of ups and downs but it had to be said that things were definitely much better now than they had been earlier that day. He had seen his brother terrified about what might happen to Ethan and then after that he had seen Tommy heartbroken about the thought of possibly seeing his sister in the morgue when he got there. The people he loved had really been through the ringer that day and now Diego wanted to be there for them all if he could. He had promised his brother and Ethan that he would stay at the house that night to make sure that Ethan was okay but at the same time he needed to be there to support Tommy so sitting with his arms wrapped around his boyfriend now he was glad that he could have the best of both worlds. “Oh I know you’re not, you love using it to your advantage,” Diego chuckled. He knew that Tommy loved doing that but the truth was that Diego didn’t really mind even though he might not say that out loud. This was all still so new to him but he loved Tommy so he knew that he wanted to make the most of all of it. “I think that’s a good idea. Besides, you’re a great cop and you look hot in your uniform,” Diego said, a playful smile touching his lips as he kissed the top of Tommy’s head. It really did suit him and if he was honest right now he couldn’t imagine Tommy doing anything else. “It’s all because of you, I want to be the guy you deserve,” he said gently. Tommy deserved the best as far as he was concerned and to begin with Diego hadn’t felt like he would be able to give Tommy that but he was doing his best. “Perfect. I know we’ll find something, we have to,” he nodded. The girl deserved that much at least and Diego knew that neither of them would stop until they had found the people he belonged with.

The kiss Tommy pressed to his knuckles was so gentle and it was enough to have Diego’s breath catching in his throat. He had never felt like this about anyone before but the truth was that now whenever he thought about his future Tommy was right there with him. He had no idea what the future was going to hold for the two of them but he’d meant it when he’d said that no matter what Tommy decided he would stand by him and that wasn’t going to change. His brother had found his missing piece in Ethan and Diego honestly felt that he had found his in Tommy. “It doesn’t sound selfish, I hate the thought of you getting hurt so I get it,” Diego assured him. “Both our jobs can be risky but I’ll always do everything in my power to make it back to you, I hope you know that,” he added gently. He had people in his life worth living for and he knew that he was going to do everything he could to stay with them. Diego wasn’t sure how much his words would help considering Tommy knew that his ex had almost killed him and he had also been the one to find Diego after he’d been attacked outside the Grill but he really could hold his own and he knew that he would never stop fighting. “So do I. Toni will let me know if anything happens.”

Diego had thought that he must have heard Tommy wrong to begin with when he suggested they get a place together but as he confirmed that he really meant it, Diego felt his heart leap. “Really,” he nodded. “I’ve already been living here a lot longer than I planned when I got to town and my brother and Ethan want to expand their family. They can’t do that while I’m here so I knew I needed to start looking but I’ve been looking for both of us because I hate the nights when I’m not with you,” he explained, pretty sure that Tommy would understand. “It would definitely give us more space and a chance to build a life together,” he nodded. An apartment could do that to an extent but Diego wanted to go all in so he was glad that Tommy seemed to want that too. “A dog, huh? What kind are you thinking?” he asked. He hadn’t really thought about that too much but he was definitely up for it. As Tommy said that he would start looking for houses for sale, Diego’s eyes widened. “You want to buy somewhere?” he asked, that part surprising him more than anything else. He had thought that Tommy would only want to rent somewhere but he couldn’t deny that he loved the thought of them actually owning their own place. “I thought you’d want to rent but buying somewhere is even better if you’re sure,” he said, not wanting Tommy to suggest that just because he thought it was what he wanted to hear. “I’m really excited too.”

TOMAS SILVA

“Yea h, you do,” Diego chuckled. He often felt like Tommy had him wrapped around his little finger and he wouldn’t be surprised if Tommy loved that. He had never felt this way about anyone before and while it was true that there was a time when that would have terrified him, now he had been through so many failed relationships that he wanted nothing more than to make this one work. Tommy was an incredible guy and he was the first person that Diego could see himself having a real future with so he knew that he wanted to make that happen more than anything. “I don’t know about that,” Diego grinned as Tommy said that he looked hotter in his uniform. Diego often found himself sneaking glances when he could when they were working and he knew that wasn’t going to change. “For what it’s worth, you distract me a lot too,” he admitted. To begin with he had thought that that was a bad thing but if anything having Tommy there made him want to work that much harder to do a good job so he could impress his boyfriend. Diego couldn’t stop a half smile from forming on his face as Tommy said that he was already the guy that he deserved. “I’ll always feel like I’m punching way above my weight with you,” he said gently. Tommy was the most amazing guy that Diego had ever met and he knew that he would probably never understand why Tommy wanted to be with someone as messed up as him but Diego knew that he wanted to enjoy every minute of their time together.

The kiss that Tommy pressed to his arm was so gentle that it was enough to make Diego’s heart flutter. “I know you will, I trust you,” Diego assured him. He knew that Tommy would always do everything he could to make sure that he made it back to him in one piece and Diego knew that he really couldn’t ask for anything more than that. Their jobs were always going to carry an element of risk with them but they made it work and knowing that they were both supernatural helped a lot as it meant that they were much more resilient than humans were. As Tommy spoke again, Diego felt his smile return. “You’re really worried about him, aren’t you?” he asked gently. “I love how much you care about everyone.” He had never been with anyone like that before and once again he found himself in awe of how good a person Tommy was.

“I am too,” Diego admitted as Tommy said he was happy he’d suggested they move in together. It was something that he had been thinking about for a while now but he had felt a little awkward about bringing it up because Tommy already had his own place and Diego hadn’t known if he would want to give that up. As it turned out he needn’t have worried about that after all, though, and for that he truly was glad. “I love golden retrievers, that would be perfect,” he admitted as he ran his hand up and down Tommy’s arm gently before feeling his smile widen as Tommy said he would love to buy a house with him and that he was a hundred percent sure. “You mean we’ll figure something out,” Diego corrected, knowing that he wasn’t going to let Tommy do this on his own. “I might be able to ask my parents to help if we need it,” he added thoughtfully. There was one thing that they hadn’t talked about yet and Diego knew that he needed to know the answer so he had to ask. “Babe, how do you feel about having kids?” he asked. Before he moved to Mystic Falls Diego had never really thought about it but the truth was that after spending so much time around Toni, Ethan and the kids Diego finally knew that he wanted a life like that for himself and he wanted to share it with Tommy.

TOMAS SILVA

“I wouldn’t mind if you did,” Diego chuckled. “It would be pretty hot actually.” For a long time he hadn’t wanted to accept that he was gay but the truth was that now Diego wasn’t ashamed of it and he really didn’t care who knew it. It had taken him a long time to get to the point where he felt comfortable in his own skin and he knew that he didn’t want to go back to the way things used to be. He had lived in denial for a long time, trying to make himself like women just so he wouldn’t disappoint his parents, but he knew now that he had only been lying to them and to himself and he wasn’t going to do that again. “Uh huh. I remember you asking why I wore a shirt again after that first night,” he grinned. One of his exes had been obsessed with her body and she had ended up becoming obsessed with his as well so he had become quite self conscious but he knew that he didn’t have to feel that way any longer and it was a relief to say the least. As Tommy said that he felt like he was punching above his weight as well, Diego looked at his boyfriend in surprise. “There’s no way you’re doing that, you’re far too good for me,” Diego assured him. That was something that he would always believe but Tommy had made it clear that he wasn’t going anywhere and for that Diego was truly grateful. “You deserve the best of everything.”

Tommy was so kind and so gentle but Diego had seen the protective side of him as well. Tommy always wanted to take care of those around him and it seemed that that now extended to Diego’s family as well which really meant the world to him. He could see just how much Tommy cared about Ethan and it was one of the things that Diego loved most about him. “Perfect,” Diego nodded as Tommy said that it was decided and they would go for a golden retriever. “Maybe we should wait and see what happens. We might only be able to find one or we could find that there are only two left,” he suggested, pretty sure that if it was the latter then they wouldn’t be able to leave the last dog on its own. Hearing Tommy agree that they would figure something out about a house was enough to draw a smile to Diego’s lips. “Definitely, you’d better be ready for it,” he chuckled as he leaned forward and kissed Tommy’s shoulder gently.

“I don’t think mine will either, they’ll probably just be glad I’m being responsible for a change,” he admitted. He would be the first to admit that he hadn’t always made the right decisions in the past but this was something that he really wanted and he knew that he would do anything to make it happen. Looking over at Tommy, there was a part of Diego that wondered if perhaps he should have chosen another time to ask whether Tommy wanted to have kids and he couldn’t deny that the way his boyfriend froze was enough to have Diego wishing that he had just kept his mouth shut. “It’s okay if you don’t,” Diego said quickly, hoping to do some kind of damage control if he could. It wasn’t long before Tommy was smiling, though, and Diego felt relief flood through him. “Four, huh? I like the sound of that,” he admitted before nodding as Tommy asked if he wanted to have kids with him. “I do,” he said gently. “I never realised I wanted a house or a family of my own until I moved in here and saw just how great a life like this is. It’s the life I want and I want all of it with you.”

TOMAS SILVA

“Of course I remember that, I’ll never forget it,” Diego chuckled. He had lacked a lot of confidence in his body as a result of one of his previous relationships before he and Tommy got together but Tommy saying that had started to make him realise that he couldn’t look at himself that way any longer. His ex had liked to point out every flaw and imperfection and that had stuck with Diego but not anymore and that was all thanks to Tommy. Even so he still felt like he was punching well above his weight with Tommy and Diego felt a smile touch his lips as Tommy said that he was the best thing he could have ever asked for. “You are such a charmer when you want to be, it’s no wonder I fell in love with you,” he said, a loving smile on his face as he kissed the top of Tommy’s head. Falling for him wasn’t something that Diego had planned on, it was only meant to be a bit of fun, but he knew that he wouldn’t want it any other way now. It was thanks to Tommy that Diego finally felt like he deserved to be loved and he knew that he wanted to make sure that Tommy knew just how much he meant to him.

“I thought you might say that. I know what we’re both like, I imagine we’d be powerless to resist bringing both home if there were only two left in the litter,” Diego chuckled. He knew that it could go either way though so he didn’t want them to be set up for failure so it was a much better idea to just see what happened. “Neither did I. I’ve never lived with a partner before but I can’t wait,” he admitted. None of his relationships had ever reached that stage before but with Tommy it just felt right and Diego was certain that this was what he wanted more than anything.

As Tommy said he was pretty responsible, Diego shook his head. “I haven’t always been, I made some really bad decisions along the way,” he admitted. He wasn’t proud of the decisions that he had made in the past but he had learned from them and he knew that he wasn’t going to end up doing the same thing again. “My last mistake resulted in the three of us having to move away from my ex, that’s a pretty big mistake to try and forgive,” he breathed. His parents had always urged him to be careful and he had thought that he was being just that but he had put his trust in the wrong person and he didn’t even want to think about what would have happened if they hadn’t moved away. “It’s not a weird thing to say babe, I know what you meant and I appreciate it,” Diego assured him. “It seems a little strange but everything has been falling into place since I moved here and a big part of that is you.” He had a job he loved, he had friends, he had his brother’s family and he had a guy he absolutely adored that soon enough he would be moving in with. For the first time Diego felt like he had finally managed to get it right.

As Tommy said that he wanted to have a baby with him before making a weird gesture, Diego couldn’t help but laugh. “I do know what you mean,” he chuckled. They both knew each other really well at this point so he often knew what Tommy meant even when he didn’t explain himself very well. “You’re going to make an amazing father, you know that?” he asked, his heart swelling at Tommy’s words. “I think we ought to pace ourselves, how about we find somewhere to live first, make it our own and get a dog if we find one we fall in love when and while we’re doing that we can start looking into the different options for starting a family and see which is the right fit for us?” he suggested.

TOMAS SILVA