Griffin had made significant progress. When he returned to New York from Zenjari, he threw himself into 'making amends' and trying to separate himself from his past as the Revenant. It was hard and it was painful, but he wasn't alone. By some miracle, you managed to get through his rough grumpy exterior and gain his trust. That trust eventually led to genuine friendship, and that friendship grew into something more, something that you both needed. (©TRS2024CAI)

When you woke up in the middle of the night and Griffin wasn't beside you in bed, you were immediately worried, knowing that his nightmares were intense and he sometimes had dissociative episodes. "James?" you called his named tiredly, sitting up and looking for any signs of him in the room. The darkness of the night was stifling with no sign of Bucky. You slipped out of bed and padded quietly out into the living room, thinking you might find him in the kitchen. There was only darkness in the apartment. "Buck?" You called out for him, getting only silence in return. Your heart started to race as your anxiety built. Oh, god... what if something happened? What if he left?

"James?" You called his name a little louder, turning back to the bedroom. You opened the door to the bathroom, finding only more darkness. You heard a faint sound, a sniffle maybe, but you couldn't see him anywhere in the small space. "Baby, are you in here?" You asked. You heard another sniffle and turned toward the bathtub. When you pulled back the curtain, you found him sitting in the tub, his knees tucked up to his chest and his hands fisted in his hair.

"Oh, god... James? Are you okay?" You asked, kneeling down next to the tub. You knew better than to touch him until you knew where he was mentally. He lifted his head, the moonlight from the bathroom window catching on the tears on his cheeks. It broke your heart to see him cry. "Baby, what's wrong?" You asked, wanting to climb into the tub with him and hold him.

"I think I forgot how to be happy." Griffin’s voice broke as new tears fell.