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Corey jogged down the steps to back stage and went straight into y/n’s outstretched arms. The girl engulfed him into her embrace without complaint.
“Hey baby.” she whispers into his ear while rubbing soothing circles on his back. Corey sighed and melted into her arms even more. Some of the tension leaving his tense muscles.
“I’m tired.” he mumbles into her shoulder. Y/n nods and guides him back to the changing room.
“Go take a shower sweetheart, I’ll be here when you’re done” she says to which Corey follows along and walks into the showers.
The girl sat on the couch and Joey came and joined her on the couch. His head resting on her lap as she played with his hair.
“How are you feeling JJ?” she asks the smaller male who simply shrugs.
Shawn walks in along with Mick and Jim and take up the other couch.
“Are you going to take of him?” Shawn asks, a kind smile on his face. Y/n nods and stands up when a sluggish and exhausted Corey steps out the shower with a pair of loose grey sweatpants.
Y/n picks up one of Corey’s shirts and hands it to him and then she guides the man out of the room. The two head to the bus and curl up next to each other. Y/n drawing shapes on Coreys back, while the man simply stares blankly at the bus wall.
“Do you want to talk about it Corey?” Y/n asks as she plays with his hair. “I won’t say anything if you do not want me too. I’ll simply listen.” she adds. Corey nods and rests his head on her shoulder.
“I just feel like every time we play that song that I will relapse into all the drugs and alcohol. That I will let you and everyone else down. I do not want to go back to the way I was when I recorded Iowa. I don’t want to see you scared of me like that again. You looked so terrified and scared of me and it hurt so much. I do not want to be in that headspace ever again.” he whispers, his voice cracking the more he spoke. Y/n held him closer to herself as she felt shot tears land on her shoulder.
“Sweetheart, I was not afraid of you, I was afraid for you. You were hurting yourself and I felt haplessly I did not know how to help you. All I could do was call Shawn to help me.” She whispers and peppers his face with kisses.
“You’ve been there with me at my worst and I do not know how to repay you for that. All I can say is that I will forever be grateful for you presence and support at that time. I needed someone to be there for me.” he mumbles as he hastily wipes his tears at the sound of the door to the tour bus opening. “I could not handle being alone.” he adds in such a quiet voice that y/n almost did not hear it. She kisses his forehead and looks him in the eyes.
“I will always be there for you when you need me, no matter what.” She kisses him to seal her promise and he accepts it.
“I love you Corey.” she whispers.
“I love you too.” he responds with a smile grassing his tears tamed and red puffy cheeks.
The two hood each other and drift off into a calm and peaceful sleep.
Unbeknownst to the sleeping couple. Shawn heard the end of their conversation and smiles to himself.
“You found your happiness my friend.” he mumbles under his breath and then he allows himself to sleep in his bunk knowing that Corey is safe in y/n embrace and that his friend will not be plagued by his demons this night.