Note: This is a scene I've thought about a lot since completing the Pretty Boy main story. It occurs after Marshall, now living in Barcelona, allows himself to commit to a friendly relationship with Alejandro, Brad's reincarnation. They become fast friends, and it takes a lot for Marshall to not reveal their true connection. He doesn't want to keep lying, though, and certain things are brought into the light the first time Alejandro sees Brad's urn.

While this won't be a long, super drawn out chapter, it'll still pack a lot of punch in terms of being emotional.

Get those tissues ready!

***

It was difficult to not see them as the same person.

Similar hair, similar body structure, similar face, similar voice...

Brad Romero: a rare human who had a presence beautiful enough to outshine the sun—someone who tragically passed because of a battle he had no business being part of.

Alejandro Ortega: a reincarnated vampire who carried hundreds, maybe even thousands of memories from a past life he himself couldn't recall.

Both men were very much alike.

At the end of the day, though, despite harboring the same soul, Brad and Alejandro were two different people. Their upbringing, personalities, dreams, passions, goals...they weren't the same.

Marshall fought a mental battle every single day to keep reminding himself of that.

He always held back a grimace whenever the wrong name almost fell past his lips. It became a habit to prepare extra food in the morning, only to remember his new friend wasn't capable of eating. A few "sleepovers" at Alejandro's house had moments of brutal clarity when reminiscing of another person who used to conk out at odd hours of the night. Reminders of having to go to sleep at a decent time were accidentally given to a vampire who didn't need to rest in such a way.

Laughing off the blunder helped to conceal a slight pain in Marshall's chest.

Even though, technically, their friendship was new, he couldn't help but feel like he wasn't being as sincere as he could be. In Marshall's heart, he felt like he knew every aspect pertaining to Alejandro's life, while the opposite couldn't be said in return.

It was an unfair situation to be in.

So, two months after their initial meeting, Alejandro was invited over, for the first time, to the Lahote house.

His genuine amazement at stepping foot into a private beach residence where he didn't have to completely shield his body was endearing. Eyes full of wonder scouring along walls covered in pictures, paintings, and murals had a certain child-like glee to them. Twirling around in front of surrounding floor-to-ceiling windows, simply to feel warm sunbeams on his skin, helped to instill a moment of peace in another vampire whose mind silently brewed with heavy clouds.

Knowing good and well what was planned for the evening, Paul intervened to distract Alejandro in the kitchen to give Marshall a second to gather himself.

Quiet steps against hardwood flooring muffled further when walking over a fluffy carpet. The edge of a low coffee table was lightly brushed in passing. Slender fingers glided along a center shelf belonging to one of two wall-length bookcases. Hard stone made contact with his skin when moving along the protruding edge above an inactive fireplace.

Despite being decades old, Brad's urn didn't have a single scratch or imperfection on its surface.

Marshall couldn't say how long he stayed in his spot, staring without a word.

Standing with his hand wrapped around the small container was his way of seeking comfort. Guidance too.

Brad's soul might've been wandering around in another body, but being near his old remains was grounding.

Paul never approached without announcing his presence when Marshall kept near the fireplace.

That was why he was so caught off guard, even jumping in surprise, when a hand of similar temperature gently settled against his back. He turned around, coming face to face with Alejandro's puzzled expression and tilted head.

"I came in here to grab my phone out of my bag and saw that you looked a little lost. Everything okay?"

"Y-yeah, sorry. Just...got a little caught up remembering the past."

Alejandro gave a light hum, turning toward the urn as well. "Brad Romero. Only twenty four- poor guy was young. Was he someone important?"

Marshall didn't immediately answer. He hadn't expected to be seen with the ashes of his new friend's previous body in front of said person. Nor did he expect a form of interest, and sympathy, in regard to Brad as a person. It was entirely possible Alejandro was just being respectful since he walked in on a private moment. Still, the curiosity in his inflection, as well as his eyes, was too honest to ignore.

And maybe Marshall was seeing things, but he swore he witnessed a level of realization when Alejandro said Brad's name aloud.

A deep breath was taken before confessing, "Yes. You were."

Golden eyes widening was the only reaction given. 

There was nowhere near as much shock as Marshall had been expecting.

Alejandro reached out to graze the urn with careful fingers. "So...this is..."

"...The day we first met, you said I felt familiar to you. That we might've known each other in a different life. The truth is, we did.

"It was thirty five years ago. You left Spain to pursue a career in the States and ended up settling down in Forks, Washington. We were coworkers at a theater for musical productions and were the lead performers in a Dance Company. You were human when we met, so I did what I could to blend in to never tip you off about my real species. There were times I know you suspected, but you chose to never vocalize it. And after you were changed, you proved to me that, had I been honest about not being human, you would've accepted me regardless. We were really close. Never spent more than a few days apart and saw each other as more than family.

"Sadly, only five years after getting to know each other, we were involved in a really awful battle. A cruel twist of fate put us on opposing sides, but you didn't hesitate to fight for me. You...took a hit meant for me, and...your injuries were too severe to heal on their own. You died in my arms shortly after.

"After your funeral, I had to personally cremate your remains. And your ashes have been with me for the last thirty years.

"I- I always hoped that we'd meet each other again. Even when years turned to decades, I never stopped believing I would find you. And then you went for that interview at Paul's restaurant- and he pointed you into the direction of my dance school. And when I really got a good look at you, I realized it finally happened."

"Why...didn't you ever tell me?" Alejandro asked, eyebrows scrunching together.

Marshall shrugged. "I didn't think I needed to. I thought we'd be able to just be friends without memories of the past coming back to complicate things. I was wrong. And I wanted to tell you before our friendship progressed any further to keep you from pursuing something you might not want anymore."

Sighing, Alejandro traced over the name engraved on a small metal plaque. Then, he turned around completely. His eyes softened. A tense expression fell into something more delicate. 

A steady palm cupped Marshall's cheek. 

His features were glanced over as if there was something to be found by looking at him.

"Why aren't you more surprised? I figured this would be a life-altering moment."

"Because I've had...dreams about you. About us." Alejandro gave a pleasant, somewhat shy smile. "Back when I was still human, I would get these little snippets when I slept. I couldn't make sense of them at the time because it was about a place I'd never been with a person I'd never seen or known. Still, every time I had dreams pertaining to you, I always woke up with this weird sense of deja vu. Like the things I was witnessing had actually happened even though I'd never experienced them. They were so vivid and repeated so often, it was hard to distinguish between dreams and reality.

"Then, just like for you, we met- and a whole bunch of stuff made a lot more sense. I made the joke of us having known each other in a previous life to see if you felt the same. It might've taken longer than expected, but at least I finally understand."

Maintaining eye contact, Alejandro brought both of their hands together, squeezing tightly.

"Marsh...I'm glad to have been able to reunite with you. I know I don't have the power to remember everything you and past me went through. More than anything, though, I'd like for us to keep making as many lasting memories as we can. Because we both deserve to experience that type of real, sincere friendship after it was cut way too short."

Marshall had to bite the inside of his lower lip to keep it from trembling.

Tears gathered, nearly falling down his cheeks.

His own smile came to life, showing how happy he truly was to hear those words.

"I've waited so long. I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too...hermano."