A/N: hey guys :) just a lil oneshot here based on a documentary we watched in college which was quite sad, if anyone would like to see it this is it >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDNDRDJy-vo its sad but beautiful x anyhoo not much else to say, this is unbeta'd so i apologize

OH! when sharing the idea i was informed there's something similar on the site but i never saw it so i apologize for any similarities, i assure you theyre completly coinsidental.

anyhoo on with the story :) hope u guys enjoy xxx

****

Two men stand together on the TV, holding one another.. The taller and youngest of the two has shaggy black hair, a shirt that’s too large for him and some faded jeans. He smiles in delight, clinging to the elder, a tall, gangly male with greying brown hair and a few too many lines on his beautiful face, as if he hasn’t seen him for years.

The younger cups the elders face, pressing their lips together and strokes his cheek, whispering how much he missed him.

***Voice Over: Some years ago Michael Shinoda was viewed as an ordinary man. The young male was simply a cartoonist, working hard in the city of LA while his lover of seventeen years, Chester Bennington worked part time at a tattoo store.

“I knew I loved Mike from the moment we met.” Chester sits on front of the camera with a small smile, fidgeting with the fabric of his shirt as he looks to the camera. He is sitting on a cream couch with a chocolate brown wallpapered wall behind him. “He came into the shop with a friend for moral support…they wouldn’t let me tattoo his friend I was so distracted looking at him.” He chuckles and rubs the back of his neck, a sad smile on his fav

ce.

***V/O:*** Thankfully for Chester his feelings were returned and ten years ago the couple were wed.

“It was the happiest day of my life..” Chester says with a small smile.

*

The screen changes and shows Chester holding Mike’s hand and sitting on a couch, pointing at photographs of their wedding. In every one the two men hold onto one another, smiling, kissing, dancing, feeding each other.

“Do you remember who this is?” Chester asks, pointing out a young woman with red hair. Michael gazes before shaking his head, a concentrated expression on his face. “That’s Anna…you’re best female friend, you asked her to be best ‘man’ remember? She dressed up in a dress suit and spoke at the reception.”

“Oh yes, Anna.” Michael says and pauses for a few moments. They looked through some more pictures, Chester holding Mike’s hand who occasionally beams a smile and points to the both of them on a picture. “That’s us!” he announces happily and Chester smiles, nodding. He points yet again to the red haired girl in the dress suit.

“Mike do you remember who this is?” he asks and after another few moments of concentration Michael shakes his head again.

***V/O:*** Seven years ago Michael was struck down in an accident. While out getting groceries he was the unfortunate victim of a drunk driving incident. While he miraculously left the car without an obvious physical scratch it soon became apparent things were not as okay as they had seemed.

“When I got the call…” Chester continues, sitting back on the couch by himself. “Your partners just been involved in a very serious accident…I grew very upset. But I went to see him in the hospital and thankfully he was okay…at least he looked it…” Chester glances down to his hands and tries to hide his tears. He rests his hand against his forehead as if shielding his eyes as one tear escapes. “H-he…erm…I mean…I knew something was wrong, straight away….” He hiccups but brushes the tears away and looks to the camera. “I rushed over to him, so glad he was okay and he looked at me…blankly and asked…’who are you’?”

***V/O:*** It took Bennington several days to convince the doctors to look to his lover for an explanation for what the doctors caused Temporary Traumatic Amnesia. However as Chester feared it was not temporary. A part of the brain known as the hippocampus had been irreparably damaged. This one single affect of the crash left Mike with one of the worst recorded cases of amnesia in history.

“Mike…he doesn’t have memories.” Chester says, stroking his forehead. “He doesn’t remember…anyone…anything. Not a single moment we spend together can he remember. He doesn’t have his past and he cant think of the future..” It is obvious to see the elder struggling talking about this but he takes a deep breath. “Michael lives in the now…at first…it was a good day if he remembered fifteen minutes ago. Nowadays…well…if he remembers two minutes it’s a good day…and its as close as I get to my old Mikey again.”

***V/O:*** Over years Michael has remembered nothing other than Chester. While he cannot remember their wedding day nor the day they met he remembers that this man is his lover. However every time he sees Bennington it is as if he hasn’t done so for years.

Chester walks in having just gotten some shopping that his best friend Joseph has brought over. He has been gone for no more than five minutes. He rests the bags in the kitchen and walks into the living room where Michael is sitting on the couch. The young Asians face lights up beyond recognition and he stands, rushing over to the forty year old and hoisting him off his feet. He spins him around, claiming loudly he missed him.

Chester laughs but its forced and sad and he winds his arms around Mike’s neck. Once he is on his feet Michael cups his cheeks and kisses him with his eyes closed, happy tears escaping his eyes.

“I love you.” He whispers, hardly loud enough for the cameras to pick up. Chester gazes to him with teary eyes.

“I love you too..” He whispers truthfully, feeling Mike hold him close again.

***V/O:*** Fearing his husband would wander out of their loft in the city, Chester pooled all money he could gather together and bought them both a lovely bungalow in the city. He works from home in telecommunications so he is able to keep an eye on his lover.

A beautiful red brick bungalow is shown and outside it is sunny. Chester sits by a picnic bench in the garden with Mike who is drawing. Chester has a glass of wine and gzes to his focused lover, a small smile on his face.

“What is it?” He asks and Mike blushes, cover the page over with his hand.

“A surprise.” He claims, lowering his gaze.

*

Chester is standing a little distance away from Michael and looking into the camera. He toys with a forget-me-not, pulling off the blue petals as he glances back to Michael then back to the cameramen.

“The doctors say…that something called his procedural memory is completely intact.” Chester claims, explaining how procedural memory is the ability to do things. “He still paints…still plays music. He can play piano and guitar beautifully. And he also remembers how to dress himself, tie his shoes…everything like that.”

He turns and walks back over to Mike. The camera follows and the thirty-eight year old glances upwards. His eyes widen and he smiles broadly, jumping up from his place and rushing over to Chester. The brunette smiles and opens his arms as Mike falls into them, holding his husband close to his body.

“Oh Chester!” He gasps, eyes teary as he kisses his lips. “I’ve missed you, I’ve missed you…”

Chester kisses back, eyes flickering closed.

“I’ve missed you too.” He whispers hoarsely as Mike takes his hands and kisses his knuckles. He feels the younger pull him close, hand on his hip and he sways them to a nonsense tune he hums. He doesn’t notice the presence of cameras. All he can focus on is Chester.

*

The scene cuts yet again and Michael is sitting in the kitchen, eating a slice of chocolate cake. There are flowers in the window as Chester glances outward as if looking for someone. He then turns back to Mike and smiles to him.

“Brad and Rob are coming over.” He tells him, resting down beside the young man who sits beside a birthday card reading ‘To my Dear Husband on his Birthday.’ There is also a necklace on front of him that Chester has given as a present as well as a small cake in the middle of the table with a slice missing from it.

Michael nods at the news of visitors.

“Do you know who Brad and Rob are?” Without hesitation he shakes his head, gazing to Chester as he takes a bite from his cake. Chester tries to fight the sigh that escapes him but it goes unnoticed. “They‘re two of our best friends Mike.” He claims, touching his hand. “Do you know why they’re coming?” Again Michael shakes his head, eating more of his cake. “Because it’s your birthday.” His eyes light up.

“It’s my birthday?” He asks and Chester smiles to him, stroking his hand.

“Yes, you’re thirty-nine, you’re getting old.” Mike pauses and makes a face as if thinking. Chester bites lips lip. “So why are they coming Mike?”

“Because it’s my birthday.” He says, concentrated face fading and he smiles to Chester who nods, picking up his hand and kissing the back.

“Very good...and who’s coming?” Mike opens his mouth to reply but frowns and glances back to the cake, closing his eyes.

“I-I don’t remember.” He stutters, appearing like a small child as Chester gazes to him.

“That’s okay.” Chester says, kissing his knuckles again and closing his eyes. “Our friends, Rob and Brad.” Mike smiles as if satisfied with this answer. Some more seconds pass and then he looks to Chester.

“Why are they coming?” He asks and Chester picks up the card, showing it to Mike.

“Because its your birthday.” he claims, opening the card and reading what was inside. “To my darling husband…I love you so much, forever and ever and I will tell you that every minute I’m with you. Happy birthday, I feel honoured to have spent another year by your side.” Mike gazes to a teary eyed Chester. He touches his cheek and leans in, kissing it.

“That’s from you?” he asks and Chester smiles weakly, elbowing him fondly.

“Unless you have some other husband to give you a card.” he says, moving his hand so he is stroking the hair a the nape of his neck fondly. Mike chuckles and leans into him, pressing his lips to his cheek and closing his eyes.

“No silly, you’re my husband.” Chester smiles, it is one of the few things he remembers and Chester is thankful for it. He stretches out, touches the nape of his neck and pulls him close, kissing him.

***V/O:*** For some years now Chester has been seeking medical help, spending most money he makes on trying to discover a way to help his lover. Michael however cannot remember any of the doctors he has visited.

They show Mike in a room with some paintings, he is reading his own signature in amazement, trying to remember the pictures then they call his name and ask what he thinks of the doctors he has visited. He shrugs.

“What doctors? The doctors don’t care.” He tells them, looking back to the pictures. “I…wake up….and….I don’t know how I got here…but the doctors do not care. I haven’t been to see a doctor.” Chester walks in and touches his hand, smiling softly to him.

“You have Mike, don’t you remember all the nice doctors?” He shakes his head, appearing distressed and Chester pulls him close, pecking his lips.

“I’m sorry.” He whispers but Chester shakes his head.

“Don’t be, you are perfect as you are.” He whispers, kissing his cheek tenderly.

*

“You know…” Chester is back on front of the camera, this time just outside the kitchen. Behind him the door is ajar and their friends Rob and Brad are seen hugging Mike for his birthday before having to explain who they are and telling him his other friend Dave is on his way. Chester smiles weakly. “It is hard…really hard….and after we realised what happened everyone said to me…get out…let the doctors care for him, find someone else….” He shook his head. “And while maybe he isn’t the same man I fell for…he is still the love of my life. And I’m sticking by him. We’re letting this be recorded in hopes someone somewhere we haven’t gone to knows some…cure or way to help…” He bites his lip and feels the tears return. “I miss him…I do, I still love him but…” He glances to his feet and shakes his head. “I’m s-sorry…I…” He excuses himself, walking away front he camera which zooms in as Mike politely asks the two men in his kitchen who are they.

***V/O:*** In short we may never understand the human brain fully, how it ticks. Michael has been involved in some studies and even a lobotomy which brings us closer to knowing more about our memories. But on a smaller scale of things how much hope is left for one young man who at the tender age of thirty-nine is living each and every day with no grasp of his past, his fut…

Chester Bennington turned off the TV and rested a hand on his head. He really had hoped this would somehow generate attention to Mike’s case and maybe someone with the answer would seek them out. This was one year later, the program was on repeat and he had seen it four times.

He rested his head in his hands and instead turned on a video. The forty-one year old had no idea what was in there but when he turned it on he felt his heart swell and break all at once.

’Congratulations..’ the music rang out. ’And celebrations…when I tell everyone that you’re in love with me…congratulations…and jubilations…I want the world to know I’m happy as can be…’

Mike was spinning Chester around on a dance floor, both dressed in smart black suits. Chester was smiling, laughing, happier than he had ever been and people stood around them clapping. It was the end of the night on their wedding night so many years ago, before the crash, before all this.

He watched with teary eyes as he and Mike, both appearing drunk but rather were high on life and most of all on love.

The loud congratulations music faded and the wedding band announced that they were going to play one last song. Chester and Mike’s wedding song once more. They had played it once at the beginning of the night but now they wanted the love birds to dance again and Chester smile, leaning into his lover, holding him in a waltzing position, Mike taking the lead and singing along to the song.

“Baby lets cruise..” He began, smiling to Chester.

“Away…from heeeerrreee..” Chester continues, smiling as he’s twirled around.

“Don’t be confused.”

“The way is cclleeeaarrr.” Chester didn’t even question why he was singing the girl parts, he just smiled.

“And if you want it you got it forever..” They sang together, spinning around the dance floor. “This is not a one night stand, baby yea…so…let the music take your mind…just release and you will find…you’re gonna fly away…glad you’re goin’ my way….”

“C-Chester?” The greying male spins around to see a stunned looking Michael standing by the door. The boys eyes widen and he rushes over, winding his arms around the elders body. Chester was almost laying back on the bed due to Mike’s weight but he hugged him back. Closing his eyes. “I missed you.” the younger whispered, closing his eyes. “I’ve missed you Chester.” He turned his face and kissed him, his cheeks, his lips, anywhere he could reach as if they were apart for years. Chester managed to turn off the tv and held his love properly.

“I’ve missed you too Mike.” He whispered with shaky breath and cupped Mike’s face. They stared to one another for a moment and Chester silently wished he could remember just….something. It had been so long since Mike had been properly warm with him, laid with him in bed, holding him, talking about his day, making love. Chester missed all these things.

They embraced again and Chester suggested they go to bed, Mike smiled and nodded and walked away to strip down to his underwear. He then crawled back into bed as Chester stripped.

“Hmmm hm hmm hmhm hmmm…” Mike started humming with his eyes closed, smiling. Chester didn’t really noticed, Mike hummed his own little made up tunes a lot. He pulled off his shirt then the boy behind him whispered some words to go with his little song. “You’re gunna fly away….glad you’re goin’ my way…..I love it when we’re crusin’ together.” Chester paused and tensed, looking over his shoulder.

“T-that one of your songs baby?” he asked and Mike shook his head tiredly.

“I…heard it.” He mumbled softly and Chester sat on the bed, touching his leg from over the blanket.

“Where did you hear it Mike?” The young brunette asked again, gazing into his partners eyes. Michael gazed back to him.

“E-eh…er….the video…” He said softly and Chester was shocked. Mike had heard it from the video, he remembered it from a video that had been on a minute ago. Chester’s eyes were teary and he nodded, kissing his love.

“Yes, yes the video. that’s a special video…a special song…” Chester smiled, tears in his eyes as he leaned forward and kissed his lips sweetly. Mike smiled and laid in the bed but after a moment he paused.

“The special song…” Chester cringed. He knew he was gonna ask what was it? He would forget….he would… “I love it when we’re crusin’ together….music is made for love…hm hm hmhmmmmmhmmm….” Chester sat in disbelief as Mike remembered the song. He felt his eyes grow teary and he got into the bed beside him, smiling broadly.

“I love you.” He whispered, lining in and kissing his partner on the lips, eyes flickering closed. Mike kissed him back.

“I love you too.” He whispered, a smile on his lips as he laid down beside Chester, holding him. The elder couldn’t stop smiling ad when Mike’s breath seemed to level off he allowed himself to cry a little but they weren’t sad. It was hard, every day was a challenge but times like this when he saw glimpses of Mike getting better…that mad everything worthwhile.

***

A/N: R&R f you deem it worthy :)