thirty one

It was a little bit before ten in the morning, the sun was high and bright, but Michael was sound asleep. Calum stood in the kitchen, cleaning up the pots and pans from the kids' breakfast.

Juli and Joey were sitting on the couch watching HGTV compulsively. Calum promised they could go out once Mike was up. June sat on the counter, watching her father move around the kitchen.

June didn't talk, just observed.

There was a knock on the door a few minutes later, Calum looking through the glass to see Michael's mother waiting patiently at their front porch.

He greeted her with a hug, letting her kiss his cheek. "Mike is still asleep," he informed her, "I can go wake him if—."

"No, no, I know how grumpy he gets when he's woken. I wanted to see if I could take the J's out today. There's a farmers market down the road, then I can show them the best parts of the beach and all."

Cal led her back to the kitchen, picking up June to put her on his waist. "I don't want to just drop them off with you, I feel like that's a nuisance." Calum did trust Michael's mother with his kids, Mike spoke highly of his mother and knew she was a good women. He just didn't want to dump three kids on her that she only met the previous day.

"I assure you it's not," she said with a smile. She leant against the counter, "And, besides, you two want some alone time, right?"

Calum bit down on his lip, giving her a look that pleaded exactly what she thought. He looked down at the youngest, "Do you wanna spend a day with Ms. Clifford?"

June looked over at the elderly women then back at her father. To his surprise, June nodded. "I do."

Calum notices the little things about June, the way she's been getting more and more confidence within her own voice since Michael has come around. It's as if her opening up to one person made it easier to open up to everyone.

Cal had growing hope for his youngest child.

Ms. Clifford and Calum bonded over raising children as their black tea brewed. The three Hood kids packed up bags for the day, filled with snacks and sunblock. The first thing Michael did was buy packs and packs of sunblock for his pale skin. He was prepared.

The three kids left with Ms. Clifford half an hour past ten. Calum watched them leave, proud that Juli and Joey weren't fighting over the passenger seat.

Cal started to head down the side corridor that lead to all the bedrooms. All doors were open except the master bedroom. He could hear Mike's soft snores as he breathed in and out.

His fatherly snoring woke Calum up far too often.

Michael had his arm bent over his eyes, shielding his eyelids from the morning sun. He had another hand resting on his stomach, right above where the sheets stopped.

He was laying shirtless, showing a tan line already appearing around where the collar of his tee shirt once was. Calum couldn't help but laugh at the sensitive-skinned boy.

He crawled on the bed, his legs automatically straddling Michael's waist. His hands were cold as he placed them on Mike's warm chest, he massaged the skin and pulled at the little hairs on his chest as he tried to wake up his almost-husband.

Mike whined as he moved his hand from over his eyes, letting it fall against the pillow where Calum once slept. "This bed is just," he paused, "So soft."

Cal smiled down at him, "The kids are with your mom for the day."

Michael lifted up his head, his eyes glistening. "Wait, so we're alone?"

The younger man nodded slowly, biting down on his lip.

Mike's next moves were fast, he flipped his almost-husband over, letting his back hit the soft mattress. He pressed his lips to the corners of Calum's mouth. His arms held him up as Calum readjusted his body below Mike.

Their sex drive went from middle-age men to virgin teenage boys in a matter of seconds.

Luke left the bathroom of their hotel, not even bothering to look at his husband. Matty automatically knew it was another negative test. Luke sat at the desk across from the bed, resting his head on the back of the rolling chair.

Matt watched him move his hands to his face, rubbing at his tired eyes. "Baby, it's fine," he patiently promised, standing up from the white bedsheets.

He kept his voice quiet as he knew Nolan was asleep one room over. Matty rested his hands on Luke's shoulders, slowly pressing into the tense skin.

Luke leant into his touch, closing his eyes and sighing once more. "It's not okay, nothing is working."

Matty leant down, his torso leaning over the chair. He wrapped his arms around Luke's chest, pressing his lips to his neck. "It's okay," he repeated, "I promise you, it's okay."

"Can you get me high?"

"No," his husband responded.

Luke sniffled, wiping his nose with the sleeve of his sweater. "I never understood why you got high until all of this started to happen."

Matty sat down on their bed—only a few inches away from Luke. He spun the chair around so they were looking at each other. Glassy blue eyes met glassier brown eyes. "Lukey, you're breaking my heart."

"I don't want to feel anything," he cried out, wiping his eyes again, "I can't do anything right."

"You're an amazing husband and an amazing father to our child," Matty spoke the truth, "We're going through some shit but we have the needed time to go through that shit."

Luke shook his head. "I'm just so sad."

"Do you remember when you met me?" Matty asked as he leant forward. He put his hands on Luke's knees, running his fingers inches above his shorts. "I was addicted to heroine and all that shit at the time, I was actually leaving to go snort coke right after we met." Matt looked up at Luke, he could see that the blonde remembered every moment. "You and I became friends, then we became lovers. We started dating at the peak of my withdrawal, you remember that, right?"

He nodded.

"You remember the nights I didn't sleep, the mornings and afternoons I'd throw up everything I ate or drank. You remember when I couldn't control my own body, you remember all of that. Do you really think I'm gonna let you go through that just because you don't want to feel?"

Luke shook his head.

"I have an addiction problem," he admitted. "If I ever got you addicted to anything, I would never forgive myself. I would be living in guilt for the rest of my life." Matty wrapped his hand tighter around Luke's legs, spreading warmth to his cold skin. "I know you're sad, it's okay to be sad, but I'm not gonna shoot you up with heroine in order to make you happy."

"Are we even ready to have a second kid?" Luke finally asked. He reached out, grabbing Matty's face and pulling him closer.

Matt stood up, trying not to crush Luke as he fit himself in the chair with his husband. He was straddling his thighs, his hands on Luke's jaw as Luke's hands climbed up his back. "I don't think we're ready, but I would always do anything to make you happy."

Luke couldn't help but cry a little more, silent tears rolled down his face. "Are you happy, though?"

"I'm happier than I was twelve years ago."

The blonde took Matty's hand, looking at the ink. He ran his thumb over the inside of his wrist. "If you were to have no tattoos, would there be new track marks over here?" He traced the spots he knew the veins would be.

"No," he proudly responded, "I got over that bad time in my life just like we're gonna get over this bad time in our life." Matty traced Luke's features, admiring his beautiful love.

"I'm so glad I married you," Luke said, his voice radiated truth.

"I'm so glad you're in my life." Matty leant in, kissing the bridge of Luke's nose. "We're gonna get through this," he promised, "We always do."

I'm not nearly ready to start publishing my next two stories. I don't want you guys to forget about me after this is over, though, so I'm going to put up covers and the descriptions for the stories sometime in the later week then I'll start publishing chapters when I feel although they're ready. 

Does that sound okay? I hope so. 

AnYwaYs, 

I ask this every week, but thoughts on Matty? I really want you guys to notice the growth Matty has made as a character since when we first met him. Dealing with an addictive personality is really hard, especially when drugs are involved. I want you to love him as much as I love him. (AU and real life, wink wink). 

Thoughts on Calum/Michael finally getting married?

Thoughts on Ms. Clifford with the kids?

What would you do if you were in Luke's position?