twelve

Luke remembers when he found out he was pregnant with Marshall. It was, most likely, one of the best moments of his life.

He was beyond excited, he thought that this would be the savior of his marriage. He couldn't wait for Matty to come home that day so long ago. Luke told him over dinner with the biggest, cheesiest smile upon his face.

Matt was beyond ecstatic. Luke will never lose the memory of the way Matty's face lit up like their Christmas tress (that hadn't been taken down in almost a year). He jumped from his seat, he ran over and grabbed Luke into a hug.

This time around, it was a little different.

Luke looked at the unplanned pregnancy tests laying out on their bathroom counter, each and everyone lighting up with the word he didn't want to see.

8 letters, 1 word. Those 8 letters destroyed his world a bit.

He's being over-dramatic, he knows it. Luke can't stop feeling this way, though. He figures that Matty doesn't love him anymore, he knows that everything is pretend. He keeps telling himself that, at least.

He knows that Matt's alarm is going off in five minutes, he knows that he's got five minutes to get rid of the test.

He tosses them in the garbage, taking the plastic bag out and tying it closed. He can feel his heart beating in his chest as he continues to get dressed for the day.

He's a good father, he gets breakfast started before heading back up to make sure Marshall is getting ready. He can hear Matt walking around their room getting ready as well.

It's Saturday which meant book clubs with the other three. Luke needed them today, he's thankful he's not alone in their big house. He couldn't possibly live without their little group.

Ashton is first to arrive at the park. This is the first time in history that Ashton has ever been early to anything. He was late to his first day of elementary school, his first day of middle school, he didn't even bother showing up for his first day of high school. He was late to his first AP exam, he was late to his mother's second wedding. Bea was late to her own birth—almost a full two weeks late.

The Irwin family were good at being late.

Michael arrived next, Valerie had her once blue hair a dark violet shade. She and Bea went to the playground, Val showing her friend how to use the monkey bars without falling into the dirt.

Ashton looked down at his hands, "So, you remember Jack?"

Michael laughed, "You mean the man that knocked you up and left? Yeah, Ash, I kinda remember him."

The brunette rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Matt got in touch with him and he called me."

"Matt or Jack called you?"

"Jack," he responded softly.

"Oh." Michael remembers Jack pretty well. He didn't know the whole group until college, but he knew Ashton's lover for a solid few years. "Was it a good conversation or...?" Michael trailed off, hoping it wasn't bad.

Michael was so filled with love and care for his friends, he never wanted anything bad to ever happen to them. The other three seemed to be stuck with bad luck, though. Luke's husband isn't faithful. Ashton's raising a kid by himself. Calum's husband is away for months on end.

"I know he's an asshole and everything, but I made plans to meet up with him."

Michael shook his head and let out a small laugh, "Of course you did."

"You know how I am! I fall in love, like, twenty times a day!" Ashton defended.

They both turned around as they watched Caleb going running towards the playground. Calum was a few steps behind him, sipping at his water bottle that was definitely not filled with water. "Morning," the 30-year-old said.

"Ashton called Jack."

"He called me!"

Calum smiled as he was automatically brought up to date with the gossip. "I don't blame him, do you remember Jack?"

"Stop asking that!" Michael jokingly yelled.

"He was one fine piece of ass, Dude." Calum sat down next to Michael, crossing his feet over one another. "Is Luke late?"

Ashton looked around, suddenly realizing they were missing the presence of the blonde. "Oh, my God. He's dead."

"He's not dead," Michael responded, rolling his eyes.

"That's the only reason he'd ever be late!"

Ashton and Michael began coming up with reasons Luke would be late as Calum stared down at his phone. His screensaver was a photo of he, Caleb, and George. They were so happy, he was so happy. He misses his husband more than he thought he was ever able to miss anybody.

Calum feels alone in a crowded place.

Luke arrives fifteen minutes later, plopping down next Ashton and resting his head on his shoulder. "Guys, I'm screwed."

"Ashton thought you were dead," Michael says in a monotone response.

"I'm pregnant."

"Oh, you are dead."

Calum swings the back of his hand to Mike's chest, "Bro!"

Ashton looks down at his best friend, "Really? Does anyone know?"

"Only me," he pauses, "and now you." Luke leans back and sighs deeply, "I don't know what to do."

"Matty is civil enough to take it well, I think," Ashton said as he wrapped his arm around Luke, "he might be a bitch at first, but he'll get over it."

"We have so many problems we're trying to work out, conceiving another human being isn't supposed to be one of them."

"It'll be fine. You guys make cute babies anyways." Ash looked at the four kids running around. Marshall was cute, Luke's coloring and Matty's curls.

Michael was happy for Luke, but at the same time he was nervous for the blonde lad. He knew that things between Luke and his lover weren't going well and it didn't look like it was going to get that better either. "A second kid will be fun, someone to keep Marshall entertained. That could give you and Matty more time."

"Or more stress," Ashton said before shutting his mouth. "I mean, I doubt it will, you're great with kids. I'm not."

"I'm happy with my Val," Michael said, his eyes trained on his daughter.

Calum shrugged, "I wanna get baby two in the oven the second George is home."

"That's such a weird saying," Mike pointed out, "like, don't put a baby in the oven, they'll die."

Ashton looked over at Michael, giving him a look. "Okay, moving on."

"I'm just saying, I pretty much have three children. Valerie—."

"Your cats don't count as children," Luke interrupted, still moping and moody.

"This is why Dwight and Jim hate you."