Lukes hands shake and he continuously glances nervously to Michael as they get out of the car.

"Take deep breaths, lu. You're okay. You can change your mind whenever you want about anything and you can tell me the second you get uncomfortable or need something, okay? Everything is gonna be just fine. You're in total control of the situation and you are not going to do anything for anyone else's benefit, right? Can you say it?" Michael stands with the boy and pep talks him.

"I can change my mind whenever I want, I can tell you when I'm uncomfy or need something, and I'm in control and won't do anything for anyone else's benefit." Luke repeats, working on taking deep breaths and focusing on counting them.

"Good job. You wanna talk to me? How are you feeling?" Michael asks kindly.

"I'm excited but I'm scared, what if I don't recognize him o-or he gets upset or he acts different or... I don't know." Luke whimpers and Michael coos, pulling the boy in for a hug.

"I will not let him do anything to upset you. He's still the same Ashton, he's been through this before, I'm not gonna let anything go wrong, okay? We can wait as long as you need, you tell me when you're ready and we'll go in." Michael reassures and Luke nods, accepting the hug and focusing on his counting and breathing.

"I'm ready." He says after a minute. Michael nods and leads the boy into the building and to the receptionist desk.

"Hello, we're here to visit Ashton Irwin?" Michael says politely and she nods and typed something into her computer.

"Okay, I'll just have you two fill out these quick forms and then I'll send you up." She smiles and Michael nods, taking the clipboards and handing one to Luke who smiles politely and shyly at the woman. The two go and sit and fill out the information needed, signing what's necessary, and take the clipboards back to the receptionist.

"Looks good, so you're going to go up the elevator to floor three and head to your left, you'll pass a cafeteria and then there's some private rooms. It looks like Ashton Irwin should be meeting you innnn... room 4. I'll let him know his visitors are here so he can head that way." The lady informs and smiles warmly at the two. Luke hopes Michael remembers all that because his brain is too scattered to have caught a word.

"Thankyou. Have a nice day." Michael says, the lady returning it and Luke smiling again before following Michael off to the elevator.

The blonde rubs his palms against his jeans as he listens to the elevator count floors, feeling his chest tighten and his breathing labor. They step out of the elevator and he grabs Michael's shirt, stopping him.

"Can we take a break?" He asks, and Michael notices how he's panting.

"Yeah, yeah honey, of course." The man replies, guiding Luke to the side of the hallway so they aren't in anyone's way. "Remember to count love. 4 in, hold for 5, 6 out." Luke nods and counts, hand staying wound tight in the fabric of Michael's shirt.

"Lu, you don't have to be nervous honey. Aren't you excited? Think about how excited you are, and how great it's gonna be, don't focus on what could go wrong, that's my job, I'll take care of that, okay? Tell me what you're excited about." Michael says softly and Luke nods.

"I miss him. We get to talk about everything I've done with you and cali and I can finally hug him and... I don't know." Luke whimpers, but his breathing slows a bit.

"Yeah, yeah, good job Lukey. It'll be great, okay? Ashtons gonna be so excited to see you and talk with you and hug you. You let me know when you're ready, okay?" Luke nods, closing his eyes and breathing more.

"Okay... let's go." He mutters and Michael smiles and nods.

"You're doing great lu." He encourages and Luke smiles small. They make their way to where the lady told them ashton would be and Michael once again asks Luke if he's ready. Luke takes a deep breath and nods and Michael smiles and knocks on the door.

It opens quickly and a very nervous and excited looking Ashton stands there.

Luke observes quietly, practically hiding behind Michael. He's kind of shocked that Ashton looks exactly the same. His hairs the same, maybe a bit less shiny and healthy but not the overgrown tangled mess he's expected. His face is clean of any hair, Luke had pictured a scraggly grown out beard. He looks like Ashton, lukes Ashton.

"Hey." Ashton breathes out, looking at Michael first and then eyes darting to the blonde tuft of hair he can see of the boy hiding behind the man. He steps aside and opens the door wider. "Um, come in." He smiles and Michael smiles and nods, stepping in and toward the couches in the middle of the room. There's two two person couches that face eachother and warm soft lighting, a plant in the corner and a painting on the wall, things to make the room seem less like a rehab facility youre reuniting with your addicted love ones in and more like a comfy room in a home.

Ashtons breath hitches as he sees luke, who's still shyly hiding behind Michael, fully when he steps in the room further. "Luke?"

Luke glances up and finally makes eye contact, feeling his breath suddenly flood back and warmth fill his body. He smiles brightly and opens his arms, lunging into Ashtons warm and accepting ones and holding onto the man tightly, burying his face in the mans chest.

"Hi, hi baby, I've got you." Ashton says with a huge smile, feeling happy beyond belief that the boy is happy to see him and not upset with him.

Luke doesn't let go, he feels tears full his eyes and lets them run onto Ashton, keeping his grip tight. Ashton steps back carefully until he reaches one of the couches and sits, Luke falling into his lap, his grip not ceasing. Ashton rubs his back, breathing him in, savoring the moment after he's missed his boy so much for so long.

Michael watched with a soft smile. He's happy lukes so happy and not so anxious anymore, but he's also slightly worried about the whole thing, not knowing what could go wrong or how this might affect Luke when he has to take him home again and separate him from Ashton again.

"I missed you, lu." Ashton says quietly and Luke let's a sob escape. Ashton squeezes him tighter and kisses his hair.

"I love you." Luke cries and Ashton smiles brightly.

"I love you so much. I'm so sorry Lukey." Ashtons voice is almost a whimper, holding back his own tears. To keep himself from crying he looks up to Michael who is now sitting on the other couch and watching with a smile.

"Thankyou for taking care of him and bringing him here, Michael." He says, making his voice much stronger than it wants to be.

"Of course." Michael answers, smiling, but Ashton almost thinks there's some passive aggression behind it. He brushes that off, he can understand why Michael would be upset with him.

"How's everything been?" Michael asks. Ashton readjusts his grip on Luke which makes the boys hold him tighter.

"Tough." Ashton answers shortly, not wanting by to get too much into it with Luke here and the boy clearly feeling emotional. "How about you guys?"

"Same, at first. Easier lately." Michael nods. Ashton nods as well, looking down to the boy clinging to him.

"Sweetheart?" He asks and Luke looks at him, eyes bright blue and wet.

"Hi honey. How are you? Have you been having fun with Mikey and Cali?" He asks softly and notices Michael's scowl.

"Don't make him slip." Michael grumbles quietly and Ashton nods, realizing that how he's talking will probably cause that, especially with Luke so emotional, and that it would probably not be a great place and time for that.

"Sorry." He mutters, glancing up at the man who's face softens and he nods in acceptance.

He looks back to Luke who sniffles.

"Good, yeah." He mutters. The blondes mind, which has been focused only on Ashton and how much he loves him and his scent and how warm he is and how much he absolutely missed him thus far, starts clearing up and he sits up, wiping his teary eyes.

He takes a deep breath and after a moment suddenly starts feeling uncomfortable, his chest is tight again and his stomach hurts and he's overwhelmed with betrayal and anxiety and hurt and anger.

He stands quickly and unexpectedly, surprising Ashton, and stumbles back. Michael frowns.

"Lu?" He asks and the boys eyes snap to him. He trips backwards and falls on his butt, pulling his knees up and grabbing them.

"Luke? Love, is everything okay? Ashton asks, standing and coming towards the boy.

"No! No, stop, please." He whimpers and Ashton freezes, feeling his chest tighten. "Mikey." Luke whimpers and Michael stands, coming to lukes side and kneeling next to him.

"Hey, hey Lukey, everything's okay. What's up bud? You need to take a break? What's happening?" Michael asks quietly and Luke nods.

"Break?" Michael asks, receiving another nod, and Michael nods too and helps the boy stand. Michael doesn't acknowledge the confused and probably hurt Ashton sitting and watching on the couch as he practically carries the panicking boy out of the room, closing the door behind him and helping Luke sit again, sitting in front of the boy.

"What's up Lukey? Can I help you? Don't forget to breath love."

"F-feel h-hurt! H-he l-left me!" Luke cries and Michael nods, frowning.

"I understand love, that's okay, you have every right to feel how you feel."

"D-don't wanna b-be here!" The blonde sobs and Michael frowns and sighs, nodding.

"Okay. That's okay, we can go home. I'm assuming you don't want to say goodbye to Ashton?" Michael asks and Luke agrees. Michael nods.

"Okay, im right here, I'm just going to tell Ashton we're leaving and then we can go, alright?" Luke nods and Michael stands, opening the door and seeing Ashton sitting on the couch with his head in his hands.

"Hey, lukes not feeling good, we're gonna go." He says shortly and Ashton looks up.

"Oh. C-can I say-"

"No." Michael says shortly and Ashton kind of deflates.

"Did I do something?" He asks worriedly and Ashton sighs, shaking his head.

"No, not now, but you can understand why he's upset can't you?" He asks incredulously but quietly.

"I-I mean yeah but he, he was fine, we were-"

"Yeah, he missed you. And then he probably remembered how much you hurt him and how betrayed he feels. It's gonna take time, Ashton. I'm sorry, we've gotta go now." Michael shits the door and goes back over to Luke.

"Alright buddy, cmon, let me help you, let's get out of here." Michael says softly as he lifts Luke to his feet and wipes the boys cheeks. He gives the blonde an encouraging smile before leading him back to the elevator. The two make their way to the car silently, Luke sniffling and wiping his eyes, but seeming to not have any troubles breathing anymore. As soon as they're in the car Michael turns to the boy.

"Do you want to talk about anything or do you just wanna listen to music?"

"C-can you drive while we talk?" Luke asks, not wanting to have to be looked at. Michael smiles and nods.

"Course." He answers, starting the car and pulling out of the parking space.

"You wanna tell me how you were feeling?" Michael asks and Luke takes a deep breath.

"I was so happy to see him and missed him so much and just felt so warm and then I just... started feeling more hurt and betrayed than I ever have in my life. I don't know. I felt great and then I just felt horrible and wanted him no where near me. I don't know what happened. I think I maybe went in headspace a little bit and that's why I was so happy and when I came out I realized how upset I was." He explains and Michael nods.

"That makes sense." Michael says, staying quiet so Luke knows he's listening and that he can say whatever's on his mind.

"I hope I didn't hurt his feelings. What if he relapses because-"

"No, Luke. Nothing Ashton does is your fault. You have every right to feel hurt and not want to be near him, and he should- and I'm sure he does- understand that. It might make him sad that you're hurt but that's because he cares about you and regrets hurting you, and it does not mean you shouldn't feel the way you feel just because it makes him upset. He should be upset about hurting you." Michael kind of rants, upset that Luke would feel responsible for Ashtons feelings or actions.

"Okay." Luke mutters and Michael sighs.

"I'm sorry sweetheart, I didn't mean to cut you off and shut you down like that, but I don't want you to feel guilty about how you feel." Michael says softly.

"It's okay, I understand. You're right. I just worry about him." Luke says and Michael nods.

"Me too. But it's up to him now." Luke nods and reaches forward to turn the radio on, wanting to be able to space out with music and not have to think.

When Michael pulls into their driveway, he notices Lukes fallen asleep in the last half hour of the drive, and smiles.

He gets out and comes to lukes side, opening the door and carefully unbuckling him. He lifts him out as seamlessly as he can and carries him inside.

As soon as Calum hears them pull in he's running downstairs and opening the door for them.

"Is he asleep?" Calum whispers and Michael nods. Calum follows him up the stairs and into their room where Michael places Luke on one of the twin beds.

"How'd it go? I thought you guys would be gone longer." Calum asks as Michael shuts the door the the room.

"It was fine at first, Luke was really nervous going in and then he was so happy to see Ashton but then he got really upset and we left."

"Did Ashton do something?" Calum asks panicked and feeling defensive of his friend.

"No, Luke just realized that he missed Ashton a lot, but he also felt really betrayed and hurt." Michael says as he leads the Maori to his room and flops onto the bed, opening his arms for Calum.

"Poor Luke." Calum sighs, crawling into Michael's arms and laying against his chest.