little love

60

FIVE MONTHS LATER

"calum, baby?"

ashton frowns as he looks over the empty family room. when he left the little alone about an hour ago, the tv was on with disney channel on, and the little was very focused on his favorite show (and not so much his daddy).

with a kiss to his baby's forehead, ashton told the little to come get him when his show was over and he'd start dinner for them both. so, it had ashton confused since the tv was off, and his baby was no where in sight.

"sweetheart?" ashton calls out as he steps into the kitchen, and then decides to make his way upstairs. maybe his bubba was in his room playing with his toys. as he gets to the top, its completely silent. it makes more worry pile in ashtons gut.

he turns his head and sees his door almost completely closed at the end of the hall, and if he remembers correctly it was open when he took calum downstairs.

"oh, little one?" ashton calls out, walking to his door. he pushes it open, and feels every ounce of worry leave him all at once.

calum was fast asleep (on his daddys side of the bed) with one of ashtons hoodies on, and another hoodie one the pillow he was using. the little also had his stuffie under his hand, and the paci he was sucking on was falling out of his lips.

with a huge smile on ashtons face, he walks over to his side of the bed and gently sits down next to calums small frame.

"bubba, wake up," ashton says softly, reaching a hand over calum to lay on the littles cheek. he gently moves his thumb back and forth over calums cheek, and it has the little slowly waking up.

"dada?"

"hey, my sleepy prince," ashton says softly, "i thought you were gonna get me after your show was over?"

"wa' s'eepies," calum says softly. the little closes his eyes, and nuzzles his cheek into ashtons warm hand.

calum...

ashton is suddenly hit in the chest - all these feelings of love and happiness swirl around in his heart.

it had been a long five months, but ashton was so happy. he recovered well from his heart attack. and calum, it was like a switch flipped for him one day. when calum was big, he was taking care of ashton. no matter what ashton said, calum was by his side.

calum even got his drivers license, and left the house without ashton to get groceries or to pick up dinner. of course, calum still had his anxiety but it was so much better and ashton was so happy that calum could function on his own.

it also helped ease ashton, since now he knew, if anything happened to him...calum could take care of himself (not that he would at first, but...he would be able to pick himself up and take care of himself after a bit).

ashton felt tears gather in his eyes.

calum, his life, his love...the boy who saved him - ashton remembers seeing calum for the first time.

which, is funny - the day he saw calum was the day he was going to kill himself. then, calum was the new kid at school and ashton felt something inside him and he knew calum was gonna be in his life forever; ashton just didnt know how calum was going to be in his life.

ashton was filled with joy. since he was eighteen, he's watched this boy grow and turn into the wonderful, loving, and amazing husband he is now. there isn't words for it -

one day, they won't have each other. one day they're gonna be six feet underground next to each other. ashton won't be able to rub his cheek, or kiss his lips, or hold him as they sleep...

one day, this home will be a home for another family and every single piece of them will be non existent. that scares ashton. to think one day, he won't have this anymore...

yet, he has today. right now, looking at calums sleepy face...ashtons heart hurts from how much he loves calum. being able to touch his chubby cheeks and kiss his pouty lips and to hold calums frame in his arms...

ashton leans down and wraps his arms around calum tightly, "i love you so so so much, my love."

"'ub 'ou, dada," calum says, then wipes the tears from ashtons cheeks with worried eyes, "ty 'ou cwyin?"

"daddy just....loves you, so much," ashton says, smiling softly.

ashton was going to cherish his love for the rest of his life - whether that was one year, or fifty years. he was going to hold calum often, kiss him, and just...ashton was going to love him with everything he had.

calum smiles softly, "'ub 'ou, dada."

ashton places a soft kiss to calums lips.

they had today.

ashton smiles against calums lips. love surrounded them, and they were both content and happy. they had each other now, in this moment, and thats all they needed.

__________________________

THE END