Wildflower - {lashton au}

Aster.

"Now that has got to be the biggest miracle I've ever seen," Crystal said as she propped her feet in Michael's lap on the patio sofa.

"What is?" Luke questioned.

Crystal pointed to where Calum and Ashton were standing over the grill, passing trays between the two of them and flipping steaks together. "Cal doesn't let anyone help him grill! You know that, Luke!"

Michael chuckled as he rubbed Crystal's skin gently. "Do Crys and I need to worry about you trying to steal our partner, Ash?"

Ashton let out a loud laugh before turning to face Michael briefly. "Definitely not," he said before turning back to Calum. "Sorry, bro, you're just not my type."

Calum laughed equally as loud, putting a hand on Ashton's shoulder. "I'm trying not to take offense to that," he said good naturedly, "because I'm everyone's type."

The group shared a laugh at Calum's words before the two grillmasters went back to their task and the three on the patio sat watching them comfortably. Everything seemed quiet until Crystal softly spoke. "Calum told us."

She didn't even look at Luke as she spoke, and Luke didn't have to look at her to know what she was referring to. Before he could speak, Michael reassured him gently, saying, "But we know it isn't our business to ask or pry into. He'll tell us when he's ready."

Crystal nodded, adding in, "Absolutely." She then turned to Luke with a soft smile. "Please let us know if you guys need anything. Until he tells us or until you guys want to involve us, we know nothing. He's still Ashton. Cancer won't change that."

Luke felt his eyes water as he looked back over to where Ashton was laughing at something Calum had said. He felt his heart breaking all over again as he let out a shaky breath. "I'm so scared," he said softly.

Crystal nodded to herself as Michael spoke softly. "We know," he said. "We're terrified every time Calum goes in for a scan, hoping and praying that we won't hear bad news. We're here to take this in stride with you, Luke. I absolutely agree with Crystal; please - please - let us know if you need anything."

Luke felt a sob coming on and he suppressed it before it could be released. "I need him to not be sick," he whispered, mostly to himself, but earned a soft stroke on the back of the hand from Crystal.

"Nobody deserves this, Luke," she said softly. "Especially not him. We know you love him - it's incredibly obvious. We're here, Luke. Please don't hesitate to let us be here for you."

Luke nodded, hand covering his mouth at an attempt to continue suppressing his sobs. Before the conversation could continue, Calum's voice calling "Soup's on!" had everyone chuckling, especially as Ashton said "Calum - these are steaks."

* * *

It was a wonderful summer evening the five of them were enjoying, the air nice and comfortable and the backyard bug free as they chatted over their drinks and cut steaks. Luke was on his third glass of Crystal's iced tea, already announcing that it would be his last one. Ashton had retrieved him a glass of water and put it beside him to start sipping on, earning smiles from the throuple surrounding them.

"Luke," Michael spoke as he sipped on his beer, "be honest: are you drunk?"

Luke smiled, raising an eyebrow at Michael. "Yes," he said simply, earning a laugh from his friends and Ashton.

"Please," Ashton started, "for the love of all that is good and holy, do not throw up on me tonight. I'll hold your hair back for the toilet, but if you throw up on me, you're sleeping on the floor."