Fighting Family

1

This is book three in the Loving the Fighter series so if you haven't read the first two go back and read those before reading this one, nothing will make sense. All of you OGs already know, I'm dyslexic so there will be spelling and grammar errors. I know i've kept you waiting on this for plently of years now so let's jump in.- Emmitt 

Fighting Family; a Callum story, began March 16, 2024

Callum's POV

Boxes littered the house that we just sighed the papers to. My name was the main one on the sale paper but it was our home. We had all chipped in for the money up front and now it was here. All of our things were piled in boxes in the new bare living room, Jax was moving the big things one by one by himself, Liam moves the bigger boxes into the main rooms they would be going, Ryder started in the kitchen, and I was setting up the TV because Ryder refused to work without some sort of back ground noise.

Everything was perfect. The home was a four bedroom, that planned for our bedroom, Jax's work out room, a shared office for Jax and Liam, and a guest bedroom/library for Ryder. And it was all ours.

We had just moved in this morning but we thankfully with the four of us it was moving pretty fast. The bedroom was completely set up, the new couches had been moved around countless times already today but now found a permeant homes, the main bathroom was already completely put away, and now even most of the kitchen was done.

Tomorrow we could deal with the guest room and office but now it was nearing 8 and we had been moving since 7; we were all pretty much done with unpacking for the day.

"I ordered pizza," Ryder called out from the kitchen. "I'm not cooking after all of this so find a stopping point and get a movie ready."

I didn't need to be told twice. I flopped onto the couch as I turned the tv to a movie rather than what mind numbing show Ryder picked as background noise.

Ryder came next. His hair had grown out, stopping a little before his chin but he was still the same Ryder I had fell in love with back at camp.

Liam came next, he had gained more muscle now that he was working out with Jax more as a stress relief. Going to school and working at the same time had taken a toil on him, the stress had gotten to him one too many times and the last time Jax had convinced him to get it out of his system through the punching bag. Ever since then any time he started getting stressed he'd grab Jax and hit the bag or doing weight training.

Jax came in last with a smile on his face as he planted himself on my lap.

Jax had changed the most since leaving camp and I was so proud of him for it. He always had muscle but now he also had the healthy weight and build behind it. Several tattoos covered his arms, one was a small iris for Ryder's favorite flower, one was simple blue folder for Andrew with Carter's name on it, there was a king of hearts card on his shoulder for Liam, and though I told him not to, my tattoo was a big rooster tattoo on his inner bicep. I asked why when he told me the idea and he only laughed as said 'big cock' as he walked away. His hair was also shorter now. Not quite a buzz cut but a few guards away from it.

"Do you love it," he asked as he looked around the living room. I had been the one in charge of moving the furniture and hanging up the art work, some that we bought, others that Jax made. I had a bit more to go but I could worry with that later.

"I do love it. We bought a house," I whispered into his ear. He smiled as he looked around the room.

"Show of hands," Liam said as he tucked Ryder into his side. "Who thought we would be buying a house together when you first got to camp."

"I hated all of you so most certainly not me," Jax said.

"I thought I would end up rotting in an apartment my whole life," Ryder admitted. "I thought my future cats would be my only friends and one day when I died they would eat my body for days until my nice neighbor noticed I died."

"Jesus Christ," Liam scoffed. "I'm so glad you went to camp."

"We own a home," I said again because I just couldn't believe it.

"We're the closest thing to married as we can get," Ryder said as he played with Liam's wedding band.

We had a small ceremony a few months ago. Andrew, Patrick, Jem, Dayton, a few of our friends had come. We exchanged vows to each other, gave each other rings, and kissed one another before walking down an isle covered in iris leaves.

None of us were married on paper, all of us agreeing if we couldn't all be labeled as spouses then we shouldn't legally have one at all.

I loved the decision we made. We were a family even if the government refused to see it.

A lot of things had changed since camp. It had been four years, Liam just graduated from school and thanks to Andrew already had a job, Jax was a decently big named tattoo artist and was Dayton's most asked for employees, Ryder and I had started out own bookstore and cafe and it was named a must go place in town.

I had been convinced camp was a death sentence for me. That my life would be in ruins after I left but this was more than I could have ever asked for.

"I love you all so much," I said as my head goes to lean on Liam's shoulder.

"You're such a sap," Jax said as he got off my lap and slid into the spot beside me.

"Well excuse me for telling my husbands that they are the loves of my life."

"Don't worry," Liam teased. "You're excused."