Risk & Reward

Fourteen

"Knock, knock?" Calum steps through the door carefully, unsure of the proper protocol for entering a home with an infant. Usually he'd yell obnoxiously loud to announce his presence, especially after not seeing his best friend for a while, but he's not going to wake the baby and have to deal with those consequences. He's seen that episode of Friends and he's not interested in repeating it in real life.

"She's awake, and she thinks yelling is funny, but I appreciate the effort." Crystal is the first person he encounters, finding her with a cup of tea on the couch.

"I wasn't sure. I haven't seen her since she was extra tiny." Cal laughs, reaching down to hug Crystal softly. "It's good to see you again, Crys."

"You too. Mike's got Lua out on the balcony if you're looking for him. I thought you guys weren't coming over for another hour or so though?"

"I needed to talk to Mike about something, without Luke and Ashton's input."

"Count me interested." She cocks an eyebrow knowingly at him.

"I'll let you cyber-stalk if it goes anywhere further." He laughs, rolling his eyes at the blonde.

"Let me cyber-stalk now so I can tell you if it should go any further? But also, how far has this gone?"

"One date, six weeks or so of talking though, and the date got a bit complex. I don't know, Mike's always been good at helping me sort my thoughts though."

"Alright, but I want a name soon."

"We'll see." He laughs, turning to head back through the house towards the balcony, smiling as he sees Michael talking to Lua while pointing out across the canyon behind the house.

"You know, she did all the work, you could have at least let something from her show through in that kid." Calum grins as he steps onto the balcony, sliding the door closed behind him.

"She did all the work, it's her fault this kid is all Clifford." Michael laughs as he turns. "Good to see you, Cal."

"Glad to have you guys back on the west coast, I've missed being able to stop by. And I've missed so much of this girl's life so far." He tickles her tummy quickly.

"Wanna hold her?"

"As long as you don't run, I came early to talk to you." Calum nods, taking Lua from Michael and bouncing her softly.

"What is so important you made it here early to discuss it?" Michael asks, wandering towards the couch on one end of the balcony.

"Believe it or not, a girl." Calum chuckles, sitting down as well, standing Lua on his knees and letting her bounce.

"Really?" He doesn't have to see Michael's face to know he's grinning.

"Ya, it's been a whirlwind. I met her about six weeks ago, at Luke's LA show actually."

"She's a fan?"

"Ya."

"Is that why it's got you freaked out?"

"No, actually. Though it probably should." He laughs, "she is on that side of twitter." He adds when Michael gives him a quizzical look.

"She's on 5sos twitter and you're worried about something else?"

"Ya, how fast I'm getting attached." Calum sighs.

"What do you mean?"

"We've been talking for like six weeks, only a month and a half, and we finally went on our first date last week."

"And you're worried you're falling fast?"

"I blew off Luke and Ash after Ashton's show last week because her car was sitting in the parking lot a bit longer than it should have. She ended up spending the night that night, we'd gone on our first date earlier that day."