"Shut up and do Niall already, leeeeave us alone!" Calum pushed Luke out of the bedroom so he wouldn't have to be bothered by Luke.
"Fine!" Luke screamed from the other side of the door, "you just want the bedroom so no one will hear the sëx you're about to have!"
"I'm going to kill him," Calum groaned.
Liam chuckled, "best of luck, mate."
Michael was laying in bed still waiting up for Ashton. He was suppose to be home at ten, it was going on twelve at night.
When the older man crawled into bed, Michael attacked him with questions. "Where were you? What happened? Are you alright?"
Ashton sighed, "I'm f-fine, Michael."
"Oh... Okay, well the boys decided to have a sleepover."
"Great," Ashton just wanted to shower, wash all of his guilt away, fall asleep. and get the dirty images of Bryana out of his head. At first it was kinda hot, but now just thinking about her made him feel sick. He planned to cut off their affair before it could unwind.
***
"Luke ate all the poptarts," Calum sneered, "what am I suppose to eat?"
"What about toast? We have vegemite yeah?" Ashton asked. Calum shrugged. Liam, Harry, and Niall all had looks of disgust on their faces.
"You guys eat that stuff?" Niall made a face.
"You don't?" Calum teased.
Michael had to drive the boys' to their house after lunch. Niall was clinging to Luke in the van. "Aww Lukey's got a boyfriend," Calum laughed.
"Nuh uh!" Luke yelled, missing the frown on Niall's face.
"Yuh huh," Calum countered. Michael turned the music up to tune out the sound of their bickering.
Ashton left without saying a word to Michael that morning. He was a little sad that Ashton didn't cuddle with him like he usually would after work, but he figured working double shift was just exhausting. "When's Dad coming home?" Luke said suddenly.
"Later tonight," Michael answered. It was silent the rest of the way home.
***
"Good morning, Ashton," Bryana waved. Ashton felt his stomach tighten, he clenched his jaw and simply turned the other way. "You're so... tense," Bryana commented, placing her hand on his shoulder.
Ashton flinched, "f*ck off!"
The blonde woman laughed, "oh I would, but first I'd have to tell your wife of your promiscuous activities."
"I have a patient to deal with,"
"I can help," Bryana followed Ashton to his office where a sickly pale girl was waiting. Ashton sat behind his desk and smiled slightly.
"Who's she?" The girl signaled to Bryana.
"She's 'assisting' me," Ashton assured. Bryana bit her lip, picturing the things they would do once the sick girl left. She liked having power over an older man, it amused her how easily she could control him.
"Ashton, I know you're busy, please call me back soon, I love you..." Michael left a message to Ashton's work phone. If Ashton was working over time he would always give him a phone call. He felt a pang of sadness wash over him. Calum could see tears form in his eyes. Michael was starting to wonder if him and Ashton were losing their spark or something. Maybe seventeen years isn't good enough. Before the boys' could see Michael wiped away the tears. Calum was pissed to say the least.
A few hours later Luke was clinging to Michael's chest. He didn't feel good and he was woken up by a nightmare before that. "Daddy?" Michael shifted his arms slightly.
"Yes?"
"Can I sleep in your bed?"
"Yeah babe, that's fine," Michael agreed sadly. Luke started to get up when he felt his stomach turn suddenly. Rushing to the bathroom he fell on his knees in front of the toilet. Michael cringed at the noises coming from the bathroom.
"DADDY!" Luke cried. He was way too tired and scared to care who his screams woke up.
Michael was soon in the bathroom with a cup of water for Luke. The blonde was shaking and sobbing. Vomiting scared him, and he knew he wasn't done yet. Michael rubbed his back and pushed his hair out of his face. "It's going to be okay, Luke," Michael promised. Calum was woken up by the commotion down stairs.
He sat on the couch since the bathroom door was locked. Ashton walked in at that moment. His tie was falling off and his hair was sticking up in places.
"Oh hi, Dad, it's not three am or anything, good job getting home on time. You missed all the fun," Calum snapped. Ashton rubbed his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"Luke's sick and he had a nightmare, but you obviously don't care about us, so don't worry about it," Calum sassed.
"Calum, I love you guys. I got held over, I'm so sorry,"
"Whatever. Be home on time tomorrow and maybe I'll give a f*ck," Calum spat angrily.
Luke was crying in Michael's arms. "I don't wanna be sick, Daddy."
"I'm sorry, Love. I can't do anything," Ashton knocked on the door.
"Are my boys in there?" Luke perked up at Ashton's voice. The ex drummer proceeded to enter. Seeing Luke looking so weak was terrible. Ashton took him from Michael's arms, "I missed you." Luke was half asleep at that point, physically exhausted from being sick and not sleeping well.
"Missed you too," Luke muttered.
"So what held you over?" Michael questioned.
"What?" Ashton laughed.
"Why were you late, again?"
"Sick people can't wait-"
"Luke's sick, and you were suppose to be home hours ago!" Michael snarked.
"Maybe you should just mind your own business!" Ashton yelled.
"How isn't this any of my business? You know what. I'm sleeping on the couch!" Michael went to get blankets for him and Luke.
That night Ashton was in bed listening to the song "Strong" by One Direction and crying while Michael was taking care of Luke. Calum had fallen asleep peacefully after his talk with his dad.
