Yours, Mine, & Ours//Lashton AU

Ten

Nothing ever lasts forever. The old fades out and the new takes its place.

Ashton however, planned on being with Luke for the rest of his life. Not forever. Just for as long as his own forever.

That was why he bought Luke the ring. That was why he asked Luke to marry him. That was why for the past 10 months, Ashton's life had been centred around planning for the greatest day of his life. It was all so he could spend the rest of his days with the love of his life by his side. And that was why when his love got taken away from him so unexpectedly, it broke him. Physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Whenever he thought of his future, he automatically thought of Luke. Now, with Luke gone, whenever he thought of his future, all he saw was dark. Luke was Ashton's light. He was his sunshine. He was his light at the end of the tunnel. Without Luke, everything was dark. And even though the sun had been back for three days now, it had been ten since Ashton had seen the sunshine.

And now, ten days since Luke had died, Ashton had no idea what to do.

In more ways than one he was lost.

Ashton felt he needed to leave Sydney but since his talk with his sister, nothing seemed to make sense and he was pretty sure he would be making the wrong decision by leaving.

Mostly though, Ashton was mentally lost. He didn't know what to do with Luke gone. What are you supposed to do when someone you love is just suddenly ripped away from you like that? How are you supposed to deal with it? Ashton didn't know and his mind was way too confused and scared to figure it out.

That's why, more and more lately he found himself at the Hemmings' house. It was mainly because he found a great comfort in being with them. They all understood how he felt. They knew how he was feeling. They didn't give him the automatic pity everyone else gave him because they knew how hard it was. They gave him pity because they understood how he was feeling. They empathized with him and he with them.

Like now for instance.

He was sitting on the couch with coffee in his hands. No one else was in the room at the moment. Liz had stepped out to take a phone call, Jack and Ben were at their own places, and Andy was taking a nap. Something he'd taken to doing in the past ten days.

Ashton had begun studying the pictures on the walls. They were mostly family pictures. Some of all five of them, some of just the three boys, some single pictures, there was a large variety.

One in particular that caught Ashton's eye was of Luke, obviously. In it, he was sitting in the grass leaning back on his palms. The sun was shining on him which made both his eyes and hair seem brighter. He was laughing at something not in the shot. His eyes were full of joy.

The picture had been taken a year earlier. All of Luke's family had gone to the beach that day and invited Ashton to join them.

The thing Luke was smiling at was Ashton. He'd been walking towards the spot where Luke was sitting when Liz decided to take a picture. At this exact moment, Ashton spoke.

"Hey Luke! What did one ocean say to the other?"

"What?" Luke asked.

"Nothing. It just waved."

Now to most people, this would just make them sigh and shake their head. But Luke laughed at even the dorkiest things his boyfriend said.

Which is why the picture ended up being more of a perfect moment then planned with Luke's wide grin brightening up the whole picture.

Now, as Ashton stared at it, he smiled sadly. Luke always laughed at Ashton's stupid puns which was why Ashton, whenever he could, always told them. He loved seeing Luke's entire face light up and he loved hearing him laugh. He'd make it happen whenever he got the chance.

That was just one more thing Ashton would never be able to get. And that broke his heart.

Then at that moment as a tear fell from his eye, the front door opened and Jack walked in. He stopped, a little shocked at seeing Ashton sitting there alone.

"Ashton. Hey."

"Hi. What are you doing here?"

"Just thought I'd come check up on mum and dad. Where are they?" He stepped further inside.

"She's on the phone and he's asleep."

A flash of worry crossed Jack's face but it was gone just as quick. "Okay. I'll just wait then. And you? Same thing?"

Ashton glanced in the direction of the kitchen where Liz had disappeared just moments earlier.

"Yeah. I also find it really comforting to be here. Which is probably insane because you'd think this would be the last place I want to be its just, you guys all know how I feel and it's nice to be with someone who understands. You know?"

Jack thought of what Ashton was saying before nodding. "Yeah I get it."

"But it's also just even if I'm not talking to anyone, it's really nice to not feel alone. Whenever I'm at home, it just feels so," Ashton struggled to find the right words to use, "it's so empty and I can hardly be there anymore because..." He trailed off. It was clear that if he did finish what he was saying, it would end with him crying.

Jack could obviously sense this and took a seat beside him on the couch. He placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded.

"I know it's okay. I know that mum and dad find it comforting to have you around too. You know how worried they are about you? It's almost all the time. They're always fretting and wanting to call to check up on you." He paused before finishing. "We're all pretty worried about you Ashton."

"I don't understand this though. Why is everyone treating me like I'm the only one who lost him? You guys all miss him and loved him too."

"Yeah we did. And we do. But, it's different. It's a different kind of love. We loved Luke because he's a part of our family but you? You were in love with him. You spent the past five years of your life falling in love with him and you guys were about to make the commitment of the rest of your lives and all of a sudden, in possibly the worst timing possible, this happened."

Ashton tried so hard to make his tears go away but with no luck. They were falling and he was sobbing.

Ben sighed and wrapped his arm around Ashton's shoulder. Then Liz came running into the room. She stopped for only a second when seeing Ashton crying but then her face softened and her eyes were sad. She immediately took a seat on the other side of him and grabbed his hand.

"Oh sweetie." She said softly. "I'm so sorry."

Ashton leaned into her and sobbed into her shoulder. Liz leaned her head against his and the three of them sat there quietly. None knowing what to say or how to say what they wanted.

Somehow though, Ashton felt even just a little better in the comfort of someone so loving and caring. He needed it. This was what he needed.

~

It's 7 in the morning. I figured I'd do this before I forgot. I have a pre-calc test first period and that's not a good thing I don't know what I'm doing. So wish me luck or something

-ash