"She is dead, but there's a will left for you and your family."
"No, she was fine just a month or two ago-"
"Heart attacks are very random, Mr. Irwin-Clifford. I am so sorry for your loss."
"No you're not, you're not sorry. You probably get paid bonus for every family you call. I'll be down in an hour."
With that the phone was put back on the hook. Ashton looked at Michael with worry. "My mother passed away last night..." Michael fell against his husband in defeat.
"Why does the bad stuff always happen to me?"
"Love-"
"First I have a husband that cheated, then he smacks one of my kids, I got a crappy job as a crossing guard to bring in some extra cash, now my mom's dead, and you don't have a stable job yet. Why do I try?!"
"Michael, I'm sorry." Ashton hugged him and tried to calm him. Mildred and Ilah already left.
Michael sobbed into his husband's chest as Ashton rubbed his back.
"Dad!"
"Daddy!"
"Luke hit me!"
"Calum was calling me names again!"
Ashton and Michael turned to face their two sons. "Not right now guys. Something happened to grandma." Ashton supplied.
"But Calum called me stupid," Luke muttered.
"He smacked me!" Calum started up again.
"I'm going to smack you both if you don't quit the fighting. Did you not hear what I just said?" Ashton raised an eyebrow at the two.
"But da-"
"Go to your room, Luke!" The older adult screamed. Luke's eyes glossed over with tears as he scurried up the steps. Calum decided to hide out in the living room for a while. Michael was crying on Ashton still.
"Love, I think you'll feel better after some sleep, c'mon baby," Ashton led his crying husband to their room, tucking in the vulnerable man.
"Why couldn't I have been there? I never knew she was even ill! It's not fair, she is too young!" Ashton rubbed his back.
"Shh, don't think. Do you want me to sing to you?" Michael slowly nodded in agreement. Ashton sat him up in his lap, covering the two with the bed spread.
"Don't talk, let me think it over
How we gonna fix this?
How we gonna undo all the pain?" Michael whimpered.
"Tell me, is it even worth it?
Looking through a straight line
Taking back the time we can't replace."
"Ash-"
"All the crossed wires
Just making us tired
Is it too late to bring us back to life?"
"ASH!"
"When I close my eyes and try to sleep
I fall apart, I'm fighting hard to breathe
You're the reason, the only reason
Even though my dizzy head is numb,
I swear my heart is never giving up
You're the reason, the only reason
I feel you burning under my skin
I swear I see you shining
Brighter than the flame inside your eyes
Bitter words spoken,
Everything broken
It's never too late to bring us back to life."
Michael sobbed into Ashton's chest. The older of the two rubbed his fingers through his hair and down his back.
"I love you," Ashton spoke quietly. Michael made a little whining noise before saying it back to Ashton.
***
"You're a freaking d*ck! I hate you!" Calum screamed.
Luke taunted his brother more. "I'm going to tell Dad about your cigarettes! He's going to hit the roof!"
"Luke please! You can't tell him! I'll do all your chores! Just don't say anything!"
"Although that would be awesome... I don't care!" Luke jumped off his bed and ran down the hall. He wanted Calum to chase him around, and he hit the right nerve in his brother. Calum sprinted through the halls, he wasn't as fast as Luke though.
The blonde held his fist above his head, threatening to knock on their parents door.
Calum tackled him to the floor. He pinned Luke's hand down beside his bed and used his legs to straddle the boy.
"Do me a favor, and shut the f*ck up, Luke!"
Luke curled his lips up like the grinch, "Dad!!!" He screamed. Calum didn't have time to react as Ashton exited the room, catching the boys fighting outside his door.
"Calum Thomas! Luke Robert!" Both boys looked away. "What's going on here?!"
"Calum's tackled me!" Luke huffed.
"He was antagonizing me!" Calum said in his defense.
"Both of you follow me... NOW!" Luke and Calum followed Ashton. He lead them to his office, closing the door behind and crossing his arms.
"I've had enough of the fighting between you two. I'm going to end it right now! Come here, Luke, Calum."
Luke's legs felt like led. He wanted to cry in protest, but Calum wasn't crying so he figured he shouldn't either.
Ashton sat on his leather loveseat, motioning his sons over.
"I'm sorry!" Luke pleaded.
Calum was keeping his eyes on his feet. Ashton didn't pay any mind to their nervousness. Once they were close enough Ashton spoke.
"I am not in the mood for it today, you have really pushed my buttons. I'm going to spank both of you together, I don't have time for it today."
"What?" Calum snapped. There was no way he was going to be spanked in front of his little brother! Luke couldn't find any words to express his anger. He kept quiet.
Ashton tugged Luke over his right leg, Calum over his left. Luke was crying silently. Calum closed his eyes tightly, not wanting to say anything.
Ashton pulled Luke's skinny jeans down his thin legs, Calum's followed the same fate. Luke thought it was unfair of him to be in trouble when Calum started it. Sure he antagonized his brother, but it was still unfair.
SMACK "Ow!" Luke whined.
SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK SMACK both brothers cried out when they received smacks. Calum bit his lip, but Luke didn't bother to hide his distaste.
It was unfair! Calum didn't think he should have to be punished alongside his little brother. Ashton let them keep their boxers on, but he was considering removing them.
After seventy smacks to each boy, Ashton stopped. Calum had a set of tears falling down cheeks. Luke had been sobbing, not caring who heard.
"Stand up and face each other. I expect apoligies right now."
Luke rubbed his eyes quickly and did as Ashton asked. Calum did the same.
"I-I'm sorry, Luke. I shouldn't have tackled you..." Calum hoped his brother wouldn't say anything about the cigarettes.
"I'm sorry too, I guess I was asking for it, sorry," Luke muttered.
Ashton sighed, happy with their apologies. "This isn't the best time to tell you, but Daddy's mother passed away. He's very upset. I know you boys didn't know her very well, but Michael is very upset."
Luke and Calum didn't know what to say. Luke hugged his dad. "I'm sorry." Ashton hugged him back.
"I know baby. Let's go cuddle with Daddy. Calum, are you coming?"
The three of them kept Michael company, trying to coax him into not being sad any longer.
