PTSD | Sequel to Little Clifford

33

Michael's POV

It's been a few months now since we moved to LA and Parker moved in with us, and things were going great. The boys and I were now on our actual break since we had finished the 2 week promo tour a week ago.

My birthday had just passed and I was now 21 and Arden's 9th birthday was coming up soon.

Today, I had planned to take Grace, Parker, and Arden to Disneyland, so that's where we currently were. The boys decided to tag along as well.

We decided to go on a Thursday, thinking there wouldn't be many people there. Luckily, Grace was able to get the day off.

We had enrolled Parker and Arden in a gifted learning homeschool program. Grace, Parker, and I agreed to have him homeschooled as well after everything that had happened, and we soon discovered that, like Arden, he was a very smart kid.

"Where to next?" I ask as we got off the Buzz Lightyear ride.

"Let's go on space mountain!" Calum suggested and we agreed.

We got in line and made our way through it pretty quickly. This was a fast ride and we weren't sure how the little ones would like it so I sat next to Arden and Grace sat next to Parker while the guys paired up randomly.

The kids ended up loving it and we all put our hands in the hair and screamed/laughed throughout the whole ride. Our picture at the end was hilarious, because all of the boys decided to make ugly faces.

"Let's go to Small World," Luke suggested as we kept walking.

That ride was fun too.... Well it was kind of creepy for the boys, Grace, and I. The faces on those dolls were pretty scary, but Parker and Arden had a blast, singing along to the song and seeing all the different "parts of the world."

When we got off that ride, Arden tapped on my arm shyly, "Yeah Princess?" I smiled and squatted down to her height.

She blushed a bit and folded her hands, holding them in front of her, "Can we go to the Princess Village please?"

I laughed, "Of course."

I stood up and gave her a kiss on her forehead. I held her hand and held Grace's with my other as Ash held Parker on his shoulders.

"Princess Arden has asked that we go to Princess Village," I smiled and the boys all agreed to go.

"Is that where you're going to live when you get older, Arden?" Grace asked, craning her neck slightly to see her.

Arden shook her head with a giggle, "No."

"What? Why not? That's where the princesses live!" Grace questioned playfully.

"But you don't live there! Plus, I want to stay with you and Mikey forever."

Grace let out an 'aw' and laughed, "Ok well you can stay because I want to keep you with me forever."

We made our way to the princesses' village and Arden got to take pictures with all of the ones that were there. Grace joined in with her because Arden insisted that she was a princess and had to take pictures with the princesses as well.

Of course, Grace wasn't complaining. She absolutely adored Arden's behavior towards her.

Our day continued in a similar fashion. Someone would suggest a ride and we would go on it. Parker and Arden loved Toon Town where they got to see Minnie's and Mickey's houses. The Roger Rabbit ride was also really fun to go on.

We ate at a little restaurant by Thunder Mountain, after we went on the ride of course, and we even did the Tom Sawyer's adventure thing. It's where you take a little boat to this fake island and you get to explore it. Calum almost got stuck in a fake tree while we were doing it and it was absolutely hilarious. Of course, instead of helping him... We snapchatted it.

"So who is all coming on tour with us next time?" Luke asked Grace and I as we now stood in the line for Splash Mountain.

We looked at each other and shrugged, "We haven't made our final decision yet, but we were talking about both Parker and Arden going. Grace has work during the day and classes at night and Parker has yet to see the world," I say.

"Grace aren't you going to be lonely?" Luke pulls a sad face.

"Well it's not like I don't have things to keep me occupied," She laughed, "I have work, school, I have your guys' girlfriends, and I know that Michael will be back. Tours are temporary and they end at some point. Plus, I'll fly out when I have breaks and stuff."

"You guys have it all figured it out, don't you?" Calum playfully squints.

"Who'd have thought that Michael would be the first one to get his life all dialled in?" Ash laughs.

I laugh as well and shake my head, "I didn't even think that."

We enjoyed that ride and as it started to get darker, we began heading over to the front of the castle where the fireworks would take place. I felt myself starting to shake with nerves because of what I was planning on doing. We waited with a crowd of people until it got completely dark. Then the boys and I took the hands of Grace, Arden, and Parker and started to push to the front.

"Michael what are you doing? We can't cut in front of all these people," Grace said.

"Shh relax," I laughed as we got to the front. The worker standing behind the ropes to keep the crowd behind a certain point, gave me a knowing nod before opening the ropes for us. The boys and kids stood a little bit off to the side, already knowing what was happening.

"Michael..." Grace trailed off as I held her hand and moved us to be in line with the castle, at the very entrance of the walkway. The crowd waiting for the fireworks, had gone silent, wondering what in the world we were doing.

I stood and faced Grace, taking both of her hands in mine, before clearing my throat.

"Gracelynn Elizabeth Corrigan," I started.

"Oh my god," she whispered, causing me to laugh a little.

"I have known you for many years now and I have also been in love with you for many years. I just adore you. I love how you have to give me a hug whenever we first see each other, no questions asked, we have to hug first. I love how you have gotten the same ice cream flavor since you were five years old, two scoops of mint chip in a cup with gummy bears on top, because it just wouldn't feel right if you ordered it any other way.

"I love how caring and loving you are. You accept all of my flaws and I hope you know I love all of yours. I love you for who you are, everything you are. Somehow, you manage to love the crazy, colored hair guitarist that is Michael Clifford, and that's pretty amazing. The way you treat my sister with such love and tenderness makes me fall even more in love with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

"I know we are young and we probably won't even get married for a few years if you say yes, but I can't wait any longer. I needed to ask now."

I got down on one knee and pulled a small black box out of my pocket. Grace gasped and so did everyone in the crowd. Tears started to fall from her eyes and I chuckled as they fell from mine as well.

"Whew!" I said as I wiped them away, making everyone laugh. I opened the box and looked directly into Grace's eyes.

"Gracie, will you marry me?"

Grace covered her mouth with her hands to keep from crying as she nodded, "Yes- yeah- Yes Michael. Yes," She laughed as I stood up. I couldn't keep the huge smile off of my face as I slid the ring onto her finger. I gently grabbed her face with both of my hands and pulled her in for a kiss just as the fireworks went off and everyone cheered. I was so cliche.

I pulled back from the kiss and placed my forehead on hers, "I love you."

"I love you too."

The kids then ran over to give us hugs and the boys all hugged and congratulated us.

This moment was perfect.

A/N

This was the last chapter :((( Epilogue is next!

Hope you liked it! :)

Love you guys!

Red