Let Me Keep You Safe - 5SOS boyxboy

Chapter Four

 "It's Christmas!" Calum shouts as he jumps up and down on the bed that Michael is still trying to sleep in.

Mikey rolls over onto his stomach and buries his face in the pillow. "Five more minutes," he mumbles.

Calum pouts and climbs onto Michael's back, "Mom made pancakes," he whispers.

Michael sits up so fast that Calum is thrown off of him and lands on the floor with a thud.

Michael bites back a chuckle as he stands up and helps his boyfriend to his feet. "Sorry, babe," he smiles. "I get really excited about pancakes."

Calum giggles as the two boys make their way down to where the rest of the family is already sitting in the kitchen. They each stack their plates with pancakes and sit down with Cal's parents and sister.

"So, Michael," Calum's sister, Mali, begins. "How's your mom doing? Have you talked to her yet today?"

Michael shakes his head as he stuffs his mouth with more of the delicious pancakes. "I haven't had a chance yet. Cal just woke me up a few minutes ago." Michael glances at the clock on the stove. "She's about five hours behind us, though, so it's the middle of the night for her."

Mali nods, and a comfortable silence ensues while everyone continues eating. Calum is the first one to clear his plate.

"Mom!" He says, bouncing excitedly in his seat as he swallows the last of his food. "When can we open presents?"

Calum's mom, Joy, laughs softly. "Calm down, Cal. You're eighteen years old, don't you think you're a little too old to get this excited over Christmas?"

Calum's face falls a little, but Michael quickly reaches over and grabs his hand underneath the table. "You're never too old for Christmas, Mrs. Hood." He says.

"Michael, dear, I've told you, call me Joy," she smiles.

After breakfast, the five of them move to the living room. There are gifts stacked underneath the Christmas tree, and Mali and Calum's father, David, start passing them out. Michael watches happily as Cal's face gets more and more excited with each gift that is handed to him.

Suddenly, David sets down a large box in front of Michael. Mikey looks at it for a second, assuming that it must be for Calum. Then he sees that his own name has been written on it, and he shoots Calum a look.

"Cal?" He asks suspiciously. "What's this?"

Calum shrugs, a smirk forming on his lips. "Looks like a present to me," he answers.

"But we agreed not to get each other anything!" Michael says, his voice raising slightly.

Calum raises his hands in defense and then points to his family, "It's not from me. I can't help what they do, Michael!"

Cal's parents and sister are all wearing a knowing smile as Michael glances at them. From the look on Calum's face, though, he was in on this as well. He might not have bought and wrapped it, but he definitely knew about it.

Michael lets out a soft groan that only Calum hears, and it makes him laugh. He knew that he technically wasn't allowed to buy Michael a present, but he didn't buy it.

"Thank you guys," Michael says, pulling the surprisingly heavy box toward him. "You really didn't have to get me anything."

Joy rolls her eyes, "You didn't think we'd invite you to family Christmas just to watch everyone else open gifts, did you?"

Michael smiles. He loves being with a family on Christmas for once. Even though it's not his own, they are making him feel as if he's one of them.