The Nightmare Angel

Long Way Home

"Okay, just a few more steps," Luke said, guiding Michael as his mum covered his eyes.

"Can I look yet?" He laughed, nearly tripping on the step to the door.

"No. Don't be a party pooper, just two more steps... and okay. You can look..." Karen moved her hands and Michael opened his eyes, smiling when he saw it.

"Surprise!" Everyone said. Calum, Ashton, Luke's parents and brothers were all standing in the front room of their house, under a welcome home sign. Ashton and Calum ran forward, practically tackling him in a hug.

"Welcome home buddy! We missed you," Ashton giggled as they pulled away. "Sorry for being kind of a dick..."

"I missed you too," Michael said, smiling brightly and hugging Ashton again.

"I'm glad you're alright, darling," Liz said, stepping up and pulling him into a hug. "Don't you ever do that to us again, understand?" He chuckled and hugged her tightly.

"I won't. I promise."

"There's something else we wanted to show you... but you have to come downstairs," Calum said, grabbing his arm and pulling his best friend down with him. They sat on the couch and he grabbed the tv remote, flipping it onto the channel as everyone came downstairs. Luke sat next to him and cuddled into his side as the news report showed up.

~Three months ago, the band 5 Seconds of Summer brought their manager, Joanne Summers, to court on account of her blackmailing memeber, Michael Clifford. Summers told Clifford that if he didn't do everything she said, she would have his fiance, Luke Hemmings kicked out of the band. This resulted in the suicide attempt of Michael Clifford. During his time in the hospital, the remaining three boys brought Summers to court with a lawsuit. Last night, they won their case, winning over $50 million dollars and their legal contracts from their management.~

Calum muted the tv and they all looked over at Michael who sat speechless.

"What about Joanne, what happened to-"

"She was arrested in the courtroom. She started flipping out and shouting and tried attacking the judge..." Ashton said. "She's out of our lives forever... we also got this lovely restraining order against her." Michael smiled and rested his head on Luke's shoulder. Everything was turning around for the better.

"Alright, well I think it's time Michael got some rest..." Karen said, standing up. "We'll leave the four of you be. Call me if you need anything." He stood up and hugged his mum and dad tightly.

"I love you guys," he whispered.

"We love you too." They all said goodbye, leaving the four best friends alone.

"Okay. We have one last thing we need to tell you," Calum said, smiling.

"Oh no. What is it?" Michael laughed, laying across Luke's lap as he wrapped his arms around him. Ashton and Calum exchanged a look and smiled back at him.

"We're dating!" Ashton said, grabbing Calum's hand.

"Well yeah."

"You saw that coming?" Luke asked.

"You didn't? I basically wrote it out for them..." They all just laughed. Things were finally going right again.

~~~~

"Tomorrow's the day," Luke said, smiling as he packed his bag. Michael smiled, placing a shirt in his own dufflebag.

"Just think... this time tomorrow you and I will be married, probably just barely leaving the party to have some husband bonding time," he winked. Luke laughed, wrapping his arms around the boy from behind.