Never giving up on you - Completed.

44.

Austin

'Should we wake him up?'

'No, leave him...'

'It has been noon already, Cait.'

'So?'

'It's his birthday.'

'Yeah, and? He needs his rest.'

'We're almost at the hotel.'

'Let him sleep 'till we reach it. Just a little longer.'

I was half asleep and half awake while listening to the hushed voices of Caity and Tino. I didn't want to open my eyes yet; opening them meant waking up and I already knew I would feel like total shit. My eyelids felt heavy anyway, so I just laid still in my bunk, barely aware of my surroundings until I heard the curtain open softly.

'Daddy?' It took great effort to finally open my eyes and turn my head to see only a pair of fingers, two big eyes and a bush of uncombed bedhair popping up over the edge of my bunk. 'Daddy, it's your birthday!' I grunted and rubbed my face with my hands, turning on my side and looking at Hailey.

'Yeah, it is,' I said, managing a smile at her. By the look in her eyes I could see she was smiling too, and then she ran off.

'Mom! Daddy's awake!,' she yelled. I heard Caity come up to my bunk and her face broke open with a smile when she saw me with my eyes open.

'Hey,' she whispered, leaning her arms and head on the edge.

'Hi.'

'How are you feeling?' I sighed deeply. How was I feeling?

'Like I got struck by lightning,' I answered, honestly thinking it wasn't that far off the truth. Caity pouted a bit.

'We're almost at the hotel... You think you can get up?'

'Yeah. Just give me a minute.'

'Alright.' She turned around and started to walk off, but came back after a few seconds again. 'Oh, Aust?'

'Hmm?' Caity smiled and leaned into my bunk, cupping my face and kissing me.

'Happy birthday.'

'Thanks,' I chuckled. I watched her go and prepared myself to climb out of my bunk. It somehow went a bit easier than I thought and I quickly got myself dressed in the small space between the bunks before heading into the front lounge.

'Daddy!,' Hailey cheered while she clamped herself unto my leg. I ruffled her now combed hair, making Caity groan a bit.

'Austin, I just did - Nevermind.'

'Happy birthday!,' Alan and Phil cheered. I thanked them and sat down, thankful for Caity handing me my medication and a bottle of water. The rest of the band and crew wished me a happy birthday too and I was happy when I felt the CBD-oil and other painkillers work after a short while.

When we finally pulled up at the hotel just outside the center of London, I wanted to grab my bag but Alan took it before I could.

'Not carrying anything heavy, bud.'

'What?' I stared after him while he got out of the bus with both his and my bag, and saw Caity look at me. I narrowed my eyes at her and she suddenly motioned Hailey to get off the bus and into the hotel.

'Did you tell Alan to help me out?,' I asked her, walking up with her in a few strides. She gave me an innocent look. 'Cait... I don't need the guys to watch over me too.'

'I think you do,' she said, looking away from me. I sighed deeply and rolled my eyes while following her through the lobby. Peter was already checking us in and handed Caity a key card.