speak. • sequel to mute. • muke au

decisions.

Luke.

Michael and I arrive home late in the evening, the orphanage was about three hours away. It was tiring having to drive all the way there and back. My thoughts drift to Jonathan. I'll never be able to see him again...he's going to be taken away, to be someone else's son.

I feel the tears return..I had such a connection with him, as soon as I held him in my arms I felt it. Almost like I did with Michael, only different. Like the way a parent looks at their child. He could have been mine, but we were too late. I feel a hole in my chest, I was so ready to begin a life with him and Michael.

I feel a single salty tear roll down my cheek. Michael comes up behind me, not knowing my current state.

"So Lukey, do you still think we should only adopt a baby?" he playfully asks, putting his arms around my waist and turning my around to face him. His smile falls off his lips as soon as he sees my tears. he furrows his eyebrows. He gives me a hug and kisses my temple lovingly.

"Kitten, I know you loved Jonathan..but it just wasn't mean to be." he soothes while rubbing circles in my back. "but, April..." he trails off.

"You're thinking about adopting April instead?" I ask, a little hurt.

"Well, I mean yeah, she was so sweet and-"

"Michael," I cut him off  "we agreed on adopting a baby...I mean, what if she's different when we bring her home? We wouldn't know and..." I watch as his smile falls again. I feel guilty, I mean I really did like little April, but I didn't see us actually adopting her.

"Oh, yeah, yeah you're right." he quietly says, looking at the ground. Know I've hurt him, good job Luke."C'mon kitten, let's go get some rest, we can talk about this in the morning." he says reaching a hand out for me to take. We walk to our room silently. I shimmy off my skinny jeans and Michael does the same, we both put on different shirts and jut sleep in out boxers. I let him snake an arm around my waist and I snuggle closer to him. He puts a light kiss in the top of my head.

"Night kitten."

"Michael?" I ask before he falls asleep.

"Yea?"

"I wouldn't mind going back to visit April..." I trail off. Maybe this could work, I just have to keep an open mind, right now all I can think about is not having Jonathan anymore and it's blocking my views of what's right in front of me. April.

"Really?" he asks after a short silence.

"Yeah. I liked her alot. I would like to see her again."

"Thank you Lukey, I love you."

"Goodnight Mikey, I love you too.

~

I wake up and I feel cold. I open my eyes slowly, light blurring my vision for a moment. Michael isn't in the bed with me. I sleepily sit up and throw my legs over the edge of the bed, yawning before I stand. I make my way out of our room, searching for Michael.

"Yeah okay, yea. Have a good day." I faintly hear. I walk into the kitchen to see Michael with his phone in hand.

"Oh, morning." he says, a little too nervously.

"Um, morning, who was that?" I ask raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, just Calum, he was just seeing if we wanted to go to dinner tomorrow, that okay with you?" he asks, relaxing.

"Sure. Have you made the coffee yet?" I ask, scratching the back of my neck. He nods and drags a mug across the counter, pushing it towards me.

"No milk, and extra sugar." he smiles. I pick up the warm drink and reach up to kiss him.

"Thank you." I groan dramatically.

He chuckles, and I take a seat at the bar. He stands across from me, the counter separating us.

"So, um, about Jonathan..." he says, avoiding eye contact.

"Michael, let's just not talk about it. How about we talk about April...I've thought about it alot. I mean, I really do want to visit her soon. Do you think we could call the orphanage and tell them we are not only interested in the babies?"

A smile stretches across his perfect lips. "You really like her? You aren't just saying this because I do?" he asks skeptically. I nod.

"No, I mean she was extremely adorable." I giggle.

"Just like you." he bends over the counter, grabbing my jaw and pecking my lips briefly.

"I'm gonna go shower." he says before leaving to the bathroom.

"Don't leave I'm lonely!" I playfully call out.

His head peaks from behind the wall. "Well I guess you'll just have to join me right?" he asks with a smirk

"I guess I will." I laugh as I follow him to the bathroom.