All These Years (Muke/Cashton)

Ch. 17 - 24-Hour Bug

*Luke's P.O.V*

"Why is Jace crying?" I ask Michael as he flies past me as I walk out of the bathroom after having my morning shower. I flick my- still wet- hair out of my face as Michael backtracks so he is standing in front of me.

"I swear, I didn't do it!" Michael says in a joking way as he throws his hands up in defence.

"I didn't say you did" I say, giving him a funny look. "What happened?" I ask, glancing down towards the sound of Jace's loud sobs.

"He woke up and puked all over himself in bed" Michael replies. "I cleaned it up already" he adds.

"Is that why he's crying or is something else wrong?" I ask worryingly.

"I don't know, I didn't get a chance to ask yet" he replies.

"And where is Hazel?" I ask.

"Kitchen, with everyone else" Michael says, nodding in the direction of the kitchen.

"Go look after her, I'll go talk to Jace" I say, half pushing Michael towards the kitchen. He mumbles an 'Okay' and we both disappear into different rooms.

"Jace?" I say quietly when I walk into his and Hazel's room. Hearing my voice, Jace looks up at me. His hair is a mess, his face is red and smeared with a mix of tears and snot from crying.

"D-Daddy" Jace cries, holding his arms out towards me. My heart shatters at the sight of one of my babies crying.

"What's wrong, baby boy?" I ask softly, rushing over to him and pulling him into my lap as I sit down on his bed.

"I feel sick" he sobs, burying his face into the towel I had draped around my neck- because I hadn't put a shirt on yet.

"It's okay, Jace" I say soothingly as I rub his back. He just clings himself to me and cries his eyes out.

I think back to yesterday at the park, Jace was perfectly fine, but there was a little boy who he was playing with for a while and he looked like he was sick. I mentally curse at the irresponsible parent that let their sick child play with other kids at the park. But I guess that explains why Jace was starting to get sluggish even before his nap yesterday, which- at the time- I was quite confused about.

*Michael's P.O.V*

"I'm sure it's just a 24-hour bug or something, he'll be fine by tonight" Calum tells me.

"Yeah, I hope so" I mumble, glancing at him for a moment before returning my gaze to Hazel & Leighton, who were drawing pictures in front of the muted TV.

"Stop worrying" he says nonchalantly, resting a hand on my shoulder.

"Guys" Ashton almost shouts as he runs into the room, interrupting me from responding to Calum. "We're out of aspirin and I have the worst headache" he complains, throwing the empty box at me, it lands in my lap and I pick it up and chuck it on the coffee table in front on me.

"And?" Calum asks, raising an eyebrow at Ashton.

"Can you go get some more?" He whines.

"We have two sick kids today, I see" I joke, rolling my eyes at Ashton.

"Please?!" Ashton begs. I sigh and stand up.

"Okay, you look after Jace while Luke & I go get you some more aspirin, I think we need to get something for Jace too" I tell Ashton, who scrunched up his nose.

"But he's sick" Ashton complains.

"So are you" I point out.

"Not for the same reason" he says, frowning.