My Half Brother - A Ross Lynch/R5 Fanfic

Chapter 31 - No, You Can't

Chapter 31

Ashley-

"Mom, I'm gonna go out with some friends, kay?" Our thirteen year old son comes into the kitchen as I make dinner.

"No, you can't, C. I'm sorry," I say. "Why not?" He presses. "We'll talk with your dad at dinner."

Ross is supposed to be home by six tonight, but that's not likely. He's been late for the past week. First time, he was half an hour late, and it goes from there.

"Fine." Carter rolls his eyes and sighs, going to his room, and just as the hand on the clock hits the six, Ross walks in the door.

"Babe! Belle, C! I'm home," he calls out, and I walk out to meet him at the front entrance.

"You're actually on time," I state. He sighs. "I've already apologized, what else do you want me to do?" I approach him, wrapping him in a hug. His arms find my body, completing our hug.

"Okay," I say. "We're having-"

"Let me guess," he grins, walking into the kitchen with me. "Pizza again?"

I chuckle. For the last week, I've been making frozen pizzas for dinner, and everyone is tired of pizza; they won't even let me bring it into the house.

"No," I smile. "Spaghetti actually." He nods. "Hmm," he pauses. "Nice choice. I'll be downstairs, just call me up." I nod, turning to the pots on the stovetop, continuing.

~~~

I walk down the basement stairs, and see Ross sitting on the couch. I quietly walk up behind him, my arms going around his shoulder, my fingers gently caressing his upper chest area.

Ross leans back on the couch. "Hey babe. Dinner's ready?" I nod. "Yeah. How's the new song going?"

"Good, good," he smiles, looking up at me. "It's actually about someone special." My eyebrows crease. "Who?" He chuckles. "You don't know?"

I shake my head. "No. Now who is it?" He chuckles again. "You. Wasn't it obvious?"

"Oh," I mumble, a slight blush coming over my cheeks. "I guess. But I'll meet you upstairs." I kiss his cheek, walking upstairs, putting all the dishes on the table.

~~~

"WHY NOT?!" Carter hollers at from across the table.

"Don't talk to your mother like that," Ross scolds our son making him roll his eyes. "But I am old enough."

"Still," I say. "We don't want you out that late. I'm sorry, C." I reason, making him lay out an annoyed and loud sigh.

"You guys are so unfair," he complains, playing with his food. "Ariel is allowed to go."

"I don't think so," Ross and I say at the same time, making both of us chuckle a little. "Your Aunt Delly and Uncle Ell wouldn't let her." He nods still. "Yeah. She said that she tricked them into saying-"

He immediately covers his mouth after he says that, and I jump up, dialing Rydel.

"Delly," I greet. "Hey Ash. What's up?"

"Ariel lied to you," I say. That sounds really bad. "I mean, like, she tricked into saying yes to let her go to the party Carter wants to go to tonight." She takes in a breath. "Okay. We'll have to talk to her. Thanks for letting me know, Ash."

We hang up, and I sit back down.

"So Belle, how's school?" I turn to Annabelle. The nickname caught on when she was young.

"It's good," she smiles. "We're doing this cool music project, and I might need Dad to help me." She looks over at Ross across from her, and he grins.

"Sure, squirt," he says. "What's it about?" It takes a minute for her to answer. "It's don't know how to explain it. It's like - um - like, we have to write a song kinda thing."

"Really," he turns all his attention on her. "What do you want your song to be about? Did your teacher specify an instrument you have to play?" She nods. "I'll play the piano. You can help me after dinner, right?"

He nods. "Absolutely. Just bring a notebook and pen with you." She nods happily, and I smile until I see Carter looking sulky across from me.

"Oh, c'mon C," I try. "It's not the end of the world," I then remember Ross and I got him tickets to his favourite band; Bon Jovi. Takes after me, I guess. Hah. "What if I told you that your dad and I got you tickets to see a show?"

"Who's performing?" He asks, then his eyes light up. "Wait, wait - is it BON JOVI?!" I nod. "Yeah." He gasps, and takes me by surprise my crushing me in a huge bear hug.

"THANK YOU SO MUCH!" He squeals. "And I'm sorry about earlier." He adds quietly. I laugh. "It's good. Just wait till you're older."

~~~

"Ash?" Ross walks into our room, and look up from my novel I'm reading. "Yea?"

"We need to talk," he sits next to me, fiddling with his fingers, head down. "About what?" I ask, hoping that, deep down, it's not something like he cheated.

"Um," he clears his throat. "I have to leave in month to film a movie."

It's not as bad as I thought it would be. "Oh," I whisper. "That's great, babe! You got the lead?"

He looks up. "You're not mad?" I shake my head slightly. "No, but how long will you be gone?"

"Uh," I could tell he was nervous about telling me. "About six months." He says a little quieter, and my eyes almost pop out of their sockets.

Six months?! Okay, so he thinks he can leave me here, with two kids, expecting this to be totally fine? Don't get me wrong, I am so, so proud of what Ross has accomplished, but he's never been gone this long!

"Ross," I start as gently as I can, putting my book on my nightstand, then standing. "Six months?"

Ross-

I knew she wouldn't be okay with this. I know Ashley's really proud and stuff, but she's always hated me being gone for longer than two months or so. And that's reasonable, I get that.

"Babe," I sigh. "I feel bad as it is. Don't make me feel worse." Ashley crosses her arms. "I'm not trying to make you feel worse about anything, Ross! I'm just being reasonable!"

"You know I can't turn this role down though," I reason. "I promise, we can Skype, and obviously text and call to talk."

Ashley-

"But still!" I oppose. "What about the kids? How do you think it would make them feel of their dad left for six months?"

"It's not really-"

"Okay, yeah, but you got the jist of what I was saying,"

"Yeah," Ross says. "But they'll understand, unlike someone." He glares at me, and I roll my eyes, leaving the room.

"Don't you walk away from me!" I hear Ross call. I ignore him, walking down the steps to the living room, turning on the TV, watching some really bad drama that was on.

"I can't believe you!" Ross walks in, snatching the controller from me, turning the show off. "I thought, of all people, my wife, would understand!"

"Well I guess that's not the case."