seven eleven ∞ m.c.

fourty nine

lauren never felt so angry and sad in her life. jasmine called as if she or her husband was in trouble, it was her mom. "i don't want to fucking be here, jasmine! why would you even call me?" lauren exclaims.

"i don't know what the hell is happening, but she could be on her death bed! she said she wants all her children here, and she said you specifically!" jasmine yells back, tears in her eyes.

lauren walks over to michael. "im sorry for having to stop you guys."

"it was fun nonetheless." ashton chuckles.

"you guys can leave if you want."

jay, alexia, tyla, ashton, luke, and calum all take a seat, even on the floor, meaning they weren't leaving. "it could be something urgent, and we're here for you." luke smiles.

"so luke isn't an asshole after all, huh?" lauren smiles, patting his shoulder.

"some people change." he smiles, squeezing her hand. the doctor comes out of the room, eyes set on lauren.

"you must be lauren. your mother wants to see you."

she took hesitating steps to the room, looking back at michael who was smiling. the door closes, her mother looking fancy even laying on a hospital bed. "lauren devine," she smiles.

"mom." lauren says. "why am i here? im like the last person on earth you'd want to see."

"no you're not." she smiles, and grabs lauren's hand. "ive kept this a secret from the family because i didn't want anyone worrying. i have cancer, breast cancer."

lauren felt remorse for all the thins she's said and done to her mother. with a hug, lauren starts bawling. "fifteen years of my life without you mom, and you have cancer."

"baby, it's okay." she smiles. "i didn't get to see it, but you're in love. jasmine told me all about this michael, and that's all i ever wanted."

"b-bu-"

"get michael in here. i want to speak to him alone."

"b-but-"

"no buts, missy."

lauren walks out, everyone looking at her. "she wants to talk to you, mikey." lauren speaks.

michael was absolutely scared of what was going to happened behind that door. when it closed, there was no yelling, no screeches. about seven minutes later, michael came back out laughing. "i like your mom better than mine."

jasmine went in as michael hugs her. "she told me about the cancer. she told me that whatever happens to her, that i need to take care of you. if i don't, she's going to haunt me forever." michael laughs a bit.

"i love you lauren. whatever happens, i'll be by your side the whole time, i promise."

"me too." calum smiles adding onto the hug. soon everyone did, lauren feeling more loved than she ever did. "man, i love you guys." calum pretends to cry."

"shut up man." lauren laughs, playfully hitting calum.

jay wanted to talk to lauren, michael bringing the boys over to a side bar. "her mother gave me this, guys." he pulls a diamond ring from his pocket.

"dude!" ashton whisper yells.

"this was the ring on her finger. she insisted i take it, and propose to lauren with it. im getting the case for it tomorrow." michael whispers, looking in the eyes of all of them.

it was quiet, too quiet. he felt as if telling them was the wrong thing to do. "am i best man?" calum spoke.

laughing, michael nods. the boys bring him into a hug, that eventually got broken up due to their clumsiness.

"ive got to talk to my momma." michael speaks, walking in. jasmine left out, and she smiles.

"what's wrong, hun?"

"don't you think it's too early to think about marriage?" he asks.

"no, the way you were talking about her proves you love her." she grabs his hands, cupping the ring in his palm. "this is a precious ring, michael. the engagement ring is at home, this is the wedding ring."

"yeah, i guessed, bu-"

"you have my blessing, michael. propose whenever you'd like, but i'd like it to be when im still alive."

"you're not going to die." he says, looking at her. "you're strong, just like lauren."

"not strong enough."

"wait, don't-"

"im not dying, im going to sleep." she chuckles, the worried expression on his face fading. "just propose to my daughter."

michael walks out, the doctor telling no one else is allowed in until he does the tests. he looks at calum and luke, who nod.

his stomach was churning, his head pounding. "lauren, im not going i go on a whole explanation of why i love you." he grabs her hands.

calum, luke, and ashton stand up, dancing a bit making him get off track. "im going to come straight forward as say it." he gulps.

"say what, michael are you bre-"

she squeals when she sees michael get on one knee. he holds out her mother's ring, "will you, lauren devine, marry me?"

a/n

uhm