Under the Mistletoe

December 25, 2019

☀️= Sol
🏋🏼‍♂️ = Alex
😈 = Byron
💕 = Lachlan

~•~

1:32PM, Christmas Day

"I don't feel okay. I really, really don't—" Lachlan's heaves and leans over the toilet, emptying the contents of his stomach into the bowl once again.

~•~

8:33AM, Christmas Day

Alex wakes with a start. A head rests on his chest, pinning his arm to the mattress. Carefully, without jostling the man, Alex reaches his other hand to the bedside table to catch the time.

"Shit," he jerks upright and Byron groans as he's forced awake. Beside them Sol rolls over, dropping an arm across Lachlan who sleeps curled tight into his chest. "Wake up, we have to leave in twenty minutes."

That gets a rise from Sol. His eyes snap open and he pushes himself upright. Catching sight of the time, Sol curses and climbs over Lachlan who moans and buries his head under the pillow.

"Baby, come on," Sol stresses, grabbing a pair of jeans while throwing a shirt to Byron as the man slowly sits up. Alex watches in mild amusement as Lachlan buries deeper and ignores them.

"I'll get him," Alex assures as he drags his own pants on and snatches up a pair of jeans for Lachlan. Sol manages a thanks before he and Byron disappear to make coffee and say goodbye. Alex crawls onto the bed and drags the blankets from Lachlan. "Sweetheart, you need to wake up."

"I am a wake up," Lachlan grumbles, reaching for the blankets and squeezing his eyes shut tight. When Alex throws the blankets from the bed, Lachlan kicks out and sighs. He peeks an eye open. "Can I sleep in the car?"

"No, sweet, Sol will want to talk to you about what to expect. Come on, here's your jeans."

"Are jeans even appropriate?" Lachlan pouts but moves, he slips his pyjama pants off and drags his jeans on. "And shouldn't we shower?"

"We don't have time, sweet boy," Alex says, not even a tiny bit frustrated by how long this is taking. Lachlan rolls off the bed once his jeans are on and he throws his pyjamas into the suitcase so Alex can zip it up.

Byron and Sol return with four to-go cups and hand them out. Alex takes a swig of his and grimaces at the Americano. He's always preferred milk in his coffee. Byron passes Lachlan one and the man takes a sip before pulling a face and blanching.

"What is this?"

"I'm sorry, angel. Lyric stole the last sachet of chocolate so it's a mocha. But I gave you the last of the milk," Byron adds, drinking from his own cup. He grimaces slightly and Alex chuckles. None of them enjoy coffee much without milk to help eliminate it's bitterness.

Lachlan hums under his breath and takes another sip. He gags but smiles through it and Alex's love for him grows a little more.

The four of them say goodbye to the Vernon-Reed's with whispered promises of seeing them again soon. Hopefully early 2020. Alex slips into the drivers seat as Sol take the passenger seat. Lachlan slides in the back and Byron draws his mum and mama into one last hug before joining him. By the time they're driving it's 8:58AM.