Ease [Cashton/Muke]

Chapter one hundred and one

On Wednesday Luke had his first shift back at the coffee shop he used to work at, his first shift since January. They're all happy to welcome him back with open arms and he doesn't feel like he's forgotten a thing. All the staff are all rounders, everyone having to do everything, and his favourite ex-coworker Kaykay is happy to see him again. Kaykay wasn't a manager but she had been there the longest so she was often the one in charge.

"I've missed you." Luke grins happily, engulfing Kaykay in a hug as soon as he walks into the shop at 7am. Michael dropped him off on his way to the office and would pick him up in his lunch break.
"I've missed you too, now start explaining why you're back before I forcibly pull it out of you." Kaykay says semi-seriously, raising her eyebrows curiously.
"Um," Luke blushes, thankful the shop is still quiet at this early hour. "The guy who dropped me off is my dom."
"But you're-"
"Not eighteen. I know." Luke sighs.
"So..." She adds incredulously.
"I'm pregnant. Obviously it was a big shock but that's how we know. You can't tell anyone." Luke rushes, paranoid that someone will find out.
"I won't, promise." She smiles softly. "I'm assuming that's why you're here, you've left school?"
"Yeah, I couldn't do year 12 if I give birth in the middle of it." Luke chuckles.
"Fair enough." She shrugs, leaning on the counter.

"That dom of yours was driving something sleek, he's well off?" Kaykay gives a knowing look, because of course Luke was attracted to someone rich.
"Richest man in Australia." Luke smirks happily.
"Wait- what? Who?!"
"Michael Clifford, owner and CEO of Scorpion." Luke replies casually.
"No!" Kaykay gasps. "Shut up."
"Would if I could but I can't so I shan't." Luke teases, making the brunette roll her eyes.

"Anyway, are you still waiting?" Luke frowns as he cuts up some fruit, "you haven't matched and not told me?"
"Still waiting." Kaykay pouts. "I feel like I'm never going to be matched. I'm twenty fiveeeeeee." She adds whinily.
"Michael wasn't supposed to be matched until 23, it's normal to have to wait." Luke tries to reassure her.
"But he's a dom. I'm a sub. Since when does a sub have to wait this long?" She protests.
"As soon as you meet them it'll all be worth it."
"God, they're gonna be so much younger than me." She groans as their first customers walk in.

Luke gets through a little over five hours until Michael arrives in his lunch break, happily engulfing his dom in a sweet hug.
"Damn, you really are in love." Kaykay snorts, making Luke grin cheekily and poke his tongue out.
"Shall we get back to the office? I have a surprise for this afternoon." Michael smiles.
"Ooh! I can't wait! Will you give me any hints?" Luke shrieks.
"Nope." Michael pops the p. "We're gonna get it on the way back to the office."

"Bye Kay, I'll see you Friday." Luke waves as he makes his way to the door.
"Bye, you can tell me all about what the surprise was then." She laughs.
"Of course, I can't wait." Luke blows her a dramatic kiss.

"Sooo, will you tell me now?" Luke bounces in his seat as Michael starts the drive.
"Of course not, because I'm a little worried you won't like it." The dom confesses.
"What?" Luke blanches. "Of course I'll like it. I always love your surprises."
"We'll see." Michael hums.

Ten minutes later they're pulling into the car park of a hospital and Luke is very confused.
"I'm even more confused than I was before."
"Well," Michael declares as they get out of the car, "we need to get blood tests done. To prove the baby's paternity."
"Oh." Luke gulps. "I don't like blood tests."
"I didn't think you would, but I'm not letting you get worked up about this." Michael says firmly. "It'll be quick, in and out, over and done. And it's all for a good reason."
"I know, but that doesn't exactly make me want it." The younger replies shakily.

"Then, if you want, we can get a tour of the place and decide if it's where you get your care. Then ultimately, give birth." Michael explains as they walk in.
"Oh. I haven't even thought about that stuff." Luke mumbles. "Have you already decided that this is the place?"
"Of course not, that's your decision. This place just has a great reputation, it's where I was born and I think where Calum was born too."
"So it's where all the rich people on this side of Sydney go?" Luke deadpans.
"Maybe... but for good reason."

They walk in and Luke is instantly uncomfortable, he's never liked hospitals. He grips Michael's hand a little tighter and is more than happy to just follow his dom's lead.
"Hi, we're here for paternity blood tests. We should be booked in." Michael says quietly when they reach the front desk, not wanting anyone else to hear.
"Of course, what are your names?" She asks. Michael looks around and is paranoid that as soon as the name Michael Clifford is said out loud that, people will start listening to every word. Michael just slides his Medicare card across the desk silently.

The nurse looks confused but she goes along with it and nods in understanding as soon as she reads the name.
"Gordon was it?" She clarifies, clearly staring at his file.
"That's it." Michael nods thankfully.
"You don't have a sub in our system, does that information need to be updated?" She asks curiously, sparing a glance to Luke.
"It's complicated... He should have an appointment as well, for Luke Hemmings."

Luke and Michael aren't waiting long before they're called in for their blood test. Luke feels like he's about to throw up. He hates needles. Michael goes first, getting it over and done with to show Luke that he can do it. Luke still isn't convinced but he sits in his dom's lap and closes his eyes. He lays his arms out on the bench, keeping his head tucked into Michael's chest as he feels the pinch and wants to scream.

There's a few unshed tears in his eyes when he pulls back but Michael just peppers him with kisses and the reassurance that he did so well. Most important for them both was the reminder of why they were doing this. They were doing this for each other, for their relationship. It was for their baby as well, so they wouldn't have to try and raise a child while their relationship was uncertain and without a contract.

A/N: Kaykay! And the blood tests! So much! I was too tired on Thursday to process getting to chapter 100 but thank you all so so much for supporting me for this long.

I wrote ease on google docs on my phone but because it lags when the document gets too large, they story is split between four documents. This chapter is the first of the last document so we're properly on the home stretch now but there's still so much to happen!

-Grace Williams xo