infatuation // lashton

24

And I know you're going to be away a while,

But I've got no plans at all to leave.

~One, Ed sheeran

(I found this to be very fitting for this chapter.)

~~~

"Tonight's the night, Luke."

Luke felt his breath hitch and a few tears well up as he nodded.

"How would you like to spend it, love?"

Ashton thought for a few moments before his eyes lit up he smiled, "Let's spend it out in the country, the stars are the brightest away from big cities."

Luke smiled the best he could through his sorrow and nodded, "There's no time to waste, I suppose."

~

Luke could hear Ashton's breathing becoming more and more erratic the farther they travelled out in to the country. It scared him, the thought of losing Ashton, but it was inevitable now. He had to stay strong for his boy, they needed to make the best out of the situation.

"Let's stop here." Ashton pointed outside to a small stretch of field.

Luke pulled over and popped the trunk of his car, quickly circling around and opening the door for Ashton. He helped Ashton's frail body out of the car and he sat him down on the grass. Luke quickly grabbed the blanket from the trunk of the car and sat down beside Ashton, wrapping his arms around Ashton and the blanket around them both.

And so they stargazed.

They stargazed for hours, Ashton's heartbeat slowing as the the stars in the sky multiplied. Luke pointed out all the constellations that Ashton had showed him, a beautiful smile remaining on Ashton's pale face the whole time.

"I love you, Luke. And thank you." came Ashton's weak voice.

"I love you too, angel. I always will."

Luke let the tears stream freely down his cheeks as he pulled the boy farther in to his chest.

"Look, Lukey," Ashton pointed at the sky, "Orion's belt is so bright tonight."

Luke let one sob past his lips and he trembled, "The stars always shine brighter for you, love. They always have, always will."

Luke managed a smile when he saw bright blue and green lights dance across the sky.

"Ashton," he ran a hand through the frail boy's hair, "the Aurora Borealis is out."

Luke looked down just in time to catch Ashton's last smile, "They came to say goodbye."

Luke leaned down to capture Ashton's lips on one last kiss, his tears catching between their lips.

"I love you," came Ashton's voice, barely audible.

"I love you too, Ashton. More than you'll ever know."

The beautiful ribbons of color danced across the sky that night as Ashton joined the heavens. Luke's grip around Ashton's body tightened when he felt his husband's heart beat it's final beat. Ashton was still smiling as his last breath left his body, a few tears sitting still on his cheeks.

"I love you," Luke cried, his body trembling and his face staining with tears as he cradled Ashton's lifeless body to his chest.

"You are loved," Luke sobbed.

"You died loved."

~~~

A/N

i'm crying

one chapter left + an epilogue

ily all

i'm still crying

-anna