The Best Years

5

"You look like shit." Ashton commented as Calum walked through the door of their recording studio.

Calum shot him an annoyed lol. Ash held his hands up in surrender.

"What's wrong with you? You wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something?" He joked, letting out a soft chuckle but his laughter died when Calum didn't join him.

"Holls is pissed at me."

"Oh shit. What'd you do?"

"Fucked around with you yesterday on that song instead of going home. I forgot she had wanted to have a date night."

"Yikes. How much trouble are you in?"

"Well, considering she had a reason for wanting to do the date night? A lot."

"A reason like..." Ashton bounced his eyebrows provocatively, mischief shining in his hazel eyes.

"No, just something she wanted to tell me."

"Holy shit. You're gonna be a dad aren't you." Ashton grinned.

"Fucking hell, Ash. Scream it a little louder so the paps can hear you why don't you." Calum hissed. "She's only just told me so don't say anything."

Ashton held up his right hand. "I solemnly swear."

"Okay, Harry Potter." Calum chuckled before staring at his friend seriously. "For real though, it's fine that you guessed, you're my best friend and you'd have found out soon anyways, but don't say anything to anyone else. She hasn't said we were sharing, hell, she hasn't really said anything to me, but I'm already in it I don't need to give her any more reasons to be angry with me."

"No worries, Cal. So, what's your plan to get her, un-pissed, at you."

"I haven't got one."

Ash swung his arm and tapped the back of Cal's head.

"Ow, the fuck was that for?"

"You're an idiot."

"Thanks for the assessment. Could you be helpful please?"

"I—" Ashton was unable to finish his statement as the pair were interrupted but the chaotic entrance of Luke and Michael, along with their producer into the studio.

"Mornin' boys!" Paul, the producer they were working with greeted.

The boys each greeted him I return and gave him their attention.

"I was thinkin' we try and knock out these background vocals for the two we've been working on and maybe the harmonies for the new one Ash and Cal did yesterday then call it a day. Your manager said something about you guys having a publicity thing tomorrow so we need to be productive today.

Calum shot the others a look wondering if anyone knew what they'd been scheduled for the next day but each of the other boys looked as confused as him.

He followed Luke and Michael into the booth, holding the door for Ashton as they all moved to stand next to the mics that had been set up to record the backing vocals they needed to track.

As they dove in to the process Calum found himself wishing he had stopped on his way in to grab a coffee or tea from the cafe he liked. His eyes drooped and he just felt tired. It wasn't so surprising he'd spent a lot of the night laid awake, hating himself for hurting his wife.

He and Holland rarely disagreed or argued. The only times they had ever really fought had been because of her college coach and then after their engagement because of her hesitancy to one day start a family. They were both, for the most part, go with the flow people who disliked conflict so her display the previous night proved how much he had truly upset her.

It made sense of course. Becoming a parent was something that had once been traumatizing for her and she had been obviously excited to share the news with him, going to so much trouble, he'd taken the moment away from her and he hated himself a little for that. He knew her though and knew her forgiving nature wouldn't allow her to stay upset with him for long but that didn't do much to quell his want to fix things.

His kind was only half invested in their recordings and what was being said to him. He followed instructions robotically and barely noticed as the hours slipped away but things progressed with their work.

He was practically incredulous when at merely six PM the group was told that they were free to go. For once everything had worked out as they'd planned it and they'd managed to get everything done they needed to at a decent hour.

Calum's heart leapt in his chest as he thought of a way to apologize to Holland. The day after competition was always a long one for her and if they really had as poor of a showing as she had indicated she'd be keeping the girls well past their normal end time. He just might be able to pull it off.

•

Holland sat in the garage of she and Calum's home for a long while after pulling in. She knew they needed to talk but she didn't want to face him. She'd probably been overly emotional about the whole ordeal and she hated confrontation in general. She just wanted to be able to be excited about their baby and for things to be normal between them.

When she couldn't wait any longer, she stepped from the car and trudged towards the side door. She stepped through the threshold and inhaled, catching the scent of garlic and oregano and guessing that it was leftover from her cooking the night before. She was surprised to find Calum waiting at the table for her. She didn't speak, not to him at least, she pet Duke who tipped excitedly at her feet until he'd been properly greeted, and then stood to face Calum.

"Surprise." He said softly, his chocolate brown eyes apologetic as they looked at her.

Her eyes scanned over the table, he'd attempted to recreate her setup from Friday. "I had to buy the ravioli's because I can't make them like you, but I hope it's still good."

She sat her bag against the wall and stepped towards the dining table where he was waiting for her.

"You did all this?" She asked gesturing to the table that had been reset as she had had it two nights prior .

"This is how you wanted to tell me and I fucked that up. I want to make it up to you though." He told her, standing and moving towards her, his hands reaching gently for her elbows.

His eyes shifted as he searched her face for an indication of what she was thinking. Hoping that his grand gesture of a redo would ease her anger and allow them to celebrate the news of their first child appropriately.

"Thank you." She told him, her arms slipping around his waist and her forehead falling against his chest. He tilted his head down just enough to kiss the top of her head.

"Of course. I felt like shit all day and just wanted to make it up to you. So," he said with a smile, flourishing his hand to gesture to the table behind him, "shall we."

She took the chair he pulled back for her and waited patiently as he filled her plate. He gave her portions a bit larger than she would have given herself but she knew he was trying and so she tried to enjoy their meal and not think about the calories she was eating. That's the thing with eating disorders, they don't just "go away."

"So you had something to tell me?" He asked her, dabbing at the corner of his mouth with a napkin. "Or something you wanted to re-tell me." He said gently and she understood what he was trying to do.

"O-Oh! Yes." She said, taking a breath and placing her fork down on the table. "Cal, I have something really exciting to tell you." She said dramatically.

"What's that?" He said, a smile playing on his lips as he fought to be serious.

She pulled back her lower lip, "you're going to be a daddy."

His grin was wide as he leaned across the table to kiss her, carefully avoiding the lit candles.

"I love you, Holls."

"Thanks for giving me this, Cal. I love you."

An: 🥺🥺🥺 cal fixed it

I can't wait for baby Calland, I hope you can't either!

Ily,
Sav 🖤