A family (MingxPhanaxForth)

The move

"Huuuuhhh, what is going on here?" Ming asked as he took place at the table. Phana looked at Ming "Ah Ming, you're up. You look a lot better... more rested. Aim is doing a lot better. His fever is gone and he seems to react well to the new milk". "Aah... that is good to hear" Ming glanced at Forth and wondered why he was there and why he was holding Aim. Forth saw Ming looking at him "I dropped by to see how you were, since you skipped class and sotus, and found Phana and Aim here."

Phana placed to food on the table and Forth put Aim in his crib. "Let's eat first then we will talk" Phana told Ming. Ming started eating, still confused about the situation. After dinner Phana cleared the table and started doing the dishes. Nervous he looked at Ming. He hoped Ming wouldn't be mad at him for telling Forth and making plans without him. He had just wanted to help but now he was doubting how Ming was going to react.

"Uuuhmm" Phana started but stopped. He didn't know how to start. Forth, seeing Phana's nerves, took over "Phana wanted to keep your secret but I demanded an explanation, I wouldn't leave without one. He made me promise not to tell anybody so please don't be mad at him." Forth took all the blame. "We both want to help you" Forth continued "I called my uncle, who is the principal of this school. He agreed to give you lenience. You can use the school's daycare for free. Just drop Aim off before your classes and pick him up after. My grandmother has a cottage nearby where you can live together with Phana and me. We have already terminated our leases and a moving company will collect and move our stuff tomorrow morning. That will give us the weekend to unpack".

Phana looked at Forth in shock. He had told Forth he wanted to move in with Ming to help him but Forth never said anything to him about also moving in. He had no idea that when Forth went outside to make his phone calls, he terminated his lease as well.

"Living together.... All four off us?" Ming listened to Forth's plans in shock, but this was the part that shocked him the most.

"We just want to help" Phana finally opened his mouth "off course you will be Aim's father, but I can help you with chores. I can cook. And when you're busy or tired maybe I can watch Aim" Phana said timid staring at the ground.

Ming stared at Phana, he was mad that Phana had broken his promise but couldn't deny that they had helped him significantly. "Okay......... P'Pha, P'Forth thank you both for all your help. I really appreciate it........" Ming didn't know what to say or how to convey his feeling. He felt happy, confused, mad, sad and grateful at the same time. "What do we do now?"

Forth showed Ming the cardboard boxes he got earlier, and they started packing while Phana held Aim. Afterwards Phana and Forth went to their dorm to pack and they agreed to meet the next morning.

Saturday morning – 10 AM

Ming, with Aim in his arms, looked around the cottage. If you can call it a cottage. It had 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. It was very beautiful with a nice living room, dining area and a huge kitchen which Phana seemed to love. What he loved the most was the location. Despite its close proximity to their school and the city it was completely surrounded by nature. A quiet and safe place to raise a baby. He decided on two rooms next to each other for him and Aim. Phana took the room in front of them and they insisted that Forth took the master suite at the end of the hallway since it was his family's house.

The moving truck arrived and Forth showed the men where to put all the boxes. Ming put Aim in his crib and all three of them started unpacking Aim's room first and then their own. They ordered lunch and gave Aim a bottle.

At 2 PM they had finished unpacking and Forth insisted they go shopping for extra baby stuff. They all drove separately so that they would have enough space to get everything in the cars. They got a lot of looks, three hot young guys with a baby in a baby store. They bought a stroller, baby chair, baby monitor, some clothes, toys, ... everything a baby could need. Ming insisted on paying, Forth and Phana didn't argue despite that they knew this would be a huge cut in Ming's budget but they understood that Ming's pride needed to provide for Aim.

Forth, Ming and Aim drove home while Phana went to the food store. He had seen that the kitchen held 2 refrigerators and 2 freezers so he decided to stock up on enough fresh food for at least a week. When he finally came back to their house, Forth and Ming had already installed all the baby stuff and Aim was sleeping. They helped him unload the car and Phana started cooking them dinner.

"Talk to him" Forth whispered to Ming as they were watching Phana cook. "He thinks you won't forgive him". During the day Phana had barely said a word to Ming and moved cautiously around him. "P'Pha" Ming went up to Phana "P'Pha... look at me" he grabbed Phana and turned him to face him. "I didn't like that you broke your promise but I understand why you did it and by doing so you helped me a lot. Let us put this behind us and promise me you won't do it again." "I promise .... I promise" Phana looked at Ming with tears shining in his eyes. Ming couldn't help thinking that Phana looked really cute acting so coy. He thought about all Phana did for him in the past 24 hours: looking after Aim, cooking, cleaning, fixing all his problems, ... and all the anger he had felt left his body. He felt only gratitude as he grabbed Phana in a tight hug. Phana hugged him back putting his head on Ming's shoulder. Forth couldn't help but smile seeing the scenario before him.