Response || Malum || (Sequel to Reaction)

16

Calum's POV

October 12th, 2019

Michael is running around the bedroom of our hotel suite like a mad man, trying to pack his things. The minutes since the phone call have seemed like hours and my brain can't keep up. My hands are trembling as I half ass fold a tshirt to throw it into my suitcase. When I dare look up at Michael, he's zipping his suitcase to yank it from the bed.

"Have you called Mali?" He asked from across the room where he's now shoving electronics into his backpack.

"I sent her a text." My voice is rasped by nerves.

"Is she going to beat us there?" The scowl evident on his face.

"No of course not, her flight time is longer than ours." I assured him while I checked the text from Mali. I was surprised she text back despite the time difference but Lily has her running ragged.

"I'm nervous." He sighed, running his hand through his hair. The color of the month was blue but it was quickly turning purple which I enjoyed.

"Me too." I admitted while the two of us met security in the hallway to take us to the airport. Michael's fingers tangled around my own as we walked down the long hallways to climb into the service elevator.

It was barely getting dark outside but our fans have been lined up since this morning. I was thankful for the fact that we didn't have to cancel a show for this. Life happens unexpectedly I guess. Even if it's planned out you just never expect things to actually happen. It just all changes so quickly sometimes it's hard to comprehend. Michael was smirking playfully at me when I looked up so I nudged him with my shoulder.

"What are you smirking at?" I rolled my eyes.

"You're gonna make a cute soccer mum." He teased and I snorted a laugh. Even in the thick of seriousness Michael finds a way to lighten the load.

"Shut up, we don't even have a name picked out." I sighed, the nerves still bubbling below the surface.

"We have a long flight to think of some." He shrugged, the smirk still evident on his lips. The elevator doors slid open slowly and our security took the first steps out, giving us the all clear.

Every step felt heavy and the closer we got to the car the more I wanted to run back in the opposite direction. We spent the first two years of our marriage planning out the possibility of a family and now that it's happening, I'm terrified. We are still young in age but time has matured us a great deal. Michael could hardly pass kids on the street without whining to me about how much he wanted one of our own. I never knew he was such a kid person, it was humorous to watch sometimes. He was "Mr. Tough Guy" but put him within fifteen feet of a baby and he would crumble like a cracker.

He was ready for this, but I on the other hand was scared to death. What if I was a terrible dad? Michael would be the perfect dad it was evident but what if I fucked everything up with our kid? Both of us invested a lot of time and research into the surrogate mother to make sure everything was perfect. She was a gorgeous girl that is around our age and just graduated from college in Los Angeles. Her and Mali had become friends in the short time my sister came to stay with us just after she had Liliana. She agreed to be our surrogate by some miracle and we used Michael as the biological father.

He argued with me for days about that too. Michael insisted he wanted me to be the father but I refused. I wanted this baby to look like Michael. His features would combine much softer with those of our surrogate and eventually I won the argument. It's going to be amazing to have a little Michael around our house.

"You okay?" Michael's voice whispered in my ear, making me jump.

"Yeah." I choked out as we climbed into the back of the car. Michael scooted his body as close as he possibly could to me, resting a hand on my thigh.