"'M so happy, Cai," Asher mumbled sleepily.
Cailen smiled down at him eventhough his eyes were shut. It just made him happy to hear Asher was happy, especially in the current situation.
“I was so anxious that you might’ve noticed and call me clingy, but I can’t stop myself.” Cailen remembered the conversation that he heard between Asher and William.
So it was about that, he thought.
But Cailen's smile fell when he realized the implication of what Asher said and when he continued, his words mumbled and trailing off as he fell asleep.
"I can't wait to tell the boys," was what he said right before he fell asleep.
Cailen froze in his spot, his eyes going wide as he stared down at a sleeping Asher.
Tell the boys? Did William know? They couldn't tell the boys, they couldn't tell anyone. That couldn't happen. That- This couldn't happen. Wh
He just kept walking down the driveway and down the sidewalk.He didn't know where he was going. He didn't have a plan.He could go back to Uni, his tuition and everything was already paid for and it was non-refundable so Edenand Deanwouldn't get the money back anyway, but the thought of going back there felt wrong.It felt like he wasn't really leaving and he needed to.He needed to leave and be done with it or it would end up hurting everyone even more.Hejustknew he couldn't stay there.He had fucked up royally and now he was paying for it.So for now,he would just walk around until he knew what to do.He didn't know how long that would be but he was thankful that the weather wasn't being a cliché right now with pouring rain and thunder.No, it was actually a nice night, a slight breeze that would have given him a slight chill if it weren't for the jumper he had grabb
Cailensat at the bus station, his ticket held firmly in his hand that rested on his knee.His leg was jiggling up and down, the events of the night not allowing him to sit still. His nerves were at an all-time high at the moment. He couldn't believe he was doing this.Most of all,he couldn't believe he was doing this tonight.He figured that he might as well pile all his biggest problems on at once. At least that way,he could deal with them all at once rather than get over one only to have the other blow up in his face.That was the only reason he could think of as to why he had just bought a ticket to Hamdover.So he could randomly just show up at her doorstep and say 'Hey, I'm the son you dumped on the doorstep of an orphanage! Do you remember me?'.He wasn't thinking, obviously.It seemed to be the theme tonight so he decided to just roll with it. He knew this would have to be done anyway. He knew he
"Um, Sir?"She asked because it must have been at least a minute and Cailenwas just standing there, staring at her.He just couldn't find his voice. It was her. She was standing right in front of him, asking how she could help him and he couldn't speak.He didn't know how he knew it was her, maybe it was her nose, maybe it was her eyes or her hair and that she actually did look like him, but he just knew.He had so many questions, so many things to say to her, yet he couldn't make any words form.This was a bad idea.Hell, the whole night had been a bad idea.How did he go from being at a party, to being with the boy he loved, to losing his family, to ending up staring at his biological mother like a fish in a fishbowl?Why did he come here? He shouldn't have come here.Why did he think he could do this? He couldn't do this.Cailen'sfeet were way ahead of his brain, one of them stepping bac
Cailen'seyes landed on a little girl that stood in the entry way, half her body hiding behind the wall with her head poking out. It was the same little girl that answered the door.He thought Arabellacalled her Ava. He tried smiling at her, not wanting to be rude but he's not too sure how that had turned out.Apparently,it was enough for her to stop hiding and step into the living room, another little girl following behind her that looked just like her. They were obviously twins and they were obviously both curious as to who was sitting in their living room."Hello,"Cailenspoke gently, making one of the twins grab hold of the other's arm."Hello,"the one who seemed to be the braver of the two spoke-the one that answered the door.He didn't say anything else because he wasn't sure Arabellawould want him interacting with her children, but apparently the kids were too curious."Who a
"Cailen," Arabellasaid and he could tell by her tone that the happy chit chat was over."Don't take this the wrong way, because I am glad you came.I never thought- I never thought I'd get to see you but, why are you here?" she asked softly, leaning forward so her elbows were resting on her knees. "I mean, do you have any questions? Like, what were you hoping to get from this?" she asked.He supposed it was a valid question, and he supposed he should have an answer, but he didn't. He didn't know why he came here. He didn't know what he wanted to happen."I don't know,"he admitted, still staring at the ground. "I- I just- I came here on a whim. I didn't even really think about it, not until you answered the door and- and then I really had no idea why I was here,"he explained.She took a moment to consider this, probably just as lost as him."Do you have any questions you want to ask? I'll try to answer them,"&nbs
Another silence fell over the room and Cailensuddenly wanted to take it back.He didn't actually want her to kick him out.He knew they only just met but, he's been rejected by so many mothers before. He wasn't sure he could be rejected by her as well."Okay,"she said finally, sounding confused. "What does that have to do with- Oh,"she spoke softly again, barely audible which surprised him.He was expecting harsher tones and much harsher words."I see now,"she said, sighing afterwards."What?" he asked quietly."They don't know, do they?" she asked.Cailenshook his head. Why wasn't she kicking him out?"And you think if they did, then...""Then they won't want me around anymore. I know they won't,"he finished for her."Are they homophobic?" she asked like she already knew what the answer would be."Uh, no- I- don't know,"he answered honestly.
Cailen'sfeet thumped against the pavement, the sun beating down on him making it too hot for his jumper anymore.He awkwardly took it offover his white tshirtwhile juggling his bag and continuing to walk at the same time, tying it around his waist as he hurried down the streets of Beverwood, focused solely on getting home.He didn't know exactly what would happen when he got there but he knew he couldn't leave without any kind of explanation.It wouldn't be fair to his family. It might be hard as hell to say, but he had to tell them.Even if they do throw him out, at least everyone would have the answers they needed. Of course it would suck if that's what happened but it needed to be done.Cailenwas tired of hiding, of lying and pretending. He's been tired for a while now and he thinks he's finally snapped.He was kind of glad he ended up at Arabella's. He doesn't think he would have realized what he nee
Cailenwas pulled into both the room and William's arms.Williamheld him close, bent over slightly, allowing Cailento fit his head over his shoulder to see Ashersitting on his bed looking atthe floor.Noah was standing beside the bed withhis eyes on Cailen. Matthewwas standing at the end of the bed, arms crossed over his chest, his eyes also directed at him."Why didn't you answer any of us?" Williamdemanded, pulling away from Cailento look at him."My phone died.I'm sorry,"Cailenapologized, trying his best to ignore Noah's knowing stare and Matthew's blank stare. "I'm sorry.""I- We thought you were- running and I didn't know what to do,"Williamsaid quietly, somehow making himself look small even though he towered over Cailen.Williammust be a bit torn between his best friend and his brother and Cailenfelt like shit for putting him in
"Hey, hey, it's the superstar, finally making an appearance!" Matthewcalled out when they entered the kitchen.Cailengrinned at this while Williamlooked a bit sheepish. He knew he was never around much and constantly apologized for it, but they all understood and were all proud of their friend."Shut up, I've been busy!" Williamdefended just as the two girls at the counter turned in their stools and gasped.They each climbed their way down from the stools, Aariyahalmost taking a tumble but she caught herself and then they were each latched onto one of William's legs, the older man chuckling."Uncle William!" Maddisonsquealed, squeezing William's leg tight.Williamawkwardly bent down as far as he could without hurting or squishing the small girls, reaching out to rest a hand on each of them."How are two of my favorite girls?" he asked.It was truly adorable how much they each loved
Cailenonly had to look over the boy's shoulder to see his brother saunter in, but Ezekieland Ellianahad to turn around and Cailencouldn't say he was exactly surprised by the reaction.Ellianagasped in surprise while Ezekieldarted forward and threw himself at his uncle.Williamchuckled and wrapped Ezekielup in a tight hug, rocking him back and forth slightly before letting go."Uncle William, you made it!" Ezekielsaid happily.It had been a while since Ezekieland Maddisonlast saw him."Papasaid he didn't know if you were coming," Ezekielexplained.William mockscoffed."Of course I will! I wouldn't miss my favorite nephew turning fifteen!" Williamexclaimed.Cailentook a peek over at Ellianato see a look of confusion mixed with awe and nearly lost it. He would never understandthe effect Williamhad on teen
Both Matthewand Cailenlooked over to where the girls were sitting.It was instinctive now, whether it was your own child saying it or not, when you heard 'Daddy'or ‘Papa’, you look.Maddisonwas standing from her spot and making her way over to where Cailenand Matthewsat, a sheet of paper in her hands."Look, isn't my flower pretty?" she asked holding up the paper to Cailenwhere he saw a simple flower drawn on it.It was pink with big petals and a small green stem and looked like every other flower drawing she'd ever done but Cailenstill nodded along, smiling at his daughter."Yes, it's beautiful, love," Cailensmiled, his arms still bouncing Mishaup and down on his knee."But- But isn't mine beautiful-er?" Aariyahstood in a hurry, rushing over to them and nearly tripping as she held up her own drawing of an almost identical flower.Cailens
"Dude, she'll be here soon," Trippsaid, leaning across the island in the kitchen to reach for the bowl of crisps that Cailenhad put out. "Calm down or you'll start getting sweat stains," he added, scrunching up his nose in distaste.Tripp, if possible, had grown up to be even bigger than Ezekiel, though that wasn't much of a surprise with how much taller he's always been than Ezekiel. He still had his blonde hair,though it wasn't quite so golden anymore-more of a dirty blonde, and has acquired glasses over the years.Cailenremembers the first day he had come over with them on, the boy had been mortified but he's grown to love them, claiming the girls were really into the 'nerdy' look these days."And no girl likes sweat stains," Aireneadded from her spot at the island.Airenehad grown up to be quite the beautiful girl, her hair still a fiery red and her green eyes bright and enchanting.Ezekie
Cailenstopped a ways back, pulling his coat tighter around him as the fall breeze blew and made him shiver.He was always surprised sometimes when he really looked at Ezekieland saw how much he's grown.Up until last year,it seemed as though he had missed the puberty bus until one day,Cailenreally looked at him and noticed he had grown about a foot and was stealing his cologne to wear.It was a bit of a shock that he quickly got over and went out to buy Ezekielhis own cologne along with some shaving supplies since he had noticed the boy had also started growing some scruff.It was something he never had a problem with in the first place because until now, he never had a single hair grow on his face, well aside from his eyebrows and his head, of course.Cailenknew he was going to be one of those teenagers that looked way olderthan they really were just because puberty decided to randomly
Maddison rushed over to them, throwing herself into Asher's legs hard enough that her feet left the ground and she was able to crawl into Asher's lap, with his help of course."What do you mean ‘Zekeleft’?" Asherquestioned as he wrapped his arms around his daughterso she wouldn't fall off.She had nestled herself nicely in his lap so her legs dangled over the edge but she was able to look up at them both with her big blue eyes.They adopted Maddison out of the orphanage when she was six years old, soon after Ezekielhad come up to them one day and asked if they were ever going to adopt another child.It was completely random and out oftheblue and had taken them both by surprise so much that they didn't know what to say.They honestly hadn't thought about adopting again, but when Ezekielexplained that he was only wondering because he thought it might be nice to have someone to play w
Seven years later…"Alright," Cailenheard come from down the hall.It was only a couple steps further so he made the small venture to poke his head around the corner and into the hall to see Asherjust coming up from the basement."The basement isofficially 'Teen-Proof'," Asher said around an exhausted sigh.Cailenfully stepped into the entrance of the hallway, crossing his arms over his chest and waiting for his husband to meet him at the end of the hall and proceeding to follow him into the kitchen.Cailenstill cringed slightly whenever he walked into the kitchen, more so when he had company following him.They were in the middle of renovating the kitchen, the last of the house's renovation, thankfully.When they purchased the house four years ago, they had gotten it pretty cheap because it needed so much work done to it. They just hadn't realized how much work it ne
"Yeah, I love you too," Cailensaid with a small smile before hanging up his phone and slipping it into his pocket.He went to turn around but paused as a man in a suit rushed by him, obviously in a hurry.They were at the airport saying goodbye to Noahbefore he got on a flight to Scotlandand apparently,he was not the only one planning a trip that weekend.You could barely move without bumping into someone and Cailenhad to step away into a corner in order to answer his phone because it was so loud.Once the man had passed,Cailencontinued back towards the small group that was gathering outside the gate Noahwas to go through to get to his flight.They were all there, Matthew, Hazel, and of course Aariyah, William, Asherand Ezekiel, all hugging Noahgoodbye before his departure.He had been in the middle of saying goodbye when his phone rang and he excused himself to answer
Cailen is startled from his sleep by a sudden weight crashing into him and then a wet nose sniffing at his face.He knows who it is instantly and groans, not caring if he wakes Asher up at this point.It's his dog, if Loki is waking Cailen up, then Asher can get woken up as well.Cailen brought his arms up, having to untangle himself from Asher's grasp in order to do so, and shielded his face from the intruding nose.It's not like this has never happened before, but it didn't happen often.Loki was usually pretty good at just sleeping at the foot of their bed, but recently, he's been cuddling up to Ezekiel in his so it was a bit strange.Either way, Loki was waking Cailen up so he started to sit up, just remembering to be gentle in case Asher's arm or leg was in the right position to get squished."Loki, down," Cailen mumbled, his tone firm.Cailen heard a groan come from behind him and knew Asher was now awake.