one
Michael walked into the Hood house through the open garage. He rolled up the sleeves of his jean jacket and placed his bag by the laundry room door. "I'm guessing you guys aren't ready to go."
Calum looked up from tying June's shoes. "No, Michael, we're nowhere near ready." He spoke sharply, his tense persona tightening the air.
Mike walked past him, opening the fridge and packing the three girls lunches. He made sure they all had their sandwiches the way they liked it—Juli didn't like the edges, Joey only liked grape jelly, and June liked turkey. He placed the ice pack on top, making sure their puddings and drinks would stay cold until their lunch time.
He rounded the corner of Calum's house, heading up the stairs. "Are you two ready?" He called. Michael was comfortable with the three girls, he tended to think of them as his own. It's only been a year with him in their life, though. He knew it wasn't common curtesy to just walk into someone's bedroom.
"Have you seen my hoodie?" The eldest, Juli, called.
"You've gotta be more specific," he called back. Mike stepped up the last stair, standing in the hallway between Juli and Joey's rooms.
"The black one with the white stripe." She opened her bedroom door, storming past Michael and into Joey's room.
The twelve-year-old was obviously surprised as her older sister stormed into her room. Joey let out a squeal of fear before realizing it was just her sister. "I don't have it!"
"Juli, leave her alone!" Michael peaked his head in. "Come on, just take mine." He shrugged off his jacket, handing it to the eldest.
She smiled up at her dad's boyfriend, taking the material. Juli thanked him, rushing past him and down the stairs.
"Joey! You're going to make Michael late!" Calum yelled from somewhere downstairs. He was holding June on his waist, the small six-year-old refusing to let go of her father. "You better be down here in thirty seconds!"
Up in New York City, everything was a little different. Matty opened his eyes at nine, his blurry vision slowly focusing on his husband.
Luke had Nolan in his hands, his fingers tracing over their pale baby's features. Luke turned his head, smiling down at the tired boy.
"Morning," Matty said, his voice low and quiet.
Luke lowered himself into a laying down position, their one-year-old squealing with happiness. They had a happy son, one that was constantly happy regardless of the time. "Do you have a shoot with the band today?" The blonde asked, looking over at his lover once more.
Matty nodded. He reached up, stretching out his skinny, tattooed arms. "Not until two." He arched out his back, cracking his spine then neck. "Baby me," he made grabby hands towards Nolan.
Luke handed him their child, watching Matty leave wet kisses all over Nolan's chubby cheeks. The joy of their baby caused an everlasting happiness to raise in their small loft.
Michael dropped Juli and Joey off at the middle school. "Be good!"
"No promises," Joey groaned, getting out of Michael's truck and hopping to the ground.
"Bye, Mikey! See you at 3," Juli called, skipping after her younger sister.
Michael made sure they were in the school before heading across the street to the high school. It was another long day at work, but knowing he got to go home to a loving family was so worth it.
Michael didn't live with the Hoods, but he was only across the street. It wasn't a pain to spend his entire life at his neighbor's house.
He and Calum started dating six months ago but it feels more like six years. Michael takes care of the girls just as much as Calum does. He makes them dinner, helps them with homework, genuinely cares for their well-being.
Michael feels like he finally has a family of his own, and he needs it to last. He needs them in his life.
Calum walked June into first grade. Most first graders didn't need to be walked down the corridor to Ms. Bennings class, but June did.
June was scared of everything. She was scared of talking and the dark. She was scared of being alone and the color brown. She was scared of worms and birds and fish and the leaves falling from the trees.
June was a walking ball of anxiety, but Calum made it work.
He got down to her small height, looking her straight in her dark brown eyes. "You're gonna go in there with a big, happy smile on your face, yeah? You're gonna get through the day like the strong, powerful lady you are, okay?"
Calum watched his youngest daughter's lip begin to quiver.
"Don't cry, Baby. You got this, I know you got this."
She dropped her hands from her father's and raised her book bag on her shoulders. She blinked at him a few times, her eyebrows scrunched together in true worry.
Calum leant over, kissing her forehead. "I'll be outside waiting for you at exactly 2:28, okay? We can go home and wait for Juli and Joey and Mikey to come home, too. I love you so much."
June nodded, still not saying a single word. She took a deep breath, going around her father and into the fluorescent-lit classroom.
Calum watched her long, dark curls bouncing with every small step she took. She was sat at her desk, taking out her supplies needed for the day before Cal felt it was okay to leave her.
He didn't like leaving her, but he didn't like her fearing the world, either.
Luke could hear Matty singing to their baby in the other room. Nolan was squealing and clapping his hands.
He knew their baby grabbed the necklace hanging from Matt's neck and pulled on it when Matty stopped singing. The tune continued a few seconds later, probably after Matty took off the jewelry.
Their baby was good at accidentally choking his father.
Luke opened up his phone, scrolling through his email. There was a thought that crossed his mind that he couldn't get over.
He pressed the icon on the top right, composing a new email. He sat up in bed, crossing his legs beneath one another.
His blue eyes looked at the flashing blue space bar, waiting for his finger to type up a sentence.
To / Michael Clifford
Hey, he wrote, it's been a while.
Are you doing well?
(a/n) i mean....,,, matty and luke's ship name....,,,,,,,,is still muke....................................................,,,,,,,,,
