Strings Attached (lashton, editing)

Fifteen.

Hearing a quick scurry of little feet followed by a gleeful squeal as Tim came to face his (secretly) favourite uncle, Luke was quick to finish pouring drinks into cups and take them out to the living room. 

"Tim! How is my favourite little kiddo?" Calum smiles, putting down the food in his hands and wrapping his arms around the boy. "I haven't seen you in, like, three weeks and I swear you've grown! I need you to stay small for me, little man!"

Giggling, Tim wraps his arms around Calum before leading him to the living room where The Wiggles were still playing on the TV. "Maybe you just shrunk."

"Ouch, did you hear that, Luke? I think your son just called me old," Calum laughs, sitting next to his best friend who just smiles back at him. 

"He has been full of sass and demands today, I have decided to just roll with it. Now, you brought us dinner and I'm hungry, so hand it over."

"I can definitely see where he got the demanding from," Calum teases, handing over the Chinese that Luke quick pours out onto plates. 

The three boys sit in silence as they eat their dinner, all too focused on the animated movie now playing on the TV. Luke loved these nights, where he didn't have to focus on anything or make up excuses as to why he couldn't go out drinking with Calum that night. 

All through high school and college Luke had tried his hardest to be one of the cool kids, one of the kids who went out and drank every weekend. But he quickly learned that wasn't him, he was all about watching some movie at home with shitty Chinese and an abundance of junk food. 

Luke hoped that he could have these nights with his best friend and son forever, no matter how old they all got or who came in and out of their lives. 

Before the movie was even over, Tim had managed to fall asleep on the living room floor. Something that happened almost every time, despite Tim's insisting that he would be able to stay up late. Luke made sure the boy was always wearing his pyjamas just in case. 

Tim was practically a miniature Luke. 

Gently putting Tim to bed, Luke admired his son for the millionth time that day and made sure he was warm and secure before flopping down next to Calum on the couch. 

"Hows Tim doing with the changes?" Calum asks, knowing the whole custody thing had taken up Luke's life over the past three weeks as they tries to figure out how Tim would spend his time with his other father. 

"Fine, I think. I'm not too sure if he really realises whats happening yet," Luke mumbles into the couch cushions. "We have our custody hearing a week after the Christmas break is up, I think he'll know somethings up then."

"And, Michael? How has his attitude been?"

"It's been Michael, barely talks to me at all now and just makes life a bit more difficult than it has to be," Luke sighs, finally sitting up and resting his arm along the back of the couch. "I wish it didn't have to come to this. We used to be so good, I don't know what happened."

"You grew up and he didn't, Luke. It's been two years and he hasn't made any changes, maybe this will force himself to sort his life out," Calum reassures his friend, hating that the way Michael broke his heart and soul two years ago still weighed on Luke. "Besides, you've got a new boy now and I want to hear about him."

"He's so good, Cal. He doesn't care that I have Tim, or that Tim takes up half my time. I thought he'd run off after Michael had his rage, but he stayed," Luke speaks with joy, letting Calum see that his best friend is finally letting himself have a life outside of Tim. "I think I might take him to meet my parents over Christmas."

"I think that'd be great. maybe actually ask him to be your boyfriend too," Calum teases, watching as a blush rises on Luke's cheeks. 

Neither boys knows how it happens, but Calum sits and listens to his best friend talk about Ashton and how the boy makes him feel until they're both practically asleep on the couch. Luke decides that next time they have one of these nights, he wants Ashton there. 

Those nights are for family, and Ashton was becoming apart of Luke's family. 

--

Luke luvs Tim and Cal and they luv Luke. 

Thoughts on Luke and Ashton missing each other?

Tim being a mini Luke?

Calum with Luke and Tim?

Luke wanting to introduce Ashton to his parents?

Ashton being part of Luke's lil family?

- Grace