Strings Attached (lashton, editing)

Nineteen.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you. Shall we get some food? I'll pay," Luke smiled at them all before looking back down to Ashton at the table. 

"Nonsense, I'll pay and you'll sit down," Anne smiled at Luke, refusing to take Luke's offer and telling him once again he wasn't going to pay as he tried to insist once again. Giving into her motherly stare and sharing their usual orders, Luke sat back down next to Ashton who gave him a wide smile. 

"Told you she'd love you," he smiled, grabbing Luke's hand once again. 

Through eating their meal and drinking their coffees, Luke learnt that Ashtons family was just as loving and bubbly as he was. After meeting them he wasn't surprised Ashton was the way he was. The whole lot of them just screamed love and care. 

Even his sudden nerves had disappeared almost as soon as Anne starting speaking to him. 

"I hear you have a son, correct?" Anne asks over her empty plate and second latte. 

"I do, his name is Tim. He adores Ashton," Luke smiles at the thought of his son and his boyfriend. 

"How old is he?"

"Four, I had him when I was Ashtons age actually," Luke bit his lip once again. He always felt nervous and scared when people asked about Tim, he didn't want to be judged because he had a kid while he was basically still one himself. 

"Really? And you got through college with that, and as a single father? Impressive," Anne raised her eyebrows slightly and Luke could feel Ashton shuffle slightly next to him.

"Mum, stop I've already told you this," Ashton knew Luke got anxious when people would interrogate him about Tim and he didn't want his mother to be one of those people. 

"Ash, it's fine. Really," Luke squeezed Ashtons hand under the table to assure him he was okay. He knew Anne was just curious, but it still meant he could feel the anxiety bubbling in his stomach. "It was hard at first, especially after the first year when his father and I split. But, I had people to support me through it. Looking back, I don't think I would have wanted to do it any other way."

"That's great that you did all of that, I can't imagine it would be easy. I know how hard it can be as a solo parent," Anne smiled at Luke, assuring him and calming his nerves once again. "Do you have siblings?"

"Yeah, two older brothers. Mum gets annoyed at them sometimes because they're the married ones, but I'm the only one thats given her a grandchild," Luke laughed lightly, as did Anne. 

As their conversation moved off of the topic of Luke, Tim and his family Luke felt his body relax once more. He let himself enjoy his afternoon in his favourite coffee shop, with one of his favourite people and their family. 

He enjoyed listening to stories of Ashton as a kid, and being shown photos of Ashton with straightened hair in his early years of high school. Luke loved the way Ashton blushed and whined, begging his mother to put the stupid phone away. 

Even with Michaels family Luke hadn't felt this free or loved. Throughout his years with Michael, he had grown close to the mans parents. But it hadn't felt anything like the way Ashtons mother and siblings. Everything felt free and easy. 

Ashton was the one who had to drag him away, out of the coffee shop and away from Anne who was on a tirade to tell all about Ashton in diapers, or trying to look after Lauren and Harry when they were born. 

Luke just couldn't get enough of Ashton or his family. 

Quickly agreeing to getting one more meal together before Anne drove back home the next week, Luke said his goodbye and followed his now grumpy boyfriend all the back to his apartment. 

"Told you they'd all love you, just should've made them agree to put the photos away," Ashton smiled, trying to fake his grumpiness as they exited the cafe. 

"No way, I loved looking at photos of you with straightened hair right across your face. You were cute," Luke laughed. "But seriously, I love your family. It's basically you multiplied by four, amazing." Luke laughed at his boyfriend who just rolled his eyes and pulled him down the street, hoping the cold was enough to disguise his blush. 

Allowing himself to be quickly dragged back through the cold and icy city, Luke didn't let the smile leave his lips. He enjoyed the happy feeling he had running all over his body. He certainly didn't let himself miss the smile that covered Ashtons lips, no matter how much the boy tried to hide it. 

Luke felt happy, happier than he'd felt in years. 

--

This!! Is a long one!! Wow!! 

Thoughts on Luke and Ashton missing each other?

Luke wanting Ashton to stay?

Thinking he's golden?

Luke and Ashton feeling scared?

Ashton thinking Luke and Tim are special?

Luke meeting Ashtons family?

Anne interrogating Luke about Tim and Ashton defending him?

Luke feeling happy?

Let me know what you think!! And give this a vote/me a follow if you liked it :)

- Grace x