"Can I go play in my room again?" Ezekiel asked, apparently done with this conversation.
Cailen smiled at him fondly, nodding his head and watching as the little boy wiggled himself down off of Cailen's lap and ran off down the hall to his room.
Cailen turned back to Asher to see him chewing on his lip, obviously a little unsure of leaving it like that.
"Don't worry," Cailen said, scooting over towards Asher so Asher could wrap his arms around him and Cailen could throw his legs over his lap.
"Baby steps, okay?" Cailen said, leaning in to place a kiss on his lips.
"Okay." Asher agreed.
"And..." Cailen started, pulling away to glare at his husband. "What was with the ice cream?" Cailen asked.
"I hope you didn't think I forgot about that."
Asher ducked his head to hide a shy smile, obviously finding this amusing. Cailen really wished he would take this seriously because if he didn't, it would be really hard for Cailen too.
"I'm sorry, I can't help it." Asher apologized.
"Well, you have to learn, Ash. He can't get everything he wants. No one can." Cailen replied, lifting his husband's chin so he would look at him.
Asher did look at him, his hand coming up to rest on Cailen’s thigh with his thumb stroking along the inside, but when Asher looked at him, Cailen recognized the look in his eyes before he even said a word.
"I'm sorry." Asher apologized, looking at Cailen with a puppy look. "Forgive me?"
Cailen had to give the man some credit. He knew how to work those eyes of his but unlike Asher, Cailen has learned to stand strong against that look.
"Oh, please." Cailen scoffed. "You think you're any match for Zeke?" Cailen teased.
Asher frowned, sighing in defeat.
"I used to be able to make you say yes with that look." Asher pouted.
"You've lost your touch." Cailen teased again, making Asher playfully push him away.
Cailen chuckled and pulled him back in, pressing his lips to Asher's.
"You know I would always say yes for you, look or no look." Cailen told him, promising him with another kiss, this one lasting as they moulded their lips together
The hand on Cailen's thigh moved up to his waist, slipping up under his shirt.
"Except forgive me." Asher mumbled against Cailen's skin as he moved his lips down his jaw to his neck.
Cailen let out a breathy chuckle, tilting his head back to allow Asher more access.
"I'm not mad at you," Cailen explained, getting lost in the feeling of Asher's lips on his skin. "I just- think, you know, shit, Ash, I- I can't think like this."
Asher hummed against Cailen's neck, moving his lips up to Cailen's.
"Good, it's time you stop thinking." Asher mumbled before pulling Cailen into a heated kiss, their lips moving against each other and Asher's tongue finding its way into Cailen's mouth.
Asher pushed Cailen, laying him down on the couch and hovering over him, sliding his hand up and under Cailen's shirt, just feeling the skin there.
"Ash," Cailen said between kisses. "Asher, we-"
Asher pressed his lips against Cailen harder, probably knowing what Cailen was about to say and not wanting to hear it.
"Ash, we can't. He's right down the hall." Cailen pulled away anyway, turning his head and trying to catch a breath.
He didn't want to stop obviously, but he knew they couldn't do this here. Not now.
Asher ignored him, placing his lips on Cailen's neck again and beginning to lift Cailen's shirt.
"Asher, stop. We can't." Cailen repeated, hearing the small growl come from Asher and wishing he hadn't uttered a word.
The growl turned into a groan as Asher lifted his head and looked down at Cailen with a pout, a look in his eyes that Cailen couldn't stand against this time. Cailen wound his arms around Asher’s neck and pulled him down, connecting their lips again.
Asher allowed this for all of five seconds before pulling away.
"No, you're right. We can't." Asher said, making Cailen scoff.
"Now you decide to show some resolve?" Cailen asked.
Asher grinned down at Cailen, pecking his lips quickly before removing himself between Cailen’s legs and pulling him into a sitting position.
“I need the bathroom.” Asher mumbled before walking away.
Asher left Cailen there on the couch, probably because if he stayed, he wouldn't be able to follow through with not continuing if the bulge on Asher’s pants was any indication.
Cailen let out a sigh, falling back against the couch again and willing his racing heart to calm down.
"Don't forget, we're going to my Mom's tomorrow!" Cailen called out as he laid there chuckling, staring at the ceiling.
*****
"Oh, where is he? Where is he?" Was the greeting Cailen received when he stepped through the threshold of his childhood home.
His mother was waiting for him, rushing to the door as soon as she heard it open, and excitedly looking around Cailen for the little boy who was supposed to be with him.
His mother looked nothing like him with her long dark brown hair and forest green eyes, though it was only to be expected when he himself was adopted.
His mother was obviously getting older, the crinkles around her eyes a little more prominent as well as around her mouth, but she still looked as beautiful as ever to Cailen.
"He's coming. Asher's getting him out of the car." Cailen explained, pulling his mother into a hug.
It's been a while since he's seen his mother because he's been busy with Ezekiel but it's not the longest he's gone without seeing her.
Back when he was younger and still trying to hide who he was, he spent two years hiding at Uni, coming up with excuses after excuses to not see his family.
It was horrible and he's glad he doesn't have to do that anymore.
"Oh, I'm so excited." She mumbled into Cailen's neck, squeezing him a little tighter.
Cailen chuckled, pulling away from his mother so he could see her.
"Mom, don't freak him out, okay? Calm down." Cailen instructed.
He was really trying to be careful here, he didn't want Ezekiel to feel uncomfortable in anyway and he was positive his mother fawning over the boy would do just that.
Eden took a breath, nodding her head but still smiling brightly as she waited for Ezekiel to come inside.
He wouldn't be surprised if Ezekiel was being stubborn and Asher was trying to coax him out of the car and into the house.
Behind Eden, Cailen saw his father turn into the foyer, a smile on his face when he saw Cailen standing by the door.
Cailen stepped away from Eden to greet his father, pulling him into a hug as well as Dean clapped him on the back.
Dean was a little older than Eden, his hair nearly all grey, including the mustache and small beard he was now sporting.
Dean had always been a heavier man but Cailen could tell now that he was losing some weight and he wasn't sure if he should be happy or concerned about that. At his age, you just never knew.
"Son, good to see you again." Dean said as he pulled away from Cailen.
"Good to be home, Dad." Cailen replied, looking around his old home.
He still remembered this home like he was living in it yesterday.
Dean's office was still behind a door to the left, the entrance to the kitchen along the back wall with a hall to the right that Cailen knew leads to the basement. To the right of the front door was a staircase that went upstairs to his old room and before that, a living room with a television and a couple couches.
Every room in this house held a memory for Cailen, whether it be helping Eden clean up, dancing around to music with his sister Stella, trying to help Dean fix something that he had broken, or getting into trouble with William- he remembered it all and was happy to be back, even if it was just for a few hours.
"Oh, Asher." Cailen heard Eden greet excitedly and when Cailen turned around, Eden had Asher pulled into a death hug.
Asher returned the hug, saying a greeting into Eden's shoulder before pulling away and turning slightly to reveal a very shy looking Ezekiel.
Cailen didn't understand Ezekiel. He wasn't usually shy around people, though whenever they introduced him to a friend or family member, he got shy.
Ezekiel took a few cautious steps in, going right for Asher and grabbing hold of Asher's jeans and shyly looking up at Eden.
Eden had her hand over her mouth and Cailen knew she was trying hard to control herself, which Cailen was grateful for.
"Zeke," Asher said gently, placing a hand on the boy's back and looking down at him. "This is Eden, Cailen's Mom." Asher explained as Eden stepped closer and kneeled down infront of the boy.
"Cailen's Mom?" Ezekiel questioned, glancing up at Asher before looking back to Eden.
"Hello, Zeke." Eden smiled softly.
"Hi." Ezekiel replied, gripping Asher's jeans tighter.
"And this," Cailen said, grabbing his father by the arm and pulling him over. "Is my Dad, Dean." Cailen introduced.
"Hello, Zeke." Dean greeted, smiling down at the boy but Ezekiel turned and hid his face in Asher's jeans.
Both Asher and Cailen chuckled as Asher kneeled down, making Ezekiel let go of his jeans and grab for his arm instead.
"It's okay, buddy." Asher assured, maneuvering his arm out of Ezekiel's grip and turning him back towards Eden and Dean. "There's nothing to be afraid of. They've been wanting to meet you." Asher explained.
Ezekiel risked a look up at Dean, raising his hand and giving him a small wave but it didn't get much farther than that before they were interrupted.
"Zeke!" Came a familiar deep voice along with the thumping of footsteps making their way down the stairs.
Everyone turned to see both William and Noah descending the staircase, William at a skilled speed and Noah at a much slower, much sadder pace.
"William!" Ezekiel cheered and took off towards the stairs, leaving the four of them behind. "Noah!" He added as he drew closer.
As Ezekiel got closer, William bent down slightly then scooped up the running boy, swinging him around until William held him on his hip.
Ezekiel giggled the whole time but started kicking his legs until William set him down because he didn't like to be picked up like that. That was for babies, you know.
"Hey, little man." Noah greeted, a small smile on his face as he caught up to the boys.
William had set Ezekiel down but Ezekiel remained at his side in between William and Noah.
Cailen couldn't help but smile at that, happy that Ezekiel liked them so much.