"Is everything okay with you and Ash?" William asked hesitantly.
"I thought after tonight-" Noah began but he really didn't want to discuss that infront of his father, thank you very much.
"We're fine... we just-" Cailen went to explain but then Asher was coming into the kitchen, a confused expression on his face as he regarded Cailen.
Cailen looked to the ground, suddenly very aware that he sort of did throw a fit when he stormed out of the living room.
"Cai, I can't-" Asher started to say, his eyes taking in the audience they had.
"Don't." Cailen said, his blood beginning to boil again because he knew what Asher was trying to do.
He was actually going to try and justify his reasons behind staying a firefighter and Cailen really didn't want to hear it.
"How could you do that? How could you sit there and lie to Zeke? Please tell me because I'm going to need a lesson if we're going to do this." Cailen said, setting his glass down harder than intended, some of the water sloshing over the side and onto his hand.
"Gosh, Ash, I can't believe you right now. How can you stand there and still think this is okay? Can you not see what it's doing to the people who care about you? It's not just me anymore, Asher. We have a son now. And he is worried about you. It’s giving him nightmares. You know his background. You know what happened to him and what he’d been through. He thinks you're going to die!”
"And I'm sure that's not where the list ends. I'm sure it's crossed Wil's mind, Noah's, Matt's..." Cailen went on, unable to stop now.
Asher was kind of just standing there, letting Cailen talk and looking at least a little ashamed.
"But never mind them, we'll stick to your family. We'll stick to the guy that has to watch you leave everyday, not knowing if you're coming back. We'll stick to the child that you promised nothing would ever happen to you, but can't actually guarantee. How could you promise that? He doesn't know that you can't uphold that, Asher. He doesn't know that you have no control over that. He can’t lose you, Asher, and I certainly can’t lose you too. Are you not seeing what's happening here?
"Zeke has already lost two parents to a very traumatic accident. Do you really want him to lose another? Do you really want to put him through that again?" Cailen asked, very aware of the eyes watching him.
This isn't exactly something that should be said infront of others but it had to be said and Cailen really didn't have control of himself right now.
There were too many emotions running wild in him to grasp a hold of.
"No." Asher answered quietly, looking to the ground.
It actually surprised Cailen. He was expecting the usual 'nothing is going to happen' speech, not an actual answer.
"No, of course I don't."
"Then-" Cailen began but Asher wasn't finished.
"No, Cai, listen... I- I know what I have to do." Asher said, meeting Cailen's eyes- Cailen's very shocked and confused eyes because...
What?
"I can't put Zeke through that. I meant it when I said nothing would happen to me because... I'm going to quit. It's unfair of me to put you guys through this." Asher admitted, stepping towards Cailen.
Cailen couldn't believe what he was saying. Did he really just say he was going to quit?
"When Zeke told me he thought I died... I saw the look in his eyes and… it was the same as yours… I couldn't take it. It was the same. You both looked so..." Asher's words were cut off by a choking noise coming from his throat and Cailen reached out to his husband, pulling him into his arms and holding him close, his anger disintegrating immediately.
"It's okay." Cailen said into his neck, kissing Asher's neck and squeezing him tighter.
"I'm sorry. I was being a stubborn idiot." Asher mumbled, kissing Cailen's head. "You were right, I should have listened to you a long time ago."
"It's okay." Cailen repeated because it was.
Cailen was just happy he saw this now before anything actually happened to him.
"Aw, does this mean I can't bring girls by the firehouse?" William asked, the pout obvious in his voice.
Cailen heard Asher snort as he pulled away from him, but he didn't go far, he kept his arms around Cailen like he always did.
"I still can't believe that actually worked for you." Asher said.
"Wait, you would bring girls by the firehouse so you could sleep with them?" Cailen asked, hearing of this for the first time. "And it worked?"
"Only once..." William admitted. "Ash did nothing but to scold me after that."
"Okay, this is not a conversation a father needs to hear." Dean said though they could all see the amusement on his face as he exited the kitchen.
"I think we all need to go to bed." Noah mumbled, resting his chin in the palm of his hand as if it were the only thing keeping his head up at the moment, his eyes half open.
"Yeah, definitely bed time." William agreed, following Dean out of the kitchen.
Noah followed William as well, giving Asher and Cailen a tired smile as he passed them.
Cailen rested his head on Asher's chest because he was tired, they hadn't actually been to bed yet and he was starting to feel it with everything that happened tonight.
"Should we just stay here?" Asher asked, looking down at Cailen.
"Yeah..." Cailen answered sleepily. "Thank you, Ash." Cailen said, looking up at him.
Asher smiled at him though it looked sad and Cailen really did feel horrible about this, but they both knew it was something that needed to be done.
"I promise, Monday, I'm handing in my resignation." Asher replied, pecking Cailen's lips. "I would do anything for you and Zeke." Asher promised.
"Anything? Like carry me up to the bedroom?" Cailen asked, looking up at him through sleepy eyes.
Asher chuckled, pecking his lips again before bending down and sweeping Cailen's legs out from under him, picking him up bridal style. Cailen let out a yelp of surprise, hooking his hands behind Asher's neck and grinning at his husband.
"I love you."
"I love you, more." Asher replied, kissing Cailen once again as he headed for the living room, probably to fetch Ezekiel though Cailen was uncertain on how Asher planned to carry them both up to bed.
The man was strong but certainly that was too much even for him.
"I got Zeke." William said, coming around the corner, Ezekiel, in fact, already in his arms, sound asleep. "Hey... no hanky-panky in this household." William warned.
"I'm too tired to climb the stairs, Wil," Cailen said. "I think that means I'm too tired to even think about-"
"You really don't need to finish that." William cut him off, heading for the stairs.
Asher followed William up the stairs, William taking Ezekiel into his room and Asher bypassing William's to head to Cailen's old room.
His room looked very different from when he was a child. There weren't any poster covering his walls or dirty clothes lying on the floor.
It still had his bed and his desk but it just lacked other things such as his awards and photos of his friends and family because he had taken all that with him when he moved out and in with Asher.
He used to get sad when he came in here to see the hollow shell of his old room but it didn't bother him much anymore because he's made quite the home back at the flat and he was happy with that.
"Can't remember the last time I've slept in this bed." Asher teased as he basically tossed Cailen on top of the covers.
Cailen sent him a small glare, not able to put much conviction behind it with how tired he was and watched as Asher stripped out of his clothes and into his boxers.
"Hey... no fair." Cailen pouted. "I don't have boxers." He explained, eyeing the offending material that hung low on Asher's hips.
Asher rolled his eyes but quickly shrugged out of the boxers as well and climbed into the bed.
Cailen shimmied out of his clothing as well, the tight jeans way to uncomfortable to sleep in and curled up against Asher when he got settled.
Asher happily gave Cailen's goodnight kiss, wrapping his arms around him and holding him close, Cailen resting his head on Asher's chest.
Cailen was almost giddy, he'd be giggling and dancing around if he weren't exhausted because he was so happy Asher finally saw reason. Of course he felt bad that Asher had to give up what he loved doing, but certainly there was another way he could do to help people.
They would figure it out, they always did.
Cailen would make it his mission to find Asher a job he absolutely loved doing, one that didn't involve any danger.
Maybe he could become a gym teacher? He loved little kids and fitness...
Seemed like a good combination to Cailen, but that was something he would have to discuss with Asher- Asher who was although very quiet, was not sleeping.
"Hey... You okay?" Cailen asked, propping himself up on his elbow so he could see Asher.
When he did, he saw that Asher was watching him as well, a small sad smile on his lips that had Cailen frowning.
"Yeah, I just- I'm going to miss it, you know?" Asher said, meeting Cailen's eyes.
"Ash..." Cailen said, ready to tell Asher that there might be a way he could still be a firefighter because he truly looked a little lost at the moment and Cailen hated when Asher looked like that.
"No, I know this is what I have to do." Asher shook his head, obviously knowing where Cailen was going with that.
"I'm twenty five, almost twenty six. I'd have to retire in a few years anyway. I did this long enough, right?" Asher asked more than said, looking for confirmation from Cailen that he was doing the right thing.
"Yeah, you did." Cailen agreed. "And you've saved so many people, and you've helped hundreds more. You're a hero, Ash." Cailen assured, reaching up to trace his thumb along the stubble lining Asher's jaw.
"You're my hero." He said softly before leaning down to kiss Asher's lips gently.
Cailen felt Asher kiss him back before he felt a grin break out across Asher's lips.
"And you say I'm the cheeseball?" Asher asked teasingly.
Cailen pulled away, his eyes wide for a minute before narrowing down at the grinning man.
"Shut up." Cailen said, rolling his eyes, but smiling.