Strings Attached (lashton, editing)

Seventeen.

Ashton felt nervous as he smoothed out his dark green button up shirt and clean black jeans. Looking up at himself in the mirror he was feeling unsure about what he had agreed to, feeling scared that Luke's parents would disapprove of him. 

For the past week Luke and Ashton had been enjoying being in each others company without having to worry about any obligations. They spent most of the time sitting in Luke's apartment, cuddling on the couch and making the most of their time together before Ashton flew home for two weeks. 

Ashton had loved his time with his boyfriend, but now that it was time to meet his parents he was feeling less than confident. He was never one for meeting new people and he hated pressure, so putting that together didn't sit well with him. 

"Ash, are you ready?" Luke walks out of the bathroom to find his boyfriend nervously looking at himself in the mirror. "Are you alright?"

"Hm? Yeah, yeah. I'm fine, just nervous," Ashton smiles at his boyfriend who walks up beside him and wraps an arm around Ashton's waist. 

"Don't be, they're going to love you and you'll love them. I'm just glad by brothers won't be there to embarrass me," Luke smiles, kissing Ashton on the cheek before sitting on his bed to put on his shoes. 

For the past four months Ashton and Luke had been tip toeing around one another, scared to make any moves in fear of screwing something up. But over the course of the past week they had become more comfortable than ever around each other. They no longer thought twice about giving a kiss or hug, holding hands or expressing how attractive they found the other. 

Both of them found relief in it, like Ashton taking that final leap allowed them to overcome their last barrier. 

Luke had absolutely no clue how he would tell Michael that they're official, or how the man would take it. He knew it wouldn't be a fun conversation, but he didn't want to hide his affection for the younger man. Tim also loved Ashton, and they were both such big parts of his life that he didn't want to keep seperate. 

"What if they think I'm too young, Luke. I mean, four years isn't much but I'm still in college and you have Tim. I'm still figuring my life out, while you've got yours," Ashton broke their silence as they walked down to Lukes car, hand in hand of course. Ashton could feel all of his anxieties bubbling to the surface, suddenly wanting to back away from the situation he was putting himself in. 

"They know you're younger, Ash. They won't think that, I promise you," Luke gave his boyfriend a reassuring smile and squeezed his hand gently. Luke too felt nervous telling his parents that Ashton was four years younger than him. He was scared that they would think he was too old to be going after someone like Ashton. 

But both of Luke's parents assured him it was nothing. There are people with bigger age gaps, and him having Tim shouldn't change any of that. 

-

Ashton was impressed by the Hemmings' home, it was big and beautiful. More beautiful than any home Ashton had ever stepped into. When he looked around he felt as though he was standing in where Luke would be in ten years time, the whole place screamed Luke. 

Not even bothering to knock, Luke opens the front door and leads Ashton straight to the living room where both of Lukes parents are sitting. Upon seeing her youngest son, Lukes mother jumps from her seat and squashes him into a hug. 

"Luke! I've missed you," Lukes mother pulls back to give her son the biggest smile. As Luke returns the smile, Ashton realises that he must get his beautiful and magnificent smile from his mother. "And you, must be Ashton! I've heard a lot about you!" She turns to Ashton and pulls him into a hug too. Ashton lets out a small hmpf in surprise, but loosely wraps an arm around the woman. "I'm Liz, and this is my husband Andy."

"Hi, it's really nice to meet you both," Ashton smiles, reaching out to shake Andy's hand. Looking over at Luke he can see the man watching him carefully, with a smile on his face and a joyful gleam in his eyes. 

The group sat down for the dinner Liz had cooked, which looked like enough food to feed a family of 10. Ashton appreciated the food and the way Liz and Andy seemed so interested in what he was hoping to do with his life. They never questioned Ashton about his age or his thoughts or doubts about Luke already being a father. Ashton had prepared answers to all of those questions, but he didn't even have to think of using them. 

The Hemmings parents and home brought Ashton the same comfort he felt when he was next to Luke and it helped to calm all of his nerves. He didn't have to worry about saying the wrong thing. 

"So, Ashton. Are you going to be around for Christmas?" Andy asked, raising his eyebrows at the young man over his slice of cake. 

Ashton could see where Luke got his cooking and baking skills from. 

"No, I'm actually flying home tomorrow. I'm gonna go visit my family for the next two weeks," Ashton smiled back, shifting in his seat as all eyes were on him. 

"That's a shame, it would've been lovely to have you around. I'm sure Ben and Jake would've loved you meet you," Andy smiled back before glancing to his youngest son. "They also would've loved the opportunity to embarrass Luke here, it's been years since any of us have had that opportunity."

Letting out a small laugh, Ashton glances over at a lightly blushing Luke. "I'll have to be sure to be around next time, I'd love to hear about all of Luke's most embarrassing moments."

"No you wouldn't," Luke speaks up, glancing back at Ashton. "Nobody needs to heat about those. Ever. In fact I might burn all the photos you have so nobody can show them to him." 

Laughing again, Ashton reaches under the table for Luke's hand and gives it a squeeze. "I'm sure I'd love to see what these lanky bones were like as a baby. Liz, please promise me you will hide anything burnable from Luke."

"Of course, Luke you're not winning this one sweetheart," Liz smiles at her youngest son as she watches him blush. For years Liz and Andy had waited for Luke to move on and find someone who treated him well. They knew Luke struggled to let Michael go given their history, but they had hoped for so long that Luke would call them and tell them about some boy he'd met. 

When Luke called and said he met someone who was caring and loving to both him and Tim. Someone who was understanding about the Michael and Tim situation; they were overjoyed. For almost a whole two years they had watched their son struggle through life on his own, sometimes barely surviving to make it through each day. So, when Luke gave them the call and said he wanted them to meet they knew their son had found someone he deserved just by the way he spoke, they didn't even need to meet Ashton before they knew they loved the boy. 

After eating what felt like a weeks worth of meals in just one sitting, Ashton and Luke got ready to leave. Thanking Lukes parents for the fifth time, Ashton was pulled into another hug by Liz who whispered a thank you in his ear and told him he had to come back soon. Andy, too seemed grateful for Ashtons presence, making Ashton feel all that much better about having met the parents. 

Luke watched on, proud that he had someone like Ashton in his life. The more Luke saw Ashton interact with his family, all the important people in his life, the happier he felt. For so long Luke had feared bringing someone new into his life, but then and there he knew Ashton was the one he had spent so long waiting for. 

-- 

Two updates in a day?? Crazy!

I just really love this story and I love Luke 'n Ash. 

Thoughts on Ashton feeling nervous to meet Liz and Andy?

Luke comforting him?

Ashton actually meeting the parents?

Luke feeling proud abut having Ashton in his life?

Let me know what you think and give it a vote if you liked it!

- Grace x

p.s. go give my new book 'tulips' a read!!