like no one can

Solene had spent her day with Petunia, though she hadn’t been nearly as active as she usually was. She’d felt light-headed and unsteady most of the day, so she’d mostly laid on the couch, cuddled up with the dog while they both waited for Luke to come home. When she’d tried to eat, she’d gotten nauseous and had puked what had managed to make it to her stomach, so she’d settled with munching on crackers to at least ensure that something was on her stomach. While she tried not to think too much of it, she debated on making an appointment just in case, but she’d settled on making an appointment the next day if she was still feeling off. She didn’t want to be overly worried in case it just ended up being some 24-hour bug, and she didn’t want to make a big deal of it, so she hadn’t mentioned it to Luke, either - especially with him being busy in the studio, she didn’t want to interrupt that, and cuddling with Petunia was always a nice home remedy, in her opinion.

While Michael had been in the studio with the rest of the guys, working on their new album, his mind was on Maggie, as it usually was. She was his inspiration, in so many ways, and she’d always been there for him, she’d been there through everything ever since the very beginning of 5 Seconds of Summer. It took him a long time to finally ask her to be his, but they’d been going strong ever since and he couldn’t help but want to get home to her as soon as he possibly could, wanting to relish in her presence and take comfort with her existence, because she was everything he could have ever asked for and more. They’d been through more together than he could really wrap his head around - in the past, they’d even had a pregnancy scare and they’d found them both hoping for a positive result, but when it came back as a negative, they’d decided that they wouldn’t try to stop it anymore. If it happened, it happened, and he knew that there wasn’t anybody else in the world that he’d rather share a life with, create a baby with, or have a future with. “Are we done for the day?” he asked eventually, looking to the others, “I’m ready to get home to Maggie, lads, we should call it a day.”

Calum leaned back as he listened to the others doing their work, having already done his bit for the day. He pulled out his phone to text Sasha, looking forward to seeing her when he was done here. They’d always had a rather intense relationship - they’d hated each other before they’d grown to love each other, but they argued so often and that usually ended with them having sex, but neither of them took the relationship entirely seriously. Still, he knew that he wouldn’t want to have such a complicated relationship with anybody else. We should be done here soon. Can’t wait to see you, love. He sent the text, smirking to himself before hearing Michael talk and, arching a brow, he looked over before looking to the others. “I’m ready to leave, too,” he said easily, amused, watching them, “You two are taking forever. It’s getting late, I’m sure we all have things we want to get to before the day ends entirely.” All he really wanted was to see Sasha as soon as possible, missing her presence, but he tried not to be too obvious about that, because he knew how his friends were.

Elise hadn’t felt well the whole day and had spent a good portion of the day, curled up in hers and Ashton’s bed, but she knew she couldn’t do that all day. When she’d forced herself to leave the bed, she’d left the house to go do some grocery shopping, having wanted to make something nice for Ashton to come home to. It was only when she’d gotten to the store, though, that a possibility for her sudden icky feeling came to her mind - mostly because of the list she made for each month to restock on some things, and she’d realized that one of her items weren’t necessary right now, even though they usually were. She hadn’t started her period, she’d realized, and the realization dragged in the thought of pregnancy with it. Forgetting about everything else on the list, she’d gone straight to get a pregnancy test, and she’d bought it before quickly heading home to take it. When the result came back positive, she could only really stare at the result, unsure of what she felt, and she quickly texted Ashton. Are you on your way home yet?

Luke was certain, if he was going to stay in the studio any longer, he would develop cabin fever and become insatiable with rage; the only one to soothe his soul waiting patiently for him to return home - Solene. Just the thought of her made Luke reach for his phone, gently tapping the screen with the pad of his thumb so he could see the photo he'd taken of Solene and Petunia to put as his home screen. Exhaling as his phone came to life, Luke bit his lower lip and admired the beauty, but was soon bought back to a miserable reality when Michael spoke, and hearing Calum, Luke lifted his middle finger in defiance. "Oi, it's Ashton who's taking forever, not me." Luke pouted a little bit. He'd already tracked his vocals, and all he wanted was the same as what the others wanted: to go home. Although, in this case, home wasn't the building, it was the person. He couldn't help but wonder what Solene was doing without him, wondering if she thought of him as much as he thought of her, if she was doing something fun with Petunia, or if she was just relaxing, pining for him as much as he was pining for her. Blinking as Ashton threw a drum stick at him, Luke picked it up and began twirling it through his fingers impatiently, poking Calum in the arm with it as if the boy was a test subject.

Maggie tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she paced the living room nervously, the pregnancy test resting on top of the fire place making it's mind up if whether or not she was pregnant. "I'm so nervous, South." She looked to the small dog, curled up on the sofa; smiling softly as she watched his tail wag. Thinking of how much Michael loved and spoiled South, her smile grew when she thought of just how much Michael would love and spoil a baby. Maggie had taken a test the previous year, and didn't realise just how hopeful they'd both been until it came out negative - which is why she'd chosen not to tell Michael yet, because it would be a wonderful surprise if the test came out positive. Jumping slightly as her phone alarm began - signalling the waiting time was up - Maggie took a deep breath and tapped the OFF button, grabbing the positive test with a shaking hand. "Holy shit." She exhaled. "Oh fuck, South." She ran a hand through her hair, stuffing the test into the pocket of Michael's hoodie, which she wore whenever Michael was out.

Ashton's head shot up from where he sat at his drum kit as he was mentioned, scowling playfully at his bandmates, throwing a drum stick at Luke as his curly haired friend jokingly dragged his name through dirt. "Maggie this, Solene that..." He teased, twirling his other drum stick between his slender fingers, stopping only when his phone beeped in his pocket, and pulling his phone from his pocket, he felt his heart lift when he saw Elise's name, and he grinned with the thought: he was just as lovesick as his friends. Rolling his eyes playfully with the thought, Ashton swiped to unlock the phone, reading Elise's message. "Alright boys, we should probably wrap it up." He agreed, throwing his other drum stick at Michael as he began laughing at Ashton's hypocrisy. Standing from his drum kit, Ashton could admit to himself that just the thought of seeing Elise made his stomach bubble with excitement, because she was all he'd ever asked for in life, all he'd ever wanted, and the fact that he had her to himself made it feel so much better when he held her to his chest, fingers running smoothly through her hair. "Bright and early tomorrow fellas, don't forget." Ashton teased, locking the part of his studio which held his drum kit - not wanting anyone to touch his baby - before grabbing his car keys and heading out, bringing his 4x4 to life with a press of the unlock button. Texting Elise, Ashton grinned as he got into the drivers seat. Great timing babe, I was just heading out of the studio. You need anything?

Sasha lounged on the bed she shared with Calum in her bra and sweatpants, having been suffering with sickness all day; Sasha just decided that surrendering to their bedroom and relaxing with Duke was the best remedy to make herself feel better, even if it didn't quite work. And God, without Calum in the house, it was far too big and far too boring, and she wondered just when her favourite loser would get home. Hearing her phone beep from the pillow beside her, Sasha laughed at the coincidence, scratching Duke's ears as she reached over with her free hand. I can't wait to see you, baby. Baby. That wasn't the first time Sasha had used that word today, because she'd heard it earlier in the morning in the Doctors office, having stopped herself from telling Calum she was visiting the Doctor at all. She was expecting a baby. Frowning with the thought, Sasha wrote another text to Calum. Hurry your ass up. And although it was his fault she was pregnant in the first place, Sasha still didn't know how to break the news to her brown eyed boy.

Solene reached for her phone to check the time, though she smiled at the sight of her wallpaper, a picture of Luke, asleep, and she chewed on her lip, wondering if he was on his way home yet or not, missing his presence more than anything. While she didn’t want to interrupt anything, she figured that maybe he would pull up the text when things ended instead of immediately - which would mean she wouldn’t interrupt anything at all, - and she pulled up their message thread to text him. “Baaaabe. Are you on your way home yet? I miss you! :(” After she texted him, she stood up to go to the kitchen to look for something to eat, but she paused with the sudden wave of dizziness and she had to quickly steady herself, holding onto the counter.

Michael couldn’t help but laugh with the mention of it, amused, and he lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “Leave it to Ash to ruin our love lives,” he joked lightly, making a face at Luke, though he leaned back in his seat, waiting, restless. His eyes turned to his phone, and he mentally counted how many hours and minutes it had been since he left Maggie that morning and he groaned in exasperation at Ash, because all he wanted was to get back home to the love of his life. “Finally!” he said with relief when Ashton finally decided it was time to leave, and he wasted no time in standing and heading out of the studio and to his car, pulling up his phone to text Maggie real quick. “On my way home, love! Can’t wait to see you!” He added a heart emoji to the text before sending it, and he got into his car, starting it before he began the drive.

Elise was quick to reach for her phone when she got the text, her heart pounding, her anxieties high, and all she wanted, all she needed, was for Ashton to be there to tell her that everything would be okay. “No, I just wanna talk to you when you get home. No rush, though! Be careful! I love you.” She chewed on her lip, but even sending the text made her anxieties grow higher, and she curled up on the sofa, her arms moving to wrap around her stomach, unsure of what to think or feel about any of this. With the fact that she’d so badly wanted to keep their relationship between just them and their friends, offline, away from the world, she was sure this would change everything for both of them.

Calum perked up when they were finally given the okay to leave, eager to get home to Sasha, aware she hadn’t been feeling well the last few days, and all he wanted was to be there for her, to help her through whatever illness was ailing her. As he was heading out the door, he saw the text he’d received from her, and he smiled to himself. “I can’t wait to see you either, love.” He grinned when he got the second text and he climbed into his car, starting it, but he sent another text. “Heading home now, won’t be long! I’ll see you when I get there.” He tossed his phone into the passenger seat so he wouldn’t be tempted to text Sasha any further, not wanting to risk anything, and certainly not wanting to make it so that he would take longer to get home to her. Grinning with the thought, he backed out of the lot before driving home.

Luke couldn't help the laugh that escaped him as Michael dashed out of the studio, and although he shook his head in amusement, he understood the desperation. He wanted to get home to Solene, to know she was safe within his loving embrace, because she was his reason for living, for carrying on. Humming with the thought happily, Luke was pulled from his thoughts as he felt his phone vibrate, and he looked to his screen, seeing Solene's name, and he grinned, instantly opening their text thread. Reading her message, Luke pouted a little. Good timing gorgeous! I'm about to leave the studio. Do you need anything on the way? Luke added two heart emojis before pressing send, taking his car keys from his jacket pocket, and being the last one out of the building, Luke locked the front door to the studio, unlocking his car with the press of a button. Flowers, maybe. Solene had always been a fan of daisies.

Maggie had been mericlessly chewing at her nails as she sat on the couch, cuddled up to South as she listened to Jet Black Heart on repeat, purely for the purpose of hearing Michael's voice. When her music was interrupted with a text notification, Maggie felt her heart swell and she lifted her phone, smiling as she saw MIKEY. on the screen. Bringing the phone to life with the tap of her thumb, Maggie read his text and smiled adoringly at her screen. Drive safe, honey! I have a surprise for you when you get home! And boy, a surprise it was - just the thought of it seemed to cause the test to weigh 100 pounds in the pocket of the hoodie she wore. Standing to her feet, Maggie went to get started on dinner, knowing Michael was always hungry after being in the studio.

Ashton read Elise's text once, twice, his brows furrowing in worry as the words sunk in - usually, a talk meant there was a problem with the relationship, but Ashton knew Elise, and he knew their relationship was strong and that there was no chance of it ending - was there? Chewing on his lip nervously, Ashton's fingers tightened around the steering wheel as he tried not to let his thoughts drift to the worst case scenario, and backing out of his parking spot, he exhaled a breath he was certain he'd been holding. He had been tempted a few times to text Elise - at red lights, at stop signs, at quieter intersections... but Ashton knew that would be selfish of him, because she needed him, and God, he needed her even more. Turning into the neighbourhood, Ashton felt a sense of ease and comfort wash through him, the same sort of familiarity that only Elise's love could bring. Parking into the driveway a little sloppily in his panic, Ashton walked into their home. "El?" He called.

Sasha read Calum's texts and sighed in relief, gently throwing her phone onto the bed they shared, smiling softly as the thud startled Duke, causing the small, yet sassy, dog to send a dirty look to Sasha. "Get over it," she teased, sitting at the edge of the bed and tickling Duke's ears, quickly earning his forgiveness. "What happens when you become a big brother, huh?" She teased, leaning to kiss the top of the dog's head before standing once more, pacing the bedroom nervously, her hand on her flat stomach, the knowledge that there was a tiny life in there so, so surreal. Hearing a car in the driveway, Sasha peeked out of the window and saw Calum, her heart igniting into flames at the sight of him. "Oh god, Duke..." Sitting on the bed to rid herself of dizziness, Sasha took a deep breath. "Here we go."