CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"What time will you call the nurse to give Sammy his new set of vitamins?"

"At 7:30 sharp. I will call the nurse using the button thingy so that I won't have to leave Sammy alone."

"When Sammy wakes up and I'm still not here. What are you going to say?"

"That you went home to shower and that you'll be back as soon as possible."

"If Joshua arrives and I'm still not here?"

"I'll tell him to wait for you."

"And what if-"

It was half an hour past 5 in the afternoon and Owen and Damian are getting ready to leave the hospital to shower and eat then come back again. Well Damian has been ready to leave and is only waiting patiently for Owen.

Ezra and Luca arrived at 5 in the morning and hasn't left the hospital since then. While Owen and Damian hasn't left Sammy's room. At all. Well apart from Damian's two trips to buy him and Owen food.

So it really took a lot of convincing for Owen to finally agree to go home and shower then eat a proper meal then he can come back to the hospital and never leave again if that is what he wishes.

Other than convincing Owen, Ezra had to also reassure his uncle, many times, that everything will be fine and that they can handle things without them. They'll only be gone for an hour or two but Damian has a feeling they'll be back in the hospital in less.

"Mr. Hayes, Me and Ezzie will do our best to keep an eye on Sammy. And we promise you that if something happens, may it be something small or not, we will call you. We will update you, every minute, on everything that's going on here. Please Mr. Hayes, trust us." Luca had cut off Owen's seemingly endless nagging. The amount of seriousness oozing from him and his words, and the way his nickname sounded so good when he said it, made Ezra feel something he didn't expect to feel and he finds himself blushing.

But luckily for Ezra, no one was paying attention to him as both older males stared at Luca. Damian with a proud smile and Owen with an uncertain look on his face as he weigh the sincerity in the teen's words.

"Okay," Owen said after a long contemplation and breaking the silence in the room. Owen didn't say another word as he walks closer to Luca and placed a gentle hand on the teen's cheek.

"I trust you to keep your word, okay Luca?" Owen smiled at the teen, a smile that was filled with warmth and sincerity. He gave the teen’s cheek a soft pat before stepping away.

Owen went to collect his stuff from the chair leaving a dumbfounded Luca. Soon his vision blurred as small tears welled in his eyes because he couldn't believe what just happened.

Owen's action reminded Luca of his own mother. The way she was always gentle and understanding with him. Her soft hand cupping his cheeks as she gave him loving pats. And the warmth that her presence bring and her sincere smile. It's been so long since he felt that kind of warmth which came from the least person he expected to. A neighbor who also have a family of his own. A neighbor that they just met barely a week ago. Luca missed his mother so much and he knew no one could replace her, but to have someone, a complete strange, emit the same warmth and love his mother did was enough to bring Luca to tears.

Another soft pat on the cheek made Luca snap out of his thoughts and he met with Owen's worry filled eyes on him. Only then did he noticed a few tears have managed to escape.

"Sweetie are you alright? Why are you crying?" Owen asked as he gently wipes the teen’s tears away. Damian standing close to them with concern look on his face. While Ezra looked adorably but genuinely concerned.

Luca hastily wipes his tears away, sniffling a couple of times as his cheeks flushed red from embarrassment. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to."

"No Sweetie, it’s alright. Crying is alright. Always remember, it doesn’t make you look weak. It only tells people that you’re strong." And there goes Owen again, giving Luca the mother vibe with his caring attitude and the teen tried his best not to tear up again though deep inside he was bursting with emotions.

"I'm fine, really Mr. Hayes. No need to worry." Luca recomposes himself, wiping the traces of tear tracks away with his sweater sleeve. “But thank you. I’ll keep that in mind always.”

Owen smiled, liking the teen’s attitude. He gave his cheek one last soft tap before pulling away. He bid Ezra a temporary goodbye and started making his way to the door, Damian just stood there staring at his son with an unreadable look on his face and he only snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Owen telling him to hurry up.

Damian bid the boys a goodnight and left after Owen. Closing the door behind him.

Luca sighed and turned around, freezing instantly when he saw Ezra staring at him with arms crossed against his chest and an amused look on his face.

"What was that all about?"

“Shut up.”

.................................................

The drive back to their houses was filled with silence. A comfortable silence at least. Owen just stared out the window with Damian softly hummed along with the radio playing quietly in the background.

The events of earlier played on Owen's mind. The way Luca reacted to him, the tears and broken look on his eyes, It made Owen's heart quiver as he thought of how painfully hard itmust've it felt to grow up without a mother.

Well Owen assumes the mother is no longer in the picture as Damian and the kids arrived at the party without one and the saddened look on Damian's face as he watched the gentlemen from the dinner kiss their wives lovingly. Yes, Owen noticed that and he couldn't help but wonder what happened.

Divorce? Or Maybe One day she just decided to leave, just like his own wife did. Owen didn't want to assume the worst of all, death.

On the other note, Owen was kind of glad that Damian was free because then maybe, just maybe, he might stand a chance with the older male. But he would also understand if the older brunette didn’t feel the same way, less be swinging for the same team as him. Having Damian as a friend would be just fine if that was the case. But then he remembered their rather intimate moment hours earlier. The way the older brunette held him and comforted him, even sang to him. Owen felt his cheeks darken slightly. No one has ever treated him that way before, with so much care and sincerity. Damian is one good man. A perfect partner.

Owen has always known that he also has interest for the same gender as he came out bisexual to his parents’ years ago. His mother accepted him but his father, not really. So to make his father happy, He married a girl, that he really loved, and had kids with her. His father died a happy man after that.

“Hey we’re already.” That snapped Owen out of it. He looks out the window, noticing that the car had already stop moving and that they were already parked outside his house.

"Are you alright? You were really silent. Not that I minded or anything. It’s just that if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here ready to listen. Sorry, now I'm just rambling." Damian lets out a nervous laugh, scratching the back of his neck

Owen chuckled softly. "I'm the one who should be sorry. The silence must have killed you."

That smile again, ever so warm and beautiful, no, mesmerizing. Something Damian wouldn’t get tired of seeing.

"You can go in and do your thing. I'll wait for you here." Damian making the blonde haired male stare at him in confusion.

"Are you not going to do the same Damie?" Owen asked and the older male felt all air got suck out of him and his heart began pounding on his chest.

Owen just gave him a nickname. Damian felt the blush crept from his neck until it dusted his cheeks, his ears are also red from embarrassment and he doesn't even know what he was even embarrassed about. And hear he claimed he was used to having nicknames. Owen really has a strange but special effect on him.

"Let’s just go together." with a flash of his angelic smile and soft chuckle, Owen got out of the car and started walking to his front door while Damian just sat there in slight shock.

There it is again. That angelic smile.

The front door closing snapped Damian out of his thoughts and he hastily got out of the car and practically ran to his own front door. Almost tripping a couple of times before managing to reach the door and entered the house.

Damian didn't bother showering as he rushed to his room and shrugged his coat off. Leaving it on a chair then takes his sweater off revealing his plain white shirt. All sweaty and sticking into his body like a second skin. He grimaced.

He didn't even know he was breaking cold sweat, must be from the embarrassment he felt earlier in front of Owen.

He takes off his sweaty shirt, used his towel to wipe his body at the same time trying to remove his shoes. He succeeded and kicks his shoes to the side as he now unbuttons his jeans, throwing the towel on the bed and went to his closet. He chose a random shirt and slip it on. He kicks his pants off, almost tripping and changed into a pair of black track pants. He sprayed cologne all over and combed his hair to perfection.

After getting dressed and refreshed, and making sure to bring his own charger this time, Damian left his house and practically ran back to his car. Sighing in relief when he didn't see Owen there yet. It would be embarrassing if the blonde got there before him. He wouldn’t want Owen to wait alone in the dark.

Still catching his breath, Damian got on the driver's seat. He throws his sling bag on the backseat while checking his phone on his other hand. No texts and calls from his son yet.

He exits the messaging app but stops to stare at his wallpaper. A sad smile appears on his lips as his finger graze on the photo. It was taken last Christmas where all of them wore Santa Claus costumes. The boys looked so adorable with their mini Santa outfits. Maverick has reindeer antlers on, Diego wore a fake beard and Luca has a red ball on his nose.

It was their 4th Christmas together without his wife and although it has been four, almost five years, since she passed, still there is sadness when occasions like Christmas comes and she's no longer there to celebrate it with them. Damian remembers how downhearted he was when Diego's 1st birthday came. He tried so hard not to breakdown in front of the boys, he kept his happy mask on and waited until the boys are all asleep before crying himself to sleep.

When Maverick's birthday came around. They celebrated by themselves at their humble house. No big celebrations, just a cute vanilla cake that they baked together. When Maverick blew his candle, Damian had asked what his wish was, the child's answer made his father's heart break into million pieces.

I want Mommy to come Home.

Damian broke down since that day and it still pains him to this date everytime he remembers that. When Luca's birthday came, there was no celebration because Luca didn't want to have one. Instead he stayed in his room the whole day, only came out when Maverick and Diego knocked on his door with their happy birthday cards and together they ate the pastries that Damian's mother baked for the kids.

Damian lets out a sigh and looks out the window, a single tear escaping and ran down his cheek. Then his eyes landed on his finger where his wedding ring was.

Yes. Was.

He has stopped wearing it because everytime he looks at it, It only reminded him of the time when his wife was still with them. Their happy moments together with the boys. Everytime Damian looks at Diego, guilt and sadness fills him because among the three brothers, Diego is the only one who didn't get to know his mother. And he never will.

Damian sniffles and felt his cheeks wet but he didn't bother wiping his tears away as he let more fall until he was silently crying. He misses his wife terribly but he knows that there is nothing in the world he can do to bring her back. He can only start moving on for the boys because it's already enough that the boys lost their mother, they can't lose their father too.

That's what Damian has been trying to do for the past years. Trying to move on for the sake of his sons. It wasn't easy but he's getting there. He's Getting Closer to finally setting himself free of the pain and start a new chapter with the boys and possibly, just maybe, a new partner in life.

He will never forget his wife but he knows he will need someone to help him raise the boys. A co-parent and a new love, maybe.

Soft knocking on the window slightly startled Damian . He turns his head to see Owen peeking through the window with a smile on his face but when he saw the older man's tear stained face, his smile turns into a frown.

Owen opens the passenger door and got on the passenger seat, leaning closer to the older man to see if he was physically hurt only to realize that it was more of an emotional pain. Owen sighs and cupped the older man's face, his delicate fingers gently wiping the tear stains away.

"It's Okay, You can tell me." The genuine concern on his face made something stir within Damian and his heart began to softly pound against his chest. He remembered his own words from earlier.

Owen's eyes held so much concern and worry on them that Damian wonders if he even deserves it. He was still a no one to the blonde male. Are they even friends now? Or maybe just mere acquaintances.

Damian sniffled a couple of time, letting out a chuckle as he gently pulls away from the blonde male's touch. "Only if you tell me what got you so quiet earlier."

Owen pouted at that, but for Damian it was a sight that made his heart skip a beat. The word 'beautiful' playing on his mind over and over. The word ‘beautiful’ was not even enough to cover it anymore.

"Fine," Still pouting, Owen sat properly on his seat and crossed his arms against his chest and Damian took that time to get a good look of the blonde male.

From the white Gucci dress shirt and pants, Owen had changed into a baby face white sweatshirt, black track pants almost identical to Damian and a big lamb duffel coat. He also brought a backpack with him that no doubt contains more stuffs for Sammy's stay in the hospital like more pajamas and his son's favorite sunflower plush pillow.

The backpack sat by his feet and Damian just made the car roar to life and pulled out of the driveway. Owen just stared at their house as it gets smaller from the side mirrors and sighed.

"So......?" Damian drawled breaking the silence.

Owen averted his gaze from the outside to Damian who was focused on driving. One hand on the steering wheel and other on the clutch gear. His handsome features highlighted by the street lights as they drove by.

"My dad." Owen started making the older male to avert his eyes from the road to him for a second before focusing on the road again. Confusion ghosted his facial features

"Oh. Uhm. What about him?" Owen didn't mean to pry but no one can really blame him. He really wanted to get to know Owen even more.

Owen lets out a soft chuckle. "Nothing. I just miss him. He was someone very important to me and there are those moments that I wish he was still here with us."

The car stops on a red light. Damian turns to the younger male with a frown on his face. "Was?"

“He passed before my youngest was born." Owen answered as the light turns green and the car starts moving again but instead of going to the direction of the hospital, they went the opposite direction and Owen noticed that.

"Uhm Damie......the hospital's that way." Owen said confused, jerking his thumb to the opposite road.

"I know. But I'm hungry so we will eat first." Damian answered with a small smile while Owen only stared at him in disbelief.

"No. I want to go back to my son. Turn the car around." And the almost swerved when Owen tried to take the steering wheel but Damian managed to regain his control and pulled over on the side of the road.

The car stopped but Damian's heart to continue to hammer in his chest. "Are you insane?"

With a guilty look on his face, Owen shook his head and apologized to the older for almost getting them into an accident.

"I'm sorry. I just-I'm sorry." And then Owen’s quiet sobs filled the car and Damian felt his heart break at the sight. He unbuckles his seatbelt and leaned closer to the other male and with no hesitation pulls him into his arms for a comfort hug.

Owen continues to sob in the older male's chest as all emotions came crashing down on him. All his worries and fears, His sadness and pain, most especially his loneliness. He lets it all out as he couldn't keep it in any longer.

Damian, at some degree, understood Owen and his pain. Well not the part where a son of his has a serious illness but he would go insane if that did happen to any of his boys. But Damian can relate to the feeling of being Alone.

Raising the boys on his own.

Facing problems on his own.

Dealing with hardships on his own.

Being a single parent makes you feel alone.

Being a single parent is a hard work one must be dedicated to fulfill. And there are times when Damian wishes that his wife was still with him. To help him, to guide him, to support him and most of all, to make him feel that he is not alone, that he will always have someone to be there for him.

So Damian understands Owen's pain well enough and for that he couldn't help but tear up himself and he didn't notice that he too was already crying until Owen pulled away from the hug and stared at him in confusion. His eyes all red and puffy from the crying, tear tracks stained his cheeks.

"Why are you crying?" Owen asked with a small smile at the same time a tear escapes him bit he didn't bother wiping it off.

Damian sniffled, his eyes puffy from crying as he leaned back on his seat and stared at the night sky from the windshield window. Silence filled the car and Owen just patiently waited for the answer to his question.

"I miss my wife." Owen said after a few moments of silence.

"What happened?" Owen already had an idea as to what happened and it really was the worst.

"She died giving birth to my youngest." Damian answered with a slight strain on his voice. It must’ve been still sensitive talk for the older brunette and Owen regrets asking.

"Would you look at that? It seems we have a lot in common. The no-wife part I mean." Owen chuckled turning his head to look at Damian, blushing instantly when he caught the older brunette already staring at him. The intensity of his stare gave Owen a fluttering feeling inside and he felt himself blush darker.

"You're beautiful." Damian commented out of the blue, staring straight into Owen’s eyes. His words causing the blonde male to blush even darker, if that was even possible and he found himself rendered speechless.

Suddenly Damian began leaning closer and closer, Owen felt his breath hitch as their distance lessens. His heart pounding hard on his chest that he hopes the older male doesn't hear it. Their noses now brushing against each other, their lips a mere centimeter from each other.

Damian knew it’s too soon to be doing what he was doing. Heck, he haven't even properly asked the blonde male on a date yet. But for Damian, it felt right, the moment felt right, and so with no more hesitations, pressed his lips on the blonde's. He almost moaned at how soft Owen's lips were.

Owen's eyes were wide in shock as it took him a moment to process what was happening. Then he started kissing back. Moaning softly how rough and plump the older brunette's lips were. Owen took the initiative and deepens the kiss. Tongues then got involve and they were in a full on make out session.

And things would've escalated if it weren't for Owen's phone ringtone suddenly blaring in the background.

They pulled away from the kiss, both with red cheeks but a happy smiles on their face. Damian let out a breathless laugh as Owen took his phone out of his pockets.

"It's Ezzie." Owen announced and picked up. "Hi. Is everything okay?"

"No." came Ezra’s answer. His voice sounded weird, like he was nervous and that made Owen frown in worry.

"Is-" Owen started to ask but was interrupted with Ezra.

"Something's wrong with Sammy."