A very fluffy filler piece. Which really has nothing to do with anything, I just thought it was cute. Sorry I didn't post anything last night. I was scared I was gonna run out of chapters for you guys! But I spent a lot of my day writing, so we're all good again! Enjoy!
The tour was over. Most of the cast was taking their few weeks off and going on vacation, or visiting their families. Lea had taken off to New York to visit Theo and Jon, Cory was up in Canada somewhere, even Ashley had gone home for a while.
Chris, however, was working away on his movie. Darren had been playing shows around LA, so he was home every night, and every night he'd get in really late and start tiptoeing into the apartment, only to find out that Chris wasn't home yet.
Darren had a hard time sleeping without Chris home. He'd texted him the first few nights to make sure he was okay, and would get rushed replies and nothing else, but after a week of insanely late nights, he knew not to expect Chris home until at least 3. Every single night Chris would follow the same routine. Lock the door, poke in to say hi, hop in the shower, plug his phone in, turn off the light and collapse into bed.
Darren couldn't stand seeing him like this though. He was barely sleeping. Darren could feel him wake up in the middle of the night to type up little reminders on his phone. Darren knew he was up at 6 every morning, not 8 like he told everyone.
Darren woke up to Chris sneaking out of bed at 6 one morning and decided to get up with him. He walked into the living room a few minutes after Chris. "Morning." he sat down on the couch next to him.
Chris looked at him. "I didn't wake you up, did I?"
Darren shook his head. "Nope. But I wanted to talk to you, so I figured I might as well get up with you."
Chris sighed. "I should have known you'd noticed."
Darren nodded. "Chris, you need more than a few hours of sleep to keep going like this."
"I know I do, believe me, I know. I just can't turn off my brain. Its always going. And I know you're worried, but I'll be fine Darren. I get a few hours sleep in my trailer during the shoot."
Darren nodded again. "I know Chris, I've dropped by about a dozen times to visit you."
"You have?"
"Of course. I know I haven't showed it too much lately, but I can't wait to see this movie. I can't wait for you to take it to some film festival and just kick everyone's ass with it. But you can't kick everyone's ass if you can't stay awake long enough to watch the damn thing."
Chris smiled and curled up at Darren's side. "I'll make you a deal. I know you've got a show tonight, but how about you come with me to the set today, take my nap with me, and I'll let everyone know that I'm cancelling the shoot this weekend and we can go to Clovis for the weekend? Its my sister's birthday so I was kind of hoping I could get away..."
Darren smiled. "That sounds perfect." He thought for a second. "So...meeting the parents, huh?"
Chris shrugged. "Well we have to start doing that eventually. Besides, you've already met mine."
"Yeah, but Chris, that was when we were nothing but co-stars. I've never met them as your boyfriend."
Chris smiled. "Are you nervous?"
"Of course I'm nervous!"
"Awww, you're cute when you're jealous."
Darren laughed. "Wait till you get to meet my parents. Well, you've met Chuck. My mom already thinks of you like a son."
Chris laughed.
"No...I'm serious. I don't know how she did it, but she has a copy of your graduation picture. And one of you with your Emmy. They're both framed and hanging in the living room. And she's had them since we became friends. When I told her that we were dating, she told me she'd get grandma's ring out."
Chris laughed. "I already love your mom. When I told my sister, she asked why I wasn't dating Mark, at least then she'd get to meet him."
Darren smiled, a tad evily. "Chris, I just had the best idea for a birthday present."
Chris and Darren were going to stay in a hotel, but Chris' parents wouldn't hear it. They'd been there for a few days before Chris' sister's birthday. Chris and Darren were in Chris' room whispering on the phone, trying to make sure everything was planned. They got ready after breakfast and excused themselves to go pick out a birthday present.
Once they were safely in the car, Darren pulled out his phone and called the airline. "Alright, so the flight is on time? Awesome. Thanks." He hung up the phone. "Everything's all set. The plane is set to land in an hour."
Chris nodded. "We should be there in a little more than 20 minutes, so we can grab some food and wait it out."
Darren smiled and took Chris' hand. "Have I mentioned how much I adore your family?"
Chris laughed. "Only about a zillion times. They seem to really like you, which is good."
"Were you worried they wouldn't like me?"
Chris nodded. "A little. Don't get me wrong, you're amazing. But I was kind of worried about how you and Hannah would get along. She doesn't take kindly to a lot of people, but she practically forgets about me when you're around."
Darren smiled. "I'm glad she likes me. You were right about her, I mean, I never doubted you, but she really is just...amazing."
Chris nodded. "I know. It kills me a little bit every time I have to go back to LA, cause I just wanna stay here with her."
Darren nodded sympathetically. "Well, once we get Mark back to your place, she probably won't notice either one of us." he smiled.
Chris laughed. "She really won't."
They picked Mark up from the airport and drove back to the house. They got out of the car and Chris and Darren lead Mark into the back shed.
"Isn't that the house? Why are we in the shed?"
Darren closed the doors up and turned on the light, revealing a table with wrapping paper, bows and tape. "Well, you are a present."
Chris nodded. "So we're gonna have to wrap you."
Mark looked at them and sighed. "This totally wasn't part of the agreement." He stood still while they wrapped him in wrapping paper, as best they could. They wrapped his legs seperately so he could still walk, and two little holes for his eyes. And just when Mark thought they were done, they grabbed the package of tiny bows and started sticking them all over the place. By the time they were done, Mark had no idea how many bows were on him.
They carefully walked Mark up to the house and sat him down on the couch with only a few minor rips. Chris got Hannah while Darren attached some streamers and a card to Mark.
Everyone gathered in the living room and Hannah and Chris entered the room. Hey eyes lit up immediately and she started peeling the wrapping paper off of Mark.
Chris moved to stand next to Darren and took his hand, smiling at him.
Hannah finally freed Mark from most of the wrapping, and started squeeling. Mark had a huge smile on his face as he hugged Hannah. "Happy Birthday Hannah!" he grabbed Darren's guitar from beside the couch. "Would it be okay with you if I sang you a little song?"
She nodded enthusiastically as he started strumming away and started singing "Happy Birthday" for her.
Chris smiled at Darren. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me." he smiled. "Its what family does."
I told you that it was random, but they're family now! I thought it was adorable.
The next chapter has a bit of a twist, please don't hate me for it!