So, here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it, thank-you to everyone who has reviewed, favourited an/or followed. Let me know what you think...

:)

Calo x x x

It was a few days later. Hunter's head was healing well and Adam had managed to convince him to email Jeff about something other than reception arrangements. Hunter had arranged to meet his 5 old friends for coffee. There was one problem though. Calo had become very sick over the previous few days and the doctors had diagnosed him with a severe chest infection. Adam agreed to watch Dalton and Sebastyn but Hunter had decided that he would take Calo with him, not wanting to leave him at home because he was very clingy at that time. Adam was settled with Dalton and Sebastyn watching a film. Hunter came down the stairs with Calo wrapped up in blankets, cradled in his arms. Calo was sleeping, which was probably for the best; his little chest rattled with every breath he took and it wasn't comfortable for the little boy.

Hunter gently settled Calo in his little booster seat, he sniffled a little; his tiny chest clogged horribly. He was meeting Sebastian and the others at 10:30 at the coffee shop. He knew he couldn't stay for too long with Calo, but it would be nice to see them. He eased a still sleeping Calo out of his booster and into his arms. He grabbed the bag from the boot with Calo's asthma pump, medication and some other stuff that they may need in it before heading for the door of the coffee shop.

He slid into a booth at the back of the coffee shop. He let the young Saturday guy take his order and laid Calo down on the sofa with his head in his lap. The shop wasn't too busy and so it was quiet enough to mean that Calo could continue to sleep. Hunter took his book out and settled down to wait for the others to arrive as he was early. Every few minutes, he would look down at Calo to make sure that he was okay. He was so engrossed that he didn't see the others come in.

"Hunter?" He jumped at the sound of Jeff's voice and Calo stirred. He immediately set his book down,

"Hi." They all smiled but it was still a bit awkward. Hunter moved the bag onto the floor and lifted Calo back into his arms so he could shift across the sofa, meaning that Seb and Wes could sit down, whilst Jeff, Nick and David sat across from them. Jeff thought Calo was absolutely adorable and didn't seem to have any problems expressing that. He was cooing and clucking constantly as Calo slowly woke up. The young waiter came back to take their orders, and Hunter asked him if he would be able to warm up some milk for Calo. The waiter immediately agreed, he took the bottle and hurried away to fill their orders. Hunter leaned Calo against his shoulder so he was upright; and he could breathe a little easier.

The waiter returned with everyone's orders and the bottle for Calo. Hunter thanked him and he headed off to tend to other customers. By now, Calo was awake and sitting quietly on Hunter's lap, simply observing the people around him. Hunter uncapped the bottle and checked the temperature of the milk before holding it in front of Calo until his tiny hands had a firm grip. He sat there contentedly drinking his milk, allowing Hunter to talk to the others. He knew what was coming; he knew that they would want to know what had happened back in high school. True to his thinking, Wes almost instantly posed the question,

"Hunter, I don't want to be blunt or anything but I am sure you know that we all want to know what happened; you just left?" Hunter nodded saying,

"I know, but I don't really know what to tell you. Well I do, but I don't really know how to tell you. I promise you though, it was never any of you or anyone else actually, I was honestly, really happy at Dalton." That confused the others and Jeff asked,

"Well, if there was nothing wrong at school, then why did you leave?" Hunter smiled sadly gently combing through Calo's soft hair. As he did this, it seemed to click in the others' minds. Sebastian was first to voice his thoughts,

"Hang on, if Calo and his brothers are 4 then that means… Hunter, why didn't you tell us?" Hunter couldn't look at his old friends, he couldn't find the words. He felt Seb's hand on his shoulder and the tears beginning to leak down his cheeks. It was finally starting to get to him; everything had been so hard. Wes quickly said,

"Calo buddy, why don't you and Jeff pop down the road to get some ice cream?" They all knew that the little boy wasn't stupid, but they were all thankful when he agreed, Jeff took his little hand ensuring that the boy's coat was done all the way up and they hurriedly left.

Once the two of them had made it out the door, Hunter began to cry more obviously,

"I am so sorry guys, I didn't mean to leave without telling any of you, but I panicked; I thought that none of you would ever want to talk to me again. My parents kicked me out and I didn't know what I was going to do." Nick cut him off,

"Hunter, why didn't you think to tell us? We could have helped you." Hunter tried to wipe away his tears, but it didn't really help,

"I thought that you would all hate me and think I was disgusting. I didn't contact you because I was ashamed; I thought that you wouldn't want to speak to me ever again if you found out. I wanted to contact you; I have talked myself out of calling you all so many times. I think I managed to convince myself that I wasn't worth your time. Adam and Aelish have been the only people I have ever had and so I have become used to being ignored and to having to be very self-reliant. I am just so glad that you are here…" He dissolved into more tears and Sebastian didn't hesitate one moment before pulling Hunter into a tight hug, trying to comfort him.

When Jeff returned with a very sticky Calo, the others had managed to sufficiently calm and comfort Hunter. Calo didn't hesitate before going to his father and hugging him tight. The other five could all see how much Hunter loved little Calo and they knew that the three young boys were the most important thing in Hunter's life. They were all going to go back to Hunter's house for dinner so that they could meet Dalton, Seb and Adam; Adam being the person that they wanted to thank for helping Hunter so much. Calo seemed to have formed quite an attachment to Jeff, and so Jeff and Nick rode with Hunter, and Seb, Wes and David went in the other car.

Adam was sat in the bathroom with two very messy, paint covered little boys. The bubbles in the bath had gone a horrible brown colour with all the different paint colours that were now mixed into the water. Just as he was washing their hair, he heard the front door open and voices along with many sets of footsteps. Hunter had phoned him earlier asking if it would be okay for his friends to join them for dinner. Adam knew that it meant so much for Hunter to see them again and he thought they were very nice so he had no protest to them coming, in fact, he was maybe a little too overenthusiastic about the idea; Hunter really did need more friends.

Hunter's head popped round the door and he chuckled at the sight of the two little boys in the muddy coloured, bubbly water. Adam was eager to know how it went,

"So…" Hunter smiled brightly saying,

"I am so glad that you and Aelish made me go. It is really nice to see them again, I have missed them so much and now I know that I could have stayed and they would have supported me." Adam stood up to hug his elated friend,

"I am so glad that you are here with me Adam, I really couldn't have done any of this without you. I know I may not always show it but I will always be eternally grateful to you for everything you have done for me." Adam felt himself tearing up and had to blink them back saying playfully,

"Don't get all mushy on me now Hunt, I am tearing up." Both men laughed before Hunter went to start dinner and Adam finished cleaning the two little boys up.

Jeff had taken Calo into Hunter's room and was carefully helping the tiny boy to change into his pyjamas. He also took the vapour rub and helped apply it to the little boy's chest and shoulders. Once Calo was ready, they headed down into the lounge, where everyone else was now settled. Dalton and Seb were clinging to Hunter, who was talking eagerly to Sebastian. Calo nearly had a heart attack as Adam swooped in and grabbed him, bringing him up to cuddled him close. Calo started to giggle before breaking out into harsh coughs. Adam held him close and soothingly rubbed his back until it had passed before settling him in Jeff's lap and going to check on the food.

They all sat in the lounge to eat as there was not a big enough table for all of them in the apartment. Wes, David and Hunter were discussing the restaurant, while Adam was talking to Jeff and Nick about their wedding and other stuff. Sebastian was sat next to Calo, who looked like he would drop off any second. It seemed that between the three boys, Calo would get left out. Dalton and Sebastyn, being identical twins, were very close and it seemed that they did everything together. Calo, on the other hand, seemed quite content to occupy himself or sit with the adults quietly. Sebastian felt a slightly weight against his side and looked down to see Calo asleep, propped up against him. He looked around the table observing everyone else, especially Hunter. Hunter seemed to be really happy and his smile was beautiful. Sebastian had never told anyone before, but he had always liked Hunter, as in he had a rather serious crush on Hunter. Sure, when Hunter had left he had been really upset, but it had over time become forgotten. Now, seeing him again, the crush had been reignited with a force ten times what it had been. The way Hunter was with the boys, and how he had worked so hard to be successful, it just showed Sebastian just how amazing he was.

Hunter seemed to have noticed that Calo was sleeping, and went to get up. Sebastian waved him off and stood carefully, lifting Calo's tiny figure into his arms. He then followed Hunter towards a bedroom. What Sebastian had noticed, was that there was a room, painted blue, with 3 beds in, yet one appeared not to have been slept in. They bypassed that room and Hunter quietly explained,

"He sleeps with me, or Adam, usually, especially when he is sick. He will sleep in his own bed, but he prefers to sleep with someone and I quite like the company. Seb smiled sadly, instantly understanding the hidden message behind what Hunter had said. He settled Calo's miniature form in the huge, double bed and watched as Hunter tucked his son in, kissing his little forehead and fiddling with the duvet, like any other parent.

Hunter turned and saw Sebastian standing there, he blushed and Sebastian chuckled quietly,

"Why are you blushing, Hunter? I think it is adorable and really sweet that you love them so much. I really admire you, you know." Hunter stopped and looked up at Seb smiling softly,

"They are all I really have, Seb, they have been for years. My whole life is centred on them, and, while sometimes I get lonely and frustrated, but I wouldn't ever change that. Anyway, until I can find a guy who is, firstly, willing to take on the boys as well as me and, secondly, treat the boys like they were his own, I go it alone. I have Adam and I have Aelish and I am happy with that. Sebastian took one of Hunter's hands and looked him straight in the eyes,

"You have us as well, Hunter, I will always be here for you, no matter what, and I think that the boys are the sweetest things ever; I would really love to get to know them better and I know that Jeff would like to spend more time with Calo." Hunter nodded, a single tear rolling down his cheek. Sebastian didn't hesitate as he moved his finger up to tenderly catch the tear and wipe it away,

"I promise you, Hunter, we will always be there for you. I would like to meet up and spend a lot more time with you, and I would do anything to make that possible okay." Hunter nodded once more, pressing his trembling lips together and huddling into Sebastian's strong embrace as they stood in the hallway.

By the time the 5 guys left, they had all traded numbers and had arranged for Hunter, Adam and the three boys to go to Nick and Jeff's for dinner on Wednesday. Sebastian and Hunter were going to go for coffee on Monday afternoon, because the three boys were at daycare and Hunter was on a half day.

Once they were gone, Adam dragged Hunter to the couch and hugged his best friend tight. Hunter seemed to be so much happier and Adam wanted nothing more than for him to be just that. Adam could also see the way that Sebastian looked at Hunter, and he hoped that something would come of it, because Sebastian was amazing with the boys and he cared for Hunter so much. Plus, Hunter deserved to have a relationship with someone. He had been alone for so long and he really did deserve a little more happiness in his life.