Work Text:
'Twas the night after Finals, when all through the flat
All the games were turned off and South slept on his mat;
The stockings were hung by the tv with care,
And the tree was decked out with three small guitars, and a mini snare;
The four boys were nestled all snug in their beds;
While visions of tests loomed dark in their heads;
And Cal in his t-shirt, and I in my pants,
Had just settled our brains for a short sleepy trance,
When out in the kitchen there arose such a clatter,
We sprang from our beds to see what was the matter.
Away from Mike’s bedside, South flew like a flash,
Knocked over some laundry, and ran after Ash.
The rooms were all dark but the path was familiar
As we crept down the hallway, afraid of a killer.
When what to my wandering hand did appear,
But a light switch not working — no ease to our fear,
I pulled out my phone in my pocket real quick
Then Cal gave the kitchen door quite a good kick
To see opened cabinet, wrecked dish, nothing on
Our clocks, and phone chargers, and heat were all gone!
"Now, Calum, grab Lukey! Now Michael, take South!”
When one of them groaned, Ashton said “Shut your mouth!
No need to complain, we can still get some rest.
Come with to the couch and lay down on my chest.
I’ll soon meet you there, but first I must clear
The broken plate pieces, before you step here.”
So o’er to the loveseat, we boys walked away
All grumbling and tired after a long day.
Mike grabbed fuzzy blankets, Cal laid on the floor
I pushed back the table, making room for two more.
As I snatched up some pillows and sunk to the ground,
Through the kitchen door, Ashton came with a bound.
He looked warm is his jammies, from his head to his foot,
And he didn’t complain that the heat went caput;
A candle in one hand, the other a lighter,
Now with us, he sat down to light our small fire.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimple, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
The light bit of stubble that he had let grow,
His cute little smile hidden under its shadow;
Out from his pockets he pulled some small treats
“I’m sorry I couldn’t make much else to eat.”
So he gave us some napkins and filled up our bellies
With crackers, water bottles, and pb and jelly.
He looked at us each with an air of fondness,
And I laughed when we met eyes, and gave him a kiss;
A nod of Ash’s head and a tap of my hand
Soon gave me to know Mike was off to dreamland;
Cal looked at us both, then tucked up in the sheet,
Nestling up next to Michael, the boys looked so sweet,
Then Cal reached for my arm, I sank right to his chest
And closing my eyes, I was ready for rest;
Ashton walked around, collecting some pillows,
‘Til he laid next to me as I started to doze.
But I heard him speak softly, blowing out candlelight—
“You boys are my favorites, I love you, good night!”