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It was a long day, just too much of everything.
Michael placed his keys on the table with much more fore than necessary. He was supposed to meet the guys at the boardwalk a little after sundown. Now it was way past then and Michael wasn't there.
Lucy had tasked him with watching Sam while she worked late again. Both Michael and had Sam protested against it.
In the end they'd lost and Michael had to babysit.
David's going to be mad...Michael worried. He had seen David angry at the others, even though most of the time it was just teasing.
Michael really didn't want to get yelled at right now.
He put his head in his hands, contemplating on what to do.
Sam was in the other room and would tell Lucy if Michael tried to sneak out. So that was a no go.
"Dammit... he's going to be pissed." Michael said to himself. He now realized it wasn't just David he'd upset. It'd be Dwayne, Paul, Marko, and Star too
He was so dead...
Pushing back his chair and standing, Michael began to pace the kitchen. He thought of what to do.
I could take Sam with me... No mom'll kill me I let him on my bike. Michael absentmindedly grabbed a bowl from the cupboard, placing it on the counter.
As Michael thought more about what to do he ended up gathering all the ingredients for baking cookies.
He looked at the strange array of things now littering the counter, thinking for a moment before deciding to preheat the oven.
Just a few cookies can't hurt. He told himself. To make up for me inconveniencing them and not showing up the their show. Oh god I hope they aren't angry with me...
One batch of cookies turned into many, trays littered the kitchen. Michael stood in the middle of it all, dressed in his mother's apron with oven mitts on.
They won't be mad. They won't. Repeated in Michael's head like a mantra.
Sam's voice carried through the house, he sounded confused. "Mike! Why does the entire place smell like cookies?"
"I'm being productive Sam leave me alone!" Michael shouted back.
Sam rounded the corner, entering the kitchen before freezing. "Holy shit Mike! Did you use an entire store's worth of ingredients?" He stepped farther into the room, surveying the area. "That's like five trays! Why do you need that many anyways?"
"Go away Sam, I'm busy." Michael said, irritated.
"Yeah busy making an army's worth of cookies!'
"Shut it. It's called having a hobby. Maybe you should mind your own business." Michael turned away as the oven dinged, pulling out another batch of cookies, much to Sam's surprise.
"You're stress baking Mike, no sane person makes six batches of different cookies." Sam grabbed a cookie off a tray close to him, taking a bite before making a face. "Oatmeal raisin? Seriously? You're such a grandma."
Michael placed the mitts on the counter, putting his hands on his hips. "I like oatmeal raisin okay? You can leave, I don't need you critiquing my baking skills. It's annoying."
"Where did you get all of these ingredients anyways?" Sam ignored Michael's complaint. "I'm fairly sure grandpa didn't have any of these things in here. Well, maybe sugar, eggs, flour, milk, and butter- you get my point!"
"So? I don't see why you're complaining! It's cookies. Be thankful it's not bread like it was last time." Michael said, pointing an accusing finger at him.
Sam laughed, remembering the piles of bread. Maybe he was exaggerating, it was only ten or so loaves.
"What's got you stressed anyway?" Sam questioned, taking a seat at the table.
Michael was silent for a moment before speaking. "Well I was-"
He was cut off in the middle of his sentence by three sharp knocks on the front door.
Michael sighed. "Sam go get that." He picked up a sugar cookie, taking a bite. " 'm busy."
Sam begrudgingly got up, going to the door as Michael got yet another tray out of tbe oven. Seven trays of cookies. Seven trays.
Sam shook his head. At least it's cookies.
He opened the door, coming face to face with David. The others stood behind him at different points on the porch.
"Hello Sam." David said.
"H-hey guys." Sam smiled awkwardly. "What are you doing here?"
"Seeing if Michael's home. Can we come in?" He smiled back at Sam.
"Oh! Uh... Michael's home. Come in." He moved out of the doorway, letting all five of them in. "Please don't kill my brother."
"We won't." Star assured.
"I smell cookies." Dwayne said.
"Can I have one? Please?" Marko asked.
"Ask Michael. He made them." Sam gestured towards the kitchen.
Michael popped his head from out of the doorway. "Sam who's there? Is it- Hi guys." Michael said sheepishly, stepping out of the kitchen, still dressed in the apron.
Paul howled with laughter as Marko bent over clutching his stomach. Dwayne covered his mouth, hiding a laugh while Star chuckled. Even David cracked a smile.
"So mom," Marko teased, wiping tears from his eyes. "What kind of cookies did you make?"
"Go see." Michael waved his hand in the general direction of the kitchen. Everyone went in the room, leaving David and Michael alone in the hallway.
Michael heard the moment they all saw the amount of cookies he made.
Paul's "Holy shit!" was heard as it echoed off the walls.
Michael smiled. "You don't need to yell! I can hear you fine!" He called back.
Turning to David, Michael noticed his expression, disappointment.
"David- I-I was-" David held a finger up.
"I know, I know."
"I wanted to come, I tried to go. I promise!" Michael said frantically. "I had to watch Sam is all. I swear to you that I tried to."
"Michael."
"I didn't do it on purpose! I-" Michael continued, trying to defend himself.
"Michael." David stepped into his space, grabbing Michael's shoulders. "It's fine. I understand, we all understand."
Michael shut his mouth, looking at David. "Still sorry."
David's hand came up and cupped his cheek. "It's okay bright eyes." He said gently. "Just because you couldn't come tonight doesn't make us hate you. Do you understand?"
He leaned into David's hand. "Okay."
"Holy shit! Oatmeal raisin and peanut butter?! You're a saint. Michael I love you!" Marko said loudly.
Michael chuckled before going quiet again. He put his hand over David's, giving him a soft smile. "Thank you."
"No need to thank me sweetheart."
They walked into the kitchen, greeted by the sight of Paul trying to see how many cookies he could fit in his mouth while Dwayne and Marko encouraged him. Star stood to the side, smiling.
"Please don't choke. I don't know cpr." Michael said, worrying.
Sam looked at Michael questioning. "I still don't get where you got all the stuff to make cookies. Are you like a cookie guru or something?"
Michael laughed fully this time. "Or something."
Marko bit into another cookie. "Tell us your secrets Mikeyyyyy. These are so good!"
Dwayne and Paul nodded along.
David put his arm over Michael's shoulders, pulling him into his side. He picked up a cookie, taking a bite. "These are pretty good." Finishing the cookie he looked over at Michael. "Good job."
Michael blushed, looking down. "Thanks."
David smirked, grabbing Michael's face and pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Amazing."
Paul pretended to gag. "Get a room."
"Nasty." Marko said jokingly.
Michael rolled his eyes. "Be quiet."
They all continued talking in the kitchen after that.
Lucy came home to everything smelling of baked goods and laughter coming from the kitchen.
At least Michael and Sam were having fun with those strange kids from the boardwalk.