Daddy of the Month.

A loud horn blared, starling Leon right out of bed. With his head slammed against the floor, he groaned and stood up, rubbing the place of impact. The horn was still going on and it made his head ache with pain. Surprisingly, down on the bed was Stuart still sleeping as if the loud noise was ineffective.

Chuckling at the man who hugged all the blanket, he waited for the horn to stop before jumping on him and shaking him awake. His green eyes fluttered open and he stared at Leon who was mesmerized by those unique eyes. Stuart's forehead furrowed and Leon immediately leaned down and kissed him before he snapped. Even though the man had quit being super grumpy, he was still grumpy.

He kissed his cheeks before pulling away and grinning. "Good morning, Stuart."

Stuart still frowned. "Just because I let you sleep here doesn't mean you have to wake me up like this, every morning."

Leon smiled cheekily at him before rolling off. Since the day Stuart had admitted his feelings, he had changed quite a bit. He was nicer, took the kids out and their date had been sweet last night. They hadn't gone out but Leon had cooked and when the kids had passed out, they had their dinner.

They talked about everything. Their families, The Gay Project, work... Everything and anything except their last day on the island. Leon was too scared to bring it up and was grateful when Stuart didn't also. Leon was already dreading that day but he wasn't going to make that time affect his relationship right now.

"Urgh, I'm so tired." Stuart whined then buried his head back in his pillow. "I'm going back to sleep."

"Oh get up. It's not like we stayed up late last night." Leon rolled his eyes at the man and Stuart huffed before covering his face with the blanket.

But he was being honest. After dinner, they had only cuddled before Stuart slept off before Leon could make any advance at him. He had only shrugged it off before going to sleep.

Remembering what had woken him up, he ignored the man moving sluggishly on the bed and went to peep by the window. The sky was awfully bright making Leon squint before his eyes focused on the moving vehicle passing by his house. His eyes widening at what the man on the pickup truck was about to do and he covered his ears just when the loud horn blew again.

And this time it caught Stuart's attention, in the worst way possible. The Aussie screamed and rolled off the bed with the blanket but instead of him to recover like Leon had, he started gasping drastically and reaching for the bed stand. But he didn't move making Leon immediately panicked as he rushed to his side.

He knelt beside him and quickly picked him up in his arms. Stuarts eyes were glazed but when Leon called his name, his clear green eyes mixed with little flakes of gold glanced at him. The small man slowly clung to Leon's shirt and he muttered, "Honey."

Leon didn't know if this was the time for him to be saying such word when he didn't know what was happening. His heart was beating faster than normal watching Stuart drift in and out of consciousness.

"Faun!" He screamed, hoping the boy was awake and praying his voice over shadowed the horn that wouldn't stop going. "Faun call 911!"

"No." Stuart's voice came out weak. "Don't... ...honey ... drawer." Then his eyes fluttered close.

Leon could have worn his heart was in his mouth when Stuart's head dipped back but he swiftly held it and started slapping him awake because at that moment, Leon couldn't understand the words that left his mouth. And the situation felt all too familiar.

"Stuart stay awake."

"Dad what's wrong?" Faun finally came just when the horn stopped blowing.

Leon was slightly relieved to see Faun who moved closer to him. The boy's eyes widened and he asked, "What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know. He just fell and started drifting in and out of consciousness, murmuring honey. I mean, I appreciate the sweet word but this isn't the time." He glanced away from Stuart at Faun when he moved to their bed stand drawer and got out a honey bottle.

Leon watched in awe as the kid fed him a teaspoon of honey and slowly, the man in Leon's arms opened his eyes the second time that morning.

"Oh my god, Stuart." Leon immediately pulled him into a hug and didn't notice how tight he held him until Stuart started choking. He pulled away from him and checked his temperature and skin color as he said, "Oh my god, are you all right?"

Stuart winced and Leon immediately snatched his hands away from him and stared worriedly at him.

"Hey Dad, are you okay now?"

Stuart smiled at the kid and uttered weakly, "Get me a glass of water."

"Get it quick, Faun." Leon ordered then looked back at the man that almost gave him a heart attack a few minutes ago. "Stuart, what was that?"

"My body is fucked up." He chuckled then added, "Can you please pick me up?"

"Sure." Leon got on his feet then helped the other man up. He helped him to get on the bed and picked up the blanket on the floor. "You should stay in bed. That horn might blow again."

He started to leave to address the situation outside when Stuart caught his arm and pulled him back. Those eyes stared up at him pleadingly and Leon swore if the man asked him at that moment to go to Australia with him, he wouldn't have thought twice. But then he said, "Make it stop."

Leon only bit his tongue to stop the whine that was about to slip pass his lips before he nodded at him and did what he was told.

Getting downstairs, his little girl bounced out of her seat and followed him outside after they had both put on a jacket. Just like them, every other person in the neighborhood were outside watching this pickup truck blow their horn.

Stannis, their neighbor two houses down where the truck was passing through, yelled at the driver and when he didn't listen, yelled at the other one in the trunk.

"You guys have got to stop this. It's Sunday, man."

The man at the back nodded and hit the glass at the back of the truck. The horn suddenly stopped along with the car. Leon and his little girl had to turn the other way when they heard another pickup truck horning their way into their street.

Some people at the further end of the road yelled at them to stop and they did. Then it was just total silence after.

Mariam pulled on Leon's arm and asked, "Dad, what's going on?"

"I don't know, Mariam."

"It's the daddy of the month competition." Someone said and they both turned to see Bonnie standing by her fence in her pink robes and messy hair. She looked like she had just woken up.

She smiled at them and waved at Mariam who waved back then said, "They do it every year. Mother of the month was June."

"Oh. Thanks for that." He smiled back.

A man who looked to be in his early twenties came down from the first truck and cleared his throat. All the murmuring from the neighbors mellowed down and he spoke, "Sorry to disturb your precious morning but it's December 14 and that means it's the beginning of the Daddy of the month challenge. If you are new to the neighborhood, let me break it down.

"The Daddy Challenge is a chance for dads to win a little something for the family. You have to be married and have kids to participate. Winning price is $50,000. Although, for every daily challenge 500 bucks would be given to the winner.

"My name is Dave Creed and I'm the coordinator of this. My partner Ramus Campbee will go around taking names of dad's participating and if we have enough, a letter would be given which contains the challenges. You can prepare before time if you like...."

Leon got distracted when a similar young man walked up to Bonnie. He was tall with light brown hair and was dressed in a simple white t-shirt which had a name on it and loose black jeans. The minute she saw him, she practically squealed and jumped on him. With the way he held her tightly meant they were close.

The Canadian waited for them to be done greeting before he approached them. He smiled at the younger man and said, "Hi. I'm Leon. And you are?"

"Ramus. I'm the crazy dude's partner." He replied as he shook his hand. He looked over the man's shoulder and smiled. "Is she your kid?"

Leon glanced back at Mariam who was still listening to Dave speak then grinned at Ramus. "Yeah. She is."

He nodded then reached for something in his back pocket. The man handed Leon a black familiar envelope just when someone in a similar white shirt approached his house.

Leon glanced at the man when he started walking forward and asked, "Who are you?"

"Ben. I'm the one taking names." He shook the clip board in his hands then waited patiently for Leon to speak.

Slipping the envelope into his Jacket pocket, he turned to Ramus and asked, "If I write my name down, does that mean I'm the only one who gets to be involved?"

"Oh no. The whole family if it comes to it." He chuckled then looked back at Bonnie. "I should leave now. Dave's more cranky than sarcastic now."

He handed her a piece of paper and she smiled then said, "I'll call you."

Ramus gave Leon a small wave before leaving to the next house on their left.

Sighing, Leon gave Ben his name and for some reason the man gave him another envelope before going over to Bonnie to ask if she was married. This envelope wasn't like the first one and that answered his doubts. Leon excused himself then went to stand beside Mariam who was busy talking to the girl next door.

The girl looked up at him then quickly waved at her friend before turning to him and asking, "Are we going to play?"

"Yes. I guess."

Her eyes widened and she clapped her excitedly before dashing back into the house.

Awkwardly, Leon glanced at the girl his fake daughter was talking to and saw her entering her house with her large dad. Taking a good look around, Leon was impressed to see the amount of families he saw because with the way the neighborhood had been quiet, he almost thought no one else lived around them except Bonnie and Mrs. Lynn.

"Leon?"

When the Canadian heard the Aussie's voice, he easily remembered the morning's incident and ran to his side, preventing him from taking another step in the cold.

As usual, Stuart scowled at him. "What's this? Let me be, Leon."

"There's nothing out here. Get inside or you'll get a cold." He tried again but Stuart didn't bother listening and just walked past him.

Leon watched him stare at the crowd which had formed around Dave's truck. Then he spoke up, "What's going on?"

"I'll tell you inside. There's really no point being out here. Plus, I think The Gay Project has something for us."

That got his attention because he cursed and turned back to him. The Aussie brushed past him before entering the house but Leon brushed it off because he was already used to the attitude. If only someday he would be sweet and nice to him like he was to him.

Locking the door behind him, he turned to face everyone and that included Faun. They all stood patiently, waiting for him to explain what was going on outside.

"Uh," He started shyly. "There's going to be a daddy of the month competition."

"You can't be serious." Stuart gapped at him in awe and that seemed to make Leon laugh because he remembered when Stuart thought he would win daddy of the month.

"What happens when we win?" Faun asked. He was still in his PJ and he had a nasty bed head.

"We get $50,000. What do you guys think?" Leon asked, slipping passed them to the sitting room for space. He stood next to the tall Christmas tree which reminded him he needed to get the kids presents.

"That is awesome. I am all for it." Faun nodded.

"I can't wait. Last year, it was in block D and my friend Cammy said they ate lots and lots of cake and food. They even played dress up," Mariam said excitedly as she jumped on the couch.

"Dress up?" Faun frowned immediately.

"Wait, not everyone is doing it?" Stuart asked confused.

"That bit of information, he didn't tell." Leon gnawed on his lip in thought.

Stuart flopped on the couch beside Mariam who then crawled on top of him. Leon was surprised when the man didn't grumble and willingly let the kid seat on him. Stuart looked up at him, "When does it start?"

Leon threw the envelope at Faun who caught it easily then said to Stuart, "Sorry to disturb your bonding time but Stuart, I need you in the kitchen." Then he glanced at Faun. "Read that and tell me what's in it when Stuart and I are done talking."

"Okay." He nodded then moved to open it. Mariam quickly rushed to his side and mumbled something to him which he brushed off.

Leon left the sitting room with Stuart tailing him then locked the kitchen door after him. Pulling out the black envelope, he caught the Aussie searching the fridge probably for beer and he frowned, walking over to him and closing the fridge in his face.

Stuart's forehead creased and started to say something but Leon held a finger to Stuart's lip before replacing it with his lips. The frightened emotion he had felt when Stuart was about to faint quickly rushed through him, causing a cold chill to course through his body.

He ignored Stuart's rough push until the man had melted into his kiss before he pulled away and watched his dazed look. He hated that feeling he got. It was too familiar. The feeling he got when the police called him about his wife, it was the same. He hated it with every fiber of his being.

"What was that for?"

He wanted to tell him. Tell him he was scared of losing him. Tell him he would never be the same if something had happened. But he only shook his head and smiled. "Because I wanted to."

Taking a step back from the man, he pulled out a piece of paper from the envelope and handed it to Stuart to read. The Aussie slowly took it from him and Leon tried not to make eyes contact as he came to stand beside him so close, their shoulders were touching.

Glancing as the paper in Stuart's hand, it read;

Dear experiments,

How's the holiday treating you? The Gay Project is just peachy today. Since you both have three more weeks on this island, your task for the next three weeks have been given to you. It is what's written on the colored card. Avoid picking the black ones. Those are special.

For everyday there is something to do for the Daddy of the month, one of you would have to blindly pick a card and do what's written on it.

But that starts tomorrow. Today, Stuart is to pick the red card and the task is to be done before midnight.

Your reward for completing each task would be money but we have added a little spice to it now. Once all tasks are done. Including the black cards, you would be given your passport or a ring.

If you choose the passport, you know what that means and if you choose the ring, you get a little surprise to go with it. Once you pick then, the decision is final.

Choose wisely.

The Gay Project.

Admin.

Leon froze.

The last two paragraphs had his heart thundering in his chest. How could they? How could they give Stuart a choice like that? Leon knew the man might have admitted his feelings but reminding him he could leave soon might make him go back to being resistive. And even though Leon had tolerated it in the beginning, he knew he couldn't go on tolerating it for the next three weeks.

Leon glanced at Stuart just when he crushed the paper and threw it into the bin. He turned to Leon and asked, "Give me the red card and let's get on with this shit."

Leon was too numb to be disturbed by his cuss word as he reached into the envelope and got out the red card. He handed it to him and Stuart cursed when he read it. Leon wanted to ask what it was but the Aussie scoffed and said, "I've got to. If you are looking for me, I'm at Michaela's"

"Michaela's?"

"Relax, she's cool." He tapped his shoulder reassuringly before slipping out of his grasp and out of the kitchen.

Leon was left feeling terribly vulnerable and disappointed.

______________________

So I am back from my one week break. If you did pray for me, arigatō! I was swimming in Asian gay drama and boy am I obsessed! I spent the week watching web series and movies and so many stuffs that had my heart racing so bad, it gave me loads of inspiration.

If you are into Asian BL, you can check out

1. Heroine(Addicted)-Chinese web series,

2. Hormones- Thai series (although it really wasn't all about the BL. The boy romance was... It was just something nice to watch),

3. Love's coming- Taiwanese (you'll just love this. Part two (lovelove you) will be out this year hopefully.)

4. The lovers- Korean. (Every couple was amazing to watch both gay and Straight.)

5. Love sick- Thai series (it's here because they made my heart melt.)

Would dive into more but, it would be a rant. Would upload more if asked. But honestly, check it out. You can find them on YouTube and if not, I can give you a place to watch it.

Anyways, I hope y'all enjoyed the chapter. Leave a comment on what you think the task is!