Cailen only had to look over the boy's shoulder to see his brother saunter in, but Ezekiel and Elliana had to turn around and Cailen couldn't say he was exactly surprised by the reaction.
Elliana gasped in surprise while Ezekiel darted forward and threw himself at his uncle.
William chuckled and wrapped Ezekiel up in a tight hug, rocking him back and forth slightly before letting go.
"Uncle William, you made it!" Ezekiel said happily.
It had been a while since Ezekiel and Maddison last saw him.
"Papa said he didn't know if you were coming." Ezekiel explained.
William mock scoffed.
"Of course I will! I wouldn't miss my favorite nephew turning fifteen!" William exclaimed.
Cailen took a peek over at Elliana to see a look of confusion mixed with awe and nearly lost it. He would never understand the effect William had on teenage girls.
"I don't think you're supposed to say that." Ezekiel told him around a laugh.
"Meh, George isn't here anyway." William waved him off.
George was Stella's son,  though they didn't see them much ever since they moved out of the city.
"Um, Zeke?" Elliana finally spoke up.
Ezekiel suddenly went stiff, apparently forgetting Elliana was there in the excitement of seeing his Uncle.
"Oh, and who is this?" William asked, looking to the girl.
Elliana blushed immediately under the sudden attention of William Hart, and extended her hand.
"Elliana." She said quietly.
William beamed at her, obviously sensing she was a fan. William's band finally took off a few years ago and they had quite the fanbase. They weren't well known worldwide, but in the country, they were pretty big.
"Well, it's wonderful to meet you, Elliana." William said, letting go of her hand. "Zeke, you didn't tell me you had such a beautiful girlfriend."
Both teenagers blushed profusely at this, probably for different reasons.
"She's not- we're just friends." Ezekiel mumbled, apparently finding the floor rather fascinating.
William arched an eyebrow at Cailen in a silent question to which Cailen sent a subtle wink, and then William really beamed.
"Oh, well, that's a pity, I suppose you could bring Tripp or Airene then." William shrugged.
This confused everyone in the room.
"I was going to invite you to a show, but I only have two tickets. Thought you could bring your girlfriend, but if you don't have one-"
"I'll go!" Elliana said excitedly but clamped a hand over her mouth almost immediately.
"I mean- I- Zeke! You didn't tell me your Uncle was William Hart!" She said, slapping him playfully in the chest.
Ezekiel looked to be a new kind of flustered as he searched for a reply.
"Uh, I- I didn't know- I didn't know it was of importance." Ezekiel managed.
"I'm sorry, I'm just- I'm a huge fan!" She said, her smile big on her face.
"Oh, thanks, love. Always great to meet a fan." William grinned.
William then turned to Ezekiel, trying to redirect the attention.
"How about you? Want to come to my next show? Maybe bring you up to play a song or two?" William asked, raising an eyebrow at Ezekiel.
Ezekiel was already nodding and Cailen was already fretting because who knew where in God's name William's next show was, but it was Elliana who spoke first.
"What do you play, Zeke?" She asked, her tone curious and intrigued.
"Um, g-guitar." The boy managed.
"Really? Could you show me?" She asked, excitement creeping back into her voice.
"Uh, yeah. Sure." Ezekiel shrugged like it was nothing.
Ezekiel always played off his guitar skills as 'no big deal' but he was actually quite good, and Cailen wasn't being bias.
"Um, like... Now?" Ezekiel asked a little unsure.
"Sure." The girl smiled.
"Uh, okay- um, my guitar is in my room... If you want to come up?" Ezekiel asked as he began walking towards the staircase.
Elliana nodded and started following him, but Cailen couldn't allow it.
"Uh, why don't you go get it and bring downstairs, Zeke? Show everyone. He'll meet you down there, love." Cailen said, his tone suggesting they didn't have a choice.
Ezekiel's eyes went wide and Elliana's cheeks went pink but she nodded and headed down the hall instead, sending Ezekiel one last smile before heading down the stairs.
"Papa," Ezekiel said helplessly, stepping towards him and bending down, actually leaning down, to bury his head on his shoulders.
Cailen bit back a chuckle as he rubbed Ezekiel’s back soothingly. It was obvious that his son was nervous, and honestly, he had nothing to be nervous about.
Cailen pulled away to hold Ezekiel’s face in both his hands and stare at his son’s eyes. “Ezekiel Hale, don’t worry. You don’t have to impress her, or anyone. Just play like you always do, love. You’re great, and I’m not just saying this because I am your father, Zeke. I’m saying this because it’s the truth.”
Ezekiel gave him a small smile, but the nervous glint in his eyes lessened. He leaned and kissed Cailen’s cheek before turning around to the stairs.
Cailen turned when he felt an arm come down across his shoulders to see William there, smiling wistfully up the stairs after Ezekiel.
"Ah, they grow up so fast." He teased before turning a grin on Cailen.
Cailen snorted, shrugging his brother off and stepping away from him, heading down the hall back into the kitchen.
"Don't mention that to Asher. You'll send him to the hospital from a panic attack." Cailen said over his shoulder, seeing that William was following him.
Before turning into the kitchen, he saw Ezekiel slip downstairs, his guitar in hand.
In the kitchen, Maddie and Aariyah sat at the island on a couple of stools, both on their knees so they could reach the pile of colored pencils in the middle that they apparently retrieved from the living room in order to keep coloring.
Matthew and Hazel stood leaning against the sink, Matthew's arm wrapped around her waist and holding her close as they shared some kind of private conversation.
Asher was sat on another stool talking to Noah who was rummaging through the fridge, probably looking for a beer but Cailen knew he wouldn't find one.
Just because Ezekiel has yet to discover alcohol, doesn't mean it wasn't coming and Cailen didn't want to be the one providing his son with alcohol.