FIC: WHEN OUR FRAMES COLLIDE 16/16
Title: When Our Frames Collide
Chapter: 16/16 - Love Is A Poor Man's Food
Author: carolinablu85. or you can call me Ella! (or you can call me Al, if you like the song...)
Characters: Luke/Noah, the Millers (OCs), Holden, Damian, Emily, Marcus (OC), Lily, Hunter, Casey
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: sequel to my fic "Sins of the Father," refers to things that happened in that story, takes place a few months later!
Summary: And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love that you make.
Disclaimer: I disclaim. I own a pair of sneakers, a cellphone, and some other stuff. The show? Nope, not that.
Author's Note: Today's chapter is brought to you by the song "Hold You In My Arms" by Ray LaMontagne! Thanks to everyone for reading and supporting this story!
Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3 / Chapter 4 / Chapter 5 / Chapter 6 / Chapter 7 / Chapter 8 / Chapter 9 / Chapter 10a / Chapter 10b / Chapter 11a / Chapter 11b / Chapter 12a / Chapter 12b / Chapter 13 / Chapter 14a / Chapter 14b / Chapter 15a / Chapter 15b /
Luke dragged himself out of sleep slowly, comfortably warm all over. He could feel sunlight through the window hitting his back, but it wasn’t until he opened his eyes that he realized why the rest of him felt so good. And he had to smile.
He had gotten home a couple hours ago from a morning foundation meeting that had gone really well. The Luke Snyder foundation was about to start its campaign for gay rights in medical issues, and he was really excited about it. Energized in a way he hadn’t been for awhile.
He had (gently) refused to let Noah come to the meeting or get involved just yet. For one thing, the fight was still hitting a little close to home- he didn’t want to have to use Noah’s story, put him in the spotlight, for the campaign right away- and he also wanted Noah to concentrate on himself right now and not Luke’s job. Noah was back in school and back at Java, and Luke wanted him to be settled and caught up in his own life before he helped out with this.
So he had gotten home to find Noah waiting for him. Well, half-waiting. Because he was also half-asleep on the couch, an old Batman cartoon playing on the TV in front of him. Lying there in loose sweatpants and a torn, paint-spattered t-shirt, eyes bleary and hair rumpled, Luke couldn’t believe how adorable he made that look.
He had pounced on him before Noah even knew he was there and found some creative ways to wake him up. After a round of lazy sex, slow and sweet, they had fallen asleep together on the couch. Luke had worked his way into what was probably his current favorite cuddle position (he reserved the right to change his mind to something else at any time)- lying between Noah and the back of the couch, spooned up behind him.
In their sleep, however, they must’ve turned a bit, because now Noah was lying on his stomach with Luke stretched out almost completely across his back. It was the first thing Luke saw when he opened his eyes- what looked like miles and miles of bare, perfect skin under him. He turned his head just a little, rubbing his cheek into Noah’s back softly, and looked up. And smiled wider.
He always thought Noah looked his most beautiful when asleep, because it was when he was the least guarded. His features softened, tension gone, any hint of self-doubt or shyness missing. He watched Noah, sleeping easy and breathing deeply, half his face mashed into a couch cushion. The warmth surrounding Luke, from sun and from skin, seemed to get inside his chest now, like it was taking up residence and never leaving.
He was so damn happy that they were both here, together, now, safe and sound. Especially after everything that had happened in the last few months, and even after everything that had happened in the last few weeks since they had gotten Noah back from Georgia. Really, since that night Krista had shown up at their front door...
“Um,” Krista gave an awkward, tentative wave. “Hi. Can we talk?”
Luke did try to fight the urge to stand protectively in front of Noah, he really did... but he lost. He grabbed Noah’s hand and pulled until his boyfriend was behind him, Noah too shocked to do anything but go along with it. “What are you doing here?” he snapped.
Her face fell but she hid the flinch that almost happened at his tone. He didn’t care. “I wanted to see you,” she answered Luke, though her eyes were still on Noah.
“What for?” he asked, wanting to keep the attention away from Noah. He squeezed his hand briefly, silently asking if he was okay, and felt a knot of tension ease when Noah squeezed back.
Krista swallowed hard before speaking. “We... we looked everywhere for you, and when we never got word of where you were or if you were okay, I-” she dared to take a step closer, almost inside the doorway. “I wanted to make sure you were okay, Noah. I wanted to see for myself.”
“I’m okay,” Noah said softly, still a half-step behind Luke.
She smiled a little then. “Okay. Good. I’m glad. We, we all are.”
“We?” Luke repeated.
She hesitated for less than a second, but it was enough for Luke to know that there was something there. “Our-” she shook her head. “My parents. They’re realizing how much they screwed up, guys, they are. I don’t know what you’re thinking their intentions are anymore, but I promise, there aren’t any.”
Luke gave a skeptical snort. “Krista.”
“I mean it,” she insisted, looking back and forth at both of them. Luke felt Noah take a small step forward, squeezing Luke’s hand again. He was listening to her. Luke tried to do the same. “They just want to know that you’re okay, Noah.” She attempted a smile. “Even Justin’s worried.”
Luke opened his mouth to retort, but at the last second stopped himself. He looked to his boyfriend, reminding himself that this was all up to Noah and not him. Noah was looking at Krista with equal parts understanding and wariness. “I...” he took a deep breath before continuing. “I’m okay, Krista. Better, now that I’m back home.”
It was a pointed comment, one that made Krista wince and Luke smirk, though they both tried to hide it. He had to give her credit though, Krista kept going. “I know things are really messed up right now, and you have every right to feel and do whatever you want, but... if, um, if at some point you want to talk to us, or see us again, the invitation will always be there.”
Again, Luke managed to bite his tongue just in time. Noah’s hand shook slightly in his, but he held strong. “Thank you,” he answered simply. “I know you all went through something too, and I’m sorry about that, but... you have to understand, Krista. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to- to be okay with everyone.”
She nodded, blinking back tears. “Please, think about it though? Because,” she tried another tiny smile. “Because I just got engaged. And I’d love for my little brother to be at my wedding.”
Luke didn’t think it was possible, but a sweet, genuine smile appeared on Noah’s face. “Tyler asked you to marry him?”
She nodded. “He did. And Noah, the wedding won’t be for awhile. But I’d like you to be there for it.”
Noah hesitated this time, and Luke could feel him begin to take a step back, so he finally stepped in, trying to rescue him from having to make a decision. “Does the rest of the family know you’re here?” he asked, bringing her focus back to him.
It was her turn to hesitate. “Sort of. Um, considering they’re outside in the car right now.”
“What?!” Luke’s voice rose sharply, and he could feel Noah tense up next to him. This time they both took a few steps back, needing just that much more space between them and the door. Noah was shocked back into silence, but Luke wasn’t about to stay quiet. “They’re not allowed in here,” he snapped at Krista. “This is our home, it’s safe and happy, and we’re not about to let it get tarnished with-”
“I know, I know,” Krista interrupted gently, hands up, pleading. “They understand, okay? They’re not here with me to start anything. Noah, they just wanted to know that you’re okay too, like me. That’s it.”
Noah closed his eyes briefly, breathing deep. Luke ignored Krista for a moment, turning to his boyfriend, letting go of his hand so he could wrap an arm around him instead. “Do you want me to call... someone? Jack? My dad?” he asked quietly.
Noah shook his head, then slowly opened his eyes, gazing at Luke. “I can do this,” he whispered, then softly kissed him on the forehead.
Luke leaned into the kiss, but then captured his eyes once more. “Yeah, well, I can do this too. Go with you, I mean. Just try and stop me.”
Noah’s eyes crinkled into an unexpected smile. “Yeah, I’m not that dumb.” He grabbed Luke’s hand once again, then looked at Krista. “Let’s go.”
She stared, eyes wide. “Noah, I mean it. You don’t have to see them, that’s not why I-”
“No. Krista, I want to do this now. Let’s go,” he said again, voice steady. Luke couldn’t help but stand up a little bit straighter next to him, happy at how confident he sounded.
Krista looked uncertain, but ultimately shrugged and turned to go back out to the parking lot. Noah and Luke followed behind her, focusing on the rental car parked next to Luke’s. There was a shadow of movement through the windows, and then three figures slowly, almost nervously, got out of the car.
Noah took a deep breath, let go of Luke’s hand, and then- to Luke’s surprise- approached Justin first. “Thank you,” he said simply.
Justin looked back at him, puzzled. “For- for what?”
Noah continued to stare him down. “The bruise was still on his jaw a week later.”
There was another second of confusion, but then understanding (and satisfaction) flashed across Justin’s face. He smiled, and Luke could see a trace of Noah’s smile in it. “Good,” the brother said. They looked at each other for a moment longer, and both nodded.
Noah then moved back to stand with Luke, taking his hand to either anchor himself or restrain Luke, he wasn’t sure of which. Luke didn’t give it much thought, he was much too busy glaring at the Miller parents.
Noah looked straight at them as well. “You were wrong about me,” he spoke softly, staring them down. “You handled this- everything- wrong.”
“We know that,” Eric said just as calmly and, from what Luke could grudgingly tell, honestly. “We know that now.”
“We were wrong, Noah,” Autumn looked like she desperately wanted to come closer, reach out her hands or something, but she was holding back. “That man, Damian,” she threw an apologetic look at Luke, “He lied to us, or led us to believe things that weren’t true. We didn’t-”
“I know,” Noah cut her off in that polite way that only Noah could. “I know he played you, misled you, and I’m sorry about that. But you still handled it wrong. If anything, you- you chose to trust Damian over me and what I told you. And I’m the one who’s supposed to be your family. You didn’t trust me. I can’t trust you, I can’t...”
He cut himself off, looking away. Luke covertly pulled him a few inches closer, and decided to speak up when Noah couldn’t. “My family loves Noah,” he reiterated the things he had tried to tell these people for months. “We’ve been there for him for the past three years. And any time it looks like my family hasn’t been there, is because of me and my problems. Not because of Noah, not because my family gave up on him or anything, but because I-”
“Luke,” Noah murmured, just for him. “Don’t you dare try to put any blame on yourself. Don’t you dare.”
Luke turned to look at him, about to protest, but the look of certainty in Noah’s eyes caused the words to die in his throat. Noah was resolute, eyes so certain and sure. They shared a small, secret smile before he nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay,” Noah echoed before turning back to the Millers. “Look. I think I can forgive you- maybe I already do- for what happened. But you all have to understand that after all of it... things may never be wonderful between us. It’s never going to be perfect, I...” he took a slow breath. “I’m not whatever you wanted to Andrew to be. And I’m sorry for that too, but that’s the way it is.” Luke could see him fight the impulse to shrug. “If you can’t accept that, then this is never going to work.”
Luke watched with some surprise as Justin somewhat smiled, looking a little impressed in spite of himself. Krista was still trying to keep her tears at bay, glancing nervously at her parents. For their part, Eric and Autumn stood there with about a thousand mixed emotions on their faces. In some ways it looked like they were grieving losing a child all over again, but in other ways it was like they were seeing Noah for the first time. At least, Luke hoped that’s what it all was.
“Okay,” Eric finally answered. “We all got off course from what we had been trying to do in January. Which was get to know you. Not Andrew, not our lost son, but you. If there’s ever a way for us to do that again, we want to.” Autumn nodded next to him.
Noah thought it over. “I think, at some point, maybe we could do that again. It’s going to take some time,” he warned, not ready to give in just yet.
“Of course,” Eric replied. “How about this- how about...” he thought things over quickly in his head. Luke watched him process and plan silently, again seeing Noah in the action. Eric looked up at Noah determinedly. “We’re on a flight back to Georgia tonight. And that’s where we’ll be. From here on out, ball is in your court. You want to contact us- call, email, write, whatever- and we’ll be there for it. You dictate this from now on, Noah. Whatever contact you want with us, it’s up to you. We want you to feel right with this, feel safe. And maybe, at some point, we’ll be able to earn back your trust. Okay?”
Luke turned to watch Noah think this through, weigh his options. Noah worried his bottom lip between his teeth, looking at each of them. “It may be awhile before I can, before I want to.”
“Honey, whatever is right for you is right for us,” Autumn said tentatively.
Noah nodded, but still looked at them uncertainly. “And you’re sure you’d be okay with that. With a, a ‘long distance relationship’ or whatever?”
The tension eased somewhat at that, and Luke felt himself loosen his hold on Noah’s hand when the Millers relaxed. Autumn smiled at them. “I meant what I told you, honey. I don’t want to lose you. None of us do. And to think that we almost... almost ruined our chances with you, it- I’m sorry, Noah. So sorry for what happened.” She exchanged a glance with Eric. “So yes. We want to do this your way.”
“Okay,” Noah took a deep breath, then nodded. “Then... then I think that’s all we can do for right now.” He fixed them with a hard stare. “I spent sixteen years without any family until I found Luke’s. So... so I think I can wait a little longer. Until it’s right.”
Autumn quickly wiped away a tear. “Alright,” she smiled, took a step forward as though to try to hug Noah, before thinking better of it. “Then we’ll be waiting to hear from you, Noah.” Eric nodded and glanced over at Justin and Krista, giving them a look.
Justin exchanged one more silent nod with Noah and then climbed into the car, Eric and Autumn doing the same. Luke hesitated for a second, then gathered his courage and stepped forward. “Krista?”
She paused next to the car. “Yeah?” she asked warily.
Luke lowered his voice. “I never did get to thank you, for what you did while Noah was in the hospital. For both of us.”
“I wish I could’ve done more,” she whispered, smiling a little.
“You did what you could,” he said. “Seriously, you... you showed him you cared about him. That means a lot.”
She nodded, her smile more genuine. “Well, you still have my number. You- and Noah- can call me anytime, okay?” She opened the car door, and just before getting inside smirked at Luke again. “I wouldn’t mind if you came to that wedding too, Luke Snyder. Just saying.” And then she was in the car and it was pulling away.
He didn’t wave, and neither did Noah. But they stood together and watched as the car disappeared down the street. After a breath of silence, he looked over at his boyfriend. “You okay?”
Noah responded by smiling slightly and pulling him in for a kiss.
************
Luke smiled now, snuggling in even closer, his arms going tighter around Noah’s sides. He turned his face a little more, pressing a kiss to Noah’s back, right between his shoulder blades. Then he pulled back a little and used a hand to rub the kiss even more into the skin (an old habit Emma taught him as a kid- “See, dumpling, it makes the kiss stay longer that way!”), enjoying the feeling of muscle and sinew under his fingers.
After a few minutes he laid his head back down on Noah’s back, listening to him breathe. God, he had been so proud of Noah, confronting the Millers like that, so strong and sure of himself. Another kiss, lingering, on the closest shoulder blade, left Noah squirming half-heartedly under him. Luke held still, smiling, as Noah groaned and blinked slowly. “Hey, Sleeping Beauty.”
He groaned softly again, but made no move to get out from under Luke. “Time izzit?”
Luke swung his head around enough to catch the clock on the DVD player, conveniently allowing him to rest his cheek down in the middle of Noah’s back. “A little after one. We slept through lunch.”
“Mmm,” Noah hummed, somehow relaxing even more into the couch. “Not my fault.” Luke leaned up and kissed him on the neck, down to the side of his face. Noah chuckled, ducking his head away. “You have morning breath.”
Luke mock-gasped, smacking him lightly. “It’s one in the afternoon. And hey! I do not!”
“Then you have afternoon breath,” Noah shot back, though he still wasn’t moving.
Luke worked his way lower down Noah’s prone body. “Fine, I guess I just won’t kiss you anywhere near your mouth then.” Before Noah could respond, Luke grasped him by the hips and planted a wet, playful kiss directly on the small of his lower back. It wasn’t possible for Noah to melt more into the cushions, but he did. Luke smiled with satisfaction even as he kept at it, leaving a trail of messy kisses all the way up Noah’s spine.
By the time he reached Noah’s face again, nuzzling into his neck, he could see Noah’s eyes were fully open, amused. “Gotta say, Snyder. That’s not the worst punishment ever.”
“Really?” Luke aimed a kiss for his mouth, and just when Noah leaned back a little to meet him, he turned away. “Sorry, nope. Wouldn’t want to subject you to my horrible afternoon br-”
Noah shut him up by twisting around quickly onto his back, pulling Luke down onto him and kissing him soundly, almost literally taking Luke’s breath away. He smiled into the kiss, easing himself down fully onto Noah’s chest. Noah smiled back, peaceful and still half-asleep, as he broke the kiss. “Are you and your dad going riding again this weekend?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Luke arranged himself over Noah, head on his shoulder, one leg landing between both of his. He ran a hand up and down one of Noah’s arms as they came up to wrap around him. “I’d invite you to come too but I know you’ll say no.”
Noah shrugged, purposefully jostling Luke where he rested. Luke pinched his arm in retaliation. “I have to work for one thing. But yeah, I prefer not to spend a few hours getting stiff legs and a sore ass.”
Luke grinned cheekily. “Oh really? So I guess that means afterwards we can rule out-”
“Shut up,” Noah cut him off, rolling his eyes and- yes, of course- blushing a little. They kissed again, much softer this time, just the pressing of lips together. Luke kinda liked that they had a hundred different ways to kiss each other.
He settled down against Noah’s shoulder again with a (though he’d deny it later) happy sigh. He knew horseback riding was one tradition Noah probably didn’t mind not sharing with the Snyders, but Luke loved it. And he loved going out for a day with his dad, just two horses and a packed lunch from Emma with them. It had recently become a regular activity for just the two of them, and Luke really appreciated it. Their first outing had been an important one, a chance to re-bond...
The first few hours of their outing had been great. They spent the morning taking the horses out through the pastures, fished until lunchtime, talking and joking. Re-bonding, they loudly and repeatedly exclaimed. After their packed lunch (courtesy of Emma), they had made it here. And Holden gave Luke the look of ‘there’s something I need to say.’
And after everything his dad had just told him, Luke realized it was probably a good idea they had taken the trail out to the edge of the farm, away from everyone and anything that could hear him scream and curse and yell. Which he did. Damian had lied to the Millers. Damian had bribed those doctors in Georgia. Noah had been mugged while they were broken up, and no one ever knew...
“Luke,” Holden spoke up once he was calm again, staring out at the pasture. “I didn’t tell you this because I want you on my side versus Damian. I just want you to know all the facts, or, I guess, as much as I know.” He sat down on the picnic table, the one they had made together when Luke was twelve.
“I am on your side,” Luke insisted anyway, sitting down across from him, forcing his hands to stop shaking.
Holden smiled. “I appreciate that. But I don’t want you to worry either. Damian should be leaving town now and won’t be messing with you anymore. Your mom and I- and Lucinda and Jack and, hell, half this town- we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that’s true.”
Luke smiled a little at that, watching Eastwood and Rigby grazing nearby. “I still can’t believe it all went down like this. That Damian was so... I’m sorry, Dad. For real. For everything. After knowing everything he did, to think of the things I said to you...”
“Hey, we talked about this,” Holden caught his gaze firmly. “Luke, we both said and did some stupid things because of that man. If he’s gone, then our regrets about it should be too. Deal?”
Luke wanted to argue, wanted Holden to lecture and yell at him and not forgive him... but that wasn’t what his dad did. “Deal,” he smiled again, feeling just another bit of tension leave his shoulders.
Holden was quiet for a bit, letting the horses continue to munch on nearby grass, before speaking up again. “Thing is, Luke... I did a lot of my growing up without a dad. I used to worry that the things I did or the way I turned out wouldn’t be what he wanted. But now,” he grinned sideways at Luke. “Now, being a dad too, I realize it- he would’ve loved me no matter what. I just want that for you, Luke.”
“You have been that for me,” Luke jumped in quickly. “Always, you always have. It’s probably why I act the way I do sometimes; I take it for granted. You for granted. But that won’t happen anymore. I just, um,” he ducked his head, unable to look Holden in the eyes at this moment. “I just hope that one day if I have kids, I’ll be as good at that as you are.”
“I have all the faith in the world that you will be,” Holden replied, a different kind of smile on his face now- warm, content, proud. And then teasing. “And I have just as much faith that Noah will make sure you are.”
And now he really couldn’t look his dad in the eye. He knew his face had flushed and a big stupid grin was there too. He knew kids were a long way off for him. Hell, marriage and a house and being a grown up were a long way off for him. But the idea of him and Noah sharing all that together... that didn’t seem so out of reach.
************
Noah could see Luke was deep in thought, a content, far-off smile on his face. He didn’t know what the smile was for, but something about seeing it- so happy and... and right- made Noah want to live in this tiny moment forever. He maneuvered himself around bit by bit until he was curled around Luke’s body, arms still wrapped tight around Luke’s middle.
He probably would’ve stayed that way for as long as possible (forever), but the silent yet insistent rumbling of his stomach interrupted his plans. “Luke?” he loosened one arm so he could slide a hand onto Luke’s bare stomach, rubbing softly.
“Hmm?” Luke was fighting the urge to purr, Noah knew it. Step one, complete.
“’M hungry,” he murmured, saying it more to Luke’s shoulder than to him.
Luke laughed a little, walking his fingers up one of Noah’s arms. “Get up and make some lunch then.”
Noah shook his head, managing to inch his way even closer to Luke. “Don’t want to get up,” he kept his voice rough and deep, scooting down a little so he could return the favor Luke had started earlier.
He pressed a few light kisses onto Luke’s ribcage, half-smiling at the noise Luke tried not to make. Step two, complete. “Don’t even...” Luke started to warn.
Noah pretended not to hear. He slid a hand down to Luke’s hip, making sure his thumb rubbed gently at the skin between bone and torso. “Make some grilled cheese?” he pleaded pitifully. His kisses got nearer and nearer to the center of Luke’s chest. Slower, too. Savoring. (Hey, they weren’t just for Luke to enjoy, right?) “Please?”
Maybe Luke was trying to laugh at him, but that wasn’t what it ended up sounding like. “Damn it, you’re gonna win, aren’t you?” he griped with absolutely no bitterness. After another half-gasp, “Although, I do like hearing you beg.”
And just like that, Noah felt himself blushing. Okay, maybe Luke would win this round. So much for step three. He tried to hide his face by ducking down to kiss skin and chest again, but Luke caught his face in both hands, laughing a little. He tugged gently, so Noah pushed himself forward until their lips met, rough and sweet at the same time. “Please, baby, please?” he smirked when they finally pulled apart.
Luke laughed again, ruffling a hand through Noah’s hair. “Fine, fine,” he groaned dramatically, slowly pushing himself up to sit on the couch. He grabbed a pair of pants from the floor- maybe his own, he wasn’t sure- and slipped them on before standing. “Just so you know, I’m burning yours on purpose!” he called over his shoulder as he headed into the kitchen.
Noah twisted around on the cushions so he could see into the kitchen, propping his chin up on the arm of the couch. He wondered if, fifty years from now, if someone asked him what the happiest moment of his life was, if he would remember this moment. He wasn’t sure anything could ever be better than this, right here.
But he was excited to find out.
And he was willing to do pretty much anything, whatever it took, to keep this- and Luke- safe forever...
Noah forced himself to remain calm, still, collected, waiting for the man currently walking towards him to look up and notice him there.
It took another few seconds, but finally he did. “Noah,” Damian looked somewhere between surprised and resigned. He re-shouldered his bag unnecessarily and stepped around Noah, heading to the trunk of the car Noah was leaning against. “What are you doing here?"
Noah continued to watch him. “Making sure you really are leaving.”
“I assure you, I am,” the man responded stiffly, dropping his bag into the trunk and closing it with a maybe-too-hard slam.
Noah didn’t flinch. Or move at all. “I’m not going to argue or try to change what you think about me. I know you can’t change the mind of a person who doesn’t live in reality to begin with.”
“Are you calling me crazy?” Damian’s eyes narrowed.
“No,” he said simply. “You’re just a sad, misguided person. Who’s never going to be happy if you can’t learn to accept things and accept other people. Just because I’m not like you or what you want, doesn’t mean I’m... that I deserve you hating me. I’m with Luke. Deal with it.”
Damian sighed. “I’m leaving town. What more do you want?”
“For you to never come back,” he said immediately. “I just don’t get it- is it that I’m not good enough because I’m gay, or I’m not good enough and I’m gay?”
There was a moment of silence when Damian refused to answer, moving around to the driver’s side door. “Didn’t you just say what I think doesn’t matter?”
“You tried to turn Luke against me and my family against his. That matters.” Noah stepped closer. “You can’t change people’s perceptions of me just because you think Luke is better off with someone else, or somewhere else. That’s up to Luke to decide.”
“What you two have is just ‘young love,’” Damian spit out the phrase. “You’re just kids. You’ll outgrow each other. I don’t want you holding Luke back from being an adult.” He shook his head. “It’s only a matter of time.”
Noah took a step or two (or three) closer. “No. It’s only a matter of choice, and we choose to be together. After all the things we’ve been through... those things don’t happen to just ‘kids.’ We’ve fought through hell to be together and we love each other and that won’t ever change.” He lowered his voice. “No matter where you go, I’m not going to let you try to change it.”
Damian actually laughed. “What is it you think you can do to keep me away?”
Noah smirked right back, somewhat surprised Damian had given him such an easy cue. He nodded over Damian’s shoulder at the car parked nearby. By the time Damian turned around, Emily had already gotten out of the car and strolled over to them. “Mr. Grimaldi,” she greeted him. “Any comment on the rumors that Grimaldi Shipping has been bribing Port Authority to get around international regulations?”
“Excuse me?” Damian looked back and forth between her and Noah.
Noah gestured to her. “Meet Emily Stewart. Chief reporter and editor of the Intruder.”
Emily stuck out her hand for Damian to shake with a grin, but he ignored her. “What is this?” he growled at Noah.
He stood his ground. “I may be just a kid, but I’m willing to bet that a story like this going public would be really bad for business.”
Emily nodded helpfully. “Besides the ensuing investigations in both your international and domestic operations, the PR fallout alone would lose you a lot of clients.”
“And probably dissuade new ones from doing business with you,” Noah added. “Right?” he asked Emily.
“Right,” she nodded before turning back to Damian. “So. Any comment?”
Damian was still glaring at Noah. “What are you getting at, Noah?”
Noah stood up taller, for once comfortable using his full height to his advantage. “Emily kinda owes me a favor. So as long as you leave Luke alone, she’ll leave you alone.” He shrugged, purposefully casual. “Your call.”
Damian took a deep breath, cursing in Italian or Maltese or whatever under his breath. “Fine,” he spoke begrudgingly, gritting his teeth. “You have my word-” he ignored Noah’s skeptical look and Emily’s snort, “-that I will not attempt to contact Luke or get involved in his life, without his express permission. Good?”
“Good enough,” Noah answered.
Damian narrowed his eyes as he got into the car. He opened his mouth to say something else, but Emily beat him to it. “Are you done with the whole international man of mystery thing? You’re just a wannabe badass, Damian Grimaldi. All this power and money at your fingertips, and you choose to mess with the lives of two insignificant gay guys in Illinois? Don’t let the door hit you on your way out of Oakdale, thanks.” She slammed the door shut for him, tapping it twice for emphasis.
Noah just barely managed to keep a straight face through all of that, waiting for the car to pull out of the Lakeview parking lot before chuckling and looking over at Emily. Who looked oh so happy with herself. “You wrote those lines ahead of time, didn’t you?”
She shrugged one shoulder, unrepentant. “I owed you for that whole mess with the biological family, I know that. And I don’t need any drama in my newest employee’s life. So really, this whole thing was for my peace of mind, kid. Not because I want people to think I’m nice, got it?”
He schooled his face back into seriousness. “Yes ma’am. Got it.” It was nice to have the crazy-scary people on their side for once.
************
Marcus was fumbling with his tie, and nearly ran right into Lily before he realized she was there. “Easy!” she laughed lightly, holding onto his arm.
“Sorry, dear,” he smiled letting go of his tie to give her a brief hug. He nodded in the direction of her office behind the Lakeview front desk. “Are you heading home already?”
“Parent-Teacher conference at Natalie's school,” she answered. “What about you?”
He smiled sheepishly for some reason. “Late lunch with your mother.” He could see the light in Lily’s eyes indicate she was about to say something teasing, so he quickly continued. “I heard that Luke’s foundation fight is going well.”
Her eyes lit up in a different way now, excited and proud. “It really is! The editorials he’s written for the Intruder and the campaigning the foundation has done, like that PSA Noah came up with? They’ve gotten us a meeting with an Illinois senator and some lobbyists for next week.”
“That’s wonderful,” he smiled warmly. “I’m surprised Noah was allowed to help. I’ve heard from Lucinda that Luke’s been trying to limit his participation at the moment.”
“Oh,” she laughed again, shaking her head. “He’s trying. And succeeding for the most part, he wouldn’t let Noah come to the meeting this morning. But, well, you know Noah. He’s going to help no matter what.”
“Yes, that sounds like him,” he chuckled, fumbling with his tie once more. “I’m glad they’re both doing so well.”
“Aren’t we all,” Lily agreed. Then she turned serious, holding onto his arm again. “I- I want to thank you. Not just for helping Noah... which I appreciate, of course. But you helped Luke too, helped him get his spirit for writing and his voice back. I can’t thank you enough for that.”
Marcus shook his head with a chuckle. “Oh no, that wasn’t me at all. The progress those two have made, they’ve done that themselves. I’m just happy to be a witness. They... their bond is a thing to marvel at.”
“It is,” she said softly, eyes bright. “I can’t tell you how glad I am that they came out of this mess okay. Together. And with us, too. Everything that happened, it just,” she paused to gather her words. “It just shows me that Noah is a part of our family. And I’m so happy to welcome him into it.” Then she offered a sly smile. “And I’m happy to welcome you into it too.”
“I- I’m sorry?” Marcus quirked an eyebrow. Lily was giving him a knowing, pointed look. There’s no way she could possibly know, right? Noah had sworn he wouldn’t tell anyone, not even Luke. She couldn’t know. “Lily, I...”
Lily just smiled wider. “Good luck with lunch, Dr. Weston.” And then she was gone.
But somehow, Marcus wasn’t really truly surprised. Lily was a Snyder and a Walsh. Of course she would somehow intuitively know. He reached into the pocket of his suit jacket and patted the small velvet box one more time, then headed into the Lakeview Lounge.
************
Hunter wiped his hands nervously on his jeans. To say he was nervous, well, more nervous than usual? Quite possibly an understatement. Tonight was the first time ever that he was hosting Movie Night, and he wanted it to be, to use Casey’s vocabulary, awesome. He wanted it to be awesome.
A knock at the door- hours early (four hours early, to be precise)- nearly had him jumping out of his skin. He hurried to the door (it’s too early! He hadn’t finished cleaning up yet!) and opened it slowly.
“What up, man?” Casey grinned, shouldering his way past Hunter into the apartment. “I figured you might need some help, so I brought some pre-movie snacks, some beer, some soda- caffeine free for you- and some... what?” he stopped at the look on Hunter’s face.
Hunter wasn’t sure what his look was, but it was probably as confused as he was. “What are you... you’re here to help me?”
“Well, yeah,” Casey got a little quieter and- even more baffling- more serious. “Look, Hunter, I know with the stuff that happened with Maddie and the stuff that happened with Ali, things could get weird between you and me. And all of us.” He shrugged. “I’ve kinda gotten used to how you think, and I don’t want you to think that you and I can’t still be friends or anything.”
Hunter was shocked into silence for a moment, just staring. Casey shrugged again, completely honest. “Um, I- I...” he stopped, started again. “You still want to be friends? With me? Just because?”
“Just because,” Casey confirmed. “I mean, you and me have to stick together. We’re the only hetero guys in this group! We’re surrounded by man-lovers, both male and female. If you and I can’t-”
“Okay!” Hunter cut him off. He realized Casey tended to ramble just like he did, just louder and with a lot less stuttering. “I, uh, thanks Casey. For that.”
“Dude, don’t thank me yet. You haven’t seen my party-setting-up-skills in action,” Casey had the audacity to wink before heading into the kitchen to unload his bag of snacks. Hunter blinked, staring at the space Casey had just been occupying. Well, this was an interesting development. Not necessarily a bad one. “By the way,” Casey’s voice floated in way too casually. “Have you, have you talked to Maddie lately?”
“Are you going to date her now?” he asked curiously, stepping into the kitchen behind Casey.
“Jesus!” Casey almost dropped the bag of chips in his hand before setting it on the counter. He turned slowly, studying Hunter, and hesitated before answering. “No. Or, I don’t know, not right now.”
“When?” Hunter asked curiously, confused by Casey’s nervous behavior.
Casey laughed the laugh he used when he was amused by Hunter’s bluntness. Hunter had most of his friends’ laughs categorized at this point. “It’s just, I’m still getting my life together. And I’m kinda doing this thing with Jade that feels right for right now. Maddie is...”
“You seem to love her,” Hunter pointed out. “And she thinks very highly of you.”
Casey smiled softly. “Maddie was always the ideal, you know? Even back before I was such a screwup. And, I guess, I’d like to think that at some point I’ll be proud enough of myself to deserve someone like her again.” He scratched the back of his neck, shrugged self-consciously, something Hunter never thought Casey was capable of being.
“Wow,” he said finally, the quiet of the kitchen even more obvious after a statement like that. “Casey, um, I’m pretty sure Noah- and Luke and Maddie and the Snyders and a lot of people- would agree that you’re that person now. But... but I do understand.”
“You do?” Casey asked, his grin starting to come back.
“Yes, I do,” Hunter assured. “And I’m not upset with you about how things ended with Alison. I understand that too. It’s why Maddie and I discontinued our relationship, in a way.”
“Good,” Casey nodded. “I’m glad things are cool between us. Especially since I’m pretty sure you’re going to need my help tonight.”
“Help?” Hunter followed Casey back into the living room. “Help with what? Setting up? The movie? Because I-”
“Nope!” Casey’s pre-adolescent wide grin was back. Hunter had categorized this one as one that led to its owner saying something that would inevitably freak Hunter out. “I just think you might need some bro-backup tonight... considering Noah and Luke invited Lucy to join us.”
Oh. To borrow a Casey-phrase, oh crap. “L-Lucy? Luke’s cousin, Lucy?”
Casey snorted. “No, Charlie Brown’s friend Lucy.” He clapped Hunter on the back jovially. “Of course, Luke’s cousin. You two hit it off in North Carolina, didn’t you?”
“But... but... she’s coming here tonight?” Hunter shook his head. He wasn’t sure why, but he did. “What do I- should, should I...?” He sighed. “Casey? I might need help.”
“Aw, don’t worry, buddy,” Casey squeezed his shoulder, jostling it playfully. “I’ll do what I can. That’s what friends are for, right?”
For the first time in his life, Hunter realized he could answer that from his own experience. Despite the thousand and one nerves jumping through his brain, he smiled. “Yeah. They are.”
************
They were still on the couch. Not that Luke was complaining. He was pretty sure he would stay like this forever if it were possible. He finished off the rest of his grilled cheese (not burned, thank you very much), and brushed the resulting crumbs off of Noah’s chest. Which Luke had been using as his picnic table.
Noah was stretched out lazily, eyes half-closed, having finished his sandwich in record time. One of his arms was wrapped tight around Luke, holding him close, fingers tapping a random rhythm into Luke’s lower back.
Luke took another moment to settle back down comfortably on the couch (half-on Noah) before speaking again. “I didn’t get to ask you last night, how did the latest conversation with Krista go?” Noah and Krista had started up a phone-call-night not too long ago. So far, so good... but Luke liked to check.
Noah shrugged a little. “Fine.”
He said ‘fine,’ but he said it in that way that Luke knew meant he wasn’t sure whether or not to mention something. “And by fine, you mean what, exactly?” he prodded, tapping his knuckles lightly onto rib bones.
Noah captured that hand quickly, pulling it so Luke’s arm rested comfortably across him. “Krista, um... Krista wondered if at some point- not anytime soon, of course, but some point in the future?- she wondered if I would think about changing my last name to Miller. I’d still be Noah, but I could drop the Mayer part. And,” he reached up, rubbing his forehead. “I don’t know what to do or think about it.”
Once again, Luke let his instincts take over. “Oh hell no.” He turned onto his side more, leaning on an elbow and propping his head up with that hand. “No way. Do they actually think, after all that, they can still turn you into Andr-”
“Luke,” Noah’s voice was gentle, but firm. “That’s not what this is, this was just Krista throwing an idea out. And either way,” he smiled, letting one hand come up to brush against Luke’s face. “It’s my decision, okay? It’s one I may have to make eventually. Okay?”
Well, sure, when he used logic and his hands like that, Luke couldn’t argue. He narrowed his eyes, trying desperately hard not to pout, knowing by the look on Noah’s face that he wasn’t successful. “I know.” He leaned down, kissing Noah softly, quickly. “But you know I’m gonna be overprotective as hell, right? And you know why?”
“Yeah,” Noah flashed a grin, going in for another kiss. “I love you too.” Once Luke was settled back down resting against his shoulder, their arms wrapped around each other again, Noah continued. “I just don’t know whether or not I’d rather be tied to them or to the Mayer name. But I guess that’s what life has given me.”
Luke fought to stay calm again, for a different reason. Railing at God silently wasn’t really going to solve anything, no matter how good it felt sometimes. “If you want to change your last name to anything it should be Snyder,” he grumbled.
Somehow, Noah’s arms tightened even more, blanketing him. “I want that too,” he said softly. “And it will happen, one day.” Luke had to tilt his head up and kiss him for that. “But for right now? I don’t know. Do I want to be the person I’ve thought I always was, or the one I could’ve- maybe should’ve been? It’s just-”
“Hey.” Luke stopped him, bringing his hand up again to rub slow circles over his heartbeat. “It’s just a name. You’re you. Who you’re supposed to be.”
“I know that,” Noah rested his face down into Luke’s hair for a moment, leaving a light kiss there before he started speaking again. “Part of me would really love to screw the Colonel over that much more, let the Mayer name really die with him. But I don’t want the Millers to think I’m all ready to be a part of them either. And... and ‘Noah Miller’ just sounds weird,” he grimaced, child-like.
Luke laughed a little at that, because it did sound weird. “Well you know what? Ultimately it doesn’t matter, because you’re right. In a few years time it’s going to be Snyder anyway.”
He didn’t have to look up to know Noah was blushing. “Is that a proposal, Snyder?”
He laughed louder this time, now turning to look into Noah’s face. Yep, definitely blushing. But also giddy, teasing, and content. Luke wanted that look around for the rest of his life. “Sorry, love. I forgot a ring. So nope, not yet.”
Noah just rolled his eyes. “You always were bad at planning ahead.” He pulled Luke even closer, Luke now resting his head on Noah’s chest. Comfortable. Content. They were silent for a few minutes when Noah spoke up again, voice quiet. “If- if you ever ask, I’ll say yes.”
Luke didn’t even try to stop himself from melting at that. He blew out a slow breath, seeing Noah shiver a little at the sensation. “I plan on asking some day.” Then he twisted, sliding on top of Noah so they were chest-to-chest. “And yeah, I know you’re gonna say yes. That just makes me love you more.”
Noah’s eyes were bright, his mouth slipping up into a wide smile seemingly of its own accord. “Same here,” was all he said before yanking Luke into another deep, lasting, impossibly perfect kiss.
Luke pulled free just as Noah’s hands slid down to his hips. And then past his hips. “Oh hey, that reminds me. I talked to Tom yesterday, there’s something I want to run by you.”
The hand stopped moving, and Noah groaned. “Really? Really? How does this remind you of talking to Tom?”
He laughed, propping his chin on Noah’s collar bone, a little apologetic but not much. “We came up with something I want to talk to you about.”
Noah’s curiosity overshadowed his frustration for a moment. “Talk about what?” He ran his hands back up slowly (on purpose, Luke was pretty damn sure), resting at his shoulders, rubbing lightly.
Luke closed his eyes to enjoy the feeling for a moment before he remembered there was a question he was supposed to answer. “Yeah, um, Tom drew these papers up for us. For both of us to sign. For each other.”
“Papers?” Noah frowned, confused.
“Power of attorney. You grant it to me, I grant it to you,” he explained gently.
Noah stared at him, face unreadable. “Luke...”
Luke reached out, curling his fingers into Noah’s hair. “If something like this were ever to happen again, I want to be in the room with you. If something were to happen to me, I trust you to make the right decisions too.”
His face softened, so full of love and hesitance at the same time. “But, baby, you have your-”
“Noah,” Luke cut him off. “Mom and Dad trust you too.” At Noah’s slightly shocked expression, “They do. They okayed this. And...” In for a penny, in for a pound, Snyder. “And they want to sign too, to be considered next of kin and power of attorney for you. Just like they are for me.”
He smiled a little at the way Noah’s eyes lit up at that. “They do?”
“Yeah,” he kissed Noah on the nose. “It’d be as legal and binding as we could get to make you a part of the family. So,” he pulled a lock of Noah’s hair between two fingers, twirling it playfully. “When we’re ready to change your name to Snyder, you’ll really really be one of us. I mean, if that’s-”
“That’s what I want,” Noah said softly, throwing himself into a full body hug, arms and legs and body wrapped around Luke.
Luke sighed into it, pressing his face into Noah’s neck. “That’s as close to a ring as you’re gonna get right now, lover,” he
murmured into the skin.
“I’ll take whatever I can get,” Noah’s voice got deeper, gravelly. Luke always shivered and burned when he used that voice. He turned his head, requesting another kiss. Noah was already there to meet him halfway.
They took their time with this one, angling just right, savoring, and when Luke felt a hand start to tug at the pants he had just put back on, he laughed into Noah’s mouth. “Hey, down boy. We’re supposed to be at Movie Night soon, remember?”
“Movie Night?” Noah frowned. “Never heard of it. Maybe we should just stay here.” He crossed his arms over his chest, conveniently trapping one of Luke’s hands between.
“Maybe I should get a boyfriend who isn’t always thinking about sex,” Luke teased him, allowing himself to enjoy the image of crossed arms.
Noah snorted. “Like you’re not.” He didn’t deny it though.
Luke smirked. “Only when you’re around.”
Noah closed his eyes for a moment, smile appearing almost against his will. “This isn’t helping your Movie Night argument.”
He laughed, tickling Noah until he could get his hand free. Then he sat back a little, finding it a little funny that he could enjoy the sight of Noah giggling and happy as much as he enjoyed the sight of those crossed arms. “Hey.” He framed Noah’s face with both hands, waiting for him to catch his breath. “Movie Night now, then...” he leaned down, laying a soft kiss on Noah’s lips. “We have all the time in the world for everything else.” Another quick kiss that he smiled into. “How’s today going for you?”
Noah stared up at him, completely sincere. “Better than yesterday.” And he couldn’t wait for tomorrow.
THE END!