FIC - It's still just love... (2/?)
Title: It's still just love… (2/?)
Author: wheelie47
Rating: NC17 for whole story but not every chapter.
Pairing: Luke and Noah.
Word count: 2,541
Disclaimer: Don’t own characters, am not associated in any way with ATWT, Van and Jake. No offence intended.
Summary: Noah Mayer is struggling to make ends meet; trying to keep his garden centre open and desperate to hold onto his research grant from the Institute of Agronomic Research. And he never seems to have time… no time for a life and definitely no time for a boyfriend.
Luciano Grimaldi hates everything about his life and he is so far in the closet where his parents are concerned, that he even has a girlfriend, Maddie, to prove it…
AN: This is an AU story based on a French film called “Juste une question d’amour”.
Many thanks to hollyoaks1021 for the wonderful artwork. Thanks Sally <3
“Mom, why don't you go and sit outside? Rest up for a bit; I can help Maddie in here,” Luke said as he stepped into the welcome shade of the kitchen.
He shot an imploring look at Maddie over the top of his mom's head. It wasn't the heat of the lazy Sunday afternoon that Luke wanted to escape from. No. It was the judgemental stare of his father and his uncle Matteo that had Luke heading for cover.
Damian Grimaldi had a way of looking at his son sometimes that made Luke believe he could do nothing right in his father's eyes. Sometimes Luke felt that just the way he stood or the way he looked or the way he talked was enough to annoy his father. And if that wasn't enough, Luke thought that Uncle Matteo looked at him differently now too. Ever since the sad and tragic tale that was Marc Grimaldi's life, Luke felt that his uncle, Marc's father, could see straight through the sham that was his and Maddie's relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend.
It was almost as if Matteo recognised in his nephew the same signs he'd seen in his own son that had made him confront Marc about his sexuality. It seemed to Luke that his uncle was watching him intently; waiting for him to accidentally reveal his true self.
Lily Grimaldi looked up at her son from where she was preparing a salad to accompany the steaks that her husband and brother-in-law were currently cooking out on the barbecue. “It's OK, sweetie,” she said with a bright smile. “Why don't you stay out there with your father and Matteo? You can tell them how your internship is going.”
Maddie caught the barely masked utter blind panic that flashed across Luke's face. “It's all right, Mrs. Grimaldi. Luke's right; you should go and put your feet up. You deserve it. We can manage in here.”
Lily turned and smiled at Maddie. She really did like her son’s girlfriend; she was such a sweet girl and so good for him. Lily didn't even really mind that she hadn't used her son’s full name. Lily knew full well how much he disliked the name he'd been given… knew that he preferred to be called Luke. And she was always ready to indulge her firstborn’s whims; she felt like she had to make up for his father's strictness.
“Well, if you're sure.” She looked down at the salad and then back up at the two of them uncertainly. A small smile played across her lips as it suddenly dawned on her that maybe her son and his girlfriend wanted to spend a little time on their own. Ah! Young love; she remembered it well.
“We're sure,” Luke said as he guided her out of the back door.
They stood silently side by side, waiting until Luke’s mom was out of earshot as she made her way across the manicured lawn to where Damian and Matteo were tending to the barbecue.
“Thank you! Thank you!” Luke sighed dramatically the moment his mom was far enough away.
“Had enough of playing the dutiful son already?” Maddie gently teased but she knew from the droop of her friend’s shoulders just how much these family ‘get togethers’ got to him, especially after Marc.
“Hell yes!” Luke agreed readily. He’d had enough the minute they had made the hour drive from the Oakdale college campus to neighbouring Ashwood; where the Grimaldi’s had their family residence. He hated this game of charades, hated pretending to be something he wasn’t. It was part of the reason he’d wanted to go to college in Oakdale; so he could stay in the dorms and put some distance between him and his family. Yes, he hated the pretence but right now he couldn’t see any other way. And he certainly wasn’t ready to come out to his family yet... if he ever would be.
“And don't think I didn't notice that you haven't told them about turning down the internship yet! You haven't, have you?”
Luke shook his head despondently.
“Luuuke! You know they'll find out soon enough. It will only take one phone call from the Dean. And then what will you do?” she asked as she reached up behind Luke's head and opened a cupboard to get the plates.
“I don't know!” Luke whined in despair. “I'll think of something. It will work itself out, it always does.” It had to; there was no way he could work in the family business.
“What will work itself out?” the accented tones of Damian Grimaldi asked suspiciously from behind them, startling them both. He’d entered the kitchen unseen and unheard, partially hidden behind the open cupboard door until it was too late.
Shit! How long had his father been standing there?! How much had he heard?
“What will work itself out?” Luke's father asked again, directing his questioning gaze at his son when they both turned to face him.
Luke could see the growing impatience in his father's eyes at the silence that greeted his question. Damien Grimaldi did not like to be kept waiting for answers to his questions.
“I… I…” Luke stuttered; his mind a complete blank.
Maddie's mind raced and she came to the rescue. “It's a girlfriend of mine, Mr. Grimaldi. She's having trouble with her boyfriend and we were just saying that it would work itself out in the end.” She could almost hear Luke's sigh with relief.
“Hmph!” Damian muttered in disdain. The trials and tribulations of the love lives of students didn't interest him in the slightest. “Luciano, hurry up with those. The steaks are just about ready,” he ordered, eyeing the salad and the plates.
“We’ll be right there.” Luke finally found his voice, but his father had already turned and was making his way back toward the barbecue.
“Thanks, Mads. That was a close call,” Luke breathed out as his heart rate began to return to normal.
“You’re gonna have to do something, Luke. You can’t carry on like this! You need to call that handsome hunk at the nursery and ask him to give you another chance.” Maddie turned to watch Damian stride across the lawn.
Luke nodded slowly. The thought of calling Noah Mayer and asking if he could have the internship back left him cold. But it was nothing compared to the thought of having to work for his father and uncle in the family business.
He followed his best friend’s gaze and watched his father join the rest of his family. “Look at them all. The perfect killers. You couldn’t tell just by looking at them, could you?”
Maddie sighed and turned to face Luke. “They didn't kill Marc, Luke” she said sadly. “They didn't hold the bottle to his mouth. He was the one that drank himself to death.”
Luke's eyes filled with the wetness of threatening tears. “No… no they didn't pass him the bottle. But they might as well have done. They turned their backs on him when he needed them most. They forced him to come out and then they let him spiral out of control into hell and they stood back… and did nothing.” His voice choked on the last few words as the vivid memory of finding Marc dead, with a bottle in his hand, assaulted him with such clarity as if it was only yesterday.
She reached out and pulled Luke into a comforting hug. “Come on, Luke. You can't hate your family. Look what it's doing to you… it's tearing you apart.”
Luke pulled back and swiped roughly at his tears with the back of his hand, angry at himself for crying. “I don't hate them all.” His eyes were drawn out of the window to his little brother, Isaac, who was giggling and chasing a butterfly around the garden. A small smile played across Luke's face at his brother's antics.
“It would just be so much easier if I didn't have to see some of them again,” he muttered darkly when he saw his father staring back at him, watching intently from where he stood next to Matteo…
…
As Luke headed toward the barbecue, dinner plates in hand, he slowed his pace when he heard the hushed tones of his father's and uncle’s conversation.
“She’s seeing a therapist now, you know,” Matteo murmured, nodding his head in the direction of his wife, Janine. “I made her. Since Marc's death, I haven't been able to reach her… to understand her. She didn't want to see him either and now she's blaming me for not letting her.”
Damian nodded his head sympathetically. “Lily and I have wondered what we would've done if we had been in your position.”
“It's just… I… I can't stand the thought of two men touching each other like that.” Matteo spat out the words as if the very sound of them coming out of his mouth made him feel physically sick. “It disgusts me.”
Luke's step faltered.
“And for your own son to do that;” Damian agreed.
“He was no longer my son,” Matteo whispered vehemently.
He looked up when Lily laughed at something his nephew’s girlfriend had said. “There was a time when we wondered if Luciano was ever going to bring a girl home.”
“Luciano?! No… he's not like that!” Damian sounded shocked at the very thought. “He's just a late starter. You know what he's like. It takes him forever to get motivated to do anything.”
Luke clutched the plates harder, his knuckles turning white. He couldn’t stand another minute more than he had to with these people! He determined then and there that he wasn't going to call Mayer about the internship. No! What he was going to do was turn up at the nursery unannounced and ready for work… there was no way that he would let himself be turned away. He simply couldn’t…
…
“Jesus, Noah! This stuff stinks,” Max complained as he heaved yet another forkful of manure into a wheelbarrow. The powerful smell hit him like a brick wall; it caught in the back of his throat, clung to his nasal hairs and Max swore that it was actually sinking into his pores. He was going to smell like this for days!
“What did you expect… that it would smell like roses?!” Noah chuckled at his own joke.
Max looked over at his best friend and shook his head at the appalling joke. “The things I do for you, Dude! You owe me big time. Anyway… why isn't the new intern doing this? I thought they always got the shit jobs!” It was Max's turn to chuckle at his own joke.
“Hah! He didn't last five minutes. Some spoiled rich brat that has never had to work a day in his life.” Noah complained as he loaded another forkful of manure into his wheelbarrow.
“So, there goes the free help then? What are you going to do? You can't manage here on your own for much longer.” Max asked in concern, leaning on the garden fork for a rest. He had watched as Noah struggled to balance the nursery, his research and he had seen his friend’s personal and social life suffer as a result. “I love you, man and I'm telling you this for your own good… you need to get a life… to go out and get laid or at least get drunk. When was the last time you did either?”
“Hell, Dude, it's been so long I can't even remember.” Noah joked but he knew exactly how long it had been… and he didn't want to admit it to Max or himself.
“Fuck! Your dick’s gonna fall off from lack of use. That settles it… you… me… a bar… and beer!” Max ordered.
“Um? Max? I don't think I've got the equipment you're looking for!” he grinned and gestured down at his own crotch with both hands before looking back up at his best but very straight friend.
“Asshole!” Max retorted with a flash of his own smile.
“Now you're talking! But, seriously, I can't go out tonight. I've got a full day tomorrow and I need to get up early.”
“Uhn…uh. Not taking no for an answer. Tonight… you’re coming out with me. Tomorrow… you can ring the Dean and ask if there is anybody else interested in the internship. Oh, and you’re buying the first round to make up for me shovelling this… shit!” Max said in a tone that gave Noah little chance to argue…
…
Noah climbed unsteadily up the old and rickety ladder, the give in each rung making his stomach lurch with queasiness. Why did he have to drink so much last night?! And why did the stupid window opening mechanism on this archaic greenhouse decide to grind to a halt this morning of all mornings, when the last thing his pounding head needed was to climb up a ladder! He was never going out drinking with Max again!
Even in his hung-over state, Noah could sense somebody watching him. Grabbing the sides of the ladder for support, he turned slowly, grimacing at the pain in his head from the awkward angle.
He inwardly groaned when he saw, standing there in the open doorway of the greenhouse, the very same spoilt rich brat that had walked out of his garden centre on Friday.
What did he want?! Noah was just about to turn back to carry on fixing the winding mechanism and to ignore the unwanted intrusion. But there was something about the way Luke was standing there… almost apologetic but with a determined look on his face. And, Noah noticed as he looked him up and down, that he was no longer wearing pristine jeans and a tightly fitting T-shirt. No! Luke was wearing clothes that had seen better days and he looked like he was ready to do some work!
This should be interesting! Noah thought to himself. Curiosity got the better of him and he eased gingerly down the ladder, turning to face Luke when he got to the bottom.
“Hi…” Luke started nervously, “… I … um… think we started off on the wrong foot the other day.” He smiled what he hoped was a bright and wide winning smile…
Chapter 3
Back to fic master list
Author: wheelie47
Rating: NC17 for whole story but not every chapter.
Pairing: Luke and Noah.
Word count: 2,541
Disclaimer: Don’t own characters, am not associated in any way with ATWT, Van and Jake. No offence intended.
Summary: Noah Mayer is struggling to make ends meet; trying to keep his garden centre open and desperate to hold onto his research grant from the Institute of Agronomic Research. And he never seems to have time… no time for a life and definitely no time for a boyfriend.
Luciano Grimaldi hates everything about his life and he is so far in the closet where his parents are concerned, that he even has a girlfriend, Maddie, to prove it…
AN: This is an AU story based on a French film called “Juste une question d’amour”.
Many thanks to hollyoaks1021 for the wonderful artwork. Thanks Sally <3
“Mom, why don't you go and sit outside? Rest up for a bit; I can help Maddie in here,” Luke said as he stepped into the welcome shade of the kitchen.
He shot an imploring look at Maddie over the top of his mom's head. It wasn't the heat of the lazy Sunday afternoon that Luke wanted to escape from. No. It was the judgemental stare of his father and his uncle Matteo that had Luke heading for cover.
Damian Grimaldi had a way of looking at his son sometimes that made Luke believe he could do nothing right in his father's eyes. Sometimes Luke felt that just the way he stood or the way he looked or the way he talked was enough to annoy his father. And if that wasn't enough, Luke thought that Uncle Matteo looked at him differently now too. Ever since the sad and tragic tale that was Marc Grimaldi's life, Luke felt that his uncle, Marc's father, could see straight through the sham that was his and Maddie's relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend.
It was almost as if Matteo recognised in his nephew the same signs he'd seen in his own son that had made him confront Marc about his sexuality. It seemed to Luke that his uncle was watching him intently; waiting for him to accidentally reveal his true self.
Lily Grimaldi looked up at her son from where she was preparing a salad to accompany the steaks that her husband and brother-in-law were currently cooking out on the barbecue. “It's OK, sweetie,” she said with a bright smile. “Why don't you stay out there with your father and Matteo? You can tell them how your internship is going.”
Maddie caught the barely masked utter blind panic that flashed across Luke's face. “It's all right, Mrs. Grimaldi. Luke's right; you should go and put your feet up. You deserve it. We can manage in here.”
Lily turned and smiled at Maddie. She really did like her son’s girlfriend; she was such a sweet girl and so good for him. Lily didn't even really mind that she hadn't used her son’s full name. Lily knew full well how much he disliked the name he'd been given… knew that he preferred to be called Luke. And she was always ready to indulge her firstborn’s whims; she felt like she had to make up for his father's strictness.
“Well, if you're sure.” She looked down at the salad and then back up at the two of them uncertainly. A small smile played across her lips as it suddenly dawned on her that maybe her son and his girlfriend wanted to spend a little time on their own. Ah! Young love; she remembered it well.
“We're sure,” Luke said as he guided her out of the back door.
They stood silently side by side, waiting until Luke’s mom was out of earshot as she made her way across the manicured lawn to where Damian and Matteo were tending to the barbecue.
“Thank you! Thank you!” Luke sighed dramatically the moment his mom was far enough away.
“Had enough of playing the dutiful son already?” Maddie gently teased but she knew from the droop of her friend’s shoulders just how much these family ‘get togethers’ got to him, especially after Marc.
“Hell yes!” Luke agreed readily. He’d had enough the minute they had made the hour drive from the Oakdale college campus to neighbouring Ashwood; where the Grimaldi’s had their family residence. He hated this game of charades, hated pretending to be something he wasn’t. It was part of the reason he’d wanted to go to college in Oakdale; so he could stay in the dorms and put some distance between him and his family. Yes, he hated the pretence but right now he couldn’t see any other way. And he certainly wasn’t ready to come out to his family yet... if he ever would be.
“And don't think I didn't notice that you haven't told them about turning down the internship yet! You haven't, have you?”
Luke shook his head despondently.
“Luuuke! You know they'll find out soon enough. It will only take one phone call from the Dean. And then what will you do?” she asked as she reached up behind Luke's head and opened a cupboard to get the plates.
“I don't know!” Luke whined in despair. “I'll think of something. It will work itself out, it always does.” It had to; there was no way he could work in the family business.
“What will work itself out?” the accented tones of Damian Grimaldi asked suspiciously from behind them, startling them both. He’d entered the kitchen unseen and unheard, partially hidden behind the open cupboard door until it was too late.
Shit! How long had his father been standing there?! How much had he heard?
“What will work itself out?” Luke's father asked again, directing his questioning gaze at his son when they both turned to face him.
Luke could see the growing impatience in his father's eyes at the silence that greeted his question. Damien Grimaldi did not like to be kept waiting for answers to his questions.
“I… I…” Luke stuttered; his mind a complete blank.
Maddie's mind raced and she came to the rescue. “It's a girlfriend of mine, Mr. Grimaldi. She's having trouble with her boyfriend and we were just saying that it would work itself out in the end.” She could almost hear Luke's sigh with relief.
“Hmph!” Damian muttered in disdain. The trials and tribulations of the love lives of students didn't interest him in the slightest. “Luciano, hurry up with those. The steaks are just about ready,” he ordered, eyeing the salad and the plates.
“We’ll be right there.” Luke finally found his voice, but his father had already turned and was making his way back toward the barbecue.
“Thanks, Mads. That was a close call,” Luke breathed out as his heart rate began to return to normal.
“You’re gonna have to do something, Luke. You can’t carry on like this! You need to call that handsome hunk at the nursery and ask him to give you another chance.” Maddie turned to watch Damian stride across the lawn.
Luke nodded slowly. The thought of calling Noah Mayer and asking if he could have the internship back left him cold. But it was nothing compared to the thought of having to work for his father and uncle in the family business.
He followed his best friend’s gaze and watched his father join the rest of his family. “Look at them all. The perfect killers. You couldn’t tell just by looking at them, could you?”
Maddie sighed and turned to face Luke. “They didn't kill Marc, Luke” she said sadly. “They didn't hold the bottle to his mouth. He was the one that drank himself to death.”
Luke's eyes filled with the wetness of threatening tears. “No… no they didn't pass him the bottle. But they might as well have done. They turned their backs on him when he needed them most. They forced him to come out and then they let him spiral out of control into hell and they stood back… and did nothing.” His voice choked on the last few words as the vivid memory of finding Marc dead, with a bottle in his hand, assaulted him with such clarity as if it was only yesterday.
She reached out and pulled Luke into a comforting hug. “Come on, Luke. You can't hate your family. Look what it's doing to you… it's tearing you apart.”
Luke pulled back and swiped roughly at his tears with the back of his hand, angry at himself for crying. “I don't hate them all.” His eyes were drawn out of the window to his little brother, Isaac, who was giggling and chasing a butterfly around the garden. A small smile played across Luke's face at his brother's antics.
“It would just be so much easier if I didn't have to see some of them again,” he muttered darkly when he saw his father staring back at him, watching intently from where he stood next to Matteo…
…
As Luke headed toward the barbecue, dinner plates in hand, he slowed his pace when he heard the hushed tones of his father's and uncle’s conversation.
“She’s seeing a therapist now, you know,” Matteo murmured, nodding his head in the direction of his wife, Janine. “I made her. Since Marc's death, I haven't been able to reach her… to understand her. She didn't want to see him either and now she's blaming me for not letting her.”
Damian nodded his head sympathetically. “Lily and I have wondered what we would've done if we had been in your position.”
“It's just… I… I can't stand the thought of two men touching each other like that.” Matteo spat out the words as if the very sound of them coming out of his mouth made him feel physically sick. “It disgusts me.”
Luke's step faltered.
“And for your own son to do that;” Damian agreed.
“He was no longer my son,” Matteo whispered vehemently.
He looked up when Lily laughed at something his nephew’s girlfriend had said. “There was a time when we wondered if Luciano was ever going to bring a girl home.”
“Luciano?! No… he's not like that!” Damian sounded shocked at the very thought. “He's just a late starter. You know what he's like. It takes him forever to get motivated to do anything.”
Luke clutched the plates harder, his knuckles turning white. He couldn’t stand another minute more than he had to with these people! He determined then and there that he wasn't going to call Mayer about the internship. No! What he was going to do was turn up at the nursery unannounced and ready for work… there was no way that he would let himself be turned away. He simply couldn’t…
…
“Jesus, Noah! This stuff stinks,” Max complained as he heaved yet another forkful of manure into a wheelbarrow. The powerful smell hit him like a brick wall; it caught in the back of his throat, clung to his nasal hairs and Max swore that it was actually sinking into his pores. He was going to smell like this for days!
“What did you expect… that it would smell like roses?!” Noah chuckled at his own joke.
Max looked over at his best friend and shook his head at the appalling joke. “The things I do for you, Dude! You owe me big time. Anyway… why isn't the new intern doing this? I thought they always got the shit jobs!” It was Max's turn to chuckle at his own joke.
“Hah! He didn't last five minutes. Some spoiled rich brat that has never had to work a day in his life.” Noah complained as he loaded another forkful of manure into his wheelbarrow.
“So, there goes the free help then? What are you going to do? You can't manage here on your own for much longer.” Max asked in concern, leaning on the garden fork for a rest. He had watched as Noah struggled to balance the nursery, his research and he had seen his friend’s personal and social life suffer as a result. “I love you, man and I'm telling you this for your own good… you need to get a life… to go out and get laid or at least get drunk. When was the last time you did either?”
“Hell, Dude, it's been so long I can't even remember.” Noah joked but he knew exactly how long it had been… and he didn't want to admit it to Max or himself.
“Fuck! Your dick’s gonna fall off from lack of use. That settles it… you… me… a bar… and beer!” Max ordered.
“Um? Max? I don't think I've got the equipment you're looking for!” he grinned and gestured down at his own crotch with both hands before looking back up at his best but very straight friend.
“Asshole!” Max retorted with a flash of his own smile.
“Now you're talking! But, seriously, I can't go out tonight. I've got a full day tomorrow and I need to get up early.”
“Uhn…uh. Not taking no for an answer. Tonight… you’re coming out with me. Tomorrow… you can ring the Dean and ask if there is anybody else interested in the internship. Oh, and you’re buying the first round to make up for me shovelling this… shit!” Max said in a tone that gave Noah little chance to argue…
…
Noah climbed unsteadily up the old and rickety ladder, the give in each rung making his stomach lurch with queasiness. Why did he have to drink so much last night?! And why did the stupid window opening mechanism on this archaic greenhouse decide to grind to a halt this morning of all mornings, when the last thing his pounding head needed was to climb up a ladder! He was never going out drinking with Max again!
Even in his hung-over state, Noah could sense somebody watching him. Grabbing the sides of the ladder for support, he turned slowly, grimacing at the pain in his head from the awkward angle.
He inwardly groaned when he saw, standing there in the open doorway of the greenhouse, the very same spoilt rich brat that had walked out of his garden centre on Friday.
What did he want?! Noah was just about to turn back to carry on fixing the winding mechanism and to ignore the unwanted intrusion. But there was something about the way Luke was standing there… almost apologetic but with a determined look on his face. And, Noah noticed as he looked him up and down, that he was no longer wearing pristine jeans and a tightly fitting T-shirt. No! Luke was wearing clothes that had seen better days and he looked like he was ready to do some work!
This should be interesting! Noah thought to himself. Curiosity got the better of him and he eased gingerly down the ladder, turning to face Luke when he got to the bottom.
“Hi…” Luke started nervously, “… I … um… think we started off on the wrong foot the other day.” He smiled what he hoped was a bright and wide winning smile…
Chapter 3
Back to fic master list