Those summer nights chapter 10 (last chapter!)
Waking up warm and sated, with his head on Reid’s chest and Reid’s arm firmly around his waist, was something Luke could get used to. Easily.
He rubbed his cheek against Reid’s chest and finally allowed his mind to think about everything that had happened yesterday. And last night. And again early this morning. He blushed thinking about it, how easily he gave himself over to Reid, that he trusted Reid just as Reid trusted him. There was no shame, no holding back, no pretending, there was only love and fun and laughter. And it was completely new to Luke that having sex with someone could be like that.
In his previous relationship sex was something that didn’t happen often and when it did, it was under the covers, quick and sometimes painful. It often left Luke unsatisfied, shameful and lonely.
Because of that, it had taken a lot of time for Luke to trust someone enough to have penetrative sex with them.
Last night after hearing Reid’s love confession, none of that seemed to matter. It all disappeared when Reid kissed him, held him in his arms and pressed his body against him, whispering words of love and praise and awe in his ear. Now that he knew how sex with the right partner could be, Luke had no plans to let Reid get out of his bed any time soon.
He started to move his hand across the planes of Reid’s stomach and chest, softly rubbing one nipple with his hand and taking the other in his mouth and tease it with his tongue. When he bit down softly, he felt Reid move under his mouth and Reid’s hand moved to the back of Luke’s head to keep in him place.
“Snyder…” Reid groaned.
Luke smiled against Reid’s skin.
“Good morning.” He said, releasing Reid’s nipple and placing his head on top of his folded hands on Reid’s chest. “How did you sleep?”
Reid stretched his arms over his head and then down again to grab Luke and pull him up so their faces were next to each other. “Great.” He murmured while kissing Luke’s cheek.
He let his hands travel down Luke’s body and then come to rest on his ass. He squeezed slightly and pushed his down so their pelvises were pressing together.
“But before we start again here, let’s move to the shower.” He let a finger slide into Luke’s cleft and teased his opening. “I think we could both use one.”
Feeling Reid’s hands and fingers had Luke grinding down on Reid already, he was getting so turned on from just a few touches. There was something in Reid’s touch that set Luke on fire.
He started laughing and stopped his movements. “Yeah, you’re right. Let’s be sensible.” He moved to sit up, but Reid followed him effortlessly.
“No reason we can’t start again in the shower.” Reid said, kissing Luke soundly on his lips, morning breath or not.
“Yeah, yeah. Okay, let’s go then.” Luke untangled himself from Reid and bounced towards the shower.
“Come on, my shower is ridiculously big and it has 4 different jets and a rain shower head. You’ll love it.”
And Reid did.
Later that day, after their shower, where an enthusiastic Luke rimmed Reid until he was shaking and couldn’t take it any more and begged Luke to fuck him. Shocked at first - because he was very new to being the penetrator - Luke enthusiastically agreed and it didn’t take him long to roll on the condom Reid had conveniently brought into the shower and lining up behind Reid.
Reid already pushed back, trying to take Luke inside of him, but Luke teased him by moving his cock up and down Reid’s cleft.
“Get a move on, Snyder.” Reid groaned.
“Shhh,” Luke hushed him. “Relax, I’ve got you.” He ran his hand up and down Reid’s side soothingly before pressing the head of his cock more firmly against Reid’s opening.
“Yesss.” Reid hissed and dropped his head against the cool tiles, feeling overwhelmed by the feelings swirling around inside of him. He needed Luke to take him, to make him Luke’s completely.
As if Luke knew what was going on inside Reid, he moved one hand to Reid’s shoulder for leverage and carefully slid in all the way. He looked down to see his cock disappear into Reid’s warm, welcoming body and once he was fully inside he had to still for a few moments or he would come immediately.
“Come on, come on, come on.” Reid urged, rolling his hips, trying to get Luke to move.
“Stop. Stop, I - I need a moment, or this is going to over within 2 seconds.” Luke panted. It made Reid grin but he stopped his movements to let Luke pull himself somewhat together.
Luke took a few shuddery breaths, trying to focus on other things than his throbbing cock inside Reid’s heat.
He then slowly started to move in and out, wanting to take it slow and make it last, but Reid was having non of it. He shoved back against Luke, basically fucking himself on Luke’s cock. And Luke started to move with him until he pounded into Reid, both hands now holding on to Reid’s shoulders.
It didn’t take long for them to finish, first Luke then Reid right after. Luke held on to Reid, panting harshly and draping himself over Reid’s back, without even pulling out.
“Wow, Snyder… You’ve got some moves there.” When his breath returned to somewhat normal, Reid turned around, causing Luke to slip out of him. Reid grimaced at the feeling, but was quickly distracted by the look on Luke’s face. He looked flushed, proud, amazed and had a huge grin on his face.
“I can’t believe you let me do that.” He sighed happily, while wrapping his arms around Reid’s shoulders.
Reid snorted. “Let you? I’m pretty sure I begged you.” He pulled back to brush Luke’s wet hair out of his eyes. “There’s no me letting you do anything. If you want something, tell me. If you don’t, fine. There’s plenty of stuff we can do.” He kissed Luke quickly but thoroughly.
“I know you had… reservations about all of this. I just hope you know you can tell me anything.”
Luke just hugged him tighter. “I know.” His voice sounded muffled against Reid’s shoulder. “I don’t know why I waited so long.” Then he shook his head. “That’s not true, I do know why. It’s just. that last night and now this. it’s so completely different than everything I’ve ever known. I should have known that after the things we did last summer, but I had no idea it could be like this. Especially now.” He lifted his head to look into his eyes and he smiled. Bright and happy. “Now it’s more than just sex and I think that matters too.”
Reid resisted to urge to roll his eyes at the sappiness of Luke’s statement, but he had a hard time disagreeing with Luke. So he just kissed Luke again. And again.
*
Later that day, they were enjoying a late breakfast in Luke’s kitchen when Casey came back. Luke and Reid were sitting close together at the table, working their way through everything they’d cooked up earlier. They heard the front door slam shut and then Casey’s heavy footsteps came their way.
When he entered the kitchen, he stopped dead in his tracks and looked at the men sitting at the table. Slowly a smile came onto his face. “Well, this is unexpected.” He stepped into the kitchen and walked towards Reid with his hand stretched out. “I hope you came to put Luke out of his misery? He’s been impossible to live with lately.”
Reid laughed, while Luke groaned in embarrassment, his ears turning red. Reid took Casey’s hand and shook it firmly. “I’ll do my best to make him happy.” He smiled, but there was a serious undertone to it that made Luke blush even harder.
“Awww…” Casey teased. He tried to ruffle Luke’s hair, but Luke slapped his hand away. “Shut up, Case.” But his voice lacked any trace of anger, because there was nothing that could destroy his mood today.
But right then, a voice called out.
“Luke?”
Except that.
Luke sighed. He looked over at Reid, shrugged his shoulder as if to say ‘sorry’ before calling out. “In the kitchen.”
Casey slowly backed out of the kitchen, mouthing ‘good luck’ to Reid. It made Reid frown in confusion and he looked at Luke. “What’s going on?”
“Luke? Sweetie?” A woman in her late forties entered the kitchen, but stopped in the doorway when she noticed Reid sitting very closely to Luke. She narrowed her eyes at Reid, but then turned to Luke.
“Luke?” She asked. “What’s going on?”
Luke rolled his eyes, but stood up and walked towards his mother. He kissed her cheek and said, “Good morning mom. Nothing is going on.” He grabbed the coffeepot from the counter and held it up. “Do you want some coffee?”
“What? Yes, sure… coffee.” His mother answered distractedly, her gaze still on Reid who just looked back. “But shouldn’t you introduce me to your… friend?”
“Oh right, yes. Sure.” Luke answered and put the coffeepot down again. He then gestured between his mother and Reid. “Mom, this is Reid. Reid, this is my mother, Lily.”
Reid stood up to offer a handshake which Lily took while she looked at him curiously.
“And what is your relation to my son?” She asked.
Before Reid could answer, Luke stepped around his mother towards Reid and stood beside him, taking Reid’s hand in his. He looked at Reid with his eyebrows raised as if to ask ‘okay?’.
Reid shrugged and then smiled a little and nodded.
“Mom, don’t freak out, but… Reid and I are together.” Luke said, giving Reid’s hand a squeeze.
Lily knitted her brows in confusion and she looked at Luke and Reid alternately. “Together? What do you mean, together?” She then focused on Luke. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”
Luke sighed and looked at Reid. “Do you mind?”
“No, of course not. Go talk to your mother.” Reid sat back down, but let his hand slide up and down Luke’s thigh. “I’ll be here.”
“Okay then. Mom, let’s go to the living room.” Luke let Lily pass and walk in front of him to the living room. He didn’t close the door behind him though, Reid noticed with a smirk.
In the living room Lily turned to Luke. “What’s going on, baby? Why haven’t you told me you were seeing someone? What about Noah? Have you spoken to him?”
“Why haven’t I told you? Seriously mom?” Luke asked disbelieving. “When you shove Noah into my face every time we talk or see each other? Even when I told you, like a million times, that I don’t want to be with him? What would you have said if I told you had met someone new? Would you have accepted that? I don’t think so mom.”
Lily took a deep breath, letting the words of her son sink in.
“I don’t know. Maybe not.” She answered truthfully. “But all I ever wanted is for you to be happy. And really Noah misses you, baby. It’s very hard for him without you. I always thought and still think that you and Noah were good together.”
“We were not.” Luke disagreed. “Maybe I was good for him, but he certainly wasn’t good for me. He hurt me, mom. Over and over again. I really don’t understand why you won’t believe me and support me on this. Why you always choose his side.”
“Honey, no… You’re my son and I love you. I will always be at your side, no matter what.”
“Honestly? It doesn’t feel like you are, mom. You let him live with you, you constantly mention him to me and try to push me back with him. It feels like you’re only thinking about him and what he wants. Not about what I want.” Luke said quietly.
Lily stepped towards Luke and cupped his cheek for a moment, before pulling him into a hug.
“I’m sorry I made you feel that way. That was never my intention. And Noah… I love him too and he has no one else. If he’s not with you, he’s alone. I think that is why I took him in and tried to get you back with him. I’d hate for him to be all alone.”
Luke pulled back and shrugged. “Yeah well… he has himself to blame for that. He could just make friends instead of trying to claim my family. And besides, it’s not like you can’t still see him if we’re not together. You don’t have to break up with him.” Luke smiled a little. “But enough… I don’t want to talk about him anymore.”
“Well then,” Lily took Luke’s hand and pulled him down with her on the couch. “Tell me about that man that is sitting in your kitchen, at your kitchen table. How did you meet him?”
Luke’s thoughts went back to when he first met Reid and he smiled and started to tell his mother everything that happened since last summer. He didn’t go into details, but there wasn’t much he left out. He felt relieved to finally be able to share his feelings with Lily. And she listened to him, she noticed the way his eyes sparkled when he talked about Reid, how he sometimes blushed and smiled while telling her something seemingly insignificant.
She noticed he looked happy, even though there were still bags under his eyes.
The reason for them was explained by Luke shortly and Lily was surprised to hear that they only really started their relationship the day before.
“Yeah..,“ Luke said with shining eyes. “Yesterday was really amazing. Seeing him standing there outside my door suddenly.” He shook his head. “It’s so stupid though… we could have been together since last summer.”
Lily smiled. “Sometimes you need some time away from someone to really know how you feel.” Luke nodded. He wasn’t sure whether she meant Reid or Noah. Or maybe both?
“But what happens now? Are you going to travel back and forth? Or is he moving here?” Lily asked.
“I don’t know. I mean, we haven’t talked about that yet. But I think that you can rule out him moving here. He’s a world renowned neurosurgeon mom, there’s nothing here for him. But we’ll get to that soon enough. For now, I just want to us to enjoy each other.”
Back in the kitchen, Reid had listened to Luke’s story even though he thought already knew everything that happened. But it turned out he was wrong, because hearing Luke talk about how he felt when he returned home from the beach, how he tried to forget everything but couldn’t was difficult. It reminded him of himself, and how he hadn’t been able to get Luke out of his thoughts or the time they spent together.
Reid focused back on Luke’s mother when she made it obvious she wasn’t too happy about Luke’s latest words.
“But how are you going to see him? You have almost nofree time as it is. Your work is here, your family and friends are here… Luke, everything you care about is here.”
“Except Reid.” Luke said calmly. “And I can’t predict (?) the future, but I do know one thing. I want Reid to be a part of it. A big part.”
Lily narrowed her eyes. “And does he feel the same way?”
“Yes.” Luke simply stated. It made Reid smile because it was true. He did feel the same way.
“But,“ Lily started to sputter, “but if he doesn’t want to move here… that would mean that you-“
“Mom, stop.” Luke held up his hand. “Like I said, we haven’t talked about it yet. So you don’t have to worry about something that isn’t even here yet.”
“I don’t you to move away, Luke.” Lily voice turned soft. “You always said that you wanted to stay close to your family, your friends, the place where you were born, your work. You have a history here, you don’t want to throw that away, do you?”
Luke stilled and folded his hands in his lap. “I really think you’re getting ahead of yourself here.”
Then he looked up and looked his mother straight into her eyes. “But whatever I decide to do in the future, I hope that you would support my decisions. Whether you agree with them or not.”
Lily swallowed and it took her a few moments to reply.
“You’re all grown up now. And you have the right to make you own decisions and your own mistakes. But, Luke, honey,” she took one of Luke’s hands in her own, “you will always be my baby and I will always worry about you.”
Luke didn’t answer, even though Lily’s words seemed to imply that his decisions would be mistakes, but pulled Lily into a hug.
“That’s okay.” He said. “You can worry about me, just let me live my own life.”
*
After Luke had shown his mother out and he closed the door, he leaned against it for a few moments.
The conversation with his mother was, although emotionally draining, one of the best conversations he had with her in a long time. This time she actually seemed to listen to him. Luke guessed that her finding Reid in the kitchen probably had something to do with that. He wasn’t foolish enough to think that she would immediately fully accept his relationship and stop trying getting him back together with Noah, but for now Luke felt better about his relationship with her than he had in a long time.
“Are you okay?”
Luke turned to see Reid standing in the doorway from the kitchen, hands in the pockets of his jeans.
He pushed himself away from the door and walked towards Reid. He took Reid’s face in his hands and kissed him hard on the lips.
“Yes.” Seeing the dazed look on Reid’s face when he pulled back, Luke grinned.
“Are you? You probably didn’t like hearing some of that.” Luke turned serious.
Reid circled his arms around Luke’s waist and pulled Luke close.
“I don’t mind that she doesn’t like me. I can live with that. As long as you like me, I’m good.”
They stayed like that for a few minutes, just embracing each other and enjoying the closeness, until a shrill sound made them reluctantly separate. Reid pulled his phone out of his pocket and answered with a brisk “Dr. Oliver.”
Not wanting to listen it on Reid’s conversation, Luke went the kitchen to make some more coffee and clean up the dishes from their breakfast.
When Reid came back into the kitchen, the coffee maker just beeped, indicating the coffee was ready.
“You want some?” Luke asked, holding up the coffee mug.
“Sure.” Reid leaned against the counter, watching Luke pour the coffee.
“I just found out I have an extra surgery scheduled for tomorrow morning at 7 AM. That means I have to go back home today.” After a few moments he added, “I’m sorry.”
Luke sighed. “Yeah me too. I hoped we would at least have a few days.” He turned to look at Reid. “I suppose we better get used to this then?”
Reid didn’t answer at first, but took Luke into his arms and held him tight. “I can’t offer you a solution right now. I don’t-, . I wish-…. I want to stay here.” Then he shook his head. “But I also want to be at the hospital, performing the surgery I know no-one else can do. Selfish huh?”
Luke pulled back a little and took Reid’s face in his hands. “No, it’s not selfish. It’s who you are. I meant what I said to my mother about you and your work. But, “Luke shrugged, “we’ll work it out. For now, let’s just enjoy what we have.” He took Reid’s hand and tugged Reid with him towards the bedroom. “And right now… we still have some time. We should make the most of that.”
*
In the next weeks and months Luke and Reid tried to have somewhat of a normal relationship. They tried to make time for one another, but their busy schedules and shifts at odd hours didn’t make it easy. There were quick visits that mostly were spent in bed and there were long telephone- and skype calls that left them both frustrated.
And after 6 months they both agreed that this wasn’t working for them. The few days a month they could see each other, just weren’t enough. And yes, while their phone and skype sex was awesome, it was nothing compared to being together and being able to kiss, to stroke, to caress, to grab, to grind and just to feel each other’s touch. They didn’t want to be apart from each other anymore.
So when Reid asked Luke the next time he saw him to come live with him, Luke jumped into his arms and gave him a very enthusiastic ‘YES’. Together they broke the news to Luke’s family, who were happy for them, but also shed a lot of tears. Only after promises to visit often, were they willing to let Luke go.
Noah was still there, living at Lily’s house, but he stayed in the background and tried not to bother either one of them.
In the end Luke still went over to see him. He gently told Noah that he should move on and start living his life. That him and Luke were never getting back together. Never ever.
Luke patted Noah’s shoulder and told him to believe what Luke was saying.
In the weeks following, everything was set for Luke’s move. All his stuff was either in storage or sent over to Reid’s. It was a warm summer day when Luke’s closed the door to his and Casey’s apartment for the last time. Reid stood beside him when they looked at the building once more.
“This is it.” Luke said, emotions audible in his voice. He’d had already said goodbye to Casey the night before, which involved a lot of hugging and slaps on the shoulder. Even Reid couldn’t avoid it.
“You’re the guy who’s making by best friend very happy. So, you get a hug. Deal with it.” Casey had said and then almost crushed Reid in his big arms.
Sensing Luke wasn’t far from crying, Reid cupped his cheek with one hand. “I love you. So much, it’s just… stupid. Let’s go and start our lives together.”
Luke took Reid’s hand and linked their fingers together. And together they stepped out of the shadows and into the sun, ready to start a life with one another.
Fin.
He rubbed his cheek against Reid’s chest and finally allowed his mind to think about everything that had happened yesterday. And last night. And again early this morning. He blushed thinking about it, how easily he gave himself over to Reid, that he trusted Reid just as Reid trusted him. There was no shame, no holding back, no pretending, there was only love and fun and laughter. And it was completely new to Luke that having sex with someone could be like that.
In his previous relationship sex was something that didn’t happen often and when it did, it was under the covers, quick and sometimes painful. It often left Luke unsatisfied, shameful and lonely.
Because of that, it had taken a lot of time for Luke to trust someone enough to have penetrative sex with them.
Last night after hearing Reid’s love confession, none of that seemed to matter. It all disappeared when Reid kissed him, held him in his arms and pressed his body against him, whispering words of love and praise and awe in his ear. Now that he knew how sex with the right partner could be, Luke had no plans to let Reid get out of his bed any time soon.
He started to move his hand across the planes of Reid’s stomach and chest, softly rubbing one nipple with his hand and taking the other in his mouth and tease it with his tongue. When he bit down softly, he felt Reid move under his mouth and Reid’s hand moved to the back of Luke’s head to keep in him place.
“Snyder…” Reid groaned.
Luke smiled against Reid’s skin.
“Good morning.” He said, releasing Reid’s nipple and placing his head on top of his folded hands on Reid’s chest. “How did you sleep?”
Reid stretched his arms over his head and then down again to grab Luke and pull him up so their faces were next to each other. “Great.” He murmured while kissing Luke’s cheek.
He let his hands travel down Luke’s body and then come to rest on his ass. He squeezed slightly and pushed his down so their pelvises were pressing together.
“But before we start again here, let’s move to the shower.” He let a finger slide into Luke’s cleft and teased his opening. “I think we could both use one.”
Feeling Reid’s hands and fingers had Luke grinding down on Reid already, he was getting so turned on from just a few touches. There was something in Reid’s touch that set Luke on fire.
He started laughing and stopped his movements. “Yeah, you’re right. Let’s be sensible.” He moved to sit up, but Reid followed him effortlessly.
“No reason we can’t start again in the shower.” Reid said, kissing Luke soundly on his lips, morning breath or not.
“Yeah, yeah. Okay, let’s go then.” Luke untangled himself from Reid and bounced towards the shower.
“Come on, my shower is ridiculously big and it has 4 different jets and a rain shower head. You’ll love it.”
And Reid did.
Later that day, after their shower, where an enthusiastic Luke rimmed Reid until he was shaking and couldn’t take it any more and begged Luke to fuck him. Shocked at first - because he was very new to being the penetrator - Luke enthusiastically agreed and it didn’t take him long to roll on the condom Reid had conveniently brought into the shower and lining up behind Reid.
Reid already pushed back, trying to take Luke inside of him, but Luke teased him by moving his cock up and down Reid’s cleft.
“Get a move on, Snyder.” Reid groaned.
“Shhh,” Luke hushed him. “Relax, I’ve got you.” He ran his hand up and down Reid’s side soothingly before pressing the head of his cock more firmly against Reid’s opening.
“Yesss.” Reid hissed and dropped his head against the cool tiles, feeling overwhelmed by the feelings swirling around inside of him. He needed Luke to take him, to make him Luke’s completely.
As if Luke knew what was going on inside Reid, he moved one hand to Reid’s shoulder for leverage and carefully slid in all the way. He looked down to see his cock disappear into Reid’s warm, welcoming body and once he was fully inside he had to still for a few moments or he would come immediately.
“Come on, come on, come on.” Reid urged, rolling his hips, trying to get Luke to move.
“Stop. Stop, I - I need a moment, or this is going to over within 2 seconds.” Luke panted. It made Reid grin but he stopped his movements to let Luke pull himself somewhat together.
Luke took a few shuddery breaths, trying to focus on other things than his throbbing cock inside Reid’s heat.
He then slowly started to move in and out, wanting to take it slow and make it last, but Reid was having non of it. He shoved back against Luke, basically fucking himself on Luke’s cock. And Luke started to move with him until he pounded into Reid, both hands now holding on to Reid’s shoulders.
It didn’t take long for them to finish, first Luke then Reid right after. Luke held on to Reid, panting harshly and draping himself over Reid’s back, without even pulling out.
“Wow, Snyder… You’ve got some moves there.” When his breath returned to somewhat normal, Reid turned around, causing Luke to slip out of him. Reid grimaced at the feeling, but was quickly distracted by the look on Luke’s face. He looked flushed, proud, amazed and had a huge grin on his face.
“I can’t believe you let me do that.” He sighed happily, while wrapping his arms around Reid’s shoulders.
Reid snorted. “Let you? I’m pretty sure I begged you.” He pulled back to brush Luke’s wet hair out of his eyes. “There’s no me letting you do anything. If you want something, tell me. If you don’t, fine. There’s plenty of stuff we can do.” He kissed Luke quickly but thoroughly.
“I know you had… reservations about all of this. I just hope you know you can tell me anything.”
Luke just hugged him tighter. “I know.” His voice sounded muffled against Reid’s shoulder. “I don’t know why I waited so long.” Then he shook his head. “That’s not true, I do know why. It’s just. that last night and now this. it’s so completely different than everything I’ve ever known. I should have known that after the things we did last summer, but I had no idea it could be like this. Especially now.” He lifted his head to look into his eyes and he smiled. Bright and happy. “Now it’s more than just sex and I think that matters too.”
Reid resisted to urge to roll his eyes at the sappiness of Luke’s statement, but he had a hard time disagreeing with Luke. So he just kissed Luke again. And again.
*
Later that day, they were enjoying a late breakfast in Luke’s kitchen when Casey came back. Luke and Reid were sitting close together at the table, working their way through everything they’d cooked up earlier. They heard the front door slam shut and then Casey’s heavy footsteps came their way.
When he entered the kitchen, he stopped dead in his tracks and looked at the men sitting at the table. Slowly a smile came onto his face. “Well, this is unexpected.” He stepped into the kitchen and walked towards Reid with his hand stretched out. “I hope you came to put Luke out of his misery? He’s been impossible to live with lately.”
Reid laughed, while Luke groaned in embarrassment, his ears turning red. Reid took Casey’s hand and shook it firmly. “I’ll do my best to make him happy.” He smiled, but there was a serious undertone to it that made Luke blush even harder.
“Awww…” Casey teased. He tried to ruffle Luke’s hair, but Luke slapped his hand away. “Shut up, Case.” But his voice lacked any trace of anger, because there was nothing that could destroy his mood today.
But right then, a voice called out.
“Luke?”
Except that.
Luke sighed. He looked over at Reid, shrugged his shoulder as if to say ‘sorry’ before calling out. “In the kitchen.”
Casey slowly backed out of the kitchen, mouthing ‘good luck’ to Reid. It made Reid frown in confusion and he looked at Luke. “What’s going on?”
“Luke? Sweetie?” A woman in her late forties entered the kitchen, but stopped in the doorway when she noticed Reid sitting very closely to Luke. She narrowed her eyes at Reid, but then turned to Luke.
“Luke?” She asked. “What’s going on?”
Luke rolled his eyes, but stood up and walked towards his mother. He kissed her cheek and said, “Good morning mom. Nothing is going on.” He grabbed the coffeepot from the counter and held it up. “Do you want some coffee?”
“What? Yes, sure… coffee.” His mother answered distractedly, her gaze still on Reid who just looked back. “But shouldn’t you introduce me to your… friend?”
“Oh right, yes. Sure.” Luke answered and put the coffeepot down again. He then gestured between his mother and Reid. “Mom, this is Reid. Reid, this is my mother, Lily.”
Reid stood up to offer a handshake which Lily took while she looked at him curiously.
“And what is your relation to my son?” She asked.
Before Reid could answer, Luke stepped around his mother towards Reid and stood beside him, taking Reid’s hand in his. He looked at Reid with his eyebrows raised as if to ask ‘okay?’.
Reid shrugged and then smiled a little and nodded.
“Mom, don’t freak out, but… Reid and I are together.” Luke said, giving Reid’s hand a squeeze.
Lily knitted her brows in confusion and she looked at Luke and Reid alternately. “Together? What do you mean, together?” She then focused on Luke. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”
Luke sighed and looked at Reid. “Do you mind?”
“No, of course not. Go talk to your mother.” Reid sat back down, but let his hand slide up and down Luke’s thigh. “I’ll be here.”
“Okay then. Mom, let’s go to the living room.” Luke let Lily pass and walk in front of him to the living room. He didn’t close the door behind him though, Reid noticed with a smirk.
In the living room Lily turned to Luke. “What’s going on, baby? Why haven’t you told me you were seeing someone? What about Noah? Have you spoken to him?”
“Why haven’t I told you? Seriously mom?” Luke asked disbelieving. “When you shove Noah into my face every time we talk or see each other? Even when I told you, like a million times, that I don’t want to be with him? What would you have said if I told you had met someone new? Would you have accepted that? I don’t think so mom.”
Lily took a deep breath, letting the words of her son sink in.
“I don’t know. Maybe not.” She answered truthfully. “But all I ever wanted is for you to be happy. And really Noah misses you, baby. It’s very hard for him without you. I always thought and still think that you and Noah were good together.”
“We were not.” Luke disagreed. “Maybe I was good for him, but he certainly wasn’t good for me. He hurt me, mom. Over and over again. I really don’t understand why you won’t believe me and support me on this. Why you always choose his side.”
“Honey, no… You’re my son and I love you. I will always be at your side, no matter what.”
“Honestly? It doesn’t feel like you are, mom. You let him live with you, you constantly mention him to me and try to push me back with him. It feels like you’re only thinking about him and what he wants. Not about what I want.” Luke said quietly.
Lily stepped towards Luke and cupped his cheek for a moment, before pulling him into a hug.
“I’m sorry I made you feel that way. That was never my intention. And Noah… I love him too and he has no one else. If he’s not with you, he’s alone. I think that is why I took him in and tried to get you back with him. I’d hate for him to be all alone.”
Luke pulled back and shrugged. “Yeah well… he has himself to blame for that. He could just make friends instead of trying to claim my family. And besides, it’s not like you can’t still see him if we’re not together. You don’t have to break up with him.” Luke smiled a little. “But enough… I don’t want to talk about him anymore.”
“Well then,” Lily took Luke’s hand and pulled him down with her on the couch. “Tell me about that man that is sitting in your kitchen, at your kitchen table. How did you meet him?”
Luke’s thoughts went back to when he first met Reid and he smiled and started to tell his mother everything that happened since last summer. He didn’t go into details, but there wasn’t much he left out. He felt relieved to finally be able to share his feelings with Lily. And she listened to him, she noticed the way his eyes sparkled when he talked about Reid, how he sometimes blushed and smiled while telling her something seemingly insignificant.
She noticed he looked happy, even though there were still bags under his eyes.
The reason for them was explained by Luke shortly and Lily was surprised to hear that they only really started their relationship the day before.
“Yeah..,“ Luke said with shining eyes. “Yesterday was really amazing. Seeing him standing there outside my door suddenly.” He shook his head. “It’s so stupid though… we could have been together since last summer.”
Lily smiled. “Sometimes you need some time away from someone to really know how you feel.” Luke nodded. He wasn’t sure whether she meant Reid or Noah. Or maybe both?
“But what happens now? Are you going to travel back and forth? Or is he moving here?” Lily asked.
“I don’t know. I mean, we haven’t talked about that yet. But I think that you can rule out him moving here. He’s a world renowned neurosurgeon mom, there’s nothing here for him. But we’ll get to that soon enough. For now, I just want to us to enjoy each other.”
Back in the kitchen, Reid had listened to Luke’s story even though he thought already knew everything that happened. But it turned out he was wrong, because hearing Luke talk about how he felt when he returned home from the beach, how he tried to forget everything but couldn’t was difficult. It reminded him of himself, and how he hadn’t been able to get Luke out of his thoughts or the time they spent together.
Reid focused back on Luke’s mother when she made it obvious she wasn’t too happy about Luke’s latest words.
“But how are you going to see him? You have almost nofree time as it is. Your work is here, your family and friends are here… Luke, everything you care about is here.”
“Except Reid.” Luke said calmly. “And I can’t predict (?) the future, but I do know one thing. I want Reid to be a part of it. A big part.”
Lily narrowed her eyes. “And does he feel the same way?”
“Yes.” Luke simply stated. It made Reid smile because it was true. He did feel the same way.
“But,“ Lily started to sputter, “but if he doesn’t want to move here… that would mean that you-“
“Mom, stop.” Luke held up his hand. “Like I said, we haven’t talked about it yet. So you don’t have to worry about something that isn’t even here yet.”
“I don’t you to move away, Luke.” Lily voice turned soft. “You always said that you wanted to stay close to your family, your friends, the place where you were born, your work. You have a history here, you don’t want to throw that away, do you?”
Luke stilled and folded his hands in his lap. “I really think you’re getting ahead of yourself here.”
Then he looked up and looked his mother straight into her eyes. “But whatever I decide to do in the future, I hope that you would support my decisions. Whether you agree with them or not.”
Lily swallowed and it took her a few moments to reply.
“You’re all grown up now. And you have the right to make you own decisions and your own mistakes. But, Luke, honey,” she took one of Luke’s hands in her own, “you will always be my baby and I will always worry about you.”
Luke didn’t answer, even though Lily’s words seemed to imply that his decisions would be mistakes, but pulled Lily into a hug.
“That’s okay.” He said. “You can worry about me, just let me live my own life.”
*
After Luke had shown his mother out and he closed the door, he leaned against it for a few moments.
The conversation with his mother was, although emotionally draining, one of the best conversations he had with her in a long time. This time she actually seemed to listen to him. Luke guessed that her finding Reid in the kitchen probably had something to do with that. He wasn’t foolish enough to think that she would immediately fully accept his relationship and stop trying getting him back together with Noah, but for now Luke felt better about his relationship with her than he had in a long time.
“Are you okay?”
Luke turned to see Reid standing in the doorway from the kitchen, hands in the pockets of his jeans.
He pushed himself away from the door and walked towards Reid. He took Reid’s face in his hands and kissed him hard on the lips.
“Yes.” Seeing the dazed look on Reid’s face when he pulled back, Luke grinned.
“Are you? You probably didn’t like hearing some of that.” Luke turned serious.
Reid circled his arms around Luke’s waist and pulled Luke close.
“I don’t mind that she doesn’t like me. I can live with that. As long as you like me, I’m good.”
They stayed like that for a few minutes, just embracing each other and enjoying the closeness, until a shrill sound made them reluctantly separate. Reid pulled his phone out of his pocket and answered with a brisk “Dr. Oliver.”
Not wanting to listen it on Reid’s conversation, Luke went the kitchen to make some more coffee and clean up the dishes from their breakfast.
When Reid came back into the kitchen, the coffee maker just beeped, indicating the coffee was ready.
“You want some?” Luke asked, holding up the coffee mug.
“Sure.” Reid leaned against the counter, watching Luke pour the coffee.
“I just found out I have an extra surgery scheduled for tomorrow morning at 7 AM. That means I have to go back home today.” After a few moments he added, “I’m sorry.”
Luke sighed. “Yeah me too. I hoped we would at least have a few days.” He turned to look at Reid. “I suppose we better get used to this then?”
Reid didn’t answer at first, but took Luke into his arms and held him tight. “I can’t offer you a solution right now. I don’t-, . I wish-…. I want to stay here.” Then he shook his head. “But I also want to be at the hospital, performing the surgery I know no-one else can do. Selfish huh?”
Luke pulled back a little and took Reid’s face in his hands. “No, it’s not selfish. It’s who you are. I meant what I said to my mother about you and your work. But, “Luke shrugged, “we’ll work it out. For now, let’s just enjoy what we have.” He took Reid’s hand and tugged Reid with him towards the bedroom. “And right now… we still have some time. We should make the most of that.”
*
In the next weeks and months Luke and Reid tried to have somewhat of a normal relationship. They tried to make time for one another, but their busy schedules and shifts at odd hours didn’t make it easy. There were quick visits that mostly were spent in bed and there were long telephone- and skype calls that left them both frustrated.
And after 6 months they both agreed that this wasn’t working for them. The few days a month they could see each other, just weren’t enough. And yes, while their phone and skype sex was awesome, it was nothing compared to being together and being able to kiss, to stroke, to caress, to grab, to grind and just to feel each other’s touch. They didn’t want to be apart from each other anymore.
So when Reid asked Luke the next time he saw him to come live with him, Luke jumped into his arms and gave him a very enthusiastic ‘YES’. Together they broke the news to Luke’s family, who were happy for them, but also shed a lot of tears. Only after promises to visit often, were they willing to let Luke go.
Noah was still there, living at Lily’s house, but he stayed in the background and tried not to bother either one of them.
In the end Luke still went over to see him. He gently told Noah that he should move on and start living his life. That him and Luke were never getting back together. Never ever.
Luke patted Noah’s shoulder and told him to believe what Luke was saying.
In the weeks following, everything was set for Luke’s move. All his stuff was either in storage or sent over to Reid’s. It was a warm summer day when Luke’s closed the door to his and Casey’s apartment for the last time. Reid stood beside him when they looked at the building once more.
“This is it.” Luke said, emotions audible in his voice. He’d had already said goodbye to Casey the night before, which involved a lot of hugging and slaps on the shoulder. Even Reid couldn’t avoid it.
“You’re the guy who’s making by best friend very happy. So, you get a hug. Deal with it.” Casey had said and then almost crushed Reid in his big arms.
Sensing Luke wasn’t far from crying, Reid cupped his cheek with one hand. “I love you. So much, it’s just… stupid. Let’s go and start our lives together.”
Luke took Reid’s hand and linked their fingers together. And together they stepped out of the shadows and into the sun, ready to start a life with one another.
Fin.