Fic: Coming Home 57/?
Author: PABWECG (aka Patricia)
Title: Coming Home
Genre/Type: Romance
Rating: PG-13 to NC-17
Characters/Pairings: Luke/Reid, Luke/Noah, Lily/Holden, Casey, Katie, Bob, assorted little people, possibly others
Warnings: None really, except some Nuke intimacy
Summary: Luke and Noah moved to L.A. in the Summer of 2009 for Noah to do his last year of school with an internship of sorts (no Mason, no blindness, etc. Everything else in their history has happened). Reid arrived, temporarily, at Memorial in August 2010.
Thank you Slayerkitty for being my beta!!!
Previous Chapters: 1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 6/ 7/ 8/ 9/ 10/ 11/ 12/ 13/ 14/ 15/ 16/ 17/ 18/ 19/ 20/ 21/ 22/ 23/ 24/ 25/ 26/ 27/ 28/ 29/ 30/ 31/ 32/ 33/ 34/ 35/ 36/ 37/ 38/ 39/ 40/ 41/ 42/ 43/ 44/ 45/ 46/ 47/ 48/ 49/ 50/ 51/ 52/ 53/ 54/ 55/ 56/
Chapter 57
"What do I think?" Reid asked. He began building the block tower for Sammy once more, and without raising his head looked up at Katie.
"Jacob, don't touch that, it's not for you," she told her son. She returned her attention to Reid. "Yes. What do you think? You work with him."
"I do," he agreed.
"So?" she responded, giving him an exasperated look. "He's a good doctor, right?" She was really trying to sell the guy.
He shrugged. "Sure. I guess."
"Okay," she said. It was like trying to pull teeth getting Reid to say anything. "So, do you think he's nice?"
His eyebrows climbed slightly up his forehead. "What do I know of nice?"
Her shoulders slumped and she sighed.
"You like him, right? That's what counts."
"Well, yeah...I guess...what's not to like?" she answered.
"You guess?" he asked. Then he quietly, but dramatically, growled. "You knocked over my tower, you." He picked Sammy up and stood her on his lap. "I'll get you for that." He lifted over his head and began to tickle her belly with his nose, sending her into fits of giggles, her little hands grabbing his reddish-brown curls. He placed her down on the floor once more and she looked up at him with anticipation. "You think I'm gonna build another tower, just so you can knock it down again?" She bounced on her behind, quiet laughs escaping her open mouth. "Okay," he said, beginning to build again. He glanced at Katie. "Do you like him or not?"
"Yeah, I do." She ran her hands through her, straightening her ponytail. "I just don't know if he's the one, you know?"
He looked at her blankly.
"You know." she went on. "When you think of him, you smile inside. You want to see his face every night before you go to sleep...and first thing in the morning." She looked frustrated. "He makes your heart flutter, and your insides crave more and more of him." She looked at him with a sly smile. "You know what that feels like, don'tcha Reid?"
"Yes, I do," he said, with an unapologetic smile.
"You know what?" She asked rhetorically.
He looked back at her.
"I'm not gonna ask too many questions...about whether he's the right guy or not. I'm just gonna have a good time and follow my instincts...and then I'll know, right?"
He shrugged. "Sure."
"Thanks," she said, swatting his knee. "You give good advice."
He looked up at her, not sure whether she was making fun of him.
"And when will Kyle and Stephen arrive?"
"Not sure." he answered.
"They're bringing the bread, right?"
"Yup."
"Luke will be back soon, too, right?" she asked. "You want me to preheat the oven?"
"Nah," Reid responded, getting up. "Just keep an eye on the Destroyer of Towers."
"No problem," Katie said.
The doorbell rang, but before Reid could walk away he felt a small fist grabbing at his pant leg. He bent down to release her fingers, but she looked up at him and waved her arms in the air to be picked up. "You wanna come with me to turn on the oven?" he asked, bending down to scoop her up and swing her into his arms. "We can see who's at the door first. Do you think it's Uncle Stephen and Kyle? Let's go see." He didn't even roll his eyes at how sweet he sounded. He was too content to roll his eyes.
He opened the door, and...And there goes my contentment. "Noah."
Noah rang the doorbell and waited. He knew he had to face Luke, and he knew he wanted...needed to see Sammy. He was ready to be a father to her...with Luke. He was still unsure of what kind of father he would be, but he knew he wanted that. He also knew that Luke was gonna be pissed. Rightly so. He inhaled and let it out. It'll be okay. Luke always forgives you, Noah. Even when you don't deserve it.
The door opened. Reid. Of course. He's Luke's boyfriend. It makes sense that he's sometimes here. And Sammy. She's grown.
"Noah."
He nodded at the shorter man.
"You're back." Reid said with that closed-lip almost-smile he often wore.
Noah nodded again. "Yes. I am." Perhaps he needed to apologize to this man as well, but he just couldn't. Not yet. "Can I come in?"
Luke's boyfriend just raised his eyebrows at him.
Noah reached out a hand and touched his daughter's arm. "Hey there, Sammy. My you got bigger." She eyed him seriously, one hand gripping Reid's sweater, the other around his neck. "Can I hold her?" he asked.
"No," Reid answered with an incredulous look.
Noah inhaled and let it out. "She's my daughter."
Reid raised his eyebrows again. "Is she?"
Noah's nostrils flared. This interloper. He stole Luke, and now he...no, you walked away, don't forget. He nodded at Reid. "Sorry," he said.
"For what?" Reid asked.
"Hmmm?" Noah returned.
"What are you sorry for?" He turned part way back towards Luke's house. "You know what? Never mind. I don't want to know. Just go away. Can you do that?"
"No," Noah responded, feeling his anger rising.
"Oh, that's right. You already did that, and we all know it's something you're good at, so just do it again." Reid made little circles with his left hand, indicating that Noah should just disappear. "Turn around, walk away." He looked right at Noah. "And stay gone."
"Just who do you think you are?" Noah let loose. "You come waltzing into town, steal my boyfriend, and now you won't even let me hold my daughter?" He stepped up close to Reid. "My daughter. What right do you have?"
"Your daughter?" Reid asked, looking back at him.
Noah was fuming inside, ready to strike out and holding himself back. Reid simply stared back at him coldly.
"Hey there," Stephen's voice piped up, indicating his and Kyle's arrival to the uncomfortable scene. Reid looked at his best friend, still annoyed but feeling grateful for his presence.
"Noah, you're back." Stephen went on.
"Um-hm," was Noah response, still fuming inside.
"Well, isn’t that, um...nice," Stephen said, swinging his arms a bit, looking back and forth between Noah and Reid, Sammy in his arms. "Luke's not here - I saw him in town - if you're looking for him." The three men looked at each other - Noah angry, Reid possessive, and Stephen trying to maintain the peace, and not laugh. "We'll be sure to tell him you stopped by."
Noah turned to face him. "Is that my dismissal?"
"Yes," Reid answered without hesitation. "And much more polite than I would have given you."
"Why you..." Noah began, his fists clenching at his side.
"Stephen, would you and Kyle take Sammy inside?" Reid asked, his eyes on Noah. "It's getting cold out here."
"Sure," Stephen answered. And he reached for the little girl. "Hey there, Sammy. Come see your Uncle Stephen." She let herself be lifted up, and wrapped her arms around the neck of the tall, handsome redhead. Noah watched as the two of them, with a shorter brunette who was obviously Kyle, walked back into Luke's house.
Noah knew his temper was getting the best of him; he took a moment to breathe deeply. He was the one who had left. But still, seeing her so comfortable in the arms of Stephen after the man still standing before him had refused to even let him hold her.
He made eye contact with Reid. "Uncle Stephen?"
Reid stared back at him for a moment. "We don't owe you an explanation."
"We?" Noah asked. "I see, so Luke's on board with this...stranger being her uncle?"
Reid just held his angry gaze silently.
Noah let out an audible breath.
"Well, if that's all..." Reid began, giving Noah a disinterested once-over. "I'm going to return to our dinner guests." He turned to go.
"Oh no, you're not."
"Excuse me?" Reid asked.
Noah knew Reid had a right to be angry with him. He knew it - in his head. But something about the man pushed his buttons. "Look, I didn't come here to start a fight."
"Really? Then why are you here?"
"I came here to see Sammy...and Luke. I came to explain why I left, and what I want now that I'm back." He took a breath. "I came to apologize."
"Really, Noah?" a very familiar voice asked, sounding disbelieving.
Noah turned around, and Reid looked up, both seeing the latest arrival to this conversation - Luke.
Both men looked at him, neither saying a word.
"Really, Noah?" Luke repeated. He then walked around the tall brunette who had occupied far too much of his life in the past, to stand beside Reid. "Hey, how are you?" he asked his beautiful boyfriend. "How's Sammy?"
"I'm fine," Reid answered, an arm going around Luke's waist. "Sammy's fine. Stephen took her inside."
"Good," he said, and then turned to face Noah again. "So, you're here to apologize, and explain yourself?" Luke asked.
"Yes, Luke. And I want to tell you my plans."
"Really?"
"Yes. Could we go somewhere and talk?"
"You mean without Reid."
"Well. Yes. It's about our daughter."
"I see. Well, um. No." He stood tall. "We can't."
"What?" Noah asked. "Luke, I know you're angry, but..."
"You're right, I am. But that's not it."
Noah just stared.
"We can talk, but not tonight; we have guests."
"Luke, this is more important than..."
"You bet you're sorry ass it is; so call me tomorrow and we'll set up a time to talk." He stood still, one hand in Reid's. "And there's no reason why Reid shouldn't be a part of the conversation."
"Luke," Noah began, but Luke just stared him down. "Fine. I'll call you."
And with one more silent look passing between them, he turned around and left.
As Noah retreated, Reid raised his eyebrows, turning to Luke with an appreciative whistle. "Well done, Mr. Snyder. Well done indeed."
Luke turned to face him, put his arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. "Why, thank you, Dr. Oliver."
Reid pulled him closer, and they stood in the cold together, meeting each other's gaze.
"So, you're okay?" Luke asked.
Reid nodded.
"You seemed angry when I got here."
"I was." He glanced in the direction Noah had gone. "And now I'm fine." His gaze returned to Luke. "How are you?"
"Oh, I'm fine." Luke waved away Reid's concerns. "I'm used to Noah."
"You're used to Noah treating you like dirt, and for a long time you seemed to think you deserved it."
"Until you came along," Luke said, and pulled him closer and kissed him again.
"Promise me something," Reid said.
“Anything," Luke answered.
"Promise me you'll never settle for the kind of love Noah gave you...ever again. Not that
it matters, since I'm not going anywhere."
"You'd better not be," Luke smiled and kissed him once more.
"But...you know...if...well," Reid stammered.
Luke knew. "I promise."
next part/
Title: Coming Home
Genre/Type: Romance
Rating: PG-13 to NC-17
Characters/Pairings: Luke/Reid, Luke/Noah, Lily/Holden, Casey, Katie, Bob, assorted little people, possibly others
Warnings: None really, except some Nuke intimacy
Summary: Luke and Noah moved to L.A. in the Summer of 2009 for Noah to do his last year of school with an internship of sorts (no Mason, no blindness, etc. Everything else in their history has happened). Reid arrived, temporarily, at Memorial in August 2010.
Thank you Slayerkitty for being my beta!!!
Previous Chapters: 1/ 2/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 6/ 7/ 8/ 9/ 10/ 11/ 12/ 13/ 14/ 15/ 16/ 17/ 18/ 19/ 20/ 21/ 22/ 23/ 24/ 25/ 26/ 27/ 28/ 29/ 30/ 31/ 32/ 33/ 34/ 35/ 36/ 37/ 38/ 39/ 40/ 41/ 42/ 43/ 44/ 45/ 46/ 47/ 48/ 49/ 50/ 51/ 52/ 53/ 54/ 55/ 56/
Chapter 57
"What do I think?" Reid asked. He began building the block tower for Sammy once more, and without raising his head looked up at Katie.
"Jacob, don't touch that, it's not for you," she told her son. She returned her attention to Reid. "Yes. What do you think? You work with him."
"I do," he agreed.
"So?" she responded, giving him an exasperated look. "He's a good doctor, right?" She was really trying to sell the guy.
He shrugged. "Sure. I guess."
"Okay," she said. It was like trying to pull teeth getting Reid to say anything. "So, do you think he's nice?"
His eyebrows climbed slightly up his forehead. "What do I know of nice?"
Her shoulders slumped and she sighed.
"You like him, right? That's what counts."
"Well, yeah...I guess...what's not to like?" she answered.
"You guess?" he asked. Then he quietly, but dramatically, growled. "You knocked over my tower, you." He picked Sammy up and stood her on his lap. "I'll get you for that." He lifted over his head and began to tickle her belly with his nose, sending her into fits of giggles, her little hands grabbing his reddish-brown curls. He placed her down on the floor once more and she looked up at him with anticipation. "You think I'm gonna build another tower, just so you can knock it down again?" She bounced on her behind, quiet laughs escaping her open mouth. "Okay," he said, beginning to build again. He glanced at Katie. "Do you like him or not?"
"Yeah, I do." She ran her hands through her, straightening her ponytail. "I just don't know if he's the one, you know?"
He looked at her blankly.
"You know." she went on. "When you think of him, you smile inside. You want to see his face every night before you go to sleep...and first thing in the morning." She looked frustrated. "He makes your heart flutter, and your insides crave more and more of him." She looked at him with a sly smile. "You know what that feels like, don'tcha Reid?"
"Yes, I do," he said, with an unapologetic smile.
"You know what?" She asked rhetorically.
He looked back at her.
"I'm not gonna ask too many questions...about whether he's the right guy or not. I'm just gonna have a good time and follow my instincts...and then I'll know, right?"
He shrugged. "Sure."
"Thanks," she said, swatting his knee. "You give good advice."
He looked up at her, not sure whether she was making fun of him.
"And when will Kyle and Stephen arrive?"
"Not sure." he answered.
"They're bringing the bread, right?"
"Yup."
"Luke will be back soon, too, right?" she asked. "You want me to preheat the oven?"
"Nah," Reid responded, getting up. "Just keep an eye on the Destroyer of Towers."
"No problem," Katie said.
The doorbell rang, but before Reid could walk away he felt a small fist grabbing at his pant leg. He bent down to release her fingers, but she looked up at him and waved her arms in the air to be picked up. "You wanna come with me to turn on the oven?" he asked, bending down to scoop her up and swing her into his arms. "We can see who's at the door first. Do you think it's Uncle Stephen and Kyle? Let's go see." He didn't even roll his eyes at how sweet he sounded. He was too content to roll his eyes.
He opened the door, and...And there goes my contentment. "Noah."
Noah rang the doorbell and waited. He knew he had to face Luke, and he knew he wanted...needed to see Sammy. He was ready to be a father to her...with Luke. He was still unsure of what kind of father he would be, but he knew he wanted that. He also knew that Luke was gonna be pissed. Rightly so. He inhaled and let it out. It'll be okay. Luke always forgives you, Noah. Even when you don't deserve it.
The door opened. Reid. Of course. He's Luke's boyfriend. It makes sense that he's sometimes here. And Sammy. She's grown.
"Noah."
He nodded at the shorter man.
"You're back." Reid said with that closed-lip almost-smile he often wore.
Noah nodded again. "Yes. I am." Perhaps he needed to apologize to this man as well, but he just couldn't. Not yet. "Can I come in?"
Luke's boyfriend just raised his eyebrows at him.
Noah reached out a hand and touched his daughter's arm. "Hey there, Sammy. My you got bigger." She eyed him seriously, one hand gripping Reid's sweater, the other around his neck. "Can I hold her?" he asked.
"No," Reid answered with an incredulous look.
Noah inhaled and let it out. "She's my daughter."
Reid raised his eyebrows again. "Is she?"
Noah's nostrils flared. This interloper. He stole Luke, and now he...no, you walked away, don't forget. He nodded at Reid. "Sorry," he said.
"For what?" Reid asked.
"Hmmm?" Noah returned.
"What are you sorry for?" He turned part way back towards Luke's house. "You know what? Never mind. I don't want to know. Just go away. Can you do that?"
"No," Noah responded, feeling his anger rising.
"Oh, that's right. You already did that, and we all know it's something you're good at, so just do it again." Reid made little circles with his left hand, indicating that Noah should just disappear. "Turn around, walk away." He looked right at Noah. "And stay gone."
"Just who do you think you are?" Noah let loose. "You come waltzing into town, steal my boyfriend, and now you won't even let me hold my daughter?" He stepped up close to Reid. "My daughter. What right do you have?"
"Your daughter?" Reid asked, looking back at him.
Noah was fuming inside, ready to strike out and holding himself back. Reid simply stared back at him coldly.
"Hey there," Stephen's voice piped up, indicating his and Kyle's arrival to the uncomfortable scene. Reid looked at his best friend, still annoyed but feeling grateful for his presence.
"Noah, you're back." Stephen went on.
"Um-hm," was Noah response, still fuming inside.
"Well, isn’t that, um...nice," Stephen said, swinging his arms a bit, looking back and forth between Noah and Reid, Sammy in his arms. "Luke's not here - I saw him in town - if you're looking for him." The three men looked at each other - Noah angry, Reid possessive, and Stephen trying to maintain the peace, and not laugh. "We'll be sure to tell him you stopped by."
Noah turned to face him. "Is that my dismissal?"
"Yes," Reid answered without hesitation. "And much more polite than I would have given you."
"Why you..." Noah began, his fists clenching at his side.
"Stephen, would you and Kyle take Sammy inside?" Reid asked, his eyes on Noah. "It's getting cold out here."
"Sure," Stephen answered. And he reached for the little girl. "Hey there, Sammy. Come see your Uncle Stephen." She let herself be lifted up, and wrapped her arms around the neck of the tall, handsome redhead. Noah watched as the two of them, with a shorter brunette who was obviously Kyle, walked back into Luke's house.
Noah knew his temper was getting the best of him; he took a moment to breathe deeply. He was the one who had left. But still, seeing her so comfortable in the arms of Stephen after the man still standing before him had refused to even let him hold her.
He made eye contact with Reid. "Uncle Stephen?"
Reid stared back at him for a moment. "We don't owe you an explanation."
"We?" Noah asked. "I see, so Luke's on board with this...stranger being her uncle?"
Reid just held his angry gaze silently.
Noah let out an audible breath.
"Well, if that's all..." Reid began, giving Noah a disinterested once-over. "I'm going to return to our dinner guests." He turned to go.
"Oh no, you're not."
"Excuse me?" Reid asked.
Noah knew Reid had a right to be angry with him. He knew it - in his head. But something about the man pushed his buttons. "Look, I didn't come here to start a fight."
"Really? Then why are you here?"
"I came here to see Sammy...and Luke. I came to explain why I left, and what I want now that I'm back." He took a breath. "I came to apologize."
"Really, Noah?" a very familiar voice asked, sounding disbelieving.
Noah turned around, and Reid looked up, both seeing the latest arrival to this conversation - Luke.
Both men looked at him, neither saying a word.
"Really, Noah?" Luke repeated. He then walked around the tall brunette who had occupied far too much of his life in the past, to stand beside Reid. "Hey, how are you?" he asked his beautiful boyfriend. "How's Sammy?"
"I'm fine," Reid answered, an arm going around Luke's waist. "Sammy's fine. Stephen took her inside."
"Good," he said, and then turned to face Noah again. "So, you're here to apologize, and explain yourself?" Luke asked.
"Yes, Luke. And I want to tell you my plans."
"Really?"
"Yes. Could we go somewhere and talk?"
"You mean without Reid."
"Well. Yes. It's about our daughter."
"I see. Well, um. No." He stood tall. "We can't."
"What?" Noah asked. "Luke, I know you're angry, but..."
"You're right, I am. But that's not it."
Noah just stared.
"We can talk, but not tonight; we have guests."
"Luke, this is more important than..."
"You bet you're sorry ass it is; so call me tomorrow and we'll set up a time to talk." He stood still, one hand in Reid's. "And there's no reason why Reid shouldn't be a part of the conversation."
"Luke," Noah began, but Luke just stared him down. "Fine. I'll call you."
And with one more silent look passing between them, he turned around and left.
As Noah retreated, Reid raised his eyebrows, turning to Luke with an appreciative whistle. "Well done, Mr. Snyder. Well done indeed."
Luke turned to face him, put his arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. "Why, thank you, Dr. Oliver."
Reid pulled him closer, and they stood in the cold together, meeting each other's gaze.
"So, you're okay?" Luke asked.
Reid nodded.
"You seemed angry when I got here."
"I was." He glanced in the direction Noah had gone. "And now I'm fine." His gaze returned to Luke. "How are you?"
"Oh, I'm fine." Luke waved away Reid's concerns. "I'm used to Noah."
"You're used to Noah treating you like dirt, and for a long time you seemed to think you deserved it."
"Until you came along," Luke said, and pulled him closer and kissed him again.
"Promise me something," Reid said.
“Anything," Luke answered.
"Promise me you'll never settle for the kind of love Noah gave you...ever again. Not that
it matters, since I'm not going anywhere."
"You'd better not be," Luke smiled and kissed him once more.
"But...you know...if...well," Reid stammered.
Luke knew. "I promise."
next part/