Fic: Koinonia - Part Nine
Title: Koinonia
Author: PABWECG (aka Patricia)
Beta: msLUREdin
Artist: sripley
Rating: Up to NC-17
Word Count: 58,071
Summary: Luke is in Oakdale (ATWT canon, fall 2008) and Reid is in Dallas. Both of them are living their lives day to day, but each feels there's is something missing from their life. After a time they meet in Haiti doing different types of volunteer work post-earthquake. Their lives are irrevocably changed by the situation in Haiti and by their connection to each other. Meanwhile, Luke is engaged to Noah when he meets Reid...but will this change both their plans for the future?
A/N: I can’t say thank enough to msLUREdin for her wonderful and supportive beta work. She kept me going with all her encouraging comments and lavish praise, and her patience in reading this monster. THANK YOU, my dear!! Also, BIG thanks to sripley for her gorgeous artwork and her help with my posting questions! And finally, thank you to traciamc for pulling all this together and for being SO patient with me!
Koinonia - community, communion, joint participation, sharing and intimacy.
Chapter 35 (The next day - Sunday)
Luke walked into the kitchen, poured himself a glass of water, and drank it down; then he rested the glass on the counter and ran his hands over his face with a sigh.
“Hi, Sweetheart.” His mother’s quiet voice startled him. She was sitting in a corner chair with a book in her hand. “Sorry, didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“That’s okay, I just…I was in my own little world.” He said. “Are you…” he looked around the farm kitchen. “Is Dad out?”
“Yeah, he needed to go into town for a couple of hours; I told him I’d come by and watch the girls and Ethan.” She said, as she walked across the room. “How’d it go with Noah?”
He shrugged, and she nodded.
“Better than I ever imagined…not that I ever did imagine it.” He exhaled. “It went well, I guess.” He looked at her. “You know what’s weird, Mom?”
“What?”
“Every time we broke up, it was…really tense…angry, or sad. But this…” he thought about it. “This was calm…it was okay.” He nodded his head. “Even though there is sadness, and Noah…” He shook his head. “This isn’t what he wanted, but even so…it’s like it’s settled, you know?”
She nodded.
“And that’s comforting to him, even though it isn’t what he wanted.”
“Makes sense.” She said.
“But he’s feeling pretty…unsettled, about going to California without me. It’s always been his dream, but he never dreamed of doing it alone.”
His mother looked at him; she knew him so well.
He laughed quietly.
“What?” she asked with a smile.
“You know what I’m thinking, don’t you?”
She inclined her head. “I have had lots of practice.
“I know,” he said.
“But you can’t do this for him - you know that, right?”
“I know, I do…it’s just hard.”
“Yeah.”
“You know…all throughout our relationship,” he said. “I was the ‘clingy’ one, or the one always begging to get back together, and yet…in a way, I was also the strong one, at least when it came to the emotional stuff.”
“That’s not surprising.” She said, nodding. “You’ve always been very wise for your age.”
He nodded. “But you’re right. He has to do this…on his own. He has to find his own strength, if this is really what he wants to do.”
She touched his arm. “And he will, Luke. He will. The only way a person finds their strength is at a time like this.”
After a minute, she spoke again. “So, what about you?”
“Me?”
She nodded.
“You want to know my plans?”
“No, not you’re plans.” She answered. “What are your…thoughts…ideas, dreams…what do you want to do, Luke?”
He paused, exhaled, and looked at her. “I wanna move slowly…take my time.” He nodded. “I want to stay connected to Haiti…I want to write.” He looked right at her and smiled. “I want to see Reid.”
She also smiled. “He’s pretty special to you, isn’t he?”
Luke inhaled and stood tall. “He is.”
She looked lovingly at him. “So, when will you? See him, I mean.”
“Tomorrow,” he said, his eyes leaving hers for a moment before returning with a small smile.
Chapter 36 (Monday)
“You just…went on instinct?”
Luke shrugged.
Reid looked at him suspiciously.
“What?” Luke laughed.
“I don’t believe you. No one could make a sandwich…that right for me, without knowing what I like ahead of time.”
“What you like? What don’t you like?” Luke looked at him and couldn’t resist smiling. “Honestly Reid…it was easy. I knew that it needed to be big, and flavorful, and I just…”
“Went on instinct, so you said.” Reid still appeared doubtful.
“Are you always this suspicious?”
“Yes.” Reid nodded, his brow furrowed in suspicion.
They continued walking - their fingers intertwined - along the trail behind the school fields. They’d eaten their sandwiches that Luke swore he made at the farm, Luke had told him briefly about his and Noah’s conversation of the day before, and then naturally the talk had turned to food.
“I’m less so.” Reid said. “Suspicious, that is. Anne Marie…Alex, a friend from Dallas…and you. The three of you,” he rolled his eyes. “Have had your influence on me.”
Luke looked at him shrewdly and then kissed him. “I’m glad." He bit his lower lip. "I’m not suspicious. Or rarely.” He turned and they began walking again. “I sometimes wish I were…more mistrusting, that is.” He sighed. “I know I shouldn’t say that.”
“Why not?’ Reid asked, stopping Luke and catching his eye.
“Well, it’s not very…nice, I guess.”
“Nice?” Reid said quietly. “Sometimes it’s necessary. I mean, I’m definitely too mistrusting, but…” He took Luke’s other hand. “But it can go to the other extreme. It’s okay to protect yourself, Luke.”
Luke nodded silently, unused to hearing that advice.
“You have a big heart, Luke.” Reid looked steadily at him. “And it’s okay to share it - you wouldn’t be you if you didn’t.” He lifted a hand and brushed through the hair at Luke’s temple. “But you don’t have to share it with everybody, and you don’t have to share it all the time.”
Luke’s shoulders relaxed as he exhaled, and his wide eyes smiled back at Reid. “Perhaps,” he said. “I can keep teaching you how to…crack open your heart a little more…and you can…”
“I can…” Reid interrupted. “Teach you how to protect that precious heart of yours, just a little bit more?”
Luke nodded.
“It’s a deal.” Reid said.
Chapter 37 (Tuesday afternoon)
“Not bad.” Reid said around a mouthful of chili.
Luke sat across the table from him, at Al’s, and just watched him eat.
“I’ll have to make you some, though.” Reid went on.
“You cook?”
“Some things. When you live in Texas for a while...” He took another bite of cornbread. “You learn to make chili.”
“Mm-hm,” Luke smiled at him.
“Cornbread’s really good though.” He took another swig of his soda. “So, tell me more about this proposal.”
“Well,” Luke began. “The foundation’s already agreed to the initial grant to Doctors Without Borders as it operates now in Port-au-Prince, but there are a lot of details to iron out on the long-term possibilities.”
“But…” Reid spooned more chili into his mouth. “You’re thinking…the training of doctors and the funding of clinics.”
“As well as secondary schools…for students with potential but not the resources.”
“Sounds…God Luke, it sounds incredible. And you’ve got this off the ground already.”
“Yeah.” He took a sip of his water, and Reid looked at him, waiting. “When I got back, I was…missing it, and I hated just walking away…and this just seemed…right. I have the ability to help make something happen…both short-term and long-term, and so…” he shrugged.
“And so you just made it happen…you’re amazing.”
Luke laughed quietly. “You know? For a long time, I always wondered what I was going to do with my life; and I felt like I had no special skill or talent to make a big difference.”
Reid looked back at him, silently, waiting for him to continue.
“But being in Haiti, I realized…well, two things; one, I do have skills, most importantly that I’m good with people…really good actually.”
He blushed and Reid raised his eyebrows at him with an appreciative grin.
“And two, I don’t need to make a big difference, or do my work alone. When I work with others, like I did this spring, I make a big difference along side others. That’s what I wanna keep doing. Even if I’m not in Haiti, through my foundation I can be there with Doctors Without Borders, and Anne Marie, and Terry, and all the others.”
Reid reached across the table and took his hand, and Luke laced his fingers into his.
“You’re amazing,” Reid said again. “And so beautiful…inside and out.”
Luke rolled his eyes, as usual feeling uncomfortable with the compliment.
“And I know that sounds cliché…but it’s true.” Reid said. “You’re generous and passionate; you’re so smart.” He inhaled, looking at Luke. “And you shine…literally like the sun.”
Now Luke really blushed.
“And when I look at you,” he went on as his eyes traveled over Luke’s face. “It’s like you’re the definition of alive. Your love and belief…your trust and determination.” He squeezed Luke’s hand. “I can see them in your eyes…feel it your very presence right here with me.
He leaned closer across the table, whispering. “I can feel your…you-ness…radiating off you, and it makes me want to…” he stopped speaking, looking intently at Luke.
Luke’s mouth opened. “What?” he asked quietly, his eyes locked on Reid’s. “It makes you want to what?”
“It makes me want to make love to you.” Reid said quietly.
Luke’s heart raced and a small smile came to him.
They spoke no more words then, but Luke’s hand pulled Reid’s closer into his grasp.
In a minute Henry came over and placed the check on the table. Reid went to take it, but Luke stopped him. “I got this one,” he said.
“Okay,” Reid answered, his hand still in Luke’s. “I have to go.”
“I know.”
Reid stood and stepped closer to Luke. Luke also stood and, leaning in close, he placed a kiss on Reid’s ear, his neck, his cheek and finally his lips. Reid placed his hand behind Luke’s head and pulled him close for another. He looked him in the eye with a slight nod, kissed him once more, and then left.
Chapter 38 (Thursday Evening)
Reid left the break room alongside his Chief of Staff. “Nicely done in there, Dr. Oliver.” Bob smiled. “Not that I’m surprised.”
Reid nodded silently as they walked side-by-side. “Thanks for observing. It’s always nice to have a second pair of eyes.”
“Anytime.” He said. “So, how are things settling in for you?”
“Fine.” Reid answered. “Surgeries are steadily coming together, the staff seem…somewhat competent.”
Bob laughed. “And personally?”
Reid turned slightly towards him and narrowed his eyes playfully. “You mean Luke?”
“Among other things,” Bob said. “But yes, Luke.”
“Things are going…” he nodded, his eyes smiling. “Pretty well.”
“Good.”
The older man smiled and looked ahead.
“Ah, Katie.”
Reid turned his head and saw a smiling blond-haired woman coming towards them, a baby in her arms.
“Hi Bob,” she said, again smiling. “Is Chris here?”
“He’s here somewhere.”
So this must be Doogie’s wife…and kid by the looks of it.
“Hello,” she turned cheerfully to him. “You must be Dr. Oliver.”
“Yes, I am.” He said, not at all surprised that in this small town another person would have made that deduction.
“I’m Katie,” she said, still smiling. “Nice to meet you.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Bob said. “Reid, this is Katie Peretti-Snyder.”
Reid took her offered hand, and shook it. So…not Doogie’s wife?
“Snyder?” he said.
“Yes,” she said, smiling and adjusting the child on her hip.
“You’ll find there are a lot of them around here.” Bob said.
Reid nodded.
“A lot of what?” Katie asked.
Reid’s phone buzzed. “Excuse me,” he said, turning aside. He pulled out his phone and looked at the number. “Hello,” he answered with a smile.
“Hi,” Luke’s voice sounded in his ear.
Reid tilted his head.
“So, how did the surgery go?” Luke asked.
Reid nodded into the phone. “Good…very good.”
Reid’s smile was beginning to grow.
“You tired?” Luke asked.
“Yeah,” Reid breathed. It had been a fairly long one. “Why?”
“Well, I was going to see if you wanted to come over for a bit, but I know it’s late, so…”
“No, I’d like that.”
“Really? But you said you were tired.”
“I am but…not too tired to see you.”
Luke was quiet on the other end.
“Where are you?” Reid asked.
“I’m at my mom’s.”
“Your mom’s.” Reid’s brow furrowed. “Oh.”
“Yeah but, don’t worry…you won’t have to make small talk. She and my sister Faith went to the movies. I came over to have dinner with my younger siblings, and they’re in bed now.”
“Oh,” Reid said, his eyebrows creeping up on his forehead.
“So it’s just me…and pie.”
“Pie?” Reid repeated.
“Yup. My grandmother’s homemade apple…oh, and there’s some dinner left, if you’re hungry.”
“Dinner, pie, and you?” Reid said quietly.
“Yeah,” Luke said.
“Give me twenty minutes.”
“Okay.”
Reid could practically hear Luke smile and blush.
“Where do I find this mom’s house?” he asked.
When he hung up and turned around, he noticed that Chris had joined the small group and was now holding the baby.
“Well, I’m off.” He said to Bob.
“Have a good night, Reid.”
“It was nice to meet you,” he said to Katie. “Chris,” he nodded curtly at the younger Dr. Hughes.
As he walked away, he heard Chris say, “I still can’t believe that someone as nice as Luke is dating him.”
“What?” Katie exclaimed. “He’s dating Luke? Is that why the wedding was…”
“Called off?” Bob’s voice finished. “Yes, I think so.”
Reid pulled up in front of Luke’s mother’s house. When was the last time he’d met a man he was dating at his mother’s house? A very long time ago, Reid answered himself.
Luke was younger than him, by quite a bit, but it didn’t seem to matter. When they’d made a connection - at the clinic, the soup kitchen, on the hillside - they’d never spoken of their ages, never thought about it either. Because it didn’t matter. In a world where life was being given and taken away on a daily basis - hourly even - what was a thirteen-year age difference? What was any age difference really? Besides, in some ways Luke was at least as mature as he was, if not more.
So he knocked on the door to Luke’s mother’s house, and he waited for the man he was dating to answer. And the door opened and there he was.
The corners of Reid’s mouth began to curve upwards and his eyes found Luke’s.
“Hi,” Luke said, obviously unable to resist a full smile himself.
Reid nodded, his eyes betraying his happiness.
“Come in.” Luke said gently, and he stepped aside to allow Reid in. He closed the door and turned around and they both smiled some more at each other.
“Hi,” Luke said again.
Reid’s eyes softened and he stepped forward. Looking down, he took Luke’s hand; then he lifted his gaze to Luke’s once more.
Luke stepped closer and placed a hand on Reid’s waist. He held Reid’s gaze, then dropped his own to Reid’s mouth, back to his eyes and then his mouth. Reid smiled, inside and out. He literally could fell his heart smiling. And then Luke kissed him. Not urgently. Slowly - contentedly. He felt Luke smile against his lips. And Reid kissed him back, tasting his lips, feeling their contours.
His tongue slipped between his own lips and he ran the tip of it along Luke’s lower lip. Luke inhaled, and Reid could hear how happy he was. He wrapped his two lips around Luke’s lower one, mouthing it, sucking gently.
Other than Luke’s one hand on his waist, his other in Reid’s hand, this was their only body contact - just their mouths. And it was so good. And Reid never felt so contented just kissing someone before.
“Your lips, Reid…they taste so good.”
Reid hummed, kissing him some more. He suddenly realized he wasn’t as tired now. He pulled back to look at Luke.
“What?”
“I’m not tired anymore.”
Luke smiled. And then he took his hand and led him to the small kitchen area. “Are you still hungry?”
Reid nodded.
Luke removed the cover from the pot on the stove and Reid leaned over it and breathed it in. “Mmmm.”
“Beef stew.” Luke said. “Homemade.”
“Your grandmother?”
“No, I made this.”
Reid grinned.
“And…” Luke took a clean towel off a basket. “Biscuits.”
“Home made beef stew, biscuits…and pie?”
“And me, don’t forget.” Luke said.
“Oh no…” Reid said, turning around and pulling him close. “I could never do that.”
* * * * * * * *
“That was really good.” Reid said. “Do you like to cook?”
“Yeah.” Luke nodded. “I do…some.”
Reid stood and walked to the fridge, where there were pictures and such stuck on with magnets.
“Is this you?”
“What?” Luke joined him. “Yeah, I was probably…oh God, let’s see…eleven?”
“Cute,” Reid said.
“Don’t.” Luke said, blushing.
“What? You were.”
Luke watched him take in a photo of him and his siblings with their pumpkins, another of Natalie in a dance costume, and one of Ethan as a little baby.
“Carried helplessly by the river’s will,” Reid read aloud quietly. “…hoping, waiting…knowing…an eddy will come along, and pull you into its safe, still waters.” His fingers thread into Luke’s beside him.
Luke looked at his poem, framed in calming greens and blues, remembering vividly how he’d felt when he wrote it - how the writing of it had become the eddy he’d so desperately needed.
Reid looked at him. “Wow,” he said in awe. “How old were you?”
Luke shook his head, unsure. “Fourteen? I think.”
“Do you still write?”
Luke nodded. “Yeah. I enjoy it…I need it.” He met Reid’s eyes. “It’s good for me.”
Reid lifted a hand to Luke’s face and ran his thumb over his lips. “There’s so much I don’t know about you," Reid said.
Luke held his gaze, responding. “You know the important parts.”
Reid looked into his eyes and then kissed him, wrapping his lips around Luke’s once, before pulling back. “I wanna know the unimportant parts, too.” He kissed him once more. “Because they’re important.”
* * * * * * *
“God, that was the shortest game of chess I’ve ever played. Even when I play with Ethan - and he gets all the rules mixed up, and I let him win - it still takes longer than that.”
Reid shrugged with a smile.
“No, really…you had that game nailed in…God, how many moves?”
“Wasn’t counting.” He reached across the back of the couch to touch Luke’s hand. Luke took it. “I’m good at chess.” Reid sounded nonchalant.
“Good?” Luke said, and scooted a little closer.
“Okay,” Reid conceded. “Really…really good.”
“Is there anything you’re not good at?”
“Sure. Lots of things.”
“Like?”
“Like speaking French, or any foreign language for that matter…mingling with people.”
“Well, that’s a start.”
They were close now, Reid’s arm on the back of the couch, he and Luke both turned sideways and facing each other. Luke took Reid’s other hand and pulled it over to rest on his knee, clasped in his own.
“Reid?” he said.
“Yes?”
“I haven’t told you. I mean I haven’t said it out loud…to you.”
Reid nodded. He knew. He didn’t need to hear it…but he wanted to.
Luke leaned forward, tucking a foot under himself, and took Reid’s face in his hands. “I love you.” He looked into Reid’s eyes, steady and sure, and repeated the words. “I love you.”
And then Luke kissed him again.
Reid’s hands raised up until they could comb into Luke’s short hair, and he pulled his mouth closer, kissing him back. Luke dove in deeper, sucking on Reid’s lower lip and drawing a muffled mmff from him. Reid lowered a hand to Luke’s waist and pulled him closer, tilting his head back and reaching up, to maintain contact with Luke’s lips.
Luke’s fingers pulled and grabbed at Reid’s curls, massaging his scalp, as Luke pulled him closer still. His tongue slipped inside Reid’s open willing mouth, and Reid met him with his own.
And it was good, so good. Reid - being kissed by Luke, and kissing him in return - God, it was good. There was nowhere but here; no other time existed but now. There was now, and there was Luke - kissing Luke. The feel of his lips, his hands in his hair, and the sounds of his moans, and sighs, and gasps.
He dropped his hand to Luke’s waist and began to pull on his shirt, slowly untucking it - subconsciously seeking Luke’s skin. And eventually he felt that last give of material, and his hand slipped under it, making contact. Their mouths stopped moving momentarily, all frequencies tuned in to the feeling of Reid’s hand on Luke’s skin. And as Reid slowly moved the palm of his hand over Luke’s lower back, they both simply breathed, Luke letting out a quiet sound and Reid silently exhaling.
Luke pulled back slightly, his lips parted, and looked at Reid.
His eyes on Luke, Reid lowered his other hand and began to untuck Luke’s shirt the rest of the way. Luke licked his lips, watching him, as Reid’s fingers brushed against his sides.
Reid laid two soft kisses on Luke’s neck. Then he sat back and slowly slid his hands up Luke’s sides. The curly hair on his chest ran under his fingers and he heard Luke begin to pant. He met Luke’s eyes and saw him bite his lower lip.
He ran his thumbs in circles over Luke’s torso, reaching higher and higher until he circled both of Luke’s nipples, not touching them. Luke’s mouth fell open. Reid saw his full lips and then leaned in to capture them, mouthing each one, quietly panting. Pulling back again, he returned to circling his nipples, watching Luke pout in anticipation, feeling the goose bumps form on his skin.
Finally, he brushed over one erect nipple and Luke inhaled sharply. Then the other and Luke exhaled. Reid’s eyes were locked on Luke’s face as he watched him and listened to him respond - the way Luke’s mouth would open and close, forming almost-words and soft moans.
He brushed over both nipples once more and then he closed his forefinger and thumb around each, pinching and pulling on them.
“Ungh,” Luke said.
He repeated the motion.
“Reeiid.” He moaned.
He dove into the crook of Luke’s neck, kissing him over and over, licking and mouthing. He latched on to his neck, sucking and biting.
“Luke,” he said. “God, Luke.”
Luke grabbed his face in his hands and began kissing him again. Reid’s hands fell to Luke’s waist again, pulling him hard against him and his arms wrapped around him, his hands under Luke’s shirt, splayed across his back. Luke began to rock his hips and lifted one leg over Reid’s lap, straddling him, his hands still holding Reid’s face, their lips locked together.
God, this was moving fast. He wanted Luke so much. He sucked on Luke’s lower lip and felt his fingers grip and pull on his hair; he felt Luke moan. Luke’s erection was pressed against his belly, and his own was throbbing inside his jeans.
But this tiny little voice inside his brain was saying, when will his mother walk in? He pulled back and looked Luke.
Luke panted at him, studied him. “What?” he breathed.
“There’s no hurry,” Reid managed to say.
Luke looked back at him in a way that said there clearly was a hurry - that he needed to touch him, taste him - now. Reid could hardly argue with that.
When Luke dove back in to kiss him, Reid’s hand went to his hair and pulled him closer. And his other hand went to Luke’s hip, encouraging him to continue pressing against him. Then Luke bared his neck to him and Reid’s mouth was drawn to it. He leaned in with his tongue and licked it, Luke’s hand tightening in his curls. And it was good, so good. Luke, under his hands, his lips.
And that’s when it happened. That soft clearing of a throat, that little "um, hello" which told him that neither he nor Luke had heard the car drive up, the front door open.
“Mom,” Luke squeaked, sliding off of Reid’s lap, three shades of red.
“Don’t stop on our account,” Faith chimed in, standing on the other side of the couch, her arms crossed over her chest.
“Faith,” Lily said.
“Um, hi…you’re back.” Luke tried to recover, straightening out his hair and tucking in his shirt.
“Yup.” Lily grinned. “We are.”
Reid stood up and ran a hand through his own hair. “Hello…again.” he said, realizing that he’d never been properly introduced to Luke’s mother. The only other time they’d seen each other was when he’d walked into the rehearsal dinner, kissed Luke, told him he loved him, and then walked out again. He wouldn’t be surprised if Lily saw him as the home wrecker.
“Hello Reid,” she said.
First name - a good sign.
“Um, Luke and I were just…well we were…”
“Making out on the couch?” Faith suggested.
“Faith,” Lily chided again.
“Well,” Reid looked at Luke and then back at Lily. “Yes. Yes, we were.”
Lily covered her smile, and then she turned to her oldest daughter. “Faith, I think it’s time for you to go to bed, right?”
She huffed dramatically before doing just that.
After she’d gone Luke began to explain. “I invited Reid over…he’d been working late and…well, he hadn’t eaten, and I just…”
“Luke, she interrupted. “You don’t need to explain. You’re an adult, and you and Reid are…” she looked between the two of them. “In a relationship, right?”
Luke looked at Reid and smiled. “Yes,” he said, and then turned back to his mother. “Sorry, old habits I guess.”
“It has been a while since I walked in on you like that.”
“Yeah.”
She turned to Reid suddenly. “Reid, I know our first introduction was…unusual, but I know you mean a lot to Luke, so I want you to feel welcome.”
“Um.” He looked briefly at her. “Thank you.” He was never one to worry about people liking him, but this was Luke’s mom; and the idea of her not hating him had a certain appeal.
“Well, I’m going to head upstairs.” She said.
“Goodnight, Mom.”
“Oh,” she said. “Perhaps you’d like to come to the picnic this weekend, meet some more of the people in the town.”
“Um…” he said.
“Luke can tell you all about it. Good night.”
And she head upstairs.
“Oh my God,” Luke said, putting his head in his hands.
Reid stepped up and put his arms around his waist, pulling him close. “Well, we got that out of the way.” Luke opened his eyes questioningly. “The most awkward moment.” Reid explained. “Can’t get much more embarrassing than that.”
“True,” Luke said.
“So, what about this picnic?’ Reid asked. “When is it?”
“Sunday afternoon. Do you want to go?”
“Food? Yes.” Reid began. “Mingling with strangers who want to be my friend? No.”
Luke laughed at him.
“But you’ll be there, so yes.” Reid concluded.
Luke shook his head. “I love you.”
“So I’ve heard.” Reid replied with a grin. “What else are you doing this weekend?”
“Not a lot,” Luke said. “Tomorrow’s the screening of Noah’s film…on campus.”
Reid nodded. “I…probably shouldn’t go to that, should I?”
Luke wrinkled his nose and shook his head.
“But I’m not doing anything Saturday,” Luke said hopefully. “Do you wanna do something?”
“Actually, I do.”
Luke narrowed his eyes. “You have something planned?”
Reid bobbed his head. “Yes.”
“What?” he tightened his arms around Reid’s neck.
“Come over at dinner time and you’ll see.”
“Dinner time, huh?” Luke said, pulling his lower lip in between his teeth.
“Yes,” Reid said. “You know, that time at the end of the day when you eat.”
Luke scowled at him playfully. “Are you cooking for me?” he guessed.
“Maybe…yes.”
“Should I come early and help?”
“No.” Reid said firmly. “First of all, I’m cooking for you, so helping would be cheating; and second of all, having you around would be far too distracting to get anything done.”
“Yes.” Luke licked his lips and swallowed. “That’s probably true.”
Reid nodded. “There is one thing you can do though.”
“Anything.”
“Really?” Reid teased. “Well, hopefully this won’t be that difficult.”
“What?”
“Wear the shirt you wore to Mariella’s party.” Luke’s eyes widened. “You know the one…the color was…not as light as your hair, but not as dark as your eyes.” Luke remembered the night vividly. “And it had those beads…I could see them in the firelight.” Luke’s mouth dropped open, hearing how clearly Reid remembered it. “And the way it felt under my hands…when we danced.”
“Reid,” he whispered.
He held Luke’s gaze for a few moments, and then leaned in to lay a kiss on Luke’s cheek, his jaw, and his lips.
“Can you do one more thing for me?” Reid asked.
Luke nodded.
He reached into his pocket and pulled something out; opening his hand, Luke saw the bracelet he’d given him. He met Reid’s eyes, both of them remembering that last night on the beach. Luke reached out and touched it; the thin woven rope had softened somewhat, the stones looked different in the lamplight.
“I wondered,” Luke said.
“Wondered what?”
“Well, it wasn’t a very practical gift for a surgeon.”
“It was perfect, Luke.” He ran a hand through Luke’s hair. “But yes, I did have to take it off before my first surgery when I got home.”
Luke smiled.
“And after that…I didn’t know what to do.” He exhaled. “I wanted it close to me…I wanted you close to me…but you were marrying Noah, so…”
“Reid.”
“So I thought about putting it away, as a memento as you said…but I couldn’t, so I slipped it into my pocket.” He looked at Luke. “And that’s where it stayed.”
Luke sighed. “I did put this away,” he said, touching his dove. “For several weeks.” It made him sad to think about it. “I was trying so hard to forget you, to forget all of it.” He looked into Reid’s eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“Luke don’t.” He put a finger on Luke’s lips. “You did what you had to do, at the time.”
“I guess so.”
“And you’re not the only one who tried to walk away, Luke. We both did, for a while - and now we’re here. And it feels like the right time to me.”
Luke exhaled. “Yes, it does.”
“Will you put it on me again, Luke? I want to sleep with it on tonight.”
Luke’s smile slowly spread and he nodded. Then he took the bracelet and, gently turning Reid’s wrist over, tied it on for him once more. Then he held Reid’s wrist, palm facing up, and his fingers played lightly over his pulse. He opened Reid’s fingers, lifted his hand, and laid a kiss in the center of his palm, and more down to his wrist, holding his lips to the place where he could feel Reid’s beating heart.
go to Part Ten/
Author: PABWECG (aka Patricia)
Beta: msLUREdin
Artist: sripley
Rating: Up to NC-17
Word Count: 58,071
Summary: Luke is in Oakdale (ATWT canon, fall 2008) and Reid is in Dallas. Both of them are living their lives day to day, but each feels there's is something missing from their life. After a time they meet in Haiti doing different types of volunteer work post-earthquake. Their lives are irrevocably changed by the situation in Haiti and by their connection to each other. Meanwhile, Luke is engaged to Noah when he meets Reid...but will this change both their plans for the future?
A/N: I can’t say thank enough to msLUREdin for her wonderful and supportive beta work. She kept me going with all her encouraging comments and lavish praise, and her patience in reading this monster. THANK YOU, my dear!! Also, BIG thanks to sripley for her gorgeous artwork and her help with my posting questions! And finally, thank you to traciamc for pulling all this together and for being SO patient with me!
Koinonia - community, communion, joint participation, sharing and intimacy.
Chapter 35 (The next day - Sunday)
Luke walked into the kitchen, poured himself a glass of water, and drank it down; then he rested the glass on the counter and ran his hands over his face with a sigh.
“Hi, Sweetheart.” His mother’s quiet voice startled him. She was sitting in a corner chair with a book in her hand. “Sorry, didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“That’s okay, I just…I was in my own little world.” He said. “Are you…” he looked around the farm kitchen. “Is Dad out?”
“Yeah, he needed to go into town for a couple of hours; I told him I’d come by and watch the girls and Ethan.” She said, as she walked across the room. “How’d it go with Noah?”
He shrugged, and she nodded.
“Better than I ever imagined…not that I ever did imagine it.” He exhaled. “It went well, I guess.” He looked at her. “You know what’s weird, Mom?”
“What?”
“Every time we broke up, it was…really tense…angry, or sad. But this…” he thought about it. “This was calm…it was okay.” He nodded his head. “Even though there is sadness, and Noah…” He shook his head. “This isn’t what he wanted, but even so…it’s like it’s settled, you know?”
She nodded.
“And that’s comforting to him, even though it isn’t what he wanted.”
“Makes sense.” She said.
“But he’s feeling pretty…unsettled, about going to California without me. It’s always been his dream, but he never dreamed of doing it alone.”
His mother looked at him; she knew him so well.
He laughed quietly.
“What?” she asked with a smile.
“You know what I’m thinking, don’t you?”
She inclined her head. “I have had lots of practice.
“I know,” he said.
“But you can’t do this for him - you know that, right?”
“I know, I do…it’s just hard.”
“Yeah.”
“You know…all throughout our relationship,” he said. “I was the ‘clingy’ one, or the one always begging to get back together, and yet…in a way, I was also the strong one, at least when it came to the emotional stuff.”
“That’s not surprising.” She said, nodding. “You’ve always been very wise for your age.”
He nodded. “But you’re right. He has to do this…on his own. He has to find his own strength, if this is really what he wants to do.”
She touched his arm. “And he will, Luke. He will. The only way a person finds their strength is at a time like this.”
After a minute, she spoke again. “So, what about you?”
“Me?”
She nodded.
“You want to know my plans?”
“No, not you’re plans.” She answered. “What are your…thoughts…ideas, dreams…what do you want to do, Luke?”
He paused, exhaled, and looked at her. “I wanna move slowly…take my time.” He nodded. “I want to stay connected to Haiti…I want to write.” He looked right at her and smiled. “I want to see Reid.”
She also smiled. “He’s pretty special to you, isn’t he?”
Luke inhaled and stood tall. “He is.”
She looked lovingly at him. “So, when will you? See him, I mean.”
“Tomorrow,” he said, his eyes leaving hers for a moment before returning with a small smile.
Chapter 36 (Monday)
“You just…went on instinct?”
Luke shrugged.
Reid looked at him suspiciously.
“What?” Luke laughed.
“I don’t believe you. No one could make a sandwich…that right for me, without knowing what I like ahead of time.”
“What you like? What don’t you like?” Luke looked at him and couldn’t resist smiling. “Honestly Reid…it was easy. I knew that it needed to be big, and flavorful, and I just…”
“Went on instinct, so you said.” Reid still appeared doubtful.
“Are you always this suspicious?”
“Yes.” Reid nodded, his brow furrowed in suspicion.
They continued walking - their fingers intertwined - along the trail behind the school fields. They’d eaten their sandwiches that Luke swore he made at the farm, Luke had told him briefly about his and Noah’s conversation of the day before, and then naturally the talk had turned to food.
“I’m less so.” Reid said. “Suspicious, that is. Anne Marie…Alex, a friend from Dallas…and you. The three of you,” he rolled his eyes. “Have had your influence on me.”
Luke looked at him shrewdly and then kissed him. “I’m glad." He bit his lower lip. "I’m not suspicious. Or rarely.” He turned and they began walking again. “I sometimes wish I were…more mistrusting, that is.” He sighed. “I know I shouldn’t say that.”
“Why not?’ Reid asked, stopping Luke and catching his eye.
“Well, it’s not very…nice, I guess.”
“Nice?” Reid said quietly. “Sometimes it’s necessary. I mean, I’m definitely too mistrusting, but…” He took Luke’s other hand. “But it can go to the other extreme. It’s okay to protect yourself, Luke.”
Luke nodded silently, unused to hearing that advice.
“You have a big heart, Luke.” Reid looked steadily at him. “And it’s okay to share it - you wouldn’t be you if you didn’t.” He lifted a hand and brushed through the hair at Luke’s temple. “But you don’t have to share it with everybody, and you don’t have to share it all the time.”
Luke’s shoulders relaxed as he exhaled, and his wide eyes smiled back at Reid. “Perhaps,” he said. “I can keep teaching you how to…crack open your heart a little more…and you can…”
“I can…” Reid interrupted. “Teach you how to protect that precious heart of yours, just a little bit more?”
Luke nodded.
“It’s a deal.” Reid said.
Chapter 37 (Tuesday afternoon)
“Not bad.” Reid said around a mouthful of chili.
Luke sat across the table from him, at Al’s, and just watched him eat.
“I’ll have to make you some, though.” Reid went on.
“You cook?”
“Some things. When you live in Texas for a while...” He took another bite of cornbread. “You learn to make chili.”
“Mm-hm,” Luke smiled at him.
“Cornbread’s really good though.” He took another swig of his soda. “So, tell me more about this proposal.”
“Well,” Luke began. “The foundation’s already agreed to the initial grant to Doctors Without Borders as it operates now in Port-au-Prince, but there are a lot of details to iron out on the long-term possibilities.”
“But…” Reid spooned more chili into his mouth. “You’re thinking…the training of doctors and the funding of clinics.”
“As well as secondary schools…for students with potential but not the resources.”
“Sounds…God Luke, it sounds incredible. And you’ve got this off the ground already.”
“Yeah.” He took a sip of his water, and Reid looked at him, waiting. “When I got back, I was…missing it, and I hated just walking away…and this just seemed…right. I have the ability to help make something happen…both short-term and long-term, and so…” he shrugged.
“And so you just made it happen…you’re amazing.”
Luke laughed quietly. “You know? For a long time, I always wondered what I was going to do with my life; and I felt like I had no special skill or talent to make a big difference.”
Reid looked back at him, silently, waiting for him to continue.
“But being in Haiti, I realized…well, two things; one, I do have skills, most importantly that I’m good with people…really good actually.”
He blushed and Reid raised his eyebrows at him with an appreciative grin.
“And two, I don’t need to make a big difference, or do my work alone. When I work with others, like I did this spring, I make a big difference along side others. That’s what I wanna keep doing. Even if I’m not in Haiti, through my foundation I can be there with Doctors Without Borders, and Anne Marie, and Terry, and all the others.”
Reid reached across the table and took his hand, and Luke laced his fingers into his.
“You’re amazing,” Reid said again. “And so beautiful…inside and out.”
Luke rolled his eyes, as usual feeling uncomfortable with the compliment.
“And I know that sounds cliché…but it’s true.” Reid said. “You’re generous and passionate; you’re so smart.” He inhaled, looking at Luke. “And you shine…literally like the sun.”
Now Luke really blushed.
“And when I look at you,” he went on as his eyes traveled over Luke’s face. “It’s like you’re the definition of alive. Your love and belief…your trust and determination.” He squeezed Luke’s hand. “I can see them in your eyes…feel it your very presence right here with me.
He leaned closer across the table, whispering. “I can feel your…you-ness…radiating off you, and it makes me want to…” he stopped speaking, looking intently at Luke.
Luke’s mouth opened. “What?” he asked quietly, his eyes locked on Reid’s. “It makes you want to what?”
“It makes me want to make love to you.” Reid said quietly.
Luke’s heart raced and a small smile came to him.
They spoke no more words then, but Luke’s hand pulled Reid’s closer into his grasp.
In a minute Henry came over and placed the check on the table. Reid went to take it, but Luke stopped him. “I got this one,” he said.
“Okay,” Reid answered, his hand still in Luke’s. “I have to go.”
“I know.”
Reid stood and stepped closer to Luke. Luke also stood and, leaning in close, he placed a kiss on Reid’s ear, his neck, his cheek and finally his lips. Reid placed his hand behind Luke’s head and pulled him close for another. He looked him in the eye with a slight nod, kissed him once more, and then left.
Chapter 38 (Thursday Evening)
Reid left the break room alongside his Chief of Staff. “Nicely done in there, Dr. Oliver.” Bob smiled. “Not that I’m surprised.”
Reid nodded silently as they walked side-by-side. “Thanks for observing. It’s always nice to have a second pair of eyes.”
“Anytime.” He said. “So, how are things settling in for you?”
“Fine.” Reid answered. “Surgeries are steadily coming together, the staff seem…somewhat competent.”
Bob laughed. “And personally?”
Reid turned slightly towards him and narrowed his eyes playfully. “You mean Luke?”
“Among other things,” Bob said. “But yes, Luke.”
“Things are going…” he nodded, his eyes smiling. “Pretty well.”
“Good.”
The older man smiled and looked ahead.
“Ah, Katie.”
Reid turned his head and saw a smiling blond-haired woman coming towards them, a baby in her arms.
“Hi Bob,” she said, again smiling. “Is Chris here?”
“He’s here somewhere.”
So this must be Doogie’s wife…and kid by the looks of it.
“Hello,” she turned cheerfully to him. “You must be Dr. Oliver.”
“Yes, I am.” He said, not at all surprised that in this small town another person would have made that deduction.
“I’m Katie,” she said, still smiling. “Nice to meet you.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Bob said. “Reid, this is Katie Peretti-Snyder.”
Reid took her offered hand, and shook it. So…not Doogie’s wife?
“Snyder?” he said.
“Yes,” she said, smiling and adjusting the child on her hip.
“You’ll find there are a lot of them around here.” Bob said.
Reid nodded.
“A lot of what?” Katie asked.
Reid’s phone buzzed. “Excuse me,” he said, turning aside. He pulled out his phone and looked at the number. “Hello,” he answered with a smile.
“Hi,” Luke’s voice sounded in his ear.
Reid tilted his head.
“So, how did the surgery go?” Luke asked.
Reid nodded into the phone. “Good…very good.”
Reid’s smile was beginning to grow.
“You tired?” Luke asked.
“Yeah,” Reid breathed. It had been a fairly long one. “Why?”
“Well, I was going to see if you wanted to come over for a bit, but I know it’s late, so…”
“No, I’d like that.”
“Really? But you said you were tired.”
“I am but…not too tired to see you.”
Luke was quiet on the other end.
“Where are you?” Reid asked.
“I’m at my mom’s.”
“Your mom’s.” Reid’s brow furrowed. “Oh.”
“Yeah but, don’t worry…you won’t have to make small talk. She and my sister Faith went to the movies. I came over to have dinner with my younger siblings, and they’re in bed now.”
“Oh,” Reid said, his eyebrows creeping up on his forehead.
“So it’s just me…and pie.”
“Pie?” Reid repeated.
“Yup. My grandmother’s homemade apple…oh, and there’s some dinner left, if you’re hungry.”
“Dinner, pie, and you?” Reid said quietly.
“Yeah,” Luke said.
“Give me twenty minutes.”
“Okay.”
Reid could practically hear Luke smile and blush.
“Where do I find this mom’s house?” he asked.
When he hung up and turned around, he noticed that Chris had joined the small group and was now holding the baby.
“Well, I’m off.” He said to Bob.
“Have a good night, Reid.”
“It was nice to meet you,” he said to Katie. “Chris,” he nodded curtly at the younger Dr. Hughes.
As he walked away, he heard Chris say, “I still can’t believe that someone as nice as Luke is dating him.”
“What?” Katie exclaimed. “He’s dating Luke? Is that why the wedding was…”
“Called off?” Bob’s voice finished. “Yes, I think so.”
Reid pulled up in front of Luke’s mother’s house. When was the last time he’d met a man he was dating at his mother’s house? A very long time ago, Reid answered himself.
Luke was younger than him, by quite a bit, but it didn’t seem to matter. When they’d made a connection - at the clinic, the soup kitchen, on the hillside - they’d never spoken of their ages, never thought about it either. Because it didn’t matter. In a world where life was being given and taken away on a daily basis - hourly even - what was a thirteen-year age difference? What was any age difference really? Besides, in some ways Luke was at least as mature as he was, if not more.
So he knocked on the door to Luke’s mother’s house, and he waited for the man he was dating to answer. And the door opened and there he was.
The corners of Reid’s mouth began to curve upwards and his eyes found Luke’s.
“Hi,” Luke said, obviously unable to resist a full smile himself.
Reid nodded, his eyes betraying his happiness.
“Come in.” Luke said gently, and he stepped aside to allow Reid in. He closed the door and turned around and they both smiled some more at each other.
“Hi,” Luke said again.
Reid’s eyes softened and he stepped forward. Looking down, he took Luke’s hand; then he lifted his gaze to Luke’s once more.
Luke stepped closer and placed a hand on Reid’s waist. He held Reid’s gaze, then dropped his own to Reid’s mouth, back to his eyes and then his mouth. Reid smiled, inside and out. He literally could fell his heart smiling. And then Luke kissed him. Not urgently. Slowly - contentedly. He felt Luke smile against his lips. And Reid kissed him back, tasting his lips, feeling their contours.
His tongue slipped between his own lips and he ran the tip of it along Luke’s lower lip. Luke inhaled, and Reid could hear how happy he was. He wrapped his two lips around Luke’s lower one, mouthing it, sucking gently.
Other than Luke’s one hand on his waist, his other in Reid’s hand, this was their only body contact - just their mouths. And it was so good. And Reid never felt so contented just kissing someone before.
“Your lips, Reid…they taste so good.”
Reid hummed, kissing him some more. He suddenly realized he wasn’t as tired now. He pulled back to look at Luke.
“What?”
“I’m not tired anymore.”
Luke smiled. And then he took his hand and led him to the small kitchen area. “Are you still hungry?”
Reid nodded.
Luke removed the cover from the pot on the stove and Reid leaned over it and breathed it in. “Mmmm.”
“Beef stew.” Luke said. “Homemade.”
“Your grandmother?”
“No, I made this.”
Reid grinned.
“And…” Luke took a clean towel off a basket. “Biscuits.”
“Home made beef stew, biscuits…and pie?”
“And me, don’t forget.” Luke said.
“Oh no…” Reid said, turning around and pulling him close. “I could never do that.”
* * * * * * * *
“That was really good.” Reid said. “Do you like to cook?”
“Yeah.” Luke nodded. “I do…some.”
Reid stood and walked to the fridge, where there were pictures and such stuck on with magnets.
“Is this you?”
“What?” Luke joined him. “Yeah, I was probably…oh God, let’s see…eleven?”
“Cute,” Reid said.
“Don’t.” Luke said, blushing.
“What? You were.”
Luke watched him take in a photo of him and his siblings with their pumpkins, another of Natalie in a dance costume, and one of Ethan as a little baby.
“Carried helplessly by the river’s will,” Reid read aloud quietly. “…hoping, waiting…knowing…an eddy will come along, and pull you into its safe, still waters.” His fingers thread into Luke’s beside him.
Luke looked at his poem, framed in calming greens and blues, remembering vividly how he’d felt when he wrote it - how the writing of it had become the eddy he’d so desperately needed.
Reid looked at him. “Wow,” he said in awe. “How old were you?”
Luke shook his head, unsure. “Fourteen? I think.”
“Do you still write?”
Luke nodded. “Yeah. I enjoy it…I need it.” He met Reid’s eyes. “It’s good for me.”
Reid lifted a hand to Luke’s face and ran his thumb over his lips. “There’s so much I don’t know about you," Reid said.
Luke held his gaze, responding. “You know the important parts.”
Reid looked into his eyes and then kissed him, wrapping his lips around Luke’s once, before pulling back. “I wanna know the unimportant parts, too.” He kissed him once more. “Because they’re important.”
* * * * * * *
“God, that was the shortest game of chess I’ve ever played. Even when I play with Ethan - and he gets all the rules mixed up, and I let him win - it still takes longer than that.”
Reid shrugged with a smile.
“No, really…you had that game nailed in…God, how many moves?”
“Wasn’t counting.” He reached across the back of the couch to touch Luke’s hand. Luke took it. “I’m good at chess.” Reid sounded nonchalant.
“Good?” Luke said, and scooted a little closer.
“Okay,” Reid conceded. “Really…really good.”
“Is there anything you’re not good at?”
“Sure. Lots of things.”
“Like?”
“Like speaking French, or any foreign language for that matter…mingling with people.”
“Well, that’s a start.”
They were close now, Reid’s arm on the back of the couch, he and Luke both turned sideways and facing each other. Luke took Reid’s other hand and pulled it over to rest on his knee, clasped in his own.
“Reid?” he said.
“Yes?”
“I haven’t told you. I mean I haven’t said it out loud…to you.”
Reid nodded. He knew. He didn’t need to hear it…but he wanted to.
Luke leaned forward, tucking a foot under himself, and took Reid’s face in his hands. “I love you.” He looked into Reid’s eyes, steady and sure, and repeated the words. “I love you.”
And then Luke kissed him again.
Reid’s hands raised up until they could comb into Luke’s short hair, and he pulled his mouth closer, kissing him back. Luke dove in deeper, sucking on Reid’s lower lip and drawing a muffled mmff from him. Reid lowered a hand to Luke’s waist and pulled him closer, tilting his head back and reaching up, to maintain contact with Luke’s lips.
Luke’s fingers pulled and grabbed at Reid’s curls, massaging his scalp, as Luke pulled him closer still. His tongue slipped inside Reid’s open willing mouth, and Reid met him with his own.
And it was good, so good. Reid - being kissed by Luke, and kissing him in return - God, it was good. There was nowhere but here; no other time existed but now. There was now, and there was Luke - kissing Luke. The feel of his lips, his hands in his hair, and the sounds of his moans, and sighs, and gasps.
He dropped his hand to Luke’s waist and began to pull on his shirt, slowly untucking it - subconsciously seeking Luke’s skin. And eventually he felt that last give of material, and his hand slipped under it, making contact. Their mouths stopped moving momentarily, all frequencies tuned in to the feeling of Reid’s hand on Luke’s skin. And as Reid slowly moved the palm of his hand over Luke’s lower back, they both simply breathed, Luke letting out a quiet sound and Reid silently exhaling.
Luke pulled back slightly, his lips parted, and looked at Reid.
His eyes on Luke, Reid lowered his other hand and began to untuck Luke’s shirt the rest of the way. Luke licked his lips, watching him, as Reid’s fingers brushed against his sides.
Reid laid two soft kisses on Luke’s neck. Then he sat back and slowly slid his hands up Luke’s sides. The curly hair on his chest ran under his fingers and he heard Luke begin to pant. He met Luke’s eyes and saw him bite his lower lip.
He ran his thumbs in circles over Luke’s torso, reaching higher and higher until he circled both of Luke’s nipples, not touching them. Luke’s mouth fell open. Reid saw his full lips and then leaned in to capture them, mouthing each one, quietly panting. Pulling back again, he returned to circling his nipples, watching Luke pout in anticipation, feeling the goose bumps form on his skin.
Finally, he brushed over one erect nipple and Luke inhaled sharply. Then the other and Luke exhaled. Reid’s eyes were locked on Luke’s face as he watched him and listened to him respond - the way Luke’s mouth would open and close, forming almost-words and soft moans.
He brushed over both nipples once more and then he closed his forefinger and thumb around each, pinching and pulling on them.
“Ungh,” Luke said.
He repeated the motion.
“Reeiid.” He moaned.
He dove into the crook of Luke’s neck, kissing him over and over, licking and mouthing. He latched on to his neck, sucking and biting.
“Luke,” he said. “God, Luke.”
Luke grabbed his face in his hands and began kissing him again. Reid’s hands fell to Luke’s waist again, pulling him hard against him and his arms wrapped around him, his hands under Luke’s shirt, splayed across his back. Luke began to rock his hips and lifted one leg over Reid’s lap, straddling him, his hands still holding Reid’s face, their lips locked together.
God, this was moving fast. He wanted Luke so much. He sucked on Luke’s lower lip and felt his fingers grip and pull on his hair; he felt Luke moan. Luke’s erection was pressed against his belly, and his own was throbbing inside his jeans.
But this tiny little voice inside his brain was saying, when will his mother walk in? He pulled back and looked Luke.
Luke panted at him, studied him. “What?” he breathed.
“There’s no hurry,” Reid managed to say.
Luke looked back at him in a way that said there clearly was a hurry - that he needed to touch him, taste him - now. Reid could hardly argue with that.
When Luke dove back in to kiss him, Reid’s hand went to his hair and pulled him closer. And his other hand went to Luke’s hip, encouraging him to continue pressing against him. Then Luke bared his neck to him and Reid’s mouth was drawn to it. He leaned in with his tongue and licked it, Luke’s hand tightening in his curls. And it was good, so good. Luke, under his hands, his lips.
And that’s when it happened. That soft clearing of a throat, that little "um, hello" which told him that neither he nor Luke had heard the car drive up, the front door open.
“Mom,” Luke squeaked, sliding off of Reid’s lap, three shades of red.
“Don’t stop on our account,” Faith chimed in, standing on the other side of the couch, her arms crossed over her chest.
“Faith,” Lily said.
“Um, hi…you’re back.” Luke tried to recover, straightening out his hair and tucking in his shirt.
“Yup.” Lily grinned. “We are.”
Reid stood up and ran a hand through his own hair. “Hello…again.” he said, realizing that he’d never been properly introduced to Luke’s mother. The only other time they’d seen each other was when he’d walked into the rehearsal dinner, kissed Luke, told him he loved him, and then walked out again. He wouldn’t be surprised if Lily saw him as the home wrecker.
“Hello Reid,” she said.
First name - a good sign.
“Um, Luke and I were just…well we were…”
“Making out on the couch?” Faith suggested.
“Faith,” Lily chided again.
“Well,” Reid looked at Luke and then back at Lily. “Yes. Yes, we were.”
Lily covered her smile, and then she turned to her oldest daughter. “Faith, I think it’s time for you to go to bed, right?”
She huffed dramatically before doing just that.
After she’d gone Luke began to explain. “I invited Reid over…he’d been working late and…well, he hadn’t eaten, and I just…”
“Luke, she interrupted. “You don’t need to explain. You’re an adult, and you and Reid are…” she looked between the two of them. “In a relationship, right?”
Luke looked at Reid and smiled. “Yes,” he said, and then turned back to his mother. “Sorry, old habits I guess.”
“It has been a while since I walked in on you like that.”
“Yeah.”
She turned to Reid suddenly. “Reid, I know our first introduction was…unusual, but I know you mean a lot to Luke, so I want you to feel welcome.”
“Um.” He looked briefly at her. “Thank you.” He was never one to worry about people liking him, but this was Luke’s mom; and the idea of her not hating him had a certain appeal.
“Well, I’m going to head upstairs.” She said.
“Goodnight, Mom.”
“Oh,” she said. “Perhaps you’d like to come to the picnic this weekend, meet some more of the people in the town.”
“Um…” he said.
“Luke can tell you all about it. Good night.”
And she head upstairs.
“Oh my God,” Luke said, putting his head in his hands.
Reid stepped up and put his arms around his waist, pulling him close. “Well, we got that out of the way.” Luke opened his eyes questioningly. “The most awkward moment.” Reid explained. “Can’t get much more embarrassing than that.”
“True,” Luke said.
“So, what about this picnic?’ Reid asked. “When is it?”
“Sunday afternoon. Do you want to go?”
“Food? Yes.” Reid began. “Mingling with strangers who want to be my friend? No.”
Luke laughed at him.
“But you’ll be there, so yes.” Reid concluded.
Luke shook his head. “I love you.”
“So I’ve heard.” Reid replied with a grin. “What else are you doing this weekend?”
“Not a lot,” Luke said. “Tomorrow’s the screening of Noah’s film…on campus.”
Reid nodded. “I…probably shouldn’t go to that, should I?”
Luke wrinkled his nose and shook his head.
“But I’m not doing anything Saturday,” Luke said hopefully. “Do you wanna do something?”
“Actually, I do.”
Luke narrowed his eyes. “You have something planned?”
Reid bobbed his head. “Yes.”
“What?” he tightened his arms around Reid’s neck.
“Come over at dinner time and you’ll see.”
“Dinner time, huh?” Luke said, pulling his lower lip in between his teeth.
“Yes,” Reid said. “You know, that time at the end of the day when you eat.”
Luke scowled at him playfully. “Are you cooking for me?” he guessed.
“Maybe…yes.”
“Should I come early and help?”
“No.” Reid said firmly. “First of all, I’m cooking for you, so helping would be cheating; and second of all, having you around would be far too distracting to get anything done.”
“Yes.” Luke licked his lips and swallowed. “That’s probably true.”
Reid nodded. “There is one thing you can do though.”
“Anything.”
“Really?” Reid teased. “Well, hopefully this won’t be that difficult.”
“What?”
“Wear the shirt you wore to Mariella’s party.” Luke’s eyes widened. “You know the one…the color was…not as light as your hair, but not as dark as your eyes.” Luke remembered the night vividly. “And it had those beads…I could see them in the firelight.” Luke’s mouth dropped open, hearing how clearly Reid remembered it. “And the way it felt under my hands…when we danced.”
“Reid,” he whispered.
He held Luke’s gaze for a few moments, and then leaned in to lay a kiss on Luke’s cheek, his jaw, and his lips.
“Can you do one more thing for me?” Reid asked.
Luke nodded.
He reached into his pocket and pulled something out; opening his hand, Luke saw the bracelet he’d given him. He met Reid’s eyes, both of them remembering that last night on the beach. Luke reached out and touched it; the thin woven rope had softened somewhat, the stones looked different in the lamplight.
“I wondered,” Luke said.
“Wondered what?”
“Well, it wasn’t a very practical gift for a surgeon.”
“It was perfect, Luke.” He ran a hand through Luke’s hair. “But yes, I did have to take it off before my first surgery when I got home.”
Luke smiled.
“And after that…I didn’t know what to do.” He exhaled. “I wanted it close to me…I wanted you close to me…but you were marrying Noah, so…”
“Reid.”
“So I thought about putting it away, as a memento as you said…but I couldn’t, so I slipped it into my pocket.” He looked at Luke. “And that’s where it stayed.”
Luke sighed. “I did put this away,” he said, touching his dove. “For several weeks.” It made him sad to think about it. “I was trying so hard to forget you, to forget all of it.” He looked into Reid’s eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“Luke don’t.” He put a finger on Luke’s lips. “You did what you had to do, at the time.”
“I guess so.”
“And you’re not the only one who tried to walk away, Luke. We both did, for a while - and now we’re here. And it feels like the right time to me.”
Luke exhaled. “Yes, it does.”
“Will you put it on me again, Luke? I want to sleep with it on tonight.”
Luke’s smile slowly spread and he nodded. Then he took the bracelet and, gently turning Reid’s wrist over, tied it on for him once more. Then he held Reid’s wrist, palm facing up, and his fingers played lightly over his pulse. He opened Reid’s fingers, lifted his hand, and laid a kiss in the center of his palm, and more down to his wrist, holding his lips to the place where he could feel Reid’s beating heart.
go to Part Ten/