New LuRe Fic: The Best Fake Boyfriend Ever, 2/4

[suzvoy]

The Best Fake Boyfriend Ever, Part 2
by Suz

First part posted on LJ here. Also posted on AO3 here.

*

The long driveway made Reid realise just how much land the Snyder's owned. According to Luke, the Snyder's themselves hadn't always been rich - most of the money came from his mom's side of the family - but once his dad's horse training business took off they'd been able to more than look after themselves, even through his parents frequent break-ups and divorces.

Reid couldn't imagine how tough Luke had had to be, coping with that constantly going on throughout his childhood. It was no wonder he'd ended up with a crappy ex of his own if they were his prime example.

Finally, Luke pulled up in front of a comfortable looking house. It was decently-sized but didn't openly scream money. After the engine cut they both got out of the car and took a moment to look up at the house. Locking the car, Luke came to stand next to him, shoving his keys into the pockets of his pants. They'd both dressed up a little - Reid had never really been one for jeans anyway.

Luke's brow was furrowed with concern. “You're really sure about this?”

In response, Reid silently held out his hand.

Reassured, clearly relieved, Luke took it. Squeezing Reid's hand, he nodded firmly then announced, “Let's do this.”

He sounded like he was heading into battle. Maybe, for him, it was.

Their hands were still firmly clasped together when Luke led the way into the kitchen to reveal a woman standing next to a table, texting on her phone. Judging by her age, she was likely Luke's mom.

He was proven right when she finally noticed their entrance, putting her phone on the table as she rushed over to them.

“Sweetheart!” she exclaimed, pulling Luke into a hug. Luke didn't let go of Reid's hand, seemingly needing the strength, instead hugging her back one-handed. “It's so good to see you again.” Stepping back, she touched his shoulders and smiled lovingly. “I've missed you so much.”

Honestly, so far, she didn't seem too bad - but from what Reid had heard about her already, he knew there was more to come.

Finally glancing at Reid - and pointedly looking at their joined hands - she held out her own hand. “And you must be Reid.” She was a little more restrained - unsurprising, as he was a literal stranger who was, as far as she was concerned, currently banging her son.

“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Walsh.” Reid didn't think he'd ever said it was pleasure meeting anyone before in his life but he'd come here to play his part and excel in every single facet.

“Thank you,” she said tightly, releasing his hand before focusing back on her son. “You know, I just had a very interesting text from your father.”

Luke's face fell, though he tried to cover it up. “Really?”

“He said that Jack called him.”

He stopped feigning innocence. “Yeah,” he admitted, resigned, “he said he was going to.”

“I understand that young love,” she glanced at Reid as if questioning the young part of her statement, which - rude, “can be...overwhelming.” She said it with a smile, as if trying to soften the blow of her words, but she still kept saying them anyway. “But, maybe think about where you are, next time? Anyone could've been looking.”

Reid decided then and there that he was going to be coming at this from a different angle. Luke had ultimately agreed with Reid that it didn't matter if Lily liked him or not, as long as she was convinced that Luke liked him enough to never think about Noah again. Reid didn't need to impress her in the traditional sense, he just needed to impress upon her that he had Luke's back.

And that, he could do easily.

“So what?” he demanded, which made Lily look at him in surprise. “It was just a kiss - and an interrupted one, at that. Frankly, Jack was lucky that was all we were doing.”

“Reid,” Luke said, though he completely missed the disapproving tone he was going for and, though he was trying, really couldn't hold back the grin.

“Well of course there's nothing wrong with you kissing,” Lily insisted. “Wasn't I always supportive whenever you and Noah hugged in public?” She sounded like she was about to whip out a Pride flag.

“Of course you'd bring him up,” Luke muttered, grin vanishing. “Yes. Yes, Mom, you were always very supportive - instead of just acting like it was normal and not something that needed to be pointed out.”

Definitely some complicated history there. “Luke and I are just like anyone else,” he argued, though personally he thought their relationship was in a much healthier state than most people's considering it wasn't even real. “I'm sure you and Holden got caught sucking face plenty of times when you first got together.”

“And then some,” a new voice interrupted and they all turned to see an older lady stepping into the kitchen through a door which, as far as Reid could see before it swung shut, led upstairs. “Oh, the stories I could tell,” the woman said good-naturedly, walking towards them and extending her arms. “Let me see my grandson.”

Finally releasing Reid's hand, he rushed over to her. “Grandma,” he greeted warmly, falling easily into a hug which lasted much longer and seemed much more genuine than the one he'd shared with his mom earlier.

Drawing back, Luke's Grandma grabbed his upper arms. “Let me look at you.” She studied him closely. “Goodness, it's good to see you. While I understand that you have to go off and have your own life,” she said, “I do miss you.”

“I miss you too, Grandma,” Luke said sincerely.

Turning her attention to Reid, she released Luke's arms and smiled at him. “And this must be your Doctor Oliver.”

“I must be,” he agreed, shaking her hand. “And you must be Grandma Emma. I've heard nothing but good things - especially about your cooking.” Though Luke had a thorny relationship with his mother, it certainly didn't extend to everyone else in his family.

“Charming and a doctor,” she smiled, seemingly genuine. “Every Grandmother's dream,” Emma quipped, somehow innocently. “And mother's,” she continued, facing her quasi-daughter-in-law. “Isn't that right, Lily?”

“He's certainly nothing like Noah,” she agreed in the most back-handed of compliments. Geez, if she liked the guy so much, why didn't she date him?

“And thank goodness for that,” Emma pointed out, “after the way he treated Luke.” She looked at him apologetically but Luke just shook it off, clearly used to it.

“It's okay, Grandma,” he insisted, smiling over at Reid, “I know I'm much better off now.”

“I'm delighted to hear it.”

Lily's phone went off, then. Walking the few steps to the table, she picked it up. “It's the Lakeview,” she explained, “I have to take this.” Nodding at them, she lifted the phone to her ear and left the room.

“If it's work, she'll be on that thing forever,” Emma told them. “I've made a start on lunch, though it'll be a while yet.” That explained the mouth-watering smell coming from the oven. “Luke, why don't you show Reid around?”

“Sure thing, Grandma. Is Dad around?”

“Head out to the stables and you should find him. I know he'll be happy to see you.”

“Great, thanks.” Turning towards Reid, he indicated for him to follow. “Reid?”

The tour of the house didn't take long - seemed nice enough, and a good house to grow up in - though they did make a pit-stop in Luke's old room.

“It's Natalie's room now,” he said, which explained the teenage-girl-style decorating, “but I spent a lot of nights in this room.” Luke looked around the room nostalgically.

Moving next to the bed, Reid pressed firmly down on the mattress as if testing the sturdiness. “So not the same bed you had?” Luke shook his head. “That's a shame. I was hoping we could desecrate it,” he waggled his eyebrows, “and really screw with your mom's head.” They'd already agreed that once they entered the house, they wouldn't break character until they got back out of town, just in case someone was eavesdropping. According to Luke, in Oakdale that was a distinct possibility.

Laughing quietly, Luke looked like he knew he should've been appalled at the idea but really wasn't. “Thank you,” he said genuinely, which honestly came out of nowhere for Reid.

“For what?”

“Trying to make me laugh,” he explained, “trying to make me feel better. Just being here at all.”

While it was nice that Luke was appreciative and all, it was a no-brainer as far as Reid was concerned. “That's my job.”

Luke smiled softly. “Well, I hope it's a job you don't want to quit anytime soon.”

“I'll have you know that I'm famous across the medical field for my stubbornness and determination,” Reid told him proudly. “I never quit. Ever.”

Looking at him hopefully, Luke bit his lip. “Good.” Moving towards Reid he held his own hand out, this time. “C'mon. Let's go meet Dad.”

Reid let himself be tugged along, starting to talk playfully. “Is he going to shoot me?”

“No.” Luke's voice sounded like he thought Reid was being ridiculous, but he liked it anyway.

“But he owns a shotgun?”

“...yes?”

“And you didn't warn me about this before?”

“Trust me,” Luke said fondly, “it's not Dad you need to be worried about.”

Right. That'd be the ex-boyfriend-obsessed mother who plainly had a shedload of issues springing up from somewhere. “Wait, does that mean your mom's going to shoot me?”

“No one's going to shoot you,” Luke promised, still sounding exasperated and amused.

“Well, good. Can't have anything ruining my fine features.”

“Is that what they are?” he asked as he led Reid out of the house.

The day had turned out even better than the morning had promised and it was honestly just nice, walking in the sun, holding hands with Luke as they followed a dirt track. It was a bit of a hike but, eventually, they arrived at a paddock next to a set of stables. The man Reid assumed was Luke's dad was inside with a brown horse, and he seemed to be talking to it quietly as he carefully touched it's side.

“So what does your Dad do, exactly?” They watched him work from outside the fence on one side of the paddock.

Letting go of Reid's hand, Luke leant against the fence. “There are a number of different disciplines horse trainers can specialise in,” he explained, “things like show jumping, dressage. Dad, though,” he said proudly, “now that he can pick and choose clients, he takes the horses who've been traumatised and gets them to trust humans again.”

Reid had honestly never thought about that kind of job needing to exist before, but now that he had he decided it sounded worthwhile. “So he's The Horse Whisperer?”

“Kind of,” Luke nodded with a smile.

As they watched, Luke's dad gave the horse one last careful pat and then he just turned his back on the animal, heading straight across the paddock to where they were waiting.

Reid thought that was damn brave of him because even from where he was standing, that thing looked huge.

As he approached the smile on Holden's face only got bigger and bigger, and before long he was climbing over the fence to hug his son.

“Luke,” he said warmly, the two of them sharing a strong hug.

“Hey, Dad,” Luke replied happily. “How's she doing?” he nodded towards the horse, who was investigating something on the ground with her nose.

“Getting there,” he admitted, “though it's slow going. Reid, right?” he asked, turning to face him, holding out a hand. “Sorry about the,” he gestured to himself, and the dust he was covered in.

He shook his head. “No problem. Mr Snyder.”

“Holden, please,” he insisted, releasing Reid's hand. “Had quite the interesting phone call earlier.”

“We heard,” Luke said flatly. “Did you really have to tell Mom?”

“She would've found out eventually anyway,” Holden argued, “figured it was better to just get it out of the way.”

Shrugging, Luke at least looked like he knew that was the truth. “Speaking of you and Mom...you and Mom, huh?”

“Yeah,” Holden admitted, “we're trying again.” He took in Luke's wary expression. “You can't help who you love, son.”

“I know,” he agreed slowly. “And I want you both to be happy together, I really do, it's just these last few years, she's been...”

Different, Luke had told Reid privately. According to Luke his relationship with his mom had always been good - until he came out. Lily had struggled with coming to terms with her son's sexuality, had even - ludicrously - intended to send Luke to a straight camp, an idea so appalling Reid honestly didn't know how Luke had ever trusted her again. Luke had tried to explain there'd been mitigating circumstances - his birth father who was, apparently, an expert at manipulating people - and that things had gotten much better, after that. She was like her old self again.

Until Luke and Noah had split and suddenly she'd started being weird again.

“I know,” Holden said, “and I've told her that's something we need to work on - she needs to work on. If she can't support you regardless of who you're dating, then this is never going to work.”

“Might wanna remind her of that,” Reid told him before he could stop himself - then realised he wouldn't have even if he could have.

“Right,” Dad muttered.

“I mean to be fair,” Luke said, “my reaction wasn't the greatest either. But it was barely a kiss, Dad, and she acted like it was something people would be scandalised about.”

“Honestly, if anything it should be the opposite.” When they both frowned at him, Reid explained. “You're hot, I'm hot. If anything we should have put up a sign and charged admission.”

Luke grinned - which was the goal - and even Holden smiled some. “Reid...”

He just kept going. “Would help us both save up for that day we no longer have our devastating good looks and have to get by on something else other than our amazing faces.”

“You mean like your medical degree?” Luke asked. “Or my foundation?”

“Right,” he agreed easily, “where are they ever gonna get us?”

Luke shook his head. “You are so silly.”

“And you love it.”

“I do,” he agreed.

“Well,” Holden announced, who Reid had kind of forgotten was there for a moment, “I should get Elsa in and cooled off. And then I'll go into the house and - try to get your mother to cool off,” he added, regarding Luke wryly.

“Thanks, Dad,” Luke said appreciatively and then they both watched Holden climb over the fence and slowly walk back towards the horse.

Luke took him over to the stables, after that. There was one other horse stabled there at the moment, but Luke went nowhere near it. “We stay away from the horses,” he said, like he was repeating something he'd heard a million times before and probably had, “because they're usually scared of people.”

Sounded like a wise policy - for them and the horses.

The barn, however, was fair game. There were no animals anywhere in sight and they could explore freely. Standing on the floor, Reid whistled as he looked up and turned in a circle. “Something tells me you had more than your fair share of fantasies about this place when you were a teenager.”

“Horny and convinced no one would look twice at me? Of course I did.”

“If you remember any details,” Reid encouraged, giving up his view of the barn to take in the much better view of one Luke Snyder, “feel extremely free to share. Maybe we could do some re-enacting,” he suggested, “finally get some of that desecrating done.”

Smiling as he walked towards him, Luke nonetheless regarded him strangely. “What is it with you and desecrating things?”

“Not a believer in organised religion.” Honestly, he thought most people were just kidding themselves, trying to find some meaning in life and looking for reassurance that there was anything waiting for them after they died. “So, come on. Barn fantasies from your teenagerhood? I won't judge. Much,” he added, lips quirking up.

“Okay,” Luke gave in, “you are totally going to make fun of me, though.” He kept talking anyway. “This was where my parents met. Well, not this barn specifically - that one was on Grandma Lucinda's property. But this was how they met - in a barn. Mom was the rich girl, Dad was the poor stable boy.”

“Has all the makings of a great romance,” Reid remarked. “That, or a cheap porno.”

“Thanks,” Luke said flatly, though there was still some amusement behind it. “Anyway, as kids it was sold to us a lot as this really romantic thing, and when I got old enough...” He sighed. “I know, I know, it's kind of twisted because it's my own parents but it's not like I ever thought about them actually having sex or anything in the barn, it was more...”

“Conceptual?”

“I like that,” Luke nodded before moving on. “I had some extremely vivid fantasies going on about meeting my own stable boy. Or sometimes,” he shrugged awkwardly, “I was the stable boy.”

This was very, very interesting indeed. Reid stepped closer. “What did you imagine happening?”

“There was never any plot, or anything-”

“Like most porn,” Reid pointed out, making them both grin even if Luke's face was a little flushed.

He carried on gamely, though, not looking away from Reid's gaze. “A random hot guy would be there, for no real reason. He'd see me and I'd be so amazingly handsome he wouldn't be able to help himself. It's silly, I know,” he continued, finally glancing away.

Reid didn't like at all, instinctively reaching out, gently touching Luke's chin until they were looking at each other again. “There's nothing wrong with fantasies. Sometimes it's a much-needed escape, sometimes it's because our life's in the position where, right then, we can't have anything else but fantasies. It's healthy,” he insisted, “and nothing to be ashamed of.”

Blinking, swallowing slowly, Luke stared back at him. “I want to kiss you.”

He just nodded. “You can do that.”

Luke still kept staring at him, for a while. Reid just let him, letting Luke have total control. Eventually, smiling faintly, Luke's gaze finally fell to Reid's mouth and he leaned in until their mouths met.

Reid hadn't done this for a while, but it was good. Luke knew what he was doing, that was for sure, pressing closer as he deepened the kiss. Their bodies pressed together, hands in hair or on shoulders as they pulled each other closer still and Reid found he was losing himself in it, for once experiencing that cliché about how he didn't know where he ended and Luke began. They were just one big mass of emotion - desire and want, hope and need - and, tragically, Reid knew he should put an end to it before this went any further.

“We need to talk,” he gasped when he broke away, though his willpower was currently non-existent as Luke tugged him straight back in for another kiss.

“About what?” he asked fervently and this time it was Reid who kissed him again.

“Oh!” a female voice interrupted. Sadly and slowly pulling away from each other, they turned to see Lily staring at them - or rather, at the space around them, instead of looking at them directly. “I was looking for Holden, I'll just...” Gesturing back the way she'd just come, she fled.

“Great,” Luke said, trying to sound annoyed, but Reid didn't think anything was about to wipe the grin off his face - and honestly, he felt just the same.

“Hey, at least she thinks I'm keeping you satisfied in the sack.”

“Something tells me you would,” Luke said boldly, eyes falling to Reid's mouth again.

Yeah. Right. “Let's get through today,” he suggested, “and we can talk about that in a lot more detail.”

“Looking forward to it,” he grinned, leaning in for another brief, if passionate, kiss. “We should head in soon, anyway,” he announced afterwards, “probably won't be long until lunch is ready.”

Reid could only imagine how much fun that was going to be, especially after what Lily had just seen.

He wasn't even being sarcastic - he really was looking forward to, as Luke put it, rubbing it in her face. “Very well, Mr Snyder. Lead the way.”

“Always,” Luke joked, grabbing Reid's hand once more and, for once in his life, Reid was actually happy to be guided.

He thought this might actually work, an idea that both reassured and terrified him. Based on their interactions so far, he was pretty sure Luke wouldn't freak out or be a dick about it when Reid told him, but there was really no way to be sure. Reid had never been in this position before. He could only hope that, when the time came, Luke handled this part of Reid as well as he had every other part of him.

*

According to Emma, lunch would be about another half hour. She turned down any offer of help and as Lily and Holden were currently nowhere in sight, Reid thought longingly of the chess set he'd noticed in the family room.

“Come on,” he suggested, “let me show you, once again, how this game should be played.” They'd never actually played chess before at all, of course - he was pretty sure he'd never even mentioned chess to Luke.

“That's going to be so much fun,” Luke played along, “watching you kick my butt again.” Moving the board into the kitchen they sat at the table there so they could be a little more comfortable, though they chose to sit next to each other instead of the more traditional option.

As it turned out, Luke did know how to play chess himself - though of course compared to Reid, he might as well have never played before. “No,” Reid said when he saw Luke reaching for one piece. “Not that one either.” Luke's frustrated hand went for yet another. “If you do that I'll have check-mate within-”

Staring at him, Luke's face was a mixture of amusement and annoyance. “What did I say about letting me make my own mistakes?”

Nothing, of course, but Reid played his part. “You're right, of course. If you insist on making it easy for me, far be it from me to try and stop you.”

“Are you really that good at chess, Reid?” Emma asked from the kitchen.

“Extremely,” he said matter-of-factly, placing another chess piece that was further setting Luke up for failure. “Used to play semi-professionally.”

“Really?” Emma asked, sounding impressed. Luke looked surprised too, and Reid was glad he got to tell Luke this under the guise of telling his grandmother.

“When I was a kid,” he explained, holding Luke's gaze. “Now I just play for fun.” He hadn't had anyone else to play chess with in a long time and he definitely liked the idea of butting heads with Luke over a chessboard for the foreseeable future.

“Your parents must have been very proud of you.”

Luke already knew about his folks - Reid had mentioned it in passing at that first meal together - and looked across at him, not with sympathy exactly, but definitely with understanding.

“They were.”

“And they must still be so proud of you now,” Emma went on. Luke still kept looking at him, reaching an arm across the table to touch Reid's hand. “A doctor - and head of department, wasn't it? And you're so young to be in such a position.”

“Grandmother,” Luke said in warning.

Shaking his head, Reid turned his hand over to squeeze Luke's hand in return before turning to face Luke's confused grandmother. “Thank you, Emma. I'm sure they would be, but my parents died when I was fifteen.”

“Oh.” Horrified, Emma wiped her hands on a towel and stepped out from behind the kitchen counter. “I'm so sorry to hear that, Reid. Do you have much other family?”

“No,” he shook his head, before conceding, “well, I think my uncle's still kicking around somewhere, but trust me when I say he's a waste of space.” He genuinely hoped he never saw Angus again.

“Oh.” She stood there for a moment but never got awkward about it the way some people did. “Well,” she announced easily, “not that I'd ever try to replace your parents, but at least you have us now.”

Surprised, he turned back to look at Luke, who was smiling at him reassuringly. “I get your family as part of this deal?”

“Of course,” he offered, “that's how this relationship stuff works.”

He never would've expected it but Reid found he actually liked the idea of that - not just dating Luke, but having access to his family, too. Well, apart from... “Can I pass on your mom?”

“You...” Luke began disapprovingly but it quickly dissolved into quiet laughter. Seemingly unable to help himself, Luke leant over and gave him a peck on the mouth. “If I have to deal with her, you have to deal with her. Them's the rules.”

“Okay, fine,” Reid gave in. He was pretty sure that if you were intending to do this kind of thing the right way, you should face your problems together anyway. “I suppose getting your Grandma and your dad as part of the deal makes up for it. And you know,” he shrugged, “you're all right too.”

“'All right',” Luke mimicked with a grin.

“Passable,” he offered, barely holding back his own.

“Please, Dr Oliver,” Luke encouraged, “regale me with more tales of just how average I am.”

“Well, Mr Snyder,” he said gamely, “you're definitely in the top one hundred of the best-looking guys I've ever seen.”

“Okay, now you're paying for that one,” he insisted playfully, “my pride has been wounded, deeply, by that remark.”

“Let me fix that for you,” Reid offered, placing a hand on the back of Luke's neck and pulling his smiling face in for a kiss.

“Oh, my,” Emma said quietly and how did Luke keep doing that? Make Reid forget that there was anyone else in the room? Not that he particularly cared that anyone was watching - and right now Luke didn't seem to care either, if the way he ended the kiss and kept his face close to Reid's, smiling stupidly at him, was any indication.

Reid was pretty sure he was smiling stupidly himself. Even a year ago - hell, six months - he probably would've been disgusted with himself at being so damn sappy. Now it just felt so damn good that Reid didn't give a crap.

He knew that Luke was it, the chance he'd been waiting for. He just hoped he could make it work and had every intention of giving it his best shot.

Of course, that was the moment Lily appeared from upstairs, noticeably pausing when she saw what they were doing. Turning to glance at Holden behind her, they shared a look and then she set her shoulders, facing the rest of the room again. “Let's get the table ready for lunch, shall we?”

Turning back to look at each other, Luke and Reid shrugged. At least she was trying.

Clearing the chess set away, Reid put everything back where he'd found it in the family room. Not knowing where anything was kept he stood between the kitchen and the dinner table, waiting to pass items between the two.

Within a few minutes they had the table set - plates, silverware and glasses on display. A few minutes later Emma started passing dishes of food out, each of which was placed carefully at the strategically placed gaps between the plates on the table. They obviously had this down to an art-form.

“Everything smells amazing, Luke's Grandma,” he said honestly, “you really went all out.”

“Reid, please call me Emma,” she insisted, “and...well, when we have a guest as important as you, it's only right that we make that kind of effort.”

Actually a little shaken by that, Reid tried to cover it by fiddling with some silverware on the table. He didn't get away with it, because of course Luke noticed.

“You should see your face right now,” he teased.

Reid glanced over at him. “Apart from being devastatingly attractive, what about it?”

“You actually look flustered. I didn't think that was possible.”

Reid tried to ignore the fact that Luke's parents were watching closely. “Just not used to people being that nice and...sincere without wanting something in return, that's all.” Reid was more than used to people thinking he was important in a professional setting, but being considered important just for being Reid?

That never happened.

Losing his humour, Luke instead stepped around the table until he was close enough to touch Reid's arm. “Hey,” he said seriously, holding Reid's gaze, “we'll fix that.”

He swallowed - or tried to. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Luke nodded.

“Oh, absolutely,” Emma encouraged, who until then had at least done them the courtesy of pretending as if she wasn't listening, unlike Luke's parents. “I promise you, Reid, visit us here enough times and before you know it you'll have heard so many compliments your head won't fit out the door.”

Reid was willing to bet Lily would have something to say about that.

Instead, Holden started cheerfully complaining. “How come I don't get compliments every time I see you, Momma?”

“We see each other every day, sweetheart,” she pointed out, “you've had more than your fair share of compliments.”

Reid was still honestly - and surprisingly - a little freaked out, so didn't look at anyone and made his excuses. “I'll just wash my hands before dinner,” he announced and then fled from the room.

He wasn't surprised when Luke was barely ten seconds behind him. Not really needing or wanting to make use of the washroom, he hovered in the hallway instead, taking in Luke's concerned face.

“Hey,” he asked, watching Reid carefully. “You okay?”

“Just not used to...” he trailed off, knowing he'd have to try and do this right, “...relationships in general,” he admitted. “And while most of it has actually been pretty easy - mostly just common sense - I'm still not used to being...that open. In front of so many people.” The kissing and defending Luke - that crap was easy. Dealing with heartfelt sincerity was something else.

“You know you don't have to be,” Luke said seriously. “We can keep that kind of stuff just between us if it's making you uncomfortable.”

“But I should probably try and get used to it, right?” he asked rhetorically. “If we want this to really go somewhere...”

Pressing his lips tightly together, Luke looked like that was the only thing stopping him from bursting with happiness. “If that's what you want.”

“If that's what we want,” he argued, because that was kind of the point.

And Luke was hugging him, suddenly. “God, Reid, you've been so amazing,” he said urgently, “I can't tell you how much it's meant to me. In just a few hours you've been more fun and more supportive than...he ever was,” he finished, drawing away. “Honestly,” he said firmly, “at this point I really don't care about convincing Mom of anything anymore, because I've already realised what's really important.” He looked at Reid knowingly, apparently - amazingly - talking about him. “If this is making you uncomfortable we'll say something came up and just go.”

There was no way in hell - Reid was seeing this through to the end, especially after the nice little confidence boost Luke's reaction had just given him. “I'm not doing that to your Grandma,” Reid told him, not after all the effort she'd gone to. “Or my stomach. I've heard amazing things about this food of hers - I'm not missing out.”

“Right,” Luke said dryly, “because it's all about your stomach.”

“That it is,” he nodded, “so let's get this show on the road. Time's a-wasting that could be filling my stomach with food.”

Back at the dinner table, no one said anything at all about their absence, instead just waiting behind their chairs. Trying not to feel guilty for making them wait, Reid muttered an apology. Emma brushed it aside and invited everyone to finally sit down.

Reid waited, at first, unsure of their family traditions - but there was no saying of grace or anything. Once they sat down, everyone just started helping themselves to food so Reid joined in. He ended up raving about Emma's food, of course, which really was delicious. From the flush on her face she enjoyed the attention immensely.

There was some general small talk - Lily and Holden both talked a little about work - but then the focus turned to him.

“So, Reid,” Lily began a little awkwardly, but trying nonetheless, “Luke tells us you're Head of Neurology, at...Chicago General, wasn't it?”

“That's right.”

“That's quite an accomplishment at your age.”

“It is,” he agreed.

She paused, for a moment, probably not appreciating his ego. “Did you always want to be a doctor?”

“As far back as I can remember,” he replied honestly. “I don't even know why, the idea was just always there. When other kids reached that age where they'd joke about wanting to play doctor, I literally wanted to play doctor. I had my own stethoscope and everything.”

“I bet you were a cute kid,” Luke said fondly.

That was practically cursing, in Reid's opinion. “I was never cute.”

“Oh, I'm sure that's not true,” Emma voiced. “Do you still have any photographs or anything, from...before?”

“I still have a couple of photo albums.” Despite Angus' best efforts at being an asshole, Reid had managed to hold on to them. It was all he really had of his parents, now.

“I'd like to see them, sometime,” she said carefully, “that is, if you wouldn't mind.”

Reid was quiet for a moment, thinking about it. “I'll try and remember to bring them,” he told her eventually, “next time we visit.”

Emma nodded in satisfaction as Luke continued the conversation. “I never knew what I wanted to do,” he admitted, scrunching his face up. “There were a couple of years when I was a teenager where I thought I was going to be a writer.”

“That's right, you won that award,” Lily remembered.

Luke nodded. “But I never felt...a calling, you know? I used to get so frustrated,” he told Reid. “It always seemed like everyone around me already had their lives figured out, knew what they wanted to do.”

“Not that I want to minimise your struggle,” Reid said carefully, “but look at the work you do now, Luke. It's - remarkable. You've dedicated your life to making the world a less terrifying place for confused young kids, so they hopefully never have to go through what you did. You should be proud of yourself. I know I am.”

Tipping his head down, Luke's entire face had flushed pink.

“He's right, son,” Holden said proudly. “Maybe it took you a while to figure out what to do with your life - which is more common than you'd think,” he added. “But you could've done anything with that money Damian gave you and instead you used it as a force for good. To help others.” He regarded him closely. “I'll admit, I wasn't happy when I first heard you were taking his money.” From what Luke had said, Holden and Damian really didn't get on. “But what you've done with it since? I couldn't be prouder.”

It was a very Hallmark movie moment - which Lily utterly ruined.

Smiling along with her very happy family, she ruined it all by saying, “Noah always knew what he wanted to do, too,” she told Reid, “just like you.”

Reid literally could've heard a pin drop as, one by one, they all turned to stare at her in disbelief. He'd been joking when he'd thought earlier that if she liked Noah so much maybe she should date him herself, but maybe she really did have a thing for her boyfriend's ex.

Eww.

Lily at least seemed to finally read the room, happy expression falling as she glanced around at their faces. “Look, Noah was his only other real boyfriend. It's only natural I'm going to compare them.”

She might've had a point, if she didn't also have the history of championing Noah's very few positive qualities. Still, it could've been worse - at least she hadn't used it as an opportunity to show how much better than Reid Noah was.

“So, Holden,” Reid said quickly, moving the conversation on, “how long have you been training horses?”

As Holden latched gratefully onto the new topic and ran with it, Reid placed a hand on Luke's leg under the table. Shooting him a small, grateful smile, Luke quietly shifted his chair a little closer.

Holden went on for quite some times about horses and wasn't completely boring. Eventually, though, he turned it around and asked his own question. “How did the two of you meet? If you don't mind my asking.”

Glancing at each other they shared a grin, already having the story down pat.

“It was at work, actually,” he began. “Luke had come to the hospital to meet with some of our board members.”

“I wanted to propose that the hospital and foundation work together to support LGBT kids going through medical treatment at the hospital.”

“We bumped into each other - literally. I was an enormous ass about it-”

“Finally, he admits it!”

Reid smirked, loving how in-sync they were even when they were bullshitting. “Anyway, it didn't take me long to realise just how hot the guy I was yelling at was, and I offered to apologise with coffee. In my defense,” he added, “I'd been having a really bad day.”

“You must have those a lot,” Luke teased.

Everyone at the table was smiling, so they must've bought the story, at least.

Sadly, it was a little predictable what came next.

“Luke and Noah met at work, too,” Lily piped up, “well, kind of. They were working at WOAK for-”

“Oh my God, Mom,” Luke snapped, which at least saved Reid the trouble. “How many times? Noah and I are never getting back together. He dumped me, remember? And hell, even if he did want me back - which he doesn't - I'd never want him back in a million years. I'm not going back to be treated that way. Even before I met Reid and knew how much better things could be,” glancing at Reid, he covered the hand resting on his leg with his own, “I'd realised just how bad Noah was for me.”

“Lily, we talked about this - numerous times,” Holden sighed. “You have to let him live his own life - or eventually, we'll have no relationship with him at all.”

“Even if I think he's making a horrible mistake?”

Rude.

“Even if,” Holden insisted. “Not that I think he is,” he rushed to add, looking over at the two of them. “But even if he was, you express your concerns and then move on - he's an adult and it's his life.”

“I've been trying, Holden,” she swore, sounding more deluded with each passing moment, “but it's so difficult. They keep...kissing, everywhere. Noah was never like that - he was a good, respectful boy who knew that that kind of thing should be kept in the bedroom.”

Reid was finally starting to realise what her problem might actually be - and from Luke's reaction, so was he.

“Wait - is that what this is about?” He shook his head, turning to look at Reid. “Noah was never big on public displays of affection - there'd be the occasional public-appropriate kiss, but it was usually hugs. And as for our sex life, well...” Looking a little embarrassed, he faced his mother. “But you knew that. Because I told you, so many times, how concerned I was that Noah never wanted to have sex with me. That it rarely happened and half the time it felt like we were just friends instead of boyfriends.”

Lily didn't even deny it. “I was...comfortable, with Noah. And I just...don't like how different from him Reid is.”

“That's a good thing!” Luke exclaimed, his obvious anger and frustration driving him. “I told you, so many times, the many reasons Noah and I didn't work, how humiliated I was that he left me for his advisor and everyone in town knew it, how it shattered my self-confidence that he never wanted to sleep with me but fucked Mason the first chance he got.” No one even reacted to the cursing - Reid knew he certainly thought it was justified. “But it wasn't just the big stuff, Mom,” he went on. “It was the every day, little stuff, too. I could never sing in the car, you know that?” he asked rhetorically, and suddenly his reaction on their journey there made a lot more sense. “My singing voice has never been the greatest,” he said openly, “and Noah basically banned me from singing in the car - said that it made his ears bleed. I told him to shut up the first time, assuming he was joking. But then he kept saying it. And saying it - and eventually I started listening,” he said like it was logical, “because you hear something so many times you believe it and I didn't want to drive him away. But I should have, I know that now,” he nodded firmly, mostly at himself. “I should've driven him away long before he left me.”

Luke was honestly incredible and Reid felt even more aware of his own short-comings in comparison.

“I know all of that, sweetheart,” Lily assured him, “and logically I know everything you told me. But when I see you and Reid kissing each other like that...”

What the fresh hell had gone on in her mind? “So you're just fine with your kid being gay,” he said with wonder, “as long as you don't have to think about the actual sex part of being gay.”

“He's my little boy,” she said disturbingly, eyes wet. “I can't bear to think about him that way.”

“So it's still homophobia, after all this time,” Luke muttered, shaking his head. “That's really what you want for me? For me to be stuck in a loveless, sexless relationship? Unbelievable.”

“Lily,” Emma announced, getting to her feet. “I think you need to leave this table. And I also think,” she added firmly, “that you need some help.”

TBC

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