137 Perfect as it is
Word Soap: As The World Keeps Turning
Author: SYLnl
Title: #137 Perfect as it is
Rating: PG
Summary: “If the world was perfect, it wouldn't be.” - Yogi Berra
Big Thanks To: ltklo, for brushing up my grammar
Previously on As The World Keeps Turning: click here for chapters 1 - 136
He had found her picture in the pile of papers, but even if he hadn’t seen it, he would have known who she was. With his arms filled with fluffy bears and dogs - giving the small hospital shop record sales figures today - he stood on the threshold and swallowed. She looked bruised, fragile and very small. Luke almost shrieked when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Hello Santa,” was whispered in his ear and Luke smiled.
“I didn’t want to single her out, so I bought one for every child in the room…” Luke explained, giving the man next to him a little bump at the shoulder. “I thought you were going home.”
“I am. I guess I needed to see her too…”
Luke’s big brown eyes glimmered as he handed Reid a few cuddly toys.
“You can be my elf,” he grinned and Reid rolled his eyes, but accepted them anyway. He scanned the room and Luke saw how Reid’s eyes stopped at the little girl.
“She looks lonely…” Reid muttered and Luke just nodded.
“Let’s give her a toy…”
When the men stepped into the room, the sight of the stuffed beasts released a lot of excitement and with big smiles Reid and Luke handed them out. The kids’ gratefulness almost made them forget the real reason they were here, but when they arrived at her bed, they both choked up.
She’d had her eyes closed the whole time, but when they reached her, she suddenly opened them, showing them bright blue eyes. Luke had the last toy, a white bear, and when he gave it to her and smiled, she stared into his eyes. For a minute she seemed reluctant to accept the gift, but then she extended both hands and pulled the bear to her chest.
“He’s as white as your cast, see?”
Blue eyes met blue eyes and for a moment she frowned. Just when they thought she wouldn’t respond, she gave a little nod and closed her eyes again. The show was over.
Waving goodbye in general, Reid and Luke left the room again and only when they walked towards their cars, they found words.
“She has your eyes.”
“Don’t start, Luke.”
“Not manipulating. Just stating the obvious.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Okay, maybe manipulating a little. Sorry about that.”
“It’s okay. She does have my eyes.”
“Why did you come after all?”
“I needed to challenge my defense mechanism…”
Luke smiled. “I’m glad. Now what?”
“Now we go home to Danny and talk to him.”
“Okay,” Luke gave Reid a kiss and pointed at his car. “See you there.”
Getting both his daddies back at the same time proved to be a little much for Danny. He didn’t know who to greet and ended up running up and down between them.
“Hey Racing Duckling, slow down,” Reid laughed, lifting him up for the second time in the last five minutes. “You’re happy to see us again, we get that.”
“So you did see Daddy at the hospital,” Danny looked a little accusatory, but Luke just smiled.
“Yeah, we ran into each other when I was visiting my mother,” he calmly explained and turned to Will.
“Miss Lydia left?”
“Yeah, you just missed her.”
“It took longer than I expected. Sorry about that.”
“No problem, as I already texted you…” Will winked at him. “But Gwen just called that she was heading home, so I’m going too…”
“Okay, let me walk you out. I want to run something by you real quick…”
“So buddy, how was your day?” Reid put Danny down and the boy started pulling Reid’s hand.
“Come. I wanna show you…”
They walked into the dining room slash class room and Danny pointed at a sheet of paper. When Reid took a seat, the boy climbed on his lap and they both looked at the drawing. It was a circle with little rings and lots of color.
“It looks beautiful,” Reid softly tapped Danny’s leg. “Did you do that?”
“Yeah. You see, Daddy…this ring are the colors of my past.”
That explains the many dark colors, Reid thought.
“So what are the yellow and orange parts in your past?”
“Yellow is my angel. She lit up the dark. And orange is when I could go to school. It was my escape.”
“I see. Well, we don’t have to explain the black and the brown now, do we?”
“No,” Danny shook his head. “Let’s not. I did tell Miss Lydia. Is that okay?”
“Of course that’s okay, Danny. It’s your story to tell and you tell it when you want to whoever you want.”
“Okay.” The boy smiled at him.
Reid’s long index finger touched another ring in the circle.
“And what’s this?”
“This is now.”
“So you feel all green and blue and yellow and red, do you?”
Danny giggled.
“They are happy colors and I feel happy.”
“That’s good.”
“Yeah, it is,” the boy sounded very content and Reid watched him with a smile, silently making up his mind. Why change anything? Life was perfect the way it was.
“Hey guys,” Luke’s head peeked in. “Are you hungry yet?”
“Of course,” Reid snorted, “but first come and see what our son has been doing today…”
Patiently Danny started to explain the circle, rings and colors again and he was visibly enjoying their undivided attention.
“And what’s the middle?”
“That’s for tomorrow,” Danny smiled.
“I see… well, you did a great job, buddy.”
Danny’s pride was all over his face.
“Did it feel okay, me being away for a while?”
“Yeah. I haven’t been scared.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Luke ruffled the boy’s hair and rose to his feet. “I’ll make us some dinner.”
Before Luke had left the room, Reid was on his feet too, lifting Danny to his chest.
“Come on, son. Let’s keep your daddy company.”
“Can I get robot?”
“Of course.” Reid put Danny on the ground and watched him skipping to the living room. Skipping! How joyful was that? When he saw Luke looking at him, he smiled.
“He’s happy.”
“I know,” Luke put his arm around Reid’s waist. “So am I. Whatever we decide. Remember that.”
Reid kissed his temple. “I love you.”
“Yeah yeah, sucking up to the cook…I see right through you, mister.”
“You know me too well,” Reid softly pinched Luke’s thigh, making him squeal. With a quick shift Luke turned himself in front of his doctor and pinched another sensitive body part. The groan was telling and they both laughed.
“Come on, get me some food,” Reid slapped Luke’s bottom and then quickly moved out of the way to prevent any retaliation. With a wicked smile he got some plates out the cupboard and set the table. Yeah, he loved his life. Just as it was right now.