Chapter 10

To say that Reid was impressed would have been an understatement. Luke was sure his cheeks were as red as beets from all the kind words the older man was lavishing on the manuscript. He wasn't used to such accolades, especially not from people who hadn't known him his whole life.

He was having such a good time with Reid that he barely noticed when darkness fell upon them again. Reid's stomach growled in protest while they were in the middle of a chess game and Luke laughed as he looked at his watch.

"Oh my god, it's after 7…how did we manage to do that?"

"Time flies when the company is superb," Reid said with a smirk.

"Well just let me know what you want for dinner, I don't mind cooking."

"You cooked last night," Reid said pointedly. "And you fixed omelets this morning. Give yourself a break."

"But I don't mind."

"I know you don't mind, Luke. But I'm sure you can use a break. We can have leftovers tonight, or just get Chinese take-out…it's Saturday, you deserve a day off."

"Make it Mexican and you have a deal," Luke smiled and grabbed his phone off the table.

"Sounds like a plan to me," Reid nodded as he focused on the chess board in front of him. He prided himself in being an excellent chess player, but Luke was proving to be a worthy opponent.

"Whose turn is it," Luke asked setting his phone back on the table.

"Yours," Reid said even as he moved his piece across the board. Luke examined the board for a moment before moving his pawn. He looked up and smiled at the look on Reid's face.

"I'll take that to mean you're impressed?" he laughed happily.

"Where'd you learn how to play?" Reid asked with much admiration in his voice.

"My dad taught me," Luke shrugged shyly. "It was one of his ways to keep me preoccupied when things were stressful in the family."

"Did that happen a lot?"

"Yeah," Luke nodded sadly. "More often than I would have liked. Dad tried to shield me from it, but no one seems to realize that kids pick up on more than you want them to.:"

"That's a very wise statement," Reid commented as he made his move on the chess board. He kept his fingers on the piece for a moment as he looked up at Luke. "IF more parents thought like you, I think the world would be a better place."

"That's nice of you to say," Luke smiled. "What about you? Where did you learn to play chess?"

"Harvard square," Reid replied his expression reflective as he let go of the chess piece. "Eden used to take me around there after school and I'd play with these 70 year-old Ukrainian guys. They taught me the game and I got to be really good at it."

"Sounds like fun."

"It was," Reid admitted. "But when I became a teenager I became more interested in science and I started focusing on that. I think Eden may have been my biggest encouragement on that front, and Matthew as well when she started dating him. I think my parents wanted me to be the next Bobby Fisher or something."

"I'm sure they were proud of you though."

"I like to think so," Reid smiled sadly. "They died while I was in medical school."

Luke nodded sadly, not really sure what to say to that. He had known when he went searching for Laurie's uncle that he was the only living relative Laurie had. Laurie's father, Matthew, had been an only child orphaned at the age of sixteen. He had considered the Olivers his family, and that became a permanent thing when he married Eden who had been his high school sweetheart.

"Are you close with your parents, Luke?"

Reid's voice caught him off guard and he looked up realizing he must have zoned out for a moment. "What?" he said trying to make sure he hadn't missed anything else during the conversation.

"Your parents. Are you close to them?"

"Do you want to complicated story or the simple one?"

"That bad?"

"It depends on what the definition of a parent is," Luke sighed. "I'm very close to my dad, Holden."

"That's who took Landon this weekend right?"

"Yes…they went to Kentucky. He's my dad in every way that counts but we share no blood."

"Okay. Hold that thought," Reid said jumping up to go answer the door. Luke watched as Reid took their food from the delivery man and handed him cash telling him to keep the change.

"You didn't have to do that," Luke said when Reid settled beside him on the floor and started going through the bag.

"Do what?" Reid asked as he handed Luke his Burritos.

"I would have taken care of the tab."

"My treat," Reid smiled and proceeded to put guacamole on his burrito before taking a bite. "The least I can do is treat you to dinner every now and again. I mean you're practically letting me stay here rent free."

"That's because you're Laurie's family," Luke pointed out. "If you insist on being helpful though, you can stock up the fridge next month. Especially since you use so much deli meat on those sandwiches you concoct"

"I'm going to get you to eat one of those one day," Reid said his mouth full of refried beans and rice." He took a minute to swallow, taking a napkin to wipe at his mouth before speaking again. "And I swear you will like it. It's a masterpiece."

"Whatever," Luke laughed, a sparkle in his eyes that hadn't been there in a while. He turned his attention back to his food. They ate in comfortable silence, with Luke looking up every now and again to watch Reid unnoticed. Sometimes Reid's eyes would meet his and they'd share a smile before Luke focused on his food again. It was nice, Luke felt like he had found a new friend.

"So you're adopted?" Reid asked bringing them back to the conversation they were having.

"Holden adopted me, yes. My parents on the other hand…I just don't get along with them very well."

"Okay I think you lost me," Reid smiled as he continued to eat the rest of his dinner.

"My mom, Lily, was married to my father, Damian, when I was born. However the only dad I truly know, the one who raised me is Holden. He adopted me officially when I was nine."

"Why then?"

"You want the whole story?" Luke asked raising an eyebrow. "My past is pretty crazy."

"I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't curious."

"Okay," Luke said sighing reluctantly. "But don't say I didn't warn you."

Reid realized fairly quickly that James hadn't been kidding when he said the family history was twisted. He deemed that the right word for it. The story Luke was telling would require a map for lesser mortals. At the moment, though, Reid was thanking the higher ups for his photographic memory. He was certain he'd be alright when it came time for dinner with this lot.

"Okay let me see if I can understand what you're telling me here. The Snyders, your adoptive family, are also your in-laws as it turns out?"

"Yes," Luke laughed at the incredulous look on Reid's face. "My Uncle Seth is Landon's great grandfather, as well as his great uncle obviously."

"And then," Reid continued placing the empty food container to the side, "Seth's sister was adopted into the family, and she's your mom's mother right?"

"Yeah it gets really crazy when you look at it that way. Grandma Lucinda raised mom, so it's like me with my dad. That's the only parent we've truly known. Only difference is that Mom is close to her birth mom…and as far as I have been told she was already entwined in the family when she learned the truth"

"Wow," Reid said shaking his head. "And Noah only learned of his connection a few years ago?"

"Yeah," Luke smiled sadly. "He totally freaked out when he found out his grandfather's name."

"Didn't he know you were adopted?"

"I had never told him," Luke shook his head. "There didn't seem to be a need to, you know? Dad is and will always be dad to me, and the last time I saw Damian was when I was sixteen and we didn't part on good terms."

"You're right this is complicated."

"I could stop," Luke frowned and tilted his head to the side. "I don't want to bore you with all this. Oakdale is famous for couples who come together, break up, switch partners, cheat and then come together to start the cycle all over again."

"Is that why you live outside the city?"

"I was born out here," Luke smiled. "Mom says that dad; Holden that is, delivered me right on the kitchen floor of Grandma Emma's house. Anyway, six years ago a lot of stuff was going on, Grandmother Lucinda was sick, I was sick, Noah got into a car accident…it was crazy. And on top of that I found out my parents were divorcing because Mom was unfaithful."

"That's not why you're upset with her though is it?" Reid asked raising an eyebrow in Luke's direction.

"Oh no," Luke shook his head, laughing bitterly. "That's the least of my concerns about her. It's a whole nother story all together, even more complicated than the family tree."

"That's possible?"

"Yes, unfortunately," Luke smiled sheepishly. "But I don't want to bore you with all of this stuff. The short version is that my mom indeed ended up hooking up with my biological father, and I haven't spoken to either of them in almost five years and don't really want to. I mean even with Noah gone, and knowing that Laurie would give anything to have just one more day with his mom, I just can't…my mom, she just hurt me too much."

"You don't need to explain your reasons to me, Luke. I understand why your answer is so complicated though. You aren't close to your biological parents, but you are close to your dad who raised you, and you trust him with your life."

"I do," Luke nodded.

"Have you forgiven her, Luke? For whatever she did, have you forgiven her?"

Luke nodded, biting his lower lip as he focused on Reid. "I forgave her a long time ago…I'll just never forget. And I'm sorry for taking you all around the world when I could have easily just said yes and now and left it at that."

"You're a good storyteller," Reid praised grabbing his drink off the table. "I wasn't bored at all. But I do think it's time to head to bed."

"Okay," Luke smiled and lifted himself off the floor. "Thank you, Reid. For spending the evening with me."

Good night, Luke." Reid smiled softly before heading into the kitchen to discard their trash. He returned moments later and turned out the light before heading to his room.

He waited an hour before stealing away to Reid's room. He opened the door slowly and slipped inside, tiptoeing over to the bed where Reid was fast asleep. Once again he settled onto the bed as quietly as he could, holding his breath until he was resting his head on the pillow. He shifted slightly making himself comfortable before promptly falling asleep.

Reid shifted in his sleep, pressing up against the warm wall in an attempt to get comfortable. A slight frown crossed his lips as he pressed harder against the seemingly flat surface and felt cloth there. He opened his eyes in confusion and jumped back when he realized that what he was laying against wasn't a wall at all.

What he had been leaning against was a body clad in cotton pajama bottoms and a white t-shirt. He was only partially surprised to find Luke in his bed. He would have bet anything that he had felt someone beside him the night before, but there was no one there when he woke up so he chalked it up to his imagination and didn't mention it. Now that Luke was there again, sleeping soundly, he wanted to know what was going on.

He wasn't prepared for the startled yelp he heard when his hand touched Luke's shoulder. The young man sat up straight in the bed, his eyes wide as he looked around trying to get his bearings. Reid was patient as he watched the emotions filtering through the almond gaze. "Fear, confusion, recognition and embarrassment.

"Oh," The blond said ducking his head to avoid Reid's gaze. "Hi."

"Hi," Reid replied keeping his voice gentle. He was torn between taking the man into his arms, and demanding sternly what he thought he was doing in his bed. He had a feeling that the latter would not be the best idea. "Luke," He tried placing a hand on Luke's still shaking frame. "What are you doing in here?"

"I thought I could do it," Luke blurted out, his hands clutching Reid's blanket as if his life depended on it. "I thought I would be okay sleeping by myself, but I can't. Landon's not here, and the bed, it's so empty and I can't do it. I'll leave if you want me to," He added when Reid remained silent.

Reid pressed his lips together to prevent himself from asking all the questions he wanted to ask at the moment. It was obvious that Luke was upset, and he remembered Laurie mentioning Luke's inability to sleep alone before. "Come here," he said even as he pulled Luke into his arms. "Don't worry about it tonight, okay?" He pressed a kiss to Luke's forehead trying to soothe him just a bit. "Just go back to sleep, it's alright. We'll talk about it tomorrow."

"I'm sorry," Luke's voice was muffled in the folds of Reid's shirt.

"Don't be sorry, just go to sleep," Reid soothed. Luke was sleep again almost instantly, but it took Reid another hour before he dozed off. He kept his eyes open to keep an eye on Luke, only daring to rest when he knew the other man was okay. He didn't understand it, but he felt protective of Luke, and he felt an overwhelming urge to keep him safe.