Author's Notes:
Small Warning of swearing- it's all Reid's fault!
This is a mixture of a lot of things and kick starts the next step for the story...there is also a continuation of the party! I PRAY TO GOD ABOVE I got the characters down ok...I mean, you can play a bit with Natalie as she's hardly shown but Faith, Lily and ESPECIALLY Lucinda. My god if I wrote her OOC I'd cry! hahaha, she's my goddess ;)
Anyway, please enjoy and excuse any minor mistakes. Masses of dialogue and an overactive brain...madness ensues! :) Feedback- good or bad- is appreciated as always!

Luke was gone by the morning. Reid emerged from his room after dressing, grabbed his lunch and keys and left the house. It wasn't a shock that Luke wasn't there as Reid knew he'd made plans with his family but nevertheless, he'd left Reid's sweater folded neatly on the coffee table and a small sheet of paper ontop. This was becoming a habit.

Morning,

Thank you so much...for everything.

Family stuff today- sorry I had to leave.

Have fun savings lives.

Love Luke x

'Love Luke'. Reid read that a few times while trying to quieten the samba of his heart. Nobody had ever really sent him messages like that, even as a youngster, he didn't receive Valentine's Cards or Christmas cards sending love. Yes, he had cards from his parents and some close family but they didn't count in the way that someone unrelated did; Luke was there by choice, he didn't have to write those things, he didn't have to be so caring and certainly didn't have to stick around but Reid, with a smile and a rush of joy, left the house for a day in the OR feeling so mind-blowingly lucky.

...

"Hey stranger," Faith said, shocking Luke and causing him to cling to the door like a toddler.

"God Faith, scare me much?" he snapped and took deep breaths. It was early morning and no where near his sister's rising time. Usually she was dragged, kicking and screaming, from her bed or clawed her way out in a foul mood around noon. "You just getting in?" Luke asked with a sarcastic smile.

"So funny Luke," she spat, "how about you? Where have you been all night? Staying with the geriatric?"

Luke could feel his blood boil a little. Faith really was turning out to be a little brat. "You really need to think before you speak, especially about people you know nothing about."

"Didn't know you had a thing for older guys."

"I'm not in the mood Faith, go talk to your brat pack or something because I really can't be bothered with you this morning." Luke's brow furrowed as he sank into the sofa beside her.

She shifted uncomfortably and watched as Luke closed his eyes and let his head fall onto the back of the couch. "I'm um, look, I didn't mean it like that," she started, "do you still feel awful?"

Luke hummed a reply and nodded slightly. His head was throbbing and he simply wanted to crawl into his bed and spend the entire day there without having to endure a Snyder family gathering. He adored his family but he was sure he'd strangle the Pope feeling as bad as he did. "What time does everyone get here?" he asked with a weak groan.

Faith sighed dramatically, "No idea. The only reason I'm sticking around is because Grandma Emma's cooking for us all. Lucky us, eh? Think Grandmother's coming too and Dad's bringing Molly so Mom will be glaring daggers. Uncle Jack might come too but Mom said she wasn't sure as there's some drama with Parker. Plus Aunt Meg is released and she's got Eliza for the day so she'll be the party's ticking time bomb. Oh it's going to be sooooo much fun," she sang bitterly.

Luke really wanted his bed then. "Oh great," he muttered with a wry laugh, "just exactly what I need when I feel like death."

Faith reached out her hand and patted her brother's shoulder. Luke opened his eyes and looked at her, sometimes she could be an angel but it was the devil in her that ruled out more often than not. "We'll have to stick together then?" she offered with an aplogetic glance.

"Yea, for the sake of our sanity," Luke said, nudging her shoulder with a smirk. He really appreciated her effort and in those moments, he really loved his sister.

...

"Doctor Oliver? Doctor Oliver! Doctor Oliver?"

Reid didn't turn around. The voice was high pitched, irritating and flustered- must be an intern. He kept at his business, checking the chart infront of him and marking off test dates with a biro. He suddenly felt a pat on his shoulder, purposeful and completely unwanted.

"Yes?" he asked without turning his head and void of any pleasantries.

"Doctor Oliver, I wanted to ask you about the patient who was discharged last week... Luke Snyder?"

Reid sprung to life and turned quickly. He blinked, took in the mass of tangled ginger locks and the shiney eyes- Nurse Rosie Dawes. Of course.

"Yes, and what about that particular patient?" Reid asked, retaining his composure and giving entirely nothing away.

"Well," she began with a jolt of excitement, her hands frenzied and gesturing, "as you know, I spent a lot of time with him and we really had fun together writing and talking about literature and our favourites novels. I read some of his work and it's beautiful and so when my friend Jayne told me about this course, I was so excited and have booked my holiday so I can go. I thought Luke might be interested. I mean, it costs a bomb, " Reid snorted but Rosie was lost in her own world to notice, "and it'd mean he'd have to go away for a few weeks but it's exactly what he's interested in and it's a great opportunity an-"

"Why, Nurse Dawes, have you abandoned your duties to come to rant at me about this?"

"Well, I erm, I suppose I erm, well," she stammered, her freckled cheeks glowing pink, "I know you spent time with Luke and you, erm, well, I guessed you might know where he lives so I can, um, go and visit him. We got on so well and I know he'd just love this."

Reid rolled his eyes. Luke "I can make friends in an empty room" Snyder strikes again, he thought. "That's classified information Nurse Dawes but you are on staff here and so can check yourself instead of bothering me when I'm obviously busy and very important. Yes?"

Rosie blushed a deeper shade of purple and fought to keep her eyes on the floor. Something in Reid changed in that second as he saw the effect he'd had on her over bubbly champagne cork kind of mood. Her reply was simply, "Yes Doctor Oliver."

He sighed and ducked his head to catch her eye. He fixed a practiced softness to his countenance and spoke with a more gentle lilt than his usual doctorly tone. "I shall, on this occassion, make an exception and deliver the news myself. I appreciate your duties extending beyond the minimal. It's commendable Nurse Dawes. Now if you'd like to return to Mr Davis in room 308, he has been making incesant noise all day." Reid snapped his head back to his charts but sneakily peeked at Rosie almost skipping away to resume her work. He clocked her smile and felt something odd- a twinge of warmth. Jesus, this is what being nice to the staff feels like, he contemplated.

"Doctor Oliver!" he heard another voice call.

He sighed heavily again, kept his eyes on the charts and felt irritation bubble immediately despite himself. "Go away. I'm busy!" he boomed and shared, with himself, a wry smile of enjoyment. Nurse Dawes was sweet and sensitive but he knew that voice and hated this particular intern's over intensified effort and sickening suck-up nature. He can sod off, he thought, it's my lunch and I've got a certain blonde to call.

...

"Sweetiepie, would you pass me the serving spoon, please?" Lily asked, signalling to Luke who stood across the counter at the farm. Emma had disappeared to check on Meg and had left Lily in charge as they were early. Nobody else had arrived except them and Luke was already tired. He plonked himself onto one of the wooden chairs around the table. He felt his arm itch as he picked at his rough shirt. He'd let Natalie, the birthday girl, pick out his outfit as he felt bad for spending so little time with her. She had gleefully played with his hair and tried to knot his tie. Luke had looked into her big blue eyes and known he'd suffer the entire day's hell, just for her. He was, however, regretting allowing her to dress him in a dark shirt, thin black and grey tie and fitted black trousers. He felt like he should be conducting interviews or chairing a board meeting not eating banoffee pie and playing pass the parcel. She'd said he looked like a movie star so he hadn't complained.

"Oh Lily, there's no need to use that, come here my darling," Emma called, ambling into the kitchen and taking the spoon from Lily's hand, tossing it to oneside and replacing it with something of her choice. Lily looked put out and backed away with a huff.

Things continued in such a manner for an hour or so. Holden and Molly arrived and distracted Emma with wedding talk- Lily had sunk into the shadows and then made her excuses to go and find Ethan. Lucinda had waltzed in fashionably late but still making her distinct presence felt and had chosen to sit by Luke. He was uncharacteristically silent and pale.

"So my darling, how are you?" she asked, firmly stroking his arm. He smiled, he couldn't help it around the Great Lucinda Walsh, and turned to face her.

"I'm doing ok Grandmother, I guess it just needs some time. I've been a bit wobbly recently but Rei- Doctor Oliver...and Bob of course, have been amazing and they're taking care of me," he rushed, all too pointedly stumbling over Reid's name and blushing to boot.

"Ahha it seems I did well bringing a certain handsome doctor to Oakdale after all," she suggested, a twinkle in her sharp eyes.

Luke chuckled lightly, feeling his cheeks redden again, "I guess you did."

"Well," she began, "not that it matters, because sweetheart, you are a grown man, but I approve. In fact, I completely understand. There's something about a doctor, I think it's the hands," she added wistfully with a flirty wink.

"Grandmother!" Luke exclaimed with raised eyebrows, "Rei- Doctor Oliver happens to be a very well esteemed professional who takes his job very seriously and is a very competent and skilled surgeon."

"I bet that's not all he's skilled at, eh?" she said as she winked and nudged her grandson's arm. Luke laughed exasperatedly and shook his head.

"You are impossible," he stated with narrow but amused eyes and paused for a while before adding, "but you might be right." Lucinda laughed, loud and powerful but ever gracefully, and patted Luke's shoulder.

"Oh I bet...I bet," she repeated with a smile. Their secret words were interrupted by Ethan's cries.

...

Reid almost threw himself into the blue padded seat as he entered the on-call room. He reached for his cell and lunch box with a watering mouth- Katie had offered to make him a sandwich and she really was getting to be quite talented. As he unwrapped his sandwich with one hand, he began to phone Luke with the other.

"Hello there and who may I ask is calling?" was the answer when the phone stopped ringing. The voice was small, squeaky and definitely not Luke.

"Who is this?" Reid asked, trying to sound friendly.

"My mom said I wasn't to talk to strangers."

Reid pursed his lips and surpressed his reflex to scold or bite. This is a little girl, he chanted to himself, this is a small child, she means no harm, she's Luke's sister, she's Luke's sister, she's Luke's sister...

"Is Luke there please?" Reid tried again.

"I'm afraid he's busy at the moment." Reid laughed through irritation. He didn't know what the hell to say. Precocious little girls were glaringly not Reid's forte. He wondered then what Luke was like as a child, how he would have behaved and shook his head in bewilderment and shame as he realised that a little Luke would probably behave exactly the same, if not a tiny bit worse. Reid was beginning to grasp the Snyder way through default and some unfortunate personal experience. It was becoming increasingly obvious that Luke was a good mixture of his entire family. Fucking terrifying, Reid thought to himself, never do I want to be immersed in the Snyder insanity. He made a pledge in that moment to keep the hell away from them all, except Luke, for his own safety and well-being.

"Well, could you let him know that Rei-Doctor Oliver is on the phone," he rushed out and then considered himself for a moment before adding, "please?"

Reid listened in to the scene that unfolded. "Luke! Luuuuuke!"

"Yea Natalie?"

"I answered your cell and there's someone who wants to speak to you."

"Who is it Nat? Ask them who it is. Ethan's just dropped a juicebox all over Grandmother's handbag so I need to clean this up..."

Reid laughed to himself wondering what Luke was wearing, if he'd be laughing behind his Grandmother's back, who this grandmother was and if she'd be jovial or a little bit pissed off despite it being her grandchild and also how Luke felt and if, through the madness, he was holding out for his family and forcing himself to fight the pain or weariness.

"He said it's Reedoctoroliver. Do you know him?"

Reid rubbed his eyes and sighed. He heard Luke's laugh from a distance and the sound of doors opening, then footsteps and a muffled handling of the phone.

"Thanks Nat, go help Grandmother with Ethan, there's a good girl. I'll be back in a bit and we can play games. Sound good?" Luke spoke, holding the phone as his sister punched the air with excitement and ran out of the room. "Nice name," he started, now talking into the mouthpiece, "really exotic."

"The more I learn about your family, the more I understand you," Reid admitted, realising that at the sound of Luke's voice he'd eased comfortably into the chair and tilted his head to one side. His stomach flooded with those lovely feelings again.

"I'm taking that as a compliment, " Luke decided., his shoulders swaying flirtily despite him being alone in an empty room.

"It wasn't meant as one." Reid's voice was serious and monotone.

"Shut up and tell me why you rang me," Luke said through giggles. He realised then just how much he'd missed Reid eventhough they'd only seen eachother the previous night.

"Well, a particular nurse of mine has taken quite a shine to you. God knows why. She wanted me to pass on some information but I have a flyer and booklet to give to you and I knew we hadn't arranged anything so I-"

"Why don't you come here?" Luke asked quickly, getting it out and almost holding his breath with trepidation, "I mean, I'd really like it if you could, you could meet my family, well meet them properly. It's only Nat's birthday, there's games and noise and lots of other little ones running around so it's not exactly your cup of tea so I'd understand if you didn't want to come but I thought I'd ask anyway because you might want to, I mean you probably don't so-"

"Jesus Christ Luke breathe," Reid demanded with a chuckle, "and you say I'm the one that babbles." Reid felt giddy and touched that Luke really seemed as if he wanted him around- he wasn't at all sure when the last time was when he'd felt like that as most couldn't wait to see the back of him. As realisation washed over him and the reality of Luke's question sunk in, Reid felt his blood pressure sky rocket and his knuckles tighten around his cell- Snyders. Party. Kids. No way.

"Sorry, I thought I'd ask. It's really ok if you say no though," Luke added, a flurry of tension tugged at his stomach. He wanted Reid to come so badly but was painfully aware of his family and the pressure that would put Reid under. He could barely imagine Reid playing party games with Natalie or discussing soap operas with Emma Snyder- Reid hated small talk, he had admitted he wanted to strangle soap opera characters for spewing their insides all over the television screen and Reid was less than fond of little kids- maybe except Ethan. He's never going to come, Luke resigned to himself. "It's ok if you're busy too and if you're on call or something. Honestly. It's just a simple family party with food-"

"Food?" Reid's ears pricked up, "what kind of food?"

Luke chuckled softly, flicking his eyes to the heavens. Typical. "Grandma Emma's brownies, erm, she made banoffee pie for Natalie as it's her favourite, plenty of desert, homemade pastries, she made four different pies and a pot of her homemade chilli-"

"I'm on my way."