Reid just stared at Faith with a way look on his face,
"I'm not sure what that means, Faith."
"Oh you'll learn."
Faith shot a look at Luke who gave her the look of death.
"What's going on, Luke?"
"I have no idea."
Luke looked away quickly and Reid knew instantly that he was lying.
Then the door opened and in walked Lily.
"What is going on here?"
Luke looked up and quickly jumped up,
"Hey mom, we're just playing a game."
"Can I see you in the kitchen for a minute, please, Luke?"
Luke followed his mom out of the room and Reid watched.
Five minutes later Luke was back looking upset and his mom looked even worse.
She walked over and picked up Ethan,
"Come on buddy. Let's go feed the ducks at the pond."
"Okay! Can Reid come?"
Lily's face showed a look of shock but she quickly masked it,
"Not this time. I think he needs to get going."
With that she looked directly at Reid,
"Don't you, ?"
Luke stepped forward and placed his hands on Reid's arm,
"He isn't going anywhere, mom."
Lily turned around and huffed out of the house.
"It's okay, Luke. I can go home, besides aren't we done babysitting?"
"Uhh, actually, I want to go for a horseback ride. Will go with me?"
"I have no desire to get on a horse."
"Come on, Reid… I promise to make it worth your while."
"Oh, I know you will and intend to collect."
Luke and Reid walked hand in hand out to the barn.
Luke saddled up two horses and showed Reid the proper technique to mount and dismount a horse.
Reid thought Luke looked so sexy swinging his sex legs and ass over the side of a horse.
Luke took him for a ride all over the Snyder farm.
Reid actually was enjoying the ride and realized how relaxing it was.
Luke took them by the pond; Ethan and Lily were long gone.
Luke dismounted and took the horse to the edge to let him drink and motioned for Reid to do the same.
Reid slid off and Luke grabbed the reins and led the other horse to drink as well.
Luke sat down on the bank and looked out at the water,
Reid sat down beside him and placed his hand on Luke's, rubbing it gently with his thumb,
"I take it mommy dearest, was not happy that I was there."
"No, she wasn't. But I don't care anymore. I mean she has never taken the time to get to know you and…"
"And what, Luke?"
"And… I'm really tired of always doing things based on other people's expectations. I love you, I want to be with you, and it's for me and for once it feels good to be selfish."
"Look at me, Luke."
Reid grasped Luke's face in his hands then,
"I know you love me and I know that we together. I don't doubt it. I also know that your family is a huge part of your life and I would never ask you to walk away from them."
"I know and that's why I love you so much. You just accept my weird family, all my flaws, and me. I never thought I'd find anyone like you."
"Well, you did and I'm not going anywhere."
Luke knocked Reid on his back and kissed him then. Reid's arms came around him and put his hands in Luke's hair. They kissed slowly and gently for a few minutes, just enjoying the soothing water.
The fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms.
Two hours later, Reid woke up to see Faith and Natalie watching them sleep. They were giggling with another girl with brown hair.
He nudged Luke awake, who jumped up,
"Crap, did everyone arrive already?"
The brown haired girl spoke,
"No. Just us here right now."
"Oh good."
Reid looked at Luke, who was getting the horses ready to go back,
"Who is everyone and what are they arriving for?"
"Uhh, there is a Snyder family get together this evening. We're having a cookout and bonfire."
"And when were you planning on telling me this?"
"Afterwards?"
"Do you think it's a good idea that I meet your entire family for my first meeting? I mean come on, your dad doesn't even know about me!"
"It will be fine. I promise, plus Grandma Emma is cooking and you'll love her cooking. I promise."
"Fine, if food is involved."
Reid and Luke take the horses back.
Luke hands them to the stable worker and walks toward the house.
He can see by now that nearly everyone has arrived.
"Alright, so here are some things to keep in mind when talking to my family. Don't bring up sex around anyone, don't allude to Meg being crazy, and basically remember your mantra."
"I know, I know, don't be an ass."
They walked to the patio. Holden was grilling and talking to Jack who was sipping a beer. Carly, Lily, and Katie were looking at old photo albums and laughing. Molly and Janet were with Meg cooing over Eliza. Emma was sitting watching her family, while bouncing Jacob on her knee.
Parker, Faith, and Liberty were tossing a football around.
Natalie and Sage were swinging on the tire swing, and Ethan ran around with a cape tied around his neck screaming.
Luke cleared his throat as he approached them. All the talking and laughing ceased as they stared.
"Hi, guys. I wanted you guys to meet my boyfriend, Reid."
Carly's eyebrows shot up and she looked at Lily's reaction. Katie grinned. Holden was frozen with his spatula in midair. Jack was the first to say anything. He stepped forward and said,
"Nice to meet you, Reid. You're the one who operated on Dusty, right?"
Reid looked at Luke who just shook his head yes.
"Yes, I am a neurosurgeon at Oakdale Memorial."
Emma jumped up and handed Jacob to Katie.
"It's so great to meet you, Reid. Welcome to our home."
"Thank you, it's nice to meet you to."
Holden just stared at them a bit longer until Jack pointed out his burgers were burning. He turned back to the grill then.
Lily stared at them in stony silence before marching into the house and slamming the door.
Reid just closed his eyes, well this was going swell.
Luke just rubbed his back and whispered in his ear,
"They'll come around. I promise."
Katie called him over and started showing him pictures of Brad when he was in high school.
Reid felt comfortable around Katie and she started talking to Carly about things they remembered about Brad. Before they knew it, they were in a conversation about things the Snyder clan had gotten into.
Reid was shocked at the things that happened to all the people in this family.
Dinner was served then and Emma told him to make sure to try some of her special potato salad. He loaded up on food and was in heaven.
Luke was absolutely right. His grandma could cook and bake.
It was time for the bonfire then and the entire clan sat around telling jokes, ghost stories and just having a good time.
Then Carly spoke up,
"So Reid… how did you become a doctor?"
Before he knew it he was fielding questions left and right about his past, his personal life, how he and Luke got together, since they hated each other, if he was planning to stay around, and his personal favorite came from Lily,
"What makes you think you are good enough for my son? He was after all, spoiled by being with Noah."
Luke gasped when he heard that.
Reid fielded the questions brilliantly. He was the perfect amount of funny, snarky, and still respectful to Luke's family.
He saved the answer for Lily's until the end,
"I think I am good enough for your son, because he thinks so. His opinion is the one that matters to me. I won't say anything bad about Noah, because Luke and he shared something that will never be diminished simply because we started something."
Carly and Katie looked at each other and grinned.
Carly spoke up,
"Well, you passed my test. Welcome to the Snyder family, Reid."
Katie simply hugged him,
"You already know I view you as part of my family."
Lily sat in silence and just watched Reid.
The rest of the night was uneventful, Reid ate eight s'mores and he, Luke stuck around to help Emma, and Holden clean up.
Holden pulled Reid aside,
"I know I didn't say very much back at the bonfire, but I wanted you to know that if you make Luke happy, then I am not going to interfere. I know we don't know each other very well, but I'm willing to make an effort."
Reid shook his head,
"Then so am I."
Holden grabbed the rest of the lawn chairs and walked away.
Luke came up and grabbed his hand,
"Let's go home, Reid."
They started walking away when Lily's voice called out,
"Before you go, Reid, I'd like to have a word with you."
Luke stared at his mother.
"Just give us a moment, Luke."
Reid just nodded and let him know it was okay.
"What can I do for you, Mrs. Snyder?"
"I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry."
Reid's eyebrows shot up.
"Really? For what?"
"I was wrong. Luke is happy and I can see now that you do love him. I want Luke to be happy and so I won't interfere anymore. Plus, all of my children adore you it seems. So, four children can't be wrong. Also, Emma wanted you to have this before you went home."
Lily handed Reid three Tupperware containers full of food from that evening.
"Thank you, Mrs. Snyder."
"Call me, Lily."
"Thank you, Lily."
"Take care of my son, Reid."
She gently squeezed his hand and walked back into the house.
Luke was leaning against his car waiting for him.
"I just had to make sure you weren't murdered."
"She gave me food from your grandma, and she told me to take care of you."
Luke grinned,
"I knew they'd come around. They just had seen how much you love me."
"Well, I'm glad our relationship was on display for half of Oakdale tonight."
"Oh stop it, you know you loved it."
"Yeah, it wasn't that bad."
Luke kissed Reid on the lips before Reid turned to get in his car,
"I'll see you at home."
Reid pulled into the driveway to see Luke's car parked on the street.
Damn he could get used to coming home to him.
He walked in and put the food in the refrigerator. Katie was making a bottle for Jacob.
"So, you got the full Snyder experience tonight. How did it make you feel?"
"Like, I was on display"
"For what it's worth, you did well."
"I know. Lily and Holden told me to treat Luke right. So that is as close to approval as I can get right now."
Katie's look was shocked and happy,
"Oh, Reid. Things are really looking up for you two. Have you considered asking him to move in?"
"You wouldn't mind?"
"Reid he has spent the night here every night for over a month. He's basically my roommate already. Plus, he's the only one who knows how to program the remote on the television. "
"I hadn't thought about it Katie. I don't want to pressure him into anything too fast."
"Just think about it, Reid. I think he may surprise you."