Part Vingt-deux

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Saturday was somewhat eventful for everyone. Julie and Flynn went and had a blast just hanging out together at the mall, shopping and relaxing, each getting a Mani-Pedi. They wrapped up in the afternoon with ice cream, before heading home to be there when Tia Victoria dropped Carlos back off. They planned to have another movie night in the living room and order pizza for dinner.

In Canada, the boys were also at a mall. Things had definitely changed in 25 years, but they had a really good time. Reggie asked Ray to help him pick a few things out, and Bobby encouraged Luke to try some new stuff. He still wanted band shirts and flannels, and Bobby really couldn't see him not wearing them, but he helped Luke pick out more plain t-shirts and solid-color button-downs, and a few other clothes. Alex and Willie had gone off together, Willie may have been on his own, but he had been people-watching for quite a few years as a ghost, he knew what they should get. It also helped that he was good at listening to Alex, and allowing him to open up and relax.

Ray had made a plan when they got there that morning to meet at the main entrance of the mall at 5pm, then they would go somewhere for dinner. Willie had immediately latched onto Alex and dragged him off, he wanted to spend the day together and, based on the knowing smiles from everyone else, they understood. Even Luke had called out after them, "Enjoy the day, you two!"

"Are you having fun, Hotdog?" Willie grinned at him, he swung their clasped hands as they walked towards the food court for a snack.

"Ye-yeah, it's been crazy and a little overwhelming. This is all so different. But, uh, you've been really great about making me feel comfortable, so thank you." Alex was blushing, but he had a smile that wouldn't be contained on his face.

"Good. I want you to be comfortable with me Alex, even if I do like teasing you sometimes." Willie had stopped, and they stood next to a pillar, off the main walkway.

"I…" Alex looked away for a moment, taking a deep breath. "You make me comfortable, but also flustered, and I always have butterflies when you smile at me. You hold my hand like it's natural, and you have a nickname for me that makes me crazy, but you always say it like it's special, so I can't help but love it. You make me feel like I'm exactly who I should be and I don't need to be scared to show it. I really like you Willie." He looked back into Willie's eyes and seemed to gain confidence from the slight blush that was now on Willie's cheeks, and the affection and acceptance shining from his eyes. He tilted his head down slowly, his eyes sliding shut. Willie didn't hesitate, he put a hand up, gently placing it where Alex's shoulder and neck met, and leaned up to bring their lips together. They shared a soft kiss for a long moment, before pulling back to breathe and beam at each other. This is what Willie had been waiting and hoping for, he had been pretty sure Alex felt the same way, but he was a little scared to really do anything first. Having Alex say those things and be the one to initiate the kiss made all of his worries disappear.

"So, you ready for a bite of food, Hotdog?"

"Yeah, let's go!"

The rest of the day went quickly, and if they were a little more giddy and prone to duck behind a pillar now and then, as they traversed the mall, well, they were happy.

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Luke had snuck away alone after lunch, there had been a loose group of he, Reggie, Ray and Bobby, but he had seen a store he had to check out by himself. It was a jewelry store, and in the window he had seen a bracelet with a music note charm hanging off it, he needed to see it up close.

Thirty minutes later, he strolled out of the store with a small gift bag, a pleased and smug look across his face. The store did personalizations, so he was now the owner of a gold bracelet with two small charms. A music note, and a heart- which was inscribed with "Perfect Harmony" on one side, and "J & L" on the other. He couldn't wait to give it to Julie, he had been talking to Ray and it had been mentioned that her 17th birthday was coming up. Luke wanted it to be perfect for her, and he even had a few new song ideas for them starting to take form in his head.

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The evening was quiet and calm, for both those still in California, and those in the hotel in Canada. Although, a slight string of underlying tension flowed through everyone. The airport and the flight home the next morning would be the test.

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The boys and Ray and Bobby were up early on Sunday, finishing getting their suitcases packed with their new clothes, making sure all the tags were off, and double-checking their passports and driver's licenses. Ray had also gone over that with them the last week, taking each of them driving to make sure they remembered, they probably wouldn't need to drive much, but it was good to be prepared.

"Are we all set boys?" Ray had the cart with his and Bobby's luggage, ready to add theirs. "We have a taxi coming in the next 20 minutes, breakfast can wait until we're at the airport. Julie would never forgive us if we miss our flight."

"We're ready Ray."

"Yeah, let's go."

All the boys nodded in agreement and loaded their stuff on the cart, before following Ray out to go meet Bobby in the hotel foyer to wait for the taxi.

Luckily the drive there and checking their luggage went off without any issues. Then, they got to security. Luke was last, and what Ray had thought was a joke from Bobby early in the planning stages, he had actually done. The security guard looked at Luke's passport and then started happily questioning him in French. Ray was horrified. Except...

"Oui, je voyage pour le travail... Nous sommes un groupe de musique... Bonne journée, monsieur! Merci beaucoup!"

"Uh, Luke?"

"Yes, Ray?" He was putting his shoes back on like nothing had happened.

"You-you can speak French?"

"Oh. Yeah. My dad's parents actually lived in Canada, we used to visit them a bunch when I was in elementary school, and I only spoke French with them. They both passed away by high school, but Bobby took a French class so he could flirt with some girl, and I sometimes helped him with his homework. So he knew I would be fine, don't worry."

"Oh... okay." Ray decided that he was definitely glad he was sitting next to Luke on the plane, obviously there was a lot more to this kid than music, and now Ray was extremely interested in finding out about it.

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They all got a quick breakfast, with plenty of coffee for Ray, and tea for Bobby, and then they sat around at the gate for awhile before the plane started boarding.

It wasn't a super long flight, but Ray happily settled himself in the aisle seat next to Luke a few rows behind the other four. He hadn't quite planned it this way, but it had worked out and he was pleased they could have an uninterrupted conversation.

"So, Luke, you are extremely talented at the guitar, you write amazing songs, and you speak French fluently? What else don't I know about you? Since you have clearly become ridiculously important to my baby girl, I think we should get to know each other better, right?"

"Uh. Well, sure." Luke was a little wary, it wasn't that he didn't want to talk to Ray, or that he was worried Ray wouldn't like him, they were past that. It was more that Luke wasn't very good about opening up, he used music to show himself, lyrics he could write and rewrite, but a regular conversation could be hard.

"I don't want you to think I'm interrogating you. How about we just start with how you managed to convince Julie to sing again? Did you say something to her that sparked things?"

Luke chuckled a little, "Sparked? Actually that word is a recurring theme, it seems like. But really, I just told her about how I felt about music, and I guess it helped? She did find me staring into the fridge that second night, and she walked through me, we weren't solid then. I told her how I thought her voice was like a wrecking ball." He paused and asked hesitantly, "Did Reggie mention that you walked through him that time, and that he could tell you had a good heart?"

"Yes, he did tell me about that. He also fell through me that night I learned you were ghosts, and that time gave me a strange understanding of you boys, it's how I know I can trust you with Julie."

"Oh. Thank you." Luke looked down and fiddled with the strings on his brand new gray hoodie for a moment.

Ray just waited patiently.

"When Julie walked through me that first time, it was like I knew that she would understand me. Alex and Reggie, and even Bobby...before, well, they're my family and they get me, but... it felt like more, like she would truly share my connection with music." He suddenly jerked up to meet Ray's eyes with alarm, "The connection wasn't anything weird, though! Not like our souls got attached or anything like that! It was like I knew we would be friends!"

"It's okay, Luke, go on." Ray had to school his face to remain impassive, hiding the amused smile trying to break through at the obvious panic in Luke's voice.

There was a long pause, then, "I... it just crept up on me. She crept up on me." His voice had dropped to a whisper. "I was denying it until the performance for the party in the driveway. We were singing 'Edge of Great' and she wouldn't look at me. It hurt. A lot. And I was suddenly going over every time we sang together, and how it felt to write with her... just be around her... I love her." The last part was still quiet, but it was spoken clear and firm.

Ray was internally cheering. He may not have been there to see all the milestones of the two of them finding each other, but he had seen plenty. And he knew Julie felt the same as Luke. Maybe they were still young, but he had faith that they would either work out and stay together, or part on good terms, they cared enough to make that happen if needed.

"Then I think you need to talk to her when we get back." He cleared his throat, deciding not to push the subject further. "On another note, I've been talking to Bobby about somewhere for you boys to stay, you can't keep sleeping on air mattresses in the studio forever. The house across the street is about to be put on the market, and he thinks it would be a good investment, real estate usually is. Then you four guys could have your own space, but still be close by. I personally think you might want to sign up for a college class or two. Nothing that would interfere with the band, but Julie still has to at least finish high school, that's something I won't budge on, so a class to occupy you during part of the day might be a good thing."

"A house?! That's the nicest thing... I mean, not including this... I just... thank you Ray!" Luke wiped a hand over his eyes quickly, "Will you maybe help me look at classes? I didn't want to before, but if it doesn't interfere with the band... And I know Reggie would love your input!"

"Of course. I'm kinda hoping Reggie might like to take a photography class, he's seemed interested in my work, and it would be nice to help him with homework and all that."

"He would love that! His parents didn't take much of an interest in him at all, they were always just fighting."

"Ah. I was going to ask about that." Ray's forehead crinkled in thought, "I'm not quite sure how to ask this delicately, but, did things ever get, well, physical?"

Luke blew out a breath, "No. Not that I know of, and I'm pretty sure I would know. It was just verbal, and it could get bad if he tried to get in the middle."

"Okay. I kinda want to say 'good', but that's not quite right because it doesn't have to be physical to be damaging. Do you think he would talk to me eventually?"

"Maybe. I think so."

"Good, that is actually good."

They lapsed into silence for a few minutes, then, "What about Alex?" Ray's voice was soft.

"He- it wasn't good. He has anxiety attacks. You and Julie, and Flynn have been so nice... it seems better now? Like, it's kinda okay for him to be... himself? With Willie?"

"It's much better now. There's still a lot that could be improved, but as of right now, they could even get married if they wanted to."

"REALLY? That is much better than before!"

"Which reminds me, I want to say how much you impressed me the other day when we had the table delivered. You stood up and included Willie, and made it clear he was part of the deal because of Alex. It showed great character and care for your friends."

Luke went bright red at that, ducking his head and mumbling, "Alex is one of the best people I know, and one of my best friends, how could I not?"

"Exactly. It was the right thing to do. You are someone to be proud of, Luke, don't ever let anyone tell you different." Ray was still a little upset with Luke's parents, he knew they had reconciled now, and it was a different time back then, but to him, you always supported your kids, no matter what. He would never say a word, though, it wasn't his place. Also, Luke seemed to be firmly set as part of his family now, so he was going to be there for him, regardless of anything or anyone else.

"What's your read on Alex, would he also talk to me? Or does he seem to be opening up to Willie enough for right now?"

"I think he's okay for now. He told me what you said to him, that he could always be himself. I think if he needs to he might go to you, you let him know he could."

"That's great. I don't want to push any of you, but I want you to know that the option is there."

"Ray. I can say sincerely, you have made us feel more welcome and taken care of, and safe than we have in years," Luke dropped to a barely there whisper, "and I'm not counting when we were dead and stuck in that dark room." His voice went back to mostly normal volume, cracking slightly, "I really can't say it enough, thank you."

Ray had to blink back a few tears of his own at that, and he reached over and tugged Luke into a long hug, it was so easy to see how Julie got attached to these boys so fast, it had happened to him too.

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As the seatbelt light went on, warning that the plane was starting it's descent, Ray smiled at Luke, they had been chatting the whole flight. "Are you ready to get home?"

"Yes. I, uh, I'm really glad we got to talk, though." Luke's hand went up to rub the back of his neck, and Ray couldn't help but hug him again.

"Just remember you have to stay in the car until we get back, no ghosting home. The neighbors need to see you get out and us unloading all the luggage, okay?"

"Okay, Ray."

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When they got off the plane and had retrieved their bags, they followed Bobby and Ray out towards the main doors of the airport. Bobby had arranged for Ray's car to be ready for them. He spoke to the driver quickly, and accepted several plastic bags, tipping the gentleman and waving goodbye before turning to the guys and handing them each a bag, glancing in each one as he spoke their names. "Reggie, here. Then Luke, Alex, and, yup, Willie."

They looked inside to find brand new cell phones, each with a different color case. Red for Reggie to match his bass, blue for Luke for his guitar, a light orange for Willie, and a pastel pink for Alex. "Ray thought you might like that, since you seem to have a few shirts in that color." Bobby grinned, and they all threw their arms around him in a group hug,

"Thank you!" "This is amazing!" "You really didn't have to!" "Thanks, Bobby!"

"You are very welcome!"

Ray clapped his hands, "All right, guys! Let's all go home!"

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As the SUV pulled up in front of the Molina house and everyone got out, the front door flew open, and Julie was running down the steps. Luke beamed at her, but was a bit bewildered as she smiled back at him, but detoured around the front of the car, instead of coming to him. His look turned to one of fond understanding, though, as she gave her dad a fierce, lightning fast hug, and said, "I'm so glad you're back Papi!" before dashing back around and flinging herself into Luke's arms. Burying her face in his neck, she jumped up wrapping her legs around him, causing him to stagger back a step as he caught her and tucked his face into her hair, just breathing her name, "Julie."

"I missed you."

"I missed you, Jules."

"You guys are so dramatic. It's barely been 48 hours." Reggie muttered under his breath, exchanging amused looks with everyone else, as they all laughed and shook their heads affectionately.

A/N: This is all I have for a few days again, probably. And, I guess I just cannot get away from Protective!Ray/BestDadEver!Ray ?

Also I did the thing. I hope my translations are correct, Luke is supposed to be saying, "Yes. I am traveling for work... We are a band... Have a good day, sir! Thank you very much!"