A/N: The Problematic Uncle, Meeting the Family (Part Two).

Chapter Twenty Two

Card Counting Isn't Cheating

The day continued on and as evening approached, everyone very much settled after good food and fun conversation, Spencer had gotten in everyone's good books far easier than expected and Luke was clearly well chuffed with how the day was going, not that he'd any doubts, but to see it actualised he felt happy seeing his boyfriend so accepted by his family and vice versa. Grandma when she wasn't chatting or eating was trying to drag Spencer back to the piano which was very sweet, and as Luke's cousin and one of his sister and family left the house was still busy but not quite as packed, everyone able to appreciate the subtle piano playing soothing the home.

A knock at door had Lilliana hopping to her feet and going to greet whoever had arrived, the family hearing her say "oh, what a surprise, come in from the cold, Jaime", her brother and thereby Luke's uncle unexpectedly arriving for a visit. The older man walked into the house and and Luke was quick to say hello, "hey Uncle Jaime" and gave a shoulder pat.

"Well they're keeping you active at the FBI," Jaime said as he looked to his nephew whom he hadn't seen a while, "thought you'd have a gut after leaving the army" he joked though as the man's career had been wholly set in the military he did hold a slight bias. Nobody had expected the uncle to visit, the man probably not even in the know of recent events from Luke's relationship to Mariana's engagement as he lived in North Dakota now, often taking trips up to Canada but he was known to randomly drop by every few months to catch events in New York at the same time.

"Nah, man, FBI's got me on my toes" Luke replied with a smile before he watched Jaime listening out to the piano music in the house, picking up the fact that there were two sets of hands, before he stepped enough to view into the sunroom and asked "who's that playing with ma?" referring to 'Grandma'.

"Oh that's Spencer, Luke's boyfriend" Lilliana beamed like the proud mom she was, "he's the smartest person I've ever met, you should meet him" she encouraged.

"Boyfriend?" Jaime questioned before checking Luke's expression to see the word was used in all seriousness "uh in a minute, ma's in a good mood" he excused.

As Luke's mother went to join her daughters in a chat Uncle Jaime said hellos and gave out a few hugs but eventually found a way to corner Luke just out of earshot, his nephew calm but clearly keeping an eye on him. For Luke he knew his uncle wasn't exactly the most accepting man, more about being a gritty alpha male type than anything else in particular but the way he'd reacted to the term 'boyfriend' didn't take a profiler to hear the disapproval in his tone.

"I thought you were back on the women?" Jaime said bluntly, almost confused as he looked to the agent, the sentence so ridiculous he would have laughed if the man didn't appear completely serious.

"What?" Luke responded as he processed the question "What do you mean 'back on'?"

Uncle Jaime rolled his eyes like it was obvious and said "I just figured your bicurious stuff was a phase."

Luke's expression hid no part of his reaction, bewildered by the random assumption "there never was 'bicurious' - there was 'bi'" Luke stated flatly, hoping his uncle might just accept it and move on.

"Yeah right," the older man dismissed "you're not a dumb kid anymore making mistakes, just get yourself a woman an-"

"Uncle Jaime," Luke said appalled but firm "I know you're not comfortable with this, but sort it out yourself, this isn't going away so don't go making this mine and Spencer's issue, okay?" laying a foot down and being crystal clear, genuinely a little shocked by the man's brazen disregard.

"Whatever" he replied and just walked away, clearly still a tension in the uncle's shoulders, Luke for the first time since visiting family feeling a little concerned.

During his visit Uncle Jaime had been a bit quieter, he was friendly but in his own head, usually the type to be talking about sports and telling jokes but not so much tonight. The moment the man was actually properly introduced to Spencer, pre-warned about the handshake thing he did it anyway, reaching out to tightly grasp the genius' hand almost in a show of dominant energy and while Spencer did handle the contact okay he got an uneasy feeling around the older man and was no longer as relaxed as he had been. Especially when he rudely joked that Reid's handshake was 'a little limp there' and given that he hadn't been prepared for his hand to be grabbed and the judgemental connotations of being 'limp-wristed' the couple felt like they were being confronted in a way.

Often when the man visited the guys would go for a short drink at the local pub and this day was no different, Anthony as man of the house opened the invitation for some catching up and even bonding including asking Spencer "would you like to join us, no pressure" with a warm smile. Before Reid could answer Uncle Jaime suggested "or if you're more comfortable with the women and children that's fine" but it wasn't fine, it was almost like he was challenging masculinity, perhaps unhappy not only with Spencer being Luke's boyfriend but also his lack of stereotypically butch behaviour in the genius.

Not to be intimidated Spencer gave Luke's father a smile answering the original question with "drinks sound good" and from nearby hazel eyes matched his lover's brown ones, a small reassuring smile between them.

On the way to the local pub Luke found a moment to whisper an apology about his uncle without anyone hearing them, getting in a short explanation that Reid shouldn't worry about him and to just ignore anything he says. In truth Luke was disappointed in the man, he had fond memories with his uncle like going fishing and hiking, even learning how to drive when his father was busy, but now he was just acting out like Luke's personal life was anything less than great just because it didn't match his ridiculous idea of manliness. .

Luke's father got the first round of beers and a couple of tequilas, in attendance were Luke and Spencer, Anthony and Uncle Jaime followed by the in-law Benjamin and soon to be in-law Eduardo. Spencer rarely ever drank beer but he could enjoy one, most ordered American or German made but nobody blinked when Reid ordered the French, having enjoyed the kind he tried when he visited Paris. Luckily as the men started to unwind a little things seemed to lighten up and even the uncle a bit more chatty and telling jokes.

The questions about work came in and stories were shared, Anthony even explaining his head injury that lead to the hearing loss, some replies Luke or Spencer would sign back as he couldn't hear everyone very clearly but could talk just fine. While the story was scary in parts the man seemed in good spirits and happy to tell about his co-workers funny reactions. Then there were a few stories from time spent in the military including Luke's to which Anthony said happily "I'm amazed my son is in one piece, grateful of course, what…some grazes, few fractures along the way?"

Luke smiled and nodded "yeah, Spencer's got more than me in the shot wounds front" he explained and while Anthony and the in-laws were just curious about the stories the uncle teased "this twig?" in some disbelief before he downed another tequila shot, fairly getting through the drinks in a short amount of time.

Spencer ignored the insult and just sipped his drink before answering "I'm equally grateful about Luke, but I can say I've been shot two more times than you…which equals two" implying Luke never shot and got a small impressed chuckle.

Before the uncle could say anything rude it was Benjamin who worked as a lawyer to say "no way," but not in any dismissive way just genuinely surprised "am I the only one here that doesn't go walking into danger zones?" he asked rhetorically.

"Come on then, what's the stories?" pressed Eduardo with a smile as he sipped his beer.

Spencer then explained about how he was shot in the knee defending a target and had a talk down scenario while stuck on the ground, including having to redirect the medics to prioritise the unsub. "How did you stay so calm? I got shot in the arm and I was swearing Bloody Mary" joked Luke's father getting a chuckle.

What no one but Luke expected was for Reid to reply "well the second time I wasn't so clear headed, but that's what happens when you get shot in the neck." Eyes widened and Spencer smirked, but quickly they heard a slightly too loud uncle ask "is he fucking with us, he's got to be having us on?" his tone showing how he didn't believe the stories.

Not missing a beat Luke joined in with "nah man, he's got the scar to prove it." Spencer went on to explain it was during a shootout with rogue cops and given the scale of the incident given it was an entirely corrupt police department Anthony remembered hearing about it only adding to the proof.

"Don't tell your mother," Anthony said to Luke about Spencer having taken bullets in the past "she won't want this one out of her sight" implying Lilliana was likely to be overly doting but at least it implied she was taken with the genius. "Hey, how about some cards?"

Luke smiled and looked to his boyfriend next to him, deciding to warn the group he said "I don't know, Spencer can play anybody…"

"Now you're just making stuff up" said Uncle Jaime with narrow eyes, it wasn't threatening but the softness in his tone was likely from the alcohol rather than attitude. His logic again judgemental as though playing cards is somehow masculine? And it was then that both profilers clocked just how many empty shot glasses were sitting the table. Regardless cards were dealt and and after several rounds of the genius winning, while others were only even more impressed with Reid and losing with grace, the uncle was not "how?!" he exclaimed as yet again Spencer won "you cheating Spencer?" he slurred a bit, drinks getting to him.

"Card counting isn't cheating" Spencer answered smoothly, ignoring the sore loser getting drunk off his ass as best he could. The group in general in good spirits and when the lawyer agreed "true" they chuckled, the act of counting cards indeed perfectly legal and purely a skill.

"So you're saying you just won every game…with math?" the uncle said, his tone unreadable.

"That's exactly what I'm saying."

Luke's father smiled and asked "you play poker?" endlessly intrigued by the fascinating young man Luke had brought to meet the family. In all honesty his son rarely introduced any partner and yet he was beyond expressive about this special one, and he could see why. A happiness in his soul for his son having found his precious person. Spencer nodded and heard Luke bring up "he's banned from a lot of casinos…" with a chuckle.

"Several casinos…" Spencer corrected "…in Las Vegas, Laughlin, and Pahrump" he admitted and the more he said it it did sound like there were a great deal of them. This earned a laugh before they got another round of beers, who knows what round for Uncle Jaime, Luke and said uncle heading to the bar for them.

As Luke and Jaime stood at the bar out of earshot from the rest of the cheery group the man was clearly a bit heavy footed and inebriated when he said "you expect me to believe half that crap?"

"Excuse me?" Luke replied, knowing what he meant but trying to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"Your girlie fella, talking crap" said the drunk man offering no respect in his tone.

Sighing Luke found himself trying to calm his anger, the once cool uncle a real pain in the ass "he just beat everyone at four rounds of cards and has scars to prove the shot stories, he works in the BAU too - no lies, no crap, what's your problem?"

"I thought it was a phase before," the older man said, getting straight back to the homophobia "guess you're just a fag."

Luke wasn't insulted, he just wanted the man to sober up and take a look at himself for his selfish behaviour, "you're drunk" the safest response Luke could give so he didn't escalate his uncle or his want to just tell the immature man to leave.

"Faaaa-aaa-aaag" the uncle drunkenly taunted in a sing song voice, ignoring the accusation around his inebriated state and Luke's jaw clenched.

"I'll call you a cab and you can go sleep off being a dick" he said before grabbing all the beers to take back to the table, ignoring the wobbly man before he joined the others again. Hazel eyes gazed over his partner and noticed all the signs of agitation from his jaw to his squared shoulders and asked a quiet "you okay?" with a soft expression.

"Yeah" he answered before Uncle Jaime stumbled back over to the table, "I think you've had enough Uncle Jaime" the agent said firmly, shifting the beer out of reach as the older man went to grab another.

Looking at his nephew Jaime sneered "I'm good, I'm no sissy who cant drink like some" all of his words were slurred and by the wobble in his legs he didn't do himself any favours. Luke signed to his dad who was struggling to lip-read or hear what was going on, being blunt Luke just signed 'Jaime is being a dick.'

'Why?' Anthony signed back and received the answer 'homophobic and drunk.' Dark brows furrowed brows as Jaime reached for a beer again and this time it was Luke's father who moved it, placing it deliberately at the other end of the table furthest from the swaying man. "Luke's right, you've had enough" he said aloud.

"I'm gonna drink if I want" said Uncle Jaime and Luke signing for him, especially since with all the slurring it was hard for anyone to hear it until the older man became indignant "oh fuck off with that, you could be telling him anything" gesturing to Anthony.

"Uncle Jaime, we should get you to your hotel" Luke said firmly.

But it was then in a clear and disrespectful slur the man replied "nah, fuck off faggot."

This time Anthony heard him loud and clear and was immediately standing, for all the man was retired you could tell the man was ex-military and kept fit, any sane person would back down but the drunk man did not and was about to yell again when Anthony had tolerated enough. In a classic move he grabbed Jaime's forearm and twisted it behind his back, not enough to hurt but allowed him better control of the moron. He was marched out of the bar and away from the stunned onlookers and unseen by the otherwise cheery group he was forced into a cab.

Luke's father paid the cab driver enough to take him to the hotel but before he slammed the door in his brother-in-law's face he said assertively "you come back to my house when you are ready to be fucking decent, come back a moment before and it wont be a taxi you ride off in" the threat clear and he watched as the car drove off into the wintery night streets.

The group found themselves in a bit of shock when they watched the sweet and friendly Anthony force the drunk man out of the pub, Luke couldn't help feeling a bit puffed up having to face the homophobia in what was meant to be a safe space. But that wasn't his concern so much as he turned to Spencer, eyeing him to make sure he was alright, throughout the night having taken the most not so subtle insults from the man, picking away at him over the evening. Luckily the genius seemed more concerned about the overall awkwardness and drama of the incident, before hazel eyes seemed to return the favour of concern to Luke, after all it was the ex-ranger that had been called the worst names even if there were less incidents.

"I'm sorry about Uncle Jaime," Luke said to his beloved, reaching under the table unnoticed by others to caress the man's hand in his gently.

Feeling Luke's reassuring touch Spencer's mind raced a little less with concerns and gave him a soft smile "don't be, that kind of stuff says way more about the guy talking than who he's talking about" implying it was all Uncle Jaime's insecurities and hang up s and that she should have no bearing on them or how to feel.

"Yeah, some machismo thing" Luke agreed.

Benjamin and Eduardo chimed in too, saying they'd never seen Anthony have to do something like that although Uncle Jaime had been bit of a nuisance before, not as bad as tonight but anything from Eduardo having a pink car to when he heard Benjamin's frequented seeing ballet and theatre was prime teasing fodder. Everyone grew quiet after several minutes when Luke's father returned and took his seat once again. "Where's Uncle Jaime?" Luke asked aloud and signed.

"Taxi" Anthony answered firmly before turning to the couple who deserved far better than what the drunk idiot had made of the evening "Luke, Spencer," he addressed them both directly "if he causes you any problems let me know, that wont be tolerated" his tone serious and focused on them as he said "I'm sorry if he's made you feel unwelcome for even a second, I want you to know you are so welcome to this family, Spencer." And hearing that said so directly and sincerely made the genius very happy and if anything overcoming some obstacle seemed fitting, part of what made him and Luke so strong as a couple was knowing the world wasn't easy to navigate through but they could be there for each other.

"Thank you, so much" Spencer smiled sweetly, genuinely grateful.

Quote: "When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching - they are your family. "
― Jim Butcher