Chapter Thirteen:
The nap Alex had taken was small and yet it was enough to revitalize him for the rest of the day. He took to immediately planning out his dinner with Luke which meant frequent trips to the store. Alex was extremely grateful that Zelda recalled how much he hated food shopping and so volunteered to run into the store with the lists he made. With all the time he had, Alex decorated the dining table with a fancy white cloth and the good candle holders. Zelda allowed him to use the fine china but only after mentioning that Alexys was allowed nowhere near them for fear her clumsiness would destroy them.
Alex agreed.
The night before Alex had texted Luke that he would be missing classes because of stress (not a total lie) and so throughout the day Luke messaged him with check-ins. There was a moment that he insisted to cancel the date and to let him take care of him but Alex denied the option. All Alex wanted to do was make Luke feel special.
But as he cooked the chicken alfredo…Alex couldn't help but think about what he and Alexys had uncovered with Abed's website. The question "Why Does it Feel Like the Universe Just Started Yesterday?" played over and over in his mind while he made the sauce from scratch. To him it meant the answer to his own question: is this real? Of course, the answer was no. It devastated him.
In his mind replayed the words they had shared. There were hints to it that he should have noticed. Constantly Luke said he felt like he was getting to know the real Alex. After so much time they spent together it was like Alex had begun to truly open up. To Alex it felt like he had been tossed into a novel and so his authenticity shook up the pages. His heart melted with how much Luke responded to that authenticity.
Alexys' words rang through his mind though.
He wondered of the possibility of bringing Luke to Universe A. It wasn't like he was a ganger. Even if he was! Alex didn't care. He would be sort of into that. Even if Luke was an alien! That would be fine! That would mean he existed and was real and could leave Greendale with him. Alex feared going into the Tardis with Luke only to have Luke crumble like a burning book. He couldn't bare it.
The thought of the Tardis suddenly made him think of Hicks.
He cut up the chicken into nice chunks but it might as well have been his heart on the board. His mind ran through memories of the beautiful golden retriever—the sweet blonde. She got in the way a lot. She needed constant affection and she was prone to huffing if she did not receive it. She could not survive on her own but Alex had faith that if she were ever lost on the street she would immediately find a new family and she would be satisfied. Hicks was his baby, his child, his love and being unsure of her whereabouts frightened him beyond belief.
He looked to the bowl of chopped of broccoli and ached to throw her a few pieces.
Alex sighed put down the knife and gave his hands a quick wash.
He trusted what the Doctor said—he had to! He trusted what Alexys said about the sentient Tardis too. She would absolutely take care of Hicks and a brief thought of them flying around the universe to have their own adventures made him laugh. He would definitely watch that show.
Alex began preparing to cook the chicken, broccoli, and mushrooms.
He thought of Alexys and her issues between the Doctor and Nick. He wondered about his own Doctor and the similar overwhelming feelings he had whenever "Professor Schmidt" complimented him—which was often. Alex loved the Doctor, that was absolutely true, and he was so fun. A blush settled over his features as he thought about the adventures they had gotten into. He could spend the rest of his life with the Doctor…but the Doctor could not spend the rest of his life with Alex.
Though there was some conflict, the decision was simple for Alex. Luke was stable, he was compassionate, he was caring, he was there for Alex no matter what. The Doctor was not stable. Alex knew he was at a point in his life where he needed consistency and he needed love. The Doctor was a mystery, he was a wild ride, he had adventures in sentences and beyond. Best of all, he was not jealous!
The decision for him didn't weigh so much because he knew the Doctor could still rely on him as a companion. Romance wasn't a thing that got in the way for the Doctor. There would be no hard feelings even if he walked in on Alex and Luke making love. Depending on which incarnation of the Doctor…he might even join. The thought brought a level of excitement into Alex.
Once he and Alexys figured out what was going on…he imagined a celebration was in order for he and Luke and the Doctor.
Alexys' estimation for her nap was surprisingly accurate. At around 6:30 PM she awoke to the sound of gentle purring from Salem waking up from his nap beside her. She let out a yawn and gave him light pats. He curled against her with what seemed like a desire to continue resting but she knew it was his dinner time. Alexys stood from the bed suddenly overcome with Christmas spirit and began to sing tunes as she carried Salem to the kitchen.
"And this Christmas, will be! A very special Christmas, for you and me!"
"Look who's awake!" Alex exclaimed.
"It is me it is me," she smiled but when she looked around to the dining room her smile fell into a gasp. "Alex! This place is beautiful! OMG am I interrupting! When does Luke get here?"
"A thank you, a thank you," he beamed with pride, "We've got about a twenty minutes."
Alexys was amazed by not only the fine china but by the presentation of the desserts on the table. The smell of the food was incredible and Alexys looked to see he was still working on some of it on the stove. She stepped toward it to see thick, juicy, delicious steaks but when she glanced around she saw evidence of something else.
"Are you having two entrees?" she wondered.
Alex grinned and offered her a small pot with a lid on top and two bowls with forks and napkins, "I took the liberty of making you, Zelda, and Hilda dinner too. They already ate so this is all for you."
"Shut the front door!" she gasped, taking the items from him and setting it down on the counter so she could open the lid, "Alex! My favorite!"
He laughed, "I hoped you'd like it! I felt bad cooking for me and Luke and not making anything for you and our Aunties."
"Oh, Alex! Thank you!" She threw her arms around him in a tight hug.
"You're welcome, you're welcome," he hugged her back.
"How are you able to do all of this? You're not even breaking a sweat?" Alexys stepped back to look at him. "Do you have your outfit planned too?"
"I do and I decorate my room so the romance can continue," he grinned.
"Alex! How!" she was amazed that after everything they had done he had so much energy when she needed to take the longest nap.
"I don't know!" Alex shrugged and watched Alexys feed Salem, "I guess talking to Abed and Troy really gave me the burst I needed."
"How dare you!" she gasped.
He laughed, "If this were a competition I would totally win."
"Hey, no one wins until they meet Star-Burns," Alexys narrowed her eyes.
"Oh, another Alex? I think I've got this," he grinned happily.
"Alex, this is incredible! Do you need any help with anything? Like anything at all?" she look to the kitchen and found it pretty much clean and the dishwasher already going.
"No, I've got it here but…did you see anything when you woke up?" Alex looked to her with curiosity.
"See anything?" her heart began to beat a big faster.
"Yeah…like did you run into anyone familiar on your way here?" he seemed to be searching her face for clues of something.
"Wha—no…Should I? You're scaring me!" she screamed.
He laughed and shook his head, "Just take the food to your room. I'll see you…probably tomorrow morning?"
"…Fine. Have fun on your date! If this is a bad surprise I'm ruining it!" she grabbed what he had handed to her off the counter and walked back to her room. Each step dripped with fear and excitement at the possibility of what it could be. In the town of Greendale surprises could be hilarious or deadly.
In her room she found nothing out of the ordinary except for her unmade bed. She put the food and plates down on her dresser before fixing it roughly then doing another check around the room. A flicker from beneath the door of her bathroom suddenly caught her attention in the sweep. Her brows furrowed in curiosity as she took tentative steps to the door. She steeled herself then whipped it open.
"Nick!"
She couldn't help but scream the name as she looked around the bathroom. The whole room was filled with candles in addition to the already red ones she had. Every surface had candles and where there weren't candles there were sunflowers and delicious smelling plants. Cinnamon, warm vanilla, brown sugar and scents she couldn't identify joined together to wrap her in an embrace as she took a step on the rose petal carpet that led to the bathtub where Nick Scratch waited.
Of all the great surprises him in a bubble bath waiting for her was the greatest of all.
He smiled happily and from the other side pulled up a six pack of Coca Cola, "Well, are you going to join me?"
When Luke arrived Alex felt a wave of nervous energy wash over him. He had done literally everything to prepare for the event and still he was afraid something would go wrong. Everyone had promised to leave the house to him and Luke so there was no worry of anyone getting in the way. He had a record playing Save the Last Dance for Me by the Drifters and he was dressed in the classic Ambrose way. His hair was perfectly slicked with no cowlicks to speak of and dinner waited on cloche serving dishes on the table.
It was all perfect and yet…
A light tap at the door signaled that Luke had arrived.
He took in a deep breath and opened the door.
The man was stunning, wearing nicer clothes than he had the whole while Alex had known him. His hair was perfectly coifed and he leaned against the door frame with a smirk that made his blue eyes pop. He looked so much like James Dean it made Alex melt.
Luke noticed and leaned in closer, lifting Alex's chin with a solid finger, as he smiled, "Smells delicious."
"Yeah!" Alex squeaked, completely captivated by the man before him.
His lips ghosted over Alex's with the temptation of a kiss, "Are you going to invite me in?"
"Right!" Alex pulled back and motioned for him to enter, "Come in, please! Can I take your coat?"
Luke was already shrugging it off as he gave a little sway to the music, "Don't worry, I know where it goes. Alex, I'm not joking. It smells incredible."
"I've got it," Alex mumbled taking the coat from Luke so he could hang it up in the coat closet, "Thank you, thank you. I hope you like it. It's one of my specialties."
"Honestly, even if you served me a hockey puck I'd love it," Luke grabbed Alex by the hand and pulled him in for a kiss.
Alex beamed under the touch of his lips but after a moment the excitement of him trying the meal took over. He pulled back and held onto Luke's hand as he guided him toward the dining room, "If you call what I made you a hockey puck I'd honestly die a little inside but that's okay."
"No!" Luke laughed, wrapping an arm around his shoulders as they walked, "I'm sure what you made is nothing close to a hockey puck."
"So you're saying it's worse than a hockey puck?" Alex pretended to get chocked up, "No, it's fine. It's fine."
It seemed just then Luke really began to listen to the music that played. He tilted his head up to hear the song then looked to Alex with a grin, "Will you do me the honor?"
"I'd be happy to," the blush on Alex's face was bright as Luke grabbed him around the middle and took his right hand to hold it up.
The two danced, rocking side to side as they shuffled and sang to the lyrics of the song, "If he asks if you're all alone can he take you home, you must tell him no. Cause don't forget who's taking you home and in who's arms you're going to be. So darling, save the last dance for me!"
They danced and sang their way to the dining room but as soon as they stepped into the room there was nothing but silence.
"Do you…like it?"
Luke's face was unreadable as he looked over the scene Alex had created. His blue eyes dragged over every surface of the room that had been made up in such a classy manner. The candles at the center of the table danced toward them as if seducing Luke to make some sort of statement.
"Luke?"
"Yeah?" His voice was a whisper as he glanced to Alex and then back at the room.
"What do you think?"
He coughed and that smile that brightened his eyes returned as he looked to Alex, "I…I'm speechless. No one has ever done anything like this for me. EVER. I just…I don't know if I deserve it."
"Of course you do!" Alex wrapped his arms around the man's middle, "Luke…you have been a dream come true at a time when I didn't believe in such a thing. You have given me everything I need in a partner. This is the least I could do!"
Luke looked to Alex with genuine emotion before kissing his forehead, "You're a king, Alexander."
Alex's face seemed to be glowing, "Just wait until you try the steak."
"Steak!" Luke pulled back with excitement, "And he cooks steak! I've made it!"
Alex laughed and guided him to his seat, "Did you bring the wine?"
Luke grinned, "No, I brought flower."
It was Alex's turn to gasp as from Luke's pocket he pulled out a full two ounces of marijuana with the name Pineapple OG written clearly on the bag that held it. Before Alex could control himself he blurted out, "I love you."
Once the words jumped past his lips he covered his mouth with his hand.
Luke stood and held Alex's face between his hands as he looked deep into his eyes, "Alex, I love you too."
In the bathtub upstairs Alexys sat at one end with Nick at the other and their legs tangled together. They alternated between warm water and cold water and bubbles and bath bombs that turned the water a strange color. Alexys sipped her cola out of a wine glass while Nick drank actual wine. In the background was a Spotify playlist Nick had made just for the occasion that had a mix of modern music, classics, and Christmas carols. It was heavenly.
"Nick…I don't know what I did to deserve this but please tell me what it was so I can do it over and over and over again!" she grinned.
Under the water Nick massaged her foot as he laughed, "All you did was be sweet and honest with me. I know we hit sort of a rough patch but that happens in serious relationships. This is a celebration of us making it through our first bump in the road."
"Cheers!" she laughed, extending her glass toward his. He reached over for his and clinked hers. Alexys tried her best not to consider the tenth of December, the compasses falling from the sky, the cracks in the universe, the time fissures, Professor Wardwell that could be Missy or Lilith, Father Blackwood, or the Church of Stillhet.
"You look like you've got something on your mind," he frowned, putting his glass down after his celebratory sip.
"I've got you on my mind," she pushed her toes lightly against his thigh in a teasing manner, "Have you got something on your mind?"
"Kind of…"
"What is it?" her heart began to beat wildly.
"It's nothing. Just…I talked to the Dean about getting security to do searches around the school to make sure those things are gone," he frowned.
"It didn't go well?"
He looked away, "No, it didn't."
"How could he not? What did he say?" Alexys sat up a little straighter.
"He said there's not enough security for something like that," his concern was visible on his features.
"Well…I've got two ideas?" she shrugged, leaving it open in case he just wanted to vent and did not want advice.
"I'm all ears," Nick smiled.
"Okay…well. What if we volunteer as security and do the search ourselves. I'm sure Alex and Luke would be interested!"
"I didn't think of that. He had students volunteer on April Fools. Why not now?" he pressed into the arch of her foot and she melted, "What's your other idea?"
"Oh…maybe we can just call that weather man guy and get him to bring his crew here to do it himself. They obviously take it very serious," she placed her drink off to the side so that she could settle into the warmth of the water.
"That's incredible but how are we going to get his number?"
"I have my ways," Alexys smirked.
"What ways are those?" his hands caressed up her calf and to her thigh.
"Trust me," She did her best to keep her chill but slowly it dissolved like the bath bomb that made their water a strange red.
He grabbed her hands and pulled her toward him with a laugh, "Fine, but if I find out your 'ways' are anything but Google I'm going to be seriously pissed."
She leaned her head against his chest, "Shhh…don't talk about the p-word while I'm sharing a bathtub with you."
He laughed and wrapped his arms around her tight, "Fine, you win."
Alexys sunk into the warmth of his body.
She tried her best not to think of the question: "Why Does it Feel Like the Universe Just Started Yesterday?" and instead focused on the hardening thing in the water beneath her.
Down below Luke and Alex were very, very stoned and very, very much enjoying the beautiful meal Alex had prepared. The whole time Luke ate his steak he commented on every flavor that seeped into his mouth. He seemed to act as if he were a celebrity chef on a cooking show trying out a meal from one of his contestants. Each time his eyes bulged with pleasure and he chewed with genuine concentration before releasing a happy sigh and extending his comment. It made Alex feel like a total success.
After dinner, Luke forced Alex to allow him to wash the dishes. They had come up with the idea that while he washed Alex would take the desserts to his room so they could continue smoking and could watch something on the projector. It gave him enough time to turn on the Christmas lights he had got just for Luke and to make the room feel more cozy and romantic.
When Luke walked in his face immediately brightened into a smile. On the ground Alex had arranged pillows and blankets together in a neat circle where they could sit. At the center sat the desserts and the wine bottle with the new glasses along with two glasses of milk. Luke immediately ran to the pillows and began sampling the desserts with the same enthusiasm as the steak.
"This is incredible!"
Alex laughed and turned on the projector. He had set up a white sheet to hang over the door long ago and he dropped it down so that the projector had a flat surface to cast on. He then joined Luke's waiting arms and a joint that he had just lit. The two passed it between each other as Luke sampled bits from everything Alex had made. Every bite he took needed a new adjective of praise afterward.
"You don't have to keep saying that you know," Alex's face was red enough and he wasn't sure how much more he could take. He genuinely just wanted Luke to enjoy it.
Luke sighed as he looked at the man beside him. His blue eyes were outlined by red and he had the kind of lazy smile that indicated he was truly at peace. Alex could see tears coming as Luke opened his mouth to speak, "Alex…no one has ever done anything like this for me. I know I've been saying it all night but I truly mean it. I'm the one that does things. I never get anything in return. I'm not saying I expect anything—no, not at all! I'm saying I just never considered it an option."
"Luke, it's more than an option," Alex felt tears coming himself, "It's now a necessity. You have done so much for me in such a little time that I don't know…The thought of losing you breaks my heart."
"It breaks my heart too," Luke rushed to cup Alex's cheek and bring him close, "I love you. I really, genuinely do. You make me feel so special. Just the way you look at me. Just the way you talk to me. I feel like an individual. I feel important and no one has ever made me feel like that. Alex, I would do anything for you. I know you and your cousin get in these half-baked schemes and run around campus and follow cars and play hooky but I want you to know that I'd do anything. Nick is a stickler for the rules but I don't care. I want to keep you safe and I…you have my loyalty. You have my allegiance."
Tears fell down Alex's face as he looked to the man and felt his words sink in. It wasn't that he didn't believe Luke. He most certainly did! But the question from Abed's website vibrated across his mind and he whispered, "Please, let this be real."
Tears began to fall down Luke's face too, "This is real, Alex. Please believe me. What I'm saying is real. How I feel is real. Nothing can change that. I'm here for the long haul, remember? I'm here."
Alex nodded, willing his words to be reality in a place where reality was so subjective.
"Come on," Luke put the joint down on a plate then took Alex's glasses off.
"What are you doing?" he asked, not minding it at all.
"I want you to lay your head right here," Luke grabbed a pillow and put it on his lap.
Alex laughed but followed and as he did he immediately felt Luke rubbing his head and his shoulder and his face. The intimacy was overwhelming. Alex continued to cry quiet tears and each one got scooped away by Luke's gentle fingers. His heart had never been so full and all he desired was for the moment to be real and true. The second Luke turned the projector onto Star Trek it felt like it was.
Nick and Alexys had stayed in the bath for as long as they possibly could but a chill had begun to take them and they desired warmth. The two emerged and wrapped themselves in towels and lotion and then very warm sweats. Alexys brushed Nick's hair and then Nick brushed Alexys' while she managed to work the projector Nick had brought from his home. He tied her hair up in a nice tight braid while she got Netflix working for the both of them.
The next course of action was diving into Alex's pasta—which remained warm thanks to the container—and separating it into bowls. They sat on the bed with their wine and Coca Cola and said lovely things about each other to each other. It was a grand time.
"I have something for you," Nick smiled in that sweet way he always did.
Her heart leaped happily, "You do?"
"Yeah, close your eyes."
Alexys followed his instruction with bated breath. The sound of rustling filled the air and then there was a kiss to her lips. She gasped happily, "This is the best gift I have ever gotten!"
"No," he chuckled, "Open."
She opened her eyes and saw he was holding a beautiful, leather-bound journal waiting for her. Alexys took it into her hands immediately and began opening the pages, "This is beautiful! I can't believe it! Nick!"
"I figured you could use it as a dream journal. I know how much those mean to you. I want you to have a place to collect them all," he smiled and opened the first page to where he had written the words in cursive.
She threw her arms around him in thanks, "This is amazing. I can't believe how lucky I am. I'm so happy. This is honestly perfect."
There was joy in his features that slowly became serious, "Alexys…"
Her heart sank, "Yeah?"
"I…I need to talk to you about something."
"You couldn't talk about it in the bath?" she asked, lowering the journal into her lap as she looked at him.
"No…I wasn't thinking about it then but I'm definitely thinking about it now," he looked off to the side.
"Is it about going all the way?"
He chuckled and shook his head, "No, I'm very satisfied with what we have right now."' "Okay…what is it?"
His eyes were off on the wall as if he were considering a hundred different ways to say what he wanted to say. Finally he let out a sigh and met her eye, "I heard about where you went today?"
"Huh?"
"The Church," he elaborated.
"Ohhh," she cocked her head to the side, "How?"
"I heard Troy and Abed talking about it. They said they talked to Alex and Abed saw something that scared him enough to delete the footage," he grabbed onto Alexys' hand, "Abed never deletes footage."
"Yeah, I know," Alexys held onto his hand tighter.
"I don't like that place…I don't like what's happening to the people that leave there. More and more people are wearing black and being weird and it all has to do with that place. It just doesn't feel right. Especially after what came from the sky. I know you have such a curious mind but I'm begging you. Please just…drop it."
To Alexys it seemed he was asking her to drop discovering what had happened to the Doctors and Rose and Clara and River. It seemed he was asking her to stop the investigation of what the town of Greendale had to do with the Time Fissures. It seemed he was asking her to just sink into what could be a totally fictional reality.
"Please?" he continued to urged, "I'm going to take your suggestions and I'm going to go over the Dean's head about it. I don't know what I'd do if you got hurt on my watch. I can't stand the thought of you being in danger."
"Nick, I'm not in danger," she tried to pacify.
"Please?" he urged again, "Please be careful and put…whatever you're doing to rest?"
She let out a sigh as she looked into his beautiful brown eyes, "I'll stop putting myself in danger."
"Good," he smiled happily, his hand moving to grab onto her thigh and give it a good squeeze, "Now. You've said the Good Place is your favorite show. I want to watch it. Can we see the first episode?"
Alexys froze as she looked at Nicholas Scratch. In her mind came the clear words: I LOVE YOU. He seemed to blush by her stare and all she could manage was a happy nod of, "Nothing would make me happier."