Luka became aware of the rain again as his strumming slowed and his story closed. Jay's eyes were half-closed, but they still watched his father's hands with great interest. Luka was never quite sure if Jay even listened to the actual story, but he knew for certain that Jay liked listening to him play as he told it, and would protest if one was present without the other at this time of night. Marinette had warned him that playing background music while she read him stories as a toddler could lead to this, and as usual, she was right.
"You still awake over there?"
"Mmhmm." Jay hummed, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. "I'm not sleepy."
Luka knew that wasn't true. It was getting dangerously close to 9 o'clock, long past Jay's bedtime.
"Why don't you go ahead and brush your teeth? That way you don't have to do it when momma comes in."
Jay sent him a pouty expression, but slid off the couch with little more than a grumble. He disappeared down the hall, and once Luka heard his son's battery operated toothbrush running, he got up and headed for the kitchen. He took the cookie jar from the top-shelf of the pantry, far out of Jay's reach, and sat two cookies out on a small plate. They should be along any time now.
A knock on the balcony door shewed him from the kitchen. He could make out a blurred red figure through the wet, glass doors. With a smile, he unlocked the door and pulled it open just long enough for the heroine to slip in before too much rain came in with her.
"There you are, I was beginning to think you had washed away."
Marinette laughed as her transformation fell, leaving her dry and only slightly windswept.
"The thought did cross my mind." She said, wrapping her arms around Luka's neck and pecking his lips. "But I'm glad I went. We were able to prevent an accident down by where your mom lives, and took a couple kids home who had gotten caught out in the storm. No akuma though, so that's good."
Luka hugged his wife tightly to his chest and smiled at Tikki.
"Thank you for looking after her, Tikki. I set out a snack for you in the kitchen."
"Thank you, Luka!" The little kwami said, nuzzling his cheek before floating off to the kitchen counter.
"Momma!"
Jay barreled out of the hallway and leapt into Marinette's arms.
"Oof! You're getting heavy!" Marinette kissed Jay's cheek and set him gently on his feet. "Were you good for daddy?"
"Yep!" He exclaimed, "I didn't cry during the storm!"
"Really?" Marinette brushed a stray piece of hair out of her son's face. "That's so brave!"
Jay smiled up at her proudly, his blue eyes shining up at her. While he had his mother's eyes, he was his father made over otherwise and she wouldn't wish for it to be any other way.
Tikki floated back in as Jay yawned.
"Looks like it's time for someone to turn in." Tikki softly chimed, coming to rest on Jay's shoulder.
"But I'm not sleepy! I wanna stay up with—" A large yawn interrupted him."-You!"
Luka laughed and shook his head, "We said you could stay up till Momma came home. Now, it's time to call it, little man."
"But daddy..."
"No 'buts!'" Luka said, scooping Jay up and flopping him over his shoulder. He marched him off to bed, giggles serenading the short journey.
Twenty minutes later, Jay was settled in bed and fast asleep. Marinette and Luka flopped down on the couch, both sighing loudly. They sat in quiet for a moment, listening to the rain, until Luka laid his head in Marinette's lap and smiled up at her.
"How was our cat?"
"Sunny, despite the weather." Marinette said with a chuckle. "He suggested we go on a double-date with he and his fiancé." She combed through Luka's hair with her fingers as she spoke, a gesture which was relaxing every inch of his body.
"And what did you tell him?"
"No, naturally." Marinette chuckled, "It would be far too risky. It's fun to think about though."
"For you, maybe." Luka said, reaching up and tapping her nose. "Might be a bit dangerous for me though." Marinette caught the teasing glint in his eye, and flicked his forehead. "Ow!"
"Chat wouldn't lay a finger on you, and you know it." Marinette said with a tired smile, "Right, Tikki?" Marinette glanced around the room when an answer didn't come. "Tikki?"
"There." Luka pointed to where Tikki lay curled on a throw pillow in a chair across the room. "Looks like we're the winners."
"Nothing new." Marinette whispered with a smile. Her fingers ran across the smooth skin on Luka's cheek. He hummed a tone in contentment before taking Marinette's hand and brushing his lips against her fingers. He stared up into her face, marking every stray piece of hair and reveling in the poetry of seeing his own reflection in her sea-blue eyes. Their fingers intertwined as he sat up and shifted to face her.
"You know, Marinette, I-"
His sentence flew from his mind as she pulled him into a deep kiss. He could taste the storm on her lips; feel the rain in the air. And yet, as he pulled her closer there was calm in every lightning strike. For the chaos of the storm outside could never be as real to him as the peace of that moment. Let the night's storm rage.
"Remind me," Marinette began, fiddling with the bed sheets she laid under, "When is your next tour?"
"Not till June." Luka assured her, rubbing his thumb across a red mark he had left on her collarbone.
"Jay will be out of school." Marinette thought allowed, "Maybe we'll all go."
"I'd like that." He answered softly, "I hate leaving you two."
"We miss you when you're gone, but Jay loves that his daddy is a rock-star."
"Could you be gone that long?" His fingers traveled to her earrings.
"Chat would be here, and I could take Kaalaki."
"And the box?"
Marinette was quiet for a moment.
"I could just bring it with us."
"Alright, guess it's settled then." Luka cuddled closer to Marinette and buried his nose in the crook of her neck. "I really do hate leaving you, you know. I always have."
"I remember how hard it was the very first time you went on tour." Marinette said with a smile. "It's not much easier now."
"I know." Luka chuckled again, "I can still remember my first time seeing you again like it was yesterday."