Gianni's men shoved Noah to his knees. His eyes were wide with terror and he visibly held his breath as a gun was raised to his temple.
"Please!" Luke strained desperately against the hold on his arms. His throat burned from the pitch of his pleas. His heart was exploding. This wasn't happening! This wasn't happening! "What do you want Gianni? I'll give you anything! I'll do anything! Don't do this!" The level of panic in his voice rose with each emerging sentence.
The gunman's arm extended…
The hammer pulled back…
The gun went off…
"NOAH!"
Luke jerked awake! At first he searched the room in a blind panic, totally disorientated. He couldn't remember were he was. But as his eyes found Noah, sleeping peacefully in the bed next to him, he breathed out a deep 'O' of relief and rubbed the sweat soaked bangs out of his eyes. He glanced at the clock and then peered over the end of the hotel bed to check on Nicholas, still snoring softly in a ball on the couch, before nestling back down as close to Noah as he could get, enfolding him in his arms.
"Mmm," Noah whispered without opening his eyes, "That feels nice…"
"Morning." Luke answered back, trying to keep the shiver out of his voice while still gripping him tightly.
"What time is it?"
"Six thirty. We'll have to make a move soon."
"I guess we're in a lot of trouble, ha?" Noah asked, finally opening his eyes.
Luke smiled and felt himself calm at the sight of his baby blues. "Could be… Depends whether Michelle reports us or not I suppose."
"Yeah, well, we can pretty much bank on that!"
Luke laughed slightly and kissed him. "I'll shower first… Give you sometime to wake up…"
"Luke…?" Noah pulled him back slightly by his wrist as he made a move to get up, "What if we don't…?"
"Let's not go there for now. Not until we've spoken with Gareth… If there is a way we can sort this and keep Nicholas safe, Gareth will find it!"
...
In the light of day it was clear there was nothing special about the hotel. It was pretty standard as far as hotels went, boutique styled, intimate and cosy… sophisticated in decoration. Wide pillars were painted a chocolate brown to offset them against the stark white of the walls, and these obscured the vision, so that you could never really see what was coming until you had passed by or around them.
And it was because of this design feature that only Nicholas saw her at first. He was holding Luke's hand as they made their way to the Lobby and Luke felt the squeeze and the slight jerk as he walked forward but the child abruptly stopped. The boy's eyes had that look of trepidation that seemed to have become standard over the past few days, fearful, watchful, and he quickly gripped Luke around his leg, holding on for dear life.
Confused, they followed his gaze to find themselves face to face with Betty Hawke. She had appeared unexpectedly from behind one of the pillars. Noah went instantly tense, memories of another day surging through him. Protectively he snapped the child up into his arms and held him slightly away from her.
"No!" He declared. "I don't know how you found us so quickly but you can't have him!"
She seemed just as shocked to see them as they were to see her, "M..M…Mr Mayer…?"
"Whatever you have to say I don't want to hear it!" Noah continued.
"B...But…"
"I don't give a shit what the stupid law thinks or says!"
"I…" She kept trying desperately to interrupt but Noah wasn't having any of it.
"Ms Hawke! Let me make this perfectly clear! The only way this child is going anywhere near that so called mother of his, is over my dead body!" And then glaring daggers at her, "How could you leave him there? How could you leave him in that place! WITH HER!"
She stood before him with her mouth hanging open, completely lost as to what to do, but just then, from behind the same pillar, Gareth made his appearance, strolling for all the world like he was enjoying a day in the park.
"Well!" he said, surveying the four of them, "I have to say that if you had snatched that child two days ago I would most likely be spending the next hour admonishing you on your stupidity, but as it happens…"
"Gareth!" Luke interrupted. "Am I relieved to see you? Please! There must be some way you can stop this woman from taking Nicholas?"
"As a matter of fact the lovely Ms Hawke was just on her way to take Nicholas, but it looks like she's been fortunate enough to bump into you just in time."
"Wh…?" Luke's jaw dropped. His face fell with dejection, "Does that mean you can't help? There's no hope?"
Noah took a step back.
"God no!" A relaxed Gareth waved his hand at them, "Quite the opposite actually!"
"I've been trying to tell you!" Betty finally cut in. "I have a directive right here on my clipboard instructing me to collect Nicholas Mayer from 23 Nixon Lane, Branson, Missouri and deliver him into the temporary care of Mr Noah Mayer of 34 Beachcomber Avenue, Los Angeles!"
"SORRY?" Both men said in unison, mouths gaping open, unable to fathom this remarkable turn of events.
She smiled, enjoying herself, teasing them now, "It says so right here! Take a look for yourself!" And she shoved the clipboard in their direction, banging her finger down on the official looking pages attached.
Noah's left hand shook as he took the clipboard and scanned the documents, "Is this for real?" he gasped tentatively, barely daring to hope.
"Sure is!" Gareth smiled confidently. "Your luck was in! When I arrived in Branson I discovered the Judge is an old college professor of mine. I was his star pupil would you believe? Anyway he was so happy to see me that he granted me a hearing yesterday morning at nine am."
"Oh!" exclaimed Betty. "I was wondering how you managed to pull it together so quickly! It's not what you know it's who you know!" She laughed at her little joke."
Then with the help of Betty over here, we managed to put together enough evidence to prove that this child was in imminent danger and should be removed immediately. At least until such time as his case could be properly reviewed."
Noah was staring at Luke now, the beginnings of a smile on his lips, his eyes swimming with unshed tears, as though he was afraid to smile, because if he did he might wake up to find it was all a dream. His arm was still firmly wrapped around Nicky… locking the child to him… just in case.
"Then all that remained" Gareth continued, "was to explain that little Nicholas was loved and wanted by his cousin Noah and partner for the Judge to grant you, Noah" and he nodded at Noah, "temporary guardianship of the boy."
"And the judge didn't have a problem?" Luke asked, "You know? With the whole unmarried and not to mention gay thing?"
Gareth laughed, "Well! Actually you kind of lucked out there too! I have it on good authority that Judge Cranmore is himself gay. Anyway, whether true or not, he seemed more than understanding as far as the two of you are concerned. And Betty assured him you are both perfectly capable of providing the boy with a stable and loving home."
"Gareth…" Luke could barely speak, "I… I don't know what to say! You REALLY are the best lawyer I've ever had the pleasure of working with!"
"Well! Save your thanks for when we're totally out of the woods! It's only temporary custody for now, but at least it means Nicholas is safe while we work on that!"
"I still… I can't believe it! Just this morning we were wondering whether it was even possible and now… We can't tell you what this means!" Noah expressed.
Gareth held up his hands, "Just happy to help!"
"And Ms Hawke?" Noah said gently, taking her hand with his free one "I'm really sorry for…"
"Quite understandable young man!" She cupped his fingers in both her hands, "I'm just pleased to see him back where he belongs."
"Thank you!" And he leaned forward to kiss her cheek and Luke did the same, making her turn beet red.
Only then did Noah laugh, bouncing Nicky on his hip, "Hey! You hear that baby? You're coming home with us to live!"
Nicholas, still a little unsure, his mind unable to follow the adult conversation, smiled at Noah who kissed him before turning to kiss a grinning Luke fully on the lips.
They group hugged right there in the centre of the hotel lobby.
...
"Man but I'm sick of these places!" Noah thought as he searched the hospital corridor for the room number the reception nurse had given him.
He was back in Branson after just two days, leaving Luke to take care of Nicky. Betty had telephoned him. She had gone by Michelle's house right after bumping into them at the hotel. Even though Nicholas was now clear of his mother, Betty still had to serve Michelle with the legal directive and ensure she was aware of her rights. However, on entering the house she was greeted by Michelle's blackened and bloody body, half pummelled to death, lying sprawled on her bathroom floor.
"Just like a broken doll." Betty had described her.
Noah knocked on her hospital door with unease. He still wasn't a hundred percent sure visiting her was the right thing to do, or whether it would just incense her and make their pursuit of ultimate custody of Nicky more difficult. But he had explained to Luke that, despite everything, she was still Nicky's mother, and they owed it to him to at least try and help her. If after trying it yielded no results then so be it! At least when Nicky was old enough to understand, he would know they had done all they could.
"Come in." He heard her say.
He was instantly shocked by her appearance. She was unrecognisable. Half her face was swollen as were her lips. One eye was bloated shut and the lid was a pitch black. Her head was bandaged and both her legs were in plaster cast and elevated above the bed, as was her left arm.
"Oh my god, Michelle!"
After the initial shock at seeing him she blurted out, "You don't have to pretend to give a sh*t Noah! What you doing here anyways?" Even her voice was different as she tried to squeeze the words through engorged lips.
"I heard what happened. I'm… I'm sorry."
She laughed bitterly, "You're sorry? Whose fault do you think this is? Hey? You and your boyfriend screwed up my trick! I had no money to pay 'im!"
Noah sighed. It was going to be a hard task to help her. He decided to save them both the aggravation and get right to the point. "Michelle, I am not my father. I've come to tell you that, and to make sure you understand that I'm not going to pay you to stay out of our lives or leave Nicky alone or anything like that."
She grunted.
"But… but you ARE his mother… and… and that means something. Even if it doesn't mean anything to you, it will to him someday. And you're my aunt… and I thought I didn't have family so…"
"Oh come on already! Enough with the sentiment man! Jeez! Just spit it out!"
"Look!" He countered, trying not to let her get to him, "I'm willing to help you Michelle. If you want my help. But here's what I'm offering… I will pay for you attend rehab for as long as it takes to get you clean. And I will help you with studies and to get a job. I'll even pay the rent on your place on the condition that you are attending these things, until such time as you can manage on your own. But that's it! That's all I'm doing for you! Take it or leave it! It's your choice!"
He placed his card on the table beside her. "Here's my number. I had to get a new cell so it's changed. Call me. If you want to…"
He started to leave but stopped when he heard her say softly, "You know? I wanted 'im."
"What?" He turned back to her.
"The child! I did want 'im! I wanted to do right by 'im! Get clean and everything… I tried in the beginning… I REALLY tried! And it was the first time I tried at anything! But he was sick! Did you know?" Noah shook his head. "He was sick so he cried all the time! Wahhh, wahhh, wahhh!" she imitated, "All. The. Time! And that just made it harder to stay off the stuff, you know? My nerves were shot! Eventually the drugs are all that matter… You don't realize! You can't understand if you ain't me!"
He stared at the floor in contemplation of this. "Think about my offer." he said looking up, before leaving the room.
If he had stayed a moment longer he may have heard her mutter under her breath, "Maybe you ain't like your father after all…"
...
It looked as though her entire family was out in force. The barbeque area in the park was surrounded by aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters and children of all ages playing merrily together. The smoke from the large barbeque filled the air with delicious, mouth watering smells of jerk chicken and seasoned steak. A long wooden park table was covered with corn on the cob, salads and breads of all types. They couldn't wait to get stuck into lunch. It reminded Luke of a gathering at Snyder farm and it felt instantly good to be there.
As they came up upon the group, Luke carrying a tin of cornbread he had made the night before and Noah holding Nicky's hand, Jasmine stepped out from the crowd to greet them happily.
"Welcome!" She said, "I'm so please you could make it!"
"Thank you for inviting us!" answered Noah.
"And hello Nicholas." Jasmine smiled down at him and he shyly ducked behind Noah's long legs. But he knew her well by this point and there was no fear in the gesture. They all knew he would warm to her in time.
"Say hello Nicky." Noah encouraged, "Go on."
Nicky's eyes lifted to Noah's and then back to the floor.
"That's okay." said Jasmine, "Maybe later, hey?"
"Um, here, I made this for the day." Luke handed her the tin which she opened.
"Oh! My favourite! Cornbread always reminds me of my grandmother, may she rest in peace! An amazing lady! Thank you very much!"
"You have a big family!" Noah observed, scanning the park where a game of soccer was taking place.
"Yes." She agreed, "I'm one of the lucky ones. Never had kids myself but never needed any. I have so many nieces and nephews to keep me company! And of course this one might not be blood or a baby anymore but he keeps me the busiest." Her eye line fell somewhere behind them and she bent forward to draw an embarrassed Joshua past them to stand by her side.
The man didn't smile but his eyes shone as he shook their hands. "Hello."
"Hello Joshua." Noah replied.
"Thank you for posting bail."
"No, thank you!" Noah replied, looking down at Nicky to stress his point.
"Hello Nicholas." Joshua said to him, most likely not expecting the reaction he received, the child turned and ran, disappearing behind a tree. They all looked after him in surprise.
"What the…?" Ask Luke.
Noah patted Luke's shoulder, "I'll get it…"
He found Nicky sitting up against the tree with his legs drawn up.
"Why are you hiding?" Noah asked. "It's only Joshua. He's your friend, right?"
The little boy nodded his head and lifted his tear stained face.
Noah knelt down in front of him, hands on his little knees. "What's wrong baby? Why are you crying? Hmm?"
Nicky ducked his head, hiding his face in his lap and said something that was muffled by his shirt.
"I didn't hear you Nicky, what did you say?"
His blue eyes lifted pleadingly into Noah's, "I don't want to go with Joshua…"
Noah frowned, "Why would you think that?"
"You said! You said Joshua would come get me."
Noah smiled. "You think we came here to give you to Joshua? Is that what you think?"
He nodded and bit his lower lip, in exactly the same way Noah always did.
"Nicky, listen to me, okay?" And he lifted Nicky's head by placing a finger under his chin. "From now on you belong with me and Luke. You stay with us, okay? We love you baby! Okay?"
"Pinkie swear?" he held up his tiny finger the way Luke had taught him and Noah hooked it with a smile.
"I promise."
Instantly the little body relaxed and the boy nodded, before wrapping his arms around Noah's neck.
"Come on silly!" Noah said, lifting him up, "Let's go and have some fun!"
"Yeah!" Nicky responded, much more joyfully.
As they returned to the group he smiled widely at Joshua and said, "Joshua!"
Joshua's normally stoic face, which had never shown Luke or Noah much in the way of emotion, contained such a look of shocked surprise that both men and Jasmine couldn't help but laugh at him.
"You speak?" Joshua exclaimed and that made Nicholas chuckle.
"Yes silly!" he sang.
They all laughed, even Joshua.
...
A little while later, after lunch, Noah found Luke sitting alone on the log of an old tree. He sat down next him and squeezed his knee, eliciting a warm smile. Nicky was just finishing off a gigantic wedge of water melon on the grass a few yards ahead of them.
"Everything okay?" Luke asked him.
"Fine." Noah smiled, "Perfect actually. I just saw you from way over there and I was wondering what you were thinking about?"
Luke's eyes were back on the boy. "I just spoke to Detective Mullins on the phone."
Noah stiffened.
"They finally managed to uncover a Di Alberto stash on one of my ships! They're investigating as we speak."
"Well, that's good, right?"
"Yeah."
After a while of watching the activity of the barbeque and leaving Luke to his thoughts Noah said, "I keep waiting you know?"
"Waiting?"
"For you to tell me about the nightmares? Or did you think I hadn't noticed?"
"No. I figured you had. I just hoped they'd go away before you asked me about them."
Noah rubbed his thigh, "What's on your mind Luke?"
"I've decided. I'm still going to sell the company. Especially now! Now that we have him…" He gestured towards Nicky. "He's been hurt enough because of it!"
Noah nodded. "I know it's not easy for you. I know you enjoyed that job, even with all its problems."
"He's what matters now. He's ours and he's precious and he deserves to be protected. That means keeping anything labelled Grimaldi out of our lives. I just wish we could have got to him sooner! Spared him some of that…"
Noah kissed his cheek, "I know, but look at him, Luke! He's going to be just fine!" Noah turned Luke's face to his, "We're going to be just fine!"
Luke smiled and Nicky took that moment to hop up on Noah's lap.
A small and pretty girl, with colourfully beaded braids, shyly approached them. She wore a ribbon bedecked blue dress and held a stuffed monkey under her arm. She stood swaying in front of them before working up the courage and saying, "Hi."
"Hi!" replied Luke, "What's your name?"
"Ruby." She replied quietly.
"Wow! Really? That's a very beautiful name, Ruby. My name's Luke and this is Noah and this little monkey is Nicky."
Ruby giggled gently, "He's not a monkey! He's a boy, silly!" Then to Nicholas, "Want to play?"
Nicholas, not used to these approaches, hid his face under Noah's arm.
"You can play with my monkey if you want." The girl was nothing if not persistent. Nicky looked up and took the stuffed toy she offered to him.
"Well!" Exclaimed Luke, "Nicky might not want to play but I do!" And he started to count down with his hands over his eyes, "Ten, nine, eight…"
Ruby yelped with glee and sprinted off to hide. Other children in the vicinity quickly cottoned on to the game and also scurried off to hide up trees and under tables. "…three, two, one, coming ready or not!" And Luke leapt from the log to start his search of the area. "In here!" He jumped low to look into the hole of a large tree. "Hmm, nothing…"
Nicky in the meantime was watching this game with interest. Eventually he moved from smiling to laughing hysterically as Luke found child after child hiding around the park.
"I love Luke!" Nicholas suddenly exclaimed giggling hard, in that innocent way only a child could.
Noah pulled him closer. "Same here, Nicky…" and he kissed the back of his tiny head, his heart full and at peace, smiling softly as he watched Luke race around with the other children, "Same here…"