As Luke approached the barn he saw Noah emerging from within, smiling to himself as he made his way up the hill towards the farmhouse. His black hair was slightly longer than he normally wore it and it blew around his forehead in waves as the wind hit the curls. His skin was olive from the LA sunshine and he was far more muscular than when they'd first met, if that was even possible. He was wearing that blue shirt that clung at just the right places and brought out his eyes.

The sight of the tall, straight-bodied guy was breathtaking and made Luke stop dead in his tracks. He felt a sudden rush of fear and apprehension as he considered the discussion he knew he'd have to have with him. He knew it would shock him; that he'd be displeased, but he wasn't so much afraid of his reaction, (knowing that they were strong enough to deal with anything), as he was with revealing his limitations. Revealing that he wasn't always the strong, solid and dependable guy Noah took him for. Revealing just how weak he'd been. How weak he could be.

But Lucinda was right, as always. With Nicholas in the picture things had changed and Noah had a right to know everything. He had a right to know what was possible… And if Luke was lucky enough to have Noah's love and trust then he had a right to know the full history of the person he was with. Luke had promised to share everything with him after all… so he would tell him later that night.

Noah saw him and white teeth flashed as he made his way over, "Hi good looking!" he greeted.

"Hey yourself!" replied Luke, "I know we said we'd meet back at the house but I was missing you both so I thought I'd pop down."

"Did you speak to Gareth?"

"Yes! He found a buyer!"

"Really? So Fast? That's brilliant!" Noah drew Luke towards him by his hips, his eyes sparkling like sapphires, his smile broad; and Luke saw in that moment just how happy Noah was, so happy that it radiated from him, almost making him glow. He thought back over their years together and he couldn't remember a time when Noah had looked so at ease with himself and the world. He was so stunning in this blissful state that Luke almost teared at the sight of it. It was all Luke had ever wished for, for him.

Shaking himself from these thoughts he replied, "I know! The guys a machine! Seriously!" And then studying him for a moment longer Luke commented, "You're looking especially cheerful right now…"

"Well…" Noah began to sway them gently from side to side, "I have the distinct impression we won't have to wait as long as we thought for you… know… what…"

Luke's eyebrow raised, "Really?" he smiled, Noah's mood had long since washed away any nerves he had before, "What makes you say that, ha?"

Noah nibbled his ear briefly and then whispered, "Follow me…" then he moved away, grabbing hold of Luke's hand and pulling him in the direction of the barn. Then at the large double doorway he manoeuvred Luke's body in front of his and wrapped his arms around him from behind, "Shh… be very quiet, okay?" he whispered.

Luke nodded with a grin as Noah prodded him forward and into the barn where they hid behind a stall door. Then Luke heard it.

"Do horses only eat carrots?" It was Nicholas.

Luke started with surprise. Noah was standing there with him so who…? He turned his head up to Noah, asking a question with an expression, but Noah just smiled that knowing smile, still holding Luke against his chest.

"Oh no!" Holden replied, "Horses eat lots of things. They eat grain and hay and grass. They love fruit and vegetables. And Painter over here… well… she's kind of partial to sugar cubes herself!"

"Me too!" Came the excited voice, "I'm also pat… parc… pa.."

"Partial." Holden helped.

"I'm also par-cal to sugar cubes!" And they heard both Holden and Nicholas giggling together.

Then they heard Holden ask "So, do you think you're ready to try riding Nash? He's just a pony so he's about the right size for you I'd think."

"Sure!" Nicholas's reply was surprisingly confident for a child only recently introduced to horses and Luke swelled with pride for him. It was so good to hear him enjoying himself. Feeling safe despite their lake of presence.

"Wow!" Luke whispered to Noah.

Noah squeezed him tight from behind, "Isn't it? Holden's so amazing! He had Nicky talking to him in no time! I guess that's where you get it from?"

"Get what?"

"I don't know. I can't explain it. It's the way you make a person feel… safe you know? Secure. I guess Holden has that same gift. Anyway, I slipped away and Nicky hasn't even noticed so…"

"So maybe later he won't mind if we leave him with Dad?"

"Exactly, Mr Snyder… Exactly!"

Luke lifted his head and kissed him then, a deep, explorative kiss, filled with promise of things to come. "Did I ever mention how much I like the way you think Mayer?"

...

Troy threw the cell phone into the fireplace where it sparked and sizzled in the flames effectively destroying not only the device but also the undesirable message from his father.

"Son. Your Father here. Your Mother and I have decided to stay another month on the cruise so we won't be home Sunday as planned. But Geoffrey is taking care of the household so I'm sure you're well taken care of and have plenty…"

That was as far as the message got before the phone hit the fire.

"BASTARD!" He looked around and lifted an expensive Chinese vase that he knew his mother was particularly fond of and then he flung it hard on the white marble floor, where it seemed to disappear as it shattered into so many tiny shards. They cut at his feet but he barely felt them he was so enraged.

He was twenty. It was his birthday and they left him again! Everybody he loved left him. Even HE…

A month! A whole month HE had been gone! And now his parents…

Troy gripped his hands into tight fists as he fought against the pain and loneliness. Loneliness he had felt his entire life. He let out an earth shattering scream of frustration.

Feeling no better he headed for his father's study and private stash of alcohol, leaving a trail of bloody footprints in his wake.

...

Lilly arrived early that afternoon with Faith, Natalie and Ethan. As they walked up the drive Nicholas eyed them suspiciously through the gap between Noah's legs, clinging on to Noah's jeans the way he was prone to do when uncomfortable.

Ethan, spotting the two men, let out a loud squeal of joy that made Nicholas jump as the other boy sped at full speed towards them yelling, "LUKE! NOAH!"

Nicholas's hands tightened on the back of Noah's legs, almost painfully, as he clawed at them for safety.

Luke ran to meet Ethan half way, stooping down just in time to catch the little guy and spin him around, making his screams of delight even louder. He giggled hard and eventually yelled, "STOOOOPPP! Stop Luke! I'm get-ting dizzeeeeee!"

"Oh you ARE?" Luke teased, "Well maybe THIS will help!" and he threw the laughing child up into the air catching him by his legs so that he swung upside down, his strawberry blonde hair just grazing the gravel driveway.

"Oh don't Luke!" Lilly chastised playfully, "I just washed his hair this morning!"

Nicholas fixed Ethan with a stony glare as Luke lowered him to the ground. Then to Nicholas's horror the other boy made his happy way over to where Noah stood. He lifted his arms up and Noah picked him up, kissing him on his cheek, "Hello Ethan! Aren't you getting big? I swear you're almost a man now!"

"Ah Ah!" Ethan shook his head in negation, "I'm never growing up! I'm going to be little forever!"

"Oh!" Noah replied, remembering Ethan's favourite storybook, "You mean like Peter Pan?"

"Yes! And then I can fly to Neverland!"

"You'll have to find a fairy first!"

"Can I tell you something?" Ethan asked conspiratorially.

"Anything!" Noah assured him.

Ethan leaned forward and whispered something into Noah's ear making him laugh out loud, but before their conversation could continue it was cut short when Faith and Natalie leant forward to kiss Noah hello.

As he watched these exchanges, Nicholas grew vehemently angry. He didn't understand where this Ethan had come from. Luke and Noah loved him and only him! They said so all the time! So why did they play with Ethan like they played with him. Why did they kiss Ethan and spin him around and throw him in the air and hug him and… It disturbed Nicholas a lot.

"Nicky?" It was Noah. "You okay kid?"

Nicholas lifted his eyes to meet Noah's, intensely aware of the other child's head bobbing just to the left as Noah held him.

"You must be Nicholas?" Faith asked and Nicholas buried his face between Noah's legs.

With Noah busy with Ethan, Luke took over, bending down to open his arms to the child and then lifting him up for his sisters to see. Nicholas presented Ethan with an air of superiority as he sat self satisfied on Luke's hip. "Mine" his expression warned.

"These are my very special sisters, Faith and Natalie. And this little guy over here is my brother Ethan. I think you guys can be really good friends. What do you think?"

"Yeah!" Ethan exclaimed excited at the prospect of a child his own age.

Nicholas frowned deeply at him with undisguised resentment.

...

HE was in town!

Troy was watching HIM as HE held a conversation with some woman in the middle of the square. They looked as though they had just bumped into each other. It was early evening and Troy knew this was the route HE usually took from HIS office to HIS car. He heard HIM say something about an emergency conference call during the course of their discussion, but it was windy and so he didn't catch every word.

Troy leaned back against the wall of the alleyway down which he knew the man would come. It was the first time he had seen HIM up close since that night. That night in the street that got spoilt when they'd been interrupted. He didn't realise it then, but that would be the last time his fingers would touch HIS skin. HE looked amazing too! The same and yet so different. HE was suntanned and his expression was brighter, more relaxed. HE was smiling a lot more. Troy felt that familiar desire race through him, his heart pounded in anticipation. Not long now.

Troy waited.

...

As Noah made his way through Old Town he was still basking in the enjoyment of one of the best days of his life…

From waking up with Luke and Nicky, to their walk; Holden's tour of the barn and horses and Nicky opening up to him; to an amazing afternoon with the Snyder family. Not to mention Emma's delicious food.

He was in such a state of ecstatic bliss he hardly recognised himself from the sad and withdrawn person he had been only a few months before. He could hardly believe how lucky he was. He had Luke back and their love was stronger than ever. They had Nicky who could make them laugh and cry all at the same time. They were blest with amazing friends and family who they loved and who, in turn, loved them. They had left their problems in the past and had moved forward together. It finally felt like they had truly arrived… as though life couldn't possibly get any better.

It was only a shame that their evening card game had been cut short when Luke received a call from Grimaldi Shipping HQ requesting his presence at an emergency conference. He'd apologised profusely but Noah assured him it was okay. They still had the week ahead of them and one business call couldn't ruin that!

Noah was buzzing as evening grew darker on the farm and, when Lilly left with the kids, he was still far too wired to settle down. Nicky had long since been tucked up in bed. His little body, worn out from a day of outdoor activity, had taken all of one minute to nod off, his soft black curls falling around his face on the huge feather stuffed pillow.

Expecting that it would be at least another hour before Luke returned to the farm, Noah needed an urgent distraction! He asked Emma whether he could pick up some groceries for her from the Twenty-Four Seven on the skirts of Old Town. Holden, hands greasy as he busily fixed an engine part at the kitchen table, lifted himself from the seat and said, "You can use my truck if Mama doesn't mind fishing the keys out my back pocket."

So now Noah, breath expelling in long white puffs from the cold, made his way from the store with four heavy shopping bags full of food requested by Emma's hastily scribbled grocery list. He hoped he had everything she needed.

He couldn't wait to get back to the farm, wondering whether Luke would be back yet. He knew there was something Luke wanted to talk to him about. He'd seemed quite secretive about it, not wanting to give Noah any clues as to what it was about. Noah was intrigued because Luke seemed a little edgy about it and Noah couldn't think what it could be.

He rounded a corner and then felt a flutter of pleasure when he immediately recognised Luke. Even from such a far distance he knew it was him. Not only did he feel it, but he knew the stocky frame just as well as he knew how to breathe.

Luke stood at the end of an alleyway, the lamplight illuminating his golden hair, and just like a beacon, Noah's feet were immediately drawn towards the glow of it. He was so fixated on Luke he didn't notice the other man who stood before him. If he had noticed then he might have had a moments warning… He might have perceived the proximity of the man's body to Luke's… He might have seen the way Luke's back pressed hard up against the alley wall… He might have felt the tension in the air…

If he had noticed the other man his reaction might not have been what it was, because in that split second, every one of his senses… ever sense apart from sight… broke like shattered glass, as the man leaned forward to place an amorous kiss on Luke's soft lips.

...

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