The morning following the discovery of Nicholas in the barn, Lilly dropped Ethan off at the farm before heading to work and Nicholas stuck to him like glue. He was fascinated by the slightly older child, responding to Ethan's natural ebullience and eagerly playing out the roles Ethan set for him. Ethan for his part thought Nicholas's presence fabulous! Especially when he discovered that not only was Nicholas a quick learner but he also had a propensity to do exactly as Ethan instructed, thus appealing to his constant desire to be leader where playing games was concerned.
"Okay now you be Hook!" Ethan would say thrusting the wooden sword into Nicholas's hand and stretching the eye patch over his head. At first Nicholas just followed suit, having no idea what it all meant, but then later that morning Ethan pressured his Grandma into reading them the entire story of 'Peter Pan'; much to Nicholas's sheer delight! By the end of the story gentle Emma had broken through the child's armour and he was chatting away to her merrily, competing with Ethan for her attentions.
And by the afternoon the children were replaying entire scenes out of the story.
"Look-it Noah! Look-it!" He kept yelling excitedly, totally blown away by this new experience Ethan offered him, and Noah would smile and wave at him.
He stood on the grass watching them play, joyful at the sight of Nicholas finally behaving as a young boy should. It was a good sign that he would manage to cope at school, now that he realised how much fun other kids could be. And with Nicholas at school, Noah could finally turn his attention back to his thoroughly neglected film. He was amazed at how patient his backers had been with him. They assured him that everything would be fine. They weren't surprised he was burnt out after a full year of working almost twenty-four seven. He had a brilliant crew of people behind him that would keep the ship afloat until their Captain was ready to return.
He must have been day dreaming about this for some time when he felt a hand pat his shoulder and turned to find Holden standing beside him sipping from a mug of coffee. He had that distinct farm smell that testified to how hard he'd already been working around the property that morning.
"Looks like he's doing much better!" Holden said, smiling as he watched Ethan balancing along the garden wall, with a smaller Nicholas trailing not far behind in imitation of him.
"Yes… yes he is. In large part thanks to Ethan!" agreed Noah. "I'm sorry by the way. Ethan's arm…"
"Hey!" insisted Holden raising his free hand in placation, "No need. As far as Nicky's concerned, you and Luke are all he has in this world. It stands to reason he'd feel the need to protect that. Especially after the life he's had."
Noah nodded.
"He still has to realise he's got a whole family waiting to love him, when he's ready to accept that love. Kind of reminds me of another kid I once knew…"
Noah smiled, slightly embarrassed.
"And… by the looks of things," Holden nodded towards Ethan and Nicholas, now bending over and examining something with a stick, "he's well on his way to doing that!"
Noah could already feel the warm tears pooling at the back of his eyes. Holden's quiet and firm nature always seemed to have this effect on him.
"Um, Holden?" Noah began, nervous when speaking to Holden, always desperate to leave him with a good impression.
"Yes Noah?"
"Yesterday… what you said… about the yelling? I know you're right. I know everything you said is true, but with Nicky it's just… it's hard. You know? It's hard when he's so…"
"Cute?" Holden asked with a crooked all knowing smile that Noah couldn't help but laugh at. "It is hard Noah. It's hard for every father because you only ever want to see a smile on their little faces. But it's part and parcel of the job I'm afraid! And in the end it's the right thing to do."
Noah nodded again but before he could say anything Holden asked, "Luke still at the hospital with Troy?"
"Yeah. He must be totally wiped. He's been there all night and all morning now. "
"You okay with that?"
Noah looked sideways at him thoughtfully and then smiled, "Yes. Yes I am."
"I'm proud of you, son."
The statement was so unexpected that it almost blew Noah over. He felt something move deep within and he had to swallow so as not to allow those already forming pools to overflow.
"P… Proud?" He finally stuttered.
"The way you were with Troy last night…" again Holden patted him on the back, "Not every man could do something like that, you know? You handled yourself like a real gentleman. It was an honour to watch you and I just wanted to say how proud I am of you."
His own father had never used those words without some ulterior motive; at least he had never used them and truly meant them. So really, as far as Noah was concerned, no parental figure in his life had ever said anything like that to him before.
"Thank you." He replied almost in a whisper, suddenly finding it difficult to speak.
They stood in silence for a while longer, just watching the boys tackle their next challenge together and then Holden said, "Well! Best get back to the grindstone! I just came in for a quick cup of Joe! It's real chilly out today!"
Once Holden was out of earshot Noah let out a shuddered breath, his heart glowing from the effect of Holden's fatherly touch.
...
Lucinda arrived at the farm just after lunch. John had whisked her off on a romantic getaway, but she had returned as quickly as possible when she heard the news that Nicholas was missing. But of course the crisis was over by the time she walked through the front door of the farm and into the dining room.
Sprawled across the entire length of Emma's dining table was a large white sheet of paper covered in tiny coloured hand prints. And Noah, Ethan and Nicholas were all gathered around busily finger painting this incredibly messing piece of art.
Noah smiled as she entered, "Lucinda! I'd hug you hello but…" he held up two blue hands to make his point.
Lucinda laughed, "Well! Doesn't this appear entertaining?"
Nicholas, who had previously been avidly at work on his corner of the paper, now slunk back shyly and watched her suspiciously.
Ethan on the other hand hopped off his stool and went running for her, "Grandmother!" he yelled.
She backed quickly away and Noah blocked his path just in time, laughing, "Ethan! Not with those mucky fingers, buddy!"
"Thank you Noah, that was extremely gallant of you." Lucinda nodded with her head.
"I broke-ed my arm! See?" Exclaimed Ethan as though breaking a limb was the most exciting thing to happen to a person.
"Well! I see that young man!"
"Want to write on it?"
"Later my darling."
"Ethan." Noah interrupted, "You sit here and paint with Nicky, okay? And NO paint on the furniture you hear? Just the paper!"
"Okay!" Ethan agreed and climbed back up on the stool next to Nicholas. "Come on Nicky! Draw!"
Noah smiled and then followed behind Lucinda as she entered the kitchen, where he headed straight for the tap to wash the paint off his hands.
"I see that things have returned pretty much too normal. I was extremely relieved to hear you found him! Neither of them look any worse for the wear." Lucinda stated.
"Yes, they're fine. Great actually! Seems Nicky's found a friend in Ethan."
"Well that is good!"
She proceeded to remove her coat and place it and her bag on a nearby hook.
"So, he never talks then?" she asked conversationally.
"Oh he talks!" laughed Noah, as he dried his hands on a kitchen towel, "Trust me! He definitely talks! Enjoy the silence while you have it!"
Lucinda smiled, her eyes crinkling in amusement as she realised Noah was joking. "And where is my other lovely grandson?"
Noah faltered just long enough for her to notice.
"Why do I get the feeling something's up?" She raised a questioning eyebrow at him, but he was saved from having to answer when Luke came through the back door looking like death warmed over.
He didn't even seem to notice Lucinda; he turned immediately to his right and drew Noah into a hug.
"Hi baby." Noah whispered into his tousled hair, "You look terrible!"
"Thanks!" Luke mumbled into Noah's shirt as Noah stroked his head.
"How's Troy?"
"Troy?" Lucinda asked, "What's happened?"
Luke pulled out of Noah's embrace and turned to see her there, "Oh, sorry Grandmother! I didn't realise you were here."
"Never mind that!" she exclaimed, "What's happened to the Jenson boy?"
Luke proceeded to lay out the events of the night before.
"Well that's just dreadful! But I can't say I'm surprised!"
"Sorry?" Luke and Noah said together.
"Well darling! The whole reason I ever introduced you to Troy was because I found that poor depressed kid cooped up in that mansion all alone, with not a friend in the world! I thought the two of you would hit it off…"
Noah couldn't help clearing his throat uncomfortably.
"Oh, well, yes! Of course I didn't foresee anything like this happening!"
"Anyway," Noah repeated his question to Luke, "How is he?"
"I hope he'll be fine. They're going to keep him in for a few days, watch him and try to help him out of the funk he's in. It's just… I feel totally shit about it all!" and then remembering Lucinda's presence he quickly said, "Sorry Grandmother."
"Luke," said Noah, spinning him round and cupping his face, "It's not your fault! He made some bad choices too, you know?"
Luke nodded, "Anyway… I need a shower and a bed like yesterday!"
Noah smiled at him, "Want me to come?"
Luke squinted his eyes with consideration and then whispered into Noah's ear so that his Grandmother couldn't hear, "If you come, how will I sleep?"
Noah laughed deeply in response and Luke kissed him gently before saying goodbye to Lucinda and making his tired journey up the stairs.
...
Noah had crawled into bed with a sleeping Luke at around nine-thirty after a sudden attack of exhaustion, only to be woken up at just after one by a strange clicking sound.
He was just processing the information that Luke was missing from the bed when he heard another click and realised it was the sound of a stone hitting glass. Frowning in confusion, he stepped out of bed and pulled back the curtain to investigate.
His thoughts were immediately interrupted as he glanced downwards and gasped, suddenly finding his mind empting at the sight of Luke, riding bareback on a black stallion Noah knew was called Tanner. He thought strangely that if it had been the 1800's he would have described Luke as resplendent! He looked incredible in jeans and coat astride the animal. The man smiled radiantly up at him as the horse shifted eagerly under him.
"What the?" Noah mouthed through the glass pane.
Luke beckoned with his hand.
"Down?" Noah mouthed again, pointing downwards with both his index fingers, "You want me to come down, now?"
Luke nodded still smiling.
Noah shook his head in wonderment at Luke's sudden insanity, but he played along none the less. Smiling, he quickly pulled on a pair of jeans and a shirt and made his way downstairs, stopping just once to check on Nicholas, who slept soundly.
He met Luke under the window, pulling his coat on as he walked.
"What on earth are you doing Luke?" Noah asked with playful admonishment, reaching up to stroke the horse's head, "It's the middle of the night?"
Luke shushed him and whispered, "Get up here!"
He motioned his head and patted the horse behind him.
"On the horse?"
Luke nodded with a "well duh" expression and Noah couldn't help but grin at him.
"Okay…" he sang, "But I have to warn you I can't promise I'll behave."
"I'm kinda counting on that!" Luke replied cheekily.
Noah climbed up the nearby wooden fence and hopped on the horse behind Luke, grasping the other man around his waist.
"Tsk Tsk," Luke clicked to the horse, turning him and heading downward in the direction of the forest.
"And just where exactly are you taking me?" Noah couldn't help but ask.
"Do you trust me?" was his answer.
Noah grinned and Luke looked back just in time to catch it.
"I'm going to take that goofy expression as a yes Mr Mayer."
"Yes." Noah finally answered and closed his eyes, pressing his cheek into Luke's warm back.
...
Thanks for Reading! A bit of a transitional chapter but I hope you liked it anyway!