There were some mornings, like this one, when Luke would wake up to find Nicholas standing by the side of the bed; sheet in one hand trailing along behind him and a thumb stuck firmly in his mouth; patiently waiting for either Luke or Noah to open their eyes and notice him.
"Morning…" Luke smiled, placing a finger on his mouth to indicate silence and gently removing Noah's hand from his waist so as not to wake him. He rolled noiselessly out of bed and lifted Nicholas in his arms; drawing the wads of sheet up with him so that he didn't trip on it; and leaving the room, making sure to close the door softly behind them.
"What do you want for breakfast today, hey buddy?"
"'ancakes." He said through his thumb.
"Well, since it is Saturday I guess we can have pancakes…"
Nicholas smiled and then wriggled excitedly to get out of Luke's grasp and head, no doubt, for the kitchen.
"Wait a second, what do you say we put some clothes on you first, hey?"
"No!" he giggled, deciding this was a fun game of his own to play with Luke.
"But you can't go the whole day in your PJ's little guy!"
Nicholas shook his head, "No…" he wriggled free shouting, "you can't catch me!" He took off for the door. He was faster than Luke expected.
"Hey?" Luke yelled softly, still anxious not to wake Noah.
By the time he got to the door the little tyrant was already entering the living room. He turned and gave Luke a cheeky but utterly adorable grin before disappearing from view. Luke arrived in an apparently vacant living room just in time to see a chair wobble a bit.
Nicholas was hiding under the dining table.
"Hmm… obviously been learning a thing or two from Ethan" Luke thought to himself and then playfully exclaimed, "Where, oh, where has my little man gone? I wonder if he's in HERE?"
With dramatic, exaggerated movements he opened the kitchen door to peer inside; then checked behind the curtains and under the rug. "Well! That's a shame! If only I could get that little guy changed and then we could eat some lovely pancakes!"
A gurgling giggle erupted from the shadows beneath the table.
"I guess I'll have to eat those pancakes all by myself!"
He heard the chair move and another giggle and when he spun around he clasped his face with both hands and faked surprised, "There you are! I've been looking everywhere!"
Nicholas laughed again and brought both his fists up to his mouth in a gesture of pure merriment, but as Luke moved forward to lift him, it became clear that he was far from finished playing. He shot off again and Luke had to run after him, skidding round the corner and back down the passage and ramming headfirst into Noah coming the other way.
"Whoa!" Noah exclaimed, spinning around. "Give a guy a break! I just woke up you know?"
"Luke is chasing me!" Nicholas exclaimed in excitement, gripping the back of Noah's legs.
"But he can't catch you, can he?" asked Noah, "You're way too fast for him, aren't you?"
"Oh yes!" Nicholas agreed, nodding his head.
"That may be so…" said Noah, "But I can!" And he caught the hysterical Nicholas in both his hands swinging him up in a playful hug and planting hundreds of tiny kisses in the child's neck making his squirm with glee, before leaning over to kiss Luke, "Good morning gorgeous…"
"Hi." Luke smiled.
"You seem pretty chirpy and energised for a guy who spent half the night playing wedding planner?"
"I'm drunk on love!" Luke replied, really believing it. He bent his head in an exaggerated way to the side and swayed into Noah for a kiss.
The soft smile on Noah's face as they pulled apart was one of Luke's favourites and warmed him through.
"It's so good to see you happy again…" his blue eyes sparkled.
Luke pushed a curl behind Noah's ear, "It's because of you…"
They shared a quiet moment, simply standing there in the passage, soaking it all in, before Noah made the first move.
"Come on buddy!" he said to Nicholas, "Let's get you changed!"
"Okay! Then we're having pancakes!" Nicholas replied.
"Pancakes hey? Yum!"
"Yes! With sy-wip!"
Luke watched happily from the doorway as Noah picked out some clothing for him.
...
Noah smiled at Luke as the blonde sauntered into the living room freshly showered and changed in his regulatory weekend uniform of blue jeans and t-shirt; this time the red one with the two blue stripes around the waist. It reminded Noah of the shirts Luke used to wear in collage and he just wanted to walk on over and kiss him right there and then. And he would have done, if he wasn't still in the middle of a marathon telephone session with Maddie.
She had been an absolute rock throughout the entire Natalie ordeal. When Noah had been climbing the walls with worry over Luke's erratic behaviour, Natalie's condition and Nicholas's everyday needs and care; she would sit on the other end of the phone as he poured his heart out to her, and she had been a valuable sounding board.
She had just finished catching him up on her news of Jonathan and Bruce and general life in Montana, including her new job at the local newspaper, where they had already given her the advice column. She sounded happy and that made Noah glow inside. She deserved it.
"Hey Maddie?" Noah interrupted her, "Luke just walked in… can you wait a sec while I switch to loudspeaker?"
"Sure?" she replied, confused. Noah had never done that before, "Okay…"
Noah gestured for Luke to come over and before switching the phone whispered, "You ready for this?"
Luke grinned at him, "Hit it!"
"Hi Maddie, you there?" Noah tested after placing the phone on the dining table. "Yes, I'm still here. Are you there too Luke?"
"Yeah! Hey!"
"Hey yourself! You sound much better…"
"Yeah… well… you know… I have Noah to help me through these things, right?"
"Right!" she agreed and then giggled in that infectious way she had.
"Anyway Mads?" Noah began, "There's a reason I've put you on speaker."
"And what's that? You guys going to sing me a rendition of The Star Spangled Banner?"
"Oh my god Maddie!" Luke exclaimed, "You should know better! You've heard me sing remember?"
"Oh yes! Forget it then."
They all laughed.
"So, what's up?" she asked.
"Well," began Noah, looking over at Luke to check whether he should continue. Luke nodded with a smile and gripped Noah around his waist so that they swayed slightly on their feet, "I wanted to ask you a very important question…"
"Okay! Jeez! Will you get on with it! I'm dying over here!"
They laughed at her inpatients.
"I was wondering whether you would consider being my Bestman?"
The scream of delight that ensued from the phone was so sharp Noah feared the glasses in the cabinet might shatter and both he and Luke were forced to hold their hands up over their ears.
With everything that happened so shortly after their return from Oakdale, they'd told nobody but the family of their engagement. Now, ready to return to normal life, they knew Maddie would have to be the first person told, unless they both wanted to die a slow and painful death.
The laughing and screaming and general hilarity continued for sometime. They heard her running around the flat telling Jonathan and then Bruce and then they were sure they heard her open the window before shouting, "Luke and Noah are getting married!"
"Congratulations guys!" They heard Jonathan shout.
"Maddie?" Noah laughed as he tried to get her attention. They kept repeating her name until eventually she came back round to the phone.
"Oh my god! Oh my god! You guys? That's just the best news!" And suddenly she sounded all chocked up and it brought tears to both their eyes, "I'm so proud of you! It's just right, you know? It's just how things should be! I'm just so happy for you…"
"So is that a 'yes' then?" Asked Noah.
"Yes! Definitely! I'd be honoured to be your Bestperson Noah!"
...
That entire morning had been so intimate… so special and full of love and togetherness that Luke forgot.
But the moment he opened the door to Gareth he knew it was bad news. Gareth was an exceptional lawyer. Luke had watched him perform legal miracles time and time again, but even he wasn't above the law. Eventually even a man like Gareth could reach his limitations. And Luke knew that look on his face.
"I did the best I could." He sighed from the doorstep.
"Okay." Luke replied in preparation for what was to come. He could feel his blood turning icy as he sat opposite Gareth on the couch. A quick look at Noah, standing cross-armed by the dining table, revealed he was feeling the same.
"You're banned from driving for one year and…" It was obvious he didn't want to continue.
"And?" asked Noah.
"Now you guys should remember that the minimum sentence for a hit and run is six months."
"They've given me a sentence." Luke wasn't surprised. He simply nodded. He had expected it.
"Yes."
"W… what?" Noah staggered back in disbelief and Luke felt for him. Noah had been so sure that he would get off with a misdemeanour, but Luke knew a lot of that was wishful thinking on his part.
"How long?" Luke asked.
"Three months."
Both men froze.
"But…" Noah began, looking suddenly like he might pass out, "but it was an accident! Surely they must know that?"
"They do." Gareth nodded regretfully.
"Then…" he looked around in desperation, "There must be something, Gareth? Please! There must be something you can do?" The panic set in on Noah's face.
Luke remained seated with resignation on the couch.
Gareth was obviously uncomfortable, "Guys… as far as the law's concerned, anybody under those conditions would experience a rush of adrenaline and fear that might make them want to flee, but the legislation has to be clear here, and under no circumstances can a person be given allowance to leave the scene, especially in cases where injury or death are involved. There has to be a deterrent to that, otherwise the law is opening itself up to some really dangerous territory."
"Setting a president…" Luke said, nodding quietly, more to himself.
"Exactly!"
Looking up and seeing the expression on Noah's face Luke said, "Noah, it's okay… I expected this. I can do this…"
But by this point Noah was furious, "Really? Well good for you Luke! That's just great! But while you might be able to, I can't!"
Luke cocked his sad eyes at him, biting his lower lip.
"What the hell am I supposed to do, hey? Am I supposed to just sit here while you…" his voice cracked and started to visibly shake, "Three months Luke! THREE? FUCK!" and he lifted the closet object, which just happened to be a photo frame, and threw it across the room. The glass broke instantly. It was the photo Lily had given him for Christmas and his shoulders sagged even more when he realised what he'd done. Anger dissolving into despair, he walked over, knelt down and began to unsteadily pick up the glass shards from the floor, sniffing and rubbing his nose with the back of his hand. "Shit."
Luke left the couch to join him on the floor, stroking his shoulder and cupping Noah's hands in own, encouraging him to drop the glass shards and lean into him, "I'm sorry bubby."
"It's not your fault, Luke. I don't blame you, okay?"
"I know."
Noah sighed, "Look what I did…" he shook his head.
"Hey… it's just the glass… it can be replaced."
They held each other head to head for a while and eventually Noah said, "How are we going to explain this to Nicky?"
Luke shook his head mournfully, "The truth. We tell him the truth. Like we always do…"
"I'm really sorry guys." For a moment they had both forgotten he was in the room.
They stood together.
"You did your best Gareth. I know that…" Luke smiled, approaching him and patting his shoulder fondly.
"I'm just going to clean this up." Noah said, disappearing into the kitchen to find the dustbuster, but Luke knew it was also because he didn't want Gareth to see him crying.
"So," Luke continued, "What happens now?"
Gareth set his briefcase on the dining table, opened it and retrieved an official looking A4 sized envelope, which he handed to Luke. "Well if you choose to accept the plea bargain then these are your instructions, where to go, what time, what to take with you."
The envelope felt oddly hot in Luke's shaky fingers.
"Which prison?" The word tasted bitter in his mouth. He hadn't wanted to upset Noah by admitting it, but he knew it would come to this. He broke the law, however unintentionally and he was prepared to deal with the consequences of that. He was far more fearful of what it meant for Noah and Nicholas than he was for himself. He heard the kitchen tap running and water splashing as Noah washed his face.
"It's not a prison." Gareth corrected, "It's a detention centre for petty crime, for inmates who aren't dangerous or a security risk. It's really low level and you should be fine there. And Noah can visit you once a week."
"When do I go in?" Luke whispered.
"Two days time."
"WHAT?" It was Noah, just returning from the kitchen. His eyes were bloodshot.
"Again, I'm really sorry…" Gareth stuttered.
"Stop! Just stop saying that, okay? I know you're sorry… Everybody's just SO sorry!"
"Noah…" Luke tried to placate.
"No! No!" he shook his head, "This is completely CRAZY! They spring this on us and then give us two days to prepare?"
Luke was quickly by his side, removing the vacuum from his hands and pulling him in for a hug. "The sooner I go in, the sooner I come out!"
"I know you need me to be the strong one here," Noah sobbed, "but I can't do this! Not this! Anything but this!"
"Noah," said Gareth, "we're lucky we even managed to convince the judge to accept a plea bargain! Usually it would be a trial and most likely a six month sentence."
Noah sighed heavily, "I'm sorry Gareth. I know you've done your best! I don't mean to imply… it's just… it's Luke!"
Gareth held up his hand. "I understand how hard it must be for you but if it's any consolation, I don't intend to stop here. I can't promise anything but, with good behaviour, I might be able to get Luke released after a month."
Noah pushed Luke back to approach Gareth hopefully, "How sure are you?"
"Maybe forty percent..."
"But the likelihood is he will have to serve the full sentence, right?"
"Noah, it was difficult enough to reduce it to three months. I don't want to promise you something I can't deliver. But just know that I will do the best I can."
Noah nodded, sucking on his lower lip and struggling to hold back the tears.
He peered around Noah to Luke, "So do I tell them we're accepting?"
Luke nodded.
"Okay. I'll leave you guys alone. Call me if you need anything."
"We will. Thanks Gareth." Luke showed him out the door and then turned to find Noah drooping in the couch, head in hands.
He sat beside him and Noah immediately clasped his head, drawing their faces together and rubbing his up and down Luke's cheek before pulling back and pressing their foreheads together. Luke's hands rose to grip Noah's wrists.
"Parted again…" Noah whispered. "God but fate really does hate us doesn't she?"
"No… no baby, she doesn't… She brought us together, right?"
They hugged until Nicholas appeared from the bedroom, finished with his latest masterpiece and eager to share it with Luke and Noah. They made room for him on the couch and Luke smoothed his soft curls from his face, leaning in to kiss the top of his head.
Three months.
...
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