Luke checked his watch for the umpteenth time and sighed, falling back onto his bed. He watched the second hand tick around and around the face, feeling an old stirring, and then turned his wrist to unbuckle the strap and smooth his thumb over the cold silver back, feeling the indentation of words there...

...

The paper rustled and the bow fell to the ground as he ripped at it, impatient to find out what gift Noah had chosen for him. Once the paper was removed he was left with a festive looking box. He carefully lifted the lid and brushed the red lining paper aside to reveal a beautiful watch with a dark leather strap.

"Wait!" said Noah observing Luke's smile and speaking before Luke could even say anything, "I know a watch isn't the most inventive of gifts but I just… I just figured it was something we both needed a little of lately… time! It's engraved, turn it over…"

Luke read the engraving and then couldn't help but flash Noah a shy smile, "Worth the wait…" his voice faulted a little, "How many times have we said that too each other?" he asked with endearment.

Noah's expression of sheer embarrassment made Luke smile even more. He was so cute. The way that Noah didn't even realise how desirable he was just made Luke want him even more. They shifted slightly closer together on the bench.

"I thought it fit…" Noah said nervous that it was too much, "I mean… maybe it's a little cheesy?"

"Cheesy?" Luke thought, barely able to hold himself back from grabbing Noah in a bear hug, right then and there… For days he had been wondering whether Noah would even consider taking him back after what he did, and now here he was… He was sure that Noah didn't really understand the depth of his feelings yet… But Luke would show him… If Noah allowed him to…

Everything had to be slowly, slowly with this guy...

"No… No Noah…" he said instead, trying to convey his sincerity, "this is perfect. I love it. Thank you. Can I put it on now?"

"Sure!"

He fumbled one handed with the strap, trying to buckle it up, only for it to slip open again, "Ooh!"

They both laughed nervously and then Noah leaned over, "Here, here, let me help you…"

Luke couldn't help but feel the effect of Noah's sudden closeness to him. The feel of his fingers as they swept across his wrist… They shared one of THOSE moments. A moment when their eyes met and they both read the same thoughts there. A moment when the air felt charged and he could physically feel his heart hammering in excitement…

He was completely loosing himself in the sight of Noah, when Noah glanced up and said, "Hey look…"

Luke followed his gaze and spotted it too, "Mistletoe…" he sang, suggestively, amazed that it was Noah who had pointed it out. Could it be a hint that Noah wanted a kiss just as badly as he did?

When he turned back to him, Noah was smiling contently.

"Remember last Christmas, in Emma's kitchen?" Noah asked as their eyes met in a solid gaze.

"Yes!" Luke thought, "He does want it too…"

Suddenly he felt brave enough to continue.

"Yeah. We were standing under the mistletoe" he softened his voice to a near whisper "and that was the first time that I told you I was in love with you…"

And again Noah looked away embarrassed, hard on himself, "And I said same here…"

Luke couldn't help but laugh at him but at the same time he worked hard to maintain that eye contact, the contact he felt sure would lead them to a kiss. "And it was very, very romantic!"

Noah nodded slightly, biting his lower lip anxiously.

"And here we are," Luke continued, "a year later and… it's still true Noah… I am still so in love with you."

A relieved smile crossed Noah's lips, "Same here."

And that answer was all Luke needed to hear. He laughed slightly as they both leaned towards each other. Their lips met in one of the softest kisses they had ever shared. Days of missing Noah meant his lonely heart broke free and took flight as he felt Noah's fingers tickle at his neck.

...

Luke had woken up early that Sunday feeling particularly moody and twitchy. He found himself with three hours to wait until Noah, Nicholas and now Mia arrived for their weekly visit and the first two hours passed with a snail-like slowness that made him want to bang his head against the wall. He was seriously done with the detention centre!

Kevin's reaction to the news that the guardianship of Mia had been signed over to Noah, without his consent, was mixed. At first he'd hugged Luke with joy, relieved to at least know what had happened to her, only to then suddenly switch to being downright angry. But Luke soon realised that this was more to do with grief over his mother's death than the issue of Mia.

By Tuesday he'd calmed down somewhat and couldn't hold back from talking to Luke anymore. It was obvious that he was desperate to hear Luke's news on Mia and to know more about Luke's friend Noah, who she was now living with.

Of course they then hit a whole new level of uncomfortable when Luke informed him that Noah was not just a friend but his partner and soon to be husband and that they lived in Los Angeles with their fostered son, who was actually Noah's cousin.

"So, Mia will live with you and this other man and your son?"

"Yeah. I get how this isn't what most people consider the norm but we're a happy family and there's loads of love to share. She'll be fine with us. She'll have a brother and aunts and uncles and grandparents to spoil her."

"Look Luke. I don't want to insult you or anything… I mean I don't have a problem with gays… it's just… I guess…"

"You never pictured your daughter living with gays?"

"Well, yeah! It's just different."

"You're right, it is different, but that doesn't mean it's wrong. It doesn't mean she can't be just as happy. Look Kevin, I understand your reservations, I really do, but you've gotten to know me over the past month and I think we've become friends, right?"

"Yes, of course! Luke you've been amazing! You're so easy to talk to and you found Mia like you said you would!"

"And you trust me?"

Kevin thought for a bit, "Yes, I do."

"Basically what I'm saying is that you have two choices. Either you accept our offer to take Mia until you're released and have the peace of mind that she's well taken care of, or we hand her back to the state and she ends up god knows where!"

Kevin observed Luke thoughtfully. His eyes were pained and Luke would understand his sorrow.

"Look, Noah's bringing her to see you on Thursday. At least meet with him before you decide."

Kevin agreed and Noah visited with Mia as planned. Luke wasn't allowed at that meeting but Kevin positively beamed on his return to the cell later that day, so he knew that Kevin had came to terms with things. Kevin held nothing but praise for Noah.

Now, as Luke lay on his bed, waiting for his family's arrival and wishing the time away; he mused on the subject of his life in general. He lazily twirled his wristwatch in his hand, reading and re-reading the inscription on the back, the words at this moment holding a whole new level of irony, "Worth the wait".

...

"Oh! So, this is why?" He had that self satisfied tone he usually used when he'd made some major discovery and thought himself rather clever for it.

"What?" Luke wasn't paying much attention as he busily searched his closet for a jacket smart and clean enough to attend the Hospital Benefit in. Reid, being Reid, had sprung the invite on him with just an hour to spare, and now he was frantically trying to dress himself appropriately.

"We're waiting because you're still waiting?"

"Huh?" Luke spun around, still only dressed in a towel, to find Reid dangling his wristwatch by its leather strap. He'd taken it off and left it on the dresser while he took a quick shower.

Reid cocked an eyebrow at him.

Luke sighed, "Reid! Come on! It was a gift!"

"Ah… now, depends entirely on how you look at it. A wristwatch is a gift, but a wristwatch inscribed with sweet nothings implying forever… THAT is more than a gift! And it's more than a gift that you're still wearing. So am I really that insane to ask?"

"Okay, well if it bothers you that much I won't wear it anymore then! It's not like I need to keep time when you make me late for every function anyway!"

"It doesn't bother me at all."

Luke scowled at him, "Then why did you bring it up?"

Reid sauntered over, reached out to pull his arm up and proceeded to fasten the watch to his wrist, before tapping his shoulder, "Just saying…" He gave Luke one of his all knowing stares before saying, "I'll wait for you downstairs…Hurry up! We're going to be late!"

Luke stood for a moment after Reid left, the finger of his right hand running small circles over the glass face of the watch. He quickly made a move to take it off, but stopped halfway, surprised suddenly at how strongly he felt unable to do so.

"It's just a watch Snyder!" he told himself, but he attended the function that night with the watch still firmly fastened around his wrist.

...

"You knew even then Reid… didn't you?" he said softly.

"Ha? Sorry?" Kevin asked from the bunk above, where he lay reading his book. "Oh, nothing… I was just thinking out loud…"

"First sign of madness you know?" Kevin chuckled. He seemed to be a lot happier than he had been at the beginning of the week.

Before Luke could respond, one of the guards, a large man named Julio Rigley, appeared in the doorway, "Snyder, you have a visitor."

Luke blinked and then checked the watch, "But it's an hour early?"

The guard said nothing, merely shrugged in a 'nothing to do with me' kind of way.

Luke wasn't about to argue. If he was going to be granted an extra hour of visitation he certainly wasn't going to waste time asking why.

"See you later Kevin." He greeted, as he hopped up and at the same time refastened the watch to his arm.

Kevin looked up from his book to wave. Luke thought he had a strange expression on his face but he couldn't make it out. "See ya Luke… give Mia my love…" and then just as Luke reached the door, "Thanks for everything man…"

As they walked the usual route towards the visitation area, the guard suddenly took an unexpected right turn, making Luke stop dead in his tracks, unsure of whether to follow.

"This way Snyder…" The guard demanded.

"But…" Luke looked down the passage towards the door that led to the usual visitation room, "Where are we going?"

Again the guard shrugged, "Just following orders."

Luke felt a little apprehensive. He may have been there for only a month, but he was already moulded to the routine of the institution and he felt strangely out of sorts by this change in the norm.

Finally they came to a locked security door and the guard had to use an electronic pass to allow them through. It beeped loudly and, once they entered the next passageway, Luke recognised it as the main inmate reception area he'd first arrived in.

"Collect your stuff at the booth over there and you can use these cubicles to change." The guard instructed.

Luke frowned confused, "I'm sorry?"

But the guard was back through the security door before he had a chance to question him.

"What the hell?" Luke wondered. Everything about what was happening to him in that moment led him to the conclusion that he was being released, but he couldn't allow himself to believe that. Surely he would know if that were the case?

The man in the booth handed him a clipboard that displayed a list of the items Luke had left with them on his arrival.

"Sign here…" the man pointed to a spot on the paper.

Luke did as he was told, taking the package containing his belongings, and making his way to a cubical to change as instructed. It felt strange to be out of the blue jumpsuit and back into his normal blue jeans and t-shirt… Strange in a very, very good way!

Standing waiting for him as he exited the cubical was Gareth.

"Free at last! Free at last!" Gareth sung.

"You're joking!" Luke exclaimed, his stomach fluttering.

"No." Gareth replied, "If I were joking then I wouldn't have bothered coming all the way down here! And you, my friend, would most definitely not be standing there in your civvies!"

"Just like this?" Luke asked.

"Just like this!" Gareth smiled.

"Oh my god!" Luke said, softly at first but then laughing, "Does Noah know?"

Gareth nodded.

"OH MY GOD!" He grabbed Gareth and hugged him hard, patting his back with glee. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

Gareth, struggling to breathe, laughed too and said, "My very great pleasure, now shall we get out of here?"

"Are you kidding? Lead the way!"

Luke couldn't wait to fling his arms around Noah outside of the detention centre. FREE! He expected to see them waiting for him right outside the main door but the space was vacant. As they reached the parking area, he scanned the horizon looking for him but instead of Noah, his eyes fell on Holden.

"Dad?" Luke smiled in shocked surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Hey son!" They shared a deep hug.

"You did it!" Holden said. "You made it through… I'm really proud of you son!"

"Thanks Dad!" He broke from their embraced and checked around once more, and then couldn't take anymore, "Not to sound ungrateful or anything… I mean… I'm REALLY glad to see both of you… where's Noah?"

"Well." Holden announced with a smile, "According to that handsome dark haired boy I've come to know and love, you told him you wanted to get married, and I quote 'the very moment' you got out."

"NO!" Luke shouted, cottoning on but barely believing it possible.

"Yes!" Holden laughed.

"Today?"

"Today!"

The eyes of both father and son welled up with tears and they shared a happy, laughter full hug.

...

Growing up Noah never once imagined getting married or what his wedding would be like. Of course he would later realise it was because getting married wasn't what he wanted, or rather being with someone of the opposite sex, wasn't what he wanted.

So it was with some relief, after Gareth told him the good news of Luke's impending release, that he discovered Luke had left his wedding notebook in the drawer of the bedside table. This gave Noah some kind of plan to go on and at least the wedding would be somewhat how Luke had intended.

It took great effort to contact and arrange transport for the people on Luke's extensive list. Obviously, being short notice, they wouldn't get everybody, but Noah was sure the most important people would move heaven and earth to be there.

He also had to rope Kevin into the plan. That Thursday he'd asked him to pack Luke's belongings after he was collected him from the centre. Kevin was only too happy to oblige although he did mention he would miss Luke's company. He also joked about how hard it would be to keep the surprise to himself!

And of course there was one aspect of the wedding they had still to settle on. One aspect that Luke had been stuck on… location. And it was only after visiting the spot every night since Luke's incarceration that Noah realised how perfect it would be.

There was also one thing clear from Luke's notes… He didn't want some flash, fancy wedding. He wanted something big, for sure, because Luke was all about family, and Noah knew he could never imagine getting married without as many of his family and friends there to share it with them. But Luke also wanted something simple, and relaxed. Easy going, just like they were…

As Noah stood shifting nervously in full view of all of their friends and family, anxiously awaiting Luke's arrival, he hoped Luke would like what he'd decided on.

...