Luke sat on the branch until it was dark. He started to make his way back to the car when he realized what time it was. 730pm. He was already 30min late for his meal with Bob and Reid. Bloody hell, this will not go down well. Luke thought to himself as he dialed Bob's number. "Bob, its Luke, sorry but I am on the way, I got held up. I am really sorry."

"Ah, not too worry Luke. I don't mind. We might order the entrée though."

"Sure thing, I will be there soon."

As he was being lead to the table where Reid and Bob were waiting, Maddie called out to him.

"Luke, what's going on, you look like crap."

He laughed at her half-heartedly. "Nothings wrong Maddie. I was just….off doing….I just got distracted."

"Luke-"

"Not now Maddie, I am really late for an appointment"

"Ok Luke, but were you there again? At Noah's place?"

"What, where? No I was….." He paused at she stared at him intently. "Ok fine I was." He felt his face flush and he turned away to avoid her sympathetic face. He didn't want people to feel sorry for him. Especially for all the wrong reasons. But as he turned away from her face, he looked right into Reid's eyes. Typical, he was standing right at his table. And although he had a blank look in his eyes, Luke knew he had heard that entire conversation.

"Maddie, I have to go. Call me tomorrow." He turned then and sat at the table with Bob and Reid.

"I am really sorry I was late, I got held.. held up."

"Mr Snyder, it is incredibly rude to think that we don't have other commitments also. Which are now affected due to you leaving us here waiting."

"I said I was sorry. I am not normally late, I just-"

"I don't care what you are normally. I have no interest."

"Ah, Reid, Luke, lets just calm down and try to enjoy the evening." Bob interjected.

Reid glared, Luke smiled. Bob thought to himself what a nightmare – how can two men who are polar opposites ever get along. As the three sat there silently he realized he was going to need to keep the conversation going. What was wrong with Luke, he was always keen to get to know people.

"So, Reid, how are you settling back in? How is my Katie doing?"

"Well I have been here a whole 5 hours, and every minute has been enthralling. And since you had morning tea with Katie, you have probably spent more time with her today than I have."

"Right, yes, that's good. And Luke, how is work going? Busy?"

"humph" came from Reid's direction.

"What Reid" Luke snapped. "Do you have some comment about how I don't have to work for a living, silver spoon in my mouth and all that crap you have said before?"

"Well, since you have half a shrub in your hair, I don't think you have been working too hard" he drawled at Luke.

Luke gasped and started rummaging through his hair unsuccessfully until Reid reached over and plucked the offending leaves from his hair. Luke gasped again as he felt every hair on his neck stick up as Reid lightly brushed his head. He counted to ten willing the blush he knew was coming to stay away, hoping to take charge of his body. Surprise, surprise he failed. He refused to look up at Reid, he knew he was watching him, he could feel his eyes on his face.

Christ all fucking mighty this was going to be a long night. Why don't they just pass around nude photos of him, Luke thought to himself, he couldn't be any more humiliated right now.

"I was just near the farm, in a paddock. Something for work. Anyway, lets order. I think I will have the veal with mushrooms and then I will have dessert."

Dinner was tedious but short as everyone else obviously felt the same way and seemed to rush their meal. Bob made small talk, Luke contributed with varying levels of interest and animation and Reid contributed one word answers.

Luke decided to skip dessert and made a dash for the door once the bill was sorted. As he turned the corner leaving the restaurant behind he took one look back and stopped for a second as his eyes met the ones he was hoping to but hoping not to meet. Reid stared back intently but as always, blankly. God, that was painful. In more ways than one. He knew he wouldn't sleep tonight so he headed to the office, at least he can get some work done.

Meanwhile, Reid was slamming through the door of the apartment he was now sharing with Katie. He walked straight passed Katie and her mess spread over the table. She stared at the back of his head and wandered how many times this would happen over the next few weeks, months or whatever when he was forced to work with Luke.

"How was dinner? They have great cannoli there. Oooh, and tiramisu. Yum."

"Fine, over cooked pasta but whatever. Tea?"

"Yes please"

"Stop staring Katie. What is all this mess about?"

"Oh, I am sorting some new day plans for the kids."

"Don't you just paint with them, feed them then sleep them?" Reid said with something that might have been trying to be a smile.

They sat on the lounge together, both staring at their mugs. Katie knew he wanted to talk, but she knew he would put a wall up quickly if she said something he didn't like or want to talk about.

"Reid, sweetie, what did you expect when you came back here. Were you really that naïve to think this wouldn't be hard?"

"Katie, stop misjudging what I am feeling. I knew seeing Luke would be hard because back then I was so mad at him. But leaving was the best decision I made. It has made me what I am now. My skills and knowledge are world class, and I would not want it any other way."

"Reid, I know that if I ran into any of my exes I would not be too happy. They are exes for a reason."

"I am glad I have seen Luke, seeing the person he has become has made me happy I am away from here. He was always a spoiled boy, now he is a spoiled man. He shows up 45 minutes late tonight, with no explanation – well at least a horse shit explanation."

"Reid that's not like Luke. He is not spoiled, are you kidding? Do you forget where I work? I know you know what he does with his money. You thoughts are obscured because of your history."

"Please, he donates money yes but he is entitled and expects to be treated differently because of it and he carries it off moreso because of his looks."

"Ha, so you still think he is sexy?"

"Katie, I am not blind. But it's irrelevant, I am who I am and I have never had a problem getting a hot guy."

Yeah, but she thought to herself, Luke would be the only one that takes his shit for more than one night.

"Reid, you should take the time to get to know him again. Everyone loves him. Maybe you are wrong."

"Yeah, yeah, the golden boy of Oakdale. Everyone but the prodigal Noah. I assume since he isn't around he ditched him finally ran a mile. The guy that Luke is still panting for, even tonight-"

"Reid! Stop that right there. I realise you don't know, cause I am the only person from Oakdale you speak to and I know I haven't told you but you better take this information seriously and not be a bastard with it."

"What are you talking about, poor little Luke had his heart broken by the big bad Noah. I saw some of the photos you sent me, with those two looking like they were going to start picking matching suits and sending out wedding invites."

"Well, if you let me ever talk about Luke or Noah then I could have told you that Noah died, years ago."

"WHAT? He's dead?"

"Yes, it was an accident. A horse riding accident. He and Luke were together. Noah fell apparently and knocked his head. Bob said he was brain dead." Katie stopped a minute to look at Reid's pale face, no smirk this time. "It gets worse Reid, Luke was his next of kin and had to make the decision to turn the ventilator off. But Reid, you cant mention any details of this. Luke had not spoken of this to anyone. I know what I know cause I badgered Bob to tell me. Luke hasn't even spoken to his parents about the details."

"That explains tonight then."

"What do you mean?"

"He was late and as he got to the table that friend of his Mary-"

"Maddie"

"Whatever, she asked him if he was at Noah's place and he looked uncomfortable."

"Noah's place? What do you mean? Noah was cremated and he doesn't have a memorial site. That's one of the things everyone was worried about when he died. Luke didn't…he uh….oh Reid, I don't know if I should tell you this. I don't know if Luke would want you to know."

"Well, everyone else seems to know Katie."

"Reid, be gentle with this information."

"Katie, c'mon."

"After Noah died, Luke had a service, more for everyone else than himself. Noah was cremated but not scattered and not put with a memorial stone. His parents and friends tried to get him to do something but he wouldn't. Everyone just assumes he still has his ashes. But that is wrong. It stops him moving on. Reid, I lost Brad, I know what it is like to lose your partner but its like he is punishing himself for Noah dying."

"Jesus Christ, what a mess. How long ago was this Katie cause he is still grieving, still in love with him."

"It was six years ago."

Reid and Katie just sat there staring into their mugs.

"Right I am going to bed" Reid suddenly stood up and walked to his room. "Thanks Katie, for this."

Katie watched him walk away. Did she just make a mistake telling him that? Maybe they need each other to be happy. God, they still had a connection from school but maybe it would be more. Well, at least I will do my best Emma Woodhouse impersonation and try, Katie thought to herself.