"It's a good thing this watch is waterproof," Luke laughed as they walked into the house.

"Like you couldn't afford to buy another one," Reid commented. Luke pushed him into the door. "Ouch!" he laughed, rubbing his upper arm where it had collided with the door.

Luke half expected to run into Holden or Emma, already forming an explanation for his dripping appearance and deciding that blaming Reid would work best. They didn't find anyone, though, and were able to make it upstairs to Luke's room without interruption.

Still teasing each other, Luke began to peel off the uncomfortably soaked clothes, dropping them in a pile on the floor. Reid declared that he was feeling helpful today and came over to 'assist' Luke with removing the articles of clothing, before also offering to help Luke in the shower, insisting that he didn't trust Luke to thoroughly clean the pond much away by himself. Luke was more than happy to accept his offer.

Some time later they emerged from Luke's bathroom, wrapped in towels and still poking fun at one another, though with overwhelming affection. Reid left Luke alone just long enough to slip into his own room and grab some clothes. By the time he returned, still wrapped in a towel, Luke was already buttoning his pants.

"Cheat," complained Reid, who just tilted his head and smiled.

"How am I a cheat?" Luke asked, amused.

Reid secured the towel around his waist and lazily strutted toward Luke with a seductive grin.

"We have the house to ourselves, I'm not dressed, you weren't dressed," he began in a low, husky voice, reaching out for Luke.

Luke let out a soft laugh, stepping close. "Did I mess up your plans?" Luke teased.

"Why yes, you did. And you know how grumpy I get when someone messes up my plans," Reid grinned.

"Ugh, I hate it when you're grumpy," said Luke with a laugh that was silenced as they fell into a lazy kiss. Luke took Reid by the waist, Reid's hands working to unbutton Luke's jeans. Luke slid out of them and his boxers in one movement while also pulling the towel from around Reid. They spent the rest of the afternoon happily in bed.

That night at dinner everyone noticed the change between Luke and Reid. It was the usual occupants of the Snyder farm; Emma, Holden, Meg and Eliza. Luke and Reid actually talked during the meal, in fact, no one seemed to be able to get them to stop talking or laughing with one another. After dinner they offered to help clean up, but Holden insisted that he could handle it, inadvertently suggesting that they spend some time alone.

And that is exactly what they did. Curling up together in Luke's room, Reid found a movie on TV that caught his interest. Luke found himself tied up once again in his book. While neither said anything, both of them were secretly thrilled to fall into this familiar scenario once again.

Just as the day before they spent the night together, making love and falling asleep in each other's arms. Or at least they had every intention of sleeping. Luke's eyes remained open, though, listening to the soothing sound of Reid's breathing as it slowed, signaling that he was asleep. Luke smiled, snuggling closer. He took in a deep breath, shaking nervously.

"I love you," he whispered into the darkness.

Luke wished he had the courage to say these words while Reid was awake, but just saying it in Reid's presence at all gave Luke a sense of relief. He continued to smile, turning pressing his back against Reid's chest now and closing his eyes, giving sleep the go-ahead to take control. Behind him, Reid didn't move, apparently gripped by sleep; except for his eyes, which were suddenly wide open.