miracle (miracle) wrote in luke_noah, @ 2007-11-28 03:49:00 |
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Entry tags: | -[luke/noah]-, fanfic, fanfic: [atwt], fanfic: rating: teen&under, » by: dedebee |
"Ultimatum," Part Four
Original poster: dedebee
Author: dedebee
Characters: Luke/Noah
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1330
Spoilers/Warnings: Nothing really spoilery, since it takes place in the future
Summary: Luke finally gives Noah an answer to his proposal!
Notes: I'm sure you haven't been holding your breath, but here is the finale of my story. Not only was I really busy with work, but this was the hardest chapter to write, especially since the others pretty much wrote themselves. Anyway, if you haven't read the first three parts, or want a reminder, here are links to the other parts of the story:
'Ultimatum,' Part One
'Ultimatum,' Part Two
'Ultimatum,' Part Three
Without further ado, here's Part Four...enjoy!
"Ultimatum," Part Four
Luke looked around the apartment he and Noah had shared for the last four years and reminisced about the day they moved in. They had decided to live together right before their junior year at Oakdale University. It just seemed like the next step in the natural progression of their relationship. After a day of heavy lifting, moving all their furniture and belongings into a two-bedroom located in Old Town, they christened their new home by making love in every room, savoring their newfound independence and celebrating what was to come for them in the future.
Looking back, he realized that the two of them never really discussed their future. Luke couldn’t imagine life without Noah, but it never occurred to him that they would be together forever either. It was one of the trappings of falling in love so young…they grew up the same time their relationship did, only thinking of the present and never considering what it meant for them down the road.
Or was Luke alone in this? Noah had to have considered their future, or else he wouldn’t have asked Luke to marry him the day before. He wondered if there was anything else Noah had kept from him. He was so guarded with his feelings when they first met, and Luke worked so hard to get him to open up and break free from his emotional constraints. Was he still holding back from Luke?
Luke thought about what Noah said the day before. “When I first came here, I had dreams.” Luke never said out loud that he wanted to stay in Oakdale after they graduated, but when Noah took a job as an assistant director at Oakdale Now, he thought staying in his hometown was something they both wanted. It didn’t occur to him until yesterday what Noah may have sacrificed in order to be with Luke. Did he force his boyfriend to give up his dreams? Did Noah regret staying in Oakdale? Did he resent Luke for forcing him to compromise? His thoughts were interrupted as the door opened and Noah walked in.
“Hey,” Luke said.
Noah’s eyes widened in surprise. He didn’t expect Luke to be waiting for him when he got home. Surprise quickly turned into annoyance, and he mustered a “Hey” in return.
“I don’t know if you ate yet,” Luke said, “but I brought some Chinese home.”
“I thought you’d still be at the farm,” Noah replied. “I already ate.”
“Oh. Well, the leftovers will be great for lunch tomorrow.”
“So we’re pretending nothing happened, then?”
“No…we’re not pretending anything.” He reached for his boyfriend, placing his hand on his forearm. “I’m so sorry, Noah,” Luke said. “I shouldn’t have run out on you like that last night.” He pursed his lips in an attempt to win forgiveness.
Unable to resist Luke’s signature pout, Noah melted, rolling his eyes and flashing half a smile. “No kidding,” he said. “I thought I was the one who does the running away in the relationship.”
“I must have learned it from watching it you.” They shared a laugh, masking the uncertainty they both could feel around them. “I missed you,” Luke said, as he wrapped his arms around his boyfriend, pressing his cheek against Noah’s chest.
“It was just one night.” Noah kissed Luke’s forehead, making sure Luke knew he felt the same.
“I know,” Luke said as he looked up at Noah. “But I just didn’t like the way we left things.”
“You mean the way you left things.”
“You know what I meant.”
“So where does that leave us?”
“I guess…we talk. About the future.” Luke kissed Noah before pulling away, afraid of being too close in case things went sour.
“Look, Noah,” said Luke, “up until last night, I don’t think I ever even considered what my life would be like 10 years, heck, even a year from now. But I know I never doubted that you would be in it.”
“Well, if that’s what you feel, then why couldn’t you just give me an answer?”
“Because maybe…maybe I just realized I don’t know you as well as I thought. And to be with someone for six years and feel like you don’t know them? It scares the hell out of me. I mean marriage? I never knew you wanted to get married.”
“I don’t think I ever knew either. When I woke up yesterday, I didn’t plan on asking you to marry me, Luke. It just sort of—happened. I was living in the moment.”
“Then why did you ask? Is this something you really want?”
Noah paused, searching his heart for the true answer.
“Luke,” he began, “before I met you, I didn’t know who I was, or the person I could be. You helped me figure all of that out. I don’t know where I would be if I never met you, and I don’t want to know who I would be without you. “
“So,” he continued, staring right into Luke’s eyes, “my answer is yes. I want you, Luke, I want all of you. I want to marry you, and I want you to come to L.A. with me, and I want to raise a family with you and grow old with you and everything else. That’s what I want.”
Noah’s words struck a chord inside Luke. He remembered the person Noah used to be, someone emotionally damaged and afraid to voice his feelings. He looked at his boyfriend now and saw the man he helped him become.
“I don’t—” Luke whispered, before raising his voice, “I don’t think I ever asked you what you wanted, at least when it came to us. I know gave up so many things to be with me—“
“Luke, I don’t regret—“
“Just let me finish, Noah. Please. You might not regret anything, but I do. I regret taking you for granted, assuming you’d always be here with me. I can’t believe it took me so long to realize this.”
Noah let out a chuckle. “You can be a little dense sometimes.”
Luke smiled, not just because of Noah’s joke, but because he finally realized what he had to do.
“Everything you just said…I want it too.” Luke reached for both of Noah’s hands with his own, locking them together. “With you.”
Before Noah could respond, Luke bent down, crouching, with one knee touching the floor. His right hand let go of Noah’s left and he cupped both of his hands on Noah’s other.
“Luke, what the hell are you doing?” Noah asked, in amusement and confusion.
“Isn’t this how they do it in the movies?” Luke grinned and looked up at Noah’s loving face, his piercing blue eyes, his killer smile. There was no way he was going to give any of that up.
“Noah, I love you. If your life takes you to California, then that’s where I need to be…because you are my life. So, Noah Mayer…will you marry me?”
Even though Noah laughed, he couldn’t help but get swept up in the silliness and romanticism of Luke’s proposal.
“Why, Mr. Snyder,” he said, “you don’t even have a ring to give me!”
“Oh, give me a break here! I’m living in the moment.”
Noah pulled Luke up off of his knees, wrapping his arms around his waist. Their eyes met, and as they both looked deep inside each other, they could see the reflection of the love they both were feeling.
“Yes,” Noah said. “Yes, Luke Snyder, I will marry you.” He leaned in and kissed Luke deeply, just as deep as the first time their lips touched and changed both of their lives forever.
“So I guess that means I need to get started on that award-winning screenplay you’re gonna direct, huh?” Luke asked as he pulled away for a quick breath.
“There’s no need to rush,” Noah replied tenderly. “We got all the time in the world.”
END