Summary: Future fic set at the end of July ’08. Luke and Noah at the reception, takes place immediately following Ch 1.
Disclaimer: Luke and Noah do not belong to me. If they did we would see a lot more kissing. This story is not for profit. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: I’m expecting this story to be about 10 chapters long. Given today’s preview I feel it necessary to say that in this fic Noah remains in the dorms and Luke at the farm for the spring and summer semesters. Highlight to read - minor spoiler.
Luke shudders violently at the mental image Noah has created of his arthritic English teacher and the wrinkled old librarian getting it on. “I’ll get you for that Mayer” Luke calls after his boyfriend, smiling as the sound of Noah’s laughter floats back to him. He loves the sound of Noah’s laughter. It is something that occurs far too rarely, though Luke has done his best to make it happen as often as possible over the last few months.
Luke hurries down the hallway catching up to Noah on the stairs, smiling as Noah automatically wraps an arm around him. It has taken nearly a year, but Noah finally seems to be comfortable with his sexuality to the point where he can be openly affectionate with Luke in public.
Judging by the voices echoing from outside half of Oakdale has turned up for his parents’ reception. Luke can feel the goofy grin spread across his face, but he can’t stop it. His parents are married again, his boyfriend is by his side, and he can’t remember the last time he was this happy.
“You need a run down on the family?” Luke asks quietly as he and Noah head outside to the reception.
“No, I think I’ve finally got them all straight” Noah answers. He proves himself correct moments later, greeting Luke’s numerous family members by name as they head for the table they will be sitting at.
“Hi Will” Luke greets his friend as they take their seats. “Where’s Gwen?”
“Hmm?” Will murmurs, finally tearing his eyes away from his little girl. “Oh, your mom asked her if she would be willing to sing the first song at the reception. I’d imagine she’s back at the house warming up.”
“How’s Hallie?” Noah asks, trading grins with Luke when Will smiles adoringly down at his daughter.
“She’s amazing” he whispers, holding out a finger which the baby immediately grabs onto. “You have no idea…” he trails off gazing raptly down at his daughter.
“He’s a goner” Luke stage whispers to Noah.
“I really am” Will admits, grinning up at them. “I should probably go check on Gwen. Will you watch her for me for a minute?” he asks, carefully transferring his baby girl into Luke’s arms then heading toward the house.
“Hey there gorgeous” Luke whispers, stroking his fingers gently across her downy hair and smiling into curious dark eyes. Noah reaches one finger out to her and she grabs on.
“Whoa” Noah says sounding surprised, “she’s got quite a grip.”
“Babies always do” Luke says, drawn irresistibly to kiss her soft cheeks. He’s always loved babies and he has to agree with Will that Hallie is something special. “You want to hold her?” Luke asks, turning to transfer her to Noah’s arms.
“Oh no,” Noah says, backing away with his arms up like Luke is holding a bomb instead of a tiny infant. “I shouldn’t.”
“Come on” Luke chides. “She’s not going to hurt you.”
Noah rolls his eyes at him. “I don’t want to hurt her” he says. “I’ve never held a baby before, I wouldn’t feel comfortable.”
“Never?” Luke asks, stunned. He’s been around babies his whole life. “Then it’s about time you did. Sit down” he says, nodding toward a chair. “Babies are pretty sturdy and Hallie’s old enough now to hold up her own head. You’ll be fine.”
Luke carefully eases the baby into Noah’s arms before placing a comforting hand on the nape of his neck. When Hallie does nothing more threatening than yawn Noah finally relaxes. Luke offers his finger to the baby and she grabs it, pulling it into her mouth and suckling contentedly as she drifts of to sleep. “Wow” Noah whispers, gently stroking a finger across her tiny cheek. “She is pretty amazing, isn’t she?”
They watch her sleep for several moments before Noah turns to look at him. “Do you want kids someday Luke?” he asks.
“Of course” Luke answers, startled. It’s never been a question in his mind. “Don’t you?”
“I’ve never really thought about it before” Noah answers, looking back down at the sleeping baby “and after I came out I figured it wasn’t really a possibility.”
“You figured wrong” Luke says firmly.
Noah continues to gaze down at the baby for several minutes before smiling up at Luke, blue eyes sparkling. “She really is amazing. I think I could get used to the idea of having one of these around someday.” Luke can’t stop himself from bending down to kiss that smile.
“Ladies and gentlemen” the emcee’s voice suddenly blares over the sound system “join me in welcoming Mr. and Mrs. Holden Snyder.” Luke whistles loudly, adding his voice to the rest of the Snyder clan as his parents come running out of the house in a hail of confetti.
“Will you be okay with her for a while so I can go say hi?” Luke asks, nodding toward the reception line he should probably be a part of.
“Go ahead” Noah answers, shooing him with one hand. “We’ll be fine.”
Luke walks up behind his parents and wraps an arm around each of them, planting a kiss on his mom’s cheek. “Congratulations” he says, returning their happy grins before moving to stand next to his father in the reception line.
“Where’s Noah?” his father asks several minutes later when there is a break in the line of people coming to offer their congratulations.
“He’s got Hallie” Luke answers, gesturing toward Noah smiling when he sees him gently rocking the baby back and forth. “We-”
“Holden, Lily!” one of his father’s friends from school greets them jovially, and Luke spends the next 15 minutes greeting guests. By the time the reception line is finished the emcee is announcing the first dance and Gwen walks out on stage. Luke makes his way back to their table and sees that, while Will is back, Noah is still holding Hallie.
The guests remain silent while Gwen begins singing and his parents step out onto the floor. Luke smiles at the pure happiness radiating from both of them. Someone starts tapping their glass and all the guests take it up. His father dips his mother and they kiss passionately to the hoots and hollers of the crowd. After his parents finish their first dance the emcee announces that the buffet is ready and the dancing will resume in an hour.
“Hey Gwen” Luke says as the blond slips into her seat. “You sounded great up there.”
“Thank you Luke” she answers with a smile. “I see Hallie has captured another one” she says, tilting her head toward Noah and Will who are gazing down at the sleeping baby.
Noah glances up at them and smiles. “She’s beautiful Gwen” he says. “If you ever need a babysitter…”
Gwen laughs and says “I just might take you up on that one of these days.”
“You ready for lunch?” Noah asks, looking at Luke. Luke nods and Noah carefully gives Hallie back to her father then follows Luke over to the buffet. Luke smiles when Noah talks and jokes easily with Brad, Aaron, and Jack in the buffet line, and they both return to the table with plates piled high.
“Maddie” Luke cries, dropping his plate on the table to grab her in a hug. “How are you doing? How’s Wesleyan?”
“Luke, hi” she says, pulling back. “It’s amazing. You look great, how are you doing?”
“I’m good” Luke answers. Reaching back he grabs a reluctant Noah’s hand and pulls him forward.
“Noah!” she says, sounding surprised, but reaching forward to hug him.
The three of them catch up over lunch, and Luke doesn’t think he’s ever seen her so happy. She even seems to have forgiven him and Noah for essentially screwing her over last summer. Noah leans back and wraps an arm around him, freezing when he realizes that Maddie is staring at them but she doesn’t say anything, just smiles at them. “So how are things going with you two?” she asks.
Luke is in no way prepared to answer that question, and he can tell by the way Noah tenses up that he is incredibly uncomfortable, but Noah answers her “Things are going really well. We’re actually getting an apartment together next semester. We’re going furniture shopping this afternoon.”
“That’s great” Maddie says, “Congratulations.”
An awkward silence falls between them for a moment, then the emcee announces the second dance. Luke raises an eyebrow at Noah who grabs his hand and pulls him out onto the dance floor with a whispered “Saved by the bell.” Noah grasps Luke’s right hand in his left and wraps his other arm around Luke’s waist. Luke snuggles closer and flicks his tongue against the sensitive skin behind Noah’s ear. “Mmm, this is nice” Noah whispers against his ear.
Luke and Noah spend most of the reception on the dance floor. As things start to wind down Luke goes to check in with his parents and grandmother to see if there is anything he and Noah can do to help with the clean up before they go shopping.
“No thank you sweetie” his mom says kissing his cheek. “The caterers are going to take care of most of it. You and Noah have fun.”