thirty eight

Luke remembers the day he left Michael. He remembers looking back before going down the stairs of his loft, he remembers the brown-haired boy holding his head in his hands as his body shook with silent sobs.

The was the last he ever saw of Michael, he was constantly worried that that moment would be the last he ever remembers of Michael.

It all changed when the Healy family pulled up in their rented Range Rover to The Lake. This was the place where Michael and Luke got engaged, where the had a potluck of the two of them—the two of them and It.

Luke stood next to their car as Matty got Nolan from the back. He saw the dirty blonde pretending to toss—what Luke expected was—his youngest daughter into the still water next to them.

He saw a shorter man shake his head, Luke could just barely hear a laugh fall from his mouth. He assumed that was Calum, the man good enough for Michael.

Luke knows that he and Michael weren't meant for each other, so, yeah, he's happy for the lad. At least he knows he's supposed to be happy.

Matty rested his right hand on Luke's back as Nolan rested on his left side. "There are so many children." Matt leant his head against his husband's, "You can do this. We can do this."

Luke nodded. "Yeah, we got this." He took a step forward, his lean legs shaking. Why was he so scared?

Michael turned around when June changed moods. She went from laughing to hiding behind his legs and staring behind him.

There he saw his ex-lover. Luke was looking at Matty, Matty was looking at the baby on his hip. Nolan was even more cute than Mike ever imagined. His long curls were pushed behind a purple beanie yet still stuck out underneath around his neck.

Luke looked up, his eyes meeting Michael's for the first time in twelve—maybe thirteen—years. A smile rose to both of their faces as Michael took a step forward, holding out his arms.

He grabbed Luke's small body, wrapping his arms tight around his neck. "You're still so small!" Michael could feel Luke's hands around his back, digging into his the fabric of his crew neck tee shirt.

Luke couldn't help but laugh, a deep bellowing laughter filling the air. "I'm 5'7" now, don't start," he responded, his voice muffled as his face stayed buried in Michael's chest.

Mike suddenly couldn't believe that they almost had a child before Luke was even done growing, done maturing.

Matty placed Nolan on the ground, making sure he was able to steady his chubby legs before letting go. He held out his hand, shaking Calum's. "I've heard lots about you, mostly your spouse though."

"I've heard way too much about you," the older man said, letting go of the musician's hand, "My eldest blares your music every morning." Cal turned around, grabbing the sleeve of Juli, "This one."

Matty leant in for a hug, and Cal has never seen his daughter smile so wide.

Michael and Luke let go of each other as Mike started introducing him to Joey, June, then Juli. Luke picked up Nolan, making sure he wasn't about to run into the body of water or anything.

Luke was protective of his baby.

The Hood-Clifford family sat across from the Healy family, all of them comfortably pushed together on a thick blanket. The trees were swaying in the wind, the water stayed still as ducks swam across the ledges.

They unpacked their baskets filled with food, both families bringing their own quick preparation.

Matty was rolling up the sleeves of his blouse, letting Joey look at all of his tattoos. He and Matt stayed in an intense conversation about the ink littering his skin.

Juli had Nolan in her lap, telling June that she was never this cute.

Luke stared at Michael as he told a story, he watched his lips move and eyes light up. He never thought any of this would happen.

Eighteen-year-old Luke never thought they would break up, though.

"How's tour going?" Calum asked, ripping apart part of the sandwich in front of him.

Luke sighed, "It's stressful, especially with N with us now."

Mike nodded, trying to fathom the thought of being on a tour bus or plane with a small child. "Did you see your parents?"

The younger man nodded as he sipped at his drink. "I did, it was," he paused, "Weird."

"Yeah?"

He shrugged, "Like, last time I saw them, I was pretty much a child and now I pay taxes and have rent and a mortgage soon. Like, I have a child now. Everything has just changed so much."

"You can say that again," Michael said just below his breath. "It was good, though? A good change?"

"For sure. They didn't bully my husband, so that's something."

Cal laughed, supposing it was a joke.

Mike didn't laugh, he wasn't sure why he didn't laugh. "That's always a plus, I'm glad you're on good terms with them." Michael looked over at his own husband, wondering if he'd ever be on good terms with his parents.

Juli passed Nolan to Matty when the toddler became bothersome. Matt let his son walk over to him, falling into his lap.

Luke smiled as he watched the chubby baby.

"Your son looks so much like you," Calum pointed out. He looked back over at Luke, analyzing him. "You're trying for another one, aren't you?"

Luke looked up, trying to hold his smile. "What? How'd you know that?"

Cal gave him a side smirk, "It's a mother-to-mother connection, I just know." Calum leant his head on Michael's shoulder, glad they were done with the birthing children.

Mike forced himself to smile, even though the love Matt and Luke radiated seemed to bother him. He was jealous, he was envious.

He would never know how jealous Luke was of them, though. 

There will be another Muke scene. 

Thoughts on the Hood/Healy meet up?

How do you think Michael really feels?

How do you think Luke really feels?

What do you think Matty and Calum are feeling about everything?

Two chapters + epilogue left.