More Luke and Sang! And a bit of Erica's opinion on the boys when they were young.

I have also added some character backgrounds for Luke, I really hope you think this works!

Hope you like it!

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Erica's POV

Luke has always had this restless energy. I remember Kota coming home from his first days of school and asking why someone might be unable to sit still. I explained to him that kids struggle to sit still and just because his one of the people who enjoys being calm doesn't mean every child is like him. For a while, this answer satisfied him, then about a year later he came to me, with load of research he had done.

He showed me notes he had been taking on some of the students in his class. This was the first time I heard about Luke, about Nathen about Gabriel and Victor. It was strange, as Kota presented his findings, how clinical how thorough, bearing in mind he was about six years old at this point.

He then told me, quite clearly and confidently, that he thought Luke had ADHD. I laughed. Alot. Don't judge, this was a six-year-old diagnosing another six-year-old, something that's hard to do for even trained professionals. I didn't realise how intelligent my son was, until I met them, a year later.

The blonde seven-year-old was bouncing off walls, literally. He physically couldn't sit still for a second. All four of Kota's friends seemed different, slightly scared of me. I decided that it was just me imagining things. Until I saw the bruise on Nathen's shoulder, the cut that appeared on Gabriel's cheek and the fact that Kota started asking for extra lunch every day. It didn't take long to figure out that the extra lunch was for Luke, every time he came round, he would eat as much as possible.

At first, I thought Victor was fine, or at least had a stable home life, a loving home life. I always knew he was brilliant at playing the piano, we always asked him to play at parties and he seemed to really enjoy it. Then the enjoyment faded, slowly I, we I should say Kota and the others also pointing it out to me, noticed him making excuses not to play our piano. Eventually I got Kota to properly confront him, then we heard about the piano prodigy that he was and how his parents were pushing him so hard. We heard about the performance the pressure the fear of failing... So, while the fists had never physically touched him the pressure was slowly wrecking what made him Victor!

By the time they were eight and I had finally 'left' my husband, Nathen was staying almost every night. Gabriel came at least three times a week and Luke was eating most of his food from our fridge. All the boys had enough clothes to last for almost a month in my cupboards, clothes that were used far too often!

I was the one who took Luke to hospital, when his uncle had told him he was too busy, to get him diagnosed with ADHD. I went to several meetings about how to help him. While he was lucky that the ADHD wasn't coupled with any major learning difficulties, apart from dyslexia he had other issues that made it very dangerous. His other symptoms included (and still do) having no sense of danger- (he does not think before acts) and an inability to ever sit still. He also has to be under practically constant supervision, or his likely to go find something to 'do' which has ranged from practically burning down the kitchen to almost going to prison for a number of things. His uncle found out about everything when the school had to call him, Luke had fallen from a tree and broken his collar bone and wrist. The school had also called the hospital, hence how I knew, I had myself listed as one of the people to call for all the boys.

I followed them to the hospital after Kota got home, the four boys all crowding in my tiny car desperate to see their friend.

I was expecting to find a man too self-centred and cold to bother looking after his nephew, what I got was a man in tears. Trying to force his way through the nurses to get to his nephew. After I calmed security down and persuaded them that I could deal with it, I took him though the back way, with the boys. To find Luke happily sitting in a bright blue cast and sling, chattering away to one of the nurses.

It took less than half an hour for 'Uncle' to explain everything, to me and five sceptical boys. I found my heart breaking for the two of them. A week later Ben as Luke's uncle told me to call him, had cut the hours on his job to basically non existent (becoming consultant rather than leader) and started looking at opening a diner instead. Which was something all the boys were very interested in. It took a year before the boys started to trust him as a father figure, but it was worth it, for all of them. I know that Nathen and Victor, who still had fathers (supposedly) followed Luke and Gabriel's lead, Kota not long after. By the year after we were all spending Christmas together!

Ben also helped and still helps Luke manage his ADHD, as much as he can. Luke refused, even at eight, to take any kind of drugs to help him control it, so we all had to come up with other coping methods. So, we did.

Now, watching him sit next to Sang, Sprinkles on his lap and his fingers interlaced with hers it is the first time I have ever seen him settle. For the first time there is a different light in his eyes. Rather than the crazed energy it is as though there is a glow of contentment. I really don't understand it. Well, I do, Sang is a very special person and well I was expecting them to have a connection I just was not expecting it to be this quick or easy.

I can tell that Sang still doesn't fully trust me, while we have gotten to having a very tense hug goodbye, the only human she seems utterly comfortable with is my daughter. I think that just changed. The way she is less tense with Luke attached to her hand it's proving that to me, I am so calling Ben to discuss this with him later. He totally agrees that Kayli is the wrong girl for the Blackborne-Toma team. Sang could be perfect if we can somehow get rid of Kayli... My thoughts are cut off by Sang talking at me.

"Earth to Erica!" I jump and she chuckles. "We've finished the game, how do we know who's won?" her eyes are twinkling, some of the hurt and pain that I normally see is overtaken over by hope and interest, directed at the boy sitting next to her. He had better not mess this up or she will be crushed and unable to trust again, I know it.

"MUM!" Jess yells and I realise that I haven't answered Sang's question. All three of them are laughing as I jump, again!

"Flip your properties over and use the mortgage value to add to your cash, high amount wins!" I explain as quickly as possible. She nods and proceeds to flips all her properties over.

"Three thousand seven hundred and seventy-two pounds!" she states less than a second later, her hand leaving Luke's so that she can move some money to check. His fingers reach, almost automatically, for her again, his other hand starts tapping the chair frantically. As if she senses that he needs her in some way she turns back to him offering him a small smile, as me and Jess quickly count what we got. The smile calms him, and the tapping reduces in intensity.

"Two thousand nine hundred and..." Jess looks at the money for a moment before glancing at Sang, she looks over Jess's cards.

"Sixty-four, no five!" Jess grins accepting that Sang will have told her the truth, which I can't deny, I have never seen Sang lie. Unless for a prank of course, in which case everything is fair game in her words!

"Are you sure you have never played before Cupcake?" Luke asks her frowning.

"Yes, I'm sureeee ..." She draws it out alerting me to the fact that somethings going on, Luke doesn't clock it going back to counting his money.

"That would be two thousand nine hundred and fifty-three!" Sang mutters, Jess smirks at Luke dumfounded expression.

"What! How? What?" he asks obviously very confused. The girls laugh, but neither give an explanation, they turn to me expectantly.

"Three thousand seven hundred and...." I pause for dramatic affect and it just makes the girls roll their eyes, "seventy- five!" the girls groan, and I laugh. "I'm kidding I got six hundred and twenty-five!" Sang's eyes flash bright, I know she already knew, but I can't help but tease Jess sometimes, I know it worked when my daughter gives me a slight scowl.

"Dam how did you win your first game?" Luke asks fidgeting. Sang exchanges a look with Jess, who shrugs when Luke looks at her. His hand drops towards Sang's again, his body starting to tense as the energy builds in his eyes, but the second his fingers brush hers, the same thing as before happens, he relaxes, calming.

Sang flinches very slightly at the unexpected touch but a second later realises that Luke needs her for some reason, and she offers him her hand. He glances at her for a second, doing the silent talking that her and Jess do. He obviously finds something in her eyes, as he re-laces their fingers. His other hand stops tapping.

"We..." Sang starts but Jess shakes her head vigorously. I instantly figure that there was something going on. Luke seems to figure it as well.

"What?" he asks eyes narrow; the girls exchange looks again. Jess lets out a very dramatic sigh.

"Well..." Jess starts, "We, may have borrowed a few of Luke's cards..." Luke looks extremely put out.

"How the fucdge did you steal from me?" He asks, I'd like to know that as well, I have never seen anyone able to steal from Luke, accept Ben, when Luke was just learning. It was one of the many things that the 'Academy' taught him. It was also a very good device at helping him control his ADHD, the focus allowed him to use the energy for a purpose.

"We had some help," Sang mutter gesturing to the Sprinkles, Isla and Jason, "but probably could have done it anyway!" the last part is super quiet, teasing, and I almost don't hear it, Luke looks at her in disbelief as Jess lets out a surprised chuckle. I have never seen Sang so comfortable, not enough to tease someone she just met, she hardly even teased Jess until recently.

"Sang, don't we have to go soon?" Jess asks looking out the window. The two on the sofa follow her gaze.

"Yep, come on, food will be ready in a few minutes, then we really are going to have to go!" Sang states, dropping Luke's hand, again, before making her way to the kitchen. Sprinkles leaps from Luke's lap and trots after her, tail in the air, the two dogs also right on Sang's heels, like a little line of ducklings. Jess starts packing the board away and Luke looks totally lost eyes dimming.

"You could go help her!" I mutter at him. His eyes light up again, silly boy did he think she was going to throw him out? he follows the animals after her, looking just as duckling like. Jess rolls her eyes and mutters something under her breath. I think it might have been 'whipped' but I can't be certain.

It takes us a few minutes to finish packing all the money and properties into the box, then we both head towards the kitchen. I grab Jess's arm to stop her when we hear tinkling laughter coming from the kitchen, mixed with Luke's deep laugh, that we haven't heard for months. 'Wait' I mouth at Jess. She nods and peaks round the door frame, I follow her lead.

The sight that meets our eyes is beautiful. Sang watching Luke attempt to flip crepes, I say attempt and really mean attempt. He flips the one in the pan currently and manages to get it on his head. Sang holding another pan flips hers spins and catches it- easily.

"Show off!" Luke mutters in mock anger, she just giggles again, Luke sends her a grin and tries to flip it again, he just about manages to get it back in the pan, then as he turns grin to Sang, it slides out, onto the floor.

"Would you mind cooking the rest Sang, I don't overly like Luke's hair or the sirt from the floor as a food source!" Jess says as she makes her way into the kitchen. His cheeks tint slightly red, the girls both let out matching laughs.

"No problem, Jason, keep Luke away from the stove!" the dog instantly moves to Sangs side as she turns back to cooking the next crepe. Isla looks up from her spot under the table, Sprinkles turns to watch Jason and Luke interacting.

"Ummm Cupcake, his not going to hurt me, is he?" Luke genuinely sounds worried right now.

While me and Jess both know that Jason would only ever attack someone that had tried to hurt Sang, Luke doesn't know that yet and it's amusing to watch him back up to the table.

"Go eat a cupcake Luke and shhh while I finish dinner!" Sang exclaims. Luke looks at her, it takes her a second to realise what she just said, his grin growing wider as he looks at her, "Not me!" she adds her cheeks going red. He goes to respond, Jess stuffs a cupcake into his open mouth. We all laugh as Luke face goes though outraged before settling on bliss as he chews.

"Here!" Sang hands out plates to us before dropping into her seat between me and Jess. Luke pouting deeply at the fact that she doesn't sit next to him. I can hear his leg tapping. Luke looks at the crepes suspiciously for a moment before taking a bite, he is the connoisseur of pancake type things after all! He expression melts from wary to blissful, just like when he ate the cupcake his eyes shut, he lets out a contented sigh.

"Mmmm!" Comes from Luke to the background giggles of the girls. It doesn't escape my notice that Sang's seat is a little further away from mine than normal, not telling her about Luke really did affect her trust!

We talk and if anything, laugh more than usual, Sang coming out of her shell even more as she teases both Luke and Jess. At one point Sang waves Luke's phone at him, his look of shock makes me laugh, but the happy light burning in Sang's eyes makes my week! My month! My year! 

Her green eyes are wide with sparkling excitement as she teases Luke about being a master thief. He gives back as good as he get, Jess and Sang easily teaming up to antagonise him.

I just sit back for the most part watching carefully, somethings can set Luke off if they go too far. I'm ready to step in if needed, but not once do I need to. Sang reads Luke more easily than I ever have. Reacting to things that might set him off before I've realised they could be triggers.

I hate the fact that Sang has perfect time keeping as at exactly six, as usual, she stands from the table and starts to wash up and pack away.

I learnt my lesson the first week when I just got in the way so, now I keep back and wait for them to finish, before they leave. Luke however stands with them, as I knew he would, the sitting was getting to him, he hates inactivity or stillness, unless his eating. I go to tell him that his not needed, when he just fits in, Sang passing him a tea towel as she continues washing. Luke passes the stuff to Jess who spins round the kitchen placing them back in cupboards with ease. I watch it as though it a choregraphed dance, they work so well together! It's over practically before it's started, the whole time I just stare.

"Okay... all done, you ready to go Jess?" Sang asks in the same quiet voice as before. I can see panic rising in Luke's eyes, he desperately wants to stay with her. Jess nods before coming over to give me a hug. Sang nods at me, making no effort to come any nearer. I nod back knowing that I must rebuild tentitive trust we had, she might like Luke, a lot, but that isn't an excuse for me breaking her trust and I should have known. I really, really should have known.

Sang lets out her whistle that calls all the animals to her and as normal they race to her feet. Every time this happens, I feel worse about dragging Max away and this time I almost don't but selfishly I want someone to stay with me. Sang meets Jess's eyes, my daughter tilts her head her eyes flicking towards the top of the fridge before going back to Sang, who shrugs and nods.

"Simon wants to stay with you!" Jess breathes into my ear, obviously still on the 'trick Luke into believing there isn't a parrot' prank. I give Sang a confused look, she shrugs at me. "We will drop some food off with your smoothie tomorrow." Jess adds she smiles, kisses my cheek and follows Sang down the hall. My hands automatically release Max, who races after them.

"Dam Max!" I let out a yell, Luke whips out a hand like the ninja he is and catches his collar jerking him to a stop. Max yelps and turns to give me puppy eyes.

"Let him go Luke!" I whisper knowing that he will just strop if I don't, Luke looks confused but releases the collar. Max bolts out the door, Luke following.

"Is he coming with us?" Jess calls back though the door. I nod, realise that they can't actually see that and yell a 'yes' back as I go down the hall to see them off. The three dogs are jumping into the car by the time I get there, with Sprinkles curled in Sang's arms. Luke is standing to the side fingers tapping his leg as he waits.

"See you next week Erica!" Sang calls from the driving seat as she climbs in, holding Sprinkles out to Jess.

"Bye Mum!" Jess shouts from the other side as she plops the skunk into her lap. Luke tenses, aparently thinking that they aren't going to say anything to him.

"Bye Luke." Jess adds waving at him.

"Bye Almost Ninja!" Sang manages to get out past her giggles. Luke smirks.

"Bye Titch, Bye Cupcake!" both the girl's frown in sync, as Sang pulls the car away. Luke laughs before turning to me.

"Well? What are you waiting for?" I ask and he gives me a very good impression of confusion, in fact if I hadn't known him for years, I would have probably been convinced!

"Waiting for?" he asks to my unimpressed, disbelieving look.

"Luke! It's not like I don't know you've put some kind of tracker on that car!" he blushes before grinning cheekily.

"Meeeeee?" He does huge fake innocent eye.

"LUKE! Get going already before you lose them!" I yell, his eyes flick to the car for a moment as he tries to not let me win before he grins again and races to what I think is North's Jeep. Moments later his following the Land rover.

I hope he finds them. I can see that he will be very good for Sang, plus Jess has always got on well with him.

Yet they will also be good for Luke, he needs someone like them who can see the fun in the situations, as he does. Or as he used to, until a few months ago, last time I met the boys, before my argument with Kota, I didn't hear one laugh from him and he said about three words to me.

Today he was so much more like his normal, more like the real Luke. His brothers are idiots for encouraging this more serious Luke, in my opinion not only do I know they will miss him when his gone but he can also be perfectly serious and grown up when he needs to be. I don't think it will be long before he leaves that team, not with how him, Sang and Jess were with each other today they acted like they were already a family...

In my opinion not long at all before the boys are going to be kicking themselves!

Hope you enjoyed this, this part is over 3600 words!

I hope you liked my twist in Luke character... Please tell me what you thought!
(Edited 13/11/21)