Chapter 43

Despite what I knew would be an unfortunate ending, the rest of the day spent with the Prentas' was awesome.  I was surprised to find not much sorrow, even though I knew they didn't want Mike to go.  They just made the best of the time they had with him that day.  We ate dinner and talked.  Relaxed.  We even played big group and family games to - which was more than fun.  It was warm... with laughter, and teasing love.  And through it all, I felt that deep ache again.  Of being around love and family like this.  However, I paid no mind to it.  I wanted to make this last, just like they did.

It was fun and loving, even after I found that Clare managed to come.  She arrived right after I did with Francis and Brooke.  I figured even with her here, she would ruin what was becoming a great time.  But that surprisingly wasn't the case.  She didn't try to push me much, and just really focused more on the family and chatting with them, especially Mike and Jan since he was leaving.  And as she was talking with them throughout the night, I tried coming up with a way that this could be tied into her plan.  How she didn't want to pay any mind to Luke. 

That wasn't the case either though I found soon enough.  She acted like his wife with him - which was reassuring really.  We needed her on his side like that.  It was what was keeping everything from falling apart in our plan.  So I can ultimately conclude that she loved Luke, she loved his family like I knew, even if she was still suspicious I knew.  It was a start.

She was family to the Prentas' - more so to the ones that didn't know the truth anyway.  I didn't let it bother me too much though, like I said.  It was a good time.  Through the dinner, talking, games... I could tell, even with how convincing Luke was, he was tense most of the time with her around.  I wasn't really sure what it was; if anything, I should be the one more upset at her presence.  But like I knew he would - and had to - he hid it.  He held her hand when she would reach to do so and smiled constantly to her.  Made me sick, yes, but that's what needed to happen. 

By the time the games ended and we were all seated on the couch and chairs, I let her leave my mind completely though - and so did Luke.  I guess we can thank what I was holding on my lap for that; it kept all my attention the moment Jan pulled them out for us to look through. Family photo albums - which Luke and Francis were very reluctant to let me look through.

Sitting between Francis and Luke, holding the big family album in my lap, I couldn't help but laugh at how funny I knew this would be.  Just from how they didn't want me to see it - like Francis demanding me to forget everything I see in the book.  Shannon didn't mind though.  She was sitting besides her dad across from us on another couch.  Looking up to them, Mike met my eyes and gave me a smirk, nodding for me to go on as he wrapped an arm around Jan who sat on his other side.

"Go on, start looking," Mike snorted, smiling.  "I want to see my boys embarrassed."

"Dad," Luke groaned, giving up too and sitting back more, as if pouting.  However, when I opened up the book and began to go through it, he was back up, pressed against me as Francis was - like they needed to monitor the photos I was looking at.  God.  What the hell was in this book?  Naked pictures?

After looking through the first few pictures, I was already addicted.  I mean, when I got into it, there were pictures of family vacations, fun cook outs in the summer, birthdays and Christmas's... it was amazing.  And to me, it of course left that small ache in me at seeing these.  I pushed it to the side though and wouldn't let it bother me.  I just kept smiling down at each picture as I silently flipped through it.  And let me tell you... Francis and Luke as little boys were the cutest.  I don't like using that word but they were cute.  With Luke's curly short brown hair behind his little ears, his sweet smile... I could see him perfectly.  Same with Francis - except he looked like a little trouble maker.  Some pictures even proved so - with him and Shannon wrestling on the floor. 

Of course, there was one page that I flipped to that made my jaw drop open.  "Oh my god," I said, my mouth recoving when I felt a smile spread over my lips.  I started to chuckle softly.  "Awe," I looked up to Luke, who I saw was blushing slightly.  "Look at you!  Taking a bath with your brother!"

"We were like two years old!" He said back instantly, narrowing his eyes on me.  I didn't see an issue with it, just thought it was funny.  Looking down at the two babies smiling up at the camera from the tub, I heard Francis groan loudly.  He suddenly reached across me, grabbing the next page and turned it.

"No!" I chuckled, turning it back and fighting his hand off after seeing his cringing face.  "No... take in the beauty..." I said, smiling and lifted it up towards Francis more, forcing him to look.  Hearing Jan and Mike laughing across from us, I saw they were happy to see them embarrassed.  Shannon was smirking too, I noticed.  As was Brooke, who was laughing from where she was sitting on the floor close by where Clare was sitting in the chair adjacent to the couches, chuckling too (she can go choke of her laughter). 

 "Oh my god, yeah I remember when I saw those pictures the first time I came over here," Clare smiled I saw when I glanced over to her, hiding my disgust at hearing that.  I mean, obviously Luke once loved her and I seem to often forget that sometimes.  Having her bring up memories like that just pissed me off because she didn't deserve good memories like that with a guy like him.  Of course, her participating words, I needed to remember, was what was keeping her blind.

"Really?" Jan asked her, smiling too.

"Yeah.  I remember.  It was the first time I met you both.  You happily pulled these out within seconds," she laughed, sitting back in her chair more and relaxing.  And though it bothered me to an extent, to hear those memories she had with Luke and his family, I was happy.  I felt relief hearing them, knowing she was still somewhat loyal and having this as proof. 

Though Clare is a dumb bitch, she was right.  As I continued flipping through the book, I found many more embarrassing pictures. I mean wow too.  They were amazing.  Especially the ones when they were very young.  One of Luke Shannon crying with Francis, one of Luke dressed up as a bunny for Halloween, one of Francis eating Luke's entire birthday cake (or trying) with his hands and Luke looking horrified in the background.  As a result to all these sights was my overwhelming laughter and burning throat at how long I would laugh for.  I mean, this made my life here ladies and gents.  It was awesome.  Of course, Luke and Francis didn't think so.  Francis kept trying to take it away from me but I would only steal it back and laugh harder with everyone else that was cracking up when I would hold up the album for the rest of his family to see and remember. 

Besides that though, it honestly was a little hard looking through all these pictures. I wasn't surprised to feel a lump in my throat under my laughter.  But I just pushed on and wouldn't let myself be selfish.  My past didn't matter tonight, this present did and I was loving this. 

Of course, when the time came to leave, it became hard for me.  Shannon was the first to head home later that night.  She hugged and kissed her father for a long moment, a smile still strong on her face, I noticed.  Her coat readily wrapped around her shoulder, her and Mike stood by the door in a strong embrace.  I could see from the dinning room, like a creep I suppose but the sight was just intriguing - and very painful for me to see.  Forget Clare, forget even him going away for who knows how long... it took me over, just seeing what he and Shannon had.  I could only smile for them because it's something I'm glad they could both share.

By the time Francis and Brooke decided to leave for the night, both of them taking their time hugging Mike, I noticed smiles covered them to.  It was nice, to see them not so sad to see him go.  I could only assume because they are use to this and because they figured he would be home soon because the time wasn't set.  Same most likely would stand with Luke but for some reason, I couldn't be that way.  I wish I could have been happy for Mike because I had a feeling he loved his job, smiled because his departure wouldn't change anything.  Yet, I was only becoming use to this family.  And I didn't like the feeling that came over me when they began leaving, knowing we would have to leave sometime too.  Clare though didn't seem concerned over spending more time with him.  I didn't think her and Mike were close to begin with, which was why I think she was the easiest departure from the house - either that or her inner evil made it so.  She claimed she needed to head to sleep early for work.  What a fucking excuse that was... but I wont complain.  She's gone, yippee skippy bitches!

Just me and Luke left. And it was spent for a long while just talking.  Not about his job he was leaving for, what Jan was going to do alone in the meantime, or even my issue's that I knew they were worried about.  But random, fun stuff.  Memories and stories from earlier that I loved to hear about.  And I took it all in with anxious ears, sitting besides Luke on the couch.  Chuckling, smiling, and feeling the love this family had to offer.  Through years of it in the past they were willing to share with me.

"...And Luke just had to come with me," Jan said, shaking her head in humor, making my eyes grow at the story she was telling me.  Of when she headed to the casino and had a little eight year old follower without her knowing.  Glancing up to Luke, who was smiling at the memory, I looked back to Jan in anticipation. 

"So you mean he just hid in the back of the car or something where you couldn't see?"

"Ha!" Mike cut in with a humorous tone, making my smile spread to a bright grin.  "Try the trunk, the little bastard.  You're lucky you didn't suffocate," Mike said, smirking as he stared at his son, shaking his head.

Looking up to Luke where he was sitting close beside me, he pursed his lips and his eyes on his father held amusement at the memory.  He glanced down to me a second later, scoffing as his green eyes appealed to mine.  "I wouldn't have suffocated, I wasn't that dumb of a child," he smiled brightly, making my chest jump just slightly at the beautiful sight of him.

"Oh yes you were!" Jan laughed, looking back to me to explain.  "You think that was bad?  Sure, he somehow managed to slip into the casino behind me without anyone seeing.  Eventually, I found him having fun on his own, trying to play the slots without any money.  But you should hear about the time this little shit," she said, laughing as she looked to her son sweetly.  "Got himself stuck in the washer!  He climbed in, planning to pop out and scare me when I did laundry, and he ended up somehow getting stuck."

"Damn," I said, glancing up to him with a wide smile, shaking my head.  With each of these little stories coming out, I felt I knew Luke much better with each one.  "Yeah, you can be pretty stupid sometimes can't you?" I asked.

"Only when I can afford to be stupid."

I rolled my eyes but before I could ask his parents to spill anymore good stories about Luke on me, Luke had his own plan when he announced dramatically,"Well I can tell you Francis wasn't the brightest crayon in the box either," he defended.  He couldn't hide his smirk when he looked up to his dad.  "Neither were you dad."

"What the hell is that suppose to mean?" Mike asked immediately after, face going quite serious that it made me stifle a chuckle.  Luke only smirked as he stared at his dad, who was showing his own proper humor.  Looking pissed off Luke would say such a thing. 

"Well..." Luke started slowly, in a higher voice.  Jan was cracking up, turned towards him more and watching her husband carefully.  "I mean there was that time, dad, that you went shopping and when leaving the store, you got into a car that looked just like ours--"

"What?" I broke in, smiling.  Was he kidding?  Wow that was just awesome if Mike did that.  And yes stupid but worth it just for this moment because I knew this was going to be great to hear this one.

"Oh yeah," Luke smiled, looking down to me.  "He actually mistook someone else's car for his.  And it was open because the keys were already in the ignition.  So he got in, started the car, and didn't even realize it wasn't his--"

"Hey!" Mike shouted, getting our attention.  "It was the same model, interior and exterior design.  It could have happened to anyone!" he yelled at his son, who was cracking up now.

"It was not!  He didn't notice once even though the keys were clearly not his."  Smiling brightly, he looked to his father, who was red in the face and showed how not happy he was about him bringing this up to me.  "The keys had all these key chains on it he didn't have and he just didn't notice it.  It wasn't until he got home and we noticed it wasn't his car that he realized it!"

Jan, seeing her husband in 'distress' leaned closer to him where they were sitting beside each other.  Wrapping her arm around him, smirking herself up at him, she rubbed his shoulder in comfort slightly.  Mike though wasn't fazed, making Luke and I laugh harder. "It. Could. Have. Happened... to anybody!  Do you want to fight right now, smart ass?" he asked, raising and lowering his eyebrows, challenging his son. 

Luke sighed, biting his lip and holding his laughter in as Jan was laughing more, but at the same time defending Luke.  She smacked his shoulder.  "Michael!  Don't be a child," she smiled.

"Oh you don't need to worry about Luke and I fighting.  We wont... because he knows I'd win."

"He's a trained cop," I threw in, amused even more now.  Man, to think about having a dad like him... growing up with such a great dad.  It would have been amazing.  In all honestly, I was jealous of Luke in that aspect fully.

"Thank you," Luke smiled down at me for defending him, which I on instinct rolled my eyes at, teasing.

Mike narrowed his eyes on me.  "And I'm a trained dad, cupcake.  Where do you think he learns all his fancy ass moves?" He gestured his thumb towards himself and I noticed now he was leaning forward towards us more from where he was sitting on the couch.

Jan grabbed his arm playfully and this time, finally, got his attention when she reached with her under hand across him and rested her palm on his cheek, forcing him to turn his head and look at her instead.  We just scoffed and chuckled more at him getting in possible trouble with his wife for it.  I could see Mike's eyes melt in hers and his aggressive smirk feel to a sweeter smile for Jan.  "Are we finished dear?" Jan asked, smiling more at him, teasing. 

Mike sighed dramatically, his smile slowly falling.  "Why can't you ever let me be the man?" he groaned.

"Because it would almost always require blood in the end and you laughing."

"Wait mom, you think he would be able to beat me in a fight?" Luke cut it, showing his own fake anger at the issue.  And my lord, at this point, I didn't know how much more happiness I could take, how much more I could laugh.  It was all just so funny and warming, watching them go at it.

She sighed, glancing to Luke and gave one curt shake of the head she was probably hoping Mike wouldn't see. Of course, seeing the betrayed look on his face next to Jan, suggested he saw it.  "January, I can beat his little ass right now if you let me."

"Well I'm not going to let you," she laughed, and lightly pecked his lips before patting his leg and moving back to face us more.  "And no you couldn't," she said, smirking up at us as I saw the fake fury cross his face again.

This.. playfulness went on for a while longer and it resulted in quite a few more embarrassing stories until Luke and I realized how late it was getting and how much longer we were staying than the others.  I figured they wanted to head to bed.  After all, we found out earlier that Mike's flight was leaving tomorrow sometime and I'm sure he still wanted some time with his wife.  Not to mention, I still had a shit ton of work - which I wont get to until tomorrow I realized.  But even worse, school was tomorrow.  It would be everyday besides the weekends.  With Ramper.  Wouldn't want to miss out on that.

We reluctantly started to get ready to leave.  And as we did... our goodbyes... were a little different.  Both Jan and Mike led us to the door and for the first time tonight, Jan brought up what we knew we were trying to avoid in our heads.

"I know I already told you both this but... I'm still very worried for you two," she said, handing me my coat from the rack she was closer to.  Grabbing my coat, biting my lip too, I slide it on as I looked between Mike and Jan, who were observing Luke and I gently. "And so is Michael," she said, as we glanced up to where his sad eyes rested on us. 

I wanted to reassure them - especially Mike now since he will be going away and wont be seeing us for a while.  Luke took that step for the both of us.  Sighing, he said as he glanced between them.  "We are going to be fine.  I can't tell you how determined I am to end this.  And we will.  It will be all over in time," he nodded, smiling to them.

Jan offered a supportive smile as Mike just looked worried still.  I knew it was hard for them, really it was.  Imagine seeing on the news that I almost got shot along with a  certain cop that Luke paid to remain nameless.  Clearly, that's going to spike some panic if you see that on the news.  And when they know the details... it doesn't really look good for us.  Because at this point, honestly, I felt almost doomed.  I have Luke protecting me and I hated it for the fact that it feels like a whole army is coming at us now.  I think that's why we both were enjoying this break as much as we could.  Because it just didn't look good for us at the moment.  We are strong enough to face this.  We just weren't letting that is get us down.  Because we will figure it out, I was sure of it.  I just wanted his parents to feel relieved like we have on this little break.  Of course, if I've learned anything from these two, parents don't go on break from worrying about their kids. 

I heard Luke take in a sigh from next to me and approach his mother from where she stood a few feet in front of us.  Slipping his arms around his mom, he drew her closer and gave her a tight hug, knowing her worry and how sad she was for Mike to be leaving.  Jan was strong and never seemed to falter but how could she not be upset with what we are going through and now with Mike leaving.  However, what she said next did reassure me some.

"Mom," Luke sighed.  "It will be okay," he said, resting his head against the side of hers. 

His back to me, I watched Jan, with her cheek against his shoulder smile slightly through her closed eyes and pursed lips.  She rubbed her hand in comfort along his back before they broke apart.  "I know it will be," she said to him, standing before him again.  "I'm going to go stay with Francis for a little while.  You know, just to have company.  I don't want to be alone in this big house," she smirked.  "So I'm just going to go to Francis's big house," she chuckled softly. 

Luke smiled at that as did I.  "That's great, I'm really happy you are doing that," Luke said as he came to face his father.  I watched Luke carefully, and his smile dropped a little as his eyebrows rose.  Eyes meeting his dad's though, it was back and he approached Mike, who happily wrapped his arms around his son. 

"You be good," Mike said sternly, as if Luke was still a child and younger than me.  When Mike glanced up to me as he hugged Luke, his smile grew slightly.  And with that, they broke their embrace and Luke didn't look too worried anymore - like his siblings appeared.  That's what I liked about Luke.  He saves his worry and guilt for where it is needed.  He dwells over things constantly but he doesn't waste energy for it if he doesn't have to.  "And treat this one hear good," he said to him, smiling sweetly to his son.

"I will," Luke said, just as I saw Jan come up to me and wrap her arms around me tightly.  And though she wasn't leaving town, I felt that she needed this hug.  Like I almost felt I did from a mother like her.  I swear, she still makes me feel sick sometimes and a good example of that would be at this moment.  I clenched my teeth slightly as I came to hug her back. 

"Sweetie, stay safe.  Just be okay.  And you watch out for Lucas too," she whispered in my ear.  Jan held that embrace together and whether it was healthy for me or not, I hugged her back.  I could feel Luke's eyes on me as he waited by the door for me to say goodbye.   When she came to move back, she smiled to me, making me feel warm.  Scoffing, she said in a teasing manner, "And no more news stories, got it?  You're going to give me a heart attack if I keep seeing those."

I nodded, smirking.  "I'll try."

When it came time to say goodbye to Mike, unlike with Jan, I had an even worse feeling in me.  A sick one that was worse.  I figured it was because he was leaving for a long time.  Later I will have ponded whether that was a sign or not. 

Mike came up to me and I even noticed he swallowed hard when his eyes reached mine as I stared up at his.  I tried playing our playfulness on this one, considering we are both like that.  "Well man, it's been a pleasure," I smiled.  "I'll see your ass when you get back.  And it better be in one piece," I said, making Luke snort.

Mike smiled down to me but didn't have a sarcastic remark for me this time.  Instead, he just nodded and came to bend down slightly, wrapping his arms around my back and holding me against him.  And he felt so warm and felt like a different kind of home... I didn't want to let go.  I held him tightly to me to, resting my head against his shoulder as I gritted my teeth even more.  Moving his head slightly, I felt him whisper in my ear, "You better behave yourself to, got it?" he asked, in a fatherly tone that made my heart jump.  "Don't think that just because you are not my daughter by blood that you will get away with shit around here, missy," he said, moving back slightly and looking down at me.  "Because you fucking wont," he warned, making me smile up at him. 

"Yes sir," I said and couldn't hold my smile from breaking wider into a bright grin.  And with his hands still resting against my arms, he bent down and lightly kissed my forehead before moving back.  It... shocked me really.  He just said he would treat me like his daughter and he just.... oh god, I felt so loved.  Like I was one of his kids.  I wish I was.

It wasn't long after this that Luke and I headed out to the car, our coats wrapped tightly around us.  However, if I knew then what I would later, I probably would have spent more time saying goodbye to him.  Because though I didn't know it then, it would be many years until I see Mike again.

***

"Wow, what a day," Luke said, collapsing back and onto my bed, creating an after shock where I shook with the bed.  Laughing as I was sitting on the edge of the bed, I turned more to see him resting on his back now, sighing with his legs hanging off slightly.

Taking him in, his jeans and dress shirt he dressed up in for dinner, his messy hair, I knew he was just full of shit.  He didn't put those nice clothes on until he found out his dad was leaving and headed over there.  Before that, the punk was lazing around the house in sweats.  While I was dealing with dumb ass Ramper and school today. Poor fucking baby.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes, and drew his eyes up to me from where he was laying on my bed, his head resting against the covers.  Eyes meeting mine, he narrowed them up on mine.  "What the hell is that look for?" he asked, nudging my hip with his leg where I was sitting on the edge.  "Ready to rant?" he asked, and I was glad to see he didn't forget about how shitty he knew my day was.

I sighed, smiling, and nodded.  "That would be very nice.  So don't you even start about what a hard day it was for you," I groaned, making him laugh. Looking down at him, he tried cutting his laugh off as he raised his hands up in surrender. 

"I know!  Jeez.  I worried about you all day, you don't think I was worried?  That's why it was such a hard day, for Christ sakes," he said and with it, his voice became accusing that I would think he wasn't thinking about me today.  I was ready to defend myself now that the roles flipped and he was acting pissy, but before I could, he leaned up more and grabbed my hand.  And before I knew it, he fell back flat on the bed and pulled me down with him to lay next to him. Chuckling as he pulled me closer to him, turned now on my side facing him.

Sighing, I smiled, resting against him over my bed.  He slid his arm around me and under my neck, making me rest against his strong muscles and drown more in his wonderful scent.  Of course, glancing up to his face as we settled there, his lips were screwed up and he wouldn't meet my eyes.  Cry baby.

I sighed.  "Hey, I'm sorry I thought you weren't worried over me.  I know you were worried," I whispered, moving my arm up and over his chest to rest against him.  With my long sleeve creamy shirt on and jeans, his eyes slowly moved down to where my arm rested.  Luke's free hand came up and grasped my hand, his expression still froze at my apology, and with his fingers, he lightly pushed the material of my shirt up to my elbow, then pointed at my skin.

"Do you know what that is?" he asked in a quiet voice, not wanting to wake Clare.  His eyes still wouldn't meet mine and all I wanted to do was smack it out of him because I knew he was playing with me.

"What is it?" I asked in an annoyed voice.

"The skin of a liar," he mumbled, acting as if he was still pouting and moved his face in the other direction away from mine.  "You don't even care about me."

I groaned.  "Yeah, right now, I don't really care for this little cry baby shit.  I said I was sorry," I hissed in his ear and bit my lip, moving my body against him more.  And with my arm he just indicated a second ago with the sleeve pushed up, I moved it up and lightly grasped his chin, making him look back to me.  When he did too... the jade in his eyes lit up every nerve in me and I saw a smile slowly reached his lips. 

"You're damn right you are," he said, slowly moving down to where I was resting against his arm that was wrapped around me.  Hovering just slightly over my face, I saw his eyes become more warm as his free hand came to stroke the skin of my cheek. Biting his bottom lip, I saw him take a deep breath and the seriousness in his face came back.  "How bad was it today?" he asked, not given the chance to do so earlier.

I just chuckled lightly at recalling just how terrible it was.  Ramper's dumb words, his face... and all those kids and homework with it.  I was so sick of it... and it's only been the first day back with him.  Moving more into his side, I moved my head to rest against his chest as I buried my face in his chest and just groaned, breathing in his soft aroma of shampoo and a spicy cologne I loved.  "That bad?" he asked from where he laid back down fully flat and rest let me rest against his chest with my head buried.  His arm that was around me before followed me to where I was slightly over him now as his other hand rested on my hip, holding me there.  When he began to slowly stroke the hairs at the back of my neck, I answered.

"So fucking bad," I chuckled against him, peaking up to look up at his face.  Neck craning down to take me in, he laughed with me at how much we knew this really sucked.  Better than dragging yourself down over it.

"I'm sorry to hear that.  How much of an ass was he?"

"The whole ass.  Even the asshole."

"Ah," he said, smiling as he began to rub his hand up and down my back.  He sighed a moment later though and said seriously.  "Well, I'll talk with him.  I guess I didn't make it clear to him before how I wanted him to behave."

"You spoke to him about how to behave with me?" I asked, staring up into his eyes as I felt his other hand come up and play in my hair, with the hair tie that was holding up my bun before he fully pulled it out.  Letting my hair run free over my back. 

"I did.  I'll have to be more clear with my terms.  You get enough shit from these kids at school.  The last thing you need is him coming down on you too."

I smirked slightly and whispered against him.  "That's what she said."

He laughed - and I felt the tremor of humor through his chest as I smiled.  He ran his fingers through my hair, making me relax deeper against him.  Relax so much with him being the only one I could trust and unwind with.  My eyes drawing close, I laid there across the bed with him for I don't know how long.  Just loving being with him this way.  With who know many minutes passed, I eventually moved my body up more until I was fully laying over him, with one arm wrapped around his neck against the bed and the other running up and down his side. So nice... so quiet and peaceful.  I felt myself want to go to sleep soon enough with how he kept playing with my hair. That was until I felt him tilt his head down, and rest his lips against the top of my head. 

"Albany?" he whispered.

"Hmm?"

"I have a surprise for you...."

Smiling, I opened my eyes to see the side of the bed.  Biting my lip, I didn't know what to expect.  I did though think that he was joking with me and didn't really have anything.  "Is it... a ticket out of this place with you?" I laughed.

"Oh how I wish, baby," he said, and I could feel him smiling against my hair as he continued to run his fingers through the locks. "I'm sorry to say it's something else.  You will still very much like it.  But you need to sit up for a minute," he said, a little louder.

When I heard the seriousness in his voice, I felt my eyebrows dip in wonder... was this a real surprise?  Like a present or something?  I wasn't even sure if that would count as a surprise.  Either way, I did as he said and moved my body up and off of his, now resting on the bed again.  Now sitting up and looking down at him in confusion, not understanding, he soon sat up himself. But for what?  What was he doing? Surprise?

"What do you mean surprise?" I asked, even a little worried.  I didn't like getting caught off guard that often....

He gave me a bright smile where he rested before me.  His legs stretched out, he came to cross his legs and face me fully as I did the same, staring into his eyes.  Trying to come up with what this could possibly be?  I mean, was he giving me an actual object?  Was he going to tell me something?  Was he doing to even do something...?  I just had no idea.

His smile turned very sweet.  "I mean a surprise," he chuckled, seeing I couldn't grasp the concept.  "Close your eyes," he said.

I looked at him skeptically for a long moment.  "If I open my eyes and I see your dick, we are done."

He broke in fits of laughter.  "You're such a pervert," he rolled his eyes.  "Trust me.  Just close your eyes."

Pursing my lips, I tried keeping a smile off my face and failing.  I did as he said, smirking and not being able to help my grin when I closed my eyes.  I felt the excitement increase in me with waiting, not knowing when... not knowing what he was doing.  It felt electrifying for someone that doesn't really experience this type of thing and though anxious, I was filled with a need to know what it was.

I did find out a few seconds later.  I felt the bed under me move slightly could feel him move closer to me.  Only he moved behind me, I could feel, and I felt him brush my hair a little.  I could feel the air shift and felt his hand touch my chin for a moment before his fingers were behind me.  But the first hint came with the weight of whatever it was he placed against my neck.  And after a moment of wondering, I realized what it must be the second he moved back before me and told me to open my eyes.

I felt my teeth shinning brightly the moment I opened my eyes and instantly looked down to where I felt that weight on my chest.  And sure enough, there it was.  My necklace he gave me for Christmas.  Back on my neck where I never wanted it to leave in the first place.  Staring down at it... I was shocked.  How?  As I looked it over carefully, raising it in my hand to take it in, I felt my breath increase.  It was my necklace, the same one.  Nothing wrong with it or anything.  So beautiful too with the moon and star I always wanted around me.  The necklace that was taken from me by the mental hospital.  Somehow, Luke managed to get it back....

I glanced up to Luke and found his eyes searching me, his smile there too at seeing how happy I was to get it back.  "I-I... how?" I asked, having a hard time at first. I slowly lowered the charm back to my chest before looking back up to him.

He licked his lips with that sweet smile aimed at me.  "When the officers went in and searched the place, they reported that they found where they kept everyone's personal clothing and items they had on them.  And I asked to have a special favor done to find your necklace and sure enough, it came up when they went through it.  They took it back to the station and apparently, it got there a few nights ago.  Ramper brought it to me this morning."

Taking a deep breath, I felt my smile slowly fall at hearing that... at hearing just how much trouble he went through to get it back for me.  It hurt, really, because though I knew how much he cared for me, I still somehow manage to let the extent of it slip away.... Then he does this and makes it all so real again.  How much he just... wants to make me happy and cares for me.  I mean who does that?  Who sends in a special favor to search through who knows how much shit to find it?  Who would do such a thing, when I didn't even think he would notice or care it was gone.  It was just a necklace after all to him, even if it was more to me.  Apparently though, I'm wrong about that.  It meant something more to him too.  Who would do this?  And for me.

"I... I can not believe that you would... go to that- that trouble."

He scoffed.  "Of course I would," he shook his head. "It's not often a girl tells me she wont ever take off something I give her.  And you told me that.  There isn't no way in hell I'm letting that thing go."

I couldn't believe it.  I was blown away.  I also had no other good way to show him how much that meant to me.  I sat up from where I was sitting crossed legged to my knees and moved more towards him.  And seeing his eyes light up, I smiled myself and wrapped my arms up and around him just as I brought my lips down to his.  Kissing his smooth lips that tasted like heaven.  I let his mouth consume me as I felt his hands come to rest on my hips, his urgency and mine clashing until it wasn't long that I was laying back over him.  Only this time, I was lost in his lips, with my hands grasping his cheek and his neck as he kissed me back.

My hair slightly falling around me and his lips, I felt his mouth move quicker with mine.  Until he was giving me soft but swift kissing and nips against my bottom lip.  Even more so when he moved his mouth down from my lips to my neck.  I could feel his teeth graze and tease my skin as I moaned at his touch.

"Luke," I moaned.  "You feel so good...."

I left his lips break away just slightly as he chuckled under his breath, bringing his face back to stare up into my eyes.  "That was kind of the point.  But thank you," he breathed, smiling before I lowered my lips and kissed him again.  Getting lost in him even more and loving it.

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Didn't have much time to edit; sorry!