Luke’s duty at the fire station started at six every third day and lasted until six the next morning. Three groups of firefighters rotated in and out to make sure that every group got the time off they deserved, and while he knew that backup was coming, he was more relieved to see the replacement team arrive at six the next morning than he’d been in quite some time.

“Hey Luke,” Brandon, one of the newer firefighter, said on the way in. “Holdin’ up? Anything exciting around here we should know about before we take over from you?”

“Nope. It was quiet.” Luke craned his neck from side to side. He’d managed to get a few hours’ sleep — a rarity while on duty — and he felt refreshed and ready to go. “We managed to send Tim out shopping, so there’s groceries for you guys in the fridge. Xander made some stir fry thing that wasn’t half bad. We portioned it and put it aside for you guys. Eat it up.”

“You sure know how to make a guy feel welcome.” Brandon slapped Luke’s back on the way to the kitchenette. “You got any pancakes made? Bacon and eggs? Maybe some French toast?”

“Don’t push your luck.” Luke followed him to the kitchenette. “We have French toast, Crunch cereal if you want, but otherwise, you’re out of luck. It’s that or plain toast. Mickey bought that jar of peanut butter a while back, and it’s still in the pantry.”

“Right, right, I keep forgetting. Wasn’t he going to make cookies?”

“Maybe.” Luke shrugged. Right now, only one man’s sweets interested him. “You should ask him when he relieves you of duty tomorrow. I think we’ve all been avoiding it because we thought he wanted to use it.”

“It’s worse than having roommates,” Brandon said with a sigh. “Well, good to know that everything’s in order. Once you guys are out the door, we’ll start our regular maintenance on the truck. If you had a quiet shift, I’m willing to bet it means we’re in for hell.”

“Or maybe it’ll build up until I’m back on rotation.” Luke chuckled. “Whatever happens, hope it goes easy for you guys. I’ve got to get going.”

“You have somewhere to be at six in the morning?” Brandon asked. He was so surprised he turned around and raised an eyebrow as he looked at Luke. “That’s not like you. How long’s it been now that after your shift you’ve dragged your feet about leaving?”

“Since I started.” Luke rolled his shoulders back, warming up his muscles. “But going home to crash in bed and going out to do something are two different things. I’m actually excited to get out of here today.”

Xander, who was on his way out, snagged a hand on the doorway and leaned back to throw in, “All of us are convinced our boy Luke’s got a new man in his life. Tim swears it’s Mr. Hayes. Remember, the old crotchety history teacher in our junior year?”

Luke rolled his eyes. “It’s not Mr. Hayes.”

“I don’t know, man... Brandon said that he saw you two together bein’ all... you know.” Xander waggled an eyebrow. “I guess you could say, making a little history of your own.”

“Gross.”

“Hey, I’m not the one who claimed to see it.” Xander laughed. “Anyway, I’m out of here. See you guys later.”

With his team leaving, Luke was more compelled than ever to get on the road. He had plans for this morning — he knew Freddie was going to be busy with an order, and that he’d be up early to get it ready. Since Luke was leaving the station so early, he figured he could hit a coffee shop and surprise Freddie with breakfast sandwiches and coffee.

He turned his attention back to Brandon. “Teasing aside, am I good to go? I’ve got some plans today that I’m hoping to get started on.”

“I’m not going to hold you back from true love.” Brandon winked. “Go have fun. If your new man can put up with a booty call at six in the morning, he’s a keeper.”

Luke rubbed his eyes. “Great. Sure. I’ll just go wake Mr. Hayes for our early morning booty call.” He dropped his hand to glare at Brandon. “You’re something else, you know that?”

Brandon snickered. “I’m just parroting what I’ve been told. You should probably be on Xander and Tim’s case. They’re the ones you need to worry about, sounds like.”

“I think the only one I need to worry about right now is the one waiting for me at home.” Luke headed for the door. “I’ll see you around. You guys be safe tonight.”

“You too.” Brandon snickered.

Luke rolled his eyes.

All of them are like children sometimes... although I guess I’m not blameless, either.

Then, refusing to waste any more time, he left to pick up breakfast.

* * *

Luke rang the doorbell. There was noise behind the door, then the click of the lock. The handle turned, then the door rattled, then the handle turned in the other direction. The door opened, and there stood Reagan Ann. She was wearing a dress and black leggings today, fuzzy socks on her feet. Her hair was loose, and she looked up at him in confusion.

“Luke?”

“Hey, little miss,” Luke said. “Is your dad home?”

“Yes.” Reagan Ann looked to the side. “But he’s in the shower. You can’t come in. He’s naked.”

Luke held back a snort. “I promise I won’t look at him naked. Is your Uncle Aaron home?”

“Yes.” Reagan Ann looked in the other direction. “He’s sitting on the couch, looking at me.” She waved at him, then, in a loud voice, said, “It’s Luke, Uncle Aaron! Can I let him in?”

There was a pause. Reagan Ann turned back to look at Luke.

“Uncle Aaron says that you can come inside, but you can’t go see my Daddy, because he’s in the shower.”

This time, Luke laughed. “I guess that means you’ll have to be the one I talk to until he’s done.”

“That’s fine,” Reagan Ann said casually. “There’s some things I want to talk to you about, anyway. Can you come sit on the stairs with me? The stairs are where we have serious talks.”

Luke looked at the stairs. They were directly across from the front door, and were carpeted. They didn’t look all that bad for sitting. “Sure.”

He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, leaving his bag of breakfast foods and his cardboard four-cup coffee carrier on the table beside the entrance. Reagan Ann struggled with the lock on the door, then smiled when she managed to set it. She brushed her hands together, then took hold of Luke’s hand and dragged him to the stairs. Then, she let go of Luke’s hand and sat, patting the spot next to her.

Luke, careful not to invade her personal space, sat beside her.

“I need to know something,” Reagan Ann said very seriously. She looked Luke in the eyes. “Are you going to be my new Daddy?”

Luke almost dissolved into laughter. He had to fight hard not to let it slip. “What brings you to ask that?” he asked.

“You started to hold hands with my Daddy,” Reagan Ann said. “I saw it. And now you and him are going out to spend time together, and adults only do that when they want to marry someone.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.” She frowned at him, puzzled. “So are you going to be my new Daddy?”

“Well...”

Luke didn’t get the chance to reply before Aaron swept into the room. He scooped Reagan Ann off the stairs and held her to his chest. She latched her arms around his neck and looked down at Luke suspiciously from her new vantage point.

“Sounds like you’re causing trouble over here,” Aaron scolded softly. “Are you giving our guest a hard time, Reagan Ann?”

“No.” She shook her head. “All I’m asking is if he’s going to be my new Daddy, but he hasn’t answered yet.”

“Oh, I see.” Aaron whisked her away into another room, but Luke heard him speaking as he went. “Well, that’s a question that he can’t answer. You’re going to have to ask your dad about that one. How about you play with Princess until he’s out of the shower and can answer your question himself? Princess looked really sweet on your bed. She was curled up with your new teddy. You need to see her.”

A door closed. Luke didn’t get to hear Reagan Ann’s response, but he figured there was significant squealing involved. A few moments later, the door opened and closed again, then Aaron joined him.

“Sorry about that,” Aaron said. “Sometimes she gets a little carried away.”

“No, no, she’s fine. I love her enthusiasm and her wonder.” Luke smiled. “I’ve never had kids, but... well, she’s making me think that maybe I wouldn’t be all that bad a dad.”

Aaron looked like he was about to say something, but whatever he was about to say never crossed his lips. Instead, he gestured at the living room. “You want to come sit somewhere more comfortable than the stairs?”

“I’d love to.” Luke got up and collected his bag of breakfast and the coffee carrier from the table by the door. “I know I’m stopping by unannounced, but I figured some breakfast would sweeten the deal. I didn’t know how you liked your coffee, so I picked up a bunch of sugar packets and cream cups so you can fix your own. I got Reagan Ann an apple juice, but it could probably use a couple of minutes in the fridge.”

“That’s sweet. Thanks.” Aaron took over for him, putting Reagan Ann’s apple juice in the fridge. He set the coffee carrier on the coffee table by the couch and gestured for Luke to sit. “Maybe it’s a good thing Freddie had an unfortunate incident with the flour this morning... it’ll give us some time to talk.”

“You’re not going to give me the whole ‘Are you going to be my new brother?’ speech, are you?” Luke sat next to him, cheerful.

“No,” Aaron hesitated. “But I am going to give you the ‘I like you and I think you’re a good match for my brother, but you need to understand that Reagan Ann is his first priority’ speech. You’re young, you don’t have kids, and it seems like you’re not used to life with them, so... I just want you to be aware.”

“Aware of what?” Luke didn’t feel offended. If anything, he was glad. Aaron wouldn’t have had this conversation with him if he didn’t think Freddie was serious about their relationship. Luke wanted to make things official, and he wanted to find a way to become part of their family. A talk like this was great. “That he’s a dad first and foremost?”

“Right.” Aaron pulled the nearest cup of coffee out of the holder. He took off the lid and poured one of the single-serve creamers into it. “I don’t want to sound like a dick, but dating Freddie isn’t going to be like dating a man with no responsibilities and no children to call his own. Showing up this morning is a great, sweet gesture, but especially when Reagan Ann starts school, you’re going to have to realize that he’s not going to have time for you all the time.”

“Oh.” Luke smiled. The tough love was appreciated. “I know. I don’t expect him to. The very first day I met him, he was with Reagan Ann. I knew that he was a dad, and that if I pursued him, it’d be different from other relationships. That’s okay with me. I couldn’t get him off my mind... and I still can’t. I’m willing to adjust. Reagan Ann isn’t a problem — if anything, she sweetens the deal. I love that little girl.”

Aaron looked thoughtful. He opened his mouth to reply, but it wasn’t his voice that picked up the conversation — it was Freddie’s.

“I’m honestly a little baffled by what’s going on,” Freddie said. He didn’t sound angry, but he didn’t sound pleased, either. Luke looked toward the sound of his voice to find him in the doorway, frowning. “Aaron, I appreciate that you’re standing up for me and laying down the law, but Luke and I aren’t even officially together.”

Luke’s heart fractured. He hadn’t realized how wrapped up in Freddie he’d become until Freddie stated the facts — there was nothing official between them, even though they’d been having a good time together over the last several weeks.

“And I’d like to change that.” Luke got up from the couch and turned to face Freddie. His heart may have been damaged, but that didn’t mean he would let it break completely. “I want to be serious with you. I want to introduce you to my friends at the station and to the people who matter to me... and I want them to know that you’re mine.”

Freddie said nothing for a moment. Luke watched his chest rise and fall as he breathed, and with each breath, he counted.

One.

Two.

Three.

“Are you serious?” Freddie asked.

“Aren’t you?”

There was a moment of hesitation before Freddie spoke again, and when he did, he chose his words carefully. “I’m serious about you, and I’d like to make things official. I just want to make sure that we’re taking things slow. I feel... I feel like if I pursue something with you, I might start to neglect other parts of my life, and I don’t want that to happen.”

“We’ll take it slow,” Luke said. The pieces of his heart were starting to slot back into place. There was still hope. “My family will be attending a barbecue this weekend. A few of my friends will be stopping by. I’d love it if you could swing by too, even if it’s only for a few hours... it’d mean a lot to me if you could meet some of the people in my life. My family isn’t exactly the support system that yours is, but they’ll want to meet you... and I want to make sure you meet them, too.”

As rocky as Luke’s relationship was with his family, it was important for him to make sure they knew what was going on in his life. He wanted them to know he was happy, and in a small way, he wanted Freddie to see where he was coming from. He wanted Freddie in his life, even if that life wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. He wanted to share both the good and the bad.

“Sure,” Freddie said. “I’d like to come. Just text me the details so I know when.”

They’d taken such a large step, but at the same time, it felt like nothing had changed at all. Luke relaxed his shoulders and let out a whoosh of air. “Can do. I brought breakfast. I figured that you might be hungry, since you’re so hard at work today. You got a second to eat? I’ll leave you to work after that.”

Freddie smiled and the tension broke. Luke’s heart healed, and he found himself smiling back.

“Sure,” Freddie said. “That actually sounds really nice. Shall I get Reagan Ann?”

“Yeah. I got her some apple juice and a breakfast sandwich too.”

They parted ways, Freddie to get Reagan Ann, and Luke to set up breakfast on the coffee table — the kitchen was already overtaken by Freddie’s baking supplies. That morning, they shared breakfast as a family — Luke, Freddie, Reagan Ann, and Aaron, and by the time Luke left, he was more sure than ever that he’d made the right choice.

He was falling for Freddie. He wanted to make this real.

And he was starting to think that at some stage, whether it was months or years from now, he would take it a step further. He’d found the family that he wanted, and the man he wanted to share it with. For the first time in years, his life had a clear direction.

He wouldn’t make a misstep now.