Luke receives a mysterious package…
Chapter 28: Shreve Crump & Low
In case you want to start from the previous chapter, you can find that here:
Chapter 25: Deal
Chapter 26: One New Message
Chapter 27: Where Does it Hurt?
If you want the complete Cliff Notes, spoilers for Chapters 1-27 contained below:
[spoiler]The entire story’s action so far has taken place in December 2010 (starting with Christmas day) and early January 2011. However, there is extensive use of flashbacks to both canon, made-up scenes both pre- and post-Reid, as well as hybrids. It goes off canon roughly in early August. The story begins at Christmas time when Reid gives Luke a trip to a four-week writer’s retreat in Iowa.
Yes, the boys have made love – of COURSE. I think I know when their first time was, but that flashback has not been played out yet. Yes, they have said “I love you” (chapter 12 Tuesday at Al’s). The boys progressed slowly (per canon) through the summer, dated/had a serious relationship in the autumn, and moved in together in November. When Noah called a few days ago, Luke more or less told him to go stuff it.
Noah left for USC film school in July; there was a Mona Cross arc; Reid is NOT Chief of Staff – Chris is (I definitely know why, but this has not been revealed yet), and Chris’s heart is (and always has been and will be) just fine, thank you very much. Barbara and Henry are together, and Chris and Katie are engaged (Reid is to be "maid" of honor). Luke and Reid have been working together on the surgical wing project (not just neuro).
As of Chapter 28, Luke has now been away for just over two weeks. Fate has conspired to keep the boys from speaking now for 2-1/2 days, giving Reid plenty of time to over-react. It feels like MUCH longer than 2-1/2 elapsed story days, though because that time has played out (so far) in over 48,000 words of detail, in 10 or 11 chapters posted over a period of five and a half months. The next chapter is conceptually part of this one and is only broken off because the cliffhanger was too tempting, and at 7,800 words, this chapter had gone on long enough![/spoiler]
Or, start from the beginning….
Simple Gifts: A Luke and Reid Fanfiction
Train? What train. Following their first Christmas together, Luke and Reid embark on journeys of self-discovery. Can two simple gifts lead to a happily ever after?
Enjoy,
-LL
Extended author’s notes will be posted after the next chapter, which is conceptually part of 28 but has been split off due to length.