Secret Nights
Author: Emberlynn
Fandom: As the World Turns
Pairings: Luke/Noah, bits of Lily/Holden
Rating: T, for now.
Disclaimer: Own nothing. Sadly.
Spoilers: The Christmas show on 12/21 – the entire Luke and Noah segment!
Part: (1/7)
Summary: ‘Mayer, to be engaged,’ Luke thought to himself, ‘Damn it, Grimaldi. You should have gotten over these childish feelings for him months ago.’
Author’s Note: I’m dedicating this to all my wonderful friends at Love you guys! And thanks to dogriver and babystar360, for the wonderful title and chapter titles, respectively!

A little history: “For many gay men - particularly of the upper classes - the illegality of homosexuality posed an even greater problem, for to protect their social standings, they were forced to create a double life: respectable father and husband by day, homosexual criminal by night.”

“The association of…men as close friends is also significant, for, during the late-19th century in London, ‘practicing homosexuals could . . . shelter behind the conventions of male friendship, and no reputable person would want to contemplate the revolting possibility that anything more was involved’"

Yikes. Just…yikes.

-Chapter One: Returning with News-

What a bittersweet Christmas it was. “Where is that punch bowl I asked for, Robert?” Luciano Grimaldi turned to ask the family butler.

“I’ll go and fetch it for you, Master Luke,” butler Robert Hughes replied with a bow, before heading to the kitchen to reprimand his son, Thomas, yet again, for idleness.

Luciano, or Luke, as he was nicknamed at University, sighed. What a bittersweet Christmas it would be indeed. His father, Damian Grimaldi had passed a mere few months ago, and mother was already entertaining an engagement to Dustin Donovan. Speak of the devil, Luke soured as the man adding trouble to his life entered the room. Fortunately, he was followed by a flustered Thomas.

“My apologies, sir,” Thomas said, placing the silver basin down on the candle-laden table. He and Luke poured in the rum and the punch, with Luke adding a special spice. “And will you require anything else, sir?”

“Oh, no,” Luke answered kindly, “That should be fine, Tom. Thank you.” Thomas bowed, and glaring at Dustin, exited the parlor. Luke finished stirring the drink and sighed before someone gently tapped his back. He turned, startled, and found his old friend, Noah standing there, open-armed, with an ear-to-ear grin on his face.

“Luke!”

“Mayer!” Luke laughed, diving in for a hug. He hadn’t seen Noah is several months, due to his father’s passing, “Happy Christmas!”

“Same to you!” Their arms lingered around each other a moment too long, for Luke saw that Dustin was suspiciously staring at them.

“Uhm,” Luke cleared his throat, “May I present to you, Mr. Donovan.” There was a slight agitation in his voice, but both Noah and Dustin failed to notice it.

“Sir,” Noah acknowledged the man near the fireplace with a nod, and he, in turn, responded the same.

“Mayer and I went to University together!” Luke told Dustin. Noah turned for only a moment, and flashed him a dazzling smile.

“Splendid,” Dustin answered, with a vague amount of discomfort, if twirling his drink around indicated, “Obviously, the guests are arriving, and you have things well in hand here?”

Luke nodded, wanting the man to quickly leave the room, “I shall be down in a moment.” Noah seemed to feel the same way as Luke, silently pushing the older man out of the room with his eyes. Dustin gave one more uncomfortable smirk before retreating downstairs, to the party.

“Is he one of the New York Donovans?” Noah turned and asked.

“I haven’t the vaguest,” Luke rolled his eyes, and began to pour himself a glass of punch, “Apparently, there’s a wedding in the offing between him and my mother.”

Noah sensed the disdain in Luke’s voice and questioned, “Do you favor it?”

Luke sucked in a deep breath, “Well, I’ve heard rumors about him in the club, and I’ve made inquiries.”

“Be careful,” Noah stepped closer, a small grin playing on his face, “We all have our secrets, Luciano,” he murmured as he started to straighten Luke’s tie. Luke, in response, happily gasped and grabbed Noah’s wrist.

“Not here,” Luke smiled knowingly.

As Luke continued pouring the drinks, Noah became solemn, and took a step back, “I have news, uhm…I am to be engaged.”

“Engaged?” Luke’s expression was instantly marred with a frown as he dropped the ladle back into its bowl. He opened his mouth to answer, but noticed Thomas entering to check the fire. Noah watched too. He hoped the footman hadn’t overhead much, “To whom?”

“To the daughter of a family friend,” Noah riposted stiffly.

Luke nodded, and mustered, “Well, bravo, I-I…I am happy for you.” He was anything but. And Noah knew that.

After Thomas had left the room, Noah relaxed again, “I’m being pressured by my family,” Luke shook his head in frustration, “But after all we’ve been through…how close we were at school…”

“Youth,” Luke held up a drink for Noah to take, “and loneliness leads one to all sorts of foolish things…and then you grow up, as you have. Let us drink to marriage.”

“To marriage,” Noah clinked glasses with his friend. Neither of them drank.

‘Mayer, to be engaged,’ Luke thought to himself as he looked into his companion’s eyes, ‘Damn it, Grimaldi, you should have gotten over these childish feelings months ago.’

Noah, on the other hand, was thinking quite differently, as they traveled downstairs to the party ‘I can’t abandon him. Not now, when I still have…at a time like this. Not now…not ever.’

-End Chapter One-

Alright, dearies, here’s how it’s going to work. The first and last chapters are the present, and the five in between are the boys’ first meeting, up until Luke and Noah’s completion of University, and Damian’s passing! And I have a major (but somewhat obvious) Damian/Lily/Holden twist in store, too!