Straight after football practice Aidan showered, jumped in his car with his gym bag and sped off to Hilldale Gymnastics to pick up little Emma from practice. Aidan pulled into the parking lot and sat in his car, patiently waiting for Emma as the rain began to pick up outside.

He watched in sheer boredom as the droplets of rain pitter-pattered against his windshield. Outside he could barely decipher the silhouettes of little girls, running into their parents cars as they each drove off one by one . Aidan was jolted back to reality when he heard the sudden sound of a call coming through his car's bluetooth speakers. It was from his Mom.

"Hello?" He said confusedly after hitting the green button.

"Aidan sweetheart, look to your left." She said teasingly as he turned in confusion to look out of his lefthand side window, seeing the familiar grey minivan his mother drove.

"Mom... What are you doing here? I thought I was going to pick Emma up today." he asked over the phone.

"I know sweetie, I got off work early and I thought I would swing by and come get her. I guess I forgot to tell you. Sorry sweetheart." She said through the speaker as Aidan watched his adorable little sister prance over in her tracksuit, opening his mother's passenger seat door and sitting inside.

"Alright darling, Emma is here, I'll see you at home! Sorry for the mixup, sweetheart." Aidan's mom said sweetly.

"Okay Mom, see you at home!" He said before ending the call as he chuckled and shook his head; waving at his mom and sister as they pulled out of the parking lot and drove away.

    He waited as the large minivan next to him left so that he could make his exit too, but as it pulled out, it revealed the next car over. What caught Aidan's eye was that the hood of the familiar white BMW was popped open despite the pouring rain. He squinted and caught glimpse of someone standing in front of the hood of the car in the pouring rain, and without a second thought opened his car door.

"MADONNA GIO! NON SO COME FARLO!" (God Gio! I don't know how to do that!) Aidan heard a familiar voice as he stepped out of the car to ask the person if they needed help. As he got closer he recognized just whom that familiar voice belonged to.

"Luca?" Aidan asked as he approached the boy who was drenched from head to toe in the rain.

"Ti richiamerò... (I'll call you back)" Luca said into the phone as his eyes rested on Aidan. His gaze shifting from stressed to more relieved, though he didn't want Aidan to see that. "Aidan... What are you doing here?" He asked softly as the rain continued to fall around them.

"I was supposed to pick Emma up after practice but there was a mixup, it's a long story. Anyway, Are you okay?" Aidan asked as he looked between the smaller boy and the opened car hood.

"Yeah.. I'm fine." Luca muttered through gritted teeth.

"Oh?" Aidan teased him. "Then why are you standing in the pouring rain with the hood of your car open?"

"Alright FINE! I'm not okay, okay?! My car wont start and I don't know why and I don't know how to make it start or how to do anything because I CAN'T CAR. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CAR. OKAY?! HAPPY?!" Luca clearly snapped as he frantically ranted to Aidan, making the taller boy jump slightly. "I called Gio and he told me to jump start it but I don't know what the fresh fuck that means, and Arianna is at cheerleading practice and my mamma and papà are at the restaurant and aren't answering the phone." He continued speaking as he verged a mental breakdown.

"Why didn't you call me?" Aidan asked seriously, cutting him off his mini breakdown.

"Because I don't need to you to come save me, Aidan!" Luca said as tears began to fall down his cheeks, though fortunately for Luca the falling rain managed to concealed it. "I'm not some weak little damsel in distress that needs the big strong quarterback to come save the day! I'm sick! And TIRED! Of people thinking that just because I'm gay, and feminine, and a cheerleader that I'm weak and delicate. BECAUSE I'M NOT" Aidan just stared at him wide eyed before grabbing him by the shoulders and pulling him closer, crashing his lips on Luca's. The kiss was gentle but passionate, and for a second they forgot that they were standing in the middle of a torrential downpour.

"Shh.... Breathe, baby." Aidan said as he pressed his forehead on Luca's trying to calm him down.

"I'M NOT A BABY I AM PERFECTLY CAPAB-" Luca defended adamantly before Aidan crashed his lips on his again to shut him up.

"That's not what I meant and you know that." Aidan said calmly as he locked eyes with Luca. "I'm here now... It'll all be okay. Let's close the hood, you get your stuff, I'm taking you home."

"But my-" Luca protested softly, for the first time in eighteen years he met someone who wasn't a member of his immediate family who could calm him down, and that didn't quite sit well with him.

"Don't worry about it, We'll come back and jump start it when the rain dies down." Said Aidan as he stroked Luca's cheek lovingly.

"You know how to do that?" Asked Luca, slightly shocked but also impressed at the same time.

"I think everyone knows how to do that, babe." Aidan joked as he pushed the dripping wet hair out of Luca's eyes, only for the rain to bring it back down in his face.

"DON'T PATRONIZE ME." Luca cried out frustratedly as Aidan planted another kiss on his lips, mostly to quiet him down, though Aidan would never pass up on an opportunity to kiss those lips.

"Shh... Calm down." he said with an adoring smile, Luca was about to say something but Aidan just covered they boy's mouth with his hand. "Lets get out of the rain before we both get sick. Okay?" Luca nodded docilely as the two ran, drenched in rain water, back to Aidan's car. Aidan cranked the engine and turned up the heat to warm them up before he sped out of the parking lot.

"I'm taking you to my place, it's closer and we need to get you out of those clothes." Aidan said firmly as Luca just stared blankly at him while Aidan stared straight ahead at the road. It wasn't long at all before they pulled into the same house where only two weeks ago he woke up naked in Aidan's bed. Before they got out of the car Luca held Aidan's hand to stop him.

"Aidan I... I um... I'm sorry." Luca said meekly as he glanced down and back up at Aidan with his doe-like amber eyes. Aidan gently brushed Luca's cheek with his thumb smiling contently at the smaller boy as he took in his beautiful features.

"Sorry for what, baby?" Asked Aidan as Luca felt his heart flutter. Baby, Luca could definitely get used to that.

"For snapping at you. I guess I was stressed and frustrated but, that isn't an excuse for blowing up on you like that." Aidan looked at him fondly as the smaller boy continued to talk. "I don't like not being in control of a situation, and when things don't go my way I kind of... lose it, I guess. I want to be strong. I hate being vulnerable like that and my own weaknesses terrify me."

"But its okay to be weak sometimes, baby." Aidan said calmly was he cupped Luca's face in his hands. "You don't always have to be strong. You have me now. Whenever you feel weak or vulnerable, I'll always be here to make you feel strong again." Luca blushed as Aidan's words tickled his heartstrings. "And whenever I'm weak I know you'll be there to pick me back up too."

"Thanks Aidan." Luca said as he held Aidan's hand in his own. "For everything..." Luca locked his soft gaze in on Aidan's piercing blue eyes. "I guess I do need a big strong hero to come save me every once and I while." Luca whispered softly, before gently placing his lips on Aidan's cheek, making the taller boy's heart skip a beat.

"Luca... I know you just said you want to give us a try. And I know you probably want to take it slow at first, but I've always been told to follow my gut. And my gut is telling me to do this." Aidan said as he caressed Luca's hand with his thumb. "Luca Greco. Will you be my boyfriend?" Luca nodded as a wide smile blossomed across his face. He snaked his arms around Aidan and hugged him tightly as Aidan kissed the nape of his neck tenderly before they both got out of the car.

"Fuck we're soaked. Let's get inside before we get sick." Aidan said as they walked into Aidan's house. His parents and sister were already home and they all turned around in surprise as they saw Aidan and Luca walk into the kitchen completely drenched.

"Aidan! There you are! Where have you been? And Luca, darling? How are you sweetheart, and Why are you both wet?!" His mom said, as she shot them both a quizzical look.

"LUCA!!" Emma said as she sauntered over to hug his legs. "What are you doing here?" She asked as Luca lovingly patted her on the head.

"Luca's car battery died, so I brought him home." Aidan explained as Luca shuffled awkwardly from side to side.

"Oh no!" Aidan's mom said concernedly. "Please do stay for dinner, Luca darling. It'll be lovely to have you." Luca smiled and nodded shyly at her as she continued to set the table.

"Why don't you both go take a hot shower and get into some dry clothes. You'll catch a cold!" Aidan's dad chimed in with a welcoming paternal smile.

"Thank you so much Mr. and Mrs. Taylor." Luca said sweetly as they smiled warmly at him in return. "I really appreciate it." Just as Aidan and Luca were about to walk towards the staircase Aidan put his arm out to start it. He turned around back towards his parents and little sister and took a deep breath.

"Actually. Mom, Dad, Emma... There's something you need to know." Aidan said confidently as he interlaced his fingers in Luca's and gripped his hand firmly. Luca could only stare at him wide eyed.

"Aidan... are you sure you're ready." Luca whispered almost inaudibly as Aidan gave him a confident smile.

"I've been ready since I woke up to see you stumbling around my room half naked." Aidan whispered back to him with a wink, earning him a glare from Luca.

"Ave Maria, piena di grazia, il Segnore è con te..." (Hail Mary, Full of Grace. The Lord is with Thee...) Luca chanted under his breath as he took a deep breath.

"Guys. This. Is Luca." Aidan proclaimed strongly.

"Honey, we know Luca." His mom said with a smile, her slightly furrowed brow giving her confusion away.

"No. This is Luca, my boyfriend." He said confidently as he flashed a smile that seemed to radiate through the entire room.