Title: A Family Birthday
Fandom: Spooks (MI5)
Rating: G
Length: 584 words
Summary: Adam and Lucas are going to Lucas' mother's birthday party

Despite the disastrous time Lucas had had following his aunt’s funeral, Adam persuaded him to go to his mother’s birthday party.

“I’ll come with you, and we can just stay for a couple of hours,” he’d said.

“They won’t even let you in if they think you’re my partner.”

“So we don’t tell them.  We’ll say we’re travelling together on business.  I promise not to eat too much, so no-one will go without their party food.”

Lucas gave a hollow laugh.  “There won’t be much of that in the first place, so don’t let it worry you.”

And despite his doubts, Lucas had agreed.

When they arrived at Lucas’ parents house, Andy, Lucas’ cousin, let them in.  “Your mum will be pleased to see you,” he said.

“And Dad?”

“Him too, of course.”

Lucas snorted and led the way into the front room.  The different conversations fell silent as Lucas entered and everyone turned to look at him.  Adam couldn’t help noticing the apparent fall in the temperature as they all stared.

Lucas’ mother handed him a small glass of non-alcoholic wine.  “Your father’s about to make a speech.  And who’s this?”

“Adam Carter, I’m a colleague of Lucas’.”  Adam held out his hand, but she ignored it.

“Mr Carter.”  The glass of wine he was given was even smaller.

Lucas walked over to the mantelpiece and began fiddling with a china ornament.

Lucas’ father began to speak.  “I would like to wish my wife a very happy birthday.  She has been my constant companion, a great helper in all the many things I have achieved.”  He smiled at his wife, who smiled back.  “The one who ensured the perfect happiness of our home.”

Lucas dropped the ornament.

“Lucas, how could you?” his mother wailed.  “You knew how fragile that was.  It was a present from your grandmother.”

“No, it wasn’t.  You bought it at a jumble sale to replace the one he broke one Sunday when the roast potatoes were underdone, and he’d discovered two families had gone to the service at St Michael’s.”

“You don’t understand, you never did.”

“As for fragile, that includes your grasp on reality.  ‘The perfect happiness of our home’.  After all this time, who are you trying to kid?”

“That’s enough,” his father roared.  “You will leave this house and never return.”

“Nothing would give me greater pleasure.” 

Lucas turned to Adam, nodded and the two left the house.

Once they were in the car, Adam turned to Lucas and said, “Are you okay?”

“Yes.  I always hoped there would still be something there.  That she’d say how nice it was to see me, how glad she was I’d come.  She didn’t and now the break’s permanent.”  He took out his phone and gave it to Adam.  “There’ll be messages saying it’s a misunderstanding, my mother would like to speak to me, etc etc.  I’d like you to delete them, they’ll only annoy me more.”

“If that’s what you want.  I just don’t want you to feel your father’s attitude has poisoned you towards your mother as well.”

“Poisoned.  That’s a good one.”

“What?”

“Another time.”

“Okay.  Right, off to our hotel.  Our table’s booked for 8, so we’ll be in plenty of time.”

“I’m looking forward to an excellent meal and a decent bottle of wine, to take the taste of this afternoon away.”

“And you’re sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, I feel good.  Our relationship was always fragile, but now it’s finally broken I feel free.”