Sometimes he wondered if there was someone she had replaced him with. Not often, just- she had always been so fiercely independent, and he loved that, he did, she was her own incredible person. He felt like there was a chunk of him missing, though. He wanted her to feel empty, too. He needed to be that person for her.

He wasn’t proud of that. It didn’t happen often, and when it did he’d usually call and talk to his girl for half an hour, if she was available. They were good, the two of them, they didn’t have to be whining over each other for that to be true.

So tour was fine. Tour was wonderful. Coming home, though, that was a rush like nothing else.

Y/N positively launched herself at him as soon as he dragged himself out of the LAX baggage claim, catching him in a hug that almost knocks him off his feet. She’d have to jump to get her arms around his shoulders, he realizes later. They can’t kiss just yet, there’s too many people around, but he presses a quick peck to the top of her head as they head out to the car. Obviously, as soon as they’re in the backseat with the door closed he’s practically on top of her and kisses her until the car starts, jerks, and they both almost tumble into the legroom.

They try to keep it together after that (Luke swears she bit his lip), but even then she insists on sitting in the middle seat and playing with his hands all the way home. “And you say you didn’t miss me.”

“I did miss you, I told you that, like, twice,” she explains. “I just like the rings. You look like my grandma, only - hey! Only sexy, is what I was gonna say.” Luke grabs her and musses her hair for that, but they’re both laughing, and that turns into another kiss, and- he’s really happy to be home.

It doesn’t stop there, though. As soon as they get home and he finally sees Petunia again (and he makes Y/N take pictures of them, of course), and once he's gotten changed into some comfortable clothes (Y/N jumps on him once he's halfway out of his shirt and, well, it takes him a little longer than expected to get changed after that), he orders takeout and gets his girlfriend on his lap, sitting on the couch with her like nothing’s changed.

It feels really fucking good.

It does feel a little different, though. Usually Y/N does this adorable thing where she pretends she needs to be persuaded into his arms, but today he's barely sat down before she crawls into his lap and starts leaving little kisses on the open column of his throat. “Pet’s gonna get jealous, babe.” He teases her, but she just shakes her head and keeps on kissing at him.

“Keep your paws off my man, Petunia.” She says instead, so close her lips trace the words against his Adam’s apple. Luke feels himself shiver a little, but he breaks her hold to help lift Pet up on the couch. He really likes how Y/N is holding him right now. If he tells her that, though, will she let go? She doesn't make herself vulnerable like this very often. He doesn't want to ruin this.

She always says she doesn't get jealous, that she cares about him and wants him to be happy. Even if that's not with her. But it makes his heart beat a little bit faster when he thinks about her using this tight little grip on him in public, so he knows he's hers.

There's something playing on TV - he's not watching it. All he can think about is how she's fitted herself into every bend of his body. Her head’s even tucked in under her jaw. “You sure you didn't miss me too much, babe?” He hums.

“Missed you a regular amount. It's just cold in here.” She says.

It's September.

In L.A.

Luke’s not quite buying it, but he'll let her be for now. “I missed you too much,” he says, instead. “Did I tell you about the time I woke up and reached for you and fell five feet out of my bunk? And that Ashton made me sleep on the bottom until that leg of tour was through?”

“You didn't tell me about Ashton kicking you out of your bunk.” She said, sitting up a little. “Didn't he sleep on the couch sometimes because he couldn't climb up when-”

“Yeah, when he's pissed he can't-” Luke’s laugh was cut off by his phone buzzing. Finally. He's been missing the fried rice from that place down the street for months. “Oh, hang on, I'll get that. Be right back.” He says, untangling himself from his girlfriend.

Petunia is already off the couch, whining at the door, but it surprises Luke when Y/N stands up too, grabbing his hand. “I can get it angel, you can relax.” He says, but she's already tucked herself into his side.

“No way I'm leaving you alone with the food. I'm gonna supervise.” She insists. Luke scoffs, but he really doesn't mind. Just him and his girls, all going up to get the takeout- it feels pretty good to him.

Still, he almost trips twice trying to get to the door, and the way back is even more precarious. “Y/N,” he says, as soon as they're all safely back on the couch, “You're so fucking cute when you're clingy.”

“I’m not-”

“Your hand is literally in my pocket right now.”

“No, it's not,” she says, taking her hand out of his pocket. Luke just leans over and kisses her forehead gently before trying to sort out the takeout.

It only takes a second of silence for Y/N to give up the ice-cold act, nestling into his chest and tangling one leg in his. “I can stop if you want.” She says, but her voice is muffled by his sweater and Luke’s brain short-circuits for a second. He's never fucking seen her like this, all soft and grasping at him. It's almost worth leaving her so long, to come back to this.

He realizes he's been quiet too long as Y/N sits up a little, smooths back her hair. “I know that, like, not everyone loves being smothered, don't even worry about it- mmph!”

Luke pulls her back into his chest so fast Petunia startles next to them. “Fuckin’ love it.” He says, as she relaxes into him and it feels right. “Don’ ever let go of me.”

She pulls away just enough to meet his eyes. “I missed you so much. I said I didn’t cause I didn’t want you to worry but I missed you so fuckin’ much.” She presses herself back into him, so her next words come out garbled by his sweater; “Don’t do that to me again.”

Luke knows she’s joking, but some of that is true. He shouldn’t have to leave the woman he loves behind half the year, that’s not fair. She deserves all of his time. “You can come with, next time. We could use a tambourine player.” He offers, and he’s only half-joking. They could share a bunk, couldn’t they? Hold each other like this every night?

“Mm. I could replace Ashton. He’s all the way upstage, no one would notice.” She says.