As winter break crept closer, there were a surprisingly often number of times Luce was asked to play the part of devoted fiancé... Taking pictures together that made it seem like they were together. Sporadic conversations about planning a wedding they both knew wouldn't happen in case Sato's bio family asked questions about details in the planning. A few joining in on phone calls from relatives if he was around and even once a video call... 'So they know I didn't just photoshop pictures with a random person from online.' An issue Lucious started to have, though, was that all this pretending to be engaged was making him fall even more for this guy who obviously wasn't interested in a real relationship. The longer this went on, the more it would hurt when things inevitably ended. And yet... It made sense for Luce to start distancing himself, pull away so the feelings had time to cool and lessen, but instead he found himself being more drawn to spend time with Sato. To feed into the fantasy. Sato was just so caring and - Luce chuckled considering what the younger had said about his dating past - attentive towards him. He knew it was probably just because this wasn't a real relationship and Sato probably felt indebted towards him, but it felt nice to have his crush show such gentle attention to him.
They even make plans to spend a few days together during the break. Granted, it's for the purpose of Sato's extended birth family to 'meet his fiancé' but it was still time outside of the college semester Luce got to spend with Sato. He was oddly looking forward to it despite the nerves about being liked by said family. Afterall, Sato was willing to go along with this whole farce over not interacting with them so he seemed to value their opinion at least to that extent.
"You at least told your parents the truth, right?" Lucius didn't know why he hadn't thought to check before arriving at Satohsi's family home.

 "They are a little hesitant about me lying but if asked, they'll claim to have known we were dating for a few years now."
Despite their apparent reservations about the situation, Mr. and Mrs. Holmes were beyond welcoming to Luce. Yet another moment to make him wish this was all real... They treat Luce like he's really their son's partner, genuinely trying to get to know him over dinner and his mom even sharing bits of Sato's childhood while showing the older boy to the guest room later. If Sato hadn't confirmed they knew, he'd feel guilty for deceiving them too.
The next day goes relatively well. The parents had to leave for work before the boys got up so Sato starts on breakfast for them. And, of course, Luce steps in to help. It is all so... domestic. The morning passes in a relaxed comfort, some last minute preparations gone over and solidified. Luce asks input on what to wear as Sato's fiancé and, as with every other similar inquiry, the intellectual told him to just do what makes him comfortable and to not change anything about himself to fit the deception. The irony of it coming from Satoshi in this situation isn't lost on Lucius.
Honestly, lunch with the matchmaking grandmother comes sooner than either would have liked. The familial resemblance is clear between the two, especially in their sharp, focused eyes and no nonsense air about them. Luce almost feels more like he's in an interview than meeting his (fake) boyfriend's family member. "And what was it you said you do, Lucius?" 

"Right now, I'm a nanny during the summer and most of the winter break. It's not much but does help towards decreasing my future student loan debts." 

"Right. And you're going to college for...?" 

"Early childhood development. I'm considering a career as an elementary teacher or working for a daycare." 

"What about children of your own? Do you plan on having some or only looking after others' your whole life?" This question causes Luce to glance to Sato. They hadn't thought to discuss how they'd respond to those sort of inquires. Hell, Luce hadn't ever even found out Sato's subgender, it not really seeming important, so he wasn't sure if the older woman expected the two to be able to have biological children in the future. And if he answered in a way that revealed he didn't know his partner's subgender, it could undo the whole facade. 

All he could do was answer in a way that focused more on his own personal situation. "Well, as an untethered, I had already known I would be adopting when I was ready for kids of my own, even before we had met." Luce smiled, secretly fantasizing what it would be like to raise some little ones with Sato. "After getting to know Sato who grew up adopted, it just reinforced my desire to do so. Every child deserves a loving home to grow up in, don't you agree?"

With a 'humph', Satoshi's grandmother moves on to a different line of questioning. At some point, Sato slips his hand in Luce's under the table as if to remind him he's not in this alone. Luce tries to not let on too much how it flusters him. Sure, they'd held hands many times since starting this fake engagement but the novelty of casually holding his crush's hand hadn't worn off for Luce yet. Maybe it never would...
When the meal finally ends and they go to leave, Luce convinces himself that leaning against Sato as they walk to the car is just to make their lie more convincing. Thankfully, the dinner with more of the bio family wasn't until the next day. "Sorry to put you through all of this." Sato speaks up once they're out of his grandmother's hearing. 

"It's fine... I agreed to it and it's not like I wasn't prepared to be grilled by her. She's like you in wanting to be through." 

"Still, a bunch of her questions got really personal." 

"At least she didn't ask about bedroom activities... Really, I wouldn't expect less from someone who was looking into multiple marriage candidates for her grandson she hadn't even met yet." Was that a blush Luce saw? 

"I doubt anything I could do would be able to compensate you for everything you've done for me, especially after that lunch."
Luce smiles slightly. "Guess that means you'll have to stay in my life for a very long time to slowly pay me back over time... Did we have any other plans for the day?"
"Perhaps I could start chipping away at my debt by treating you to dinner tonight? Just the two of us, you can pick wherever you want..." Shoot. That would basically be a date. Well, not a real date but... each date like outing with Satoshi caused him to forget for a bit that it wasn't a real relationship. How many more could Luce do before he totally lost himself to the delusion? 

"Sure. Do you have a favorite local restaurant? If we really don't have any other plans, maybe we can spend the afternoon having you show me around your hometown." If Luce was going to lose his reason to the lie anyways, he might as well embrace it for as long as he can.
The next day, Sato's parents joined the two boys in meeting with his extended bio family. Luce suspects they help distract from as many questions being directed at him as there would have been if it was just the two of them. Still, there was an overwhelming number of aunts, uncles, and other relatives all wanting to know everything about him.
What were his thoughts on this thing or that? What were his plans for the future? What sort of family was he from? How had he and Sato met? Had they discussed where they'd be living after getting married? When were they planning the wedding to be? What sort of jobs were available in his field? One person even offered him a job in their company in a totally different field if he had problems finding a work. How soon before they planned to have little ones? What parenting methods would they be using with their kids when they had some? What sort of wedding would they be having? Where would they be honeymooning?
Right around when all the questioning was starting to get overwhelming, one of the kids was interrupting his mom to ask where the restroom was. Luce used showing him as an excuse to disengage from the conversation. And from there, it was an easy transition to entertain the kids instead of going back to the adult conversations. 

"Me next!" Luce picked up one of the kids to spin them in the air a moment before setting them down. He catches Sato glancing his way as children clamored for a turn. Is this what it would be like if they had kids of their own? Him with the kids at family events while Sato handled socializing with the adults but still keeping an eye for if he needed any help?
Luce wouldn't mind that sort of thing at all. In fact, caring for their kids while Sato was around to help as needed sounded like a dream come true. He must have gotten a dreamy smile at the thought as one of the youngest girls poked him teasingly. "Hey, hey... Are you in loo~ve?"
Luce looked down with a smile. "May~be... Are you?" 

"Yuck, no... Boys are gross." 

"I'm a boy..." 

"Nuhu... You're an adult so that's different. You're more like an uncle or big brother..."

 "Well, I'm a boy who likes a boy... Nothing says you can't be a girl who likes a girl."
The little girl nods sagely as if they were having the most serious conversation in existence. "I don't know yet but I'll tell you when I do."
When Luce looks up from her, Sato is watching him again. Maybe he should get back to socializing with the adults... They're the ones he and Sato need to deceive.